Texas Archival Resources Online

TABLE OF CONTENTS


Descriptive Summary

Biographical Note

Scope and Content Note

Organization of Collection

Restrictions

Index Terms

Separated Material

Administrative Information

Note to Researchers

Description of Series

Robert E. Lee

Jefferson Davis

The Confederate States of America

State of Texas

General

University of Texas San Antonio

A Guide to the R. H. Porter Civil War Collection, 1860-1975 (bulk 1860-1866)



Descriptive Summary

Creator:Porter, R. H.
Title:R. H. Porter Civil War Collection, 1860-1975
Inclusive Dates:1860-1975
Bulk Dates:1860-1866
Creator Abstract:R. H. Porter, former president of the Steck Company of Austin, Texas and Texas Confederate history enthusiast, gathered a collection of approximately one thousand Texas Confederate and Civil War items.
Content Abstract:The collection consists of ephemera, photographs (mostly reproductions), manuscripts, government documents, rare books (originals and photocopies), and pamphlets. While books form the largest portion of the collection, materials also include ephemera, photographs (mostly reproductions), manuscripts, government documents, photocopies of rare books, and pamphlets.
Identification:MS 130
Extent:1.3 linear feet (about 1,000 items)
Language:Materials are chiefly in English, with some materials in German
Repository:Archives and Special Collections Department, The University of Texas at San Antonio Library.

Biographical Note

R. H. Porter, former president of the Steck Company, Austin, Texas and Texas Confederate history enthusiast, gathered a collection of approximately one thousand Texas Confederate and Civil War items.

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Scope and Content Note

The R. H. Porter Civil War Collection consists of ephemera, photographs (mostly reproductions), manuscripts, government documents, rare books (originals and photocopies), and pamphlets. While books formed the largest portion of the collection, the collection also includes ephemera, photographs (mostly reproductions), manuscripts, government documents, photocopies of rare books, and pamphlets.

The collection provides information about the Civil War, mostly from a Texas Confederate perspective, but also includes information about the Confederate government, the government of the State of Texas, and a small amount of information about Union troops and activities. The collection is divided into five series: Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis, Confederate States of America (CSA), State of Texas and General.

The Robert E. Lee series contains four items, one of which is a signed letter by Lee to James A. Seddon, Secretary of War for the CSA. There is also a Confederate States of America army circular, 1863 (dictated by Lee, but not signed by him), a photographic duplication of the "Lees of Virginia", 1861-1865, and a 1902 letter sent by George Washington Custis Lee (Lee's son) to Ashton L. Carr which includes Robert E. Lee's signature and a small photograph of him.

The Jefferson Davis series contains eight items and includes correspondence, cancelled bank checks (1871-1874), an address written to celebrate the 99th anniversary of Davis' birth (1907), and a booklet titled The Religious Life of Jefferson Davis by W. L. Fleming (1910). Three of the letters are written to Reverend J.W. Jones (1976, 1881, 1885), one to Colonel E. Polk Johnson (1887), and one is written in his wife's hand but signed by him (1881).

The Confederate States of America series includes Confederate government documents, broadsides, periodicals, photographs, muster rolls, rosters, and ephemera. All materials were created by the Confederate government or support the message of the Confederacy in some manner. The government documents include army orders, messages of the president, and correspondence. Several items provide biographies of soldiers and officers, and tell of their service to the Confederacy. Of note in this series are two Confederate States Almanacs for 1864 (different editions) and a list of federal prisoners held at Camp Croce (1863). Ephemera in this series include sheet music, a playing card with the Confederate Flag and insignia design, and receipts.

The State of Texas series includes materials that were created by the Texas government or are about incidents that took place in Texas during the Civil War. Of note in this series are two copies of "A Declaration of the Causes which Impel the State of Texas to Secede from the Federal Union" (1861), Governor Sam Houston's Message on the South Carolina Resolutions (1860), a copy of the Constitution of the State of Texas as Amended in 1861, a Camp Ford diary as kept by a Union prisoner (1892-1894) and a list of 69 Germans who organized a company to participate in the Civil War. Also included are documents created by different departments of the State of Texas. Army prisons and prison camps in Texas are the topic of several items, as are battles that took place in the state. There are also several photographic reproductions in this series, creative works, and information about soldiers and officers in Texas.

The General series contains materials generally related to the Civil War and materials that were included with the collection but are not obviously of or about the Civil War or the Confederacy. Items include articles, periodicals, correspondence, religious pamphlets, and price guides for Confederate currency.

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Organization of Collection

Series 1. Robert E. Lee
Series 2. Jefferson Davis
Series 3. Confederate States of America
Series 4. State of Texas
Series 5. General

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

Researchers must wear cotton gloves provided by the Archives when handling photographic materials. Otherwise, there are no restrictions on these materials.

Usage Restrictions

Permission to publish material from the R. H. Porter Civil War Collection must be obtained from the UTSA Archives.

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Index Terms

Personal Names
Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889
Lee, Robert E. (Robert Edward), 1807-1870.
Subjects
Government publications -- Confederate States of America.
Locations
Camp Ford (Tex.) -- History.
Confederate States of America -- History.
Confederate States of America -- History, Military.
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865.
Genres/Formats
Correspondence.
Diaries.
Ephemera.

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Separated Material

Many of the book titles from the R. H. Porter Civil War Collection have been made available to the public through the University of Texas at San Antonio Library catalog.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], R. H. Porter Civil War Collection, 1860-1975, MS 130, Archives and Special Collections, University of Texas at San Antonio Library.

Acquisition Information

This collection was purchased by the University of Texas at San Antonio Library in 1975.

Processing Information

Processed by Traci JoLeigh Drummond, Archivist, June 2005.

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 Note to Researchers 

There is some correspondence with particular items scattered throughout the collection from Lee Lawrence, a fellow Civil War and Texas history enthusiast and collector. It seems that the two men would share information about Confederate Texana resources and locating relevant materials.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

 

Robert E. Lee

This series contains four items, one of which is a signed letter by Lee to James A. Seddon, Secretary of War for the CSA. There is also a Confederate States of America army circular, 1863 (dictated by Lee, but not signed by him), a photographic duplication of the "Lees of Virginia", 1861-1865, and a 1902 letter sent by George Washington Custis Lee (Lee's son) to Ashton L. Carr which includes Robert E. Lee's signature and a small photograph of him.
The "Lees of Virginia" is a photograph of a group of drawings of Lee and other male family members who were also CSA generals.
BoxFolder
11Lee, R. E., Headquarters, Army of Northern Virginia, Confidential. Letter to J.A. Seddon, Secretary of War (#409), May 30, 1863
2C.S.A. Manuscript Forms, Circular of Army of Northern Virginia, Relating to the Exchange of Prisoners from City Point, From General Lee, Signed by W.H. Taylor (#148), August 21, 1863
3Lee, G.W., Letter to Ashton L. Carr, Melrose, Massachusetts, (includes Robert E. Lee Signature and photograph) (#408), March 17, 1902
4The Lees of Virginia: Generals C.S.A. (Photographic Reproduction) (#411) , 1861-1865, undated
5Lee, Robert E., San Antonio Light news clipping, "Archives Hid Lee's Oath,", July 29, 1975
BoxFolder
MapcaseDonnelly, R.R. and Sons, Farewell to the Army of Northern Virginia, Lee's General Order No. 9 (Reproduction) (#222), undated

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Jefferson Davis

This series contains eight items and includes correspondence, cancelled bank checks (1871-1874), an address written to celebrate the 99th anniversary of Davis' birth (1907), and a booklet titled The Religious Life of Jefferson Davis by W. L. Fleming (1910). Three of the letters are written to Reverend J.W. Jones (1976, 1881, 1885), one to Colonel E. Polk Johnson (1887), and one is written in his wife's hand but signed by him (1881).
BoxFolder
16Davis, Jefferson, Letter to Dr. J.W. Jones, Dated Memphis, (#193), February 14, 1876
7Davis, Jefferson, Letter to Rev. J.W. Jones, Dated Beauvoir, (#195), June 26, 1881
8Davis, Jefferson, Letter to Rev. J.W. Jones, Dated Beauvoir, (#196), September 1, 1885
9Davis, Jefferson, Letter to Co. E. Polk Johnson, Dated Beauvoir, (#197), March 19, 1887
10Davis, Jefferson, Letter in Mrs. Davis' handwriting, signed by President Davis, Dated Beauvoir, (#194), March 12, 1881
11Davis, Jefferson, Three Bank Checks Date August 23, 1871; February 5, 1872 and May 13, 1874 (#192)
12Storey, L.J., Address at the Celebration of the 99th Anniversary of the Birth of Jefferson Davis…, (#623), 1907
13Fleming, W.L., The Religious Life of Jefferson Davis (#264), 1910

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The Confederate States of America

This series includes Confederate government documents, broadsides, periodicals, photographs, muster rolls, rosters, and ephemera. All materials were created by the Confederate government or support the message of the Confederacy in some manner. The government documents include army orders, messages of the president, and correspondence. Several items provide biographies of soldiers and officers, and tell of their service to the Confederacy. Of note in this series are two Confederate States Almanacs for 1864 (different editions) and a list of federal prisoners held at Camp Croce (1863). Ephemera in this series include sheet music, a playing card with the Confederate Flag and insignia design, and receipts.
Arranged into four subseries by format, and chronologically therein.
BoxFolder
1Government Documents and Manuscripts
14CSA. Laws, Statutes, etc: An Act to Amend an Act Entitled: "An Act Recognizing the Existence of War Between the U.S. and the Confederate States" (#137), 1861
15CSA. Army. Department of Texas, General Order No. 27, Court Martial of Colonel Jon C. Moore (#130) December 19, 1861
16CSA. War Department. Supplemental Report of The Secretary of War (# 147), March 17, 1862
17CSA. Army. Army of New Mexico. General Order No. 4 (#127), March 29, 1862
18CSA. Congress. House Committee on Foreign Affairs1862, Majority Report, (#133)
19CSA. Army. District of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. General Orders No. 16 (#132), 1862
20CSA. Receipts, Requisitions, Etc.: 5 Items dated 1862, 1863 and 1864 (#124)
21CSA. Manuscript. Receipt for $500,000 Given to GW Randolph by H.W. McElrath, Captain, Knoxville (# 154), August 24, 1863
22CSA. Manuscripts. List of Federal Prisoners at Camp Groce, Texas (#151), 1863
23CSA. War Department, General Orders from the Adjutant and Inspector General's Office, No. 141, Richmond (#144), October 29, 1863
24CSA. President. President's Message to the Senate and House (#143), December 7, 1863
25CSA. Department of State, Correspondence in Relation to the British Consuls Resident in the Confederate States (#134), 1863
26CSA. Army, District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. General Orders No. 111 (#131), 1864
27CSA. Manuscript Forms, Letter from George H. Sweet to J.A. Wilcox, Dated Headquarters 15th Texas Calvary (# 150), February 5, 1864
28CSA. Manuscript. Circular From W.J. Goodman, Announcing His Temporary Appointment as Chief Surgeon (#155), February 25, 1864
29CSA. Manuscript Forms. General Order No. 1, Headquarters, San Augustine, Texas (#149), 1864
30CSA. Manuscript, Roster Book of Sam A. Easley's Company of Cavalry, (Charles M. Bradford's Regiment) (#153a), April 1864 – April 1865
31CSA. Manuscript. Manuscript Items by or to Easley (letters, etc.) (153b), 1865
32CSA. War Department. Report of the Secretary of War (#146), November 3, 1864
33CSA. President, Message to the Senate and House (#142), November 17, 1864
34CSA. Laws, Statutes, Etc. A bill to Be Entitled: An Act to Levy and Collect Taxes for the Common Defense…, (House of Representatives) (#135), 1864
35CSA. Certificates and Exchange Certificates For Bonds and Treasury Notes: Eleven Items, (#123), 1864
36CSA. Laws, Statues, etc: A Bill requiring Suit to be Brought Against Persons Connected with the Cotton Bureau and Cotton Office in Texas (#138), 1864
37CSA. Army. Army of Northern Virginia. Resolutions of The Texas Brigade (#128), January 24, 1865
38CSA. Soldiers Discharge for William B. Moore at Camp Beso (#125), April 17, 1865
39CSA. Army, Muster Roll (#126), n.d
Printed Materials and Ephemera
40Ticknor, F.O., "Our Left", dedicated to the Maryland Hero, Gen. Arnold El Zey (#673), 1861
41"The Flag of Secession, " broadside (#262), 1861
42"The Confederate Almanac for 1864", calculated for Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas (#119), 1863
43"Confederate States Almanac for the Year of Our Lord 1864"(#122), 1864
44Noxubee County, Mississippi, Petition of Citizens of Noxubee County, Requesting Tax for the Support of Dependants of CSA Soldiers Plus Tax Form (#485), 1864, undated
45De Jarnette, D.C., the Monroe Doctrine, Speech in the Confederate House of Representatives, (#209), January 30, 1865
46Dixieland, the Illustrated Home Magazine of the South, V. 1, No. 6, CSA Reunion Special Issue (#219), June 1904
47Straley, W.W., ed., Soldiers and Their Deeds (#624), 1913
48Playing Card with CSA Flag and Insignia on Back (#508), n.d.
Reproductions
49Tucker, M.H., Escape from A Southern Prison (Xerox with Letter from Lee Lawrence) (#681), 1864,1964
50Harris, A.H., "Record of Samuel Millikin as a Soldier" (#311), 190?
Photograph
51Tintype of Confederate Soldier, undated

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State of Texas

This series includes materials that were created by the Texas government or are about incidents that took place in Texas during the Civil War. Of note in this series are two copies of "A Declaration of the Causes which Impel the State of Texas to Secede from the Federal Union" (1861), Governor Sam Houston's Message on the South Carolina Resolutions (1860), a copy of the Constitution of the State of Texas as Amended in 1861, a Camp Ford diary as kept by a Union prisoner (1892-1894) and a list of 69 Germans who organized a company to participate in the Civil War. Also included are documents created by different departments of the State of Texas. Army prisons and prison camps in Texas are the topic of several items, as are battles that took place in the state. There are also several photographic reproductions in this series, creative works, and information about soldiers and officers in Texas.
Arranged into four subseries by format, and chronologically therein.
BoxFolder
1Government Documents
52Reagan, J.H., Speech in the House of Representatives (#535), February 29,1860
53Galveston County, Texas. Committee of Safety. Address to the People of Texas (#278), 1860
54Texas. Governor (Sam Houston). Message on the South Carolina Resolutions (#644), 1860
55Texas. Convention, 1861. Committee on Public Safety. Reports of Committee on Public Safety and Commissions to Louisiana and San Antonio (#642), 1861
56Texas. Convention, 1861. "A Declaration of the Causes which Impel the State of Texas to Secede from the Federal Union" (#638), 1861
57Texas. Convention, 1861. "A Declaration of the Causes which Impel the State of Texas to Secede from the Federal Union" (#637), 1861
58Texas Convention, The Constitution of the State of Texas as Amended in 1861 (#636), 1861
59Texas. Comptroller's Office. Circular to the Chief Justices of Several Counties, Issued from Comptroller's Office (#635), December 25, 1863
60Texas. Legislature. Resolutions of the State of Texas, Concerning Peace, Reconstruction and Independence (#651), 1865
61Texas. Legislature. House Committee on Federal Relations. Report on the Amendments Proposed to the Joint Resolution of Congress as Article XIV to the Constitution of the United States (#652), 1866
BoxFolder
2Manuscripts
1French, J.C., Letter To Abram S. Hewitt Concerning Railroad Bonds (#275), May 4, 1861
2Texas Tax Reciepts: Dallas County, Comal County, District 68, Five Total (#670), 1861-1862, 1871
3Colorado County, Texas. Original Roster of 69 German Texas who met to organize a company (#117), 1862
4Camp Ford Diary, Kept by a Union Prisoner (#97), September 1892 – July 1864
5Texas Calvary, 8th (Terry's Texas Rangers) Petition for a Furlough, Addressed to the Secretary of War, Richmond (#656), January 22, 1865
6Woods, Col. Peter C., Obituary from Southern Tribune, San Marcos, TX, (handwritten) (# 757), March 1898
7Howell, W.R., List of Battles and Skirmishes in which the old Sibley Brigade has participated (#365), undated
Printed Materials and Ephemera
8Texan Rangers- Poem (#633), undated
BoxFolder
MapcaseAn Ordinance to dissolve the Union between the State of Texas and The Other States… (#641), 1861
BoxFolder
29Texas Confederate, No. 12, 13, 15, 16 (# 657), 1864
BoxFolder
MapcaseHouston Daily Telegraph, with articles about the end of the Civil War (#363), June 1, 1865
BoxFolder
210Conner, J.C., Carpet Bag Rule: History of Reconstruction in Texas (158), 1871
BoxFolder
MapcaseMuster Rolls for Captain Edward R. Hawkins Co. and J. M. Cook's Co., in The Patron, August 15, 1877
BoxFolder
211Thirtieth Texas Calvary, Waco (Confederate Reunion) (#671), 1901
12Wood, W.D., Reminiscences of Reconstruction in Texas, and Reminiscences of Texas and Texans Fifty Years Ago (#753), 1902
13Invitation to Old Settlers Jubilee, June 3, 1939
14Shaw, Arthur M., ed., "A Texas Ranger Company at the Battle of Arkansas Post" (#578), [1960s]
15Dallas Morning News clipping, "Civil War Grave markers dedicated during ceremony" (re: Jerome and Felix Robertson), April 12, 1965
BoxFolder
MapcaseThe Texas Star, Terry's Texas Rangers: They fought their own War, (two copies: Dallas Morning News/ Austin American Statesman) (#441), August 22, 1971
BoxFolder
216Williams, R. H. and John W. Sansom, The Massacre on the Nueces River (#743), undated
Reproductions
17Knights of the Golden Circle. Texas, Castroville. Castle. Bylaws (# 401), 1861
18Texas. Convention, 1861. Darlegung Der Grunde, Welche Den Staat Texas Veranlafen Aus Der Federal - Union (#639)
19Phillips, Edwin D., Texas and Its Late Military Occupation and Evacuation, (Photocopied) (#505), 1862
20Davis, Nicholas A., The Campaign from Texas to Maryland. Pages in the Houston Edition that differ from the Richmond Edition. (#202), [1863]
21Newcomb, J.P., Sketch of Secession Times in Texas and Journal of Travel from Texas Through Mexico to California (photocopy) (#471), 1863
22Franklin, Robert M., Battle of Galveston (photocopy) (#270), January 1, 1863, 1911
23Camp Ford, Texas. Three Photographic Reproductions of Drawings of Camp Ford (# 96), 1865, undated
24McCulloch, John S., Reminiscences of Life in the Army and a Prisoner of War (Camp Ford, TX) (photocopy) (#430), 1888
25Winkler, Mrs. C.M., The Life and Character of General John B. Hood (photocopy) (#749), 1885
26Edgar, T.H., History of Debray's (26th) Regiment of Texas Calvary (photocopy) (#241), 1898
27Read, John. Texas Prisons and a Comparison of Northern and Southern Prison Camps (Photocopy) (#532), 1912
28Kellersberger, Getulius. Memoirs of an Engineer in the Confederate Army in Texas, translated from German by Helen S. Sundstrom (photocopy) (#389), [1950s]
29Burke, Robert, Escape from a Southern Prison: A Brief History of the Prison Life and Escape of M.H. Tucker and Others from Camp Ford Prison. Unbound typed copy, includes Letter From Lee Lawrence and Material about E.D. Behen, one of Escapees (#91), 1961, undated
30Glover, R.W., "Camp Ford, Confederate Prison at Tyler Texas", (Typescript Paper Delivered Before the Dallas Civil War Round Table) (#293), 1961
31Camp Ford Marker Dedication Materials, Including Invitation, Program, Newsclipping, and Correspondence from Lee Lawrence to R. H. Porter, 1962
32Burke, Robert, Escape from a Southern Prison: A Brief History of the Prison Life and Escape of M.S. Real, M.H. Tucker and others from Camp Ford Prison, (Photocopy) (#90), n.d

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General

This series contains materials generally related to the Civil War and materials that were included with the collection but are not obviously of or about the Civil War or the Confederacy. Items include articles, periodicals, correspondence, religious pamphlets, and price guides for Confederate currency. These items were kept with the collection to maintain original order.
Arranged into five subseries by format, and chronologically therein.
BoxFolder
2Manuscripts
33Redwood, W.H., Letter to Gov. Pickens of South Carolina, Offering Services of Lone Star Rifle Company (#539), January 5, 1861
34Hall, J.A., Letter to "Cousin Marie" Recounting Tales of the Battlefield (#304), April 24, 1862
35Hardeman, B., Letter to L.T. Barret (# 310), October 28, 1863
36U.S. Army, Discharge from A.G.O. no. 99, San Antonio, TX. Filled out in Ink by Melhchoir Beyer (# 694), October 31, 1865
BoxFolder
3Sermons and Religious Tracts
1Buck, William C., "Are you a Backslider?" (# 86), 1861
2Dabney, R.L., "The Believer Born of Almighty Grace" (# 183), 1862
3"The Colonel's Conversion: A Chief of Sinner's Made a Chief of Saints" (#116), undated
Printed Materials and Ephemera
4Porter, W.D., State Sovereignty and the Doctrine of Coercion, (#521) 1860
BoxFolder
MapcaseThe Richmond Enquirer, V. 58, No. 20 (includes Lincoln's Message to Congress) (#541), July 9, 1861
BoxFolder
35Salado College, Salado Texas Program of Graduation, (#563) 1862
6The Loyal Union Journal. G.G. Carman, ed. (#425), April 2, 1864
7Trezevant, D.H., The Burning of Columbia, South Carolina (#679), 1866
8Southern Historical Society Papers, Vol. 1, No. 5, May 1876
9Southern Historical Society Papers, Vol. 1, No. 6 (2 copies), June 1876
10Southern Historical Society Papers, Vol. 2, No. 6, December 1876
11Southern Historical Society Papers, Vol. 4, No. 6, December 1877
12Southern Historical Society Papers, Vol. 7, No.1, January 1879
13Southern Historical Society Papers, Vol. 10, No. 4, April 1882
14Southern Historical Society Papers, Vol. 10, No. 5, May 1882
15Southern Historical Society Papers, Vol. 10, No. 6, June 1882
16Southern Historical Society Papers, Vol. 10, No. 7, July 1882
BoxFolder
MapcaseNew York Herald, re: Assassination of Lincoln April 15, 1865
BoxFolder
317Avery, A.C., Memorial Address on Life and Character of Lieutenant General D.H. Hill (#28), May 10, 1893
BoxFolder
Mapcase"General Grant's Story of the Civil War", clipping From The Washington Post (#298), December 1, 1912
BoxFolder
318Awtrey, H.R., Wallpaper News of the Sixties, (#29) 1941
19Ashbrook, S.B., Some Notes on the Postal Legislation of the Confederate States of America (# 22), 1954
20Criswell, G.C., Confederate and Southern State Currency, Price Lists and Supplements to Volumes 1 and 2 (#175), 1957-1962
21Criswell, G.C., Confederate and Southern State Currency, 1965 Price List, Bradbeer's Cross-Indexed to Criswell's (# 176), 1965
22Book Advertisements, 1962, 1967, undated
23Book Reviews, 1942, 1957-1965, 1970, undated
24Newsclippings, 1961-1968, undated
25Steck company Christmas Card, undated
Reprodutions
26Flemming, R. H., Personal Reminiscences of Military Prison Life (typescript) (#265), undated
27Knights of the Golden Circle, First or Military Degree (Negative Photostat) (#400), 186-
28Young, Josiah T. "History of the 36th Iowa Infantry," in Frank Hickenlooper's An Illustrated History of Monroe County, Iowa, (typescript with photo reproductions) (# 343), 1896
29Smith, R.J., Reminiscences of the Civil War and Other Sketches (#600), 1911
30Russell, Irwin, "Christmas Night in the Quarters" (facsimile of original), undated
Photographs
31Brady, Matthew, Photoduplications of Civil War photographs with descriptions and negatives (#77), undated

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