Pathfinder for Civil War Diaries and Letters

The Stewart Bell Jr. Archives holds a number of manuscript collections containing diaries and letters written by Civil War soldiers from the Winchester-Frederick County, Va. Area as well as by civilians living in or near Winchester during the conflict. The following information is designed to help researchers locate these diaries and letters.

There are also a number of published diaries and journals available in the open stack in the Reading Room. To search for these items use the library’s catalog and search for subject: "United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives." 

Additional historic materials related to the Civil War are listed in our Pathfinder to Civil War Manuscript Collections and Microfilm.

Materials from manuscript collections must be requested using a green sheet, available in the Reading Room. The letters MMF, THL, and WFCHS are part of each collection’s accession number and should be used to identify the collection on the green sheet.

Alvord, Maj. Henry E. Letters, April 22, 1861-April 12, 1865 (2nd Reg. Massachusetts Cavalry Volunteers), printed, 37 leaves.
Filing Location: Allan Tischler Collection, 208 WFCHS, Box 3; Alvord, Henry E.

Armel, John. Papers, December 4, 1864-March 1, 1865 (Company K, 107^th Pennsylvania Infantry, Petersburg) Manuscript, 4 leaves.
Filing location: John Armel Papers, 1354 WFCHS MMF, Civil War Diaries/Letters, Armel, John; 1354 WFCHS

Baker, Portia Baldwin. Diary, Sept. 19, 1859-Jan. 8, 1863, Civilian, manuscript, 40 pages. typescript, 29 leaves.
Filing location: Portia Baldwin Baker Collection, 1178 WFCHS MMF, Civil War Diaries/Letters; Baker, Portia Baldwin

Bard, Capt. David. Correspondence, March 28, 1862 (Union-Battle of Kernstown), included within paper by James Brenner, typescript, 1 item, 21 leaves, 1974.
Filing location: David Bard Papers, 361 WFCHS MMF, Civil War-Diaries/Letters; Bard, Capt. David

Barritt, Charles M. Diary, January 1, 1864-November 10, 1864, (Co. I, 114th Regt. New York SV) typescript, 45 leaves.
Filing location: Allan Tischler Collection, 208 WFCHS, Box 3; Barritt, Charles M.

Beecher, Harris. Diary, 1865. 114^th Reg., ass’t. surgeon, 1 item, 2 leaves printed (photocopy).
Filing location: Allan Tischler Collection, 208 WFCHS, Box 3; Beecher, Harris

Beeler, James W. Diary, April 29, 1862-July 2, 1863, (Cutshaw's Battery and Carpenter's Battery), typescript, 10 leaves
Filing location: Rubye Hall Collection, 73 THL MMF, Civil War Diaries/Letters, Beeler, James W.

Blotcher, George. Diary July 17, 1861-May 8, 1864 n.d. [3^rd Battle of Winchester] (87^th Pa), typescript, 4 leaves.
Filing location: George Blotcher Diary, 1556 THL MMF, Civil War Diaries/Letters, Blotcher, George

Bradfield, James. Diary, July 17, 1861-May 8, 1864 (Co. H, 17th Va. Inf.), typescript, 29 leaves.
Filing location: Marjorie Copenhaver Collection, 311 THL MMF, Civil War Diaries/Letters, Bradfield, James

Brooke, Rev. Benjamin F. Journal, Sept. 1837-Dec. 25, 1863 (Minister), typescript, 83 leaves.
Filing location: Benjamin Brooke Papers, 165 WFCHS, Box 1; Journal of Rev. B.F. Brooke

Brumback, Jacob H. Diary, April 21, 1863-June 25, 1863 (12th Va. Cav.), typescript 4 leaves
Filing location: Lee Brumback Collection, 537 THL, Box 1, Brumback, Jacob Diary

Cadwallader, James M. Diary, Feb. 1, 1864-March 15, 1865 (1st Va. Cav.), typescript, 25 leaves
Filing location: J. Paul Cadwallader Collection, 638 THL MMF, Civil War Diaries/Letters, Cadwallader, James

Cain, John L. Service Information (Union 131 NY Inf), Nov. 11, 1862-Sept. 9, 1864, typescript, manuscript (photocopy), 36 leaves
Filing location: Charles E. Hutson Jr. Collection, 695 WFCHS MMF, Civil War Diaries/Letters, Cain, John; 695 WFCHS

Carter, Lt. Col. Wm. R. Journal, September 4, 1862-September 25th, 1862 (3rd VA. Cavalry), manuscript (photocopy), 9 leaves
Filing location: Allan Tischler Collection, 208 WFCHS, Box 2; Carter, Lt. Col. Wm.

Chase, Julia. Wartime Diary of Miss Julia Chase, 1861-1864, typescript, green-bound, 113 leaves.
Index available for July 2, 1861-Sept 25, 1864, typescript, 35 leaves.
Filing location: Julia Chase Collection, 544 THL, Box 1, Chase, Julia

Chewning, Charles R. Journal, March, 1862-April, 1865. 9^th Calvary, CSA. 1 item, typescript, 22 pages.
Filing location: Charles R. Chewning Journal. 900 THL MMF, Civil War Diaries/Letters, Chewning, Charles R.

Clark, John Peyton. Journal, March 12, 1862-Sept. 15, 1862, (Civilian) typescript (photocopy), 65 leaves
Filing location: Louisa Crawford Collection, 424 WFCHS, Box 1; Clark, John P.

Cook, James Dennison. Letters, Feb. 3, 1864-June 10, 1865 (Union-1st Oh. Art, Battery H), typescript, 49 pages
Filing location: Rolland J. Gladieux Collection, 123 THL MMF,Civil War Diaries/Letters; Cook, James D.

Corban, Josiah Barnum. Diary, Jan-Nov 1864 (2nd Conn. Art., Co. G), typescript, 48 leaves
Filing location: Paul J. Corban Collection, 1035 WFCHS MMF, Civil War Diaries/Letters, Corban, Josiah

Costello, Peter. Correspondence, 14^th Maine, 1^st Brigade, Grover’s 2^nd Div., 6 leaves, manuscript, photocopy.
Filing location: Allan Tischler Collection, 208 WFCHS, Box 3; Costello, Peter Correspondence

Davis, Edward Heavey. Diary, April 22, 1863-Sept.23, 1864 (9th WV Inf), typescript, 9 leaves
Filing location: Naomi Giffen Collection 470 THL MMF, Civil War Diaries/Letters, Davis, Edward

Davis, Francis. Diary entry of 3^rd Battle of Winchester, 24^th Inf., 4^th Brigade, 19^th Corps, Groves Div. 1 item, 12 leaves, manuscript photocopy
Filing location: Allan Tischler Collection, 208 WFCHS, Box 3; Davis, Francis Diary

Dutton, Lt. Henry Melzer. Papers, Mar. 17, 1862-July 28, 1862, (5th Conn.), manuscript (photocopy), 75 leaves
Filing location: Dudley J. Russell Collection, 628 THL, Dutton, Lt. Henry Melzer Papers

Edwards, Owen. Diary, Jan 6, 1864-Nov. 22, 1864 (Union-114 NY), manuscript (photocopy), typescript, 51 leaves
Filing location: Owen J. Edwards Diary, 253 THL MMF, Civil War Diaries/Letters, Edwards, Owen

Fahey, George. Correspondence, 1863, 121^st NY, 2^nd Brig. VI Corps. 1 item, 2 leaves, typescript (photocopy).
Filing location: Allan Tischler Collection, 208 WFCHS, Box 3; Fahey, George

Firebaugh, Samuel Angus. Diary, Sept 25, 1862-Mar. 2, 1864 (10th VA Inf), typescript, 125 leaves.
Filing location: John Wayland Collection, 26 THL, Box 9; Wartime Diary of Samuel Firebaugh

Freeze, Michael. Letters, 1863-1865 (6^th N.C. Co. G), Manuscript (photocopy), 27 leaves
Filing location: Michael Freese Letters, 105 THL MMF, Civil War Diaries/Letters, Freeze, Michael

Gallaher, Dewitt. Diary, June 8, 1864-April 9, 1865 (1st VA Cav), typescript (Photocopy), 17 leaves
Filing location: Ben Ritter Collection, 12 THL, Box 1; Gallaher, DeWitt

Gerncke, Wilhelm. Diary, Feb. 15, 1864-May 15, 1864 (Union-100 NY Vol), manuscript, 1 Item, 8 leaves
Filing location: James A. Pattie Collection, 657 WFCHS MMF, Civil War Diaries/Letters, Pattie, James

Grabill, John H. Diary, June 6, 1861-June 6, 1862 (33rd VA Inf), typescript, 27 leaves
Filing location: Charles Affleck Collection, 36 WFCHS, Box 1 Grabill, John H.

Griffith, Harriet H. Diary, April 18, 1861-March 23, 1862; August 12, 1864-Dec. 26, 1865 (Civilian-Quaker), typescript, 123 leaves
Filing location: Harriet Hollingsworth Griffith Collection, 1179 WFCHS. Box 1; Griffith, Harriet H.

Harness, Captain William Henry. Letters, October 3, 1863, May 13, 1864, Certificate of Commission to Captain of Virginia Militia, February 1, 1859 (Confederate-11^th Virginia Cavalry)
Filing location: Herbert Smellie Collection, 1292 WFCHS MMF, Civil War Diaries/ Letters, Harness, Capt. William Henry 1292 WFCHS

Hawse, Jasper. Diary, Sept. 10, 1861-Aug. 1, 1864 (14th VA Militia also, 17th Battalion, Co. B and11th Regt.), typescript, 112 pages
Filing location: John Hawse Collection, 53 WFCHS

Hite, John P. Diary, June 19, 1861-March 21, 1862 (33rd VA Inf), typescript, 14 leaves
Filing location: Charles J. Lillis Collection, 191 THL MMF, Civil War Diaries/Letters, Hite, John

Hubbard, John L. Letter, July 19, 1863 (Co. F. 1st Maryland), printed, 1 leaf
Filing location: Allan Tischler Collection. 208 WFCHS, Box 2; Hubbard, John L.

Ireland, Oscar. Diary, Dec. 1, 1864-Dec. 15, 1864 (Signal Corps), Manuscript, 3 pages, manuscript, 2 leaves, transcript, 1 leaf, typescript.
Filing location: Oscar Ireland Collection, 1180 WFCHS MMF-Civil War Diaries/Letters, Ireland, Oscar

Jennings, J. Henry. Correspondence, August 1, 1861-January 28, 1863, transcript, 10 leaves
Filing location: Petre Jennings Collection, 1181 WFCHS MMF – Civil War Diaries/Letters, Jennings, J. Henry

Jennings, Petre. Diary, April 20, 1864-July 23, 1864 (Bryan's Battery, 4th Brigade),
typescript, 1 item, 7 leaves
Filing location: Petre Jennings Collection, 1181 WFCHS MMF, Civil War Diaries/Letters, Jennings

Jones, Maj. Frank B. Diary, March 11, 1862-June 22, 1862 (2nd VA Inf), typescript, 15 leaves.
Filing location: Louisa Crawford Collection, 424 WFCHS, Box 1; Jones, Maj. F.B.

Jones, William R. Correspondence & Articles (23rd VA Cav., Co. K), manuscript (photocopy),
typescript, 5 leaves
Filing location: George W. Jones Collection, 62 THL MMF, Civil War Diaries/Letters, Jones, Williams

Kauffman, Joseph Franklin. Diary, March 28, 1862-Aug. 28, 1862, (10^th VA Inf.), typescript, 32 pages
Filing location: John Wayland Collection, 26 WFCHS, Box 9, Wartime Diary of J.F. Kauffman

Kite, O. H. Diary, Jan 1, 1864-Dec. 31, 1864 (33rd VA Inf., Co H), Manuscript (photocopy), 32 leaves
Filing location: Marjorie Copenhaver Collection, 311 WFCHS MMF, Civil War Diaries/Letters, Kite, O.H.

Kohler, Lt. Col. John B. Letter only, October, 4, 1864 (98th Pa. Rgt.), typescript, 3 leaves
Filing location: John B. Kohler Papers, 468 THL MMF, Civil War Diaries/Letters, Kohler, Lt. Col John

Lee, Mrs. Hugh. Diary, March 11, 1862-November, 17, 1865 (Civilian) typescript, 891 leaves
Filing location: Mrs. Hugh Lee Collection, 1182 WFCHS, Box 1, Lee, Mrs. Hugh

Lee, Laura. Diary, March 11, 1862-April 5, 1865 (Civilian); manuscript (photocopy) 124 leaves. Original owned by College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA
Filing location: Ben Ritter Collection, 12 WFCHS, Box 1; Lee, Laura

Lemley, Jacob. Diary, January 1, 1862-May 1, 1865 (48th Va. Inf., Musician), typescript, 56 leaves
Filing location: Jacob Lemley Diary, 1374 THL, MMF-Civil War Diaries/Letters, Lemley, Jacob

Lennon, Capt. Michael. Diary-Diary entries during 3^rd Winchester. Co. I, 77^th NY Inf., 3^rd Brig. 2^nd Div. VI Corps. [fall 1864]
Filing location: Allan Tischler Collection, 208 WFCHS, Box 3, Lennon, Capt. Michael

Louderback, John P. Wartime Diary, May 3, 1862-July 14, 1863 (Page Co. Company, 10th Va. Inf.) typescript, 22 leaves
Filing location: John Wayland Collection, 26 WFCHS, Box 9; Wartime Diary of John P. Louderback

McCown, James L. Memoirs, April 2, 1864-August 1, 1864 (5th Va. Inf, Co. K) typescript, 8 leaves
Filing location: Ben Ritter Collection, 12 WFCHS, Box 1; McCown, James L.

Mardus, Rebecca. Correspondence, c. 1860s (Civilian) Manuscript (photocopy)
Filing location: Randy Madres Collection, 326 THL MMF, Civil War Diaries/Letters, Mardus, Rebecca

Martindale, Hugh A. Correspondence, Oct. 23, 1864-Nov. 1, 1864 (104th Pa. Vol.)
typescript, 3 leaves
Filing location: H.A. Martindale Correspondence, 1064 THL MMF, Civil War Diaries/Letters, Martindale, Hugh A.

Miller, Abram Schultz. Letters, Nov. 30,1861-Sept. 22, 1864 (Physician, 25th & 30th Va. Regt.) typescript
Filing location: James Miller Collection, 1421 WFCHS, Box 1; Miller, Abram S.

Miller, Gettie [Margaretta] Diary, March 23, 1863-Sept. 9, 1863, (Civilian - 13 years old),
typescript, 24 leaves
Filing location: Godfrey Miller Collection, 301 WFCHS, Box 7; Miller, Gettie.

Miller, William, Quartermaster Corp., manuscript (photocopy), Nov. 19, 1861-April 12, 1862
Filing location: Ronald M. Will Collection, 613 THL MMF, Civil War Diaries/Letters-Miller, William (Quartermaster Report)

Neff, Col. Francis. Correspondence, 1854-Jan 23, 1861 (33rd VA), manuscript, 26 leaves
Filing location: D. Coiner Rosen Collection, 323 THL MMF, Civil War Diaries/Letters, Neff, Col. F.

Niemeyer, Henry V. Personal Recollections, 1861-1865 (9th VA Inf., Co. I, the "Old Dominion Guards")
typescript, 6 leaves
Filing location: Henry V. Niemeyer Collection, 1059 THL MMF, Civil War Diaries/Letters, Niemeyer, Henry

Pattie, Sgt. James A. Diary, Jan 23, 1864-Jan 3, 1865 (17th VA Inf., Co. F), manuscript, unnumbered pages
Filing location: James A. Pattie Collection, 657 WFCHS MMF, Civil War Diaries/Letters, Pattie, Sgt. James

Pearse, William F. Diary, May 1, 1862-Nov. 27, 1862 (Chaplain-2nd SC Regt.), manuscript, also typescript, 25 leaves
Filing location: William Franklin Pearse Collection, 110 WFCHS MMF, Civil War Diaries/Letters, Pearse, William F.

Pierce, Hugh Ogilvie. Autobiography, 1843-1865 (Co. F 51^st VA Militia), typescript, 25 leaves
Filing location: Hugh Pierce Papers, 960 THL, Box 1

Rittenhouse, Benjamin Franklin. Diary, March 26, 1864-June 30, 1864 (U.S. Art., Bty. D), manuscript, 1 item; military records, 26 leaves, photocopy
Filing location: Benjamin F. Rittenhouse Collection, 566 THL MMF, Civil War Diaries/Letters, Rittenhouse, Benjamin

Rudd, Oscar Diary. Selections, Aug. 6, 1861-July 2, 1862 (Captain, Co. G. 39th Reg, Ill.) 34 leaves
Filing location: Oscar Rudd Papers, 1435 THL MMF, Civil War Diaries/Letters, Rudd, Oscar

Russell, F. Stanley. Letters, Aug. 26, 1861-May 19, 1864 (Co. H, 13th VA Inf.), F.
Filing location: Stanley Russell Letters, 490 THL, Box 1, Correspondence
(Also published in The Letters of F. Stanley Russell: The Movements of Co. H, 13th Va. Reg.).
973.782 Rus –Archives-Rare Book)

Smith, Treadwell. Diary, Oct. 17, 1859-Apr. 20, 1865 (Civilian-Clarke Co.), typescript, 20 pages
Filing location: Treadwell Smith Collection, 1183 THL MMF Civil War Diaries/Letters, Smith, Treadwell

Smith, William Randolf. Diary March 23, 1862-June 22, 1862 (Co. F, 17^th VA Inf.) 1 item printed
Filing location: Marie Bowman Collection, 1080 WFCHS, Box 1; Diary Of William R. Smith

Sperry, Kate. Diary, Surrender? Never Surrender, July 13, 1861-Dec. 3, 1865, typescript, bound, 633 pages.
Filing location: Kate Sperry Papers, 1578 WFCHS/THL; A transcript of the diary is in the Rare Books Collection: Call number 973.782 Spe Rare

Stone, John H. Diary, June 15, 1862-July 4, 1863 (Maryland CSA soldier, 1^st Lt., Co. B, MD Inf.)
typescript, 77 leaves
Filing location: George E. Tabb Jr. Collection, 320 THL MMF, Civil War Diaries/Letters, Stone, John
Note: Photocopy of original manuscript available in the Allan Tischler Collection, 208 WFCHS, Box 2

Tabb, Col. William Barksdale. Letter Book, January 4, 1863-March 6, 1863 (59th VA. Inf. Reg. CSA) typescript, 97 leaves
Filing location: George E. Tabb Jr. Collection,1153 THL, Box 1; Tabb, William B.

Thomas, J. William. Diary, May 22, 1861-May 26, 1865 (2nd MD Battalion) typescript (Photocopy), 109 leaves
Filing location: Allan Tischler Collection, 208 THL, Box 2; Thomas, J. Wm.

Tracy, Henry G., May 22-July 14, [1863] (18^th Conn. Inf.) manuscript (photocopy) transcript, 5 leaves
Filing location: Shelby Jean Kirk Collection, 1557 THL MMF, Civil War Diaries/Letters, Tracy Henry G.

Tull, William Bayliss. Memoirs, July, 1862-Sept., 1864 (5th & 9th LA Inf.) typescript (photocopy), 59 leaves
Filing location: W.B. Tull Papers, 15 WFCHS/THL MMF-Civil War Diaries/Letters, Tull, W. B., War Story

Venable, Charles. Civil War Reminiscences,
Filing location: Allan Tischler Collection, 208 WFCHS, Microfilm [in white cabinets in Archives Reading Room, Civil War Records Drawer], Civil War Reminiscences

Walker, Isaac Diary, July 19, 1862-Sept. 19,1862 (7th RI Squadron) typescript (photocopy), 11 leaves
Filing location: Allan Tischler Collection, 208 WFCHS, Box 3; Walker, Isaac, diary.

Walter, Franklin Gardner. Diary, June 20, 1863-Aug. 19, 1865 (39th VA Cav., Co. A) typescript (Bound), 1 Vol., 99 leaves
Filing location: Franklin Gardner Walter Collection, 947 THL MMF, Civil War Diaries/Letters, Walter, Franklin

Wayland, Anna Kagey. Daily Journal, Jan 1, 1847-Dec. 31, 1865, typescript (Photocopy, Bound), 165 leaves
Filing location: John Wayland Collection, 26 WFCHS, Box 8; Daily Journal of Anna K. Wayland

White, Pvt. John Goldsborough. Narrative from Diary, June 23, 1863-July, 1863 (2nd Maryland Inf.), printed (photocopy), 2 leaves
Filing location: Allan Tischler Collection, 208 WFCHS, Box 2; White, John G.

White, Sylvester J. Correspondence, Feb. 8, 1860-Jan 18, 1865 (75th NY Vol.), manuscript (photocopy), typescript, 24 items
Filing location: Sylvester J. White Papers, 593 THL MMF-Civil War Diaries/Letters, White, Sylvester

Whittier, Charles J. Correspondence, Feb. 14, 1859-Oct. 29, 1864 (Union Chaplain), Battle of Cedar Creek, manuscript, printed, 13 items Charles Whittier Papers
Filing location: Charles Whittier Papers, 855 THL MMF, Civil War Diaries/Letters, Whittier, Charles

Williams Family Correspondence, April 29, 1861-Nov. 27, 1865 (incomplete) (civilian), manuscript
Filing location: Phillip Williams Family Papers Collection, 172 WFCHS, Box 1 & 2, Correspondence