Milton Weaver Collection
This collection contains letters, envelopes, poems, recopies, and a tintype dealing with Milton Weaver's experiences with the 74th Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War. The bulk of the collection is comprised of correspondence between Milton Weaver and his family, much of which is written on striking patriotic stationary. It deals with camp life, various military campaigns, Copperheads, and Weaver's war fatigue and his desire to return to his family in Ohio. Other letters, most of which are addressed to Weaver's parents, cover Milton Weaver's death, condolences on their son's loss, and the presidential election of 1864. Finally, this collection contains poems, mostly written by Richard Weaver, dealing with the war and a tintype of Milton Weaver in his army uniform.
Dates
- 1856-1866
Conditions Governing Access
Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Conditions Governing Use
The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Extent
0.33 Linear Feet
Abstract
The Milton Weaver Collection contains a number of letters dating from the American Civil War describing in detail Union military camp conditions and drills, the environment of Tennessee, military operations in Middle Tennessee and Georgia (including Nashville, Stones River, Chattanooga, and Sherman's campaign in Georgia), opinions about Confederates and Copperheads, family life during the war, and the emotional trauma of conflict. The collection also includes several poems written by Milton Weaver's father, Richard, and a tintype of Milton Weaver in his Union uniform.
Biographical/Historical Note
The 74th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment was organized at Xenia, Ohio, between October 5, 1861 and March 27, 1862. Their formal service began with their participation in General Ebenezer Dumont's expedition over Tennessee's Cumberland Mountains in June of 1862. They then performed guard duty along the railroad route between Nashville and Columbia before taking part in the siege of Nashville from September 12 to November 7, 1862. On December 26, they left Nashville to participate in the advance on Murfreesboro, Tennessee (December 26-30, 1862). They next served in the Battle of Stone's River (December 30-31, 1862 and January 1-3, 1863) and remained on duty in Murfreesboro until June of 1863, when they were assigned to the Middle Tennessee (or Tullahoma) Campaign (June 23-July 7, 1863). They participated in the occupation of Middle Tennessee until August 16, 1863, when they served in Chickamauga (Georgia) Campaign (August 16-September 22, 1863). They returned to Tennessee for the siege of Chattanooga (September 24-November 23, 1863) and the Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign (November 23-27, 1863). After brief furloughs and reorganizations, the regiment was assigned to the Atlanta Campaign from May 1 to September 8, 1864. They then participated in operations against General John Bell Hood in North Georgia and North Alabama (September 29-November 3, 1864) and General William Tecumseh Sherman's March to the Sea (November 15-December 10, 1864). They were next assigned to the Siege of Savannah between December 10 and 21, 1864 and then to the Campaign of the Carolinas from January 1864 to April 1865. After the surrender of General Joseph Eggleston Johnston and his army, the 74th Ohio marched to Washington, D.C. (via Richmond, Virginia) and participated in the Grand Review on May 24. They then served in Louisville, Kentucky until mustering out July 11, 1865.
Milton Weaver of Vandalia, Ohio joined the 74th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment when he was only 18 years old. When he mustered in on November 5, 1861 at Camp Chase, Ohio, he signed up to serve a three-year enlistment. Weaver's correspondence from this period, which forms the bulk of this collection, focuses primarily on his military experiences but also speaks of his feelings for his family and his desire for the war to be over so that he could return home to them. Unfortunately, Weaver did not live to see the end of the war - he was killed in the battle of Jonesboro (Georgia) on September 1, 1864.
Arrangement
Collection consists of six series:
Missing Title
- Series I: Correspondence from Milton Weaver
- Series II: Correspondence to Milton Weaver
- Series III: Correspondence to Richard and Ann Weaver
- Series IV: Collected Poetry of Richard Weaver
- Series V: Other Items of Milton Weaver and Family
- Series VI: Photographs
Acquisition Note
The Special Collections Library purchased this collection.
Summaries and Transcriptions
Content summaries and transcriptions for individual letters are available as a PDF.
- Nashville (Tenn.) -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865.
- Ohio -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives.
- Ohio -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Regimental histories.
- Soldiers -- Ohio -- Correspondence.
- Tennessee -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865.
- United States. Army. Ohio Infantry Regiment, 74th (1861-1865).
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository