Ellis (William H.) Papers

(Mss. 2274, 4400)

Inventory

Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections

Special Collections, Hill Memorial Library

Louisiana State University Libraries

Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University

Reformatted 2007

Contents of Inventory

Biographical/Historical Note	4
Scope and Content Note	4
Collection Description(s)	5
Index Terms	6-8
Container List	9

Use of manuscript materials. If you wish to examine items in the manuscript group, please fill out a call slip specifying the materials you wish to see. Consult the Container List for location information needed on the call slip.

Photocopying. Should you wish to request photocopies, please consult a staff member. The existing order and arrangement of unbound materials must be maintained.

Publication. Readers assume full responsibility for compliance with laws regarding copyright, literary property rights, and libel.

Permission to examine archival materials does not constitute permission to publish. Any publication of such materials beyond the limits of fair use requires specific prior written permission. Requests for permission to publish should be addressed in writing to the Head, Public Services, Special Collections, LSU Libraries, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803-3300. When permission to publish is granted, two copies of the publication will be requested for the LLMVC.

Proper acknowledgement of LLMVC materials must be made in any resulting writing or publications. The correct form of citation for this manuscript group is given on the summary page. Copies of scholarly publications based on research in the Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections are welcomed.

Summary

Size.	202 items, 5 manuscript volumes, and 4 printed volumes

Geographic locations.	New Orleans, La.; Tangipahoa Parish, La.; St. Helena Parish, La.; Montgomery, Ala.; Richmond, Va.; Petersburg, Va.; Athens, Ga.; Galveston, Tex.; Houston, Tex.; Liverpool, England

Inclusive dates.	1839-1900

Bulk dates.	N/A

Language.	English

Summary.	Diaries, notes, letters, official Confederate items, and newspaper clippings pertaining to military service of William H. Ellis and post-war Louisiana.

Organization.	Arranged chronologically

Restrictions on access.	If microfilm is available, photocopies must be made from microfilm.

Related collections.	N/A

Copyright.	Copyright of the original materials is retained by descendants of the creators in accordance with U.S. copyright law.

Citation.	William H. Ellis Papers, Mss. 2274, 4400, Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections, LSU Libraries, Baton Rouge, La.

Stack location(s).	U:235; G:5

Also available on:	Microfilm 5735, Series B, Reel 5 Omission: Folder 10: Pamphlets (1866, undated)

Biographical/Historical Note

William H. Ellis, a postal worker in New Orleans, Louisiana, was a soldier in the New Orleans Washington Artillery unit of the Army of Northern Virginia and was active in Confederate veterans’ affairs after the war. He conducted business in New Orleans and had interests in the cotton market in the 1880s. Ellis had family in Arcola, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, including a son, Rowland B. Ellis (b. 1875); his brother-in-law, E. F. Keplinger, was a cotton buyer in Montgomery, Alabama.

Scope and Content Note

Letters, financial, personal and political papers, and military documents reflect Ellis' activities in business in New Orleans and as a soldier in the Washington Artillery.

Financial papers include slave bills of sale, bank drafts and notes, documents of land ownership including the sale of land in Saint Helena Parish, promissory notes, and receipts for court costs, furnishings, interest payments, wages, and statements of account.

Military items include orders, passes, prisoner parole forms, and receipts of pay and clothing (1864-1865). Political papers include speeches (1856, 1857), an amnesty oath (1865), and a voter's registration certificate (1876). A few letters cover personal and business matters including cotton sales with the Keplinger Pickery Company, Montgomery, Alabama, and T. Walley and Company of Liverpool, England (1882, 1885). Personal items include membership certificates in church societies, manuscript copies of poems, a railroad ticket, and calling cards.

Three diaries (1860-1865) include entries describing office work and social life in New Orleans (1860), Camp Victory and Camp Hollins near the battleground of Bull Run (Jan. 1862), the camp mess and cooking in camps (1862), the Battle of Chickahominy near Richmond, Virginia (1862), Ellis' capture and parole at Athens, Georgia (May-Aug., 1865), and the death of Lincoln. The diaries contain some addresses and cash entries recording pay and expenses. A memorandum book (1863-1864) contains poems and entries concerning military duties. A diary for 1869 contains notes on weather, business, and personal affairs.

Printed items include newspaper clippings and fragments (1860-1894), 3 religious pamphlets, a copy of the New Testament, and a directory of members of the Felicity Street Methodist Episcopal Church South.

Collection Description

Stack Location	Box	Folder	Date	Contents
U:235	1	1	1839-1849	8 items: Promissory Notes and Receipts

		2	1847-1866	69 items: Bank Drafts and Notes

		3a-3b	1850-1861	30 items: Financial Documents and Political Speeches

		4	1862-1865	20 items: Civil War Materials

		5	1866-1892	30 items: Financial Items, Newspapers, and Correspondence

		8	1885, undated	4 items: Washington Artillery calling cards

		9	1860-1900	13 items: Newspaper Clippings

		10	1886, undated	3 printed volumes: Pamphlets

		11	1890, undated	United Confederate Veterans Badges

		12	1879	Hood Relief Committee Picture

		13	1890	Keplinger photographs

		14	undated	William Ellis photographs

		15	undated	Confederate photographs

		16	undated	C.T. Keplinger photographs

		17	undated	Unidentified photograph

		18	1890	New Album of Richmond Views

		19	1869-1894	1 manuscript volume, Diary (1869), newspaper clippings, and letter

G:5	1	--	1860-1865	Manuscript volumes: 3 Diaries (1860, 1864-1865), (1862, 1865), (1863, 1865)
			1863-1864	1 manuscript volume: Memorandum Book
			1860-1863	1 printed volume: The New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

Index Terms

(This section provides the subject indexing for the collection found in the card catalog. Index terms have been changed to match Library of Congress Subject Headings.

Documents relating to the subject given are described.)

Subject	Date	Description of relevant documents
Advertising.		Printed check on “The Mustang Bank” promoting Mexican Mustang Liniment.

American Confederate voluntary exiles--Brazil.	(1865)	Comment on inducements offered by governments. Memorandum, Mar. 25, Diary 1.

American Confederate voluntary exiles--Costa Rica.	(1865)	Comment on inducements offered by governments. Memorandum, Mar. 25, Diary 1.

American Confederate voluntary exiles--Paraguay.	(1865)	Comment on inducements offered by governments. Memorandum, Mar. 25, Diary 1.

Banks and banking--Louisiana--New Orleans.	1847-1866	7 notes on Exchange and Banking House signed by James Robb. 1847-1848; 17 notes on Insurance Bank of W. B. Partee and Company. 1850-1857; 23 notes on James Robb and Company Bankers. 1849-1853; 15 miscellaneous drafts issued principally in New Orleans. 1847-1866.

Benjamin, J. P. (Judah Philip), 1811-1884.	1858	Printed speech delivered in United States Senate on Kansas Bill.

Camp Victory (Va.)	1862	Inventory of cooking utensils and table ware, and cash accounts of “Orphan’s Mess.” Jan.-July.

Coleman, H. Dudley.	1890	Favorable comments on “Women of 61” in the (New Orleans, La.) Times-Democrat and appearance of Washington Artillery at reunion in Richmond. 1 letter by, July 23.

Commission merchants--England--Liverpool.	1882	Comments on prices, heavy bull interest in market, depressing effects of Indian shipments, and probable American losses. Mar. 30 and May 6.

Confederate States of	1863, 1890,	“To the Ladies,” by a Soldier of Lee’s Army.”

America--Poetry.	undated	1863 in Memo Book 4, 1863-1864; “The Burgle Song,” by a Washington Artillerist, undated; Clipping, “Our Southern Dead,” by Minnie Mosher, 1890.

Confederate States of America. Army--Recruiting, enlistment, etc.	1864	Copy of General Order No. 1 from General Lee granting furlough to men furnishing recruits, Jan. 1.

Confederate States of America. Army. Washington Artillery Battalion (New Orleans, La.)	1861-1865, 1885, 1890	Notes on battles, 1861-1863, in printed copy of New Testament; poetry; diaries and scattered items, 1864-1865, pertain to closing days of the war; and calling cards, 1885, and letters and reprint from New Orleans Daily Picayune, 1890, are related to post war interests; Activities of soldier in General Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia, closing days of war, and return home.

Cotton gins and ginning--Alabama.	1885, undated	Profit and loss statement. Feb. 12, 1885; Clippings comment on fire and new ginnery. undated

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889--Captivity, 1865.	1865	Confederate soldier sees President Davis under guard. (May 14) Feb. 2.

Ellis, William H., 1839-1892.	1860-1902	Sergeant in Washington Artillery; member of Felicity Street Methodist Episcopal Church South; postal employee.

Fillmore, Millard, 1800-1874.	1856	Speech supporting Fillmore criticizes adversely James Buchanan, his Republican opponent.

House furnishings--Louisiana--New Orleans.	1866-1867	10 receipted bills for miscellaneous items and repairs.

Keplinger Pickery Company.	1885, undated	Profit and loss statement. Feb. 12, 1885; Clippings comment on fire and new ginnery. undated

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865--Assassination.	1865	Comment by Confederate soldier on news of death, “Thus passeth from earth one of the greatest monsters who ever lived.” Apr. 24.

Loyalty oaths--Louisiana--Saint Helena Parish.	1865	Amnesty oath of R. M. Ellis, Nov. 5.


Methodist Episcopal Church.	1854, 1863, 1886	Life membership certificate of Mrs. R. M. Ellis in Parent Missionary Society. Amite City, Oct. 4, 1863.

Presidents--United States--Election--1856.	1856	Speech supporting Millard Fillmore, Democratic candidate, against James Buchanan, Republican candidate.

Reunions--Virginia--Richmond.	1890	Participation of Washington Artillery at dedication of General Lee’s statue. May 8 and July 30; Published article titled “Washington Artillery, Recollection of the Richmond trip. . .” June 20. Published in N. O. Picayune.

Secession--Louisiana--New Orleans.	1860	Union loyalist describes enthusiasms for secession at unfurling of Pelican flag. 1 newspaper clipping, Dec. 21.

Slave trade--Louisiana--New Orleans.	1848-1853	Sale of man, age 23, for $750. Jan. 5, 1848; Mortgage lien, note, and receipt for payment of slave girl, Dec. 12, 1850, and July 20, and Dec. 14, 1852; Sale of boy, age 10, for “love and affection.” May 11, 1853.

Soldiers--Confederate States of America--Diaries.	1860, 1862-1865	3 volume diary of Washington Artillery sergeant from New Orleans concerns principally the closing days of the war and personal activities.

T. Walley and Company.	1882	Comments on prices, heavy bull interest in market, depressing effects of Indian shipments, and probable American losses. Mar. 30 and May 6.

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Transportation.	1865	General Orders #44 printed from Military Division of West Mississippi requiring Confederate soldiers and officers entering to register and receive passes for return home. May 4.

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Veterans.	1890	Participation of Washington Artillery at dedication of General Lee’s statue. May 8 and July 30; Published article titled “Washington Artillery, Recollection of the Richmond trip. . .” June 20. Published in N. O. Picayune.

Container List

Stack Location	Box	Folder(s)	Contents (with dates)

U:235	1	1-19	William H. Ellis Papers (1839-1900); Diary (1869)

G:5	--	--	Diary 1 (1860, 1864-1865)

			Diary 2 (1862, 1865)

			Diary 3 (1863, 1865)

			Memorandum Book (1863-1864)

			The New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ: translated out of the original Greek; and with the former translations diligently compared and revised. American Bible Society. New York, 1860.

MF:5735, Series B	--	Reel 5	Microfilm reel containing Military Manuscripts Omission: Folder 10: Pamphlets (1866, undated)