Manuscript Resources on The Civil War
This guide describes collections documenting the Civil War in the Lower Mississippi Valley, including the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Texas, in the Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections (LLMVC) at LSU. The guide includes not only materials from the war years (1861-1865) themselves, but also materials from later periods containing manuscript sources for Civil War history. Thus such sources as post-war reminiscences and records of veterans' groups--materials dealing with the war as memory and experience--will be found alongside soldiers' and civilians' letters, diaries, and daybooks from the war itself. In addition, the guide includes collections of papers of Louisiana and other area soldiers who fought outside of the Lower Mississippi Valley.
LSU's holdings of Civil War manuscripts make LLMVC a rich treasure-trove for researchers. Many researchers are studying these documents from new perspectives, to see what they have to tell us about women's experiences on the home front and about Louisiana's African Americans, a significant number of whom fought for the Union. Louisiana played a central role in the war, with the fall of Port Hudson in July 1863 a critical event. Much of the state was long occupied by Union forces, and LLMVC contains the papers of numerous Union as well as Confederate soldiers. Other areas of strength include materials documenting the siege of Vicksburg, the Battle of Shiloh, and the Red River campaign.
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Armstrong, Ezekiel. Diary, 1862 May 28-December 10. 1 vol. on microfilm. Location: Mss. Mf.:A Confederate sergeant in the 17th Mississippi Regiment during the Civil War. Diary comments on Seven Days Battle at Richmond, Virginia; sermons preached by chaplains; army marches; a visit to the scene of the Second Battle of Bull Run; the Maryland Campaign; and the attitude of civilians toward the Confederate army. He also mentions participation in the battles of Maryland Heights and Sharpsburg; and the evacuation of women and children from Fredericksburg. For further information, see online catalog. Mss. 943. |
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Arnold, Thomas, Lieutenant. Papers, 1862 April 26. 2 items. Location: Misc:A. Confederate navy lieutenant serving on the Mississippi River during the Civil War. Letter from Arnold on the towboat Landis to Captain J. K. Mitchell of the Confederate navy describing an action in which he captured, then lost the Union steamer Resolute. His vessel was fired upon by the Union steamer Defiance. Included is a list of night signals for the fleet, probably Confederate. Available on microfilm 5735: University Publications of America Confederate Military Manuscripts Series B, Reel 1. For further information, see online catalog. Mss. 3220. Referenced in Guides: Civil War
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Ashlock, Jules R. Papers. Ville Platte Gazette centennial edition, 1958 September 18. 1 ms. Vol. Location: J:24. Special edition commemorating the hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of the city of Ville Platte, Louisiana, with histories; photographs of historic scenes and residents; and articles on recent progress. The volume also contains letters written by a Confederate soldier, Amos K. Anselm, to his mother in 1861 and 1862. For further information, see online catalog. Mss. 2480. Referenced in Guides: Civil War
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Atherton, R. Letter, circa 1863. 1 item. Location: MISC:A. Federal soldier stationed in Carrollton, Louisiana, waiting with his unit for military orders. The letter contains information concerning assignments of other divisions and about mutual friends. For further information, see online catalog. Mss. 1484. Referenced in Guides: Civil War
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Augur, Christopher Columbus, 1821-1898. Photograph, undated 1 item. Location:E:73. Union general and commander of the District of Baton Rouge (1862) and of troops attacking Port Hudson. Carte-de-visite photograph of Augur in uniform. For further information, see online catalog. Mss. 3538. Referenced in Guides: Civil War, Baton Rouge
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