Francis W. Knowles Papers, 1862-1885
(Manuscript Collection #164)
Descriptive Summary
| Title: | Francis W. Knowles Papers |
| Creator: | Knowles, Francis W. |
| Repository: | ECU Manuscript Collection |
| Languages: | English |
| Abstract: | Papers (1862-1885) consisting of diary, with description of camp, confederate and activities of knights of Golden Circle. |
| Extent: | 0.22 Cubic feet, 1 item , diary. |
Administrative Information
Accessions Information
May 13, 1971, 1 item; Diary (1862-1865). Purchased by J. Y. Joyner Library, Greenville, North Carolina.
Access Restrictions
No restrictions
Copyright Notice
Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.
Preferred Citation
Francis W. Knowles Papers (#164), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Acquisition Information
- Purchased by J. Y. Joyner Library
Processing Information
-
Processed by R. Weaver, March 1972
-
Encoded by Apex Data Services
Description
The Francis W. Knowles Papers consist of a diary scrapbook (1862-1865) written by Private Knowles while serving in Company B of the 36th Massachusetts Volunteers. The diary records the activities of Knowles, who was mainly a clerk, as he participated with the IX Corps at Fredericksburg (December, 1862), in the District of Indiana and Michigan (June-September, 1863), the Knoxville Campaign (November-December, 1863), the Wilderness campaign (May, 1864), the Spotsylvania Courthouse campaign (May, 1864), at Cold Harbor (June 3-4, 1864), and in the Petersburg campaign (June, 1864-April, 1865).
Entries of interest include a description of camp life at Camp Wool in Massachusetts (August, 1862); the activities of the Confederate raider John Morgan in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana (June-July, 1863); and the activities of the Knights of the Golden Circle in Kentucky (September-November, 1863). Also included are a report by General Edwin V. Sumner of the Battle of Fredericksburg in which he commanded the Right Grand Division; newspaper clipping entitled "The Last Night of Fredericksburg" by Joshua L. Chamberlain; autographs of Ambrose B. Burnside, Lewis Richmond, and John G. Parke; maps of the various campaigns in which Knowles participated; battlefield sketches; and field orders. Knowles was mustered out of the army in June of 1865.
Subject Headings
Personal/Family name
Corporate names
Topical terms
Card Catalog Entries
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Reading Room's card catalog. This system is no longer maintained, but it is left in place to help on-site researchers locate particular topics in the collection.
Geographic Entry :
- Virginia
Autograph Entry :
- Wilcox, General O[rlando] B[olivar] (2) 1865, 1885
Subject Entries :
- MASSACHUSETTS--Civil War--Units
- WAR--CIVIL--Battles--Cold Harbor, 1864
- WAR--CIVIL--Battles--Fort Stedman, 1865
- WAR--CIVIL--Battles--Fredericksburg, 1862
- WAR--CIVIL--Battles--Wilderness, 1864
- WAR--CIVIL--Campaigns--Knoxville, 1863
- WAR--CIVIL--Campaigns--Petersburg, 1864-1865
- WAR--CIVIL--Campaigns--Spotsylvania, 1864
- WAR--CIVIL--Camp Life--Massachusetts
- WAR--CIVIL--Ohio Valley--1863
- WAR--CIVIL--Organizations--Knights of the Golden Circle
- WAR--CIVIL--Units--9th U.S. Army Corps
- WAR--CIVIL--Units--Massachusetts
Date Entry :
- 1862-1865
Online access to this finding aid is supported with funds created through the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). These funds come through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services which is administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources. This grant is part of the North Carolina ECHO, Exploring Cultural Heritage Online, Digitization Grant Program.
