Reynolds Family Correspondence, 1863-1871
(bulk 1864-1865)
John Hay Library , Special Collections
Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Tel: 401-863-2146
email: hay@brown.edu
Published in 2013
Collection Overview
| Title: | Reynolds Family Correspondence |
| Date range: | 1863-1871, (bulk 1864-1865) |
| Creator: | Reynolds, Alfred C. |
| Abstract: | Collection consists almost entirely of personal letters written by Alfred C., Charles E., and James W. Reynolds to sisters and parents detailing Civil War experiences in the 128th Regiment, New York Volunteers and the 11th Light Artillery Regiment, New York. Of particular interest are accounts of the capture of Fort Morgan (1864, August-September), reflections on the Copperheads, Afro-American troops, General Lee, and slavery. |
| Language of materials: | English |
| Repository: | John Hay Library
, Special Collections |
| Collection number: | Ms.Reynolds Family |
Scope & content
The Reynolds family papers consist primarily of personal letters written between 1863 and 1865 by Charles, James and Alfred Reynolds to their sisters Fannie and Hattie, their parents, and friends at home in upstate New York. The letters detail personal and familial matters and provide extensive descriptions of Union military offensives (such as the taking of Fort Morgan, Mobile Bay, Alabama), Afro-Americans, Copperhead Democrats, military camp routine, and Union movements through the Southern states.Access Points
Subject Names- Lee, Robert E. (Robert Edward), 1807-1870
- Reynolds, Alfred C
- Reynolds, Charles E
- Reynolds, James W., 1840-
- United States. Army. New York Infantry Regiment, 128th (1862-1865)
- United States. Army. New York Light Artillery Regiment, 11th Independent Battery
- Confederate States of America--Social life and customs
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Campaigns
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Health aspects
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Naval operations
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Participation, African American
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Public opinion
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Social life and customs
Arrangement
The collection is divided into 7 series:
- Series 1. Correspondence of anonymous
- Series 2. Correspondence of Kennedy, Charles W., Capt.
- Series 3. Correspondence of Reynolds, Alfred C.
- Series 4. Correspondence of Reynolds, Charles E.
- Series 5. Correspondence of Reynolds, James W.
- Series 6. Correspondence of Sherman, William T., Gen.
- Series 7. Correspondence of Treasury Department
Items are arranged alphabetically by the author of the letter and then chronologically.
Biographical note
The Reynolds family lived in Valatie, New York (Columbia County). Charles E. Reynolds and his brothers Alfred and James were likely born in Valatie during the 1840s. Through internal evidence of the letters, the birth date for James can be established as March 8, 1840.Charles Reynolds joined the 128th Regiment, New York Volunteers (infantry), sometime during July and August of 1862. He was assigned to Company E as a Private. Later, he was attached as a clerk to the Headquarters Staff in the Baton Rouge District, with the HQ of the Engineer Brigade at Vicksburg, White River, Arkansas, and Morganza and New Orleans, Louisiana, with the HQ for U. S. forces at Mobile, and finally with the HQ for the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division of the 19th Army Corps and the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, of the 10th Army Corps in Savannah, Georgia.
James Reynolds also enlisted, serving as a Private in the Federal army in the 11th New York Battery, Artillery Battalion ("Whipple's Division"), 3rd Army Corps. His service record is less clear than Charles', but he was attached to the office of the Assistant Quartermaster in Louisville, Kentucky and North Carolina in 1864-1865.
Alfred Reynolds does not seem to have entered military service (indeed, he may have been too young to serve) -- at least the information that can be gleaned from the letters suggests as much. However, in 1864 he traveled to Washington, D.C. After the war ended, he went to Galveston and New Orleans, via Key West, apparently to seek his fortune.
Access & Use
| Access to the collection: | There are no restrictions on access, and an advance appointment is not necessary to see the collection. |
| Use of the materials: | All the materials in this collection are in the public domain and available for use without restriction. |
| Preferred citation: | Reynolds Family Correspondence, Ms. Reynolds Family, Brown University Library. |
| Contact information: | John Hay Library
, Special Collections Box A Brown University Providence, RI 02912 Tel: 401-863-2146 email: hay@brown.edu |
Administrative Information
| ABOUT THE COLLECTION | |
| Acquisition: | The Reynolds Family papers were the given to the Brown University Library by Mrs. Ruth (Cary) Boynton (Pembroke Class of 1934) in 1971. |
| ABOUT THE FINDING AID | |
| Author: | Finding aid prepared by Jayati Chaudhuri |
| Encoding: | This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2013-04-02T12:09-0400 |
Additional Information
| Related material: | The following websites provide background information to this collection:Civil War Soldiers & Sailors System, National Park Service11th Independent Battery, Light Artillery (Veteran) Civil War--Havelock Battery, New York State Military MuseumA history of the 128th NY Regiment, maintained by Dean Thomas of Webster, NY |
| Other information: |
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