Description:

THE DIARIES OF A CIVIL WAR CORPORAL
Collection of diaries, photographs, and other documents related to Thomas Henry Lucas, a corporal with the 42nd Regiment of Illinois Infantry. Lucas participated in the Battle of Stones River in Jan. 1863, the Battle of Chickamauga in Sep. 1863, and the Battle of Chattanooga in Nov. 1863. He was captured at Stones River, but was quickly paroled and returned to service. Includes: Lucas' diaries for the years 1863 and 1865; two pocket bibles, published 1842 and 1864; an ambrotype photograph of Lucas and his wife Lydia, later in life; a photo postcard of Lucas' home in Salina, Kansas, circa 1908; Memorial Records commemorating the funerals of Henry and Lydia in 1909 and 1910, respectively; and a newspaper obituary marking Henry's passing. The diaries contain a great deal of information on both the daily tedium and toil of army life, and the brief moments of action and excitement that interrupt it. The 1863 diary opens with Lucas in Confederate custody following the Battle of Stones River, and describes his captivity at Libby Prison in Richmond. In part: "Tuesday (Jan.) 20: Today on to Richmond where we got at 11 o'clock. Went to the prison where we was to stop. Went in to... tobacco house where we stop. Well there was 300 of us put on the 3rd floor where we fixed to chew rations, we got a little tonight... Wednesday, Jan. 28... This morning we gone to the Libey (Libby) prison where we are to be paroled and then sent off..." The next several months are spent in various camps and barracks, until Sep. 18-20, when Lucas participates in the Battle of Chickamauga. In part: "...we started on the march at 7 march 5 miles then halted & rested then formed a line &... went along on the field front then we went into action at 3. We made one charge. We ran the Rebs back & they charged on us. We repulsed them... Sunday 20:... There we formed our line & rested till 8. They... made another charge... then the fighting began & we went down in double quick... & in 20 minutes our Reg. was cut all to pieces. Our company was all killed and wound but 8 or 9..." Lucas also describes the executions of deserters, the capturing of Confederate prisoners, the destruction he witnessed in Atlanta and throughout the south, and his participation in the Third Battle of Chattanooga: "...This morning on picket post. Some rebels came in last night 7 I was relieved at 7... battery opened on the Rebs at 9 A.M. They have fired at intervals all day... Monday 23... at 10 A.M. we went out in line of battle the advance began to fight at 2 P.M. They drove the pickets back to 400. We did not get in the fight... Tuesday, November 24... The fight began west of Look (Lookout) Mountain at 10 A.M . Then our men sweep around the point driving them... Wednesday 25... we formed a line of skirmishers march out a ways then stop till 2 P.M. Then we charged a line of rifle pits. We drove the Rebs out of the first & keep on till we drove them out of 6 lines and off the Missionary Ridge. Took 17 pieces of cannon... Thursday 26... this morning we came out to the Chickamauga Creek & stop. We are picking up prisoners all the time. We have at this time 104, and more coming in all the time..."As a whole body, the content is extremely detailed and personal. The diaries contain numerous personal touches, such as a tipped-in photo of Lydia Lucas, expenditure accounts, poems, and a list of senators voting against the impeachment of Andrew Johnson. The spine of the 1863 diary has been repaired with black electrician's tape, as has the 1842 bible. All four books are well-worn with age, with heavily chipped covers and loose bindings. The ink in several entries has faded. Altogether, a great personal archive and firsthand account of warfare and captivity.

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May 24, 2016 10:30 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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