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Albert Woodcock Letter

 Collection
Identifier: MS-2792

  • Staff Only

Captain Albert Woodcock wrote this letter to "Dearest Leute" from camp near Franklin, Tennessee on May 6, 1863. In it, he describes daily life in camp, including a detailed diagram of the infantry's position.

Dates

  • 1863 May 6

Conditions Governing Access

Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.

Conditions Governing Use

The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.

Extent

0.1 Linear Feet

Abstract

Captain Albert Woodcock wrote this letter to "Dearest Leute" from camp near Franklin, Tennessee on May 6, 1863. In it, he describes daily life in camp, including a detailed diagram of the infantry's position.

Biographical/Historical Note

Alfred Woodcock was born to Freeman and Elizabeth (Bass) Woodcock near Prescott, Ontario, Canada on July 6, 1829. The family emigrated to the United States in 1845 and settled near Lighthouse (Ogle County), Illinois. Alfred Woodcock attended the Rock River Seminary before graduating from Union College in New York. While in New York, he married Lucy Lucretia Dake (1830-1872). The couple had two children, John Andrew and Frank. After his first wife's death, Woodcock married Jennie McDade (1846-1882). He returned to Illinois after graduation, where he taught school and read law. Woodcock was admitted to the bar and practiced law until being elected treasurer of Ogle County in November of 1857. He held this post until his election as county clerk in 1861. He served in this capacity for sixteen consecutive years, with his brother, John B. Woodcock (1825-1912), performing his duties while he was absent during the Civil War.

Woodcock enlisted in the 92nd Illinois Infantry as a Captain on April 9, 1862. In order to assign companies, the captains met and drew letters out of a hat. Woodcock drew K and served as captain of this unit until being promoted to Major on June 28, 1864. Woodcock mustered out at Greensboro, North Carolina on June 21, 1865 and returned to his family in Illinois. He resumed his duties as county clerk, where he served until being elected county judge in November of 1877. Woodcock left this post in May of 1881 in order to accept a Presidential appointment as U.S. Counsel to the Port of Catania, Italy. He returned to America in 1883 and lived in Washington, D.C. for two years before being appointed general land commissioner of the Union Pacific Railroad. He held this post for two years, after which he settled in Los Angeles, California and married Sarah Augusta (Petrie) Hitt (1846-1928). Albert Woodcock died of pelvic cancer on June 15, 1894 and is buried in Riverview Cemetery in Oregon, Illinois.

Arrangement

This collection consists of a single folder.

Acquisition Note

Special Collections purchased this letter on May 22, 2006.

Repository Details

Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository

Contact:
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Knoxville TN 37996 USA
865-974-4480