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A. H. Pierce Collection

 Collection
Identifier: MS-3351

  • Staff Only

This collection houses a cased ambrotype of a Union soldier (probably A. H. Pierce), a photograph of Grandpa Bailey, A. H. Pierce's diary, a guard duty ticket from Camp McClellan, Iowa, and a three-fold pocket surgery kit.

The diary (printed by Kiggins and Kellogg in New York in 1860) details A. H. Pierce's service with the 5th Iowa Volunteers during the Civil War. Pierce daily reports the condition of the weather, mentions the days he performs guard duty or drills, notes whether he received mail from home, and mentions where he and his regiment move. He begins at Camp McClellan, Iowa, near Davenport on 1862 August 30. After training, his regiment is deployed to Columbus, Kentucky by boat and then marches south to Corinth, Mississippi, where they make camp ten miles north of the city on November 8. The unit moves around Mississippi through most of the winter. Pierce reports being appointed wagon master, seeing many good plantations, and foraging in the countryside for bales of cotton and hay marked CSA He later repots going to Germantown, Tennessee for loads of ammunition and to Memphis, Tennessee for clothing. The unit later moves west to Lake Providence, Louisiana and then south to Milliken's Bend (near Vicksburg), where Pierce reports seeing gunboats passing on the river and hearing heavy firing all day on 1863 April 30. Shortly afterward, he was admitted to a convalescent hospital called Crystal Palace, where he writes that 700 sick soldiers are staying without enough nurses or food. Pierce was discharged from the hospital on May 4, but died from typhoid fever on May 14, 1863.

Dates

  • 1862-1863

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

1.5 Linear Feet

Abstract

This collection houses a cased ambrotype of a Union soldier (probably A. H. Pierce), a photograph of Grandpa Bailey, A. H. Pierce's diary, a guard duty ticket from Camp McClellan, Iowa, and a three-fold pocket surgery kit.

Biographical/Historical Note

Born 1830 August 16 in Troy, Vermont, Albert Hobbs Pierce (1830-1863) married Saloma Ann Bailey, also a Vermont native, on 1855 March 12 and had four children. After moving west to Iowa, Pierce enlisted in 5th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment on 1862 August 20. Although the roster declares his residence as Ainsworth, Iowa, he writes he is from Columbus City, Iowa in his diary. He became a wagon master in his regiment and his writings detail many of his supply allocating forays. After serving nearly a year, Pierce died of typhoid fever on 1863 May 14 at Milliken's Bend, Louisiana, during the siege of Vicksburg.

Arrangement

This collection consists of a single box.

Acquisition Note

Special Collections purchased these items.

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