John W. Cleland Letters
This collection includes two handwritten letters by John Cleland, Union soldier during the Civil War, written to his family from outside Knoxville, Tenn. The first letter, dated February 13, 14, and 17, 1864, discusses his unit's geographical placement and movements around Knoxville, scouting for Rebel soldiers, and the layout of the camp among other things. The second letter, dated March 7 and 8, 1864, details his unit's movements through Strawberry Plains and New Market toward Morristown as well as an account of his unit's headquarters in the Knoxville Female Academy. Both letters include original envelopes as well as typed transcriptions.
Dates
- 1864 February-March
Language
This material is in English.
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 (1 folder)
Abstract
This collection includes two handwritten letters by John Cleland, Union soldier during the Civil War, written to his family from outside Knoxville, Tenn. during February and March 1864.
Biographical/Historical Note
John W. Cleland was born to Arthur and Mary Cleland on June 8, 1843 in Ohio. He was one of four children: James (born about 1836), Mary J. (born about 1841), William (born about 1848), and Margaret (born about 1852). John Cleland enlisted in Company F of the 111th Ohio Infantry on September 5, 1862. He was promoted several times: to First Sergeant on March 5, 1863, to Second Lieutenant on April 12, 1864, and to First Lieutenant on May 2, 1865. His unit served in Kentucky, in East Tennessee (including the Battle of Knoxville), and in the Atlanta campaign. Cleland mustered out on June 27, 1865 in Salisbury, North Carolina. He returned to Ohio and married Celinda J. Hughes on May 16, 1867. Two of the couple's children survived infancy: Minnie A. and Arthur B. The family moved to Nevada, Missouri and then to Decatur, Illinois, where John Cleland died suddenly of a heart attack on April 29, 1912.
Arrangement
This collection is in one folder.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository