George W. Douglas Letter
Lieutenant George W. Douglas was wounded severely during a charge upon the rebels at Utoy Creek, Georgia on the 6th of August 1864, according to a report given by General James W. Reilly. Douglas writes concerning his stump and wants an artificial leg to enable him to walk. He is writing Colonel Cross in reference to money that Douglas had borrowed and wishes to repay it to the colonel. Douglas quotes William Gannaway Parson Brownlow who recently predicted the end of the Southern Confederacy.
Dates
- 1865 February 4
Conditions Governing Access
Collections are stored offsite, and a minimum of 2 business days are needed to retrieve these items for use. Researchers interested in consulting any of the collections are advised to contact Special Collections.
Conditions Governing Use
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Extent
0.1 Linear Feet
Abstract
In a letter written February 4, 1865 from the Officers' Hospital in Knoxville, Tenn., to Colonel Cross, George W. Douglas writes concerning his desire for an artifical leg to help him walk.
Biographical/Historical Note
George W. Douglas mustered into Company G of the 8th Tennessee Volunteer Infantry on June 30, 1863 and was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on the same day. This coincidence indicates that Douglas probably transferred in from another unit in order to accept this promotion, but this unit cannot be identified. The 8th Tennessee Volunteer Infantry was organized at Camp Nelson, Kentucky on June 30, 1863. Their service in 1864 began with Dandridge (January 16-17, 1864) and Strawberry Plains (January 22). They then saw duty in East Tennessee until April, when they were assigned to the Atlanta (Georgia) Campaign (May to September, 1864). Douglas was wounded late in this campaign at Utoy Creek (Georgia) on August 6, 1864. He was subsequently transferred to the Officers' Hospital in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he wrote this letter.
The only Colonel Cross listed in the National Park Civil War Soldier and Sailor System website at www.itd.nps.gov online in December 2004 is William Cross who enlisted as a Major and eventually became a Colonel in the 3rd Tennessee Infantry on the 25th of June 1863. Colonel James W. Reilly, also mentioned in Douglas's letter, was promoted from the 104th Ohio Infantry Regiment on July 30, 1864 to become a Brigadier General.
Arrangement
Collection consists of a single folder.
Acquisition Note
Collection was purchased by Special Collections in August 2004.
- Knoxville (Tenn.) -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865.
- Soldiers -- Tennessee -- Correspondence.
- Tennessee -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives.
- Tennessee -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865.
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives.
- United States. Army. Tennessee Infantry Regiment, 8th (1862-1865).
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository