Joseph Boyd Letters
The Boyd Letters contains six letters written by Joseph E. Boyd of the 115th Illinois Volunteer Infantry between September 1862 and January 1864. These letters describe Union military camp conditions, the environment of Tennessee, Union soldiers' viewpoints regarding the war and Confederates, battles and military operations in Middle and East Tennessee, and the family concerns of Union soldiers.
Dates
- 1862 September 14-1864 January 28
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
The Boyd Letters contains six letters written by Joseph E. Boyd of the 115th Illinois Volunteer Infantry between September 1862 and January 1864. These letters describe Union military camp conditions, the environment of Tennessee, Union soldiers' viewpoints regarding the war and Confederates, battles and military operations in Middle and East Tennessee, and the family concerns of Union soldiers.
Biographical/Historical Note
Joseph E. Boyd was born to Margaret and John Boyd in Illinois in 1843. At the time of the 1860 U. S. Census, he had five siblings: Archibald (23 years old), John (9 years old), Geoffrey (6 years old), Charles (4 years old) and Elizabeth (1 year old).
Boyd mustered into Company D of the 115th Illinois Volunteer Infantry as a Private on September 13, 1862, when he was just 19 years old. The unit traveled in the southeast for the first several months of its existence and saw its first major action at the defense of Nashville on February 4, 1863. Boyd was killed in action in Dalton, Georgia on October 13, 1864.
Arrangement
Collection consists of a single folder.
Acquisition Note
Collection was purchased by Special Collections in 2004.
- Illinois -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives.
- Illinois -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Regimental histories.
- Soldiers -- Illinois -- Correspondence.
- Tennessee -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865.
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Campaigns.
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Regimental histories.
- United States. Army. Illinois Infantry Regiment, 115th (1862-1865).
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository