Skip to main content

SCOUT

Special Collections Online at UT

William Cosgrove Letter

 Collection
Identifier: MS-2175

  • Staff Only

This collection is composed of a letter that William Cosgrove of the 1st Ohio Light Artillery Regiment, Battery G, wrote to his aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Bowers, in Mount Vernon (Knox County) Ohio from Nashville, Tennessee on January 31, 1864. He writes of his cousin Charles's death in Memphis and his own battery's move to Nashville. Also, he speaks of conditions in camp, including a recent outbreak of smallpox and his personal troubles with rheumatism.

Dates

  • 1864 January 31

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 is composed of a letter that William Cosgrove of the 1st Ohio Light Artillery Regiment, Battery G, wrote to his aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Bowers, in Mount Vernon (Knox County) Ohio from Nashville, Tennessee on January 31, 1864. He writes of his cousin Charles's death in Memphis and his own battery's move to Nashville. Also, he speaks of conditions in camp, including a recent outbreak of smallpox and his personal troubles with rheumatism.

Biographical/Historical Note

William Cosgrove was born in New York to Stephen and Hanna Cosgrove in March 1841, the first of nine children. Prior to 1860, the Cosgrove family moved to Milton, Ohio (Ashland County), where Stephen and William worked on the family farm.

In September 1861, Cosgrove mustered into Battery D of the 1st Regiment of the Ohio Light Artillery. Shortly before writing the letter in this collection, Cosgrove transferred from Battery D to Battery G of the same regiment. After the war ended, Cosgrove returned to Ohio and settled in Holmes (Crawford County) where he worked as a mechanic and carpenter. He married Rebecca (d. 1916) in approximately 1868, and they had five children. Cosgrove died on January 15, 1924.

Arrangement

Collection consists of a single folder.

Acquisition Note

Collection was purchased by Special Collections in May 2004.

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