Henry Cherry Letters
The Henry Cherry Letters, 1864-1865, document the military service of Cherry, a Chaplain with the 10th Michigan Cavalry in the Civil War. In nine letters to Amos Gould of Owosso, Mich., Cherry provides insight into life as a Chaplain in the Union Army as well as descriptions of Knoxville and the people of East Tennessee. The final letter, dated November 1, 1865, includes post-war descriptions of Jackson and Memphis.
Cherry provides numerous details on the churches and means of worship in the area, noting in an April 21, 1865, letter the destructed state of the churches divided & impoverished by the war. He also describes his friendship with Professor Lamar, an instructor of languages at Maryville College, who invites him to preach in Maryville.
Another recurring topic in Cherry’s letters is the difficulty that his regiment has faced in getting paid. Cherry expresses regret that he cannot repay his debts to Gould until the Union Army supplies his paycheck. He also discusses paperwork difficulties encountered when he was reunited with the 10th Michigan Cavalry after a brief separation in Kentucky.
Dates
- 1864 March 4-1865 November 1
Conditions Governing Access
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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 Henry Cherry Letters, 1864-1865, contain nine letters from Cherry, a Chaplain with the 10th Michigan Cavalry in the Civil War, to Amos Gould of Owosso, Mich., describing both military and civilian life in the Union Army during the Civil War. The majority of these letters were written from Knoxville, Tenn.
Biographical/Historical Note
Henry Cherry, a Presbyterian chaplain during the Civil War, served with the 10th Michigan Cavalry. After serving in Lexington, Ky., until late January 1864, this regiment moved to Knoxville in early March 1864. The 10th Michigan Cavalry moved throughout East Tennessee for the next 17 months, until they moved to West Tennessee in August 1865. The men were mustered out on November 11, 1865. During the war years, the regiment lost a total of 271 men, including two officers and 29 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded in battle.
Amos Gould of Owosso, Mich., was an attorney and banker. His family was one of the first to arrive in Owosso around 1837. When the city was incorporated in 1859, Gould was elected Owosso’s first mayor.
Arrangement
Collection consists of a single folder.
Acquisition Note
Collection was purchased by Special Collections in December 1999.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository