Benjamin Williams diary
Collection — Folder: S3050
Identifier: S3050
Scope and Contents
The collection includes two items, a photocopied Civil War diary kept by Williams and a photocopy from a Gibson County history with a history of the 91st Regiment. The diary dates from October 12, 1861 to July 1, 1864. The entries vary from short entries of one or two sentences to lengthy retrospective essays. Early 1863 references concern travel by steamer on the Ohio River in the area of Evansville, Indiana, and Henderson and Spottsville, Kentucky. Afterwards, Williams’ company briefly pursued John Morgan. By the end of 1863, his company was moving wagons and artillery across the Cumberland Mountains. Williams’ brother, William C. Williams, died in a hospital in Kingston, Georgia, on July 23, 1864. Williams entered a series of battles on June 3, 1864, at Kennesaw Mountain (page 58 of the diary). These battle engagements continued to the Battle of Nashville, which was entered on December 15, 1864 (page 84 of the diary). A two-page roster of members of Company D appears on pages 15 and 16 of the diary. Engagements in which the company fought are listed on pages 61 and 62. A page from Jas. T. Tartt & Company’s History of Gibson County, Indiana, which provides a history of the 91st Infantry, has been included with the diary.
Dates
- 1861-1864
Creator
- Williams, Benjamin (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.
Biographical Note
First Lieutenant Benjamin A. Williams, from Owensville in Gibson County, was commissioned as an officer on August 30, 1862. He was mustered into service on October 1, 1862. Williams saw action in battles at Kennesaw Mountain and Nashville. Throughout the Civil War, Williams remained with Company D of the 91st Regiment of the Indiana Infantry, often commanding it. He served in that company with his brothers, William C. and George R. Williams.
Source: Previous Finding Aid
Source: Previous Finding Aid
Extent
0.01 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection only has one item.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation from Alvetta S. Wallace on 1986/02/10.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing completed 1999/02/18 by Philip N. Williams. Collection reprocessed 2018/09/10 by Abby Currier. EAD finding aid created 2018/09/10 by Abby Currier.
Creator
- Williams, Benjamin (Person)
- Title
- Benjamin Williams diary
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository
Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
