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Civil War diaries authored by First Lieutenant (later Major) Fabricius A. Cather from Flemington, Taylor County, West Virginia, records his experiences in the military and political conflicts of the Civil War. The six diaries, and a transcribed copy of the original 1864 and 1865 diaries, contain entries for the years 1860 to 1865 regarding western Virginia's grassroots efforts to secede from the Confederacy and establish a new state, and of the first battles and skirmishes such as Rich Mountain and Corricks Ford. He describes campaigns involving his regiment, the First West Virginia Cavalry, including the 1864 Shenandoah Valley Campaign under Sigel, Hunter, Sheridan, and Custer against Breckenridge, Early, and Mosby's Rangers; the last battles of Petersburg as Grant broke the Rebel lines; and the continuous fighting during Lee's retreat. Although most diary entries are one or two sentences in length, some entries in 1864 and 1865 are longer, perhaps due to his full involvement in combat. The collection also contains 18 items stored in pockets inside the covers of the diaries, including headquarters passes, business cards, and a complimentary pass for Lt. Cather to attend the June, 1861 "NorthWestern Virginia Convention" in Wheeling. An Addendum includes two scans of photos of Cather, two scans of Civil War military service papers, photocopies of an 1873 Kansas Land Grant, and genealogy material documenting the Cather family.

Diary of Frank Smith Reader of Brighton, Pennsylvania, who was a private in the Fifth West Virginia Cavalry, Company I. The diary covers the period of 10 March to 25 June 1864 and contains ca. 80 pp. Reader, for the period covered by this diary, was on detached duty from his regiment, serving as a clerk at General Franz Sigel's and General David Hunter's headquarters in Martinsburg, Cumberland, and in the field. Reader participated in the Valley Campaigns of 1864 and was present at the battles of New Market, Piedmont, and Lynchburg. Diary entries comment on the weather; Reader's moods; daily duties; troop movements; skirmishes and battles; and the scorched earth policy employed during the Valley Campaigns. Please see the historical note for further information concerning Reader and his regiment.

Private journal of George K. Campbell of Athens County, Ohio, who served as an officer in Company B of the 116th. Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the Gettysburg campaign and the summer, fall, and winter of 1863, when he saw service in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Campbell served detached duty as an escort officer for recruits and prisoners during the spring and summer of 1864 and visited New York, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. He joined Company B of the 187th Ohio Volunteer Infantry in September 1864. That unit was soon consolidated and became Company E of the 174th. Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

Civil War letters from a Union soldier in the Army of the Potomac to his wife in Greene County, Pennsylvania. Fry was in the Peninsula Campaign, 1862, and later stationed at various islands off the South Carolina coast. In 1864 he was killed near Bermuda Hundred, Virginia. The letters reveal little about military movements, but do comment on camp life and fraternization between Union and Confederate soldiers.

Letters written by Jacob Pinick, first sergeant of Company A, 32nd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, to John and William McLaughlin in Ohio. The letters detail the service of Pinick's company in western Virginia, Virginia, Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina. There are many detailed accounts of battles and marches, and expressions of political sentiments of soldiers. There is also a record book of Company A containing rolls and service records, and notes on the history of the company from 12 July 1861 to 27 July 1865, when the company was mustered out, and several letters from members of the Pinick family in western Virginia and Wisconsin.

Typescript copies of correspondence, diary entries, biographical sketches of Confederate veterans, manuscripts recounting battles, rosters of Confederate cavalry and infantry companies, and newspaper clippings of Pvt. James Z. McChesney of the Confederate States Army. Subjects include Confederate military activities, military activity in the Shenandoah Valley, McCausland's march on Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and information on various units and battles. Addendum of 2004/05/06 includes letters written by James Z. McChesney, transfer order, leave of absence notice, and a Confederate valentine. See Scope and Content Note for more information.

Fourteen letters, thirteen from J.M. Vandeman of Adams Co., Ohio, a Union soldier in Co. B, 33rd Ohio Volunteer Company, 3rd Division, 9th Brigade, and one from W.T. and H.A. Wright of Webster City, Hamilton Co., Iowa. All are addressed to Miss S. Jane Vandeman in Adams Co., Ohio. The letters from J.M. Vandeman were written between 6 October 1861 and 25 December 1862; the letter from the Wrights is dated 1866. The letters of 1861-1862 were written from various locations in Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama and describe life as a Union soldier, including camp life, battles, and hospital stays. In addition to the letters, there is a document dated September 17, 1864, appointing George G. Menelly as 2nd lieutenant, 173rd Reg., Ohio Volunteer Infantry for one year.

Civil War diaries of Joseph C. Snider (1839-1864) of Harrison County, West Virginia, who served in Company C of the 31st Virginia Infantry Regiment from June 1861 to his death in battle on September 19, 1864. Collection consists of three diaries on microfilm that cover the periods from June 1861 to May 1862; January 1, 1863 to July 1, 1863; and March 26, 1864 to September 19, 1864. There is no explanation for the gaps in Snider's journals. Snider provides detailed descriptions of his major combat experiences (western Virginia in 1861; the Shenandoah Valley in spring 1862; actions in western Virginia in the spring of 1863; the battle of Gettysburg; the 1864 Overland Campaign; Jubal Early's 1864 raid on Washington, D.C.; and the 1864 Shenandoah Valley Campaign); minor skirmishes and engagements; and daily life in the Army of Northern Virginia. Folder contains handwritten account of the transfer of the diary from Joseph Snider after his death to his commanding officer, to his brother, and then passed down through the family until it was loaned to the WVRHC to make a copy.

A ledger and financial records of Logan Osborne (1836-39) also containing the will of Balamm Osborne. The ledger contains accounts of an assortment of general store goods from perishables such as food and candles to durable goods such as tools and carriages. There are Osborne family deeds, land contracts and letters about family matters and debt (1808-89). There are early nineteenth century state bank script from Louisiana, Virginia, and North Carolina. There are land indentures and legal papers from eighteenth century Virginia, mainly of Matthew Rankin and Thomas Rutherford who contended for property in Ohio County. There is the thirty-eight page diary of Cleon Moore, a Confederate soldier from Charles Town. As a volunteer regiment member he was eyewitness and participant in the siege and capture of John Brown at Harpers Ferry. His unit was again called out prior to Virginia's secession resolution. He recounts their early maneuvering, stationing and being consolidated in the Virginia Second Cavalry which served at the First Battle of Bull Run. The account ends with the early 1862 campaigns in the Shenandoah Valley of General "Stonewall" Jackson. There is Civil War related material of Logan Osborne including records of loans to the Confederate government, letters to family and friends recounting and justifying the events and cause of the Confederacy and an 1861 January 28 broadside, entitled: "To The People of Jefferson County...", of Logan Osborne as a Unionist candidate to the Virginia Secession Convention. Also there are early West Virginia political papers pertaining to Jefferson County such as an attempt to move the county seat to Sheperdstown. Also included are George Shutt business letters and certificates as a geologist; certificates from the United Daughters of the Confederacy to Mary M. Shutt; and Osborne family history, genealogy and obituaries of descendents.

Correspondence, legal papers, and business papers of John J.D. Preston, his ancestors, and his relatives. The correspondence is primarily between members of the Preston family with topics being discussed, such as living conditions, business conditions, military training camps, Civil War battles, politics and campaigns, political personalities, education, schools, and the World Wars. Correspondents include John Preston, Rev. David Preston, John J. Davis, and John W. Davis.