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Clugston (John McNulty) Papers
mssClugston
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Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: John McNulty Clugston papers
Creator:
Clugston, John McNulty, 1842-1886
Identifier/Call Number: mssClugston
Physical Description:
0.2 Linear Feet
(1 box)
Date (inclusive): 1861-1887
Date (bulk): 1861-1864
Abstract: Collection consists of four diaries kept by John McNulty Clugston while serving with the 23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment,
Company G, during the Civil War from 1861 to 1864, one carte-de-visite portrait (presumably of Clugston), and a letter from
Rutherford B. Hayes to Clugston's widow Alice V. Clugston, 1887 September 2.
Language of Material: Materials are in English.
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more
information.
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material,
nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and
obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
[Identification of item]. John McNulty Clugston papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Acquired from John McNulty Clugston Jr., August 1957.
John McNulty Clugston (1842-1886) was from Ashland County, Ohio and served in the 23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Company
G, during the U.S. Civil War. Following the war, he relocated to Topeka, Kansas, where he worked in the insurance industry
and purchased real estate. He married Alice Virginia Colcher in December 1879; the couple had one son, John McNulty Clugston
Jr. Clugston died in Topeka at age 44.
The collection consists primarily of four diaries kept by John McNulty Clugston while serving with the 23rd Ohio Volunteer
Infantry Regiment, Company G, during the Civil War from 1861 May 27 to 1864 July 9. The regiment was based in Maryland, Virginia,
and West Virginia, and participated in the Battle of Antietam. The diaries contain mostly brief entries regarding regimental
actions and skirmishes, camps, scouting expeditions, drills, marches, duties, changes in command, furloughs, deaths, and prisoners
and arms captured. Clugston also mentions the weather, food, clothing shortages, war news, court martials, and the arrival
of mail. There are several entries discussing activities in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. surrounding the Battle
of Antietam in September 1862, including balloon ascensions by Thaddeus Lowe. Company G soldiers Rutherford B. Hayes and William
McKinley are occasionally mentioned. In addition, the diaries contain lists of clothing issued or purchased, correspondents,
regimental officers and company members, and pay received. The bulk of entries is in ink, with some in pencil.
Also present is one carte-de-visite of a young man, presumably John McNulty Clugston, seated in a chair; the penciled date
of 1869 February is on the reverse.
In addition, the collection contains one autograph letter signed from Rutherford B. Hayes, Fremont, Ohio, to Alice V. Clugston,
Topeka, Kansas, 1887 September 2, regarding a recent reunion of the 23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He mentions the regiment's
receipt of "the valuable diary of your late husband John M. Clugston, our comrade of Co. G.," presumably referring to the
1886 copy of Clugston's diaries now in the Civil War collections at the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museum.
Includes addressed envelope. (2 pages)
The John McNulty Clugston papers were processed in 2022 by Melissa Haley as part of the American Presidential Papers Project.
The items had been assembled physically and arranged by former Huntington Library staff; material was rehoused during reprocessing.
Individual call numbers included in the collection: HM 30482 (1-5).
Existence and Location of Copies
Handwritten copy of diaries kept by John McNulty Clugston while serving with the 23rd O.V.I. from May 1861 to July 1864, 1886,
Civil War collections (SP-1), Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums.
Arranged by format; diaries are arranged chronologically.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Antietam, Battle of, Md., 1862
Maryland -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Sources
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Military life
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Sources
Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Sources
West Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Sources
Cartes-de-visite (card photographs)
Diaries -- United States -- Civil War, 1861-1865
Letters (correspondence) -- United States -- 19th century
Hayes, Rutherford B., 1822-1893
United States. Army. Ohio Infantry Regiment, 23rd (1861-1865)
United States. Army. Ohio Infantry Regiment, 23rd (1861-1865). Company G