John W. Grosh letters

Finding aid prepared by Brooke M. Black.
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
Manuscripts Department
The Huntington Library
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2191
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
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The Huntington Library. All rights reserved.


Descriptive Summary

Title: John W. Grosh letters
Dates: 1856-1868
Collection Number: mssGRO 1-87
Creator OR Collector: Grosh, John W., -1864
Extent: Approximately 130 items in 3 boxes
Repository: The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. Manuscripts Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2191
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: The Civil War letters of Corporal John W. Grosh of the 79th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, Company A.
Language of Material: The records are in English.

Administration Information

Access

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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.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], John W. Grosh letters, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Acquisition Information

Purchased through Nick Aretakis Americana at PBA Galleries, Sale 599, Lot 70, October 20, 2016.

Biographical Note

John W. Grosh was the eldest son of Peter Lehn Grosh (1798-1850), a Pennsylvania artist, instrument maker, and fruit and flower grower. The family, descendants of Palatine settlers, was related to Hosea Ballou and Ethan Allen Grosh, the discoverers of Comstock Lode. In 1838, Peter Lehn Grosh married Sarah Lorentz; John was their firstborn son, followed by Jacob and Fanny. In 1857, John and his father moved to Petersburg, Pennsylvania.
In August 1861, John W. Grosh enlisted, as corporal, in the 79th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, Company A. The regiment was organized at Lancaster, Pennsylvania on September 19, 1861 and ordered to Harrisburg and Pittsburgh and then to Nolin and Munfordsville, Kentucky. In February, the regiment was ordered to Nashville, Tennessee, and on March 28, to Columbia, Tennessee where the men were engaged in guarding the Nashville & Decatur Railroad. As part of the Army of the Ohio, the 79th took part in the expedition to Rodgersville, Alabama (1862, May 13--4), Lamb's Ferry (May 14) and Negley's Expedition to Chattanooga (May 28-June 17). After that the men were posted on duty at Tullahoma, Tennessee, until August when they were engaged in the pursuit of Braxton Bragg into Kentucky, including the battle of Perryville (October 8). In the fall of 1862, they stayed at Mitchellsville, guarding the Louisville Nashville Railroad. In November 1862, the unit was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. In December, the regiment took part in the advance at Murfreesboro (December 26-30) and the battle of Stone's River (December 30-31, 1862 and January 1-3, 1863). The men remained at Murfreesboro until June, taking part in the expedition to McMinnville (April 20-30); and then fought in the Middle Tennessee or Tullahoma Campaign (June 23-July 7). They remained in Middle Tennessee, as part of the forces of occupation until August 16. In August and September 1863, the 79th was part of the Chickamauga campaign. John W. Grosh was reported killed at the battle of Chickamauga. It later transpired that he was taken prisoner. He died at Andersonville, September 4, 1864 (grave No. 7839).

Arrangement

The collection is arranged chronologically.

Scope and Content

The bulk of the collection consists of letters that John W. Grosh wrote to his mother Sarah Lorenz Grosh, sister Fanny Grosh Bender, and brother Jacob L. Grosh in the course of his military service. Regular and richly detailed letters were posted from Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia; there are no letters for the period between August 20 and October 15, 1862. The group also includes a few letters from Jacob L. Grosh to his brother and letters from Fanny's uncles Daniel and William H. Grosh. The letters contain a small "diary for the month of May 1862 Co. A. 79th Regiment P.V." and a pencil drawing titled "Interior of Tent No. 2 of Co. A 79th Regt. P.V. Encampment near Nashville, Tenn. March 16 1862."
Also included is manuscript titled "History of the Campaign for the spring of 1863 by the 66th N.Y. V. Vols. Written by Edward H. Cornell on the 21st of December 1864" (This is most likely Edward H. Connell, of Co. I; he enlisted under that name and changed it to Cornell at the time of the discharge in 1865).
There are also letters to Peter L. Grosh from his brother-in-law William Lorentz and the letters from Peter L. Grosh and John W. Grosh from Petersburg, Pennsylvania, and letters, mostly to Fanny Grosh Bender from her family and friends, written after John's death; correspondents include Mary C. Graeff, Mary A. Russell, and Lavinia Miller Summy (1832-1904). The collection also contains letter of condolence from John's commanding officer states that according to the Adjutant General's report, John died in hospital Richmond on November 21st, 1863. However, on June 5, 1865, Daniel Grosh thanked his niece of "extracts" of John's letters written from captivity, which showed that he died a slow death "by degrees."
Also included are: Sarah Grosh's pension certificate; a newspaper clipping listing the casualties of the battle of Chickamauga, including John W. Grosh; clippings from patriotic envelopes; and a small broadside "Crippled Soldier's Song."

Indexing Terms

Personal Names

Bender, Fanny Grosh
Grosh, John W., -1864
Grosh, Peter Lehn, 1798-1859
Grosh, Sarah Lorentz, 1820-1890

Corporate Names

Andersonville Prison
United States. Army. New York Infantry Regiment, 66th (1861-1865)
United States. Army. Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, 79th (1861-1865)

Geographic Areas

Georgia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Sources
Kentucky -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Sources
Pennsylvania -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Sources
Pennsylvania -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
Tennessee -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Sources
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Prisoners and prisons.
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Regimental histories -- New York (State) -- Sources
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Regimental histories -- Pennsylvania -- Sources

Genre

Drawings -- United States -- Civil War, 1861-1865
Diaries -- United States -- Civil War, 1861-1865
Letters (correspondence) -- United States -- 19th century


Box 1

1856-1863, March

 

 GRO 1  Lorentz, William. Letter to Peter Lehn Grosh, 1798-1859 (1856, June 9)

Bristol, Ind.
 

 GRO 2  Lorentz, William. Letter to Peter Lehn Grosh, 1798-1859 (1858, Sep. 19)

Bristol, Ind.
 

 GRO 3  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1858, Dec. 21)

Petersburg, Pa. Following the above: note by Peter Lehn Grosh, 1798-1859 to Fanny Grosh Bender.
 

 GRO 4  Grosh, Peter Lehn, 1798-1859. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1859, Feb. 28)

Petersburg, Pa. With two clippings.
 

 GRO 5  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1861, June 17)

Petersburg, Pa.
 

 GRO 6  Graeff, Mary C. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1861, Sep. 27)

Columbia, Pa.
 

 GRO 7  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1861, Oct. 6)

Camp Hambright, near Harrisburg, Pa.
 

 GRO 8  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Jacob L. Grosh (1861, Oct. 14)

Camp Wilkins, near Pittsburg, Pa.
 

 GRO 9  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1861, Oct. 25)

Camp Nevin, Ky. Incomplete.
 

 GRO 10  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender ([1861], Oct. 26)

Camp Nevin, Ky.
 

 GRO 11  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Sarah Lorentz Grosh, 1820-1890 (1861, Nov. 3)

Camp Nevin, Ky.
 

 GRO 12  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1861, Nov. 5)

Camp Nevin, Ky.
 

 GRO 13  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Sarah Lorentz Grosh, 1820-1890 (1861, Nov. 17)

Camp Nevin, Ky. On illustrated stationery: US Flag "Excelsior."
 

 GRO 14  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Jacob L. Grosh (1861, Dec. 12)

Kentucky.
 

 GRO 15  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Jacob L. Grosh (1861, Dec. 26)

Camp Wood, Ky.
 

 GRO 16  Grosh, Jacob L. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1862, Jan. 1)

Petersburg, Pa.
 

 GRO 17  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1862, Jan. 18)

Camp Wood, Ky. On illustrated stationery.
 

 GRO 18  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Jacob L. Grosh (1862, Jan. 31)

Camp Wood, Ky.
 

 GRO 19  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1862, Feb. 15)

Camp Wood, Ky. With illustrated envelope: "One Flag, One Country."
 

 GRO 20  Grosh, John W., -1864. Interior of Tent No. 2 of Co. A 79th Regt P.V. Encamped near Nashville Tenn, March 16th 1862: drawing (1862, Mar. 16)

Near Nashville, Tenn.
 

 GRO 21  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Jacob L. Grosh (1862, Mar. 18)

Camp Andy Johnson, Tenn.
 

 GRO 22  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1862, Mar. 31)

Nashville, Tenn.
 

 GRO 23  Graeff, Mary C. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender ([1862], Apr. 6)

Columbia, Pa.
 

 GRO 24  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Jacob L. Grosh (1862, Apr. 11)

Camp Morehead, near Columbia, Tenn.
 

 GRO 25  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1862, Apr. 14)

Camp Morehead, near Columbia, Tenn.
 

 GRO 26  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Jacob L. Grosh (1862, May 2)

Camp Morehead, near Columbia, Tenn.
 

 GRO 27  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1862, May 4)

Camp Morehead, Tenn.
 

 GRO 28  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1862, May 22)

Columbia, Tenn.
 

 GRO 29  Grosh, John W., -1864. Diary for the Month of May (1862, May 1-31)

Camp Morehead and Columbia, Tenn. Water stained. Fragile. In pieces.
 

 GRO 30  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1862, June 8)

Camp Morehead, Tenn.
 

 GRO 31  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Jacob L. Grosh (1862, June 12)

Camp Morehead, Tenn.
 

 GRO 32  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Sarah Lorentz Grosh, 1820-1890 (1862, July 3)

Shelbyville, Tenn.
 

 GRO 33  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1862, July 6)

Shelbyville, Tenn.
 

 GRO 34  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Jacob L. Grosh (1862, July 6)

Shelbyville, Tenn.
 

 GRO 35  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Jacob L. Grosh (1862, Aug. 20)

Nashville, Tenn.
 

 GRO 36  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Sarah Lorentz Grosh, 1820-1890 (1862, Oct. 14)

Boyle County, Ky.
 

 GRO 37  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1862, Oct. 17)

Camp near Crabb Orchard, Ky.
 

 GRO 38  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1862, Oct. 24)

New Market, Ky.
 

 GRO 39  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1862, Oct. 27)

New Market, Ky.
 

 GRO 40  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Sarah Lorentz Grosh, 1820-1890 (1862, Nov. 26)

Mitchellville, Tenn.
 

 GRO 41  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Jacob L. Grosh (1862, Dec. 11)

Camp near Nashville, Tenn.
 

 GRO 42  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1862, Dec. 22)

Camp Andy Johnson, Tenn.
 

 GRO 43  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1863, Jan. 11)

Murfreesboro, Tenn.
 

 GRO 44  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Sarah Lorentz Grosh, 1820-1890 (1863, Feb. 1)

Murfreesboro, Tenn.
 

 GRO 45  Grosh, Jacob L. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1863, Feb. 12)

Petersburg, Pa.
 

 GRO 46  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1863, Feb. 17)

Murfreesboro, Tenn. With illustrated envelope: "The Union Now Henceforth & Forever Amen.
 

 GRO 47  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Jacob L. Grosh (1863, Mar. 18)

Murfreesboro, Tenn.
 

 GRO 48  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1863, Mar. 19)

near Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Box 2

1863, April - 1868

 

 GRO 49  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1863, Apr. 6)

near Murfreesboro, Tenn.
 

 GRO 50  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Jacob L. Grosh (1863, Apr. 17)

Camp, Tenn.
 

 GRO 51  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1863, Apr. 19)

Murfreesboro, Tenn.
 

 GRO 52  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1863, May 8)

Murfreesboro, Tenn.
 

 GRO 53  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1863, June 8)

Murfreesboro, Tenn.
 

 GRO 54  Graeff, Mary C. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1863, June 20)

Columbia, Pa.
 

 GRO 55  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1863, June 30)

Camp between Manchester and Tullahoma, Tenn.
 

 GRO 56  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1863, July 5)

Camp [Nashville, Tenn.]
 

 GRO 57  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Sarah Lorentz Grosh, 1820-1890 (1863, July 9)

Camp near Decherd, Tenn.
 

 GRO 58  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1863, Aug. 3)

Cowan, Tenn.
 

 GRO 59  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Sarah Lorentz Grosh, 1820-1890 (1863, Aug. 12)

Stevenson, Ala.
 

 GRO 60  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1863, Aug. 20)

near Anderson, Ala.
 

 GRO 61  Graeff, Mary C. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1863, Aug. 23)

Columbia, Pa.
 

 GRO 62  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Sarah Lorentz Grosh, 1820-1890 (1863, Aug. 29)

Camp Dawson, Ala.
 

 GRO 63  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Sarah Lorentz Grosh, 1820-1890 (1863, Sep. 15)

Chattanooga Valley, Ga.
 

 GRO 64  Gibble, Harrison. Letter to S. Parker (1863, Sep. 26)

near Chattanooga, Ga.
 

 GRO 65  Mullin, John J. Letter to John W. Grosh, -1864 (1863, Sep. 21)

Petersburg, Pa.
 

 GRO 66  Grosh, John W., -1864. Letter to Sarah Lorentz Grosh, 1820-1890 (1863, Oct. 24)

Richmond, Va. On verso: note to "Dear Sister" with drawing of US Flag.
 

 GRO 67  Grosh, William H. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1863, Nov. 4)

Marietta, Pa.
 

 GRO 68  Grosh, Daniel J. Letter to "Dear Sally" (1864, Feb. 20)

Philadelphia, Pa.
 

 GRO 69  Grosh, William H. Letter to Jacob L. Grosh (1864, Mar. 8)

Marietta, Pa.
 

 GRO 70  Grosh, Jacob L. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1864, Mar. 22)

Petersburg, Pa.
 

 GRO 71  Benson, James. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1864, July 19)

Atlanta, Ga.
 

 GRO 72  Grosh, Daniel J. Letter to Sarah Lorentz Grosh, 1820-1890 (1864, July 20)

Philadelphia, Pa.
 

 GRO 73  Cornell, Edward H. History of the Campaign for the Spring of 1864 by the 66th N.Y. V. Vols.: manuscript (1864, Dec. 21)

Fragile. In pieces.
 

 GRO 74  Grosh, Jacob L. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1865, Mar. 1)

Petersburg, Pa.
 

 GRO 75  Grosh, Daniel J. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1865, June 5)

Philadelphia, Pa.
 

 GRO 76  Pension Army Voucher for Sarah Lorentz Grosh, 1820-1890 (1865, Nov. 14)

Philadelphia, Pa.
 

 GRO 77  Summy, Lavinia Miller. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1866, Feb. 13)

Marietta, Pa.
 

 GRO 78  Summy, Lavinia Miller. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1866, Mar. 1)

Marietta, Pa.
 

 GRO 79  Russell, Mary A. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1867, July 20)

Dayton, Ohio.
 

 GRO 80  Crise, Mahala S. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1868, Feb. 16)

Smithville, N.J.
 

 GRO 81  Russell, Mary A. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1868, May 10)

Medway, Ohio.
 

 GRO 82  Grosh, Daniel J. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender (1868, July 11-Sep. 7)

Smithville, N.J. Includes note by Mahala S. Crise.
 

 GRO 83  [Graeff, Mary C.]? Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender ([1868], Aug. 7)

Columbia, Pa. Very light; difficult to read.
 

 GRO 84  Graeff, Mary C. Letter to Fanny Grosh Bender ([1868?], Sep. 29)

Columbia, Pa.
 

 GRO 85  Newspaper clipping listing casualities of the Battle of Chickamauga, including John W. Grosh, -1864 [1863]

 

 GRO 86  Ephemera and Notes

10 items.
 

 GRO 87  Empty Envelopes

29 items.
Box 3

Transcripts and Collection Information

Folder 1

Transcripts of John W. Grosh, -1845, letters

Folder 2

Transcripts of John W. Grosh, -1845, letters and images of collection

Folder 3

Information about the collection and the Grosh family