Caleb S. Barton Civil War correspondence, 1862 June 21 - 1864 April 8

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Summary

Creators:

Fend, Steven, Saelon Renkes, Saelon , Barton, Caleb S., Corporal, 1844-1864, Barton, Thomas, b. 1820, Barton, King "K.W.C.", b. 1845, Barton, Mary, b. 1847, and Barton, Sarah, b. 1850

Abstract:

This collection contains 50 letters between Pvt. Caleb S. Barton, USA and his family during the Civil War.

Extent:

0.15 Linear Feet (2 folders)

Language:

English .

Preferred citation:

[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Barton family Civil War correspondence (2023.045.w.r), Center for American War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.

For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains 50 letters between Cpl. Caleb S. Barton and his family during the Civil War. Included are letters from Caleb to his parents, from his father Thomas, brother King (K.W.C.), sister Mary Barton, someone named Mellender, and an unknown cousin. Some coded messages and a code key used between Caleb and his brother King are also included. Of note in this collection is the literacy level of the entire family; they are very well-written with high-quality penmanship.

Biographical / historical:

Corporal Caleb S. Barton (1844 - 5/31/1864) was born in Ohio to Ann (b. 1824) and Thomas Barton (b. 1820), both immigrants from Ireland. They lived in Oxford, Ohio and later Brookville, Indiana. Caleb was the oldest brother to King "KWC"(b. 11/29/1845), Mary A. (b. 11/27/1847), Sarah (b. 1850), Thomas H., and Margaret. He and King attended Brookville College in 1860.

Note: ages for the letter writers King, Mary deduced from census data and Mary's letter giving their birthdays in the December 1, 1863 letter. Sarah's is approximate based on her age in the July 1860 census only. There is little known about the other two authors, cousin Nina and Brother John Mellender. The former, as noted in one of Mary's letters, is the daughter of Aunt Maria. The latter, Brother Mellender, was evidently a Methodist preacher, and King's and Mary's correspondence frequently refer to "protracted meetings" of the Methodist Church and converts.

Caleb served the Union during the Civil War with the 68th Infantry Regiment, Indiana Volunteers. The unit first mustered in Indianapolis on August 19, 1862. They left for Louisville, Kentucky and then to Lebanon which they reached by August 25. A few weeks later, they were involved in the Siege of Munfordville from September 14-17. The regiment was captured but later paroled back to Indianapolis where the unit was reorganized. This is where the correspondence collection begins.

Caleb Barton alludes to these events in his letters, referring to the Indiana Governor Oliver P. Morton's address to them as "no longer prisoners of war," and in his use of the word "again" when referring to going "to Dixie." He was later transferred to Company I, 17th Veteran Reserve Corps, previously called the "Invalid Corps," though it is unclear when as he later conveys his transfer to "36th Company" in January 1864. Caleb died May 31, 1864.

Acquisition information:

Gif tof Steven Fend and Saelon Renkes.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged by creator and chronology, in order of number of letters written:

Series 1, Correspondence from King Barton
Series 2, Correspondence from Caleb S. Barton
Series 3, Correspondence from Thomas Barton
Series 4, Correspondence from Mary Barton
Series 5, Correspondence from J.W. Mellender and unknown cousin

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:: Correspondence -- American Civil War
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
Names:: Fend, Steven
Saelon Renkes, Saelon

Access and use

Restrictions:: This collection is open for research.
Terms of access:: There are no restrictions on the use of this material except where previously copyrighted material is concerned. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain all permissions.