Finding Aid for the Alonzo B. Searing Civil War correspondence 2018.072.w.r
Sharon Clairemont
Center for American War Letters Archives
6/14/2018
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Alonzo B. Searing Civil War correspondence
Creator:
Searing, Alonzo Bryant
source:
O'Shaughnessy née Searing, Mary
Creator:
Case, William Harrison
Identifier/Call Number: 2018.072.w.r
Physical Description:
1.5 Linear feet
(1 carton, 1 document box)
Date (inclusive): 1832 - 1945
Date (bulk): 1861 - 1865
Abstract: This collection contains correspondence from Alonzo Bryant Searing to his family during the American Civil War.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: Civil War 3
Container: 1-16
Container: 1-16
Container: Civil War 4
Container: 17-33
Container: 1-17
Container: Civil War 5
Container: 34-35
Container: 1-2
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Mary Searing O'Shaughnessy
This collection is arranged by material type, author and date.
- Series 1, Correspondence - Alonzo B. Searing to family members
- Series 2, Correspondence - Alonzo Searing to Ella Searing
- Series 3, Correspondence - Phebe Searing to Alonzo Searing
- Series 4, Correspondence - Ella Gallagher to Alonzo Searing
- Series 5, Correspondence - Leonora and D.D. Briant to to Alonzo Searing
- Series 6, Correspondence - E. Clarke Clive to Alonzo Searing
- Series 7, Correspondence - Searing family members with others
- Series 8, Correspondence - To Alonzo and Phebe Searing from fellow soldiers regarding 1913 Gettysburg reunion
- Series 9, Correspondence - Cards and letters of sympathy on the death of Elizabeth Powers
- Series 10, Correspondence - William H. Case to his mother, sister, brother
- Series 11, Correspondence - To William H. Case from Oscar Hildreth
- Series 12, Correspondence - Atwood Drake to Hannah Case
- Series 13, Correspondence - George W. Teates to his wife, mother, brother
- Series 14, Correspondence - Confederate letters and documents
- Series 15, Correspondence and documents of Charles Green
- Series 16, Biographical material
- Series 17, Journal - "Account of the march to Gettysburg ... and the battle"
- Series 18, Manuscript - "History of the Eleventh Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers"
- Series 19, Newspaper articles - Historical accounts of the Civil War and 11th Regiment of New Jersey Vols
- Series 20, Receipts and promissory notes of Samuel Searing
- Series 21, Book - A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
- Series 22, Diaries
- Series 23, Scrapbooks
Mary Searing O'Shaughnessy (14 September 2012). Alonzo's War: Letters from a Young Civil War Soldier. Fairleigh Dickinson.
pp. 159–. ISBN 978-1-61147-555-5.
Biographical information - http://civilwarthosesurnames.blogspot.com/2015/05/alonzo-b-searing.html
Alonzo B. Searing's grave - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19128712/alonzo-bryant-searing
The Morris County Journal - https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85035920/
History of the 11th Regiment of New Jersey Volunteers by Thomas Marbaker - https://archive.org/details/cu31924030908416
History of the Eleventh Regiment, New Jersy Volunteers, according to National Park Service: https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-battle-units-detail.htm?battleUnitCode=UNJ0011RI
January 31, 1863 correspondence as printed in newspaper clipping, Searing makes reference to going to see his "cousins Harrison
Case and Elias Nichols" whose 15th regiment is camped nearby. William Harrison Case's correspondence is in Series of this
collection.
From the donor form: "Alonzo Bryant Searing was born on the family farm in Mill Brook, New Jersey, on June 26, 1844. He graduated
from Dover High School (N.J.) in 1862. On August 18, 1862, he enlisted in the Eleventh New Jersey Volunteers. During the two
years and 10 months he served in the Civil War, he wrote 110 letters home to his sister Phoebe. He was wounded at Gettysburg
and at Spotsylvania and was in hospitals for most of 1864. He returned to the family farm in Mill Brook in June 1865. Later
he moved to Dover, N.J., where he lived until his death on June 14, 1932. Alonzo's first wife was Laura Adelaide Powers, with
whom he had two children, Elizabeth and Wilber Bryant Sterling. Alonzo's second wife was Ella Cole Gallagher, whom he married
June 1, 1887. Their only child was Carl Bierwith Searing (1888-1985). Mary Searing O'Shaughnessy is the only child of Carl
Bierwith Searing and Janet Rippy Kolbe. Mary was born December 2, 1925. - Alonzo wrote 110 letters home to his sister Phoebe
and she wrote to him. He was at the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsvile, Gettysburg and Petersburg, among others. He
kept weekly lists of those killed or wounded in his regiment. On May 11, 1864, he wrote about the battle of the Wilderness
that '... for nearly 600 feet the rebel dead lay in almost a perfect line, so close at least that a person could step from
one body to another for the whole distance.' Included is a photocopy of Alonzo's handwritten history of the Eleventh Regiment.
This history was sent to Thomas R. Marbaker, who wrote the official history of the Eleventh Regiment of the New Jersy Volunteers."
Regarding William H. Case (Searing's cousin): History of the Fifteenth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers, by Alanson Austin Haines,
Chaplain of the Regiment, 1883. -- https://books.google.com/books?id=SyJLAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA372&lpg=PA372&dq=WIlliam+H.+Case+in+Succasunna+New+Jersey&source=bl&ots=PeMfnMAv1W&sig=zDLH8xA82-8VIj-oQQg4yH-Tx30&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjjqaD91fHbAhXRHjQIHfGFDdQQ6AEIUjAG#v=onepage&q=WIlliam%20H.%20Case%20in%20Succasunna%20New%20Jersey&f=false
Access Information
Donor retains any copyright and related rights. For more information, consult original donation form.[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Alonso B. Searing Civil War correspondence (2018.072.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.
This collection contains correspondence from Alonzo Bryant Searing to his mother and sisters, Phoebe Searing and Mrs. Nancy
Drake during the Civil War. Many of the letters were later printed in the Morris County Journal newspaper and copies are pasted
into two scrapbooks in the collection. The letters printed in the newspaper are not verbatim from the actual correspondence
and accounts of events vary as the "letters" are compilations of actual letters and diary accounts. The collection contains
letters from other correspondents including William Harrison Case (a cousin of Searing) and George W. Teates. The letters
do not correspond with the envelopes, rather they were enclosed primarily in envelopes from the early 1890s. Some envelopes
contained more than one letter. The collection also includes letters and documents from Confederate soldiers, various correspondence
about the 1913 Gettysburg battle reunion, a manuscript for the History of the Eleventh Regiment, a handwritten account of
"the march to Gettysburg... and the battle," 11 diaries kept by Searing, a small copy of Charles Dickens' "Christmas Carol,"
and several receipts and IOUs belonging to Samuel J. Searing dated as early as 1832.
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. For further copyright information, please contact the archivist.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- letters and diaries
Correspondence -- American Civil War
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
New Jersey -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865.
Gettysburg, Battle of, Gettysburg, Pa., 1863 -- Personal Narratives
Gettysburg Campaign, 1863
Spotsylvania Court House, Battle of, Va., 1864
Fredericksburg, Battle of, Fredericksburg, Va., 1862
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Campaigns & battles -- Virginia -- Fredericksburg
Appomattox Campaign, 1865
Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Campaigns
Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Campaigns & battles -- Virginia -- Fredericksburg
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Campaigns & battles -- Virginia -- Chancellorsville
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Military facilities -- Union -- Virginia -- Brandy Station
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Campaigns & battles -- Virginia
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal Narratives
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Regimental histories
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Regimental histories -- New Jersey Infantry -- 11th
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Hospitals
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Medical aspects
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Military life
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Military facilities -- Union -- Washington (D.C.)
O'Shaughnessy née Searing, Mary
document-box Civil War 3, folder 1-8, folder 1-8
Series 1, Correspondence - Alonzo B. Searing to family members 1862-1865
Physical Description: .2 Linear Feet(8 folders)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains correspondence from Alonzo Bryant Searing primarily to his sister, Phebe and his mother. Some letters
are to his sisters, Nancy and Susan. His father is addressed occasionally and some letters begin "Dear Friends." The correspondence
begins in January 1862 with a letter to his sister asking her to come to care for another ailing sister as other family and
neighbors are too ill to assist. There is a gap in correspondence until August 21, 1862 when he writes from Camp Perrine near
Trenton, New Jersey - "We arrived here on Monday at 2 o'clock were sworn in and marched directly for camp. The same night
we got paid $15..." He writes of the regiment's travel south to Philadelphia and then Baltimore, Washington and "General Lee's
farm."
document-box Civil War 3, folder 9, folder 9
Series 2, Correspondence - Alonzo Searing to Ella Searing 1888-1898
Physical Description: 0.02 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains two pieces of correspondence from Alonzo Searing to his wife, Ella Searing written in 1888 and 1898.
June 29, 1888 he writes from the "Battlefield of Gettysburg Pennsylavania" where he has traveled for a 25 year reunion where
"I met many old comrades some of whom I had not seen since the close of the war... There is probably 3000 tents on the ground
and the boys are having a good time." On June 10, 1898 he writes of his trip to Washington, DC, Morrisville in Faquier County,
Virginia and Fredericksburg, Virginia. He writes of visiting friends and re-visiting places where he fought during the war.
document-box Civil War 3, folder 10, folder 10
Series 3, Correspondence - Phebe Searing to Alonzo Searing 1864-1865
Physical Description: 0.02 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains four letters from Phebe Searing to her brother Alonzo B. Searing. Phebe writes of the weather, visitors,
the health of family and friends, news of men leaving for the Army or trying to escape it. In January she expresses her concern
for Alonzo staying warm enough to sleep, ... Sept 2, 1864 she writes "I hope and trust you can stay in the Hospital the rest
of your time ... "
document-box Civil War 3, folder 11, folder 11
Series 4, Correspondence - Ella Gallagher to Alonzo Searing 1886-1887
Physical Description: 0.02 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains nine letters from Ella Gallagher to Alonzo Searing written Dec. 1886 - May 1887. She writes from Sparta,
New Jersey to him in Dover, Morris County, New Jersey. According to information provided by the donor, Ella Cole Gallagher
and Alonzo Searing married in June 1887. The correspondence gives evidence of their progressing relationship.
document-box Civil War 3, folder 12, folder 12
Series 5, Correspondence - Leonora and D.D. Briant to to Alonzo Searing 1864 May 6
Physical Description: 0.02 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains one letter from Leonora and D.D. Briant to Alonzo Searing dated May 6, 1864. Leonora addresses him "Cousin
Lon." She makes reference to the writer, D.D. Briant, as her father. Leonora writes of her health, the weather, acquaintances
and family. D.D. writes "I think there is to be a great battle fought very soon in Virginia with the Potomac Army in which
I fear there will (be) many lives lost on both sides" and writes at length about the role of "that god that rules in the armies
of heaven ... and on the field of battle" in determining the victor.
document-box Civil War 3, folder 13, folder 13
Series 6, Correspondence - E. Clarke Clive to Alonzo Searing 1907-1911
Physical Description: 0.02 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains 13 letters and postcards from E. Clarke Clive to Alonzo Searing, 1907 - 1913. It also contains one unidentified
carte de visite that was enclosed with a June 11, 1912 letter. Clive writes from Phillipsburg, New Jersey. He addresses Searing
as "dear Comrade" and discusses his ability to attend reunions of the 11th Regiment of New Jersey Volunteers at Newark and
at Gettysburg. He also writes of his health and the health and funerals of fellow soldiers.
document-box Civil War 3, folder 14, folder 14
Series 7, Correspondence - Searing family members with others
Physical Description: 0.02 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains one letter to Elizabeth (Lizzie) Searing from Elmer E. Powers, Nov. 23, 1884; one letter to "Dear Sister"
from Emmi, May 4, 1888; and a letter to Phebe Searing from William H. Sherman, March 24, 1913.
document-box Civil War 3, folder 15, folder 15
Series 8, Correspondence - To Alonzo and Phebe Searing from fellow soldiers regarding 1913 Gettysburg reunion 1912-1913
Physical Description: 0.02 Linear feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains seven letters to Phebe Searing and Alonzo Searing regarding the organization of a reunion of soldiers
at Gettysburg in July 1913. The correspondence is from December 1912 to April 1913.
document-box Civil War 3, folder 16, folder 16
document-box Civil War 4, folder 1-6, folder 17-22
Series 10, Correspondence - William H. Case to his mother, sister, brother 1861-1864
Physical Description: 0.2 Linear Feet(6 folders)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains correspondence of William Harrison Case to his mother, Hannah Case, and to his sister and brother. Correspondence
from Alonzo B. Searing to the Searing family indicates William Harrison Case was a cousin of Alonzo Searing. Case served with
the 15th Regiment of the New Jersey Volunteers. He was wounded at the battle at Spotsylvania Courthouse and died at Carver
Hospital June 3, 1864 according to Alonzo Searing's account in his scrapbook dated July 31, 1864.
document-box Civil War 4, folder 7, folder 23
document-box Civil War 4, folder 8, folder 24
document-box Civil War 4, folder 9, folder 25
Series 13, Correspondence - George W. Teates to his wife, mother, brother 1862 January - June
Physical Description: 0.01 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains four letters from George W. Teates to his wife, mother and brother. Teates served with the Company K,
9th Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers (Jersey Muskrats). In the earliest letter in the series Teates writes to his mother "on
board Brig Dragoon" (Dragon) ... "Burnside Expedition, Fortress Monroe, Jan. 11th, 1862." He writes to re-establish a relationship
with his mother and asks her to consider moving in with his wife, Emaline. On Feb. 26, 1862 he writes to Emaline from "Genl
Burnsides Expedition, Roanoke Island, North Carolina. He writes of his loss, lonliness and suffering but also lists all the
cities he has seen as a result of his enlistment. "... had I known what privations and sufferings I would have to go through
I never would have entered the army. All this could be avoided had our officers been more efficient and less careless. For
Uncle Sam provides plentifully for the soldiers but our quartermasters grow rich off the poor soldiers but this aint Uncle
Sams fault Our Government clothes is nearlyy wore out and our new ones has been due us some time but we can't get them. My
shoes gave out entirely ten days ago. I went to the hospital and got a pair that a poor Rebel had no further use of for he
is lying 3 feet deep in the sand of Roanoke Island....Truely Jeff Davis' Kingdom is nearly played out and the flag will not
much longer float over the Rebel Capitol for Uncle Sam's back is up and he is determined in the shortest possible time to
anihilate Succession ... our large army if skilfully handled cannot help but be successful." An April 21, 1862 letter he writes
to his brother about the possibility of meeting in Richmond "The Metropolis of Rebeldom." The fourth letter is again to Emaline.
He writes to her from the hospital at Beaufort, North Carolina. He write that although he was suffering from typhoid, he improves
only when he is way from the hospital rather than in it "I never was much sick before I came to the hospital."
document-box Civil War 4, folder 10, folder 26
Series 14, Correspondence - Confederate letters and documents 1858-1864
Physical Description: 0.01 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains correspondence addressed to (Col.) Samuel Burke. It also includes a bank credit document, a Confederate
Application for Leave or Furlough for Lt. J H. Roff, a Certificate Recommending Extention of Furlough for Priv. P.W. Eanes,
and a letter from W. G. Dickinson to Col. Henry Th? requesting uniforms for the 18th Regiment, Virginia Volunteers at Manassas
Junction. The correspondence to Burke is from various writers including Osborn Ligon, Thomas Todd, William Foulkes, R.A. Gibbs,
W.G. Dickinson, and "Mollie" writing from Eufaula, Alabama.
document-box Civil War 4, folder 11, folder 27
Series 15, Correspondence and documents of Charles Green 1912
Physical Description: 0.01 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains one handwritten letter from Charles Green to Alonzo Searing, a copy of a newspaper letter written by
Searing (same as in scrapbooks in Series 24), a letter to the editor by C.R. Green published in the Olathe, KS Independent
Sept. 25, 1912, a printed "circular letter" from Charles Green to friends, a document "advertising a book of Green's Hist'l
Series as now ready" titled "In Keokuks Time on the Kansas Reservation," and a letter "To the Readers:" promoting historical
pamphlets written by Green about early Kansas history.
document-box Civil War 4, folder 12, folder 28
Series 16, Biographical material
Physical Description: 0.01 Linear feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains various pieces of Searing and Bryant family history including a newspaper article, marriage and graduation
announcements, and printouts from the Internet about Alonzo Bryant Searing and his granddaughter's biography of him.
document-box Civil War 4, folder 13, folder 29
Series 17, Journal - "Account of the march to Gettysburg ... and the battle"
Physical Description: 0.03 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Physical Description: Extremely fragile. Most pages broken along fold lines.
Language of Material: English.
This series contains a handwritten "account of the march to Gettyburg Pa and the services of the Eleventh Regt New Jersey
Vols 1st Brigade 2nd Division 3rd Corps in that important battle of July 1st, 2nd and 3rd 1863." The account is unbound, written
in pencil on lined paper and is extremely fragile, most pages broken in thirds along fold lines.
document-box Civil War 4, folder 14, folder 30
Series 18, Manuscript - "History of the Eleventh Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers"
Physical Description: 0.05 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains a photocopy of a handwritten manuscript "Written by Alonzo B. Searing Co. E 11th NJ Vols For the purpose
of assisting Thomas D. Marbaker Sergt Co E 11th NJ Vols in compiling the History of the Eleventh Regiment New Jersy Vols 1st
Brigade 2nd Division 3rd Corps." (See https://archive.org/details/cu31924030908416)
document-box Civil War 4, folder 15, folder 31
Series 19, Newspaper articles - historical accounts of the Civil War and 11th Regiment of New Jersey Vols
Physical Description: 0.02 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains three articles from newspapers about the Eleventh Regiment of New Jersey Volunteers of the Civil War.
One is a letter from the editor of the National Tribune giving a brief history of the Eleventh Regiment in response to a request
for that history. Another is a published copy of the last letter Alonzo B. Searing wrote for the Morris County Journal on
April 10, 1893. It describes his last days with the Army. This article is accompanied by a handwritten note from Alonzo's
son Carl B. Searing. Another newspaper piece is a poem titled "Old Millbrook: A Vanished Village" by Theodore F. Mott, published
July 26, 1915. Biographical information indicates Alonzo Searing was born and is buried at Millbrook (Mill Brook).
document-box Civil War 4, folder 16, folder 32
Series 20, Receipts and promissory notes of Samuel Searing 1832-1916
Physical Description: 0.02 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains handwritten receipts and promissory notes primarily belonging to Samuel Searing, dating from 1832 to
1916. The notes were found folded in a small hand-sewn cloth bag. The bag is physically with the diaries in Series 23.
document-box Civil War 4, folder 17, folder 33
Series 21, Book - A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Physical Description: 0.05 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains one small (3 x 4 inches) bound volume of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." It was published by Robert
K. Haas, Inc., Publishers, New York, New York. The publication/printing dates are not evident, but likely 1922 - 1925, based
on history of the publishing company. In addition to the novel, the book includes five pages of advertisements listing other
books offered by the publisher.
document-box Civil War 5, folder 1, folder 34
Series 22, Diaries 1859-1870
Physical Description: 0.1 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains eleven diaries. One of the diaries belonged to Susan E. Searing and is dated 1859. Two diaries are undated
one contains journal entries and poems, a second is entirely poems. Eight diaries date from 1863 - 1870.
document-box Civil War 5, folder 2, folder 35