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Barton, Caleb S. (Civil War correspondence)
2023.045.w.r
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Caleb S. Barton Civil War correspondence
source:
Fend, Steven
source:
Saelon Renkes, Saelon
Creator:
Barton, Caleb S., Corporal, 1844-1864
Creator:
Barton, Thomas, b. 1820
Creator:
Barton, King "K.W.C.", b. 1845
Creator:
Barton, Mary, b. 1847
Creator:
Barton, Sarah, b. 1850
Identifier/Call Number: 2023.045.w.r
Physical Description:
0.15 Linear Feet
(2 folders)
Date (inclusive): 1862 June 21 - 1864 April 8
Abstract: This collection contains 50 letters between Pvt. Caleb S. Barton, USA and his family during the Civil War.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: Civil War 8
Container: 13-17
Container: 1-5
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gif tof Steven Fend and Saelon Renkes.
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
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.
[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.
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.
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.
Existence and Location of Copies
The donor of this collection has published the letters online at their personal website: https://www.saelon.com/family/civil-war-letters/index.html.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Correspondence -- American Civil War
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
Fend, Steven
Saelon Renkes, Saelon