Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Reynolds (Joseph Smith)
- Extent:
- .1 linear feet (1 folder)
- Language:
- English.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
Civil War diary, 1862, of Joseph Smith Reynolds, a Union officer with the 64th Illinois Vol., Co. F. Reynolds was born in New Lenox, Illinois, December 3, 1839. He moved to Chicago in 1856, graduated from the high school there in July 1861, and enlisted in the 64th the next month. During the Civil War he took part in 17 battles, was wounded in action three times, and was promoted several times, from 2nd lieutenant to brev. brigadier-general of volunteers by 1865. After the Civil War he studied law, was admitted to the bar and practiced in Chicago. He also was elected as representative and senator to the Illinois legislature, was a commissioner from Illinois to the Universal Exposition at. Vienna in 1873, and held other public offices.
The diary covers the period of March to September 1862, and mainly describes movements and engagements of his unit and nearby forces.
An earlier portion of the diary, written in a different hand by an unknown author, purports to describe a journey from Champaign County (Illinois), through Lexington and Frankfort (Kentucky), to the Ohio River and then down it, past Cincinnati and onward, from October 1805 to about January 1807. Champaign County, however, did not exist until the early 1830s and there are inaccuracies where dates and days of the week are mentioned, so it seems likely this is a fictional account which may or may not have been based on an actual journey.
- Acquisition information:
- Undetermined.
- Physical location:
- Vault
Access and use
- Location of this collection:
-
UC Santa Barbara LibrarySanta Barbara, CA 93106-9010, US
- Contact:
- (805) 893-3062