Liberty Warner papers

Collection

Identifier: MS-0624

Staff Only

Collection Overview

Abstract

Correspondence of a private with Company H, 21st O.V.I. during the Civil War. Includes description of training, camp life, food, health conditions, and troop movements through the Battle of Chickamauga. Includes four letters of brother Elliott M. Warner, serving with the 144th O.V.I. in 1864

Dates

Creation: 1861-1864

Extent

1 Reels (1 reel of 35 mm microfilm)

Creator

Warner, Liberty, 1842-1863 (Person)
Warner, Elliott Martin, 1844-1887 (Person)

Scope and Contents

The Liberty Warner Papers is a series of 40 Civil War era letters, written between 1861 and 1864. The collection includes typed transcripts and the original handwritten letters for the entire series of correspondence. Primarily by Liberty Warner, the sequence also includes two letters by his cousin, William Barber, informing the family of Liberty's death during the Battle of Chickamauga, a letter fragment from Milo Caton, the Captain of Company H, and four letters from Elliott M. Warner during his service with the 144th O.V.I.

Liberty Warner served with the 21st Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company H, from 1861 through 1863, when he was killed during the Battle of Chickamauga, at Snodgrass Hill, on Sept. 20. His correspondence presents a fairly complete series of communications from his entry into the army through to his death in the service. The early letters describe training and camp life, health conditions, food, and troop movements. As one of several young men from Tontogany, Ohio serving together, including four cousins, William, George, James, and John Barber, Warner makes constant reference to the activities of all mutual friends. An interesting feature of the letters is the use of drawings to illustrate camp life. One of the drawings includes a layout of their tent, complete with name and position of each bunk-mate.

As a typical soldier in the 21st O.V.I., Warner participated in the Battles of Stones River and Chickamauga. Wounded and captured at Stones River, Liberty was parolled and spent some time at a hospital in New Albany, Indiana before rejoining the 21st O.V.I. The letters from Milo Caton and William Barber refer to the action at Chickamauga.

The letters of Elliott Warner cover his activities in Company B, 144th O.V.I. (O.N.G.), including a description of Todd's Barracks, Camp Chase, life and duties at Camp Parolle, Md., and a tour of the Capitol in Washington, D.C. The collection also includes three examples of fancy calligraphy executed by Elliott Warner.

The letters were originally transcribed by members of the family possessing the letters, with corrections or additions to the text made by Marilyn Levinson, Curator of Manuscripts at the Center for Archival Collections. When possible, the spelling of the original letters has been maintained, with punctuation added to provide clarity.

Biographical Sketch

Liberty P. Warner, born May 11, 1842 in Mt. Blanchard, Ohio, was the eldest child of Henry Warner, a Methodist minister, and Jane Elizabeth Wright Warner. He served as a private in Company H of the 21st Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War, having mustered in on September 19, 1861 at Findlay, Ohio, at Camp Vance. He was wounded and taken prisoner at the Battle of Stones River, paroled, and then was killed September 20, 1863, at Snodgrass Hill during the Battle of Chickamauga. A younger brother, Elliot Martin, born Janury 23, 1844, also served during the war with Company B, 144th O.V.I. Two sisters, Eliza and Mary are also mentioned in the letters.

The Barber brothers (John, George, William, and James) were cousins of the Warners, their mother Herriet being the sister of Henry Warner. Another of Henry's siblings, George Lewis Warner, referred to in the letters as Uncle George, also served in the 144th O.V.I. with Elliott.

Conditions Governing Access

No known access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers using this collection assume full responsibility for conforming to the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright, and are responsible for securing permissions necessary for publication or reproduction.

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The collection was loaned for microfilming to the Center for Archival Collections through the cooperation of Mrs. Patricia Gardner, November 19, 1991.