Liberty Warner papers

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.