Processed by
Kathryn M. Wilmot
June 2007
Manuscript and Visual Collections Department
William Henry Smith Memorial Library
Indiana Historical Society
450 West Ohio Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202-3269
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VOLUME OF |
Manuscript Materials: 2 document cases, 1 oversized
manuscript box, 10 oversized manuscript folders stored in flat files |
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COLLECTION |
1858–1908 (bulk 1863–1865) |
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PROVENANCE: |
William G. and Rebecca Owsley, Au Gres, MI, December 2000 |
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RESTRICTIONS: |
None |
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COPYRIGHT: |
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REPRODUCTION |
Permission to reproduce or publish material in this collection must be obtained from the Indiana Historical Society. |
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ALTERNATE |
None |
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RELATED |
Other 99th Regiment Indiana Infantry collections: SC 1848 (Cass); M 0617 (Lucas); E 506.4 C5 fiche nos. 359–363 History of the 99th Indiana Infantry and New History of the 99th Indiana Infantry |
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ACCESSION |
2001.0066 |
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NOTES: |
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Alfred H. Heath was born ca. 1840 in New York. Material in the collection indicates he was a farmer at the time of his enrollment in the Union Army, and he was also certified to teach in both Michigan and Indiana.
Heath mustered into “A” Company, 99th Regiment, Indiana Infantry as a corporal on 11 August 1862. He was promoted to sergeant on 25 November 1862, first sergeant on 10 April 1863, second lieutenant on 4 August 1863, first lieutenant on 1 March 1864, and finally captain on 26 April 1864. On 21 February 1865, Heath was assigned to the Pioneer Corps, 2nd Division, 15th Army Corps as acting assistant quartermaster.
For most of the war, the 99th Indiana was attached to the Department of the Tennessee. The regiment was involved in the Siege of Vicksburg, the Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign, the demonstration on Dalton, Georgia, the Battle of Resaca, the Battle of Atlanta, the Battle of Jonesboro, the March to the Sea, and the Battle of Bentonville. Heath mustered out of the 99th Indiana on 5 June 1865.
The 1870 census indicates Heath was farming and married to a woman named Cynthia. They were living in Berlin, Ionia County, Michigan with their three children Cora A., Alfred L., and William H. By 1880 Heath was employed as a postmaster living in Ionia City, Michigan and a daughter, Susie, had joined the family. An 1887 letter from William T. Sherman indicates Heath was commander of the Soldiers and Sailors Association and involved in Civil War reunions. In 1900 Heath and his wife were living in Detroit, Michigan, and Heath was working as an electrician. They are last seen on the 1910 census living as boarders in Michigan.
Sources:
Ancestry Library Edition. Available at: http://www.ancestrylibrary.com
American Civil War Research database. Available at: http://www.civilwardata.com
Civil War Soldiers & Sailors System. Available at: http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss
The collection consists mainly of Civil War era materials and artifacts such as muster rolls, correspondence, and quartermaster records of stores and supplies. Artifacts include a phlebotomy instrument, powder flask, minie ball, and Heath’s field desk among other items. There are a few pre- and post-Civil War materials in the collection as well.
The correspondence, general orders, and special orders provide information on appointments and duty details, foraging, troop movement, and other regimental business. Other materials list soldiers in the company who were sick, wounded, transferred, and promoted. The “final statements” provide physical descriptions of soldiers who died and their causes of death.
Of particular interest is a letter dated 7 March 1863 indicating that “contrabands” or fugitive slaves already within the lines were to be mustered into the Pioneer Corps to perform fatigue duty. Also, the names of “contraband” laborers are included on the clothing receipt rolls for March–April 1865. A few other references to African Americans are found within the correspondence and orders folders.
A letter in the collection from Heath indicates the valise, containing his official papers, quartermaster returns, and invoices of stores was stolen on 5 June 1865 from his tent. He had to reassemble this information, so some of the materials in this collection may be copies of the originals.
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CONTENTS |
CONTAINER |
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Abstracts of articles received from and/or transferred to officers, March–May 1865 |
OMB 0109, Folder 1 |
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Abstracts/lists of articles expended, lost, destroyed in the public service, March–May 1865 |
OMB 0109, Folder 2 |
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Approximations of funds and stores, March–May 1865 |
Box 1, Folder 1 |
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Certificates and promotions for Alfred H. Heath, Nov 1862–March 1864 |
OMB 0109, Folder 3 |
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Civil War correspondence and orders, May 1863–65 |
Box 1, Folder 2 |
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Civil War correspondence and orders, June 1865–Oct 1866 |
Box 1, Folder 3 |
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Clothing account ledger, 1864–65 |
Box 1, Folder 4 |
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Clothing receipt rolls for NCOs, artificers, musicians and privates, Feb 1864 |
OMB 0109, Folder 4 |
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Clothing receipt rolls for contrabands/pioneer laborers, March–April 1865 |
OMB 0109, Folder 5 |
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Commutation of rations while on furlough form, 1865 |
Box 1, Folder 5 |
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Descriptive list of deserters, ca. 1865 |
Oversize Manuscripts: |
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Descriptive lists of persons hired, employed, transferred, May 1865 |
OMB 0109, Folder 6 |
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Descriptive rolls and accounts of pay and clothing, Dec 1862–Sept 1864 |
OMB 0109, Folder 7 |
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Disability discharge for Ephraim Goff, Nov 1863 |
Box 1, Folder 6 |
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Field desk of Alfred H. Heath [44 x 41.7 x 28.5 cm], ca. 1861–65 |
Artifacts: 2001.0066 |
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Final statements for deceased soldiers, Aug 1864–May 1865 |
Box 1, Folder 7 |
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Infantry Tactics for the Instruction, Exercise, and Maneuvers of the Soldier . . . by Brig. Gen. Silas Casey [also known as Casey’s Infantry Tactics], 1862 [two copies] |
Box 1, Folder 8 |
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Instructions for Making Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores . . . , 1863 |
Box 1, Folder 9 |
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Inventory and inspection report of camp and garrison equipage, March–April 1865 |
OMB 0109, Folder 8 |
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Lists/invoices of clothing, camp and garrison equipage received and/or transferred, March–May 1865 |
Box 1, Folder 10 |
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Lists of ordnance and quartermaster stores received and/or transferred, Feb–May 1865 |
Box 1, Folder 11 |
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Medical furlough forms for Elijah Spears, Aug–Oct 1864 |
Box 1, Folder 12 |
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Minie ball [.58 caliber with its
paper wrapping, housed in a bank pins box. Note on box states “this is a .58
caliber cartridge for army use during Civil War.”], |
Artifacts: 2001.0066 |
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Monthly returns of clothing, camp and garrison equipage, March–June 1865 |
Box 1, Folder 13 |
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Monthly returns of quartermaster’s stores, March–May 1865 |
Box 1, Folder 14 |
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Muster Rolls, Sept–Oct 1862 |
Oversize Manuscripts: |
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Muster Rolls, Oct–Dec 1862 |
Oversize Manuscripts: |
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Muster Rolls, April 1863; Dec 1863–Feb 1864 |
Oversize Manuscripts: |
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Muster Rolls, Feb–June 1864 |
Oversize Manuscripts: |
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Muster Rolls, Aug–Oct 1864 |
Oversize Manuscripts: |
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Muster Rolls, Oct–Dec 1864 |
Oversize Manuscripts: |
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Muster Rolls, Dec 1864–April 1865 |
Oversize Manuscripts: |
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Muster Out Roll, June 1865 |
Oversize Manuscripts: |
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Notices of clothing and pay drawn by company soldiers, Dec 1863–March 1864 |
Box 1, Folder 15 |
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Official price list of clothing, 1863 |
OMB 0109, Folder 9 |
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Powder flask [Civil war era, metal/brass with raised relief and four small metal rings], ca. 1861–65 |
Artifacts: 2001.0066 |
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Quarterly return of deceased soldiers, March 1863–65 |
Oversize Manuscripts: |
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Quarterly return of ordnance and ordnance stores, Feb–June 1865 |
OMB 0109, Folder 10 |
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Reports of persons and articles employed and hired, Sept 1864–March 1865 |
OMB 0109, Folder 11 |
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Reports of persons and articles employed and hired, Feb–April 1865 |
OMB 0109, Folder 12 |
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Reports of persons hired and employed who deceased, deserted, or discharged, Sept 1864–May 1865 |
OMB 0109, Folder 13 |
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Revised United States Army Regulations of 1861 . . . , 1863 |
Box 2, Folder 1 |
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Volunteer descriptive lists and accounts of pay and clothing, April 1863–65 |
OMB 0109, Folder 14 |
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CONTENTS |
CONTAINER |
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Copy of discharge certificate
for Alfred Heath, |
Box 2, Folder 2 |
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Horn [from unidentified animal], n.d. |
Artifacts: 2001.0066 |
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Illustration of Federal and Confederate Civil War generals, from Century Magazine, 1885 |
OMB 0109, Folder 15 |
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Knife [triangular blade with smooth wooden handle, “John Milner, Sheffield”], n.d. |
Artifacts: 2001.0066 |
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Letter [LS] from William T. Sherman, June 1887 |
Box 2, Folder 3 |
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Medical fleam/phlebotomy instrument [folded, three-bladed steel with “G. Gregory” on blade], n.d. |
Artifacts: 2001.0066 |
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Pension claims for John P. Merrill and Alfred Heath, 1886–1908 |
Box 2, Folder 4 |
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Postmaster accounting statements, 1886–87 |
Box 2, Folder 5 |
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Receipts, 1872–89; n.d. |
Box 2, Folder 6 |
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Speech for Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Reunion, n.d. |
Box 2, Folder 7 |
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State Historical Society of Wisconsin membership certificate, Jan 1888 |
OMB 0109, Folder 16 |
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Teaching certificates for Alfred H. Heath, 1858–61 |
Box 2, Folder 8 |
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Wallet [rectangular leather with pockets for bills, railroad tickets, cards], n.d. |
Artifacts: 2001.0066 |
For additional information on this collection, including a list of subject headings that may lead you to related materials:
1. Go to the Indiana Historical Society's online catalog: http://opac.indianahistory.org/
2. Click on the "Basic Search" icon.
3. Select "Call Number" from the "Search In:" box.
4. Search for the collection by its basic call number (in this case, M 0905).
5. When you find the collection, go to the "Full Record" screen for a list of headings that can be searched for related materials.