Processed by
Chris Harter
29 December 1998
Updated by Susan Fletcher
21 July 2005
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 |
1 folder |
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COLLECTION |
1861–1862 |
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PROVENANCE: |
Arthur E. Edinger, Shelbyville, KY, 3 December 1998; Historical Collectible Auctions, Graham, North Carolina 11 January 2005 |
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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 |
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RELATED |
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ACCESSION |
1999.0224; 2005.0113 |
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NOTES: |
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Samuel Bigger Voyles (1843-1898), the son of William and Barbara (Wilson) Voyles, was a resident of Washington County, Indiana. Voyles enlisted in the 18th Indiana Regiment, Company G, in August 1861. He was mustered out as sergeant in August 1864. Voyles entered a law firm in Missouri and studied law at the St. Louis Law School.
In 1869, he returned to Indiana. After being admitted to the bar, Voyles became the law partner of Harvey Morris, and later James R. Masterson. In November 1873, Voyles married Maude Houston. They had six children: Willard, Clara, Thomas, Kate, Barbara, and Roger.
Voyles became the prosecuting attorney for his district in 1873. He was elected senator for Washington and Floyd Counties in 1880 and served two terms. He also served on the state monument board and aided in the selection of a design for the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Indianapolis. In 1890, he was elected circuit court judge for Orange, Jackson, and Washington Counties. He died while serving his second term.
The 18th Indiana Regiment (1861-1865) was organized at Indianapolis in August 1861 and immediately left for Camp Benton at St. Louis. It proceeded into the interior of Missouri, participating in John C. Fremont's march to Springfield and the return march to Otterville. In April 1862, the regiment marched for Helena, Arkansas. It reached its destination on July 13th, taking part in an engagement at Cotton Plant while on the march.
The regiment stayed in southeastern Missouri during the winter of 1862-63. In the spring, it was transferred to U.S. Grant's army, participating in battles at Port Gibson, Champion Hills and Black River Beach in May 1863. The 18th Indiana then moved toward Vicksburg, and served in Louisiana and Texas. In January 1864, the regiment re-enlisted and was transferred to Indiana on veteran's furlong, where it stayed during June and July. The regiment then moved to Virginia and into Georgia, where it served until it was mustered out in August 1865.
Sources:
Stevens, Warder W. Centennial History of Washington County, Indiana (1916), p.
843.
Terrell, W. H. H. Report of the Adjutant General…, Vol. 2, p. 167; Vol. 4, p. 383.
This collection consists of fourteen letters written by Samuel B. Voyles to his father, William, while Samuel served with the 18th Indiana Regiment. The letters date from 28 July 1861 to 12 August 1862, and are arranged chronologically. They document Voyles’ arrival at Camp Morton in Indianapolis and his service in Missouri and Arkansas. In the letters, Voyles reports on skirmishes and the bombardment of Jacksonport, Arkansas, by a Confederate gunboat. He also provides his thoughts on various officers, and inquires about money that he has sent to his family. In addition, he describes camp life including the cook, washerwomen, weather, and the abundance of “buffalo gnats.” Voyles was hospitalized sometime between January and May 1862, an experience about which he commented, “I hope the thing called Hospital and I will never meet again.” Typescript copies accompany ten of the letters.
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CONTENTS |
CONTAINER |
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Correspondence, 28 July 1861–12 August 1862 |
Folder 1 |
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, SC 1921).
5. When you find the collection, go to the "Full Record" screen for a list of headings that can be searched for related materials.