Indiana Historical Society - Manuscripts & Archives
User Information
Historical and Biographical Sketch
Scope and Content Note
Cataloguing Information
Processed by
Chris Harter
14 February 1997
VOLUME OF COLLECTION: 5 items
COLLECTION DATES: 1863-1864
PROVENANCE: Charles Apfelbaum, Watchung, NJ
RESTRICTIONS: None
COPYRIGHT: Permission to reproduce or publish material in this collection must be obtained in writing from the Indiana Historical Society.
ALTERNATE FORMATS: None
RELATED HOLDINGS: None
ACCESSION NUMBER: 1997.0004
NOTES:
John H. Denton (d. 1893), a resident of Aurora, Indiana (Dearborn Co.), served as a lieutenant in the 3rd Battery, 3rd Division, 14th U.S. Army Corps during the Civil War. He was promoted to captain in April 1864. After the war, he married Martha A. Cole (fl. 1863-1864). They had three daughters: Mary E. (b. 1865), Nellie, and Cora. Beginning in 1868, Denton became co-publisher of The Dearborn Independent, an Aurora newspaper, along with Thomas Cobb. By 1871, Cobb had assumed the role as sole publisher and editor. According to Shaw's History of Dearborn County, Denton served as postmaster in Aurora for eight years. However, The Postal History of Indiana, vol II., lists his official appointment date as October 19, 1889.
The Third Battery was organized in Connersville, Indiana (Fayette Co.) and mustered into service in August, 1861. It saw engagement throughout Missouri (1862-1863) before spending the winter campaign of 1863-1864 in western Tennessee. The battery then moved to Vicksburg, Mississippi, to join with Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman for a time. They returned to Tennessee in the fall of 1864, and took part in a decisive battle at Nashville on December 15th and 16th, 1864. In early 1865, they participated in the siege and capture of Fort Blakely, which resulted in the surrender of Mobile, Alabama. The Third Battery remained in Alabama until July, 1865, when it proceeded to Indianapolis to muster out.
Sources: Materials in the collection.
The Dearborn Independent. November 19, 1868; October 19, 1893.
Baker, J. David. The Postal History of Indiana. vol. II. p. 892.
Miller, John W. (ed.). Indiana Newspaper Bibliography. p. 68.
Shaw, Archibald. History of Dearborn County. p. 657.
Terrell, W. H. H. Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Indiana. p. 390-391.
This collection consists of five letters from Capt. John H. Denton to Martha A. Cole in Aurora, Indiana, dating from June 28, 1863, to June 9, 1863. Denton sent the letters while serving with the 3rd Battery, 3rd Division, 14th U.S. Army Corps in Tennessee and Georgia. In the letters, he reports of his activities, skirmishes with Confederate forces, and his promotion to captain.
The letters are accompanied by typescripts and annotations made by a previous owner. The typescripts do contain some mistakes.
The letters are arranged chronologically, followed by copies of the typescripts and the original typescripts.
MAIN ENTRY: Denton, John H., d. 1893
SUBJECT ENTRIES: Denton, John H., d. 1893
United States. Army. Corps, 14th.
Soldiers--Indiana--Aurora
Indiana--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Aurora (Ind.)--History--Sources
END