Author: Johanna Wickman

The 1st Minnesota Infantry: Courage Beyond Measure

Posted on by Johanna Wickman

The 1st Minnesota Infantry: Courage Beyond Measure

The following is a short summary of the regimental history of the 1st Minnesota Infantry as published as History of the First Regiment Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, 1861–1864 in 1916. The 1st Minnesota Infantry is one of the regiments on the Research Arsenal database that we have their service record from the National Archives digitized and available for research. This includes their Regimental Descriptive and Casualty Book, Consolidated Morning Report and Order Book, as well as company specific Descriptive Books and Morning Reports. To browse through these records (or all of the Records Group 94 records added to our database), simply click on “Search NARA Records” on the homepage, then select “RG 94” as the call number.

From Frontier State to the Front Lines

In April 1861, when the call for troops went out, the new state of Minnesota was scarcely three years old. Yet within days, it had organized the first regiment to answer President Lincoln’s call for volunteers. The book’s preface proudly recalls:

“The First Minnesota was among the very first to offer its services to the Government… before even the ink was dry upon the President’s proclamation.”

The men who joined came from farms, small towns, and lumber camps—a rough mix of frontier settlers and immigrants bound by the idea of preserving the Union. They would soon find themselves on a journey from the Mississippi’s upper reaches to the blood-soaked fields of Virginia and Maryland.

Early Engagements: Baptism of Fire

Their first great test came at the First Battle of Bull Run. While many regiments broke under the confusion and carnage of that July day, the 1st Minnesota “stood firm where others fled.” As one officer later wrote,

“We were green soldiers, but we stood our ground until ordered away; our regiment did not run.”

That reputation for steadfastness would follow them throughout the war. Yet the early months also brought disease, poor rations, and weary marches. The men learned quickly that glory in war was often “measured in mud, hunger, and sleepless nights.”

The Maryland Campaign and the Field of Antietam

By the fall of 1862, the regiment marched with the Army of the Potomac into Maryland. At Antietam, they fought in the Cornfield—an inferno of musketry and artillery that claimed thousands of lives. One soldier recalled the terror and chaos:

“We went in at a run. Men were falling fast, but no one stopped. The air seemed alive with bullets; yet somehow we pressed on, loading and firing until the barrels burned our hands.”

The book recounts that after the smoke cleared, the regiment had suffered grievously but held its ground. For many, the experience at Antietam marked the end of innocence and the beginning of grim endurance.

The Crucible: Gettysburg, July 2 1863

Painting of the 1st Minnesota Infantry at the Battle of Gettysburg. Painted by Rufus Zogbaum in 1907. It is currently on display in the Minnesota State Capitol building.
Painting of the 1st Minnesota Infantry at the Battle of Gettysburg. Painted by Rufus Zogbaum in 1907. It is currently on display in the Minnesota State Capitol building.

The regiment’s defining moment came at Gettysburg. When a gap opened in the Union line on Cemetery Ridge, General Hancock ordered the 1st Minnesota to charge a vastly superior Confederate force. The regimental historian writes:

“There was no time for hesitation, no hope of retreat. The First Minnesota went forward as if on parade.”

Of the 262 men who made that charge, only 47 stood unhurt afterward. Captain Colvill, who led the charge, was found wounded and barely conscious amid the dead and dying. A survivor recalled:

“The order came — we fixed bayonets and went forward. I saw men drop on either side; I felt something tear my sleeve and knew it was a bullet. Still we went on. We drove them back, but at what cost.”

General Hancock himself later said of the charge:

“There is no more gallant deed recorded in history.”

Voices of the Regiment

Beyond the statistics and official reports, History of the First Regiment Minnesota Volunteer Infantry preserves the soldiers’ own voices — letters and recollections that reveal courage, humor, and heartbreak.

From a letter written after Antietam:

“Our company has been reduced to a handful. I have lost many friends, and it seems strange to eat and sleep beside their graves. Yet we are proud — we did not give an inch of ground.”

From another soldier describing winter quarters:

“We live in little log huts chinked with mud, smoke pouring through the cracks. Still, we make the best of it — a fiddle and a song go a long way toward keeping men cheerful.”

And after Gettysburg, one survivor wrote home:

“Our regiment has been nearly destroyed, but we are content. We did our duty. Tell mother that if I do not come home, she may know I fell where I ought.”

These letters give the regiment its soul and humanity; ordinary men enduring extraordinary trials, with an unshakable sense of purpose.

Aftermath and Legacy

Following Gettysburg, the regiment’s numbers were replenished, but it would never again be the same. The survivors carried their memories through the campaigns of 1864 and into the war’s final year. When the regiment finally mustered out in May 1864, the historian wrote:

“They returned not as they went — the flush of youth had given way to the calm of endurance. The First Minnesota had written its record in blood and honor.”

Today, their memorial stands at Gettysburg, overlooking the field they charged across in 1863. It bears a simple inscription:

“In memory of the men of the First Minnesota who gave their lives that the nation might live.”

Final Thoughts

The 1st Minnesota Infantry stands as one of the Civil War’s most inspiring examples of courage under fire. Their history, recorded in the regiment’s own book, is more than a chronicle of battles; it’s a testament to endurance, loyalty, and the unyielding spirit of men who believed in something greater than themselves.

“When the call came they were ready; when the hour struck they advanced; and when the victory hinged, they held the line with their lives.”

Their story still speaks — across the generations — reminding us that honor, once earned, does not fade.

Sources

History of the First Regiment Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, 1861–1864. (Antietam Institute, Historical Research Center Collection). Full PDF here.

Painting and more information on the 1st Minnesota Infantry: Minnesota Historical Society. Article link here.

The 2nd Delaware Infantry Through Robert G. Smith’s Eyes

Posted on by Johanna Wickman

The 2nd Delaware Infantry Through Robert G. Smith’s Eyes

Whenever I am looking for information on a regiment, I especially seek out any period written histories or histories written by veterans after the war. A Brief Account of the Services Rendered by the Second Regiment Delaware Volunteers in the War of the Rebellion written by Robert G. Smith (1909) is one of those books. Smith served in the 2nd Delaware Infantry as a 2nd Lieutenant in Company A. He was slightly wounded during the Battle of Gettysburg and was eventually discharged later that year in November. The following is a brief summary of the regiment’s service during the war based on Smith’s book.

A Modest Beginning, a Proud Record

In the early summer of 1861, Delaware answered President Lincoln’s call, and the state’s second infantry regiment began to form. As Smith notes, the regiment was “the first body of volunteer infantry in the State to form under the call for three years’ men.” The men rallied in Wilmington and across the state; some companies even reached beyond into Philadelphia and Maryland to recruit devoted Unionists.

The 2nd Delaware mustered into federal service between June and October 1861, committing to a three-year term. From the start, soldiers of the regiment faced the steady tension between civilian life and martial duty.

Early Service: Garrison Duty, Transfer to the Field

After organization, the regiment spent months on garrison duty in Baltimore, Maryland. This period, though less dramatic than pitched battle, was crucial for discipline, training, and acclimatization to military life. Smith records that these initial months were spent “without great incident,” but helped mold the regiment into a fighting unit.

In mid-1862, the 2nd Delaware was ordered to join the Army of the Potomac for the Peninsula Campaign and the subsequent Seven Days’ Battles. It would be in this crucible that the regiment earned both scars and renown.

Into the Fray: Seven Days, Antietam, Fredericksburg

DELAWARE2nd DELAWARE VOLUNTEERS CAPT. DAVID L. STRICKER 3rd BRIGADE, 1st DIVISION, II CORPS This regiment of Richardson's reserve brigade crossed Antietam Creek. Advanced with division and came under heavy artillery fire while holding position immediately beyond crest of the ridge. It moved to right and helped repulse counterattack in gap between French and Richardson's divisions. In final assault on Bloody Lane, the regiment crossed here and took possession of Piper Farm buildings until ordered to retire. LOSSES OFFICERS MEN Killed 12 Wounded 2 Missing 2 Total 58
This monument stands at Antietam and reads: DELAWARE
2nd DELAWARE VOLUNTEERS
CAPT. DAVID L. STRICKER
3rd BRIGADE, 1st DIVISION, II CORPS
This regiment of Richardson’s reserve brigade crossed Antietam Creek. Advanced with division and came under heavy artillery fire while holding position immediately beyond crest of the ridge. It moved to right and helped repulse counterattack in gap between French and Richardson’s divisions. In final assault on Bloody Lane, the regiment crossed here and took possession of Piper Farm buildings until ordered to retire.
LOSSES
OFFICERS MEN
Killed 12
Wounded 2
Missing 2
Total 58

 

 

During the Seven Days before Richmond, the regiment was engaged in several hard fights: Savage Station, Gaines’s Mill, White Oak Swamp, Glendale, and Malvern Hill. In the aftermath, the 2nd Delaware had earned hard lessons in maneuver, command stress, and casualties.

At Antietam, the regiment took its share of fire. The battle remains one of the bloodiest single days in American history, and Delaware’s volunteers were hardly spared.

In December 1862, the regiment faced the bitter cold and carnage of Fredericksburg. Though it was not in the main storming columns, its presence before Marye’s Heights and in reserve still confronted the grim realities of war.

Smith’s account, though compact, honors the steady persistence of the regiment: “no regiment of its size in the service performed greater service by its steady discipline and endurance under fire.”

1863: Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and Endurance

Illustration of the 2nd Delaware Infantry during the fighting in the Wheatfield of the Battle of Gettysburg
Illustration of the 2nd Delaware Infantry during the fighting in the Wheatfield of the Battle of Gettysburg

The year 1863 brought repeated tests. At Chancellorsville, the Delaware men were caught in the ebb and flow of Jackson’s flank assault and Hooker’s offensive. They held lines, withdrew in order, and endured. Their steady professionalism drew positive mention in Smith’s narrative.

But their most famous hour came at Gettysburg in July 1863. The 2nd Delaware was positioned near the center of the Union line. When senior officers fell, command fell to junior officers. Smith writes of the moment with pride:

“When their leaders were disabled the men of the regiment held together and did their full duty.” In fact, Captain Charles H. Christman took command after Colonel Baily and Lieutenant Colonel Strickler were disabled, and kept the regiment fighting. Their monument at Gettysburg now commemorates that tenacity.

After Gettysburg, the 2nd Delaware marched, refitted, and remained active in the Bristoe and Mine Run campaigns. Though perhaps overshadowed by larger units, they were consistent, dependable, and often in the thick of things.

1864 and Final Campaigns

In 1864, the Union war machine shifted into high gear under Grant’s Overland Campaign. The 2nd Delaware advanced into the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, and ultimately took part in early operations around Petersburg. Their experience was hard-earned: continual marching, skirmishing, entrenching, and sustaining losses.

At Spotsylvania Court House, in the area known as the “Mule Shoe,” the regiment was caught in fierce fighting. One account in Smith’s history reflects on the strain of those days:

“The constant strain upon both body and mind was greater than men could well endure without suffering.”

By summer 1864, the regiment’s term of service was nearing its end. On July 1, 1864, the 2nd Delaware was mustered out. Veterans and recruits were consolidated into the 1st Delaware Infantry.

Smith, in closing, remarks that the Delaware men left behind a “record which their state may proudly claim.”

Legacy and Reflections

Though compact in its published form, Smith’s Brief Account offers more than a roster or order-of-battle. It reflects a belief in duty, in small regiments doing steady work over glory. The repeated references to discipline, endurance, and quiet courage suggest that the 2nd Delaware’s character was built less on flamboyance and more on consistency under pressure.

Over its nearly three-year service, the regiment participated in many of the pivotal eastern campaigns of the war — the Peninsula, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and the Overland Campaign.

In many respects, the 2nd Delaware typifies the story of many small northern state regiments: fewer thousands than the great regiments from New York or Pennsylvania, but responding with equal heart to the nation’s call. In Smith’s words, they performed “greater service by its steady discipline and endurance under fire” than many might suspect.

In placing their modest history on the record, Smith gives us not only names and dates, but a window into the lived experience — the quiet resolve of men from Wilmington, New Castle, Elkton, Philadelphia — who marched into war, held in battle, and marched home changed.

The 2nd Delaware Infantry is one of the regiments on the Research Arsenal database that we have their service record from the National Archives digitized and available for research. This includes their Regimental Descriptive Book, Consolidated Morning Reports, and Roster of Commissioned Officers, and Roster of Non-Commissioned Officers and Staff, Clothing Book for Company I, and Descriptive and Morning Reports for Company I. To browse through these records (or all of the Records Group 94 records added to our database), simply click on “Search NARA Records” on the homepage, then select “RG 94” as the call number.

Angry Archivist: Disappointments of the Week

Posted on by Johanna Wickman

Angry Archivist: Disappointments of the Week

This week, we spent a day scanning and cataloging new material for the database, and unfortunately, I found some Angry Archivist disappointments. I thought I’d share them here in the hope that it might discourage folks from doing things like this in the future and also offer some alternatives. I only ended up scanning 40 or 50 documents and found too many things to be angry about in such a small bundle of papers! Ha ha.

Ballpoint Pen

Here you can see someone made a notation of "Box 80" on this original Civil War document with ballpoint pen. Obviously, this is not a period notation, and likely the work of a collector or an untrained librarian/archivist, at some point in the document's history. Unfortunately, once something like this is done to a historic document, it cannot be reversed.
Here you can see someone made a notation of “Box 80” on this original Civil War document with ballpoint pen. Obviously, this is not a period notation, and likely the work of a collector or an untrained librarian/archivist, at some point in the document’s history. Unfortunately, once something like this is done to a historic document, it cannot be reversed.

Hello, it’s me again…ballpoint pen, your old nemesis. I know we’ve already had a couple of blog posts about writing on historic documents with ballpoint pens, but here we are again. Honestly, this is one of the most common things I find in dealing with historic documents (the second most common is the next section) and I know that it is not done maliciously, but please, NEVER write on historic documents with ballpoint pen—or any pen for that matter. ALWAYS use pencil because it can be reversed. Any time something original is written on with permanent ink, it damages it. Period. And there is no reason to write on any of these papers with permanent ink. Whether it’s tracing old letters to make them “more legible” or writing notes on them, there is just no reason for it at all, so don’t do it.

Tape

Here you can see this oversized muster roll has been unfolded and laid flat within a protective sleeve. You can see the yellow stains from tape and it is easy to see the wear patterns on the document along the folds. This is why it is best to store documents flat.
Here you can see this oversized muster roll has been unfolded and laid flat within a protective sleeve. You can see the yellow stains from tape and it is easy to see the wear patterns on the document along the folds. This is why it is best to store documents flat.

This is the second most common issue I find with historic documents. They are old, they fall apart, so people tape them. Again, please DO NOT tape historic papers. I know they are falling apart, it’s okay. It’s better to have them fall apart than put Scotch tape all over them. Here you can see a Civil War muster roll that is falling apart so it was taped back together, and the tape has discolored and damaged the paper.

Now, if you have a letter, or a muster roll that is falling apart there are a couple of important things to consider. The first: I would be willing to bet you that it is falling apart where the creases are in the document. Again, look at this muster roll and you will see that it is tearing all along the lines of the folds. This leads to another important archival tip: Do not store historic documents folded.

You’ll notice that the muster roll in the photo is now completely flat and stored in an oversized sleeve. That sleeve with the muster roll is currently stored in a large archival box so it can remain flat. There is no more stress on those creases and folds, so it will not continue to fall apart on those seams. If you have letters or other documents that are folded, invest in some sleeves that you can store them in flatly. That will ensure that they do not continue to fall apart.

Tape Part 2

Two pieces of rolled up Scotch tape on the back of this historic document were stuck together when it was folded in half. It discolored the original paper and also left behind a sticky residue.
Two pieces of rolled up Scotch tape on the back of this historic document were stuck together when it was folded in half. It discolored the original paper and also left behind a sticky residue.

This is a second example of tape that was used on a historic document. Someone took pieces of Scotch tape, rolled them up, and stuck them to the back of the document in each of the four corners so that they could mount it to something. Likely, to the inside of a frame to stop the document from sliding. Then, after some time, the document was removed from the frame, folded in half (which we just learned is bad) and sold. Now the tape has caused the document to stick to itself.

Before I could scan it, I had to very, very slowly peel the tape from the paper. And as I am doing that ever so gingerly, I can see it has discolored the paper. There is no avoiding that. And some of it is still stuck to the paper and needs to be professionally removed by a conservator in order to be fixed. Conservators are very expensive (more expensive than that paper is worth), so now the document has been permanently damaged just because someone didn’t want it sliding in a frame (which probably wasn’t UV safe either so that faded the document) and put tape on it.

Adhesives of any kind—tape, glue, or sticky labels—have NO business on anything historic. Period. I also peeled off a sticky label from seller on a historic photograph this week that took part of the velvet lining in the case off with it. Just don’t do it. Ask yourself if what you want to do is something you’ve seen in a museum. Do you see museum staff tape papers back together? Do you see museums tape historic documents to walls? Do you see museums put sticky informational labels on their artifacts in exhibits? No, you don’t. And if you do, then chances are the person making those exhibits is not actually a trained museum professional. (Small museums with untrained staff is a whole other discussion in itself.)

Folks, if you recognize yourself in any of these examples, please stop. As I’ve mentioned before, when you are a collector or seller of anything historical, you do not own the item in question. You are its caretaker. The goal is to have the item live on beyond you for many years to come, not wither under your care. Please be mindful of simple “quick fixes” using tape or ballpoint pens. And please consider how your items are stored. I know many collectors invest a considerable amount of money into acquiring the items in their collections, please invest the same into caring for them. Leave them better than you found them, or at least no worse off. It breaks my heart to see so many things damaged in this way.

To Prove Our Worth: The 116th USCT Infantry From Civil War Service to Modern-Day Preservation

Posted on by Johanna Wickman

“To Prove Our Worth”: The 116th U.S.C. Infantry From Civil War Service to Modern-Day Preservation

Unidentified African American soldier holding a Springfield musket and bayonet. https://app.researcharsenal.com/imageSingleView/14795
Unidentified African American soldier holding a Springfield musket and bayonet. https://app.researcharsenal.com/imageSingleView/14795

The 116th USCT (United States Colored Troops) Infantry, raised in 1864, not only served through the latter years of the Civil War but continued into the post‑war occupation period. Its story is one of battlefield duty and perseverance under hardship. Today, its memory lives on through the preservation of its reunion flag at Camp Nelson National Monument in Nicholasville, Kentucky.

Origins and Military Service Summary

Organization and Attachments

The 116th USCT was organized at Camp Nelson, Kentucky, between June 6 and July 12, 1864. Initially, it was attached to the Military District of Kentucky in the Department of the Ohio. Over time it was moved through various command structures: to the 10th Corps (Army of the James), the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, XXV Corps, and finally assigned to the Department of Texas and the Department of the Gulf until its muster-out in January 1867.

Campaigns and Duties

After duty at Camp Nelson, the regiment joined defensive operations at Hickman’s Bridge during a Confederate attack. In September 1864, the 116th USCT moved east to report to General Butler’s forces at City Point, Virginia. From October 1864 to April 1865, the regiment participated in the Siege of Petersburg and Richmond, engaging in operations across the James River, trench work, and expeditions including Hatcher’s Run and the Appomattox Campaign. The 116th took part in the fall of Petersburg on April 2 and pursued Lee’s forces to Appomattox Court House.

After Lee’s surrender, the regiment remained in Virginia until May 25, when it embarked for Texas, arriving in June. There it undertook occupation and garrison duties, including in the Lower Rio Grande district, before moving to New Orleans. The regiment was finally mustered out in Louisville, Kentucky on January 17, 1867.

Formation, Training, and Early Challenges

Kireker recalled the early formation of the unit under many doubts:

“The organization of the regiment commenced under difficulties, with much doubt expressed as to the propriety and utility of raising still another colored regiment when so many were filling the ranks of the Union Army already.”

From a contemporary Christian Recorder article, one recruit was quoted as saying:

“I go so that none may say our people stood idle when freedom called.”

Kireker emphasized the expectations placed on the new soldiers:

“It was necessary to instruct not only in drill and discipline, but in the habits and confidence of soldiers who must bear in mind that all eyes were upon them.”

Training life was tough. The regiment suffered shortages of clothing and shoes, and pay was delayed:

“Shoes were wanting, clothing not furnished in time, and pay was often delayed without proper explanation.”

One private, writing in the New York Anglo-African, remarked:

“If they send us to the rear of the lines, we will drill until they see we belong at the front.”

Combat, Disease, and Tenacity

On campaign, the 116th USCT was engaged in sieges, trench work, and assaults. But disease, exposure, and the wear of constant duty claimed many. As Kireker wrote:

“Disease proved our most relentless foe. Men who were strong at muster found themselves laid low in strange places, with too little comfort and often no family to attend them.”

From a soldier’s pension affidavit:

“I fear the fever more than the rifle. There is no running from it.”

Kireker described moments of valor in skirmishes and defenses:

“Our men stood their ground with firmness, executing each command with exactness, to the notable satisfaction of the officers overseeing the post.”

He also recorded praise from higher command:

“They did not falter where others had done so. The bearing of the 116th was creditable to the service.”

Racial bias within the Union structure also tested the regiment. Kireker noted:

“Prejudice from certain quarters was not infrequent, whether in matters of supplies or the disposition of duties. Yet the men comported themselves with dignity, seeking no special favor.”

A white officer later wrote in a veterans’ circular:

“They knew they fought two battles—one in the field, and one in the minds of men who doubted them.”

In southern towns through which they marched, impressions shifted. One Christian Recorder field report observed:

“The colored troops moved with precision, their uniforms neat, their muskets shining. Citizens who had scoffed now looked on in silence.”

Within the unit, mutual support and a shared sense of mission bolstered morale. Kireker remarked:

“Among them was a spirit of mutual regard not always discovered in older organizations. The men seemed resolved to succeed together, not singly.”

A postwar county veterans’ history quoted a sergeant:

“What drove us was not only country, but the belief that our actions would speak for those who had no voice.”

Muster-Out and Legacy

As the war ended, the regiment’s final months involved demobilization and occupation duty. Kireker recorded the closing with dignity:

“The 116th, having answered the call of the nation, departs its post with honor. Whatever history shall say, these men have borne true witness to their valor and fidelity.”

A veteran, in pension testimony, reflected:

“I wore the blue so my children would not have to beg for the right to live free.”

Their name lists, promotions, casualties, and movements survive in Kireker’s roster, making the 116th one of the more thoroughly documented U.S.C.T. units.

The 116th USCT Reunion Flag: Preserving the Memory

This is the reunion flag of the 116th USCT dated to a reunion sometime after 1912 given its 48 stars.
This is the reunion flag of the 116th USCT dated to a reunion sometime after 1912 given its 48 stars.

Beyond the battlefield and muster rolls, the legacy of the 116th USCT lives in a humble, poignant artifact: the regiment’s reunion flag. The Stories Through Keepsakes article “Rolling up the Reunion Flag of a Civil War Regiment, the 116th U.S. Colored Troops” recounts how, decades after the war, descendants, veterans, and historians safeguarded a banner that symbolized remembrance and identity.

I highly recommend reading the Stories Through Keepsakes article as it is a brilliant example of how we as collectors and museums preserve and protect these important artifacts from our history. It is incredible to follow a regiment’s journey from its original formation all they way through to modern times with the preservation of that regiment’s reunion artifacts.

Sources

The 1st Kentucky Cavalry: Wild Riders of the Union

Posted on by Johanna Wickman

The 1st Kentucky Cavalry: Wild Riders of the Union

A Regiment Born in Division

In 1861, Kentucky stood on a knife’s edge. Families and neighbors split over Union or Confederate loyalties, and the border state quickly became a hotly contested battleground. From this divided soil sprang the 1st Kentucky Cavalry (Union) organized at Liberty, Burkesville, and Monticello and mustered into service on October 28, 1861.

Colonel Frank Lane Wolford, a bold and outspoken Kentuckian, assumed command. Wolford’s men soon earned a nickname that stuck—the “Wild Riders”—a nod both to their hard campaigning and their reputation for individuality. Even their structure was unusual. Where Civil War regiments used companies A through M (skipping J), the 1st Kentucky Cavalry fielded a Company J, marking them as unconventional from the outset. Company J was very rare to see during the war as it was easily mistaken for Company I both visually and in written documents.

Baptism of Fire in Kentucky

Map showing regimental positions during the battle of Mill Springs, Kentucky on January 19, 1862. Visit https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/kentucky-chaos for more information on the battle.
Map showing regimental positions during the battle of Mill Springs, Kentucky on January 19, 1862. Visit https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/kentucky-chaos for more information on the battle.

The regiment’s first months of service were spent close to home, skirmishing with Confederate raiders in central Kentucky. The men were still raw recruits, yet their duties demanded toughness from the start. They scouted long miles of road, stood picket in cold autumn nights, and learned the shock of combat at places like Mill Springs.

Their own regimental historian later wrote that the unit was defined by “rapid and severe marches, hard service, and fierce conflicts on many a bloody field.” That hard service quickly became their daily reality.

The Perryville Campaign

When Confederate General Braxton Bragg invaded Kentucky in the fall of 1862, the 1st Kentucky Cavalry was called upon to shadow his movements. At Perryville, the largest battle fought on Kentucky soil, the regiment served on the flanks, skirmishing and screening. After the Confederate retreat, the cavalry pursued Bragg’s army southward in grueling marches through dust and hunger.

The campaign revealed the regiment’s endurance, but also its humanity. One cavalryman remembered that “the boys had had nothing to eat for two days, and many fainted from hunger and fatigue, yet not one left his place in the ranks.” Such moments showed the grit that sustained the regiment through the war.

Hard Riding in Tennessee

After Perryville, the regiment shifted south into Tennessee, where duty was even more unpredictable. Here they confronted not only Confederate cavalry but also guerrilla fighters. Daily service included scouting dangerous mountain passes, raiding supply lines, and fighting off ambushes.

There were lighthearted moments amid the tension. On one scouting expedition, a small squad surprised a Confederate outpost. Instead of fighting, the Union troopers leapt from their horses, “captured the enemy’s breakfast,” and rode off laughing, leaving the astonished Confederates to chase them too late. Such “amusing incidents” became campfire stories that lightened the soldiers’ weary days.

But East Tennessee was also a place of tragedy. Captured Union cavalrymen were often sent to notorious Confederate prisons. One veteran recalled “pathetic scenes” in the camps, where comrades “lay stretched upon the bare earth, wasted to skeletons, yet still clinging to life with desperate hope.”

Thrilling Adventures and Close Escapes

Cavalry service produced moments of hair-raising adventure. One tale tells of a trooper cut off during a skirmish. Surrounded, he spurred his horse to a desperate leap over a rail fence and tore through a cornfield with Confederates in hot pursuit. “Bullets whistled around him,” the account reads, “but he escaped unharmed, to the wild cheers of his comrades.”

Another man, taken prisoner in Tennessee, managed to trick his guards by feigning illness. When left unattended, he slipped away under cover of night, surviving for days on green corn before rejoining his regiment. His “thrilling escape” became a source of pride for his company.

These stories—half grim, half heroic—illustrated the life of the “wild riders,” where every march might bring danger or absurdity.

Into Georgia and the Atlanta Campaign

By 1864, the 1st Kentucky Cavalry was seasoned. Their skills were put to full use in General William T. Sherman’s drive on Atlanta. The regiment helped raid Confederate railroads, burning bridges and tearing up track to cut the lifelines of the besieged city.

At one point they rode more than fifty miles in two days, surviving on handfuls of cornmeal, just to reach their objective. A trooper later remembered, “Our saddles were never dry, our horses never rested, yet still we pressed on, for the fall of Atlanta depended upon our speed.”

These raids were exhausting, but they helped choke off Confederate supplies and hastened the fall of the city, one of the great turning points of the war.

Leaders and Characters

Portrait of Colonel Frank Wolford of the 1st Kentucky Cavalry https://app.researcharsenal.com/imageSingleView/2040
Portrait of Colonel Frank Wolford of the 1st Kentucky Cavalry. https://app.researcharsenal.com/imageSingleView/2040

Colonel Wolford’s leadership defined the early regiment. Courageous to a fault, he once led a charge so recklessly that his own men joked, “The colonel never saw a gray coat he did not wish to chase.” Wolford also became notorious for criticizing Union authorities, especially over emancipation policy, which eventually led to his arrest and resignation.

Other officers rose in his stead, including Silas Adams, who served ably and went on to a career in Congress. The regiment’s leadership was as colorful as the rank and file, reinforcing their “wild” reputation.

Muster Out and Memory

As enlistments expired, the regiment mustered out beginning on December 31, 1864, though some elements remained until September 1865. By then, the war was all but over. The 1st Kentucky Cavalry had carried the Union banner through Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia, fighting in dozens of skirmishes and campaigns.

When the survivors looked back, they remembered both the misery and the humor of their service: the “pathetic scenes” of prison camps, the “amusing incidents” of stolen breakfasts or pranks, and the “thrilling adventures” of desperate rides and escapes. These words became part of their story, capturing the extremes of Civil War cavalry life.

Legacy of the Wild Riders

The legacy of the 1st Kentucky Cavalry rests not only on their military record but on their identity as Kentuckians fighting for the Union in a divided state. Their odd structure—with its rare Company J symbolized their unorthodox character. Their leaders were bold, their troopers resilient, and their stories a mixture of tragedy and humor.

In their own words, they were men of “rapid and severe marches, hard service, and fierce conflicts on many a bloody field.” During their service they carried the Union cause on horseback, and the “wild riders” of the 1st Kentucky Cavalry stand as a testament to the endurance, daring, and humanity of the Civil War soldier.

To learn more about the 1st Kentucky Cavalry, I recommend reading “The Wild Riders of the First Kentucky Cavalry: A History of the Regiment, In the Great War of the Rebellion” by Sergeant E. Tarrant. You can see a PDF of it here: https://dn790008.ca.archive.org/0/items/wildridersoffirs00tarr/wildridersoffirs00tarr.pdf

Another site with some good information on the 1st Kentucky is here: https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~bigsandyvalley/military/Union%20Regiments%20of%20Kentucky/1kycav.html

On the Research Arsenal Database, we have a number of documents relating to the 1st Kentucky Cavalry. Simply select the Library you wish to view and filter by regiment. There are seven letters that come up on search as well as numerous ordnance returns and other military forms.

The Battle of Antietam: First-Hand Accounts

Posted on by Johanna Wickman

The Battle of Antietam: First-Hand Accounts

Antietam on the day of the battle, September 17, 1862.
Antietam on the day of the battle, September 17, 1862. Image: https://app.researcharsenal.com/imageSingleView/1062

On a foggy morning of September 17, 1862, the fields around Sharpsburg, Maryland, were transformed into the single bloodiest day in American military history. The Battle of Antietam (or the Battle of Sharpsburg, as Southerners called it) brought Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia into violent confrontation with Major General George B. McClellan’s Army of the Potomac. In the span of twelve hours, more than 22,000 men were killed, wounded, or missing—that’s over 1,800 men per hour. Beyond its staggering human cost, Antietam changed the direction of the war and, in many ways, the nation itself.

Lee’s Gamble

In September 1862, buoyed by victories at Second Manassas, General Robert E. Lee made the daring decision to carry the war into Union territory. His goals were ambitious: disrupt Northern morale, encourage Maryland to join the Confederacy, resupply his army, and perhaps secure diplomatic recognition from Britain or France. McClellan, moving cautiously as ever, learned of Lee’s plans when Union soldiers discovered a copy of Special Order 191. Even with this advantage, McClellan delayed, giving Lee time to concentrate his scattered forces at Sharpsburg, where they took defensive positions behind Antietam Creek.

The Battle Begins

At dawn on September 17, Union General Joseph Hooker led the opening assault against the Confederate left. The fighting in the Cornfield near the Dunker Church became a nightmare of smoke and musketry. Regiments surged forward and fell back, often leaving heaps of dead and wounded where they stood only minutes before.

In the center of the line, Union forces struck a sunken farm road, quickly christened “Bloody Lane.” The Confederates used the eroded roadbed as a makeshift trench, repelling wave after wave of attackers until their lines finally broke. Although Union troops captured the position, they failed to press their advantage.

Later in the afternoon, Union General Ambrose Burnside launched an attack on the Confederate right, attempting to cross a narrow stone bridge over Antietam Creek. For hours, his men faced withering fire from Confederate marksmen. At last, Burnside’s men surged across and began to push the Confederates back toward Sharpsburg. But just as victory seemed possible, A. P. Hill’s “Light Division,” marching twenty miles from Harpers Ferry, arrived on the field. Their timely counterattack drove Burnside back and saved Lee’s army from destruction.

Stalemate, Yet Turning Point

By nightfall, neither side had gained a decisive advantage. Lee’s army held its ground on September 18, then slipped back across the Potomac the following night. McClellan, wary of Lee’s strength, failed to pursue. Militarily, the battle was a draw.

But strategically, Antietam was a Union victory. Lee’s first invasion of the North had been stopped. More importantly, the outcome gave President Abraham Lincoln the confidence to issue the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, redefining the war as a struggle not only to preserve the Union but also to end slavery in the rebelling states. Foreign powers, particularly Britain and France, were now far less likely to recognize the Confederacy.

The cost was enormous: Union casualties numbered about 12,400, including more than 2,100 killed. Confederate casualties were around 10,300, with some 1,600 killed. In one day, more than 22,000 Americans became casualties.

First-Hand Accounts from the Field

Colonel Turner Morehead. He first served in a Philadelphia Militia company called the Washington Grays in 1835, becoming Captain by the start of the Mexican War. In May 1846 he was mustered into service as Captain in the Pennsylvania First Regiment of Foot, and saw combat service in Mexico. "As the 106th Pennsylvania retreated northward across the open fields between the West Woods and the Hagerstown Pike, a bullet struck Colonel Morehead's horse, sending both mount and rider sprawling to the ground. Morehead was pinned under his horse when three members of the regiment, seeing his predicament, returned to free him.""Badly bruised, the Colonel was making his way northward when he realized he had lost his sword. Those by his side tried to persuade him not to return for the cherished possession, but his reply was 'Yes I will, that sword was given to me by my men and I told them I would protect it with my life and never see it dishonored, and I am not going to let them damned rebels get it.' " "Morehead rushed back to where his horse lay and recovered the sword. The enemy, by then only yards away, ordered Morehead to surrender. He refused and fled northward amid a volley of enemy rifle fire. None of the bullets hit its mark, and the Colonel made it safely to friendly lines in the vicinity of the Miller house."
Colonel Turner Morehead. He first served in a Philadelphia Militia company called the Washington Grays in 1835, becoming Captain by the start of the Mexican War. In May 1846 he was mustered into service as Captain in the Pennsylvania First Regiment of Foot, and saw combat service in Mexico. “As the 106th Pennsylvania retreated northward across the open fields between the West Woods and the Hagerstown Pike, a bullet struck Colonel Morehead’s horse, sending both mount and rider sprawling to the ground. Morehead was pinned under his horse when three members of the regiment, seeing his predicament, returned to free him.”
“Badly bruised, the Colonel was making his way northward when he realized he had lost his sword. Those by his side tried to persuade him not to return for the cherished possession, but his reply was ‘Yes I will, that sword was given to me by my men and I told them I would protect it with my life and never see it dishonored, and I am not going to let them damned rebels get it.’ “
“Morehead rushed back to where his horse lay and recovered the sword. The enemy, by then only yards away, ordered Morehead to surrender. He refused and fled northward amid a volley of enemy rifle fire. None of the bullets hit its mark, and the Colonel made it safely to friendly lines in the vicinity of the Miller house.” Image: https://app.researcharsenal.com/imageSingleView/1085

There is no substitute to primary accounts of an historical event. These are just some of the many voices from the battlefield:

Major Rufus R. Dawes, 6th Wisconsin Infantry

In the Cornfield, Major Dawes of the famed Iron Brigade witnessed the chaos firsthand:

“A long, steady line of rebel gray, nothing shaken by the fugitives who fly before us, comes sweeping down through the woods around the church. They fire. It is like a scythe running through our line. ‘Now, save, who can.’ It is a race for life that each man runs for the cornfield.”

Dawes later recalled how men were “knocked out of the ranks by the dozens.” He also remembered the death of Captain Werner Von Bachelle of Company F, whose loyal Newfoundland dog refused to leave his master’s body, dying beside him. The two were buried together.

Surgeon William Child, 5th New Hampshire Volunteers

For medical staff, the aftermath was often worse than the battle itself. The emotional toll faced by surgeons in primitive field hospitals would have been traumatic to say the least. Surgeon William Child wrote home:

“The days after the battle were a thousand times worse than the day of battle. I dressed 64 wounded men that day—many with two and three wounds each.”

Private Alexander Hunter, 17th Virginia Infantry

On the Confederate side, Private Hunter captured the sounds of the battle in poetic imagery:

“It was no longer alone the boom of the batteries, but a rattle of musketry—at first like pattering drops upon a roof; then a roll, crash, roar, and rush, like a mighty ocean billow upon the shore.”

A Soldier’s Loss

Another unnamed soldier recorded the moment he marched past the body of his own father, killed in a nearby regiment.

“A wounded man, who knew them both, pointed to the father’s corpse, and then upwards, saying only, ‘It is all right with him.’ Onward went the son, by his father’s corpse, to do his duty in the line, which, with bayonets fixed, advanced upon the enemy. When the battle was over, he came back. and with other help. buried his father. From his person he took the only thing he had. a Bible, given to the father years before, when he was an apprentice.”

Remembering Antietam

Today, Antietam National Battlefield preserves these rolling fields and quiet roads, places once filled with the roar of cannon and cries of the wounded. To walk through the Cornfield, stand at Bloody Lane, or gaze across Burnside Bridge is to be confronted by the staggering human price of the conflict.

Antietam was not the final battle of the Civil War, nor was it the bloodiest overall. But in a single day, it forced the nation to reckon with the terrible costs of division—and pointed toward a broader vision of freedom. Through the words of those who endured it, we remember not just strategy and numbers, but the courage, grief, and sacrifice of the individuals who lived through September 17, 1862.

Antietam on the Research Arsenal

You can filter each library on the Research Arsenal by battle and applying that filter with the term “Antietam” brings up 38 letters and diaries related to the battle, as well as 45 photographs. In addition, you can search for specific regiments involved in the Ordnance Returns, Clothing Ledgers, Morning Reports, and Military Forms libraries for additional search results.

Sources

 

Safe Lighting for Exhibiting Your Collection

Posted on by Johanna Wickman

Illuminating the Past Without Destroying It: Safe Lighting for Exhibiting Your Collection

When we walk into a museum or gallery, the first thing we often notice is the light. It sets the mood, guides our eyes, and brings the details of fragile objects into focus. Yet, the very thing that allows us to see history can also destroy it. Light—whether from the sun, a gallery spotlight, or even dim ambient sources—causes irreversible harm to artifacts. Fading, yellowing, and weakening of fibers all accumulate quietly over time, leaving objects permanently altered. Museums face the difficult challenge of balancing accessibility with preservation: making objects visible to the public while also protecting them for the future. This is the same challenge that private collectors face while being the caretakers of historic artifacts.

And if this is a challenge in museums, it’s really going to be a challenge in personal homes. However, private collectors can follow museum best practices as best they can and that will help prolong the life of their collection.

The Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts (CCAHA) emphasizes that light damage is cumulative and cannot be undone. Once colors fade or paper embrittles, there is no restoration to its original state. What’s more, light damage doesn’t occur evenly—certain materials are vastly more sensitive than others. Photographs, textiles, and works on paper are particularly vulnerable, while ceramics, metals, and glass are more forgiving. But even the strongest object will eventually show the effects of long-term exposure if left unchecked.

Recommended maximum and cumulative light levels for different materials. Source: Quinn Evans https://www.quinnevans.com/news/meeting-the-daylighting-challenge-for-artifact-protection
Recommended maximum and cumulative light levels for different materials. Source: Quinn Evans https://www.quinnevans.com/news/meeting-the-daylighting-challenge-for-artifact-protection

The science of safe lighting revolves around two major considerations: how bright the light is, and how long an object is exposed to it. Brightness is measured in lux (lumens per square meter), and cumulative exposure is calculated as lux multiplied by time, known as “lux-hours.” To put this in perspective, imagine a manuscript displayed under 100,000 lux of daylight for just one hour—that’s the same exposure as keeping it under dim 50 lux gallery lighting for two thousand hours. The math makes clear why even “safe” low light levels can become dangerous if the duration stretches too long.

Because of these risks, museums follow general guidelines for different categories of sensitivity. The most fragile objects—things like photographs, textiles, and paper documents—should not be illuminated above about 50 lux, and even then only for brief periods. Moderately sensitive artifacts, such as oil paintings, wood, or leather, can tolerate up to 150 lux, while sturdier items like metals or ceramics can withstand up to 300 lux. The difference might not seem dramatic to the naked eye, but for the objects themselves it can mean decades of preservation versus rapid decline.

It isn’t just visible light that causes harm. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which the human eye cannot see, is especially destructive. Museums work hard to minimize UV exposure by using specialized bulbs, applying UV-filtering films to windows, or installing protective acrylic glazing on display cases. Even then, filters degrade over time and need replacement every decade or so. Without these measures, daylight streaming innocently through a window could cause a vivid textile to fade in just a matter of months. UV light can also rapidly fade and yellow historic papers. It will fade the writing off handwritten documents and wash out photographs quickly.

Another equally important aspect of protection is time. Restricting how long an object remains on display is often the best safeguard. Institutions often rotate collections, allowing fragile objects only a few months of exhibition every few years, then resting them in dark storage for long stretches in between. In some cases, facsimiles or digital reproductions stand in for the originals, especially when public demand for viewing is high and conservation concerns outweigh continuous display. To further cut down on exposure, some museums use motion sensors or timed lighting systems so that cases illuminate only when visitors are nearby. While collectors often want their collections on permanent exhibit, rotating items is definitely something to consider. If that’s not possible, I would recommend displaying the collection in a room that is in darkness most of the time with no windows.

Here is an example of an exhibit gallery using very low lighting. This is at the Met and you can see how the artifacts are in nearly total darkness and lit only dimly. This is helping to preserve the colors and overall condition of the works while still allowing visitors to see them. Often these galleries have motion sensors and the lights do not turn on until someone walks in.
Here is an example of an exhibit gallery using very low lighting. This is at the Met and you can see how the artifacts are in nearly total darkness and lit only dimly. This is helping to preserve the colors and overall condition of the works while still allowing visitors to see them. Often these galleries have motion sensors and the lights do not turn on until someone walks in.

Monitoring is also critical. Conservators regularly measure light and UV levels with handheld meters or data loggers, keeping track of an object’s cumulative exposure. Test cards and spectrophotometers may be used to check fading rates, particularly for valuable or unusually fragile items. Over time, museums build careful records of each artifact’s exposure history, ensuring that no single piece receives more than its safe share of light across multiple exhibitions. This is important because if something is being damaged gradually, you are not likely to notice it until it is too late. These devices that can track that data will be able to tell you if something is at risk even if you can’t see it.

This constant balancing act between visibility and protection shapes the design of entire exhibitions. Galleries often remain in darkness outside of public hours, with blackout shades pulled tight over windows. Cases are designed with UV-filtered glazing, and even the interior lighting is carefully designed to ensure it falls within recommended ranges. Light boxes, where illumination passes through an object from behind, are typically avoided because of their intensified effect on sensitive materials. Everything about the display environment is engineered to minimize harm while still allowing visitors to engage meaningfully with the past.

At first glance, these rules might sound overly restrictive—fifty lux seems impossibly dim compared to the lighting in most public spaces. Yet our eyes adapt remarkably well to low levels of illumination, especially in darkened gallery environments. What feels like a hushed, intimate setting is, in fact, an intentional design choice. By lowering overall brightness, curators make the most fragile objects legible without overwhelming them. Visitors often leave with a heightened sense of atmosphere, not realizing that the ambiance is as much about conservation as it is about aesthetics.

The lesson in all this is that light, while essential, must be treated as a carefully controlled tool rather than a neutral presence. The objects entrusted to museums carry centuries of history, and their survival depends on choices made today about how brightly they are lit and how long they are exposed. By respecting safe thresholds, rotating displays, filtering UV, and monitoring conditions, curators ensure that artifacts endure.

For those of us who collect historic objects these same principles apply. Limit direct sunlight, use UV-filtering glass or films, choose lower-wattage bulbs, and think about how long objects are exposed. Remember that every hour of illumination adds up. The goal isn’t to lock history away in darkness, but rather to reveal it thoughtfully—balancing access with stewardship. This ensures that our collections will live on long beyond us.

Records Group 94 Feature: 8th Illinois Cavalry

Posted on by Johanna Wickman

Records Group 94 Feature: 8th Illinois Cavalry

Saddles, Carbines, and First Shots: The Story of the 8th Illinois Cavalry

When the Civil War erupted in 1861, men across Illinois answered President Lincoln’s call. Among them, those who enlisted in the 8th Illinois Cavalry would go on to carve out a remarkable history, full of daring raids, brushes with famous Confederate commanders, and even a claim to one of the most significant “firsts” of the war. Though not always in the spotlight, their story is one worth remembering—both for its heroism and for the human moments that shine through.

Early Days: A Regiment with an Edge

The 8th Illinois Cavalry was mustered into service in September 1861, pulling in farmers, merchants, clerks, and adventurous young men from across northern Illinois. They were unusual from the start, being issued breech-loading carbines, which gave them a faster rate of fire than many of their Confederate foes.

One soldier later recalled:

“Our breech-loaders gave us the power to strike quick and fall back before the enemy’s slow rifles could answer.”

That technological edge made the regiment a thorn in the Confederacy’s side from their first campaigns.

Gettysburg: The Shot That Sparked the Battle

Veterans of the 8th Illinois Cavalry pose with the marker commemorating the first shot fired at Gettysburg during the 50th anniversary reunion, July 1913.
Veterans of the 8th Illinois Cavalry pose with the marker commemorating the first shot fired at Gettysburg during the 50th anniversary reunion, July 1913.

The regiment’s most enduring claim to fame came on the morning of July 1, 1863, at Gettysburg. Lieutenant Marcellus E. Jones, borrowing a carbine from Sergeant Levi Shafer, fired the first shot of the battle.

Jones later reflected:

“I did not think of making history, only of doing my duty.”

That single shot helped set in motion the Union Army’s defense of the Pennsylvania crossroads town, and the regiment continued to screen, scout, and skirmish throughout the bloody three-day battle.

Soldiers’ Stories: Faces of the Regiment

Portrait of ColonelJohn F. Farnsworth, 8th Illinois Cavalry.
Portrait of Colonel
John F. Farnsworth, 8th Illinois Cavalry. https://app.researcharsenal.com/imageSingleView/2282

Col. John Farnsworth – The Politician-Turned-Cavalryman

John Farnsworth, the regiment’s first commander, was a lawyer and politician before the war. Known for his fiery speeches in Congress, he traded words for weapons when he helped raise the 8th Illinois. Though not always a tactician of genius, Farnsworth’s charisma and drive helped mold the regiment in its early days.

Lt. Marcellus E. Jones – The Man of the First Shot

Jones’ name is forever tied to Gettysburg. What’s less known is that after the war, he returned to Illinois and became a judge. He attended veterans’ reunions faithfully, always modest about his place in history.

Capt. William Medill – A Fallen Leader

One of the regiment’s most poignant stories is that of Capt. William Medill, who was killed at the Battle of Malvern Hill in 1862. Medill was the brother of Chicago Tribune editor Joseph Medill, and his loss struck both the regiment and his influential family deeply. His death was a reminder that the war’s reach extended from battlefields to newsrooms and parlors back home.

Pvt. William F. Lyons – The Camp Humorist

Not every legacy was written in blood. Private William Lyons became known in the regiment for his jokes and antics. One comrade remembered:

“Lyons could turn the gloomiest camp into laughter. Even after a twenty-mile march, he’d find some jest to make us forget our sore feet.”
His humor was more than entertainment—it was survival for men who faced constant fatigue and danger.

Sgt. Levi Shafer – The Lender of the Carbine

Often overlooked, Sergeant Shafer deserves credit as the man whose carbine fired the first shot at Gettysburg—though in another’s hands. Accounts suggest he joked about it later, saying Jones “borrowed the honor along with my gun.”

Facing Stonewall Jackson and J.E.B. Stuart

The 8th Illinois crossed paths with some of the Confederacy’s greatest commanders. They tangled with Stonewall Jackson’s forces in the Shenandoah Valley, and often sparred with J.E.B. Stuart’s cavalry.

One trooper wrote of the nerves these encounters demanded:

“To fight Stuart was to fight the wind. One moment we thought him far off, the next he was upon our flank.”

Against such opponents, the Illinois men learned to be cautious, quick, and clever.

Camp Life: Humor Amid Hardship

Cavalry life was grueling. Horses needed care before the men themselves, food was often short, and disease lurked everywhere. Yet soldiers made the best of it.

One diary notes:

“We staged a mock parade, strutting like peacocks until even the colonel laughed.”

Moments like these carried the men through endless nights in fields and barns, when war felt far from glorious.

Raids, Risks, and Narrow Escapes

The regiment became adept at raiding behind enemy lines—cutting telegraph wires, seizing supplies, and spreading confusion. But raids were perilous.

As one officer admitted:

“It was a game of hours. Delay meant capture, haste meant ruin of our mounts. Raiding was not grand, but desperate work.”

The 8th Illinois survived many close calls, often escaping capture by sheer grit.

The Toll of War

The price was high. Disease, exhaustion, and combat steadily thinned their ranks. Soldiers mourned not just their comrades but also their horses, with whom they shared a unique bond.

One letter home captures this attachment:

“I pray my horse may live to see Illinois pasture. He has borne me as true as any friend.”

These words show how intertwined man and mount were in the cavalry experience.

After the War: Guardians of Memory

When the war ended at Appomattox, the 8th Illinois Cavalry returned home with honor. But they did not let their story fade. Veterans became active in preserving battlefields, attending reunions, and sharing their history.

At one gathering, a veteran declared:

“We fired the first shot, aye, but we also bore the long burden. Let no man forget that Illinois riders held fast from first to last.”

The 8th Illinois Cavalry’s history is more than a string of dates and battles—it’s the lived experience of men like Jones, Medill, Lyons, and Shafer. Some made history in famous moments, others in laughter or sacrifice, but together they formed a regiment that left its mark on the Civil War.

Their story reminds us that behind every regiment number are names, faces, and lives—ordinary men who carried themselves with extraordinary courage. And sometimes, history itself can turn on the squeeze of a trigger, on a borrowed carbine, on a quiet Pennsylvania morning.

The Research Arsenal has the complete records of the 8th Illinois Cavalry from Records Group 94 held at the National Archives, available to view online. Simply click on “Search NARA Records” on the homepage, then select “RG 94” as the call number.

Portrait of Dr. Abner Hard, the author of "History of the Eighth cavalry regiment, Illinois volunteers, during the Great Rebellion" published in 1868.
Portrait of Dr. Abner Hard, the author of “History of the Eighth Cavalry Regiment, Illinois Volunteers, During the Great Rebellion” published in 1868.

The information in this post was pulled from the “History of the Eighth Cavalry Regiment, Illinois Volunteers, During the Great Rebellion” by Abner Hard, M.D. published in 1868. You can view a PDF of that book via the Library of Congress HERE

Collection Preservation Tips From The National WWII Museum

Posted on by Johanna Wickman

Collection Preservation Tips from The National WWII Museum

This photograph from the National WWII Museum shows collections boxes stored on Space Saver shelving, in archival boxes, and properly tagged with archival tags. Notice the staff member is also handling the poster with gloves while is fully supported so that it doesn't bend and tear. Image source: https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/20-years-collecting-wwii-artifacts
This photograph from the National WWII Museum shows collections boxes stored on Space Saver shelving, in archival boxes, and properly tagged with archival tags. Notice the staff member is also handling the poster with gloves while is fully supported so that it doesn’t bend and tear. Image source: https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/20-years-collecting-wwii-artifacts

Although the National WWII Museum is a bit further forward in time than Civil War collectors, the concept of preserving uniforms, firearms, photographs, and paper, is much the same. Their website is a fantastic resource for the private collector, so I thought it would be helpful to distill some of their key collection preservation tips down for Civil War collectors.

The National WWII Museum champions the principle “Do No Harm”, offering clear, practical guidance to help preserve such treasures for future generations. You’ll recognize the “Do no harm” motto as something I have repeated in previous posts—do not do anything to your collection that is not reversible! Put down those ballpoint pens! (If you know, you know…)

Seven Factors That Can Affect Your Collection

Before diving into specific techniques, here are seven factors that can affect your collection that you should be aware of:

  1. Light: UV-rich sunlight and fluorescent lighting can severely damage paper, textiles, photographs, and furniture. Keep sensitive items out of direct exposure.
  2. Temperature: Extreme or fluctuating temperatures wreak havoc on materials like rubber, wood, and metal. Avoid attics, basements, and unconditioned spaces.
  3. Humidity: Too much moisture fosters mold and pests; too little causes brittleness. Aim to maintain 45–55% relative humidity in stable environments.
  4. Pests: Insects like silverfish (paper), moths (textiles), and termites (wood) can be destructive. Regular inspections are essential.
  5. Human Handling: Oils, sweat, or makeup from hands—even gentle touching—can harm surfaces. Always use cotton or nylon gloves and avoid unnecessary handling.
  6. Chemical Reactions & Pollutants: Metals and marble can corrode when exposed to indoor airborne chemicals; avoid the use of acid-emitting materials.
  7. Inherent Vice: Some materials naturally degrade due to incompatible components—such as leather glued to wood. Periodic condition checks help catch early signs.

Tailored Preservation Tips by Material

Textiles

  • Store in climate-controlled spaces, not attics or basements.
  • Keep out of bright light and UV exposure.
  • Use acid-free boxes—avoid ordinary cardboard or wooden drawers. Wood will off-gas over time and that can discolor and damage your collection.
  • Store flat when possible; pad and support folds if necessary.
  • Use acid-free tissue padding, properly padded hangers, or roll large textiles around acid-free tubes—never sealed plastic bags. If moisture is sealed inside a plastic bag with your textile, it can cause mold.

Paper

  • Maintain storage below 72°F and around 50–55% humidity. This may seem like a high level of humidity, but very dry air can be as destructive as very humid air, just for different reasons. This level of humidity will keep the paper from becoming brittle and crumbling.
  • Keep flat, avoid folds, and use acid-free folders/boxes/sleeves.
  • Frame with archival-quality, acid-free materials and UV protective glass.

Photographs

  • Store in a cool, dry place, use acid-free or inert framing materials.
  • Handle by the edges, ideally with gloves—avoid touching surfaces.
  • No tape, markers, paper clips, or sticky notes; use pencil on copies or backs.
  • Avoid self-adhesive photo albums at all costs. I know those were very popular in the 1980s and 1990s, but they are bad news for the longevity of your collection! Opt for acid-free sleeves or place them with archival photo corners in archival photo albums.
  • Be sure to rotate any original images when displayed, or better yet, consider displaying copies, leaving originals safely stored.

Metal Artifacts

  • Most metals (except gold) are prone to corrosion—store in dry, conditioned spaces.
  • Don’t polish or clean without professional consultation. Cleaning and polishing old metal ruins the aged patina on the item, which can also be an issue when determining authenticity of a piece.
  • Always wear gloves when handling. Oil from your fingers will damage the original polish on a sword or other fine steel.
  • Light oil (e.g., 3-in-One) or wax (e.g., paste wax) may help preserve steel or iron—but consult a specialist for weapons.

Leather

  • Store in moderate humidity and temperature, away from direct light.
  • If dirty, gently clean with damp cotton cloths. Please avoid saddle soap or conditioners as they can discolor and damage historic leather.
  • Never apply petroleum products; they can cause irreversible damage.
  • Use acid-free stuffing to maintain form—support shoes, boots, cases thoughtfully. If you have an old saddle, for example, make sure that it is fully supported on a saddle stand. If it’s sitting on a shelf, that puts the weight on parts of the saddle that are not designed to carry it, causing damage. That can also cause excessive strain on stirrups and other components. The dryer and more brittle the leather, the more of a concern this is as leather tends to stiffen over time.
  • Suede and kid leather are different, and should be treated by a specialist.

Wood

  • Wood objects are fairly stable if kept in consistent, moderate environments.
  • Avoid direct sunlight, over-cleaning, or using linseed/oil-based products.
  • Wax like SC Johnson Paste Wax may offer a protective layer; oil sparingly, especially around handles or grips.
  • When oiling your firearms, make sure not to get that oil onto the grips or stocks.

Expert Resources & Support

If you require a professional opinion, or are just looking for more information, these are some great resources:

  • American Institute for Conservation — to find recognized conservators.
  • Library of Congress — guidance on paper and photo care.
  • Northeast Document Conservation Center — specializes in paper/photo conservation.

To purchase archival materials like acid-free boxes or folders, recommended vendors include Gaylord, Archival Methods, University Products, and Talas.

8 Tips for Displaying Historic Clothing at Home

Posted on by Johanna Wickman

For private collectors, historic garments are not just beautiful objects — they’re tangible connections to the past. Displaying them at home allows you to share their stories with visitors and enjoy them yourself. But unlike modern clothing, historic textiles can be fragile and vulnerable to damage if displayed without care. Here are 8 tips for displaying historic clothing at home, adapted from museum-standard techniques, to help you exhibit your collection safely.

 

1. Handle With Care

The single most important principle in working with historic garments is minimal handling. Every time a textile is touched, there’s a small risk of damage — so plan before you move it.

Preparation tips:

  • Remove rings, watches, and jewelry that could snag fabrics.
  • Wear nitrile or cotton gloves when handling garments. This is to reduce the transfer of oils on the hands and fingers which can discolor the fabrics. Nitrile gloves are the preferred glove as they allow for more tactile control when handling clothing.
  • Use support materials such as acid-free tissue paper or polyethylene foam when lifting or storing garments.

 

2. Assess Before You Display

Before you mount any piece, inspect its condition. Look for signs of:

  • Weak seams
  • Tears, holes, or splits in the fabric
  • Insect damage (e.g., moth or carpet beetle frass)
  • Stains, mold, or other deterioration

If the garment is extremely fragile or damaged, it may need conservation work before it’s safe to display. When in doubt, consult a professional textile conservator. This is a big one. If the garment is damaged to the point that displaying it will cause it more damage—then you definitely want to contact a conservator to have it repaired first.

 

3. Choosing the Right Support

Mannequins and Dress Stands

If you are displaying a uniform piece such as a jacket, coat, shirt, or even a civilian woman’s dress, you’ll want to use a mannequin or some kind of dress form ideally. The reason for this being, that a mannequin will fill out the uniform and allow it to sit properly. For example, think about when you wear a coat. The weight falls on your shoulders across your back and is distributed along the width of your shoulders. Now, when you take it off and put it on a hanger, all that weight is distributed across the thin metal or plastic bar of the hangar. This puts all the weight on a very thin bar which, over time, damages the coat. This is why you’ll often see thicker wooden hangars for coats, or padded hangars for delicate women’s garments.

This is a screenshot of a TikTok video I found that shows a Civil War uniform exhibited on a mannequin that is too large. Notice how it cannot be fully buttoned. By buttoning the top two buttons, you can see the stress put on the garment because those two buttons are trying to hold the whole thing together. This is an example of why it is important to use a mannequin that fits your garment, and why it's better to work with one that's on the slightly too small side and pad it up.
This is a screenshot of a TikTok video I found that shows a Civil War uniform exhibited on a mannequin that is too large. Notice how it cannot be fully buttoned. By buttoning the top two buttons, you can see the stress put on the garment because those two buttons are trying to hold the whole thing together. This is an example of why it is important to use a mannequin that fits your garment, and why it’s better to work with one that’s on the slightly too small side and pad it up.
Here is another example of a mannequin being too large. In this case they have chosen not to button up the WWII WAC uniform. This was the correct choice as it is still fully supported on the mannequin form and buttoning it would have caused undue stress on the garment. Also notice the black lining on the dress form to protect the garment.
Here is another example of a mannequin being too large. In this case they have chosen not to button up the WWII WAC uniform. This was the correct choice as it is still fully supported on the mannequin form and buttoning it would have caused undue stress on the garment. Also notice the black lining on the dress form to protect the garment.
  • For display, your choice of figure is crucial. The mannequin should be smaller than the garment so that it can be padded out to fit. This avoids stretching or stressing the fabric as discussed above, and padding the mannequin ensures that the clothing is resting on as much support as possible.
  • Mannequins are available in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Make sure to look for museum quality and archival ones.
  • Custom mannequins are ideal but can be expensive. If you have a large budget to play with in your home exhibit, this is definitely an option, but it is not necessary.

 

4. Padding to Fit

Historic women’s clothing was designed for very different body shapes than modern ones. A modern woman’s mannequin almost never fits perfectly without modification. Padding creates both support and authentic silhouette. And, in most exhibits I’ve worked on, we’ve actually used child-sized mannequins to display vintage women’s clothing. This occasionally is an issue with men’s clothing as well, as folks were just generally smaller in those days.

Here is a great example of padding done to a dress form to exhibit a WWI uniform. Notice how the sleeves have been added to the torso. This was done at the Ransom Center in Texas, and they have posted a fantastic step-by-step blog with photos of how they made this dress form work for their historic WWI uniform.
Here is a great example of padding done to a dress form to exhibit a WWI uniform. Notice how the sleeves have been added to the torso. This was done at the Ransom Center in Texas, and they have posted a fantastic step-by-step blog with photos of how they made this dress form work for their historic WWI uniform. You can see the blog here: https://sites.utexas.edu/ransomcentermagazine/2014/04/22/world-war-i-uniform/
  • Padding will help ensure that the garment rests solidly on the mannequin without causing undue stress on the seams.
  • Build shape with polyester wadding, working in layers and feathering edges to avoid sharp lines.
  • Women’s clothing will likely need additional padding. Focus padding where historic undergarments would have shaped the body (e.g., bust and hips for 19th century corsets).
  • Cover the padded mannequin with washed stretch cotton jersey to protect the garment and keep the padding in place. Once it is covered, you can place the original garment onto the mannequin. It should fit as if it was made to fit the form you just created. It should not be snug and tight, nor should it be too loose.

 

5. Positioning and Safety at Home

Museum conditions are hard to replicate exactly, but you can still take steps to protect your collection.

  • Avoid direct sunlight and strong artificial light. UV causes fading and fiber breakdown. Please do not set up that super cool Civil War infantry major’s uniform in front of your bay window, or in a basement that is lit with fluorescent lights. You can purchase UV film rather inexpensively to take care of UV light coming from windows and artificial lights.
  • Maintain a stable environment — avoid damp basements, attics with extreme temperatures, or areas near heat sources. Air vents, drafty windows, and humid environments are all bad for collections.
  • Keep displays away from kitchens or open windows where pollutants and dust are common.
  • Ensure the garment is secure on its mount so it won’t shift or slip if the display is bumped. This should not be a problem if it fits properly on the mount you created.
  • If at all possible, place the mannequin and historic garment inside an exhibit case. This will go a long way in keeping dust and pollutants off of it, and make it more difficult for moths to get at them. It also offers some minimal protection from water and smoke damage.

 

6. Tools and Materials for Home Collectors

Even without museum facilities, you can use many conservation-grade materials:

  • Acid-free tissue paper for padding folds and delicate areas
  • Tyvek® for dust covers
  • Ethafoam for padding or lining display supports
  • Nitrile or cotton gloves for handling

Many of these can be purchased in small quantities from preservation suppliers such as Gaylord or University Products.

 

7. The Display Experience

Once your garment is safely mounted and positioned, consider the storytelling aspect. A simple card or frame with the garment’s history — who wore it, when, and for what occasion — turns your display into a conversation piece.

For added impact:

  • Use neutral backgrounds so the garment’s colors and textures stand out.
  • Employ soft, diffuse UV free lighting to avoid harsh shadows or fading.
  • Position garments at a comfortable viewing height.
  • Include information about the garment so that visitors can understand its historical value.
  • Don’t clutter the case or area around it with a bunch of signage or other artifacts. That detracts from the overall display itself.

 

8. Rest Your Garments

Please consider rotating pieces to limit their exposure to light and environmental stress. Even if you follow instructions to the T when exhibiting your items, having them on display causes them damage. There is no way around that. Limiting the time they spend on display by rotating them out with other garments still allows you to have an exhibit up, while also caring for your collection. When not on display, store them flat in acid-free boxes or on padded hangers in breathable garment bags.

 

Final Thoughts

Displaying historic clothing at home is a balancing act between preservation and enjoyment. By borrowing a few key practices from museum professionals — careful handling, custom-fit mounts, and safe environmental conditions — you can create stunning displays that protect your treasures for years to come.

Your collection is a bridge between past and present. With the right care, each garment can tell its story vividly while staying safe from harm. Check out our other archival and preservation tips here.

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