Stanton P. Allen Scrapbook, 1864-1889

Summary

Creator:

Allen, Stanton P., 1849-1901

Abstract:

The Stanton P. Allen scrapbook contains clippings, engravings, maps, and drawings related to a recurring newspaper column titled Down in Dixie written by Allen for the Troy Daily Times in which he recounted his experiences serving with the 1st Massachusetts Cavalry during the Civil War.

Extent:

1 volume

Language:

English

Authors:

Collection processed and finding aid created by Jakob Dopp, October 2022

Background

Scope and Content:

The Stanton P. Allen scrapbook contains clippings, engravings, maps, and drawings related to a recurring newspaper column titled Down in Dixie written by Allen for the Troy Daily Times in which he recounted his experiences serving with the 1st Massachusetts Cavalry during the Civil War.

The volume (23 x 14 cm) contains approximately 101 pages and has blue cloth covers with the words "Manual and Report, Board of School Commissioners Troy, N. Y., 1883" stamped in gold on the front. The first item to appear is a pasted in sheet on pg. 5 with the words "Down in Dixie, by Stanton Perrie Allen" printed and "Volume IV" handwritten. The first clipping of Down in Dixie appears on pg. 9 and is marked "34," which coupled with the presence of "Vol IV" on pg. 5 would seem to suggest that Allen created multiple volumes in which the columns were sequentially ordered. These volumes were likely used by Allen to finetune his ideas for how he envisioned publishing his account in book form.

The Down in Dixie clippings are given a visual dimension through the inclusion of numerous clipped engravings that directly relate to people, places, and events referenced in the narrative. Engravings include portraits of leading military figures from both the Union and Confederacy as well as numerous depictions of soldiers, battles, camp life, fortifications, buildings, prisoners of war, casualties, mass burials, etc. Also present are several engravings depicting African Americans (pgs. 52, 54, 58-60, 92, 95, & 97) and Apache Indians (pgs. 10 & 11). Two clipped maps are also included, with one showing a general overview of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey (pg. 9) and the other showing a detailed view of the roads, landmarks, and natural features east of Richmond, Virginia (pg. 77). Only one photograph is present, an unmounted studio portrait of Allen's mother Celia juxtaposed with an anecdotal passage about a Confederate and Union soldier bonding over their deceased mothers (pg. 51).

Of particular note are six original drawings signed by Allen. The first, a pen and ink drawing captioned "Down in Dixie Turning Out For Stables," shows a Union cavalryman (presumably Allen) at camp laden with horse care equipment (pg. 20); the second, a watercolor captioned "Down in Dixie. 'How Is That For Beef?' From Memory 1889," shows three Union cavalrymen eating a meal at camp (pg. 25); the third, a watercolor captioned "A Stag Dance. Four Hands Round," shows a group of four Union cavalrymen dancing while another plays the fiddle as two others (including an African American cavalryman) look on (pg. 26); the fourth, a pen and ink drawing captioned "The Sutlers Whisky Barrel Tapped At Both Ends. Down in Dixie," shows a large group of Union cavalrymen getting drunk on whisky after secretly tapping into the sutler's barrel from the outside of his tent (pg. 27); the fifth, a pen and ink drawing captioned "'The Tables Turned.' - Beaver Dam, Va., May, 1864," depicts the anecdotal interaction between a Union soldier and Confederate prisoner who realize they had both stolen rings from each other that had belonged to their deceased mothers (pg. 49); the sixth, a watercolor captioned "Sheridan's Raid - 1864. - Walking to Rest the Horse. - From Memory - 1889," shows a Union cavalryman leading his horse.

A loose two-page typescript draft of a consolation letter dated June 20, 1897, written by Allen to Charles S. Francis after the death of the latter's father John M. Francis can also be found tucked inside the back cover. Allen knew both John and Charles from having worked for the Troy Daily Times, which was founded by John in 1851.

Biographical / Historical:

Stanton Perrie Allen was born in Petersburg, New York, around 1849 to Alexander (1823-1898) and Celia Allen (1831-1903) and grew up in Berlin, New York. During the Civil War his first attempt at enlisting at the age of 14 resulted in Allen being placed in jail for obtaining government property under false pretenses until he was bailed out by his father. At the age of 15 he successfully enlisted with Company I of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Massachusetts Cavalry. He served from the winter of 1863/64 until the conclusion of the war. In 1869 he applied to West Point with the intention of becoming a regular officer, though there is no record indicating if he was accepted or not. He apparently joined the 5th US Cavalry for a time and served on the western frontier. During the 1880s, Allen worked as a reporter and wrote a recurring column for the Troy Daily Times titled Down in Dixie in which he described his wartime experiences. After eventually leaving the Troy Daily Times, he went on to become an editor for the Troy Whig and also became a Reverend at some point. In 1888, Allen published his writings in a memoir titled Down in Dixie : Life in a Cavalry Regiment in the War Days from the Wilderness to Appomattox replete with illustrations by H. G. Laskey.

Allen married Annie E. Hunt (1849-1929) in Gwinnett, Georgia, in 1877; they had two children together, only one of whom survived to adulthood. He passed away on December 5, 1901.

Acquisition Information:

Purchased from Remember When Auctions, October 1995. P-1801 .

Rules or Conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Related

Additional Descriptive Data:

Related Materials

The John and Charles Francis Collection contains materials related to John M. Francis, founder of the Troy Daily Times, and his son Charles S. Francis.

The Clements also holds a version of Stanton P. Allen's Down in Dixie ; life in a cavalry regiment in the war days, from the Wilderness to Appomattox that was published in 1893. This book as well as selections from the Stanton P. Allen scrapbook are referenced in the Clements online exhibit Proclaiming Emancipation.

Subjects

Click on terms below to find any related finding aids on this site.

Subjects:

Prints shelf.
African Americans--Pictorial works.
Apache Indians--Pictorial works.
Campaigns & battles--United States--1860-1870.
Cavalry--United States--1860-1870.
Dead persons--United States--1860-1870.
Indians of North America--Pictorial works.
Liberty--United States.
Military officers--American--United States--1860-1870.
Soldiers--United States--1860-1870.
War casualties--United States--1860-1870.

Formats:

Clippings.
Correspondence.
Engravings.
Ink drawings.
Maps.
Portrait photographs.
Scrapbooks.
Watercolors.

Names:

United States. Army. African American troops.
United States. Army. Massachusetts Cavalry Regiment, 1st (1861-1865)
Troy daily times.
Francis, Charles Spencer, 1853-1911.
Francis, John Morgan, 1823-1897.

Places:

United States. History. Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives.
Richmond (Va.)