Collections : [University of Michigan William L. Clements Library]

The Abraham Lincoln assassination book illustrations collection consists of 300 photographic reproductions likely produced during the 1960s of various 19th-century photographs, paintings, illustrations, maps, diagrams, posters, and ephemera related to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

The Abraham Lincoln assassination book illustrations collection consists of 300 photographic reproductions likely produced during the 1960s of various 19th-century photographs, paintings, illustrations, maps, diagrams, posters, and ephemera related to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

The collection provides a thorough pictorial history of Lincoln's assassination and its aftermath using photographic reproductions of select period sources. The reproductions are contained in three volumes that have been grouped into five thematic sections: "Assassination" and "Flight and Capture" (Volume 1); "Trial and Execution" and "The Funeral" (Volume 2); and "Funeral at Springfield" (Volume 3). Each thematic section is introduced with a typed index that identifies images and their original sources, which are often listed in abbreviated forms. Image sources that are cited include the Library of Congress (LC), National Park Service (NPS), Chicago Historical Society (CHS), National Archives (NA), New-York Historical Society (NYHS), Lincoln National Life Foundation (LNLF), Illinois State Historical Library (ISHS), Leslie's Illustrated, Harper's Weekly, Claude Simmons (C.S.), and more. While the subject and source of each image are noted, but there is no accompanying text or narrative concerning the events. This collection appears to have been assembled in relation to the prospective publication of an illustrated book on the topic, possibly during the 1960s as a centennial piece. Many of the photographs have chapter and page notations on the back, though there are no specific references to the author or the intended title of the prospective book.

The indexes for each thematic section are as follows:

• Second Inauguration - LC
• Mary Lincoln - LC
• Abraham Lincoln - LC
• Major Henry Rathbone - NPS
• Clara Harris - LC
• Lincoln Closed Coach - CHS
• Points in Downtown Washington - LC
• Ford's Theater from the South - ISHL
• Ford's from the North - ISHL
• Star Saloon Next to Ford's - NPS
• Simulated Night View
• Playbill April 14, 1865 - NPS
• Laura Keene - LC
• Dress Circle - NPS
• Orchestra and Parquette - NPS
• Interior Plan - NPS
• Box 7 and 8 - US Signal Corps
• Box, Orchestra, Dress and Family Circles - ISHL
• Stage and Box - Ford Museum
• Full Stage - NPS
• Diagram of Stage - From Pitman
• Stage with Explanatory Key
• Setee Used in Box - NPS
• Chair in Which Lincoln Sat - NPS
• Plan of Box - From Harper's Weekly, 4-29-65
• Doors Leading to Box - F. Leslie's Ill. News. 5-13-65
• Stick Used to Bar Door - NPS
• Seating Arrangement in Box - NPS
• Booth's Knife and Dagger - NPS
• John Wilkes Booth - NA
• The Deringer - NPS
• Berghaus Sketch from F. Leslie's I.N. 4-29-65
• Treasury Guards Flag - NPS
• Berghaus Sketch - F. Leslie's I.N. 5-6-65
• Booth's Spur - NPS
• Booth's Boot - NPS
• Berghaus Sketch - F. Leslie's I.N. 5-20-65
• Dr. Charles Leale - LC
• "Borne by Loving Hands" Bersch Painting - NPS
• Simulated Night View of Petersen House
• Room Where the President Died - NPS
• Front Parlor - NPS
• Back Parlor - NPS
• Plan of the Petersen House
• Plan with Key
• Contemporary Sketch - F. Leslie's I.N. 5-20-65
• The Alexander Ritchie Painting - LC
• Contemporary Sketch - F. Leslie's I.N. 4-29-65
• Enlargement from the Bachelder Painting - Brown U.
• Diagram of the Wound - from Eisenschiml
• Seringer with Probe, Bone and Ball - NPS
• The William Seward House - NPS
• Attack on Seward by Paine - from Hawley
• Secretary of State William Seward - LC
• Lewis Paine (Powell) - LC
• Frederick H. Seward - NA
• Paine's Revolver and Dagger - NPS
• Paine (LC) and Sketch from Harper's Weekly
• House Where Lincoln Died Present Day - NPS
• Ford's Theater Years Later - NPS
• William Clark, Occupant of the Rear Bedroom - NPS
• Corp. James Tanner - NYHS
• Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles - NPS
• Secretary of [W]ar Edwin M. Stanton - LC
• The Rev. P. D. Gurley - LC
• Surgeon General J. K. Barnes - NA
• Journalist friend Noah Brooks - ISHL
• Close Friend Dr. Alonzo Henry - ISHL
• Robert Lincoln - ISHL
• Edwin Booth - NA
• John T. Ford - NPS
• Dr. Charles A. Leale - Nat. Lib. Medicine
• Kirkwood House - C.S.
• John Nicolay, Lincoln, John Hay - NPS
• The Fatal Deringer - NPS

• Rear of Ford's - NPS
• Escape from Theatre - NPS
• Area Behind Ford's - NPS
• Assumed Flight Through City - NPS
• Anacostia Bridge - NPS
• Distant View - LC
• Flight to Garrett's Farm - NPS
• Surratt House, Surrattsville - NPS
• Road from Surrattsville - NPS
• Dr. Mudd's House - NPS
• Bedroom at Dr. Mudd's, Dr. Mudd
• Path to Zekiah Swamp - C.S.
• St. Mary's Bryantown - C.S.
• Samuel Cox Residence - NPS
• Bryantown Hotel - NPS
• Thomas Jones - NPS
• Thomas Jones House - NPS
• Old Brawner House, Pt. Tobacco - NPS
• Pages from Booth's Diary - NPS
• Believed Departure Place Potomac - C.S.
• Dents Meadow - NPS
• Crossing the Potomac - Baker's Book
• Mrs. Quesenberry's House - NPS
• Dr. Stewart's Home - C.S.
• Remains of Dock, Port Conway - C.S.
• The William Lucas Cabin - NPS
• Historical Marker - C.S.
• A Controversial Poster - NPS
• Col. Baker, Lt. Baker, L. C. Conger - NYHS
• Lt. E. P. Doherty - NPS
• Col. Lafayette Baker - NA
• Boston Corbett, Lt. Doherty - NA
• Boston Corbett - LC
• Garrett's House - NPS
• Goldman Inn, Bowling Green - C.S.
• Highly Imaginative Sketch
• Contemporary Sketch - NPS
• Plan of Garrett's Yard - NPS
• Removal of Booth from Barn - CHS
• As above - from Frank Leslie's Ill. Mag.
• Booth's Death - from Baker's Book
• Booth's Guns Found in Barn - NPS
• Booth's Revolver - NPS
• Booth's Compass - NPS
• Keys Found on His Body - NPS
• Pictures on His Body - NPS
• " " " "
• " " " "
• Returning With Booth's Body - NPS
• Post-mortem on the Montauk - NPS
• Surious Burial - from F. Leslies Ill. Mag
• Burial of Booth - from Baker's Book
• Paine's Pickaxe - NPS
• Arrest of Paine at Mrs. Surratt's - NPS
• Boston Corbett - Boston U.

• Old Capitol Prison - NPS
• Monitor "Saugus" - NA
• Transferring the Prisoners - F. Leslie's I.N. 5-26-65
• Arrival at the Old Penitentiary - NPS
• Cell Block - Harper's Weekly 7-8-65
• Paine Hooded - F. Leslie's 5-27-65
• Lewis Paine - LC
• George Atzerodt - LC
• David Herold - LC
• Sam Arnold - LC
• Michael O'Luaghlin - LC
• Edmond Spangler - LC
• Dr. Samuel Mudd - NPS
• Mary Surratt - LC
• Sketch Surratt House - NPS
• Mrs. Surratt's House - LC
• Floor Plan Courtroom - from Pitman
• The Conspirators - LC
• Scene at the Trial - Harpers W. 6-10-65
• The Courtroom - LC
• The Military Commission - LC
• The Commission sketch - NPS
• Some Members of the Commission - NA
• " " " - NA
• " " " - NA
• Judge Joseph Holt - NA
• Reverdy Johnson - NA
• Maj. Gen. Thomas Ewing, Jr. - LC
• Attorneys John Clampitt, William E. Doster
• Benn Pitman - LC
• Louis Wiechmann - NPS
• Booth's Note for Andrew Johnson - NPS
• Spangler's Rope - NPS
• Howard's Livery Stable - LC
• Incriminating Picture from Surratt House - NPS
• Senator James Lane - NA
• Senator Preston King - NA
• President Andrew Johnson - NA
• Anna Surratt - NA
• Remodeled Old Penetentiary - C.S.
• Father Jacob A. Walter - NA
• Prison Scenes from Old Print
• Before the Execution - LC
• The Graves - LC
• Awaiting the Prisoners - LC
• Reading the Orders - LC
• Adjusting the Nooses - LC
• Final Scene - LC
• Mary Surratt Plaque - from Confederate Museum
• Mary Surratt's Grave - C.S.
• Fort Jefferson Dry Tortugas - NA
• Tunnel at Fort Jefferson - NPS
• Dr. Mudd Plaque at Fort Jefferson - NPS
• Old and New Gravestones for Dr. Mudd - C.S.
• Spangler's Grave at St. Peter's - C.S.
• Booth's Grave, Greenmount Cemetery, Baltimore
• John Wilkes Booth - Mus. City of New York
• John Surratt as a Papal Guard - LC
• Joh[n] Surratt - LC
• Returning John Surratt for Trial - Harper's W. 2-19-67
• David Herold. an early photo - NA

• Abraham Lincoln - LC
• The White House - LC
• The Capitol - LC
• The East Room - NPS
• Services in the East Room - Harper's W. 5-6-65
• Pass Funeral Service Contemporary sketch
• Draped Treasury Building - NYHS
• The Casket - F. Leslie's I.N. 5-13-65
• Washington Hearse - LC
• The Procession - F. Leslie's I.N. 5-6-65
• " "
• The Procession Forming - NPS
• " " - LC
• Turning Into Pennsylvania Ave. - Harper's W. 5-6-65
• The Procession - London Illustrated News
• Route of the Funeral Train - LNLF
• Willie Lincoln - ISHL
• The Funeral Coach - NPS
• Interior of Car - NPS
• At Harrisburg - ISHL
• The State House Harrisburg - CHS
• Train at Harrisburg - LNLF
• The Train at Philadelphia - ISHL
• The Philadelphia Hearse - LNLF
• Independence Hall - from Peterson
• Philadelphia - ISHL
• Philadelphia Scene - ISHL
• The Philadelphia Hearse - CHS
• Scenes at Philadelphia - NA
• " "
• Portion of Train in Railroad Yards - LNLF
• Crossing the Ferry to New York - from Valentine
• Arrival in New York - from Valentine
• The Procession Forming New York - NYHS
• " " " "
• New York City Hall - LNLF
• At the City Hall - LNLF
• The Body at City Hall - ISHL
• New York Procession - ISHL
• " " " "
• The New York Hearse - LC
• Death Certificate - NPS
• Scene at New York - NYHS
• Scenes in New York - from Valentine
• " " " " "
• Notice of Ceremony Lincoln, Illinois - ISHL
• The Arch at Sing Sing - NPS
• After the Procession at Albany - Albany Institute
• Buffalo Hearse - Buffalo & Erie Co. Hist. Soc.
• Procession at Buffalo " " " " "
• " " " " " " " "
• Monument Park Cleveland - CHS
• At Cleveland - CHS
• Scene at Cleveland Contemporary sketch
• Cleveland - LNLF
• Cleveland - LNLF
• Monument Park - LNLF
• At the State House Columbus ISHL
• Procession at Columbus - LNLF
• Funeral Arch Indianapolis - LNLF
• Hearse and Horses Indianapolis - LNLF
• Hearse and Casket Indianapolis - LNLF
• Hearse and Casket Indianapolis - LNLF
• Stop at Michigan City - LNLF
• Typical Smalltown Depot - ISHL
• Train at Chicago Illinois Cent. RR
• Removal of Coffin Chicago Cont. Sketch
• The Chicago Arch - LC
• Chicago Procession - Harper's Weekly 5-27-65
• Entering the City Hall - CHS
• The People at City Hall - CHS
• The Catafalque in City Hall - Harper's W. 5-20-65
• Chicago & Alton Locomotive No. 57. - ISHL
• Railroad Timetable, Chicago to Springfield - ISHL
• Notice of Observance Ilion
• Memorial Paradeat San Francisco - Soc. of Calif. Pioneers
• Memorial Service at Bloomington - CHS
• Services in London, England - London Ill. News May 1865

• The Chicago Delegation - ISHL
• Lincoln Herndon Law Office - Georg Studio
• Illinois State House - ISHL
• The Unused Tomb - ISHL
• Draped Lincoln Home - ISHL
• Draped Lincoln Parlor - ISHL
• Official Pass - ISHL
• Just Completed Catafalque - ISHL
• Second View Catafalque - ISHL
• Filing Into State House - ISHL
• Waiting to Enter - ISHL
• Across from the State House - ISHL
• Filing Past the Catafalque - Harper's Weekly 5-27-65
• Front of Lincoln Home - NPS
• "Old Bob" - ISHL
• Draped House and Horse
• Order of Procession to Oak Ridge - ISHL
• The Borrowed St. Louis Hearse - ISHL
• The Forming Procession - LNLF
• Route of the Procession
• Plan of Oak Ridge - ISHL
• The Gate at Oak Ridge - ISHL
• General View of Oak Ridge - ISHL
• Awaiting the Procession - NYHS
• The Temporary Tomb - ISHL
• The Services - ISHL
• Contemporary Sketch
• Directors of the Monument Association - ISHL
• Closeup of the Vault - ISHL
• Interior of the Temporary Tomb - ISHL
• The Present Tomb - Ill. Inf. Ser.
• Exterior of Present Tomb - Georg Studio
• Mary Todd Lincoln - NPS
• Thomas (Tad) Lincoln - ISHL
• Bishop Simpson - ISHL
• Interior of Catacomb as left by Thieves (From John Carroll Power)
• Funeral Procession Entering Oak Ridge Cemetery - NYHS

The typescript of William Putney's history of Battery I, 2nd Illinois Artillery Regiment, bound and stamped in gold with the title, was presented to the captain of the battery, Charles M. Barnett, as a Christmas gift in 1897. Putney was only the final editor and compiler of the history, which was based on the recollections, letters, and diaries of a number of men in the regiment, with snippets culled from sources as diverse as Sherman's memoirs, reminiscences from soldiers in other regiments, and popular histories.

The typescript of William Putney's history of Battery I, 2nd Illinois Artillery Regiment, bound and stamped in gold with the title, was presented to the captain of the battery, Charles M. Barnett, as a Christmas gift in 1897. Putney was only the final editor and compiler of the history, which was based on the recollections, letters, and diaries of a number of men in the regiment, with snippets culled from sources as diverse as Sherman's memoirs, reminiscences from soldiers in other regiments, and popular histories. The full, and rather complex history of authorship of the volume is discussed in his preface.

In many ways, Putney's narrative is characteristic of the genre of post-war reminiscences, in its selectivity and its tendency to gloss over or reimagine certain events. It is not, however, as thoroughly sanitized as many memoirs, and presents some of the unpleasantries of military service and the war with a surprising freshness. Inclined toward a literary style, Putney balances small, humorous anecdotes, mostly personal in nature, with larger-scale perspectives on the campaigns and conflicts in which the Battery was embroiled. The intrusion of narratives drawn from high ranking officers (such as Gen. Sherman) provides some insight into the average soldier's post-war opinions on what was significant about their experience, but it is the recollections of the minutiae of service, the practical jokes played by soldiers, their everyday coping, that makes Putney's memoir so valuable.

The History of Battery I includes a roster of the battery, with brief notes on the post-war activities of each member. The manuscript maps are probably copies of some printed works rather than recreations from memory. They depict 1) Route of Battery I from 1862 to 1865; 2) military and naval operations about Island No. 10; 3) the last day of the battle of Chickamauga and the route of Battery I; 4) Chattanooga Campaign; 5) the Atlanta Campaign.

In his journal, Daniel Shea, a literate, passionate writer, has left an outstanding record of his service during the last months of the Civil War.

In his journal, Daniel Shea, a literate, passionate writer, has left an outstanding record of his service during the last months of the Civil War. Although the journal entries are seldom of any great length, they are frequent enough and detailed enough to be useful, particularly during the Mobile and Montgomery campaigns. Although Shea identified with his "ethnic" background -- he was Irish born and raised -- he did not serve in an ethnic regiment, and mentions his background explicitly only once, on Saint Patrick's Day.

This pocket diary contains daily entries that Edmund Davis wrote while attending Edge Hill School in Princeton, New Jersey, in the spring of 1865. David noted daily occurrences at the institution, such as religious services and baseball games, and also recorded major political events, including the capture of Richmond, Virginia, and the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

This pocket diary contains 54 pages of daily entries that Edmund Davis wrote while attending Edge Hill School in Princeton, New Jersey, from March 6, 1865, to June 12, 1865. He noted daily events at the school, such as classes, sporting matches, illnesses, and religious services, and also reported local responses to recent news, including a "horn spree" celebrating the capture of Richmond, Virginia (April 3 and April 4) and the reaction to Lincoln's assassination. He correctly identified John Wilkes Booth as the assassin who leapt from the presidential box shouting "sic semper tyrannis," but incorrectly stated that Booth had been "torn to pieces by the mob" and that William Henry Seward had been stabbed to death (April 15). On April 19, Edge Hill was draped in black to mourn the president, and on April 28, the students were informed of Booth's capture.

Davis mentioned many aspects of school life, such as expulsions (March 20 and May 24), April Fool's tricks (April 1), and the prevalence of "the itch" in early May. On May 12, he mentioned his decision to wait an additional year before attending college. He and his classmates enjoyed sports, and Davis took note of rugby matches (April 25) and baseball games (May 13, May 23, June 3, June 5, and June 7); Davis participated in his first game on June 5. A picture of Edmund Davis is pasted onto the diary's first page. The volume also contains 3 newspaper clippings: a copy of "Auld Lang Syne," a remedy for bruises, and an article detailing the "Fates of the Apostles."

As a soldier in the 23rd Massachusetts Infantry during the Civil War, Charles Maxim wrote to his family about his and his fellow soldiers' political beliefs, the morale and motivations of soldiers, and opinions on the performance of African American troops.

The Charles Maxim papers shed light on the attitudes of a Union soldier in the trenches during the last year of the war and the earliest period of Reconstruction in the South. An outstanding reporter of political views -- both his and his fellow soldiers' -- Maxim is at his best in discussing the morale and motivations of soldiers and the formal and informal politics during the election years of 1864 and 1868. Not inclined to extremes in his politics, he plied a middle road between the abolitionists and racial equality persons on one side and the much-despised copperheads on the other, yet never foregoing his strong Unionist principles. Even the postwar letters continue the thread of opposition to Democratic copperheadism.

Few letters in the Maxim papers contain discussions of military activities in the limited sense, though two letters include interesting discussions of the Battle of the Crater and what Maxim perceived as the failure of African-American soldiers under fire. More generally, several other letters, however, include discussions of generalship, morale, and soldiery, and the palpable increase in his resolve as the war winds down in the late spring, 1865, makes an interesting case study.

Finally, two letters from Maxim's friend and fellow veteran, J.C. Bolles, are worth special mention. In the first (July 17, 1869) Bolles describes his new homestead in Ottawa County, Kans., and the absurd fear on the parts of whites of Indian attack. The second letter (1870 June 1) includes an emotional reflection upon their service during the war, sparked by a Memorial Day celebration by members of the Grand Army of Republic.

The George W. Martin papers consist of letters from a young soldier in the 22nd Pennsylvania Cavalry to his parents in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania.

The George W. Martin papers consist of 16 letters from Martin to his parents, dated between March 1864 and May 1865. Many of the letters are postmarked from Virginia and include items sent from the Harper's Ferry area, with a number of the 1865 letters posted from New Creek, West Virginia. The letters primarily concern daily camp life, such as a fire in the camp (March 31, 1864) and the theft of two pounds of Martin’s coffee (January 11, 1865). Martin also frequently recounted hardships (“We are almost starving these three or four days.” February 11, 1865), and continually discussed and requested care packages from his parents. On April 16, 1865, Martin wrote to his parents concerning the death of Lincoln, “We got very bad news here yesterday that President Lincoln was shot. And also secretary Steward was stabbed and his son. Dear Mother I am affraid that is a going to put the war back it will encourage the rebbles and they will fight the harder now since he is killed.” The letters document the experiences of a young adolescent faced for the first time with the hardships of army life.

The Joseph W. Hall diary (160 pages) contains the daily reflections of a member of the 7th New York Heavy Artillery from May 15, 1864, to July 29, 1865.

The Joseph W. Hall diary (160 pages) contains the daily reflections of a member of the 7th New York Heavy Artillery, from May 15, 1864, to July 29, 1865. His typical entries are one or two sentences long. Hall noted his company's locations, daily activities, and food (rations and foraging). He also provided details on his company's role in skirmishes and battles, including the Battle of Cold Harbor (pages 8-10), the Battle of Petersburg (pages 18-20), the Siege of Petersburg (pages 43-44), and the Battle of Ream's Station (page 60-61). The following entry is a typical description of a skirmish:

"[August] 22 We laid about in our work until about noon when we advanced about a mile in the woods and halted in line of Battle[.] The Rebels crept around us and got in our rear and opened on us a galling fire[.] Everything was in confusion[.] the whole corps broke for the Breastworks and were not a moment too soon, for the Rebels were close on our works but our men rallied and repulsed them with heavy loss and held the works[.] Two of our company were taken Prisoner." (page 55)

In addition to fighting, Hall records entries on various other topics. On August 19, 1864, Hall described "talking and trading" with the Rebels instead of firing on them (page 55), and pages 62-73 cover details on army hospitals. The entry from August 18, 1864, contains a brief description of the 10th Corps, of which soldiers "were mostly negroes" (page 55). Hall discussed the Presidential election of 1864 (pages 78-79), and Lincoln's assassination (p. 132-135). Pages 128 through 155 cover the events between the fall of Richmond and Hall's eventual discharge at the end of July 1865.

At the end of the volume, after many blank pages, Hall copied recipes for medicine, including a "Diarrhea Cordial," and a cure for consumption, and listed the 82 men in the 7th New York Heavy Artillery, Battery B, along with their ranks when they enlisted in the regiment in August 1862.

The James Caswell Knox collection consists of 63 letters, the majority of which were written between James C. Knox of the 147th Indiana Infantry and his wife, Catharine, while Knox was stationed in Virginia in 1865.

The collection contains 63 letters: 20 from James Knox to his wife Catharine; 22 from Catharine to James; and the remainder from various correspondents writing to either James or Catharine.

James’ letters describe his health, provide details of his life in the army, and express love of Catharine and longing for home. In a letter of April 21, 1865, he mentions the trains that showed up at Summit Point, Virginia, to take men from other regiments home. He spent part of his time as an orderly sergeant and part of his time as a second lieutenant there (May 14, 1865). In a letter dated June 13, 1865, gives a graphic description of his regiment traveling to the Shenandoah River at Vickers Gap to wash up. Finally, he writes from the hospital in Maryland that he will be discharged soon (July 14, 1865).

Catharine’s letters to James focus on her health, daily activities, and family news. Two early letters contain poems that Catharine wrote for James (February 16, 1865 and March 2, 1865). In an undated mid-April 1865 letter, she describes reactions to Lincoln’s death (“I wouldent halve felt any worse if it had been my father”) and mentions the executions in Indianapolis of six men “for saying they were glad of” Lincoln’s death. In a number of letters, she describes gardening and other household activities, and her letter of June 18, 1865, includes a strawberry and some cloth from a dress she was making.

Of the remaining 20 letters, 14 were written during James' service in the army. Of these, six were written to James and four were written to Catharine by other family members or friends. Seven of the eight letters written after the war deal with James Knox' business issues. Two additional letters were written to James' sister Harriet Knox from friends.

This diary chronicles William Rawle Brooke's service with the Third Pennsylvania Cavalry during the Civil War (he later changed his name to William Brooke Rawle). It begins with Brooke's initial Army commission in May 1863 and concludes in August 1865, shortly before his discharge. Brooke described daily army life, provided detailed accounts of battles, and other events of note.

This diary is a compilation of three daily diaries, bound into a single volume, providing a record of William Rawle Brooke's service in the Union Army from May 5, 1863, to August 16, 1865, with additional notes on events later that year. He wrote every day, providing detailed accounts of battles throughout the Gettysburg, Bristoe, and Overland Campaigns, the Siege of Petersburg, and the pursuit of Lee's Army to Appomattox Court House.

The diary begins with Brooke's receipt of a commission and his journey to join the Third Pennsylvania Cavalry outside of Washington, D.C. Events discussed include Brooke's birthdays, the Presidential election of 1864, and the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Brooke fastidiously chronicled his daily army life, with documentation of correspondence sent and received.

The Octavius Leland diaries contain entries concerning Leland's service in Company C of the 10th Minnesota Infantry, 1863-1865.

The Octavius Leland diaries contain two volumes of near daily entries, spanning October 6, 1863, to June 20, 1865. The two volumes contain a total of 232 written pages. The first volume covers October 6, 1863-September 12, 1864, and the second volume spans September 13, 1864-June 20, 1865. Volume one, which includes 23 newspaper clippings in its front pocket, begins with Leland's travel by train from Elgin, Minnesota, to the barracks at St. Louis, Missouri, during which time, his bag, flute, clothing, and personal effects were stolen. Entries for October 1863-May 1864 describe Leland's time in St. Louis, including his concerts with the regimental band, visits to the city, and military duties. On November 10, 1863, he gave an account of his first visit to downtown St. Louis; he noted with awe the newly built Lindell Hotel with "cars that run to every room," and enjoyed the view of the city from the dome on top of the courthouse. On January 18, 1864, he described a visit to a St. Louis "museum," where he saw a bearded woman and the "Albino Twins of black parents."

Despite the theft of his flute, Leland mentioned playing in several band performances, including the funeral march of "Maj. Brown" (November 7, 1863) and a commemoration of the Battle of Pea Ridge (March 8, 1864). During the latter performance, he was pleased by a "general waiving [sic] of handkerchiefs from the ladies" as he played through the streets. However, on June 1, 1864, a doctor advised him to "quit blowing the fife for awhile" in order to halt dizziness and fainting spells.

During his time in St. Louis, Leland's military responsibilities were light, and allowed him time to sell fruit and carved rings to make extra money (March 9, 1864). By May 1864, however, Leland's regiment was sent to a series of camps in Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama, taking part in some minor engagements with guerillas and with Forrest's cavalry, in the Battle of Nashville, the defense of Memphis during Forrest's raid, and the Siege of Mobile and capture of Fort Blakely. The most notable aspect of Leland's service, however, was his long and ultimately unsuccessful bout with disease. He suffered particularly after July 1864; the second volume of Leland's diary chronicles near constant sickness, including diarrhea and respiratory problems. Too weak for duty much of the time, Leland was assigned to assist ambulance personnel, and to other support roles for the regiment. Despite the length and evident severity of his sickness, his requests for a discharge were repeatedly denied, and his Captain apparently believed that he was attempting to shirk his duty. He died of the effects of chronic diarrhea on August 12th, 1865, three days before he was to be mustered out.