George Washington Grant papers
Collection 4445
1861-2001, undated (bulk, 1861-1890)(1.0 Linear feet ; 3 boxes)
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Repository
- Historical Society of Pennsylvania
- Creator
- Grant, George Washington, 1824-1901.
- Title
- George Washington Grant papers
- ID
- 4445
- Date
- 1861-2001, undated (bulk, 1861-1890)
- Extent
- 1.0 Linear feet ; 3 boxes
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Randi Kamine.
- Language
- English
Preferred citation
Cite as: [Indicate cited item or series here], George Washington Grant papers (Collection 4445), Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
Abstract
George Washington Grant was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, on March 16, 1842. He enlisted in Company G, Seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers in April 1861. After three months, he reenlisted in Company B, eighty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers. In April 1863 he was commissioned first lieutenant. He served for the bulk of the conflict and fought, and was captured, at Gettysburg. His prison experiences lasted twenty months starting July 1, 1863. After his capture at Gettysburg, he was first incarcerated in Libby Prison in Richmond, Virginia. he was later moved between Confederate prison camps in Danville, Virginia; Macon, Georgia; Columbia, South Carolina.
After the war, he was elected postmaster general of Lebanon, but he eventually moved to Minnesota. Grant served as president of the National Union Ex-Prisoners of the Civil War, and, while in Minnesota, he helped establish the Minnesota chapter of this organization. Additionally, he was named the quartermaster of the Minnesota Soldiers Home. He married twice, the second time to Isabel Foster, originally of Lebanon County, in 1896. He died on April 11, 1901.
This collection contains an assortment of Grant's personal papers primarily from his time during the Civil War and from the early to late 1890s when he was living in Minnesota. Transcribed personal letters to family members written between 1861 and 1863 speak directly to Grant’s experiences during the war. In addition, there is an original handwritten diary kept by Grant during his time in captivity in Libby Prison, Richmond, Virginia. February 21, 1864 – April 21, 1964. There are also three letters written from Libby Prison dated October 22, 1863 to January 4, 1864. Other items in the collection include Grant's letterbook from when he was a chief special agent in the Census Bureau in Minneapolis (1890); letters written to Grant while he was president of the National Union Ex-Prisoners of the Civil War, 1890, 1896; and his account book of the Minnesota Soldiers Home, 1893-1895. There are also a few clippings and publications, such as Grant's souvenir copy of the "Official Program of the 30th National Encampment, Grand Army of the Republic."
Administrative Information
Publication Information
Historical Society of Pennsylvania ; 2023.
1300 Locust StreetPhiladelphia, PA, 19107
215-732-6200
Access restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Provenance
Gift of Laura "Peach" Reid, 2021.
Accession number 2021.060.
Controlled Access Headings
Personal Name(s)
- Reid, Laura "Peach".
Subject(s)
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Battle of Gettysburg, July 1-3, 1863.
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Camp Life.
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Confederacy
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal Correspondence.
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives.
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Prisoners and Prisons
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Soldiers perceptions.
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Collection Inventory
| Box | Folder | |||
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Diary kept while in Libby Prison 21 February - 11 April 1864 Scope and content noteAn original handwritten diary kept by George Washington Grant during his months of captivity in Libby Prison. It begins on Sunday, February 21, 1864, and ends April 11, 1964. There is a fully transcribed handwritten copy of the diary written by Grant’s grandson and a typed copy transcribed up though March 22, 1864. |
1 | 1 | ||
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“In Memoriam Lieutenant George Washington Grant” 11 April 1901 Scope and content notePublished by the Military Order of the Royal Legion of the United States. Gives a biography. Includes: accounts and statistics of battles in letters written by Grant to his father and sister; descriptions and statistics of battles from various other sources; copies of photographs; accounts of Union soldiers captured and jailed in Confederate prisons; “Story of the Famous Tunnel Escape from Libby Prison,” as told by Major A.G. Hamilton; details of the 88th Regiment, PA Volunteers. |
1 | 2 | ||
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Letters late 1800s Scope and content noteLetters written to and from George W. Grant when he was president of the National Association of Union Ex-Prisoners of the Civil War. Many of the letters are to legislators and allies requesting that a bill be passed in Congress to the benefit of Civil War veterans. Prisoners of War Bill (no 319, H.R.) circa 1890. Also the Hainer Bill #306 in 1896. |
1 | 3 | ||
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Battle of Gettysburg map and accounts 1898, undated Scope and content noteThis folder has information about the Battle of Gettysburg, including a map with battle lines; newspaper article titled “The First Army Corps on the first day of Gettysburg," and two handwritten accounts of the battle. |
1 | 4 | ||
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Account book 1893-1895 Scope and content noteGeorge Washington Grant, Quartermaster, Minnesota Soldier’s Home, Minnehaha, MN. Account book, and a copy of the account book. |
1 | 5 | ||
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Diary and transcription 1863 Scope and content noteDiary and transcription written by George Washington Grant, 1st Lt., 88th Regiment. Penna. Volunteers, Company B. Detailed day to day activities after he was captured at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863. |
1 | 6 | ||
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Photographs undated Scope and content noteThree photos (one duplicate). One is of a couple, George Washington Grant and his wife (?), two a photo of eight medals and a copy of the journal. |
1 | 7 | ||
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Miscellaneous collected Civil War accounts and other items 1892, undated Scope and content noteFolder contains: A declaration from a prisoner of war, author unknown; “Under Fire at Charleston," handwritten, detailed description of attempted escapes from a prison in Charleston, author unknown; information on Roper Hospital; other drafts of accounts of being a prisoner of war; photo of Grant following his promotion to 1st Lieutenant; typewritten copy of letters to brother and father; letter to “Margie;" copy of article, “National Association of Union Ex-Prisoners of War;" photograph of ex-prisoners of war, 1892. |
1 | 8 | ||
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Miscellaneous 1862-1901, 2001, undated Scope and content noteFolder contains: newspaper article, "Times War Paper," undated; “A Reading Soldier’s Account of the Battle of Gettysburg,” undated; Grant's address on the First Army Corps at Gettysburg (gives a detailed description of events at the Battle of Gettysburg; Military Order, Loyal Legion, “Memorandum for George Washington Grant,” 1901; an unsigned essay dated February 25, 1896, discusses the Hainer Bill for appropriations for Civil War veterans; Grant's certificate of enlistment for three months from April to July 1861; Grant's certificate of promotion to Second Lieutenant November 1, 1862; trial transcript -- Grant was a witness to an accident, and he testified in court on behalf of the woman who was hurt -- result of trial is not recorded, undated; property list for James Grant, undated; ocument backing Grant’s Widow’s claim, 1903; request for records to Department of Veteran Affairs, 2001; letter written by George H. Grant, grandson of George Washington Grant; genealogy internet search print-out. |
1 | 9 | ||
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Pamphlet - "G.A.R. 30th National Encampment, St. Paul' 1896 |
1 | 10 | ||
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Isabel Foster Grant pension claims and related documents 1898-1902, 1917, 1956, 1994 |
2 | 1 | ||
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Letterbook 29 August 1890- 28 March 1891 Scope and content noteLetters from George W. Grant, signed Chief Special Agent. Grant worked for the Census office in Minneapolis. Almost all were written to the Superintendent of Census. Washington DC. Returns were enclosed with some of the letters as a result of canvassing (February 19, 1891). Some describe the commissions of Special Agents and the areas in which they collected information for the census. |
2 | 2 | ||
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Civil War letters 1861-1863 Scope and content noteLetters give detail descriptions of many Civil War battles. Most are eyewitness accounts of the battles as seen by Grant. |
3 | |||
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