Collection Title: James B. Miller Papers
Collection Number: Ms. Coll. 179
Dates of Collection: 1856-1863
Box Numbers: 1 box, 17 folders, 1 linear foot
Repository: Chester County Historical Society, West Chester, PA 19380
Language: English
Project Archivist: Margaret Miles Baillie
James B. Miller was a member of Company E, 20th Iowa Regular Volunteers and fought in Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. His letters to Sally describe camp life, picket duty, capturing of rebels, battle action, and troop movements. His letters span the years 1856-1863.
The collection contains letters by James B. Miller to Miss Sally G. Newlin. The beginning of the series starts out with a letter by James dated October 4, 1856, telling Sally that he will meet her at a singing school meeting in Stumptown, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania. The additional letters show the transitory path he took from Pennsylvania[1] to Ohio, Iowa, and the Kansas and Colorado Territories before he joined Company E of the 20th Iowa Regular Volunteers in 1861.
Miller saw action in Missouri, Arkansas, Vicksburg, New Orleans, and Texas with Company E. His letters to Sally describe camp life, picket duty, capturing of rebels, battle action, and troop movements. He mentions Capt. Barney, Gen. Heron, and Gen. Banks and gives interesting details of the skirmishes as well as the battles. The last letter in the collection, dated November 27, 1863, was written from Mustang Island, Texas. James B. Miller died January 11, 1864, at Aransas Pass, Texas. He was 29.[2], [3]
Sallie Gyger Newlin married Joshua G. Embree, Marshalton, on November 18, 1869. They had two children. She died May 27, 1919.
[1] James references a sister living in Clarion County, PA, (Possible in Curwensville), in letters dated January and February 1857. He mentions a sister Sarah getting married in the letter dated January 29, 1861. He also references a brother named George, whom is in Ohio and then Missouri, in letters dated March 31, 1858, and December 1861.
[2] Logan, Guy E. Roster and Record of Iowa Troops In the Rebellion, Vol. 3. p. 64.
[3]James B. Miller’s place and/or date of birth were not known at the time of the publication of this finding aid.
The collection spans the years from 1856-1863. It consists of personal correspondence.
The primary arrangement of the manuscripts is chronological and they are housed in acid-free folders and acid-free boxes. These documents were transferred from the general manuscript and letter collections at CCHS, which, in the past, used an alphanumeric cataloging system and are still marked accordingly. This allows for in-house cross-referencing between the two systems.
-Guide to Civil War manuscripts at CCHC.
-CCHC clippings files, family files and manuscript collection.
-CCHC Photo Collection.
-CCHC Museum Collection for military swords, clothing and accoutrements
Box 1 – Letters 1856-1863
Folder 1 – Letters to Sallie G. Newlin. October – December 1856. 7 items.
-October 4, 1856. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
-October 20, 1856. Lancaster City, Pennsylvania
-October 28, 1856. Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania
-November 24, 1856. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
-December 1, 1856. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
-December 17, 1856. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
-December 23, 1856. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Folder 2 – Letters to Sallie G. Newlin. January – March 1857. 14 items.
-January 8, 1857. Party Invitation
-[January 9, 1857] Undated memo regarding the party.
-January 10, 1857. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
-January 15, 1857. Curwensville, Pennsylvania
-January 25, 1857. Janesville, Pennsylvania
-February 1, 1857. Curwensville, Pennsylvania
-February 7, 1857. Lancaster City, Pennsylvania
-February 11, 1857. Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania
-February 15, 1857. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
-February 27, 1857. Bareville, Pennsylvania
-March 4, 1857. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
-March 5, 1857. Bareville, Pennsylvania
-March 13, 1857. Lancaster City, Pennsylvania
-March 24, 1857. Bareville, Pennsylvania
Folder 3 – Letters to Sallie G. Newlin. April – August 1857. 4 items.
-May 17, 1857. Mechanicsville, Pennsylvania
-June 4, 1857. Lancaster City, Pennsylvania
-July 27, 1857. Davenport, Iowa
-August 25, 1857. Round Grove, Iowa
Folder 4 – Letters to Sallie G. Newlin. September – November 1857. 8 items.
-September 1, 1857. Linn Grove, Iowa
-September 16, 1857. Linn Grove, Iowa
-October 11, 1857. Linn Grove, Iowa
-October 30, 1857. Round Grove, Iowa
-November 7, 1857. Round Grove, Iowa
-November 24, 1857. Round Grove, Iowa
-November 30, 1857. Linn Grove, Iowa
Folder 5 – Letters to Sallie G. Newlin. January – June 1858. 14 items.
-January 8, 1858. Round Grove, Iowa
-January 22, 1858. Round Grove, Iowa
-February 13, 1858. Round Grove, Iowa
-February 21, 1858. Round Grove, Iowa
-March 19, 1858. Round Grove, Iowa
-March 31, 1858. Round Grove, Iowa
-April 3, 1858. Amity, Iowa
-April 11, 1858. Maysville, Iowa
-May 4, 1858. Maysville, Iowa
-May 12, 1858. Maysville, Iowa
-June 21, 1858. Maysville, Iowa
-June 28, 1858. Maysville, Iowa
Folder 6 – Letters to Sallie G. Newlin. July – December 1858. 12 items.
-July 9, 1858. Maysville, Iowa
-July 17, 1858. Maysville, Iowa
-August 15, 1858. Maysville, Iowa
-September 4, 1858. Maysville, Iowa
-October 7, 1858. Maysville, Iowa
-October 13, 1858. Maysville, Iowa
-October 14, 1858. Continuation of October 13, 1858.
-October 31, 1858. Maysville, Iowa
-November 25, 1858. Maysville, Iowa
-December 5, 1858. Maysville, Iowa
-December 13, 1858. Maysville, Iowa
Folder 7 – Letters to Sallie G. Newlin. 1859-1860. 3 items.
-January 13, 1859. Maysville, Iowa
-January 29, 1859. Woodhome, Iowa. Mentions living temporarily with a Mr. Barber from ChesterCounty.
-November 21, 1860. Castle Rock, GregoryDistrict. MountainCity Post Office, KansasTerritory. Resumes writing after a hiatus requested by Sallie.
Folder 8 – Letters to Sallie G. Newlin. January – May 1861. 6 items.
-January 29, 1861. Chases Gulch, ColoradoTerritory. Mentions sister Sarah’s marriage, Mrs. Geiger (sic) and Dr. Miller’s marriage, and the fact that he is not married and intends to stay single as long as he is out west.
-February 20, 1861. Chases Gulch, ColoradoTerritory
-April 25, 1861. Central City, ColoradoTerritory
-May 27, 1861. Saint Vrains Fort, Colorado Territory.
Folder 9 – Letters to Sallie G. Newlin. July – December 1861. 8 items.
-July 23, 1861. Nevada City, Colorado Territory
-August 7, 1861. Nevada City, Colorado Territory
-September 1861. Nevada City, Colorado Territory
-October 4, 1861. Camp near Newtona. “Direct your letter to Springfield, MO, in care of Capt. Barney, CampE. 20th Reg. Iowa Vols.”
-December 4, 1861. PlatteRiver Crossing. “Direct your letters to NebraskaCenterP.O.NebraskaTerritory in care of George Miller.” James stops to visit his brother and finds him sick. He stays to take care of his brother’s health and business.
-December 18, 1861. PlatteRiver Crossing.
-December 27, 1861. Millers Ranch.
Folder 10 – Letters to Sallie G. Newlin. January – April 1862.
-January 3, 1862. Camp near Fayetteville, Arkansas
-February 6, 1862. Platte Crossing
-February 20, 1862. Platte Crossing
-March 17, 1862. Platte Crossing
-April 6, 1862. Platte Crossing
Folder 11 – Letters to Sallie G. Newlin. July – October 1862. 8 items.
-July 23, 1862. Lynn Grove Iowa. “Direct your letter to Allens Grove, Scott Co., Iowa”
-September 8, 1862. CampBenton, St. Louis
-September 21, 1862. “On the road to Springfield.”
-September 25, 1862. Springfield, Missouri
-October 13, 1862. Cassville, Missouri
-October 18, 1862. Pea Ridge, Arkansas
-October 29, 1862. Fayetteville, Arkansas
Folder 12 – Letters to Sallie G. Newlin. November – December 1862. 11 items.
-November 4, 1862. Camp Osage Springs, Arkansas
-November 6, 1862. Camp at Marionville, Missouri
-November 11, 1862. Camp Ozark, Missouri
-November 13, 1862. [Continuation of November 11, 1862]
-November 20, 1862. CampBrush, near McCullough’s, Missouri
-November 29, 1862. CampLyons, near McCullough’s spring, Missouri
-December 9, 1862. Battleground, Prairie Grove, Arkansas
-December 10, 1862. [Continuation of December 9, 1862]
-December 25, 1862. Camp, Prairie Grove, Arkansas
Folder 13 – Letters to Sallie G. Newlin. January – February 1863. 8 items.
-January 1, 1863. Prairie Grove Battleground, Arkansas
-January 8, 1865. Camp Rosecrans, Arkansas
-January 19, 1863. Camp eight miles from Huntsville, Arkansas. He requests that she make a “housewife” for him and he draws a picture of how it is constructed.
-January 21, 1863. [Continuation of January 19, 1863]
-January 27, 1863. Camp two miles west of Keitsville, Missouri
-January 30, 1863. Camp on Flat Creek, Missouri
-February 22, 1863. Camp Bliss, Missouri
Folder 14 – Letters to Sallie G. Newlin. March – April 1863. 7 items.
-March 6, 1863. Camp, Bloomington, Missouri
-March 9, 1863. Camp near Bloomington, Missouri. He thanks her for the “housewife.”
-March 22, 1863. Camp on Elk Horn Creek, Missouri
-March 25, 1863. Camp on Elk Horn Creek, Missouri
-April 12, 1863. Camp Totten, Missouri. He thanks her again for the “housewife” and gives more details.
-April 16, 1863. Camp Totten, Missouri
-April 27, 1863. Arsenal, Park, St. Louis, Missouri
Folder 15 – Letters to Sallie G. Newlin. May – June 1863. 9 items.
-May 8, 1863. Camp, Jackson, St. Louis, Missouri
-May 13, 1863. CampGamble, St. Louis, Missouri
-May 20, 1863. Mt.Pilot Knob, Missouri
-May 24, 1863. CampHerron, near Pilot Knob, Missouri
-June 9, 1863. On board steamboat J. B. Perry
-June 10, 1863. [continuation of June 9, 1863]
-June 15, 1863. Camp, four miles from Vicksburg, Mississippi
-June 16, 1863. Camp four miles below Vicksburg, Mississippi
-June 26, 1863. Camp four miles below Vicksburg, Mississippi
Folder 16 – Letters to Sallie G. Newlin. July 1863. 6 items.
-July 1, 1863. Camp four miles below Vicksburg, Mississippi
-July 5, 1863. Camp at Vicksburg, Mississippi
-July 10, 1863. Camp at Vicksburg, Mississippi
-July 18, 1863. Camp in Vicksburg, Mississippi
-July 24, 1863. On board Transport Boat Iatan.
-July 31, 1863. Port Hudson, Louisiana
Folder 17 – Letters to Sallie G. Newlin. August – November 1863. 10 items.
-August 4, 1863. Port Hudson, Louisiana
-August 30, 1863. 2 miles north of New Orleans, Camp Carrollton, Louisiana
-September 3, 1863. 2 miles north of New Orleans, Camp Carrollton, Louisiana
-September 28, 1863. Morgansa, Louisiana
-October 6, 1863. Morgansa, Louisiana
-October 13, 1863, Camp Carrelton, Louisiana
-October 11, 1863. Camp near Carrelton, Louisiana
-October 28, 1863. On board steamer T.A. Scott
-October 31, 1863. On board steamer T.A. Scott
-November 27, 1863. Mustang Island, Texas
225 N. High Street, West Chester, PA 19380 | 610-692-4800
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