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Manuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. Contact the VMI Archives for additional information.

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions

Preferred Citation

Joseph W. Crowther diary, 1864-1865. MS 0330. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Biographical / Historical

Joseph Wesley Crowther born in 1833 in England and immigrated to the United States in 1842. He was living in Fishkill, New York at time of Civil War. On August 29, 1862 Crowther enlisted in Company H, New York 128th Infantry Regiment. He was promoted to Full Corporal on September 2, 1864. He mustered out on July 2, 1865 at Savannah, Georgia. After the War Crowther lived in Bridgeport, Connecticut and died there on July 17, 1925.

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of the one volume diary of Union soldier Joseph W. Crowther, who served during the Civil War with Company H, 128th New York Infantry Regiment. Entries begin November 9, 1864 and end July 23, 1865 when regiment is disbanded.

Crowther describes: Camp life Foraging Skirmishes Winter quarters in Winchester, Virginia Transport via steamship to Fort Monroe, Virginia and Savannah, Georgia Soldiers receiving news of the assassination of President Lincoln Description of soldiers'return to New York at end of the War Locations mentioned or described include: Kernstown, Virginia Front Royal, Virginia Winchester,Virginia Martinsburg, West Virginia Harper's Ferry, West Virginia Baltimore, Maryland Savannah, Georgia Goldsboro, North Carolina

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Diaries
• Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 (General subdivision: Assassination.)
• Savannah (Ga.) -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
• Soldiers -- New York (State) -- Diaries
• United States -- Army -- New York Infantry Regiment, 128th -- Company H
• United States—History—Civil War, 1861-1865
• United States—History—Civil War, 1861-1865—Personal narratives
• Virginia—History—Civil War, 1861-1865—Personal narratives
• Winchester (Va.)—History—Civil War, 1861-1865