Horace B. Jewell papers

Collection

Identifier: c-00146

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection includes Horace B. Jewell's Civil War letters to his family in Michigan, written while serving with the 52nd Ohio Infantry. Jewell saw action in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia. Captured by the Confederates in 1863 and imprisoned in Virginia, Jewell describes in dramatic detail his daring escape to Union lines. One letter (October 6, 1862) tells of the regimental surgeon giving opium to soldiers before a battle to increase their endurance. Pre-Civil War correspondence includes a letter (July 10, 1853) from Jewell to his sister, describing the agricultural conditions in Indiana.

The Civil War related materials have been transcribed, scanned and placed online at http://civilwar.archives.msu.edu/collection/7-1C-33/horace_jewell.

Dates

Creation: 1853 - 1864

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish material from this collection must be obtained from University Archives & Historical Collections, Michigan State University.

Biographical Note

Horace Benjamin Jewell was born November 12, 1833 in New Hampshire to Charles Adolphus and Lydia Ann Jewell. He enlisted in the 52nd Ohio Regiment, Company K on 26 June 1862. He was promoted sergeant on November 28, 1862 but was reduced to ranks on November 28, 1862.

He was captured on November 4, 1863 and escaped from Danville Prison in Virginia on January 25, 1864.

He died July 19, 1864 at Peach Tree Creek, Georgia.