American Historical Ephemera & Photography

Large archive associated with
Joseph H. Grant (1836-1928) of Ohio, including 2 war-date pocket diaries, more than 125 images, books from Grant's personal collection, Grant's commissioning and discharge papers, Grant family papers spanning ca 1850s-1940s, family keepsakes, and more. Diaries were kept by Grant while serving with Co. A, 110th OVI, the first for the year 1864, inscribed "Jos. H. Grant / Co. 'A' 110th O.V.I. / 2nd. Brig. 3 Div. / 3 A.C.," 365pp (cover heavily worn with flap closure completely detached, binding loose with some loose pages, light soil), the second diary for the year 1865, 71pp utilized (leather cover completely detached and heavily worn, loose pages, light soil). Grant's regiment was heavily engaged during the 1864 Overland Campaign and his well-written diary includes references to major engagements at Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor, Monocacy, Opequan, and Cedar Creek.

Grant's 1864 diary opens with soldiers of Co. A in winter quarters at Culpepper, Virginia. While most early entries detail the standard daily activity of picket duties, the arrival of new recruits ("babies"), marching and hunting, several entries stand out. Most notable is a story relayed on 11 January 1864: "Two ladies who passed through our lines on the Sperryville Pike had the ambulance taken from them by the rebs. A scouting party sent captured five of them but the ladies had to walk back to our lines....The ladies captured were Mrs. Matilda Rixey and Miss Annie Burroughs and were captured ten miles out." Later that month Grant describes a "Great Military ball at General Carrs Hd Quarters" which was "Almost a failure as the ladies expected from Washington did not come. Officers all got drunk..." Other incidents recorded by Grant are the hanging of two spies in the second division on January 29th, and on May 1st, while serving as advance post on the Sperryville Pike, he records the arrival into Union lines of "One contraband whose master had whipped him and told him to go to the yankees...."

As the Overland Campaign commenced in earnest, Grant's diary records his participation in the Battle of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Assault on the Bloody Angle, North Anna River and Cold Harbor. Daily entries provide details of troop movements, battle formations, engagement, and the numbers of killed and wounded. May 6th: "The battle was again renewed in our front and we were in the 2nd line. The musketry was very heavy....After two hours hard fighting we retired about 50 yards behind the crest of the hill....P.M. the 4th Brig. was outflanked and drive back on us and the rebs came down along our flank and we all skedaddled as the rebs were on us before we had time to form line to resist them...Rebel General Longstreet wounded." May 10th: "All quiet until 10 A.M. when the rebs opened on us with a battery of 2 guns which one cannon soon silenced. Hard fighting continued all day and the right wing drove the enemy before them. From five until seven PM the 6th A.C. played on them with 50 guns and we captured 1200 prisoners...." May 11th Grant records "Rebel cavalry general J.E.B. Stuart mortally wounded." May 12: "At daylight this morning our forces commenced moving and assaulted the enemys work taking them by surprise and captured some of their guns which were turned upon them. For 5 hours shot and shell hissed over us as we were laying between our guns and the enemys...." June 4th: "Our lines were advanced and we received a galling fire which drove back the left of the 2nd Div. We held our line and entrenched ourselves. Our regiment lot 4 killed and 37 wounded...." On July 9th Grant writes in detail about the Battle of Monocacy: "Formed lines of battle at 8AM and were soon attacked by an overwhelming force under Early who turned out left and forced us to form lines perpendicular to the river. At 12 we burned the bridge over the river. After laying for several hours exposed to a severe artillery fire the rebs charged our lines at 3 P.M. and we were forced to retreat...."
Daily entries continue through the end of the year, with additional battle content associated with the Battle of Opequan, the Battle of Cedar Creek, and the Siege of Petersburg. 

Whereas the 1864 diary is rife with details about each day on the front, the 1865 diary contains entries for January 1-24 while encamped before Petersburg. The remainder of the diary contains recipes and entries made under cash accounting and memoranda.

[With:] A large number of photographs housed in 3 CDV albums and 1 cabinet card album, together containing more than 120 images including CDVs, tintypes, and cabinet cards, many of which are of identified family members and other individuals. Notable amongst the images are 7 images of soldiers, 3 of which are identified: CDV of Capt. W.D. Shellenberger, Co. A, 110th OVI; Bernard Kelly, likely one of two that served in an Ohio regiment; and 2nd Lt. Erastus Layton, Co. G, 110th OVI. A CDV standing portrait of Grant in full uniform with rifle and accoutrements, as well as a bust portrait of Grant in uniform are also included in the lot. two other early images of Grant, are also included in the albums. -- Additional photography includes multiple images of Grant, his wife, and his family in a variety of formats, spanning 1860s-1916. -- A group of 4 cased images and 3 uncased images housed under mat, glass and preserver only.

[Also with:] A collection of books from the personal collection of Joseph H. Grant and his wife, many associated with the Civil War and GAR activity, and several inscribed by the owner. Titles include: Instruction for Field Artillery. Prepared by a Board of Artillery Officers. (1861); The Life and Times of Abraham Lincoln, Sixteenth President of the United States. (1865); Army Fun in Song and Story. The Acme Haversack of Song and Patriotic Eloquence (1891); Poems of the Blue. Memorial Day, The Reunion and the Campfire (1891); Ritual of the Grand Army of the Republic (1891); Services For the Use of the Grand Army of the Republic (1914); and four other volumes.

 [Also with:] Other ephemera including: appointment, discharge, and pension papers associated with Joseph H. Grant's Civil War service. -- Papers related to Grant's affiliation as a Mason. --Grant family genealogical information, post-war correspondence, indentures, and other family papers including marriage certificates and Grant's teaching certificates. -- Family keepsakes such as a gold locket case with a picture believed to be Joseph H. Grant, collar pins believed to have belonged to Joseph H. Grant, a ring with tag "Mother's Ring to Kathleen," and decorative tie housed within an envelope bearing notation "Mothers & Fathers Tie Papa got before they were married." -- A small box housing 4 pairs of eyeglasses with glasses. -- A faux book Voices of the Valley inside which are housed memorial records from the funeral services of Joseph H. Grant and Maria E. Grant.

HDS indicates that Joseph H. Grant enlisted on 8/7/1862 as a twenty-six year old corporal and mustered Co. A, Ohio 110th Volunteer Infantry. During the war he was promoted to Sergeant 6/12/1864, but reduced to ranks twice, mustering out as a private on 6/13/1865 at Washington, DC. Family oral history indicates that Joseph H. Grant was reduced to ranks for intoxication. Prior to the war the 1860 Federal Census indicates Grant was working as a teacher in Missouri. When he enlisted in 1862 at Piqua, Ohio, with Co. A, 110th OVI, he did so with his brother James A. Grant (1841-1920). Post-war Grant married Maria E. Leyman (1847-1936). The couple would eventually move to Missouri and then to Oklahoma, where Grant died in 1928. Provenance: Consignor relates that the items offered here descended from Joseph Grant's daughter, Anna Grant, to her son Grant W. Ship, and then to consignor.