American Historical Ephemera and Early Photography

Group of 5 manuscript journals identified to Oscar L. Jackson, a school teacher who enlisted and rose to the rank of colonel with the 63rd OVI. Sizes range from 6 1/4 x 7 1/2 in. to 7 x 8 1/2 in., each with marbled boards and partial bookplate identified to "David P. Jackson / New Bedfor[d, OH?]" applied to front board. Bookplates likely added to journals by Dr. David P. Jackson, brother of Col. Oscar L. Jackson, when he edited and published the journals at the behest of his deceased brother. Penciled inscriptions on bookplates, presumably in the hand of David P. Jackson, indicate the volume number of the journal, date span of entries, and brief description of contents: No.1, "Nov 15 1858 to April 21st 1860 / Beliefs / Sketches of Character" (approx. 185pp); No. 2, July 31st 1860 to Mch 14th 1861" (approx. 88pp); No. 3, “Aug 27th [1861] to Jun 10 [1862] / Recruiting New Madrid / Ends with capture of Corinth by Halleck" (approx.. 100pp); No. 4, "June 10 1862 to July 22d 1863 / Battle of Iuka / Battle of Corinth Oct 4 /62" (approx.. 104pp); and No. 5, "June 1st 1863 to Sept 2 1864 / Atlanta Campaign" (approx.. 114pp). Journal entries predominantly in ink, and in the hand of Oscar L. Jackson, with Oscar Jackson’s inscriptions and/or signatures appearing dozens of times throughout. More than just a daily log of events, Jackson’s journals are richly detailed, and contain memoranda, short narratives, accounting records, newspaper clippings, and personal reflections – some added at a later date to contextualize his initial entries - which together animate and personalize his journals in a way that far exceeds many other Civil War diaries. Various places, including Ohio, Pennsylvania, and battlefields throughout the Western Theater, 1858-1864.

Journal No.1 opens while Jackson is in New Castle, Pennsylvania, and primarily includes information about Jackson’s early career as a teacher, his students, his efforts to secure a teaching position in Ohio, and a translation of Virgil’s Aeneid.

Journal No. 2 is in large part a record of Jackson’s increasing political activism in the months leading up to the 1860 presidential election. His earliest entry indicates that he left New Castle on 31 July 1860, and commenced teaching in Starr Township [Ohio] on 6 August 1860. Less than one month later, “On Saturday Evening Sep 1st 1860 to a crowded house of Ladies & Gentleman I made my first political speech…I spoke in favor of Abe Lincoln and the principal[s] of the Republican Party…I spoke 1 3/8 hours.” Below this entry is a newspaper clipping referencing his speech, and noting that “he resigned the floor amidst prolonged cheers from the audience.” Additional speaking engagements are documented throughout this journal, sometimes with newspaper reports of the occasion. Jackson records that between September 1 and November 6 he delivered 18 speeches to audiences ranging from 5 to 10,000, and received “the praises and cheer of the republic together with the scoffs & curses of the Democrats….” Jackson incudes transcriptions of two speeches, one “Delivered at New Cadiz Nov 1s 1860 By OLJ” [see accompanying broadside] and another speech made “on presentation of a flag By the Ladies & Gentlemen of Logan to Starr Tp” on 11 October 1860. This journal also contains newspaper clippings of “Original Poetry” written by Jackson, published in the papers, and signed only “O.”

Journal No. 3 encompasses brief initial entries related to the study of law, likely associated with the fact that he began reading the law under J.P. Blair of New Castle, PA, 1 April 1861. Entries quickly transition to his entry into the volunteer service of the U.S. military after the onset of the war, initially with the 22 OVI, a three-months regiment, then from February 1862 with the 63rd OVI. Jackson describes his work initially in recruitment, then mustering with the 63rd, and immediately into the field joining Major General Pope in Missouri. The journal includes a description of engagement at the Battle of New Madrid, as well as entries related to the Siege of Corinth and “contrabands” who fled their enslavers coming into the Union lines.

Journal No. 4 contains detailed descriptions of the Battle of Iuka and a 36pp description of hostilities on October 4th at the Second Battle of Corinth. The 63rd OVI sustained heavy losses this day with 48% of its active members killed or wounded, including Jackson who was shot in the face by a Confederate soldier and presumed dead. The rear board of this journal contains an entry dated Dec 1884 in which Jackson notes that “From conversations with members of my company I am well satisfied with my description of the battle [of Corinth]” with the exception of portions related to the regiment’s charge which may have been obscured because he was laying wounded at the time.

Journal No. 5 is highlighted by engagements in the Atlanta Campaign incl. the Battles of Resaca, Dallas, and Kennesaw Mountain. The journal’s last entry reads “Atlanta Ours and fairly won.”

[With:] A Lincoln Meeting! / Will be held at New Cadiz on Thursday / November 1st 1860, at 6 o’clock P.M. / A.J. wright, Culver, O.L. Jackson and others will address / the people. Friends of Freedom turn out. It is expected to be / the last Rally before electing Honest Abe. Starr [Township], [Hocking County], New Cadiz, [Ohio]: N.p., 20 October 1860.

Visible 11 ½ x 8 ½  in. broadside (creasing, minor dampstaining, light soil); framed to 15 ¼ x 12 ¼ in. (unexamined outside of frame). 
Published just weeks before the hotly contested 1860 presidential election. The Republican party was electrified in preparation for the election, with the party organizing political meetings across the county, such as the one advertised here. Oscar L. Jackson made his first political speech on 1 September 1860 in New Cadiz, and according to his diary, "once in, there was no chance to get out and for the last month I have scarce had three consecutive nights' peace; and to judge by the people the speeches of the 'Starr Township Boy,' as they call me, have been well received."

[Also with:] JACKSON, Oscar L. and JACKSON, David P. The Colonel's Diary: Journals kept before and during the Civil War by the late Colonel Oscar L. Jackson of New Castle, Pennsylvania, sometime Commander of the 63rd Regiment O. V. l. Sharon, Pennsylvania: 1922. 8vo, 262 pgs., portrait plates. Original blue cloth with gilt titled cover and spine. 

Pennsylvania-born Oscar Lawrence Jackson enlisted as a captain in 1861, was promoted throughout the war, and ultimately brevetted Colonel for his Civil War service. During his service he was regularly engaged, including at New Madrid, Island #10, Iuka, Dallas, and Kennesaw Mountain. After the war, he was admitted to the bar in 1866 and commenced practicing law in New Castle, Pennsylvania. He served as New Castle District Attorney, and was elected as a Republican to the US House of Representatives serving from 1885-1889. Jackson died 2/16/1920 in New Castle, PA.