American Historical Ephemera and Early Photography, including The Larry Ness Collection of Native American Photography

"Souvenir of the Civil War." Paper boards with 16 matching paper leaves. String bound. Each leaf with a paper document or piece of ephemera attached with ribbon tie-downs. Approx. 10 x 12 1/2 in. (wear to edges, light soil, some ribbons detached; contents of scrapbook bear small holes where ribbons secure items to pages). A soft cover scrapbook containing personal military papers and associated ephemera associated with the Civil War service of Major James R. Newell, Co. I, New Hampshire 8th Infantry. Various places, 1861-1865.

Enclosed within the scrapbook are approximately 25 documents/papers, highlighted by a scarce printing of the Civil War newspaper Natchitoches Union. Extra. Natchitoches, LA. 1 April 1864. 1p, printed on tissue paper. Approx. 15 1/4 x 12 in. This single-page edition was printed in the immediate aftermath of the Union Army's 1 April seizure and occupation of the town. An "Editorial" in the paper reads, in part: "We present this morning to the Union Army and the people of Natchitoches an extra issue of the Natchitoches Union. We arrived in town late last night, and on learning that the former editor of the Union had absconded with the Confederate forces, Gen. Lee desired us to publish the paper. We called on the Third Mass. Cavalry for printers -- five at once reported, and two hours after we entered the town the Press was running." Also contains the ticket for President of Nathaniel P. Banks of Massachusetts and Hon. B.F. Wade of Ohio for Vice President, and news of Union victories. 1st Lieut. James Newell and the New Hampshire 8th Infantry participated in the action at Natchitoches on 31 March 1864.

Other items contained within the scrapbook include: a commemorative sheet, ”Battles of the 8th Regiment New Hampshire Infantry”; certificates of promotion; Muster-In and Muster-Out Rolls for Newell; Newell's discharge; Confederate currency $100 bill; small campaign flyer promoting Jeff Davis, Alexander Stephens, and Charles M. Conrad of Louisiana for office; small pen and ink drawing signed by Newell depicting an infantry soldier administering to a prone wounded soldier, attached to a poem relating to the scene; two sets of manuscript "Special Orders" and other war-date papers; and a map of Choctaw County, Mississippi, 1867, drawn by Newell while employed by the U.S. government "To provide for the more efficient government of the rebel states."

[With:] Four additional soft cover scrapbooks compiled by Fannie Maria Beacham Newell (1844-1915), widow of Major James R. Newell, containing ephemeral souvenirs and documents associated with her travels by steamship to Europe while serving as a missionary in Turkey. Mrs. Newell served as a missionary for the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions in the years following her husband's death.

HDS indicates that James R. Newell (1839-1880) of Wolfeborough, New Hampshire, was 21-years-old when he enlisted on 10/17/1861 as a Sergeant. On 12/20/1861, he mustered into "I" Co. New Hampshire 8th Infantry. He was Mustered Out on 10/28/1865 at Vicksburg, MS.
Promotions: 2nd Lieut. 10/28/1862, 1st Lieut. 5/6/1863, Capt. /22/1864, Major 10/28/1865 (Not Mustered). Intra-regimental company transfers 6/22/1864 From company I to company E,
1/1/1865 From company E to company C. The 8th New Hampshire operated in the Western Theater during the war with engagements including the Battle of Port Hudson and the Sabine Pass Expedition. Newell participated in over forty actions. In 1863 he was severely wounded in Port Hudson, Louisiana and captured. He escaped and was engaged in nearly every battle fought by his regiment in the Department of the Gulf and rose to the rank of Major for personal gallantry. It is undetermined if Newell compiled his scrapbook himself, but given the similarity of paper and binding for all five scrapbooks, it appears more likely that the scrapbooks were all compiled by his widow.