American Historical Ephemera & Photography

A group of items from Flavius Josephus Dewese (1835-1911), who served with Company G of the 118th Ohio Infantry from September 1862 to June 1865. The 118th Ohio Infantry Regiment was part of Sherman’s Army that captured Atlanta in September 1864, as they fought in the Battles of Resaca, Dallas, Kennesaw Mountain, and Atlanta. Later they participated in the Battles of Franklin and Nashville, which greatly reduced the Confederate Army of the Tennessee’s effectiveness as a fighting force. 

The Dewese archive consists of the following items: 

2 vintage (approx. 5 by 3 in.) handwritten documents (one is an index card) containing important personal information about Dewese and his military career. The first item includes his birth/marriage/death information and his time in the service. It also states that he was “wounded at Resaca,” and that his Bible, which is part of his archive, was carried by him during the Civil War. The second document provides detail about the numerous battles that Dewese and his unit took part in. Both documents are written in a neat hand, and were likely compiled by relatives after he had passed away. 

[With:] 2 3/4 x 4 1/2 in. leather bound Bible belonging to Dewese that was referenced above as being carried by him during his time with the 118th Ohio. The Bible, which contains both the Old and New Testaments, has leather covers, gilt edges and 978 pages (shows some wear, missing title page and table of contents). His name is written twice in pen on the front endpaper, once as “Flavius Dewese,” and just below it as “F.J. Dewese.” Also written twice is the date that he likely received the Bible (5 June 1859). In fact, one of the inscriptions reads “June the 5 AD 1859 great frost,” which was a day of chilling frost in Ohio and surrounding states that ruined the crops that were in the fields. Also contained within the front pages is the note “John Powell the preacher.” While lacking the first title page, a second title page is included before the New Testament (page 749), which lists the publisher as The American Bible Society (New York), and the year of publication as 1853 (the last page of Revelation is missing from the back and the rear inner hinge is cracked/opened but the binding is holding tight, the leather covers show wear, text pages are generally clean, with intermittent foxing, and the binding is tight).

[With:] 3 post war photographs of Dewese. The first is a 3 1/2 x 5 in. cut-down cabinet card that provides a head and shoulders view (excellent contrast and detail). Dewese's name is handwritten on the back along with the note “I never knew Grandpa when he looked like this picture. Florence Dewese.” (Flavius had eight children, including five boys, and Florence is one of his grandchildren). -- 4 1/4 x 6 1/2 in. cabinet card of Dewese wearing a masonic collar and holding a gavel. -- 6 3/4 x 9 3/4 in. albumen photograph of Dewese wearing masonic garb and hat, with his hands on his sword (last 2 photos show some loss of contrast but can still be easily viewed). Latter two with blind-stamp of Gambell, Aurora, Indiana.

[With:] Approx. 3/4 in. dia. GAR button that likely came from Dewese's Grand Army of the Republic jacket (shows some wear but has a nice patina). 

[Also with:] 1 1/4 x 3 in. Son of a Civil War Veteran medal, with Filii Veteranorum written across the top, issued in 1881, (some darkening, however, the ribbon portion remains bright and intact). This likely belonged to one of Dewese's sons. 

Dewese’s time in service record, as described earlier, has been verified through the Official Roster of the 118th Ohio. In addition, a bio of Dewese in the History of Hancock County, Ohio, published in 1886, provides a great deal of information on him, and notes his being wounded at the Battle of Resaca.