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Introduction | Biographical Sketch | Scope and Content | Series Description | Order of Microfilming
Introduction
The Weddell Family Papers consist of a series of Civil War era letters, written by a variety of people, to William Weddell
of Scotch Ridge, Webster Township, Wood County, Ohio. The collection was loaned to the Center for Archival Collections for
microfilming in February 1987, with the cooperation of Richard Sheets of Pemberville, Ohio.
No restrictions exist on the use of this collection. Duplication is permitted for the purposes of preservation and research.
The collection was processed and register prepared by Marilyn Levinson in March-April, 1987.
Biographical Sketch
William Weddell (1839-1895) is the central figure in this collection of correspondence. His father, also named William, was an early settler
of Webster Township, Wood County, Ohio. William, Jr. joined Company K, 21st Ohio Volunteer Infantry in 1861, but was discharged
on Jan. 8, 1862 on surgeon's certificate.
The authors of the letters to William were either comrades from Company K, or relatives:
George W. Hathaway was a first sergeant in Company K. He served through the Civil War and was mustered out in 1865.
James T. Inman was also a sergeant in Company K. He died of wounds received in action at Atlanta, Ga., in 1864.
George Shanks was a first cousin of William Weddell (his mother was Jeannette Weddell, sister of the senior William). A corporal in Company
K, George was killed at Chickamauga, Ga., in September 1863.
William Shanks, the brother of George, served in Company K. He was killed at Chickamauga within ten minutes of his brother. His diary is
available in the collection as MMS 1172.
George Weddell was William's older brother. He served as a sergeant from 1863-1864 with Company D, 86th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, then rejoined
in 1864 with Company I, 144th O.V.I. as a first lieutenant.
John Dunipace was a first cousin of the Weddells (Margaret Dunipace was the mother of George and William Weddell). He served as a corporal
in Company I, 144th O.V.I.
David Shanks, brother of George and William Shanks, served as a private in Company I, 144th O.V.I.
Tommy Shanks, another of the Shanks brothers to serve in the war, was a private in Company F, 144th O.V.I.
John D. Muir, was a first cousin of the Weddells (his mother Margaret, was another sister of the elder William Weddell). He served as
a lieutenant in Company E, 144th O.V.I.
William W. Dunipace, a cousin, was a private in Company D, 86th O.V.I., serving under George Weddell.
Other correspondents include William's sister Margaret; a friend of hers, Amy Snyder; Samuel Burke, who served with William
in the 21st O.V.I. and was killed at Stone River, Tenn.; David Main and John Smith, who served in the 144th O.V.I.; and a
few unidentified persons.
Scope and Content
The Weddell Family Papers consist of correspondence written to William Weddell during the Civil War.
The young men of Webster Township, Wood County, Ohio were close in age to each other and many were related. When William Weddell
was mustered out of the 21st O.V.I. his relatives and comrades still serving kept him informed of general events and their
own situations by mail. The fates of these men in service is typical of the war experience.
The campaigns undertaken by the 21st Regiment O.V.I. included Stone River, Tenn., Chickamauga (where two of the Shanks brothers
were killed), and Atlanta, Georgia (where James Inman died). The 86th O.V.I. assisted in the capture of Morgan's Raiders in
July of 1863 (recounted in a letter fragment by George Weddell), and fought at Cumberland Gap through the fall of that year.
The 144th O.V.I. saw duty at Baltimore, Annapolis, Monocacy Junction, and Berryville, Va. (where the detachment had sixty
men captured, including George Weddell and John Dunipace.)
This collection is a valuable source for its glimpses into the activities of the men serving in the Civil War from Wood County
units. While the people involved were all from a core group of families from Webster Township, the collection has interest
aside from the personalities of the individual participants, with descriptions of camp life, battles, and general views of
the war.
Series Description
CORRESPONDENCE
WILLIAM WEDDELL CORRESPONDENCE.
1861-1864.
Arranged by correspondent, then chronologically
Includes Civil War era letters from comrades and relatives.
MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE.
1855-1864.
Arranged chronologically
Includes a pre-war letter to George Weddell, a letter from Peter Gerard (?), and an envelope addressed to Margaret Weddell,
probably from George after his capture at Berryville, Va. on August 13, 1864.
Order of Microfilming
- From George Weddell to brother William Weddell, Dec 19, 25, 1861; [July ?, 1863], [July 27?, 1863], Oct 27-29, Dec 4, n.d.
1863; June 17, July 2, 1864
- From George Hathaway to William Weddell, March 14, June 1, 9, Aug 10, n.d., 1862; March 3, May 13, Dec 29, 1863; March 24,
Apr 25, July 11, 1864
- From James T. Inman to William Weddell, Jan 20, June 14, July 25, Dec 20, 1862; June 1, Oct 18, 1863
- From George Shanks to William Weddell, Feb 6, July 5, 1862; March 1, 1863
- From William Shanks to William Weddell, Apr 30, July 25, 1862; March 3, 1863
- From Tommy Shanks to William Weddell, May 16, June 10, July 7, 1864
- From David Shanks to William Weddell, July 2, 1864
- From John D. Muir to William Weddell, May 25, June 19, July 8, 1864
- From John Dunipace to William Weddell, June 24, 1864
- From William Dunipace to William Weddell, Aug 19, Sept 20, 1863
- From Miscellaneous to William Weddell, Dec 31, 1861; July 5, July 9, 1862; Nov 7, Dec 21, 1863; July 1, July 11, Oct 12, 1864
- From Miscellaneous, July 20, 1855; Apr 27, 1863; July 26, Aug 25, 1864
MS 484 - Weddell Family Transcripts
Manuscripts by Subject | Civil War Collections
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