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Hosea Garrett, Jr. civil war letters

 Collection
Collection number: ahc.MSS119f

Scope and Content

This collection contains two transcribed letters. The first letter of the collection was written by Hosea Garrett, Jr. to his uncle, Reverend Hosea Garrett, on August 1, 1864. This letter provides a detailed account of the Atlanta Campaign, and the fighting that occurred on July 27, 1864. In his account, Garrett notes that not only were Confederate troops far outnumbered, but General Walker was also killed early in the battle, making the troops disorganized and ineffective. Due to their lack of soldiers, Generals Forrest, Lee, and Smith were supposed to send in more troops from Mississippi for recovery. He also notes his regiment's displeasure that their former leader, General Johnston, was replaced by General Hood. The second letter was written to Florence Garrett, Hosea Garrett, Jr.’s daughter, by O.H.P. Garrett. It discusses his memory of Hosea Garrett, Jr.'s return home from Camp Douglas Prison after the Civil War. He states that a man named Milton Bell went to Chappell Hill and told her family that he tended to her father as he died. The family believed the man until after the war when her father returned from prison, proving that Milton Bell was lying to her family the whole time.

Dates

  • 1864

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. All requests to publish, quote or reproduce must be submitted through the Kenan Research Center.

Administrative/Biographical History

Hosea Garrett, son of John Garrett, was born in South Carolina in 1831. He moved to Chappell Hill, Texas to be closer to his uncle Reverend Hosea Garrett, who was a founder of Baylor University. During the Civil War, he was a color bearer of the Tenth Texas Infantry Regiment, Co. G, Hardee's Division and fought in the Battle of Atlanta. Later he was captured and taken to Camp Douglas in Chicago. After the war, he returned to Texas where he became a farmer and married Mary E. The couple had three daughters; Florence, Mary, and Lizzie.

Extent

2 item(s)

Language

English

Existance and Location of Originals

Originals are in the custody of Mrs. S.L. Byrd in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

General Physical Description note

Extent: 2 items

General

America's Turning Point: Documenting the Civil War Experience in Georgia received support from a Digitizing Historical Records grant awarded to the Atlanta History Center, Georgia Historical Society, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and the Digital Library of Georgia by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Description Control

Collection reprocessed in 2008.

Title
Hosea Garrett Jr. civil war letters
Subtitle
An Inventory of His Papers at the Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center
Author
Helen Matthews
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Kenan Research Center at Atlanta History Center Repository

Contact:
130 West Paces Ferry Road
Atlanta GA 30305
404-814-4040