Skip to main content

James W. Courtney Civil War letter

 Collection
Collection number: ahc.MSS560f

Scope and Content

This collection consists of a letter written by James W. Courtney to his sister from a "Camp near Atlanta Georgia." Courtney discusses the lack of correspondence between the two of them and hopes that missing letters will eventually arrive. He writes that he hopes he will soon be finished with this "unholey war" and expects to capture Atlanta, Georgia, and return home within three months or so. Courtney claims that the Confederates lost 10,000 soldiers in a single charge against Union fortifications and that they also recently lost 5,000 to 6,000 soldiers in two separate encounters.

Dates

  • 1864 August 5

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This 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Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright.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

James W. Courtney lived in Crawford County, Indiana. He joined Company H, 23rd Indiana Regiment Infantry as a private on July 27, 1861. He attained the rank of corporal during the Civil War. The 23rd Indiana Regiment Infantry participated in numerous battles: the capture of Fort Henry, the Battle of Shiloh, the Siege of Vicksburg, the Atlanta Campaign, the Siege of Atlanta, the pursuit of General John B. Hood, and the Carolinas Campaign. Additional information about James W. Courtney has not been determined.

Extent

1 item(s)

Language

English

Related Archival Materials

A transcription of the letter is included in this collection.

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

This collection was re-processed in 2012.

Title
James W. Courtney Civil War letter
Author
Paul Crater
Date
August 2012
Description rules
Finding Aid Prepared According To Dacs
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is 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