Charles Leaman papers
Scope and Contents
This collection contains typewritten transcripts of approximately one hundred letters written by Leaman between 1862 and 1865. The bulk of the letters are to family members about daily life in the United States Marine Corps during the American Civil War. Of particular note are details he gives about Confederate prisoners, ironclad warfare, and the Union’s failed attempt to retake Fort Sumter in 1863. He shares his impressions of Rear Admiral John A. Dahlgren and the close encounters he had with him. Also included are excerpts from The United States Marine Corps in the Civil War about Leaman and an index of the letters.
Dates
- 1997, approximately 2000, undated
Creator
- Leaman, Charles, 1845-1920 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. All requests to publish, quote, or reproduce must be submitted through the Kenan Research Center.
Biographical / Historical
Charles Leaman (1845-1920) was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, to Henry and Amanda Leaman. He served as a corporal in the United States Marine Corps during the American Civil War. In September 1863, Leaman fought in the Second Battle of Fort Sumter; he was assigned to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron as a personal guard and orderly for Rear Admiral John A. Dahlgren (1809-1870). After the war, he graduated from seminary and moved to China with his wife Lucy Crouch Leaman (1840-1910) and children Mary Amanda (1879-1972) and Lucy Atkinson (1881-1968) in 1874 to serve as a missionary.
Extent
0.21 linear ft. (one half document case)
Language
English
Arrangement
This collection is arranged alphabetically by titles supplied by staff.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchase, 2020
Bias in Description
As archivists, we acknowledge our role as stewards of information. We choose how individuals and organizations are represented and described in our archives. We are not neutral, and bias is reflected in our descriptions, which may not accurately convey the racist or offensive aspects of collection materials. Archivists make mistakes and might use poor judgment. In working with this collection, we often re-use language used by the former owners of the material. This language provides context but often includes bias and prejudices reflective of the time in which it was created. The Kenan Research Center’s work is ongoing to implement reparative language where Library of Congress subject terms are inaccurate and obsolete.
Kenan Research Center welcomes feedback and questions regarding our archival descriptions. If you encounter harmful, offensive, or insensitive terminology or descriptions, please let us know by emailing reference@atlantahistorycenter.com. Your comments are essential to our work to create inclusive and thoughtful description.
Processing Information
This collection was processed in 2024.
- Dahlgren, John Adolphus Bernard, 1809-1870
- Fort Sumter (Charleston, S.C.)
- Gettysburg, Battle of, Gettysburg, Pa., 1863
- Harvest Moon (Gunboat)
- Leaman family
- Leaman, Charles, 1845-1920
- Pennsylvania -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Naval operations
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Prisoners and prisons
- United States. Marine Corps
- United States. Navy. South Atlantic Blockading Squadron (1861-1865)
- Weehawken (Monitor)
- Title
- Charles Leaman papers
- Subtitle
- ahc.MSS985f
- Author
- Ben Conklin
- Date
- August 2024
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Kenan Research Center at Atlanta History Center Repository