Michigan in the Civil War

Browse by Name: Hawley, James

Dunn, Francis Wayland, 1843-1874.

Diaries (1862-1864) written while he was serving in Company A, 64th Illinois Infantry and in Company H, 1st Alabama Cavalry (Union) as sergeant major. The diaries give details of camp life, especially in Corinth, Glendale, and Rome, and make a point of his reaction to the profanity, drinking, quarreling and gambling. He accents foraging and scouting parties with descriptions of the country and its people; gives vivid pictures of skirmishes and battles; and expresses his loneliness, grief and faith after the death of his brother Ransom. Francis Wayland Dunn became editor of Christian Freeman and a professor at Hillsdale College. Letters of Dunn are found in the papers of his father, Ransom Dunn.

The collection also includes letters of several other soldiers:

Charles J. Conger (Feb. 15, 1863). Conger was commander of Company A, 64th Illinois Infantry, and recommended Dunn for a commission in an African American regiment.

L. W. Day (March 2, 1863) from the office of the district provost marshal, Corinth, Miss., relating to a possible clerkship for Dunn.

James Hawley (Aug. 24, 1862), giving advice about enlistment. Hawley's regiment is not identified.

Moses A. Luce (Jan. 26, 1861 [i.e. 1862]), written from Miners Hill, Va. A member of Company E, 4th Michigan Infantry.

Henry Peck (April 6 and June 25, 1865) a member of the 1st Alabama Cavalry.

Jacob H. Stark (June 1861-July 1862) a member of Company F, 5th Michigan Infantry.

Two letters with no name (Dec. 4, 1862 and Jan. 28, 1863) from camp near Falmouth, Va.

A testimonial letter (Feb. 3, 1865) from members of the 1st Alabama Cavalry.

Also a fragmentary journal or reminiscence of W. J. Dennis and C. C. Nelson relating to actions in Mississippi. These men may have been members of the 1st Alabama Cavalry.

Finding aid available in library