Guide to the John Hobart Davis Papers, 1832-1920

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Descriptive Summary

Title

John Hobart Davis Papers, 1832-1920

Creator

Davis, John Hobart, 1843-1918

Extent

1 Linear Foot
400 Items

Repository

Duke University Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library

Language

English.

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Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

However, patrons must sign the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights form before using this collection.

Also, all or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. Consequently, there may be a 24-hour delay in obtaining these materials.

Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library to use this collection.

Use Restrictions

The status of copyright interests in these papers is unknown. For further information, see the section on copyright in the Regulations and Procedures of the Manuscript Department.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], The Papers of John Hobart Davis, Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke University.

Provenance

The papers of John Hobart Davis, Civil War soldier and bank officer from Portland, Maine, were a gift to the Manuscript Department in 1986.

Processing Information

Processed by: Sharon Estes Knapp

Completed March 16, 1987

Encoded by Stephen Douglas Miller

This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.

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Biographical Note

John Hobart Davis, a resident of Portland, Maine, volunteered for a three-year term of service with the U.S. Army in 1861. As a private in F Company of the 13th Maine Infantry Regiment, he was variously stationed at locations in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Washington, D.C. Davis was a clerk, and later was in charge of ordnance and then of supplies. In Washington, D.C., he served in a U.S. Army Hospital in the ordnance department and then as paymaster. He was discharged in December, 1864.

After the war, Davis returned to Portland and became an officer in the Casco Bank. In 1869, he married Jennie E. Constable, and they had two sons, Marshall and Raymond. He died on November 11, 1918.

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Collection Overview

The papers of John Hobart Davis span the years 1832-1920, but the bulk of the collection is the Civil War correspondence, 1862-1865. Davis chiefly wrote the letters to his sister, Elisa E. Davis, with a few letters to other family members, such as his brother Frank. Private Davis was stationed at Camp Beaufort, Me. (1861, Dec. - 1862, Feb.); Ship Island, Miss. (1862, Mar. - 1863, Feb.); Fort Jackson, La. (1863, Feb. - Aug.); Pass Manchoc, La. (1863, Aug. -Sept.); Fort Stephens, La. (1863, Oct. - 1864, July); and Washington, D.C. (1864, Aug. - 1865, Apr.).

Topics discussed in the collection include Davis' attitude toward Blacks, especially his prejudice toward Black officers, foraging raids behind enemy lines and the Battle of Blair's Landing, (also known as Pleasant Hill Landing) as well as aspects of camp life, such as guard duty, artillery practice, drills, and practice skirmishes, pay furloughs, sutlers, camp recreation, and breaking up camp. Some letters are illustrated with maps or drawings. Included also are diaries, photographs, and miscellaneous writings.

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Subject Headings

These are searchable subject entries for this collection. Performing a search on these subjects in the Duke University Libraries online catalog will bring up other related research materials.