Thurber, Charles H. (1842-1891), Papers, 1861-1866 (C2573)

2 folders

INTRODUCTION

The papers of Thurber, a Union officer, include letters to his family while serving in a Missouri artillery unit in northeastern Mississippi, and photocopies of military papers relating to Thurber's military career.

DONOR INFORMATION

The Thurber Papers were donated to the State Historical Society of Missouri by Mrs. Sam T. Bratton on 16 August 1968 (SHS Accession No. 562). An addition to the papers was made by Gil Bergman on 31 August 1992 (SHS Accession No. 2919).

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Charles H. Thurber was born in 1842 and mustered into the Union Army at the St. Louis Arsenal on 11 July 1861as a 2nd Lieutenant in Buell's Battery, Missouri Volunteers. Throughout 1861 and 1862 he was mustered into various batteries until his battery was transferred to the 1st Missouri Light Artillery, Battery I in August 1862. The battery was part of the Army of the Tennessee and was at the Battle of Shiloh. Eventually Thurber returned to Missouri and was captain of Company L of the 2nd Missouri Light Artillery Battery that participated in forcing General Joseph O Shelby's retreat from western Missouri. Thurber died in 1891.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

The Thurber Papers consist of letters written while he was in northeastern Mississippi after the Battle of Shiloh. They start in July 1862. Thurber describes Union positions around Corinth and comments on the Battle of Iuka, Mississippi. The papers also include photocopies of muster rolls, orders, pension records, a daguerreotype of Thurber, and contemporary photographs of Thurber's grave marker, and Civil War monuments related to Thurber's military career.

FOLDER LIST

f. 1Correspondence, 1862-1863
f. 2Military papers, 1862-1866; Photographs

INDEX TERMS

These index terms are the subjects, people, places, etc. under which this collection is listed in all available indexes at The State Historical Society of Missouri-Columbia. If you are interested in a specific index term, please contact the reference staff.