subject index to the Lyman Gardner Papers
Alphabetic index to the Schoff Civil War Collections
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The University of Michigan Schoff Civil War Collection Soldiers' Letters |
Gardner, Lyman , 1845-1912 Rank: Pvt., Sgt.? (March 1865) Regiment: 26th Ohio Infantry Regiment (1861-1865) Service: 1861 July-1865 October 21
LYMAN GARDNER
b. June 21, 1845, Ohio
m.To Lillian Hall on August 10, 1873. Lived in Delaware County, Ohio until 1892 when they moved to Worthington.
In 1893, was instrumental in establishing Worthington Savings Bank and was president until his death.
d. June 23, 1912, St Petersburg, Fla.
The bulk of Lyman Gardners' collection consists of a series of letters to his parents in Ohio, including two letters to his brother and sister. The collection also contains a few brief articles announcing births, deaths, and marriages in the Gardner family. A ledger of his personal accounts and of his lumber industry can be found in this collection as well.
The simplicity of Gardner's letters are fairly typical of a Union private. His concerns center around food, clothing, and money. He does not possess much understanding of why he is participating in the war. He views his service as a dutiful obligation, though he neither explains why he is dedicated to the Union, nor what he believes the Union cause to be. Gardner's letters reveal a strong religious background. This possibly explains his apparent fearless attitude towards the war.
Gardner's letters serve as an account for his action in the Atlanta Campaign, and his regiment's assignments in Chattanooga, Tenn., Huntsville, Ala., Nashville, Tenn., New Orleans, La., and Irwin, Tex. He goes into some detail of his skirmishes, but the majority of his letters are filled with requests for supplies and money. Overall, Gardner seems to enjoy his involvement in the army and does not express a particularly strong desire to return from it.
subject index to the Lyman Gardner Papers
Alphabetic index to the Schoff Civil War Collections
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