Milton Barnes papers

Access and use

Location of collection:
George Mason University
2400 Fenwick Library
Special Collections Research Center
Fenwick Library MS2FL
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA 22030
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Mieko Palazzo
Phone: (703) 993-2220
Fax: (703) 993-2669
Restrictions:

There are no access restrictions.

Terms of access:

No known copyright. The Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries believes that this collection is not restricted by copyright or related rights, but a conclusive determination could not be made. (See https://rightsstatements.org/page/NKC/1.0/?language=en)

Preferred citation:

Milton Barnes papers, C0065, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Summary

Extent:
2 Linear Feet 4 boxes
Creator:
Barnes, Milton, 1830-1895
Abstract:
This collection contains two hundred items, mostly correspondence between Milton and Rhoda Barnes during the Civil War. The remainder of the collection consists of documents concerning Milton Barnes as Secretary of State, Rhoda Barnes, and photographs of both.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Milton Barnes papers, C0065, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains two hundred items, mostly correspondence between Milton and Rhoda Barnes during the Civil War. The remainder of the collection consists of documents concerning Milton Barnes as Secretary of State, Rhoda Barnes, and photographs of both.

West Academy - ALS, 4 pages

Camp Goddard, Ohio - ALS, 1 page

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 2 pages

ALS, 2 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 2 pages

Camp Kelley, Ohio - ALS, 3 pages

Winchester, Virginia - ALS, 4 pages

Strasburg, Virginia - ALS, 4 pages

Woodstock, Virginia - ALS, 4 pages

New Market, Virginia - ALS, 3 pages

New Market, Virginia - ALS, 4 pages

New Market, Virginia - ALS, 4 pages

Harrisonburg, Virginia - ALS, 4 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Covington, Kentucky - ALS, 1 page

Covington, Kentucky - ALS, 4 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 2 pages

Covington, Kentucky - ALS, 2 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 6 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Louisville, Kentucky - ALS, 4 pages

Louisville, Kentucky - ALS, 4 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Louisville, Kentucky - ALS, 3 pages

ALS, 2 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 2 pages

Danville, Kentucky - ALS, 6 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 2 pages

ALS, 8 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 2 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

ALS, 3 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

ALS, 4 pages

Silver Springs, Tennessee - ALS, 2 pages

Nashville, Tennessee - ALS, 6 pages

Nashville, Tennessee - ALS, 2 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Nashville, Tennessee - ALS, 4 pages

Nashville, Tennessee - ALS, 4 pages

Nashville, Tennessee - ALS, 4 pages

Nashville, Tennessee - ALS, 5 pages

Murfeesboro, Tennessee - ALS, 12 pages (enclosed in letter dated January 10)

Murfeesboro, Tennessee - ALS, 2 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 2 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 2 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 2 pages

Murfreesboro, Tennessee - ALS, 4 pages

Murfreesboro, Tennessee - ALS, 2 pages

Murfreesboro, Tennessee - ALS, 4 pages

Murfreesboro, Tennessee - ALS, 2 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 2 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 2 pages

Murfreesboro, Tennessee - ALS, 2 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Murfreesboro, Tennessee - ALS, 4 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Murfreesboro, Tennessee - ALS, 2 pages

ALS, 3 pages

Columbus, Ohio - ALS, 8 pages

Murfreesboro, Tennessee - ALS, 3 pages

ALS, 2 pages

Murfreesboro, Tennessee - ALS, 3 pages

Murfreesboro, Tennessee - ALS, 4 pages

Pelham, Tennessee - ALS, 6 pages

Pelham, Tennessee - ALS, 3 pages

Chattanooga, Tennessee - ALS, 2 pages

Chattanooga, Tennessee - ALS, 3 pages

Chattanooga, Tennessee - ALS, 4 pages

Chattanooga, Tennessee - ALS, 2 pages

Chattanooga, Tennessee - ALS, 3 pages

Chattanooga, Tennessee - ALS, 4 pages

Chattanooga, Tennessee - ALS, 3 pages

Chattanooga, Tennessee - ALS, 2 pages

Chattanooga, Tennessee - ALS, 2 pages

Hickory, Pennsylvania - ALS, 4 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 6 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 8 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 6 pages

Chattanooga, Tennessee - ALS, 3 pages

Chattanooga, Tennessee - ALS, 4 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 6 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 6 pages

Knoxville, Tennessee - ALS, 4 pages

Knoxville, Tennessee - ALS, 8 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Charlestown, Tennessee - ALS, 4 pages

Charlestown, Tennessee - ALS, 2 pages

Charlestown, Tennessee - ALS, 4 pages

Kingston, Georgia - ALS, 4 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Cincinnati, Ohio - ALS, 3 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Cincinnati, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Cincinnati, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

ALS, 2 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Cincinnati, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Cincinnati, Ohio - ALS, 2 pages

Barnesville, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Barnesville, Ohio - ALS, 8 pages

Franklin, Tennessee - ALS, 4 pages

Pulaski, Tennessee - ALS, 4 pages

Pulaski, Tennessee - ALS, 4 pages

Nashville, Tennessee - ALS, 2 pages

Nashville, Tennessee - ALS, 4 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Nashville, Tennessee - ALS, 4 pages

Nashville, Tennessee - ALS, 8 pages

ALS, 4 pages

Nashville, Tennessee - ALS, 4 pages

Nashville, Tennessee - ALS, 4 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Nashville, Tennessee - ALS, 4 pages

Nashville, Tennessee - ALS, 4 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 2 pages

Huntsville, Alabama - ALS, 2 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Huntsville, Alabama - ALS, 4 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Huntsville, Alabama - ALS, 2 pages

Huntsville, Alabama - ALS, 4 pages

ALS, 2 pages

Huntsville, Alabama - ALS, 4 pages

Huntsville, Alabama - ALS, 4 pages

Huntsville, Alabama - ALS, 4 pages

ALS, 2 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Huntsville, Alabama - ALS, 4 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 6 pages

Huntsville, Alabama - ALS, 2 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Huntsville, Alabama - ALS, 4 pages

Huntsville, Alabama - ALS, 4 pages

Huntsville, Alabama - ALS, 4 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 8 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Huntsville, Alabama - ALS, 4 pages

ALS, 4 pages

Bull's Gap, Tennessee - ALS, 2 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Blue Springs, Tennessee - ALS, 4 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 8 pages

Blue Springs, Tennessee - ALS, 3 pages

Blue Springs, Tennessee - ALS, 3 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 6 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Nashville, Tennessee - ALS, 8 pages

Nashville, Tennessee - ALS, 4 pages

Nashville, Tennessee - ALS, 3 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Nashville, Tennessee - ALS, 4 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Nashville, Tennessee - ALS, 4 pages

Nashville, Tennessee - ALS, 4 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Nashville, Tennessee - ALS, 4 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Nashville, Tennessee - ALS, 2 pages

Nashville, Tennessee - ALS, 4 pages

Telegram, handwritten, 1 page

Cambridge, Ohio - ALS, 4 pages

Chatanooga, Tennessee - ALS, 1 page

St. George's Island, Behring Sea - ALS, 9 pages

ALS, 4 pages

Steubenville, Ohio - report card for the quarter from November 1, 1852 - January 15, 1853

New Concord, Ohio - graduation commencement program

Official commission form signed by Ohio Governor David Tod and Adjudant General of Ohio, Charles W. Hill

Signed by Milton Barnes; report indicates 1 person enlisted (and 1 "disposable") between March 10th - 20th

Columbus, Ohio - short note indicating that armies arrived safely

Anonymous, 1 page

Columbus, Ohio - Reception date is December 8, 1879

Columbus, Ohio - Dinner date is December 12, 1879

Columbus, Ohio - Reception and Dress Hop date is December 12, 1879 at 8:30 PM

Cambridge, Ohio

Recipient unidentified, 2 pages

Typescript not arranged chronologically

Typescript not arranged chronologically

Typescript not arranged chronologically

Biographical / historical:

Milton Barnes was a recently married lawyer in Cambridge, Ohio, when the Civil War began. He served first as a captain, commanding G Company of the 62nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment. This unit participated in the first Federal invasion of the Shenandoah Valley in the spring of 1862. When the 62nd Ohio was transferred to the Rappahannock in mid-1862, Captain Barnes was discharged on medical grounds and returned briefly to Cambridge, Ohio.

Later in 1862 he obtained an appointment as lieutenant colonel of the 97th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment and served as its deputy commander and often-acting commander until mustered out in June 1865. Lieutenant Colonel Barnes fought with the 97th Ohio in major engagements in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia until wounded at Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia, in June 1864. He returned to the field in time to take part in the defense of Tennessee against the Confederate re-invasion and was again wounded at Nashville, Tennessee in December 1864. The remainder of his and the 97th Ohio's service was on provost duty at Huntsville, Alabama, and in the East Tennessee mountains on guard against a last possible threat from the failing Confederates in Virginia.

His war letters include first-hand accounts of several battles, notably Stones River (Murfreesboro) and Missionary Ridge at Chattanooga, as well as, details of ordinary life on campaign and in camp. The occasional gaps in the correspondence were mostly the result of several campaigning which left no time for writing. His wife's letters include political news and comments as well as family matters.

After the war, Barnes resumed law practice in Cambridge. In 1867 he was brevetted Colonel in the Volunteer Force, AUS, to date from March 13, 1865 for "gallant and meritorious service" in the war. He was elected Secretary of State for Ohio for two terms (1877-1881) and later served for a year (1891-1892) as special Treasury Agent for Alaska. A lengthy account of his arrival and duties at St. George Island in the Bering Sea is included in the collection.

Acquisition information:
Mrs. Kathryn Barnes, and her sons James A. Barnes and C. Cortlandt Barnes donated the Milton Barnes Papers to George Mason University in 1975. Mrs. Barnes is the widow of a direct descendant of Milton and Rhoda Barnes.
Processing information:

Processed and transcribed by Daniel Shumate and Robert Hawkes of George Mason University. EAD markup completed by Eron Ackerman and Jordan Patty in April 2009. Updated by Greta Kuriger in July 2011. Finding aid updated by Amanda Menjivar in August 2022.

Arrangement:

Arranged chronologically.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard