Finding Aid
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George S. Smith Papers Access and Restrictions: This collection is open for research. Digital Surrogates: Except where indicated, this document describes but does not reproduce the actual text, images and objects which make up this collection. Materials are available only in the Special Collections Department. Copyright: Please read The University of Iowa Libraries' statement on Property Rights, Copyright Law, and Permissions to Use Unpublished Materials. Use of Collections: The University of Iowa Libraries supports access to the materials, published and unpublished, in its collections. Nonetheless, access to some items may be restricted by their fragile condition or by contractual agreement with donors, and it may not be possible at all times to provide appropriate machinery for reading, viewing or accessing non-paper-based materials. Please read our Use of Manuscripts Statement. Acquisition and Processing Information: Purchased in 2003. Photographs: Box 1 |
Mr. and Mrs. George S. Smith [?] |
![Mr. and Mrs. George S. Smith [?]](images/gssmith_000.jpg)
Scope and Contents
Two diaries, one from the Civil War with entries describing engagements with the enemies as well as routine daily entries; the other details the life of a minister in the Chuch of Christ around Kellogg, Iowa.
Related Materials
Received with this collection was a cloth broadside upholding prohibition and signed in type by Smith. This was removed to the x broadside collection and given the call number xfNC1849 W36 T45 1888
Box Contents List
Tintype, presumably of George S. Smith in uniform, with his wife
170 page manuscript diary and account book, dated ca. 1874-ca. 1878 in which he deatils his preaching discourses and telling of his life in and aroundKellogg, Iowa as a minister in the church of Christ. He includes the town where he preached, what text he took for his sermon, miles travelled, and how much he was paid. Bound in tan sueded leather.
A ledger diary containing entries for Company E, 83rd Ohio Regiment, with sometimes daily entries. When these are routine they are short, but when there has been some action he recounts it in some detail, as the following excerpt (corrected for spelling and punctuation) shows:
"[April] 9th, 1865. Not very much firing in the forenoon. Spanish Fort surrendered this morning. Report of the fall of the domed city of Richmond and Petersburg. Received orders to go to the front rifle pit at 3 o'clock p.m. and when we got there and got our lines formed received orders to be ready to seal the work at the word forward and then to storm the rebel works. Received the orders forward at 5 o'clock p.m. Every man sealed his rifle pit and went with a yell for the rebel fort through a grueling fire of musketry shell and grape shot but nevertheless we went into the rebel works and made them surrender capturing about 3000 prisoners and 20 pieces of artillery. Engagement lasted about 55 minutes. Captured two brigadier generals. . . 6 killed and 27 wounded."
This is followed in the same ledger book by clippings about post-war politics. There are some other miscellaneous entries about clothing allotment and sermons preached and letters sent and received. Laid in are a printed Church Covenant, a testimonial for the Smiths, and a letter to Mrs. Sarah Smith dated January 21, 1867 and containing portions written by three different groups of people: Mary and Sam (no last name), Catherine and Peter Orebaugh, and Mollie Orebaugh. Bound in brown leather
