TABLE OF CONTENTS
Descriptive Summary of the Collection
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Inventory of the Hiram Scofield Papers, 1857-1906
Machine-readable finding aid encoded by Martha Briggs, 2003. ©2003. |
Descriptive Summary of the Collection |
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| Creator | Scofield, Hiram, 1830-1906 |
| Title | Hiram Scofield Papers |
| Dates | 1857-1906 |
| Extent | 2 cubic ft. (5 boxes) |
| Abstract | Forty-four diaries, 1857-1906, together with a few letters and miscellaneous items, documenting Hiram Scofield's Civil War service as an officer with the 2nd Iowa Infantry and commander of the 47th Colored Infantry Regiment, and his post war personal and professional life as a Washington, Iowa, attorney. |
| Language | Materials are in English. |
| Repository | Newberry Library, Roger and Julie Baskes Department of Special Collections |
| Collection Call Number | Ruggles 426 |
| Collection Stack Location | Vault 29 3 |
Administrative Information
Cite As
Hiram Scofield Papers, Rudy L. Ruggles Collection and Midwest Manuscript Collection, The Newberry Library, Chicago.
Provenance
Purchased from Charles Apfelbaum Rare Manuscripts and Archives, 2002, with the assistance of the Rudy L. Ruggles Fund and Robert Wedgeworth.
Processed by
Karyn Goldstein, 2003.
Access
The Hiram Scofield Papers are open for research in the Special Collections Reading Room; 5 folders at a time maximum, and items in each folder will be counted before and after delivery to the patron (Priority I).
Ownership and Literary Rights
The Hiram Scofield Papers are the physical property of the Newberry Library. Copyright may belong to the authors or their legal heirs or assigns. For permission to publish or reproduce any materials from this collection, contact the Roger and Julie Baskes Department of Special Collections.
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Biography of Hiram Scofield
Washington, Iowa, lawyer and Union officer.
The eldest of five children, Hiram Scofield was born in Saratoga County, New York, on July 1, 1830 to William and Susan (Bishop) Scofield. Scofield's grandfather, Neazar Scofield, and grandmother, Patience, settled in Saratoga County in 1800. Reared on the family farm, Hiram attended country schools and academies, and graduated from Union College (Schenectady, N.Y.) and from the Albany Law School (1856). After law school, Scofield traveled to Little Rock, Ark., where he taught school for two years. He then moved to Washington, Iowa, where he established a law practice in 1858 with A.H. Patterson. This practice continued until his death on Dec. 30, 1906.
With the attack on Fort Sumter, Scofield enlisted in April of 1861 and was sworn in as a private on May 22, 1861. A member of Company H of the 2nd Iowa Infantry, he was soon promoted to second and first lieutenant, and assumed command of his company at Fort Donelson in February, 1862. Scofield was promoted to assistant adjutant general, serving on Gen. Lauman's staff at Shiloh (where he was wounded in the thigh), Corinth, and in Mississippi. He then served on Gen. John McArthur's staff at Vicksburg and Memphis.
In the spring of 1863, Gen. Thomas received orders to organize colored regiments. From May 5, 1863 to Jan. 5, 1866, Scofield commanded the 8th Louisiana Regiment of Colored Troops (in 1864 renamed the 47th U.S. Colored Infantry), which he recruited and trained at Lake Providence, La. Assigned to Vicksburg until March, 1864, the regiment then joined Gen. Canby's division, with Scofield commanding the 2nd brigade. It participated in the capture and occupation of Yazoo City during March and returned to Vicksburg. In Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas during the latter months of 1864, the 47th then served in Florida and Alabama, seeing action at Fort Blakely and occupying Mobile. After June, 1865, Scofield's regiment was stationed at various Louisiana locations, and was mustered out in Baton Rouge. Scofield himself was mustered out of service as a brigadier general on May 22, 1866.
Scofield returned to Washington, Iowa, after the war and resumed his law practice. In 1866, he married Amelia B. Wilson. The couple had two children, Clara J. and Cora L. Scofield.
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Scope and Content of the Collection
Forty-four pocket diaries, 1857-1906 (lacking 1859-1861, 1868, 1877, 1884) documenting Hiram Scofield's Civil War service and his personal and professional life as a Washington, Iowa, attorney. Also a few letters to his young daughters (including one from "Old Chris" or Santa Claus) and other miscellany.
War diaries describe the weather, the life of an officer (accomodations, books read, card playing), the movements and engagements of Scofield's regiment (Fort Donelson, Fort Blakely, Mobile), news of the wider war, visits of Grant and other generals, and troop conditions and morale. Of particular interest are Scofield's observations about the training and activities of his African American regiment. Many comments (see Collection Accession File for excerpts) in the 1863 and 1866 diaries reveal Scofield's respect and empathy for his black soldiers, and his belief that the future relations between blacks and whites could only improve. Also included is a Polk family gravestone inscription.
Washington, Iowa, diaries note daily activities and contain financial accounts, lists of books read, and other miscellany. Brief and factual entries reveal none of Scofield's own thoughts regarding his work or his family life.
Also included is correspondence with Scofield's daughters, 1874-1878, and with brother William Scofield, 1875, and a few biographical notes, calling cards and invitations, railroad passes, Scofield family genealogical notes, a marriage license, newspaper clippings, safe combinations, and corn shipment receipts.
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Arrangement
Organized by type of material: diaries, letters, miscellaneous. Diaries arranged chronologically.
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Selected Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Newberry Library's public catalog. Researchers desiring additional materials on a particular topic should search the catalog using these headings.
Names
- Scofield family
- Scofield, Hiram, 1830-1906
- United States. Army. Colored Infantry Regiment, 47th (1864-1866)
- United States. Army. Louisiana Volunteers of African Descent Infantry Regiment, 8th (1863-1864)
- United States. Army. Iowa Regiment, 2nd (1861-1864)
Subjects
- African American soldiers
- Corinth, Battle of, Corinth, Miss., 1862
- Diaries--Iowa--Washington--1857-1906
- Diaries--Southern States--1862-1865
- Fort Donelson, Battle of, Tenn., 1862
- Lawyers--Iowa--Washington--History--19th century--Sources
- Manuscripts, American
- Memphis, Battle of, Memphis, Tenn., 1862
- Shiloh, Battle of, Tenn., 1862
- Soldiers--Iowa--Washington--Diaries
- Southern States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Sources
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--African Americans
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives
- United States. Army--African American troops
- United States. Army--Officers--Diaries
- Washington (Iowa)--History--19th century--Sources
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Container List |
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| Box | Folder | Contents | |||||||||
| 1 | 1 | Diary, 1857 | |||||||||
| 1 | 2 | Diary, 1858 | |||||||||
| 1 | 3 | Diary, 1862 | |||||||||
| 1 | 4 | Diary, 1863 | |||||||||
| 1 | 5 | Diary, 1864 | |||||||||
| 1 | 6 | Diary, 1865 | |||||||||
| 1 | 7 | Diary, 1866 | |||||||||
| 1 | 8 | Diary, 1867 | |||||||||
| 1 | 9 | Diary, 1869 | |||||||||
| 1 | 10 | Diary, 1870 | |||||||||
| 2 | 11 | Diary, 1871 | |||||||||
| 2 | 12 | Diary, 1872 | |||||||||
| 2 | 13 | Diary, 1873 | |||||||||
| 2 | 14 | Diary, 1874 | |||||||||
| 2 | 15 | Diary, 1875 | |||||||||
| 2 | 16 | Diary, 1876 | |||||||||
| 2 | 17 | Diary, 1878 | |||||||||
| 2 | 18 | Diary, 1879 | |||||||||
| 2 | 19 | Diary, 1880 | |||||||||
| 2 | 20 | Diary, 1881 | |||||||||
| 3 | 21 | Diary, 1882 | |||||||||
| 3 | 22 | Diary, 1883 | |||||||||
| 3 | 23 | Diary, 1885 | |||||||||
| 3 | 24 | Diary, 1886 | |||||||||
| 3 | 25 | Diary, 1887 | |||||||||
| 3 | 26 | Diary, 1888 | |||||||||
| 3 | 27 | Diary, 1889 | |||||||||
| 3 | 28 | Diary, 1890 | |||||||||
| 3 | 29 | Diary, 1891 | |||||||||
| 4 | 30 | Diary, 1892 | |||||||||
| 4 | 31 | Diary, 1893 | |||||||||
| 4 | 32 | Diary, 1894 | |||||||||
| 4 | 33 | Diary, 1895 | |||||||||
| 4 | 34 | Diary, 1896 | |||||||||
| 4 | 35 | Diary, 1897 | |||||||||
| 4 | 36 | Diary, 1898 | |||||||||
| 4 | 37 | Diary, 1899 | |||||||||
| 5 | 38 | Diary, 1900 | |||||||||
| 5 | 39 | Diary, 1901 | |||||||||
| 5 | 40 | Diary, 1902 | |||||||||
| 5 | 41 | Diary, 1903 | |||||||||
| 5 | 42 | Diary, 1904 | |||||||||
| 5 | 43 | Diary, 1905 | |||||||||
| 5 | 44 | Diary, 1906 | |||||||||
| 5 | 45 | Letters -- Scofield, Hiram to Clara J. and Cora L. Scofield (including letter from Santa Claus), 1874-1878 | |||||||||
| 5 | 46 | Letter -- Scofield, William to Hiram Scofield, 1875, Dec. 15 | |||||||||
| 5 | 47 | Miscellaneous -- Biographical Notes re Hiram Scofield | |||||||||
| 5 | 48 | Miscellaneous -- Calling Cards and Invitations, 1856-1860 | |||||||||
| 5 | 49 | Miscellaneous -- Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Pass, 1900 | |||||||||
| 5 | 50 | Miscellaneous -- Genealogical Notes re Scofield Family | |||||||||
| 5 | 51 | Miscellaneous -- List of Letters (not in collection) | |||||||||
| 5 | 52 | Miscellaneous -- Marriage Record (copy) | |||||||||
| 5 | 53 | Miscellaneous -- Newspaper Clipping, ca. 1873 | |||||||||
| 5 | 54 | Miscellaneous -- Receipts for Corn Shipments (2), 1874 | |||||||||