New York State Library
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Archibald L. McDougall
Papers, 1862-1863

21033

Quantity: 1 folder (23 items)
Access: Open to research
Acquisition: Purchase: Charles Apfelbaum, Rare Books and Collections, Valley Stream, New York, June 1994
Processed By: Kayleigh Paster, Student Assistant (University at Albany), for Manuscripts and Special Collections, March 2014

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Biographical Note:

Born in 1817 near East Greenwich, Washington County, New York, Colonel Archibald Livingston McDougall worked as a lawyer in Pennsylvania and New York before enlisting for military service during the Civil War. McDougall married Mary Blanchard (b.1826) in 1848 and the couple had five children: John (b.1849), William (1854-1886), Mary (b.1856), Jennie McDougall Davison (b.1859), and Grace McDougall Law (b.1861).

Upon his enlistment in September 1862 McDougall was commissioned an officer of Company S of the N.Y. 123rd Infantry Regiment. He served with the company until his death in 1864. McDougall led troops in the battles of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Williamsport, Morton's Ford, Resaca, Cassville, and Dallas. McDougall was seriously wounded in the Battle of Dallas on May 25, 1864. His leg was amputated and he died of his injuries on June 23, 1864 at an officers' hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Scope and Content Note:

The papers consist chiefly of correspondence addressed to Colonel McDougall between July 1862 and October 1863. The bulk of the letters consist of requests for McDougall's help and influence in regard to enlistment and promotions within the N.Y. 123rd Infantry Regiment. Other topics that frequently appear in the letters written by McDougall include desertion and casualties that have been suffered.

Included in the papers are four retained copies of letters written by McDougall. These letters consist primarily of responses to requests for help that McDougall had received. The original appeals vary in nature, from requests to be released from service to recommendations for the appointment of officers to vacant positions. These letters offer insight not only into the internal politics of the regiment but also McDougall's personal views on issues such as desertion. McDougall's letters also contain descriptions of battles that his regiment was involved in, such as the Battle of Chancellorsville, as well as descriptions of the locations where they were stationed and the activities of the regiment.

Folder and Item List:


Folder Item Description
1 1 Special Orders, No. 633, General Head-Quarters, State of New York, Adjutant-General's Office, Albany, [N.Y.], July 28, 1862
1 2 Duplicate of Special Orders, No. 633, General Head-Quarters, State of New York, Adjutant-General's Office, Albany, [N.Y.], July 28, 1862
1 3 Citizens [of Salem, N.Y.] to A.L. McDougall, Salem, N.Y., July 28, 1862
1 4 Thomas Ingalls to A.L. McDougall, Greenwich, [N.Y.], August 1, 1862
1 5 A. Axtell to Col. McDougall, Fort Ann, [N.Y.], August 6, 1862
1 6 Taylor Marville to Col. McDougall, Whitehall, [N.Y.], August 11, 1862
1 7 A.P. Robinson to Col. A.L. McDougall, Argyle, [N.Y.], August 19, 1862
1 8 Edwin D. Morgan to Col. McDougall, Albany, N.Y., August 20, 1862
1 9 Petition: War Committee of the Town of Kingsbury to the Governor of the State of New York, Kingsbury, N.Y., August 20, 1862
1 10 Incomplete draft of letter to John Y. Marters, Camp 123rd Regiment N.Y. Vol. 2nd Brigade, 1st Div., 12th Army Corps. Near Stafford Court House, Va., January 26th 1863;
1 11 Oliver Bascom to Col. [McDougall], Whitehall, [N.Y.], May [18], 1863
1 12 H. Gordon to Friend, Coila, [N.Y.], May 30, 1863
1 13 Edward Dodd to Col. [McDougall],  Argyle, [N.Y.], June 1, 1863
1 14 C.L. Allen to Col. A.L. McDougall, Salem, [N.Y.], June 5, 1863
1 15 A.L. McDougall to M. Fairchild, Hd Qrs, 1st Brig. 1st Div., 12 A.C. Near Stafford Court House, Va., June 7, 1863 (copy)
1 16 A.L. McDougall to Hon. C.L. Allen, Hd Qrs 1st Brig. 1st Div., 12 A.C. Near Stafford Court House, Va., June 11, 1863 (copy)
1 17 A.L. McDougall to Hon. Edward Dodd, Hd Qrs 1st Brig. 1st Div., 12 A.C. Leesburg, Va., June 21, 1863 (copy)
1 18 A.L. McDougall to Friend Phi [P. C. Hitchcock], Hd Qrs 1st Brig. 1st Div., 12 A.C. Leesburg, Va., June 23, 1863 (copy)
1 19 Petition to Col. A.L. McDougall, Salem, [N.Y.], August 3, 1863
1 20 Petition to Col. A.L. McDougall, Salem, [N.Y.], August 4, 1863
1 21 N.W. Caltin To Col. McDougall, Kingsbury, N.Y., August 22, 1863
1 22 Nelson Ferris to Col. A.L. McDougall, Castle William, Governor's Island, [N.Y.], October 5, 1863
1 23 Tanner [Major A.H. Tanner] to Colonel, Camp 123rd N.Y. Vol., Decherd, Tenn., October 12, 1863
Last Updated: January 10, 2022