New York State Library
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John Inglis
Papers, 1862-1923

SC22716

Quantity: 1 box (0.25 cubic ft.)
Access: Open to research
Acquisition: Purchase; Charles Apfelbaum Rare Books & Archives, Watchung, N.J.; July 2002
Administrative Note: A document in this collection was recovered in 2008 by the Office of New York State Attorney General. The recovered document has been returned to the collection, and the item is noted by an asterisk (*) in the container list below. It is unclear if all missing documents were recovered.
Processed By: Fred Bassett, Senior Librarian, Manuscripts & Special Collections, May 2009

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Biographical Note:

John "Jack" Inglis was a Scottish-born Canadian citizen (born, 1841; emigrated to Canada at age 14). In 1862 he traveled to New York State to enlist in the 9th Cavalry Regiment. He mustered in with Company B, but was transferred, in October 1864, to Company D as a first sergeant. Toward the end of the war, he was granted a furlough to attend to his dying mother in Canada. While he was at home, the war ended, so he did not return to duty. As a result, the official records list him as a deserter. After the war, he continued to live in Canada until about 1880, when he moved to Cook County, Illinois, where he eventually became a crop examiner for the Chicago Board of Trade. Public records indicate he was married in 1866 to Margaret Dickson in Huron County, Ontario, and they had at least six children. He retired and moved to San Diego, California about 1920, and died there in March 1923.

Scope and Content Note:

These papers consist chiefly of letters and diaries that provide details of John Inglis's experiences during the Civil War. In particular, the letters sent to his family provide graphic details of the combat he witnessed at 2nd Bull Run, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. In addition to describing the battles, he often interjected his own reactions, especially related to his personal moral and religious sensibilities. The two pocket diaries supplement the letters with factual and anecdotal information recorded almost every day for the years of 1863 and 1864.  These papers also include official correspondence and documents concerning his efforts to clear his name of the charge of desertion.

Folder List:


Box Folder Description
1 1 Diary, 1863 (ca. 120 p.; 16 cm.)
1 2 Diary, 1864 (ca. 365 p.; 12 cm.)
1 3 Letters from John Inglis, 1862-1863
  1. To sister, Virginia, November 26, 1862
  2. To sister, Camp near Harpers Ferry, Maryland [sic], July 16, 1863 [Recovered*]
  3. To parents, Camp near Beverly Ford, Va., July 29, 1863
  4. To sister, Kelly's Ford, Va., August 6, 1863
  5. To sister, Camp near Cattett's Station, Va., August 22, 1863
  6. To sister, Camp near Culpeper, Va., December 12, 1863
  7. To sister, Camp near Culpeper, Va., December 31, 1863
  8. Fragment of letter, undated
1 4 Letters to John Inglis, 1861-1865
  1. James Garrows, Goderich [Ontario, Canada], July 23, 1861
  2. [James Rylis], New Year Morning [January 1], 1864
  3. William D. Foote, H.Q. 1st Div. Cavalry [?] Camp, Pleasant Valley, Md. January 6, 1864
  4. William D. Foote, H.Q. 2nd Brigade, 1st Div. Cavalry, Camp Stoneman, [Washington], D.C. November 18, 1864
  5. J. Rylis, East Randolph, [N.Y.], December 8, 1864
  6. James H. Seymour, East Randolph, N.Y., March 30, 1865
  7. James H. Seymour, East Randolph, N.Y., April 19, 1865
  8. John Seaver, Camp 9th N.Y. Cavalry...near Petersburg, Va., April 20, 1865
  9. [William D. Foote], Camp 9th N.Y. Cavalry, near Alexandria, Va., June 30, 1865.
1 5 Correspondence with the New York State Office of Adjutant General and U.S. War Department relative to correcting the military service record, 1907 (7 items)
1 6 Copy of affidavit of John Inglis, Chicago, to F.C. Ainsworth, Adjutant General, War Department, Washington, D.C., November 23, 1907; with copy of affidavits of George S, Nichols, an officer of the 9th New York Cavalry regiment, November 1907 (2 items)
1 7 Proceedings of the Veterans Association 9th N.Y, Cavalry at Westfield, N.Y. October 1 & 2, 1886, Reunion and Dedication of Monument at Gettysburg, July 1, 2, &, 3, 1888 with a Roster of the Regiment [cover title] (Jamestown, N.Y.: Journal Publishing Company, 1888)
1 8 Miscellaneous papers and scraps
  1. Obituary (news paper clipping), March 3, 1923
  2. Printed Circular of Thomas C. Devin, Brevet Brigadier-General, H.Q. 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division...November 6, 1864
  3. Fragment of a manuscript
  4. Posted envelope of Helen Heitman (granddaughter of Inglis) that once contained the Civil War letters and diaries found in this collection
Last Updated: February 23, 2022