Biographical:

Lewis B. Jessup was born in 1834 in Indiana. During the Civil War, he served with the 24th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, which had been organized in Vincennes, Indiana. In 1865, Jessup, along with the rest of his unit, were stationed in Galveston, Texas, where boredom prompted Jessup to write the history of his unit, with hopes of eventual publication. At the end of 1865, the men were released from their military duties and were allowed to return home. Jessup moved to La Porte County, Indiana, where he worked as a farmer. Jessup married and had several children with his wife Chloe.

Scope and Content Note:

This collection contains a photocopy of the Lewis B. Jessup diary. The first half of the diary was written while Jessup was a soldier with the 24th Indiana Volunteer Infantry stationed in Galveston, Texas. The first part of the diary focuses on troop movements and camp life and also contains short biographies on some of the men in his unit. The style of the diary changes after his return to Indiana in late 1865 and focuses on his daily life. The diary also contains: a March 1868 land rental contract with Joseph Zimmerman, a letter from A. Leich to Buncombe dated [1877], a page of family signatures, worksheets and a recipe.

Item Listing:

Aug. 1861-1910. Photocopy of the Lewis B. Jessup diary.

Photocopying Policy:

Manuscript materials CANNOT be photocopied or digitized in their entirety. Photocopies and/or digital images cannot exceed 25% of a collection or a folder within a collection. In some cases, photocopying may not be permitted due to the condition of the item. Check with a Manuscript Librarian for other options.