Civil War Materials,, 1861-1913

Summary: Documents prepared and collected by Washington A. Roebling during and after his service in the Union Anny during the United States Civil War (1861-January 1865). Series also includes printed regimental histories and documents relating to the creation of the Gettysburg Battlefield National Park (1887-1908). Document types include journals, official communications, orders, engineering documents, accounts, invoices, and reports.

Of particular interest are three bound journals kept by Washington A. during the Civil War. Not personal diaries, these primarily document Washington A. 's work as an army engineer. "Diary of the suspension bridge" documents the building of bridges at Fredericksburg in summer 1862 and Harper's Ferry between October 1863 and January 1864. The "Reconnaissance and memoranda notebook" (November 1863-April 1864) includes notes on enemy strengths and movements, prisoner interrogations, and small hand-drawn maps. The third journal dates from May 4-August 21, 1864, and is entitled "Report of the Operations of the 5th Corps, A[rmy of the] P[otomac] in General Grant's Campaign from Culpeper to Petersburg as seen by W.A. Roebling, Maj. A.D.C., 1864," and which was "Written in camp before Petersburg, in December 1864." The journal provides a full, interesting account of the personal experiences and observations of Roebling, aide-de-camp to the Fifth Corps Commander, General Gouverneur K. Warren, and of the larger picture as well. Roebling was well-informed on plans and operations and was a very active officer, frequently visiting the advanced positions, checking picket lines, observing enemy activity, in regular contact with large and small units of the army, sometimes directing or conducting troops. At the beginning of May, the Fifth Corps, along with other units occupying positions around Culpeper Court House, moved southward to begin the Wilderness Campaign.

Other documents in this series include enlistment, promotion and resignation documents and certificates (1861-1866); special orders, communications and reports (1862-1864); bridge designs & sketches (1862-1863); accounts, communications, estimates and invoices for supplies and men (1861-1863); quartermaster protocols, reports and audits (1861-1894); and pension documents (1912-1913).

Oversize sketches, certificates and quartermaster's accounts are stored separately.