Archive Record

Metadata

Accession number

2002.346

Catalog Number

2002.346.00

Collection

Pearce Civil War Collection

Object Name

Letter

Title

Franklin (Benjamin I.) Papers, 1863-1968

Creator

Franklin (Benjamin I.)

Date

1863-1968, n.d.

Dates of Creation

1863-1968, n.d.

Scope & Content

Correspondence, printed material, and photographic material (1863-1968; 10 items) document the Civil War military careers of Benjamin I. Franklin and Tacitus T. Clay of the Fifth Texas Infantry. The collection is arranged into three series by creator: Benjamin I. Franklin, Mrs. Benjamin I. Franklin, and Tacitus T. Clay. Materials are further arranged by material type.
The first series (1863-1864; 4 items), Benjamin I. Franklin, consists of correspondence, which is separated as sent and received, and photographic material. The sent correspondence (1863; 3 items) contains letters written by Franklin to his wife Mary from April to October 1863. Of significance are two letters written by Franklin shortly after the battles of Gettysburg and Chickamauga. On August 8, 1863, Franklin wrote his wife a short letter, which included his opinion of the Confederate loss at Gettysburg. Franklin told his wife: "Of the Campaign in Pennsylvania I can only say that in my opinion we gained nothing. I look on it as a miserable blunder." The second letter, dated October 2, 1863 describes the battle of Chickamauga. In his letter, Franklin noted his sorrow for Mrs. Short: "One of her sons wounded & left in the hands of the enemy at Gettysburg and the other killed here. John was a brave boy and died like a man fighting for his country." Franklin also described the actions of generals John B. Hood and Jerome Robertson: "Major Genl Hood fell, badly wounded while rallying his old Brigade. . . . Genl Robertson was to be seen on all occasions in front of his Brigade leading them on and exposing himself to every danger." The received correspondence, dated December 12, 1864, commands Franklin to report to General Withers. The letter was written on the back of form used to request a substitute.
The photographic material consists of three cased images of Franklin. The first image is a daguerreotype, undated but probably taken when Franklin was in his teens or early twenties. The second image is an ambrotype, also undated but most likely taken when Franklin served in Hood's brigade. The third image is a tintype undated but obviously taken late in Franklin's life. All three images are in delicate condition and handling restrictions apply.
The series, Mrs. B. I. Franklin, consists of two letters sent to Mrs. Franklin regarding her husband's military service. The third series, Tacitus T. Clay, consists of a privately-published pamphlet (1968) of the Civil War letters of Tacitus T. Clay.

People

Franklin, Benjamin Isaac

Search Terms

Hood's Texas Brigade
Photographic Materials

Credit line