National Archives – Civil War Paper

[Jared]

I had the opportunity recently to visit the Research Section of the US National Archives while in Washington DC.

 

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/feldgrun/DSC_0043_zps21dd5c39.jpg

 

If you comply with their procedures and security restrictions, anyone is eligible to research a wide variety of topics using primary sources.

 

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/feldgrun/Research-2_zps275260a1.jpg

 

I chose to view the papers of General Robert E. Lee and Lt Gen Jubal Early, both significant confederate military leaders during the US Civil War (1861-65). This collection is found in what was once labeled as the “Rebel Archives” and contains many unique and original documents. Much of the Federal side of the war seems to be on microfilm, but I prefer to view original documents, which comprise much of the confederate side of the war.

 

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/feldgrun/RebelArchives_zps839c7d0e.jpg

 

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/feldgrun/CSAWarDept-5-small_zpsc431116f.jpg

 

The correspondence generally consisted of a white/ivory paper, the nicest of which was lined.

 

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/feldgrun/CSANavyDept_zps6de0a32e.jpg

 

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/feldgrun/DSC_0285_zps1ce2bc2c.jpg

 

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/feldgrun/JEBStewart_zpsbe7e8e10.jpg

 

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/feldgrun/McClellan-2_zps88815595.jpg

 

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/feldgrun/Flourish-1_zpsfc6e91b4.jpg

 

However, a surprising percentage of correspondence and official reports used blue paper.

 

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/feldgrun/AveryFieldReturn-4-small_zpsad57ce91.jpg

I also saw some unique water marks on some of the nicer paper.

 

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/feldgrun/DSC_0316-small_zps3222f829.jpg

 

As well as unique stamps/seals in the upper right-hand corner of many of the pieces of correspondence.

 

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/feldgrun/DSC_0318_zpsa1e6b6d5.jpg

(JW Randolph Richmond)

 

Towards the mid-late war, I noted a poorer quality of paper in many of the field reports – something akin to a paper sack from the grocery store. The ink tended to feather/bleed on this paper on occasion.

 

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/feldgrun/FieldReport-6-small_zps2c9ea6a1.jpg

 

The scratchy poor quality paper below seemed to be the best a few poor souls could find to plead for a few more days of life to allow their wives to see them before they were executed (for desertion, I believe).

 

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/feldgrun/LastWish_zpsa731be98.jpg

 

I have added more pictures in a section about Civil War Ink.

Edited December 15, 2014 by Jared

[SockAddict]

Wow.

[vinper]

It's wonderful that you shared those marvelous pictures with all of us. If you are interested in Civil War research, the entire "War of the Rebellion" collection, formerly available only in a series costing many thousands od dollars is now available in its entirety on disc at amazon.com. vinper