Manuscripts Department
Library of the University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill
SOUTHERN HISTORICAL COLLECTION
#1521
GEORGE SCARBOROUGH BARNSLEY PAPERS
Inventory
Abstract: George Scarborough Barnsley (1837-1918), of
Woodlands Plantation, Cass County, Georgia, and Sao
Paulo, Brazil, was a Confederate soldier, hospital
steward, medical student, and assistant surgeon in the
8th Georgia Regiment. He emigrated to Brazil after
the Civil War. Members of Barnsley's family included
his father, Godfrey Barnsley (1805-1873), his brother,
Lucien Barnsley (1840-1892), and his sister, Julia
Bernard Barnsley (b. 1836).
Correspondence, reminiscences, scrapbooks,
printed pamphlets, and other materials, chiefly
1846-1873, relating to George Barnsley's years at
school and Oglethorpe University, his service during
the Civil War, and his emigration to Brazil. Included
are letters from Godfrey and Lucien Barnsley and
reflections on life in Brazil in the late nineteenth
century.
Online Catalog Terms:
Barnsley, Godfrey, 1805-1873.
Barnsley, Julia Bernard, b. 1836.
Barnsley, Lucien, 1840-1892.
Brazil--Social life and customs--19th century.
Confederate States of America--Emigrants.
Confederate States of America. Army--8th Georgia Regiment.
Confederate States of America. Army--Surgeons.
Oglethorpe University (Ga.).
Physicians.
Sao Paulo (Brazil)--Description and travel.
Savannah (Ga.).
Schools--Rhode Island.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Military life.
Size: About 350 items (1.0 linear feet).
Provenance: Deposited by Harold Barnsley Holland of New York,
New York, in August 1948 and August 1949.
Pamphlets deposited by Harold Barnsley Holland
with the right of withdrawal in September 1948.
The microfilm of volume 5 (Civil War diary) was
made in October 1962, when the original was lent
to the Southern Historical Collection by Hans
Gottfried Scheuenstuhl of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Access: No restrictions.
Related Collections: Godfrey Barnsley Papers, Emory University
Library; Barnsley Family Papers, Tennessee
State Library and Archives; Barnsley
Family Papers, Duke University Library;
and Barnsley-Saylor Papers, University of
Georgia Library.
Copyright: Retained by the authors of items in these papers or
their descendants as stipulated by United States
copyright law.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Biographical Note
Collection Overview
Series Descriptions
Series 1. Correspondence
Series 2. Financial and Legal Items
Series 3. Other Items
Series 4. Microfilm
Shelf List
INTRODUCTION
Biographical Note
George Scarborough Barnsley (1837-1918) of Woodlands
Plantation, Cass County, Georgia, and Sao Paulo, Brazil, was the
son of Godfrey Barnsley (1805-1873), a cotton exporter of
Savannah and New Orleans, and Julia Scarborough Barnsley
(1810-1845). He was educated at Oglethorpe University at Midway,
Georgia, from 1854 through 1857. During the Civil War he served
as a private in the 8th Georgia Regiment, and later as a hospital
steward, medical student, and assistant surgeon. In 1866 he
emigrated with his brother, Lucien, to Brazil as part of a group
under the leadership of Frank McMullen. Except for the period
1890-1896, when he returned to the United States, he remained in
Brazil, where he practiced medicine, for the rest of his life.
He married Mary Lamira Emerson in 1869.
George Barnsley had five brothers and sisters who survived
infancy. Anna Goodwin Barnsley (b. 1829) married Thomas Corse
Gilmour of the Isle of Man, England, in New Orleans in 1850.
Gilmour died in England in 1865. The Gilmours had two children,
Murray Barnsley (b. 1850) and Julia Eliza (b. 1852). Harold
Barnsley (1832-1862) was an adventurer who died in Shanghai in
1862. Adelaide Barnsley (1834-1858) married John Kelso Reid of
Ireland in New Orleans in 1857, and had one child, Godfrey
Forrest Reid (b. 1858). Julia Bernard Barnsley (b. 1836) married
James Peter Baltzell (d. 1868) in 1864. The Baltzells had one
child, Adelaide (1864-1942). In 1872 Julia Barnsley married a
second time, to Charles H. Von Schwartz (d. 1885). Lucien
Barnsley (1840-1892) married Martha H. Grady in Brazil in 1871.
George Barnsley had five children, Mary Adelaide Barnsley (b.
1870), who married Manoel Guedes in 1885, Julia Henrietta
(1872-1875), Godfrey Emerson (b. 1874), George Scarborough (b.
1877), and Harold, who died as an infant.
Collection Overview
This collection consists chiefly of correspondence,
scrapbooks, journals, and printed pamphlets of George S.
Barnsley. Some correspondence of Barnsley's father, Godfrey, and
his brother, Lucien, is also included. His sister, Julia, is a
prominent correspondent. The bulk of the correspondence falls
between 1846 and 1873, covering Barnsley's years as a boy at
school and at Oglethorpe University, his experiences in the Civil
War, and the early years of his life in Brazil. Scrapbooks and
journals document events in the Civil War and in Brazil.
Numerous printed pamphlets concerning Oglethorpe University are
included.
The arrangement scheme is as follows:
Series 1. Correspondence
Subseries 1.1 1838-1845
Subseries 1.2 1846-1860
Subseries 1.3 1861-1865
Subseries 1.4 1866-1914
Series 2. Financial and Legal Items
Series 3. Other Items
Subseries 3.1 Reminiscences, Plantation Journal, Diaries,
and Other Bound Items
Subseries 3.2 Newspaper Clippings and Pamphlets
Subseries 3.3 Miscellaneous Material
Series 4. Microfilm
SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
Series 1. Correspondence
1838-1914 and undated. About 250 items.
Arrangement: chronological.
Subseries 1.1 1838-1845
About 10 items.
Chiefly letters to Godfrey Barnsley from Julia Scarborough
Barnsley, his wife, and John Connolly, his overseer at his
plantation, Woodlands, in Cass County, Georgia. Letters from
John Connolly begin in 1843. He referred to the financial
troubles of a neighbor, the affairs of William Henry Stiles,
another neighbor, plans for an elaborate garden, and plans for
building a cottage for himself. In 1844 both Julia S. Barnsley
and John Connolly corresponded from Woodlands with Godfrey
Barnsley who was in Savannah. Julia described her health, family
news, the Stiles family, Bishop Stephen Elliott, and schools for
the children. Connolly referred to his plans to marry and a wish
for the ceremony to be performed by a Catholic priest. Julia
died in 1845, but Connolly continued to write duriing this year
about the plantation, gardening, farming, family news, and the
building of a new plantation house.
Also included during this period are letters from Julia
Barnsley's sister, Lucy Scarborough, and her mother, Julia
Scarborough. Lucy wrote in 1838 from New York giving news of
their aquaintances there and clothes. Mrs. Julia Scarborough
wrote in 1845 from Woodlands where she was staying, to Julia
Barnsley in Savannah, giving news of the family, the plantation,
and the children's tutor. In March Mrs. Scarborough wrote to
Godfrey about the death of Julia Barnsley. Later in the year she
wrote to him again about personal finances and family news.
Folder 1 1838-1845
Subseries 1.2 1846-1860
About 70 items.
Chiefly letters from Godfrey Barnsley and his daughter Julia
B. Barnsley to his sons George S. and Lucien Barnsley who were
attending a school run by Charles W. Greene, in East Greenwich,
Rhode Island. Julia, with her sister Adelaide, also attended
school at Montpelier Institute, in Monroe County, Georgia.
Julia's letters contain information about the family and school
life.
During this period Godfrey Barnsley moved his business from
Savannah to New Orleans. He was a British subject who never
became an American citizen and who had connections with British
merchants. His family remained at Woodlands and he usually spent
the summers there. In 1850, Anna, his oldest daughter, married
Thomas R. Gilmour, an English business associate of Barnsley's,
and lived in New Orleans. Harold, his oldest son, went to sea
and returned home ill.
Sometime in 1852 or 1853, first Adelaide, and then Julia, left
school, spending their winters in New Orleans and their summers
at Woodlands. In the spring of 1854 George and Lucien returned
home and George entered Oglethorpe University at Midway, Georgia.
He spent the years 1854 to 1857 at Oglethorpe. His father
Godfrey and his sister Julia continued to write to him about
family news and plantation business. Also included during this
period are letters from former teachers Charles W. Greene and
Henry W. Brown. A letter from Brown, dated 25 July 1854,
mentions George's plan to teach reading to the slaves at
Woodlands. F.W. Green, a school friend of George's and nephew of
Charles W. Green, wrote from Brooklyn, New York. Both he and
Mrs. Charles W. Green wrote about the death of Charles W. Green.
Also included are scattered letters from George's cousins Fanny
Sistare, from New York, and Alice Sistare, from a girl's school
near Boston.
In 1857 Adelaide married Mr. John Kelso Reid, another English
business associate, had a son, Forrest, and died. Included are
letters to George about the illness of Lucien, who first had
yellow fever and then typhoid, and several more letters from F.W.
Greene including an account of a tour of Canada and watching a
tight rope walker cross Niagara Falls.
Folder 2 1846-1850
3 1851-1852
4 1853
5 1854-1855
6 1856-1860
Subseries 1.3 1861-1865
About 70 items.
Chiefly letters from Godfrey and Julia, who remained primarily
at Woodlands, to George and Lucien, who served in the Confederate
Army. George and Lucien also exchanged letters. Both began
their service in Company A (Rome Light Guard), 8th Georgia
Regiment. In 1861 there are letters from Godfrey regarding
financial, political, and military matters at the beginning of
the Civil War. In November and December of 1861, there are
several letters from Lucien, who was at a camp near Centerville,
Georgia, to George. Also included is a letter to George, dated
17 December 1861, from W.S. Smith, who was near Savannah serving
with the Savannah Volunteer Guards, describing Fort Screven.
In 1862 Lucien wrote George of his plans to go into the office
of Dr. Gaillard, Medical Director of the 2nd Corps, Army of the
Potomac, and for George to take Lucien's place as clerk to Dr.
Miller, brigade surgeon, and begin the study of medicine. In a
letter dated 6 June 1862, Godfrey referred to Captain Ike Dankle
of the Rome Home Artillery Company which was making guns.
Letters from Woodlands contain references to neighbors,
particularly the Stiles, and also to the Duncans in Marietta, and
to the difficulties in getting clothing and sending supplies to
the soldiers.
In 1863 in a letter dated 19 May, Godfrey wrote of the death
of his oldest son, Harold, in Shanghai. He also referred to
General Gustavus W. Smith, president of the Etowah Iron Works,
who spoke bitterly of President Davis. In May and June of this
year, Lucien wrote several letters to George from Oglethorpe
Barracks in Savannah, where he was stationed. Also included are
letters to George from George W. Sites, a hospital steward from
Lynchburg, and from Harry C. Morris, a hospital steward from
Richmond. Letters from Woodlands continue throughout the year.
In 1864 there are letters to George from Lucien in Greensboro,
Georgia, and letters regarding plans for Julia's wedding to
Captain J.P. Baltzelle. In May Godfrey wrote to George of his
plans to send Julia and Forrest away before the arrival of the
approaching U.S. Army, and later letters from Julia and others
describe her experiences as a refugee and the experiences of
Godfrey and Mary Quinn who remained. A letter dated 17 September
1864 from Jane Howard describes the experiences of her family
when Sherman's army overtook the area.
There are a few letters from 1865. Godfrey wrote from
Woodlands in March about the shortage of food. After the end of
the war a letter dated 31 July 1865 from an unknown individual
discusses George's plans to emigrate. Also included is a letter
from S.S. Keeling, former fellow medical student and then a
physician in Virginia, giving news of other students.
Folder 7 1861
8 1862
9 1863
10 1864
11 1865
Subseries 1.4 1866-1914
About 100 items.
Chiefly letters recieved by George and Lucien Barnsley after
they emigrated to Brazil in 1866. These are primarily from
Godfrey Barnsley through 14 April 1873. The letters after
Godfrey's death are scattered and disconnected.
In 1866 letters referring to George's efforts to sell a cotton
press while still in Georgia, an accident with the press in which
he suffered a broken leg, and his disappointment in the event in
which he was associated with his former school friend, F.W.
Greene, are included. Also included during this year are letters
from Mrs. C.V. Berrien about Confederate emigration to Mexico,
conditions in Georgia, and about spiritualism. Godfrey wrote of
business conditions, George's and Lucien's plans to go to Brazil,
spiritualism, and George's conversion to Swedenborgiansism.
From 1867 through 1873 the letters are chiefly from Godfrey
Barnsley in New Orleans to George and Lucien in Cuba and in
Brazil about their affairs, business conditions in New Orleans,
politics in Georgia and Louisiana, the plantation, the family,
and conditions of former slaves. During this time George
obtained a diploma as a physician in Brazil and was successful
there, while Lucien operated a drug store. George married Mary
Lemira Emerson, daughter of William Emerson, formerly of
Mississippi, in 1869, and Lucien married Martha Grady, sister of
Emerson's second wife, in 1871.
Letters from after 1873 include a few from Adelaide Barnsley,
daughter of George, who married Manoel Guedes. Also included are
letters to George from Lucien during the time in the 1890s when
George was back in Georgia living at Woodlands. Also included
are letters during the 1890s between George and Isaac W. Avery
who was editing sketches of Georgians for the National Cyclopedia
of American Biography. Avery corresponded with George about
William Scarborough. (See the sketch prepared for Avery's use in
Volume 5 of this collection). There are a few, scattered letters
from the early 1900s between family members. Apparently George's
family had moved back to Brazil. Also included is a letter in
1914 from George to Munsey's Magazine with a draft of an article
that he sent to the magazine about his Civil War experiences.
Folder 12 1866
13 1867-1869
14 Undated, late 1860s
15 1870-1871
16 1872-1875
17 1881-1891
18 1892-1914
Series 2. Financial and Legal Items
1837-1888. About 25 items.
Arrangement: chronological
Chiefly tax receipts for state and county taxes in Savannah,
and taxes for Woodlands between 1837 and 1861. Also included are
a mortgage, dated 1861, on land in Cass County, where George
Barnsley was indebted to A.C. Trimble, and miscellaneous
receipts.
Folder 19 1837-1888
Series 3. Other Items
1838-1918. About 80 items.
Arrangement: by type, then roughly chronologically.
Reminicences, a plantation journal, diaries, and other bound
items (Subseries 3.1); newspaper clippings and pamphlets
(Subseries 3.2); and miscellaneous items (Subseries 3.3).
Subseries 3.1. Reminiscences, Plantation Journal, Diaries, and
Other Bound Items.
1859-1915. 6 items.
Six volumes, including scrapbooks, journals, and miscellaneous
letters and notes.
Folder 20. Volume 1, 138 pages, labelled "Relics of Our
Struggle for Independence". This volume contains a plantation
journal kept by George S. Barnsley when he was managing Woodlands
for his father, January 1859 through 19 April 1861, with his
official Civil War papers pasted in the back. The plantation
journal contains brief records of daily events at Woodlands,
where the labor force included some family slaves, some hired
slaves, and some hired workers. The Civil War papers, 1861-1865,
are orders, passes, oaths of allegiance, etc.
Folder 21. Volume 2, 80 pages, a scrapbook prepared by George
S. Barnsley entitled, "Manassas and the Early Confederacy,"
including newspaper clippings on Manassas, the 8th Georgia
Regiment, and Civil War miscellany, dated 1860 through 1864.
Folder 22. Volume 3, 86 pages, a notebook that belonged to
George Barnsley containing transcriptions made in 1903-1904 of
miscellaneous materials dated 1866-1878. Included is a letter
published in the newspapers of Havana, Cuba, in 1867, about the
wreck of the ship carrying emigrants from the South to Brazil and
thanking the Cubans for aid. Also included is a letter written
from Cuba to the New Orleans Times about the wreck and the aid
given by Cubans, Spanish officials, and the Portuguese consul.
There is also a letter written in Houston, Texas, dated 6
November 1866, for publication in the newspaper of Rome, Georgia,
about the state of Texas, its soil, climate, rainfall, and crops,
and advising that Georgians not move there.
Also included in Volume 3 is a diary, dated 11 September - 21
October 1878, of an attempt made by George Barnsley to re-open
his previously abandoned gold mine in Brazil, and his travels on
leaving the mine after failure to succeed in financing the
operation.
Folder 23. Volume 4, 113 pages, entitled, "Notes on Brazil
During the Years of 1867 to 1880," by George S. Barnsley.
Beginning on page 1 is an account of the McMullen colony, which
left Galveston, Texas, on 24 January 1866, suffered a shipwreck
at Cuba, went to New York, and sailed again from there for Rio de
Janeiro. Also included on page 30 is "Recollections of Sao
Paulo", a geographical and social description of the area.
Folder 24. Volume 5 (request M-1521), a Civil War diary with
autobiographical data and memoranda by George S. Barnsley. The
manuscript of this diary is not in the Southern Historical
Collection which has only a microfilm copy. The microfilm was
made from a manuscript copy of the book made by Barnsley for his
son at Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 1915. At the time of the copying
Barnsley added reminiscences supplementing the diary. For a
complete description of this volume see Series 4.
Folder 25. Volume 6, 94 pages, entitled, "Original of Reply
to a Circular Asking for Information of the Ex-confederate
Emigrants, April 1915", by George S. Barnsley. This volume
contains the following: pp. 1-39, notes on individual emigrants
including George and Lucien; pp. 40-43, ancestry and family
history; pp. 43-67, George's impressions of Brazil; pp. 68-76,
changes in the country since his arrival; pp. 76-84, notes about
his return to the United States, his wish to return to Brazil,
and reasons why he remained in Brazil after his return; and pp.
85-94, random notes.
Subseries 3.2 Newspaper Clippings and Pamphlets
1854-1890 and undated. About 50 items.
Pamphlets chiefly from Oglethorpe University which George
Barnsley attended from 1854 to 1857. Copies of the Oglethorpe
University Magazine from January through July, 1855, are included
as well as commencement programs, addresses, and catalogues of
officers, alumni, and students at Oglethorpe. Also included are
three miscellaneous pamphlets entitled, "Catalogue of the Medical
College of Virginia, 1867-68 ", "History, Confederate Veteran's
Association, 1890", and "Recollections of the Confederate
Government". Also included are newspaper clippings dated
1861-1864 about the Civil War.
Oglethorpe University Magazine
Folder 26 Jan-April, 1855
27 May-July, 1855
Oglethorpe University Miscellaneous
28 1854
29 1855-1860
30 Catalogue of the Medical College of Virginia
31 History, Confederate Veteran's Assoc.
32 Recollections of the Confederate Government
33 Newspaper Clippings
Subseries 3.3 Miscellaneous Material
1838-1918 and undated. About 30 items.
Miscellaneous items, both dated and undated, belonging to the
Barnsley family. Included is a four-page document containing
what appears to be part of a report by C.W. Howard on efforts to
procure in England copies of manuscript records pertaining to the
early history of Georgia. The report includes copies of Howard's
correspondence with officials in England and with descendants of
Charles Wesley and others, written in 1838. Also included are
verses honoring John Day of Savannah, dated 1840.
This subseries also contains numerous compositions written by
George Barnsley, and a grade report for him, between the years
1854 and 1857 when he was at Oglethorpe University. Other items
include an account of a court martial for charges of disobedience
brought against Captain R.G. Earle ("copy of rough draft"), dated
April 1863, and a comment, dated 27 January 1916, made by George
Barnsley on the publication of Indigenous Races of the Earth, by
Josiah C. Nott and George R. Gliddon, and the aid extended to
them by Godfrey Barnsley.
The undated items include a list of wine in storage which
belonged to Godfrey Barnsley, six pages of notes on birds'
characteristics, a summary of the career of Godfrey Barnsley, "My
Poetical Effusions" by George S. Barnsley, and a copy of a
photostat of the Barnsley Family Register compiled in 1890 by
George Barnsley.
Folder 34 1838-1857
35 1863-1918 and undated
Series 4. Microfilm
Film Number: M-1521
Location of Manuscripts: Southern Historical Collection except
for the clippings about "Barnsley Gardens" and volume 5 which
were lent for filming.
Brief Description:
Reel 1. Papers; Volumes 1-4, 6; Clippings about "Barnsley
Gardens" formerly Woodlands Plantation. Negative. Positive.
Reel 2. Volume 5. Negative. Positive
Note that some items from Subseries 3.2 and 3.3 were omitted from
the film.
Description of Volume 5.
Civil War diary with autobiographical data and memoranda of
George Scarborough Barnsley, whose home at the time of this diary
was at Woodlands, near Cassville, Ga. There is a letter, 6 July
1915, identifying this diary as a copy from Barnsley to his son,
Godfrey, for his 44th birthday. Barnsley supplemented the
original diary with reminiscences added into this manuscript
version.
Items in this book are separately paged and without continuous
pagination. This book contains, in addition to the diary, copies
of newspaper clippings dealing with the steamer Savannah and with
Barnsley's ancestor, William Scarborough (pp 1-10 and 1-6); a
letter from Godfrey Barnsley to his son, George S. Barnsley,
1864, about the poem "The Fancy Ball," a copy of this poem
written by Henry B. Anthony during a visit to Savannah in 1837
about a ball given in honor of Godfrey Barnsley, and an
explanation of the circumstances and details of his father's life
(pp. 1-14); a brief biography of Godfrey Barnsley and notes on
the Barnsley coat-of-arms (pp. 1-6); "Charade Rhymes for
Tableaux, Richmond, Va., 1864" (pp. 1-4); and anecdotes of
experiences in Petersburg during the Civil War (pp. 4-5).
The first section of the diary is entitled "A Brief Account
from Memory of my Experiences from 1860 to the begining [sic] of
my Diary" (pp. 1-33). Barnsley describes enlisting with his
brother Lucien in Company A of the 8th Georgia Regiment, training
at Rome, Ga., moving to Winchester, Va., participating in the
First Battle of Manassas, and going home on furlough. On pages
23-33, there are "Random Recollections" of Winchester and
Manassas.
"A True Copy of My Diary from 1862 to 1865 Just as written and
the same order" (pp. 1-97) begins with eight pages of quotations
and excerpts from poems before the diary entries begin.
The diary begins 26 February 1862 when Barnsley returned to
Virginia after a convalescence at home to serve as a clerk with
Dr. Miller in the Confederate Medical Service. He travelled to
Wilmington, N.C., where he met Captain (Commander Robert B.)
Pegram and Paymaster Richard Taylor of the Nashville, C.S.N. He
continued on to the camp of the 8th Georgia Regiment at Manassas
where he began work as secretary to Miller. There is a
description of Manassas Junction (pp. 10-11) and quotations from
books in Miller's office before the diary resumes on 8 March with
a description of a retreat from Manassas, the destruction of
stores there, and his comical, worn-out horse. He marched with
the soldiers through Warrenton to Culpepper Court House. They
left there 16 March, crossed the Rapidan, and camped near Orange
Court House. Barnsley was appointed as clerk in the office of
Dr. Thomas H. Williams, one of the Medical Directors, on 4 April.
He went on a strenuous march with no baggage in bitter weather
from 6-9 April and, on 10 April, began work with Williams at
Gordonsville. He moved to Lynchburg, 22 April, and then
Richmond, 2 June, with Williams who served as Medical Director
and Inspector of Hospitals at Staunton, Charlottesville,
Lynchburg, Petersburg, etc.
From 27 June to 8 July, 1862, Barnsley was with the troops at
the Seven Days battles. Hearing of the fighting, he obtained
leave from Dr. Williams to rejoin the 8th Georgia Regiment
temporarily but was not able to find them at the battlefield so
he ended up serving as clerk for Drs. Johnson and Guild. He
includes descriptions of the battlefields and scattered
information on medical service through this period. Connected
with this but written later (pp. 51-52) are his impressions of
the battle, of the soldiers, and of Generals Magruder and Huger.
There is a gap from July, when Barnsley returned to Danville,
and 16 September when he moved to Lynchburg and summarized life
in Danville. The entry from 28 December summarizes meeting Belle
Boyd in Richmond, social life in Lynchburg, visiting Mr. Jellis,
Launcelot Blackford, and the Blackford family, and joining a
literary club.
In January 1863 Barnsley moved to Richmond where he comments
on life there and Generals J. E. B. Stuart and A. P. Hill and
Surgeon General R. W. Gibbs (p. 61). On 19 April Barnsley
describes visiting Petersburg and Danville. There is an account,
10 May, of joining a company of volunteers from the city during a
period of threatened attack and going on a scouting party under
Colonel Beverly Johnson. He describes the wounded from
Fredericksburg being brought to Richmond (p. 70). On 21 June,
Barnsley relates a visit to Drury's Bluff and social life in
Richmond. There is an account on 13 September of another brief
call to arms followed by a furlough spent at home. Barnsley left
on 15 September on a sixty-day furlough to join the Army of
Tennessee hoping for a temporary volunteer staff position with
General Goode Bryan, which he did not get. He therefore did not
remain with the army but he did describe his visit to the army as
well as another visit later to Bragg's headquarters at Missionary
Ridge. The entry from 21 February 1864 tells of his return to
Richmond where he got a position in a hospital and attended
lectures at the Medical College. Prior to this he had been
studying medicine at night for some time. He comments further on
social life in Richmond and Generals Stuart, Buckner, Morgan, and
President and Mrs. Davis (pp. 78-80).
Barnsley went home for his sister's wedding that summer and
was assigned to the Surgeon General's office upon his return to
Richmond, 19 June 1864. He was on active duty against Sheridan's
army in May and was called out again in June but became ill and
returned to Richmond. There are reminiscences about Barnsley's
home (pp. 86-87) discussing persons whose identities are not
clear. He was on duty at Drury's Bluff building breastworks on
21-29 June, and was back in Richmond by 9 October. He returned
to medical school by 31 December 1864 and was on duty at
Chimborazo Hospital.
By 13 March 1865, Barnsley had taken his M.D. examinations and
the army examinations for assistant surgeon. He summarizes
events in May 1866. He was assigned to Chimborazo Hospital as
assistant surgeon and remained there until the occupation of
Richmond when he was taken prisoner (pp. 92-93 and memoranda pp.
13-18). He was soon allowed to go home by way of Norfolk, New
Bern, and Raleigh. The last section of the diary describes
efforts to get food for the family at Woodlands and varied
efforts to earn a living.
Additional information in this volume includes memoranda
written from memory in June 1915 with random notes on his war
experiences, events at Woodlands after the war, and how he became
a physician (pp. 1-32); "My Poetical Effusions, 1864 and 5" (pp.
1-9); "Rev. William Curtis Emerson, a brief biography," letter by
J. H. Alexander of Kosciusko, Miss., in January 1902 to Emerson's
son, J. G. Emerson, telling of the life of Emerson in Alabama and
Mississippi prior to his emigration to Brazil after the Civil
War; and one letter from Barnsley to his son Godfrey, 26 March
1918, discussing the books of Doctors Nott and Gliddon, probably
Types of Mankind and Indigenous Races of the Earth by Josiah C.
Nott and George R. Gliddon.
SHELF LIST
Box 1 Subseries 1.1 (folder 1)
Subseries 1.2 (folders 2-6)
Subseries 1.3 (folders 7-11)
Subseries 1.4 (folders 12-18)
Series 2 (folder 19)
Subseries 3.1 (folders 20-24)
Box 2 Subseries 3.1 (folder 25)
Subseries 3.2 (folders 26-33)
Subseries 3.3 (folders 34-35)
Items separated:
OP-1521/1
M-1521/1-2