George M. Patton Diaries Inventory (#4946-z)

Manuscripts Department, Library of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Contact Information:

Manuscripts Department

CB#3926, Wilson Library

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC 27514-8890

Phone: 919/962-1345

Fax: 919/962-3594

Email: mss@email.unc.edu

URL: http://www.lib.unc.edu/mss/

Processed by

Linda Sellars

Date Completed

August 1999

Encoded by

Linda Sellars

Descriptive Summary Including Abstract

Title

George M. Patton Diaries (#4946-z) 1998

Creator

Patton, George M. (George McConnell), 1844-1925.

Extent

1 volume

Repository

Southern Historical Collection

Abstract

George McConnell Patton (1844-1925) served in the 98th Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War. The collection includes a photocopy of a typed transcription of the Civil War diaries of George M. Patton, from his enlistment in 1862 until 1865. Diary entries describe Patton's daily activities during his service in Kentucky and Tennessee, as well as during the Atlanta Campaign, Sherman's March to the Sea, and the march north to Alexandria, Va. Daily entries are very brief. Beginning in January 1864, entries are somewhat less frequent, but are also somewhat longer. The last entry is dated 17 May 1865. A few letters are interspersed with the diary entries. Also included are two letters, dated 1918 and 1922, from Patton to his grandson Paul, and a few accounts and other financial items, 1862-1865. The original diaries have been deposited at the Ohio Historical Center in Columbus, Ohio.

Administrative Information

Access

No restrictions.

Usage Restrictions

Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Provenance

Received from Jean Patton Meier of Chapel Hill, N.C., in August 1998 (Acc. 98185).

Online Catalog Terms

Atlanta Campaign.

Kentucky--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.

Patton, George M. (George McConnell), 1855-1925.

Sherman's March to the Sea.

Soldiers--United States--Diaries--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.

Soldiers--United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.

Tennessee--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.

United States. Army. Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment, 98th.

United States. Army--Military life--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives.

Biographical Note

George M. Patton was born in Belmont County, Ohio, on 9 April 1844. He was the eighth of twelve children of Anna Clark and William Patton. He enlisted at the age of 18 in the 98th Ohio Volunteer Infantry on 5 August 1862. He was wounded at the battle of Perryville, Ky., and returned to the ranks to fight under General Steadman at Chickmauga and under General Sherman at Mission Ridge and through to the fall of Atlanta. He was wounded again and traveled in supply wagons on Sherman's March to the Sea. He rejoined his regiment at Savannah, Ga., and remained in the ranks until he was discharged on 7 June 1865.

On 1 January 1868, Patton married M. Louisa Campbell, daughter of John Campbell, M.D. of Uniontown, Ohio. He settled in Harrison County and farmed there. the Pattons had six children: Mary Olive Patton, who married James B. Ely of Detroit, Mich.; Carrie Downing Patton, who married Rev. A. A. Giffen; A. B. C. Patton; Jay B. Patton; M. Keo Patton; and Clark Campbell Patton, M.D.

Patton served one term in the Ohio Legislature, 1886-1887. He was elected an elder of Unity Church (United Presbyterian), 30 October 1893, in Harrison County. In 1908, four years after his wife died, Patton moved to New Athens, Ohio, where he was elected an elder in Unity on 8 November 1924. He died in New Athens on 16 July 1925.

Collection Overview

Photocopy of a typed transcription made in 1998 by Jean Patton Meier of the Civil War diaries of George M. Patton, from his enlistment in 1862 until 1865. Diary entries describe Patton's daily activities during his service in Kentucky and Tennessee, as well as during the Atlanta Campaign, Sherman's March to the Sea, and the march north to Alexandria, Va. Daily entries are very brief, consisting of a sentence or just a word or phrase. The entry for 7 July 1863, for example, reads: "Lay in camp. Nothing doing. Went swimming in Duck river. Drew rations of light bread." Beginning in January 1864, entries are somewhat less frequent, but also are somewhat longer. The last entry is dated 17 May 1865. A few letters are interspersed with the diary entries. Also included are two letters, dated 1918 and 1922, from Patton to his grandson Paul. Cash accounts for 1862 and 1863, a price list for 1864, and accounts for 1865 are also included. The original diaries have been deposited at the Ohio Historical Center in Columbus, Ohio.

Description