John McNulty Clugston papers

The collection consists primarily of four diaries kept by John McNulty Clugston while serving with the 23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Company G, during the Civil War from 1861 May 27 to 1864 July 9. The regiment was based in Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia, and participated in the Battle of Antietam. The diaries contain mostly brief entries regarding regimental actions and skirmishes, camps, scouting expeditions, drills, marches, duties, changes in command, furloughs, deaths, and prisoners and arms captured. Clugston also mentions the weather, food, clothing shortages, war news, court martials, and the arrival of mail. There are several entries discussing activities in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. surrounding the Battle of Antietam in September 1862, including balloon ascensions by Thaddeus Lowe. Company G soldiers Rutherford B. Hayes and William McKinley are occasionally mentioned. In addition, the diaries contain lists of clothing issued or purchased, correspondents, regimental officers and company members, and pay received. The bulk of entries is in ink, with some in pencil.

Also present is one carte-de-visite of a young man, presumably John McNulty Clugston, seated in a chair; the penciled date of 1869 February is on the reverse.

In addition, the collection contains one autograph letter signed from Rutherford B. Hayes, Fremont, Ohio, to Alice V. Clugston, Topeka, Kansas, 1887 September 2, regarding a recent reunion of the 23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He mentions the regiment's receipt of "the valuable diary of your late husband John M. Clugston, our comrade of Co. G.," presumably referring to the 1886 copy of Clugston's diaries now in the Civil War collections at the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museum. Includes addressed envelope. (2 pages)