Z 1808.000 Byers Family Papers

Biography-History

Amory Walton Byers' eldest son, John Alemeth, was mustered into Company H, Seventeenth Mississippi Infantry, at Corinth on May 27, 1861. He fought in various battles throughout northern Virginia and was killed in October 1864.

Scope and Content

The collection also contains a small amount of material which will be of interest to Civil War historians. The letters written by John Alemeth Byers while serving in northern Virginia as a private in Company H, Seventeenth Mississippi Infantry, document the general welfare of the company; the number of sick and wounded soldiers; the type of artillery used; the type of clothing issued; the type of food rations issued; and general weather conditions.

Additional items of interest in the collection include a list of personal property belonging to Amory Walton Byers that was expropriated for use by the United States Army in December 1862 and a Spanish-American War letter dated July 8, 1898, which discusses in a rather derogatory manner the personal appearance, manner, and reputation of Seventh Corps commander Major General Fitzhugh Lee during a visit to Camp Cuba Libre, Jacksonville, Florida.

Included are typescripts prepared by Mary Anna Rodgers for the majority of documents in the collection. Byers family genealogical and bible records are provided as well and are very helpful in identifying individuals mentioned in the correspondence. A tintype of an unidentified gentleman and lady is also included.

Series Identification

1. Correspondence. 1859; 18611862; 1864; 18661867; 1869; 18831884; 18861887; 18941895; 18981899; 1901; 1905; 19071909; 19231924; 1930; n.d. 48 items. Box 1, folders 13.
2. Correspondence (typescripts). 1859; 18611862; 1864; 1867; 1869; 18831884; 18861887; 18941895; 18981899; 1901; 1905; 19071909; 19231924; 1930. 41 items. Box 1, folders 36.
3. Tintype. n.d. 1 item. Box 1, folder 7.
4. Genealogical Records. n.d. 6 items. Box 1, folder 8.