BROWN, LUCIUS FRANKLIN, 1839-1863.
Lucius Franklin Brown papers, 1858-1863

Restrictions on access

Unrestricted access.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

All requests subject to limitations noted in departmental policies on reproduction.

Source

Loaned for microfilming, 1965.

Citation

[after identification of item(s)], Lucius Franklin Brown, Manuscript, Archives and Rare Book Library, Emory University.

Processing

Processed by MRD, December 6, 1965.

Biographical Note

Lucius Franklin Brown, 1839 October 10, 1863, was the son of Bradford Bird and Charlotte Maria Wilcox Brown who, in 1832, moved to Columbus, Ohio from Alford, Massachusetts with two small daughters Olivia Maria, seven, and Virginia Sophia, two. Lucius's mother died in 1840 when Lucius was only a year old so that he was brought up by his older sister Olivia. Lucius attended public school in Columbus and lived with an uncle for several years in Farmington, Connecticut and attended school there. He was engaged to Emmeline McClelland, who, after his death, devoted herself to church work and never married. Lucius was one of the earliest recruits of the 18th Ohio Infantry Regiment and was promoted on June 25, 1862 from Sergeant to 2nd Lieutenant. On July 15, 1863 he became a 1st Lieutenant. He was at Camp Thomas, Columbus, Ohio until March 15, 1863 when he went by train, boat and on foot to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, then on July 15, 1863 to Cowan, Tennessee, then on August 15, 1863 to "near Anderson," Tennessee, then to Chattanooga on September 15, 1863 by way of Bridgeport. In the Battle of Chickamauga, on September 20, he received 6 wounds, one of which was severe. He was taken to a hospital which was attacked and he was made a prisoner. For 5 days and nights he lay "almost wholly uncared for" and was then brought by fellow prisoners "under a flag of truce" to an officers' hospital where he died.

Scope and Content Note

The collection consists of a microfilm copy of a typescript of 29 letters and an appendix composed of a summary of the Brown Flowers family history; excerpts from letters, 1847-1860, in which Lucius is mentioned; excerpts from Olivia Maria Brown's diary, 1862; a biographical essay on General Henry B. Carrington; a sketch on the 18th Ohio Infantry Regiment; and a brief note on "The Band of the 18th".

Of the letters, 26 were written by Lucius F. Brown to his sister Olivia Maria (mainly), 2 were by Olivia Maria to Lucius, and 2 by his sister Virginia Sophia Brown Flowers to Lucius. Included also is a power of attorney, dated August 17, 1863 by Lucius constituting Bradford B. Brown, his attorney, to act in his name, photocopies of 2 pictures of Emma [Kline] McClelland, and 1 of General Carrington, and 3 of pencil sketches of camp scenes by Lucius. The letters by Lucius are written in a chatty style, revealing much detailed information about camp life, the books he read, the people he met, and his own attitudes and reactions to all that goes on, and to the Southern country and people.