HANLEITER, CORNELIUS R., 1815-1897.
Cornelius R. Hanleiter diaries, 1861-1865

Restrictions on access

Unrestricted access.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

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

Source

Source unknown, 1964.

Citation

[after identification of item(s)], Cornelius R. Hanleiter diaries, Manuscript, Archives and Rare Book Library, Emory University.

Biographical Note

Cornelius R. Hanleiter, journalist and Confederate soldier, was born June 14, 1815, in Savannah, Georgia, and died April 24, 1897, in Atlanta, Georgia. Hanleiter moved from Savannah to Macon, Georgia, where he edited the Southern Miscellany; he then moved to Atlanta (1847), and established the National American, which became the Gate City Guardian (at the start of the Civil War), then the Southern Confederacy. In partnership with John H. Rice, he owned the Franklin Printing House.

He entered the Confederate Army (September 1861) as a Lieutenant in the Jo Thompson Artillery of Wright's Legion, 38th Georgia Infantry Regiment, and became a captain. On October 25, 1861, Hanleiter was elected Captain of his company. On November 6, Hanleiter's regiment, under Colonel Augustus R. Wright, received orders to proceed forthwith to Manassas. Their destination was changed to Savannah, which they reached on November 17. His regiment remained at Camp Bartow until January 20, 1862, when they were ordered to a position on Skidaway Island. They stayed there until April 3, when the name of the camp was chanced to Mercer, and removed to a point between Pembrook and Bonny Bell. On June 5, Hanleiter's artillery company (he was Captain) was "detached from the Legion" and ordered to "Beaulieu," apparently nearer to Savannah. On December 20, 1864, Hanleiter's company was ordered into South Carolina. On January 10, 1865, he passed through Charleston to a camp on James Island, but on January 14, his command was ordered back to Charleston.

Publication Note

Diary published as "War Diary of Cornelius R. Hanleiter," edited by Elma S. Kurtz. Atlanta Historical Bulletin, XIV, no. 3 and XV, nos. 1-3.

Scope and Content Note

The collection consists of a microfilm copy of the diary, November 7, 1861-January 14, 1865 of Cornelius R. Hanleiter in five bound volumes of about 75 pages each. Along with these originals is a typed copy of each volume which is microfilmed immediately after the original. The diary documents Hanleiter's service during the Civil War serving mainly in Savannah, coastal Georgia, and the Charleston, South Carolina areas.

Hanleiter writes in considerable detail and almost daily. He describes camp life; lists visitors, officers, wives, children or others; lists the sick and tells how they are treated in hospital and camp; lists the dead and describes the preparation for burial, the religious ceremonies, military honors, and the requirements for transporting bodies. He mentions supplies received; the installation and care of weapons; the preparation and maintenance of fortifications; the layout of camps; the countryside; and the local civilians. He is particularly concerned with problems of discipline, particularly the general inefficiency of many of the officers. Hanleiter lists the type (and sometimes the names) of vessels near the islands and describes the position of the Union fleet, also describing any firing and any damage done.

Arrangement Note

Arranged in chronological order.