P2268 GEORGE ELLIOT SLY: An Inventory of His Diary and Letter at the Minnesota Historical Society Finding aid prepared by Kathryn A. Johnson. Minnesota Historical Society
St. Paul MN.

Manuscripts Collection

 Finding aid encoded by Lyda Morehouse, March 26, 2002.Finding aid written inEnglish August 2008Converted from EAD Version 1.0 to Version 2002 by Monica Manny Ralston, Daniel Sher, and Joyce Chapman. OVERVIEW Minnesota Historical Society Sly, George Eliot, 1846-. George Sly diary and letter. 1862-1864, 1901. A diary (May 1, 1862-March 21, 1864) kept by a drummer in Company A of the 4th Minnesota Infantry Regiment, documenting the company's service in Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee. The diary is accompanied by a 1901 cover letter from Sly attesting to the diary's authenticity and factuality. 1 folder, including 1 volume. BIOGRAPHY OF GEORGE ELIOT SLY

George Sly was born on March 2, 1846 in Addison (Steuben County), New York, the son of Charles and Elizabeth Sly. At some time during George's childhood, the family moved to Belle Plaine, Minnesota, where his father worked as a merchant. On September 30, 1861, Eliot enlisted in Company A of the Fourth Minnesota Regiment of Volunteer Infantry. Since he was too young to join as a soldier, he was mustered in as the company drummer. Sly had been a member of the Belle Plaine Guards, which unit joined with the Carver Greys to form Company A. Sly re-enlisted on January 1, 1864 and was mustered out with the regiment at the end of the war.

 SCOPE AND CONTENTS

The diary contains brief entries that describe the unit's marches, its camp sites, skirmishes, the weather, and troop movements by rail and steamer, while serving in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee. There are mentions of the major battles in which the unit was involved: Corinth, Yazoo Pass, and Vicksburg (Miss.); Helena (Ark.); Huntsville (Ala.); and Chattanooga (Tenn.).

Sly also describes a furlough home to Minnesota (March 5-21, 1864) from Nashville, Tennessee. The diary is accompanied by a 1901 letter from Sly, as well as by some photocopied and transcribed information from other sources giving information about Sly.

 CATALOG HEADINGS

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

 Places: Alabama--History--Civil War, 1861-1865. Arkansas--History--Civil War, 1861-1865. Minnesota--History--Civil War, 1861-1865. Mississippi--History--Civil War, 1861-1865. Tennessee--History--Civil War, 1861-1865. Scott County (Minn.). United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Participation, Juvenile. Organizations: United States. Army. Infantry Regt., 4th (1861-1865). Types of Documents: Diaries. Occupations: Soldiers--Minnesota. ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. George Sly Diary and Letter. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

 Accession Information:

Accession number:1775A5

 Processing Information:

Processed by:Kathryn A. Johnson, January 1998

Catalog ID number:09-00320375

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION P2268 1 George Sly diary and letter, 1862-1864, 1901. 1 folder.