Manuscripts Collection
William A. Spaulding was born in Maine in 1842 and settled with his family in Monticello, Minnesota in 1856. He served in the Civil War from 1862 to 1865. Following the war he worked in railroad surveying and construction and went on to study dentistry. In 1875 he graduated from the Ohio College of Dental Surgery. He returned to Minnesota to practice and in 1883 he became a professor of prosthetic dentistry at the Minnesota Dental College, later becoming dean. From 1893 to 1912 he practiced dentistry in Europe. He returned to Minnesota in 1912 and died on October 17, 1913.
The first diary (January 1, 1861-January 10, 1862) was written in Clearwater and Monticello, Minnesota and contains entries about Spaulding's activities and his plans to enlist. The second diary (April 19, 1862-Feb. 27, 1863) covers Spaulding's early experiences during the Civil War including camp life, marches, and battles including Pittsburg Landing (Shiloh, Tennessee), Perryville (Kentucky), and Stones River (Murfreesboro, Tennessee). The third diary (June 5, 1864-August 16, 1865) includes entries for the end of the war, Spaulding's return to Minnesota and being mustered out.
Also included are typed transcripts of the diaries, a genealogical chart of the Spaulding and related families, and a biography, "Life Sketch of Dr. W. A. Spaulding" that gives information on his experiences following the war, his career as a dentist in Minnesota and Europe, and his family.
Two other diaries covering Spaulding's Civil War experiences from February 27 to September 13, 1863 and from September 14, 1863 to May 19, 1864, transcripts of those diaries, and a religious class book from his regiment are in the Francis S. Flint and family papers in the Minnesota Historical Society manuscripts collections.
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
Accession number: 16,050
Processed by: Anne Levin, December 2005
Catalog ID number: 3740763
In daily entries Spaulding gives brief information on the weather, his activities, and the people he sees. He works in a store from January to September, 1861 and at the end of September starts going to school. He writes about military meetings, drilling, and in May 1861 he writes that he has enlisted for the war.
This diary starts with Spaulding in the Second Minnesota Light Artillery Battery at Fort Snelling preparing to go to St. Louis. Spaulding describes daily camp activities, marches, and battles including Pittsburg Landing (Shiloh, Tennessee), Perryville (Kentucky), and Stones River (Murfreesboro, Tennessee). He gives information about other soldiers and officers, his health, and letters he has sent and received.
The entry for February 27th says "Sent this book home by the captain." Includes notes and lists at back of diary. There are lists of his clothing costs, what pieces of clothing he has, messmates, and a list of camp locations.
Includes brief entries about camps, marches, other soldiers, being hospitalized, and arrests of soldiers. Later entries describe his work proving muster rolls at headquarters in Chattanooga, entertainment, his transfer to Philadelphia, Tennessee, the assassination of President Lincoln, and the return trip to Minnesota as Spaulding leaves Tennessee, receptions for soldiers in St. Paul and Wright County, and mustering out of service on August 16, 1865.
The transcripts (27 pages) were prepared by Katherine Barrows Moule and Elizabeth Barrows King, descendants of William A. Spaulding.
There are no typed transcripts for the period of January 17-December 31, 1861, though the diary itself does have entries for those dates.
A genealogical chart of four generations of Spaulding's family. The chart starts with his parents' generation and spans from 1809 to 1969.
The chart was prepared by James Moule.
The "Life Sketch of Dr. W. A. Spaulding" details his life, work, family, religious background, and his involvement in Masonry.