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Isaac Plumb, Jr. Family Papers
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Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
Isaac Plumb, Jr. (1842-1866) served the Union Army during the Civil War from his enlistment in the fall of 1861 until his death at the Battle of Cold Harbor in 1864, and saw action at Fair Oaks, the Seven Days Battle, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, and Cold Harbor. During his experience as a Union soldier, Plumb's attitudes towards politics, the War, the North and South, and slavery underwent enormous transformations, from wild patriotism, to bitterness, and finally to a more realistic patriotism.
Plumb, the son of Isaac Plumb (1808-1891), a furniture dealer, and Catherine Eliza Grant (1822-1914), was raised in Sherburne, New York, in Chenango County along with his siblings Anna Plumb (1845-1917) and Henry Grant Plumb (1847-1936). After earning his education at Sherburne Academy, Isaac Plumb Jr. began working for Leroy Fairchild's Gold Pen Manufactory. In the autumn of 1861, at the age of 19, Plumb enlisted in the Union Army, mustered in as a sergeant, and was assigned to the 61st New York Infantry Regiment. Over his three years of service, Plumb rose in rank to captain, serving under Francis C. Barlow (1834-1896) and Nelson Appleton Miles (1839-1925). Plumb was initially enthusiastic about the War, feeling that Union had to be preserved and that he wanted to "help give those southern fellows a lesson" (November 12, 1860); however, after his first major battle at Fair Oaks, Plumb quickly began to understand the realities of battle and his expectation of surviving the war diminished. Over the years, he slowly became disillusioned with Abraham Lincoln and the government, the condition of the Union Army, the quality of leadership, the Union's ability to easily defeat the Confederates, and the government's statement that the war was being fought to end slavery. On January 19, 1863, Plumb wrote, "it may sound very unpatriotic and unsoldier-like in me, but I must express my honest opinion. That we are whipped." By the end of 1863, though, Plumb seemed to have regained some confidence in the reasons for the war, determining that slavery was a curse to the country and needed to be ended and that "Abe Lincoln [was] a brick" (December 16, 1863). Throughout his entire army service, Plumb expressed regret and deep sadness about the loss of life and, following the Battle of Antietam, wrote, "as I looked upon the hundreds of the dead upon the battlefield after the battle, I thought of the fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers, and husbands, how they would feel and how much misery that one battle had caused" (September 23, 1862). Plumb died on July 4, 1864, at Campbell Hospital in Washington, D.C., of wounds received on June 11, 1864, at the Battle of Cold Harbor.
The Plumb and Grant families appear to have been very close. Isaac Plumb, Sr. was involved in politics; his brother, David Henry Plumb (1818-1889), was a minister and served in the Union Army in the 18th Army Corps; and his brother-in-law, Henry Grant (1820-1894), was a banker in New York City. During his service, Isaac Plumb Jr. corresponded frequently with his parents; his uncles David and Henry; his siblings Anna and Henry (a successful artist); and his cousin Mary Emily Folger and her husband, William J. Pell.
The Isaac Plumb, Jr. Family Papers, 1767-1929 (bulk 1859-1864), documents the Civil War from the soldier's perspective as well as the home front, detailing the day-to-day life of a Union soldier, with vivid descriptions of camp life, marches, battles, aftermath of battles, upheaval of the ranks, morale issues, and disillusionment; and from the perspective of family and friends not involved in the fighting, but actively offering opinions of politics and military tactics, and expressing their fear and worry about their loved ones.
The collection is arranged in two series, "Captain Isaac Plumb Papers, 1859-1864" and "Plumb Family Papers, 1767-1929." Researchers should be aware that Plumb family material may be found within Captain Plumb's correspondence, as the correspondence has been maintained as a complete set of letters to and from Plumb during his service.
Purchased, 2012.
The three swords require special handling. Please consult with Public Services staff.
This collection was processed by Holly Mengel in 2012. Finding aid written by Holly Mengel in 2012.
During 2022, restrictions on three swords were lifted as part of a restrictions review project.
No material was separated during 2012 processing.
People
- Fuller, Charles A.
- Grant, Henry L., 1820-1894
- Pell, William J.
- Plumb, Catherine Eliza Grant, 1822-1914
- Plumb, David Henry, 1818-1889
- Plumb, Henry Grant, 1847-1936
- Plumb, Isaac, b. 1808
- Plumb, Isaac, Jr., 1842-1864
Subject
- Furniture industry and trade--New York--19th century
- Soldiers -- United States -- 19th century -- Correspondence
- United States. Army. New York Infantry Regiment, 61st
Place
- Publisher
- Manuscripts Division
- Finding Aid Author
- Holly Mengel
- Finding Aid Date
- 2012
- Access Restrictions
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The collection is open for research.
- Use Restrictions
-
Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. No further photoduplication of copies of material in the collection can be made when Princeton University Library does not own the original. Inquiries regarding publishing material from the collection should be directed to RBSC Public Services staff through the Ask Us! form. The library has no information on the status of literary rights in the collection and researchers are responsible for determining any questions of copyright.
Collection Inventory
Captain Plumb served with the 61st New York Infantry Regiment from 1861 to 1864. In order for the letters and documents to be placed in historical context, the following summary of the regiment's activities is included. In 1861, the 61st New York Infantry Regiment left New York City on November 1, traveled towards Washington, DC, and arrived at Camp California near Alexandria, Virginia on November 28.
In 1862, the Regiment revolted against Colonel Cone and Major Masset (Cone was discharged on April 14 and Massett was killed in action at Battle of Fair Oaks), fought the Battle of Fair Oaks (or Seven Pines) from May 31 to June 1, fought the Seven Days Battle (during which Captain Plumb saw action at Savage Station, Peach Orchard, White Oak Swamp, Glendale, and Malvern Hill) from June 25 to July 1, fought the Battle of Antietam from September 16 to 17, performed reconnaissance to Charlestown from October 16 to 17, and fought in the Battle of Fredericksburg from December 12 to 15.
In 1863, the Regiment participated in the "Mud March" from January 20 to 24, fought the Battle of Chancellorsville from May 1 to 5, fought the Battle of Gettysburg from July 1 to 4, pursued Lee from through Virginia and served on the line of the Rappahannock and to Rapidan, fought at Bristoe Station on October 14, fought at Mine Run from November 26 to December 2, and set up camp at Stevensburg, where they would remain until May of 1864. In 1863, William Pell writes of the riots in New York City which resulted from the institution of the draft.
In 1864, the Regiment was camped at Stevensburg until May, fought at the Battle of the Wilderness from May 5 to 7 (during which Captain Plumb saw action at Todd's Tavern), fought at Spotsylvania from May 8 to 12 (during which Captain Plumb saw action at Po River), fought at North Anna River from May 23 to 26, and fought at Cold Harbor from June 1 to 12. Captain Plumb was wounded on June 11 and was transported to Campbell Hospital in Washington, D.C., where he died on July 4. At the time of his wound and hospitalization, there were a number of letters sent between family members about Captain Plumb's condition, the seriousness of the wound, and conditions within the hospital. There is also a letter describing the situation in which Captain Plumb received his wound. A number of telegrams were sent, including one at the time of Captain Plumb's death. Following his death, there are number of letters of condolence.
This series is arranged in two subseries: "Personal Letters and Documents, 1859-1864" and "Official Letters and Documents, 1861-1864."
Physical Description5 boxes
The bulk of "Personal Letters and Documents" is correspondence written to and from Captain Plumb from 1859 to his death in July 1864, with correspondents almost exclusively including his parents, Isaac and Catherine Eliza Plumb; his brother, Henry Grant Plumb; his sister, Anna Smith Plumb; his uncles, David Henry Plumb and Henry L. Grant; and his cousin's husband William J. Pell. As a group, provide a full view of Captain Plumb's experiences as a Union soldier; his family's political perspectives; issues of the home front, including family, rising prices, the ever growing gap of differing opinions between soldiers and civilians, and the riots in New York City following the institution of the draft; and issues of slavery and race. One folder of correspondence contains letters written at the time of and shortly following Captain Plumb's wound and subsequent death, and these are largely family letters written about Captain Plumb and their loss at his death. Other material within this subseries includes lists of soldiers, information regarding memorials erected by his family, his obituaries, his wallet and its contents at the time of his death, and songs and ephemera related to the Civil War.
These letters are arranged chronologically. As a group, provide a full view of Captain Plumb's experiences as a Union soldier; his family's political perspectives; issues of the home front, including family, rising prices, the ever growing gap of differing opinions between soldiers and civilians, and the riots in New York City following the institution of the draft; and issues of slavery and race.
Physical Description4 boxes
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These three swords are presumed to have belonged to Captain Isaac Plumb. Acquiring a special sword is mentioned in Captain Plumb's correspondence with his uncle Henry Grant on December 20 and 29, 1862 and February 10, 1863; however, it is difficult to know if any of the swords in the collection are the ones referred to in the letters.
The first sword, circa 1848 to 1861, was made by Thomas Warren. It is 37.5 inches with a metal pommel, a metal crossguard with the guard wrapped in leather, and a grip wrapped in decorative wire. It's double-edge straight blade has decorative engraving and is stamped "Warren, 23 Cursitor St. London." The second sword is 40 inches with a metal pommel, a wooden grip, and a curved blade stamped "H & C" near the crossguard. The last sword is 31.5 inches with a metal pommel in the shape of a plumed helmet, a double-edged straight blade with decorative engraving, and a crossguard with a patriotic shield emblem.
Physical Description1 box
This item was originally housed in Box 2, Folder 11, "Wallet of Captain Isaac Plumb, Contents at the Time of His Death." Following conservation, it was placed in its own folder.
Physical Description1 folder
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The "Official Letters and Documents" include materials generated by Captain Plumb's connection with the Union Army, including regimental account books, correspondence, muster rolls, ordinance reports, orders, and quartermaster records, to name only a few. Of interest is a proceedings of a regimental court martial on which Captain Plumb served as a judge advocate and which charged James Hanlon, Thomas Fannon, Michael Gallagher, and John Curly of absence without leave and disobedience. Finally, there are official documents regarding Captain Plumb's death.
These materials are arranged in alphabetical order.
Physical Description3 boxes
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Within this series, the largest number of materials were created by Isaac Plumb, Sr. , including his furniture business records, correspondence to and from him, financial records, and his own military records from his service in the Third Company of National Guards in the 27th Regiment of the New York State Artillery. Other family members included in this series are Isaac Plumb, Sr.'s wife, Catherine Eliza Plumb; his brother-in-law, Henry L. Grant; his father, David Plumb; his mother, Hannah Doty Plumb; his son Henry Grant Plumb; and his daughter, Anna Plumb Smith. Plumb family genealogy is also included, as is material from families presumably connected to the Plumb and Grant families, such as the Berrion, Cook, and Leverick families. Finally, there is a small amount of material created by Captain Plumb's fellow soldiers, Miles Bullock and Charles Fuller. Charles Fuller was a close friend of Captain Plumb's who was wounded at Gettysburg in 1863 and was discharged from service after his leg was amputated. Researchers should be aware that Bullock and Fuller letters, as well as many references to them, may be found within Captain Plumb's personal correspondence. Finally, this series contains material presumably created by Plumb family members who are unidentified. Included are a few letters, a diary, ephemera, a course of lectures, photograph albums with some photographs identified, and Sherburne tax books.
The "Plumb Family Papers, 1767-1929" are arranged alphabetically by creator.
Physical Description4 boxes
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The photograph of a bearded gentleman (Forshew photographer, Hudson, NY) is Leroy Smith, who married Anna Plumb, the daughter of Isaac and Catherine Plumb. The couple first lived in Hudson, then in Albany. The photograph of a woman (Rockwood, New York) is probably Emily Grant, the unmarried sister of Catherine Plumb, referred to as "Aunt Em" by Ikey, Anna, and Henry Plumb.
Physical Description1 folder
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