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Julius Hall and Jared Kimberly Papers of the 1st California Regiment
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Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]
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Julius C. Hall (1840-1913) and his friend Jared T. Kimberly (1840-1917) grew up together in rural Wallingford, Connecticut and went to California to seek their fortunes during the early days of the Civil War. Hiking through the wilderness from San Francisco to Oregon, they nearly lost their lives in an Indian attack. They enlisted together in Company K of the 1st California Volunteers Infantry Regiment, which embarked on an epic march from San Francisco to Fort Craig in New Mexico. They encountered the occasional Confederate sympathizer, but more often, Apaches and Navajos who were resisting American encroachment into their territory.
Julius C. Hall, son of Jeremiah A. (1807-1892) and Jemima Field (1807-1858) Hall, was raised on a farm in Wallingford, Connecticut, along with his siblings, Henry D. (1836-1923), J. Atwater (1838-1900), and Harriet (b. 1843). After the death of their mother, their father married Ursula Palmer (d. 1903). The family appears to have been close, with Henry D. and J. Atwater Hall working together as butchers during the war. Hall left Wallingford in August, 1861, to travel to California and the West, mentioning in several of his letters his desire to see the country. On November 9, 1861, encouraged by fellow travelers, Hall and Kimberly enlisted in Company K of the 1st California Volunteers Infantry Regiment. Company K traveled, largely by foot, from California, to Arizona, to Texas, and to New Mexico during their three years of service. Although coming into contact, occasionally, with Confederate soldiers and Native Americans, it appears that neither Hall nor Kimberly participated in any conflicts with either. Many of their days were spent marching, at camp, or building fortifications. Hall mustered out of service on November 29, 1864, and returned to Connecticut, where he joined his brothers in working as a butcher. He married Mary B. Higgins (b. 1843) and they were the parents of Mabel C. Hall (1878-1957). Hall maintained contact with his fellow soldier, George H. Pettis, and wrote several versions of his memoirs, which were never published. He died in 1913.
Jared T. Kimberly, the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Olds Kimberly, also grew up in Wallingford, Connecticut, apparently friends of Julius C. Hall and his brothers, Henry D. and J. Atwater Hall. With Hall, he traveled to California and Oregon, and enlisted in Company K. His experiences were similar to Hall's, although it is difficult to determine if they were sent on different details during the war. After mustering out of the United States Army, Kimberly also returned to Wallingford, where he became a dentist. He married Charlotte Francis Chatfield (1851-1924), and they had one son, Jared Raymond Kimberly (1878-1945). Kimberly died in 1917.
The Julius Hall and Jared Kimberly Papers on the 1st California Regiment contains first-hand accounts of two men from Connecticut who served as Union soldiers in Company K from 1861 to 1864. The collection consists of Julius C. Hall's correspondence with his family, an article written by him detailing his experiences during his service, and three versions of his unpublished memoirs; and Jared T. Kimberly's diary and letters. Together, these accounts provide a fascinating glimpse into Civil War service, far from the main campaigns and battles of the Civil War. Both men are fiercely patriotic, but, at the same time, critical of the political environment of the early 1860s. Perhaps because neither of the soldiers appears to have seen any action in the war, they did not become as disillusioned with the war as many who fought in battles on the east coast of the United States. They were openly hostile towards the Native Americans, basing much of their discussion and, probably, their own opinions upon atrocity stories told by their fellow soldiers. On several occasions, they both relate, in letters or in diary, the same event and subsequent consequences. While Hall appears to have been fairly satisfied with army life and his time in California, Arizona, and New Mexico, Kimberly was critical of the area, the forts, and army life. Both men regularly expressed their desire to return to their home in Connecticut.
Researchers interested in the Civil War, generally, and the Civil War in California and the Southwest, in particular, will find this collection to be extremely valuable. Researchers interested in soldiers' opinions on the federal government during the Civil War should consult the letters of both Hall and Kimberly. Further, the memorialization of the war is well documented by Hall's article, memoirs, and correspondence with George H. Pettis, who wrote a regimental history of Company K of the 1st California Volunteer Infantry (included in the collection).
Arranged in three series.
Purchased in 2013.
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This collection was processed by Holly Mengel in 2013. Finding aid written by Holly Mengel in 2013.
No materials were removed during 2013 processing.
People
Organization
Subject
Place
- Publisher
- Manuscripts Division
- Finding Aid Author
- Holly Mengel
- Finding Aid Date
- 2013
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The collection is open for research.
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Collection Inventory
This series is arranged alphabetically by type of record.
"Series I. Julius C. Hall" contains letters written by and to Hall during his service in the Civil War with the 1st California Regiment, Company K, as well as his reminisces of his experiences in the years following the war. He appears to have felt that his experiences were exciting and worthy of remembering, as he wrote an article; corresponded with George H. Pettis, a fellow soldier; and wrote several drafts of his memoirs which were never published.
The series includes an article written by Hall and published in National Tribune; a printed ballad honoring "Brave Bill Anthony;" correspondence between Hall and his family; letters from his fellow soldier George H. Pettis who wrote a history of Company K (included) and maintained information on its soldiers; three versions of Hall's memoirs; and several copies of muster rolls, both printed and handwritten. The letters between Hall and his siblings, Henry D., J. Atwater, and Harriet Hall, are by far the most exciting aspect of the series in which he describes his experiences and his siblings report on life in Wallingford, Connecticut. J. Atwater Hall served in the band of the 5th Connecticut Volunteers and there are a few references to his own Civil War memories included in his letters to his brother Julius. There is also one letter from Hall's father, Jeremiah A. Hall, and his stepmother, Ursula Palmer Hall.
Hall's letters are extremely descriptive, and chronicle his experiences from the start of his adventures in California, to his enlistment, to actual service during the Civil War. Despite seeing very little action (it appears that neither Hall nor Kimberly actually participated in any conflict with Confederate soldiers or Native Americans), Hall wrote of his appreciation of the scenery in the southwest, the camps and forts in which he was stationed, and his impressions of army life. He appeared to appreciate that his conditions were better than his fellow soldiers serving on the east coast and mentioned, regularly, in his letters home, that he was healthy, fit, well-fed, and that the life of a soldier suited him. Despite his satisfaction, he frequently wrote of his desire to return to his home and family.
Hall's letters discuss his impressions of the Native Americans, particularly the Apache, Navaho, Pima, and Yuma tribes; the natural surroundings, including animals and vegetation; the political situation in the United States with extra venom directed towards the Copperheads; the federal victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg; and the presidential election in 1864. Hall's impressions of the Native Americans are generally negative, and in a letter dated March 20, 1864, Hall writes, "I think that the time when the North American Indian will be extinct is fast approaching." (Box 1, Folder 4). Although Hall interacted with Native Americans, the majority of his opinions appear to be based upon atrocity stories which he did not actually witness.
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This series is arranged in alphabetical order by type of material.
"Series II. Jared T. Kimberly" contains a diary (with transcript) and letters from Kimberly to his friends (and the brothers of Julius C. Hall), Henry D. and J. Atwater Hall. Unlike Hall, Kimberly appears to have been dissatisfied with the Southwest and with service in Company K. Like Hall, however, Kimberly was extremely patriotic and never questioned the need for fighting the Civil War.
Kimberly's diary begins on August 10, 1861, when he and Julius Hall left Wallingford for an adventure in California, and describes their sea voyage to San Francisco where they arrived on September 5, 1861. The diary also describes their early experiences in California, where they worked for several months before enlisting in Company K on November 9, 1861. The very matter-of-fact diary chronicles, with little emotion, almost every day of his Civil War service, with the last entry written on October 4, 1864. Almost every entry includes information on the quality of water and the amount of wood available to the soldiers, appearing to be every bit as important to Kimberly as a note stating, "One of the Indian children was run over today and killed" (February16, 1864, Box 1, Folder 15). Although lacking emotion, the entries are still quite descriptive, providing researchers with a brief synopsis of four years of service.
In stark contrast to his diary, Kimberly's letters are passionate, and frequently angry, epistles, in which he describes his dislike of the countryside; the forts and camps; the Native Americans; the political situation, and particularly the actions of the Copperheads; the progress of the Civil War; and indeed, even his choices of regiments in which he served. He states, in a letter dated June 19, 1863, "I have said several times before I should rather be in a place where I could serve the country directly instead of serving indirectly as we always have since we have been in the service" (Box 1, Folder 15). He, like Hall, wrote frequently of his desire to return to Connecticut.
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This series is arranged alphabetically by creator.
"Series III. Family Papers" contains a small number of papers created by the families of Julius C. Hall and his wife Mary B. Higgins Hall. The nature of all the relationships has not been determined, however, when it is known, it is noted in the finding aid. These materials do not provide much additional context for the lives of Julius C. Hall or Jared T. Kimberly.
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