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Robert B. McKee papers
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Held at: University of Delaware Library Special Collections [Contact Us]181 South College Avenue, Newark, DE 19717-5267
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the University of Delaware Library Special Collections. 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
Robert B. McKee received his medical training at Pennsylvania Medical College in 1859. Leaving his hometown of Middletown, Delaware, in 1861, McKee volunteered to serve as a surgeon in the Civil War. He worked as a hospital steward and an assistant surgeon for most of the war in Company B of the 1st Delaware Volunteer Cavalry in various areas of Virginia and Maryland.
Napoleon B. Knight, with whom McKee seems to have shared a close friendship (see the letters of March 1865), organized the 1st Delaware Volunteer Cavalry on August 13, 1862. Following his release from active duty in the summer of 1865, McKee returned temporarily to Middletown before moving to Delaware City, Delaware.
McKee was married to Anna M. McKee, who received a widow's pension in 1901 for the service her husband rendered his country during the Civil War.
Scharf, Thomas J.History of Delaware. (Philadelphia: L. J. Richards & Co., 1888), 371, 507. Index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Delaware. (Washington: National Archives and Records Service, 1964, microform).Historical and biographical information obtained from the collection.
The Robert B. McKee papers consist of correspondence, military orders, medical supply inventories, casualty reports, and other material related to his service as a surgeon in the 1st Delaware Calvary regiment during the Civil War.
The papers, dated from 1861 to 1865, plus one item dated in 1901, comprise sixty-six items, including correspondence, military orders, medical supply inventories, casualty reports, military passes, circulars, newspapers, and personal essays.
The first sixty-five items, arranged chronologically, are related to McKee's experience in the Civil War, spent primarily as an assistant surgeon with the 1st Delaware Volunteer Cavalry. The final document is a widow's pension certificate which his wife, Anna M. McKee, received July 15, 1901.
With the recommendations of several associates from his hometown of Middletown, Delaware, including the doctor who trained him, McKee enlisted in the U.S. Army with the hope of serving his country by providing his medical skills as a surgeon. Many of the documents reveal the bureaucratic side of waging a war: supply inventories, lists of sick and wounded, requisition orders, medical transfers, and responses to requests for reports. McKee served at Drummondtown, Virginia, as well as at Baltimore, Monrovia, and Relay House, all in Maryland.
About half of the documents reveal the logistical requirements of providing medical attention for army personnel. The other half of the documents relate to McKee's struggle to receive his final pay after some supplies under his care were either lost or damaged. Internal evidence suggests that the surgeon who served previously to McKee may have caused this problem that plagued McKee for some time after his release from service. The widow benefits McKee's wife eventually received indicate that the problem was resolved.
Two other documents of particular interest are a newspaper,
The Regimental Flag, published by the 2nd Regiment of Delaware Volunteers and an unsigned, undated essay believed to have been authored by McKee.Arranged in chronological order.
- Box 1: Shelved in SPEC MSS manuscript boxes (1 inch)
- Removals in SPEC MSS oversize boxes (32 inches)
Access to digitized versions of the Robert B. McKee papers is available at University of Delaware Digital Institutional Repository.
Gift of Charles Howells, 1956.
Processed by Ryan K. Thompson, July 2001. Encoded by Anita Wellner, November 2012.
People
- McKee, Robert B.
- McKee, Anna M.
- Burton, William, 1789-1866
- Eckler, James N.
- Simpson, S. J.
- Barnes, Joseph K., 1817-1883
- Laurence, Samuel B.
- Speel, F.
- Hamilton, William N.
- Heald, Thomas
- Massey, George V.
- Jones, Theodore
- Shields, J. Hayes
- Clark, D. C.
- Lobdell, William W.
- Bliss, Zenas E.
- Woodward, Joseph Janvier, 1833-1884
- Cummings, A.
- Knight, N. B.
- Rice, N. P.
- Cox, C. C.
- Johnson, Henry
- Billings, John
- Perry, Alexander J. (Alexander James), 1828-1913
- Card, Benj. C. (Benjamin Cozzens), 1825-1914
- Frank, E. B.
Organization
Subject
- Soldiers--Medical care--United States--Civil War, 1861-1865
- Soldiers--Health--United States--Civil War, 1861-1865
- Soldiers--Correspondence--United States--Civil War, 1861-1865
- Surgeons--Correspondence--United States--Civil War, 1861-1865
Place
- Delaware--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
- Maryland--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
- Virginia--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Occupation
- Publisher
- University of Delaware Library Special Collections
- Finding Aid Author
- University of Delaware Library, Special Collections
- Finding Aid Date
- 2012 December 5
- Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open for research.
- Use Restrictions
-
Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. Please contact Special Collections, University of Delaware Library, http://library.udel.edu/spec/askspec/
Collection Inventory
Letter of recommendation to appoint Robert McKee as assistant surgeon for the 2nd Delaware regiment, with added notes of concurrence by W. N. Barr and two other residents of Odessa, Delaware.
Physical Description1 item (3 pages)
Letter from the War Department advising McKee to report for examination by the Medical Board.
Physical Description1 item (1 page)
Newspaper published by the 2nd Regiment of the Delaware Volunteers. Removed to oversize box (32 inch).
Physical Description1 item (4 page)
Letter for General Lockwood ordering McKee to report to the post hospital at Drummondtown, Virginia.
Physical Description1 item (1 page)
A partially completed autograph document in spreadsheet form which listed the numbers of sick and wounded soldiers with notes on allotments of vegetables and meat made.
Physical Description1 item (2 pages)
A partially completed autograph document in spreadsheet form which listed the numbers of sick and wounded soldiers with notes on allotments of vegetables and meat made.
Physical Description1 item (2 p.)
Autograph document in spreadsheet form intended to list numbers of sick and wounded soldiers with notes on issues of vegetables and meat made with no information added.
Physical Description1 item (2 pages)
Jones requested a certificate of disability so that he could receive his bounty and pension.
Physical Description1 item (1 page)
Clark requested to be sent to Washington, D. C. for medical treatment. J. Hayes Shields certified the request. Additional notes, found on the reverse side, include the signatures of N. B. Knight, William H. Penrose, and S. A. Holman.
Physical Description1 item (2 pages)
Lobdell requested to be sent to Washington, D. C. for medical treatment. J. Hayes Shields certified the request. Additional notes are found on the reverse side and include the signatures of N. B. Knight, William H. Penrose, and S. A. Holman.
Physical Description1 item (2 pages)
Shields reported that both he and McKee were on duty at this post.
Physical Description1 item (1 page)
Brigadier General Lockwood assigned Surgeon C. F. H. Campbell to 3rd Separate Brigade as Medical Director.
Physical Description1 item (1 page)
Printed form with autograph information added and forwarded by J. Hayes Shields of the 1st Delaware Calvary from Monrovia, Maryland. Removed to oversize (32 inch).
Physical Description1 item (4 pages)
Bliss enclosed invoices for Shield's signature.
Physical Description1 item (1 page)
Request is approved by Brigadier General E. B. Tyler and Major General Wallace.
Physical Description1 item (2 pages)
This a second copy of the previous item which is approved by Brigadier General E. B. Tyler and Major General Wallace. There is an additional note explaining the deletion of the ambulance from the request.
Physical Description1 item (2 pages)
List of medical supplies sent to Shields at Monrovia, Maryland.
Physical Description1 item (1 page)
Shield reports that he has received the receipt for medical supplies.
Physical Description1 item (2 pages)
List of materials received at Monrovia, Maryland, for the 1st Delaware Calvary.
Physical Description1 item (2 pages)
Requisition for supplies for a three month period at Monrovia, Maryland post.
Physical Description1 item (7 pages)
Request for the May 1864 report of sick and wounded. The verso bears an autograph note from J. Hayes Shield noting that the report was lost.
Physical Description1 item (2 pages)
Form with autograph list of medicines and supplies delivered to McKee at Monrovia, Maryland.
Physical Description1 item (1 page)
Cumming enclosed bill of lading and invoice for recent supplies.
Physical Description1 item (1 page)
Cox enclosed invoice and receipts for medical and hospital stores which were delivered to Cumming. Includes one invoice of medicines and hospital stores.
Physical Description2 item (3 pages)
McKee explained a missing report of the sick and wounded.
Physical Description1 item (2 pages)
Shields sent invoices and receipts for supplies to be signed and returned by McKee.
Physical Description1 item (1 page)
The verso bears an autograph letter from McKee, dated December 31, 1864, transmitting the receipts for medical stores.
Physical Description1 item (1 page)
McKee transmitted receipts for supplies.
Physical Description1 item (2 pages)
List of medical supplies sent to J. Hayes Shields at Monrovia, Maryland.
Physical Description1 item (1 page)
List of medical supplies with prices.
Physical Description1 item (2 pages)
McKee explains the missing report on the sick and wounded.
Physical Description1 item (1 page)
Simpson requests report of sick and wounded.
Physical Description1 item (1 page)
McKee previously transmitted the needed report but is sending a second report for the same period.
Physical Description1 item (2 pages)
An extract of an order restoring Lt. Colonel N. B. Knight to his command in the 1st Delaware Calvary.
Physical Description1 item (1 page)
Knight enclosed the order restoring him to command and requested his belongings be sent to him.
Physical Description1 item (1 page)
Knight acknowledged an earlier letter. On the verso is a portion of another letter to an unidentified person and concerns the loss of his command.
Physical Description1 item (2 pages)
Orders for Robert McKee to report for assignment. On the verso are orders, written April 5, 1865, for McKee to remain where he is currently serving signed by Captain C. Churchman.
Physical Description1 item (2 pages)
Requested McKee recommend an enlisted man to serve as a hospital steward.
Physical Description1 item (1 page)
McKee ordered to report to Surgeon N. P. Rice for temporary duty at headquarters, Relay House, Maryland, by order of Brigadier General E. B. Tyler.
Physical Description1 item (1 page)
McKee requests permission to visit Baltimore on personal business.
Physical Description1 item (2 pages)
Five hour leave of absence granted to McKee.
Physical Description1 item (1 page)
McKee ordered to return to duty at Monrovia, Maryland.
Physical Description1 item (1 page)
Rice requested instructions on behalf of McKee regarding medical stores for which he is responsible. On the verso is a note declining to give a decision and returning the letter.
Physical Description1 item (3 pages)
Johnson requested invoices from McKee.
Physical Description1 item (1 page)
McKee explained that on July 1, 1865, he shipped the boxes of supplies and invoices to Surgeon Sutherland in Washington, D.C.
Physical Description1 item (1 page)
McKee requested information regarding the shipment of goods stored by Speel.
Physical Description1 item (1 page)
Draft of a letter listing items which were not included on a receipt.
Physical Description1 item (1 page)
Johnson returned McKee's receipt and explained why certain items are not included in the receipt.
Physical Description1 item (2 pages)
Billings requested McKee return the invoices and an affidavit regarding disputed items transported on July 15, 1865, to settle the issue.
Physical Description1 item (1 page)
Affidavit from McKee regarding the missing medical stores.
Physical Description1 item (1 page)
List of regulations in McKee's handwriting.
Physical Description1 item (2 pages)
McKee requested a certificate indicating there are no stoppages against him so that he might receive his final pay.
Physical Description1 item (1 page)
McKee requested a certificate indicating he is not indebted to the U.S. government in order to receive his final pay.
Physical Description1 item (2 pages)
Draft of a letter stating that the affidavit had been sent.
Physical Description1 item (1 page)
Autograph copy of an order issued by Acting Quarter Master General Charles Thomas regarding an additional certificate necessary with affidavits.
Physical Description1 item (1 page)
Official copy of a letter which notified McKee that his affidavit was received and forwarded to the Office of the Second Auditor of the Treasury for final action.
Physical Description1 item (1 page)
McKee informed them that he had received the proper certificates and awaited their certificate in order to receive his final pay.
Physical Description1 item (1 page)
Another copy of McKee's previous letter to the Second Auditor, with a note on the verso.
Physical Description1 item (2 pages)
McKee informed that the Quartermaster General's office did not issue certificates of non-indebtedness.
Physical Description1 item (1 page)
McKee informed that the Second Auditor's Office will examine his case.
Physical Description1 item (1 page)
Perry acknowledged receipt of affidavit.
Physical Description1 item (1 page)
Two copies of this circular regarding application for certificates of non-indebtedness.
Physical Description2 item (2 pages)
Essay is in McKee's handwriting.
Physical Description1 item (2 pages)
Pension certificate for Robert McKee's wife.
Physical Description1 item (2 pages)