John J. Polsley Papers
Reference Code:
Repository: University of Akron Archival Services
Title: John J. Polsley Papers
Dates: 1860's
Extent: 182 Items
Creator: John J. Polsley
Language: English
Access: Collection is open for research.
Finding Aid prepared by: Archival Services Staff
Related Material:
Biographical History:
John J. Polsley was one of thirteen surviving children of Judge Daniel Haymond and Eliza V. (Brown) Polsley. Abraham Lincoln appointed Judge Polsley the first Lieutenant Governor of West Virginia in 1861 and in 1866 he became a member of the 40th Congress. In May 1860 John Polsley married Ellen S. (Nellie) Donnally of Middleport, Ohio. Nineteen months later in December 1861, Polsley enlisted in the Union Army becoming an Adjutant of the 8th Regiment Virginia Volunteers. This regiment later became the 7th Regiment West Virginia Cavalry.
Polsley quickly moved up through the officer corps being promoted to Major in August 1862 and to Lieutenant Colonel in March 1863. He saw action throughout the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia from Winchester to Covington; the Potomac region outside of Washington, D. C.; and central West Virginia. In December 1863, Polsley was captured by Confederate forces and imprisoned in the now infamous Libby Prison at Richmond, Virginia where he remained until May 1864 when he was transferred to a prison in Macon, Georgia. One month later he was sent to Charleston, South Carolina where he remained until his exchange in August or September 1864. Upon his release, Polsley returned to his regiment and remained with it in West Virginia until the end of the war. Polsley died suddenly in December 1866, his death commonly ascribed to the suffering he endured in the Confederate prisons.
Scope and Content:
The Polsley Papers consist of correspondence, military documents, and genealogical records relating to the military career of John J. Polsley. The bulk of the correspondence is from Polsley to his wife Ellen (Nellie) Donnally Polsley. There is some correspondence from other persons to Polsley and Nellie Polsley and a small group of other letters. All these letters are arranged chronologically.
A small section of the collection pertains to the secession of West Virginia from Virginia and various military documents regarding Polsley's capture and exchange. These items are all arranged chronologically.
One small ledger book exists detailing casualties of the 7th Regiment West Virginia Cavalry and containing a few diary entries by a Capt. L. [Schimer] as well as much later entries (1880s) by unknown persons.
Later uncataloged additions to the collection include negative photostatic copies of images used in a Master's thesis on Polsley and various genealogical records concerning Polsley's military service.
Arrangement:
Chronologically
Container List: