Barton Family Fonds, 1864-1911
Among the 128 letters in the collection, there are numerous references to events in the Civil War. Most of the letters were written by, or addressed to, Stephen Barton. The Niagara content consists of several letters that mention the Fenian invasion of Canada in June 1866. They were written by George Ellsworth, who was sent as a special correspondent for the Cincinnati Enquirer to report on the event.
Stephen Emory Barton (1848-1929) was born into the notable Barton family in Oxford, Massachusetts. He was the son of Captain David Barton, who served as an assistant quartermaster for the Union during the American Civil War, and grandson of Stephen Barton Jr., a prosperous businessman who founded the mill towns of North Oxford and Bartonsville. His sister Clara was a Civil War nurse and the founder of the American Red Cross. In 1864, when Stephen Barton was just 16 years old, he received a commission as a telegraph operator during the latter part of the Civil War. By all accounts, he excelled at his work. This is confirmed by numerous letters of reference and testimonials found in the correspondence. His friend George “Lightning” Ellsworth, also a talented telegrapher, noted that “should he remain in the business until he is 21 there will not be his equal in the world”. He later worked in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia and married a local woman.
George “Lightning” Ellsworth (1843-1899) was a Canadian telegrapher who worked for Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan and the Confederates during the Civil War. Ellsworth would intercept messages and send false information to Union commanders, helping Morgan successfully conduct raids in Kentucky. He served with Morgan until July 1863, when Morgan was captured in Ohio. Ellsworth continued to work for the Confederates but was captured in 1864 in Kentucky and managed to escape to Canada.
Some of the material from this collection has been digitized and can be accessed through the Digital Repository.
Letter to Captain Sheldon from Roberts, May 20, 1864
The writer of this letter speculates about the strategy of General Sherman, noting that "Gen. Sherman is steadily driving Johnson. The rebels say Johnson is falling back for a better position to get Sherman in a trap".
Letter to Captain Sheldon from Roberts, May 20, 1864, page 2
It is noted here that Union prisoners taken by Rebels say that banks are surrounded at Alexandria.