The Chautauqua County Historical Society provides access at the McClurg Museum to many materials related to local soldiers in the Civil War.
Collection of David S. Brown, Ph.D.
Chautauqua County and Westfield, NY had an incredible history of action during the American Civil War. When President Abraham Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers to preserve the Union, many from Chautauqua County stepped forward. Of the 4,400 local men who volunteered over the course of the war, nearly 3,000 survived. Those who survived often lived with terrible pain and suffering from the wounds or sicknesses they had endured during the war.
My interest in the Civil War began some 20 years ago, sparked mostly by my acquaintance with Donald Ryberg, Jr., whose avocation as a Civil War collector and historian was very inspirational. His short book, Chautauqua County Regiments and Soldiers in the Civil War 1861-1865, provides general descriptions and histories of the numerous units -- engineers, artillery, infantry, cavalry, and sharpshooters -- which had a connection to Chautauqua County.
As I became increasingly active with the Chautauqua County Historical Society, I realized the importance of the Civil War items in the McClurg Museum's collections as well as the collection that Don had built over the years. He was well known as an honest and knowledgeable dealer by other collectors and Civil War enthusiasts.
I focused on purchasing as much Civil War memorabilia from Chautauqua County as I could. Don encouraged me, knowing that the items would stay in Chautauqua County. My collection includes many obtained from Don as well as a nice collection from T.J. Brown of Westfield. I have also found collections that connect to our county in several colleges and universities. Civil War letters held by the Chautauqua County Historical Society will be scanned and added to the collections.
If you’re interested in any of the units which had a part in preserving the Union, note the links offered below for additional research. In my curated collection, you may be able to decipher words missing in my transcriptions of the letters. I have divided the letters, documents, and photos by the regiments served.
David S. Brown, Ph.D.
Other Civil War Resources
Additional resources to provide guidance in your research include:
The histories of various Chautauqua County Civil War units can be found by searching within Google Books.
Digitized versions of many newspapers in New York state can be accessed at NYS Historic Newspapers.
Civil War muster rolls for Chautauqua County are listed at Who Served in the Civil War?
You can search for soldiers in the National Park Service soldier database.
The National Archives maintains comprehensive veterans’ service records.
Primary sources on Civil War documents and material can be found through the Association of College and Research Libraries and the Chautauqua County Historical Society.
Civil War letters are available online through the Association of College and Research Libraries, Billy Yank and Johnny Rebel Letters, and William & Mary Libraries.
The National Archives feature a comprehensive collection of Civil War photographs.
To research specific individuals, visit People Search, FamilySearch, and the muster rolls of all New York state regiments at the New York State Military Museum & Veterans Research Center.
112th New York Volunteer Infantry links:
9th New York Volunteer Cavalry links:
49th New York Volunteer Infantry links:
72nd New York Volunteer Infantry links:
Friedsam Library at St. Bonaventure University
154th New York Volunteer Infantry links:
Friedsam Library at St. Bonaventure University
100th New York Volunteer Infantry links:
7th Company of 1st Battalion of New York Sharpshooters links:
15th Regiment of New York Volunteer Engineers links:
