A Guide to the Henry Thweatt Owen Papers, 1822-1929 Owen, Henry Thweatt, Papers of, 1822-1929 28154

A Guide to the Henry Thweatt Owen Papers, 1822-1929

A Collection in
the Library of Virginia
Accession Number 28154


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© 2002 By the Library of Virginia.

Funding: Web version of the finding aid funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Processed by: Description Services Branch Staff

Repository
Library of Virginia
Accession number
28154
Title
Henry Thweatt Owen Papers, 1822-1929
Physical Characteristics
0.45 cubic feet.
Physical Location
Personal Papers Collection, Acc. 28154.
Language
English
Note

Emerson G. Whiteside lent this collection for copying over a period of years. These photocopies were filed as Accessions 21918, 22000, and 26092. The original material was gradually given to the library (Accessions 26091, 27683, 27774, and 28154). With the receipt of Accession 28154, the photocopies was given to the Virginia Historical Society. The various accessions comprising the Henry Thweatt Owen Papers (Accessions 26091, 27683, 27774, and 28154) are interfiled with Accession 28154. Also interfiled are the Owen Papers (Accession 23838) given to the Library by Constance Watson.


Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Henry Thweatt Owen Papers, 1822-1929. Accession 28154, Personal papers collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

Gifts of Constance Watson and Emerson G. Whitside, Richmond, Virginia, July 1952-December 1973.

Biographical/Historical Information

Born 28 July 1831, Henry Thweatt Owen entered the Confederate Army as a Captain of Company C, 18th Virginia Infantry Regiment on 23 April 1861 in Burkeville, Virginia. He was arrested on 5 June 1861, but by order of court martial was restored to command on 1 July 1861. He was again placed under arrest, this time for disobeying orders in regard to some sick men in his company, on 11 September 1861, by order of Colonel R. E. Withers, his commanding officer, and was cashiered on 22 November 1861. However, his order of cashier was vacated, and he was elected Captain by his company on 26 April 1862. He was reported absent from the lines in Chesterfield County, Virginia, on 28 December 1864, by reason of his being under arrest and imprisoned in Castle Thunder. The reasons for Owen's frequent arrests remain a mystery, except for the arrest of 11 September 1861, and even in this case the matter is only partially explained in a letter of 29 March 1902 from Owen to Colonel R. E. Withers. Owen's war letters mention his arrests, but give no reasons.

Following the war, he served as a clerk in the Second Auditor's Office in Richmond and devoted his spare time to investigating the Land Office records for genealogical information, and compiled preliminary maps showing plats of land grants in Prince Edward County. His wife was named Harriet, who bore him twelve children: Elizabeth Mildred (1852-1867), Henry Clay (1853-1883), Michael Melancthon (1856-1949), Harriet Louisa (b. 1860), Jacqueline Rosa (b. 1865), William Temple (1867-1879), Herman S. (b. 1868), Benjamin Hilton (1868-1896), Sallie Marshall (b. 1871), Helen Mercer (b. 1873), Mary Eliza (Mamie) (b. 1875), and Charles Archer (1877-1879). Owen died in Richmond on 8 October 1921.

Scope and Content Information

Papers, 1822-1929, including a will (29 April 1822) and estate inventory (28 November 1825) of Ann Owen of Prince Edward County, letters, land records, military papers, lists of casualties and units at Gettysburg, a diary kept during the Civil War from 10 February to 10 July 1863, reminiscences of service during the Civil War, drafts of articles concerning the Civil War, poetry, a newspaper (Charlottesville Gazette, 15 May 1884), photographs of Henry Thweatt Owen, the papers of James Whiteside, maps, broadsides, and lists of coupons issued under Acts of 1871, 1879, and 1892 and paid into the Second Auditor's Office.

The letters, 1856-1924, comprise the bulk of the collection and concern Owen's military service, his desire for historical accuracy regarding the role of Pickett's Division in the Gettysburg campaign, postwar Virginia politics, and his career in the Second Auditor's Office. Correspondents includes James Lawson Kemper, James Longstreet, Philip W. McKinney, William Mahone, Charles Marshall, Roger A. Pryor, and Frank G. Ruffin.

The military papers, 6 November 1862 - 8 August 1864, include letters, orders, and receipts of a military nature, especially concerning Union prisoners assembled for exchange at City Point. Lists of casualties and units at Gettysburg, n.d., include estimates of Union strength, company rosters, and lists of officers killed and wounded in Pickett's Charge. Diary, 10 February - 10 July 1863, traces the movements of the 18th Virginia Infantry Regiment from Petersburg through the retreat from Gettysburg.

Reminiscences are of Owen's service during the Civil War, Pickett's division, the Battle of South Mountain, and Pickett's Charge. James Whiteside papers, 1863-1893, include a discharge from the 46th Pennsylvania Militia Regiment, survey and plat of land in Charlotte County, receipts, and accounts.

The maps include a railroad map of the United States with an emphasis on distances between San Francisco and Richmond (before 1889); a plat of Old Point Comfort (1891); plats, surveys, and notes concerning early settlers in Prince Edward County (ca. 1728 - ca. 1783, n.d.); plats and maps of property in and near the town of Virso, Prince Edward and Lunenburg Counties (ca. 1920 - ca. 1924); and a map of the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg (1876). These maps are located in Map cabinet 22, drawer 1. The lists of coupons issued under Acts of 1871, 1879, 1892 and paid into the Second Auditor's Office are printed forms, filled in. The broadside and lists of coupon are located in Map cabinet 22, drawer 1.

The broadsides consist of: "To the Survivors of Pickett's Division," 15 December 1887, and "Garnett's Brigade," n.d. are currently unavailable.

Organization

Organized into the following sixteen series: I. Ann Owen Papers, 1822, 1825. II. Letters, 1856-1924. III. Land Records, 1894-1928. IV. Military Papers, 1862-1864. V. Lists of Casualties and Units at Gettysburg. VI. Diary, 10 February-10 July 1863. VII. Reminiscences. VIII. Draft of Articles. IX. Poetry. X. Newspaper. XI. Photographs. XII. James Whiteside Papers, 1863-1893. XIII. Plat Books. XIV. Maps. XV. Broadsides. XVI. Second Auditor's Office.

Contents List

Series I: Ann Owen Papers, 1822, 1825
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Series II: Letters, 1856-1924
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Series III: Land Records, 1894-1928
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Series IV: Military Papers, 6 November 1862-8 August 1864
Folder 6
83 items

Includes letters, orders, and receipts of a military nature, especially concerning Union prisoners assembled for exchange at City Point.

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Series V: Lists of Casualties and Units at Gettysburg n.d.
Folder 7
21 items

Includes estimates of Union strength, company rosters, and lists of officers killed and wounded in Pickett's Charge.

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Series VI: Diary, 10 February-10 July 1863
Folder 8
12 p.

This diary, written by Henry T. Owen, is titled "Notes from a Diary kept during the war of the Rebellion" and traces his regiment's movements from Petersburg through the retreat from Gettysburg.

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Series VII: Reminiscences
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Series VIII: Drafts of Articles
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Series IX: Poetry
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Series X: Newspaper - The Charlotte Gazette, 15 May 1884
Folder 12
4 p.
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Series XI: Photographs
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Series XII: James Whiteside Papers, 1863-1893
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Series XIII: Plat Books, 1728-1783 and ca. 1880-ca. 1900
Physical Location: Located in oversize.
2 volumes

Henry T. Owen's compilation of surveys and plats of patents and grants issued for Prince Edward County, Virginia. First volume, 1728-1783, is indexed with finished plats and surveys; second volume, ca. 1800-ca. 1900, contains rough drafts of plats and notes about land purchases by people with various surnames, including Owen.

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Series XIV: Maps
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Series XV: Broadsides (currently unavailable)
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Series XVI: Second Auditor's Office
Physical Location: Located in Map Cabinets.
5 items

Lists of coupon issued under Acts of 1871, 1879, and 1892, paid into the Second Auditor's Office by warrant on the Treasurers.

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