Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

Permission to publish material from Enoch Stephens Diary must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.

Acquisition Information

The Enoch Stephens Diary was purchased by Special Collections in November 2013.

Alternate Form Available

This diary has been digitized and transcribed and is available online .

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Enoch Stephens Diary, Ms2014-001, Special Collections, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Enoch Stephens Diary was completed in February 2014.

Biographical Note

Enoch Stephens (born ~1835) enlisted on June 30th, 1861 in Brooklyn, New York as a 1st Sergeant. During his time in the military, Stephens seems to have participated in the 84th Regiment, New York Infantry, the 5th Regiment, New York Veteran Infantry, and the 4th Regiment, US Veteran Volunteer Infantry. Prior to 1865 he was promoted to major.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of Enoch Stephens's diary from his time in the 5th NY Veteran Volunteers from January 1st, 1865 to December 26th, 1865. Most entries describe the weather and the time of daily drills and dress parades, but the diary also documents such events as the fall of Richmond, the surrender of General Robert E. Lee, the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, Stephens' time guarding the Lincoln Conspirators and witnessing the executions, and the paying off of several regiments.

The diary itself is relatively small (8cm x 5cm) and the entries are mostly legible and written in pencil. Transcript available.

Index Terms

Persons:

• Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Subjects:

• Civil War
• United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
• United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Diaries