Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center

 

John H. Bolton

 

­­LH – Misc. Mss

 

Introduction

Biographical Sketch

Scope and Content

Inventory

 

Introduction

 

This collection was donated to the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center by Richard F. Mann in January of 1998.

 

Biographical Sketch

 

John H. Bolton was born in 1839.  He enlisted in the army on 6 September 1861 and was appointed sergeant of Company F of the 21st Ohio Volunteer Infantry.  He served with this company until his appointment to 1st Lieutenant of Company I on 18 May 1865.  Bolton was involved in a number of battles and skirmishes during the American Civil War, including the 1862 raid by Morgan, the December 1862–January 1863 Battle of Stones River (Murfreesboro), and the September 1863 Battle of Chickamauga.  John H. Bolton was mustered out of service on 25 July 1865, along with the other men of the 21st Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

 

The 21st Infantry Regiment Ohio was organized in Findlay, Ohio, on 19 September 1861; it was ordered for three years service.  Following its creation, the 21st regiment received marching orders to travel to Camp Dennison, Ohio, where it would receive arms.  Throughout the American Civil War, the regiment would participate in a number of notable battles—such as the April 1862 Battle of Shiloh and the September 1863 Battle of Chickamauga.  In the spring of 1864, the 21st OVI joined Sherman’s army to take part in the Atlanta campaign.  In this operation, the regiment fought at such places as Kennesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Jonesboro, and Savannah.  It also participated in the July–August 1864 siege of Atlanta and marched to the sea with Sherman.  The 21st regiment returned to Washington, D.C., in 1865, and was ultimately mustered out of service on 25 July 1865.

 

Scope and Content

 

This collection, dating from 1861 to 1865, contains typed transcriptions of the wartime journal entries of John H. Bolton of the 21st Infantry Regiment Ohio. The originals are located at the Ohio Historical Society. The diary describes daily camp activities, weather, and accounts of marching and travelling with the army.  It contains references to battles as well, such as the September 1863 Battle of Chickamauga.  It also includes typed transcriptions of several letters indicating Bolton’s acceptance of appointments, as well as an ordnance list for Companies B & E and the index of a forwarding book.

 

Inventory

Ac. 5704

1 piece

 

1. Binder containing the following:

Typed transcriptions of letters indicating Bolton’s appointment acceptance, June–July 1865

Typed transcription of ordnance list, Companies B & E, July 1865

Typed transcriptions of an index of Bolton’s forwarding book, June–July 1865

            Typed transcriptions of journal entries, 19 Sept. 1861–20 Sept. 1863