John Wolcott Phelps papers

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Description: John Wolcott Phelps (1813-1885) was a graduate of West Point, Brigadier General in the U.S. Army, and the presidential candidate of the anti-Masonic American Party in 1880. The collection consists of his correspondence, writings on politics and anti-Masonry, diaries recording his experiences in the Seminole War, Mexican War, the expedition against the Mormons in Utah, and the Civil War, and commonplace books recording his views on slavery, emancipation, presidential elections and other political matters of the day.
Names: Phelps, J. W. (John Wolcott), 1813-1885 (Creator); Phelps, J. W. (John Wolcott), 1813-1885 (Author); Phelps, J. W. (John Wolcott), 1813-1885 (Addressee); De Peyster, J. Watts (John Watts), 1821-1907 (Author); De Peyster, J. Watts (John Watts), 1821-1907 (Addressee); Phelps, Helen (Author); Phelps, Helen (Addressee); Tower, F. B. (Fayette Bartholomew) (Author); Tower, Lawrence (Author); Greeley, Horace, 1811-1872 (Addressee); Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874 (Addressee)
Dates / Origin: Date Created: 1833 - 1884
Library locations: Manuscripts and Archives Division; Shelf locator: MssCol 2399
Topics: African Americans -- Colonization; Indians of North America -- Wars -- 1815-1875; Masonry -- United States; Meteorology -- Observations; Mexican War, 1846-1848; Mormons -- Utah County (Utah); Morrisite War, 1862; Reconstruction (U.S. history, 1865-1877); Seminole War, 2nd, 1835-1842; Slavery -- United States; Water-supply -- New York (State) -- New York; Brattleboro (Vt.) -- Social life and customs; Canada -- Boundaries -- United States; Europe -- Description and travel; Florida -- History, Military; Fort Brown (Brownsville, Tex.) -- History, Military; Fort Mackinac (Mackinac Island, Mich.) -- History, Military; Louisiana -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865; Mississippi -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865; Southern States -- History -- 1865-1877; United States -- Boundaries -- Canada; United States -- History -- 1865-1898; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Campaigns; United States -- Politics and government -- 19th century; Utah -- History, Military; Soldiers; Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893; Morris, Joseph, 1824-1862; Phelps, J. W. (John Wolcott), 1813-1885; De Peyster family; Phelps family; American Colonization Society; United States Military Academy -- Students
Genres: Books; commonplace books; Scrapbooks; Diaries
Notes: Content: 8 linear ft. (6 boxes, 54 volumes); Biographical/historical: John Wolcott Phelps (1813-1885), Brigadier General in the U.S. Army was a native of Vermont. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, served in the Mexican War, was made captain in 1850, and resigned in 1859. After the outbreak of the Civil War, Phelps returned to the military as Colonel of the First Regiment of Vermont Volunteers. In 1861 he was made Brigadier General of Volunteers. He assisted Farragut in the campaign to capture New Orleans and organized the first body of African-American troops in the U.S. Army. When General Benjamin Butler assigned these troops to a work detail rather than military duties, Phelps tendered his resignation. Phelps retired to his home in Vermont where he wrote several books and numerous articles on public affairs. In 1880 Phelps ran for president on the anti-Masonic American Party ticket. He received 700 votes.; Content: Collection consists of Phelps's correspondence, writings and printed matter. Correspondence with friends and family members begins when he was a cadet at West Point and continues into his adult life. Writings include five book-length manuscripts; numerous articles on politics and anti-masonry; and commonplace books from the period of his retirement from active military service which cover his views on national politics, the Civil War, masonry, Indian troubles, legal affairs, and other topics. Of special interest are Phelps's diaries, 1838-1871, recording his experiences in the Seminole War, garrison life in the West during the time of Canadian border troubles, his service in the Mexican War, the expedition to Utah to suppress the Mormons, Civil War service, life in retirement at Brattleboro, Vermont, and his interest in meteorology.; Acquisition: Purchased from Charles E. Tuttle, 1932; Content: Processing information: John D. Stinson.
Type of Resource: Text
Identifiers: NYPL catalog ID (B-number): b12396687; MSS Unit ID: 2399; Library of Congress Control Number: ms 79001867; Universal Unique Identifier (UUID): 0ff594a0-c4dd-013a-5a92-0242ac110002

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1846 June 11 - 1847 Mar. 31

The New York Public Library

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John Wolcott Phelps papers

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