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Daniel A. Lowber Diary

 Collection
Identifier: Ms-2008-015

Scope and Content

This collection contains the Civil War diary of Captain Daniel A. Lowber of Company A, 37th Wisconsin Infantry. The diary entries commence with July 25, 1864, with Lowber apparently in transit to his regiment after a temporary furlough. He joins the regiment the day after the Battle of the Crater and takes command on August 1, noting that his new command has only 18 men fit for duty. In daily entries spanning the next five months, Lowber mentions frequent picket and fatigue duty and notes his routine administrative duties as well. He also mentions trading papers with a Confederate soldier between the lines, his living quarters, church services, news of Sheridan's victories in the Shenandoah Valley, the regiment's tally in the 1864 presidential election, and Thanksgiving. Lowber also describes actions during several battles, including perhaps most significantly the Battle of Peeble's Farm. The diary entries cease with December 31, 1864.

Dates

  • 1864

Creator

Language of Materials

The materials in the collection are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open to research.

Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.

Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction. Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

Biographical Note

Daniel A. Lowber, captain of Company A, 37th Wisconsin Infantry during the Civil War, was born in New York in February 1844. By 1864, he was living in Columbus, Wisconsin, where he enlisted as a private in the 13th Independent Battery of Wisconsin Light Artillery. Lowber transferred to the 37th Wisconsin Infantry on March 7, 1864. Serving as a lieutenant in Company A, he was wounded on June 18 at Petersburg. He received a promotion to first lieutenant on July 28, then to captain on September 27, 1864. He was wounded again at Petersburg on April 2, 1865, and mustered out with his regiment on July 27.

Post-war records show Lowber living in Waupun, Wisconsin from 1868 through 1880, his occupation listed variously as operator of a variety store and restaurant (1868), a news dealer and confectionary (1870, 1872) and a miner (1880). He had married before 1870, his wife Susan [Morse?] having been born in Wisconsin in 1850. By 1900 Lowber had returned with his wife to New York; they lived in a boardinghouse in Brooklyn, where Lowber was occupied as a railroad supplier. Daniel A. Lowber died on November 3, 1902.

The 37th Wisconsin Infantry was organized at Camp Randall in Madison and mustered into service on April 9, 1864. The regiment departed for Washington at the end of April. A month later, the 37th was ordered to the front. The regiment was assigned to the Ninth Army Corps and participated in the assault against the Confederate lines before Petersburg on June 17 and 18, experiencing heavy fire. The regiment generally remained at Petersburg until the Confederate surrender the following spring, participating in numerous battles (including the Battle of the Crater) around Petersburg and Richmond. The 37th participated in the Grand Review in Washington D. C., where it remained until July 27, when it was mustered out of the service.

Extent

0.1 Cubic Feet (1 folder)

Abstract

The collection consists of a Civil War diary of Captain Daniel A. Lowber, Company A, 37th Wisconsin Infantry, which served in the siege of Petersburg, Virginia.

Source of Acquisition

The Daniel A. Lowber Diary was purchased by Special Collections and University Archives in 2008.

Existence and Location of Copies

This collection has been digitized and is available online.

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the Daniel A. Lowber Diary by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).

Processing Information

The processing and description of the Daniel A. Lowber Diary commenced and was completed in April 2008.

Title
Daniel A. Lowber Diary, 1864
Status
Completed
Author
John M. Jackson, Archivist
Date
2008 (CC0 1.0)
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech Repository

Contact:
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308