July 20, 1861

Brisbin, James S. (James Sanks), 1837-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jane Brisbin

Informs his wife, Jane, of his travels from Baltimore, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., through Alexandria with a company of 120 men, supported by artillery men from Rhode Island Governor William Sprague's "celebrated Rhode Island Battery." States that he is in camp south of Alexandria, and will march for Fairfax Court House in the morning en route to Bull Run. Reports that the previous day at Bull Run, the Union lost several hundred men, while Confederate forces lost over one thousand. Refers to the actions of the New York and Massachusetts 8th Regiments. Writes, "A Desperate fight has been…

GLC01505.01

July 10, 1863

Brisbin, James S. (James Sanks), 1837-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jane Brisbin

Informs his wife that he arrived in Washington, D. C. the previous day. Referring to his introduction to Colonel Windham, an Englishman, he states "I hate foreigners particularly the dutch- Windham offered me a very nice place but I asked to be sent to the field." Received orders to report to General [George] Mead[e]. States that only three officers (Solen, Carpenter, and Balk) of the 6th United States Cavalry were not killed, wounded, or captured. Describes injuries sustained by Balder, McQuisten, Claflin, Cram, Paulding, and Chaffee, stating that only 108 men are left in the regiment.…

GLC01505.02

August 11, 1862

Brisbin, James S. (James Sanks), 1837-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jane Brisbin

Captain Brisbin writes to his wife following the Battle of Malvern Hill, which he describes as "the memorable occasion when General [George] McClellan changed his base of operations from the York to the James River." Refers to Captain Kantz (possibly August V. Kantz), Captain Gregg, and [Lieutenant Kermin]. Describes the stench of rotting corpses and witnessing the death of a severely wounded soldier. Recounts delivering his Company to safety during a mission by ordering them to take off their blue shirts, exposing grey shirts underneath, thus disguising themselves as Confederate soldiers.…

GLC01504.01

circa June 1864

Brisbin, James S. (James Sanks), 1837-1892

Photograph

Title: Photograph of Brisbin in Brigadier General uniform [damaged]

Brisbin fought at Gettysburg. (Photograph damaged.)

GLC01504.04

1861-1864

Brisbin, James S. (James Sanks), 1837-1892

Header Record

Title: Letters from Brisbin to his wife Jane detailing Civil War battles [Decimalized .01-.06]

GLC01505

November 18, 1863

Brisbin, James S. (James Sanks), 1837-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jane Brisbin

Complains that he has not received a letter from Jane, his wife, in two weeks. States "If I thought you had been so careless as not to write in all that time I would feel like casting you off- but I think you certainly have written and your letters miscarried." Relates seeing Beaver, Captain Patterson, Bayard Edmunds and other members of the Centre Company. States that he will soon see Major Jack, and encloses a note (not included) from Colonel Murray. Instructs Jane to save the note, revealing that the Colonel owes him money. Informs Jane that her colt is being trained. States "I hope we…

GLC01505.03

March 4, 1864

Brisbin, James S. (James Sanks), 1837-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jane Brisbin

Informs Jane, his wife, that he is in great distress due to the fact that he has not received a letter from her in over a month. States "It is now a Month since I stood on the back platform of the car at Milesbury and saw your sweet form vanish from my sight ... it seemed after you were gone as if I had left the world and when I met the snow shoe Cars I could hardly help going back on them ... You are young and sometimes foolish but what you do is done in the innocence of your heart I know you would not wrong your poor husband for the world." Promises to send money, and instructs Jane to…

GLC01505.04

April 11, 1864

Brisbin, James S. (James Sanks), 1837-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jane Brisbin

Discusses the Battle of Sabine Crossroads with Jane, his wife. Writes, "We have had a great battle. Three days fighting. The 1st day we whipped them. The 2nd day they whipped us and the third day we whipped them. The fighting was dreadful and we have lost terribly. In the 2nd days fight, my horse had his head blown off by a shell and fell on me holding me fast. I came near being captured but got my leg out from under him and mounted on a rebel horse whose rider had been shot, I escaped from the field. I have the horse, saddle and bridle." States his company lost supplies and personal money in…

GLC01505.05

September 22, 1864

Brisbin, James S. (James Sanks), 1837-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jane Brisbin

Brisbin informs his wife, Jane, that his regiment arrived at Mount Sterling that day, and that they leave for the battle front (possibly referring to an advance on Saltville, Virginia) under General Stephen Gano Burbridge tomorrow. Writes, "The expedition has so far been badly managed and I fear will be a failure." Relates that General McClean (possibly Nathaniel Collins McLean) fares poorly. States "If I fall in the Expedition I have some money in Lilfords Bank" located in Lexington, Kentucky.

GLC01505.06

1862-1865

Brisbin, James S. (James Sanks), 1837-1892

Header Record

Title: [Papers belonging to James S. Brisbin, 1862-1865][Decimalized .01-.05]

Collection of papers belonging to James S. Brisbin dated 1862-1865. Consists of letters and commission papers pertaining to Brisbin's service as the colonel of the 6th Regiment of Colored Troops for the Union Army.

GLC09831

February 15, 1866

Brisbin, James S. (James Sanks), 1837-1892

Typed letter

Title: to Edwin M. Stanton

Letter typed and signed as a true copy by Albert L. Mills as First Lieutenant and Adjutant First Cavalry. Captain Brisbin informs Stanton, Secretary of War, of the battles he participated in during the Civil War. Relates in detail injuries he obtained and various events and engagements which marked his service. Includes the details of 1862's Battle of Malvern Hill (described also in GLC01504.01). Refers Stanton to Generals Alfred Pleasanton, Stephen Burbridge, Nathaniel Banks, and Devens (possibly Charles Devens) for other details of his service. These typewritten copies date to circa 1887-…

GLC01504.02.08

December 22, 1867

Brisbin, James S. (James Sanks), 1837-1892

Typed letter

Title: to Ulysses S. Grant

Typed and signed as a true copy by Albert L. Mills as First Lieutenant and Adjutant First Cavalry. Captain James S. Brisbin informs General Grant, Secretary of War and Interior, that he has "not received the Brevets in the Regular Army generally conferred on regular officers, who held like rank in Volunteers during the late War." Recounts a list of the Generals he served under, engagements he participated in, and regiments he led. Stresses that he organized many colored regiments at a time when soldiers were desperately needed. States "a bill has been offered in Congress, which, if passed,…

GLC01504.02.15

13 November 1862

Brisbin, James S. (James Sanks), 1837-1892

Letter signed

Title: to Margaret Brisbin

One letter dated Camp 6, U.S. Cavalry, Near Waterloo, Va., Nov. 13, 1862 addressed to Brisbin's mother, Margaret. Mentions preparing for the Battle of Fredericksburg, the amount of men, food and horses.

GLC09831.01

3 December 1863

Brisbin, James S. (James Sanks), 1837-1892

Letter signed

Title: to Mary Jane Wagner Brisbin

One letter addressed to his wife, Mary Jane Wagner Brisbin dated Camp 6th Cavalry, In field, Near Brandy Station, Dec. 3rd 1863. Mentions being thankful to receive her letters and that he expects them often. Also includes details of an anti-climactic battle.

GLC09831.02

January 20, 1864

Brisbin, James S. (James Sanks), 1837-1892

Document signed

Title: [Commission of James S. Brisbin]

One commission dated January 20, 1864 belonging to James S. Brisbin. Item commemorates him for his service as colonel to the 6th Regiment of Colored Troops. Signed by Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War and C.W. Foster, Assistant Adjutant General Volunteers. [Similar to GLC09831.04]

GLC09831.03

January 20, 1864

Brisbin, James S. (James Sanks), 1837-1892

Document signed

Title: [Commission of James S. Brisbin]

One commission dated January 20, 1864 belonging to James S. Brisbin. Item commemorates him for his service as colonel to the 6th Regiment of Colored Troops. Signed by Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War and C.W. Foster, Assistant Adjutant General Volunteers. Item is the official copy of the War Department. [Similar to GLC09831.03]

GLC09831.04

19 February 1866

Brisbin, James S. (James Sanks), 1837-1892

Document signed

Title: [Commission of James S. Brisbin]

One commission dated February 19, 1866 belonging to James S. Brisbin. Item commemorates him for his service as lieutenant colonel to the 6th Regiment of Colored Troops. Signed by Thomas T. Eckert, Acting Assistant Secretary of War and C.W. Foster, Assistant Adjutant General Volunteers.

GLC09831.05