John L. Hostetter Civil War Diary, MS 662, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

ISU Library Special Collections Department


MS 662 Hostetter, John (1821 - ?) Civil War Diary, 1864-1865	Special Collections Department 403 Parks Library Iowa State University Ames, IA 50011-2140

Descriptive summary
creator:	Hostetter, John (1821 - ?)
title:	Civil War Diary
dates:	1864-1865
extent:	0.21 linear feet (1 half-document box) )
collection number:	MS 662
repository:	Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

Administrative information
access:	Open for research
publication rights:	Consult Head, Special Collections Department
preferred citation:	John L. Hostetter Civil War Diary, MS 662, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

Biographical note

Born on January 9, 1821, Dr. John L. Hostetter served as a surgeon during the Civil War with the 34th Illinois Volunteers, 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 14th Army Corps. The 34th Illinois Volunteers were from the Valley of Rock River in northern Illinois, and were known as the "Rock River Rifles." Hostetter marched with General William Tecumseh Sherman through Georgia, and also served in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia. Hostetter was married and had at least one daughter, Mary.

Collection description

This collection contains a typescript of the Civil War Diary written by John L. Hostetter.
Hostetter wrote much of the original diary in pencil, which his daughter, Mary Irvine Hostetter Greenleaf retraced with ink in 1896.

The diary begins on November 28, 1864 and ends on May 24 1865, in Washington, D.C. Hostetter marched with Sherman through Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia. He describes battles, the scenery, food, contacts with local people and freed slaves, and the hardships of Army life, including surviving harsh weather conditions and treating ailing and wounded soldiers. He also wrote about the difficulties of being away from his family and the excitement of receiving letters from home, when and if they arrived.

Container list

Box	Folder	Title	Dates
1	1	John L. Hostetter, Civil War Diary	1864-1865

Comments: archives@iastate.edu
Iowa State University Library, Ames, IA 50011
URL: http://findingaids.lib.iastate.edu/spcl/manuscripts/MS662.html
Revised: 25 February 2009 .