These 38 letters were written by Albert Jenkins Barnard (1841-1916) of Buffalo, New York, who enlisted on 13 August 1862 to serve three years in the 116th New York Volunteers. He mustered in as Captain of Co. B and rose in rank to Lieutenant-Colonel of the Regiment in June 1863 but was discharged the following month—his discharge dated 29 July 1863.
Albert was the son of Albert Barnard (1815-1849) and Elizabeth Atwater Jenkins (1820-1875) of Buffalo, Erie county, New York. Albert’s younger and only brother, Lewis (“Lewie”) Jenkins Barnard (1843-1876) is frequently mentioned in these letters.
At the time of the 1855 New York State Census, 34 year-old Elizabeth Barnard—a widow—was boarding with her two sons, Albert and Lewis with the James Faxon family in Buffalo. Faxon was a printer.
In the 1880 US Census, Albert was enumerated in Buffalo and identified as a manufacture or nuts and bolts. In the 1891 publication of The Iron Age, Albert was identified as the junior partner in the firm of Plumb, Burdict & Barnard which manufactured nuts and bolts. His partners were Ralph Plumb and Orrin C. Burdict. Their shop was at 637 Clinton Street in Buffalo.
Albert married Clara A. Sizer in 1871.
This image and signature of Albert Jenkins Barnard dates to 1861 (Rod Coddington Collection)
List of Letters
9 September 1862; Camp Chapin, 2 miles from Baltimore
11 September 1862; Camp Chapin, 2 miles from Baltimore
22 September 1862; Camp Belger
13 October 1862; Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
16 November 1862; Steamer Atlantic at Hampton Roads
20 November 1862; Fortress Monroe
23 November 1862; Steamer Atlantic at Hampton Roads
27 November 1862; Steamer Atlantic at Hampton Roads
30 November 1862; Steamer Atlantic at Hampton Roads
30 November 1862; Steamer Atlantic at Hampton Roads
3 December 1862; Steamer Atlantic at Hampton Roads
14 December 1862; Steamer Atlantic off Ship Island
2 January 1863; Greenville, Louisiana
19 January 1863; Greenville, Louisiana
20 February 1863; Greenville, Louisiana
3 March 1863; Baton Rouge, Louisiana
5 March 1863; HQ 1st Brigade, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
9 March 1863; HQ 1st Brigade, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
10 March 1863: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
16 March 1863; Camp near Baton Rouge, Louisiana
10 April 1863; Camp Niagara, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
15 April 1863; Baton Rouge, Louisiana
8 May 1863; Camp Niagara, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
16 May 1863; Baton Rouge, Louisiana
23 May 1863; Bivouac near Port Hudson, Louisiana
28 May 1863; In the field near Port Hudson, Louisiana
30 May 1863; In front of Port Hudson, Louisiana
8 June 1863; In field front of Port Hudson, Louisiana
19 June 1863; In front of Port Hudson, Louisiana
19 June 1863; In front Port Hudson, Louisiana
20 July 1863; Camp Niagara, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
1 August 1863; Baton Rouge, Louisiana
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