Table of Contents
Scope and Contents of the Collection
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| Creator: | Davis, Angela K. (Angela Kirkham) |
| Title: | Angela K. Davis Typescript |
| Inclusive Dates: | 1861-1862 |
| Quantity: | 49 leaves in 1 volume (SC) |
| Abstract: | Photocopy of a typescript, War Reminiscences: A Letter to My Nieces Emma K. Devlin, Belle K. Page, and Leigh K. Williams, a personal narrative by Batavia-born Angela K. Davis describing experiences living in a border slave state during the Civil War; details events before and after the Battle of Antietam. |
| Language: | English |
| Repository: | Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Libraries 222 Waverly Avenue Syracuse, NY 13244-2010 https://library.syracuse.edu/special-collections-research-center |
Biographical History
Angela Kirkham Davis (1827-1919) was an American author living in a border slave state during the American Civil War. She was born on May 26, 1827 in Batavia, New York. Davis married Joseph Francis Davis with whom she moved to Funkstown, Maryland, near Boonsboro. She wrote Wesley and Early Methodism published in 1884; however, is unknown when Davis wrote War Reminiscences: A Letter to My Nieces Emma K. Devlin, Belle K. Page, and Leigh K. Williams.
Scope and Contents of the Collection
The Angela K. Davis Typescript is a narrative that describes Davis's experiences during the time period leading up to the Battle at Antietam, which took place not far from her home in Funkstown, Maryland. She relates the tensions as well as the friendships between the "Secessionists" and the "Yankees" in her town and the divisions that took place within families and friends, and attempts to explain the reasons why Maryland did not ultimately secede.
The volume begins with a short narrative of the events leading up to the war, in particular the march of the Massachusetts troops through Baltimore and the confrontation that took place between soldiers and citizens. She then describes the Union encampments she visited, the phenomena of Union soldiers marching through her town, and the influx of freed slaves from Virginia.
When Frederick was occupied by Lee's forces, the tide was turned, and the Confederates flooded through town, needing shelter and food and relying on the Christian charity of women such as Angela Kirkham Davis. Her husband had fled north at this point, but joined her again as the Confederate forces were pushed back and the Battle of Antietam formed. They visited the aftermath of the battle together, bringing food and supplies to the Union troops, and experiencing the bloody remainder of the Union battlions. Angela Kirkham Davis's narrative of her personal experiences of the horrors of war and the effect it had on the citizen population of both sides expresses the cruel reality of brother fighting against brother in a state that supported the loyalties of both sides.
Restrictions
Access Restrictions
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Subject Headings
Persons
Subjects
Places
Genres and Forms
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Angela K. Davis Typescript
Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Libraries
Acquisition Information
Gift of Mrs. Martha Wallin (grandniece of author), 1976.
Finding Aid Information
Created by: --
Date: Nov 1988
Revision history:
16 Oct 2008 - converted to EAD (LDC)
Inventory
| Typescript | |||||||||||
| SC 240 | War Reminiscences: A Letter to My Nieces Emma K. Devlin, Belle K. Page, and Leigh K. Williams - photocopy | ||||||||||