The Edward L. Molineux collection, 1861-1915, was scanned as part of the CW150 Legacy Project and recently added to the Library of Virginia’s Transcribe web site. Molineux served in the Union Army and his letters document his military career and his experiences throughout the South during the Civil War. You can help make these fascinating handwritten letters more accessible by volunteering to help transcribe them.
Edward L. Molineux was born in London, England on 12 October 1833, and later moved to New York. He joined the 7th New York Infantry Regiment, 2nd Company, at the start of the war and participated in organizing the 23rd Regiment, 11th Brigade of the New York National Guard. In August 1862 he organized the 159th New York Infantry Regiment and rose to the rank of Colonel. He served as military commander of the La Fourche district, Louisiana in 1864; Savannah, Georgia in 1865; and the northern Georgia district in 1865. He married Harriet D. Clark on 18 July 1861. Molineux died on 10 June 1915 and was buried at Saint James the Less Cemetery in Scarsdale, Westchester County, New York.
Throughout his career Molineux and his family gathered a large collection of papers and photographs relating to his military career and experiences during the American Civil War. The collection includes circulars, drawings, letters, memoirs, orders, photographs, reports, and reunion memorabilia. Topics include troop movements, battles, soldiers wounded and killed in battle, staff recommendations and promotions, feelings about the war and leadership, addressing discipline and pillaging issues by the Union soldiers in Louisiana, the Red River Campaign in Louisiana, and battles in the Shenandoah Valley Region of Virginia. During his command at Augusta, Georgia, Molineux seized and secured government buildings, factories, and commodities for the US government and was involved in supporting the Freedman’s Bureau efforts.
If you would like to read some papers from his wide and varied collection (and help us transcribe them!) please visit The Library of Virginia’s Transcribe web site in the James I. Robertson Jr. Civil War Sesquicentennial Legacy Collection.
-Renee Savits, State Records Archivist
