Research in the Archives

I began my search of the archives by looking at the oversize prints and documents in box 3 of the Civil War Collection. I thought these documents would likely include military style documents, which they do, as well newspapers, posters, and other sorts of propaganda. These sources seemed as though they would give a different look into the past than personal letters and documents that make up much of the Archives’ Civil War Collection.
 In the Archives’ Civil War Collection, Box 3 Folder 3 contains the Company Muster Rolls for Col. D.W. Chenault’s 11^th KY Cavalry, CSA. These documents list all the members of the company, their rank, and when they joined the company. It is interesting that there are columns for where they are from, their age, and other bits of personal information that were left blank for each individual. I am curious whether the person recording the information was in a hurry, or what reason was given for the discrepancy. Most of the privates in this company were mustered in in September of 1862 in Richmond, Kentucky or the surrounding areas. This was around the time that confederate forces invaded Kentucky and captured the capital. It makes one wonder if these men were coerced into joining, or if they had just been waiting for an opportunity to do so. The “Remarks” section of this document is quite interesting, discussing whether someone transferred from another regiment, if and when they were wounded or killed and how, if they deserted, if they were conscripted, or if they had skills such as a surgeon or blacksmith. The Privates’ last names are often repetitive, and I assume many of these men were either brothers, cousins, or fathers and sons who joined the Confederate Army together.
 Folder 4 of Box 3 contains prints and drawings. Item 7 is a newspaper print of the Battle of Munfordville. This print does not give too much information, but Munfordville is only about thirty minutes from my home, so I thought this was a neat source to be able to see the goriness of the battle that took place in a town I have visited many times. It is interesting that this sketch was printed in a Union newspaper, and shows Confederate soldiers being thrown back from the gunfire they received charging Union lines. I would be interested to see how a Confederate Source would portray this battle, because it would most certainly show the Confederates as regal and the Union as the ones getting their tails beat.