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Branch family papers

Branch family papers

Descriptive Summary

Title: Branch family papers
Creator: Branch family
Inclusive Dates: 1830-1961
Bulk Dates: 1860-1868
Language(s): English
Extent: 7 Linear Feet (3 document boxes, 4 oversized boxes, 1 flat box)
Collection Number: ms25
Repository: Hargrett Library

Collection Description

Historical Note

Charlotte Sawyer Branch (1814-1894) was the widow of John Henry Salah Branch (d. 1846) and resided in Savannah, Georgia. Her sons, Sanford W., John L., and Hamilton McDevit fought in the Civil War. John L. Branch served first in the 1st Georgia Infantry Regiment (1861) then the 8th Georgia Infantry Regiment and was killed at Manassas, Va.; Sanford W. and Hamilton McDevit served in Company B of the 8th Georgia Infantry Regiment. Sanford was wounded at Manassas and taken prisoner of war, and Hamilton fought at Manassas and in Georgia.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of the papers of the Branch family of Savannah, Georgia from 1830-1961. The bulk of the collection consists of correspondence between Charlotte Sawyer Branch and her sons John L., Sanford W., and Hamilton McDevil Branch, who served mainly in the 8th Georgia Infantry Regiment during the Civil War.

The letters describe the 1st Battle of Bull Run, the death of John, the subsequent capture of Sanford (who had stayed with his dying brother), the Seven Days Battle, the 2nd Battle of Bull Run, and the Battle of Gettysburg, where Sanford was wounded and captured again. Hamilton transferred to the 54th Georgia Infantry Regiment and writes about the regiment's involvement in the Atlanta Campaign, particularly the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain. He also writes from Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee while serving with Nathan Bedford Forrest.


Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Branch family papers, ms25, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.

Finding Aid Publication

Finding aid prepared on: 2009 March 18.

General Notes

Donated by Margaret Branch Sexton in 1958-1961.

Portions of this collection have been digitized and are available online as part of America's Turning Point: Documenting the Civil War Experience in Georgia.


Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

Alabama -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865.
Atlanta Campaign, 1864.
Bull Run, 1st Battle of, Va., 1861.
Bull Run, 2nd Battle of, Va., 1862.
Fort Delaware (Del.)
Fort Pulaski (Ga.)
Georgia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Campaigns.
Gettysburg, Battle of, Gettysburg, Pa., 1863.
Kennesaw Mountain, Battle of, Ga., 1864.
Military administration -- Confederate States of America.
Mississippi -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865.
Morris Island (S.C.)
Patriotic societies -- Georgia.
Pennsylvania -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865.
Savannah (Ga.)
Seven Days' Battles, Va., 1862.
Soldiers -- Georgia.
Tennessee -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865.
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Prisoners and prisons.
Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Campaigns.
Women -- Georgia -- Societies and clubs.

Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 
boxfolder
11Margaret Branch Sexton Correspondence, prior to 1860 Access Online
 
12Margaret Branch Sexton Correspondence, 1860 Access Online
 
13Margaret Branch Sexton Correspondence, 1861 January-May Access Online
 
14Margaret Branch Sexton Correspondence, 1861 June-July Access Online
 
15Margaret Branch Sexton Correspondence, 1861 August-December Access Online
 
16Margaret Branch Sexton Correspondence, 1862 Access Online
 
17Margaret Branch Sexton Correspondence, 1863 Access Online
 
18Margaret Branch Sexton Correspondence, 1864 January-June Access Online
 
19Margaret Branch Sexton Correspondence, 1864 July-December Access Online
 
boxfolder
21Margaret Branch Sexton Correspondence, 1865 Access Online
 
22Margaret Branch Sexton Correspondence, 1866 Access Online
 
23Margaret Branch Sexton Correspondence, 1867-1868 Access Online
 
24Margaret Branch Sexton Correspondence, 1870-1900 Access Online
 
25Margaret Branch Sexton Correspondence, 1900-1950 Access Online
 
26Margaret Branch Sexton Correspondence, 1960-1961 Access Online
 
27Margaret Branch Sexton Correspondence, undated Access Online
 
28Sanford W. Branch letters, 1861-1863 (copies)
 
29Photographs
 
210United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) material
 
boxfolder
31Hamilton M. Branch letters to his mother, 1861-1865 (typescripts)
 
32Hamilton M. Branch letters, resolutions, rosters, 1861-1899 (typescripts)
 
33Branch-Sexton genealogy
 
box
4Certificates and memorials
 
4Photographs and pictures
 
4Programs
 
4Broadsides
 
4Mementos and souvenirs
 
4Maps
 
4Poems and writings
 
4Marriage licenses and legal documents
 
4Scrapbook pages
 
box
4aRoll of Oglethorpe Light Infantry, John L. Branch, 1857
 
4aAutograph book, Charlotte Sawyer, 1830-1833
 
4aAutograph book, Meta D. Branch, 1879-1882
 
4aAddress and list book, S. W. Branch, 1864
 
4aScrapbook, West Point pictures and clippings, 1890
 
4aScrapbook, West Point pictures and clippings, Lottie Branch, 1890
 
4aFamily Ancestral Album, Branch family, compiled by Hamilton McDevit Branch
 
4aScrapbook of clippings, Lottie H. Branch, 1877
 
4aScrapbook of obituaries, etc., 1861-1876
 
box
5Treasurer's book, UDC, Margaret Branch Sexton, 1899-1908
 
5Application book, UDC, Marie E. Branch, 1894-1899
 
5Genealogy - Branch family
 
5Rosters (incomplete) of various Georgia companies including Oglethorpe Light Infantry Co. F, 22 nd Georgia Pulaski Guards
 
5Scrapbook of clippings, 1855-1860
 
5Letterbook, Margaret D. Branch, UDC, 1900
 
5Autograph book [confederate veterans?], nd
 
5Diary, Margaret Branch, 1894 trip to England
 
5Diary, Margaret Branch, 1895 trip to Italy
 
box
6Scrapbook compiled by H. M. Branch and Margaret Branch Sexton, 1860-1927
 
box
7Confederate Battle Flag (reproduction; stars and bars)
 
oversized_folder
1Map of Georgia identifying Confederate units