Their Country's Call:
The Byington, McHarg, and Porter Families in War and Peace
Items 1-20
Daguerreotype of Horace Porter at West Point, circa 1855. Reproduction [Original in Horace Porter Collection, Box 4 Folder 12].
Byington, A. Homer (1826-1910). Civil War Correspondent. Manuscript Notes Regarding
Abraham Lincoln, 3 p, nd. [Byington Family Papers, Box 2 Folder 8].
John William McHarg (b.1843). Autograph Letter Signed, Hall's Hill, Virginia,
19 November 1861. Addressed to his brother Henry K. McHarg. Mentions a review
the next day by General George B. McClellan of over 40,000 troops. [McHarg Family
Papers, Box 1 Folder 2].
Horace Porter (1837-1921). Autograph Letter Signed, Fort Welles, Port Royal,
South Carolina, 30 November 1861. Addressed to his brother-in-law Henry K. McHarg.
Describes how the Confederates were abandoning their forts in South Carolina.
[McHarg Family Papers, Box 1 Folder 4].
Sword and Scabbard. Much used. Most likely Horace Porter's working sword during
the Civil War. [Horace Porter Collection, Box 12 Folder 4].
John McHarg (1813-1884). Autograph Letter Signed, Hall's Hill, Virginia, 5 December
1861. Addressed to his brother Rufus McHarg. Mentions Union army activity around
Falls Church, Virginia. Includes comment that as the army advances, emancipation
follows. [McHarg Family Papers, Box 1 Folder 5].
Horace Porter (1837-1921). Autograph Letter Signed, Tybee Island, Georgia, 16
January 1862. Addressed to his brother-in-law Henry K. McHarg. Reports on his
activities fighting the Confederates in Georgia. Porter hopes Henry is a member
of the juvenile Zouave company. [McHarg Family Papers, Box 1 Folder 11].
Mende, Elsie Porter. An American Soldier and Diplomat: Horace Porter. New York: Frederick A. Stokes Company, 1927. [call#: LAU SPCOLL General 96A155].
Henry K. McHarg (1851-1941). Autograph Letter Signed, Albany, New York, 16 January
1862. Addressed to his brother John William McHarg. Includes drawing in pen
of John's horse. [McHarg Family Papers, Box 1 Folder 10].
[Arlington House]. John McHarg (1813-1884). Autograph Letter, Halls' Hill, Virginia,
nd. Addressed to his brother Rufus McHarg. Includes lengthy description of Robert
E. Lee's former home Arlington House being used as a depot for quarter master
stores except clothing and tents. [McHarg Family Papers, Box 1 Folder 12].
Photograph of Arlington House. Photo by Bell & Bro., Washington, D.C. [John
Gilmary Shea Papers, Box 26 Folder 6.5].
John McHarg (1813-1884). Autograph Letter Signed, Hall's Hill, Virginia, 2 March
1862. Addressed to his brother Rufus McHarg. Reports on preparations for a march.
Reference to Nathaniel P. Banks, Harpers Ferry (Virginia), Manassas (Virginia),
and George B. McClellan. [McHarg Family Papers, Box 1 Folder 16].
Horace Porter (1837-1921). Autograph Letter Signed, Tybee Island, Georgia, 23
March 1862. Addressed to his brother-in-law Henry K. McHarg. Reports on war
news. Porter laments the lack of hospital facilities. Reference to Union victories
in the West as shortening the war. [McHarg Family Papers, Box 1 Folder 19].
Sword with Ivory Grip and Metal Eagle Pommel (Probably American Made). Captured
from the Confederates at the fall of Fort Pulaski and Presented to Horace Porter.
Engraved on the scabbard is the following: "Fort Pulaski April 11th, 1862,
Gen. Q. A. Gillmore to Lieut. Horace Porter, For Gallant and Meritorious Conduct."
[Horace Porter Collection, Box 12 Folder 2].
Leslie's Illustrated, Fort Pulaski, 10 May 1862. Provides Newspaper Coverage
of the Capture of Fort Pulaski. [Horace Porter Collection, Box 10 Folder 5].
Photograph Providing Side View of the Main Breech in Fort Pulaski, circa 1862.
[Horace Porter Collection, Box 9 Folder 5].
Photograph of Quincy Adams Gillmore (1825-1888), United States Army, circa 1861-1865.
An Ohio native who graduated at the head of his West Point class of 1849, Gillmore
led the Union forces which bombarded Fort Pulaski. [Horace Porter Collection,
Box 9 Folder 1].
John McHarg (1813-1884). Autograph Letter Signed, Camp Winfield Scott, near
Yorktown, Virginia, 19 April 1862. Addressed to his brother to Rufus McHarg.
Includes description of Union camp near Yorktown and of the siege of Yorktown.
The siege of Yorktown began on 5 April 1862, and lasted until 4 May 1862. [McHarg
Family Papers, Box 1 Folder 20].
John McHarg (1813-1884). Autograph Letter Signed, Gaines' Mill, 9 miles from
Richmond, Virginia, 28 May 1862. Addressed to his brother Rufus McHarg. Discusses
the chances of the Union army reaching Richmond. References to the 25th New
York, the 2nd Maine, the 13th New York, Yorktown (Virginia), Elbert Bland, controlling
the Richmond Central Railroad, Nathaniel P. Banks, and John McHarg's life insurance
policy. [McHarg Family Papers, Box 1 Folder 22].
John William McHarg (b. 1843). Autograph Letter Signed, "Camp Refuge,"
Virginia, 20 July, 1862. Addressed to his brother Henry K. McHarg. Discusses
the Union army's retreat to end the Peninsular Campaign. Discussion of Confederate
treatment of prisoners, including Union surgeons. John requests that he be kept
abreast of the whereabouts of Horace Porter. Reference to George B. McClellan.
[McHarg Family Papers, Box 1 Folder 26].
General Ulysses S. Grant. Cigar Case & One Cigar. Presented by Grant to
his secretary, Harmon W. Brown (Private, Co. I 78th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer
Infantry) at Oxford, Mississippi, 20 December 1862. [Horace Porter Collection,
Box 2 Folder 5]
