William McKnight Collection
Scope and Contents
The William McKnight papers span from 1862 to 1864 and document McKnight’s time as an American Civil War soldier. The collection includes 108 letters, mostly between McKnight and his wife Samaria; a lock of McKnight’s hair; McKnight’s commission to 2nd Lieutenant; receipts; envelopes; a land transfer to McKnight; a paper written by son Thomas; obituary for Lucetta Tuckerman; and two Memorandum Account Books of Samaria’s.
Dates
- Creation: 1862 - 1864
Creator
- McKnight, William, 1832-1864 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Ohio University Libraries.
Conditions Governing Use
Ohio University retains all property rights to the collection. Ohio University retains all copyrights unless retained by the donor, other correspondents, or other artists.
Biographical note
William McKnight was an Ohio resident and American Civil War combatant. He was born in New Brunswick, Canada on July 2, 1832. His father was Thomas McKnight from Dumfrie Scotland and his mother was Jane McKnight, nee McMaster.
McKnight appears in the 1850 Census as a sixteen year old resident of Rutland Township in Meigs County, Ohio, working in farming and living with his parents and siblings John, James, Mary and Samuel. McKnight married Samaria Braley of Langsville on March 8, 1855. They had six children: Leila, Thomas, Susan, Mary, and twins Martha and Myrta. McKnight later appears in the 1860 Census as a blacksmith.
McKnight entered the army at age 29 on September 12, 1862 and was mustered in November 8, 1862 with Company K of the 7th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry (OVC) as 1st Sergeant. He was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant on April 19, 1864. The 7th OVC was known as the “River Regiment” as most of the men were recruited from counties that bordered the Ohio River. From 1862 until McKnight’s death in 1864 the 7th OVC was in Kentucky and Tennessee and a portion of the Regiment (not including McKnight) helped chase down Morgan’s Raiders in Ohio. McKnight was able to make two visits home while he was in the cavalry. The first was in April 1863 and the second was in April 1864.
McKnight’s death occurred during the Battle of Cynthiana in Kentucky. His remains were returned to Meigs County, Ohio, and buried in Miles Cemetery in Rutland Township.
The Ohio University Press published a book of McKnight’s letters entitled Do They Miss Me at Home: The Civil War Letters of William McKnight, Seventh Ohio Volunteer Cavalry.
Extent
.66 Cubic Feet
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection remains in its original arrangement.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Ohio University Archives received the collection August 2010 from Terry Hauger of Oscoda MI through Ina Hauger, Ula Kearns and Mallise Orr from Mattie McKnight.
Geographic
- Author
- Doug McCabe
- Date
- 2010 August
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections Repository