Collection number: MC 267
Size: 2 boxes
(0.10 cu.ft.)
About Thomas Leonard Livermore
Thomas Leonard Livermore (1844-1918) was born in Galena, Illinois and grew up in Milford, New Hampshire. Prior to the Civil War, Livermore was a student at Lombard University in Galesburg, Illinois. Once the war commenced, in April 1861, Livermore joined the 1st New Hampshire Volunteers Regiment, a three-month regiment. After he was mustered out in August 1861, he joined the 5th New Hampshire, in which he rose to the rank of 1st Lieutenant and later Captain. Livermore was wounded at the Battle of Malvern Hill in July 1862 and was present when Colonel Edward Cross was mortally wounded at Gettysburg a year later. Livermore later transferred to command the 18th New Hampshire at the rank of Colonel. After the war, he returned to New Hampshire where he studied law and became a member of the New Hampshire bar. Livermore wrote a diary, “Days and Events,” based on his own experience as a soldier in volunteer regiments in the Union army. His narrative provides an insight into the cultural, social, and military circumstances of the Civil War. “Days and Events” covers the period from the beginning of the Civil War in 1860 until 1867, about the time began to write. He was a 22 year-old veteran when he began writing.
About the Thomas L. Livermore Diary
The collection consists of Thomas Livermore’s handwritten 493 page manuscript draft of what was later published as Days and Events, 1860-1866. It is contained in two 8.5” x 13” quarter-bound volumes. Livermore wrote this diary between 1867 and 1872. It is accompanied by Walter Holden’s 615 page transcription of the manuscript, with notes. Days and Events was first published, with many revisions, in 1920, two years after Livermore’s death. Livermore resisted having his diary published during his lifetime to avoid embarrassing or rebuking those who were still alive. Although his children wrote in the foreword that “this book is offered to the public, without alteration, and substantially without omission,” it is clear that the published volume does vary from Livermore’s original manuscript. For example, the editor of the 1920 edition only provides the initial of a colonel who Livermore describes as “a dark little man, as erect as a drill sergeant, terribly profane, a Mexican soldier, and a splendid one when sober, which was perhaps half the time.” Holden’s typewritten transcription does not omit anything from Livermore’s original manuscript with the exception of the introductory “Author’s Note,” which is present in the 1920 edition. Holden does provide detailed endnotes for each chapter, which include biographical information about many of the individuals mentioned in the diary, as well as historical information about various events or regiments. Some notes correct inaccuracies, such as dates and the names of regiments, which appear in Livermore’s original.
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
This collection is open.
Copyright Notice
Contents of this collection are governed by U.S. copyright law. For questions about publication or reproduction rights, contact Special Collections staff.
Preferred Citation
Thomas L. Livermore Diary, 1867-1872, MC 267, Milne Special Collections and Archives, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, NH, USA.
Acquisitions Information
Donated: James Loder, September 2012 (Accession # 2012.29)
Related Material
Catalog record for published version: Days and Events 1860-1866 by Thomas L. Livermore.
Online version scanned at the Internet Archive
Collection Contents
| Box 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Box 1, Folder 1 | Bound manuscript diary, volume 1 | |
| Box 1, Folder 2 | Bound manuscript diary, volume 2 | |
| Box 1, Folder 3 | Walter Holden’s transcription, chapters 1-4 | |
| Box 1, Folder 4 | Walter Holden’s transcription, chapters 5-8 | |
| Box 1, Folder 5 | Walter Holden’s transcription, chapters 9-11 | |
| Box 1, Folder 6 | Walter Holden’s transcription, chapters 12-15 | |
| Box 1, Folder 7 | Walter Holden’s transcription, chapters 16-19 | |
| Box 1, Folder 8 | Walter Holden’s transcription, chapters 20-23 | |
| Box 1, Folder 9 | Walter Holden’s transcription, chapters 24-27 | |
| Box 2 | ||
| Box 2, Folder 1 | Walter Holden’s transcription, chapters 28-30 | |
| Box 2, Folder 2 | Walter Holden’s transcription, chapters 31-32 | |
| Box 2, Folder 3 | Walter Holden’s transcription, chapters 33-35 | |
| Box 2, Folder 4 | Walter Holden’s transcription, chapters 36-38 | |
| Box 2, Folder 5 | Walter Holden’s transcription, chapter 39 | |
| Box 2, Folder 6 | Walter Holden’s transcription, notes | |
