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Collection Number: 02351

Collection Title: Herman Biggs Papers, 1857-1882.

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our reading room, and not digitally available through the World Wide Web. See the Duplication Policy section for more information.


This collection was rehoused and a summary created with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities; this finding aid was created with support from NC ECHO.

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Size 0.5 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 300 items)
Abstract Herman Biggs (1832-1887) was a United States Army officer and native of New Jersey. The collection includes Civil War military papers of Biggs as chief quartermaster of the Department of North Carolina and Virginia, including telegrams received, many from Ambrose Everett Burnside, and two letterpress copy books of outgoing official messages. Also included are some personal letters and an album with photographs of more than 100 federal officers.
Creator Biggs, Herman, 1832-1887.
Curatorial Unit University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.
Language English
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Restrictions to Access
No restrictions. Open for research.
Restrictions to Use
No usage restrictions.
Copyright Notice
Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], in the Herman Biggs Papers, #2351, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Acquisitions Information
Received from H. M. Biggs of Rutherfordton, N.C., 1941 and 1946.
Additional Descriptive Resources
A copy of the original finding aid for this collection is filed in folder 1A.
Sensitive Materials Statement
Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, the North Carolina Public Records Act (N.C.G.S. § 132 1 et seq.), and Article 7 of the North Carolina State Personnel Act (Privacy of State Employee Personnel Records, N.C.G.S. § 126-22 et seq.). Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill assumes no responsibility.
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Processed by: SHC Staff

Encoded by: Noah Huffman, December 2007

Updated by: Kate Stratton and Jodi Berkowitz, January 2010; Nancy Kaiser, January 2021

This collection was rehoused and a summary created with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

This finding aid was created with support from NC ECHO.

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The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.

Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.

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Herman Biggs (1832-1887) was United States Army officer during the Civil War. Biggs was a native of New Jersey and was educated at West Point Military Academy, graduating in 1856. During the Civil War he served as lieutenant colonel and chief quartermaster, United States Army, Department of North Carolina and Virginia, under General Ambrose Everett Burnside's command.

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The collection includes Civil War military papers of Herman Biggs as chief quartermaster, United States Army, Department of North Carolina and Virginia, including telegrams received, many from Ambrose Everett Burnside, and two letterpress copy books of outgoing official messages. Also included are some personal letters and photographs of more than 100 federal officers.

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Contents list

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Herman Biggs Papers, 1857-1882.

Folder 1A

Original finding aid

Folder 1

1857-1858

Folder 2-4

Folder 2

Folder 3

Folder 4

1860-1862

Folder 5

1863-1864

Folder 6

1940, Undated

Folder 7-8

Folder 7

Folder 8

Newspaper clippings, 1865-1867

Folder 9

Volume 1: Letterpress book, Herman Biggs, 1862

Folder 10

Volume 2: Letterpress book, Herman Biggs, 1862-1865

Oversize Image OP-P-2351/1

Biggs, Herman and other Union soldiers, circa 1861-1865

Oversize Image OP-P-2351/2

Biggs, Herman, with three younger men, circa 1872-1882

Photographer: Cadwallader and Tappan, Marietta, Ohio

Oversize Image OP-P-2351/3

Horse and buggy in front of a house, circa 1870-1880

Oversize Image OP-P-2351/4

Steamer Adelaide in harbor, circa 1861-1865

Oversize Image OP-P-2351/5

Supply wagons, circa 1862

Oversize Image OP-P-2351/6

View from hilltop toward harbor, probably at New Bern, N.C., circa 1862

Oversize Image OP-P-2351/7

Wooden houses near Neuse River, New Bern, N.C., circa 1862

Oversize Image OP-P-2351/8

Sketches of canal boat, by Herman Biggs, circa 1860-1865

Oversize Image OP-P-2351/9

Grant, Ulysses S. and fourteen officers posing in front of tent, circa 1861-1863

Photographer: Mathew Brady, Washington, D.C.

Oversize Image OP-P-2351/10

Grant, Ulysses S. and eight of his staff, circa 1861-1863

Photographer: Mathew Brady, Washington, D.C.

Oversize Image OP-P-2351/11

Union soldiers on steps of Kilburn-Guion home, New Bern, N.C., circa 1863

Oversize Image OP-P-2351/12

Union soldiers on steps and fence of Hughes-Jones home, New Bern, N.C., circa 1863

Oversize Image OP-P-2351/13

Union soldiers in front of Slover home, New Bern, N.C., 1863

Verso reads "Genl. Foster [probably John Gray Foster] and staff New Bern, N.C., Apl. 1863."

Oversize Image OP-P-2351/14

Union soldiers in front of Slover home, New Bern, N.C., 1863

Herman Biggs is third from right.

Oversize Image OP-P-2351/15

Union soldiers grouped around the Benjamin Ellis home, New Bern, N.C., circa 1863

Oversize Image OP-P-2351/16

Union soldiers looking out of windows and standing in front of Ellis home, New Bern, N.C., circa 1863

Oversize Image OP-P-2351/17

Union soldiers posing under flag flying from balcony of Rhem home, New Bern, N.C., circa 1863

Oversize Image OP-P-2351/18

Blacksmiths posing in front of livery stable, circa 1863

Oversize Image OP-P-2351/19

Men in uniform and in civilian dress, relaxing at camp near New Bern, N.C., circa 1863

Oversize Image OP-P-2351/20

Union officer posing in front of blockhouse, circa 1863

Oversize Image OP-P-2351/21

Union troops with rifles, posing in front of blockhouse, circa 1863

Oversize Image OP-P-2351/22

Outpost of Union soldiers, on bluff overlooking water, probably near New Bern, N.C., circa 1863

Oversize Image OP-P-2351/23

Union soldiers in front of cabin; man, little girl, and horse behind them, circa 1863

Oversize Image OP-P-2351/24

Photograph of map entitled "Plan of the Town of New Bern," circa 1810, photograph circa 1855-1865

Photograph Album PA-2351/1

Photograph album

Photograph album consisting of 133 cartes-de-visite has been disassembled, for contents see Images P-2531/1a-36d. These photographs have been kept in the exact order in which they were placed in the album and are mostly portraits of Union officers, circa 1860-1875.

Image P-2351/1a

Photograph of painting of George Washington

Photographer: McAllister and Brother, Philadelphia, Pa.

Image P-2351/1b

McClellan, George B.

Photographer: Mathew Brady, Washington, D.C.

Image P-2351/1c

Grant, Ulysses S.

Image P-2351/1d

Unidentified man in civilian dress; probably Herman Biggs

Image P-2351/2a

Foster, John Gray

Photographer: Kimberly Brothers, Fort Monroe, Va.

Image P-2351/2b

Fitz Gerald, S.

Photographer: Kimberly Brothers, Fort Monroe, Va.

Image P-2351/2c

Potter, Edward Elmer (?)

Photographer: Kimberly Brothers, Fort Monroe, Va.

Image P-2351/2d

Anderson, John Framen

Image P-2351/3a-3b

Strong

Photographer: Kimberly Brothers, Fort Monroe, Va.

Image P-2351/3c

Hoffman, Southard

Photographer: Kimberly Brothers, Fort Monroe, Va.

Image P-2351/3d

Darr, Francis

Image P-2351/4a

Three Union officers, seated

Man with beard is identified as Herman Biggs. Photographer: Kimberly Brothers, Fort Monroe, Va.

Image P-2351/4b

Burnside, Ambrose

Photographer: J. Gurney and Son, New York, N.Y.

Image P-2351/4c

Augur, Christopher C.

Photographer: Mathew Brady, Washington, D.C.

Image P-2351/4d

Porter, Fitz J

Photographer: Mathew Brady, Washington, D.C.

Image P-2351/5a

Thomas, George Henry

Image P-2351/5b

Reno, Jesse Lee

Photographer: R. W. Addis, Washington, D.C.

Image P-2351/5c

Sherman, William Tecumseh

Image P-2351/5d

Hancock, Winfield Scott

Image P-2351/6a

Bowman

Photographer: Charles D. Fredricks and Company, New York, N.Y.

Image P-2351/6b

Poe, Orlando Metcalfe

Photographer: Charles D. Fredricks and Company, New York, N.Y.

Image P-2351/6c

Bayard, George Dashiell

Photographer: Charles D. Fredricks and Company, New York, N.Y.

Image P-2351/6d

Hascall, Herbert Austin (?)

Image P-2351/7a

Owen (?)

Image P-2351/7b

Gaston (?)

Photographer: Mathew Brady, Washington, D.C.

Image P-2351/7c

McMillan

Photographer: Rintoul and Rockwood, New York, N.Y.

Image P-2351/7d

Lee, Fitzhugh

Image P-2351/8a

Colburn, Albert V.

Photographer: R. W. Addis, Washington, D.C. Image is inscribed "Your friend & commander - A. V. Colburn"

Image P-2351/8b

Thomas, Charles William (?)

Photographer: Kimberly Brothers, Fort Monroe, Va.

Image P-2351/8c

Union colonel

Autograph illegible. Photographer: R. W. Addis, Washington, D.C.

Image P-2351/8d

Taylor, John McLean

Photographer: Kimberly Brothers, Fort Monroe, Va.

Image P-2351/9a

Messinger, Daniel (?)

Photographer: J. W. Black, Boston, Mass.

Image P-2351/9b

Farquhar, Francis Ulrich (?)

Photographer: Kimberly Brothers, Fort Monroe, Va.

Image P-2351/9c

Howard, Robert V. W.

Photographer: Kimberly Brothers, Fort Monroe, Va.

Image P-2351/9d

Webster, Amos (?)

Photographer: Horton, Boston, Mass.

Image P-2351/10a

Kingsbury

Image P-2351/10b

McClellan, Ely (?)

Photographer: Kimberly Brothers, Fort Monroe, Va.

Image P-2351/10c

Gillmore, Quincy Adams

Photographer: Mathew Brady, Washington, D.C.

Image P-2351/10d

Culting

Photographer: Rintoul and Rockwood, New York, N.Y.

Image P-2351/11a

Baylor, Thomas Gregory and John Herr Frantz

Photographer: Kimberly Brothers, Fort Monroe, Va.

Image P-2351/11b

Unidentified Union officer

Photographer: Kimberly Brothers, Fort Monroe, Va.

Image P-2351/11c

Loring

Photographer: Whipple, Boston, Mass.

Image P-2351/11d

Snelling, Frederick Greenwood (?)

Photographer: Kimberly Brothers, Fort Monroe, Va.

Image P-2351/12a

Southerland, Charles (?)

Image P-2351/12b

Sawtelle, Charles Green (?)

Photographer: J. H. Walzl, Baltimore, Md.

Image P-2351/12c

Mitchell, O. M.

Photographer: Mathew Brady, Washington, D.C.

Image P-2351/12d

Mansfield, Joseph King Fenno

Image P-2351/13a

Taylor, George William (?)

Published by E. & H. T. Anthony, New York, N.Y.

Image P-2351/13b

Negley, James Scott

Photographer: Charles D. Fredricks and Company, New York, N.Y.

Image P-2351/13c

Rosecrans, William Starke

Photographer: Mathew Brady, Washington, D.C.

Image P-2351/13d

Butler, Benjamin Franklin

Photographer: Mathew Brady, Washington, D.C.

Image P-2351/14a

Howard, Oliver Otis

Photographer: Wenderoth and Taylor, Philadelphia, Pa.

Image P-2351/14b

Wool, John Ellis

Photographer: Mathew Brady, Washington, D.C.

Image P-2351/14c

Edson, John Henry

Photographer: Kimberly Brothers, Fort Monroe, Va.

Image P-2351/14d

Union officers in front of a tent

Photographer: Mathew Brady, Washington, D.C.

Image P-2351/15a

Vogdes, Israel

Photographer: Wenderoth and Taylor, Philadelphia, Pa.

Image P-2351/15b

De Russy, Gustavus Adolphus

Photographer: Mathew Brady, Washington, D.C.

Image P-2351/15c

Cullum

Photographer: Mathew Brady, Washington, D.C.

Image P-2351/15d

Graham, Charles Kinnaird

Photographer: Mathew Brady, Washington, D.C.

Image P-2351/16a

Ricketts, James Brewerton

Photographer: Mathew Brady, Washington, D.C.

Image P-2351/16b

Fry, James Barnett

Photographer: Mathew Brady, Washington, D.C.

Image P-2351/16c

Hartranft, John Frederick

Photographer: McAllister and Brother, Philadelphia, Pa.

Image P-2351/16d

Palmer, Innis Newton

Photographer: J. E. McClees, Philadelphia, Pa.

Image P-2351/17a

Union officers

Probably George B. McClellan and staff. Photographer: Mathew Brady, Washington, D.C., and New York, N.Y.

Image P-2351/17b

Smith, William Farrar

Photographer: C. D. Fredericks and Company, New York, N.Y.

Image P-2351/17c

Custer, George Armstrong

Photographer: Mathew Brady, Washington, D.C.

Image P-2351/17d

Brooks, William Thomas Harbaugh

Photographer: J. E. McClees, Philadelphia, Pa.

Image P-2351/18a

Ingalls, Rufus

Photographer: Mathew Brady, Washington, D.C.

Image P-2351/18b

Slocum, Henry Warner

Photographer: J. E. McClees, Philadelphia, Pa.

Image P-2351/18c

Shields, James

Photographer: McAllister and Brother, Philadelphia, Pa.

Image P-2351/18d

Casey, Silas

Photographer: J. E. McClees, Philadelphia, Pa.

Image P-2351/19a

Robinson, John Cleveland

Photographer: Mathew Brady, Washington, D.C.

Image P-2351/19b

Stanley, David Sloane

Published by E. & H. T. Anthony, New York, N.Y.

Image P-2351/19c

Buell, Don Carlos

Photographer: J. E. McClees, Philadelphia, Pa.

Image P-2351/19d

Milroy, Robert Huston

Photographer: Mathew Brady, Washington, D.C.

Image P-2351/20a

Saxton, Rufus

Photographer: Mathew Brady, Washington, D.C.

Image P-2351/20b

Hatch, Edward

Photographer: J. E. McClees, Philadelphia, Pa.

Image P-2351/20c

Wyman

Published by E. & H. T. Anthony, New York, N.Y.

Image P-2351/20d

Crittenden, Thomas Turpin

Published by E. & H. T. Anthony, New York, N.Y.

Image P-2351/21a

Butterfield, Daniel

Photographer: J. E. McClees, Philadelphia, Pa.

Image P-2351/21b

Curtis, Samuel Ryan

Published by E. & H. T. Anthony, New York, N.Y.

Image P-2351/21c

Schenk, Robert Cumming

Photographer: J. E. McClees, Philadelphia, Pa.

Image P-2351/21d

McCook, Alexander McDowell

Published by E. & H. T. Anthony, New York, N.Y.

Image P-2351/22a

Wadsworth, James Samuel

Photographer: Mathew Brady, Washington, D.C.

Image P-2351/22b

Shepley, George Foster

Photographer: Mathew Brady, Washington, D.C.

Image P-2351/22c

Stevens, Isaac Ingalls

Photographer: Mathew Brady, Washington, D.C.

Image P-2351/22d

Viele, Egbert Ludovicus

Photographer: Mathew Brady, Washington, D.C.

Image P-2351/23a

Clay, Cassius Marcellus

Photographer: Mathew Brady, Washington, D.C.

Image P-2351/23b

Crossman

Photographer: Broadbent and Company, Philadelphia, Pa.

Image P-2351/23c

Harney, William Selby

Photographer: Mathew Brady, Washington, D.C.

Image P-2351/23d

Buford, John

Photographer: Mathew Brady, Washington, D.C.

Image P-2351/24a

Worth, William Scott (?)

Photographer: Mathew Brady, Washington, D.C.

Image P-2351/24b

Heckman, Charles Adams

Image P-2351/24c

Miles, Dixon Stansbury (?)

Photographer: Mathew Brady, Washington, D.C.

Image P-2351/24d

Anderson, Robert

Photographer: J. Gurney and Son, New York, N.Y.

Image P-2351/25a

Prince, Henry

Photographer: Mathew Brady, Washington, D.C.

Image P-2351/25b

Nelson, William

Photographer: Mathew Brady, Washington, D.C.

Image P-2351/25c

Hunt, Louis Cass

Photographer: Mathew Brady, Washington, D.C.

Image P-2351/25d

Couch, Darius Nash

Photographer: J. E. McClees, Philadelphia, Pa.

Image P-2351/26a

Sewell, William Joyce (?)

Photographer: McAllister and Brother, Philadelphia, Pa.

Image P-2351/26b

Stackpole, Joseph Lewis (?)

Photographer: Kimberly Brothers, Fort Monroe, Va.

Image P-2351/26c

Soldiers on steps of building

Photographer: McAllister and Brother, Philadelphia, Pa.

Image P-2351/26d

The vessel New York

Photographer: Kimberly Brothers, Fort Monroe, Va.

Image P-2351/27a

Reynolds, John Fulton

Photographer: J. E. McClees, Philadelphia, Pa.

Image P-2351/27b

Thomas

Photographer: Disderi & Cie, Paris, France

Image P-2351/27c

Berit

Photographer: J. Gurney and Son, New York, N.Y.

Image P-2351/27d

Webster, W. H.

Photographer: A. J. Simpson, Lowell, Mass.

Image P-2351/28a

Unidentified officer

Photographer: Mathew Brady, Washington, D.C.

Image P-2351/28b

Webster, Charles Dix

Photographer: Kimberly Brothers, Fort Monroe, Va.

Image P-2351/28c

Kilpatrick, Hugh Judson (?)

Photographer: C. D. Fredericks and Company, New York, N.Y.

Image P-2351/28d

Unidentified officer

Photographer: Bogardus, New York, N.Y.

Image P-2351/29a

Duc de Chartres

Photographer: McAllister and Brother, Philadelphia, Pa.

Image P-2351/29b

Count de Paris

Photographer: Mathew Brady, Washington, D.C.

Image P-2351/29c

Ludlow, Edwin

Photographer: Kimberly Brothers, Fort Monroe, Va.

Image P-2351/29d

Cutting, Walter (?)

Image P-2351/30a

Averell, William Woods

Photographer: William Rutherford, Hammondton, N.J.

Image P-2351/30b-31d

Image numbers not used

Image P-2351/32a

Farragut, David G.

Image P-2351/32b

Rowan

Image P-2351/32c

Foote, Andrew Howe (?)

Photographer: Mathew Brady, Washington, D.C.

Image P-2351/32d

Goldsborough

Photographer: J. E. Tilton and Company, Boston, Mass.

Image P-2351/33a

Lee

Photographer: Kimberly Brothers, Fort Monroe, Va.

Image P-2351/33b

Upshaw

Photographer: Wenderoth and Taylor, Philadelphia, Pa.

Image P-2351/33c

Wood, Robert Crooke (?)

Photographer: Kimberly Brothers, Fort Monroe, Va.

Image P-2351/33d

Boggs

Photographer: Mathew Brady, Washington, D.C.

Image P-2351/34a

Vanderbilt

Photographer: McAllister and Brother, Philadelphia, Pa.

Image P-2351/34b

Upham

Photographer: Kimberly Brothers, Fort Monroe, Va.

Image P-2351/34c

Quire (?)

Photographer: Kimberly Brothers, Fort Monroe, Va.

Image P-2351/34d-35d

Image numbers not used

Image P-2351/36a

Unidentified young man

Photographer: Charles D. Fredricks and Company, New York, N.Y.

Image P-2351/36b

Unidentified Union officer

Photographer: Charles D. Fredricks and Company, New York, N.Y.

Image P-2351/36c

Shubrick, William Branford

Photographer: Mathew Brady, Washington, D.C.

Image P-2351/36d

Man, identified only as "Alexander."

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