Collection Summary
Samuel Peter Heintzelman Papers
1822-1913
1850-1865
1822-1913
1850-1865
MSS25676
Heintzelman, Samuel Peter, 1805-1880
1,500 items
11 containers plus 1 oversize
4.5 linear feet
13 microfilm reels
English
Collection material in English
Manuscript Division, Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
Union army officer. Correspondence,
diaries, journals, and military papers detailing Heintzelman’s service in the United
States Army from his years at the United States Military Academy through the Civil War.
Includes descriptions of activities in conflicts with Native American groups in Florida,
the Southwest, and California, and during the Mexican War.
Selected Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC
Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and
by occupation and listed alphabetically.
People
Halleck, H. W. (Henry Wager), 1815-1872--Correspondence.
Heintzelman, Samuel Peter, 1805-1880.
Hooker, Joseph, 1814-1879--Correspondence.
Kearny, Philip, 1815-1862--Correspondence.
McClellan, George B. (George Brinton), 1826-1885--Correspondence.
McClellan, George B. (George Brinton), 1826-1885.
Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869--Correspondence.
Thomas, Lorenzo, 1804-1875--Correspondence.
Organizations
United States Military Academy.
United States. Army--Officers.
Subjects
Creek War, 1836.
Indians of North America--Alabama--Wars.
Indians of North America--Arizona.
Indians of North America--California.
Indians of North America--Florida--Wars.
Indians of North America--Georgia--Wars.
Mexican War, 1846-1848.
Seminole War, 2nd, 1835-1842.
Places
Huron, Lake (Mich. and Ont.)--Surveys.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Virginia--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Washington (D.C.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Occupations
Army officers.
Acquisition Information
The papers of Samuel Peter Heintzelman, United States Army officer, were deposited in
the Library of Congress by his daughter, Mary L. Heintzelman, in 1913 and 1914. The
deposit was converted to a gift by his great-granddaughter, Dorothy Heintzelman Mallan,
in 1953.
Processing History
The papers of Samuel Peter Heintzelman were arranged and described in 1976 by Willmer M.
Getchell. The finding aid was revised in 2003 by Brian McGuire. The finding aid was
updated in 2024 by Maria Farmer as part of a division-wide remediation project by the
Inclusive Description Working Group.
Transfers
Maps have been transferred to the Geography and Map Division of the Library of Congress
where they are identified as part of the these papers.
Copyright Status
The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of Samuel Peter Heintzelman is
governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).
Access and Restrictions
The papers of Samuel Peter Heintzelman are open to research. Researchers are advised to
contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections are stored
off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use.
Microfilm
A microfilm edition of these papers is available on thirteen reels. Consult reference
staff in the Manuscript Division concerning availability for purchase or interlibrary
loan. To promote preservation of the originals, researchers are required to consult the
microfilm edition as available.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information:
Container or reel number, Samuel Peter Heintzelman Papers, Manuscript Division, Library
of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Biographical Note
Date
Event
1805, Sept. 30
Born, Manheim, Pa.
1826
Graduated from the United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y.
1835
1842
Participated in Second Seminole War
1843
1847
On recruiting service in Buffalo, N.Y., Detroit, Mich., and Louisville,
Ky.
1844
Married Margaret Stuart
1847
In battle of Huamantla, Mexican War; breveted major for gallant meritorious
conduct
1848
1853
On garrison duty in Southern California
1852
In expedition against Quechan Tribe (Yuma)
1853
1854
Commander, Southern District of California
1855
Promoted to major
1857
1859
On leave of absence from United States Army. President, Sonora Exploring and
Mining Co., Ariz.
1859
1860
On frontier duty in southern Texas; in Brownsville expedition against Cortina
1861
Promoted to colonel, United States Army, and brigadier general of
Volunteers; made inspector general, Department of Washington
Wounded in First Battle of Bull Run
1861
1862
Commanded defenses of Washington, D.C., south of the Potomac
1862
Commander, 3d Corps, Army of the Potomac; promoted to major general of
Volunteers; at siege of Yorktown and battles of Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Savage
Station, Glendale, Malvern Hill, Second Bull Run, and Chantilly
1862
1863
Assigned to defenses of Washington, D.C.
1864
Commander, Northern Department, Columbus, Ohio
1865
Promoted to major general, United States Army
1865
1869
Commander, 17th Infantry, mostly in Texas
1869
Retired from active service
1869
1880
Lived in Washington, D.C.
1880, May 1
Died, Washington, D.C.
Scope and Content Note
The papers of Samuel Peter Heintzelman (1805-1880), consisting of correspondence,
diaries, journals, military papers, and miscellany, span the period 1822-1913. The bulk
of the material is concentrated in the years 1850-1865. The collection reflects
Heintzelman’s career in the regular army and as a major general of volunteers during the
Civil War.
The journals run almost without interruption from 1825, the year before Heintzelman
graduated from the United States Military Academy, through 1872, three years after he
retired from the army. Heintzelman described his surveys of Lake Huron, 1832-1834, his
participation in the Creek War and Seminole Wars in Florida, and his activities during
the Mexican War. He also discusses the history and culture of Native American groups in
the Southwest, especially in Arizona and southern California. Together with the
correspondence, the journals reveal in detail Heintzelman’s activities as a corps
commander under George Brinton McClellan during the campaigns in Virginia in 1862.
Wartime life in northern Virginia and in Washington, D.C., was often noted.
The collection contains little correspondence with members of Heintzelman’s family and
with associates in his civilian enterprises, most notably the Sonora Exploring and
Mining Company of Arizona. Major correspondents include H. W. Halleck, Joseph Hooker,
Philip Kearny, George Brinton McClellan, Edwin McMasters Stanton, and Lorenzo
Thomas.
Arrangement of the Papers
This collection is arranged in five series:
-
[ Diaries, 1825-1872 ](diar)
-
[ Correspondence, 1830-1885
](corres)
-
[ Military Papers, 1822-1869
](militpap)
-
[ Miscellany, 1833-1913
](miscell)
-
[ Oversize, 1842 ](overs)
Catalog Record: [https://lccn.loc.gov/mm76025676]
Container List
Available on microfilm. Shelf no. 17,131
Container
Contents
1-6
1-9
Diaries,
1825-1872
1825-1872
Pocket diaries, notebooks, journals, and recollections.
Arranged by type of material and thereunder chronologically.
1
1-2
Pocket diaries, 1832-1833,
1847-1865
1832-1833,
1847-1865
(14 vols.)
1
2
Copies of notes, 1861-1863
1861-1863
2
2
Journals
2
2
1825-1833
2
2-3
1833-1838
3
3
1839-1841
3
4
1842-1846
4
4-5
1847-1850
4
5-6
1851-1855
(2 vols.)
5
6
1856-1860
5
7
1861-1865
6
8
1866-1872
6
8
Notebooks, 1862-1863
1862-1863
(2 vols.)
6
9
Recollections and copies of documents,
1872, undated
1872,
undated
6-9
9-12
Correspondence, 1830-1885
1830-1885
General correspondence, telegrams, and letterbooks.
Arranged by type of material and thereunder chronologically.
6
9
General
6
9
1830-1859
(4 folders)
6
9
1860
6
9
Jan. 1- Mar. 30
(2 folders)
7
9
Apr. 1-Nov. 24, undated
(2 folders)
7
9
1861, Feb. 19-Dec. 6, undated
7
9
1862
7
9
Mar. 12-June 28, undated
(2 folders)
7
10
July 2-Dec. 27, undated
7
10
1863-1868
(8 folders)
8
10
1869-1878, undated
(3 folders)
8
10
Heintzelman, Mary L. (daughter), correspondence,
1885
1885
8
10
Telegrams
8
10
1861, May-1862, June 25
(6 folders)
8
10
1862, Aug. 23-1878
(2 folders)
8
11
Letterbooks
8
11
1836, May 18-1841, Jan. 10
9
11
1841, Jan. 16-1846, May 8; 1857, June
16-Sept. 7
9
11
1841-1846
(2 folders)
9
12
1850-1860
(2 folders)
9
12
1862, Jan.-Nov., with “Index of Papers and
Books” 1872, and “Johnston’s Narrative” undated
undated
10
12
Military Papers, 1822-1869
1822-1869
Orders, furloughs, commissions, circulars, field returns and casualty lists, and
narrative reports of military operations.
Arranged alphabetically by type of material and thereunder chronologically.
10
12
Army service orders
10
12
1838-1841
10
12
1859, Nov.-1860, Apr.
10
12
Circulars, 1849-1862
1849-1862
10
12
Field returns and casualty lists,
1847-1862
1847-1862
(2 folders)
10
12
General orders, 1860-1869
1860-1869
10
12
Orders, furloughs, and commissions,
1822-1869
1822-1869
(5 folders)
10
12
Reports of military operations,
1861-1862
1861-1862
11
13
Miscellany, 1833-1913
1833-1913
Survey books, newspaper clippings, printed matter, and a photograph.
Arranged alphabetically by type of material.
11
13
Cash book, 1839-1857
1839-1857
11
13
Holgate, Jerome B.,
Atlas of American History
, 1842
[
See Oversize
](seeov)
1842
11
13
Loyalty oath, 1864, Jan. 30
1864, Jan.
30
11
13
Newspaper clippings, 1860-1880,
undated
1860-1880,
undated
11
13
Photograph, undated
undated
11
13
Printed matter, 1860-1865, 1904,
1913
1860-1865, 1904,
1913
11
13
Survey books, 1833, 1851-1852
1833,
1851-1852
OV 1
13
Oversize, 1842
1842
Atlas of American History on a Novel Plan
by Jerome B. Holgate.
Described according to the series, folder, and container from which the item was
removed.
OV 1
13
Holgate, Jerome B.,
Atlas of American History on a Novel Plan
, 1842 (Container 11)
1842