Clarke Historical Library
Central Michigan University
Finding aid for
Silas H. Alliton Collection
Finding aid created by
KYle Garver, Marian Matyn
Summary Information
Silas H. Alliton Collection
Alliton, Silas H.
1860-1916 (Scattered)
1 cubic foot (in 1 box, 1 Oversized folder, 1 Oversized volume)
Correspondence, papers, newspaper clippings, photographs, and postcards of Silas H. Alliton.
MSS.
Language: The material is in English
Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University250 East Preston Street
Mount Pleasant, MI 48859
Phone: 989-774-3352
Fax: 989-774-2160
Email: clarke@cmich.edu
Website: http://clarke.cmich.edu
Access and Use
Acc # 3080
Silas H. Alliton Collection is open for research.
Copyright is unknown.
Silas H. Alliton Collection, #, Box #, Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University
Arrangement
The papers are organized alphabetically and chronologically.
History
Biography:
Silas H. Alliton was the second of five children born to Michael and Cynthia (Shipman) Alliton. On September 20, 1861, he enlisted in the 3rd Michigan Cavalry, Company G. He was mustered on October 14, 1861. On January 19, 1864, he re-enlisted and was mustered eight days later. In 1865, Alliton earned the rank of Sergeant. That same year, his unit was sent to San Antonio (Texas) to restore peace. In December 1865, the entire unit, except Silas, mutinied. Later, some 8 to 10 soldiers were court-martialed. Silas was finally mustered out on February 12, 1865.
After the war, Silas returned to Corunna, Michigan, and married his wartime correspondent and girlfriend, schoolteacher Dora (Eudora K.) Knight on October 7, 1866. They had at least two children, Art and Neva.
Silas was a member of L. B. Quackenbush Post 205, Michigan Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), in Owosso, Michigan. Silas died in 1916. [This information is from the regimental history and the collection.]
Two other soldiers who appear in the papers are Henry R. Wallace and Lt. Shipman.
Henry R. Wallace, a friend of Dora’s, enlisted in Company B, Michigan Engineers and Mechanics, on September 19, 1861 at age 28. He was mustered on October 29, 1864 and discharged two days later at the end of his service in Atlanta, Georgia. He was an artificer (a soldier mechanic).
Lt. Shipman, probably Alliton’s cousin, Seymour, was from Whitmore Lake, Michigan. He enlisted in the 3rd Michigan Cavalry, Company G. as a First Sergeant on September 14, 1861, at age 33 and was mustered out on October 14, 1861. Shipman was commissioned a First Lieutenant in the Michigan 6th Cavalry, Company D at its organization on October 13, 1862 and had been mustered two days earlier. He was wounded on July 2, 1863 at Hunterstown, Pennsylvania. He was honorably discharged on July 5, 1864 as a result of his injuries. (Most of this information is from the collection and regimental histories)
Collection Scope and Content Note
The papers provide much first hand information about the 3rd Michigan Cavalry, Company G, in Alliton’s numerous letters to Dora and in his three diaries,1860-1865. Additional general information about the Civil War is found in the newspaper clipping and the GAR materials and photograph, 1865-1916. There are also a few letters to Dora from her sister, Nettie, 1872-1876. The collection is completed by Biographical Materials, including a Bible and family photographs.
Subject Terms
- Alliton, Silas H.
- Alliton, Dora K.
- Shipman, Seymour.
- Wallace, Henry R.
- Alliton, Ann.
- United States. Army. Michigan Regiment, 3rd (1861-1865) Company G.
- United States. Army. Michigan Engineers and Mechanics Regiment, 1st (1861-1865) Company B.
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives.
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Societies, etc.
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Regimental histories.
- Corunna (Mich.)--History.
- Genesee County (Mich.)--History.
Contents List
| Container / Location |
Title |
| |
Silas H. Alliton Collection. [series]: |
| Box 1 |
F 1 |
Biographical Information, 1866, circa 1916 |
| Box 1 |
F 2 |
Corn Circular (advertisement), undated |
| Box 1 |
F 3 |
Correspondence, 1860-1862 |
| Box 1 |
F 4 |
Correspondence, 1864, January-April |
| Box 1 |
F 5 |
Correspondence, 1863, September-December |
| Box 1 |
F 6 |
Correspondence, 1864, January-April |
| Box 1 |
F 7 |
Correspondence, 1864, May-December |
| Box 1 |
F 8 |
Correspondence, 1865, January-April |
| Box 1 |
F 9 |
Correspondence, 1865, May-August |
| Box 1 |
F 10 |
Correspondence, 1865, September-November |
| Box 1 |
F 11 |
Correspondence, 1865, December |
| Box 1 |
F 12 |
Correspondence, 1866, January-May |
| Box 1 |
F 13 |
Correspondence, 1866, July-December |
| Box 1 |
F 14 |
Correspondence, (From Nettie Knight to her sister,Dora Alliton), 1872, 1875, 1876 |
| Box 1 |
F 15 |
Correspondence, 1903,1915-1916 |
| Box 1 |
F 16 |
Correspondence, undated |
| Box 1 |
F 17 |
Diaries, 1862, 1864, 1866 |
| Box 1 |
F 18 |
GAR Papers, 1901, 1916 |
| Box 1 |
F 19 |
Muster-Out Roll, Michigan Cavalry 3rd Regiment, Company G, 1866 |
| Box 1 |
F 20 |
Newspaper Clipping (Copy) of "A Rebel Spy Dressed in Women's Clothes," 1865 |
| Box 1 |
F 21 |
Photographs and Postcards, 1906, undated |
| Box 1 |
F 22 |
Reunion Danner (Company G), 1914 |
| F 1 |
|
Oversized Folder, Oversized Photograph of the Reunion of the Michigan Cavalry 3rd Regiment, Company G at Corunna, Michigan. Alliton is in the 2nd row, 2nd from the right, October 1914 |
| V 22 |
|
Family Bible, Published in Philadelphia in 1885. With note, “Presented to Silas H. Alliton by Methodist Episcopal Sunday School of Caledonia,”[Michigan]. The Bible does not contain any family information nor photographs. 1885 |
|
