Finding Aid of the John Augustus Young Diary, 1861 - 1888, PC.629
Abstract
John Augustus Young (1814-1888) was born in Iredell County. Young built the Rock Island
Manufacturing Company, a woolen mill. Young served in the 4th Regiment of North Carolina
Troops (1861-1862) but returned to wool manufacturing for troops. After the failure
of his mill in 1870, Young served as clerk of Inferior Court, Mecklenburg County until
1885 and then as postmaster of Charlotte until his death.
The collection includes a diary of thirty-one pages kept by Young in 1861, a sample
pay voucher, a list of flare and cannon signals (1861), and a photocopy of Young's
obituary (1888). The diary recounts the 4th Regiment's organization after his appointment
in May; giving general details of Battle of Bull Run; describing Col. George B. Anderson
and leave spent with Maj. Bryan Grimes at a plantation in Virginia; and mentioning
epidemic of measles, nursing service by ladies of Richmond, machinery ordered from
England for his mill, and clothing for the regiment.
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- John Augustus Young Diary
- Call Number
- PC.629
- Creator
- Young, John Augustus
- Date
- 1861 - 1888
- Extent
- 3.00 items
- Language
- English
- Repository
- State Archives of North Carolina
Restrictions on Access & Use
Access Restrictions
Available for research.
Use Restrictions
Copyright is retained by the authors of these materials, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law (Title 17 US Code). Individual researchers are responsible for using these materials in conformance with copyright law as well as any donor restrictions accompanying the materials.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], PC.629, John Augustus Young Diary, State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh, NC, USA.
Collection Overview
Diary (Aug.-Sept., 186i) kept by Young of Iredell Co., owner of woolen mill near Charlotte
and lieutenant colonel, 4th Regt. NCT, recounting regiment's organization after his
appointment in May; giving general details of Battle of Bull Run; describing Col.
George B. Anderson and leave spent with Maj. Bryan Grimes at a plantation in Virginia;
and mentioning epidemic of measles, nursing service by ladies of Richmond, machinery
ordered from England for his mill, and clothing for the regiment. Later diary entries
(1874) are by an unidentified young girl. Also a sample pay voucher and list of flare
and cannon signals (1861), and photocopy of Young's obituary (1888).
The diary of thirty-one pages begins with a history of the regiment, from its formation
and equipping through its movements until arrival at Camp Pickens at Manassas on August
11, 1861, twenty-one days after the first Battle of Manassas. The diary summarizes
in some detail the recent battles (July 18 and July 21), including the death of Colonel
Charles F. Fisher. The regiment remained at Camp Pickens during the summer and winter
of 1861, doing post and fatigue duty and drilling.
The daily entries begin on August 19, 1861, and end September 8, 1861, in Charlotte,
where Lt. Colonel Young has gone to procure winter clothing for the regiment. Among
the entries are references to the large number of men on the sick list, his own poor
health, the arrival of Professor E. B. Neave to organize a brass band, and the Richmond
newspapers. There is a characterization of the regimental commander, Colonel George
Burgwin Anderson; a reference to the coastal blockade and to machinery Young had ordered
from England for his woolen factory; and a five-page account of an idyllic three-day
leave which he and Major Bryan Grimes spent on the plantation of a Mr. Harrison who
lived near the thoroughfare in Bull Run Mountain and had been a member of the Virginia
legislature and the late state convention.
Included is a fragment of a pay voucher for service (September 1 - October 31, 1861)
with a list of night signals for sentinels. About half the pages in the diary have
been removed and there are a few irrelevant entries by a young girl in 1874.
Biographical Note
Contents of the Collection
Subject Headings
Acquisitions Information
From Biennial Reports: 1930-1932, diary received. No donor listed. Photocopy of newspaper obituary from Compiled Genealogies, Young family, July 5, 1867.