Guide to the Augustus Bowman Farnham Papers, 1861-1916 (bulk 1861-1891)
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Cite as: Augustus Bowman Farnham Papers, George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives, Bowdoin College Library, Brunswick, Maine
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Augustus B. Farnham (1839-1918), a native of Bangor, Maine, began his Civil War military service with the 2nd Maine Regiment. He transferred to the 16th Maine and served until 1865. Farnham also served as inspector general and chief of staff within the Fifth Corps until he was severely wounded at Five Forks. He was breveted colonel for his bravery.
After the war, Farnham was appointed postmaster of Bangor (1869-1885, 1891-1895) and elected sheriff of Penobscot County, Maine (1889-1890). He also served as inspector general (1887) and adjutant general (1901-1911) under three Maine governors.
Farnham was married twice, first to Ardelia B. Clark, then to Laura Wood. He had a daughter by his first marriage and a son by his second.
Letters (1861-1916), Civil War journals (1862 and 1864), documents and clippings (1863-1905), and photographs, mostly relating to Farnham's military career.
The majority of the letters are between Farnham and members of his family during his service in the Civil War. Included are several letters issuing orders to him. Later correspondence touches on his appointment as deputy-postmaster, then postmaster, of Bangor.
Arranged chronologically.
No restrictions.
1861 May - Jul
1861 Aug - Sep
1861 Oct - 1862 Jul
1862 Sep - 1863 Aug
1863 Sep - Dec
1864 Feb - Dec
1865 Jan - Feb
1865 Mar - Apr
1865 May
1865 Sep - Nov
1870 Dec - 1884 Jan
1892 Dec - 1916 Mar
Contains Civil War journals, documents, and clippings, mostly relating to Farnham's military career, including lists of casualties, wounded and missing soldiers, as well as a docket of General Courts Marshal presided over by Lieutenant Colonel Farnham in 1864.
Arranged alphabetically.
No restrictions.
Bangor Postmastership
Civil War: Docket of General Court Martial, presided over by ABF
Civil War: Ephemera
Civil War: Extract from the Monthly Inspection Report of the 3rd Division, 5th Army Corps
Civil War: Inventory and Inspection reports of Camp and Garrison Equipage, 121st PA volunteers
Civil War: Lists of Casualties (including killed, wounded, missing and prisoners)
Civil War: Passes
Civil War: Personal Journals, 1862 and 1864
Civil War: Special and General Orders
Clippings
Clippings-Images of Men
Documents: Deed of Sale for horses, buggies, pelts and household goods
Maine Volunteer Militia: Appointemnt and discharge of ABF as Brig. Gen. and Insp. Gen.
Photographs (listing only)
Societies and Associations: Masons (including ABF's masonic history)
Societies and Associations: Military Societies
Ts. ephemera
Consists primarily of images from after the Civil War, though there are some Civil War-era images, including a photograph of an encampment.
Arranged alphabetically.
No restrictions.
Boutelle, C.A., 1880 Jan 23
Boutelle, C.A. [engraving]
Camp Tilden [engraving]
Camp Tilden [engraving]
Crest of military service
Civil War encampment
Greeley, Horace
Skelton, W.B.
Soldiers and officers: Col. Kendall; Major Peterson; Major Bradbury; First Lieut. Elliott; First Lieut. Dooley; Color Sgt. Smith
State House, Augusta, Maine
Sutters Establishment, Maine Volunteers [photoprint of drawing]
Unidentified group of men
Unidentified man in uniform
Unidentified man in uniform
Unidentified man in uniform
Unidentified men (2) in military uniform