John C. McLain Papers (c.00111)

This collection consists of a typewritten copy of the Civil War diary (1862-1865) of John C. McLain. McLain was with Company C, Fourth Michigan Cavalry, stationed in Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama. His company participated in the Murfreesboro Campaign (May-December, 1862), the Chickamauga Campaign (June-September, 1863), the battles around Chattanooga (November 1863), the Atlanta Campaign (May-August, 1864) and the Franklin and Nashville Campaign (September-December, 1864). The diary gives a good account of Company C's movements and of daily army life. Of special interest are references to troop morale, the capture of Jefferson Davis (May 10, 1865) by General B.B. Pritchard of the Fourth Michigan Calvary, the demobilization of the armies. McLain later became County Treasurer of Van Buren County, Michigan. He typed his Civil War notes in 1883.