WILLIAM HOPPER PAPERS
1862-1865

East Tennessee State University
Archives of Appalachia
Box 70295
Johnson City, Tennessee 37614

E-mail: archives@etsu.edu
Telephone: (423) 439-4338

INTRODUCTION

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Provenance: The William Hopper Papers were donated to the Archives of Appalachia on August 15, 1990 by Christie S. Carter, the paternal great-great granddaughter of William Hopper.

Access: The papers are open for research.

Processing Information: J.Gee, Becky Tuthill, Melissa Garant and Scott Schwartz completed processing, and the papers were opened to researchers on October 1, 1991.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

William Hopper was born c. 1828 in Northumber Land County, Pennsylvania and resided in Iowa until his death. During the Civil War, Hopper enlisted as a volunteer infantry soldier for the G Company of the 24th Iowa Infantry on August 13, 1862. Sent to Helena, Arkansas, on October 28, 1862, the 24th Infantry remained there until February 15, 1863 and participated in several expeditions along the White River. The company first engaged southern troops in late January at Coldwater, Mississippi, during maneuvers designed to assist in General Grant's preparation for his siege on Vicksburg. On February 15, 1863 the infantry unit was transferred to the Second Brigade of the Twelfth Division of the Thirteenth Army Corps and began a southeasterly campaign that would take them through Louisiana, Mississippi, and Georgia.

The 24th Iowa Infantry engaged in the Battle of Port Gibson on May 1, 1863 and sixteen days later in the Battle of Champion's Hill, a conflict that cost the unit nearly half the lives of its men. After participating in skirmishes at Vicksburg and Jackson, Mississippi, on July 5, 1863, the remaining forces of the Iowa Infantry unit were transferred to the Second Brigade of the Third Division of the Thirteenth Army Corps in August 1863 and stationed in Algiers, Louisiana. The following year the infantry unit marched to Pleasant Hill, Louisiana and participated in the Battle of Sabine Crossroads on April 7, 1864. The unit was then ordered to Cedar Creek, Virginia, and upon its arrival was immediately transferred to Charleston, West Virginia and assigned to the Fourth Brigade of the Second Division of the Nineteenth Army Corps.

The 24th Iowa Infantry fought in two final battles at Winchester, Virginia, on September 19, 1864 and at Cedar Creek, Virginia, on October 19, 1864. The unit "acquitted itself with honor" for its actions during this last engagement. The remainder of its military service was devoted to building houses and escorting trains through hostile territory. The 24th Iowa Infantry was mustered out of service on July 17, 1865 while stationed in Savannah, Georgia. After his discharge from the army William Hopper returned to his home in Iowa.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The William Hopper Papers consists of a letter and photocopies of discharge papers documenting some of Hopper's activities during the Civil War. The letter sent by Hopper, while stationed in Helena, Arkansas, to his wife in Iowa reflects the feeling of discontent that Hopper and his colleagues experienced during the Civil War. The letter addresses the issues of the war from the soldier's point of view.

Important subjects covered in the collection include:

Hopper, William
United States. Army. Iowa Infantry Regiment, 24th (1862-1865)
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Vicksburg (Miss.)--History--Siege, 1863

FOLDER AND ITEM LIST

Folder 1:

1. Letter from William Hopper to Mary Hopper, January 31, 1863.
2. William Hopper's official Army discharge, photocopy paper, issued July 17, 1865.
3. Handwritten copy of William Hopper's discharge paper, (photocopy) issued July 17, 1865.

SUBJECT INDEX TO WILLIAM HOPPER PAPERS

Deballs Bluff (DeValls Bluff, Arkansas): 1-1.
Helena, Arkansas (1863): 1-1.
Hopper, Cally: 1-1.
Hopper, Mary: 1-1.
Hopper, Riley: 1-1.

Hopper, William 1-1, 1-2, 1-3.
Southern Industry - Civil War: 1-1.
United States History - Civil War, 1861-1865: 1-1.
Vicksburg, Mississippi, Battle of: 1-1.
White River, Arkansas: 1-1.

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