Memoir, [ca. 1890?].

ArchivalResource

Memoir, [ca. 1890?].

Memoir, holograph, mostly concerning Tidball's experiences in the Southwest as a member of Amiel Weeks Whipple's expedition and in Washington, D. C., while employed by the United States Coast Survey. Tidball briefly discusses his early life in West Virginia and Ohio and summarizes his experiences as a student at the United States Military Academy and as an army officer in Florida. After his appointment to the Second Artillery Regiment in 1853, Tidball went to Fort Defiance, New Mexico Territory. He describes travel from Fort Leavenworth to Fort Defiance, in the company of officers and civilians involved in organizing the territorial government. On his appointment to the Whipple expedition, Tidball led an escort party from Fort Defiance to Zuni, New Mexico Territory, joining Whipple on the Little Colorado River. He discusses his impressions of Whipple's party and contributions of individual members, including Lieutenant J. C. Ives, J. M. Bigelow, Jules Marcou, Caleb Burwell Rowan Kennerly, A. H. Campbell, Balduin Möllhausen, and Antoine LeRoux. He describes in detail the progress of the expedition; encounters with American Indians, particularly Zuni and Mohave; and topography, plants, and animals. In describing the route followed through Arizona, California, and the Sierra Nevada Mountains, he also briefly refers to a rail trip on the same route made by him in 1883. Affixed to many pages of this section of the memoir are pencil drawings by Tidball and lithographic illustrations made from drawings by him, picturing members of the expedition, Indians, natural features, and camp scenes. The memoir continues with Tidball's arrival at San Diego and his impressions of San Francisco; accounts of Acapulco, Mexico, and Panama made during his return to the East; and a second overland journey to Fort Defiance, during which he was recalled to Washington, D. C., to begin work with the Coast Survey. Tidball's duties at the Coast Survey included office management, relations with the public and Congress, and preparation of publications. He gives his impressions of Henry Washington Benham, Superintendent A. D. Bache, other officers of the Survey, and of Washington society, politics, and government. He also briefly discusses his employment as an illustrator by Henry Rowe Schoolcraft during this period. The remainder of the memoir concerns Tidball's impressions of events leading to the Civil War, including discussion of politics, political parties, Southern society, and the Army and War Department under Secretary of War Jefferson Davis. Also present is a list of distances travelled by Tidball, 1829-1889.

1 item (ca. 250 leaves) ; 32 cm.

Related Entities

There are 15 Entities related to this resource.

Bache, A. D. (Alexander Dallas), 1806-1867

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6p08ztd (person)

Alexander Dallas Bache (1806-1867) was an important scientific reformer during the early nineteenth century. From his position as superintendent of the United States Coast Survey, and through leadership roles in the scientific institutions of the time, Bache helped bring American science into alignment with the professional nature of its European counterpart. In addition, Bache fostered the reform of public education in America. On July 19, 1806 Alexander Dalla...

Marcou, Jules, 1824-1898

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6c53tj6 (person)

Marcou was a French geologist who traveled and worked in the U.S. He wrote many articles and books on geological topics. Belknap was possibly a naturalist. From the description of Correspondence, 1837-1889. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 122405065 Jules Marcou was a French geologist who traveled and worked in the U.S. He wrote many articles and books on geological topics. Belknap was possibly a naturalist. From the guide to the Jules Marcou corresponde...

United States coast survey

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w65x5z3h (corporateBody)

Benham, Henry Washington, 1813-1884

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6dr2zgr (person)

Benham was born at Cheshire, Connecticut. He graduated at the top of his class from the United States Military Academy in 1837. He was connected with various government works as a member of the Engineer Corps, and served in the Mexican War in 1847–48. From 1849 to 1852, he was superintending engineer of the sea wall for the protection of Great Brewster Island, Boston Harbor, and from 1852 to 1853 of the Washington (D.C.) Navy Yard. In 1861 he was appointed engineer of the Department of the Oh...

Tidball, John C. (John Caldwell), 1825-1906

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6ht3z0g (person)

Career military officer, noted for his service in the horse artillery in the Union Army cavalry during the Civil War. From the description of Poor white trash, circa 1870-1889. (Duke University Library). WorldCat record id: 671767276 Army officer. From the description of Reminiscence of John C. Tidball, undated. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70981000 John Caldwell Tidball was a career military officer noted for his service in the horse artillery in the ...

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6xk8d2z (person)

Mary Ann Lamar Cobb (1818-1889), wife of Gen. Howell Cobb (1815-1868). From the description of Letter to Mary Ann Lamar Cobb, 1888 Oct. 2. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 38476494 Jefferson Davis (1808-1889) was born in Kentucky. He attended Transylvania University for a short time before enrolling at West Point in 1824, at the age of 16. He graduated in 1828 and immediately joined the First Infantry. His regiment was engaged in the Blackhawk War of 1831. In 1833, he became a...

Bigelow, J. M.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w60368nz (person)

Leroux, M., 1730-1792

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6qs2f9f (person)

Ives, J. C.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w60018fb (person)

Army officer and engineer. Born 1828, died 1868. Full name: Joseph Christmas Ives. From the description of Papers of J. C. Ives, 1862. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 79454086 Lt. Joseph C. Ives of the United States Army Corps of Topographic Engineers was in command of a U.S. Army expedition whose mission was to explore the region of the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon, and to establish the limit of navigation of the Colorado River. From the description of [Jo...

Kennerly, Caleb Burwell Rowan, -1861

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6r50w78 (person)

Dr. Kennerly's work as surgeon and naturalist on several government-sponsored expeditions was very significant. He participated in the Pacific Railroad Survey along the 35th parallel (1853-1854), the United States Mexican Boundary Survey (1854-1855), and the Northwest Boundary Survey (1857-1861). All these surveys produced rich natural history specimens that were deposited at the Smithsonian. Kennerly was born at the family estate in White Post, Virginia. He attended Dickinson College in Carlisl...

Möllhausen, Balduin, 1825-1905

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6zk7219 (person)

Whipple, Amiel Weeks, 1817?-1863

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w625220r (person)

Union general. From the description of Autograph letter signed : Ft. Corcoran, to Major Hunt, 1862 Sept. 16. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270587485 ...

Atlantic and Pacific Railroad Company

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6sz1bnn (corporateBody)

Campbell, A. H. (Albert H.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6n37dh3 (person)

Schoolcraft, Henry Rowe, 1793-1864

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6dw280k (person)

Epithet: Vice-president of the American Ethnological Society British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000561.0x0000a9 Author, Indian agent and ethnologist. From the description of Henry Rowe Schoolcraft papers, 1826-1841. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 34418398 Henry Schoolcraft was an ethnologist, geologist, Indian agent, and glass manufacturer. From th...