James King Ashley civil war manuscript
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- James King Ashley civil war manuscript
- Date
- undated
- Creator
- Ashley, James King, 1845-1926
- Extent
- 0.15 Cubic feet
- Subjects
- Ashley, James King, 1845-1926
- Cahaba Federal Prison. (Cahaba, Ala.)
- Thompson, Helen Dees
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Prisoners and prisons, Confederate.
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
- Preferred Citation
- 2014ms0238: [identification of item], James King Ashley Civil War manuscript, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- James King Ashley (1845-1926) was born in Pulaski County, Kentucky. He served as a Union soldier in the 20th Indiana Battery during the Civil War. He was captured and imprisoned in Cahaba prison in Alabama for nine months. After his parole, he was placed on the Confederate steamship "Sultana" which exploded. Ashley survived the explosion and returned to Indiana and later Pulaski County, Kentucky.
- Scope and Content
- The James King Ashley Civil War manuscript (undated; 0.15 cubic feet; 1 box) comprises a handwritten memoir written by James King Ashley of the 20th Indiana Battery, recounting his experiences during the Civil War. The memoir describes his enlistment; camp life; his imprisonment in the Confederate prison at Cahaba, Alabama; his eventual parole; and the explosion of the steamship "Sultana".
Restrictions on Access and Use
- Conditions Governing Access
- Collection is open to researchers by appointment.
- Use Restrictions
- Property rights reside with the University of Kentucky. The University of Kentucky holds the copyright for materials created in the course of business by University of Kentucky employees. Copyright for all other materials has not been assigned to the University of Kentucky. For information about permission to reproduce or publish, please contact Special Collections.
Contents of the Collection
The small hoosier in the big blue clothes, Chapter I - War for the Union - Slavery - Southern hatred - And low tide in American politics, undated
The small hoosier in the big blue clothes, Chapter II - Enlistment - Life in Camp - War reminiscence - Capture by the Enemy, undated
The small hoosier in the big blue clothes, Chapter III - Captivity and terrors of Cahaba prison, undated
The small hoosier in the big blue clothes, Chapter IV - Failure of the insurrection - High water mark - And parole, undated
Special Collections Research Center - Closed
The Breckinridge Research Room will be closed starting May 11, 2026, and anticipates re-opening Fall semester 2026 in an alternate location for the duration of the King Library renovation.
Reproduction requests will still be available during the closure.
Contact SCRC with questions.
Table of Contents
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
Special Collections Research Center - Closed
The Breckinridge Research Room will be closed starting May 11, 2026, and anticipates re-opening Fall semester 2026 in an alternate location for the duration of the King Library renovation.
Reproduction requests will still be available during the closure.
Contact SCRC with questions.
Requests
No items have been requested.
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
