Lane family papers, 1861-1916 and undated

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Summary

Creator:
Lane, Oscar B., 1840-1917, Lane, Josiah W., 1838-1913, and Lane, Theodore F., 1844-1926
Abstract:
The Lane family were residents of Wallingford, Connecticut. Brothers Oscar, Josiah, Theodore, Charles, and William all served in the Union Army during the Civil War, largely as musicians in regminental bands. Collection consists of correspondence, three diaries belonging to Oscar Lane, a scrapbook, and other related materials. Letters and diary entries document activities and camp life of the 5th Connecticut Volunteers and Harland's Brigade bands, particularly those involving Oscar Lane. The scrapbook contains clippings concerning the Veteran's Drum Corps, the Grand Army of the Republic, members of the Lane family, and Wallingford, Connecticut, as well as photographs, badges, a survivors roster for the 5th Regiment of Connecticut Volunteers, and postcards.
Extent:
0.75 Linear Feet
Language:
Material in English
Collection ID:
RL.00794

Background

Scope and content:

This collection of Civil War papers consists of three diaries, correspondence, a scrapbook, and other ephemeral items. Correspondence dated 1863 September 05 to December 18 is from Theodore, Josiah, and Oscar Lane to their sister Harriet and was written mostly from Portsmouth, Virginia, while the three of them served in Harland's Brigade Band. Letters describe camp life, music and the band's engagements, the shooting of deserters, and the social life in the city of Norfolk, Virginia. A deserter dressed in women's clothing is mentioned in a letter dated September 08. A few letters make brief references to the presence and activities of Black people, typically using outdated and offensive language. Of note are: a September [unknown day] letter from Josiah Lane that mentions their proximity to a regiment of Black troops and a "contraband camp" for formerly enslaved people near Portsmouth, Virginia; and a December 06 letter from Theodore Lane describing what the camp cook, a Black man named Pleasant Webb, typically made for them throughout the day.

The three diaries, dating from 1861 to 1871, belonged to Oscar B. Lane and detail daily life with the 5th Connecticut Volunteers and Harland's Brigade. Dated entries in the three diaries (1862 March 03 to September 10; 1863 July 20, September 04 to 1864 November 14; and 1864 November 14 to 1865 July 07, respectively) address topics such as the movements and military engagements of Lane' company; bands' performances, including those Lane was a member of; activities of Lane and fellow band member Silas L. Hall; camp and social life; local conditions, residents, and loyalties; and food and weather. Entries in the first diary also comment on the Battle of Winchester during Jackson's Shenandoah Campaign and the Battle of Cedar Mountain of the second Bull Run Campaign.

Entries in the second and third diaries are made largely from New Bern, North Carolina. These entries focus much more on social life, rather than camp and military life, and make frequent mentions of the Glee Club. Lane makes occasional references to the presence and activities of Black people, typically using outdated and offensive language. Additionally, beginning with an entry on 1864 May 18, the second and third diaries document the participation of Oscar Lane and other band members, especially Doug W. Hallenbeck, in blackface minstrelsy shows for profit in New Bern. Lyrics for "Babylon is Fallen!," a blackface minstrelsy song, are in the back of the second diary. Other entries of note in these diaries include: Lane attending a sermon given by a Black preacher (1864 March 13), Lane selling his drum to a Black drum major (1864 September 13), the Brigade Band playing for the Black people's Emancipation Celebration (1865 January 02), and a Black band serenading Lane at his own show (1865 June 08).

Also present in the latter two diaries are Lane's financial accounts with the U.S. government, tallies of letters sent and received, lists of Harland's Brigade Band members, song lyrics, and other various notes. The third diary also contains monthly financial accounts (1865-1871) of Oscar Lane's work for James N. Pierpont.

The scrapbook, likely compiled by Oscar B. Lane, contains clippings concerning the Veteran's Drum Corps, the Grand Army of the Republic, members of the Lane family, and Wallingford, Connecticut, as well as photographs, badges, a survivors roster for the 5th Regiment of Conn. Volunteers, and postcards. Other papers include event ephemera such as programs for a veterans' reunion and a convention of the Connecticut Fife and Drum Corps, as well as a calling card for Oscar Lane.

Biographical / historical:

The Lane family were residents of Wallingford, Connecticut. George Lane and Jennette Adkins (m. 1829) had seven children: George D., Harriett C., Charles N., Josiah W., Oscar B., Theodore F., and William F. Lane. Apart from George D., all the Lane's sons served in the Union Army during the Civil War.

Oscar B. Lane (1840 January 11 – 1917 January 19) and his brothers Josiah (1838-1913) and Charles (1834-1912) enlisted as musicians in the brigade band of the 5th Connecticut Volunteers in 1861 June. They mustered out in 1862 August after being discharged by the U.S. government, and they returned home to Wallingford.

Oscar, Josiah, and Theodore (1844-1926) enlisted as musicians in General Harland's Brigade Band in 1863 July, which was part of the Union's 18th Army Corps. They spent much of the war's remainder in New Bern, North Carolina, and mustered out in 1865 July.

Sources accessed via Ancestry.com, 2025 June 11: Connecticut, U.S., Town Marriage Records, pre-1870 [Barbour Collection]; 1850 United States Federal Census; U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865; U.S., Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current.

Other sources: "Oscar Lane dies after brief fight with pneumonia," Meriden Daily Journal, January 19, 1917 (via Newspapers.com, accessed 2025 June 11).

Acquisition information:
The Lane family papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a purchase in 1979 and as a gift from Carolyn Fensore in 2025.
Processing information:

Processed by Rubenstein Library staff.

Encoded by Jen Snow and Carrie Mills, May 2011.

Accession 2025-0010 added and collection description enhanced by Leah Tams, June 2025.

Accession(s) described in this finding aid: 1-5-79, 2025-0010.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

Using These Materials

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Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Lane Family Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

Permalink:
https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m1m34d