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Creator
Sickles, Daniel Edgar, 1819-1914
Call number
MssCol 2751
Physical description
1 linear foot (1 box, 5 v.)
Language
Materials in English
Preferred Citation

Daniel Edgar Sickles papers, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library

Repository
Manuscripts and Archives Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.

Daniel Edgar Sickles (1819-1914) was an American Civil War general and New York politician. He represented New York in the U.S. Congress from 1857 to 1861, fought in the Civil War in the Peninsular Campaign, Antietam, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. After the war, he was in charge of the military district of the Carolinas and later became American minister to Spain, 1869-1873. He served again in the Congress from 1893 to 1895. Collection consists of correspondence and newsclippings pertaining to Sickles's activities. His correspondence, 1841-1914, is with friends, political associates and Civil War veterans on subjects such as veterans' organizations, war memorials, state and national politics, and his ministry to Spain. His wife's correspondence, 1856-1862, is also included. Newsclippings, 1867-1914, concern the Civil War, veterans' reunions, and Sickles's political career.

Biographical/historical information

American Civil War general and New York politician. He was born on October 20, 1825 in New York and died 88 years later on May 3, 1914. Sickles was admitted to the bar in 1844 and became a member of the state legislature 3 years later. By 1857, he was a Democratic member of Congress and represented New York until 1861. Engaged in a duel in 1859, he killed Philip Barton Key (son of Francis Scott Key). He was, nevertheless, tried for murder and was acquitted on the grounds of temporary insanity. It was the first such verdict in legal history. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Sickles raised a brigade of New York volunteers and took part in the Peninsular Campaign, Antietam, and Chancellorsville and Gettysburg where he lost his right leg during combat. After the war, he was in charge of the military district of the Carolinas (1865-1867) and later became American minister to Spain (1869-1873). Sickles once again represented New York in Congress from 1893 to 1895. He was also involved in the establishment of Central Park in New York City.

Scope and arrangement

The collection consist largely of Sickles' correspondence (1841-1913, undated) with friends, political associates and fellow Civil War veterans on subjects such as veterans organizations, war memorials, state and national politics, and his ministry to Spain. The letters are mostly to him, and only a few are by him. His wife's correspondence (1856- 1862) is also included. There are 4 letterpress books (1870-1874) covering his tenure as the American minister in Spain. Newspaper clippings (1867-1914) are numerous in the collection, relating mostly to the civil War, veterans' reunions and Sickles' political career. There is also a volume of clippings from newspapers all over the United States pertaining to Sickles' involvement and endorsement of William McKinley in his presidential campaign against William J. Bryan in 1896.

Administrative information

Processing information

Received from Purchased from Tuttle, Nov. 1, 1928

Feb. 7. 1985

Using the collection

Location

Manuscripts and Archives Division
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018-2788
Brooke Russell Astor Reading Room, Third Floor, Room 328