William Baker Kinsey Collection - 161st New York Infantry Regiment
William Baker Kinsey was born on May 11th, 1836 in Willistown, Chester County, PA. He was mustered into the Union army on April 30th, 1861 at Bath, NY as a Corporal. He was 24 years of age when he enlisted. Half a month later in May he was transferred into Co. “A” of the NY 161st Volunteer Infantry. It was in the 161st that Kinsey served for the rest of the war. He received promotions from 1st Sergeant all the way to the senior rank of Brigadier General. Kinsey was mustered out of the Union army on September 20th, 1865, at Fort Jefferson, Florida.
In this collection there are documents ranging from personal letters, to official ordnance vouchers. There are many newspaper articles that talk about what the 161st did and who the commanding officers were. One newspaper includes a picture of Kinsey.
Other documents in the collection include Maps of defense schemes, awards, general orders, special orders, quarterly reports, annual returns, and journals.
| Title | Date | Summary |
| War Diary | ||
| Scan | 1863-1864 | |
| Transcription (by Helen Kyle) | 1863-1864 |
| Title | Date | Summary |
| Quarterly Ordnance Reports | ||
| 3rd Quarterly Report | 1863 | Ordnance Report including vouchers, receipts, and notices |
| 4th Quarterly Report | 1863 | Ordnance Report including vouchers, receipts, and notices |
| 1st Quarterly Report | 1864 | Ordnance Report including vouchers, receipts, and notices |
| 2nd Quarterly Report | 1864 | Ordnance Report including vouchers, receipts, and notices |
| 3rd Quartertly Report | 1864 | Ordnance Report including vouchers, receipts, and notices |
| 4th Quarterly Report | 1864 | Ordnance Report including vouchers, receipts, and notices |
| August Report | 1864 | Ordnance Report including vouchers, receipts, and notices |
| 1st Quarterly Report | 1865 | Ordnance Report including vouchers, receipts, and notices |
| 2nd Quarterly Report | 1865 | Ordnance Report including vouchers, receipts, and notices |
| Annual Return | 1863 | Annual return during the year of 1863 |
| Commissions & Awards | ||
| Award #1 | September 8, 1862 | Commission appointing Kinsey to1st Lieutneant |
| Award #2 | April 4, 1863 | Commission appointing Kinsey to Lt. Colonel |
| Award #3 | November 20, 1866 | Commission appointing Kinsey to Brevet Colone (New York State) |
| Award #4 | June 30, 1868 | Commission appointing Kinsey to Brevet Brigadier General |
| Award #5 | February 1, 1888 | Award presented to W.B. Kinsey in 1888 by the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the US |
| Correspondence | ||
| Correspondence | March 17, 1865 | Journal of the march of the Third Brigade |
| Correspondence | April 13, 1865 | Report of the seige of Spanish Fort |
| Correspondence | April 13, 1865 | Report of the seige of Blakeley |
| Drawings | ||
| Drawing #1 | August 23rd, 1864 | Drawings made by George Slater at Sally Port, Fort Morgan, Alabama |
| Drawing #2 | August 23rd, 1864 | Drawings made by George Slater at Sally Port, Fort Morgan, Alabama |
| Drawing #3 | August 23rd, 1864 | Drawings made by George Slater at Sally Port, Fort Morgan, Alabama |
| General Orders | ||
| General Order #14 | October 31, 1865 | General court martial and sentencing |
| General Order #279 | November 10th, 1864 | Instrunctions on a rendezvous |
| General Order #32 | April 22nd, 1865 | The commemoration of soldiers by the Major-General |
| Letters | ||
| Letter From John Cass | Septermber 24th, 1863 | To Kinsey. A letter from Mr. Cass about rumors of imprisonment |
| Letter From General Frederic Speed | May 6th, 1864 | To Kinsey. A letter asking Lieutenant Colonel Kinsey to report for duty |
| Letter From Kinsey | June 4th, 1864 | To General Frederic Speed. A letter from Kinsey respectfully asked for a leave of absense due to his fathers death |
| Letter From Brigadier General Bailey | July 3rd, 1864 | To Kinsey. "You are in charge & I know Colonel that you will do every thing possible to be ready" |
| Letter From Brigadier General Wadsworth | November 1st, 1864 | To Kinsey. A letter from Wadsworth granting Kinsey a leave of absense |
| Letter From Kinsey | November 5th. 1864 | To Adjuntant General Sprague. A few papers pertaining to the resignation of Colonel Harrower |
| Letter From Kinsey | November18th, 1864 | To A. A. General Dickson. A request of a leave of absence |
| Letter From Harry Jewell | January 16th, 1865 | To Kinsey. A request for resignation due to Harry Jewell's wife being charged with infidelity by friends |
| Letter From Kinsey | January 31st, 1865 | To Brigadier General Thomas. Kinsey asks for his requests be granted to allow Harry Jewell to return home |
| Letter From Kinsey | February 2nd, 1865 | To Lt. Col. Christensen. A report report of the discharging of Captain Lorenzo D. Hathaway |
| Letter From A. A. A. G. Armstrong | February 10th, 1865 | To Kinsey. Official orders to march at daylight |
| Letter From John Cass | May 1st, 1865 | To Kinsey. Excitement back home after the assasination of President Lincoln |
| Letter From Unknown | October 15th, 1865 | To Kinsey. A note letting Kinsey know that some invoices and reciepts didn’t make it to the Ord. Office |
| Letter From Brownell | November 9th, 1865 | To Kinsey. The company's general orders #15 |
| Maps | ||
| Map #1 | August, 1864 | A large map of the Mississippi Basin |
| Map #2 | Unknown | Cross section map of the Red River |
| Map #3 | Unknown | Sketch of defences on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay |
| Map #4 | November 10th, 1864 | A rough plan of town & fortifications of Columbus, Kentucky. |
| Miscellaneous | ||
| Picture | 1863 | A picture of Brig. General Nathan Augustus Monroe Dudley |
| Poem | Unknown | A poem found with a few pictures. Written by Frances Bartlett |
| Parade Photo #1 | Unknown | "Post 2 Parade on Memorial Day" written on back |
| Parade Photo #2 | Unknown | "Post 2 Guard on Memorial Day" written on back |
| Parade Photo #3 | Unknown | "Sons of Veterans Post 2 Parade on Memorial Day" written on back |
| History of Service | Unknown | A bill granting an increase in pension to W.B. Kinsey including a history of service. |
| Movement of Kinsey | Unknown | A map showing the movement of W.B. Kinsey through the Mississippi basin from 1861-1865 |
| Pension Bill | December 7th, 1909 | A bill passed by the House, Senate, and Congress granting a pension increase to Kinsey of fifty dollars |
| Muster Out Forms | ||
| Muster Out | September 11th, 1865 | Muster out forms for Private King |
| Muster Out | September 13th, 1865 | Muster out forms for Private Place |
| Muster Out | September 8th, 1865 | Muster out forms for Private Preutiss |
| Muster Out | September 18th, 1865 | Muster out forms for Private Stephens |
| Newspaper Articles | ||
| Newspaper Article | October 27th | Kinsey is mentioned as sending a letter of regret for being unable to attend the service |
| Newspaper Article | September 9th, 1899 | Mentioning of a speech made by Kinsey at a service reunion. |
| Newspaper Article | September 20th | A story of Kinsey's heroics is told. |
| Newspaper Article | September 22nd, 1898 | 23rd regiment holds its annual reunion in Elmira |
| Newspaper Article | Septermber 27th, 1891 | A history of the 161st as told by "Horatius" |
| Newspaper Article | October 9th, 1865 | Arrival of the 161st Regiment |
| Newspaper Article | November 29th, 1898 | A few war stories |
| Newspaper Article | 1885 | Survivors of a Gallant Regiment hold a reunion at Barry Opera House, Corning |
| Newspaper Article | December 10th, 1887 | An article about Kinsey with a picture |
| Newspaper Article | April 15th, 1865 | The New York Herald publishes an article on Lincoln's assassination |
| Newspaper Article | April 15th, 1865 | The Elmira Daily Advertiser publishes an article on Lincoln's assassination. |
| Newspaper Article | November 4th, 1865 | Official report by general Banks published in a newspaper |
| Special Orders | ||
| Special Order #134 | June 9th, 1864 | Ivestigation of potential spying by A.J. Buck |
| Special Order #169 | July 9th, 1865 | Sick and unable to attend to duties |
| Special Order #186 | July 16th, 1864 | Meeting in Florida for trial |
| Special Order #222 | September 10th, 1865 | 161st relieved of duty |
| Special Order #236 | September 28th, 1865 | Kinsey to attend the trial of Charles A. Brownell |
| Special Order #29 | July 25th, 1864 | Kinsey detailed to take charge |
| Special Order #33 | August 22nd, 1865 | The 161st are relieved of duty |
| Special Order #34 | June 10th, 1864 | Report to Col. Bailey without delay |
| Special Order #37 | May 6th, 1864 | Orders to follow Col. Bailey |
| Special Order #396 | July 25th, 1865 | Fairchild honorably dishcharged |
| Special Order #57 | May 8th, 1865 | Appointed to the Board of Examination |
| Special Order #57 | October 7th, 1865 | Order to go to Elmira N.Y. for Muster-out papers |
| Special Order #63 | March 4th, 1864 | Leave of absence notice |
| Special Order #63 | May 14th, 1865 | More soldiers appointed to the Board of Examination |
| Volunteer Descriptions | ||
| Volunteer Description | October 7th, 1864 | Description of Orrin Reddert |
| Volunteer Description | July 6th, 1865 | Description of Thomas J. Smith |