Edward L. Molineux papers
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Abstract
The papers are comprised of five items: event bulletins, biographical notes, and a bound collection of Civil War reflections by the creator, all of which document the scope of Molineux's military career and his rise through the ranks during the American Civil War.
Biographical note
Edward L. Molineux was born in England in 1832 and moved to Brooklyn as an infant where he stayed for the rest of his life. Molineux is best known as a Major General during the Civil War. His military career began as early as 1854, when he joined the Brooklyn City Guard and then Company B, 7th Regiment of New York. During his time in the war, he organized the 159th New York Volunteer Infantry in 1862. He assisted during the draft riots in New York, after being returned home to recover after an injury in 1863. His regiment was the first to land at Baton Rouge, Louisiana during the Red River Campaign in 1864. He was given command of the troops north of the Red River in Louisiana, from which he was given command of Fort Pulaski and Tybee where he is remembered as being instrumental in the rescue of the ship Lawrence. Later in 1864 he was made Military Commander of the District of Northern Georgia where he seized close to $10,000,000 in coin, bullion, buildings, and factories.
After the war, he was a successful businessman, working for the company F.W. Devoe & C.T. Raynolds. He became one of the "Original Companions" of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS), New York Commandery in 1886, with the objective to "foster military and naval science, promote allegiance to the United States government, perpetuate the memory of those who fought to preserve the unity and indivisibility of the Republic and to honor the memory and promote the ideals of President Abraham Lincoln." He also became president of the National Rifle Association in the 1870s and he was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Molineux died at the age of 83 in June 1915.
Sources:
"About Us." Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, New York Commandery est. 1866. Accessed March 3, 2015. http://www.loyallegionny.org/about-us/.
Kinnaird, Clark. "First Century 1866-1966 and Forward."Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, New York Commandery est. 1866. Accessed March 3, 2015. http://static1.squarespace.com/static/52dcb588e4b0c593abb73447/t/5350c5c7e4b0021ca5381e6a/1397802439486/First+Century+1866-1966.pdf.
Scope and Contents
The collection is made up of event programs, a piece of letterhead paper for the creator's company F.W. Devoe & C.T. Raynolds & Co., a short biography of the creator in a published bulletin, a photographic print of the creator, and a bound collection of stories and papers written by the creator. These bound documents about Edward L. Molineux's experiences in the Civil War were compiled by Cecil Molineux in order to benefit his grandchildren. The rest of the collection of memorabilia pertains to Molineux's life after the war. There is no indication of who collected them. These papers represent a well written candid account of the social, emotional, and strategic aspects of the Civil War. Included in the collection is a letter from the city of Augusta, Georgia to Molineux dated 1865, thanking him upon his retirement of his post for his intelligent and compassionate command of the city during the war.
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Conditions Governing Access
Open to users without restriction.
Conditions Governing Use
The papers are in the public domain.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date (if known); Edward L. Molineux papers, 1987.009, Box and Folder number; Brooklyn Historical Society.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Immediate source of acquisition unknown. Formally accessioned in 1987. These materials were potentially donated by the Commandery of the State of New York, the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS), of which Molineux was a Commander in 1886. This is based on the note taped to the binder holding the war stories.
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