Joseph P. Miller sketchbook, 1861-1862

This sketchbook contains watercolor illustrations created by Joseph Price Miller, a Union soldier and member of Company B of Colonel DeWitt Clinton Baxter's 72nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, also known as the "Fire Zouaves," during the Civil War. Miller was mustered into the war in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 16 September 1861 and wounded during the Battle of Antietam 17 September 1862, after which he was taken to Reading Hospital.

The illustrations in the volume are often humorous and provide documentation of Miller's thoughts and experiences during his service. Illustrations depict military officers and forts, historical events, comedic scenes, stereotypical Native American characters (e.g. illustrations 76 and 88), and African-American slaves (see illustrations 79 and 80). Several clippings related the Civil War and Miller's unit are pasted in the front cover of the volume, presumably added by John Hauberg, who purchased the book in 1920 from an estate sale. It is unclear why Hauberg purchased the book, as Miller does not have an apparent Quad Cities or Illinois connection.

A list of illustrations follows.

1. Mounted 15th French Gun of Fort Mifflinm 40.000.9.84 2. Sadeve's Fight with the Eagle 3. The Navy 4. To My Wife 5. King Cabbage 6. Duel in the Garden - Naples 7. April Fool 8. Is that You Thommy, for I Can't See 9 Victory Oh My 10. A Case of Conscience 11. Come on Jack 12. Raising the Wind! 13. Catch on the Fly-Out 14. A Tale of Woe 15. A Proud Couple Not a Cent 16. Fighting Parson 17. The Scare Crow 18. North & South (Angary) 19. North & South the (Result) 20. 72nd PV Co. B: Philadelphia Volunteers 21. The Boys in Blue 22. Lieut. Warden, Commander of the MOnitor, the little cheese box 23. The Boy in Blue. War for 1867 24. Jack on a Spree 25. The National Harp 26. Fisherman's Luck 27. Heavey Artillary Vermont 6th 28. The Widowed Man 29. Dutch Johnny, Capt of Co. Y 72 S.V. Killed in Front of Richmond June 18th 1862 on the Skirmish Line 30. Looking Down on his Luck 31. Peace and War 32. A. Fenian on the March Overboard 33. Watermelon 34. Mothers Queer 35. Col. Duryea of the New York Zouaves 36. John Struck Asa Assoligue 37. Peace and Justice 38. My God What a Dirty Foot 39. Midshipman Easey 40. It Never Rains but it Pours 41. Japan Flower 42. Bad Egg No Dinnar 43. The Brave Fireman 44. An Anti Climax 45. Swet Box 46. A Step Farther 47. Fort McHenry 48. Mrs. Parkington "Seeing through a Millstone" 49. A Fishing Smack 50. False Prince 51. Duck Shooting 52. King of the Swans 53. An Indian Campo 54. The Miller's Son 55. An Inca of Peru 56. Captin of the Swiss Guard 57. Marjor Johnson 58. The Warter Fairy 59. Major Twiggs 60. Bill Hogath the Muffin Man 61. Caught at Last 62. The Young Eagle Hunters 63. O. H. Perry 64. Happy Houers 65. Shelton the California Botanist 66. The Last Leap or the Iron Bar 67. Elephant Sugar Plough India 68. Lincoln 69. The Spread Eagle 70. Saved 71. Bucking and Gagging in U.S.N. 72. Irona the Spy 73. A Flank Movement Right 74. Fruit Season 75. When Shall whe Four Meet Again 76. Pale Face Wants Gin 77. Grotto of Ladders - in France 78. A Bar Room Fight... Rum 79. Cleaning in the Cornfields 80. Uncle Tom's Cabin 81. Hormony Grove, Mss. 82. The Robber Chief 83. Monument on Castle Island, Boston 84. The Battery at New York in 1642 85. Long Legged Joe the Scout 86. The Fatle Night 87. Ocean Rovers 88. The Last Scalp 89. Residence of Gen. Pierce at Concord N.H. 1850 90. The Two Headed Girl from Life 91. The End (Old Mikie)