OHIO COLONEL’S CIVIL WAR ARCHIVE THAT DOCUMENTS, BADGES, INSIGNIA, AND RELICS

 

An important archive relating to Colonel Oscar W. Sterl (1837–1895), an Ohio officer whose Civil War service carried him from junior rank in the 7th Ohio to the colonelcy of the 104th Ohio.

 

Born in Massillon, Ohio, Sterl spent much of his youth in Germany and did not return to the United States until the age of seventeen. At the outbreak of the Civil War, the twenty-five-year-old entered service as a second lieutenant in Company K of the 7th Ohio on 17 June 1861. He was subsequently promoted to first lieutenant in that regiment, but resigned in order to accept a captaincy in the 104th Ohio on 16 September 1862. From there, Sterl advanced steadily through the ranks, ultimately receiving promotion to colonel on 11 August 1864. He remained in service through the end of the war and was discharged at Greensboro on 17 June 1865.

 

Sterl died unexpectedly in 1895, apparently of a heart attack. One newspaper account relates that “he fell to the floor and it was found that he had died instantly.” He was fifty-seven years old and was survived by his wife, Elizabeth, and their five children. His name is today commemorated among the hundreds inscribed on the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument in Cuyahoga County, Ohio.

 

A complete list of the archive is as follows: 

 

1. Autograph letter written by Lord Thomas Babington Macaulay to Hon. Henry S. Randall in New York. Writing about the politics in Europe and Macaulay’s thoughts on “Mr.Jefferson”, presumably Thomas Jefferson since Randall wrote a book about him that was published in 1858. London, England, 23 May 1857. 6 pages, 8 1/2 x 11 in. 

 

2. Partly printed document completed in manuscript. Signed commission from Gov. William Dennison affirming Oscar Sterl as Ensign with 2nd lieutenant rank for Company K, 7th Ohio. Columbus, Ohio, 20 June 1861. 2 pages, 11 1/2 x 9 1/4 in., with green seal. 

 

3. Partly printed document completed in manuscript. Signed commission from Gov. William Dennison affirming Oscar Sterl as a second lieutenant for the 7th Ohio. Columbus, Ohio, 23 July 1861. 2 pages, 11 3/4 x 9 1/4 in., with red seal. 

 

4. Partly printed document completed in manuscript. Signed commission from Gov. David Tod affirming Oscar Sterl as a first lieutenant for the 7th Ohio. Columbus, Ohio, 5 February 1862. 2 pages, 11 1/2 x 9 1/4 in., with blue seal. 

 

5. Partly printed document completed in manuscript. Signed commission from Gov. David Tod appointing Oscar Sterl as captain in the 104th Ohio. Columbus, Ohio, 16 September 1862. 1 page, 11 3/4 x 9 1/2 in. 

 

6. Partly printed document completed in manuscript. Signed commission from Gov. David Tod appointing Oscar Sterl as major in the 104th Ohio. Columbus, Ohio, 20 January 1863. 2 pages, 12 1/4 x 10 1/4 in. 

 

7. Partly printed document completed in manuscript. Signed commission from Gov. David Tod appointing Oscar Sterl as lieutenant colonel in the 104th Ohio. Columbus, Ohio, 10 August 1863. 2 pages, 12 1/2 x 10 1/4 in. 

 

8. Partly printed document completed in manuscript. Invoice from the quartermaster general’s office for $26,000 for “Pay of Officers and Privates of the Army, Volunteers, Militia”. Richmond, Virginia, 16 September 1863. 2 pages, 9 1/4 x 12 3/4 in. 

 

9. Letter signed by George Balch, unofficial Chief of Ordnance. Letter to Oscar Sterl regarding a box plate. Washington, D.C., 18 May 1864. 1 page, 8 x 9 1/2, on “Ordnance Office” letterhead. Returned two-cent stamp included in letter. With original cover with cancel. 

 

10. Partly printed document completed in manuscript. Signed commission from Gov. John Brouch appointing Oscar Sterl as colonel in the 104th Ohio. Columbus, Ohio, 11 August 1864. 2 pages, 10 1/2 x 14 in. 

 

11. Partly printed document completed in manuscript. Invoice of ordnance and ordnance stores turned over by Lt. Stacy Pettit to Oscar Sterl. A field in Georgia, 31 August 1864. 2 pages, 8 3/4 x 10 in. 

 

12. Autograph document signed by Brig. Gen. Samuel P. Carter’s assistant adjutant general. Orders for being mustered out of service. Greensboro, North Carolina, 17 June 1865. 2 pages, 7 3/4 x 10 in. 

 

13. Partly printed document completed in manuscript. Discharge papers for Oscar Sterl. Greensboro, North Carolina, 17 June 1865. 2 pages, 8 1/4 x 11 in. Docketing to recto left. 

 

14. Seven (7) various uniform buttons, including one GAR button. Brass. Sizes range from diam. 15 mm to 25 mm. 

 

15. Shield-shaped ID pin. 14K gold with blue enamel center. Engraved "O.W. STERL / 104th Ohio. V. Infty." Approx. 20 x 20 mm. 

 

16. Three (3) bullion patches, two of eagles and one of an infantry horn with the number "7". Eagle patches are approx. 3 1/2 x 1 in. Horn patch is approx. 3 1/4 x 2 1/2 in. 

 

17. Empty locket. 14K gold locket and chain. Engraved "OWS". Locket is 3/4 x 1 in. Locket and chain are 3/4 x 6 3/4 in. 

 

18. Eagle clutching olive branches and arrows with a federal shield pinback badge. Brass. Approx. 1 1/2 x 1/2 in. 

 

19. CDV-sized albumen of Sterl mounted on magazine paper. Inscription below identifies him as a Major. Approx. 2 3/4 x 4 in. 

 

20. Civil War commemorative badge. Brass with tricolor ribbon. Top pinback bar engraved "Knoxville, E. Tennessee / Resaca, Utoy Creek". Middle plaque engraved "Atlanta, Franklin / Columbia". Bottom shield says, starting from the top and going clockwise, "Nashville / Wilmington / Old Town Creek". Approx. 1 1/4 x 5 1/2 in. 

 

21. GAR membership medal. Bronze with American flag ribbon. Pinback top features an eagle over cannons and cannonballs. Upside down star medal obverse features Liberty, a soldier and a sailor, surrounded by different regiment icons. Medal reverse shows a collage of corps symbols. Approx. 1 3/4 x 3 1/4 in. 

 

22. Centennial celebration ribbon. Silk with wire tassels. Printed words on ribbon read "Ohio State Day / Centennial / Celebration / Philada. Oct. 26 / 1876". 2 3/4 x 7 in. 

 

23. 104th Ohio reunion ribbon. Silk with wire tassels. Printed words on ribbon read "23rd Annual / REUNION / of / 104TH O.V.I. / WASHINGTON, D.C. / SEPTEMBER 21. / 1892". Manufacturer's sticker to verso. Approx. 2 1/2 x 9 in. 

 

24. Scrapbook by Slote, Woodman & Co. 100 pre-gummed pages, 33 filled. Following page ranges missing: 1-4, 27-30, 35-36, 43-58, 63-74, 83-84, 91-91. Masking tape on spine. Pages and cover starting to separate. Pages suffered from water damage. Original cloth boards. Approx. 7 x 10 in. 

 

Full of newspaper clippings about battles and reunions, Civil War-era documents, photographs, obituary and death records, ribbons, letters and enlistment records about Sterl. A highlight is on page 14, which contains a "Piece of flag of 104th Ohio Infantry carried through entire campaign and Confederate riddled with bullets". Spans 1861-1895. 

 

25. Autograph letter signed by E.H. Bohm as part of the Cuyahoga County Soldiers and Sailors’ Monument Commission. Letter to Elizabeth Sterl regarding the specifics on how Oscar could be included on the monument since he was in two different regiments. Cleveland, Ohio, 8 July 1896. 1 page, 8 1/2 x 11 in., on lithograph letterhead. 

 

26. Printed document signed in ink. Notification of allowance for Elizabeth Sterl. Washington, D.C., 4 December 1896. 2 pages, 8 x 10 1/2 in. 

 

27. Printed letter signed in ink. Letter to Elizabeth Sterl from a legal office regarding Oscar’s pension. Washington, D.C., 11/12 June 1900. 1 page, 8 1/2 x 11 in., on “Dermody & Company” letterhead. 

 

28. Partly printed document completed in manuscript. Certification that Elizabeth Sterl is entitled to a pension of initially $8 a month. [Wasington, D.C.], 16 June 1900. 2 pages, 8 x 10 3/4 in. Docketing to recto and verso. 

 

29. Autograph document chronicling Oscar Sterl’s military career in the Civil War. N.p., n.d. 1 page, 8 x 10 in. 

 

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