This collection consists primarily of letters written home to family and friends, 1863-1865, and a diary which concerns, for the most part, 1864 and 1865. These materials include several descriptions of skirmishes. More significantly however, both letters and diary (particularly the diary) give a very clear and intimate picture of Civil War camp life. Lockney was an observing individual, unusually reflective, and deeply religious, and his diary is very full and detailed. He has a strong emotional reaction to slavery, and while his reaction to this and other things perhaps is not always the typical soldier reaction, his very high ideals caused him to take note of many things which the average diarist might not have recorded.
He describes the country through which his regiment passed, and gives a good account of the soldiers' attitudes toward the government, officers, and the Republican Party, and considerable information about dishonest provision and supply practices and about food. There is information of a sociological nature on liquor in the army, morals, the character of soldiers and officers, recreation, amusements, and social life in general. Sometimes one learns something of the economic condition of families at home.
Also in the collection are the platform, constitution, and signatures of members of the Republican Association of New Berlin, Wisconsin in 1856; a register of deaths in Lockney's company--Company G, 28th Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry; and other documents dating from 1856 to 1891.
