Advanced Search

[Civil war era suspenders]

Black leather suspender with faded striped red and gold overlay. The suspender has gold toned hardware on it. Fragile. Leather rotting and cracking in places. Fabric is slightly deteriorated.

GLC03523.43.29

[Civil war era belt]

Black leather belt with faded striped red and gold overlay. The belt has a heavy rectangular metal buckle with an eagle emblem and "E PLURIBUS UNUM." Fragile. Leather rotting and cracking in places. Fabric is slightly deteriorated.

GLC03523.43.28

Collection of John Reeser, B company, 197th regiment, Pennsylvania, infantry [Decimalized .01-.29]

None of the letters are actually written by John Reeser. They are all either to John Reeser or to someone else from friends and family. There is a possibility that the envelopes do not match up with the letters as dates and names differ. Letters...

GLC03523.43

to John Reeser

Writes to a friend. Discusses working four miles from Delaware City and having beer and sweet cakes. Enjoys living in Delaware City and going out every Saturday night. Comments "they are the old time democrats true to the union and they think...

GLC03523.43.01

to John Reeser

Jones writes from headquarters, Camp White House. Wishes Reeser well. Reports that he is within twenty miles of Richmond, Virginia and his company is fighting off Confederate guerrilla parties. Describes a skirmish in which the Confederates...

GLC03523.43.02

to unknown

Signed G. J. H. Writes from Camp Alexandria. Thanks the recipient for the "interesting" letter he received. Mentions traveling 600 miles from Washington junction to Harpers Ferry, Virginia to Cumberland, Maryland by [train] cars. Describes the...

GLC03523.43.03

to John Reeser

Writes Reeser asking for help on the farm and offers to pay him. Request that he plough and sow the clover and purchase phosphate for areas without manure. Inquires about the news of the day and about his neighbors. Mentions not knowing when he...

GLC03523.43.04

to John Reeser

Writes to Reeser wishing him well. States they will be heading to Richmond, Virginia. Comments on the boys being in good health and ready to fight the Confederates. Mentions hearing General Ambrose E. Burnside being defeated along the Potomac....

GLC03523.43.05

to John Reeser

Describes fighting another hard battle. States, "the Army never fought So hard befor thair wos so men killed and wonded and missen in our Rege- thair is 40 men left in the three Compene and some of them wos wounded but some wore out by hard marches...

GLC03523.43.06

to John Reeser

Describes the camp being nice and seeing the Potomac River. Reports seeing plenty of rebels that "are hard looking fases some of them are very neare naked and as dirty as hogs…" Mentions being able to wash every week and having a "sporting horse he...

GLC03523.43.07

to John Reeser

Comments on deserters being shot. Describes a deserter being led through camp behind his coffin, allowed to speak a few words, and "his leges wos tide up and kneeled becide his coffen and then thair wos twelve men shot at him…" Reports that two...

GLC03523.43.08

to John Reeser

Discusses arriving in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday to look for work. Comments on the low wages in Washington and finding higher wages in Alexandria. Describes beginning work on Saturday repairing a bridge that the rebels tried burning. Reports that...

GLC03523.43.09

to Mary

Apologizes for not writing sooner. Mentions being homesick and Sundays being lonesome. Writes about a visit with Edwin and having a "clean meal" and eating beef steak, butter, apple sauce, and coffee. Inquires after Mary's farm. Describes his...

GLC03523.43.10

to John Reeser

Talks of being on picket every third day and having both drill company and brigade drill daily. Mentions that reentry is good and that they have 57 men on the roll compared to 17. Complains about another man named Jacob not paying them the local...

GLC03523.43.11

to John Reeser

Writes to John Reeser from Company B. Describes being about ten miles from fighting and hearing the soldiers firing at each other all the time. Comments that the rebels are "firing at our pickits every nights." Describes taking a man prisoner while...

GLC03523.43.12

to [Syrs] Glowner

Writes that he is in the hospital and that he would like to see him and the boys. Complains about not being able to rest and looking over Washington and seeing all the action. Discusses the presidential race between "old Abraham" [Abraham Lincoln]...

GLC03523.43.13

to John Reeser

Writes from the White Horse Motel in Philadelphia. Informs Reeser that he will be in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and wants Reeser to meet him. Plans on traveling home with Reeser. Talks of taking the stage home if Reeser is unavailable. Mentions...

GLC03523.43.14

to John Reeser

Comments on being ill today and not working. Writes that he is working for Construction Corpse Smith's Gang. Describes working at a carpenter business making $2.75 per day with boarding and good quarters. Mentions that they receive $5.00 when...

GLC03523.43.15

to John Reeser

Apologizes for not writing sooner, and for Si not writing. Mentions that Si is unhappy here because he doesn't have a girl yet but he is looking at two or three and will soon be all right. Writes that many of his friends have quit and moved away....

GLC03523.43.16

to John Reeser

Discusses putting Lincoln in for four more years. Inquires if Reeser received his letter requesting gloves and if so for Reeser to send him the gloves along with ten dollars. Tells him that he is out of money and won't get paid for another month....

GLC03523.43.17

to unknown

Comments that he is doing well other than a bad cold that he caught on the boat. Describes being at the old dismounted camp where the regimental property is. Reports that Company B is about six miles away on picket duty and that he will be out as...

GLC03523.43.18

to Mary Reeser

Mentions that he received the ten dollars that Reeser sent him. Reports that Dan has not joined the Company yet and that he is at the dismounted camp on the other side of the river. Inquires after a pair of boots that he requested the "old man"...

GLC03523.43.19

to Mary Reeser

Comments that he just returned from a meeting in Chandlersburg, [Pennsylvania] where they sang and had a prayer meeting. Tells Mary which girls went home with whom from the meeting. Describes eavesdropping on a conversation that he heard on his way...

GLC03523.43.21

to Mary H. Benedict

Apologizes for taking so long to write back. Mentions that he is sick and has been for about ten days but believes that he will get better. Inquires after her singing and and asks how George is coming along with his melodies. Wishes that he could...

GLC03523.43.20

to John Reeser

Informs Reeser that he received the money, stamps, boots, and gloves that were sent to him but has not received the tobacco. Writes of a man named Polk being in the hospital. Speaks of this "god dam war," General [William T.] Sherman, and other...

GLC03523.43.22