3 March 1889

Bradford, Eliza C., fl. 1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Albert Gillett

Addresses him "dear sir" and writes that she was surprised to hear from him. Reports that she has many cares and apologizes that she has fallen into the habit of not responding to letters. Speaks of her deceased husband and tells him, "we are a happy family - my children and I - though very often when we are enjoying ourselves, thoughts of the dear husband come to me..." Gives more details on her family and the winter weather. Signs off, "I believe your son and family are well." Envelope addressed to Mr. A. Gillett, South Valley, New York.

GLC03523.05.29

9 February 1864

Henry, Josiah E., 1840-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John and Sophia Henry

Henry writes to his parents, probably from Burlington, Vermont. Refers to some fighting and the fact their lines are very weak. Discusses a delay in his pay. Comments on the cold, rainy weather. Letter has the logo of the "U.S. Christian Commission," which was a women's organization formed in 1861 to distribute Bibles, goods and supplies to the Union army.

GLC03523.07.22

27 March 1864

Henry, Josiah E., 1840-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Angeline Henry

Henry writes to his sister from a camp outside Brandy Station, Virginia. Comments on the radical changes in weather. Reports that the army has been reorganized and his corps is a third larger. Expects Union General Ulysses S. Grant to take command. Reports a friend, Willy Rogers, has died of measles. Adds that Mrs. Henry Rogers (perhaps Willy's mother) "...has got a pickanina..."

GLC03523.07.25

09/29/1864

Bogart, Abram, fl. 1825-1865

Autograph letter

Title: to Mary M. Bogart [incomplete]

Writes to wife updating her on James, possibly a neighbor or friend from home, who is still sick. Asks that she write him more letters. Inquires how all the widows are getting on and tells her that "misary loves company and you must comfort each other when you can..." Not addressed to his wife, but inferred from content. Letter incomplete and unsigned.

GLC03523.11.28

10/24/1864

Bogart, Abram, fl. 1825-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary M. Bogart and children

Writes to his wife and children. Scolds his wife, "I didn't think that I was writing to two wives before but you had to go up and show Abby the letters I shall have to be carfull what I write here after if that is the way for I say things some times that wont do to go away from home..." Discusses the potential sale of their property. Tells her, "I think if he hant bought it yet that if he wants it bad enough to give one thousand dollars for it...if you think that you can do better sell it in well come and I will say good for you for I dont expect to be good for much if I ever get home and I…

GLC03523.11.30

25 October 1782

Gibbs, Samuel, fl. 1782

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lewis Nicola

Written from Fish Kill Landing, present-day Fishkill, New York. Writes, "I saw a Gentleman from Hartford yesterday who gave me a letter for Sergt Gerolds; and at the same time inform'd me that the Srgt's wife died, verry sudden in a fit, six or seven days since and left four little children one at the breast. the Serg. Comes with my leave to Obtain leave of the Colonel to visit the Orfins if he should judge proper." See GLC02437.01679 for a related document.

GLC02437.01682

circa October 1782

Darby, Samuel, 1737-1807

Manuscript document signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Date added later in pencil. Signed by Major Samuel Darby of the 7th Massachusetts Regiment and 28 other officers. Asks Henry Knox to consider the plight of a Mr. G. Smith, who had been a Sergeant in the 7th Massachusetts as well as the Quarter Master Sergeant for two years. He was discharged last spring, having found an able-bodied man to replace him, as he was not in good enough health to continue in the service. Since that time, he has opened a Public House in the West Point area to provide lodging, liquor, victuals, and entertainment to travelers. Major General [John] Paterson granted…

GLC02437.01687

20 December 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

There is a small note at the top which says "(Copied from the Original) K's rough draft being faded out in parts." Knox writes that he is sorry General Lincoln seems so upset with him for not replying to his letters and emphasizes how much he prizes his friendship with Lincoln. Declares that he received two letters from Lincoln that did not seem to require a reply. Adds that right at the time that he received them, death "had with a strong and an unrelenting hand seized up the youngest of my little flock. My utmost attention and philosophy were necessarily exerted to calm the agitated…

GLC02437.01754

28 November 1862

Goold, James, 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Abby Goold

Writes to his mother about all the letters he has recently received, including one from her, Aunt Jane, and Nellie. Describes his duties on provost guard and the differences between being on guard and in the regiments. Tells her of difficulties, including harsh weather, leaking tents, and food shortages. Describes in great detail how the squads are divided into two on the march. Comments "I think that I am well off here, and I thank God for your sake more than my own that I am here as I presume that we are in no great danger of being killed in case of a battle. Do not mark me as a coward for…

GLC03523.05.03

1 July 1783 - 4 July 1783

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Provision return]

A provision return for eight men and two women employed in the ordinance department at one ration per day from July 1st to July 4th 1783, for a total of fifty-six rations. Noted and signed: "By order of the Comd. S. Shaw [Samuel Shaw]." Also signed by Lieutenant J. Wright and another name which is illegible.. The docket is signed by William Burrows.

GLC02437.02212

8 July 1783 circa

Doughty, John, 1754-1826

Manuscript document

Title: [Provision return of men in ordnance department]

Provision return for 8 men employed by the ordnance department from 5-8 July. The return also shows two women were hired for the four days. The ten people were issued a total of 56 rations. Signed by Doughty as Fort Major of West Point as well as Lieutenant J. Wright of the Artillery. Docket signed by a William Burrows stating that contractors delivered the rations.

GLC02437.02239

6 July 1783 circa

Blake, Edward, fl. 1753-1800

Autograph document signed

Title: [Provision return for army rations issued]

Signed by Edward Blake, a quartermaster with the artillery, and countersigned by Major Samuel Shaw as Knox's aide-de-camp. Provision return for rations issued to one man, one woman and two children from 1-6 July. A total of 18 rations were issued over the six days. Docket signed by a Thomas Nelson stating that contractors delivered the rations.

GLC02437.02244

10/07/1863

Bogart, Abram, fl. 1825-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary M. Bogart and friend

Begins his letter, "Dear Wife and only friend on earth it is to you that I write a few lines in rememberence of old times..." Speculates that "there must be a good many widows and orfant children now in the land that are made so by this war..." Asks them to write to him about home. Apologizes for the poor writing, however "it is hard work to write a poor pen..." Offers them farming advice. Letter addressed to Mrs. Abram Bogart in Masonville, Delaware County, New York.

GLC03523.11.14

11/03/1863

Bogart, Abram, fl. 1825-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary M. Bogart

Writes to wife expressing "much love" and hopes to speak "face to face" once again. Inquires about how she will live this winter and who will do things such as collect her wood. Asks her "who comes to se you now are a lone whether westys folks come to se you or any body or you aught to have some beau by this time to keep up with other folks while I am here for there is stores here as weel as fun and I must have a little of it for the boy are a laughing at me now about our wifes having beaus while we are a soldiering..." Requests that she write to him. Tells him that he was "mustered" for his…

GLC03523.11.17

11/06/1863

Bogart, Abram, fl. 1825-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary M. Bogart

Writes to wife that he "hopes she is enjoying life while you have it for we dont know where death will come to us..." Expresses great concern for both of their livelihood, as he believes that "we are all in danger at home and a broad..." Tells her how much it excites him to think of coming home some day, and notes that he has not drank liquor or played cards. Letter most likely sent from Folly Island, South Carolina, based on location of other letters around this date.

GLC03523.11.18

11/12/1863

Bogart, Abram, fl. 1825-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary M. Bogart

Writes to his wife, "dear friend and companion." Tells her that he received a short letter from James, possibly a neighbor or friend from home. Inquires about the letters he sent, one with ten dollars enclosed, the other with six dollars, and the one he sent to her brother. Comment that she should "keep your own secrets to your self... I find that the most intimate friends are the first to divulge a secret that you think the most of so you must look out for your self and be ruler of your own household..." Continues on to write that "a chirful heart is the best doctor in the world and not get…

GLC03523.11.19

8 December 1864

Fairchild, Lewis D., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sephronia Fairchild

Fairchild writes to his wife from City Point, Virginia says the siege is progressing slowly. Informs that General William T. Sherman captured Savannah. Discusses his wife joining a sewing society to make clothing for the soldiers and he questions what type of clothes they will make. He misses home and tells his daughters, Eunice and Ally, to work very hard on their writing skills, and promises buy his son Charlie a horse when he returns from the war.

GLC03523.06.09

8 December 1864

Fairchild, Lewis D., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sephronia Fairchild

Fairchild writes to his wife from a camp near City Point, Virginia. Reports that he has been in the hospital with rheumatism and is pleased with his care. Informs he is doing picket duty on the Appomattox River and mentions seeing Rebels. Wishes for a furlough, but knows only wounded men will get one. Advises his daughter Eunice to stay home to study and help her mother. In a postscript, writes he is sending his badge in the letter, "so in case we are wounded or killed they will know to what corps we belong to." A double sided page of the letter is in three pieces. A few lines are missing.

GLC03523.06.10

12 March 1865

Fairchild, Lewis D., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sephronia Fairchild

Fairchild writes to his wife from a camp near Petersburg, Virginia. Mentions that men are getting furloughs if their wives are sick. Relates that a deserter was hung, "...it did look awful to see a human being launch in erternity so quick..." Advises his wife to use his bounty if she needs it to make life more comfortable.

GLC03523.06.11

7 January 1783

Doughty, John, 1754-1826

Autograph document signed

Title: Return of the Women & Children at the Post of West Point & its Dependencies, that would have drawn Rations under the late Regulations, and also of the number of Extra Rations drawn under the new Contract

Lists number of women and children by regiment and includes the amount of extra rations they will receive under the new regulations.

GLC02437.01809

2 February 1863

Goold, James, 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his brother

Writes to his brother (possibly Johnny, based on content) about his tent and the people he shares it with: "They are both good natured, and willing to do their share towards making the tent comfortable, but neither of them are such men as I should choose for companions any where else, they both swear, and they are both very vulgar, and in fact these are the two most common vices in the army, there is hardly a man, that I have any acquaintance with, at all, in the army, who is not wholly given up to them." Tells his brother that he prays for "strength to enable me to resist every temptation…

GLC03523.05.10

8 March 1863

Goold, James, 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Abby Goold

Tells his mother about the temperance book Aunt Jane sent to Cousin James, which was passed along to him. The boys in the guard make fun of him for reading the book, but he doesn't mind as he has gotten used to the teasing. Tells her that he wishes his brother Theodore could go home and help, and that he would be a better worker now that he has been a soldier. Confides to her that he does not like soldiering, and never has: "I must put up with it, and get along the best I can, till the time comes for me to go home." Written in graphite.

GLC03523.05.13

10 July 1783

Hillyer, David, fl. 1783

Autograph document signed

Title: [Provision return]

Provision returns for twenty non-commissioned men from the invalid Regiment, three women, and five children. A docket note regarding rations is signed by Hillyer. Countersigned by John Doughty.

GLC02437.02257

13 July 1783

Wright, fl. 1783

Manuscript document

Title: [Provision return]

Signed by Lieutenant Wright. Countersigned by Samuel Shaw, aide-de-camp to General Henry Knox. Provision returns for three men employed in the Ordinance Department and two women, for a total of 26 rations.

GLC02437.02270

14 July 1783

Doughty, John, 1754-1826

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Order to supply rations to Edward Tobin]

Order of 25 rations to Edward Tobin, soldier in the Invalid Regiment discharged and on his way to Cherry Valley, New York. The order of 25 rations also includes Tobin's wife and child.

GLC02437.02272