22 March 1872

Hemans, Nancy A., 1843-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Frances B. Shiras

Mentions the birth of her son, Joseph. Thanks Mrs. Clement for clothes, some of which she gave away. Comments on the success of the missionary work, claiming that the Indians on the reservation could now hold services without ministers. Notes their success in school and religious conversion. Tells of the recent breaking of the ice and the tragic deaths of several children over the winter. Notes that their new son's middle name comes from Shiras's husband, Alexander.

GLC02429.20

18 April 1872

Hemans, Nancy A., 1843-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Frances B. Shiras

Reports than she is sending moccasins made like slippers, which will need soles added by a shoemaker. Notes spring is coming and the baby is growing. States her desire to have her first picture taken if a photographer comes in the summer. Comments that she is looking forward to a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Hinman and that she has been ironing all day.

GLC02429.21

12 May 1872

Hemans, Nancy A., 1843-?

Autograph letter

Title: to Frances B. Shiras

Apologizes for not writing and explains how various chores have kept her too busy. Notes that Cecelia, the half-Indian girl living with her has gone to live with Reverend James Cook. Discusses separation from her husband Daniel. Apologizes for not naming their baby after Frances. Mentions Paul, who is sick and attempting to recuperate. Notes that Convocation is coming up.

GLC02429.23

9-12 June 1872

Hemans, Nancy A., 1843-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Frances B. Shiras

Discusses a visit from Daniel's aunt and the porcupine quill moccasins she had made for Frances. Comments on her sister, a visitor named Mrs. Rumney, and her husbands adoration for their baby. Continues the letter on 12 June, comments on intervening chores, and a visit to a sun dance. Gives the Dakota word for mother and explains that she speaks English to her baby daily. Mentions that Daniel, her husband, sometimes speaks to her in English. Comments on her husband's pay.

GLC02429.25

1 July 1749

Speakman, Hannah, fl. 1749

Document signed

Title: [Contract]

Partially printed document with subsequent information written in by hand. Contract for Hannah Speakman and her family to settle on land from Thomas Flucker. Signed by Hannah Speakman's family as well as Daniel Henckman as a witness.

GLC02437.08948

circa September

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Skinkle

Informs his sister that he will not be coming home on a furlough. Inquires on how her Sabbath school picnic went in Washington. Writes that there was an expedition in Louisiana to seek out the rebels. Reports that his brigade did not go on the expedition, they had to stay behind and guard Natchez, Louisiana. Reports that the rebels had sharpshooters that shot their men before they could be seen and that they blew up the magazine. Notes that they burnt the works before they left. Sumner Sayles' sister, Isora Sayles, has married and now goes by the name Isora Skinkle.

GLC03523.32.21

23 June 1864

Clifton, A. D., fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sallie Clifton

Written from camp near [Colombus]. Describes a sore on his arm and the swelling it has caused. Teases her about the number of shirts she sent him and tells her the weight of them is ruining his horse's back. Assures her of his safety and says he has faith God will allow him to see his family again. Writes, "I hope to meete god at the judgement bare and then be welcome to a seete onn his right hand and it is my prayers that you may be prepared to go with me thare to dwell in piece and happiness where there is no wars and pestilence..." Complains about the contempt other regiments feel…

GLC03135.09.05

31 December 1862

Jones, Maxine Harris, fl. 1860-1920

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alfred Jones

Letter from his wife, signed "Max." Expresses her fears, anxiety, and despair over the war. Says they have heard bombing all day. Writes, "what agony would be mine to-night, did I not know this field of duty to your Country calls you, leads not to constant exposure on the field of battle, &c that today your dear bosom has not be exposed to those missles of death hurled by our enemies."

GLC03135.13.043

9 November 1860

Braithwaite, Mary, fl. 1860-1867

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Discusses the upcoming presidential election. Writes about the Prince of Wales, Edward Albert, passing through the area. Comments that they had special train cars (the royal train) that were done up in the most beautiful style. Describes the train cars as having silk velvet sofas, white muslin curtains, and rocking chairs. Inquires about the attire that the ladies wear and wants her to send some of the material.

GLC03523.32.01

18 November 1860

Braithwaite, Mary, fl. 1860-1867

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Writes to her friend about how much she misses her. Wishes for her not to move away in case they may return. Comments how she has not been to church but once and how she longs to go. Notes that she has spent the last week in bed and that she needs the prayers of all the Christians. Writes, "Isora are the young folks as wild as ever I hope they may see a beauty in religion for there is nothing else that can save them..." Inquires about friends and family.

GLC03523.32.02

27 August 1862

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Informs his sister that he and the boys are well. Discusses promotions that have been given out in his company. Notes that two of their sergeants were promoted to captains in "Negro Companys." Comments on all the marriages, including hers, that have taken place back home. Writes of how he would have liked to see the fight between two men that took place back home. Request that she has their father send him some stamps. Pages five through six are on a separate leaf measuring 19.3 x 11.9 cm.

GLC03523.32.05

March 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Informs his sister that he was happy to hear that people are still patriotic. Comments he was happy to hear their late friend Spencer's body was returned home to his family. Mentions how he would like to see the Havens family begin teaching at a school. Believes that the Havens are the most capable to fill the station. Request that his sister tells a man named Arvin that, "he must not get in a pet at any thing if he wants to Succeed with the girls for they are Curious beings one has to pet them as he would any other pet or else they will sack him." Wishes her and everyone else back home…

GLC03523.32.09

6 June 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Writes to his sister from the field. Reports that he has been in two fights so far and has not been injured yet. Discusses her upcoming wedding and how he would like to be there. Writes about there being very few girls and says that he has not seen 25 girls since he left home.

GLC03523.32.14

21 June 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Writes to his sister. Discusses how a man named Erving A. Porter died. Writes that Erving got up at 3:00 am as usual to get a drink and then went back to bed and never woke up again. His bunk mate found him lying still in the morning with his hand crossed over his breast. Believes that he must have died peacefully. Sends his sympathies to Mrs. Porter. Request that she tell Mash that he must stick it out in his place for if he left nobody would have anything to do with him. Has an embossed seal in the upper corner.

GLC03523.32.16

7 August 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Informs his sister that there is no reason why he should not share his letters from her with the other boys. Comments that the information given is sure to leak out somehow anyway and that it is only fair that he shares his letters because the men share their letters with him. Says that if there is anything really bad in the letters that he will tear them up. Reports that they recently went on a foraging exhibition by steamboat. Comments that they went to one plantation and made the "Negroes" help load the boat with corn and cattle. Request that she sends him some stamps.

GLC03523.32.20

18 September 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Skinkle

Thanks his sister for the package that she sent him. Inquires if she likes her new mother-in-law. Informs her that he will not be able to get a furlough this year and that he prefers it that way. Writes that he would prefer to wait until he can come home permanently. Believes that the running back and forth only makes "it so much worse than it otherwise would." Discusses a fight between a woman named Mary Gardner and two other gentlemen. Writes, "it is a bad thing to get wounded for ones feelings." The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner.

GLC03523.32.22

30 September 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Skinkle

Informs his sister that they might be heading up the river to Vicksburg, Mississippi. Writes that it has been raining for the last couple of days and the rivers are finally rising. Says that the rivers have been so low that several steamers have gotten stuck on the sand bars. Discusses a friend and says how she needs to get married before it is too late. Informs her that he received the stamps that she sent him.

GLC03523.32.23

28 October 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Skinkle

Informs his sister that they will be spending the winter in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Complains about not receiving letters from people back home. Writes that he is afraid that he might have offended a friend named Mill in his last letter because she has not written him for some time. Says that if so it cannot be helped now and that there "is no use in crying for spit milk." Inquires after friends and family. The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner.

GLC03523.32.24

15 November 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Skinkle

Reports that a man named Eugene Thomas, along with the rest of the men, might have been taken prisoner while traveling home on a furlough. Writes that he has also heard the story is not true. Informs his sister that he sent both her and his mother a picture of himself. Writes about a friend who just recently died. Letter has an image and the words, "E Pluribus Unum."

GLC03523.32.25

22 December 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Skinkle

Writes to his sister from camp. Comments that she looked quite lean in her picture, but he has never been fatter. Reports that the lieutenant bet five dollars that the war will be over soon and that they will be able to go home by June and that most of the officers agree. Writes that they have more bread than they can eat. Informs her that he received a pair of socks in the mail. The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner.

GLC03523.32.29

2 January 1864

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Skinkle

Writes to his sister from camp. Informs her that it rained and snowed on the last day of the year and that it has been cold. Describes having a "first rate" oyster dinner for Christmas. Notes that everything has been first rate since they have nothing to do but guard duty. Teases her about wearing the britches in the family and if she has had any "love spats" yet. Inquires after people back home. The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner.

GLC03523.32.30

February 17, 1864

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Skinkle

Informs his sister that he is no longer with his company, that he has been detached to guard ordnance stores. Writes that he prefers it over staying with the company. Comments that he is not surprised that it takes two stoves to keep her and her husband warm since they are both very large and it probably takes a stove each to warm them. Complains about all the women getting married and says that there will not be any ladies left for the "poor soldiers." Discusses some of the men's drinking. The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner.

GLC03523.32.31

19 January 1862

Phelps, Diton, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edith M. Phelps

Writes to his sister from Camp Pierpont. Speaks of a friend named John choosing to "serve god." Comments that he is fond of Professor Waldon and believes him to be a "clever honest fellow." Says that they recently purchased a stove that smokes a lot and built a "Shebang" out of logs. Reports that some of the boys have been court marshaled and that he has been subpoenaed to testify. Describes there being hard feelings between some of the boys from Athens and Smithfield. Mentions that Captain Daniel Bradbury just lays abed swearing about his leg. Says that the Captain, "uses the most…

GLC03523.49.07

27-28 September 1863

Phelps, Diton, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

Writes to his sister from Culpepper Station. Talks about the boys making fun of a man named Greenleaf who recently arrived in camp. Comments that he likes Greenleaf and finds him an "honest fellow." Tells his sister that she is foolish for thinking of marrying at such a young age. Writes, "Money is not what we should look at in selecting a partner for life. You are foolish girl for thinking of marrying or being engaged so young you had not right to think of it for seven or eight years. You have not fairly got your cloaks off yet."

GLC03523.49.13

11 December 1861

Russell, E. S., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Hannah E. Russell

Writes to his wife. Wishes that he could visit home but says that the colonel will not allow any furloughs. Comments that they now have their arms and equipment. Wants her not to fret about him and to take care of his "Dear little babes," and not to forget to pray for him "with a singer hart." Inquires about money, and requests that she not send any but to use it to make the family as comfortable as possible. Sends his love and asks for her to write him back immediately. Letter is slightly damaged causing minor text loss. Written on paper with an image of the American flag and the logo…

GLC03523.50.02