6 April 1864

Donahue, Thomas, fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Almira Winchell

Talks about some of the other people whom he is corresponding with. He jokes about the number of children they will have and a trip to the fortune teller. He wants to find out who started the rumors about him doing "Something else besides kissing..." while he was on furlough.

GLC04706.07

26 April 1864

Donahue, Thomas, fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Almira Winchell

Irritated over rumors he married another woman. Discusses his opinion of Grant: "I guess the rebels wont have long to wait before they have U S Grant after them and as you Said I Hope that where ever he Strikes he will be victorious. I Saw General Grant the other day he is a very Good looking man... "

GLC04706.08

20 January 1865

Donahue, Thomas, fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Almira Winchell

Written from Camp Battery B. Responds to a letter from Almira. Writes that he is sorry that there are no single men left home to attend the dances.

GLC04706.14

20 March 1864

Remington, William, fl. 1864-1873

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Almira Winchell

In regard to Almira's admonishment to leave whiskey alone, writes, "I never liked it any way."

GLC04706.19

23 July 1864

Remington, William, fl. 1864-1873

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Almira Winchell

Writes from Harris Hospital. Expects to be home in two weeks. He went to see the "old dutch woman that tells fortunes and well never mind."

GLC04706.20

4 January 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Magie

Headquarters 78th Regt. Ill. Vol. Misdated 1862, discusses Morgan's raid at New Haven, see GLC05241.02. Recounts more of his adventures as a spy dressed in rebel uniform. Mentions his capture of a Confederate named Floyd Price. Asks for a copy of the Macomb Journal, which printed his New Years Address. Notes that the "colored ladies" of the town held a reception for them. Briefly mentions Unionist civilians.

GLC05241.03

21 January 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Magie

Writes from Headquarters of the 78th Regiment, Illinois Volunteers. He asks her to write at least once a week. They have received marching orders, but heavy rains made the river rise and they may not be able to move. He spent last night playing a game "with a very pretty young lady. You must not yet be jealous about it, although I begin to think I have some right to go about among the girls as you have almost [quit] writing to me." A runaway slave from Spencer County is employed by the Colonel. He does odd jobs, dances and makes speeches. Plans to stay with the regiment and go back to…

GLC05241.06

22 February 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Magie

"No. 2." He has been promoted to Division Postmaster. Recounts three incidents which occurred while traveling between Nashville and Franklin. First, he tells of finding a group of men in Butternut whom he thought to be Confederates. He thought the men would capture him but they turned out to be local laborers running telegraph lines. For the next story, Magie cautioned his wife not to read the passage outloud. He then wrote how he followed a trail of calico to find a soldier and woman in a "horizontal position." He adds the couple claimed to be married. Finally, he mentions seeing two…

GLC05241.14

10 March 1863

Magie, A.M., fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sister Mary

Describes a journey from Macomb to Terre Haute. Horton bought a house and lot near their father's garden. Also requests a verse of "I Want to Be a Soldier" for their girls.

GLC05241.20

24 April 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Writes that he curses "the man who first brought on this war only because it separates me from my Love." Mentions that he has received instructions from George Washington to inspect and fortify the local harbor in order to make it safe for Continental troops and the American navy (see GLC02437.00274). Comments on his meeting with Admiral Esek Hopkins and his son, John B. Hopkins, who was recently injured in a naval engagement with the British ship Glasgow. Gives a favorable impression of both, comparing Esek to the Dutch Admiral Van Tromp and proclaiming that John will become a "formidable…

GLC02437.00276

circa March 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Responds affectionately to a letter from Lucy asking what has become of him. Answers that he has not written because of how busy he has been (during the siege of Boston). Comments that the British are packing up and leaving Boston, and Knox expects to be in the town in 2-3 days, at which time he will also be able to visit her. He is uncertain where the British are going and in what state they will have left Boston, but states that "to New York my Dear Lucy [we] must prepare to follow them. As we are Citizens of the World any place will be our home & equally cheap." Copy.

GLC02437.00264

April 28, 1862

Churchill, Byron, 1846-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Drazilla Churchill.

Churchill explains that he is sick with "disinterry," as are most of the soldiers in his camp, and twice asks his mother to do what she can to bring him home. He divulges that "the boys don't find it as they expected," and that rations are only about half of what is necessary.

GLC03859.01

26 July 1862

Churchill, Byron, 1846-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Drazilla Churchill.

Churchill learned in his mother's last letter that his brother is missing, and now offers encouragement that he will be found alive. He reveals that "disease is making sad havoc with us at present….[i]n fact I am more afraid of disease than I am of rebil bulits." He explains that only ten men in the company are fit for duty.

GLC03859.02

01 September 1862

Churchill, Byron, 1846-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Drazilla Churchill.

Churchill describes a false alarm the previous evening, when a picket reported around 2:00 A.M. that "the Rebels were coming in force." All of the soldiers turned out equipped to fight, and remained ready until 6:00 A.M., when it became apparent they were not in danger. Churchill reports that "the boys are burning the town" [Chawalla?], with "ten buildings already burned to the ground, and others burning." Only the depot is to be left standing. He expresses contempt for the men of Burr Oak who have remained at home, and observes that Boughton and Snook (see #4) "had better turn their…

GLC03859.06

25 September 1862

Churchill, Byron, 1846-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Drazilla Churchill.

Churchill reports that Captain Waterman has been discharged and will be coming home with money for Mrs. Churchill. The letter instructs Mrs. Churchill to purchase stamps with this money, which she should send to him at Corinth.

GLC03859.09

19 February 1863

Churchill, Byron, 1846-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Drazilla Churchill.

Churchill's brother William has been missing for some time, and his mother's attempts to find him have been unsuccessful. Churchill will not be granted a discharge as his health is too good, and no furloughs are being granted at this time. The Confederates are in the vicinity and managed to steal several mules recently.

GLC03859.14

18 April 1863

Churchill, Byron, 1846-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Drazilla Churchill.

Churchill received his pay, but has no money left to send to his mother after paying his clothing bill. He believes he may get furlough sometime over the summer. If he does, he would like his mother "to arrange things so to kepe me thair for I am taird of soldiering."

GLC03859.17

24 August 1864

Churchill, Byron, 1846-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Drazilla Churchill.

Churchill reports very little going on: "[We] don't have ena thing [anything] to do onlee to eat and sleap." This respite apparently comes after a busy period of building works. Churchill received a letter from Olive in Illinois, who reports that "Andrew has enlisted and Weltha [?] is maried and her husben died in the armee about seven months after tha [they] was maried."

GLC03859.25

11 April 1865

Robins, Juliet G., fl. 1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Drazilla Churchill.

Churchill wishes his mother to know that he is alive and that he arrived at the hospital at David's Island from Wilmington, where he spent a month in the hospital there. Previously, he was a prisoner in Florence, S.C., where he suffered frostbite and lost all his toes.

GLC03859.26

16 April 1865

Robins, Juliet G., fl. 1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Drazilla Churchill.

Churchill would like his mother to send a box from home as his appetite is very good. Mrs. Robins laments the suffering of the soldiers, and urges the end of the war. She wishes no mercy for the South for their part in this "terrible tragedy."

GLC03859.27

21 May 1776

Durham, Jane, fl. 1774-1776

Autograph document signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Receipt for buttons (uniform-related).

GLC02437.00306

23 May 1776

Weygand, Mary, fl. 1776

Autograph document signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Receipt for scarlet cloth (uniform-related).

GLC02437.00308

1862/10/26

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

The regiment has been paid. He warns his mother to be careful about accumulating new debts.

GLC04662.017

1863/6/11

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

Acknowledges receipt of a package containing clothes, dinnerware, dried fruits, wine, cakes and other delicacies. He is now the district Quartermaster. He asks how his sister Sarah's baby is doing.

GLC04662.037

1863/10/24

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

He writes that he offered George [his brother] a job in the Quartermaster's office. He is surprised at the number of young ladies who have married while he was away. Discusses the attack of the Confederate torpedo boat "David" on the "Ironsides".

GLC04662.047