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to mother

He thanks her for the package she sent. He has rheumatism in his hip, he thinks. Their lieutenant resigned on account of sickness. Written at the Stafford Courthouse.

GLC02161.067

to Mary "Mollie" McLean

He wrote to his uncle about Charley's horse. He has since recovered from his illness and feels great. Mrs. Bird and Nellie stopped by and they had a nice visit.

GLC02161.076

to Mary "Mollie" McLean

He says he'd rather shoot copperheads than Southerners because copperheads are disgracing the North. They are in Philadelphia and he thinks Philadelphians are the friendliest people.

GLC02161.087

to mother

He is afraid he will never get his his back pay. Though if he gets mustered back to the 24th of January he'll get six months pay. This will be a big help to the entire family.

GLC02161.088

to father

He is finally to be mustered for his back pay He acknowledges all Al Wheeler is doing for him by offering him lieutenancy in his battery. He wishes Uncle S.P would offer him a commission in the regular army.

GLC02161.098

to Mary "Mollie" McLean

The mustering officer has not shown up yet. As soon as he comes, he can start for New York. He heard that head quarters approves of his new appointment.

GLC02161.099

to mother

He was assigned to the 10th army corps. He asks if a fellow lieutenant's body was received by the military.

GLC02161.123

to Mary "Mollie" McLean

Written "in the field." The "Johnnies" have been skirmishing with their infantry and artillery. They have a strong position. They have three regiments of colored troops but they have not been let in yet.

GLC02161.127

to Harriet W. Dewey

He is very healthy and there is no sickness in the army. They are all full of fight for the campaign that will decide whether this "nation is one or two."

GLC02161.132

[1864 diary]

In April, he notes that he does not like working under Butler which corresponds to one of his letters. In May he describes some very animated fighting occurring near their pickets. Later on the 28th he gives details of Henry's (a fellow soldier)...

GLC02161.146

to his aunt

He is camped near Washington and he is very interested in the town. He wants to get a pass and explore. He imagines a time when the great rebellion will end and the troops will go marching back to whoever is home.

GLC02161.016

to sister

He mentions the apathy and the copperheads amongst the North. He says the Southerners are a remorseless people who are willing to win or die. Recently they had a grand review by Gen. Barry.

GLC02161.084

to Mary "Mollie" McLean

He has not yet seen Tom McCabe but is watching closely for his arrival. He is Cassie's brother and may decide he is unworthy of her.

GLC02161.101

to mother

Mr. Page came to see him yesterday. He took him to a grand artillery review. He is looking forward to carving the turkey tomorrow.

GLC02161.109

to sister

He visited the Gardiners today and had a pleasant time. He liked the diary she sent. He wonders if Cassie will give him "the slip".

GLC02161.111

to sister

Cassie wrote, apologizing for her silence. She hasn't written because her sister has been ill and this has required all her time.

GLC02161.112

to Harriet W. Dewey

Mollie has a touch of dysentary. He talks about how he spent his holidays. The prospect of a fight is good and he is looking forward to it. Written at Camp Niagara

GLC02161.013

to Mary "Mollie" McLean

One day he ran into a Doctor Coventry who persuaded him to stay with him. They went to a church now used as a hospital. He met Will in Alexandria.

GLC02161.018

to [Norman R. Dewey]

Some new officers in his company wrote a scathing letter to the paper attacking him. The primary culprit is someone at a country paper. Capt. Alberger and Capt. Cluney recommended him for promotion.

GLC02161.026

to Mary "Mollie" McLean

He has news about her husband. His wounds have all healed and he has been moved to the officers' prison. He will most likely be among the first of those exchanged.

GLC02161.036

to Mary "Mollie" McLean

He has been marching for four days. They have been on their way to Yorktown. But he was so tired he decided to go to Fort Monroe via a steamer. He has no idea what the army's final destination is.

GLC02161.050

to Mary "Mollie" McLean

They are between the enemy and the river. Marching is very rough. The skin on his heels came off and he had to march the entire way in that condition.

GLC02161.056

to sister

He does not like how she phrased his current activities. She said he was 'on the retreat' which sounds like he ran away. He mentions the recent raid in Pennsylvania. He doesn't agree with the general's decisions there.

GLC02161.063

to sister

He is glad Will got a promotion. He will be leaving the 49th and he is glad about that. A soldier named Hancock will have been court marshaled for several offenses.

GLC02161.064

to father

McClellan is gone now. He rather liked him and feels that the new commander, Burnside, may only do better because he is luckier. They may or may not have a heavy battle soon.

GLC02161.066

to father

He thanks his father for the $100 loan. From now on his pay will be $129 per month, an amount they can all live comfortably together.

GLC02161.073

to mother

He has enclosed his photograph. (Not included here.) Will and George gave Mrs. Forbes (the woman they boarded with) a silver urn.

GLC02161.075

to sister

They marched from Philadephia to Reading. He heard from Mooney who heard from her. He thinks there might be trouble in this section of the country among the miners who want to resist the draft.

GLC02161.090

to mother

He is extremely grateful for the box of food they sent and knows they must have denied themsleves many pleasures in order to have sent it. They have got the mines thoroughly intimidated.

GLC02161.092

to sister

He got a promotion as 1st lieutenant. He now has a better chance of getting his back pay as 2nd lieutenant. If so, he can come home for a week. He may have to put off his wedding for some time.

GLC02161.096

to Harriet W. Dewey

Written "in the field." He read of Henry's death in the papers after he thought he had escaped unharmed. They may lose their guns. He is sick of the expedition.

GLC02161.128

to Mary "Mollie" McLean

He has someone else in mind for president. Someone who takes the bull by the horn. Someone like Sherman. He knows the war is coming to an end soon. He saw Charley recently.

GLC02161.140

to Mary "Mollie" McLean

There has been a lot of fighting in the past week. They drove the rebels out of key positions. It has rained a lot.

GLC02161.142

to Mary "Mollie" McLean

Difficult to read but he says something [illegible] is harder than soldiering but pays better. There is a new set of officers. He asks when she will be married.

GLC02161.147

to Norman R. Dewey

He talks business. A place called Dinwood has his attention and he feels it would be a good place for a field business. He never says what kind of business it is.

GLC02161.151

to Norman R. Dewey

sender not named.

GLC02161.154

to Mary "Mollie" McLean

He includes a collection of "old masters." Not included here. (Pictures by the great painters) So far there have been no orders. He thinks the war office is restrictive.

GLC02161.157

to his sister

Ida's eye is better. Dr. Martin had a boy. He played euchre on wednesday and friday night.

GLC02161.181

to Mary "Mollie" McLean

He was appointed Post-Adjutant in the morning. He did not like having to leave the battery.

GLC02161.106

[Collection of Orville S. Dewey, 33rd regiment, New York, light artillery] [decimalized]

Nicknamed "Tom" by his family and coming from Buffalo, Dewey served in the army of the Potomac, primarily in Washington at an instructional camp. Many of the letters are addressed to his sister Mary "Mollie" McLean. Dewey stayed in the Army after the...

GLC02161

to Mary "Mollie" Dewey

He encloses two pictures (not included here).Cassie is still at Elmira.

GLC02161.185

to Mary "Mollie" Dewey

Note on verso: from Tom He writes her health must be improving. One night he missed the Buffalo train and had to drive the rest of the way. Very illegible in places. Says something about an skeleton and a scythe.

GLC02161.186

to mother

He has sent a sample of his hair. Sadly he had to have his mustache cut off. If Burnsides' expedition does well, all the New England batteries will go with him.

GLC02161.116