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To his wife

Asks her to write and apologizes for brevity; discusses preparations for a dance and picnic, including ladies from Norfolk whom he hopes will be respectable. Claims that "over five hundred" women in Norfolk are "registered as professionally bad" (i...

GLC04558.098

To his wife

Continued on June 19. Yesterday's festival or dance was attended by 35 ladies "of the showey kind." Teasingly says his "gal" was not there and says he sat-out the dances. Describes dancing platform, etc. Asks about crops and livestock. Mentions...

GLC04558.099

To his wife

Writes that they left their camp and all baggage behind; expects to head towards Richmond; mentions seeing Charlie Tillotson. With postscript dated Tuesday morning noting that no marching orders were received.

GLC04558.101

To his wife

Written in pencil. (Day "27" has been struck and replaced with "26.") Mentions steam travel on the river and says he is about 23 miles to Richmond. Speculates that they are intended as a feint since the movement has been so slow.

GLC04558.102

To his wife

Expects marching orders; expresses doubts about their ability to capture Richmond but describes a raid by the 11th Pa. Cavalry which captured Fitz Hugh Lee. Mentions guerrillas "picking off those foolish as to expose themselves outsid[e] the lines."

GLC04558.103

To his wife

Describes long march to the Hanover court house and unsuccessful attack on railroad strongpoint; mentions successful cavalry raid against rebels. Expects to return to Gettey's Point.

GLC04558.104

To his wife

Describes march from White House in great detail: foraging, washing clothes, giving away blanket to contraband, and more marching.

GLC04558.105

To his wife

Resting and settling down after the marches. On politics: "Your Copperheads up ther[e] I see have been kicking up quite a rumpus, but they will get sick of it, if they are not already. Didnt know one spell but what they would spite 'Massa Greely's'...

GLC04558.106

To his wife

Written in pencil aboard a barge docked at Portsmouth. Describes marching and countermarching; speculates that they are destined for Charleston's Fort Wagner.

GLC04558.107

To his wife

Written in pencil on patriotic stationery. Describes the situation of forts ringing Charleston (Moultrie, Sumter, Wagner), and mentions that Wagner was taken last night but lost due to shelling. "...I dont like the looks of things here in general...

GLC04558.108