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to: "Dear Brothers."

Wilmor writes his brothers that Jo will send three likenesses for Wilmor's mother, for Susan, and for Elizabeth. Jesse said to tell George he is too busy drilling to write George back. Wilmor asks after the sheep and cows and gives news of family...

GLC06451.039

to: Susannah L. Morris; John Morris.

Morris writes to his sister about guard duty, and to his father [in a separate letter on the same leaf]. Wilmor tells his father that "this regiment has the most stri[n]gent laws of any in the brigade you must toe the mark or the guard house is your...

GLC06451.040

to: Susannah L. Morris.

Jesse has a cold but "is able to kick foot ball." It is not true that Charles was shot, Wilmor just received a letter from him and "he said it was good funn he did not get hurt." They have received new French rifles which are "warented to shoot 1...

GLC06451.041

to: Susannah L. Morris.

Wilmor conjectures that "we will come home when we leave here fore the rebles are getting whip[p]ed every where thay meet our boys." He ate at a table for the first time since leaving home, at the home of a "pritty little plump girl" he met near the...

GLC06451.042

to: George M. Morris.

Wilmor's regiment is leaving Camp Johnston. He heard the Confederates "talking and whistling yankee doodle" on picket last night. The 63rd lost three men and one was wounded because Colonel Morgan thought the Confederates were "new york boys" when...

GLC06451.043

to: Mr. & Mrs. John Morris.

Wilmor describes leaving Camp Johnston on 17 March and arriving at Fortress Monroe the next day. They are "encamped at the mouth of James River [with]in about 200 yards of ex President Tyler['s] mansion." Fourteen vessels brought the men up the bay...

GLC06451.044

to: George M. Morris.

The provost guard caught 40 men from New York and Pennsylvania regiments stealing and sent them "to the ripraps to work." It is "harder soldiering than we have had yet" now.

GLC06451.045

to: George M. Morris.

Wilmor describes a confrontation near three Confederate forts. The Confederates nearly surrounded them and fired rifles and muskets, creating a "shower of balls mixed with grape an[d] shell" but they retreated and "lost not a man." He declares "It...

GLC06451.046

to: John Morris.

Wilmor's regiment lost many men at Williamsburg, but the Confederates lost twice as many and "left in a hurry." The road between Yorktown and Williamsburg is strewn with "guns, wagons, knives, clothing of all kinds." He is using "secesh paper" and...

GLC06451.048

to: "Brother an[d] friends."

Wilmor is not sure whether Jesse went to Philadelphia or not but assures them that "god will shield us in the day of Battle." He describes the recent Battle of Fair Oaks, whose battlefield "was the most terrifying place I ever seen the dead lay...

GLC06451.049

to: "Dear Friends."

Wilmor reports that Joseph is getting better and Charles is well. He had been sick for two weeks and has not been fighting. He threw away his knapsack and all its contents because he can no longer carry it. He is unsure how the war will continue...

GLC06451.050

to: Mr. and Mrs. John Morris.

Wilmor has seen Charles several times and he is looking better though he was very sick. Doctor Whitssell has left with swamp fever and Wilmor hopes he has a bad case as he made men "that was not able to walk hardley" stand duty, saying they "wanted...

GLC06451.051

to: George M. Morris.

Wilmor reports that Doctor Whitssell is dead and some of the men "are rejoicing at his death" since he "made fun of" the sick and told them they were "playing off." The Colonel has given orders to reform the ten companies into six, putting Company A...

GLC06451.052

to: Tilley Wilson.

Wilmor has heard that "the battle of yesterday is in our favor…our men took 1300 prisoners and 18 army wagons [but] it may not be true." He was only given "a pair of shoes a gunn a flanel shirt a pair of drawers." His camp moved so that is just...

GLC06451.037

to: "Dear Friend."

A guard "charged on the bush with 4 men expecting to find a man with a cigar in his mouth" but found only a firebug. He has received more of his uniform now. He saw two "female soldiers" passing on the road with "blue velvet wa[i]st and a dark...

GLC06451.038

to: "Much Esteemed Friend."

Wilmor reports that "Niggerdom is a question that is talked over in camp verry much." The men think Congress had better find a way to pay the soldiers at the appointed times. He describes their line of defense, which is within a mile of the...

GLC06451.047