Collection Search

[Collection of Edmund C. Wells, 3rd regiment, Pennsylvania, heavy artillery] [Decimalized .01- .55]

Union soldier, PA Heavy Artillery, Archive of 48 letters, Jan, 1864 - June, 1865. Reports on prisoner taking, the battle of Cedar Creek, the action of "Moseby's men," fighting alongside "Zoaves", black troops,etc.

GLC08311

to Maria

arrived today. before she came there was a skirmish between Cleveland and Erie which killed six and wounded thirty. stopped at the Adams house and then went on to the European Hotel.

GLC08311.01

to Maria

learned that Mr. Mellon of Cinncinati had charge of the plantations and had annulled all of his predecessors. had to go to Memphis where he came aboard a crowded a boat. currently in a copperhead state.

GLC08311.02

to Maria

endured a dangerous ice crossing. in order to get everyone acorss they used a skiff. on the other side he met his aunt and uncle. currently in Des Moines, which he describes as "quite a town."

GLC08311.03

to Maria

arrived at his next destination on Thursday night. saw a lot of farms with horses and witnessed the slaying of a few chickens. from there he went to Homer which he described as dreary. is now in Webster City.

GLC08311.04

to Maria

wishes she could be there and see the country. saw a painted barn. likes Webster than any place of its size. Wallace has been buying furs from a man in Iowa City.

GLC08311.05

to Maria, Elma, Amus, Johnny and Co.

discusses a possible purchase of land he might make.

GLC08311.06

to Maria, Elma, Amus, Johnny and Co.

today went with Wallace and used his money. an agent from head quarters and said he prefers to have them run it. acknowledges his mother's suffering because of his absence.

GLC08311.07

to Maria

records his movements. encountered snow and ice. The third morning out they found a fleet of chickens. decided to shoot some.

GLC08311.08

to Maria

has been informed of Mother's death. weather is cold. the price on farms is low now.

GLC08311.09

to Maria

writing from onboard a ship. filled with interesting lines like "take a dutch man and saturate him with whiskey and lager and give him the everlasting pipe and he is a nice animal..."

GLC08311.10

to Maria

arrived in Cumberland, MD. too cold to look about yet. suspects he will not be able to save his money like he did last winter.

GLC08311.11

to Maria

explains that he doesn't always have something to write about which explains why she doesn't get a letter at every mail. it began to snow yesterday. General Crook is out sledding with some woman. he is a bachelor.

GLC08311.12

to Maria

went to Cincinnati with the company of a 2M clerk passing through Wheeling. visited Harry Blackburn and family. the streets of Cincinnati were filled with flags on account of the fall of Charleston. General Crook and Kelly were captured.

GLC08311.14

to Maria

south of Petersburg. yesterday there was a review of the 2nd corps. very rainy and windy weather.thinks they're better situated then they were last summer.

GLC08311.16

to Maria

went out in a picket line and saw several hundred shots fired but not one hit a man. saw about 15 prisoners brought in yesterday. lists the goverment prices for rations sold to officers. Written at a camp near Hall Town

GLC08311.17

to Maria

they took near 200 prisoners and killed how many he doesn't know. if the Rebels do not leave they may stay there for a couple more days.Written in Bolivar Heights, near Harper's Ferry

GLC08311.18

to Maria

17 miles from Harper's Ferry. artillery going on 2 or 3 miles away. one of the boys shot an adder in the tent the other day. it was a foot long. if he had gone to Harrisburg, he would have gotten $500 local bounty.

GLC08311.19

to Maria

has sent her $150. bought a gum blanket. writes about his friend and complains about a clerk who is very lazy and pretends to cook. . rumored that if it had not been for the Harper Ferry's raid, Virginia would not have seceded.

GLC08311.20

to Maria

sent back in the wagon train from Woodstock to attend to the loading of the supply train. describes Martinsburg as a lively town.

GLC08311.21

to Maria

writes that his wardrobe is suffering and it would be handy to have a woman about. writes the place they are now is much more "human."

GLC08311.22

to Maria

writes that she is a very good business woman. read in the paper that they will repair the Orange and Alexandria railroad. has been sleeping on the ground in the open air. his stomach has been acting up. Written at Fisher's Hill

GLC08311.23

to Maria

"I have seen the dark and the bright side of a battle..." describes the battle of Cedar Creek. heavy artillery. one of the colonels was shot by a man in their uniform. very eloquent in his battle description.

GLC08311.24

to Maria

waiting for his friend Levi to get a leave of absence. talks about his cook. writes that his ankles are bad and has had a doctor look at them.

GLC08311.25

to Maria

assures her that non combatants are rarely exposed to death or capture, their trains are guarded by over 1000 men and many have artillery with them. actually prefers army life to home because there is no rent to pay and no taxes (except income).

GLC08311.26