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to father
12 April 1863
Dewey, Orville S., fl. 1861-1902
He gives him detail as to how William died. He says he cannot allow himself to mourn and thinks of his death as a warning.
GLC02161.077
to Mary "Mollie" McLean
21 May 1863
Charley was detailed as adjutant which means he has more work now. The cavalry camp is gone and no one knows where. He sent his citizen clothes home.
GLC02161.081
to sister
26 May 1863
He is discharging his duties as 2nd Lt. in the Buffalo Light Battery. He mentions John Mooney. Mrs. Bush is quite sick. He requests photographs.
GLC02161.082
8 July 1863
He mentions Meade. Lee's chances of getting out of Maryland intact are not very good. However, everything seems to look good for them.
GLC02161.086
to mother
27 March 1864
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
1 April 1864
He has enclosed a soldier's tribute to the 1st corps. He was one of the original members. Cassie wrote that many people had returned home and that she will visit his mother this summer.
GLC02161.118
17 April 1864
He has sent photos for his album. They may stay where they are for 2 months. His uncle tells him his father has a new home on Clinton St.
GLC02161.120
[Mortgage sale of real estate of Norman R. & Harriet W. Dewey]
30 December 1858
Hopkins, Nelson K., 1816-1904
The Deweys' land is being foreclosed and sold at public auction.
GLC02161.003
20 September 1861
He will miss Hattie who has sadly departed. He regrets all the unkind things he said to her. Meanwhile they have been building nice quarters for themselves. He describes the interior of their tents.
GLC02161.009
to Norman R. Dewey
29 November 1861
He got to occupy the outpost, a dangerous position. But he liked it. He received the box filled with raspberry jam, a handkerchief and towels. Written at Camp Rogers.
GLC02161.010
8 January 1862
He has been very busy getting off Will's quarterly returns. Charley wrote that if he can enlist 20 or 25 men, he can have a 2nd lieutenancy.
GLC02161.014
to [Norman R. Dewey]
February 14, 1862
Wednesday they marched through Centerville. Centerville has the strongest position the Rebels ever had. He has been to Manassas and Bull's Run.
GLC02161.017
11 May 1862
Last night they crossed the Rappahannock, marched through Fredricksburg and camped. He talks about how the Rebels treat their dead horses and mules. Fredricksburg is described as a filthy place.
GLC02161.021
21 May 1862
He has just read his his commission. Col. Albergers' Regt. is at Williamsburg with McClellan.
GLC02161.022
26 May 1862
McLean, R.J., fl. 1862
GLC02161.024
16 June 1862
He got a letter from Will who has picket duty. Their sharpshooters killed or wounded every gunner that attempted to use their artillery. There will be no more picketing on their end.
GLC02161.027
23 June 1862
Not only is will a prisioner, but so is the asst. surgeon, so he won't lack for proper medical care. Charles Bidwell had to resign because of poor health. Written in Camp Lincoln
GLC02161.031
8 July 1862
He thinks McClellan could have cut his way through Richmond a month ago. But there would have been drawbacks. The North needs to come down to the South and just fight. But he thinks they are currently outnumbered.
GLC02161.032
14 July 1862
If anything bad happens, he has arranged it so that she will hear it in a telegram first and not in the paper. He got paid and is sending money home.
GLC02161.034
30 July 1862
He admonishes her for worrying too much about everything. He says she is too imaginative and envisions the worst about everything.
GLC02161.041
3 August 1862
Lt. Hunt says the paymaster is coming soon. His father says he shouldn't live without too many comforts. He says he doesn't need many.
GLC02161.044
5 August 1862
He is not that discouraged by the fact that they did not advance and take Richmond. He is just happy to see the James River and be alive. He has confidence.
GLC02161.045
8 August 1862
There is a rumour going around that Will was released but it is not believed because he would have stopped by. The men signed a petition to keep him in their regiment.
GLC02161.046
to his sister
10 August 1862
He is afraid he raised her hopes by talking of Will's probable release. Meanwhile, Capt. Albergen is trying to see if he can get him a furlough. He encloses a sketch of his quarters, not included here.
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to his mother
14 August 1862
The paymaster still hasn't been around, but his health is good, though he has been fatter in the past. Written at Fort Pocahontas
GLC02161.049
to his father
6 September 1862
He is upset because he received a package from Adams Express in which everything was rotten. But he was able to salvage a few things.
GLC02161.054
1 October 1862
Charley will be a lieutenant in a battery. He read in the paper that the government will allow three years men to fill up the 21st. But if he thinks they would stay any longer than that he is stupid. Even Gen. McClellan thinks they were held...
GLC02161.059
23 November 1862
Dewey, Mollie, fl. 1862
Mollie writes that Tom resigned and is coming home, though he wanted to keep it a surprise. She also writes that when Will comes, he will bring Fanny with him.
GLC02161.068
January 18, 1863
He will be unable to visit this week. His new appointment will make him very busy.
GLC02161.072
31 July 1863
He mentions Charley. He is glad they received the money for the horse. He asks Will Whedon to write his brother Al.
GLC02161.089
13 September 1863
He returned to camp and couldn't find his battery. So he wandered around the city until 1 am when he finally found them on Ridge Road. He mentions Mooney and Al Wheeler.
GLC02161.094
1 May 1864
He is in desperate need of money. He only has $15.35. He has no money to give them and asks if she knows anyone who will loan them $100 or $150.
GLC02161.124
14 May 1864
A dispatch from Grant came saying he had taken Johnson's whole division. One of the batteries from Camp Barry was lost but then retaken by the 13th division. He is afraid Charley will have a hand in the fighting.
GLC02161.126
28 May 1864
Yesterday the whole command except for one division was ordered to embark to reinforce Grant. Gen. Lee assumes he will save Richmond. No one really likes Butler, the commanding officer.
GLC02161.129
3 June 1864
The infantry has been behaving badly. At a seven infantry engagement with the "Johns", the men got inside the mark as soon as possible. In other words, they ran at the first fire.
GLC02161.130
11 June 1864
He has enclosed the key to his trunk. He gives instructions on what to do with the items inside.
GLC02161.131
4 July 1864
He feels sorry for Burns. All the old officers are gone from the old 5th. The new ones are strangers. The captain of his old company has been dismissed.
GLC02161.133
31 August 1864
He is kind of sick. He sent a photograph of Gen. Binney.
GLC02161.139
26 September 1864
He received the badge and put it on top of the cap he wears.They get paid this week. He saw Tom McCabe but couldn't get to Charley.
GLC02161.141
14 March 1865
He wishes he could stop working and be idle. He longs to just sit and think of nothing.
GLC02161.150
to Harriet W. Dewey
December 21, 1865
They will be going South via Richmond. He tells his mother she works too hard and to take it easy.
GLC02161.153
[Certificate of ownership of cemetery plot]
15 October 1867
Steele, O.G., fl. 1867
This is to certify that Dewey owns a cemetary plot.
GLC02161.163
to Nathan Curtice
24 October 1873
Sauboru & Clark, fl. 1873
His demand against the recipient was left by Joseph Moulton for collection
GLC02161.165
2 December 1861
Mark hasn't arrived in Washington yet, but his baggage arrived. He is off to visit Col. Alberge and doesn't have time to write. Written at Camp Rogers.
GLC02161.011
5 July 1863
He mentions the irony of celebrating Independence Day when they are no longer a unified country. They are having bad luck with officers and cannot afford to lose any more. He saw Henry Hale.
GLC02161.085
12 December 1863
He asks her for pillows, sheets and a quilt for Christmas.
GLC02161.104
22 April 1864
He shipped a trunk home yesterday. They will march today or tomorrow to Fort Monroe.
GLC02161.122
12 July 1864
He thinks the "Head of the Nation" is frightened by the raid into Maryland and want to protect Washington. He would like to hear that the Johnnies are burning Buffalo.
GLC02161.134
[Commissions to Second Lieutenant]
20 March 1867
Kelton, A.C., fl. 1867
Partially printed. The adjutant general officiallly offers Dewey the commission of 2nd lieutenant.
GLC02161.156
to Mrs. Dewey
1 July 1854
McLean, William, fl. 1854-1862
He talks about his future marriage with Mary. He needs her support. Even though he has bad habits, Mary tends to indulge him. He asks Mrs. Dewey for best wishes.
GLC02161.002
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