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to Jefferson Davis
08 June 1861
Letcher, John, 1813-1884
Written as Governor of Virginia to Jefferson Davis to send him details on the guages and capacity of the Danville Rail Road and other Virginia lines.
GLC08241
to loving, sweet, darling and best of all wives
15 December 1864
Schumpert, Amos K., fl. 1864
describes a run in with the yankees. they seem to have disappeared but he fears "they will cross the river above or below this place, cut us off , and capture us." Gen. Meloy said there would be a train in the morning to take them away, wherever...
GLC08270.06
Ise, Making a Train of Cars to Bring Grandma Wait in.
1861-1877
Other side features partial manuscript.
GLC08284.036
to darling Cherry
24 November 1866
Wait, Horatio L., 1836-1916
An acquaintance went into the shoe manufacturing business but the Great Portland fire burnt up his business. The railroad that is to connect Lisbon with Madrid has been completed. Written in Lisbon Harbor
GLC08284.091
to Mary Ann Davis
February 23, 1862
Holly, William H., ?-1864
Written at Camp Lyon to a friend. Laments camp accommodations ("you are at Church listening to a good sermon while I am seated on a wash basin and writing on a Camp Kettle") and not being able to spend "the last Sunday in Brookfield that perhaps I...
GLC02165.03
to Lile Miller
December 14, 1863
Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864
Written from camp near Manassas Junction. Discusses a possible visit from Henry, noting that his camp is located near the Orange and Alexandria Rail Road. States that Lile can not come visit because there is nowhere for her to stay. Writes, "I see...
GLC02155.122
to George C. Pullman
12 June 1878
Porter, Horace, 1837-1921
Written as Vice President of the Pullman Company to the President while on vacation. Mentions political news, cost-effectiveness of the elevated trains in New York, and scheduling trains to handle rush hours. Written on Pullman Palace Car Company...
GLC02114
to Leonard Ross
18 September 1862
McPherson, James Birdseye, 1828-1864
Discusses an exaggerated news report regarding the battle of Antietam. Writes "The substance of the news is that 'Genl McClellan has driven the Rebels out of Maryland with great slaughter and has bagged Genl Lee.' The bagging part I think is...
GLC02063.01
to Father, Mother, Brother, Sister
5 October 1863
Scarborough, William H., fl. 1862-1865
They took the railroad to Brashies City. They will have about 200 miles to march. He requests socks.
GLC02173.19
to unknown
6 June 1888
Author and recipient unknown. Describes neighborhood and the proximity of the B and M railroad, which is set to make the town a successful business center. Describes nearby schools, and one which features preaching by a "Babtist" every two weeks...
GLC02176.31
to Col. Maggis and Col. Morse
1861
Hawkes, George P., fl. 1861
3 notes. One addressed to Col. Maggis requesting that Stone and others return on the 2 o' clock train. The other addressed to Col. Morse instructing him to have Corporal Stone return at 2pm. The last appears to be the top part of a letter. Only the...
GLC02182.02
to dearest wife
22 September 1861
Stone, E. Wyman, fl. 1861-1865
He is glad she has little Abby and she is taking her to meeting. He goes over all the various people he has heard that are sick and wishes them well.He writes that there is much sickness among the soldiers as well. Sadly many are wounded not in...
GLC02182.20
to Amos J. Harding
27 July 1865
Hayward, J.H., fl. 1865
Does not feel much like writing this afternoon but remembered his obligation and will say a few words. Arrived at St. Louis one week ago this morning (Thursday) at 3 o'clock. His company had been mustered out the day before. Panicked about getting...
GLC02178.11
to dearly beloved
30 August 1861
They received orders to move. They were to replace a Pennsylvania regiment. Their duty is to watch the railroad. If they are ordered to move again, he will give her all the details. Written in Camp Lincoln
GLC02182.15
to Jemima Shifflet
January 1862
Shifflet, Hillary, 1823-1863
Shifflet cried upon reading her last letter, glad to hear that the family was well. He reports that "our union men have gain[ed] another greate victory on cumberland river" though the men "had to dis mount from thare horses and fight on foot." He...
GLC02174.02
to Sarah Wood
26 June 1863
Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865
Written from London, Kentucky to his wife. Describes raids in Tennessee and Virginia, destroying railroads, burning bridges, tearing down telegraph wires. Also describes the rainy weather. Expresses concern because he sent a dollar in a letter, but...
GLC02176.07
to John Jay
21 October 1781
Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Later copy of GLC02437.01253. Indicates that French ships are about to dispatch with official accounts of the Battle of Yorktown. Knox feels he should tell Jay what has occurred because an official account from Congress may not be immediately...
GLC02437.01254
[Bill to Henry Knox for military supplies needed for the siege of Yorktown].
19 October 1781
Hunter, James, fl. 1781
Bill for iron and waggonage from the Rappahannock Forge in Falmouth, Virginia. Knox's instructions to Hunter to send iron and ordnance to the James River and Hunter's report on fulfilling that request appear in GLC02437.01194 and GLC02437.01217...
GLC02437.01246
Indicates that French ships are about to dispatch with official accounts of the Battle of Yorktown. Knox feels he should tell Jay what has occurred because an official account from Congress may not be immediately forthcoming. Although the British...
GLC02437.01253
[Certificate pertaining to Captain Anthony Post]
22 June 1781
Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794
Written in the hand of Shaw, Henry Knox's aide-de-camp. Created at an artillery park at or near New Windsor, where Knox was located in June 1781. Certifies that Post has served as Captain of Artillery Artificers stationed at Fredericksburgh, New...
GLC02437.00973
to Estelle Spero
April 1943
Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945
Diamond writes this letter after the troops have been traveling for thirty-seven hours. He describes the journey thus far.
GLC09120.218
26 April 1943
Diamond describes the experience of having been train quartermaster for the duration of the journey from Louisiana. He then discusses the pleasure of sleeping in a bed and showering after six weeks in a tent.
GLC09120.222
21 May 1943
Diamond discusses his "unsurpassable proposal" to Estelle, and then describes the train journey back from New York to Texas.
GLC09120.226
to a family member
8 January 1865
Houghton, M., fl. 1865
"[Nashville is] under the control of our guns from the forts and batteries...I saw 3 or 4 dead Rebs still lying on the ground unburied and some that had been buried with some parts still visible above the ground...the point B.F. is where the greatest...
GLC09139
to Joseph E. Brown
20 March 1863
Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889
"In reference to the seizure of the State railroad, Genl. Bragg states, that the Ordnance officer at Atlanta asserted to him that the road refused to transport arms and ammunition, and that then he (Genl. Bragg) directed the Quartermaster's...
GLC09159
to Isaac H. McCauley
5 July 1863
Boyle, William H., fl. 1863
Gettysburg's aftermath. "the rebs have stripped this valley of everything...there is not enough left for the people to live on for two weeks. Both railroads are destroyed. All the new depot buildings are down. Many farms are destroyed by roads...
GLC09180.02
[Special Order providing for safe passage of Confederate troops through Union lines]
10 April 1865
Mahone, William, 1826-1895
Personal copy. "All officers and men of the Confederate service paroled at Appomattox C. Ho. Va. who to reach their homes are compelled to pass through the lines of the Union Armies will be allowed to do so and to pass free on all Government...
GLC09183
to Eleanor Hammond
13 December 1864
Hammond, Horace J., fl. 1862-1865
Is in good health; cold has almost gone. Received a letter from her this morning. Joseph's health is very good. Started on a raid this past Tuesday. Marched five miles one day, 22 the next, and 20 the day after. Upon reaching their destination, they...
GLC09273.13
February 18, 1865
Is very healthy; hopes the same is true at home. Fayette and Joseph are healthy. John is still at the hospital, but they have heard from him. He does not have consumption (tuberculosis). "Joseph thought his breach was going to clear him from duty,...
GLC09273.27
24 March 1865
All are healthy. Leg is back to normal. Has not received a letter in two weeks, but supposes that that is on account of the high water taking out some of the railroad. Weather has been cool and windy for 2 or 3 days now. "We lay here very quiet in...
GLC09273.35
3 April 1865
Health is "tip top." All are healthy. Left the old camp on March 28 "and marched about 8 miles and had an awful fight and whipped the rebs." Had another battle with the Confederates the next day. Fought the rebels again the next morning in a battle...
GLC09273.38
9 April 1865
Left camp and fought for four days. Took the South Side Railroad, Petersburg, and Richmond. Headed for Lynchburg, and marched 5 days straight. Formed a battle line and marched into battle again. This time, "when our army cam in sight old general Lee...
GLC09273.39
18 April 1865
Leg is "a little lame" from marching so much. Rest of the men are healthy. Headed for Burkeville but stopped about five miles away on the Danville railroad. Some think they are headed for Petersburg. "I don't think that we will have to fight anymore...
GLC09273.41
23 April 1865
Everyone is healthy, but tired from all the marching. Legs feel "lame." Stopped 18 miles from Petersburg on the railroad. Going to guard the railroad, but is not sure how long he will be doing that for. "We may stay here two weeks and we may not stay...
GLC09273.42
to Adelaide Fales
21 September 1862
Fales, Charles L., fl. 1862
Captured after a Union bayonet charge at Second Bull Run: "...when we charged bayonets and rushed with a yell on to the railroad. The rebels poured the shot with us fast but we drove them away and held the railroad....They shot some men after they...
GLC09316
[3 war-date diaries]
1862-1865
Tinker, S.F., fl. 1862-1865
Union engineer or bridge-builder's three war-date diaries, describing work done from Harper's Ferry to the Atlanta Campaign: "Had the pleasure of seeing Uncle Abe and riding on a special train with him down Sandy Hook to Harpers Ferry. McClellan was...
GLC09317
to parents
18 October 1863
Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892
Once again has gone into the field. In camp about 100 rods away from the 10th Massachusetts. Joined the brigade this morning after leaving New York City on Wednesday. Just saw Sid and the rest of his regiment. Engine on their train broke down...
GLC09355.024
29 October 1863
Received two letters from them, one on the 20th and one on the 23rd. Has been on the march ever since he was at Centerville, so he has not had time to write. Marched 15 miles to Gainesville and then to New Baltimore. Later received orders to march to...
GLC09355.025
21 November 1863
Is in his tent while it rains, and therefore has nothing to pass the time with other than writing. Got a short letter from his father yesterday. Hopes mother's eyes do not get much worse than they already are. Just went to visit Sid; "he is well as...
GLC09355.028
to Eunice Lombard Edwards
February 27, 1862
Edwards, Oliver, 1835-1904
Edwards, senior aide-de-camp on the staff of General Darius N. Couch, writes to his mother, from head quarters, Couch's brigade. Remarks that he will take the train to Washington, D.C., on 28 February. Does not know his precise destination, but...
GLC02163.01
to Kitty
30 September 1863
Morse, Justus, fl. 1861-1864
There was a freak accident involving one of the men in the 11th corp. He was supposed to get on the train but somehow didn't and the cars ran over him crushing his legs and breaking an arm. He lived.
GLC02170.27
to Sisters
4 June 1861
McFadden, Charles F., fl. 1862-1864
No year. John is sick. He speculates on where they will go and how they will be transported after they are given marching orders. They might be put on a boat or a passenger car, but most likely they will be put in a Hog car and be "crowded in like...
GLC02169.08
to Josephine Waud re: experiences with Army of the Potomac; Chancellorsville
20 September 1865
Waud, Alfred R., fl. 1862-1865
A long letter to his sister concerning his experiences in the Army of the Potomac. "We fought for three days against Lee and 50,000, and owning to the stupidity of our General 'Fighting Joe Hooker' lost the Battle and between 30,000 and 40,000." He...
GLC07066
[One dollar bill issued by the South Carolina Rail Road]
1864
South Carolina Canal and Railroad Company, 1827-1843
The auditor's signature is illegible. The money was in the wallet of Robert Bayly Winder, Captain and Assistant Quarter Master Confederate States of America (see GLC07271.07.01).
GLC07271.07.02
to James A. Seddon
21 August 1864
Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870
Handwritten telegram on which Robert E. Lee informs Secretary of War Seddon about Lt. Gen. A.P. Hill's attack against Federal troops in the Battle of Weldon Railroad (Globe Tavern) during the Petersburg campaign.: "The enemy abandoned last evg. his...
GLC07360
to his parents and sister
7 November 1862
Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917
He advises his family not to worry about writing him when he's marching because the mail follows closely behind. Writes that it is sixty-eight miles to Nashville by railroad and there are too many men to transport by train. Some of the men have...
GLC07460.004
to his parents, sister and [brother-in-law]
January 18, 1863
Writes that many men have been receiving discharge papers, particularly those who are disabled. Reports that the mail has been irregular due to a heavy storm that washed away the tressel work of the train tracks. Relates the news that Captain...
GLC07460.011
to his parents, [brother-in-law], and sister
2 April 1863
He thanks his family for the letters and food they've sent. Complains that Uncle Sam owes him eighty dollars but thinks that he will get paid some of the amount tomorrow. Mentions to his family that they should set out an orchard on which they...
GLC07460.023
to his sister Martha
17 April 1863
Writes that he would like to hire Welly (his nephew Wellington Spohn) at five cents a day to help with the harvest. Reports that rebels are camped nearby and that he is anxious toget rid of them. Discusses the feeling of brotherhood amongst the...
GLC07460.024
28 June 1863
Thanks his family for the food they sent him and requests that they send him some emery paper (for filing his gun), tea, and pepper. Reports that Rosecrans has taken five or six hundred rebel prisoners to Nashville. Writes that rebels planted two...
GLC07460.037
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