Collection Search

To his wife

Home affairs: children, horses, business deals. Food: "We have plenty of salt pork, bacon, and beef there has been a lot of fat cattle brought here which they butcher so as to have fresh beef twice a week.... We get a kind of conglomerated...

GLC04558.026

To his wife

Still in hospital, regiment to go to Richmond, concerned about haying season at the farm, worries over children's severe illness: "Save them if it costs the farm and all the rest.

GLC04558.030

To his wife

Still in hospital, Regiment at Norfolk. Mail, picking whortle berries, wishing he could help on the farm, different tent styles. "There are about three hundred Contrabands sent from this island the other day to Newburn to go to school."

GLC04558.031

To his wife

Second time on picket duty, contacts with rebel troops, relations with rebel farmer whose animals have been stolen, reading of a general order prohibiting theft, desertions listed, men re-enlisting, advice on farm, home and family to wife.

GLC04558.038

To his wife

Signed "your affectionate Husband" and addressed to "Mrs. A.E. Tillotson." Joking to his wife at how quickly haying was done on the farm: "I suppose that that fifth hand with petticoats on is what drove business, dont you think so?" Diarrhea...

GLC04558.040

To his wife

five miles from Harpers Ferry. Farm business, complains of food. "I am pretty weak from the diarea I weigh only 136 lbs."

GLC04558.047

To his wife

Feeling better, wishing he could help his wife with farm-work, speculating about McClellan's intentions. "...I dont feel as patriotic as I did, Maybe, because I have lost confidence in most of the head officers, for I dont believe they want the war...

GLC04558.050

To his wife

Written in pencil while on guard duty. Marching, Burnsides sending flag of truce to civilians telling them to leave, farm business.

GLC04558.054

To his wife

Worries at her sickness, hopes for furlough; farm news, business and questions.

GLC04558.074

To his wife

A lazy day in which he day-dreams of being home; mentions combating a forest fire; relates farm news from Edwin who was injured and has hired "a couple of negroes;" instructions on sheep; responding to home news.

GLC04558.095

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

Faint; written in pencil. Charging a confederate line; advice to his wife about breeding a horse.

GLC04558.144

To his wife

Evaluates the damage that different types of artillery shells (i.e. mortar and rifled cannon shot) create at various distances from the front line. Mentions troops rotations between lines, and farm business. Gives a current price for cotton cloth...

GLC04558.146

To his wife

Farm business, mainly the price of wool, leads into a discussion of the value of paper money versus gold. "You will probably notice that as gold goes up (and consequently paper down) that "prices" also "go up" so as just to keep pace with gold, so...

GLC04558.149

To his wife

Advises his wife on how to cope with a long drought and offers some remedies for her illness. Details a letter from Louisa, encloses a recipe for condensed milk with a request for a sample. Still has not been paid. Written in a camp near...

GLC04558.150

To his wife

Discusses farm business, friends, camp news, and politics. "I may vote for "Old Abe" if on keeps on behaveing [sic] himself, and calls for 300000, or 500000, more occasionally between this and election.

GLC04558.153

To his wife

With discharge time drawing near, the letter centers on preparations for mustering out. New clothes issued. Col. Fairchilds wants the regiment to go to Elmira to do some recruiting. Relates news about Petersburg: rebel troops steal cattle; large...

GLC04558.161

to his wife

Farm advice; mustering out in one month's time. Politics: predicts Lincoln will win; eludes to soldiers support of Lincoln; Copperheads (democrats) are worse than sessionists. Has a cold. Written at Fort Powhatan .

GLC04558.162

To her sister

Regarding spring planting, current prices and events. Mentions sending representatives to the "Woman's Rights Convention in N.Y. May 10th (possibly the First Women's National Loyal League Convention); opening correspondence with Mrs. Stanton, Lucy...

GLC04558.173

to Nan [Maury]

Comments that Mrs. Sinclair (widow of Confederate States Navy commander Arthur Sinclair) bears the loss of her husband well. Reports that a black woman who frequently stayed in Baltimore set fire to the house of her mistress, the wife of Confederate...

GLC04572.32

to William Lewis Maury

Murdaugh heard that Maury switched professions from farming to insurance. Comments that if Tilden is elected, "there will be more openings for us [former Confederates] than ever have been since the day of Appomattox." In order to write to Jeff Page...

GLC04572.44

to Jedediah Smith

Writes to his brother in Boston that he was overjoyed to receive his letter as he never expected to hear from him since it has been 24 years. Gives information on how they can get letters back and forth to each other. Informs that he has a wife and...

GLC04601.01

to Jedediah Smith

Writes that he was very happy to hear from him since almost two years have past since their last correspondence. Discusses a Colonel Trash who traveled to Jedediah's area (Massachusetts) but did not bring back word. He is sorry to hear Jedediah has...

GLC04601.04

to Samuel Williams

Writes to Williams in Ohio that he arrived in Natchez 6 May after a voyage of three weeks and five days. Mentions that he contracted dysentery on the trip but is okay. Reports that there is no produce for sale at the market and that there are 100...

GLC04601.05

to James Balloch

Writes to his cousin in Cornish, New Hampshire that he has been ill the past few days but is recovering. He believes people traveling to the area (Mississippi) from the north suffer because of the sudden climate change. States he arrived in Natchez...

GLC04601.09