Summer 2025 PD for K–12 teachers: Registration is now open!
To his wife
25 April 1863
Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918
Reports that a federal raid captured 3,000 rebel prisoners. Also says he does not notice the boom of guns anymore. Concludes with his longing to see his children and wife.
GLC04558.086
5 June 1863
Continued on June 6. Camping in the shade and making "artificial shade" with pine and cedar branches; according to letter from relative Matilda, "Nelson was a prisoner in the hands of the rebels;" other news. "As for Marys letter I dont think...
GLC04558.096
29 June 1863
Expects marching orders; expresses doubts about their ability to capture Richmond but describes a raid by the 11th Pa. Cavalry which captured Fitz Hugh Lee. Mentions guerrillas "picking off those foolish as to expose themselves outsid[e] the lines."
GLC04558.103
13 September 1863
Received letter; sends $30. Recovered health and back on duty. Rumors of capture of Fort Sumter, and complete capture of Bragg's army by Rosecrans and Burnside. Relates news that he hopes to be discharged April 1, 1864 with the other 3-year troops.
GLC04558.114
1 November 1863
Has a runny nose; the siege drags on and another assault scheduled that night for Fort Sumter; expects conscripts to arrive soon and receive weapons, "til then they are guarded closer than rebel prisoners would be."
GLC04558.121
11 August 1864
Warns his wife of a reoccurring dream in which he is taken prisoner and recounts occasions when his dreams have come true. Page 4 is addressed to his daughter "Dollie". Encourages her to improve herself. Tells her of the dangers of camp life...
GLC04558.154.01
To George Tillotson
5 April [1862]
Tillotson, Louisa, fl. 1861-1898
Family news. Brother Nelson may have been captured in Tennessee. Nelson, a teamster, believed Negroes would be recruited to drive them teams so white men could fight.
GLC04558.185
[Diary of Samuel G. Gottshall]
1862
Gottshall, Samuel G., 1841-1902
Leather bound autograph manuscript signed. Describes activity at Fort Donelson (the Battle of Fort Donelson was fought from 11 February to 16 February 1862), Yorktown (Siege of Yorktown took place from 5 April to 4 May 1862, as part of the Peninsula...
GLC04564.03
1863
Leather bound autograph manuscript signed. Gottshall returns to the Army after being wounded in the arm by a cannonball. Throughout the early months Gottshall sees little action and he discusses his recovery and soldiering in the winter. In [13-15...
GLC04564.04
to Nan [Maury]
February 7, 1865
Maury, William Lewis, 1813-1878
Year inferred from content. Mentions the peace conference between Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens, President Lincoln and General U. S. Grant. "I hope that it [the outcome of the conference] will have the effect to unite our people &...
GLC04572.25
February 17, 1865
Maury tried to get leave to go home to comfort his wife and help take care of their son, who has diphtheria, but was appointed to a court martial. When the trial is over he will try to come home. Writes, "the returned prisoners are coming in pretty...
GLC04572.28
February 21, 1865
Reports that prisoners returning from federal camps are frostbitten and ill. Notes that the court martial will convene on Friday, and comments that "hopes are entertained the soldiers will be better fed" since the appointment of the new Commissary...
GLC04572.31
[Collection of John William Flinn, 17th Mississippi] [Decimalized .01-.15]
1863-1893
Flinn, John William, fl. 1863-1893
Covers Flinn's capture at Gettysburg and life as a prisoner of war, as well as the Battle of Chickamauga. Flinn joined the 17th Mississippi as a 14-year old and served in Virginia and Tennessee. He later earned a Doctor of Divinity degree and taught...
GLC04573
to A.M. Flinn
26 May 1863
Flow, J.S., fl. 1863
Billie [J. W. Flinn] has been wounded, captured and taken to Fort Delaware. Lieut. Col. Luse just returned from Fort Delaware and said Flinn was doing well. (Flinn was captured at the battle of Marye's Heights or Second Fredricksburg, May 3, 1863).
GLC04573.03
9 August 1863
Spent three weeks as a prisoner at Fort Delaware. Has not heard from his family since he returned to camp. While at Fort Delaware, his father had come to camp to visit and went home without knowing the fate of his son. He discusses the losses from...
GLC04573.04
to A. M. Flinn
4 December 1864
He received the sad news of his little sister's death. He asks about the cause of her death and the length of her illness. He did not receive a check his father sent to him. Signed: "your son William."
GLC04573.06
A Southern Soldier's Experiences in a Northern Prison
November 1893
Originally written for the students of a "lady cousin" who was concerned her pupils were being misinformed about the "kind treatment of Southern Soldiers in Northern prisons." Flinn later presented the address at "S. C. College Nov. 1893." He...
GLC04573.13
to his brother
13-14 September 1863
Slagle, Jacob, ?-1900
Writes in great detail about the battle of Gettysburg 1-3 July 1863, where he served as Union General Abner Doubleday's adjutant. Describes his duties during the fighting, which mainly consisted of delivering messages back and forth between generals...
GLC04585
[Albumen photograph of Crow Indian prisoners]
1887
Finch, W. B., fl. 1887
Shows Crow Indian prisoners after uprising guarded by soldiers with rifles. Includes Crazy Head, Knows his Coos, Jeff Bull, The Bank, Looks with His Ears, Big Hail, Carries His Food, and The Rock. Inscribed "#21" on mount.
GLC04591
to Sim Van Winkel
16 September 1864
Kappes, Charles, fl. 1864
Kappes, a Union soldier waiting for his discharge in the Annapolis United States General Hospital, relates the events of his capture to friends in New Jersey. Reports that while engaged in battle near Richmond, Virginia, his corps was surrounded by...
GLC04635
to his mother
1862/6/1
Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?
Battle of Seven Pines [Fair Oaks] Lists the officers killed, wounded, and captured. He estimates that his regiment lost over 200. He has been made acting quartermaster.
GLC04662.006
1862/7/3
They are currently camped at the birth place of William Henry Harrison. The house has been turned into a hospital. Stonewall Jackson turned the right flank of the Union Army, captured White House, Va and forced the retreat of the army. Many of the...
GLC04662.009
to mother
1862/12/15
Captured a large number of prisoners and livestock. Discusses an expedition to Wood's Cross Roads and the regiments reception by the townsfolk, who were all secessionist. Received his commission as senior 1st lieutenant.
GLC04662.020
1863/9/5
He writes of the capture of a small group a confederates, the bombardment on Fort Wagner and the siege of Charleston. Also discusses the whereabouts of friends.
GLC04662.043
1863/12/7
He was very excited to open his box of clothes, food and other materials. "I took as much pleasure . . . as children usually do in emptying their stockings on Christmass [sic] morning." He reports that the monitor "Weehawken" has sunk, probably due...
GLC04662.051
1864/2/21
Continued 2/22 at Hilton Head. He is waiting for a transport to take him to Florida. He hopes to get an appointment [as quartermaster] and a furlough. Reports the news of the Florida expedition: it has lost 7 guns, 400 wounded men have been...
GLC04662.059
to Mrs. Walbridge
18 June 1864
Writes to his mother that he returned last night from a two day excursion across the Appomattox River to bring supplies to the troops since their supply trains had not yet arrived. Discusses the fighting at Petersburg, 15-18 June 1864. States he...
GLC04662.069
Diary of John W. Phoenix
12 November 1864-4 December 1865
Phoenix, John W., fl. 1864-1865
Written from camp at Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Describes picket duty, foraging, and rations. Mentions cooking and what the soldiers had for dinner frequently. Discusses how the soldiers want to shoot at pigeons flying over camp but are not allowed to...
GLC03956.01
1 January 1865-18 June 1865
Early entries mostly detail the weather, regimental duties, and camp life at Little Rock, Arkansas. On 21 January he indicates that the regiment has received marching orders but he is to remain at camp. This marching brigade came back on 4 February...
GLC03956.02
[Collection of John G. Scurry, A company, 11th regiment, Virginia, infantry][Decimalized .01-.81]
1861-1865
Scurry, John G., fl. 1861-1871
Collection of letters belonging to John G. Scurry dated 1861-1865. Consists of 81 letters sent to various recipients, two of which are incomplete. The letters describe the battles of Chickahominy, McClellan's claim of victory in the Penninsula...
GLC03957
1862 Diary
Cook, Henry, fl. 1862-1864
Henry Cook writes daily entries on camp life, including rations, illness, gambling, picket duty, construction projects, pay, and promotions. He includes information on military actions (battles at Fort Donelson, Fort Macon, and [Pea?] Ridge), as well...
GLC03958.01
1864 Diary
1864
In this diary, dated from January through November, 1864, Henry Cook documents life in the US Signal Corps. Stationed near New Bern, NC, Cook writes of matters of daily life--meals, rations, guard duty, trips to town, construction projects--and of...
GLC03958.03
[Collection of John H. Worcester, H company, 7th regiment, New Hampshire, infantry] [Decimalized .01- .41]
1861-1863
Worcester, John H., 1839-1863
The collection includes documents and letters written to the Worcester family, especially the father, John, from Lieutenant John H. Worcester and his younger brother Charles H. Worcester. John was wounded at Fort Wagner, South Carolina, and taken...
GLC03974
[Certificate of enlistment in the New Hampshire 7th regiment of volunteers]
12 November 1861
Putnam, Haldimand 1835-1863
Certificate of enlistment in the New Hampshire 7th regiment of volunteers
GLC03974.01
[Military accounts for pay and subsistence]
December 14, 1861-December 31, 1861
Payment for Lieutenant John H. Worchester. Pay dates range from December 14, 1861, and December 31, 1861. Total amount paid was $63.06. Includes payment per month as well as number of days served, number of rations per day, total number of rations...
GLC03974.02
John H. Worcester to Abby Worcester
January 16, 1861
Describes life straight after signing up, including the journey to New York, being given initial supplies, such as a blanket and rations, and disappointment in camp that they would not be striking out for the Potomac at once.
GLC03974.03
January 23, 1862
Gives details of life in camp, including information about disease and food. Mentions that he met some enemy prisoners.
GLC03974.04
John H. Worcester to Augustas
February 3, 1862
Discusses life in camp, pay and promotions, and his growing dislike of a fellow soldier.
GLC03974.05
John H. Worcester to Martha Worcester
22 April 1862
Mentions his recovery from dysentery. Written at Fort Jefferson.
GLC03974.06
20 June 1862
Encloses some money for his sister.
GLC03974.07
10 August 1862
Mentions the fine weather and proposed future movements.
GLC03974.08
[Note on rations and expenses on board a ship]
20 November 1862
GLC03974.09
[John H. Worcester describing the situation in Florida]
February 21, 1863
The letter talks about patriotism, how much the Confederates know about why they are fighting, and tense discussions over the potential execution of a general.
GLC03974.10
Charles H. Worcester to his father
26 April 1863
Worcester, Charles H., fl. 1863-1917
Discusses life in a new camp and a recent expedition to Charleston. Also talks about their family.
GLC03974.11
[Lieutenant Worcester's account]
1 May 1863
Lists items such as butter, money, matches and clothing.
GLC03974.12
12 May 1863
Gives details of their latest move, complains about mosquitos and mentions that Charles, their brother, is ill. Written at Fort Clinch.
GLC03974.13
John H. Worcester to his father
27 May 1863
Mentions money and the fact that he and his brother Charles might get to come home soon. Written at Fort Clinch.
GLC03974.14
Nathan M. Ames to John H. Worcester
4 June 1863
Ames, Nathan M., fl. 1863
Discusses prisoners of war.
GLC03974.15
John H. Worcester to Carolina Worcester
13 June 1863
Talks about newly enlisted men and leaves of absence.
GLC03974.16
1 July 1863
GLC03974.17
Showing results 951 - 1,000