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to Sister

Writes to his sister from the Army Hospital at Newton University. Tells her "I will say nothing about the Army as you know as much as I do about the moves. But [General Joseph] Hooker will not end the war." Reports that there was a "Negro Surgeon"...

GLC03523.08.70

to Joseph M. Maitland

Reports to son about the death of a family friend, Ben Morgan. Writes that "I asked him of his hope of Heaven. He said it was strong, strong enough to bear him over the Jordon of waters." Instructs his son to make himself acquainted with his officers...

GLC03523.10.061

to Joseph M. Maitland

Writes, "There is considerable excitement in the Political atmosphere. The Republicans have nominated rather a strong ticket headed by John Brough for Governor and Charlie Anderson of Texas notoriety for Lieut Gov." Recently read a speech by Brough...

GLC03523.10.067

to Joseph M. Maitland

Writes to "cousin," possibly Joseph M. Maitland, based on content. Writes, "I made a Union Speech which was well received by all except Vallandighammers of whom I will notice before I close... I am all over for Brough the union Candidate for Gov. & I...

GLC03523.10.099

Collection of Dolphus Damuth, D company, 29th regiment, Wisconsin, infantry [Decimalized .01-.86]

Damuth's letters include the following topics: Vicksburg, General Banks, black troops (of whom he approved), the presidential election of 1864 (pro-Lincoln), the Red River campaign. He also reports news from Chattanooga and Atlanta from afar.

GLC03523.14

to Maria Damuth

Describes springtime in Arkansas. The Wisconsin soldiers are nervous about the summer weather. Writes that Helena has been attacked "but it is all news to us we dident know any thing about it." Prisoners have been brought into the camp. Tells his...

GLC03523.14.18

to Maria Damuth

Writes that the 29th Wisconsin plans to leave Helena tomorrow. Writes again on the 10 April as the 29th Wisconsin and 2nd Ohio Battery start out. Damuth is still uncertain of their destination. Mentions that his four months pay should be coming...

GLC03523.14.20

to Maria Damuth

Written on board the steamer Charles Bowen. The regiment is heading toward Youngs Point, "oposit Vicksburgh." It is Damuth's birthday, he is twenty-four years old. Has been recommended by his colonel and General McGinnis for possible organizer of...

GLC03523.14.21

to Maria Damuth

The soldiers have been setting up camp in Berwick, tearing down old buildings and establishing their own quarters. It rains all the time and the men are woken in the night with their tents flooded, but they make the best of it. Damuth writes that...

GLC03523.14.36

to Maria Damuth

Writes to his sister. The men are busy preparing for an inspection, because "they say that the Regt that passes the best inspection will do Provost Guard duty in the city this winter." Damuth has received a pair of suspenders from his family by...

GLC03523.14.77

to Maria Damuth

Writes to his sister. Damuth has visited a friend from home stationed nearby. The friend is married to a girl who cooks for the army. Of the visit, Damuth writes, "that day was the first time I had sat down to a table with a woman since I ate...

GLC03523.14.78

to parents

Writes from camp outside of the city of Petersburg. References General Ulysses S. Grant's suggestion to consolidate regiment into six companies. Describes, in detail, the troops' five-day march from Cold Harbor to present location. Expects hard...

GLC03523.18.14

to Sarah Knox

Knox writes to his wife from Harrison's Landing. Expresses concern for her health. Inquires how the new baby is doing. Mentions he sent her ten dollars. States he is watching for Rebel gunboats. Expects to move on to Malvern Hill soon. Complains of...

GLC03523.20.04

to Stockton Bates

Complains about the slow news to arrive from Philadelphia or New York. Describes the visits of local citizens to their camp out of curiosity. The Regiment has several POWs under charge of desertion. Mentions black soldiers, one of whom escaped...

GLC03523.23.10

Large gathering of African-American troops

Image shows a large group of African-American troops gathered in front of one wooden building and a larger brick structure. Also visible is a large bird house, situated upon a tripod. Graphite inscription on verso "18" "3.00--" "3.00--" "Colored...

GLC05111.02.1324

Group of Soldiers, Point of Rocks, Va. Army of the James

E. & H. T. Anthony, publisher. Partial tax stamp on verso. Group of black and white soldiers. The group is integrated. Inscription on verso: "Emma G. Griggs. From my Husband. 18"

GLC05137.005

Bombproof Works Occupied by U.S. Colored Troops, Petersburg, Va

E. & H. T. Anthony, publisher. Galleries of A. Gardner. Neg. by T. H. O'Sullivan. Caption: "View of Bombproof Works occupied by U.S. Colored Troops in front of Petersburg, Va., August 7, 1864."

GLC05137.054

Quarters 10th Regt., U.S. Colored troops, Va

E. & H. T. Anthony, publisher. Label on side reads: "C. M. Loomis, New Haven, Dealer in Stereoscopic Goods" Winter Quarters comprised of wooden cabins with tents stretched over the roofs. A few soldiers pose near the foremost cabin. Shows Ft...

GLC05137.111

Ordnance Wharf, City Point, Va [single cannon with black guard]

E. & H. T. Anthony & Co., publisher. Caption: "A 12 pound brass Cannon, Ordnance Wharf, City Point, Va." Black soldier stands guard near a solitary artillery piece.

GLC05137.171

Lynchburg Virginian. [October 20, 1864]

Includes an article discussing the recruitment of African Americans for military service. States "We prefer to organize colored regiments now, while we have an abundance of the white element in the field to absorb the other, and to guard effectually...

GLC05196

Black troops of Ferrero's division, on the eastern front at Petersburg

Inscription on verso "Bombproof quarters in Federal camp. 21 black soldiers and one white soldier posed in camp. Numeric notation: "XI - III 802."

GLC05111.01.0419

Execution of a colored soldier

Black deserter named Johnson hanging on gallows. Title from inscription on verso. Numeric notation: "59."

GLC05111.01.0441

Black soldiers with artillery guns behind fortifications. [1861-1865 ca.]

Seven black infantrymen stand with cannons behind fortifications. An eighth man is just visible on the left side of the image. In both the far righ and left background are camps with tents. Stamp of the Century company on verso. Numeric notation...

GLC05111.01.0525

Execution of a Deserter [stereocard]

Black soldiers appear in the image. Inscription on verso: "War Views. Execution of a Deserter, Alexandria, Va. No. 4014."

GLC05111.01.0828

A frame house in Fair Oaks, Virginia

View of a frame house in Fair Oaks, surrounded by over thirty black soldiers. To the upper left of the image, tents are seen as this appears to be the camp of a union army division. Inscription on verso: "Frame house, Fair Oaks, Va." Numeric notation...

GLC05111.01.0877

Execution of a colored soldier

Image of corpse hanging from gallows. Inscription on verso: "Execution of Johnson, a colored soldier." Numeric notation on verso: "99."

GLC05111.01.0921

"Arrival of first negroes in the lines."

Image of fifteen blacks arriving in a covered wagon at a Union Army Camp. Only one of the men in the group is uniformed, and a second soldier is evident, albeit blurred, on a horse to the rear of the wagon. Inscription on verso: "Arrival of first...

GLC05111.01.0925

Union soldiers dismantling Confederate fort posed on cannon

The image shows Union soldiers sitting on and standing near two cannon, one soldier in the center possibly African-American, with fortification earthworks in the background. Inscription on verso: "Dismantling the Rebel Forts, Petersburg, Va."

GLC05111.01.1011

Mounting guard in Fort Wagner

The image shows a mounting guard inside Fort Wagner, South Carolina. Black soldiers appear to be occupying the fort, with various other figures standing on a ridge in the distance. Numeric notations on recto: "3491" and "41." Inscription on verso: "...

GLC05111.01.1032

Bombproof quarters for black soldiers

(Same as #1037.) The image shows a group of black soldiers sitting on a hill and three others standing below them near bombproof quarters. Numeric notation on recto: "804." Inscriptions on verso: "Gardner" and "Bombproof Quarters Fed." Numeric...

GLC05111.01.1033

Black soldiers filling canteens

The image shows a group of black soldiers with some on horses, others reclining on the ground and a group in line in front of a Sibley tent. Numeric notation on image: "33." Inscription on verso: "Filling their canteens." Numeric notations on verso...

GLC05111.01.1034

Camp scene with black soldiers.

The image shows a camp scene in the woods with a black soldier writing near his A-frame tent, other soldiers are reclining and a group stands with their guns in the distance. Inscription on verso: "Ordway Gardner Coll." Numeric notations on verso:...

GLC05111.01.1035

Cedar Mountain battlefield, Bull Run

The image shows a group of black soldiers reclining and standing amongst the trees on the edge of a battlefield. Numeric notation on image: "504." Inscriptions on verso: "Cedar Mountain Battlefield West View Aug. 62" and "Gardner." Numeric notations...

GLC05111.01.1036

Bombproof quarters for black soldiers, Petersburg

(Same as #1033.) The image shows a group of black soldiers sitting on a hill and three others standing below near bombproof quarters. Numeric notations on recto: "804" and "152." Inscription on verso: "Making coffee on the lines before Petersburg, Va...

GLC05111.01.1037

Bombproof quarters for black soldiers

The image shows bombproof quarters with various black soldiers sitting, and others standing in the distance with their guns. Inscription on verso: "Gardner" and "Bombproof Quarters. Federal." Numeric notations on verso: "XI-III" and "805."

GLC05111.01.1039

Black soldiers manning a cannon

The image shows a group of 5 black soldiers manning a cannon along a river. Inscription on verso: "Gardner." Numeric notations on verso: "XII" and "51."

GLC05111.01.1042

African-American soldiers digging graves

The image shows a large group of African-American soldiers digging graves. One corpse lies on the ground, and an officer oversees the activity on horseback. Numeric notation on image: "724." Inscription on verso: "Gardner." Numeric notations on...

GLC05111.01.1102

to Sarah [Gibson] Humphreys

He writes that "The blacks are getting worse every day & at the end of this year I think they will be intolerable on account of bad work and the condition of the crops. I told them they must work on Saturday evening last - but they would not do it...

GLC04501.097

to John M. Cuyler

Suggesting that contrabands, formerly enslaved people who had escaped to the Union army, be tasked with collecting corpses. "It is suggested that Contrabands be Employed to bring down & put in the waggons the dead bodies which, Emit these foul...

GLC04511

[Clothing receipt roll for Company F, 26th Regiment, United States Colored Troops]

Sergeant Jacob Sanders signs as a witness. Includes the names of soldiers in Company F, led by Captain George England. Each soldier signs with an "x" between the first and last name. Table printed on verso outlines the Secretary of War's recommended...

GLC04520

To his wife

Farm work (neighbors helped put-in crops), more rumors of Richmond's capture, drills, call for 100,000 men: "I think that the best way to end the concern [of enough men] would be to enlist and arm the contrabands for all the darkeys I have talked...

GLC04558.025

To his wife

Skirmishing, Federal expedition to dislodge snipers, being reinforced, expecting an attack. "We have taken some negro rebel prisoners. One was caught in a tree fireing at our scurmishers, there was a white reb also with him but they killed the...

GLC04558.083

To his wife

Written in pencil with portions of pages 1-4 traced in a darker pencil. The explosion and charge on fort along the rebel line by Burnside's 9th Corps was at first rumored to be a great success although GWT noticed Grant "appeared a little troubled."...

GLC04558.151

To his wife

Continued Sept. 10th. Cross written. Describes arrival at the Fort and Garrison duty. Fort is manned by "the 89th New York [GWT's regiment], one company of darkey cavalry, one company of heavy artillery, and a signal station." Relieved to hear...

GLC04558.160

To his wife

Relieved at Chapins Farm by a company of black soldiers; fought fierce battle near the old Fair Oaks battlefield. Written from Atkins Landing, in Moncks Corner, South Carolina.

GLC04558.169

To George Tillotson

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

A Southern Soldier's Experiences in a Northern Prison

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

[Scene of the 'Negro Charge' on the Reb Works]

Carte de visite. Penciled caption on verso, with additional pencil inscriptions "307" and "7793." View of a fortification on the edge of a valley. White mount with tan border. McPherson & Oliver imprint on verso.

GLC04596.01

to mother

Continue on 4/15 & 4/16 written from Folly Island. An account of the capture of Folly Island, the bombardment of Charleston, and the failure of union troops to take the city. Also, Walbridge sees an armed, black confederate soldier. It has been...

GLC04662.032

to mother

Briefly describes the charge on Fort Wagner which he mistakenly says was led by the 7th Connecticut. The 100th Regiment dug trenches and erected a battery which captured a rebel battery. [Walbridge gives a correct and compelling description of the...

GLC04662.040