Collection Search

to Maria Damuth

Writes to his sister from a camp outside of New Orleans. The soldiers often go into the city. Damuth is going to get photographs taken. Some of the men taken prisoner the year before at Red River are now in the city. Of one of them, Damuth writes...

GLC03523.14.79

to Sister Mamie

Discusses the "[t]errible" battle of Bull Run and the poor conditions of camp life, including difficult marches and poor diet. Discusses the execution of a "Zouave" soldier in camp for the "crime of murder." Also makes reference to the politics of...

GLC03523.18.01

to Sister Mamie

Provides an illustration and description of Union and Confederate battle formations including skirmish lines, lines of battle for infantry, batteries, and reserves. Mentions his promotion to orderly sergeant, and details the duties associated with...

GLC03523.18.03

to mother

Mentions his work on muster rolls. Discusses general operations, including the landing of 19th army corps at City Point, Virginia and reinforcements from the 13th corps. Prays for the end of the rebellion, mentions inconsistency of mail, and...

GLC03523.18.17

to mother

Writes from Camp Russell near Winchester, Virginia. Mentions being part of Brigade Grand and having tea in camp. Thanks people back home for their interest in his welfare. Discusses movements of 5th Regiment into an old camp previously occupied by...

GLC03523.18.35

to mother

Written from Camp near Petersburg, Virginia. Requests letters from home, "now that trains run into camp every evening." Reports that he is positioned in front of "Kershaw's (rebel) division," a division he has met several times before: in the valley...

GLC03523.18.37

to mother

Written from Camp near Petersburg. Mentions purchase of "sheet iron stove for which I paid the little sum of $7.50." References ordnance returns. Describes feast of roast turkey and chicken for Christmas, and oysters for New Years. Reports that board...

GLC03523.18.41

to mother

Written from Union camp near Petersburg. Describes the most severe storm of the season: "what cannot be cured must be endured so we try and pass off the time the best way we can." Mentions sister Mamie and her progress at singing school. Reports the...

GLC03523.18.43

to mother

Describes the extension of lines across Hatches run with fortifications. Mentions the suffering of men on line in extreme weather, especially the wounded. Relates a story of an agreement between a "Reb" and a "Yank" to meet between the pickets to cut...

GLC03523.18.49

to mother

Discusses the illness of his mother. Reports that he cannot expect to visit home until Spring. Describes the sounding of "tatoo" for roll call. Mentions the business of disbursing clothing and the "business" of the army regardless of the day of the...

GLC03523.18.50

to father

Describes completion of the muster rolls. Reports acknowledgment from his mother of his hard work. Discusses the business of camp, such as raising funds to erect a monument in honor of the 6th corps late and "lamented commander Major General John...

GLC03523.18.52

to Sarah Knox

Knox writes to his wife from Fort Scott in Virginia. Reports he took the company to Fort Ward for a very severe brigade review and inspection. Expresses deep love for her. Expects to move to the front as artillery. Reports Union General Ambrose...

GLC03523.20.09

to Sarah Knox

Knox writes to his wife from camp outside Petersburg, Virginia. Complains about the lack of letters from her and expresses his deep need to receive word from her. Requests the New York papers be sent to him. Says he is extremely lonely and camp...

GLC03523.20.13

to Sarah Knox

A Union lieutenant in the 1st Connecticut Artillery offers his opinion of McClellan's presidential campaign. " ... Gen. Mc Clellan's election, on the platform of the late convention I do not think he stands any sight whatever. It is decidedly a...

GLC03523.20.16

to Sarah Knox

Knox writes to his wife from a camp outside Petersburg, Virginia. Reports eight shells were fired into Petersburg last night. Expresses happiness at receiving three letters from her. Complains of the cold weather and sleeping outside. Comments on the...

GLC03523.20.17

to Sarah Knox

Knox writes to his wife from a camp outside Petersburg, Virginia. Reports he has put out a "shingle" that reads "...shirts repaired wholesale and retailed,"and opened a shirt business. Says he repaired a neckband and a wristband and it took him three...

GLC03523.20.22

to Stockton Bates

He writes while squatting on the ground with his portfolio on his knees. Describes the soldier's life with the bulk of time spent in marching: "marching is what breaks the men down so much; they hate it worse than they do fighting." He prefers...

GLC03523.23.02

to Stockton Bates

Describes the scene as "a cold, rainy Sunday in a crowded, leaky tent, three more letters to write, and no dinner in prospective except 'beans.'" Mentions constant marching with little rest. As it is getting cold, "the boys draw around the fire...

GLC03523.23.03

to Stockton Bates

While they are located in a beautiful overlook of the Blue Ridge, "there is not the slightest romance in walking a mile up and down the mountain for water." While on picket, they got food from several homes, more by intimidation than by gift,...

GLC03523.23.04

to Stockton Bates

Describes the recuperation following the battle of Rappahannock due to mismanagement. The men are discouraged and do not support the recent presidential proclamation. There is constant effort to increase comfort, building log structures in camp...

GLC03523.23.05

to Stockton Bates

His regiment has been transferred from Cochrane's Brigade to Pratt's Light Division, assigned to skirmish, reconnaissance, and the prevention of guerrilla raids. Their camp is much more comfortable. Wonders how greenbacks are functioning with...

GLC03523.23.06

to Stockton Bates

Describes Burnside's "mud march" and the return to their old camps, where rations are short due to the mud. Praises General Cochrane. While on picket on the Rapppahannok, they had friendly conversation with Rebel soldiers.

GLC03523.23.07

to Stockton Bates

Describes the excitement of mail call. They will soon receive another new general; "if they keep going down the list, I think I shall have a brush at commander-in-chief before the war is over." Hooker is not very popular; they prefer McClellan. He...

GLC03523.23.08

to Stockton Bates

Complains about snow and mud preventing any action. Mentions the conscription bill, necessary only because of the inability of the war to be successful with volunteers. Writes, "The public does not know the true history of this war." Reminisces...

GLC03523.23.09

to Stockton Bates

Has not received mail or news for a while and does not know what is happening. Their location has seen several battles before their arrival, with bullet marks in trees and casings on the ground. Describes a recent raid.

GLC03523.23.17