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to Annie

has the use of three fingers in his right hand. heard that her father and brother have enlisted. recovering.

GLC09354.12

to parents

Received their letter last night. "It is hot enough to roast a nigger alive out here." Everyone has sat down under a row of pine or cedar trees for shade or has created improvised shade with tree branches. It looks "like the town hall when they have...

GLC09355.003

to parents

Has received two letters from them since he last wrote. Has not had time to write because "we have been on a continued move." Has been here for three days, but "expect to move every moment." It is impossible to know where they are going. Is now "a...

GLC09355.007

to parents

Received a letter from home on Saturday. Is frustrated that he has not received what he wanted, but blames it on his experience in the army where he has been trained to obey every order without question or delay. "This kind of life makes a great...

GLC09355.017

to parents

Received a letter from them last night. Generally, when they mail a letter on a Monday, it arrives on a Thursday. Is happy to read their letters no matter how long they are. Is no longer working for the General Court Martial. The division...

GLC09355.041

to Parents

Will be home 17 months from tomorrow. "God grant that the cloud which now hangs over our nation" will be gone by then. The war is God's punishment. "There was never a more corrupt and sinful government than ours has been" for the past 20 years...

GLC09355.058

to Parents

Received a letter and a package containing tobacco, paper, and envelopes. Was almost out of envelopes, but had enough paper "to last me a month." Hopes he will be able to write a lot during the summer. Now has enough paper to write for the next two...

GLC09355.061

to brothers

"Everyone is waiting expecting to have orders to move almost every day now." Rations have come from Washington "in abundance" to prepare for the march. Anything that cannot be carried has been sent away to Washington. Had gotten word that a dozen or...

GLC09355.062

to Parents

Has not received a letter from them in two weeks. Marched up to Washington. Then went through much of Virginia Maryland over the past two weeks. Now is back only 6 miles from Washington D.C. "The whole trip has not amounted to anything" besides...

GLC09355.080

to Parents

Left Hyattsville the day after he wrote that last letter. Marched to the Monocacy River, then crossed and proceeded 3 miles to their current location. Used a pontoon bridge to cross the Potomac River and go through Harpers Ferry to Bolivar Heights...

GLC09355.083

to Mr. Farmer

George E. Farmer writes to his father that he is in excellent spirits after being present at Confederate General Robert E. Lee's surrender. He discusses the Appomattox Campaign and indicates that he participated in the fighting near Dinwiddie...

GLC00808.01

to Maggie

George E. Farmer gives a day by day account of the movements and engagements of his regiment during the Appomattox campaign. He reports that they left Petersburg on March 29, camped at Dinwiddie Courthouse, and fought a skirmish at Hatcher's Run...

GLC00808.02

to Maggie

George E. Farmer writes that Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston did not surrender as soon as anticipated. He remarks that Union General Philip H. Sheridan's "destroying Angels took the war path again." He states that his regiment marched along...

GLC00808.03

to friends and family

Letter written on Head Quarters Engineer Brigade letterhead. "It is raining which has prevented the moving of the army of the Potomac..."

GLC00919.25.15

to his mother

Written near Fredericksburg. "My love for my country is as strong and ardent to day as it was the day I signed my enlistment papers and so long as there is breath in me I will be true to my country..." Discusses the future of their family farm, does...

GLC00919.25.17

to friends at home

Letter written near Falmouth. He comments on the band playing outside of General Benham's tent "and consequently in front of the tent in which I am writing." Notes that, "Genl Benham believes in having the Regiment togather [sic]..."

GLC00919.25.18

to Albert S. Pratt

"...thear was heavy firing last night an to day up Charleston way..."

GLC01003.03.01

to Albert S. Pratt

Letter written from Head Quarters, 10th Army Corps.

GLC01003.03.02

to Albert S. Pratt and Frank L. Herbie

Letter consists of two pages written to Pratt, and two written to Herbie. Letter written from Head Quarters, 10th Army Corps in pencil. "...the rebs charges down on our rifel [sic] pits yesterday morning after some of the troops had started but did...

GLC01003.03.04

to Albert S. Pratt

Letter written from Head Quarters, 10th Army Corps. "...you wanted to know what my duty was hear well it is to take men coming from hospitals to thear division commanders an take deserters from the rebs to Genl Butlers..."

GLC01003.03.05

to Albert S. Pratt

GLC01003.03.06

to Albert S. Pratt

The bottom portion of page three is missing.

GLC01003.03.07

to Albert S. Pratt

Letter written from Camp, 4th Massachusetts Cavalry. "Saturday is my birth day 27 years old."

GLC01003.03.08

to Garry

Letter written from Camp, 4th Massachusetts Cavalry.

GLC01003.03.09

to Albert S. Pratt

Short note written to his brother, Albert.

GLC01003.03.10

to Albert S. Pratt

Short note written to his brother, Albert.

GLC01003.03.11

to Garry

Consists of a half page from Albert to Garry. "...I am very thankful for your proffered kindness in commissioning me Col. of the 4th Unattached Co. of [M.V.M.] of 'Chelsea City Guards' and I hope to be able to do you a like, or equally acceptable...

GLC01003.03.12

to his wife

Patriotic letterhead.

GLC01013.01

to his wife

GLC01013.02

to his wife

GLC01013.03

to his wife

GLC01013.04

to his wife

Patriotic letterhead.

GLC01013.05

to his wife

Letter written from "Smith Land," Kentucky (likely Smithland, which is near Paducah), though the place name is slightly illegible. Lower third of first page has been torn away. Patriotic letterhead.

GLC01013.06

to his wife

With original cover.

GLC01013.07

to his wife

Written on patriotic stationary.

GLC01013.08

to his wife

Letter written on patriotic stationary from "Shilow pits burg Landing hardin Co tenn," most likely Shiloh and Pittsburg Landing, in Hardin County, Tennessee. Letter written just before the beginning of the Battle of Shiloh.

GLC01013.09

to his wife

Letter written from "pits burg Landing tenn," most likely Pittsburg Landing, in Tennessee. Letter written just after the Battle of Shiloh.

GLC01013.10

to his wife

Top half of third page is missing.

GLC01013.11

to his wife

GLC01013.12

to his wife

GLC01013.13

to his wife

Letter written on patriotic stationary.

GLC01013.14

to his wife

GLC01013.15

to his wife

Lay cites the location as "State of Mississippi Camp near Lagrang," most likely referring to La Grange, Tennessee, where he was previously camped and which is near the Mississippi border.

GLC01013.16

to his wife

Letter written on patriotic stationary from "Camp Davids Mills Miss," most likely in Mississippi.

GLC01013.17

to his wife

Letter written on patriotic stationary from "Davids Mills Miss," most likely in Mississippi.

GLC01013.18

to his wife

Letter written from "Camp Davids Mills Miss," most likely in Mississippi.

GLC01013.19

to his wife

GLC01013.20

to his wife

Letter written from "Black River, Miss," possibly a reference to the Big Black River in Mississippi, which was in the vicinity of Vicksburg. Lay's unit was involved in the siege of Vicksburg; Confederate forces in Vicksburg surrendered on July 4...

GLC01013.21

to his wife

An elaborately cut paper memento addressed to his wife.

GLC01013.22

to Mary Moore Kelly

He describes the surrender of Raleigh and the request for protection from looters. "The men here with few exceptions are anxious to come back into the Union; but as usual the majority of the ladies are rebellious, of course." He is optimistic of...

GLC04195.31