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to Mr. Elijah Holt

He describes his long sickness in detail, starting in Baton Rouge and leading up to his current circumstances.

GLC02744.090

to mother

to mother [Ann Smith] His life at camp is "quiet," and the troops are making their own fun by stealing beer from the sutler's tent. He was surprised when he saw in a paper that Corporal Asa Smith from Indiana was injured, but "was pleased to know...

GLC03696.01

to mother

to mother [Ann Smith] A "spasm" occurred involving an attack on a Union foraging party, causing orders to be prepared to leave. He describes the arrival of troops, arms, and ships, noting those ships from Massachusetts. He tells of a letter he...

GLC03696.02

to father

to father [Ebeniser Smith] the possibility of his regiment moving from Camp Cameron either on that day or the next. He says they will probably move by land, not steamer, but is unsure where they were going. Written at Camp Cameron.

GLC03696.03

to mother

to mother [Ann Smith] He notes the arrival of three regiments, saying that it appears there is going to be a fight and implying that Yorktown will be hurt by the Union's forces. He describes how troops from Delaware caught a Confederate soldier, and...

GLC03696.04

to mother

to mother [Ann Smith] Life in camp is dull. The regiment has a new lieutenant. His company is very good at drilling, and they are practicing under Col. Max Weber from Europe. The brigade practiced firing, and he says "there is music in the whistle...

GLC03696.05

to sister

He writes that he heard southern regiments mutinied by Norfolk when they were not allowed to go to the defense of their states and said they would only fight under "the stars and stripes." A hard-of-hearing Union sergeant was accidentally shot by his...

GLC03696.06

to mother

to mother [Ann Smith] Companies A, C, and D marched to Newport News and saw white flags in house windows and a house on fire. The "great expedition" sailed, and he saw it in the paper and in person. Yesterday [October 30] there was a grand review...

GLC03696.07

to mother

to mother [Ann Smith] He is bored, as "There is nothing stirring here now, it is the dullest time that I have seen since I have been here," and talks about a recent storm and requests a blanket be sent to him. The regiment may soon receive a Sibley...

GLC03696.08

to mother

to mother [Ann Smith] He thanks his mother for the food she sent. His regiment may move forward soon, and he hopes the Pennsylvanian troops are not put on picket duty as they are incompetent: "The soldiers of the 16th fear them more than they do the...

GLC03696.09

to sister

to sister He says there is nothing new to report except the arrival of more troops. One of the soldiers in Company C deserted and will either run to the "secesh camp" or be shot if he returns. He praises Colonel Wyman for his character, saying
"for...

GLC03696.10

to mother

to mother [Ann Smith] The men took up a collection to replace the twenty-three dollars he lost, and he says, "It came unexpected but was welcome and shows a good feeling towards me that pleases me much." He sent fifteen dollars home to avoid losing...

GLC03696.11

to mother

to mother [Ann Smith] He is feeling better now and his shakes are gone. The "mounted rifles" [cavalry] have arrived, and brought a "secesh" with them. Another squad of cavalry had a skirmish with 150 rebels and was overpowered. Eventually the...

GLC03696.12

to mother

to mother [Ann Smith] The regiment has received orders, and will probably soon be moving to Richmond. He was unable to break the bill from home. The Union boys "played some rough games on the ignorant Secesh, in the matter of money," using wrappers...

GLC03696.13

to mother

to mother [Ann Smith] He received a letter from the clerk of Victor, and sends it on to other men. The troops have left Camp Huger and marched to the fairgrounds. He has the shakes. The mayor of the town has given up his keys, and the Union military...

GLC03696.14

to mother

to mother [Ann Smith] The regiment is now under the command of General McClellan. General Wool has stepped down. He says Wool was starting to show his age. They have no orders to go yet, but it seems to be coming soon. Col. [Peirce] is a "disgrace to...

GLC03696.15

to William Jackson

The regiment is in Cairo, IL, on its way to Helena, AK, where Edwin Jackson is happy to be going. He describes a parade they were in, where the regiment's "Silver Band" played and ladies blew them kisses and waved their handkerchiefs. He talks about...

GLC00203.12

to William Jackson

Edwin Jackson writes that the troops are in Arkansas, and he often has to stand guard duty; however, he would much rather be in the South and "run the chance of being shot and killed out and out" than be in Dakota "and be killed by degrees." He tells...

GLC00203.13

to William Jackson

Edwin Jackson writes this letter from a camp hospital, and informs Bill that he has the ague (fever) and had the shakes terribly the night before. His fever is broken, though, and he is not in danger, just weakened by the fever, and wants to return...

GLC00203.14

to William Jackson

Edwin Jackson writes that he is over his fever and is well again. He also recently voted, along with the rest of his regiment. He proudly notes that only 10 or 12 of them voted for "the Traitor Little Mac," so his regiment is a "true Union Regtiment...

GLC00203.15

to William Jackson

Edwin Jackson discusses that the regiment has been moved to St. Louis, a much more hospitable place than the "Grave Yard" of Helena, AK, where two men died from sickness. He thinks the regiment will stay the rest of its enlistment there, and mentions...

GLC00203.16

to William Jackson

Edwin Jackson wishes Bill a happy New Year and talks about how happy and hopeful he is. He remarks that, after his last seven months are up, he will be proud to have been in the army and will be able to look at the cowardly Copperheads with contempt...

GLC00203.17

to William Jackson

Writing from home, he rejoices about having been part of crushing the rebellion in the South. He talks about how happy his father was to see him home again. He mentions that he was in the last battle in Blakely, Alabama, with his trusty Springfield...

GLC00203.18

to Esther Ann Kinney

re: He describes marching through the mud during the Peninsula and Valley campaign in Virginia [Spring 1862]. He describes his location near the revolutionary site of Yorktown on the James River and reports that the "Rebbles are leaving and going...

GLC02162.01

to Esther Ann Kinney

re: Dodge writes to Ann predicting what is going on at home. He writes, "you are setting by the table a sewing Grandmaron is bizy…mom making shugar and uncle James is sleep." He also wishes that he would have had another shirt made before leaving for...

GLC02162.02