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to mother
February 23, 1863
Dewey, Orville S., fl. 1861-1902
He asks her to send some flannel shirts and socks. Soon he will go to Washington and get paid and he will be able to fix things financially.
GLC02161.074
to father
12 April 1863
He gives him detail as to how William died. He says he cannot allow himself to mourn and thinks of his death as a warning.
GLC02161.077
to Norman R. Dewey
13 April 1863
Partially printed. He informs his father of William's death.
GLC02161.078
to [Norman R. Dewey]
21 May 1862
He has just read his his commission. Col. Albergers' Regt. is at Williamsburg with McClellan.
GLC02161.022
to Mary "Mollie" McLean
26 May 1862
McLean, R.J., fl. 1862
GLC02161.024
to [Harriet W. Dewey]
9 June 1862
He has been receiving compliments on his work. They are camped on the battlefield and as he writes the Rebels are throwing shells into their camp.
GLC02161.025
13 June 1862
Some new officers in his company wrote a scathing letter to the paper attacking him. The primary culprit is someone at a country paper. Capt. Alberger and Capt. Cluney recommended him for promotion.
GLC02161.026
16 June 1862
He got a letter from Will who has picket duty. Their sharpshooters killed or wounded every gunner that attempted to use their artillery. There will be no more picketing on their end.
GLC02161.027
There was a cavalry fight described as one of the fiercest. Will was wounded. 31 were killed. Written in Camp Lincoln
GLC02161.028
20 June 1862
He heard that Will was captured at Old Church. He is not that worried and feels he will be released unharmed. He himself is doing well. Written in Camp Lincoln
GLC02161.029
21 June 1862
McLean, William, fl. 1854-1862
Her husband informs her he has been taken prisoner. He assures her, however, that he is very comfortable.
GLC02161.030
23 June 1862
Not only is will a prisioner, but so is the asst. surgeon, so he won't lack for proper medical care. Charles Bidwell had to resign because of poor health. Written in Camp Lincoln
GLC02161.031
8 July 1862
He thinks McClellan could have cut his way through Richmond a month ago. But there would have been drawbacks. The North needs to come down to the South and just fight. But he thinks they are currently outnumbered.
GLC02161.032
11 July 1862
He prefers hand to hand combat instead of getting shelled. He also thinks Will must be a full fledged captain by now.
GLC02161.033
14 July 1862
If anything bad happens, he has arranged it so that she will hear it in a telegram first and not in the paper. He got paid and is sending money home.
GLC02161.034
18 July 1862
Accomodations are not good. They have had no regular meals and anything good is very expensive. He asks her to send fruit and vegetables. There will be a general exchange of prisoners soon and he hopes Will will be among them.
GLC02161.035
20 July 1862
He has news about her husband. His wounds have all healed and he has been moved to the officers' prison. He will most likely be among the first of those exchanged.
GLC02161.036
22 July 1862
He requests photos of mother and father. He is also enclosing a sketch from an illustrated newspaper depicting the cavalry battle that Will fought in. Not included here.
GLC02161.037
23 July 1862
He wants his father to stop working so hard. He should be as comfortable as possible. He warns his father it may be a year before he can visit him.
GLC02161.038
25 July 1862
He sent money to father and told mother to send him some things. Capt. M.went down to Fort Monroe. It is hot and uncomfortable.
GLC02161.039
28 July 1862
He has been working hard in the hot sun. He is looking forward to Will's release. She should go to Michigan to visit an uncle of theirs.
GLC02161.040
30 July 1862
He admonishes her for worrying too much about everything. He says she is too imaginative and envisions the worst about everything.
GLC02161.041
1 August 1862
The Rebels attacked the night before and he describes how the sky lit up because of the flash of the artillery. His theory as to why is that the attack drew their gunboats out, thus allowing the Rebels to follow them.
GLC02161.042
2 August 1862
He is angry because it seems like everyone else has been home at least once if not twice already. He has also been there about five months longer as well.
GLC02161.043
3 August 1862
Lt. Hunt says the paymaster is coming soon. His father says he shouldn't live without too many comforts. He says he doesn't need many.
GLC02161.044
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