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to Horatio G. Wright

Discussing the poor health of a "promising...young officer" and possibility of "another such terrible epidemic" as had recently hit the men.

GLC03499

to John S. and Abby Goold

Writes to his parents about the different letters that he has received. Tells them, "I have destroyed all my old letters - burned them up. I had so many that they were in the way. I shall burn all that receive hereafter, as soon as I answer them." He...

GLC03523.05.12

to Sephronia Fairchild

Fairchild writes to his wife Sephronia from Fort Corcoran in Arlington, Virginia. Reports he is ill with fever and dizziness and has little appetite. Says he will be home by 1 October 1865. Comments that his regiment is the last to muster out and...

GLC03523.06.14

to Sophia Henry

Henry writes to his mother from the U.S. General Hospital in Brattleboro. Reports that he has had chronic diarrhea for three weeks and left his regiment on 29 July 1863. Expects to return to his regiment within two to three weeks. Comments there is...

GLC03523.07.18

to Angeline Henry

Henry writes to his sister from a camp outside Brandy Station, Virginia. Comments on the radical changes in weather. Reports that the army has been reorganized and his corps is a third larger. Expects Union General Ulysses S. Grant to take command...

GLC03523.07.25

to Sophia Henry

Henry writes to his mother from camp on the Weldon Railroad. Reports brother George is in the hospital with bronchitis. Comments on the high number of deserters. Informs three will be hung. Anticipates being paid in four weeks and will send 90...

GLC03523.07.32

to [William Grier Maitland] [incomplete]

Informs brother, from Fort Pickering, that three men from his regiment died last night from illness. Reports that there is news of "guerillas" burning a steamboat a few miles outside of Memphis, speculating that everyone was taken prisoner. Tells him...

GLC03523.10.060

Joseph M. Maitland

Writes from Camp Reynolds in Pennsylvania. States his company is getting so small they may consolidate with another company in the regiment. Hopes they will winter in Camp Reynolds. Expresses concern about small pox in his hometown. Mentions a letter...

GLC03523.10.139

to Joseph M. Maitland

Addresses the letter "Dear Cousin Jo's." Reports there are a few cases of small pox in the neighborhood. Replies to his inquiry about Bell, "I think she is a real good girl and knows how to do any kind of work, she will make a good wife..." Reports...

GLC03523.10.146

to Bell Wharton

Complains about the lack of letters from home, "...I thought I was forgotten by them at home and you too." Says he doesn't like the tone of her recent letter, "...your speaking of the love you had for me you said it in such a light way, that there...

GLC03523.10.150

to Joseph M. Maitland

Addresses letter "Dear Friend Joseph." Reports on the growth of his pets. Informs Joseph that Joseph's brother Grier has four nice sheep. Says a neighbor died of consumption. Letter appears to be written by a very young boy.

GLC03523.10.160

to Joseph M. Maitland

Letter addressed "My Dearest Joe." Expresses pleasure at receiving his letters. Complains news is scarce and it is difficult to write two letters a week with anything interesting to say. Reports she attended a "sing" at the Baptist Church. Informs a...

GLC03523.10.168

to Bell Wharton

Joseph writes to "Dear Darling Bell." Comments how fast her letter reached him, "...not three days on the road...." Proclaims his love for her and imagines her lips. Says he received three other letters from friends and relatives and relays their...

GLC03523.10.171

to Joseph M. Maitland

Letter addressed "Dear Brother." Informs of his travels as a minister and his attempts at "conversions." Writes in great detail about his horses and their health. Reports his family has the whooping cough. Letter has repeated bleeding.

GLC03523.10.202

to Joseph Maitland [incomplete]

Written to Joseph M. Maitland from cousin Kate Cherry. Expects to come down with the measles soon. Reports she will reluctantly begin training as a school teacher as it "...is the only way at present to obtain any money." Says she will board in a...

GLC03523.10.247

to [Elhanan Mast]

Reports on many children dying of dysentery. Says the weather has been dry all summer an the corn crop will be short. Comments the political situation is unsettled, with much name-calling and disagreement about the war. Gives him an objective...

GLC03523.10.254

to Mary M. Bogart

Reports to his wife that his camp is quite sickly as the "measles have made their apearence." Writes that he has sent his pay, which is 25 dollars, minus "two and a few cents," which he kept for himself because "a man can't live here without some...

GLC03523.11.10

to Mary M. Bogart and children

Writes to wife and children reporting that he is doing well, albeit disenchanted with the war. Tells them that James, possibly a neighbor or friend from home, is sick with dysentery. Reports that there are many other new recruits from Masonville that...

GLC03523.11.27

to Mary M. Bogart [incomplete]

Writes to wife updating her on James, possibly a neighbor or friend from home, who is still sick. Asks that she write him more letters. Inquires how all the widows are getting on and tells her that "misary loves company and you must comfort each...

GLC03523.11.28

to Maria Damuth

Worried that his sister is sick with diphtheria. Many of the men in camp are sick, and the first man in Damuth's company has died. Damuth's friend Jesse has been vaccinated for small pox and complains of feeling unwell. Comments on a black servant...

GLC03523.14.12

to Maria and John Damuth

Three reports of Jesse Smith's death of typhoid fever and measles, all written out by Damuth. One is for the town newspaper, the other two for Damuth's siblings.

GLC03523.14.14

to John Damuth

Writes to his brother with little war news. Asks John if he is a member of the Democratic Club and warns him that "I would shoot my own brother as soon as I would a snake if I should see him in the ranks of such a Good forsaken set of trators."...

GLC03523.14.16

to Maria Damuth

Writes to his sister that he has been taking quinine to keep away "the ague." Thinks that the change of water has made the regiment sick, "when we were here a year a go last winter the water made a great many of the boys sick." The men are building...

GLC03523.14.70

to Sarah Knox

Knox writes to his wife from camp outside Petersburg, Virginia. Complains about the lack of letters from her. Expresses anxiety about her well-being. Suspects the siege has not begun yet. States he is not kept busy enough, and they cannot get the...

GLC03523.20.14

to Sarah Knox

Knox writes to his wife from Spring Hill, Virginia. Worries about her lack of letters and wonders if her health is compromised. Expresses desire to "...enjoy each others society again..." Mentions he will be exempt from any future drafts unlike "...

GLC03523.20.15

to Henry F. McSherry

Letter is faded with water damage and mold. Written by Anna to her brother Henry in the U.S. Navy. Henry seems to have contracted malaria. Says through the tone of his letter she assumes his health is better. Asks if he has taken the quinine. Says...

GLC03523.21.10

to Henry F. McSherry

Signed and initialled by Reifsuyder, who was previously the clerk to Captain Donaldson of the USS "Sciota," the ship where McSherry was the assistant surgeon. Asks for his pardon in not writing sooner, but was "totally unable" to respond until now...

GLC03523.21.17

to Henry F. McSherry

Written by Anna to her brother Henry. Says there has been hot weather lately and that their father is in good health. Says he has not answered whether he would like to take advantage of an investment opportunity in a house in Baltimore for 200...

GLC03523.21.59

to Henry F. McSherry

Says he is sorry the accompanying articles (not included here) were not sent yesterday. Sends a recipe for an unknown substance consisting of: 9 pounds of flax seed meal and 1 ounce quinine. Date of creation and place written from docket.

GLC03523.21.65

to Nan [Maury]

He has inflammatory rheumatism and hopes to recover enough to come home so she can nurse him. Received the letters to be forwarded to her aunt, noting that all blockade letters are inspected and Mrs. E's letter may be rejected because of it's length...

GLC04572.18

to Sally Ker

Updates his sister in Greenville, Mississippi about the condition of their brother who was suffering from a fever but is now recovering. Describes his medical treatments including taking tincture of bark and being rubbed with mercurial ointment....

GLC04601.08

to Nathaniel Wordin

Describes the area where he lives in Mississippi as a clearing in the middle of an immense forest with a few houses and about 1600 inhabitants, half of them slaves. Reports that they have a Methodist and a Presbyterian church and a temperance...

GLC04601.13

1864 Diary

In this diary, dated from January through November, 1864, Henry Cook documents life in the US Signal Corps. Stationed near New Bern, NC, Cook writes of matters of daily life--meals, rations, guard duty, trips to town, construction projects--and of...

GLC03958.03

to Elizabeth Smith and children

The army is still in the same location and is in a state of suspense concerning what will happen next. General Burnside announced a Grand Review which was canceled due to rain. One man in the regiment contracted small pox. The doctors isolated him...

GLC04189.23

[Collection of G. W. Buntly, A company, 41st regiment, Tennessee, infantry] [Decimalized .01-.11]

The George W. Buntly collection of Civil War correspondence is primarily composed of letters written by Confederate infantryman Buntly to his brothers, William and Jacob. For most of the war both brothers are located in Lincoln County, Tennessee, but...

GLC04190

to William Buntly

Discusses fighting at Vicksburg and smallpox in his regiment.

GLC04190.03

to Jacob Buntly

Predicts a battle soon at Port Hudson, Louisiana. Mentions smallpox.

GLC04190.04

to Mary Moore Kelly

He has received a letter from Hyde about his investment with the Tolland County Bank in Connecticut. They have passed through the season without a yellow fever epidemic. The dismissal of the Surgeon General may affect his own orders. Dr. William A...

GLC04195.20

to Mary Moore Kelly

A cholera epidemic has hit the soldiers and has kept him busy in the hospital. He remarks about their brother Robert and his poor condition since remaining in the South to practice medicine, marry, etc. Written on letterhead for the Headquarters...

GLC04195.43

to James R. Kelly

She does not like the idea of him boarding with "secesh" women and warms him that Southern women are the sort who would "put a stricknin[e] in something for seasoning." She heard General Joseph J. Reynolds resigned and may be replaced with Rosecrans...

GLC04197.11

to Benjamin A. Woolston

As a delegate of the U. S. Christian Commission, Drew writes to B. A. Woolston, the father of Charles Woolston, a soldier in the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, to inform him that is son is very sick with fever. On stationary of the U.S. Christian Commission.

GLC03523.26.11

to Maria Woolston

Writes to his wife about their son, Charles Woolston, a soldier sick with tyhoid fever in the hospital whom he went to go visit. States that Charles is still very sick but he believes he will pull through and hopes to bring him home. Says he is...

GLC03523.26.12

to Maria Woolston

Writes to his wife about their son, Charles Woolston, a soldier sick with typhoid fever in the hospital whom he went to go visit. Reports that the doctor thinks Charles will be out of danger in two days but now he is very delirious. States he has...

GLC03523.26.13

to Maria Woolston

Writes to his wife about their son, Charles Woolston, a soldier sick with typhoid fever in the hospital whom he went to go visit. Writes that Charles is a little better and the doctor feels he will be rational in two or three days. Says that he is...

GLC03523.26.14

to Maria Woolston

Writes to his wife about their son, Charles Woolston, a soldier sick with typhoid fever in the hospital whom he went to go visit. States Charles seems a bit better. He went to Charles' company to get his descriptive list in order to get him...

GLC03523.26.15

to Maria Woolston

Writes to his wife about their son, Charles Woolston, a soldier sick with typhoid fever in the hospital whom he went to go visit. Reports that Charles is about the same. He is anxious to return home but does not know when that will be. Asks her to...

GLC03523.26.16

to Maria Woolston

Writes to his wife about their son, Charles Woolston, a soldier sick with typhoid fever in the hospital whom he went to go visit. Informs that Charley is about the same, still very sick but the doctor thinks he will pull through. Received a letter...

GLC03523.26.17

to Maria Woolston

Writes to his wife about their son, Charles Woolston, a soldier sick with typhoid fever in the hospital whom he went to go visit. Informs that Charles is very sick with a cold and is very weak but he still has hope that he will pull through. Asks...

GLC03523.26.18

to Maria Woolston

Writes to his wife about their son, Charles Woolston, a soldier sick with typhoid fever in the hospital whom he went to go visit. Reports that Charles has just died. Discusses how he will get him home to Bucks County, Pennsylvania to be buried.

GLC03523.26.19

[Death certificate of Charles Woolston]

Certifies that Woolston of the 3rd regiment, Pennsylvania Cavalry, age 18, died of bronchitis and typhoid fever. Signed by the surgeon.

GLC03523.26.20

Dear Cousin

Condolence letter for the death of Charles Woolston, a soldier in the 3rd regiment, Pennsylvania Cavalry who died of bronchitis and typhoid fever on 11 June 1865. Possibly written to Maria Woolston, Charles' mother. Expresses her sorrow at his...

GLC03523.26.21

to Mary (Wright) Kellogg

Blanchard writes to Mary Wright from a hospital in Mound City, Illinois. Reports he has been sick with fever for six weeks. Says the hospital is three stories high and capable of treating 6000 patients. Comments that war "...tries men's souls."...

GLC03523.31.10

to Isora Sayles

Informs his sister about the condition of a friend of theirs named Spencer. Writes that the last time he saw Spencer was back at the junction in the hospital and that he heard that he was really sick. Notes that a gentleman told him that Spencer...

GLC03523.32.04

to Isora Sayles

Informs his sister about the men in camp. Writes of one man who is really sick in the hospital and of another who had "yelow janders" [yellow jaundice?]. Comments that several of the boys have had it. Describes his camp as being low and flat and...

GLC03523.32.06

to Isora Sayles

Writes to his sister from a camp two miles outside of Memphis, Tennessee. Mentions having some hard marches since they have been there. Comments that they have marched some 200 miles. Thanks her or his father (he does not know which one) for...

GLC03523.32.07

to Isora Skinkle

Informs her of Emma's wedding. Discusses the wedding and all the festivities around the wedding. Describes her ordeal with typhoid fever. Writes that she was bed ridden for the first three years and so sick that every day everyone expected her to...

GLC03523.32.43

to her brother

A letter signed by Hem [?] and Cal is included with 03523.42.53. Describes the day as very cold and rainy. Writes about what the animals are doing. She states that her family is doing well and that James has visited his uncle Nathan, who was sick and...

GLC03523.42.53

to her brother

Apologizes for not having written in such a long time. They hope that no harms comes to him during the what seems to be the last days of the war. She knows that he is looking forward to coming home. Hopes that there will be no more lives lost as it...

GLC03523.42.58

to Hannah E. Russell

Informs wife that he is not well, says he has a bad cold and dysentery. Comments that he was able to march everyday carrying his gun while sick but could not carry his knapsack. The doctor had it carried in his wagon. Writes that he does not have...

GLC03523.50.08

to Hannah E. Russell

Letter is signed by Russell but written in the hand of John Vangordon, a fellow patient in the hospital. Informs his wife that he is too weak to write. Reports that he intended to go to Nashville, Tennessee but the doctor said that he was diseased...

GLC03523.50.13

to Hannah E. Russell

Written by a nurse who cared for E. S. Russell at the Hospital. Informs Mrs. Russell that her husband, E. S. Russell, is very sick. Writes, "his case is almost a hopeless one...he cant live but a very few houres [sic] i wish you could be here and...

GLC03523.50.14

to Hannah E. Russell

Informs his wife that he is not doing any better and believes that his time is near. States that he is submitting to God's will. Writes, "my prayer is that God may be good to you & my dear children. Put your trust in him & he will be a friend to...

GLC03523.50.15

to Hannah E. Russell

Informs Mrs. Russell that her husband, E. S. Russell, passed away last night. Describes him as having suffered greatly his last few days but when he finally passed away it was easy. Believes that he "is now in the full enjoyment of that rest which...

GLC03523.50.16

[religious verse] [in German]

Appears to be a prayer. Throughout the document the Trinity and Mary are called upon. There is a passage at the end of the document that is written in English. "A true & approbiate [sic] fever knowledge that whosoever has this letter in his house...

GLC03523.50.19

[religious verse]

Appears to be a verse from the Bible or a prayer. "swelling swelling. I command in the Name of Jesus Christ that the N N so little injure Than our lord Jesus Christ the three Nails injured When the Jews drove them through his hands & feet +++ the...

GLC03523.50.20

[recipe]

A recipe that calls for alcohol, cyanne, lobella seed, turpentine, and gum camphor.

GLC03523.50.23

to A. P. Kessler

Writes to his father from Camp Douglas. Informs him not to send him boots. Reports two cases of smallpox in camp. Notes all soldiers are to be vaccinated. Comments if it spreads to the rebel prisoners it will take them clean. Reports one...

GLC03523.52.21

to Elizabeth N. Kessler

Writes to his sister from Camp Douglas. Reports a few cases of smallpox and measles in camp. Comments he will not be able to take a furlough in two weeks. Notes that he and the boys are hoping to spend the winter at home. Warns another gentleman...

GLC03523.52.22

to A. P. Kessler

Writes to his father from Camp Douglas. Informs him that he has been sick for a week with dysentery. Notes most of the camp has it. Discusses the President's message that allows prisoners to keep their property if they take an oath of allegiance....

GLC03523.52.26

to brother and sister

Writes to his brother and sister. Reports a lot of sickness and cases of smallpox. Describes attending three cases of small pox in one house. Comments that the whole town has been exposed to it and expects more cases. The letter has a watermark...

GLC03523.52.39

to his friends

Writes to his friends from Camp Douglas. Discusses the weather. Describes how green everything is in Maryland. Complains about another soldier exaggerating his sickness to get a discharge. Comments the other soldier should have been discharged a...

GLC03523.52.41

to Elizabeth N. Kessler

Writes to his sister from camp. Reports on the sickness back home and in camp. Writes, "we have 8 or 9 kinds of lice five or six kinds of [each] put these altogether would make it rather sickly…" Notes she should not fret too much about the...

GLC03523.52.42

to his friends

Writes to his friends from Camp Blue Springs. Reports a couple of cases of smallpox in camp. Comments on the copperheads and how he would have liked to confront them while on furlough back home. Discusses new recruits in camp. The letter has a...

GLC03523.52.52

to Elizabeth N. Kessler

Writes to his sister. Complains about having to wash his clothes in cold water. Comments he does not care how he looks or what he wears; however, she would find him dirty and ragged. Describes being sick with a bad case of dysentery. Notes he has...

GLC03523.52.58

to William T. Sherman

This letter is a draft copy of Philomen Ewing's final letter, GLC03601.06, as it contain crossouts. The text differs slightly. Ewing Consoles Sherman on the loss of his son. "He lived long enough to attain all that is of real value in human life -...

GLC03601.05

to William T. Sherman

This letter is the final copy of Philomen Ewing's letter to Sherman consoling him on the death of his son William. GLC03601.05 is a draft copy of the letter. The text differs slightly. Sherman's son, William T. Sherman, died in Memphis on 3 October...

GLC03601.06

to his family

Describes being immunized and his ill reaction. Also mentions the food he has eaten and the trouble with his nervous horse, "the Governor." Comments on the equipment provided to the Connecticut soldiers in comparison to that of other states.

GLC03603.028

to his family

Writes that he has been in Norfolk and Portsmouth on business for the regiment. Notes that Sam Foss was ill with cholic and that Alfred Goddard knew how to treat it.

GLC03603.262

to Weir

Mentions that Weir had gout. Weir had sent West a letter relaying a gloomy political scene in the North, and West responds saying "having passed the largest part of my life afloat, I am not much of a judge of the political feelings of people at home...

GLC03836.54

to Rufus Lincoln

Saw Lincoln's daughter, who brought a letter from Lincoln in response to Hewson's of 4 July 1815. Glad that Lincoln enjoyed his last letter. Expresses joy that Lincoln might come to visit. Tells him his wife died on 30 September 1815 after a nine...

GLC03849.03

to Rufus Lincoln

Claims to be suffering from severe influenza and that he might die soon. Hopes they can meet in heaven.

GLC03849.07

to: Drazilla Churchill.

Churchill explains that he is sick with "disinterry," as are most of the soldiers in his camp, and twice asks his mother to do what she can to bring him home. He divulges that "the boys don't find it as they expected," and that rations are only...

GLC03859.01

to: Drazilla Churchill.

Churchill learned in his mother's last letter that his brother is missing, and now offers encouragement that he will be found alive. He reveals that "disease is making sad havoc with us at present….[i]n fact I am more afraid of disease than I am of...

GLC03859.02

to mother

The enlistments of many men of the 100th have expired, but the government will not muster them out until 1/9. He is angry that someone told his family there was a yellow fever epidemic at Bermuda Hundred; there had not been one case yet.

GLC04662.083

to mother

Does not think his family needs to worry about an outbreak of small pox near their house. He thinks his vaccination kept him from getting the disease, even though he was in the company of small pox victims on several occasions. He has been delayed...

GLC04662.118

to his family

Writes from camp Bermuda that he would like to re-enlist for a period of time less than three years but that it seems impossible. He is not angry with the service or the mission but rather with the regimental management. He writes that many lives...

GLC03603.312

General Orders 1345

The order states that Major General David B. Birney has died of a disease contracted in the field. The order recounts Birney's achievements.

GLC03603.328

to Thomas Pinckney

The letter talks about the yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia, negotiations with the Northwest Indians, Citizen Genet, Lafayette, and copper and silver metals for coinage. The federal government moved from Philadelphia to Germantown because of a...

GLC03730

to Jasper Yeates

Discusses the recent arrival of a chief justice who lives near the Schuylkill River (near Philadelphia). Mentions an upcoming jury held for a judgment pertaining to Miss [Prius?]. Discusses possibly moving a trial or meeting to Lancaster...

GLC03769.003

[notarized document certifying the annexed account of Andrew Llowell]

mentions money owed to Watson Myers Co.

GLC03769.004

to Gales and Seaton

Requests copies from Gales and Seaton, government printers, of some documents of the last session of the House. Informs that he is anxious to see the report of the Secretary of War [Joel Roberts Poinsett] "in answer to a call for information from...

GLC02467.03

to John Armstrong

Reports the appointment of Nicholas Fitzsimons as the keeper of the hospital on Province Island (also called State Island). Bryan had been a member of the Stamp Act Congress. Armstrong was secretary of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania.

GLC02503.05

to James Dundas

Of his schedule, he writes that for a time he was "going every other days to Windsor, sitting up all Night, hurrying home the next, & struggling to keep my usual business." He does not state exactly what he was doing, but does remark that "I fancy...

GLC02549.44

to sister

mentions he has joined a society in college. also speaks of wanting to improve his letter writing.

GLC02618.001

to sister

mentions a cousin who was recently wounded and may lose his hand

GLC02618.002

to Ma

Stafford describes a prayer meeting.

GLC02618.003

to sister

talks about sophomore year and roommate troubles

GLC02618.004

to sister

complains that he receives hardly any letters, talks about war in general

GLC02618.005

to father

talks about the war spirit and the company that they started at school "Ogletree Guards."

GLC02618.006

to sisters

describes initial days as a soldier, camping grounds, food, the company

GLC02618.007