14 August 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Received his valise with all of his things in it. "Very glad" to see Joe. Did not send a letter back with him. Had a "pretty rough time" with dysentery and diarrhea from the time we left Baltimore… but now I am first rate." "Did not look well" before, but looks better now. Does not want a new cap. Thinks they will be at this camp a long time. Wishes his father had sent him more money. Asks for $12-15 more. Written at Fort Hamilton

GLC09355.015

16 August 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

This letter came with a note saying it was dated 1863/08/16 but came in an envelope from 1863/10/07. Most of the soldiers are at church, so he has time to write. Very quiet around the fort today. Did not go to church because he did not have his uniform and did not want to be dressed poorly in church. Camp is "flooded with ladies. Most of them are from home come to see their relatives in the 37th." It is "quite warm" in New York City. Often takes a salt water bath in New York Harbor in the morning. Thinks he will have "a chance to come home after the Draft has taken place." The draft starts…

GLC09355.016

8 September 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Has not written to them for some time and therefore feels obligated to do so. No news to write about; "it is about the same routine of duties every day." Does not know where they will be going next or when they will be doing so. Is "about ready to go back" to Virginia again. Does not like the structure of military life in Fort Hamilton. "My health is good as ever." Is eating very well. Has gotten some oysters from the harbor and has access to all sorts of meat and vegetables. "I can't tell the reason why but there are no signs of any furloughs being given as yet." People in the field are…

GLC09355.018

21 September 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Returned to the camp "unmolested;" no one gave him any trouble. Spoke to captain Hayden about the charges against him, and Hayden "says he will make it all right. Of course I must be punished but he might make it as easy as possible for me." His company is not with its regiment but is instead stationed in the city itself. Bliss did not have a chance to arrest him because he turned himself in. Does not know what his punishment will be. Managed to get onto a train in Springfield and eventually made it back into the city. Stayed with Uncle William one night. His wife is in Boston now and is…

GLC09355.019

27 September 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

It is the eighth day of his confinement. There are 12 other soldiers there "for company." Has a 20 foot by 50 foot guarded space to stay in. Has "nothing but bread and water" to eat. "We managed to smuggle in most anything we want to eat." Luke Day, a friend of his, lets him help himself to whatever he needs from the cook house. Captain Hayden saw him a few days ago to inform him that he would have a court martial in a day or two. Looks like "it will come out all well minus a few months pay and a little while longer under arrest." Hayden says that he "has not got a man in his own company he…

GLC09355.020

4 October 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Is still under guard. Has waited for a letter from them for a week but has not heard from them. Met with the colonel who asked them a few questions including how long they had been locked up for. Not sure if he will receive a court martial at all. "If Captain Moody was here… things would be straightened out pretty quick." Three people left the guard house last night. "We shall never see them again." Got a letter from Sid, who is sympathetic to the situation. Knows that he would have just gotten a furlough if he had been in the field. Has put a picture for an album in the envelope with this…

GLC09355.021

7 October 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Received their letter yesterday. Still at the guard house but thinks he will be released soon. Is punished "by carrying a log." The lieutenant colonel was too busy "attending to his own private pleasures" to attend a court martial, so the colonel took it upon himself to give them some sort of punishment. It was a "splendid sight for the New Yorkers." Managed to carry a small stick. William Bridge arrived at the guard house two nights ago. He deserted and reenlisted to receive the $300 bonus as a substitute, but was recognized by members of his regiment. Thinks that "cutthroats" like him…

GLC09355.022

11 October 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Received their letter from the quartermaster last night. Some rumors that they were leaving soon. Had a good visit and "am contented now." Saw George Wright yesterday. Did not have a chance to ask him what he had heard about what was going to happen to him. "I do not think I can help the case now." Does not expect to ever look young again; is growing old daily. Thanks them for the stamps, but cannot write any more today.

GLC09355.023

18 October 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Once again has gone into the field. In camp about 100 rods away from the 10th Massachusetts. Joined the brigade this morning after leaving New York City on Wednesday. Just saw Sid and the rest of his regiment. Engine on their train broke down, demonstrating "our usual good luck." In the front line of battle. "I don't think we shall have a fight here although we can't tell" for sure. Was taken out of the guard house the morning they left New York, and was "ordered to report to my company which I did and am with them now." Presumes he has finished that ordeal.

GLC09355.024

29 October 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Received two letters from them, one on the 20th and one on the 23rd. Has been on the march ever since he was at Centerville, so he has not had time to write. Marched 15 miles to Gainesville and then to New Baltimore. Later received orders to march to 5 miles to Warrenton that night. Since arriving, "we have laid out no less than 5 camps and moved again from one to the other." Town center is "in plain sight from our camp." There are 50,000 troops in the area. Does not know where the Confederate troops are. On account of the damage Lee's army did to the railroad during the Gettysburg Campaign…

GLC09355.025

1861-1865 circa

Blackman, Francis G., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Blackman and his sister Ruth

Brief note to his mother and sister. Not dated. "Signed Francis G. Blackman, Washington D.C., Company K 7 Reg CV." Written in pencil.

GLC02159.20

February 27, 1862

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Written at Camp Pierpont to his wife. Writes that the whole division is preparing to move, and "where we are to go, we do not know, or any person else i suppose excep [sic] Genl McClellan..." Post script is written in pencil.

GLC02155.037

February 27, 1863

Armstrong, George E., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his mother and Charley

Written from "Camp Parapet," located in Shrewsbury, Louisiana, near New Orleans. Addressed to his mother and brother Charley.

GLC02157.10

11 November [1861]

Blackman, Francis G., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Blackman

Writes to his mother. "...I never knew what it was to go hungy till I come here...I was on the sick list when we got here but I shouldered my gun and marched with the Regiment...we have had one meal of bull soup, we slept in the sand 3 nights all I had to eat in 30 hours was 1/2 pint of rice." "...10 guns boats but we did not get but one of the boats...the Rebel's genarl was kild and then the rest run and flung their things away...we did at Bull Run..." No year on letter.

GLC02159.01

February 7, 1864

Blackman, Francis G., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ruth J. Sheldon

Writes that the weather is pleasant but that they cannot enjoy it because the rebels are moving about.

GLC02159.13

24 April [1865]

Blackman, Francis G., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Blackman

Writes to his mother about the war being just about over. "...the Jonnes [Johnnies] keep coming in hear every day ...pitch on them and kill some and drive them of if it wasnt for the soldiers bing hear the Jonnes would not stand much chance..." Mentions some Confederate soldiers [Johnnies] that scouts apprehended. 100,000 dollars was found on one and 5,000 dollars on another. The scouts killed him. On stationary of the U.S. Christian Commission.

GLC02159.19

1804-1889 [bulk 1810-1827]

Header Record

Title: Aaron Hobart Collection [Decimalized .01-.04.445]

Includes letters and documents that span Hobart's entire career, from the time that he was a law student, a lawyer, a representative, and, finally, a judge. The documents shed light on both Hobart's personal and political lives. The bulk of the collection is made up of correspondence to and from Hobart's family, his friends, and his legal and political colleagues such as fellow Brown graduate and Massachusetts representative Zabdiel Sampson and Secretary of State John Quincy Adams. The correspondence touches on a range of topics, including social and health matters, business and financial…

GLC06313

February 16, 1863

Ekings, Thomas, fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Ogden

Writes from camp near "White Oak Chapel." Thanks Ogden for the sword and belt she sent him. Writes, "Father sent a letter when the Sword started but it has not reached me yet-probably it contained the list of names." Informs Ogden the men have been doing drills and parades, weather permitting. The rain is causing the road conditions to worsen. As a result, his company probably will not see action for many weeks. Says the men are in good spirits because they have received two months' pay. States he likes his new General better than his predecessor, [General Ambrose] Burnside. Concludes…

GLC06559.023

February 16, 1864

Keslar, Christopher, fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Ogden

Writes from Camp Rublock that he is looking forward to finishing his service by the 22nd of August. Describes the 8 x 10 foot tent that he has to share with three other men, contrasting it with the comfortable living conditions in the Broad and Cherry Hospital. He then discusses his current tent mates and his life at camp. Includes an embossed seal in the upper left hand corner.

GLC06559.056

February 6, 1864

Richards, Allen J., fl. 1864-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Ogden

Says he has been ordered to guard the Railroad and trains from Alexandria to Brandy Station. Notes that he slept in a tent on the hard ground the first night, and caught a bad cold as a result. Troops are stationed along the road, and they are building block houses at every railroad bridge. States that several of his friends have reenlisted, but he does not have any plans to reenlist because, "3 years is enough." Recounts an instance in which the train broke down on its way to Baltimore, Maryland, and the conductor had to run back to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to get a new engine.…

GLC06559.076

February 16, 1784

Hodgdon, Samuel, 1745-1824

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Bryant

Writes to Bryant that he has been informed by a letter from "Benj Huntingdon" [possibly referring to Benjamin Huntington], addressed to the Superintendent of Finance (Robert Morris), that there are a number of military stores "lying without regard in several places in the State of Connecticut; particularly in Hartford." Instructs Bryant to make immediate inquiry into such stores and move them to Springfield under Bryant's direction. Requests Bryant in "future by every possible Means you will endeavor to prevent any farther applications of this kind in the Vicinity of your charge as they are…

GLC03432.038

February 27, 1863

Thompson, Joseph, fl. 1863-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Ogden

Writes from camp near Potomac Creek. Says he wishes he were back at the hospital. Describes an incident where he fell asleep outside and woke up "snowed under in the morning and almost froze to death." Says he has been reading the Bible every day as Miss [Uell] requested. Apologizes for the poor quality of the picture(s) he sent Ogden.

GLC06559.088

February 26, 1865

Jackson, R.L., fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Ogden

Debates whether to "intrude on the sanctity of her [Carrie's] grief." He plans on mailing the letter, but leaves Ogden to judge whether or not to give it to her.

GLC06559.118

February 6, 1863

Lizzie, fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Ogden

Writes from "Barton." Letter is signed "Lizzie." Notes she received a letter from General Thomas, telling her of small pox in his family. Writes of difficulties with the mail, in which a letter sent for Ogden has evidently been lost. Stresses that Ogden should print the word, "Private," over the seal so that only she will open the letter. Says that John Arnold will be able to pick up his pay from the Pay Master General. Asks about the Broad and Cherry Hospital, wishing that she could be there. Informs Ogden that she will be returning in a few weeks.

GLC06559.121

February 26, 1853

Hazelton, H.L., fl. 1853

Autograph letter signed

Title: to A. B. Baker

Introduces his friend Watson Freeman, who is seeking the appointment of U.S. Marshal of Massachusetts. States "He is a very deserving man, & I am sorry to say is a Democrat; but still there is a redeeming trait - he is a staunch Union man..." Mentions Watson's loyalty as Deputy Sheriff and that he was a candidate in a few elections but lost.

GLC09028.03