6 June 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Requests that his sister tell their father to do what he thinks is best with the money that he sent home. Writes that he should be able to send more money after the fall of Vicksburg, Mississippi. Speaks of a friend being well and as fat as a pig. Mentions that he is also still fat but does not know how much he weighs. Comments that the plums are ripe right now and the peaches are almost ready. Writes that it is very warm there and that it barely rains now. Reports that they are digging rifle pits and making forts. Says that some of the rifle pits are close enough to the enemy where…

GLC03523.32.15

21 June 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Writes to his sister. Discusses how a man named Erving A. Porter died. Writes that Erving got up at 3:00 am as usual to get a drink and then went back to bed and never woke up again. His bunk mate found him lying still in the morning with his hand crossed over his breast. Believes that he must have died peacefully. Sends his sympathies to Mrs. Porter. Request that she tell Mash that he must stick it out in his place for if he left nobody would have anything to do with him. Has an embossed seal in the upper corner.

GLC03523.32.16

11 July 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Writes to his sister. Reports that they entered Vicksburg, Mississippi on July 4th. Describes conquering and entering Vicksburg, Mississippi as being the most glorious fourth he ever had. Reports that 30 to 40 thousand men surrendered and were taken prisoner. Remarks on the layout of Vicksburg, Mississippi and says that is made up of nothing but gulfs and levies. Comments that they are now busy fortifying and performing guard duty. Notes that they have to be on guard duty every other day and sometimes daily. Writes of a man named Burnsam being a scamp and wishes that he would have to…

GLC03523.32.17

20 July 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Writes to his sister. Describes the beauty of Natchez, Mississippi. Notes that it is situated on a high bluff and that it is the main part of the town. Comments, "I thought that lake Providence louisanna [sic] was the gratest place for white Niggars in the whole world but i was mistaken for this place beats it all to piecies their is some of them that you can not tell from whites [sic]." Mentions that they have all kinds of vegetables like green corn, watermelons, muskmelons, potatoes, cucumbers, and peaches. Writes that they have been there for a week and have "lived on the fat of the…

GLC03523.32.18

28 July 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Writes to his sister. Comments on how happy he and the boys were to learn of General John Pemberton's surrender. Discusses various people and news from back home. Mentions that he is on duty every other day.

GLC03523.32.19

7 August 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Informs his sister that there is no reason why he should not share his letters from her with the other boys. Comments that the information given is sure to leak out somehow anyway and that it is only fair that he shares his letters because the men share their letters with him. Says that if there is anything really bad in the letters that he will tear them up. Reports that they recently went on a foraging exhibition by steamboat. Comments that they went to one plantation and made the "Negroes" help load the boat with corn and cattle. Request that she sends him some stamps.

GLC03523.32.20

18 December 1864

G.F.H., fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Reeser

Comments that he just returned from a meeting in Chandlersburg, [Pennsylvania] where they sang and had a prayer meeting. Tells Mary which girls went home with whom from the meeting. Describes eavesdropping on a conversation that he heard on his way back from the meeting. Writes of General George Meade stopping for the winter. Mentions that there will be a donation held at a gentleman's house next Wednesday.

GLC03523.43.21

6 January 1865

Howe, Nathan, fl. 1864-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Reeser

Informs Reeser that he received the money, stamps, boots, and gloves that were sent to him but has not received the tobacco. Writes of a man named Polk being in the hospital. Speaks of this "god dam war," General [William T.] Sherman, and other "felows." Wishes Reeser well and ask him to write back.

GLC03523.43.22

19 February 1865

Edwards, Daniel, fl. 1863-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Reeser

Complains how long it takes Reeser to answer his letters. Writes about burying a man at the hospital. Says that there was "a old ded horse laying close beside me and the smell of him would kill rats." Tells of a conversation that he had with his friend, William M. Hampton, about introducing him to some women. He gave Hampton an address to a young woman named Caty Brown. Says that William wrote "a gay old Letter" to Caty. Caty wrote a letter back in care of Daniel and when he read it he "laft til I was sure thare was a valentine in it it was a old woman with one eye punched out the…

GLC03523.43.23

2 March 1865

Hulslander, George, fl. 1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Reeser

Says that he is in good health and has enough to eat and a good place to sleep. Writes of the barracks being over crowded and more men piling in. Says nothing has taken place for a few days, however, a group of men may be sent out this afternoon. Speaks of the dreams he has of home and of "Mate." Tells of waking up the other day laughing over something he and "Mate" had been doing in his dream. Reminisces of home and wishes that the war was over. Writes of when they can all return to their homes and " this rebelin wiped out never to return again for as shure as this last I shall stay if…

GLC03523.43.24

5 April 1865

Hulslander, George, fl. 1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Writes to his sister from Camp Biddle. Complains that he has only received one letter from her. Comments that he received a "kind" letter from Edwin yesterday but none from her. Writes that their tent is comfortable and that they have a flower in it. Wishes her well and ask that she writes him back. Letter is damaged causing minor text loss.

GLC03523.43.25

circa March 28, 1865

Rexford, H. E., fl. 1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Reeser

Thanks him for his letter and comments that he doesn't always receive them. Says that the railroad has been very bad lately and that they cannot receive any mail from them. Reports that he cannot go into town unless he takes a guard with him and that there is a 12 foot fence around the camp. Says that if he doesn't stop writing now he will miss roll call and will be sent to the guard house. Letter is damaged causing minor text loss. Envelope is addressed to John Reeser; however, as the letter is addressed to a "Mate," it is possible that the envelope does not belong to this letter.…

GLC03523.43.26

circa November 3, 1865

Penn, Willey, fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Reeser

Writes that he will be coming up next Wednesday after he votes. Says that, "I will kill one Coperhead vote before I leave the City." Reports that the copperheads had a meeting last Saturday where several men were kicked and killed. On White Horse Hotel stationary. Letter dated 3 November but no year listed.

GLC03523.43.27

circa 1861-1865

Object

Title: [Civil war era belt]

Black leather belt with faded striped red and gold overlay. The belt has a heavy rectangular metal buckle with an eagle emblem and "E PLURIBUS UNUM." Fragile. Leather rotting and cracking in places. Fabric is slightly deteriorated.

GLC03523.43.28

circa 1861-1865

Object

Title: [Civil war era suspenders]

Black leather suspender with faded striped red and gold overlay. The suspender has gold toned hardware on it. Fragile. Leather rotting and cracking in places. Fabric is slightly deteriorated.

GLC03523.43.29

11 July 1861

Phelps, Diton, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his father

Writes to his father from Camp Curtain. Says that they received marching orders to leave tomorrow morning. Says that they might go to Chambersburg, Pennsylvania but it is not for certain. The Captain said that they might be in the hottest part of the battle and the boys are delighted at the prospect. Reports of receiving their arms which are "old rusty muskets that our four fathers used in the Revolution." Describes mailing his and the boys' clothes back home. They mailed them by express but did not pay freight because they didn't know the cost. Tells his father to divide the freight…

GLC03523.49.02

July 14, 1861

Phelps, Diton, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

Writes to his sister from Camp Biddle. Reports that the camp is empty except for a few picket guards placed to guard the railroad. Comments that they are surrounded by secessionists who are armed. Says that the pickets are shot at almost every night and a bullet grazed a guard's arm last night. Reports that the Massachusetts regiment shot two men that were tearing up the track. Writes about their tents leaking when they first arrived and having to sleep upon their blankets on the ground. Says that they have 15 tents, six men to a tent. Describes how three of their men went into town…

GLC03523.49.03

7 December 1861

Phelps, Diton, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edith M. Phelps

Writes to his sister from Camp Pierpont. Reports of his crew going on a "foraging" and returning with 102 loads of corn and 20 loads of oats and hay. Describes having a good turkey dinner for Thanksgiving. A man named Bill Waldron purchased a turkey for 50 cents and had it baked. Writes of Bill Waldron having things sent to him, requests that his parents send him six to ten pounds of butter and some chickens with Bill's stuff for Christmas. Says that butter is worth 30 cents where he is at. Reports having his picture taken in full uniform and looking very military. Written on "6th…

GLC03523.49.05

29 December 1861

Phelps, Diton, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his father and his sister, Edith M. Phelps

Writes to his father and sister from Camp Pierpont. Says that he received his letter and the cheese that his mother sent. Mentions having very cold weather for this part of the country. Says that they only have boards, no furs, in their tents to lie upon and that some of the boys have dug cellars two feet deep in their tents. Writes of there not being a fence in sight; they have all been cut down and used for fire wood. Reports that the surgeon says that it will be a year before Captain Daniel Bradbury is able to take charge of the camp again. Says that the Captain and his wife are…

GLC03523.49.06

January 19, 1862

Phelps, Diton, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edith M. Phelps

Writes to his sister from Camp Pierpont. Speaks of a friend named John choosing to "serve god." Comments that he is fond of Professor Waldon and believes him to be a "clever honest fellow." Says that they recently purchased a stove that smokes a lot and built a "Shebang" out of logs. Reports that some of the boys have been court marshaled and that he has been subpoenaed to testify. Describes there being hard feelings between some of the boys from Athens and Smithfield. Mentions that Captain Daniel Bradbury just lays abed swearing about his leg. Says that the Captain, "uses the most…

GLC03523.49.07

February 15, 1862

Phelps, Diton, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Don

Writes from Camp Pierpont. Wants Don to visit and see what camp life is like. Tells of the different kinds of societies that exist in camp. Inside the tents he states that there is usually gambling and card playing, even amongst the officers and with those who are under arrest. Discusses the Lieutenant Forrest trial. Says that some of the charges against him were sustained; however, they [the army?] were not satisfied and have brought more charges against him. The first court-marshal resulted in a reprimand from General George McCall. The Lieutenant was found guilty of using…

GLC03523.49.09

1 July 1862

Phelps, Diton, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Writes that they have been heading up the James River since last Saturday. Reports that the rebels broke through General George McClellan's right and came upon them. They did not have enough force to defend that point and were ordered to leave. They torched what they could not carry and escaped to the boats right before the rebels fell upon them. Writes that it will now take them three to four days to make it to Richmond, Virginia because the rebels got between them and the main body of the army. They have to go down the York River, into the Chesapeake Bay, and up the James River.…

GLC03523.49.10

23 November 1862

Phelps, Diton, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his mother

Writes about the preacher at camp. Comments that he is a good man but is not very smart. Says that he went to the preacher last night and was given a prayer book. States that he reads a chapter in the testament out loud every night before retiring. Reports that Captain Daniel Bradbury is to be court marshaled tomorrow for leaving his post while on picket duty. He has heard that the Captain might have to hand in his resignation. Assures his mother that she does not need to worry about him wasting his money on liquor, as he has never spent a cent on it in his life. Describes an older…

GLC03523.49.11

circa 12 September 1861-1864

Phelps, Diton, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edith M. Phelps

Writes to sister from Rappahannock Station. Comments about it being so dry that it is difficult to get water. Says that there is a spring nearby but there is hardly enough water to supply the regiment. Says that he misses home and looks forward to his service expiring. Talks about how there will be rejoicing among the soldiers when it happens but hopes the rebellion will be over by that time; he saw the beginning and would like to see the end. Writes of an engagement between his father and another man. It was stated that his father did not keep his flank protected or his reserve in…

GLC03523.49.12

27-28 September 1863

Phelps, Diton, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

Writes to his sister from Culpepper Station. Talks about the boys making fun of a man named Greenleaf who recently arrived in camp. Comments that he likes Greenleaf and finds him an "honest fellow." Tells his sister that she is foolish for thinking of marrying at such a young age. Writes, "Money is not what we should look at in selecting a partner for life. You are foolish girl for thinking of marrying or being engaged so young you had not right to think of it for seven or eight years. You have not fairly got your cloaks off yet."

GLC03523.49.13