20 October 1861

Wilkinson, Frederick W., fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amanda Wilkinson and his mother

He has received a letter from his wife's mother that his wife is sick. He is greatly saddened to hear this and hopes she gets better. Wilkinson writes that her life is more precious then his and he wishes he were sick instead of her. Says that they marched with one day's rations and their blankets along the Potomac to Pohick Church. He then writes to his mother asking her to keep him informed of his wife's condition. If she gets worse he will try to return home. Hopes that his mother and her friends will take good care of his wife.

GLC03523.13.022

9 November 1861

Wilkinson, Frederick W., fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amanda Wilkinson

Written from Camp Richardson. Is glad to hear that she is feeling better. Suggests that she sends someone to get her state papers for her so she can recover. Writes that his sister, Wink, is doing well and that he will write her and his mother tomorrow. Writes that they are all awaiting naval exhibitions. There was a hoax that Fort Smythe had been retaken. Says that he will not be promoted to Lieutenant but his time will come soon. Will hopefully come during the winter if there is no change in the situation. Does not like the new Captain.

GLC03523.13.023

24 November 1861

Wilkinson, Frederick W., fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amanda Wilkinson

Writes that he is unwell but not unwell enough to prevent him from doing his duties. He says that there were about 10,000 infantry and cavalry along with 120 pieces of cannon. He thinks that he will be unable to come home this month but will try to come home in January and stay as long as possible.

GLC03523.13.025

3 December 1861

Wilkinson, Frederick W., fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Dugen Ely

Written at the camp of the Michigan 2nd Regiment. Writes to Dugen Ely that he is now a noncommissioned officer. States that he is fighting for his country, risking his life and all that he has in service of it. But he is sorry that he has placed his wife in such an "unpleasant" situation.

GLC03523.13.026

3 December 1861

Wilkinson, Frederick W., fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amanda Wilkinson

Written at Camp of Michigan 2nd Regiment. Sends his wife 33 dollars. Writes that he is upset to hear is wife is so "blue" and not feeling well. Expresses that he will do anything to take care of her.

GLC03523.13.027

17 December 1861

Wilkinson, Frederick W., fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amanda Wilkinson and his mother

Written from Camp Michigan, Virginia. Writes that he is much better then when he last wrote. The regiment has been working on building log hovels as their tents do not keep out the cold. States that they will most likely not campaign again until the spring. Thinks he will be able to return home sometimes in January, around the time his wife will give birth. Hopes that they have a boy as their first child. Writes to his mother that he knows she is doing her best to keep his wife healthy and comfortable. Explains that if he dies he would like his wife to be taken care of.

GLC03523.13.028

1 January 1862

Wilkinson, Frederick W., fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amanda Wilkinson

Written at Camp Michigan, Virginia. It is the first full year in which he can call her his wife. He is not sad that he has to send his money home. Notes that the other men spend most of their money and do not send it home. States that some of the married men do not show as much affection in their letters to their wives as he does. Writes that he needs his furlough signed and then he will hopefully be able to come home.

GLC03523.13.030

6 January 1862

Wilkinson, Frederick W., fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amanda Wilkinson

Written at Camp Michigan, Virginia. Writes that he is pleased his wife returned his letter so affectionately. Tells her that it is fine if she thinks him "foolish" for writing a love letter to her. Went to visit his friend at the hospital (he was shot in the face after Pohick Church was lost to the rebels on New Year's Day). Is unsure of the status of his furlough and unsure if he will be coming home. He says that this is also the case with many of the men and their furloughs.

GLC03523.13.031

13 January 1862

Wilkinson, Frederick W., fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amanda Wilkinson

Is excited to write that he is in Detroit, Michigan and much closer to her. He adds that he has been ordered to Port Huron, Michigan and will return either the last day of this week or the first of next week. Writes in a post-script that if she needs him to send him a telegraph.

GLC03523.13.032

31 January 1862

Wilkinson, Frederick W., fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amanda Wilkinson

Notes that they have not had any movements recently. Attended a dance for the benefit of the soldiers. States that his mother and all of his friends were glad to see him and that he is doing well. The baby cried all night and he barely got any sleep. The baby also looks a lot like its mother.

GLC03523.13.033

11 February 1862

Wilkinson, Frederick W., fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amanda Wilkinson

Reports that he is back from Port Huron, Michigan. He says he will try to come home soon. Likes Lexington, Michigan very much but cannot stay here without her. Asks that she look after his sister and her new baby.

GLC03523.13.034

19 February 1862

Wilkinson, Frederick W., fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amanda Wilkinson

After he returns from Port Huron, Michigan he learns that he will be staying in Lexington, Michigan for a period of time and suggests that she should come up and be with him. Warns her that if she does come her mother will not be there to take care of their young baby. Gives her directions to get to Lexington.

GLC03523.13.035

24 February 1862

Wilkinson, Frederick W., fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amanda Wilkinson

Sends her eight dollars. Says if the journey is too much to do in one night she should take her time. Also asks her to bring his boots.

GLC03523.13.036

26 February 1862

Wilkinson, Frederick W., fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amanda Wilkinson

Has returned from Port Huron, Michigan and is saddened to hear that their baby is not doing well. He includes some money as well. Writes that she should come visit him if she is able.

GLC03523.13.037

12 December 1864

Dahlgren, John Adolphus Bernard, 1809-1870

Autograph document signed

Title: to Gideon Welles

Telegram as commander of the South-Atlantic Squadron, to Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles, providing the first news from Sherman's army that the march to the sea had been successful: "I have just received a communication from Gen. Sherman's Army. It is a few miles from Savannah and in fine spirits. A dispatch is forwarded with this…. I shall bring all my available force into connection with the Army." Dahlgren learned the news by courier from Gen. O.O. Howard and immediately forwarded the crucial information to the government in Washington.

GLC09330

27 August 1782

Eustis, William, 1753-1825

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Vose

Hospital surgeon to Vose, requesting an orderly to attend to some wounded men from his regiment. On the verso of the Eustis letter is glued an invitation from General Washington, dated Aug. 12, to bring six officers of his regiment to dinner.

GLC09338.06

May 1863-April 1865

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Header Record

Title: [Collection of George C. Clapp] [word processed inventory available] [Decimalized .001- .124]

This collection is a series of letters and other items from Private George C. Clapp. Private Clapp was born in Northampton, Massachusetts. He was mustered into G Company of the 37th Massachusetts Infantry on July 15, 1862 when he was a 23-year-old bookbinder. The regiment then journeyed to Washington D.C. and became part of the Army of the Potomac. As part of the Army of the Potomac, Clapp saw battle at Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and Spotsylvania. On September 19, 1864, Clapp was severely wounded in the shoulder in Winchester, Virginia. He was officially discharged for his wounds on April…

GLC09355

1861-1863

Dunn, Thomas, fl. 1861-1863

Diary

Title: [Diary of Thomas Dunn]

Diary of a soldier in the 25th Ohio Regiment, with wonderful content on the campaigns and battles of the eastern theater, such as Second Bull Run (1862): "August the 31st. the roads was just lined with ambulances and coaches from Washington city they came after the wounded." Dunn's diary ends on April 20, 1863, just before the Battle of Chancellorsville. He sent it home to his mother with instructions, "please mother to keep this Book for me until I get home." He died a little over two months later at the Battle of Gettysburg.

GLC09356

19 March 1879

Porter, Fitz-John, 1822-1901

Pamphlet signed

Title: Report of the Board of Officers in the Case of Fitz-John Porter...

"Report of the Board of Officers in the Case of Fitz-John Porter, Late Major-General of Volunteers" published by the Army and Navy Gazette. Annuls Porter's 1863 court-martial and restores his position of major general. Includes transcriptions of communications between Porter and General Pope before the 2nd Battle of Bull Run, after which Porter was arrested for actions that Pope said led to the Union defeat.

GLC09312

1862-1864

Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891

Manuscript document

Title: [Union orderly book]

Union orderly book primarily from the Atlanta Campaign of 1864, with orders from various army and regimental officers, including General Sherman: "Special Orders No. 62" [issued by Sherman, near September 3, 1864]: "The Genl. Commanding announces with great pleasure, that our troops under Maj. Genl. Slocum occupied Atlanta yesterday at 11 oclock AM. The enemy having evacuated the night before, destroying vast magazines and stores, and blowing up along their route eighty car loads of ammunition which accounts for sounds heard by us on the night of the 1st inst. Your task has been well done."

GLC09313

July 1862

Broadside

Title: News by Telegraph

Includes the New York Herald's reports of McClellan's battles in the Peninsular Campaign; summarizes the news recently received from Europe; reports on "The Colored Race in Illinois" concerning the denial of "negroes" the right to vote in Illinois.

GLC09314

1862-1865

Boston, John W., fl. 1862-1865

Header Record

Title: [Collection of Union private John W. Boston] [Decimalized .01- .52]

52 articulate letters of Union Pvt. John W. Boston, Company A, 81st Ohio Volunteers, between October 1862 and July 1865. Describes fighting in Sherman's Atlanta Campaign at Corinth and Resaca; also describes the March to the Sea. "[Camp Limy 10/13/62] I would love to come home and see you all before I go to Dixie for when we leave we will soon be in an engagement and in danger but we have to stand our chances with the rest but I go not for the money but for our Government and if I die I die a soldier and not a coward we are to be armed and equipped for the 81 Regiment and I expect to be…

GLC09315

21 September 1862

Fales, Charles L., fl. 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Adelaide Fales

Captured after a Union bayonet charge at Second Bull Run: "...when we charged bayonets and rushed with a yell on to the railroad. The rebels poured the shot with us fast but we drove them away and held the railroad....They shot some men after they surrendered. I expected to get killed one fellow rushed up to me with his bayonet and asked me if I wanted to die, I told him I did not care. He with several others marched me off."

GLC09316

1862-1865

Tinker, S.F., fl. 1862-1865

Diary

Title: [3 war-date diaries]

Union engineer or bridge-builder's three war-date diaries, describing work done from Harper's Ferry to the Atlanta Campaign: "Had the pleasure of seeing Uncle Abe and riding on a special train with him down Sandy Hook to Harpers Ferry. McClellan was here also, Burnside and quite a number of other officers.…I was in the little fort which John Brown held in his possession for 48 hours against the combined forces of Virginia and it is only a little brick building with iron doors, they are now selling hides in it."

GLC09317

21 November 1863

Thomas, Lorenzo, 1804-1875

Document signed

Title: to R.L. Wilson

As Brig. General and Adj. General, to R. L. Wilson: "...You are hereby informed that the President of the United States has appointed you First Lieutenant in the Seventh Regiment Louisiana Volunteers of African Descent."

GLC09318