20 June 1862

Allen, George D., fl. 1859-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Mayberry

Written to his sister Mary. Aboard the USS "Delaware" about 60 miles from Richmond on the James River. Says they are with the USS "Monitor." Says they have left the company of the "Mosquitoe fleet" and are now with the "ironclads." Says they are eating well: chicken, mutton, veal, cherries, strawberries, plenty of fresh milk. Reports that the enslaved people of a rebel colonel named Cass sold them a young steer they stole from him for 5 dollars. Says he is getting the gout some nights when he goes to bed. Says there are sharpshooters along the banks of the James when they travel up it, but…

GLC02829.06

18 November 1862

Allen, Joseph H., fl. 1859-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Mayberry

Glad to hear that her children are in good health. Says he is not well himself, having caught a heavy cold. Has a rebel prisoner under his charge. The prisoner was taken for burning the clipper ship "Alagany" in Chesapeake Bay. He did not deny it, saying his commanding officer ordered him to do it. The POW said he was worth 26,000 dollars before the war and is now penniless with a sick wife and five small children depending on him. He "wanted to know how it was with the poor people at the North for the poor people at the South were in a very bad Condition[.] he was in hopes the war would…

GLC02829.07

29 May 1863

McIntire, Frank T., fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary and Bill Mayberry

References Mary's letter of 29 April. Also writes to Mary's husband Bill. Returned to Key West after a cruise of 43 days, in which they captured 8 sailing vessels and destroyed one steamer, the "Cuba." Says the loss of the "Cuba" was bad as they were set to receive good prize money for her. Says it is a severe blow to hear of Mather's death "but I have become reconciled to it and believe it all for the best." Tells Bill he likes Philadelphia as well as him, but that it will not be his home again. Is anxious to get home to settle his affairs and be off again. Says he is rushed with 50 letters…

GLC02829.10

20 June 1863

Allen, George D., fl. 1859-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Mayberry

Says he received her letter with his mother's letter about a week ago. Says he waited to write until he finished the clothes and had them shipped by the Express Office. They were made as close to the measurements sent to him as possible. Says she will have to turn up the pant legs as he lost that measurement. Tells her about other possible alterations. Wants her to get Willie's (who he made the clothes for) picture taken and sent to him. Sends greetings to friends and family. Writes after his signature: "Everything is lovely when the mood is slightly elevated." Written while aboard the USS…

GLC02829.11

6 September 1863

McIntire, Frank T., fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Bill Mayberry

Very informal letter. Says he has no doubt she has seen in the papers that his ship has taken several prizes. Says he is "getting rich damn it. [I] got more money than a horse could haul in a year. Without joking I suppose my share will amount to about fifteen thousand dollars at least." Does not know when he will get home. Says "By the way Bill in your last you told me you was going to give that d__d old fool Dupree a thrashing..." Written while aboard the U.S.S "Delaware"

GLC02829.12

4 August 1864

Allen, George D., fl. 1859-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Mayberry

Says he received her letter of the "28th" on 3 August. Is glad their mother's health is better, but sorry to hear that "little Mary" is ill. Sends his love to Will and tells "him to keep out of the Draft as it is bad for young men." Says "I am glad you can make my letters out. I think I can write better after a while as my hand is so heavy. I am trying to learn to read also and Jack is helping me all he can[.] I wish I had of taken it in hand when I first came out." Sends further greetings to family members and closes by saying there is "no news here at present of any account." Postscript…

GLC02829.14

13 August 1864

Allen, William, fl. 1834-1880

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Mayberry

Says heat is bad, but he feels better than he ever has except for loneliness. Says "I have not the least caus[e] to complain only some times when I am off of duty and get to thinking and studying I will get low spirited when thinking of home and friends and the time will get tedious but I have to throw it off[.] you Know my disposition as well as I do[.] I cant Help it sometimes." Received the photographs of Becky and Winfield. In reference to his family says "the longer I am from them the mor[e] I love them[.] I dont think I will be long from them[.] I dont know weithe[r] al men are alike…

GLC02829.15

26 August 1864

Allen, William, fl. 1834-1880

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Will Allen

Writes to his brother Will. Says he got a letter from their other brother George, which says he is well. Is glad that Will is getting along so well "in the Lodge" -- the Masonic Lodge. Says there are many Masons; on the Potomac Flotilla with him and they all seem happier when they meet. Says if he joins the Navy he can get him a position as paymaster steward for the flotilla. Says the pay is 45 dollars/month. Advises him to think about it rather than be drafted. Says he loves children and misses his very much. Goes on to send greetings to other family members. Says their brother Frank has…

GLC02829.16

29 March 1862

Oves, William, fl. 1862-1896

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Seems to have been written during the build up for the Peninsula Campaign. Left New York on Monday last and arrived on Wendesday in Hampton Roads. Says there are many war vessels in the harbor as an expedition is ready to go up the river to Yorktown and other places along the James River. Expects they will go up the river the middle of next week. Reports there were 14 or 15 steamers with 20,000 men in the harbor yesterday. More are on the way. Says there is 115,000 troops in the area. Wanted to see Bill Mayberry of the National Guard, but they were not there yet. References several of the…

GLC02829.17

December 12, 1862

Oves, William, fl. 1862-1896

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his friend

Writes to tell him he is doing well. Knows he owes him "that small some," but that he has not been able to draw his pay due to various circumstances until now. Includes the payment with this letter. Wants him to write to inform him that he received it. Says they will stay at Fortress Monroe for about a week and then will sail for Wilmington, North Carolina and expects to stay there all winter. Asks him not to talk to anyone about the money he borrowed. Says he will see Joseph Allen before he leaves. Letter only dated "Dec 12th," but year inferred from content. Wilmington was not taken by…

GLC02829.18

October 1861

Steadman, Mary C, fl. 1861

Autograph letter signed

Title: A mother to her soldier son

Poem sent to Union solider Asa Smith. This poem was written by Mary C. Stedman, a family friend of the Smiths who wrote the poem at the request of Asa Smith's mother. She references the request in GLC03742.02. In that letter she says: "When you left home I asked Mary Stedman to write a piece of poetry for me to send you, and she has in the enclosed lines described my feelings better than I expected." 4 stanzas on a mother contemplating the death of her son in battle. Begins: "Thou art gone, my son, and a shadow falls / O'er the home of thy childhood joy / And at morn and even a prayer goes…

GLC03742.01

31 October 1861

Smith, Maria, fl. 1861

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Asa Smith

There are four separate notes from various family members to Asa Smith updating him on family and home life. One is from his sister "Maria," one from his sister "Carrie," another from his sister "Mary," and the last is from his mother. Maria's note: references receiving Asa's letter. She says they received a letter from Wallace ( Asa's brother William Wallace Smith) too. Wallace said he was under marching orders and expects to be in a battle soon. Wallace said he has not slept much, but eats well on corn beef, ham, rice, and beans. Says "Mother is fixing some trimming for an apron for me,…

GLC03742.02

24 September 1862

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his wife

Holding themselves in readiness, rumors on Burnside, McClellan. "We have just got news that the president has issued a proclamation freeing all the slaves on the first of January. It may be for the best but stil my hopes (if I had any) of a speedy termination of the war is thereby nocked in head for I know enough of the southern spirit so that I think that they will fight for the institution of slavery even to extermination. I am glad that the enlisting spirit has been felt so generaly through the north for I wish we had army enough to sink the south out of existance in a day. I know that…

GLC04558.044

1 October 1862

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Ordered to act as Sergeant (from Corp.) and arresting two deserters who returned. Reconnaissance balloons report rebels digging rifle pits 10 miles to the south.

GLC04558.045

6 October 1862

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Complains of no letters received, diarrhea, reviewed by Pres. Lincoln, officers resigning, wishes for Sibley tents so he can be warmer. Written on patriotic stationery.

GLC04558.046

9 October 1862

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

five miles from Harpers Ferry. Farm business, complains of food. "I am pretty weak from the diarea I weigh only 136 lbs."

GLC04558.047

14 October 1862

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Soldiers talking about enlisting in regular service for $50 bounty and 40 day furlough but Tillitson says he will stick to his three-year enlistment. "Dont know but I could afford to loose a leg for the sake of going home but it would be rather a dangerous experiment to try here at least, for almost every one of our regiment who have had a leg amputated have since died. But then what could we reasonably expect of wounds that is left without dressing until maggots crawl out of them." News of other soldiers, mentions farms stripped of food and wood by foragers, command of brigade transferred…

GLC04558.048

17 October 1862

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

More diarrhea "about all I eat is parched corn or a little grated meal made into pudding...." asks for money, mentions recruiting by other soldiers, reports battle across the river, troops held in readiness. the letter is continued on October 18th.

GLC04558.049

24 October 1862

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Feeling better, wishing he could help his wife with farm-work, speculating about McClellan's intentions. "...I dont feel as patriotic as I did, Maybe, because I have lost confidence in most of the head officers, for I dont believe they want the war to end, and further, in the way things are going it will never end, by fighting. I am not alone in this opinion, for it is one generally, and openly expressed thoughout the ranks, except, by some of the new troops, who have not forgotten the old home idea, that the South is a going to be scared to death of a presidents proclamation or a call for…

GLC04558.050

30 October 1862

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Marching towards Leesburgh, describes confiscations despite guards, loss of mattress, "Rebels scadaddleing towards Richmond."

GLC04558.051

1 November 1862

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

On premises of Rebel Gen. Wright who is home as paroled prisoner. Expecting battle, mentioning enlisted soldiers.

GLC04558.052

9 November 1862

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Marching. Near the Rappahannock and approaching Fredericksburg. Mentions artillery fighting, and long discussion of stealing from Confederate civilians: "Notwithstanding all the orders to the contrary, we soldiers dont considder [sic] it much sin to take from these secesh all that we can lay our hands on but if the Provost guards get hold of us we get walked up to 'the captains office to settle' for it. Maybe you will think that I am getting tough but I cant help it[.] Yesterday afternoon I went out with three others of Co H foraging and while we were skining a hog the provost general…

GLC04558.053

19 November 1862

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Written in pencil while on guard duty. Marching, Burnsides sending flag of truce to civilians telling them to leave, farm business.

GLC04558.054

23 November 1862

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Rainy weather, rebels hold city, rebel pickets taunting about election, Bull Run and Antietam; Colonel courtmartialed twice for drunkenness but cleared, Colonel and regiment's surgeon trying to get regiment out of battle area, soldiers mutilating themselves to get discharged, Italian soldier bayoneting a fellow Italian, with final note dated 11/24 3 AM regarding marching orders. Signature followed by postscript "The orders to march today is countermanded 5 oclock A.M." The letter is continued on October 24th.

GLC04558.055

28 November 1862

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Interrupted by orders and drills. Reports rebels fortifying heights beyond Fredericksburg, believes they are equal or superior in numbers, re-building the same depot as done last year, comment about blacks riding the railroad while soldier walk, camp moved to higher ground, his opinion of Burnside and belief that other Union generals "will probably work against him." The letter is continued on December 1st.

GLC04558.056