20 January 1863

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria Damuth

Damuth's company is moving to Helena, Arkansas aboard a Union steamer called the Moderator. The 29th Wisconsin meets up with the 28th, and Damuth sends news of friends. Sitting on deck, he sees over thirty steam boats and two ironclads sailing for war. In St. Charles, the men find the remains of trenches and Damuth reflects that he and all the rest of his regiment probably would have been killed if the Rebels had not deserted the camp. Near Devil's Bluff, Arkansas, there is a brief fight with some fleeing Rebels, who have dragged their cannons to the railroad tracks in an escape attempt…

GLC03523.14.09

22 January 1863

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria Damuth

Camped about 25 miles below Helena, Arkansas. Writes that St. Charles has been set on fire. Has arrived in Helena and repeats the prediction that his regiment will head towards Vicksburg.

GLC03523.14.10

30 January 1863

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria Damuth

Receives a package, containing socks and a photograph, from Maria. Describes the effectiveness of an officer and friend who is well-liked for his attentiveness towards his men, especially sick soldiers. Mentions that Colonel Gill has promised all the soldiers they will be home by Christmas. Writes that "the South is most ruined now and will be intirely [sic] if this goes on an other year." Thinks that the Southerners are eager for the war to end. Writes that Grant has gone to Vicksburg and predicts that they will not have to go after all, for which he is grateful - "I am not so ambitious…

GLC03523.14.11

6 February 1863

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 who does the cooking - "a good fellow but is an exception to his race." Complains about division in the North between Republicans and pacifist Democrats.

GLC03523.14.12

18 February 1863

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria Damuth

Damuth and another soldier have been caring for Jesse, who is ill. Many of the men in the regiment are in the hospital. Many soldiers are eager to get discharges and complain about their lack of importance in the war. Discusses hierarchy of officers.

GLC03523.14.13

3 March 1863

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

9 March 1863

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria Damuth

Writes that the regiment is still in Helena, although General Benjamin Prentiss has encouraged the men to be ready to march at any time. The Lieutenant Colonel of the 29th, whom Damuth accuses of thinking "more of the Rebels than he did of his own men," has left and Damuth writes that morale among the soldiers has increased dramatically. Tells an anecdote about Colonel Gill. Describes a trip to visit Jesse's grave in an old Southern graveyard and writes that it "will likely be the last time I shall ever visit his last resting place."

GLC03523.14.15

17 March 1863

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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." Says that any Democrat who speaks or writes to him will be purposefully trying to insult him. Takes pride in enlisting and opines, "thear can be but two parties engaged in it [the war] Patriots & Trators." More of the men are dying of typhoid fever.

GLC03523.14.16

20 March 1863

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria Damuth

Reports that more of their friends from home have died. Complains that men are enlisted with "no respect to persons they will kill the strong as well as the weak." Describes some officers in the camp.

GLC03523.14.17

25 March 1863

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria Damuth

Describes springtime in Arkansas. The Wisconsin soldiers are nervous about the summer weather. Writes that Helena has been attacked "but it is all news to us we dident know any thing about it." Prisoners have been brought into the camp. Tells his sister that the government is "going to arm negros to send north to whip the Copper heads." Confesses that the men usually rest when they are supposed to be at drill.

GLC03523.14.18

4 April 1863

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria Damuth

Discusses the hurt feelings of a friend and Democrat from back home. Mentions that there is not "much drunkenness down here" since "Gen Prentiss is a temperance man." Asks for packages with items like dried fruit, silk handkerchiefs and cayenne pepper.

GLC03523.14.19

9 April 1863

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria Damuth

Writes that the 29th Wisconsin plans to leave Helena tomorrow. Writes again on the 10 April as the 29th Wisconsin and 2nd Ohio Battery start out. Damuth is still uncertain of their destination. Mentions that his four months pay should be coming soon. Has considered joining one of the regiments of black soldiers.

GLC03523.14.20

11 April 1863

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria Damuth

Written on board the steamer Charles Bowen. The regiment is heading toward Youngs Point, "oposit Vicksburgh." It is Damuth's birthday, he is twenty-four years old. Has been recommended by his colonel and General McGinnis for possible organizer of a "negro Regt." The pay is better, an obvious incentive for Damuth. He has just been paid $20 and sends half of it home.

GLC03523.14.21

15 April 1863

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [John Damuth]

Writes that the soldiers have camped in an old plantation. Describes Louisiana as "the most beautiful place I ever saw such fruit trees all kinds." Plans to send a rose "that grew away down South in Dixie." Of the coming fighting, Damuth writes that the soldiers are eager to begin and "when you hear that Vixburgh is taken and the 29th was in the fight…you ought to be proud." The camp ground is 25 miles above Vicksburg.

GLC03523.14.22

28 April 1863

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John and Joan Damuth

Writes that the 29th Wisconsin left its plantation campground, and has been on the march since. In the woods, they find evidence of rebel building projects and bridges. Damuth and a group of men go out to fix up the roads ahead. Describes their meals on the march. All men have been ordered to carry 100 rounds of cartridges and the camp doctors are preparing their field instruments. There is general excitement and Damuth describes the soldiers behaving "as if they were going to a place of amusement." Written from "40 miles below Vicksburg, Louisiana."

GLC03523.14.23

9 May 1863

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria Damuth

The 29th are still on the march. Curtis has taken a party of men to Grand Gulph to guard a train if provisions. There is little food among the marching men, who have been reduced to killing stolen animals and eating dried corn - "when a felow gets up in the morning with nothing to eat but popcorn it will make him think of his mothers cupboard."

GLC03523.14.24

19 May 1863

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents Brothers & Sisters

Writes quickly to tell his family that he has survived "another hard fought Battle." Lists the many soldiers from his company who have been killed. His division has lost a total of 1,300 men. The battle was fought on 16 May and the men have stayed to bury the dead. Postscript from 20 May locates Damuth "on Black River by the Rail Road Bridge."

GLC03523.14.25

29 May 1863

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria Damuth

Writes of promotions among the men after the battle of Champion Hill. His own feelings on promotion are strong: "I am more ambitious to see this war end so that I can get home once more than I am to get an office." Damuth is the only sergeant left fit for duty in his company. Has allotted $12 of his monthly pay to be sent home for his family. Confides that "I have $28 in my britches now and the reason is that thear is nothing to buy." Many "relics of the Battle field" have been sent to Wisconsin and Damuth urges his family to go and view them. Predicts that no men will be lost in…

GLC03523.14.26

9 June 1863

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria Damuth

Has just learned that it is Sunday, and writes that "I never have seen a day since I have been South that realy seemed like our old fashion Sundays that we used to have up north." Has been suffering from dysentery. Describes what it is like to be a sharp shooter, watching "Rebels sticking thear heads up over thear rifle pits then we would give it to them." The men have built a "Bullet proof" shanty from rails and bark. Adjusting well to battle, Damuth writes that he barely notices the sound of cannon and shoots at the Rebels as easily as he used to attend drill. Speculates on life after…

GLC03523.14.27

20 June 1863

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria Damuth

Writes to thanks his sister for a package she has sent him, "I think more of the handkerchief than any thing." Describes the evening before when, on picket, "we could here the rebels sing Methodist hyms I think they are all like devils very pious when they get in a dangerous place." Gives details of a bombardment of Rebel lines in the morning. A new general is coming to replace McClernand, since he "done some thing the day they made the charge that dident suit Grant." Their new general is named Orff. Opines that Northern Democrats have been patriotic "onely to save thear own cowardly…

GLC03523.14.28

24 June 1863

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Damuth

Describes the daily routine of the soldiers, who "sharp shoot day times and stand picket and dig rifle pits nights." Some men are about to attempt to infiltrate a nearby Rebel fort. The life of the soldiers laying siege to Vicksburg is filled with constant strain, and Damuth describes being woken in the middle of the night to stand guard in the pouring rain. Complains of the alarm, "I wish we could get out of this place for a little while so we could pul our pants off at night I have not had mine off in almost three months." Sends home a half-filled canteen he took off a Rebel soldier at…

GLC03523.14.29

2 July 1863

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria Damuth

Complains of boils all over his legs. Firing on Rebel lines continues and "yesterday our men blew up another of thear Forts." Rails against Democrats as traitors and tells his sister not to spend any money at stores owned by Wisconsin Democrats. Damuth has become orderly sergeant, and his pay been raised to $20 a month. Describes the problem soldiers have with "grey backs," or body lice, even in the cleanest camps.

GLC03523.14.30

3 July 1863

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria Damuth

Rebels are flying flags of truce and Grant has declared "that the surrender must be unconditionly and compleat." Describes "a friendly chat" between Union and Rebel soldiers, taking place as they stood in their picket lines.

GLC03523.14.31

5 July 1863

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria Damuth

Writes about the surrender of Vicksburg the day before: "you could see white flags on all of thear works it was the happyest 4th of July I ever saw." Is going on an expedition to Black River. Describes the defeated Rebels scavenging for food. The Union troops give them "all we can spare."

GLC03523.14.32

20 August 1863

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria Damuth

Damuth's regiment has moved from Natchez, Mississippi, to New Orleans, where "we have a good cool breeze right off the Salt water." Describes the trip down the river. Some deserters are left off the boat at Port Hudson and Damuth proclaims, "I had rather be a soldier in the rebel army than a deserter from ours." The men also pass Baton Rouge. In Carlton, Damuth and a friend breakfast on oysters and beer. There are peddlers everywhere selling cheap goods to the soldiers. Damuth is eager to explore New Orleans.

GLC03523.14.33