17 April 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Skirmishing, Federal expedition to dislodge snipers, being reinforced, expecting an attack. "We have taken some negro rebel prisoners. One was caught in a tree fireing at our scurmishers, there was a white reb also with him but they killed the white one and captured the black and he he [sic] declared if he was back there he would fight us just as hard again and also that there was fifteen thousand more out there like him, who was just as stout as he, and they would fight just as well so you can see how much the niggers want to fight for their own freedom."

GLC04558.083

19 April 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Trying to cheer his wife, orders and countermanded orders to cross the Nansemond, river rumored to be blocked by Rebs, and joking: "About the broomstick question I plead guilty and believe I oughter [sic] to be broomsticked cause I didnt stay at home... but... I hope you will exercize your supreme clemency and commute it to something less humiliating and more pleaseing [sic]." Postscript on p. 1 notes successful capture of rebel fort on the river.

GLC04558.084

23 April 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Battle letter. Taking the rebel fort (mentioned in #84): "as soon as the boat touched the shore the boys piled off like a flock of sheep and as soon as they got ashore struck a dead run for the fort. Some of the officers asked the officer in command if he wasnt going to form a line and his answer was 'to hell with your line the fort is what we want' and so they strung along every man for himself. They had to run pretty much around the fort on three sides and came in partially in rear on a road.... When the rebels saw them coming they whirled one of the 24 pounder guns around so as to sweep…

GLC04558.085

25 April 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Reports that a federal raid captured 3,000 rebel prisoners. Also says he does not notice the boom of guns anymore. Concludes with his longing to see his children and wife.

GLC04558.086

27 April 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Hot weather. Regiment's officers trying to get regiment mustered-out or to get a furlough. Mentions consolidation of corps and fears of officers. Reports rebels doubling pickets. Concludes with a joke that he might "go under" if he comes in-range of his wife's "kissing battery."

GLC04558.087

29 April 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Rebels "appear ready to siege us out" and reports "Old Stonewall Jackson has sent a flag of truce [to the city] warning the citizens to leave if they didnt want to get hurt." Mentions visiting other NY regiments and describes "a queer kind of battery used" by the rebels, a "large rocket containing a bombshell" which makes no sound when launched "but a mighty whizzing as they go through the air." He says they "would be very destructive only for the difficulty of makeing them go where they want them."

GLC04558.088

2 May 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Picket duty; worries that he might have to cross the river again to take the fort (see #85). Estimates forces on Union side. Written in a camp near Suffolk, Virginia

GLC04558.089

4 May 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Battle letter. Sent into battle as skirmisher, rebel pickets abandon their posts as the Federals advance but the advance is slowed. GT's gun tube bursts. Other regiments drive the rebels off. Speculates that their advance was intended as a probe of the enemy position. Reports rebels evacuated the next day. Written in a camp near Suffolk, Virginia

GLC04558.090

8 May 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Continued May 9. Responding to family news, concerned that Edwin fought at Fredericksburg, comments on sister Louisa's plan to keep a school, escort for deceased officer, has bad cold, news of Hooker. With postscript apologizing for damaging the ambrotype (#207): "...while I was cleaning the glass to your pictures with Tripoli[,] I was careless enough to let the clothe haveing the tripoli on get drawn across the face of the glass that the likenesses were taken on, and Leon's is spoiled and Georgiana's is damaged...."

GLC04558.091

15 May 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Moved camp, picket duty, fishing a lot while on duty; the NY 89th is one of the few regiments to remain; talk of consolidating regiments; mentions rations available. Letter broken-off with orders to strike tents and move. Captain under arrest. Mentions Lt. Col. England.

GLC04558.092

17 May 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Now camping at a fort, mentions guns in forts, describes looking over battlefield where he fought. Comments on home news and jokes that "I might I suppose 'send up a few contraband' to work for you only Uncle Samuel wont let em go so far North." Commenting on Fredericksburg, he writes: "We knew, that that army of the Potomac is an unlucky institution, that it never has gained by one clean victory, and that was done by the Ninth Army Corps, at South Mountain. Still old Hooker last winter expressed himself very much relieved by getting rid of Burnsides Grumblers."

GLC04558.093

22 May 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

"This is an awful lonesome and lazy life to live..." Sultry days and chilly nights; drilling. On receiving a letter from his abolitionist brother-in-law: "...I received a letter from Edwin..... He accuses me of lacking sympathy with the plan and purpose of the war. The purp. I wonder if he think I would have any sympathy with his abolition plan. I answered his letter yesterday and stated my plan, that is, the one I had when I enlisted which was simply to save the Union and put down rebel[l]ion, but still I had to acknowledge that they had got me fighting (though reluctantly) on his plan…

GLC04558.094

2 June 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

A lazy day in which he day-dreams of being home; mentions combating a forest fire; relates farm news from Edwin who was injured and has hired "a couple of negroes;" instructions on sheep; responding to home news.

GLC04558.095

5 June 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Continued on June 6. Camping in the shade and making "artificial shade" with pine and cedar branches; according to letter from relative Matilda, "Nelson was a prisoner in the hands of the rebels;" other news. "As for Marys letter I dont think 'pretty much' of her abolition doctring [sic], she thinks it would be a glorious thing to fight and die for abolition but I dont. It is a sure thing though that I have got to fight for it, and may die for it, but I shall consider the fight a compulsory one, and the death inglorious. Pshaw!" Doubts that there will be much draft resistance; health;…

GLC04558.096

9 June 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Writes of being by-passed for promotion and mentions talk of promotions being bought from the captain whom he describes as "very young... a little under 21 years old,... on the whole rather good looking, but... fopish, showey, conceited, and vain[;] [he] understands tactics and military movements very well... and has a good voice for giveing commands for which the boys all like him...." Mentions that this same captain has been courtmartialed twice for unknown offenses. Asks about news of a family friend at Port Hudson and "Vixburgh." Sends ten dollars.

GLC04558.097

14 June 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Asks her to write and apologizes for brevity; discusses preparations for a dance and picnic, including ladies from Norfolk whom he hopes will be respectable. Claims that "over five hundred" women in Norfolk are "registered as professionally bad" (i.e., prostitutes). Concerning a soldier who drowned trying to swim the river "Sixty rounds of ammunition and the accoutrements of a soldier makes [sic] a bad life preserver." Sends five dollars and wishes she could attend the dance next Wednesday.

GLC04558.098

18 June 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Continued on June 19. Yesterday's festival or dance was attended by 35 ladies "of the showey kind." Teasingly says his "gal" was not there and says he sat-out the dances. Describes dancing platform, etc. Asks about crops and livestock. Mentions Lee's invasion and jocularly advises wife to "grind up your 'old sythes and bush-hooks' to defend yourself." Mentions other men promoted who had "influential friends at home" Sending twenty dollars.

GLC04558.099

22 June 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Writes that they left their camp and all baggage behind; expects to head towards Richmond; mentions seeing Charlie Tillotson. With postscript dated Tuesday morning noting that no marching orders were received.

GLC04558.101

1802

Scott, John B., 1761-1814

Document signed

Title: [Indictment of Absalum in the Easter Plot]

Indictment of Absalum by Scott as Deputy Attorney for the Commonwealth in a court of Oyer and Terminer. Absalum, "a negro man slave of the estate of John Hilyard," is charged with conspiring to create an insurrection and plotting murder on 14 April 1802. "That the said Absalum...did feloniously consult and conspire to make insurrection... And...did feloniously, wickedly & maliciously plot the murder of sundry persons contrary to the act of Assembly intituled 'An Act to reduce into one the several Acts concerning Slaves, free Negroes and Mulattoes, and against the Peace & Dignity of…

GLC06338.01

1802

Scott, John B., 1761-1814

Document signed

Title: [Indictment of Frank in the Easter Plot]

Indictment of Frank by Scott as Deputy Attorney for the Commonwealth in a court of Oyer and Terminer. Frank, "a negro man slave the property of Archer Robertson," is charged with conspiring to create an insurrection and plotting murder on 10 April 1802. "That the said Frank...did feloniously consult and conspire to make insurrection... And...did feloniously, wickedly & maliciously plot the murder of Daniel Purkins...."

GLC06338.02

1802

Scott, John B., 1761-1814

Document signed

Title: [Indictment of Phiby in the Easter Plot]

One document dated 1802. Item is an indictment of Phiby written by John B. Scott, Deputy Attorney for the Commonwealth in a court of Oyer and Terminer. Phiby is identified as Black woman enslaved by Daniel Price. Document details that she has been charged with conspiring to murder Price and to organize an insurrection with other freedpeople, enslaved people and "mulattoes."

GLC06338.03

6 April 1802

Scott, John B., 1761-1814

Document signed

Title: [Indictment of Sancho in the Easter Plot]

One document dated 1802. Item is an indictment of Sancho written by John B. Scott, Deputy Attorney for the Commonwealth in a court of Oyer and Terminer. Sancho is identified as Black man enslaved by John Booker. Document details that he has been charged with conspiring to murder Daniel Dejarnett and to organize an insurrection with other freedpeople, enslaved people and "mulattoes."

GLC06338.04

1802

Scott, John B., 1761-1814

Document signed

Title: [Indictment of Jim in the Easter Plot]

Indictment of Jim by Scott as Deputy Attorney for the Commonwealth in a court of Oyer and Terminer. Jim, "a negro man slave the property of James Booker," is charged with conspiring to create an insurrection and plotting murder on 6 April 1802. "That the said Jim..did feloniously consult and conspire to make insurrection... And...did feloniously, wickedly & maliciously plot the death of James Booker...."

GLC06338.05

1802

Scott, John B., 1761-1814

Document signed

Title: [Indictment of Abram in the Easter Plot]

Indictment of Abram by Scott as Deputy Attorney for the Commonwealth in a court of Oyer and Terminer. Abram, "a negro man slave the property of William Smith," is charged with conspiring to create an insurrection and plotting murder on [7 ?] March 1802. "That the said Abram..did feloniously and wickedly consult advise and conspire to make insurrection... And...did wickedly maliciously & feloniously plot the murder of his said master Wm Smith...."

GLC06338.06

18 April 1802

Spragins, Mel, fl. 1802-1819

Document signed

Title: [Warrant to the Halifax County jailer to hold three slaves convicted of participating in the Easter Plot]

Spragins orders the Halifax County jail keeper to receive into custody "the body of" Absolam, belonging to John Hillard (in GLC 6336.01 "Absalum" belonging to John "Hilyard"), Bob, belonging to Peter Barksdale, and Martin, belonging to Henry Bass. Docket indicates this is a mittimus (a type of warrant). Spragins was a justice of the peace. "...charged and convicted before me with consulting and conspireing to rebel and make insurrection and you the said Jailor are hereby required to...them safely keep till they shall be thence discharged by due course of Law."

GLC06338.07