2 December 1861

Blackman, Francis G., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his friend Bennett

"...plenty of cotton here and sweet potatoes, peanuts, oringes, rice, Niggers, rattlesnakes coper heads glass snake mocins and another cind about 18 feet long...alligators..." "...the Rebel's boats fired 2 or 3 round and run up the creek...Rebels fought well but their guns was ranged too high..." "... the stars and stripes was floating over the R Battery and we was the first regiment that went ashore. We went in the fort...came to a plantation and found plenty of knapsacks ...100 or more knapsacks in the woods..." "...we asked the Niggers whair thar masters was and they said lord Jesus…

GLC02159.02

14 September 1862

Blackman, Francis G., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Blackman

Writes to his mother. States James's (his brother's) regiment went by but he did not get to see him. Tells her to direct letters to Fort McHenry, Baltimore, MD, 18th regiment [CV]. Written in pencil.

GLC02159.03

17 September 1862

Blackman, James A., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Blackman

Writes to his mother. Speaks of the heavy load they have to carry; knapsacks, water, their guns and rounds. Stationary of the Headquarters 7th reg. R.I. Vol., Col. Z.R. Bliss. With an image of the United States Capital. Written in pencil.

GLC02159.04

circa December 1861

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Written at Camp Pierpont to his wife. Dated "Decr" (year inferred from content). Notes that their camp is ten miles from Washington, D.C. Discusses the possibility that Lile will visit him at camp.

GLC02155.031

25 October 1863

Blackman, Francis G., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Blackman

Writes to his mother. "...had a rite smart battle here ...prisons had no arms so they sent them away out of danger..." Describes the hard time they had getting to Martinsburg. Mentions going through New London, Washington, Baltimore, Harpers Ferry and finally Martinsburg. "...and put us in prison...put us on board a transport with 700 conscrips..." Written in pencil.

GLC02159.11

7 October 1864

Blackman, Francis G., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Blackman

Writes to his father. States he is in General Rite's [Horatio Gouverneur Wright?] brigade and mentions General George McClellan. They are sailing for North Carolina soon and expect a battle as there is a large Confederate force there.

GLC02159.16

1861-1865 circa

Blackman, Francis G., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Blackman and his sister Ruth

Brief note to his mother and sister. Not dated. "Signed Francis G. Blackman, Washington D.C., Company K 7 Reg CV." Written in pencil.

GLC02159.20

26 October 1861

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Written at Camp Pierpont to his wife. Discusses camp life, including the cook, shaving habits of the men, and lack of supplies. Mentions Brigadier General [John F.] Reynolds. Assures her that he burns her letters after reading them.

GLC02155.013

31 October 1861

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Written at Camp Pierpont to his wife. Reports that his regiment, the Pennsylvania 1st Reserve, received "first honor" at a recent inspection.

GLC02155.014

3 November 1861

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Written at Camp Pierpont to his wife. Describes the funeral procession for a fallen soldier from his regiment.

GLC02155.015

7 November 1861

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Written at Camp Pierpont to his wife. Complains of having a cold. Writes, "...i do not know what they intend to do with us this winter But i think they intend to fight it through... in a few days we are to be Reviewed By Genl McClellan there will be 40 thousand troops together if that Review comes off that will Be a sight that would make old G...burg open her eyes" (ellipses were included by the author).

GLC02155.016

11 November 1861

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Written at Camp Pierpont to his wife. Discusses tearing down houses for the wood: "...at first Dear Lile i was opposed to destroying Property But now i think i perfectly Right, let the traitors feel to the full extent the horrors of the war they have Brought on themselves..." Mentions Brigadier General [John F.] Reynolds, noting that Reynolds stopped to talk to him the previous day while Miller was on guard duty.

GLC02155.017

14 November 1861

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Written at Camp Pierpont to his wife. Writes, "Dear Wife it makes me so angry when i think of the way we have been humbuged and treated since we have been in the service that some times i think if the Rebels were coming into Gettys... i would barely help to keep them out..." (ellipses were included by the author).

GLC02155.018

17 November 1861

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Written at Camp Pierpont to his wife. Describes entering a civilian house where the inhabitants professed to be loyal to the Union.

GLC02155.019

21 November 1861

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Written at Camp Pierpont to his wife. Notes, "...yesterday was the grand Review and such a sight was never seen on this continent it is impossible for me to tell you how may [sic] soldiers was there but i suppose from 50 to 70 thousand they were Reviewed By Genl McClellan he is a noble looking man..." Comments on how he misses his wife and young son.

GLC02155.020

26 November 1861

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter

Title: to Lile Miller [incomplete]

Written at Camp Pierpont to his wife. Comments on the death of Jesse Shank, a man in his company. Notes that Shank was an Oddfellow. Discusses camp life.

GLC02155.021

November 1861

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Written at Camp Pierpont to his wife. Reports being called to arms the previous day because their cavalry pickets were attacked by Confederates. Discusses putting a fire place in his tent and sending his wife a photograph of himself. Writes, "...i do not think we will stay here long, it is Reported here that we will have to quarter in Leesburg But it will have to be taken from the Rebels first..."

GLC02155.022

December 8, 1861

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Written at Camp Pierpont to his wife. Fears he will not be able to return home until spring, and longs to see his wife and son. Writes, "...perhaps this delay may save the life of many a soldier for we have seen the effects of attacking the Rebels half prepared at Bull Run and Balls Bluff... our Brigade never moves unless there is a strong force..."

GLC02155.023

circa December 1861

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charley Miller

Possibly written to his young son in December 1861 from Camp Pierpont, Virginia (date and location inferred from content). Expresses sympathy for Charley, who has a sore on his side.

GLC02155.024

December 25, 1861

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Written at Camp Pierpont to his wife. Complains that his wife does not write to him enough. Notes that the doctor gave his company a dose of medicine after they stood picket in the rain. Discusses the Christmas holiday in camp: a dress parade took place, the brass band played, and the soldiers had only bread and coffee to eat.

GLC02155.025

January 14, 1862

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Written at Camp Pierpont to his wife. Date inferred from content; this letter is labeled 14 January 1861. Discusses the possibility that men from his regiment might be sent out to recruit. Writes, "...i do get so downhearted and wretched some times..."

GLC02155.026

5 January 1862

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Written at Camp Pierpont to his wife. Discusses the difficulty of obtaining wood and the possibility of acquiring a small sheet iron stove. Complains that soldiers from New York receive more press than the Pennsylvania troops: "...i see your Sunday New Yorkers or Porter guards as they are called there wants a Barracks to live in if they come here we will give them a Barracks and some thing else to do than Box and Play Ball in the dimond [sic], not that i Blame the Soldiers themselves, But every Paper and letter that comes from there is filled with their doings [while] the men from there who…

GLC02155.027

9 January 1862

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Written at Camp Pierpont to his wife. Complains about the Porter Guards from New York, who are stationed at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, noting that they boast of "Being nearly all Rich and leaving home through Principal," although "the Pennsylvanians are as Patriotick as ever New York was..."

GLC02155.028

January 17, 1862

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Written from camp near White Oak Church. Writes, "...when the Inquirer came yesterday it put a damper on the Boys to see that the Secretary of War had refused to let the Reserves go Back to the State... i never felt like deserting Before But if ever i get Back across the Potomac again i shall studdy awhile Before i Return..."

GLC02155.029

January 21, 1862

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Written from Camp Pierpont to his wife. Complains that one of his fellow soldiers is spreading falsehoods, through letters, about others in the company.

GLC02155.030