10 February 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents, sister and [brother-in-law]

Discusses farm business back home. He describes a "grand foraging expedition" led by Major Dutton. In response to his father's comment about taking Wheeler's place, Lysander states "I couldn't let you have my place under any consideration...I would be ashamed to live in a country I was not willing to fight for." He tells his mother that she must stop worrying about him or he will leave the hardships he encounters out of future letters. Wheeler explains that it is his desire to write these letters as journals and include as many accounts as possible, so that he can read them in the…

GLC07460.014

February 21, 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents and sister

The whole regiment has been healthier since they left Tunnel, Tennessee where many from Wheeler's regiment died. Wheeler has heard rumor that Vicksburg was taken from the Rebels. Some of the men are trying to publish the truth about Captain Warner in the Sycamore Republican (Warner is from Wheeler's hometown of Sycamore, Illinois). Reports that Warner is no longer officially captain of company C and instructs Darius to dispell rumors that Captain Warner left the Army honorably. The men believe Warner kept their money from board bills and are determined to make him pay it back. General…

GLC07460.015

February 23, 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents, [brother-in-law], and sister

Asks Darius, his brother-in-law, to settle some acounts for him back home. Reports that his regiment will march to meet General Hooker tomorrow morning. Mentions the Sons of Temperance a brotherhood of men who were committed to not drinking alcohol and asks if they have "turned him out".

GLC07460.016

February 23, 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents, [brother-in-law], and sister

He reports that John Fetterly has died of small pox. Writes that Fetterly was unable to march, so he was transferred to the pest house where he died. Wheeler informs his family that he will be on the march and may not be able to write for ten or twelve days.

GLC07460.017

February 25, 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents and sister

He remarks "truly a soldier's life is a life of inequalities it learns a person to take everything as it comes." George Bowen has deserted; he was under 18 when he enlisted and his father came to get him but "failing to do it by fair means George ran away." Captain Warner denied having taken the men's board money (see GLC07460.015). Fields has been appointed the new Captain.

GLC07460.018

2 March 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents, [brother-in-law], and sister

Wheeler writes that a new order has been announced in which deserters will be dealt with promptly, even with the punishment of death. He also reports that new regulations are in affect for furloughs and only a certain number of furloughs will be granted per company to the best men. Comments on the lightness of guard duties and writes that he's only been on picket and camp guard once.

GLC07460.019

7 March 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents, [brother-in-law], and sister

They have been on the march for a few days and are probably headed for Chattanooga. Ward led them down the wrong road and they had to pick their path through the hills. He received a letter from his family assuring him "that the war will close this summer" and he is pleased with the idea.

GLC07460.020

7 March 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents, [brother-in-law], and sister

Darius is almost fully recovered. There is talk of Wheeler's regiment moving to Camp Douglas, but Lysander does not want to go North unless they are going for good. Expresses that hewould like to drive all the copperheads in the Army SOuth, and run them in front at Murfreesboro. He is glad that Dick Yates is governor of Illinois so the soldiers don't have to worry about losing their homes. He hopes they will "Draft, Conscript and any other way old Abe may cho[o]se to rush this thing through to completion." He updates Darius on the situation with Captain Warner and the board bills.

GLC07460.021

15 March 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents, [brother-in-law], and sister

Wheeler writes that the men have been busy foraging for Rosecrans' Army. He comments that they've been learning drilling in the French fashion. Writes that the men have taken to singing at night in their tents and have some pieces of sheet music including "The Soldier's Dream". He also writes that his favorite piece is "Never Forget the Dear Ones that Cluster Around thy Home". Updates his family on the health of his company and writes that it is harder for a soldier to get a furlough. Writes about the alcohol problem at camp and states that although he is offered liquor everyday, he…

GLC07460.022

18 November 1863 or 1864

McSherry, Anna, 1833-?

Autograph letter

Title: To Henry F. McSherry

Written by Anna to to her brother Henry. Saw by two previous letters that he was in Baltimore and Washington and was sorry he could not come up to visit the family. Asks to be kept informed of his movements. She knows Henry is eventually going to Memphis and she will send letters there. Is sorry he can't stop in St. Louis or Knoxville. Tells him that "I am afraid Memphis is a place of no intrest as to socialty or locality and you will have to look to other cities perhaps for your pleasantri[e]s [and] associations, but it is so much better than going to sea that I am inclined to look in the…

GLC03523.21.25

19 August 1864

St. John, Sister, fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Written by "Sister St. John," who was working at the naval hospital in Memphis. References McSherry's letter of 30 July 1864. Says she is glad he is happy with "the change" - a reference to his apparent transfer from Memphis - and says he is missed. Updates him on several doctors and other friends in Memphis and say she will leave the city on 29 August to go to Washington, but that she expects to eventually return. At the top of first page is written "Blessed be the Holy name of God." Large water stains on all pages.

GLC03523.21.30

December 21, 1886

Black, John, fl. 1865-1898

Printed document signed

Title: Pension record for George Tillotson

Describes his disabilty as typhoid fever resulting in swelling limbs.

GLC04558.201

12 March 1822

Brown, Bartholomew, 1772-1854

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Aaron Hobart

Sends Hobart a friend's land warrant in hopes that Hobart can sell it in Washington, D.C., where Brown comments that it might fetch a higher price. The land was in South Bridgewater.

GLC06313.04.168

21 March 1822

Anderson, Joseph, 1757-1837

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Aaron Hobart

Indicates he received the "documents relative to the remission of a fine incurred by Captain Bartlett," which have been submitted to the Secretary of the Treasury for review. Written from the treasury and signed by Anderson as comptroller.

GLC06313.04.175

circa 1865

Various

Header Record

Title: [Collection of engravings] [word processed inventory available] [Decimalized .01- .55]

Collection consists of original and reproduced engravings of some Civil War generals, Abraham Lincoln's funeral procession, various buildings, images of New York and Washington, D.C., and some battle scenes.

GLC09118

18 March 1862

McSherry, Richard M., 1818-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Written by Richard to his brother Henry. References Henry's letter of 21 February. Says he heard of him through Mrs. Miller's brother. Reports that "The Balt & Ohio R.R. will probably be open to Wheeling in the course of a week, so that our communication will be [improved] with home." Says he is busy and doing well considering the "general business prostration" in Baltimore (Richard was a physician as well). Reports that "Southern sympathy is as rife as ever here, but the Union party is perhaps on the increase. If Virginia should come in again there would be no more secession spirit…

GLC03523.21.16

28 July 1862

Reifsuyder, J. Henry, fl. 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Signed and initialled by Reifsuyder, who was previously the clerk to Captain Donaldson of the USS "Sciota," the ship where McSherry was the assistant surgeon. Asks for his pardon in not writing sooner, but was "totally unable" to respond until now. Says he was ill when he arrived at home, and was also so excited to go home he forgot to pack Henry's previous letter. Has wondered how he got through his sickness (Henry had malaria previously). Hopes he enjoyed himself at his house in Baltimore. Says he has written to Donaldson to be reassigned as clerk to him when he gets a new commission.…

GLC03523.21.17

20 September 1862

Lee, Samuel Phillips, 1812-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Written on letterhead of the USS "Minnesota" by Acting Rear Admiral Lee as commander of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. Lee was previously the commander of the USS "Vandalia," which Henry McSherry served on in 1860-1861. Says he has nearly worn Henry's letter of 3 September "to wadding whilst carrying it in my side pocket." Says he has 50 ships under his command and the "desk work is immense." Says one of the USS "Minnesota's" assistant surgeons, Dr. Dodge, is helping at the Navy hospital that recently opened. Says he would "like it vastly" if Henry was given Dodge's position if it…

GLC03523.21.18

29 October 1862

McSherry, Richard M., 1792-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Richard McSherry

Written by Richard to his son Richard. Says they are all well and that Dick stayed with them last night. Says "all we have to do is pray that Almighty God may shorten our trials. we are not in want of anything but mutual peace."

GLC03523.21.19

February 22, 1863

McSherry, Anna, 1833-?

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Written by Anna to her brother Henry. Reports that it has been snowing all day long. Says she has not heard from him "for sometime." References the military situation around Martinsburg, saying "the cavalry may make a dash at any time, they are all around and captured a picket guard between here and Winchester two or three days ago." Mentions other skirmishes and troop movements and says a railroad in Mercer County is being guarded. Refers to her state as "W. Va." on page 3, about 5 months before it became a state. Says she might go to Baltimore to visit their sister Kate soon. Says one of…

GLC03523.21.20

27 August 1863

McSherry, Richard M., 1792-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Written by Richard to his son Henry. Says they "have been looking anxiously for a letter from you ever since the communication was opened." Reports Anna has written several times. Says he has received letters from Richard and Eliza but not him. Says there is much sickness among the children of the area. Has water damage.

GLC03523.21.21

8 August 1863

Kershner, E., fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Paymaster Watmough

Asks Watmough to pay Henry F. McSherry $50 "on my account." Signed by Kershner as an assistant surgeon in the U.S. Navy. Water stained and faded. Envelope at the back of the 3rd of 6 folders for this group. Envelope has postmark of 11 April 1865 in London, along with another on the back of the envelope dated 5 June 1866 from Hong Kong. Address says to send it "Via Marseilles."

GLC03523.21.22

13 August 1863

Kelly, & Doherty (firm), fl. 1863

Receipt

Title: [Reciept for pants]

Recipt from the tailor firm "Kelly & Doherty" at 31 & 33 South Fifth Street in Philadelphia. The receipt was for $12 for McSherry's purchase of "20 dark blue case Pants." Marked that payment was received. Signed by Kelly.

GLC03523.21.23

24 August 1863

McSherry, Eliza, 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: To Henry F. McSherry

Written by Eliza to her brother Henry. Says she received a letter from Anna and that she does not know where to direct letters to him. Says she will tell Anna where to write. Claims that Kate said that he would probably be in Baltimore last week to go up to Martinsburg and that she thought of accompanying him. Suspects he will not get off until after his examination though, which the newspapers say is next week. Says William (their brother who was 16) has gone to Chambersburg to see about the draft even though he is not in this one. Wonders if "[Robert E.] Lee may come over to Maryland. I am…

GLC03523.21.24

February 5, 1864

McSherry, Anna, 1833-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: To Henry F. McSherry

Mentions a wedding party being captured by Confederates.

GLC03523.21.26