17 June 1863

Churchill, Byron, 1846-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Drazilla Churchill.

Churchill's regiment is now stationed at Snyder's Bluff, where "the hole armey is bysly [busily] in Gaiged [engaged] in diging intrenchments and Bilding foarts…" From their vantage point above Vicksburg, they are "bombarding the sity With our Hevy Seage guns," though the Confederates only occasionally return fire. Churchill reports that the Confederates have tried to break through their lines on several occasions, only to be driven back each time. Churchill also reports good spirits among the soldiers, despite the fact that his company has no tents.

GLC03859.18

21 November 1863

Churchill, Byron, 1846-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Drazilla Churchill.

Churchill's foot was run over by a wagon on the march to Bridgeport, so he is now driving the ambulance with the doctor. He observes a great rush to the front, but is not certain whether his regiment will be advancing there as well. Churchill notes that there is little to eat, as many troops have been passing through the countryside taking everything they can.

GLC03859.19

07 June 1864

Churchill, Byron, 1846-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Drazilla Churchill.

Churchill's regiment is moving towards Atlanta, driving the Confederates before them. Recent fighting has resulted in no casualties in Churchill's regiment, although he reports 16 wounded.

GLC03859.20

11 July 1864

Churchill, Byron, 1846-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Drazilla Churchill.

Churchill reports the evacuation of the enemy from their works the night before last, and men are now engaged in "reversing the rebel works." All is quiet as of this morning. Churchill tells how he spent the Fourth of July marching 16 miles or more, suffering terribly in the heat and the dust.

GLC03859.21

30 July 1864

Churchill, Byron, 1846-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Drazilla Churchill.

Churchill reports that he was involved in heavy fighting on both the 22nd and 28th, but fortunately escaped unhurt. The surgeon believes that there were 33 men wounded, one killed, and one who died of his wounds. There appears to be some sort of dispute involving money developing between Churchill and some people in his hometown: "…I will be at home after while my self then I will settle with some of them my self."

GLC03859.22

03 August 1864

Churchill, Byron, 1846-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Drazilla Churchill.

Brief note enclosing his certificate of reenlistment.

GLC03859.23

09 August 1864

Churchill, Byron, 1846-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Drazilla Churchill.

Churchill reports little action, with the exception of the artillery exchanging shots now and then. Camp was moved this morning and all are now engaged in erecting shelter against the sun, heat, and rain. Churchill was on the skirmish line all the previous day in a torrential downpour and the rain continues today. Little attention is being paid to occasional rebel shells, as they are doing negligible damage.

GLC03859.24

24 August 1864

Churchill, Byron, 1846-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Drazilla Churchill.

Churchill reports very little going on: "[We] don't have ena thing [anything] to do onlee to eat and sleap." This respite apparently comes after a busy period of building works. Churchill received a letter from Olive in Illinois, who reports that "Andrew has enlisted and Weltha [?] is maried and her husben died in the armee about seven months after tha [they] was maried."

GLC03859.25

11 April 1865

Robins, Juliet G., fl. 1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Drazilla Churchill.

Churchill wishes his mother to know that he is alive and that he arrived at the hospital at David's Island from Wilmington, where he spent a month in the hospital there. Previously, he was a prisoner in Florence, S.C., where he suffered frostbite and lost all his toes.

GLC03859.26

16 April 1865

Robins, Juliet G., fl. 1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Drazilla Churchill.

Churchill would like his mother to send a box from home as his appetite is very good. Mrs. Robins laments the suffering of the soldiers, and urges the end of the war. She wishes no mercy for the South for their part in this "terrible tragedy."

GLC03859.27

28 April 1865

Robins, Juliet G., fl. 1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Drazilla Churchill.

Churchill is making strides in his recovery, and believes that if he could get a furlough he could make the journey home, despite the fact that he cannot walk due to the condition of his feet. Mrs. Robins has hope that Col. Geer, who accompanied the prisoners from Wilmington to David's Island, may be able to secure a furlough for Churchill. A postscript indicates something of the conditions under which she writes: "…I am writing this in a great hurry and on my knee without even a book to rest on. I can, under some circumstances write at least a decent hand."

GLC03859.28

08 May 1865

Robins, Juliet G., fl. 1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Drazilla Churchill.

Churchill requests that his Uncle Nelson come and escort him home. He expects to be well enough to get out of bed in a few days.

GLC03859.29

15 May 1865

Robins, Juliet G., fl. 1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Drazilla Churchill.

Churchill is well enough to go outdoors, but is not yet completely recovered. He requests ten to fifteen dollars from his mother to last him the remainder of his stay in the hospital, and expects to receive his discharge soon.

GLC03859.30

01 June 1865

Robins, Juliet G., fl. 1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Drazilla Churchill.

Churchill chastises his mother for not writing, and reminds her to send the money he requested previously. It was announced in the newspaper that all who have suffered in Southern prisons should be discharged with three months extra pay, thus he and others in the hospital should be coming home soon.

GLC03859.31

14 June 1865

Robins, Juliet G., fl. 1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Drazilla Churchill.

Churchill has still received no word from his mother, nor has he received any money from her. Mrs. Robins argues that the money is unnecessary, as he gets plenty to eat at the hospital. He is recovering rapidly and should be able to walk by the time he returns home.

GLC03859.32

17 June 1865

Churchill, Byron, 1846-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: "Well Brothe."

Churchill's doctor has taken another bone out of his toe, thus his recovery has been slightly delayed. He seems bored and restless ("I can't find anything to do….I have nothing to write so I do this to amuse myself…"), and asks the recipient to send him a couple of pouches of tobacco.

GLC03859.33

June 29, 1865

Churchill, Byron, 1846-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Drazilla Churchill

Churchill has finally received the letter and money sent by his mother. He writes of a few boys leaving the hospital each day, though there is no sign yet of his own discharge. His health is generally good, although he is bothered by an itch in his toes. Churchill bids his family a happy Fourth of July.

GLC03859.34

30 July 1900

Bodge, George M., 1841-1914

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Byron Churchill.

Bodge requests genealogical information concerning Churchill's immediate family. Bodge obtained Churchill's address through Isaac B. Churchill (Byron's uncle) of Glen Ellyn, Ill.

GLC03859.35

[1897]/07/25

Mosby, John S., 1833-1916

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Sam Chapman

plans to travel east in September; view of President Cleveland and Democratic party; and opposition to coinage of silver: "If the people want cheap money give them old Confederate notes."

GLC03921.01

1897/09/22

Mosby, John S., 1833-1916

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Sam Chapman

enclosed check to settle accounts; appointments by McKinley.

GLC03921.02

1899/11/01

Mosby, John S., 1833-1916

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Chapman

News of friends and family; hopes for November election; and article written for the Times concerning actions of Ulysses S. Grant and Philip Sheridan during the war: "[W]hen Grant telegraphed Sheridan about capturing and corralling my men's wives it would have been a great advantage and promoted the efficiency of command."

GLC03921.03

1900/11/23

Mosby, John S., 1833-1916

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Sam Chapman

Chapman's fate pending army reorganization; McKinley's feelings towards Mosby.

GLC03921.04

1905/12/23

Mosby, John S., 1833-1916

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sam Chapman

News of Chapman's appointment under Brown Allen; finding Lee's letter book over the Gettysburg Campaign.

GLC03921.12

6 July 1775

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Describes meeting generals George Washington and Charles Lee, who begged him to return to Roxbury and expressed great pleasure in the fortifications Knox had supervised the construction of. Tells a story about how General Lee tried to get a letter to General John Burgoyne during the battle of Bunker Hill (17 June 1775), to ask him to use his "influence and endeavor to Heal this unnatural break." Criticizes and offers corrections to a widely published account of Bunker Hill by British General Thomas Gage that claimed only 170 redcoats were killed. The Revolutionary War began at the battle…

GLC02437.00196

7 July 1775

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Longs to see her, but must be of service to his country. Sends her copies of the addresses made in Congress and directed to generals George Washington and Charles Lee (not included).

GLC02437.00197