December 28, 1863

Mag, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to her sister

Written by "Mag" [or possibly "May"]. Written from Orange, New Jersey.

GLC02156.21

28 March 1864

Allen, Eliza, fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Addressed only to her "Respected friend."

GLC02156.22

30 November 1862

Bartlett, George O., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ira Andrews

He explains his financial situation, making particular references to his happiness at being out of debt. He also mentions the value of the State commissioner system which helps him deposit his money.

GLC02158.02

December 18, 1862

Bartlett, George O., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ira Andrews

This letter describes the battle of Fredericksburg and the horror Bartlett witnessed. His "toung cannot express to you" what occurred. Also makes mention of how the soldiers behaved during the entry into the abandoned city, noting that Andrews may see "the soldiers reclining on Velvit longes drinking wine from Gold and Silver caps while squids of Officers are loaking to se the Boys injury themself."

GLC02158.03

29 December 1862

Bartlett, George O., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ira Andrews

He recounts his unit's foray into Fredericksburg and their commendation from Governor William Sprague. He reports that he has picked up some historical artifacts, including Virginian notable John Randolph's purse, and is sending them home.

GLC02158.04

4 January 1863

Bartlett, George O., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ira Andrews

He explains his negative reaction to the Emancipation Proclamation saying that he did not "want to se enney more fighting dun for the nigger." Commenting on his views on the motives of Northerners he writes that the notion that the war is for Union is "false as hell" and that the real cause is "the Bull nigger." He accuses the "Northern fenaticks" of not caring about the cause of Union or the country but rather being concerned, "if they can but carrey the day and a Shee Nigger thoun in."

GLC02158.05

8 January 1863

Bartlett, George O., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ira Andrews

Bartlett discusses a relic that he is sending and the fight he had to get it.

GLC02158.06

January 21, 1863

Bartlett, George O., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ira Andrews

He describes the Mud March. Discusses morale and physical health of men he knew from Rhode Island.

GLC02158.07

February 4, 1863

Bartlett, George O., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ira Andrews

He explains his sentiments and the general feeling he gets from the camp about General Joseph Hooker's appointment. He also discusses the feasibility of taking a furlough at this time and the accusation of cheating directed towards Chaplin Perry. Written on patriotic stationery.

GLC02158.08

February 23, 1863

Bartlett, George O., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ira Andrews

He discusses how the men are coping with the cold weather and the delay of pay.

GLC02158.09

9 March 1863

Bartlett, George O., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ira Andrews

He opens with his health, and then moves on to briefly mention the actions of Congress, and lastly advise Mr. Andrews on whom to pick to be Andrew's son Elbridge's draft substitute. Written on patriotic stationery.

GLC02158.10

26 March 1863

Bartlett, George O., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ira Andrews

He discusses his health, the possibility of his own death, and his fears about the future as it relates to his finances.

GLC02158.11

24 April 1863

Bartlett, George O., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ira Andrews

He discusses his health, the harshness of the weather, and his hopes of coming home for a "bolle of hur best bread and milk, dun up in thew yankey style." Bartlett ends with instructions on where and what he would like to see Mr. Andrews do with the money he is sending.

GLC02158.12

3 May 1863

Bartlett, George O., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ira Andrews

He declares that his unit has taken the Confederate strong hold at Fredericksburg. The letter explains what the major commanding officers like General Joseph Hooker and Major General J. Sedgwick are doing. Written in pencil.

GLC02158.13

10 May 1863

Bartlett, George O., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ira Andrews

He writes about his frustration with the war's progress and the sense of defeatism he feels. He accuses the government of not thinking critically about the way in which "they use up human flesh." He also discusses the desolation of the area surrounding Fredericksburg. Bartlett also illustrates the dark character of the war at this point, telling Mr. Andrews about their encampment on top of a cemetery. Again, as in previous letters he ends with instructions on what to do with the money he is sending Mr. Andrews.

GLC02158.14

1 June 1863

Bartlett, George O., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ira Andrews

Begins with a discussion of why Mr. Andrews has not written. Bartlett declares he has a toothache. Then he discusses the $200 he has saved. It means little to him at this point because he does "not care about having it much on hand when thare is a prospect of more fighting to be done." He ends with a discussion of the people he has seen from the Rhode Island area.

GLC02158.15

17 June 1863

Bartlett, George O., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ira Andrews

He discusses briefly the execution of a soldier for shooting another soldier. He ends his letter with offering to give Mr. Andrews ten dollars in gold to name Andrew's new child. Written in pencil.

GLC02158.16

22 June 1863

Bartlett, George O., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ira Andrews

He writes about the move to Alexandria and being out flanked by the Confederate cavalry. As he writes about walking through the place where the Second Battle of Bull Run took place, he remarks that is "sad to se the Bons of Dead men Bleachin in the Sun, thare is the Rellicks of War strewn all a round for miles." He has also been separated from his Battery. Written in pencil.

GLC02158.17

11 July 1863

Bartlett, George O., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ira Andrews

He quickly tells Andrews that he has survived a difficult battle [the Battle of Gettysburg], which he describes as being the "hardest fort Battle in this Rebellion."

GLC02158.18

24 August 1863

Bartlett, George O., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ira Andrews

He asks Andrews to write soon and says there is not much to write about. He notes that he lost his box of Tailor's trimmings and tools. He requests that E.G. Fairbanks send some history books to him. He offers to help orient E.G. Fairbanks to military life. Written from Camp near Morrisville, Virginia.

GLC02158.19

30 September 1863

Bartlett, George O., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ira Andrews

He discusses walking on the Second Battle of Bull Run battlefield 15 months after the battle. He describes it as "sad since the hoggs have Rooted the dead Bodays from thare graves and thare boens lay on the top of the ground in grave numbers." He writes that he trusts what decision Mr. Andrews has made with his money and that he lent money to Lenox Brown, a sick solider, to go home on furlough. He asks Andrews to keep writing as he finds it "verry chering to hear from you an old friend." He advises George Andrews to help his father in the fields and thanks Mrs. Andrews for her advice saying…

GLC02158.20

15 November 1863

Bartlett, George O., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ira Andrews

He quickly writes that he is in acceptable health and that enclosed with the letter is a check for $40. Noticing the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, he ends the letter lamenting that he "should like to be with you all on Thanksgiving but I must eate my Pork and hard Bread as usual." Marked "Camp Battery B." Note in blue ink on verso, "Mr. [Anras] D. Smith 3d State Commissioner Providence, RI."

GLC02158.21

11 November [1861]

Blackman, Francis G., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Blackman

Writes to his mother. "...I never knew what it was to go hungy till I come here...I was on the sick list when we got here but I shouldered my gun and marched with the Regiment...we have had one meal of bull soup, we slept in the sand 3 nights all I had to eat in 30 hours was 1/2 pint of rice." "...10 guns boats but we did not get but one of the boats...the Rebel's genarl was kild and then the rest run and flung their things away...we did at Bull Run..." No year on letter.

GLC02159.01

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