10 May 1864

Meade, George Gordon, 1815-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Horatio G. Wright.

Meade, Commander of the Army of the Potomac, informs General Wright that General Gershom Mott "taken position on your left will be under your direction." Instructs Wright to General Ambrose Burnside's relief if Wright hears heavy firing at Burnside. Relates that Lyman (possibly Colonel Theodore Lyman, Meade's aide) will inform Wright of the existing condition of affairs. Year inferred from content; possibly written during the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House.

GLC03832

1862-1865

Manuscript

Title: Register of sick and wounded soldiers Ward H Armory Square Hospital

"Ward H" written on cover. First four pages contain bookkeeping notes from October 1862. Rest of the document contains lists of patients at the hospital from December 1862 through August 1865. The last few pages contain various notes. Each sick or wounded soldier is listed according to date admitted, name, rank, regiment, company, age, bed, result, discharge date, whence received, and the name of their disease or injury. Most patients were admitted for illnesses. Those with battle wounds come mostly in large groups, shortly after major nearby battles. In one month during the…

GLC04485

1861-1864

Gottshall, Samuel G., 1841-1902

Header Record

Title: Diaries of Samuel G. Gottshall [decimalized]

Mentions battles of Gettysburg, the Wilderness and Spotsylvania. First diary is loose.

GLC04564

circa 1861-1865

Photograph

Title: Dead Rebels at Spotsylvania [stereocard]

Inscription: "Dead Rebels of Ewell's Corps, killed at Spotsylvania, May 19, 1864. Laid out for burial." Numeric notation: "722." Numeric notation on verso: "450."

GLC05111.01.0829

16 July 1864

Sandoz, Joel H., fl. 1840-1864

Newspaper

Title: The Opelousas courier. [Vol. 12, no. 7 (July 16, 1864)]

News from Virginia during the Battle of the Wilderness and Spotsylvania in which Gen. Lee states that "the enemy were hurled upon our lines 8 and 10 deep and that their dead lay in heaps in front of our breastworks." French translation on right side. Wallpaper has floral pattern with green stripes printed in tan color on a pale yellow background (pattern # 906).

GLC05988.17

17 May 1864

Stanton, Robert A., 1839-?

Letter signed

Title: to Charles H. Whittelsey

Ordnance report during the Spotsylvania campaign. With Hunt's notes on verso. Written from the Ordnance Office Artillery Reserve. Charles H. Whittelsey (1832-1871) graduated from Yale in 1853. He served in the Civil War as a lieutenant in the 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery in1862, and then on the staff of General Robert O. Tyler and General Horatio G. Wright. He received promotion to brevet major for his services in the 1864 campaign before Richmond and the 1864 Shenandoah Valley campaign; brevet lieutenant colonel for gallantry in the battles of Petersburg; and colonel for gallantry in…

GLC02382.018

circa May 18, 1864

Wainwright, Charles Sheils, 1826-1907

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Jackson Hunt

Battle note re artillery: "I have almost no control of firing," describing positions and actions. Contains Hunt's reply on verso, questioning remaining supply. Written in pencil. The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House (9-21 May) was the second battle in the 1864 Overland Campaign. Grant, whose force numbered 100,000, suffered 18,000 casualties. Lee, whose army had 52,000 men, suffered 12,000 casualties. Although Grant's losses were more numerous, Lee's army would never regain the initiative it held in early May 1864, and President Davis had to pull units from other theaters to reinforce…

GLC02382.029

18 May 1864

Wainwright, Charles Sheils, 1826-1907

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Jackson Hunt

Field dispatch, written at 8 a.m., re battle of Spotsylvania Court House, during main Union assault, which was preceded by heavy artillery bombardment, directed by Hunt. Written at 8 AM. Colonel Wainwright writes to Hunt, Chief of Artillery of the Army of the Potomac, during the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse. Writes that General Gouverneur K. Warren "insists on a much more rapid firing than I think my supply of rifled ammunition can stand." Notes that General George Gordon Meade, commanding the Army of the Potomac, informed Warren of the location of a large supply of ammunition. Asks…

GLC02382.031

1837-1908

Stafford, Robert H., fl. 1837-1866

Header Record

Title: Robert H. Stafford Collection [Decimalized .01- .98]

Stafford enlisted as a sergeant in the 12th Alabama infantry. Contains letters and newsclippings about the Peninsula Campaign, advance into Maryland, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Early's raid on Washington, D.C. Preliminary inventory included.

GLC02618

December 21, 1863-August 23, 1864

Waltz, Henry J., 1832-1910

Diary

Title: [Collection of Henry J. Waltz, Company I, 93rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry]

Autograph manuscript signed by Waltz, a Lieutenant in I Company of the 93rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He was mustered from service in 1864. Diary entries include Battles of Wilderness, Spotsylvania, North Ana, and Cold Harbor. Includes separate manuscript concerning the Battle of Petersburg in Size 1.

GLC00653.13

May 14, 1864

Hancock, Winfield Scott, 1824-1886

Autograph note signed

Title: to Seth Williams

Written in pencil, on note stationery. Union General Hancock, commanding the Middle Military Division and the Department of West Virginia, informs General Williams "I have possession of the two guns, making 20 in all." Note written several days after the Battle of Spotsylvania, Virginia.

GLC00731.02

12 September 1864

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: [Petition for promoting Colonel Andrew Wood Denison].

Lincoln submitted this petition to Secretary of War Stanton. Fifteen prominent men from Maryland signed the petition asking that Colonel Denison be promoted to Brigadier General of Volunteers. The petition recounts Denison's service to the Union, including his recruitment Maryland soldiers and his efforts leading them in battle. Denison's contribution culminated in the loss of an arm due to being shot at the Battle of Spotsylvania, but the petition contends, he has recovered and wants to be of service to the U.S.

GLC01012

July 28, 1887

Grant, Lewis A., 1828-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Norton Galloway

Grant disputes Captain Galloway's account of Upton's Brigade at "Bloody Angle" at Spotsylvania during the Civil War, which Galloway has published in June in The Century Magazine. Grant thought more should be said about the other brigades involved, especially Edwards' Brigade, which "remained and fought out the battle that night" after Upton had retired in the afternoon. Also considers other questions: "Who was the first at the angle?--Who was in commend then?--And who contributed most towards saving the day?" He provides a brief account of hand-to-hand combat in the battle.

GLC00840

12 May 1864

Photograph

Title: Camp of Confederate Prisoners

Photograph taken after the Battle of Spotsylvania. With pencil inscriptions on verso.

GLC06999.29

February 6, 1860

Stafford, Robert H., fl. 1837-1866

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

mentions he has joined a society in college. also speaks of wanting to improve his letter writing.

GLC02618.001

18 March 1860

Stafford, Robert H., fl. 1837-1866

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

mentions a cousin who was recently wounded and may lose his hand

GLC02618.002

18 September 1860

Stafford, Robert H., fl. 1837-1866

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ma

Stafford describes a prayer meeting.

GLC02618.003

8 October 1860

Stafford, Robert H., fl. 1837-1866

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

talks about sophomore year and roommate troubles

GLC02618.004

17 November 1860

Stafford, Robert H., fl. 1837-1866

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

complains that he receives hardly any letters, talks about war in general

GLC02618.005

8 June 1861

Stafford, Robert H., fl. 1837-1866

Autograph letter signed

Title: to father

talks about the war spirit and the company that they started at school "Ogletree Guards."

GLC02618.006

12 July 1861

Stafford, Robert H., fl. 1837-1866

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sisters

describes initial days as a soldier, camping grounds, food, the company

GLC02618.007

20 September 1861

Stafford, Robert H., fl. 1837-1866

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ma

describes the life of a soldier: sleeping in the rain, changing landscapes, the food, etc.

GLC02618.008

15 October 1861

Stafford, Robert H., fl. 1837-1866

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ma

He writes that he received the blanket and requests his shoes and suspenders. He will send his pistol along with some money home. Written at Camp Masked Battery

GLC02618.009

6 March 1864

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

Last wrote them two weeks ago. Went out on a walk "for our health." Took in 30 blacks, destroyed 2 grist mills, took two loads of bacon, and captured some 50 Rebels while on the walk. The 6th corps was acting as reserves to cover General Custer's raids into the Virginia countryside. Returned from picket duty on Friday, February 26. Took "as little baggage as possible" on the march. On the first night of the march, they headed to James City, a distance of about 20 miles. After another few days of marching, he went and found Sid, who was "under great affliction. His feet were all blisters."…

GLC09355.049

10 May 1864

Weeks, John F., fl. 1860-1882

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his brother Henry Weeks

Writes that he has been in the line of battle for a few days and is now in front of enemy works. Some heavy skirmishing began yesterday and is still going on. Reports that Harker and Wagner's brigades charged Buzzards Roost and were repulsed. Also writes that the colonel of the 69th Ohio has been reported dead.

GLC06728.070