1865

Thompson, Wilmot, fl. 1864-1901

Autograph letter signed

Title: to my dear wife

He has a bad cough. He plans to send her a picture of gallups island and city point. He will soon witness a man getting shot. They plan to shoot him so that he falls into the coffin. He worries his heart will get hardened to such sights.

GLC02740.46

17 October 1879

Farnsworth, Swiftford, fl. 1879

Telegram

Title: to WIlmot Thompson

"Albert Farnsworth's wife died last night."

GLC02740.65

7 May 1863

Porter, Charles B., fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Brother H. (Henry)

They are about a hundred miles from Lousiville now. He says he has been very lucky the last few years. They have lost very few men to sickness and they have been lucky on the battlefield. He was disappointed to learn that a colonel of theirs was called to Washington.

GLC02172.68

16 November 1888

Autograph note

Title: to Unknown

"Tell father that the accompanying method has often been used to prevent people from assuming [illegible] position when they once get vertical." Includes illustration of woman being hanged.

GLC08284.014

15 April 1863

Rifenburgh, Peter E., 1843-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to brother and sister

Letter is signed with an elaborate stamp that surrounds the initials P.E.R. It is possible that Rifenburgh created the stamp himself by simply putting dots of ink on the page, as it is not perfectly symmetrical. Received their letter yesterday. Is well, and hopes this letter finds them well. Not much news to report. "They brought a rebel into camp this afternoon." He was ordered to leave by the guard, and, when he did not, was shot. Has not been paid in a while. Asks to be sent some postage stamps. Will "give up writing so many" letters in order to save stamps. "Good news" from Mobile that…

GLC08914.019

17 April 1863

Rifenburgh, Peter E., 1843-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to brother and sister

Glad to have received their letter. Is healthy; hopes this letter finds them in a similar condition. Has orders to head up the Mississippi River with 140 rounds worth of cartridges each. Thinks he is heading to battle. Is taking blankets and his knapsack with him. Cooks have received orders to cool extra rations for them to bring on the march. Is not afraid of death, and "if I get shot then I die in a good cause, but I don't think that gun even was made to shoot me." One of the guards shot a Rebel earlier in the week. He approached the camp, was ordered to stop, did not, and was shot. The…

GLC08914.020

19 May 1863

Rifenburgh, Peter E., 1843-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

Received her letter today. Just returned from an expedition started on May 12th up the Mississippi River. Went 32 miles by foot and by boat through Lake Pontchartrain. After a few days' march, formed a line of battle. Marched about half a mile in battle formation, and then engaged the rebels. "They fired one volley and then they skedaddled like hell." Took about 100 prisoners. Also encountered some Indians. Took 19 prisoners personally back to New Orleans and had the "privilege" of killing them. Now has marching orders back to the Mississippi River. Will send $20 home once he gets paid. Hopes…

GLC08914.025

18 May 1885

Johnson, William H., fl. 1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ethan A. Jenks

First Lieutenant Johnson requests information regarding surgeons working in the Portsmouth Grove, Rhode Island Hospital during the years of 1864 and 1865 from Captain Jenks. Johnson requests this information for the widow of Sergeant [Dennis J.] Scannel.

GLC02750.041

1870

Chappel, Alonzo, 1828-1887

Engraving

Title: Execution of the Inca of Peru by Pizarro

One engraving entitled "Execution of the Inca of Peru by Pizarro" dated 1870. Depicts Spanish soliders surrounding an Incan man chained to a log with branches piled at his feet. In the foreground a religous man waves a Christian cross in the face of the Incan. In the Background Spanish soliders raise burning torches into the air. Engraved from the original painting by Alonzo Chappel in the possession of the publishers at time of engraving.

GLC08878.0182

29 September 1864

Parrott, Henry C., fl. 1861-1877

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sophia Parrott

Henry's "teams were pronounced the best in the Corps by Maj. Gen. Stanley." He commands sixty men of his choice from the regiment. He expects they will stay here for a few months. John was killed and all the men miss him. Henry will bring John's wife John's remains if he can get leave. He remarks that "to be a soldier is to deny yourself of a great many things you would like to do and can not." Written at Ambulance Corps Headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.

GLC03858.02.20

29 December 1864

Pratt, Emery, fl. 1860

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Frank

Describes a series of events including a skirmish with General Hood's forces and the battles of Franklin and Nashville. Writes that some men from the company were lost and some "pretty badly demoralized". Also writes that the soldiers are living on half rations, which is tough, but he can endure it as he has two more years of service. Written near Rodgersville, Alabama.

GLC06728.080

12 July 1862

Swisher, Daniel, fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister [Lydia A. Bishoff]

Swisher reports that since the last time he wrote, there has been a "Considerate Skirmish" and that the "3rd and 4th of July Did not go off as nice as it did Last year." On the 4th of July, Swisher's regiment suffered one casualty and three wounded. Swisher remarks that he would have liked to have gone to the party Bishoff hosted on the 4th, and to have seen "all the pretty little Girls step around over the floor," for he has "not seen a woman for so long it is almost a show To see." According to Swisher, if his regiment happens to march through a town, the women all go into their houses,…

GLC03523.40.11

24 September 1862

Swisher, Daniel, fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister [Lydia A. Bishoff]

Swisher tells Bishoff of the great battle that took place on the 14th of September. His Regiment was in the fight and was "Terribly cut to pieces Taking in to The fight 340 and Brought out 200. getting 112. wounded. and 28 Killed." There were three men killed and seven wounded in his company (5 pretty badly and two slightly). John C. Foglesong was one of the killed, dying instantly of a shot through the head. Bishoff's and Kate's likenesses were buried with him as he had requested while traveling on the James River with Swisher. Swisher reports that there was "many a poor soldier put out…

GLC03523.40.14

16 May 1851 - 27 July 1851

Moore, John, 1826-1907

Diary

Title: Diary of John Moore

Excerpt: Diary entries 12 June 1852: "The Tower has been so often described that it is unnecessary to enter into any description of it. There is no place in the world, perhaps where one can see so many specimens of all the varieties of arms that have been used from the earliest ages, together with coats of mail and every description of defensive armor. The cell in which Sir Walter Raleigh was so long confined is shown and a gloomy looking dungeon it is. The block on which he was beheaded is still preserved. The crown jewels and regalia are also kept in an apartment of the Tower." 13…

GLC04192.06

October 30, 1864

Cook, George B., fl. 1845-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

He is well; hopes she is too. He has joined company E of the 42nd regiment. "I just got [here] in time to see a man shot… It was Fred Lammer's brother. He deserted and went to the [Yankee] lines." Another man deserted last night. Two more deserters are to be shot in a few days. Asks for a yarn shirt and a pair of socks as soon as possible. "We are camped 5 miles below Richmond in the woods along the breast works." Union soldiers charged their lines two days ago, but they were driven back with ease. "We can hear [the Yankees] all the time going on wit their music as if they have fine times."…

GLC00653.22.01

1861-1864

White, Carr Bailey, 1823-1871

Telegram signed

Title: to Captain James L. Botsford

"Rebels killed Saml Richmond Thursday charged him with ferrying deserters over Ricer. My scouts in his neighborhood"

GLC02414.286

February 7, 1862

J.A. Cowardin & Co., (publishers), fl. 1853-1880

Newspaper

Title: Daily dispatch. [Vol. 21, no. 33 (February 7, 1862)]

Official Reports: The Battle of 1861, the Engagement on Greenbrier River, intelligence reports reveal between 10,000 and 15,000 Yankee troops are encamped on Ship Island, Reports that Burnside fleet is moving away from Hatteras towards Roanoke Island, Address of General Beauregard to the Army of the Potomac, President Davis issues threat against Lincoln regarding the hanging of Missouri Bridge-Burners, Federal troops at Cairo prepare for Great Mississippi Expedition, Attack upon Fort Henry.

GLC05959.56.105

2 March 1852

Richardson, William H., fl. 1852

Pamphlet

Title: "Statements Relative to Slaves Executed, Reprieved for Transportation &c. "

One pamphlet entitled, "Statements Relative to Slaves Executed, Reprieved for Transportation &c," dated March 2, 1852. Contains three pages of tables that gives the names of enslaved people, slaveowner names, crimes charged against the enslaved, dates of reprieves and execution and amount of money made from selling the enslaved. Data gathered by the Executive Department and sent to the House of Delegates.

GLC09820

15 September 1777

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Would have written to Knox sooner, but was obliged to attend the execution of a man who had deserted from his regiment. Writes, "...he was Shot at the Bottom of the Common, it is supprise'g how the people minds are alter'd about this matter from what it was when the British Troops were here- every one cry'g out a deserter ought to die..." Mentions a British naval prize taken by a privateer and brought to Newburyport, Massachusetts. Describes a matter between the Tartar, an American ship, and a twenty-gun British ship. Expects news from the Northward (northern New York), where American…

GLC02437.00649

8 May 1864

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Epperly

Writes about recent executions in his brigade. "I havent any nuoos [news] to write to you at this time only the sad and awful Execution which taken plase in our Brigade yesterday which was too cruel for mortal man to behold. There was 14 North carlinerns [Carolinians] shot to Death yesterday with muskettry. 10 belonging to the 58 North Collinear [Carolina] and 4 to the 60 Regt. ah thear cries and Grones how sad they did sound. They was tide to stakes by thear Captens and their cruelley murderd by the order of a few wicked men and had don nothing I dont sopose but left the army and went…

GLC02715.091

November 1853

Humphreys, Sarah Gibson, fl. 1853

Autograph letter signed

Title: to her father Tobias Gibson

The date of the letter is taken from the docket. Writes that Loula is doing much better. Sarah discusses the visitors she entertained last week. Reports Mat Ward was arrested for murder. At first he was placed in a debtor's cell but a mob demanded that he be moved to a criminal cell and placed in chains. She does not think he will hang because his family is rich and influential.

GLC04501.072

12 October 1857

Davidson, Hunter, 1827-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Lt. Davidson of the USS "Dale" reports on his official interview with Commodore Wise, commander of the H.M.S. "Vesuvius," regarding Wise's capture of the slaveship "Bremen" on October 10, 1857. Davidson interviewed Wise by order of the captain of the "Dale," William McBlair. Written on board the U.S.S. "Dale" off the West Coast of Africa. Davidson relays Wise's statement that he boarded the "Bremen" and told her captain that he knew she was a slaver flying an American flag without proper papers. The slaver's captain then threw the flag and papers overboard, stating that he would rather be…

GLC05832.02

10 November 1861

Smith, William Wallace, fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Asa Smith

Written by William Wallace Smith to his brother Asa Smith. References Smith's letter to him. Says everyone dives for the Washington papers when they arrive, but that Boston papers have more news on the war in them. Asks him " Do you think an attack is going to be made on Richmond or what are you cutting that road for[?]" Wallace says not much has happened recently except a divisional review by General George McClellan and his staff. Says it rained during the review he got soaked. Reports that "Our pickets brought in a contraband last week. Who was going to be killed by his master for giving…

GLC03742.04

12 April 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Describes a quiet camp and reading a novel called "Pique" until his candle went out at 4 a.m. Thanks her for sending a book called "Lady of the Lake." Describes singing hymns with the other officers and requests that he be sent his chess set from home. Notes that the regiment does not get very many recruits and that those they do get tend to desert. Writes that there is to be an execution of a deserter who Coit believes joined the Rebel side.

GLC03603.267

17 April 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Notes they marched to Getty's Station to attend the execution of a deserter but were told that it was to be postponed. Says that they received orders to march to Bowers Hill and then were transported to Suffolk by "cars." They came back to camp via Getty's Station. While on out on march, they set up camp on a night that is very cold. Since they have all been soaked during the daytime march, the men are very cold. The officers take shelter with a black Cavalry. "I would like to see a nigger with a skin so black that I would not sleep with him if he had a good blanket." He comments on the local…

GLC03603.268