14 October 1861

Smith, Asa, fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

to mother [Ann Smith] His life at camp is "quiet," and the troops are making their own fun by stealing beer from the sutler's tent. He was surprised when he saw in a paper that Corporal Asa Smith from Indiana was injured, but "was pleased to know that it wasn't me." Sends news back of other soldiers presumably from his hometown. Numbered in pencil "16." Written at Camp Hamilton.

GLC03696.01

23 October 1861

Smith, Asa, fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

to mother [Ann Smith] A "spasm" occurred involving an attack on a Union foraging party, causing orders to be prepared to leave. He describes the arrival of troops, arms, and ships, noting those ships from Massachusetts. He tells of a letter he received from Wallace, and discusses the current military news and a compliment to his regiment. He expresses a wish to go with the Engineers that have received orders to move. Numbered in pencil "19." Written at Camp Hamilton.

GLC03696.02

15 August 1861

Smith, Asa, fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to father

to father [Ebeniser Smith] the possibility of his regiment moving from Camp Cameron either on that day or the next. He says they will probably move by land, not steamer, but is unsure where they were going. Written at Camp Cameron.

GLC03696.03

25 November 1861

Smith, Asa, fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

to mother [Ann Smith] He notes the arrival of three regiments, saying that it appears there is going to be a fight and implying that Yorktown will be hurt by the Union's forces. He describes how troops from Delaware caught a Confederate soldier, and also captured six more Confederates nearby. He tells of an altercation between the Massachusetts 16th and the New York 20th, a largely German unit. The New York 20th men attacked a Massachusetts 16th soldier one day, which resulted in a huge brawl where the New York 20th got the worse of it. He tells about giving up their meals to a cavalry unit…

GLC03696.04

12 December 1861

Smith, Asa, fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

to mother [Ann Smith] Life in camp is dull. The regiment has a new lieutenant. His company is very good at drilling, and they are practicing under Col. Max Weber from Europe. The brigade practiced firing, and he says "there is music in the whistle of minnie balls especially when you hear some three thousand of them at once." He answers a question about his daily schedule. The sutler's store is closing, and he is glad. He received a letter from Natick, Massachusetts. Numbered in pencil "32." Written at Camp Hamilton.

GLC03696.05

17 November 1861

Smith, Asa, fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

He writes that he heard southern regiments mutinied by Norfolk when they were not allowed to go to the defense of their states and said they would only fight under "the stars and stripes." A hard-of-hearing Union sergeant was accidentally shot by his own sentry when he failed to respond to the cry. He hopes he will be ordered to Beaufort. He reports that German scouts saw "2000 rebels" nearby and says if the Confederates attack Newport News, "they will get awfully whipped." The chaplain saw Senators Mason and Slidell. The men badly need new pants. Smith received letters from Wallace and…

GLC03696.06

31 October 1861

Smith, Asa, fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

to mother [Ann Smith] Companies A, C, and D marched to Newport News and saw white flags in house windows and a house on fire. The "great expedition" sailed, and he saw it in the paper and in person. Yesterday [October 30] there was a grand review, and Col. Wyman was in good shape. He received a bundle of papers and a letter from Wallace. A Lieut. Hagg [a friend from Massachusetts] told him that his letters were being read at the lyceum, and "if you [his mother] don't stop doing so, I am afraid that I shall have to stop writing." Numbered in pencil "21." Written at Camp Hamilton.

GLC03696.07

3 November 1861

Smith, Asa, fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

to mother [Ann Smith] He is bored, as "There is nothing stirring here now, it is the dullest time that I have seen since I have been here," and talks about a recent storm and requests a blanket be sent to him. The regiment may soon receive a Sibley tent, a building for their horses, and clothing from ladies in a nearby town. He received a nice letter from Mr. Patten [a family friend] and responded. Numbered in pencil "22." Written at Camp Hamilton.

GLC03696.08

18 October 1861

Smith, Asa, fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

to mother [Ann Smith] He thanks his mother for the food she sent. His regiment may move forward soon, and he hopes the Pennsylvanian troops are not put on picket duty as they are incompetent: "The soldiers of the 16th fear them more than they do the enemy." He sent ten dollars to Natick on the last payday. His men have named his tent the "Smithsonian Institute," although he says "(though I doubt if it does much for the arts and sciences)", and he is proud that he has the men's respect. Numbered in pencil "17." Written at Camp Hamilton.

GLC03696.09

20 October 1861

Smith, Asa, fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

to sister He says there is nothing new to report except the arrival of more troops. One of the soldiers in Company C deserted and will either run to the "secesh camp" or be shot if he returns. He praises Colonel Wyman for his character, saying "for my part, I like him better every day." There are many ships in the shipyard, including a cigar company boat that is being used by the military. He received a letter from Wallace [his brother who enlisted in the Mass. 22nd], and Wallace is in good spirits. Numbered in pencil "18." Written at Camp Hamilton.

GLC03696.10

February 2, 1862

Smith, Asa, fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

to mother [Ann Smith] The men took up a collection to replace the twenty-three dollars he lost, and he says, "It came unexpected but was welcome and shows a good feeling towards me that pleases me much." He sent fifteen dollars home to avoid losing it again. He responds to the news of Carrie's death [his sister] and the receipt of a book from home. Rum in camp caused a scuffle between some soldiers. He notes the movement of some military ships. Numbered in pencil "47." Written at Camp Hamilton/

GLC03696.11

31 May 1862

Smith, Asa, fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

to mother [Ann Smith] He is feeling better now and his shakes are gone. The "mounted rifles" [cavalry] have arrived, and brought a "secesh" with them. Another squad of cavalry had a skirmish with 150 rebels and was overpowered. Eventually the Confederates retreated and the next day they found 7 dead horses in a pit on the road. The Union does not have sufficient forces at this place. He tells the story of a traitorous preacher. Numbered in pencil "79."

GLC03696.12

8 June 1862

Smith, Asa, fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

to mother [Ann Smith] The regiment has received orders, and will probably soon be moving to Richmond. He was unable to break the bill from home. The Union boys "played some rough games on the ignorant Secesh, in the matter of money," using wrappers and papers marked with numbers as money. He hasn't heard from Wallace. He seems ready for battle, remarking that he doesn't want to fight, but if he must, the regiment will "give them a taste of our steel which don't seem to suit them." He seems very restless in Suffolk: "One thing is certain, I don't care how quick I get out of Suffolk to some…

GLC03696.13

24 May 1862

Smith, Asa, fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

to mother [Ann Smith] He received a letter from the clerk of Victor, and sends it on to other men. The troops have left Camp Huger and marched to the fairgrounds. He has the shakes. The mayor of the town has given up his keys, and the Union military has successfully insisted that the stores remain open and accept Northern currency. He says the relationship with the local white people is improving but still embittered, and notes that "The darkeys are very fond of us, and I verily believe that the yellow girls all expect to get yankee husbands." Four Confederate deserters arrived at the camp. A…

GLC03696.14

7 June 1862

Smith, Asa, fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

to mother [Ann Smith] The regiment is now under the command of General McClellan. General Wool has stepped down. He says Wool was starting to show his age. They have no orders to go yet, but it seems to be coming soon. Col. [Peirce] is a "disgrace to the state, and the service" as he marches the men too hard in dangerously hot weather. Peirce was court-martialed but was returned to duty. Smith seems optimistic about the Union's battles. Numbered in pencil "81."

GLC03696.15

11 April 1865

Cranor, Franklin, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Delia Slocum

re: Records the reaction in camp to Lee's surrender to Grant at Appomattox. "Cheering, yelling an shooting of there guns and it was kept up till about three Oclock this morning[.]"

GLC03791.025

28 April 1865

Cranor, Franklin, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Delia Slocum

re: Cranor describes his move from Blue Springs back to Nashville and the somber mood present after Lincoln's assassination ("evry thing is dressed in mourning.") He writes that he talked to the "rebs" who said that they thought Johnson would be harder on them then Lincoln.

GLC03791.026

11 May 1865

Cranor, Franklin, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Delia Slocum

re: Cranor reports there has been some speculation about getting out of the army in July, but he doesn't believe it. He reports on a recent severe storm and its destruction in camp.

GLC03791.027

13 July 1865

Cranor, Franklin, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Delia Slocum

. re: "I will give you a short not of our trials and trubells since we left Nashville[.]" He also reports that there next stop is in Texas, 900 miles away by water "and that is the way we will go[.]" He reports on hot weather and poor health, but also that he has been recommended for 2nd Lieutenant. He stops his letter as a result of sickness which he reports in his conclusion written the 15th.

GLC03791.028

5 August 1865

Cranor, Franklin, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Delia Slocum

Records his crossing of the Gulf of Mexico and the sea sick boys. He writes that he got sick then and remains so. He writes that sickness has been a problem for the whole regiment and records the illness of two mutual acquaintances. He reports a desire to go home as he is "getting tired of the suny south," and closes by saying he is both "sick and out of heart."

GLC03791.029

4 September 1865

Cranor, Franklin, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Delia Slocum

re: Cranor reports going to church for the first time since he left Indiana on his furlough last spring. He reports that his regiment are the only troops in the area, a big change, but one that he enjoys. He complains of his inability to be home and hints that Delia should consider marriage and that the men hate Johnson because he is keeping them there: ("I dont think it would be any loss to our country if some fellow would assassinate Old Johnson.

GLC03791.030

18 December 1864

Gorman, Henry, fl. 1864-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isaac Cover

Written at Campbell Hospital.

GLC02197.004

January 13, 1865

Gorman, Henry, fl. 1864-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isaac Cover

Written at Campbell Hospital.

GLC02197.005

4/3/1864

Balmer, Hirma, fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isaac Cover

GLC02197.019

2/12/1864

Mitchell, A.A., fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Cover

GLC02197.025