5 June 1864

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

This letter was sent in the same envelope as the letter #69. Did not get to write as much as he had wanted to yesterday, and decided to write more today. The Rebels charged their lines last night between 9:00 and 10:00, but were unable to break through. "We lost about 50 in our Regt. By shells day before yesterday. I think the loss in our Regt. Must now be over 300 in killed and wounded." There has been fighting for 33 days straight now. The 2nd Rhode Island was shipped home today, but with hardly 100 men left in it. Bought a rubber overcoat for $4.00 before leaving Brandy Station.

GLC09355.070

9 June 1864

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

As he is neither on duty nor cooking, has some time to write. There is not much firing going on alone the lines at the moment. "Now both armies lay facing each other." Both sides fire 20 or 30 cannons over the course of 24 hours and have made heavy fortifications. "They rake our camp [with] every shot." When the shells come, "we all make a grand rush for the breastworks just like a pack of frightened rabbits going for their holes." Did not have anything to eat the other night. Found a group of "dead beats" - soldiers who take jobs such as cooking for an officer in order to stay away from the…

GLC09355.071

21 June 1864

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

Has received two letters from them since he last wrote. Would have written sooner, but has not had time to do so. "I am very well off." Suspects he would write more if Sid were here. Despite the address on this letter, they do not hold the city. "I witnessed the hanging of a nigger within 3 rods of where we then lay." The 10th Massachusetts went home; wishes Sid were with them. Some blacks were hanged at the camp. "I stood and see that nigger hang and within myself wished that such might have been the fate of that class years ago." Was very sick last night but feels better today. Had a "…

GLC09355.072

23 June 1864

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

The letter is dated 1864/06/24, but Clapp's next letter, dated 1864/06/24, was written the next day, and he acknowledges his error in the prior letter. Would be sleeping instead of writing, "but the flies eat me up." Feels better than he did the last time he wrote. Moved to the extreme left flank of the army at dusk. There has not been much heaving fighting here, just "a little lively skirmishing." Is about 5 miles west of Petersburg. The mail coming from home has not had trouble, but it seems that the mail going home has been stopped. "I guess [Sid] will not grumble at a few months sojourn…

GLC09355.073

24 June 1864

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

Attached to this letter is a poem titled "Another Brave has Fallen" that was cut from a newspaper. Yesterday's letter dated the 24th was actually written on the 23rd. Did not march last night. Had heard that the Rebels were massing for an attack on their lines, but the attack never came. At daylight, however, there was some "sharp fighting on our right." Would like very much to receive a package from home, but tells them not to send it with a man home on furlough. As soon as they find a camp, "I will give you some good long letters all about this campaign." Has kept a daily record of events…

GLC09355.074

27 June 1864

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

Mail has become more regular, so they can send as much as they want. Is almost out of paper and needs more. Also needs a lot of new envelopes. They can send those things fairly easily by speaking to a postman before sending it. If they write "Soldier Package" on the outside, then it will not cost much to send. Also needs new socks. If they do as he says and send the package direct, "I will get it and no mistake in 3 days time." The government has been working hard to fix up the mail. There is a well nearby; managed to get some very clean water. The handkerchief they sent him "is the prettiest…

GLC09355.075

5 July 1864

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

Finally received a letter from them. Will respond immediately, as he had held off writing another letter home for the arrival of one. The corps left on a raid to destroy part of the Weldon Railroad. "They met with no trouble at all" and returned 4 days later. Headquarters for the corps has moved a mile and a half into the woods. That raid was the first march that he did not go on with the rest of the corps. "When we move the dust is so thick we can hardly see a rod from us either way." Their division's job seems to be to guard the far left and rear of the besieging Union army. "They are…

GLC09355.076

8 July 1864

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

"I am once more with the regiment on duty." Is no longer with the provost guard. What remained of the 7th, 10th, and 37th regiments were consolidated into one regiment in the 3rd brigade, 1st division of the corps. "I felt some ashamed" of being so far from danger while in the provost guard. Expects they will go on the move in a day or so.

GLC09355.077

8 July 1864

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to brother

Received a letter from him and a letter from Mother yesterday. July 4th was a pretty quiet day, "hardly a gun fired all day." No July 4th could surpass that of last year when Vicksburg fell. Is back with the company he first came out with. General Wright is his new commander, but "we don't have half the confidence in him we did in the one we lost." Weather is very warm and it has not rained in a long time. Went to see Eddy Wright right before his corps crossed the James River. Was on guard all night last night near regiment headquarters. Must try and answer his mother's letter too. Wishes he…

GLC09355.078

9 July 1864

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mother

Just finished writing a letter to Charlie and will now write to her. Glad to hear her July 4th was so pleasant. One year ago on the 4th his corps was celebrating the victory at Gettysburg. Does not know where he will be for the next July 4th, but hopes he will be in Massachusetts. Does not have much news to write of. Does not know if she has gotten news that he is back with his original company. Came back from guard duty with 22 others.

GLC09355.079

March 1939

Bullard, F. Lauriston, 1866-1952

Pamphlet

Title: Lincoln Pardons Conspirator on Plea of an English Statesman

GLC08880.088

1861-1877

Print

Title: The Battle of Gettysburg

GLC08880.089

1949

Berthrong, Donalld J., fl. 1949

Pamphlet

Title: The Civil War Collection of the Illinois State Historical Library

GLC08880.116

1861-1877

Bushnell, Samuel C., fl. 1940

Pamphlet

Title: The Story of the Monitor and the Merrimac

GLC08880.118

1861-1877

Pamphlet

Title: The Medieval Art of Illumination as Applied to Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

GLC08880.120

1863

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Printed document

Title: The Gettysburg Address on one side and a picture of Lincoln on the other

GLC08880.140

19 November 1863

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Pamphlet

Title: The Gettysburg Address as an illuminated manuscript

picture of Lincoln on first page

GLC08880.141

26 July 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Resting at camp. It is the first day in a week that they have not been marching or fighting, which is "quite a relief." Now knows how his mother felt when she worked so hard around the house. Has marched almost non-stop since June 5th, covering "400 miles in that time" with stretches of "60 or 70 hours at a time without sleep." Marches often start at 4:00 AM without any warning or breakfast. Sometimes managed to buy food along the road. Often did not get to sleep until 2:00 AM. Eustis, his brigade's commander, said "if his brigade were sent in front and were brought into action [at Gettysburg…

GLC09355.012

1861-1864

Object

Title: [fragment of iron shell from a cannonball]

One side is round and would likely be part of the outside of a cannonball. It is likely the piece of shell that was stuck in George Clapp's right arm, wounding him.

GLC09355.121

1861-1864

Object

Title: [pocketknife]

Navy blue handle. It has only one blade tucked into it.

GLC09355.122

1861-1864

Object

Title: [pocketknife]

Milky white handle. Has two different blades, both of which have rusted significantly, tucked into it.

GLC09355.123

1861-1864

Object

Title: [maroon leather box with small collapsing cup]

Small round leather maroon box with small silver collapsing metal cup inside.

GLC09355.124

20 December 1862

Oakes, Cyrus, fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to S. P. Oakes

Written in Neff-Rice Camp

GLC03136.010

1 January 1863

Oakes, Cyrus, fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to S. P. Oakes

Written in Neff-Rice Camp

GLC03136.011

3 January 1863

Oakes, Cyrus, fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to S. P. Oakes

Written in Neff-Rice Camp

GLC03136.012