January 18, 1863

Rifenburgh, Peter E., 1843-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister and brother

Received her letter yesterday. Never has written to Horace Rifenburgh. Has had "good living," and "will tend to that son of a bitch if I ever live to get back." Denies Horace's claim that he charged him for the harness; calls him a "damn liar." Will send home $20 at his next payday. Wrote a letter to William a week ago. Sorry to hear that Crawford was collarbone. Does not know how long he will be staying at the camp for. Has heard of fighting nearby; wants to get in a battle.

GLC08914.013

January 23, 1863

Rifenburgh, Peter E., 1843-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to brother

Received a letter from him yesterday. Glad to hear all are well. "They can't kill this Rifenburgh." Tells them not to listen to other people about the money he sent them; there has evidently been some misunderstand about who owes how much money. Does not like New Orleans; "a soldier can't get anything strong to drink."

GLC08914.014

January 31, 1863

Rifenburgh, Peter E., 1843-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

Is well at present. Hopes she and the rest of the family are well. Does not know how long he is going to stay here. "Very near all" of the men from Clermont are sick. Brooks is well. John Heinkel and James Healy have enlisted in the artillery in New Orleans. Thinks they are "darn fools for enlisting." Is on picket duty. Received a letter today from William; says his wife is "poorly." Mail has not come in about a week. She must excuse him for not writing more. Sends his "best respects" to everyone. Written at Camp Chlamette.

GLC08914.015

14 March 1863

Rifenburgh, Peter E., 1843-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to brother

Is well and enjoying good health. Hopes this letter finds him in a similar condition. Has not received a letter from home in four weeks. "What the reason is I do not know." Expects to receive one the next time the mail arrives. Has not been paid since January 1, and could use 50 cents worth of postage stamps. Stamps are "darn scarce." If he were closer to New Orleans, he could get stamps. Wants to know if Eliza received his letter. Does not know how long he will be staying here. There is fighting nearby at Port Hudson. Wishes his regiment were part of the action: "I for one should like to…

GLC08914.017

29 March 1863

Rifenburgh, Peter E., 1843-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to brother

Stationery is stamped with a colored series of stars with a shield bearing the stars and stripes in the middle. Glad to hear he is enjoying good health. Is also well. "Had a battle" on the Yazoo River; "captured 26 rebel vessels" and burnt six more. Does not think he can "get away," but is not worried; does not think the war will last long. "We will be back before next winter." This is the first letter he has received from home in "about three months." Apologizes for not writing more. Written at Camp Parapet.

GLC08914.018

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

24 April 1863

Rifenburgh, Peter E., 1843-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to brother

Just received marching orders; does not know where to yet. Cooks have begun to cook extra rations in preparation for the march. Just got paid two months of wages. Will try and send some home. Will try to send it via express mail and see how long it takes to get there. Hopes the rest of the family is well. Written at Camp Parapet.

GLC08914.021

27 April 1863

Rifenburgh, Peter E., 1843-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to brother

Has sent a picture of himself. Marching orders have been countermanded; they will be staying at camp for a bit more. Hopes everyone at home is well. Written at Camp Parapet.

GLC08914.022

3 May 1863

Rifenburgh, Peter E., 1843-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

Sent with a picture of his likeness, but it is a "damn poor one." Does not have much time to write, but is well. Hopes this letter finds her in good health. Written at Camp Parapet.

GLC08914.023

5 May 1863

Rifenburgh, Peter E., 1843-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Brother

Glad to have received his letter; hopes this letter will find him in good health. Will send a copy of the New Orleans newspaper. Sent his likeness in a photograph and an ambrotype a week ago. Lewis Brooks had gotten a letter from [Mag] saying that he (Rifenburgh's brother) had been complaining about having not received a letter in a while. Now thinks the war will last a long time: "I don't think that this war is going to end in three months or12 months." "Hot as hell" at the camp, but is able to stand the heat. Written at Camp Parapet.

GLC08914.024

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

May 19, 1863

Rifenburgh, Peter E., 1843-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to brother

Describes how the Confederates look: "like Hell. They don't wear no uniform they wear Citizen [civilian] clothes and rags." Many look "half starved." Has written a lot today. Has heard talk that the regiment is going up to Port Hudson along with their entire brigade. "We will have some fun" there. "Would rather fight than eat." Written at Camp Parapet.

GLC08914.026

10 June 1863

Rifenburgh, Peter E., 1843-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sister

Marched to Port Hudson on May 20th. Boarded the steamer Bard and sailed until sundown, when they arrived at Baton Rouge. Sailed 10 more miles the next day, and landed on shore. Got 100 rounds worth of cartridges, and then marched the rest of the way to Port Hudson. Rained "like the devil" that night; were "wet as cats." Marched the next afternoon until they were within two miles of their current position. Made their way to their current position the next day. The next day "our regiment made a charge on the Rebels in the wood and drove them all out and burned five houses." Has fallen back…

GLC08914.027

10 June 1863

Rifenburgh, Peter E., 1843-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nelson Rifenburgh

"We have had a pop at the rebels." Colonel was killed and eighty-five of his comrades were wounded. Did not take part in the fight, was left at the hospital to care for the sick. Eph[raim] Lasher and Patsey were wounded. Has "quite a lot of the wounded to see to." "Very hot" weather. Some of the men who were only signed up for nine months are leaving. Apologizes for the short letter. Written at Camp Parapet.

GLC08914.028

5 August 1863

Autograph document

Title: [partial receipt for William H. Ryphenburgh]

Fragment, partial receipt for William H. Ryphenburgh [sic].

GLC08914.037

18 July 1876

Autograph document

Title: [Certificate from the Paymaster General's Office]

Certificate from the Paymaster General's Office. It is addressed to Mary A. Rifenburgh of Germantown, NY. It entitles her to a total of $112.96 in pension in 8 installments worth $14.12 each. To do so was required by an act of Congress on April 10, 1869.

GLC08914.042

15 November 1863

Dewey, Orville S., fl. 1861-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

He arrived Friday morning and everyone was glad to see him. He is hard at work now and will remain so until the middle of December.

GLC02161.100

19 November 1863

Dewey, Orville S., fl. 1861-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary "Mollie" McLean

He has not yet seen Tom McCabe but is watching closely for his arrival. He is Cassie's brother and may decide he is unworthy of her.

GLC02161.101

22 November 1863

Dewey, Orville S., fl. 1861-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

He saw Tom McCabe and liked him very much. The interview went very well. He was merely concerned for his sister's welfare. He asks if she has framed the group picture he sent yet.

GLC02161.102

27 November 1863

Dewey, Orville S., fl. 1861-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to father

He describes life in his new battery. But he still asks if his uncle can get him an army appointment. He wants to join an artillery unit.

GLC02161.103

12 December 1863

Dewey, Orville S., fl. 1861-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary "Mollie" McLean

He asks her for pillows, sheets and a quilt for Christmas.

GLC02161.104

13 December 1863

Dewey, Orville S., fl. 1861-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary "Mollie" McLean

He says the captain and the other officers are very down to earth and do put on airs. They sleep with him and he kicks them out of bed in the morning. They are a family.

GLC02161.105

18 December 1863

Dewey, Orville S., fl. 1861-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary "Mollie" McLean

He was appointed Post-Adjutant in the morning. He did not like having to leave the battery.

GLC02161.106

December 1863

Dewey, Orville S., fl. 1861-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary "Mollie" McLean

He wants her to come visit, especially since Cassie will probably come in the winter.

GLC02161.107