1863

Various

Header Record

Title: Collection of 16 Union army soldiers' letters[Decimalized .01- .17]

Content includes detailed descriptions of camp life, provisions, Battle of Rappahannock Station, etc. With four original transmittal covers. Letter from Emerson Opdycke dated 30 April 1862: "We expect an immense fight down there [Corinth] which I think will end the big battles in the west. Had the rebels annihilated Grant's army, our condition would have been deplorable...Grant ought to be shot till dead!"

GLC09182

February 9, 1862

Phelps, Diton, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edith M. Phelps

Writes to his sister from Camp Pierpont. Describes trying to get a furlough to go home but says that they stopped issuing all furloughs except for officers. Comments that Lieutenant Forrest has been home three times since they started marching and plans on going home again. Reports that Lieutenant Forrest went to trial and was found guilty of some of the charges. He was sentenced to be reprimanded by General George McCall. Writes that Lieutenant Forrest was taken again on other charges and will have another trial next Wednesday. Comments that Lieutenant Forrest has some bitter enemies…

GLC03523.49.08

February 19, 1865

Painter, Heber, 1841-1900

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his aunt

Written to his aunt, Mrs. George A. Frick (Rebecca Frick). Writes that President Lincoln's peace mission has failed. Reports that he has been promoted to 1st Lieut. of Company I while Lieut. Birmingham has been promoted to captain of Company G. He will need to purchase attire for his new position, which may prove to be expensive. He is waiting to be paid off this month for the amount of $193. Also writes that Grant is planning to clean out the hospitals and other places where injured and ill soldiers are housed. Painter explains that he's not ungrateful for the bravery of these men, but…

GLC02016.074

February 28, 1864

Colony, Charles E., fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary

Apologizes for not writing sooner. Mentions being homesick and Sundays being lonesome. Writes about a visit with Edwin and having a "clean meal" and eating beef steak, butter, apple sauce, and coffee. Inquires after Mary's farm. Describes his trip down as being a good one. Refers to wanting to see a woman in camp. Possibly to Mary Reeser, John Reeser's wife.

GLC03523.43.10

1861 circa

Bohn, Casimir, fl. 1849-1861

Map

Title: Map of Fortress Monroe and surroundings

Includes an engraving with hand-written indications of where camp, mill creek, and a bridge are located. The map also indicates where fighting occurred and the course of the soldiers.

GLC02016.007

February 8, 1863

Wilkinson, Frederick W., fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amanda Wilkinson

Writes to his wife that much of his division has left for North Carolina and the remaining troops are preparing to depart. He thinks that the move to North Carolina will be a good one as they have stayed in Virginia for too long. Reports that the army has great confidence in General Joseph Hooker. He writes that Hooker has "the agility of two [General George] McCllelans the sagacity of two [General Ambrose] Burnsides and the bravery of a [General Philip] Kearney." Explains that Hooker will have his men fight to the very death and those who do not fight will be removed from the army. Reports…

GLC03523.13.079

February 10, 1863

Jones, I. Richter, fl. 1862

Manuscript letter signed

Title: [to Captain John Buyers]

Letter instructing recipient on how to ambush the enemy. Also asks that some intelligence be gathered. Includes a small hand-drawn map at the bottom of the second page.

GLC02016.171

February 19, 1865

Edwards, Daniel, fl. 1863-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Reeser

Complains how long it takes Reeser to answer his letters. Writes about burying a man at the hospital. Says that there was "a old ded horse laying close beside me and the smell of him would kill rats." Tells of a conversation that he had with his friend, William M. Hampton, about introducing him to some women. He gave Hampton an address to a young woman named Caty Brown. Says that William wrote "a gay old Letter" to Caty. Caty wrote a letter back in care of Daniel and when he read it he "laft til I was sure thare was a valentine in it it was a old woman with one eye punched out the…

GLC03523.43.23

no date

Morse, George F., fl. 1864-1868

Envelope

Title: [envelope to Morse's family]

GLC02180.51

February 9, 1863

Swisher, Daniel, fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister [Lydia A. Bishoff]

Swisher plans to send Bishoff a valentine [see # 32 for text of the valentine].

GLC03523.40.21

February 8, 1864

Burpee, Thomas Francis, 1830-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mrs. Thomas F. Burpee

He regrets not being able to see her safely back to Fort Monroe. later all the men got sea sick aboard the ship. He bivouacked later and waited for the enemy who did not come. He will write his letters like a journal entry from now on.

GLC02744.152