21 April 1864

Burpee, Thomas Francis, 1830-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mrs. Thomas F. Burpee

Writes about the potential danger of the"Rebel Ram" and the Plymouth capture.

GLC02744.180

30 September 1861

Reese, David

Autograph letter signed

Title: to daughter

The letter has a green New York stamp that includes the New York State seal. Lets his daughter know he is well. Moved from Washington to Aliten [Alton?] Heights last Saturday. Are within eleven miles of the battlefield. "Do not know what minute we will be called upon; we expect a battle every day." Took Museum Hill last night. His son - the recipient of the letter's brother - is there. They have been exchanging letters, and his son has not been sick a day since he arrived in the regiment. Says to Tell Lisibeth - presumably Elizabeth, another one of his daughters - he was "very glad to hear…

GLC02164.10

22 December 1862

Bettes, William H., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lodema

Received her letter containing postage stamps and a five cent bill today. Writes that he can happily go around camp knowing that his family is all in good health. His health is very good and has been since they left camp in Washington. Has not heard from Wellington but is not concerned because he is well provided for and his sickness is not dangerous, although he will probably not be fit for duty again this winter. S. Z. Dickinson has gone to Finley Hospital in Washington. Received a letter from him today which said that he had to walk three miles, which took him three hours, and he was…

GLC02596.12

23 April 1862

Higgins, Patrick, fl. 1859-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Fannie Schoonmaker

Printed with a red white and blue stamp of a woman clad in the American flag. Received her letter a day ago. Many have been wounded since he last wrote. Will give a short account of what has happened. Rebels spotted two miles from camp. When they closed to within a few hundred yards from the rebel fort his company engaged them. One of his comrades was nearly hit in the head by two bullets. Two of their captains were shot. Found a small church to use as cover. Every few moments they could hear the sound of enemy shots being fired. The men were very eager and took a shot every chance they could…

GLC02164.08

17 March 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond wonders "how these Nips can keep getting literally slaughtered." He comments that this is one period that he doesn't want to share with anyone: "I'm spending the rest of my life forgetting it."

GLC09120.375

29 March 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes the closest to real fighting that he has experienced.

GLC09120.382

6 April 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond writes that he has heard that Passover is the following day, but that his "holidays are celebrated by destroying the enemy." Sidney describes firing on some "Japs".

GLC09120.386

20 April 1944

Beightler, Robert S., 1892-1978

Typed document

Title: to 82nd Chemical Battallion

Note commending the 82nd Chemical Battalion for the assistance that they provided the 37th Division with.

GLC09120.396

21 April 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond tells Estelle that he spent Passover participating in a push. He discusses the horrifying effect of encountering great masses of dead bodies.

GLC09120.397

19 October 1864

Holloway, G.H., fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amos J. Harding

Writes that they have "met the enemy and are out on parole, which occurred at Glasgow on the 15th after eight hours of constant and determined fighting." The Union had 600 untried soldiers against 8000 veteran Rebels. They had marched for three days and reached an advanced force at Boonville. The number of Union casualties was not alarming, but they lost three officers and about a dozen men, including Lieutenant Simmonds and McDowell. States that "Dusold was shot in the head but he is running around now among the rebel leaders who 'gobbled us,' such as Clark, Shelby, Quantrill, and…

GLC02178.07

30 April 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond reports that his battalion has received several commendations for their work "during the recent show with the enemy."

GLC09120.405

17 May 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond writes the letter while "comfortably loafing on hospital bed", waiting for surgery on a cyst. He tells Estelle that if her cousin joins the infantry and goes into active combat, he will have tremendous respect for him: "Truly the infantry is the 'Queen of Battle!'" He discusses the experience of those overseas, explaining that they all "burn with the injustice, inhumanity of the entire mess..."

GLC09120.412

7 June 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond discusses the "news of the continental invasion."

GLC09120.428

14 June 1865

McDonough, Henry, fl. 1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliakim P. Scammon

"I was with my Regiment in the battles of Chancellorsville, & Gettysburg; and received a wound through the thigh during the latter engagement..."

GLC02414.364

15 June 1865

Shaw, George W., fl. 1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliakim P. Scammon

"...was in the Battles of first Bull Run Chancelorsville Va Gettysburg Pa...."

GLC02414.365

19 June 1865

West, Charles T., fl. 1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliakim P. Scammon

"I have participated in the following engagements, viz Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Weldon R. R....my desire is...to remain service if found Capable...."

GLC02414.372

12 December 1861

Norton, Levi W., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to wife

Envelope has free frank signature of Reuben Eaton Fenton. Writes from Camp Wool. Realizes that life is short and flying by so he deeply regrets being separated from his wife. Writes that he feels disconnected from his wife because they have been apart for so long. Wishes that the Union will soon be reunited and never part again. Hopes that he will return home soon and relieve his wife of the outdoor work and other chores. Keeps healthy by praying to God and being thankful for the food he eats. The band is serenading Mrs. Colonel Graham of the 5th Regiment. Asks if Mrs. Grant has…

GLC09006.09

10 April 1862

Norton, Levi W., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to wife

Envelope has free frank signature of Reuben Eaton Fenton. Tells his wife that he will send his resignation request to the Colonel this week and hopes that it will be accepted in a week or two. Mrs. C has dyspepsia. Went to the Paymaster today but was told that he could not be paid for one week. Wishes to be at home with all his dear ones around him. There is great anxiety there about the Battle of Yorktown (April 5 - May 4, 1862) but they all "hope that McClellan will be more than victorious." Tells his wife to take good care of herself and make sure that she is in good health.

GLC09006.11

27 April 1862

Norton, Levi W., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to wife

Meeting a man named Church at 9AM; Church promised to be his tour guide for the day. They went to the Smithsonian Museum. Saw so many things that it would be impossible to even attempt to describe them all. Saw the coat, pants, and gloves that John Franklin, the British Royal Navy officer and Arctic explorer, wore on one of his expeditions to the Arctic region. One room is devoted to paintings and sculptures, and another room is a gallery of Indian paintings and portraits. Went for dinner at a restaurant and Church suggested they go to Alexandria if it is not too late. Greatly wanted to…

GLC09006.13

5 September 1861

Norton, Levi W., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to wife

Writes from Camp Caldwell. In the morning, he received a blue overcoat that has a state of NY button. They received the usual orders again today, so he concludes that the orders they received last night only need to be ready if any important attack is made on forces on the other side. He tells his wife that if she knew how many troops the Union had, her fears would diminish. The Federal force stretches from Alexandria Well to Harpers Ferry. Troops have been improving daily and the average for ten days has been 2220 and about 10 rifled cannons. He writes that if the Union succeeds in the…

GLC09006.02

6 September 1861

Norton, Levi W., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to wife

Rode horse-back with the Colonel through several gates and came across a large open field. Writes that the Colonel asked him to take care of Capt Stewart, a prisoner, for the evening; offers him peaches and makes him feel at home and happy. They became close in a short amount of time. He finds Capt Stewart to be a gentleman and scholar and a better man than those who arrested him, who are from the 1st Regt. of this Brigade. Capt Stewart directs "a company of patrols to look after nigger stealers." Tells his wife that she judged rightly about the battle; it was quiet, there was no fuss or…

GLC09006.03

8 November 1861

Norton, Levi W., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to wife

Envelope has free frank signature of Reuben Eaton Fenton. Writes from Camp Baker. Comments that the roads are difficult to cross so the mail boy delivers the mail only twice a week. While visiting the sick, he knelt down beside a dying man and "wiped away the dews of death from his brow." The man's name was Max Lowe and he died at noon from his own wounds. He was a Bavarian emigrant and a "good true hearted soldier, one who had the confidence of his Captain and comrades." Lowe was buried in a wide coffin and the American flag was spread over it. His coffin was placed in a small grove of…

GLC09006.06

17 July 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estellle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that he had received a letter from Harvey Salb, an infantry platoon leader who had taken part in the invasion of France: "They had a very rough time of it - With all the jungle and discomfort I'm glad we're here - not there -"

GLC09120.459

July 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph document

Title: Handwritten notes

Story about being on an observation post during a "Jap attack", and a faulty cartridge preventing Diamond from killing the target.

GLC09120.468

4 September 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond writes that he had given a lecture with a Public address system for the first time. He informs Estelle that he desires to be put "back on the front lines".

GLC09120.510