1 November 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Has a runny nose; the siege drags on and another assault scheduled that night for Fort Sumter; expects conscripts to arrive soon and receive weapons, "til then they are guarded closer than rebel prisoners would be."

GLC04558.121

15 November 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

He has put on more weight; has gotten used to constant firing on Charleston; encloses a "greenback" for Dolly.

GLC04558.123

8 May 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Describes leaving New York and traveling to Yorktown without his regiment, journeying back to West Point to join them, and then the trip to Virginia. Briefly mentions battle for a railroad and the unit's transferred to the "seige Corps."

GLC04558.132

11 May 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Describes skirmishes and battle near the railroad between Petersburg and Richmond, where "lots of the men were sunstruck." Has not been able to "draw money for rations and I don't know when we shall"; mentions a letter from Urial, a need for stamps and a lack of whole sheets of paper.

GLC04558.133

17 May 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Has not heard from his wife since he left New York. Lengthy decription of the back and forth fighting around Richmond and the heavy losses by both sides. Cross writing questions whether money sent from Elmira was received.

GLC04558.134

24 May 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Placed in command of a "post" along the James, GWT directs the defense of his troops as Confederates repeatedly attack from across a ravine. Also defends himself against rumors that he played games and drank at Parkers (in New York).

GLC04558.135

27 May 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Details the health of friends, including one who has measles, and acknowledges a pay raise. "This dearest is an awful campaign. Rivers of blood have already been shed but still the story is not half told yet."

GLC04558.136

6 June 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Writes news of the fighting at Cold Harbor and lists the fate of friends. "I take this opportunity of leting [sic] you know that I am still among the living, but still I have to acknowledge that life here at present is very uncertain."

GLC04558.138

9 June 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Still in the rifle pits at Cold Harbor. "On the 6th a flag of truce was sent out for the purpose of burying our dead that lay outside of our lines and began to smell so as to make it very disagreeable for us but the rebs would to allow it, the next day another was sent that was more sucessfull and upwards of two hundred were buried."

GLC04558.139

16 June 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Writing from a hospital after bullet hit GWT in the foot, bruising the foot and making him lame. Discusses Grants losses in the campaign and the defenses of Petersburg.

GLC04558.141

23 June 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Written in pencil. Cross written. Coming back from the hospital, finding many of his regiment wounded GWT takes his place in the trenches surrounding Petersburg. Describes life in the trenches, gives the number of wounded and killed for his regiment.

GLC04558.142

26 June 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Written in pencil. Camped less than a mile from the front. Observes that shells are more dangerous in the rear than at the front. Discusses events of past few days; wishes his foot had been wounded so he could get a furlough.

GLC04558.143

4 July 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Written in pencil. Expresses disappointment that the fourth was not being "celebrated with more noise for it was rumored yesterday that at daylight this morning all of our batteries would open on Petersburg and the rebel fortifications."

GLC04558.145

9 July 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Evaluates the damage that different types of artillery shells (i.e. mortar and rifled cannon shot) create at various distances from the front line. Mentions troops rotations between lines, and farm business. Gives a current price for cotton cloth (75 cents a yard) and comments that bullies make cowardly soldiers. Written in a camp near Petersburg, Virginia

GLC04558.146

16 July 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Written on U.S. Christian Commission stationery. More discussion of artillery shelling and trenches; predicts a possible evacuation; worries over not having heard from his wife; better rations; illness. Written in a camp near Petersburg, Virginia

GLC04558.147

21 July 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Cross written. Receives letters from home. Wonderful description of night time artillery barrages, comparing them to fireworks. Also writes of tearing down rebel fortifications, rain in the trenches, and news of comrades.Written in a camp near Petersburg, Virginia

GLC04558.148

31 July 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Written in pencil with portions of pages 1-4 traced in a darker pencil. The explosion and charge on fort along the rebel line by Burnside's 9th Corps was at first rumored to be a great success although GWT noticed Grant "appeared a little troubled." Later, GWT learned that casualties for the 9th Corps was 6,000 killed wounded and missing. GWT blamed "the disaster of yesterday" on a brigade of "negroes [who] when charged on scadaddled without fireing a volley."

GLC04558.151

3 October 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Describes transfer from the fort to Chapins Farm and the action there including how he saved an officer. Long list of comrades killed, wounded and missing. Lost $130.

GLC04558.164

19 June 1864

Tittle, George A., fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Written directly after the engagement with the "Alabama." Says one week ago while in Flushing, Holland, Captain Winslow received information of the arrival of the CSS "Alabama" at Cherbourg. Says they left immediately and remained sitting outside Cherbourg until this "forenoon" when the "Alabama" came out to give them battle. At 11:10 a.m. "precisely, the 'Alabama' fired the first gun and just three minutes afterwards the 'Kearsarge' opened her battery and kept up a continuous fire for the space of one hour & two minutes, when the 'Alabama' fired a gun to the leeward and hoisted a white…

GLC02828.17

29 October 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his mother

He writes that he has been wounded in the shoulder and is in the hospital. The bullet is still lodged in his side. He requests his mother's presence and says the wound prevents him from writing.

GLC03603.329

28 October 1864

Smith, fl. 1684

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mrs. Charles Coit

The Chaplain writes to Mrs. Coit to inform her that Charles has been wounded with a shrapnel shot. Smith reports the wound is severe and that he was being transported to Chesapeake Hospital. He requested that the Chaplin write to his mother immediately.

GLC03603.331

31 October 1864

Chillan, E.W., fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles Morgan Coit

This bill from the U.S. General Hospital charges Coit for $3 for 3 days stay at the hospital.

GLC03603.332

2 November 1864

Clarke, P.W., fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: [Certificate to allow Ellen Coit to travel]

This letter was written by the Headquarters Provost Marshal to certify that Ellen Coit was allowed to travel to visit her brother at Chesapeake Hospital.

GLC03603.333

2 May 1865

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Coit is back in camp after his long convalescence. He is not yet on duty but has status as "sick". He writes about Colonel Coughlin, Captain Fleming and Lieutenant Colonelcy. He writes of trying to collect souvenirs for family friends. Written in Manchester neighborhood of Richmond

GLC03603.336

23 May 1865

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

He writes of riding out with other officers to welcome Sherman's troops but getting lost and wet with rain along the way. He writes of seeing Mr. Birnie, Mr. Buckingham and Mr. Ripley in Richmond. He receives an order to escort the Springfield party "round the fortifications." He resists telling the guests the heroic tale of the 8th putting "the first colors on Ft. Harrison".

GLC03603.342