10 November 1861

Blanchard, Ira, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary (Wright) Kellogg

Blanchard writes to Mary Wright from a hospital in Mound City, Illinois. Reports he has been sick with fever for six weeks. Says the hospital is three stories high and capable of treating 6000 patients. Comments that war "...tries men's souls." States his regiment marched from Cape Girardeau to Frederick, Missouri where a "colored" woman told them the rebels were 6000 strong and waiting to ambush them just outside the town. Describes the battle in detail. Reports on the battle at Columbus, Kentucky which he considers to be "...one of the greatest battles of the present war..." Explains the…

GLC03523.31.10

February 5, 1862

Blanchard, Ira, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary (Wright) Kellogg

Blanchard writes to Mary Wright from Fort Henry, Tennessee. Mentions Union General Halbert E. Paine leaving with the sick soldiers and supplies. Reports on his trip to Cairo, Illinois by steamer on the Ohio River. Says the boat was so crowded they had to stand for two days and two nights during constant rain with no shelter. Informs they moved onto Paducah, Kentucky where a large addition was made to their fleet. States Union General Ulysses S. Grant issued orders for the entire fleet to advance. Writes about killing a group of rebel spies with a well-directed shell. Letter is faded in…

GLC03523.31.12

31 July 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents, brother, and sister

Writes that the company is back in Lavergne and was able to return to the log buildings they had built there a month ago. Discusses General [William Thomas] Ward, his sixteen year commission, and his refusal to report to General Morgan. Writes that the capture of Confederate General [John Hunt] Morgan was a good thing and wishes he had been killed instead. Gives details of prices for various vegetables and comments that it has been difficult to raise any food in the area. Of the war he writes " war is a desolater, and the South are beginning to feel it, but not enough."

GLC07460.041

23 August 1863

Terry, Robert B., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sister

Reports to his sister from the U.S. Army General Hospital that they currently have a Conferderate major general, a brigadier, a captain, and a couple of lieutenants in the hospital. Tells her that "no news a stirring around the City."

GLC03523.08.80

24 March 1864

Terry, Robert B., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Louisa B. Terry

Reports to his sister "Lou," about his thoughts that "the 'Army of the Potomac' will be reorganized soon," noting that he believes only Veterans will be in it. Remarks on newspaper article about how the Reserves will be concentrated, commenting that they will probably have to go to the state to recruit. States "it is true [General Ulysses S.] Grant has got considerate power invested in him and of course their are more expected on that account." Remarks that he thinks the "Great Raid" was a failure, proclaiming that the 119 P.V. [Pennsylvania Volunteers] "may have supported [General George]…

GLC03523.08.95

24 September 1864

Knox, Andrew, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Knox

Knox writes to his wife from a camp outside Petersburg, Virginia. Reports receipt of her letters and the joy they bring him. Says he destroys her letters after reading them several times because "I do not wish anyone but myself to read them." Refers to the success of Union General Philip Sheridan. Informs he was ordered to appear for an examination for promotion which he declined in writing because of his longing to return to her as soon as possible, and not be mustered into service for an additional three years. States quite a lot of officers have done the same. Comments he is in a safe…

GLC03523.20.19

16 October 1864

Knox, Andrew, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Knox

Knox writes to his wife from a camp outside Petersburg, Virginia. Says her letters help the tediousness of war. Reports the city of Petersburg is plainly visible and "...I heard the church bells ringing from there, this morning, the same as if nothing like war was going on around it..." States the churches are targets and they can see eight from their position. Mentions they offered him a promotion to Captain if he consents to be mustered into service for an additional six months, which he refused. Says there is a strong desire to keep all officers in the regiment. Letter has a small hole on…

GLC03523.20.20

28 November 1864

Knox, Andrew, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Knox

Knox writes to his wife from a camp outside Petersburg, Virginia. Reports he has put out a "shingle" that reads "...shirts repaired wholesale and retailed,"and opened a shirt business. Says he repaired a neckband and a wristband and it took him three hours to do it. Mentions considerable artillery firing on their lines the past four days. Complains the rebels have drove in the picket lines.

GLC03523.20.22

22 September 1861

Ticknor, Horace L., 1836-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Ticknor writes to his family from camp in Cairo, Illinois. Reports he is in good health and made Corporal. States his company is the left wing of the regiment. Mentions they have fifty to sixty prisoners. Says he has been loading canons onto boats to go downriver, "We have got some big canon here and we will give the trators a warm reception if they come here."

GLC03523.30.01

14 March 1862

Ticknor, Horace L., 1836-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Ticknor writes to his family from camp in Columbus, Kentucky. Reports they just received marching orders to board a transport and go down the Mississippi River with seven gun boats and twenty-five mortars. Anticipates a fight with two rebel gunboats on the river they have surrounded. Mentions their victory in New Madrid, Missouri. Encloses "... a few sesesh notions that I got in Columbus."

GLC03523.30.02

20 May 1862

Ticknor, Horace L., 1836-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Ticknor writes to his family from camp in Farmington, three miles outside Corinth, Mississippi. Reports his line extends fifteen to twenty-five miles. States he is in Union General John Pope's division expecting a battle any moment, "... if we whip them here i shall think seshion gone." Says they have several pieces of artillery in front of their company. Promises "Will do all i can to whip the trators."

GLC03523.30.03

8 September 1862

Ticknor, Horace L., 1836-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to an unknown cousin

Ticknor writes to an unknown cousin from sixteen miles outside Cincinnati, Ohio. Expresses relief his cousin was not accepted when he tried to enlist "...for i think if we are ever whipped it will be before the new recruits and volunteers get into the field and get drilled..." Comments "...this soldiering is hard harsh business." Complains about sleeping in water three to four inches deep and eating hard crackers and raw meat. Expresses deep belief the Union must be preserved at all costs. Mentions the reports from Virginia are not good and things "...look rather dark...." Reports learning…

GLC03523.30.05

1862

Ticknor, Horace L., 1836-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Ticknor writes to his family from Cairo, Illinois. Reports ten boats of rebel prisoners are in the harbor. Mentions they were in Kentucky for fifteen days. Comments the march was very hard due to rain and mud. Writes abut one regiment "...that could catch a hog and kill it and cut it up and put in their haversack and not miss a step..." Informs of his nice quarters. Letter mentions only day and year but no month.

GLC03523.30.06

25 July 1863

Blanchard, Ira, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary (Wright) Kellogg

Blanchard writes to Mary Wright from Vicksburg. Discusses in detail the fall of Vicksburg and the long siege. Claims "...70,000 men had received the death blow and fell into the hands of the invincible troops of U. S. Grant..." Reports the stars and stripes now fly from the spire of the court house. Says he hopes the war will be over and he will be home by the next Fourth of July. Reports many citizens and soldiers are sick. Mentions an abundance of peaches, figs and melons.

GLC03523.31.23

24 August 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents, [brother-in-law], and sister

Comments that he is pleased that his family has received all of his letters and writes that he is fighting for their rights. Describes his journey to Stevenson, Alabama by train. Reports that during his trip he met an old friend, John Hegeman who fought at Murfreesboro and Perryville. He also writes about riding on the train through the Cumberland Mountain range. Upon arriving at Stevenson his company took up lodging in Rosecrans' headquarters. Writes that Union pickets extend along one side of the Tennessee River and the rebel pickets on the opposite side of the river. Wheeler…

GLC07460.046

28 August 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents, [brother-in-law], and sister

Wheeler is very pleased with the consistency in which his family writes him and states that he thinks no one else in camp gets as much correspondence from home as he does. Reports that Union forces are in Chattanooga and his entire Brigade in Nashville. Describes the city of Nashville, specifically mentions the Capitol building, James Polk's burial, and Andrew Jackson's home. He wonders if Jackson would be a Union or Rebel if he were still alive. Discusses the orderliness of the large Union hospitals, which Wheeler feels gives him greater assurance that Uncle Sam "is growing more able and…

GLC07460.047

1 October 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister Martha [Spohn] and family

Reports on the continuous rainy weather. Comments on the quality of tents the soldiers are living in, stating that if they lived off what the government gave them it would be like lying on the ground with " two bed sheets over a ridge pole for a cover." Writes that three Army Corps will be passing through Nashville on their way to reinforce Rosecrans. Informs his family that a building in Nashville used as a barracks for imprisoned rebels has partially caved in, killing and injuring some ninety-five people. Hopes that his hometown friend, Ella Lattin, recovers her health. Writes that he…

GLC07460.051

13 September 1863

Maitland, James M., 1815-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph M. Maitland

Informs his son, "We... have noticed by the papers that Rosencrans [sic] is pushing after the [Rebl] army and has possession of Chattanooga and that Burnside with his army has taken Cumberlan [sic] Gap with 2,000 Prisoners and 19 guns, and had also possession of Knoxville... I think now if Old Abe and his Cabinet would act with direction there are several States which would lay down their Arms and enter into the Union or in other words would signify their intention of submitting to the Constitution as it is, but I know from certain givings out of the Union Speakers in the State of Ohio that…

GLC03523.10.103

21 September 1863

Maitland, James M., 1815-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph M. Maitland

Reports that his brother-in-law, Lieutenant Colonel Elhanan Mast, is part of a Union force closing in on [Braxton] Bragg. Comments on a riot at the house of Mike Murphey. Informs him that there was a meeting at the Courthouse concerning the efforts to suppress future riots and bring the offenders to justice. Notes that there was a recent meeting to raise men for the border cavalry of Ohio. Complains that supporters of John Brough, candidate for Governor of Ohio, call their opponents, "... Butternuts, Traitors, and Copperheads if they do not go in with Old Abes radical views." Comments further…

GLC03523.10.104

9 November 1863

Maitland, James M., 1815-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph M. Maitland

Writes to his son about the news from home, reporting that all is well. Provides details about the war, mentioning that "General [John] Sedgewick and [possibly Major General William] French made an attack jointly on a part of [General Robert E.] Lee's Army [possibly referring to the Battle of Rappahannock Station fought on 7 November 1863] and killed and wounded a number of Rebs and captured near 2,000 prisoners Our loss killed and wounded was 400." Informs him that they expect to have rail tracks from the "Broad G. Rail" line laid shortly. Includes a three cent stamp on the envelope.

GLC03523.10.112

18 August 1862

Blanchard, Ira, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary (Wright) Kellogg

Blanchard writes to Mary Wright from camp on the Hatchie River. Mentions the warm weather and his illness. Reports on the imminent arrival of 600,000 more troops. Anticipates the end of the rebellion soon. Comments on the Confiscation Act of 1862 and how it "... will be a severe blow to rebels if properly carried out by our generals." Says they eat peaches and melons which grow in great abundance. Offers his opinion on what to do with the negroes; "...give them a spot of earth where they may dwell by themselves away from the whites, let the white women marry the white man and the black woman…

GLC03523.31.16

6 September 1862

Blanchard, Ira, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary (Wright) Kellogg

Blanchard writes to Mary Wright from Jackson, Tennessee. Says things look gloomy for the Union, especially in the East. Reports on the victorious battle of Britton's Lane led by Union Colonel Elias S. Dennis. Informs the intense heat caused soldiers to fall exhausted before the battle began. Comments their guns were so warm from excessive use they could barely manage them. States they buried their dead at night. Says upon their return to Jackson, Union Generals John A. Logan and Leonard F. Ross praised their victory as "...the greatest achievement in the history of the world." Compliments her…

GLC03523.31.17

4 October 1862

Blanchard, Ira, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary (Wright) Kellogg

Blanchard writes to Mary Wright from Jackson, Tennessee. Thanks her for the flowers she enclosed in her letter. Comments, " the flowers which grow here are very beautiful, I think their breath is not poisoned with the sentiment of treason..." Expresses interest in knowing "...who you are waiting for" to marry. Says the rebels are in force at Bethel, Tennessee and have cut off their communication with Corinth, Mississippi. Talks about the vigorous efforts underway to secure the city of Jackson. Asks her what she thinks of the Emancipation Proclamation. States he is happy about it and hopes…

GLC03523.31.18

January 30, 1863

Blanchard, Ira, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary (Wright) Kellogg

Blanchard writes to Mary Wright from a camp in the suburbs of Memphis, Tennessee. Reports on the lovely weather. Expresses pleasure she is attending school. States Union General Ulysses S. Grant is amassing troops outside Vicksburg, Mississippi and his regiment expects to go there soon. Describes in detail his visit to Elmwood Cemetery, where thousands of Union and Confederate soldiers are buried. Complains the monument of Andrew Jackson in the cemetery had been vandalized at the start of the rebellion. Expresses disgust at Illinois Democrats and their law to "..whip and sell niggers...they…

GLC03523.31.20

6 April 1863

Maitland, John A., fl. 1854-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [James M. Maitland]

Tells his brother that he has been happily working at the Rolling Mill, where he has made 900 dollars. He is also in good health. Reports on farm activities and comments that their uncle, James Maitland died two years ago. States, "Conflict has come upon us at last the Fanatics North & South have Cursed our Country and God only knows when it will end. We have had a repetition of the reign of terror that our Forefathers Experienced." Continues on about the war, "Why I hardly know Who I was he says you are going to fight for your Country aint you boy you'll Fight for the Constitution &…

GLC03523.10.062