1863/3/17

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith

Discusses skirmishing along his picket line and mentions the funeral of a member of their regiment. His regiment got into a fight with a New York regiment over wood. Only twenty-five men from his company are fit for duty.

GLC04189.33

1863/3/25

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith

He is ill again. Sickness has decimated the regiment: "a good many get sick that never get well again[.] [W]e have a funeral in the Regiment nearly every day on an average[.] [L]ast night we had 3 . . . ." Describes a skirmish on the 17th between Cavalry units.

GLC04189.34

1863/4/21

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith and family

He is feeling better, although "the medicine I have taken has settled in my bones So it is hard for me to walk. Some has [sic] lost the use of their limbs altogether & others have lost all the toes off their feet." He still expects his package to come and mentions that it may be delayed because the transport boats have been moving out of the area. He describes rebel deserters who complain of a lack of food, clothing and pay.

GLC04189.37

1863/4/24

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles

He describes cooking in camp and speculates that Hooker is moving the army out to keep the Confederates from sending reinforcements to Vicksburg.

GLC04189.38

1863/05/07

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith and family

The army has retreated back to their old camp. Describes Stonewall Jackson's maneuver which forced them to retreat. He discusses losses to the regiment and lists the names of friends who were killed or wounded. He writes that he had been in battle five days and nights and "2 nights & 1 day under fire of artillery & Small arms...I can get along with small arms very well for we cannot hear the Ball until it strikes. But the shells Grape & canister you can hear from the time they start (or are in the air) and every one thinks it may hit him (So the feeling at such times is…

GLC04189.41

1864/12/23

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

A steamer arrived with 1700 express boxes, two of which were for Walbridge. Hopes that the good fortune shown with the surrender of Savannah and Fort Fisher will continue with future success. A letter from Annie makes his wonder if she has become to attached to Captain Phelm. He thinks the correspondence should be broken off.

GLC04662.087

1864/12/29

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

He will deliver Annie's Christmas present to Phelm on New Years Day. An expedition to take Wilmington, North Carolina failed.

GLC04662.088

1865/2/6

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

He thinks the rebellion will be over by the 4th of July. Reminisces about friends and playing in the snow. Leon must return to his regiment. Confederate peace commissioners came into Union lines while Confederate bands played patriotic union songs. [Hampton Roads Peace Conference which occurred 2/3 at Fort Monroe on the "River Queen."]

GLC04662.092

1865/2/24

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

The capture of Wilmington and Fort Anderson. Worries that Beauregard and Lee will join forces. Many southerners are deserting into union lines and even more are simply going home. He has been ordered to the Department of the South. Describes the visit of his brother, George.

GLC04662.093

1865/2/29

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

He has no news to relate. Is anxiously awaiting news about Sherman. The Richmond papers will not print anything about Sherman's march because they do not want to reveal any information the North might not know.

GLC04662.094

1865/3/24

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

The quartermaster is buying the arms of Confederates who have deserted. Walbridge advises his mother on financial affairs.

GLC04662.098

1865/10/8

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

He is on his way to Augusta, Georgia to sell his stock. He thinks Columbia must have been a beautiful city before Sherman marched through. "There are a few fire places left yet, which serve to show what the city was, but most of the buildings are now only a heap of ruins or blank, half fallen walls."

GLC04662.110

1865/10/1

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

His stock is not selling as fast as he had hoped. He thinks Darlington is the wealthiest district in the state and adds, "The people are very sesech in their proclivities and are as 'ugly as sin', as the children say."

GLC04662.111

1865/11/23

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

Describes the damage done by union bombardment and subsequent fires. Hopes to dispose of his stock in auction. Wants to be home for Christmas.

GLC04662.114

1866/1/16

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

Describes the auctions which are occurring throughout the state. Discusses the weather, which is quite warm one day and cool the next. Also discusses the economic stagnation of the south.

GLC04662.117

1862/9/13

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith

He has been sick since he joined the Army and now believes that his illness is due to bad food which "the devil can not eat." He describes how the regiment left New Jersey and traveled via railroad to Maryland. His regiment captured three of Stonewall Jackson's men, whom several Union cavalry men tried to kill while they were under guard.

GLC04189.01

1862/9/24

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith

The Confederates camped twenty miles away in Frederick, Maryland. He has "Inflamatory Rheumatism" in his legs. The regiment's officers think that they will all be discharged by Christmas. Smith begs his wife to write him more frequently and adds "I hopes if there is a spark of love left for a sick souldier [sic] in a strange land that you will send it to me in a letter..."

GLC04189.02

1862/10

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith

Describes the capture of a hearse that carried arms for the Confederacy. He found two newspapers lying on the road and mailed them to Anna [his daughter]. He asks Elizabeth to send him a letter detailing all the "impossibilities" she must deal with. Such a letter may help him get a longer furlough. Turning to family matters, Smith beseeches his wife to forget the "Rum Business." He writes "You need not lay it all to Rum for the very morning that I enlisted you know what was done and you also know that I did not want to enlist . . . ."

GLC04189.07

1863/9/14

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

He has turned in his gun and reported to the doctor. He rode in an ambulance to Culpeper. He mentions the capture of two guerrillas and adds that "woman & children & negroes packed up & left for parts unknown."

GLC04189.55

February 28, 1863

Burnett, Lawrence T., fl. 1862-1863

Newspaper

Title: The confederate states. [Vol. 6, no. 34 (February 28, 1863)]

Great speech of the Honorable C.L. Vallandigham. Description of General Nathaniel P. Banks. White and gray swirl pattern outlined with blue dots.

GLC06208.19

February 27, 1865

Hammond, Horace J., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eleanor Hammond

Health is "first rate," and leg is well. Weather is nice right now, and hopes this letter finds her well. Sent her two letters, each with $20 in them. Will send some more money by express soon. Does not need more than $5, and if he does, he will ask for some from her. Would have sent all the money by express, but did not learn until today that he could send any of it by express. Is now acting as commissary sergeant. Has to go to the brigade headquarters and draw rations for the company, then has to cook them. "Keeps me very busy." Received a letter from her this morning. Every day rebels…

GLC09273.30

February 18, 1865

Hammond, Horace J., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eleanor Hammond

Is very healthy; hopes the same is true at home. Fayette and Joseph are healthy. John is still at the hospital, but they have heard from him. He does not have consumption (tuberculosis). "Joseph thought his breach was going to clear him from duty, [but] the doctor told him that he was fit for duty." Had seen the breach, and agreed with the doctor that it would not become a problem. Tells her that what he writes to her about cannot be repeated. Thought about asking for a discharge when his leg was at its worse, but did not receive one when the leg recovered. Does not want a furlough as long as…

GLC09273.27

February 7, 1863

Weeks, John F., fl. 1860-1882

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents

Writes that he has had worse treatment since being paroled and will not be doing guard duty while he is on parole. Comments that if the fighting were left to the officers, there would be another Bull Run. Plans to visit home if he gets paid soon. Written at the Benton Barracks Union Military Camp

GLC06728.037

February 28, 1864

Weeks, John F., fl. 1860-1882

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his brother and sister

Writes that he is having trouble with his lungs but is in comfortable winter quarters. Believes that contrary to newspaper reports, Longstreet's forces will attack in Georgia not Knoxville. Akins his like of soldiering to a cat's love for hot soap and writes that the rebel forces shoot carelessly. Names the battles he's participated which include Pea Ridge, Perryville, Stone River, and Mission Ridge. Gives an account of men in his company that were killed or wounded in Stone River, Chickamauga, and Mission Ridge. Tells his siblings that he will teach them how to make a soldier's holiday…

GLC06728.065

1862/07/23

Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to George B. McClellan

Declining McClellan's offer for medical supplies for captured sick and wounded because he hopes that "in a few days your sick and wounded will be under you own care...."

GLC03905