circa 1862-1865

Gordon, George Washington, 1836-1911

Autograph album

Title: [Prisoner of war autograph book]

Prisoner of war autograph book of Capt. George Washington Gordon of the 48th Tennessee Regt. of Volunteers, from Union prison at Johnson's Island, in Sandusky Bay, Lake Erie. Over 650 autographs of Confederate soldiers and sailors, most listing their names, ranks, units, where and when captured, and hometown.

GLC09309

3 January 1863

Kessler, Thomas J., fl. 1843-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his friends

Writes to friends from Camp Douglas. Discusses a terrible storm and the cold weather. Comments he does not believe he has seen colder weather. Writes the soldiers are freezing and the prisoners are suffering, and many of them have died. Reports it is the coldest weather that the West has seen. The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner.

GLC03523.52.03

21 September 1862

Fales, Charles L., fl. 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Adelaide Fales

Captured after a Union bayonet charge at Second Bull Run: "...when we charged bayonets and rushed with a yell on to the railroad. The rebels poured the shot with us fast but we drove them away and held the railroad....They shot some men after they surrendered. I expected to get killed one fellow rushed up to me with his bayonet and asked me if I wanted to die, I told him I did not care. He with several others marched me off."

GLC09316

March 7, 1863

Clark, Alex M., fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sara McMillan

Captain in the 8th Regiment Iowa Infantry, earlier taken prisoner at Shiloh and later paroled: "My vengeful feelings are the hardest to keep down, when thinking of those in the free North, who would prefer giving up to that Tyrant, Jeff. Davis who is trying to establish a government the corner stone of which is oppression....We…are fighting…for the principles that are, or ought to be, dearer than life, Liberty, Freedom from the oppression of the basest of tyrants."

GLC09319

1864-1865

Hilliard, Thomas B., fl. 1864-1865

Diary

Title: [Diary of private in 50th Penn. Infantry]

Diary of private in 50th Pennsylvania Infantry, with entries from Sept. 1864 through June 1865, encompassing the close of the war: "Today the election took place for President of the United States everything moved off quietly majority for Lincoln in the 50th Regiment.... news of Sheridan's victory on the left rebels still retreating... [April 1865] a great talk of peace...2000 prisoners taken to City Point...considerable talk about the death of Lincoln."

GLC09320

September 1883

Riddle, A.J., fl. 1864-1883

Photograph

Title: [Seven photographs taken by A.J. Riddle of Andersonville Prison]

Rare complete series of seven photographs taken by A.J. Riddle, in August 1864, of Andersonville Prison republished with captions in 1883 by Theodore Wiseman, who claims to have secured the "original views in 1865, in an old chest, in old Captain Wirz's house at Andersonville."

GLC09352

22 June 1862

Jones, William B., fl. 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Reeser

Jones writes from headquarters, Camp White House. Wishes Reeser well. Reports that he is within twenty miles of Richmond, Virginia and his company is fighting off Confederate guerrilla parties. Describes a skirmish in which the Confederates wounded twenty Union men, burned some hay and grain wagons, and stole mules. Jones's men took sixty Confederate prisoners. Describes confederate soldiers acting as "farmers and younian men untill we get out of thare site… we cant yet to do as we pleas or we wold not hav afarmer in Viriginey we wold kill them as fast as we cold find them… " Mentions…

GLC03523.43.02

23 December 1862

Ward, Edward K., 1837-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Writes that spending Christmas away from home will be difficult for him and he will miss his family. Discusses his celebration plans for the holidays. Explains that despite being away from home, he is able to visit his lady friends. Reports on news of various men that serve with Ward including Charly Locke whom he believes was been taken prisoner. Describes an incident where a shot hit his canteen and he mistook the water running down his leg for blood. When he determined he was not injured, he continued until shortly after, he was shot in the foot. Asks his sister to remember him to…

GLC02232.11

January 12, 1863

Ward, Edward K., 1837-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Describes the events leading up to and including his involvement in the Battle of Stones River (Murfreesboro). He reports that he and Marshall (his brother, also known as Sam) are alright but Captain [Thomas H.] Francis of company A suffered a foot injury and was left behind after the battle. After his experience he writes: "I never would have thought that human man could have suffered the exposure we were subject to." Ward is quite confident that the battle was a Confederate victory and gives details on the numbers of men killed, wounded and taken prisoner on each side. He writes that…

GLC02232.12

25 September 1863

Ward, Edward K., 1837-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Writes from the line of battle before Chattanooga. Reports that he has survived the Battle of Chickahominy with just a slight wound to the chest. He spent two days in the hospital and rejoined his command on 22 September. Ward writes that the enemy is still in Chattanooga and he predicts that there will be another battle soon. Reports that his messmate and friend, Lieutenant Webber, was killed in the field. Writes that his consolidated company went into the fight with 40 men and lost 10 (one killed, eight wounded, and one missing). Ward writes that they've had a difficult four weeks with…

GLC02232.23

12 October 1863

Ward, Edward K., 1837-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Written from the line of battle before Chattanooga. Writes that he has heard from his brother Marshall who is slowly recovering from dysentery. Discusses communicating with Miss Mollie and Miss Tillie and other mutual friends. Writes that he has been promoted to Senior Second Lieutenant and his company has elected Ben Thurman to replace him as Junior Second Lieutenant. He mentions to his sister that he received a letter from his friend Page's father. Page has been missing and is believed to have been taken prisoner. Writes that someone named "P" will be getting out soon. Requests that…

GLC02232.25

1 June 1862

Ubil, Frederick, fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Reeser

Writes to a friend. Discusses working four miles from Delaware City and having beer and sweet cakes. Enjoys living in Delaware City and going out every Saturday night. Comments "they are the old time democrats true to the union and they think everything that is not for the union is fools…" States they went fishing for "cessesion hering" with "mules tales in their mouths." Mentions that "the old gentleman" heard General Nathaniel Banks was chased into Maryland. Reports that General George B. McClellan took Richmond, Virginia; Corinth, Mississippi was evacuated; and Memphis, Tennessee…

GLC03523.43.01

14 September 1864

Bow, Nathan, fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Reeser

Writes to John Reeser from Company B. Describes being about ten miles from fighting and hearing the soldiers firing at each other all the time. Comments that the rebels are "firing at our pickits every nights." Describes taking a man prisoner while on picket and sending him to head quarters. Informs Reeser that he will send ten dollars to him. Inquires after a friend who was sent to Philadelphia; sends message to have his friend join him in Company B.

GLC03523.43.12

26 September 1863

Kessler, Thomas J., fl. 1843-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth N. Kessler

Writes to his sister from Camp Douglas. Reports 1500 Confederate prisoners have arrived in camp over the last two days. Discusses two men who were killed in camp. The first was a sharpshooter who shot himself. The other was a "negro boy" who was shot by a guard. Writes, "… He felt getting Rather careless He was going to His quarters and crossed the gard [sic] when the gard [sic] Halted him 3 times and He did not stop the 4th time shot him…" Thanks her for the stamps. Encourages her to go to school this winter. The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner. Addressee name…

GLC03523.52.15

22 October 1863

Kessler, Thomas J., fl. 1843-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his friends

Writes to his friends from Camp Douglas. Informs them that he has been sick and confined to bed which has given him the opportunity to practice. Comments if he does not get well soon he will have to quit all exertions. Reports that they are short hospitals rooms for the rebel prisoners and they are dying off in great numbers. The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner. Letter is addressed to his friends but envelope is addressed to his father, A. P. Kessler.

GLC03523.52.19

6 November 1863

Kessler, Thomas J., fl. 1843-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to A. P. Kessler

Writes to his father from Camp Douglas. Informs him not to send him boots. Reports two cases of smallpox in camp. Notes all soldiers are to be vaccinated. Comments if it spreads to the rebel prisoners it will take them clean. Reports one hospital has over 200 sick rebels and many die every day. The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner.

GLC03523.52.21

12 December 1863

Kessler, Thomas J., fl. 1843-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to A. P. Kessler

Writes to his father from Camp Douglas. Informs him that he has been sick for a week with dysentery. Notes most of the camp has it. Discusses the President's message that allows prisoners to keep their property if they take an oath of allegiance. Comments that there have been nearly 200 prisoners from camp who have taken the allegiance and joined the United States Navy. Reports that he and a few other soldiers are still trying to get a discharge. Writes of Congress repealing the $300 bonus for joining the army. Believes that if Congress goes through with the repeal it will put the poor…

GLC03523.52.26

February 21, 1865

Owen, John, fl. 1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James

Captain of 36th Regiment U.S. Colored Troops, mentions the locations of fellow Harvard alums, including "[Robert Todd] Lincoln in the army," and the health of those released from POW camps. He announces the news that "at this moment [received from] the Orderly…'By telegraph…a despatch from Admiral Dahlgren that Charleston is evacuated & that he is running up to take possession - you will fire a…salute…for the Capture of Charleston & Columbia, U.S. Grant.…' Hurra for Dahlgren & Sherman - The fall of Ch. & Columbia ­ Yea! verily the end approaches & one last fight more…

GLC09371

20 July 1862

Davis, Samuel H., ?-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Dolly Davis

Writes to his wife from Camp Priceville, Mississippi. Discusses goods and currency values. Mentions a battle being fought in Murfreesborough (likely referring to the First Battle of Murfreesboro, fought on 13 July 1862 in Rutherford County, Tennessee), the number prisoners taken and the amount of damages is noted. Portions of the document have been damaged and mended causing text loss. A draft transcript is available.

GLC02738.05

2 July 1863

Starr, George H., fl. 1839-1916

Autograph letter

Title: to his father [incomplete]

Describes, in detail, his capture at Gettysburg and the terrible losses suffered by his corps at the battle. Cites by name fellow officers and soldiers killed and wounded (Lt. Johnson, mortally wounded despite his steel vest, Lt. Col. Tuthill shot through the chest, Maj. Genl. Reynolds killed at the beginning; Brig. Genl. Paul seen falling from his horse, etc.). States that they "foolishly attacked them [the Confederates] (the 1st Corps alone), only about 1200 men, while the Enemy had 30,000 & as the natural result we were defeated with terrible loss, & fully 1/3 of the 1st Corps…

GLC02748.02

2 May 1864

Starr, George H., fl. 1839-1916

Autograph letter

Title: to Frederick Starr

Written from Libby Prison ("Hotel de Libbie") in Richmond. Starr discusses, sometimes humorously, the possibility of exchange, his desire for packages, and his health. He also mentions the fact that his February escape attempt precluded his early exchange: "... A boat came up on the 29th apr bringing 50 officers and 300 men; & we are assured that the Exchange is to go on. There was an order issued that forbade the parole of any of those Officers who Escaped in Feb'y: Otherwise I should have been out Ere this - That restriction however is now removed ..."

GLC02748.03

28 August 1864

Starr, George H. (ca. 1839-1916)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his mother

Writes to his mother complaining of not receiving a "letter from home of later date than May 14th" and asks that if his father is well enough, if it would be possible "to have him make an Effort to secure my "Special Exchange" - " Continues by giving instructions on how his father should proceed. Also tells his mother not to worry, saying "Do not be anxious Dear Mother about us. God is very good to us as a family - I should like to get home to vote for Lincoln & hope I may - Love to all -" Starr escaped less than two months later.

GLC02748.04

18 May 1864

Johnston, Witter H., fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Miss Sue Johnston

One of the Colonels placed a truce flag on enemy lines today. He heard that the left wing of Grant's army was whipped. 17,000 men were taken prisoner. He refers to Banks' defeat.

GLC02167.18

22 September 1864

Johnston, Witter H., fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Miss Johnston

He thinks Elliot has improved since joining the army and is now a man. Seymour Graves is going to have a comission in a negro regiment. He had dinner with some exchanged prisoners

GLC02167.32

13 November 1864

Johnston, Witter H., fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Miss Sue Johnston

He is worried about Edgar. He mentions Cousin Emily. He has to guard the Rebel prisoners though he has had no interesting experiences with the prisoners.

GLC02167.36