1861-1865

Epperly, Sarah, fl. 1850

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Christian Epperly

Writes that she will help find spouses for Christian and his sisters.

GLC02715.132

3-4 December 1862

Jones, Joseph, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nancy E. Jones

Apologizes for not being able to keep her letters but asks that she save his until he comes home; regiment will likely move towards Alabama and Georgia; rumors that Richmond was captured; advises her not to visit as "here is no place for a woman."

GLC02739.027

20 June 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Trying to comfort his wife, who was depressed by the death of a relation (Lucy who had died a year earlier). Expects marching orders soon.

GLC04558.100

6 October 1862

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Complains of no letters received, diarrhea, reviewed by Pres. Lincoln, officers resigning, wishes for Sibley tents so he can be warmer. Written on patriotic stationery.

GLC04558.046

24 October 1862

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Feeling better, wishing he could help his wife with farm-work, speculating about McClellan's intentions. "...I dont feel as patriotic as I did, Maybe, because I have lost confidence in most of the head officers, for I dont believe they want the war to end, and further, in the way things are going it will never end, by fighting. I am not alone in this opinion, for it is one generally, and openly expressed thoughout the ranks, except, by some of the new troops, who have not forgotten the old home idea, that the South is a going to be scared to death of a presidents proclamation or a call for…

GLC04558.050

3 March 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Inspection, cleaning his equipment and scrubbing his buttons; jokes about needing lectures from his wife "Maybe I am a sesech Democrat, but dont know guess [sic] I am straddle of the fence mit [sic] one foot on both sides." Expresses skepticism about the war's early end.

GLC04558.072

7 March 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Has finally received express box. Hopes for furlough, advises his wife to stay out of debt if she wants to build a new house.

GLC04558.073

10 March 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Worries at her sickness, hopes for furlough; farm news, business and questions.

GLC04558.074

20 March 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Written in pencil. Continued March 21. Has moved to better ground and larger house, which he describes. Now has a stove made from an old camp kettle, so the other boys crowd his house to stay warm. Describes leg swelling and lameness, makes suggestions for house-building to his wife. Written in a camp near Suffolk, Virginia

GLC04558.077

19 April 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Trying to cheer his wife, orders and countermanded orders to cross the Nansemond, river rumored to be blocked by Rebs, and joking: "About the broomstick question I plead guilty and believe I oughter [sic] to be broomsticked cause I didnt stay at home... but... I hope you will exercize your supreme clemency and commute it to something less humiliating and more pleaseing [sic]." Postscript on p. 1 notes successful capture of rebel fort on the river.

GLC04558.084

27 April 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Hot weather. Regiment's officers trying to get regiment mustered-out or to get a furlough. Mentions consolidation of corps and fears of officers. Reports rebels doubling pickets. Concludes with a joke that he might "go under" if he comes in-range of his wife's "kissing battery."

GLC04558.087

14 June 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Asks her to write and apologizes for brevity; discusses preparations for a dance and picnic, including ladies from Norfolk whom he hopes will be respectable. Claims that "over five hundred" women in Norfolk are "registered as professionally bad" (i.e., prostitutes). Concerning a soldier who drowned trying to swim the river "Sixty rounds of ammunition and the accoutrements of a soldier makes [sic] a bad life preserver." Sends five dollars and wishes she could attend the dance next Wednesday.

GLC04558.098

18 June 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Continued on June 19. Yesterday's festival or dance was attended by 35 ladies "of the showey kind." Teasingly says his "gal" was not there and says he sat-out the dances. Describes dancing platform, etc. Asks about crops and livestock. Mentions Lee's invasion and jocularly advises wife to "grind up your 'old sythes and bush-hooks' to defend yourself." Mentions other men promoted who had "influential friends at home" Sending twenty dollars.

GLC04558.099

19 November 1850

Higgins, Ann L., fl. 1850

Autograph letter signed

Title: to her brother Tobias Gibson

Louisiana, Tobias' wife, is ill. Ann tried to get a minister to visit Louisiana, but she refused to see him. She also discusses a man whose fiancee made him switch churches.

GLC04501.061

January 15, 1853

Gibson, Tobias, fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Randall Lee Gibson

Discusses plantation business. They are still digging ditches in an attempt to make the place healthier. He discusses the debates concerning the annexation of Cuba. Sarah will soon have to make a decision between J.H. (Joseph Humphreys) and T.G.R. (perhaps another suitor for Sarah). Her father will not interfere as he thinks both would make a good match.

GLC04501.068

11 October 1853

Gibson, Tobias, fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph A. Humphreys

He has decided to stay in Lexington for a while. Sarah (Gibson Humphreys) writes the second page of the letter and teases her husband about being away from home.

GLC04501.071

14 December 1857

Higgins, R., fl. 1857

Autograph letter signed

Title: [to Tobias Gibson]

Announces that he has married Ann. He encourages Tobias to remarry after the death of Louisiana Gibson (see GLC04501.100).

GLC04501.084

15 August 1858

Slaughter, Atticus, fl. 1858

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [Tobias] Gibson

He writes about his wife Virginia and plantation business.

GLC04501.086

20 February 1871

Gibson, Tobias, fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah [Gibson] Humphreys

A melancholy letter discussing the difficulty of running a profitable plantation. Tobias worries over his children and his failings. He mentions the death of his wife, 20 years ago to the day. He writes of another woman he fell in love with after Louisiana died: "we were everything to each other but the nuptial ceremony . . . ." but "we do not correspond, but I hear occasionally of her."

GLC04501.100

1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: [to Sarah Gibson]

Writes to her niece about family news, particularly concerning a cousin who just married and Nathaniel, who is very ill.

GLC04501.103

24 November 1862

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents and sister

Writes that he and Darius have received money by way of Mrs. Warner, their captain's wife. He reports that General Dumont is issuing a notice in the papers identifying men who have deserted and offering a reward for their return. In response, the regiment voted that "it was justice to proceed in this manner." Wheeler writes that he and Darius are elated that they have their families support.

GLC07460.006

29 November 1860

McSherry, Anna, 1833-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Written by Anna to her brother Henry who was an assistant surgeon in the U.S. Navy and appears to be in New York. Mentions a band that came from Frederick, Maryland to play on Thanksgiving. Says that their father went to Baltimore on Friday morning to see their cousin William. They are going to look at a farm owned by a Mr. Keg. Questions the purchase and wonders if William can run it properly. Also mentions other investment possibilities. Last 2 pages updates him on friends and neighbors, especially on weddings that have taken place. Says there is little news to pass on, but mentions she did…

GLC03523.21.04

27 November 1860

McSherry, Anna, 1833-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Written by Anna to her brother Henry who was an assistant surgeon in the U.S. Navy and is stationed in Brooklyn, New York aboard the USS "Vandalia." References receiving Henry's letter. Says he ought to get any books that he wants as "time spent in reading good works is well employed." Says the more she looks at his photograph, the more she realizes it is such a good likeness. Mentions sights to see in New York, including Trinity Church, the Cooper Insititute in the Astor Library, and "Mr. Aspinwall's picture of the Immaculate Conception." Says Dr. McGary came by to say goodbye. McGary is…

GLC03523.21.03

28 November 1860

McSherry, Richard M., 1792-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Written by Richard to his son Henry as an assistant surgeon in the U.S. Navy. References receiving his letter. Gives him investment advice. Tells him Tom is getting married tomorrow, Anna is writing him again, and that Dr. McGary will stop and call on him before going to Europe. Reports that two hogs were killed, giving them 659 pounds of meat. Says he has not settled on a contract to buy John Janney's(?) farm and will not "unless the southern difficulty is settled."

GLC03523.21.05

1 August 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Written in pencil on patriotic stationery. Describes the situation of forts ringing Charleston (Moultrie, Sumter, Wagner), and mentions that Wagner was taken last night but lost due to shelling. "...I dont like the looks of things here in general...." Notes that he is farther away from her than before. Written while aboard the steamer Adelaid.

GLC04558.108