1861-1865

Jones, Joseph, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nancy E. Jones [incomplete]

Likenesses of his children; plans to send money home when it is safe; taking of Charleston and Generals Lee and Rosecrans; Confederates switching sides.

GLC02739.155

circa February 23, 1863

Epperly, Mary M., fl. 1859-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Christian M. Epperly

Says she heard that all soldiers will come home the fourth of next month. If he does get to come home, she does not want him to go back to the army. Tells him that George has been home nearly three weeks and no one has come to look for him. States that she believes the army is not interested in catching deserters because there are too many of them. She addresses her husband as "Marion" (possibly Epperly's middle name). Top quarter of first page written in very light pencil.

GLC02715.048

1 March 1863

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Epperly

Writes from Camp Lee that his company intends to go home in the spring. Justifies desertion saying that the army would not give them any furloughs.

GLC02715.049

24 April 1863

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Epperly

Believes the Yankees are heading toward Gordon's ville to cut the railroad to Lynchburg, Virgina. Informs her that two men in camp have gotten married. Expresses his desire to go home.

GLC02715.050

25 May 1863

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Epperly

Writes from camp near Cupeper that he had hoped to "run the blocade" [sic] and come home, but the army is moving again. Notes that General [W.E.B.] Stuart may be heading into western Virginia.

GLC02715.055

9 August 1863

Epperly, Mary M., fl. 1859-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to C. M. Epperly

Notes that she finds it hard to eat knowing that her husband has such poor a diet. Says that she will try to send him some food. Mentions that deserters from his old regiment fought with the home guards. [See GLC02715.070]

GLC02715.065

14 August 1863

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Epperly

Mentions that many men desert daily. Says that the loneliness is almost impossible to bare. If everyone else deserts, then he will too. Notes that they are near a paper mill and paper is very cheap. Adds his thoughts about the future of the Confederacy. "I dont believe in staying with the smallist [sic] and I think Session [sic] is amost [sic] dide [sic]out. I beleave [sic] it would a been a grate [sic] thing for us if it never had been a live."

GLC02715.066

August circa 1863

Epperly, Joseph, fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to C. M. Epperly

Writes that many men have deserted and that several hundred cavalry may be sent to bring the deserters back.

GLC02715.068

16 August 1863

Epperly, Mary M., fl. 1859-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to C. M. Epperly

Discusses desertion: "I think [if] the head men dont soon end this war that the soldiers will for they are runing from down east by hundreds ther[e] was five hundred went through hear last weak well armed and they say they wont go back any more and I don't blame them for it. I wish they would all runaway and these head men would be obliged to fight it out but as long as they can stay at home and speculate [inserted: off] of the poor soulders they dont care how long the war lasts."

GLC02715.069

21 August 1863

Epperly, Mary M., fl. 1859-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to C. M. Epperly

Writes that she spoke to a man from Franklin, who said half the men from that army have deserted. Notes that the men do not hide but live normal lives. Says that the home guards do not bother to look for deserters anymore and asks her husband to come home. [See GLC02715.065]

GLC02715.070

27 August 1863

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Epperly

Writes that he received her letter, but thinks it best not to come home right now. Believes a large force will be sent after deserters and the army will be hard on them.

GLC02715.071

4 November 1863

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Epperly

Writes from camp near Chatanooga that many men are sick and in the hospital. Notes that he has just arrived at Chattanooga. As punishment, he and the others are in the guard house. [He had deserted.] Gives his address as: "Buckners Division, Trigs Brigade, 54 Va. Regt. Vol., Company A., Chicka[h]omany Station, Tenn."

GLC02715.072

4 January 1864

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Epperly

Writes that he received his overcoat, some apples, cakes, butter and soap on New Years Day. Comments that his only punishment for deserting was 20 days in the guard house. Also discusses rations.

GLC02715.078

1 November 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Mentions problems with the post. Explains why the Continental Army had retreated in the Battle of White Plains (28 October 1776). Notes that military intelligence gathered from British prisoners and deserters suggests the British are planning to attempt a decisive attack. The Continental Army will try to avoid any general battle in which they lack "most advantageous terms."

GLC02437.00478

25 March 1864

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Epperly

Writes that he does not think the Southern army will ever fight as well as they did at the beginning of the war and that the South has become wicked. "May God show us our erro[r]s and put us in the rite way and Bring us Back to our old Union again."

GLC02715.087

8 May 1864

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Epperly

Writes about recent executions in his brigade. "I havent any nuoos [news] to write to you at this time only the sad and awful Execution which taken plase in our Brigade yesterday which was too cruel for mortal man to behold. There was 14 North carlinerns [Carolinians] shot to Death yesterday with muskettry. 10 belonging to the 58 North Collinear [Carolina] and 4 to the 60 Regt. ah thear cries and Grones how sad they did sound. They was tide to stakes by thear Captens and their cruelley murderd by the order of a few wicked men and had don nothing I dont sopose but left the army and went…

GLC02715.091

15 June 1864

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Epperly

Notes from camp near Marietta that he has not received any mail in a long time. Knows the mail is irregular and believes it will be cut off before too long. Writes: "There was one of our Companeys went to the Yankees the other Night off of Picket. Co. D is the Co that went. The Capt. and Lieu went with thear men there is one Lieu left and 9 men One Lieu and 2 noncommissioned officer and one privet from Co. C."

GLC02715.097

4 July 1864

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Epperly

Writes that they fell back six miles. Says that he does not think the Yankees will fight as long as they can keep flanking the Confederates and forcing them from their positions. Notes that they lost 30 men through straggling. State was not provided, but based on previosly written letters it was likely written from Georgia.

GLC02715.099

12 August 1864

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Epperly

Reports that the Yankees are shelling the town. Says that the shelling has killed many women and children and caused great hardship. The soldiers took all the food from people's gardens. Writes that he believes the Yankees will try to flank them on the left rather than attack. Notes that William has been caught and sent to the guard house. [Possibly from attempting to desert.]

GLC02715.103

4 December circa 1863

Epperly, Mary M., fl. 1859-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to C. M. Epperly

Reports that the army issued an order that all men between 17 and 50, who had not reported for service, were to be taken by force to join the army. [See #85] Writes that Harvey was caught when he went to town, not knowing about the order and that Christian has begun to speak. Date was taken GLC02715.085.

GLC02715.114

24 March 1865

Epperly, Mary M., fl. 1859-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to C. M. Epperly

Writes that she thinks the Yankees have stopped the mail and that is why he has not received her letters. Notes that she believes the Federal Army will soon occupy Richmond and Lynchburg, Virginia. Comments that she does not believe the Yankees will treat them any worse than the Confederates have. If all the soldiers would desert then they would have peace.

GLC02715.122

25 June 1778

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Reports that the British left Philadelphia. He and Lucy went into the city, but had to leave because it "stunk so abominably." Notes that the American and British armies are twenty miles apart, at Princeton and Allentown respectively. Comments on the great number of deserters in the British army. Writes, "if General Actions had no other consequences than merely the kill'd and wounded, we should attack them in 24 hours, but the fate of posterity and not the illusive [sic] [brilliancy] of military Glory govern's our [Fabian] Commander, the Man under God to whom America owes her present…

GLC02437.00712

26 November 1862

Jones, Joseph, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nancy E. Jones

If they don't get paid soon, he thinks "a good many wil go home and I don't blame them for our soldiers is used worse than a dog." He estimates that there are 200,000 troops around Nashville but they have not fought yet.

GLC02739.025

1 October 1862

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Ordered to act as Sergeant (from Corp.) and arresting two deserters who returned. Reconnaissance balloons report rebels digging rifle pits 10 miles to the south.

GLC04558.045

8 December 1862

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Money sent to wife, difficulty of collecting debts from other soldiers, mentions pursuit of deserters.

GLC04558.058