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

February 1, 1864

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Epperly

Notes that he has received several letters from her including one dated 4 August 1863. Says the army is falling back towards Atlanta, Georgia. Also reports an account of mutiny that took place in December where officers attempted to punish a group of soldiers by forcing them to wear barrels (a common punishment in both armies). When the soldiers refused, a regiment was brought up to enforce the punishment. Still not willing to submit to their punishment, the offenders formed a line and fired on the regiment, killing 10 and wounding 100 of their comrades. "[O]ur men had a little Brush…

GLC02715.082

18 October 1862

Burnett, Lawrence T., fl. 1862-1863

Newspaper

Title: The confederate states. [Vol. 6, no. 15 (October 18, 1862)]

An account of the battle between Rosecrans and Price. An act resolves military law by the Confederacy. Fugitive slave ads. Printed on yellow necessity paper.

GLC06208.06

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

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

5 July 1778

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Informs his brother that he wrote a previous letter discussing the Battle of Monmouth (refer to GLC02437.00714). Writes, "I had particular reasons for not writing you a circumstantial [account] as General Lee who commanded the advanced parties has been accus'd of disobedience of orders in not attacking the Enemy and for retreating from before them- he is now on his trial upon the charges." Encloses a duplicate account of what he previously wrote on the battle and asks William not to publish it, noting that George Washington's letter to Congress will carry the "most true and just account."…

GLC02437.00715

2 September 1778

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: [Henry Knox's responses to questions posed by George Washington]

Later copy. Knox considers whether or not the greater part of the Continental Army should move east to reinforce troops in Newport, Rhode Island and Boston, Massachusetts. Suggests lending assistance if American General John Sullivan's troops are captured. Suggests leaving a force in the Hudson River Highlands comparable to the size of the British force in New York. Advises against an attack on New York. Remarks that obtaining bread will be difficult for the troops moving east.

GLC02437.00722

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

9 November 1862

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Marching. Near the Rappahannock and approaching Fredericksburg. Mentions artillery fighting, and long discussion of stealing from Confederate civilians: "Notwithstanding all the orders to the contrary, we soldiers dont considder [sic] it much sin to take from these secesh all that we can lay our hands on but if the Provost guards get hold of us we get walked up to 'the captains office to settle' for it. Maybe you will think that I am getting tough but I cant help it[.] Yesterday afternoon I went out with three others of Co H foraging and while we were skining a hog the provost general…

GLC04558.053

23 November 1862

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Rainy weather, rebels hold city, rebel pickets taunting about election, Bull Run and Antietam; Colonel courtmartialed twice for drunkenness but cleared, Colonel and regiment's surgeon trying to get regiment out of battle area, soldiers mutilating themselves to get discharged, Italian soldier bayoneting a fellow Italian, with final note dated 11/24 3 AM regarding marching orders. Signature followed by postscript "The orders to march today is countermanded 5 oclock A.M." The letter is continued on October 24th.

GLC04558.055

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

1 January 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Continued January 3 ["Dec."]. Written in pencil. Increasing strictness of the colonel for infractions, mentions that soldier mutilating himself (cutting off thumb) was court-martialed and sentenced to hard labor and half-pay for rest of service, marching orders given then countermanded. Regarding the war and Fredericksburg: "No; as I said before I dont believe this war will ever end by fighting. It is not the rebels at the North that troubles us but the rebels here, as the irishman says 'right finenst [sic] us.' You need not blame Burnside for not succeeding for he did as well probably…

GLC04558.060

January 27, 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Jokes about his wife's hanging his picture and how Burnside's marching orders made him loose weight, wishing he could hire a replacement, remarking that he despises the officer punishing a deserter more than the deserter, telling wife that son Leon should look at his picture "so he will know me."

GLC04558.065

15 May 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Moved camp, picket duty, fishing a lot while on duty; the NY 89th is one of the few regiments to remain; talk of consolidating regiments; mentions rations available. Letter broken-off with orders to strike tents and move. Captain under arrest. Mentions Lt. Col. England.

GLC04558.092

9 June 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Writes of being by-passed for promotion and mentions talk of promotions being bought from the captain whom he describes as "very young... a little under 21 years old,... on the whole rather good looking, but... fopish, showey, conceited, and vain[;] [he] understands tactics and military movements very well... and has a good voice for giveing commands for which the boys all like him...." Mentions that this same captain has been courtmartialed twice for unknown offenses. Asks about news of a family friend at Port Hudson and "Vixburgh." Sends ten dollars.

GLC04558.097

10 November 1861

Harlow, Charles D., fl. 1861

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Asa Smith

Written by Harlow to his cousin Asa Smith in the Union Army. Harlow and Smith were not close before Smith joined the army, but Harlow hopes they will get to know each other through writing. Harlow claims he heard Smith was in good health through Homer. Says the family is well and that 2 regiments will soon leave the area for Washington. Reports that there are 800 soldiers at Fort Warren in Boston Harbor. Claims "They have come from most all parts of the Union; they are men of Secession principles, who have said and done to[o] much, but they are in safe quarters now." Says a severe storm last…

GLC03742.03

28 August 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Relieved from the trenches by the 10th Corps. New camp is in wooded area; picket duty becomes fun; corporal arrested for exchanging papers with rebel pickets. Georgiana's illness continue.

GLC04558.158

22 March 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Discusses the men from his regiment who have deserted and how they were punished. Describes being ill and of other officers sending for their ladies. "… wonder if mine would come if I sent for her…"

GLC03603.259

April 5, 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Coit

Requests a chess handbook and describes a company box that he has acquired to hold his books and other belongings. Writes that he is in command of the Regiment because Captain Hoyt is in Portsmouth attending a court martial.

GLC03603.265

12 April 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Describes a quiet camp and reading a novel called "Pique" until his candle went out at 4 a.m. Thanks her for sending a book called "Lady of the Lake." Describes singing hymns with the other officers and requests that he be sent his chess set from home. Notes that the regiment does not get very many recruits and that those they do get tend to desert. Writes that there is to be an execution of a deserter who Coit believes joined the Rebel side.

GLC03603.267

17 April 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Notes they marched to Getty's Station to attend the execution of a deserter but were told that it was to be postponed. Says that they received orders to march to Bowers Hill and then were transported to Suffolk by "cars." They came back to camp via Getty's Station. While on out on march, they set up camp on a night that is very cold. Since they have all been soaked during the daytime march, the men are very cold. The officers take shelter with a black Cavalry. "I would like to see a nigger with a skin so black that I would not sleep with him if he had a good blanket." He comments on the local…

GLC03603.268

11 August 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that Captain Goodrich has returned to the regiment after recuperating at Annapolis. Comments tha he testified to the good character of Colonel Ward under oath during a hearing by the military commission. Says he put everything in a favorable light. Mentions an order by the War Department that refuses to muster out officers who have served less than three years in their present rank. Says that he feels as if others think of him as a mainstay in the Regiment and also that he is unsure of what he would like to do once he is mustered out.

GLC03603.309

January 11, 1863

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that there is a small campaign among the men to help Colonel Harland become a Brigadier. Various officers are writing about Harland in order to nominate him. Writes that a box from the Soldier's Aid arrived and gives a list of the items he received from it. The most appreciated items were the desserts which were shared. Mentions at the end that he believes the project to write and sign testimonials about Harland might go against one of the Articles of War. Written on the back of an appeal circular from the Connecticut Soldier's Relief Association, Washington, D.C.

GLC03603.182

January 26, 1863

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes after returning from a trip home. Reports seeing Fred Ward's father on the train and hearing him talk about his son who he believes has been taken prisoner. Thinks that Fred Ward is dead but did not tell his father this. Reports that Charlie Johnson met him in New York and attempted to give him boots, an overcoat, and a scarf and gloves. Writes that he arrived in Washington, D.C. and bought a sword, haversack and boots. Declares that the city is "full of shoulder strap & I was ashamed to be seen there." Describes his new sword and his return to camp, where he was made fun of for…

GLC03603.184

17 April 1863

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Notes that he is located "3 miles below Suffolk, on the opposite side of the Nansemond River from the Rebs." Writes of a confusion which resulted in Lieutenant Foss being discharged for not reporting on time and that he will miss Sam (Foss) who he describes as an affectionate soldier who was just as against drinking as Coit was. Remarks about his anger that the 8th Regiment does not get due credit in newspaper stories about the battles. Written near Suffolk, Virginia.

GLC03603.224