14 December 1864

Thompson, Wilmot, fl. 1864-1901

Autograph letter signed

Title: to my dear wife

He says he thinks of her all the time. He is very lonely, he says again and tells her to write as often as she can.

GLC02740.08

17 December 1864

Thompson, Wilmot, fl. 1864-1901

Autograph letter signed

Title: to my dear wife

He misses her as usual. He repeats his lonliness and wants her to write. He has been washing all the afternoon and has rubbed the skin off his fingers.

GLC02740.10

19 December 1864

Thompson, Wilmot, fl. 1864-1901

Autograph letter signed

Title: to my dear wife

He answers in response to her suspicions that he may be straying. He says he would never do such a thing to his darling. He says he is a temperate man and has hardly drunk anything since being in the army. He suggests that she visit him.

GLC02740.11

22 December 1864

Thompson, Wilmot, fl. 1864-1901

Autograph letter signed

Title: to my dear wife

He worries that she may not receive the last money he sent. He expects to leave the island soon. Their transport arrived with Rebel prisoners.

GLC02740.12

23 December 1864

Thompson, Wilmot, fl. 1864-1901

Autograph letter signed

Title: to my dear wife

He warns her there may be some hard times. He mentioned previously that they would leave today but they are low on money.

GLC02740.13

25 December 1864

Thompson, Wilmot, fl. 1864-1901

Autograph letter signed

Title: to my dear wife

He has had a lovely Christmas and spent most of it asleep. He wants her to send a picture of herself. Once again, he tells her to have more confidence in him, for he has only spoken to one woman since he left. He says "I know I am a wicked man, but I am honest and true to my darling wife..."

GLC02740.14

26 December 1864

Thompson, Wilmot, fl. 1864-1901

Autograph letter signed

Title: to my dear wife

He is sad because he has not received any mail from her.

GLC02740.15

29 December 1864

Thompson, Wilmot, fl. 1864-1901

Autograph letter signed

Title: to my dear wife

He is going to have his picture taken, though it may be expensive. Everything on the island costs three times as much. He sent her more money express. He may sell his watch.

GLC02740.16

6 January 1865

Thompson, Wilmot, fl. 1864-1901

Autograph letter signed

Title: to my dear wife

He is on his way to Virginia. Iti is raining hard outside the tent while he writes. He describes the country as fine. There is one company from New York with them. He wishes she could be with them. Written at City Point- now named Hopewell

GLC02740.17

January 11, 1865

Thompson, Wilmot, fl. 1864-1901

Autograph letter signed

Title: to my dear wife

The country is fine but he would enjoy it more if she were with him.. Grant's army is about 7 miles away. He mentions the next time he will send money.

GLC02740.18

January 12, 1865

Thompson, Wilmot, fl. 1864-1901

Autograph letter signed

Title: to my dear wife

He is sick with a bad cold and cough. In other news they have not got their rifles yet. There will probably not be any fighting for some time. He asks her to send 4 stockings.

GLC02740.19

January 17, 1865

Thompson, Wilmot, fl. 1864-1901

Autograph letter signed

Title: to my dear wife

There is talk of settling up at their present location. Where they are now was the site of a battleground last Spring. Tomorrow there is an inspection so everything has to be very clean.

GLC02740.20

January 23, 1865

Thompson, Wilmot, fl. 1864-1901

Autograph letter signed

Title: to my dear wife

He received her picture. They have been in their present location without rifles and nothing to do for quite a while. He tells her to take good care of his babies.

GLC02740.21

January 29, 1865

Thompson, Wilmot, fl. 1864-1901

Autograph letter signed

Title: to my dear wife

He tells the horrific story of having witnessed a prisoner's hanging.

GLC02740.22

February 3, 1865

Thompson, Wilmot, fl. 1864-1901

Autograph letter signed

Title: to my dear wife

There is a battle going on now. He says if she could only see the women she accuses him of consorting with. They are all ugly and he wouldn't want to hug them.

GLC02740.23

February 6, 1865

Thompson, Wilmot, fl. 1864-1901

Autograph letter signed

Title: to my dear wife

He expects the heaviest fighting to be done in the Spring, but he is not afraid. He describes a friend of his in the company. He asks her to send him a hat.

GLC02740.24

February 7, 1865

Thompson, Wilmot, fl. 1864-1901

Autograph letter signed

Title: to my dear wife

It is snowing. They are told they must protect City Point now as the Rebels are fighting to the front. All night long, the wagons have come through with the sick and wounded. He complains about his mother whom he says abused him as a child.

GLC02740.25

December 1865

Thompson, Wilmot, fl. 1864-1901

Autograph letter signed

Title: to my dear wife

He mentions a man who enlisted three different times under three different names. He speaks of having seen hard times and harder sights yet, but his heart remains steadfast in his love for her,

GLC02740.26

3 March 1865

Thompson, Wilmot, fl. 1864-1901

Autograph letter signed

Title: to my dear wife

Some of the company has been sick but they have fattened up since they arrived 2 years sgo. He has gone through a lot of pens because of his letter writing and had to nuy more ink,

GLC02740.29

4 March 1865

Thompson, Wilmot, fl. 1864-1901

Autograph letter signed

Title: to my dear wife

He does not think the Rebels will be able to fight much longer. He suspects the war will be settled in the summer.

GLC02740.30

8 March 1865

Thompson, Wilmot, fl. 1864-1901

Autograph letter signed

Title: to my dear wife

very difficult to read.

GLC02740.31

11 March 1865

Thompson, Wilmot, fl. 1864-1901

Autograph letter signed

Title: to my dear wife

One of the lieutenants deserted to see his parents, but they caught him and sentenced him to be shot. The weather is quite warm now. They have their guns now.

GLC02740.32

19 March 1865

Thompson, Wilmot, fl. 1864-1901

Autograph letter signed

Title: to my dear wife

They have been under constant marching orders. They are now a few minutes walk from Rebel lines.

GLC02740.33

14 March 1865

Thompson, Wilmot, fl. 1864-1901

Autograph letter signed

Title: to my dear wife

He is sorry to hear the baby is sick. He is currently in the book house, just killing time. The Rebels currently have to keep shooting across lines all night to prevent deserters.

GLC02740.34

15 March 1865

Thompson, Wilmot, fl. 1864-1901

Autograph letter signed

Title: to my dear wife

He forgives her for writing "that letter," but does not say what was in the letter. He has got four months pay now besides the bounty money at his disposal.

GLC02740.35