13 April 1862

Henry, Josiah E., 1840-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sister

Writes that they are within shooting distance of the rebels' fort and have been for over a week. Thinks that there will be some fighting here since the fort is harder to get at than Fort Donelson. The surrounding area is all woods, and the woods are all swamps; they are in the mud and water, which is very deep. Writes that they "carried the great fort at Young Mills at the point of the bayonet, although we did not see more than a bakers dozen of rebels. Has been on picket duty extremely close to the rebels' fort. While on post, he looked down and saw a crowd of rebel men. The rebels…

GLC02749.001

2 May 1862

Henry, Josiah E., 1840-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

Writes that he is well and that the weather is pleasant, sometimes it rains and sometimes it is warm. They were on picket duty yesterday. The day before yesterday, a man from their Company was wounded; he was shot in the calf. He is the third man to be wounded in their Company. Writes that in Company A, the 2nd Regiment had three killed by the rebel sharpshooters and the 6th Regiment had three men wounded. Does not think he will write again till after the Siege of Yorktown (5 April, 1862 - 4 May, 1862). They were called up a few nights ago at midnight to vote as to whether they want…

GLC02749.002

May 1862

Henry, Josiah E., 1840-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mother

They are now about 30 miles from Richmond and expect to be there this week. On Sunday morning, 4 May, they were eating breakfast when an order came for them to be ready with their guns and within in ten minutes, they were in the rebels' works. Writes that "it was the same place where the battle of the 16 (possible the Battle of Drewry's Bluff, fought on 15 May, 1862) was fought… there is hardly a tree" left on the field now. They marched 11 miles, and their cavalry overtook the rebels, which resulted in a skirmish. They stopped marching about an hour after dark and camped in some woods.…

GLC02749.003

23 May 1862

Henry, Josiah E., 1840-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mother

Many men have caught Dysentery from the bad water. States that they "lost 500 men from this brigade while across the river and the Corps lost 6000." Writes that the army was put into "the shape of a horseshoe with the heel resting on the river." It was a pleasant and sunny day, but there was enough wind to lift the smoke out of the guns so anyone could see every rebel, even if you were a mile away. Claims that the rebels must have lost four men to every Union man killed because the rebels had four lines of battle, whereas they only had one line in front. Found out by the prisoners that…

GLC02749.004

28 May 1862

Henry, Josiah E., 1840-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mother

They have not arrived at Richmond yet, but must be ready for a start at a moment's notice. Only allowed to take their haversacks, no knapsacks or blankets. Have to bring 40 rounds of cartridges in boxes and 20 rounds in their pockets when they cross the creek. The creek is about half a mile in front of them, and Richmond is about seven miles away. Writes that their pickets stand on the bank and the rebel pickets are in sight on the other side, about 80 roads apart. There was heavy fighting all yesterday afternoon about half a mile on their right. The report is that they have driven the…

GLC02749.005

9 June 1862

Henry, Josiah E., 1840-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

Writes that nothing important has happened since he "last wrote except the battle of Sunday. Our division was not in it, there was not much artillery firing that day but the muskets was heavy and it was kept up without easing till near two hours after dark." Now on the Richmond side of the Chickahominy; does not suppose that they will attack Richmond this week. Writes that the rebels have fired more than 100 shots since he started writing this letter. Although they have several batteries there, Henry does not know why the rebels are firing because the batteries will burst in the swamp on…

GLC02749.006

16 June 1862

Henry, Josiah E., 1840-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sister

Henry's camp is on picket duty, and there has been a great deal of shooting during picket duty. Writes that some of the rebels climb into trees to get a better opportunity to shoot at their camp; one of the boys in Company G shot a rebel who was in the tree. The next day, the rebel sharpshooters shot into the Union camp and into a crowd of men; two boys from the 4th Regiment were wounded. Did not realize that the rebels could shoot into their camp, but bullets come into the camp everyday now. Writes that it was a "curious circumstance that out of about 200 men in the very crowded and…

GLC02749.007

1 July 1862

Henry, Josiah E., 1840-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mother

Copy. Writes that her letter dated the 18th was received today. Have had some hard marching since he last wrote; marched 23 hours on a stretch without stopping to eat or sleep. They march day and night and are now at Manchester, Maryland. Writes that they will be in Pennsylvania before dark. Apologizes for not visiting more often, but they are on the march now so it is difficult. They have marched 10 to 30 miles everyday for the last three weeks except for six days when they were at Bruce Station, which is 13 miles beyond Centreville, Virginia and York, Virginia. They arrived in…

GLC02749.008

26 September 1864

Henry, Josiah E., 1840-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sister

Writes that they can only send letters every four days now, and soon he will not be able to send any letters for two or three weeks. They are in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia within 25 miles of Staunton, Virginia and nearly 100 miles from Harpers Ferry, Virginia. They have had two battles since he last wrote, one at Winchester, Virginia (Battle of Opequon or the Third Battle of Winchester, 19 September 1864) where "this Regiment captured a brigadier General. It was a hard fight; our forces took five cannons, 15 stand collors [sic], 2500 prisoners besides killing and wounding over 5000."…

GLC02749.010

20 October 1864

Henry, Josiah E., 1840-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sister

Just received her letter dated 10 October. They had as desperate a battle as they have ever had yesterday (Battle of Cedar Creek or Battle of Belle Grove, 19 October 1864). The rebels came in from the rear, attacked them at early light, and killed men in their tents. In less than five minutes after the first shot was fired, the six corps got into line just in time. The rebels took 40 guns, nearly 200 wagons, all of the corps' tents, knapsacks, and haversacks, and drove the whole army more than two miles. When they got a chance, they drove the rebels back to Staunton, Virginia in the…

GLC02749.011

8 May 1861

Stemple, John H., fl. 1861

Autograph letter signed

Title: to girls

He informs the recipients that A.J. [Archibald Jerome Stemple, son of Major David Stemple, Jr., by his first wife, Elizabeth Wotring] is doing well, and that the two men are four miles apart but meet almost every Sunday and "have a great time." Stemple describes Boardman as a "nice country," whose residents are clever and friendly but occupied by talk of the war and "whiping the southerners." Stemple is upset that he has not received a response to a recent letter he sent Sam, and tells the girls that Sam "would better write to me if he dident want another gander fight." Stemple asks the…

GLC03523.40.01

18 July 1861

Foglesong, John C., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to cousin [Lydia A. Bishoff]

Foglesong describes having to sleep on the floor with only his coat to lie on and his carpet sack as a pillow. He reports that there is plenty to eat and drink, but adds that there is only water and coffee - no whiskey. Foglesong does not know how long he will have to stay in Oakland, but he believes that he will be uniformed by next Friday. He tells Bishoff that he still "think[s] of the last night whe was To gether," and he asks her to tell Nelly to come see them, and to tell Kit that he will write to him in a few days. He mentions that he has been drilling for eight hours a day, which…

GLC03523.40.03

14 August 1861

Sam, fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to cousin [Lydia A. Bishoff]

Sam is still in Oakland, and does not know how soon he will be called to take the line of march, although he is going to get his arms this week. He describes the health of a few members of his company, and asks how his mother is doing back home. He has heard from the "north Branch" that there are 5000 "sesechers" within 5 or 6 miles of Oakland. Sam suspects that this is true, and is worried since "there is no company but ours and whe have no arms whe would play hell afighting without arms," he says.

GLC03523.40.04

1861

Foglesong, John C., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to cousin [Lydia A. Bishoff]

Foglesong is sick. He says he does not fear his past, but he admits that now is the first time he has cared about getting home. Foglesong describes the condition of various friends from home, including Dan Swisher (who is well again). Foglesong has not been to the hospital yet, because his major told him not to go to the hospital but to attempt to get into a [illegible] House instead. Foglesong explains that he has not yet had a chance to get his likeness taken. He will soon be marching to Winchester [the 7th Virginia Regiment marched to Winchester on March 4-15, 1861]. He estimates…

GLC03523.40.05

December 21, 1861

Swisher, Daniel, fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister [Lydia A. Bishoff]

Swisher reports that he has the measles, and is still in the hospital in the city. He expects to go to camp in a week or ten days. Swisher is sorry to hear that his [brother] Jim has fallen ill. Swisher tells Bishoff that he is also sorry to hear that she cannot have any fun without him. He claims to have been away from home for so long that he does not think about home anymore. Although Bishoff has told him that she wished the war were over, he does not think it will be over very soon. Swisher tells Bishoff that he received a letter from Sam, who is doing duty in Romney. Swisher…

GLC03523.40.06

4 March 1862

Swisher, Daniel, fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister [Lydia A. Bishoff]

Swisher describes his surprise upon receiving his most recent letter from Bishoff. He had not heard from Bishoff for a long time, and had resolved not to write until he did hear from her. He now understands Bishoff's reason for not writing: she was ill with the mumps. Swisher explains that he is currently under marching orders and expects to go first to Martinsburgh and from there, on to Manassas or Winchester [as previously noted, the 7th Virginia Regiment marched to Winchester on March 4-15]. He tells Bishoff that she will soon hear of the "Bloodyists Battles Ever was fought on the…

GLC03523.40.07

4 April 1862

Foglesong, John C., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to cousin [Lydia A. Bishoff]

Foglesong informs Bishoff that he arrived at Sleepy Creek Station, and from there, traveled to Martinsburgh yesterday evening. He and his fellow troops received new guns. According to Foglesong, a dispute is underway between the officers and some of the company men, who are refusing to leave Martinsburgh "Before they get their pay." Foglesong's company is scheduled to leave Martinsburgh the next day, but he is not sure where they will be going. There is some talk of the company traveling to Florida, which is why some of the men want to be paid before they find themselves so far from home…

GLC03523.40.08

23 April 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to brother and sister

The author writes that he expects to leave Winchester on the following Friday to go to 70 or 80 miles South to Gordonsville. He reports that there are currently only nine companies of his regiment still in Winchester, as six of the companies left for Strasburg on April 21st. He further explains that Union men are still in pursuit of [Stonewall] Jackson, who has retreated towards Staunton. His company plans to meet a Brigade at Gordonsville to reinforce General Shields' Division before entering Staunton. He reports that "Jef Davis," in command at Yorktown, has been completely surrounded by…

GLC03523.40.09

12 July 1862

Swisher, Daniel, fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister [Lydia A. Bishoff]

Swisher reports that since the last time he wrote, there has been a "Considerate Skirmish" and that the "3rd and 4th of July Did not go off as nice as it did Last year." On the 4th of July, Swisher's regiment suffered one casualty and three wounded. Swisher remarks that he would have liked to have gone to the party Bishoff hosted on the 4th, and to have seen "all the pretty little Girls step around over the floor," for he has "not seen a woman for so long it is almost a show To see." According to Swisher, if his regiment happens to march through a town, the women all go into their houses,…

GLC03523.40.11

24 August 1862

Foglesong, John C., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to cousin [Lydia A. Bishoff]

Foglesong received Bishoff's letter on the 22nd, and currently has orders to take transports somewhere at a moment's warning (some think to North Carolina, others believe to New Orleans). Foglesong's Brigade is an Independent Brigade, and consists of the 4th Ohio Regiment, the 7th Virginia Regiment, the 14th Indiana Regiment, and the 8th Ohio Regiment, which has fallen back 80 miles. McClellan's Army has nearly all left but he knows "not whare." Foglesong recently had a terrible time of marching through sand that was shoe-top deep. He has had no water except that taken out of creeks "the…

GLC03523.40.12

24 September 1862

Swisher, Daniel, fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister [Lydia A. Bishoff]

Swisher tells Bishoff of the great battle that took place on the 14th of September. His Regiment was in the fight and was "Terribly cut to pieces Taking in to The fight 340 and Brought out 200. getting 112. wounded. and 28 Killed." There were three men killed and seven wounded in his company (5 pretty badly and two slightly). John C. Foglesong was one of the killed, dying instantly of a shot through the head. Bishoff's and Kate's likenesses were buried with him as he had requested while traveling on the James River with Swisher. Swisher reports that there was "many a poor soldier put out…

GLC03523.40.14

6 October 1862

Shafer, David H., fl. 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [Lydia A. Bishoff]

[written on stationery with the poem "The Girl I Left Behind"] Shafer tells Bishoff he was sorry to hear that she was mad about not being able to go to town, but he expects it has quit raining by now. He adds that he would be glad for some rain because the weather is quite hot. He says he was very sorry to hear that John C. Foglesong was killed, and he discusses the conditions of additional acquaintances from home. He says he is still on the island, and does not know how soon he will have to leave. He could get a furlough for a couple of days, but does not want to pay the nine dollars for…

GLC03523.40.15

19 October 1862

Swisher, Daniel, fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister [Lydia A. Bishoff]

Swisher traveled towards Winchester to follow the Rebel army. They wiped them out of Charlestown and came back to camp again. He is tired by hard marching in the rain. Swisher tells Bishoff he would come home if he could, but he can't. He then explains that he is waiting to see whether "Mr Abram" is going to put his proclamation into effect, for if he does, Swisher is "not agoing to stay." But "as long as I am Fighting for the right Cause I would Rather Die at the point of the Enemys Bayonets than to Have the name of A Deserter," he says. He and Dick are tent mates and have agreed that…

GLC03523.40.17

23 October 1862

Shafer, David H., fl. 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [Lydia A. Bishoff]

Shafer reports that times are fine at present, for the men can go anywhere that they please inside of the pickets which are placed 2-3 miles from camp. But there are not as many apples and cakes and pies as they had previously at Camp Willey. Also, there are hardly any women, even though there were "any amount" of women at Camp Willey. The men have to work one day out of the week in the entrenchments, but they do not work "to hurt our selves" and they are allowed "one dram a day." He worked yesterday, and George and Fred worked today. There is quite a stir amongst the soldiers who "don't…

GLC03523.40.18

13 November 1862

Swisher, Daniel, fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister [Lydia A. Bishoff]

Swisher tells Bishoff he has undertaken a long, fatiguing march since he last wrote. He is now 22 miles south of Manassas Junction in camp until his regiment receives some clothes. He believes that his regiment will then take up the march for the rebel capital, which he expects the Union army to capture before many months elapse. Swisher reports that there were many little skirmishes on the recent march, but that there was seldom anyone hurt. He was surprised to hear of his friend Daniel H. Wagoner getting married. Dick is sick and at the hospital, but was not bad when Swisher last saw…

GLC03523.40.19