Circa. May 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

States that they are waiting for the company to fill up before training can begin. Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.023

Circa. May 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Describes a graphologist's assessment of his personality. Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.024

Circa. May 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Describes how difficult Sundays are for him since he has no distractions to prevent him thinking of home and people on the outside world.

GLC09120.025

June 4, 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Discusses Estelle's faithfulness to Sid. Describes a ten-mile hike that the company had gone on, and also a lecture on means of protection against chemical warfare. Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.026

June 4, 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Incomplete letter. Explains that multiple use of punctuation marks is due to his "engaged to be engaged" status. Wishes Estelle luck in her upcoming exams. Starts to describe his dream date. Written at Edgewood Arsenal

GLC09120.027

circa 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Informs Estelle that it will be impossible to know whether he will receive officer training until the three months of initial training have been completed, but warns her that it will be very competitive due to the high caliber of men assigned to the Chemical Warfare Service. Expresses disgust at a close friend's disapproval of his having enlisted. Discusses his attitude towards "negroes" - that they should be given equality of opportunity, but that this position should not be abused. Outlines what he had done during the day. Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.028

9 June 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Discusses the chore of guarding the guardhouse, and the lack of US military success in the war so far. Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.029

9 June 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Informs Estelle that has spent the day on the firing range. Criticizes a friend, Zebe, for expressing approval of the war while in practice failing to enlist. In turn, Sidney expresses his respect for another friend, Lew Agnes, for his willingness to sacrifice life, career and friends for his firmness of thought. Speaks of how much his body yearns for Estelle. Writes of how he has had seven days straight of training with no rest, and is due to have thirteen more without an interval. Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.030

Circa June 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Asks for Estelle's forgiveness, although unaware as to why she is upset. Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.031

June 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Describes the different gases that he's been working with.. Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.032

13 June 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Informs Estelle that he has become qualified in the use of pistols, the test for which only 33% of candidates pass. Wishes Estelle a happy 18th birthday, stating that he regrets nothing from the four years which they have spent together. Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.033

February 17, 1861

Cook, Gustave, 1835-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliza Cook

Has arrived in Hayneville from Montgomery and plans to return to the latter to attend the inauguration of Jefferson Davis. Has received Eliza's letter and writes, "…I do assure you that I was much gratified that you had thought enough of me to write to me. Now you see I regard it as a very considerable matter to get a letter from you for you know you never write to anyone besides me, so you see I regard it as quite a compliment." Includes plan to open a plantation with his brother Girard when they return. Cook again believes he will be home sooner rather than later. He writes, "At any…

GLC02570.02

February 17, 1863

Cook, Gustave, 1835-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliza Cook

Discusses the incredibly cold weather and has frostbite on both feet and one finger. Mentions a paralysis (seizure?) in his arms, spine and "brain which left me senseless and speechless for about 24 hours. They all thought you'd be a young widow…" Lists all the letters he finally received from as far back as December. He is interested in what the family does for fun while he is gone and hopes they do not sit around sulking. He is glad his wife's finger is healed so she can pick up in writing letters. He writes, "My dearest wife it is one of the greatest pleasures and most easily…

GLC02570.39

February 16, 1862

Williams, George M., fl. 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his wife

He describes how he saluted to the (day) light in a prayer of gratitude for living to see another night and that his wife would be "watched tenderly" in his absence. He says he witnessed the impressive funeral of O.J. Wise, who was killed on Roanoke Island, points out that it did the dead man no good. He hopes that he will be able to arrange for her to visit, and asks her to write as soon as she is well enough. Transcript available.

GLC06582.04

February 6, 1862

Hutson, Charles J., 1842-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Anna Colcock

Writes he would love for her to write to him at camp. States her brothers Cornelius and William are lucky because they can visit home while serving which he cannot do stationed in Virginia. Talks about getting accustomed to the "barbarous" lifestyle and hopes he will not be unrefined when he returns. Reports that Thomas Grimke Rhett has been made Adjutant of the regiment. Remarks that the war is at a standstill and that most hope it will end soon. The government will not give their regiment anything to do. Gives his love to many family members. Hutson was a Corporal, 1st South Carolina…

GLC08165.44

February 6, 1864

Jones, Joseph, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nancy E. Jones

"It is not uncomen for me to weep over my deer little family."

GLC02739.098

February 6, 1863

Gates, George, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mrs. Morris Surry

Union soldier reports on his capture as a spy, his escape, and fighting at Vicksburg, with a hand drawn map of the surrounding area. "I was taken prisoner near Jackson...ase a spie...I bribed a rebel Capt that youst to live in Chicago and got a sute of thayer clothes and the countersigne so that it enabled me to get out of thauer Pickets and I walked Ten miles and come to our Pickets... reported to Gen Sherman and he told me I had better lay still for a month or so and he wase a gayen to comence the assault in the morning and so I told him I would report to my Co and I have been with them…

GLC08988

February 26, 1919

Tuell, Porter E., fl. 1918-1919

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Emily Tuell

Writes to his sister about his trip to St. Michel and St. Malo and his upcoming return to the states. Wonders why he has not received any letters from the family in the six months he has been abroad. Mentions his epistolary relationship with Hazel Reese and sends his love. Adds that General Pershing personally inspected the troops and gave a speech. Written at Camp Coetquidan.

GLC07810.098

February 6, 1863

Tittle, George A., fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

References receiving his sister's letter of 6 January 1863 on 24 January, while receiving her letter of 7 January on 4 February. Claims they are the only letters he has received from Portsmouth since he left one year and one day ago. Says he received a packet of Salem, Massachusetts newspapers on 1 February. Glad she received the allotment ticket he sent from Cadiz. Wants to know if she received the 50 dollars in treasury notes he sent by registered letter on 4 February 1862 (see GLC02828.01). Says their officers, Winslow and Thornton, are to arrive in ten days. Claims they will not ready for…

GLC02828.07

February 16, 1862

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

No mail, sickness (fever). Includes a letter on the last page to his daughter Georgiana in which he encourages her to learn to read and write so she can send him a letter. Written at Camp Winfield Scott.

GLC04558.011

February 27, 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Drill, parade for new general, Gen. Smith, news. "As to my grinding my teeth if I 'could hear those rebel democrats talk' I'll bet anything that I can hear full as plain and treasonable talk from the soldiers every day and that not from one or to only, but from hundreds, and thousands." Conditions in barracks, everyone seems ill.

GLC04558.071

February 27, 1864

Bope, Abraham, 1837-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his brother

Bope writes to an unidentified brother from Bridgeport. Reports they are waiting for Confederate General John Morgan (possibly John Tyler Morgan) to arrive with four forces of artillery. Comments that the weather is warm and dry. Reports that they are waiting for reinforcements before marching home.

GLC03523.03.20

February 16, 1862

Henry, Josiah E., 1840-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Angeline Henry

Henry writes to his sister from Camp Griffin. Refers to a brigade drill for Union General John Brooke. Asks her not to show his letters to anyone and to burn them. Envelope has a poem by Helen A. Brown printed on it.

GLC03523.07.08

February 27, 1862

Edwards, Oliver, 1835-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eunice Lombard Edwards

Edwards, senior aide-de-camp on the staff of General Darius N. Couch, writes to his mother, from head quarters, Couch's brigade. Remarks that he will take the train to Washington, D.C., on 28 February. Does not know his precise destination, but predicts that he will be ordered to one of three locations: Kentucky, or to reinforce General Ambrose Burnside or Nathaniel Prentiss Banks. Mentions several acquaintances, who he was able to spend time with the previous day, despite being busy with issuing orders and packing. Remarks, "I steal time to write a few words but my mama must not be…

GLC02163.01

February 6, 1864

Brown, Jesse, 1844-1933

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Caleb Brown and Emily Brown

Tells them never to let Jed enlist, even if a high sum of money is offered. "Helth is worth more than money." Describes the effects of the war on him physically: "only 22 years from my looks you would say I was 40." Written from the 5th Maine Battery.

GLC03523.15.04