February 17, 1863

Ward, Edward K., 1837-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Ward writes that he's heard from a member of his company, Dave Poston, who was wounded in Perryville. Also writes that he has gotten fatter and has never enjoyed better health. He reports that federal troops are constantly getting secesh families out of Shelbyville and escorting them inside confederate lines. Writes that the men have learned to not get their hopes up for peace any time soon and states that "now we have concluded to place the limit of our trials to the end of Lincoln's administration." However, he writes "our boys are willing to suffer this and more, sooner than give up…

GLC02232.14

February 7, 1864

Wright, Augustus Romaldus, 1813-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Miller A. Wright

Writes from Alabama. "[G]reat scarcity in the land…we are where we hear nothing & know nothing. I have tried to keep as unobserved as possible…It now takes $100 to buy a bunch of thread…Charlie has been made clerk of Wheeler's ordnance he writes it is "bomb proof place: and for the first time he cries with the wiley fire eaters hurra for the war…The desertions from the army are awful I don't see how they keep an army together at all. It is strange our leaders don't see the hand writing on the wall & make peace on the best terms they can get…Scouts still threaten occasionally to kill…

GLC02691.11.054

February 6, 1864

Kessler, Thomas J., fl. 1843-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary L. Kessler

Writes to his mother from Camp Douglas. Reports they may be heading to Mexico within a month. Notes they will go to New York City and connect with General Ambrose E. Burnside's expedition. Comments no furloughs are to be granted to their regiment. Signs with his middle name Jefferson.

GLC03523.52.33

February 16, 1864

Wirt, I.D., fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nancy S. Kessler

Writes to his cousin from Camp Douglas. Discusses the cold weather. Describes shooting a gun and beating her father at target practice.

GLC03523.52.36

February 26, 1862

Wilkinson, Frederick W., fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amanda Wilkinson

Has returned from Port Huron, Michigan and is saddened to hear that their baby is not doing well. He includes some money as well. Writes that she should come visit him if she is able.

GLC03523.13.037

February 6, 1863

Wilkinson, Frederick W., fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amanda Wilkinson

Writes to his wife that he is greatly relieved to hear from her as it has been over two weeks since her last letter. States that they have just received orders to march to North Carolina. There they are to reinforce General John G. Foster. He has sent in his request for a leave of absence but thinks it will be rejected. Shortly after he sent his request orders were given that two officers were allowed to go home. He reports that there are so many requests he does not stand a chance. Notes that some of the men are too sick to report for duty. He states that there are about 250 men fit for duty…

GLC03523.13.078

February 7, 1864

Johnston, Witter H., fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Friends at home

They will make a diversion in favor of another movement under Gilmore. Her will let her know where they move as soon as possible.

GLC02167.14

February 26, 1862

Holt, Talbert, fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Carrie Holt

Writes to his wife from Fort Gaines, Alabama. Reports that 12,000 of their men were taken at "ft Donaldson" (likely referring to the Battle of Fort Donelson, fought from 12-16 February 1862 in Kentucky).

GLC03061.02

22 May 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Received their letter last night. "It is hot enough to roast a nigger alive out here." Everyone has sat down under a row of pine or cedar trees for shade or has created improvised shade with tree branches. It looks "like the town hall when they have it trimmed for a festival." Will use an undershirt as a shirt for now to cope with the heat. Heavy work in this heat is "no fun." Assumes they think Hooker was beaten "worse than Burnside," but "the corps was not whipped in the least." Sedgwick fought "nobly," and the 6th corps did the best of the entire army. The retreat after the battle "…

GLC09355.003

21 June 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Has received two letters from them since he last wrote. Has not had time to write because "we have been on a continued move." Has been here for three days, but "expect to move every moment." It is impossible to know where they are going. Is now "a number of miles" north of the Rappahannock river and close to Washington D.C. "I should think that Hooker thought there was no other troops in the army but the 6th corps" given what he has put them through. Written at Fairfax Court House

GLC09355.007

24 August 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Received a letter from home on Saturday. Is frustrated that he has not received what he wanted, but blames it on his experience in the army where he has been trained to obey every order without question or delay. "This kind of life makes a great change in a man." Was glad to see Kate. Some troops are quartered in Washington Square Park while the draft goes on. Over 30,000 troops are now in the city, deterring many from rioting. His regiment was sent back to Fort Hamilton on Friday afternoon. Marched with fixed bayonets. Weather is nice. Has seen Fred Stockwell "2 or 3 times." Thinks they will…

GLC09355.017

26 April 1865

Wilson, A.N., fl. 1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Miller A. Wright

Wilson has enclosed with this letter another from a man who wrote a more detailed description of the death of Miller's uncle. He refers to the civil war as "The Rebellion."

GLC02691.11.083

29 April 1865

Wright, Augustus Romaldus, 1813-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Miller A. Wright

Augustus discusses the fate of the prisoners the North has made of many Southern soldiers.

GLC02691.11.084

4 May 1865

Haughten, P., fl. 1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Miller A. Wright

Letter from another military officer acknowledging some of the pertinent circumstances of the impending surrender of the confederacy.

GLC02691.11.085

6 May 1865

Wilson, A.N., fl. 1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Miller A. Wright

Wilson had gone to find Green Adams again, but he had left the area. Wilson had wanted something delivered to Rome, GA, but was having difficulty because Rome "was not within the lines." Wilson asks about Augustus. Evidently, he had gotten into some sort of trouble after the close of the war.

GLC02691.11.086

12 July 1897

Hudgins, F. L., fl. 1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Miller A. Wright

The heading reads "Capt. Miller A. Wright" (Miller is referred in accordance with his actual military rank of Colonel in all other correspondence after his promotion). Mr. Hudgins was remarkably unaware of the status of the man who he comfortably addresses as "Dear Comrade". Letter notifying Miller that there will be no change of date for the "reunion," presumably one for civil war veterans. Other information concerning the reunion is also provided.

GLC02691.11.098

1815-1860

Allman, Nancy, fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to grandson

A very religious letter urging her grandson to pray for God's help in battle and to "try to gow to sleep a praying as you don't know where the enimy is."

GLC02691.11.104

1815-1860

Wright, E., ?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Miller A. Wright

Miller's stepmother writes to tell him that she has sent him food and to ask him to write more often. She thinks she will go to Richmond soon.

GLC02691.11.105

19 May 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Fourth page of the document is a sketch diagramming how a military review works, showing where men of a certain rank stand. Does not have much to write, but knows how much they like to hear from him. Has returned to the old routine: "same number of company and battalion drills… cleaning up quarters… sweeping streets… and inspections." Had a division review yesterday; was inspected by Generals Sedgwick and Newton. Each regiment gave Sedgwick "3 rousing cheers." Describes a review in detail: "Each regiment is led out on the ground selected for the review by its own Colonel, and they are…

GLC09355.002

24 May 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to brother

Received a letter from him last week, and owes him a reply. Hopes he is staying cool because it is unbearably hot at camp. Has suffered "more from heat this past week than ever before." Seems as if the sun is "hotter here than anywhere else." Hopes he is fully healthy by the time he returns, and encourages him to "keep with good spirits," even though he has been through enough to kill "a half dozen common folks." Expects he will be quite a businessman, for Joe is an excellent tutor. Does not know how they will be able to keep the garden in shape without Uncle Williams. Hopes business is "…

GLC09355.004

31 May 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Received a few lines from Banks through them recently. Took him a few readings to "make head or tail of it." Wishes they had sent him the portfolio. Glad to have received the tobacco, socks, handkerchiefs, towels, and straps in the mail. The tobacco was a "godsend." Stockings are "just what I wanted." Is now "about all right" with clothes again. Thanks Aunt Caroline for her gift. Just finished the regular Sunday morning inspection. Had part of the regulations of the army read to them. With respect to his superiors, he notices that "they are very particular to read to us for what we shall be…

GLC09355.005

3 June 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Received their letter last night. Will be crossing the (Rappahannock) river again in a few days. "They have taken a lot of artillery down near the river today." It is "bad weather for a fight." Received the order to pack up and be ready to march at midnight, but at 4:30 AM was told to go back to his quarters. Had gotten ready to march because there was word that the Rebels were heading north, but guesses that they "got the start on them." Thinks that his corps might head south to "return the compliment." Has no trouble reading his mother's handwriting, but does not get letters from her as…

GLC09355.006

22 June 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

There are signs that they will be stopping here for a few days, so he will write a longer letter than the last one. The 6th corps will act as reserve troops for the army, and will "go where it is most needed." Is within 10 miles of Bull Run. Thinks there might be another battle there soon. There are now fewer than 10,000 men in the corps. A full corps should have over 40,000 men. A few more two-year and nine-month terms end soon, and many think the corps will only number 7,000 after that. "We had a hard time being up nearly every night at work or on picket." Was at work for 26 hours straight…

GLC09355.008

10 July 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

He, Elisha, and Sid are all well. Has marched from Falmouth up through Virginia and Maryland into Pennsylvania. Has returned to Maryland and are driving the Rebels back south. Expecting "a big fight near here." Asks for money, as they are short on rations. Wants one $5 bill and another $5 in smaller notes and coins. Has covered over 300 miles in recent weeks. "Was in the fight at Gettysburg, PA 4 days and no one in the company was hurt. The regiment lost 25." Lee "is a whipped man. I think Old Hooker is not our commander and I am glad of it. He liked whisky too well." Halway between Boonsboro…

GLC09355.009

13 July 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Have marched 3 or 4 miles closer to Hagerstown. Expecting a fight "every moment." There have been skirmishes as close as 400 yards away. Thinks there is a chance to end the war within a month. Lee has to get his army across the Potomac to Virginia, which is only 7 miles away. The army currently surrounds Lee: "We are gradually closing down" on him. Covered 40 miles in 20 hours in order to get to Gettysburg to fight. "A man has no idea what he can undergo of privation and fatigue until he is driven to it." Has felt "a hundred times" like he could go not further, but somehow managed to continue…

GLC09355.010