January 26, 1865

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Harriet Moore

References receiving her letter of 5 January. Says his Christmas was subdued, but that he did manage to get a turkey for dinner. Says "By the way, was not Sherman's dispatch to the president presenting Savannah as a Christmas gift, a neat thing?" Says the only present he gave this year was "a calico dress to the old darky woman who washes for me and the result is that she wants to send a barrel of peanuts to my mother, in return." Assumes that Sherman is in South Carolina by now. Recommends that her father read "Army & Navy Journal," a weekly journal based in New York, as it is better…

GLC03836.85

10 September 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lovina

Author signs as "Charles," and writes from White River Landing. Describes the crowding of troops traveling upriver on the transport "Nebraska." Comments on troop movements, and relates that a national salute was held in the morning to recognize the fall of Atlanta. Is afraid the draft will be postponed. Of the war, remarks, "...I want to see it don either ship or get whiped and have do with it..." Writes, "Lovina as I set hear writing your Likeness layes near by my side looking as natural as life and looks allmost as tho it could speak to me but... how much beter would I would like to…

GLC06593.03

1 January 1862

Bope, John, 1838-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lydia Bope

Bope writes to his mother from Camp Wood. Expresses thanks for the candy she sent for Christmas. Letterhead has a drawing of a cannon and American flag with the phrase "OUR COMPROMISE" written underneath. Envelope has a humorous image and caption depicting soldiers being distracted from their commanding officer due to the presence of a young woman.

GLC03523.03.03

1 January 1862

Bope, Conrad, 1839-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliza Jane Bope

Conrad Bope writes to his sister. Comments it is the New Year and they have nothing to do. Brother John is well and in his tent as he writes. Reports he was on picket duty and once the bridge is rebuilt over the Green River, they will march to Bowling Green. Mentions that butter sells for twenty-five cents per pound and asks her to send him some. Letterhead has the logo "United We Stand Divided We Fall" and Kentucky underneath. Envelope has images and wording.

GLC03523.03.04

25 April 1862

Bope, John, 1838-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Bope Sr.

Bope writes to his father from the Battlefield of Shiloh, near Pittsburg Landing. Reports that "...some 20,000 men buried who fell in this great battle...", and they expect another attack. Mentions Easter, and notes that the cost of eggs is 30 cents a dozen. Discusses in great detail logistic battle plans and asks him to speak to the hardware man about the pistol he returned.

GLC03523.03.06

January 23, 1851

Quincy, Edmund, 1808-1877

Newspaper

Title: National Anti-Slavery Standard. [Vol. 11, no. 35, whole no. 555 (January 23, 1851)]

With previous owner's signature (John Russell) signed along right margin of first page. Contains articles on the "The Higher Law" (a Thanksgiving sermon of Reverend Richard Storrs), the Seventeenth National Anti-Slavery Bazaar, and miscellaneous other reports. Fourth page contains the conclusion of "Travels in America," a lecture by George William Howard Carlisle, the seventh Earl of Carlisle. Edited by Quincy and James Russell Lowell. Published weekly by the American Anti-Slavery Society.

GLC08875.38

20 February 1851

Quincy, Edmund, 1808-1877

Newspaper

Title: National Anti-Slavery Standard. [Vol. 11, no. 39, whole no. 559 (February 20, 1851)]

With previous owner's signature (John Russell) signed along right margin of first page. Small worm hole to center of front cover, affecting a slight amount of text. Contains selections from the Southern press, an article on "The Slavecatcher's Thanksgiving," and various other reports. Edited by Quincy and James Russell Lowell. Published weekly by the American Anti-Slavery Society.

GLC08875.39

28 December 1866

McSherry, Willie, fl. 1866

Autograph note signed

Title: to mother

Letter written by Willie McSherry to his mother on one side. Verso has a second letter by one of Willie's sisters (the letter is signed, but the signature is too faded to read). Their mother, probably Eliza, appears to be in Martinsburg visiting her sister Anna McSherry and her father Richard McSherry. Willie says they are going to keep the Christmas tree up for her until she arrives. Asks for a cape or a new pair of gloves from her. Says "saint nicklous" gave him a nice Christmas gift. Wants to know if the boys of "jime" belong to a baseball club. Second letter says they have been keeping…

GLC03523.21.61

31 May 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents, [brother-in-law], and sister

Writes favorable news from Vicksburg that Grant has captured many prisoners and canons. He spent his birthday on picket while it rained all day and night. Updates his family on camp news and his activities. On a separate sheet dated Sunday evening, Wheeler writes about the upcoming brigade inspection of surplus tents and baggage. He expects to leave for Murfreesboro soon. Writes that pup tents will be used for the summer. Also includes news of freight boats leaving from Louisville to Nashville. Pages five to seven of this letter are a different size from the size given in the extent…

GLC07460.033

28 June 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents, [brother-in-law], and sister

Thanks his family for the food they sent him and requests that they send him some emery paper (for filing his gun), tea, and pepper. Reports that Rosecrans has taken five or six hundred rebel prisoners to Nashville. Writes that rebels planted two underground shells on the railroad tracks which caused severe damage to the tracks but resulted in no casualties to either army. Discusses spending the fourth of July in Dixie land. He also reports that furloughs will only be granted with a recommendation from a doctor. Pages five and six differ in size from pages one to four.

GLC07460.037

21 July 1863

Goold, James, 1842-?

Autograph letter

Title: to John S. and Abby Goold

Mentions to his parents that he has been transferred and has a new captain, named Gibbs. Captain Gibbs is a son of Gibbs, the pattern maker in Albany. Reports that he lost his knapsack and that both he and his brother Theodore need clothing badly, "I have an overcoat, but no blanket. Theodore has a rubber-blanket and a poor piece of tent which is all we have to shelter us from the rain." He asks his parents to "have a good fat turkey ready for Thanksgiving, for I expect that we will be there to help eat it." Tells his parents that he and Theodore are tenting together, which is "pleasant for…

GLC03523.05.17

4 January 1862

Holly, William H., ?-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Ann Davis

Written at Camp Lyon to a friend. Talks of mutual acquaintances, (including a death, one in an "insane retreat" and one who goes down town and returns "pretty tight"), Christmas (when he hears a sermon by an African missionary on "what shall be done with the Black race,") and often of God and Church. Mentions having his photo taken, and the "Boys" needing the mittens that Mary's Sewing Society has made. Finally, he acknowledges Mary's invitation to spend next New Year's with her, adding, however, that "soldiers can not tell whether or what they will do much before hand." Written on military…

GLC02165.01

19 July 1863

Fuller, Franklin W., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary

Written at camp near Winchester, Tennessee. He writes that he waited up rather late for her letter and that he received two papers from Henry Clark. The smell of the flower and cinnamon she enclosed in the letter reminded him of her. Writes that the smell also reminds him of his mother. He hopes that he receives some letters from his friends. He is also glad that his brother-in-law writes to him. Writes that in the event of his death she should take all of his effects. Around midnight on 4 July the bugle sounded and the troops were ordered to be ready to march by three in the morning. He…

GLC03523.42.25

19 March 1864

Stark, Herbert, fl. 1864-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his uncle

Writes that this afternoon the family is going to the gallery to have their photographs taken. He states that the school is very good as is their principal, Mr French. He wishes that he could see him or be down there with him so he could "wear the United States uniform." Writes of the festival at Union Hall.

GLC03523.42.41

October 2, 1864

Stark, Lydia, fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to her brother

A letter signed by Hem [?] and Cal is included with 03523.42.53. Describes the day as very cold and rainy. Writes about what the animals are doing. She states that her family is doing well and that James has visited his uncle Nathan, who was sick and unable to leave his house. She is thinking of sending Jane even though she has not traveled much on her own. Writes that she is very worried about Nathan as he got dysentery in a camp and has still not recovered. Is very glad that his campaign has ended. After such a "fearful struggle" for Atlanta, Georgia she thought that every soldier might "…

GLC03523.42.53

23 April 1865

Stark, Lydia, fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to her brother

Writes that the day is cold. There was a funeral service at the old church for Lieutenant Border. Lieutenant Border's family was there as well and they were all very distraught. Writes that she has received his letter from Huntsville, Alabama but expected that he would have written her from Illinois. Asks if he thinks he will have a hand in taking Richmond, Virginia or going after Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston. Hopes that when General William T. Sherman catches Johnston that he will not "let him off easy." Compares the rebels with the children from the story "The Woman Who Lived in a…

GLC03523.42.56

5 May 1865

Fuller, Franklin W., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary

Written on the ammunition train of the 2nd Division of the 4th Alabama, near Nashville, Tennessee. He thanks her for sending him money as they have not received any pay yet. There are rumors that they will be paid soon but he does not expect to be paid until he is mustered out. He has sent her a package with some clothing items and a blanket; he asks her to "stow" these items away for him. Thinks only the veteran troops and the new recruits with at least one year to serve will go to Texas. There is little said about returning home but he is "confident" that they will be home by 4 July. Plans…

GLC03523.42.57

24 November 1855

Scherinebaum, John, fl. 1855

Autograph document

Title: [Contract]

The document appears to be a teacher's contract between teachers and the director of a school. The contract applies to the townships of Eckford, Clarendon, and Fredonia, Michigan. The contract is between Franklin W. Fuller and the school districts: Fuller agrees to teach at the primary school for four months starting 26 November 1855. He will be paid 23 dollars a month according to the contract. The contract also details on what days he will teach and which holidays he will receive.

GLC03523.42.67

21 May 1865 - 22 May 1865

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents, brother-in-law, and sister

Written at Cloud's Mill near Alexandria, Virginia. His regiment passed through Richmond, Virginia on 10 and 11 May. They marched through the principal streets in column formation. Union Army Chief of Staff Henry Halleck did not receive them and General William T. Sherman did not want them reviewed without his consent and told Halleck this. Halleck responded by stating he had not "made up his mind to let us go through the city." Sherman replied that he would go through the city if he had to "do it by fighting." They comforted themselves knowing that only "a few more days" were left and they…

GLC07460.120

26 May 1865

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents, brother-in-law, and sister

Writes that he is very grateful to be able to see his family once again and looks forward to being reunited with them. He hopes that the war is over for good and that they will be able to return home soon. Writes that the government is working hard on getting the army's papers ready so the troops can be sent home. There are rumors that the troops will be sent home by regiments to a military post nearest to their hometowns. From there they will be mustered out. He thinks that his regiment will go to Chicago, Illinois but he cannot say how soon they will leave. Writes of how the regiment was…

GLC07460.121

circa 1861-1865

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Writes that during the holidays he was very busy and had a lot of work to do around the farm. He has received a book from his class and an album with a photograph in it came to him in a "mysterious" way. He has also received several smaller presents from some children and is very grateful that they think so highly of him. He discusses some of the politics going on in Washington, D.C. and in Congress. Thinks that it was "naughty" not to have a letter of recommendation written for his friend. Writes of the good qualities his friend has and why she should be recommended.

GLC07460.122

23 November 1862

Fuller, Franklin W., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary

Written at the residence of the men on Bowling Green, Kentucky. He writes that he has been thinking about her and her family frequently. He is sorry for not having written to her more and he has tried to write as much as he could. It was difficult to write her as they were marching so often that when they stopped all he wanted to do was sleep. He has written to Amanda, his first letter to her since arriving in Kentucky. Writes that Amanda has a deep interest for him and that she will soon develop great "love and respect" for Mary. The weather has been very pleasant and warm. States he owes…

GLC03523.42.17

December 25, 1865

Painter, Heber, 1841-1900

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his aunt

Written to his aunt, Mrs. George A. Frick (Rebecca Frick). Writes that he must stay in command of his post during the holidays in fear that there will be an insurrection by blacks. Writes that blacks and whites came together for Christmas, yet this has been the dullest Christmas he's ever had with the exception of last year. He will be very busy working on pay roll and other business for the end of the fourth quarter. Writes that he's been having much trouble with his freedmen duties and is on the brink of resigning.

GLC02016.096

29 November 1863

Painter, Heber, 1841-1900

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister Kate

Writes that although he would like to request furlough for the holidays, he feels it may be wiser to reserve his request for a time when he will really need it. Reports that Thanksgiving day was celebrated by the soldiers with a meal of hardtack and salt horse. Is anxious to receive further news of Grant's victory in the West. Writes that a rebel quartermaster deserter came into the lines the other day and later succeeded in capturing 52 rebels near Washington, North Carolina. Reports that the men of the company are recuperating and that he is also enjoying good health.

GLC02016.043

December 27, 1863

Painter, Heber, 1841-1900

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister Kate

Writes that he spent Christmas on a boat in Washington, North Carolina with other soldiers, most of which were drunk. He had Christmas dinner with Phillip Forrester. Has befriended a widower in Washington who is originally from Pennsylvania. Writes that the company has re-enlisted for three years, but is unsure whether he will return. The regiment has taken thirty prisoners with their equipment, arms, and horses.

GLC02016.045