3 October 1864

Bridgman, Edward P., fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents of George Clapp

"I have nothing new to report concerning George." He is improving gradually. He will likely make a full recovery, but knows the importance of taking care of himself. George's appetite is also very good. Will write again in a day or two.

GLC09355.099

6 October 1864

Bridgman, Edward P., fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents of George Clapp

George was moved the day before yesterday to Sheridan Hospital, which is about ½ a mile away. He is still doing well, and his entire bunk was moved with him. "The surgeon says… there is no cause for worriment on his behalf; he has been a lucky boy." He has fared far better than most men with similar wounds. George's neighbor at the hospital was from the 2nd Rhode Island. He had a very serious wound; a bullet had punctured his left lung. He asked Bridgman to write to his mother he was sorry for all his sins. He did so, and included a lock of the wounded man's hair in the letter. Gets very…

GLC09355.100

8 October 1864

Bridgman, Edward P., fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents of George Clapp

Saw George have his wound dressed and it looks to be doing well. "I think that in about two weeks he will be able to leave here." Brought the mail to him, which made him happy. Brandwell is dead. Letters "are of high value" to him, so they should be sure to keep writing.

GLC09355.101

10 October 1864

Bridgman, Edward P., fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents of George Clapp

Went to see George again today. Found him sitting up and "looking quite well." Believes he will be sent home on furlough soon. The wound is about 5 inches long. George "is in good spirits and comfortable." Gave him the $10 they sent this morning. Sends his love to all of his family and friends. Elisha is well.

GLC09355.102

16 October 1864

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

Is going to try writing with his left hand. "I am feeling quite nice and smart." Wants to come home very much, but must be patient. If he goes home too soon, the wound may get worse. Has "the best of care" here. Must stop; hand is getting tired. Ed Bridgman will write as often as ever.

GLC09355.103

24 October 1864

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

Left Winchester for Baltimore on the 18th. Spent three days at a hospital there, and was then ordered to Philadelphia, where he arrived yesterday. Wound is doing "very well." Is tired from the ride to the city. Does not know where he will be next or if he is moving at all, so they should not write until he has a permanent address.

GLC09355.104

27 October 1864

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

There has been "nothing done" about the possibility of him heading home to Northampton. The wound is doing "better than one could expect." Wishes he had a good flannel shirt from Mother. One shoulder would have to be very wide so as to not hurt the wound.

GLC09355.105

1 November 1864

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

Will be going home "between now and next Tuesday." Arm is doing "first rate." Tries to enjoy himself as best he can.

GLC09355.106

29 December 1864

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

Had "no trouble at all" getting here; is in the best ward in the hospital. Is writing with his right hand for the first time since being wounded. Is "well as ever." Has a comfortable bed and plenty of blankets. Will get the best care possible at this hospital. There is plenty to eat at the hospital, but it is not as good as food from home. Will write again in a day or two. Written at Dale General Hospital

GLC09355.107

2 January 1865

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

Wishes them a happy new year. Generally wakes up at about 5:30; lies there until 6:00. Then gets dressed, cleans up, and makes his bed. Gets breakfast, then walks around a little until 9:00 when the surgeon comes. Goes to sleep at 8:00 PM and sleeps very well. "My arm don't pain me as much at night as it used to." Has not left the hospital grounds since arriving here. Christopher Colson, a member of his company, is at the hospital in ward 5. He was examined today to see if he was ready to return to his regiment, and will likely do so within the month. "He don't want to go, but I wish I was…

GLC09355.108

5 January 1865

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

Does not have much to do to spend time, so he will write. Has been reading almost every day. Went down to the city of Worcester the other day and saw Simeon. Will go again tomorrow. "He is a man that appears to feel for the soldier, and he was very particular to ask if I had enough to eat." Slipped and fell while walking out of a store. Landed on his bad arm, and "felt a sickening sensation" for a few moments after, but it does not seem that the fall did any significant damage. Saw in the paper that some clerks in Northampton had stolen money from their employers. Written at Dale General…

GLC09355.109

January 11, 1865

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

Got their letter last night. "I can't say I really like life in hospital." Thinks the fact that he was home for several weeks makes being in the hospital even worse. Will try to get home as often as possible. Will get paid as soon as the paymaster is ready. Has heard they are going to be paid next week. Does not want to cause too much of a stir at the hospital for fear of being sent back to Satterlee. Heard from Simeon that Mrs. Bliss was "but just alive." Was going to call on Mr. Bliss earlier, but decided not to in light of his wife's illness. Needs a pass to go into the city. Can go as…

GLC09355.110

January 18, 1865

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

Received their letter yesterday. There is a regular, "monotonous" rhythm to life at the hospital. Writes, reads, sleeps, and does little else. Goes into Worcester 2 or 3 times a week. On Monday, a library opened at the hospital for the use of the patients. The library is not much more than a room "12 feet wide and 35 long, quite high and well-lighted." The room is kept warm all the time, so he goes in there often to read. One of the pastors from the city came to speak to them last Monday. Has not seem Mr. Bliss since his wife died. It is possible that they will get paid this week. Wants to…

GLC09355.111

February 5, 1865

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

Got back to the hospital last Friday. "My cold is much better." Finally found the key to his valise. Arm is doing much better, and "the swelling has left it." Hopes that it is warmer the next time he comes home. Written at Dale General Hospital

GLC09355.112

February 12, 1865

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

Did not get a letter from them this week. The surgeon examined his arm last Monday. He said that "you never will be able to do any military duty whatever and if you wish for your discharge you can have it now, but I wish you would not take it at present for I would like to watch the progress of your arm for some little time." Told him that he would not seek a discharge at the present time. Will do what will be best for him in the long term. Saw Mr. Bliss at Simeon's store. Thinks Father should come down to Worcester to see him. Written at Dale General Hospital .

GLC09355.113

February 16, 1865

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

Got their letter Tuesday morning. Hopes his arm will stop running soon. Got a letter from Ed Bridgman on Saturday. The regiment had just returned from another raid. It is a shame how much marching the troops have to do. Met Mrs. Whitney, the mother of a man in his company. Did not have much news to give her, but will see her again as soon as possible. Will write to Bridgman today. Written at Dale General Hospital

GLC09355.114

February 24, 1865

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

Got their letter on Tuesday. His arm "grows stronger every day, but I have almost lost all patience waiting for it." It has been almost six months since he was injured. Hopes the wound will stop discharging soon. "I wrote to Dr. Barry last week for a description of the operation on my arm." Sorry to hear that Mother is so sick. Had "a rousing good dinner" on the night that the Governor came. Saw Rufus Sackett who was with Simeon yesterday. He is a member of the State Guards. Hopes they get some word from Sid soon. Written at Dale General Hospital .

GLC09355.116

13 March 1865

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

Should have written them sooner, but has not felt like writing recently. "This month is the worst part of the year for wounds… because the weather is so changeable." Is anxious to go home as soon as possible. Hopes he will get to spend at least a month at home this spring. At least there will be something for him to do at home, even "if it is nothing more than picking up chips." Feels ashamed to go home without being able to do much work. Has not heard from Providence and does not know why he would have. If Father wants him to, however, he will travel to Rhode Island with him as soon as he…

GLC09355.117

12 April 1865

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mother

Will send her another letter soon. Wishes she would ask Kate to send him Elisha's address. Hopes he can get his address within a couple of weeks. Will write more soon. Written at Dale General Hospital

GLC09355.118

12 April 1865

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

Received their letter last night. Hopes he gets his discharge before his three years are up on July 15th. If they bring him back to his regiment, however, he would have to stay until September 4th. Is sorry to hear that Elisha is sick. Would like to go to Boston with Sid, but will wait until he is discharged. "We have been celebrating the smash up of this Glorious Rebellion for the past week." They lit up the entire hospital one night. Fired a 200-gun salute another night. Listened to a lecture from S.E. Bridgman last night. Everything "is rather quiet" now. Pleased to hear that he will get…

GLC09355.119

13 April 1865

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

"I am a citizen once more." Got his discharge papers today. "I shall leave for Boston at midnight." Hopes Sid is as well as he is. Written at Dale General Hospital

GLC09355.120

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 6, 1864

Warren, Gouverner K., 1830-1882

Autograph document signed

Title: to Lt. Col. F. A. Walker

Requesting information about casualties from Battle of Morton's Ford: "Will you please tell me how many officers killed? how many wounded? how many missing?

GLC09168

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

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