February 4, 1864

Painter, Heber, 1841-1900

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Recounts the Battle at Batchelder's Creek. There was severe loss on both sides; 200-300 Confederates lost and about 1000 Union men lost at Newport Barracks. Reports that firing was heard in the direction of Washington, but does not know if Plymouth and Washington were attacked. The [Provost Marshal] armed and put blacks in the entrenchments while citizens patrolled the streets with arms. He has written to the portion of his family in Danville about the siege. Expects that he won't be going home anytime soon.

GLC02016.048

8 January 1865

Houghton, M., fl. 1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to a family member

"[Nashville is] under the control of our guns from the forts and batteries...I saw 3 or 4 dead Rebs still lying on the ground unburied and some that had been buried with some parts still visible above the ground...the point B.F. is where the greatest slaughter was made in our ranks. It was a charge that was made on a Rebel battery on quite a high steep hill...the charge was mostly done by colored troops...everything here is under martial law..." With autograph map on last page showing railroad lines, roads, the scene of charge by Colored troops, Confederate lines, batteries, trenches,…

GLC09139

December 4, 1864

Painter, Heber, 1841-1900

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his aunt

Written to his aunt, Mrs. George A. Frick (Rebecca Frick). Writes that white troops from the 10th and 18th Army Corps and colored troops of the same will be consolidated to form one colored Corps and one white Corps. Feels that the new arrangement will not be as efficient because the colored troops need the morale of the white troops to inspire in them the confidence that they lack. Advantageously for the white troops, the new arrangement will force the colored troops to do picket and fatigue duties, which they have not done before. Reports that the canal is finished with the exception of…

GLC02016.069

3 April 1865

Painter, Heber, 1841-1900

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister Kate

Writes that he has escaped from fighting in the south of Richmond. Only two divisions of troops were left behind at the north of the James River; one a colored troop division and the other Painter's division. Includes a postscript note reporting that some severe explosions have been heard and two large fires spotted, one in the direction of Richmond and the other in Petersburg.

GLC02016.078

14 July 1865

Parker, Frank W., fl. 1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas M. Vincent

Parker, the Lieutenant Colonel of the 4th New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry Regiment, writes to Colonel Vincent to relay a statement on the service of Eleazer L. Sarsons. Recounts Sarsons service, which included a time as a prisoner of war in Andersonville Prison, and his denied application for an appointment. Asks that Sergeant Sarsons be mustered back into a New Hampshire regiment as a 1st Lieutenant, asserting that "Sergeant Sarsons is a deserving soldier." Notes on the fourth page show the processing of the request: there is a description of the request, a note signed by Vincent…

GLC03953.09

6 October 1864

Walker, R.H., fl. 1864

Manuscript document

Title: [Muster out roll for William Nerland, 35th Regiment, United States Colored Troops]

Signed by R. H. [Walker?], Second Lieutenant, 52nd Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. Most of the 35th United States Colored Troops enlisted men were freedmen and emancipated people from Virginia and the Carolinas.

GLC00267.228.01

17 June 1865

Beecher, James Chaplin, 1828-1886

Manuscript document

Title: [Muster out roll for Clarke H. Remick, 35th Regiment, United States Colored Troops]

Signed by Beecher as Colonel of the 35th Regiment. James C. Beecher, brother of Harriet Beecher Stowe and Henry Ward Beecher, commanded the 35th Regiment, United States Colored Troops.

GLC00267.228.02

12 July 1865

Robinson, Thomas J., fl. 1865

Manuscript document

Title: [Muster out roll for Gardner A. Kimball, 35th Regiment, United States Colored Troops]

Signed by Robinson as Captain of the 54th Regiment, New York Volunteers.

GLC00267.228.03

12 July 1865

Robinson, Thomas J., fl. 1865

Manuscript document

Title: [Muster out roll for Charles A. Clark, 35th Regiment, United States Colored Troops]

Signed by Robinson as Captain of the 54th Regiment, New York Volunteers.

GLC00267.228.04

21 September 1865

Robinson, Thomas J., fl. 1865

Manuscript document

Title: [Muster out roll for George H. Greene, 35th Regiment, United States Colored Troops]

Signed by Robinson as Captain of the 54th Regiment, New York Volunteers.

GLC00267.228.05

21 September 1865

Robinson, Thomas J., fl. 1865

Manuscript document

Title: [Muster out roll for Henry Krebs, 35th Regiment, United States Colored Troops]

Signed by Robinson as Captain of the 54th Regiment, New York Volunteers.

GLC00267.228.06

21 September 1865

Robinson, Thomas J., fl. 1865

Manuscript document

Title: [Muster out roll for Robert Creighton, 35th Regiment, United States Colored Troops]

Signed by Robinson as Captain of the 54th Regiment, New York Volunteers.

GLC00267.228.07

26 September 1865

Robinson, Thomas J., fl. 1865

Manuscript document

Title: [Muster out roll for Holland H. Batcheller, 35th Regiment, United States Colored Troops]

Signed by Robinson as Captain of the 54th Regiment, New York Volunteers.

GLC00267.228.08

12 September 1865

Sarsons, Eleazer L., 1836-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to C.W. Foster

Writes to Colonel Foster, the assistant adjutant-general of volunteers, to request that he be allowed to remain in the service in a "colored organization." Recounts his history of service in the Union Army since 1861, which included a period as a prisoner of war in Andersonville Prison. A signed endorsement by Foster appears on the verso, paving the way for an "appointment as 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Colored Troops."

GLC03953.02

1861-1862

Norton, Levi W., fl. 1861-1862

Header Record

Title: Collection of 13 Civil War soldier letters [decimalized]

The collection consists of thirteen letters written by Levi W. Norton. Twelve of these letters are written to his wife, and one is addressed to his son, Fred. Norton was 41 years of age when he enlisted on 23 July 1861 at Staten Island, New York as a chaplain. He was commissioned into Field & Staff New York 72nd Infantry the following day. Norton was discharged on 20 April 1862 and died in 1900. The collection is accompanied by a newspaper, The Chautauqua Democrat, from Wednesday 25 September 1861. Selected highlights from the collection include: an explanation of a Bavarian…

GLC09006

18 June 1864

Carter, Solon A., 1837-1918

Autograph letter

Title: to Emily Carter

Writes to his wife, "My own Emily," about the first engagements of the Battle of Petersburg. Reports that he is two miles from Petersburg and that "The whole army is here and banging away at the rebs pell mell." Praises the African American division of the XVIII corps led by General Edward Winslow Hinks, " ... the fight of our darkey division before Petersburg on the 15th inst. It was a very brilliant affair and every body speaks in the highest terms of their conduct ... The Army of the Potomac is a big thing, and so is Hink's Colored division." Describes the success of the African…

GLC09008

9 September 1889

Banks, Nathaniel Prentiss, 1816-1894

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George F. Hoar

Begins by asking Hoar to support John D. Powell Jr. of Boston, an African American for a position in the Navy. States, "He is quite a remarkable man ... His energy and activity are unlimited. He knows no fear ...These with other good qualities are balanced by frailties of his race. 'The Afro American Race' as he styles it." Lists some of Powell's accomplishments and describes repeated but unsuccessful efforts to assist Powell in getting a government job due to his race. Laments corrupt hiring practices in the Navy Yard and Federal services and gives examples where less qualified men were…

GLC09010

February 14, 1865

Renton, Benjamin, fl. 1865

Printed document signed

Title: [Notice of transportation furnished for Sergeant Judson Matthews, Company G, 19th Regiment, United States Colored Troops]

Renton, Assistant Quartermaster, informs the United States Army Paymaster General that he has provided transportation to Annapolis, Maryland, for Sergeant Mathews. States that Mathews is on a leave of absence granted by General Charles Adam Heckman. This document is partially printed on Assistant Quartermaster's Office (Railroad Transportation) stationery.

GLC06133.05

February 14, 1865

Renton, Benjamin, fl. 1865

Printed document signed

Title: [Notice of transportation furnished for Corporal Frank Sewell, Company K, 19th Regiment, United States Colored Troops]

Renton, Assistant Quartermaster, informs the United States Army Paymaster General that he has provided transportation to Annapolis, Maryland, for Corporal Sewell. States that Sewell is on a leave of absence granted by General Charles Adam Heckman. This document is partially printed on Assistant Quartermaster's Office (Railroad Transportation) stationery. Docketed in pencil.

GLC06133.06

1865

Ephemera

Title: [Wrapper for 19th United States Colored Troops accounts for March & April 1865]

GLC06133.08

circa March 1865

Perkins, Joseph G., fl. 1836-1867

Printed document signed

Title: [Muster roll for the 19th Regiment, United States Colored Troops]

Perkins signs as Lieutenant Colonel of the 19th Regiment. Includes signatures of soldiers in the 19th Regiment. Contains information regarding payment to soldiers between October and December 1864. States that the soldiers were paid 24 March 1865. Includes the names of soldiers who were present and absent, mustered into service, and non-commissioned.

GLC06133.09

October 31, 1864 - December 31, 1864

Perkins, Joseph G., fl. 1836-1867

Printed document signed

Title: [Muster roll for Company A, 19th Regiment, United States Colored Troops]

Perkins signs as Lieutenant Colonel of the 19th Regiment. Signed by Captain Thomas S. Stewart as a witness. Includes signatures of and information regarding payment to soldiers of Company A between October and December 1864. States that the Company was paid a total of $3,390.71 on 24 March 1865.

GLC06133.10

October 31, 1864 - December 31, 1864

Perkins, Joseph G., fl. 1836-1867

Printed document signed

Title: [Muster roll for Company B, 19th Regiment, United States Colored Troops]

Perkins signs as Lieutenant Colonel of the 19th Regiment. Signed by Captain Joseph B. Read as a witness. Includes signatures of and information regarding payment to soldiers of Company B between October and December 1864. States that the Company was paid a total of $3,424.07 on 24 March 1865.

GLC06133.11

October 31, 1864 - December 31, 1864

Perkins, Joseph G., fl. 1836-1867

Printed document signed

Title: [Muster roll for Company C, 19th Regiment, United States Colored Troops]

Perkins signs as Lieutenant Colonel of the 19th Regiment. Signed by Captain George W. Burnell, Captain F. K. Fletcher, and 2nd Lieutenant D. B. Holmes. Includes signatures (or marks) of and information regarding payment to soldiers of Company C between October and December 1864. States that the Company was paid $3097.92 on 24 March 1865.

GLC06133.12

October 31, 1864 - December 31, 1864

Perkins, Joseph G., fl. 1836-1867

Printed document signed

Title: [Muster roll for Company D, 19th Regiment, United States Colored Troops]

Perkins signs as Lieutenant Colonel of the 19th Regiment. Reports that Company D was led by Captain James Blakeley. Signed by 2nd Lieutenant W. S. Faulkner. Includes signatures (or marks) of and information regarding payment to soldiers of Company D between November and December 1864. States that the Company was paid $2,416.77 on 24 March 1865.

GLC06133.13