1 November 1862

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

On premises of Rebel Gen. Wright who is home as paroled prisoner. Expecting battle, mentioning enlisted soldiers.

GLC04558.052

13 March 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Written in pencil. Has marching orders and expects to sail for Suffolk Va, news that Longstreet is moving towards Gen. Corcoran at Suffolk and there is some prospect of battle.

GLC04558.075

14 April 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Reports extensive skirmishing, his regiment has a "bully position" that is easily held from Rebs who are trying to cross the Nansemond River; describes fight in which Gen Corcoran shot and killed Lt. Krimble of the Hawkins Zouaves. Information from captured rebel sergeant.

GLC04558.082

29 April 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Rebels "appear ready to siege us out" and reports "Old Stonewall Jackson has sent a flag of truce [to the city] warning the citizens to leave if they didnt want to get hurt." Mentions visiting other NY regiments and describes "a queer kind of battery used" by the rebels, a "large rocket containing a bombshell" which makes no sound when launched "but a mighty whizzing as they go through the air." He says they "would be very destructive only for the difficulty of makeing them go where they want them."

GLC04558.088

18 June 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Continued on June 19. Yesterday's festival or dance was attended by 35 ladies "of the showey kind." Teasingly says his "gal" was not there and says he sat-out the dances. Describes dancing platform, etc. Asks about crops and livestock. Mentions Lee's invasion and jocularly advises wife to "grind up your 'old sythes and bush-hooks' to defend yourself." Mentions other men promoted who had "influential friends at home" Sending twenty dollars.

GLC04558.099

3 December 1868

Gibson, Randall Lee, 1832-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his father Tobias Gibson

Discusses sending an old man and his daughter to work at Live Oak plantation. Mentions purchasing articles for his wife. The family's poor financial circumstances continue. A heart felt letter in which Randall discusses family quarrels and jealousies arising from his financial success and his ability to help the family. Written on "Gibson & Austin, Attorneys at Law" letterhead from Randall Lee Gibson's law office.

GLC04501.038

18 May 1857

Gibson, Alfred, fl. 1857

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Tobias Gibson

Hailstorms ruined some of the cotton crop. The cotton gin processes about 12 bales a day. Sickness on the plantation has taken the lives of five slaves, all under the age of four. Albert lost two slaves, one 17 years old and the other 20. A monument was erected at the grave site of Tobias Gibson, the first Methodist Preacher in Mississippi, who has been dead for 50 years. The citizens of Vicksburg are having a reception for Colonel Jeff Davis.

GLC04501.082

20 September 1863

Tillotson, Edwin, fl. 1861-1898

Autograph letter signed

Title: To George Tillotson

Enclosed with GLC04558.122.01. Written by George Tillotson's sister Mary and her husband Edwin. Mary writes of her hard work and says Nelly [Nelson] was taken prisoner. Edwin's letter (beginning on p.2) complains of poor health (consumption) and answers GWT (punctuation regularized): "I can scarcely believe you serious in your accusation against abolitionists as the cause of the war. It was the slave masters who first made opinions on slavery [into] political tests, and demanded 'soundness on the [illegible]' of every man north or south who asked office at Washington. It was they who…

GLC04558.122.02

29 June 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Expects marching orders; expresses doubts about their ability to capture Richmond but describes a raid by the 11th Pa. Cavalry which captured Fitz Hugh Lee. Mentions guerrillas "picking off those foolish as to expose themselves outsid[e] the lines."

GLC04558.103

13 September 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Received letter; sends $30. Recovered health and back on duty. Rumors of capture of Fort Sumter, and complete capture of Bragg's army by Rosecrans and Burnside. Relates news that he hopes to be discharged April 1, 1864 with the other 3-year troops.

GLC04558.114

6 September 1862

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Sleeping on open ground, commending wife's economy, speculating that Jackson has been allowed to cross over into Maryland to cut him off.

GLC04558.042

26 August 1862

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Signed "your affectionate Husband" and addressed to "Mrs. A.E. Tillotson." Joking to his wife at how quickly haying was done on the farm: "I suppose that that fifth hand with petticoats on is what drove business, dont you think so?" Diarrhea problems, denying reports of McClellan being surrounded, newspaper subscription. "The firing I spoke of in my last was between Pope's[,] Siegel's and Reno's forces and Stonewall Jackson's who is trying to cross the Rapidan river.... [...] There is a great excitement among the inhabitants of Fredericksburg on account of their expecting Jackson to…

GLC04558.040

23 June 1863

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that they are still waiting to leave for battle. Believes that the higher-ups want to learn the outcome of the battle between [General Joseph] Hooker and [General Rovert E.] Lee before sending reinforcements.

GLC03603.245

17 June 1863

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes of commanding a picket line. Also, he writes of receiving word of the Rebel raid into Maryland and Pennsylvania. Says that he does not believe the rebellion will last much longer. Writes that he presumes that the camp they are in will soon be evacuated and that his Regiment will not be called to oppose General [Robert E.] Lee's men in Maryland or Pennsylvania.

GLC03603.242

22 June 1863

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes of marching and arriving at Yorktown. Mentions that this was the site that General "McC's" troops were camped a year ago and describes an incident in which a black Rebel sharpshooter hid out in a tree and picked off the Union men until he, himself was shot. Says that the men will embark the next day for West Point where, it is rumored, [General Joseph] Hooker's and [General Robert E.] Lee's army's are fighting.

GLC03603.244

20 November 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that they are camped very near to their old camp. Also mentions that they are camped just across the river from rebel troops and that some of the troops from both sides spoke across the river the night before. The conversation was based mostly on their opinions of the different Generals. Believes that the Union cavalry will charge into Fredericksburg in the evening but does not anticipate any fighting. Writes about the expense of food in Fredericksburg.

GLC03603.165

15 July 1864

Gibson, Randall Lee, 1832-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his brother John McKinley Gibson

A camp rumor states that Sherman gave up his campaign against Atlanta and is fortifying along the Chatahoochee. "But this is mere conjecture." Gibson goes on to offer offensive diversions to draw Sherman from Atlanta, such as massing Confederate troops along the Potomac or attacking Sherman's Army in the rear. "Kin" is John McKinley Gibson's nickname.

GLC04501.023

6 November 1851

Gibson, Randall Lee, 1832-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister Sarah Gibson

Randall worries over their father's "daily sacrifices" since their mother's death (see GLC04501.100) and expresses concern for his well being. He has been elected to deliver an oration on behalf of the Southern Literary Society at an event in which two Northern Societies will also speak. He also discusses a possible trip south. Randall writes from Yale University, from which he would graduate in 1853.

GLC04501.001

16 September 1858

Gibson, Randall Lee, 1832-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his father Tobias Gibson

Discussing the impact of the weather on crops at Live Oaks and Greenwood plantations, an order for "gas fixtures," and the incidence of fever in the vicinities. Tobias Gibson's family owned three plantations in Louisiana. In part: "The health of the neighborhood is not at all good - the type of Fever, however, is mild & yields readily to treatment. Nearly everybody has been sick...The sooner you come the better - but you will observe that the Yellow Fever only assumes a more malignant type & may yet spread. It was after this that it was fatal in Thibodeaux."

GLC04501.003

February 23, 1861

Gibson, Randall Lee, 1832-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his father Tobias Gibson

Requests a blank book and white army gloves. Discusses the amount of sugar and molasses being sold by the plantation.

GLC04501.004

5 October 1861

Devereux, John G., fl. 1861

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Randall Lee Gibson

Lt. Devereux writes that Captain J. A. Fremaux has been granted leave until October 8th 1861.

GLC04501.007

10 November 1861

Gibson, Randall Lee, 1832-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Col. Gibson recommends officers (as surgeon, assistant surgeon, quartermaster and commissary) for the 13th Reg. La. Volunteers and inquires whether a civilian can be appointed as quartermaster. Written at Camp Chlamette.

GLC04501.008

21 November 1861

Gibson, Randall Lee, 1832-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his father Tobias Gibson

Writes that his regiment has been ordered to Kentucky. "I am in the midst of departure for Ky. Bustle, Bustle on every hand and all alive with excitement - we go prepared for immediate action - and to sustain a sharp conflict. I believe my regiment will bear itself with credit and I shall lead it wherever the enemy shall make a stand...Expect we shall leave tomorrow or certainly the day after." Written at Camp Chlamette,

GLC04501.009

23 November 1861

Gibson, Randall Lee, 1832-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his father Tobias Gibson

Informs his father that his unit has just left New Orleans. They are the first regiment to receive orders to leave the state. Discusses local benefits given to raise money for his regiment, and the health of his brother Claude, who also commands a regiment. Claude Gibson suffered from consumption (tuberculosis); he died of the ailment in 1863. In part: "I am glad to tell you that my regiment is so well organized that I well feel no concern and henceforth will have but little to do beyond supervision. I had a long talk with Genl Ruggles to whose Brigade I belong...He is a very nice…

GLC04501.010

24 November 1861

Gibson, Randall Lee, 1832-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his father Tobias Gibson

Writes that he is on the way to Columbus, Kentucky. He also stopped in Memphis to visit relatives. Discusses his sister Louly's health.

GLC04501.011