4 January 1863

Allison, William A., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Stockton Bates

Describes the recuperation following the battle of Rappahannock due to mismanagement. The men are discouraged and do not support the recent presidential proclamation. There is constant effort to increase comfort, building log structures in camp, and little sickness.

GLC03523.23.05

January 13, 1863

Allison, William A., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Stockton Bates

His regiment has been transferred from Cochrane's Brigade to Pratt's Light Division, assigned to skirmish, reconnaissance, and the prevention of guerrilla raids. Their camp is much more comfortable. Wonders how greenbacks are functioning with several rumors abounding.

GLC03523.23.06

January 26, 1863

Allison, William A., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Stockton Bates

Describes Burnside's "mud march" and the return to their old camps, where rations are short due to the mud. Praises General Cochrane. While on picket on the Rapppahannok, they had friendly conversation with Rebel soldiers.

GLC03523.23.07

January 31, 1863

Allison, William A., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Stockton Bates

Describes the excitement of mail call. They will soon receive another new general; "if they keep going down the list, I think I shall have a brush at commander-in-chief before the war is over." Hooker is not very popular; they prefer McClellan. He misses reading material.

GLC03523.23.08

1 March1863

Allison, William A., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Stockton Bates

Complains about snow and mud preventing any action. Mentions the conscription bill, necessary only because of the inability of the war to be successful with volunteers. Writes, "The public does not know the true history of this war." Reminisces about the past.

GLC03523.23.09

24 June 1863

Allison, William A., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Stockton Bates

Has not received mail or news for a while and does not know what is happening. Their location has seen several battles before their arrival, with bullet marks in trees and casings on the ground. Describes a recent raid.

GLC03523.23.17

2 August 1863

Allison, William A., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Stockton Bates

They've been fixing up their camp, overlooking the Blue Ridge mountains. Comments on the arrival of conscripts and the need to drill them. "Charleston appears a hard place to take, but it is of so much importance that it deserves continued efforts." Comments on local farmers spying on their operations.

GLC03523.23.20

1 January 1865

Woolston, Charles, fl. 1864-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria Woolston

Writes from the headquarters of the Army of the Potomac. Writes to his mother in Tullytown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Describes how they were summoned out of bed to confront attacking Rebels who they were able to drive away. Writes that they may get paid in two weeks, but that it could be in six months. Wants to send money home but states that most letters with money in it never reach their destination. Mentions some acquaintances. Informs that he has not received his box yet and that he has heard that no boxes have left Washington since December 20th.

GLC03523.26.05

21 November 1864

Woolston, Benjamin A., fl. 1864-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles Woolston

Letter to Charles signed by both his mother, M. Woolston, and his father, who signed with his initials, B.A.W. His father tells him to try and save his money, and asks Charles to let him know if he is staying in a barrack or tents. His mother writes that she is happy to hear from him. Wants him to try to get detailed for a job in the camp because it will be safer for him. Asks if there are pickpockets there and advises him to keep all his clothes. Warns him, "keep out of bad company and shun all bad habbits such as gambling drinking whisky make no bets with any body for they know you are…

GLC03523.26.10

1865

Mansfield, John W., fl. 1865

Sketchbook

Title: Book of Military Scraps by John W. Mansfield

Includes watercolor and pencil and ink drawings of: Sibley tents; Zouaves; shoulder straps by rank (in color); Fort Independence; Fort Winthrop; 'Instrument of Torture for Negroes;' several canon, mortars, and guns, including Winan's steam gun, 'Lincoln Gun at Fortress Monroe,' and Parrott Gun; flag of the Cumberland; a Berdan sharpshooter's rifle; Whitney Battery [Keokuk] 'sunk at the bombardment of Fort Sumpter'; Mississippi River gun boat; Privateer Savannah; 'Gun bent double by a cannon ball at Big Bethel'; U.S. Volunteer & Rebel; 'Field of Antietam'; 'A Skirmish at Yorktown'; Monitor…

GLC09041

1865

Mansfield, John W., fl. 1865

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: A Trip to the Army of the James

Journal illustrated by Mansfield. Includes fine pencil illustrations of 3rd Division camp and various studies of an officer, one of him in action wielding a sword. Inscribed to Mrs. Jesse J. Underhill.

GLC09042

1864

Gottshall, Samuel G., 1841-1902

Diary

Title: [Diary of Samuel G. Gottshall] [Incomplete]

Leather bound manuscript signed. First entry is not logged down until 18 February 1864. On 25 March, he reports that General Ulysses Grant is visiting. Reports on the battles of the Wilderness and Spotsylvania. Reports of heavy fighting from May through the 24th, right when his enlistment expired. On 5 May, he relates how "we crossed the Rabidan 1 p.m. fight commenced on plank road 11 p.m." On 6 May he reports, "fighting heavy," then a few hours later "still heavy fighting." Writes on 11 May that Company A is reported to have "suffered severely in loss… a regular engagement took place in…

GLC04564.05

1862

Gottshall, Samuel G., 1841-1902

Diary

Title: [Diary of Samuel G. Gottshall]

Leather bound autograph manuscript signed. Describes activity at Fort Donelson (the Battle of Fort Donelson was fought from 11 February to 16 February 1862), Yorktown (Siege of Yorktown took place from 5 April to 4 May 1862, as part of the Peninsula Campaign), the Peninsula Campaign withdrawal (March through July 1862), Second Bull Run (28-30 August 1862), and South Mountain (Battle of South Mountain was fought on 14 September 1862), and being wounded by a cannonball. This cannonball is found in GLC04564.02. Writes of his recuperation in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he spent the rest of…

GLC04564.03

1863

Gottshall, Samuel G., 1841-1902

Diary

Title: [Diary of Samuel G. Gottshall]

Leather bound autograph manuscript signed. Gottshall returns to the Army after being wounded in the arm by a cannonball. Throughout the early months Gottshall sees little action and he discusses his recovery and soldiering in the winter. In [13-15] February he reports an insurrection taking place in which a regiment refused to do picket duty due to the location of their camp and the cold weather. Writes of another incidence that took place on 1 July where he was defending the baggage and supply train from Confederates, 2 miles from Hanover, Pennsylvania. Also discusses [Confederate…

GLC04564.04

23 September 1895

Van Brunt, Ralph, fl. 1865-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles Chapman Grafton

Van Brunt recalls events of the Civil War Battle of Averasborough. Discusses the 16 March 1865 death of Captain James Ingersoll Grafton, Charles's brother. Discusses the battle in detail, mentioning Generals William T. Sherman, Joseph E. Johnston (spelled Johnson), and Hugh Judson Kilpatrick. Relates "We went into Camp at night at an Old Church, the grave yard of which offered the only high ground in one of the hardest rain storms I ever knew and lay down to sleep, among the graves very tired and wet to the bone. In two or three hours we were ordered to support the Cavalry... the enemy…

GLC08895.04

7 May 1776

Newspaper

Title: Pennsylvania Evening Post

Relaying news from a Dublin paper of a British fleet set to sail in April: "there will be five debarkations...one at Quebec, one at New-York, one in New-England, and two to the southward." Letter from Cork, describing Col. Ethan Allen and his fellow prisoners' generous treatment by the Irish. Letter from Gen. Arnold: "we labor under almost as many difficulties as the Israelites did of old, obliged to make brick without straw...we have near five feet snow on the ground...four hundred sick and wounded in hospitals." Skirmish and privateer news from up and down the Atlantic. (GLC 3235 was…

GLC09080

14 July 1862

McParlin, Thomas A., 1825-1897

Letter signed

Title: to Robert E. Clary

Writes to Colonel Clary, Chief of Quartermasters of Army of Virginia, to request tents, stoves, axes, and tubs for hospitals. Mentions a deficiency of ambulances. Notes that the "necessity of keeping the sick of our Army, as near the army lines as may be proper, will necessitate ampler means of accomodation to be held in readiness ..." Indicates that he will have additional requisition requests when reports arrive from the 1st and 2nd Army Corps.

GLC02649.06

17 March 1864

McParlin, Thomas A., 1825-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William H. McParlin

Discusses the need for medical supplies, commenting that "The sickness at Camp Douglas is on the decline - but the prisoners of war at Camp Butler near Springfield are reported as having much sickness among them." Comments on his impression of Chicago and the traffic on the river running through the city. Notes his plans to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Discusses financial matters including Congressional plans to cut his salary. Notes "Treasury notes is the best currency here except of course gold & silver. Bank notes are brought from Connecticut, N.Y., Massachusetts, Vermont & New…

GLC02649.13

10 September 1864

Knox, Andrew, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Knox

A Union lieutenant in the 1st Connecticut Artillery offers his opinion of McClellan's presidential campaign. " ... Gen. Mc Clellan's election, on the platform of the late convention I do not think he stands any sight whatever. It is decidedly a peace platform. I doubt if he will get many votes from the soldiers ... In fact I hear many soldiers already denouncing him ... Perhaps if he would come out with a strong war acceptance these things may be changed ... I think the majority of the soldiers are for Lincoln." Also discusses everyday things like what he has been eating; codfish,…

GLC03523.20.16

circa 1862

Foster, Stephen Collins, 1826-1864

Printed document

Title: We've a million in the field.

Published in New York City by Stephen T. Gordon. Contains a color print depicting a Union volunteer camp, published by Charles Magnus in New York City. This song, written in 1862 by Foster, contains four verses and one chorus. (Refer to GLC03619.01.02 for another print of this song).

GLC03619.01.06

9 June 1778

Heath, William, 1737-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Phillips

Written by Heath as American commander in charge of the Convention Army, which consisted of the British prisoners of war from the Saratoga campaign, to General Phillips as the highest ranking officer in captivity with the Convention Army. References Phillips's letter of 8 June 1778 where he complains of restrictions put on the movement of his men. Heath previously gave orders saying the prisoners were not allowed to travel to Watertown anymore. The prisoners were housed in Watertown previously because there were too many to keep them all in Cambridge. Heath says that exchanges have culled the…

GLC04789.01

June 22, 1862

Beauregard, Pierre Gustave Toutant, 1818-1893

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: Answers to questions included in a 14 June 1862 interrogation by Confederate President Jefferson Davis

General Beauregard answers questions Davis originally posed to Colonel W. P. Johnston regarding the 19 April-10 June Battle of Corinth, a Union victory. Beauregard includes both Davis's questions and his own replies. Mentions Generals Braxton Bragg, Polk (possibly Leonidas Polk), Earl Van Dorn, William Joseph Hardee, Sterling Price, and John Cabell Breckinridge. States that his actions were approved by General Robert E. Lee. Addresses issues such as choice of position and strategy, prevalent sickness in camp, and loss of military stores.

GLC08898

12 November 1864-4 December 1865

Phoenix, John W., fl. 1864-1865

Diary

Title: Diary of John W. Phoenix

Written from camp at Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Describes picket duty, foraging, and rations. Mentions cooking and what the soldiers had for dinner frequently. Discusses how the soldiers want to shoot at pigeons flying over camp but are not allowed to fire guns. Entries on 19-20 November discuss the death and burial of a lieutenant colonel from the 106th Illinois regiment. Informs of boats bringing supplies, recruits, and prisoners of war by way of the river. 29 November he relays they have received orders to be ready to march for Little Rock any day. Records leaving on the 30th and…

GLC03956.01

1 January 1865-18 June 1865

Phoenix, John W., fl. 1864-1865

Diary

Title: Diary of John W. Phoenix

Early entries mostly detail the weather, regimental duties, and camp life at Little Rock, Arkansas. On 21 January he indicates that the regiment has received marching orders but he is to remain at camp. This marching brigade came back on 4 February and he states that their expedition to Camden, Arkansas was a failure because the roads were impassable and supplies could not get in. Reports leaving for New Orleans on 11 February by steamer and the following entries describe the journey. Reports arriving on 13 February but the regiment soon moves on. Receives word of the capture of…

GLC03956.02

21 November 1862

Maitland, J.G., fl. 1837-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Bell Maitland

Speculates to his friend, "I suppose as the 95th is one of the fighting Reg. it will go into the field in a few weeks at longest." Reports that there was "quite an exictement in camp tonight; owing to some difficulty in the first Parole Regt. They refused to stand guard & perform camp duty, & to night they collect together and burnt their Guard House." Asks that she direct her letters to "Camp Chase, Co. G. 95th Reg. O.V.I in care of Capt. Warmock."

GLC03523.10.051