June 1, 1863

Semmes, Emily J., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Paul J. Semmes

Writes to her "dearest husband" as he is on his way to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where he was mortally wounded in battle. She hopes that he is over his cold and fatigue, and asks if he would be able to come home if one of the family got sick because knowing this would put her at ease. She gives thanks that he made it through battles, and comments on their children and their schooling. She criticizes their daughters for their excessive pride, "...they do look down upon these poor people with such contempt I think it is so wicked I pray that they may see their sin." States that she has been…

GLC00715.10

July 13, 1863

Hill, J.H., fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Emily J. Semmes and her daughters

Writes to the widow and daughters of Confederate General Paul J. Semmes, who was mortally wounded at the battle of Gettysburg. Informs them of the difficulties he is running into concerning the transportation of Semmes's body home. He advises her that his remains may not arrive until late next week. Says he will do all that he can to speed up the transport and "will be at the Depot with my negroes to move the remains to any place your many desire." Mentions other Georgia soldiers killed at Gettysburg. Writes to the women, in Opelika, Alabama.

GLC00715.11

1861-1864

Figures, Henry Stokes, 1844-1864

Header Record

Title: [Collection of Henry S. Figures, F company, 4th regiment, Alabama, infantry] [Decimalized .01- .33]

Figures was a member of Law's Brigade, Longstreet Division, of the 4th Alabama Infantry. Letters mention prisoners from the "Star of the West," the Battles of Manassas, Yorktown, Fredericksburg and Gettysburg, enslaved people, etc. Figures was killed at Battle of the Wilderness on 4 May 1864. Two of the letters (10 April 1861 and 25 April 1861) are on "Confederate States of America, War Department" stationery. Also includes 1867 burial card and a 6 page biographical manuscript (ca. 1890).

GLC00653.01

July 4, 1863

Fuller, Josiah C., 1827-1896

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his wife

Detailed description of the 32nd Massachusetts Volunteers, E Company at Gettysburg. Mentions moving their headquarters several times due to shellfire.

GLC00653.06.01

July 18, 1863

Bud, fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Writer is identified only as "Bud." The letter-writer calls Gettysburg "one of the Bloodiest Battles of the war." He reports on people from home and describes damages. Letter is considerably damaged by water staining with slight text loss in center.

GLC00653.08

1862-1863

Swain, Julius Marshall, 1835-1811

Header Record

Title: Collection of Julius M. Swain [decimalized]

Describes activities of B company, 39th regiment, Massachusetts infantry. Includes 12 letters, mostly to family members, describing his war responsibilities, his surroundings, and other issues. Includes description of events following the defeat of the Army of Northern Virginia at the Battle of Gettysburg.

GLC00653.10

1863-1864

Wilber, Eseck G., fl. 1862-1864

Header Record

Title: [Collection of Eseck G. Wilber] [Decimalized .01- .05]

Consists of one signed diary (136 pages) and 4 photographs. Wilber served in the 120th New York Volunteer infantry and fought at Gettysburg (which he describes). Diary was kept irregularly but mentions his capture, Libby Prison, Richmond, and Andersonville. Wilber died at Andersonville 15 September 1864. Includes 4 faded photos (cartes de visite) of an older man, an older woman, a young girl, and a young boy. Photos were taken by H. B. Aldrich of Catskill, New York.

GLC00653.15

1862-1864

Moseley, Josiah, 1862-1864

Diary

Title: [Diary of Josiah Moseley]

Autograph manuscript. Moseley served in K company of the 6th regiment, Virginia infantry, in the Confederate Army. Describes the Battles of White Oak Swamp, Brandy Creek Station and Gettysburg, Malvern Hill, Second Manassas, and Chancellorsville.

GLC00653.18

2 July 1863 - 3 July 1863

Manuscript document

Title: List of killed & wounded at the battle of Gettysburg Pa. July 2nd & 3rd 63

Manuscript field report of killed, wounded, and missing from the 1st Massachusetts Infantry. Most likely written while at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Includes comments such as "coward" and "d-d good soldier" after a few names.

GLC01015

18 August 1863

Donahue, Thomas, fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Almira Winchell

Battle of Gettysburg & his hopes to take Richmond before winter. "I suppose you heard about the Great Battle of Gettysburg it was an awful place I tell you, to See the men and horses falling all around but thank god I escaped unhurt through it all although we had eleven of our men killed and 20 wounded."

GLC04706.03

1863

Document

Title: "When This Cruel War is Over."

Advertisement /song sheet with small hand-colored picture of Union soldiers in the countryside entitled "Reconnoitering Party after the battle of Gettysburg."

GLC04706.26

8 August 1863

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith

The regiment is once again on picket duty. He discusses losses to the regiment and the Battle of Gettysburg, "but I hope that we shall never get into another fight like that at Gettysburg Pa for it was awful beyond Discription I cannot discribe it with my pencil but if I do not get to come home myself this fall I will try to give you or Charley a slight sketch of it but I think you would not care to Read the details of the fight as it was. I will just say I sit on my knees by the side of Stone fence & loaded & fired my gun until I had blisters on my fingers as big as 10 cent peaces…

GLC04189.52

6 August 1863

Cook, Gustave, 1835-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliza Cook

Rejoices that his wife's health has improved. Tells her to keep in mind her health for everyone's sake so she will be healthy when he returns. Reports that his brother Girard was shot through the thigh at the Battle of Gettysburg. He writes, "Were he to die I should feel as one lost forever. He is my only and darling brother and beside myself, our dear mother's only child living." Promises Eliza she will be repaid for all her suffering and sacrifice when the war is over. Writes that his horses and uniforms take up much of his wages. He states, "The expenses of my position will more…

GLC02570.48

circa 1861-1865

Brady, Mathew B., 1823-1896

Photograph

Title: Genl. Lee's Head Quarters

Image of stone house that served as Lee's Head Quarters at Gettysburg and surrounding grounds.

GLC03029.04

9 August 1863

Flinn, John William, fl. 1863-1893

Autograph letter signed

Title: to A.M. Flinn

Spent three weeks as a prisoner at Fort Delaware. Has not heard from his family since he returned to camp. While at Fort Delaware, his father had come to camp to visit and went home without knowing the fate of his son. He discusses the losses from Battle of Gettysburg, " the hardest battle that has ever been fought on this continent," and lists a page and a half of friends and comrades who lost their lives in Pennsylvania. Flinn was ill during the battle. Written along the Rapidan River

GLC04573.04

circa 1861-1865

Brady, Mathew B., 1823-1896

Photograph

Title: Genl. Lee's H. Qrs.

"Lamped[?]" penciled on verso. Side view of Gen. Lee's Gettysburg headquarters with a woman dressed in white standing by the fence.

GLC03029.37

1861-1877

Warren, Louis A., fl. 1950

Pamphlet

Title: Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, An Evaluation

GLC08880.040

1861-1877

Warren, Louis A., fl. 1861-1877

Pamphlet

Title: Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, An Evaluation for America's New Dedication Day (2 copies)

another version of GLC08880.040

GLC08880.041

13 July 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Have marched 3 or 4 miles closer to Hagerstown. Expecting a fight "every moment." There have been skirmishes as close as 400 yards away. Thinks there is a chance to end the war within a month. Lee has to get his army across the Potomac to Virginia, which is only 7 miles away. The army currently surrounds Lee: "We are gradually closing down" on him. Covered 40 miles in 20 hours in order to get to Gettysburg to fight. "A man has no idea what he can undergo of privation and fatigue until he is driven to it." Has felt "a hundred times" like he could go not further, but somehow managed to continue…

GLC09355.010

20 July 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Has once again gone on a long march through Virginia, and is "not in very good spirits." He, Sid, and Elisha are all healthy. All are worn out. Was very glad to receive their money in the mail along with all of their letters. Marched all day and night without stop to get to Gettysburg in time for the battle. Immediately had to attack a brigade of Confederates aiming to take a Union battery. Took the entire brigade prisoner. Does not see how they can draft Joe. Hopes to finish up "this business" sometime soon. Sedgwick fought with them, which raised their spirits. Asks for two more pairs of…

GLC09355.011

29 October 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Received two letters from them, one on the 20th and one on the 23rd. Has been on the march ever since he was at Centerville, so he has not had time to write. Marched 15 miles to Gainesville and then to New Baltimore. Later received orders to march to 5 miles to Warrenton that night. Since arriving, "we have laid out no less than 5 camps and moved again from one to the other." Town center is "in plain sight from our camp." There are 50,000 troops in the area. Does not know where the Confederate troops are. On account of the damage Lee's army did to the railroad during the Gettysburg Campaign…

GLC09355.025

1815-1860

Print

Title: [wood engraving. Charge of the 40th N.Y. (Col. Egan) at the Devil's Den. Gettysburg, July 2d. 1863]

Wood engraving. "Richardson, sc." This engraving appears to be an angle similar to JBB's drawing of the Devil's Den in the Gettysburg sketchbook. GLC# 2670 leaf 5.

GLC02673.31

1815-1860

Print

Title: [wood engraving. 9th Mass. (Bigelow's) Battery. Gettysburg, July 2, 1863. ]

"Hold this position at all hazards." Major M'Gilvery. Wood engraving, "Richardson."

GLC02673.32

1815-1860

Pamphlet

Title: [printed sheet on Gettysburg National Military Park cemetery]

Photographs of memorials

GLC02673.35

1815-1860

Mercer, J.T., ?

Signature

Title: J. T. Mercer

GLC05603.02.59