1864

Emerick, J. H., fl. 1861-1865

Diary

Title: Pocket diary

14 prefatory and almanac pages + 121 diary pages + 37 memoranda and account pages. Entries throughout, plus notes. Summary of selected entries 1. 01/04/64. Resignation of General Stoneman. Also, "Reconnaissance to Shenandoah Valley has returned not being able to ford the river." 2. 01/08/64. Emerick visited Gardner in his gallery in the morning. 3. 02/13/64. "Gen. Grant has determined not to attack Longstreet in East Tenssee immediately." Also, performance at Ford's theatre in the evening. 4. 02/14/64. "Several hundred prisoners have escaped from one of the Richmond prisons and a number…

GLC06738.04

1861-1865

Jones, Joseph, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nancy E. Jones [incomplete]

Likenesses of his children; plans to send money home when it is safe; taking of Charleston and Generals Lee and Rosecrans; Confederates switching sides.

GLC02739.155

27 August 1862

Jones, Joseph, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nancy E. Jones

Sending his likeness; activities in camp.

GLC02739.001

7-10 September 1862

Jones, Joseph, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter

Title: to Nancy E. Jones

Lack of arms in "rebel country;" Confederate guerrillas; African Americans in camp ("…it is very wicked the way that the soldiers dos abuse them…"); behavior of fellow soldiers in camp; plans to send a picture after he is outfitted with gun and uniform.

GLC02739.011

20 June 1862

Allen, George D., fl. 1859-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Mayberry

Written to his sister Mary. Aboard the USS "Delaware" about 60 miles from Richmond on the James River. Says they are with the USS "Monitor." Says they have left the company of the "Mosquitoe fleet" and are now with the "ironclads." Says they are eating well: chicken, mutton, veal, cherries, strawberries, plenty of fresh milk. Reports that the enslaved people of a rebel colonel named Cass sold them a young steer they stole from him for 5 dollars. Says he is getting the gout some nights when he goes to bed. Says there are sharpshooters along the banks of the James when they travel up it, but…

GLC02829.06

20 June 1863

Allen, George D., fl. 1859-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Mayberry

Says he received her letter with his mother's letter about a week ago. Says he waited to write until he finished the clothes and had them shipped by the Express Office. They were made as close to the measurements sent to him as possible. Says she will have to turn up the pant legs as he lost that measurement. Tells her about other possible alterations. Wants her to get Willie's (who he made the clothes for) picture taken and sent to him. Sends greetings to friends and family. Writes after his signature: "Everything is lovely when the mood is slightly elevated." Written while aboard the USS…

GLC02829.11

13 August 1864

Allen, William, fl. 1834-1880

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Mayberry

Says heat is bad, but he feels better than he ever has except for loneliness. Says "I have not the least caus[e] to complain only some times when I am off of duty and get to thinking and studying I will get low spirited when thinking of home and friends and the time will get tedious but I have to throw it off[.] you Know my disposition as well as I do[.] I cant Help it sometimes." Received the photographs of Becky and Winfield. In reference to his family says "the longer I am from them the mor[e] I love them[.] I dont think I will be long from them[.] I dont know weithe[r] al men are alike…

GLC02829.15

January 13, 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Sending photograph to wife "one of the crossest sourest looking fellows imagineable." Regarding the war effort: "If they make any offensive movement here I dont know what it will be unless 'On to Richmond' and the General that undertakes that will be shure to get redused [sic] because he didnt succede [sic]. If it were possible I really wish Governor Seymour would call us home, and if they want 300 000 more troops I hope he will get his back up about it, and tell them to go to h--l. I see by the papers that 'Our Glorious Victories' in the South West are kinder 'over the left' when you sum…

GLC04558.062

January 19, 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Mail delays, marching orders given and countermanded, mutiny: "I hear this morning that we have a little bit of mutiny in our brigade. The 103d regt N.Y.V. last night burnt up all their cartridges. They say there a[i]nt an officer in the regiment that has got his commission and they declare they wont lead them into a fight. I wish the whole army of the Potomac would mutiny and leave for home, [I]'d go in a minute." Mentions sending "dogratype" (daguerreotype) in previous message.

GLC04558.063

January 27, 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Jokes about his wife's hanging his picture and how Burnside's marching orders made him loose weight, wishing he could hire a replacement, remarking that he despises the officer punishing a deserter more than the deserter, telling wife that son Leon should look at his picture "so he will know me."

GLC04558.065

8 May 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Continued May 9. Responding to family news, concerned that Edwin fought at Fredericksburg, comments on sister Louisa's plan to keep a school, escort for deceased officer, has bad cold, news of Hooker. With postscript apologizing for damaging the ambrotype (#207): "...while I was cleaning the glass to your pictures with Tripoli[,] I was careless enough to let the clothe haveing the tripoli on get drawn across the face of the glass that the likenesses were taken on, and Leon's is spoiled and Georgiana's is damaged...."

GLC04558.091

22 May 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

"This is an awful lonesome and lazy life to live..." Sultry days and chilly nights; drilling. On receiving a letter from his abolitionist brother-in-law: "...I received a letter from Edwin..... He accuses me of lacking sympathy with the plan and purpose of the war. The purp. I wonder if he think I would have any sympathy with his abolition plan. I answered his letter yesterday and stated my plan, that is, the one I had when I enlisted which was simply to save the Union and put down rebel[l]ion, but still I had to acknowledge that they had got me fighting (though reluctantly) on his plan…

GLC04558.094

29 March circa 1840

Humphreys, Sarah, fl. 1830-1840

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph A. Humphreys

Writing to her son, she recounts the family's experiences in the city. Her daughters have attended so many parties they are running out of clothes. She wishes for a lock of her son's hair to make a bracelet. Writes that she has been to see "Daguerre's celebrated chemical pictures [Dioramas] from Paris, (oil paintings) in which, by modifying the light upon the picture, are exhibited two entirely distinct representations on the same canvas . . . ." She identifies the images as the Monastery of Mount Surrat in Catatonia, St. Eteinne's church at Paris, and the crumbling of mount Rouffiberg…

GLC04501.101

27 November 1860

McSherry, Anna, 1833-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Written by Anna to her brother Henry who was an assistant surgeon in the U.S. Navy and is stationed in Brooklyn, New York aboard the USS "Vandalia." References receiving Henry's letter. Says he ought to get any books that he wants as "time spent in reading good works is well employed." Says the more she looks at his photograph, the more she realizes it is such a good likeness. Mentions sights to see in New York, including Trinity Church, the Cooper Insititute in the Astor Library, and "Mr. Aspinwall's picture of the Immaculate Conception." Says Dr. McGary came by to say goodbye. McGary is…

GLC03523.21.03

16 December 1861

McSherry, Richard M., 1818-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Written by Richard to his brother Henry. After Henry left, he went to see Mr. Lancaster, who showed him around. Went to the Academy of Music. References receiving his letter from New York, and was glad he made it back on time. Says he sent the $5 to Aunt Eliza and settled with their mother, and says they are now even. Says he walked down the street with Mrs. Spalding and that she enquired after him. Says "We are all rejoicing here over the news from the other side and I hope that you will soon have to leave off blockading etc and go to fight the British Lion." Says there has been a good deal…

GLC03523.21.13

20 July 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Resting and settling down after the marches. On politics: "Your Copperheads up ther[e] I see have been kicking up quite a rumpus, but they will get sick of it, if they are not already. Didnt know one spell but what they would spite 'Massa Greely's' establishment entirely so that you would loose the chance of getting your favorite papers to read. Hip, hip, Hurrah! bulley!" Received pictures; worries about Leon's thin appearance and praises Georgiana's growing-up. Mentions Lucy. Talks about terms of the draft.

GLC04558.106

23 March 1863

Tittle, George A., fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

References his sister's letters of 25 July and 5 September 1862, which he received on 15 March 1863. Also received her letters from 5 & 7 January as well as 5 February. Tells her not send letter by the Naval Lyceum as letters are allowed to sit there too long before being sent on. Obliged for the photographs, "although I do not consider them well executed." Leaving on 25 March to go to Fayal Island, Azores to pick up their new captain, Winslow. Does not know where they are going afterward, but assumes they will go after privateers. Written while aboard the USS "Kearsarge"

GLC02828.08

February 21, 1864

Tittle, George A., fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Tells her he is now steaming up the English Channel and that he will send this letter by the first port they land in, either Calais or Dover. Left the waters around Brest on 17 January to go to Cadiz in order to reprovision, get coal, and have the ship repaired. Arrived in Cadiz on 23 January. Having taken care of the ship, they left Cadiz on 13 February and arrived at Brest again on 18 February. Reports the CSS "Florida" left Brest while they were away. Also, on 16 February, the CSS "Georgia" left Cherbourg. Says the "rebel Pirates" are probably sailing together. Will not be surprised if…

GLC02828.13

17 April 1862

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Received portrait of family but glass is cracked. Expedition delayed. Written at Camp Dickinson.

GLC04558.019

12 March 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Reports that they have orders to move to Deep Creek the next day and set up a new camp. They have not been called out to fight because so many of the recruits are unarmed. Writes more about how he finds Goddard "awkward." Arranges for his family to send his photograph to friends.

GLC03603.258

30 December 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Family has received the trunk of extra clothing he has sent home and he responds to a question they asked him about a photograph of a woman that was in the trunk. Says it was merely a photograph he found and kept in hopes of returning it to its owner. The scrap wishes his family a happy new year.

GLC03603.177

January 16, 1863

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that he has been using his new knife and passed part of an evening whittling. Gives an update to the news of Sumner's order regarding food purchase at the commissary. An order by General Burnside has dictated that the men may purchase whatever they would like from the commissary at the prices the government pays. Writes of his fondness for photographs of his family and about the general craze for photographs by the other men. His family has sent him $5 and he feels terrible that he has not been able to send any home.

GLC03603.183

22 March 1863

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Thanks his mother for sending the newspapers and clippings. Writes of experiencing a very bad snow storm and the poor conditions of the enlisted mens' shelters. Whiskey was served to the entire regiment for warmth. Believes that his regiment is there merely to hold the land that has been captured. Gives a summary of what has happened to the men who were wounded at Antietam. Requests more photographs to trade. Written at Camp Suffolk.

GLC03603.212

29 March 1863

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes he and his company wish they could go back to Connecticut to vote on the Conscription Act, which calls for a draft and excuses men who can furnish a viable replacement or pay the government $300. Says he has heard that an officer cannot walk through the streets of Hartford, Connecticut without being deeply insulted. Writes of wounded men being laughed at by some of the same people who encouraged them to enlist. Notes he had a portrait taken.

GLC03603.216

3 April 1863

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that he has been very busy making up his equipment and Ordinance reports. He can hear the 103rd New York Regiment band serenading Colonel Beach's lady. Mentions the money that he sent via Captain Moore again and the photographs of Colonel Ward and Forrest Spafford that he has enclosed. Writes that he has forgotten about his birthday until a few days afterward.

GLC03603.221