1860-1865 circa

Whistler, Simon M., fl. 1904

Header Record

Title: [Soldier's archive] [Decimalized .01- .06]

Simon Mower Whistler, soldier's archive of Harrisburg, PA physician. With three war time diaries, manuscript memoirs, medical journal and watercolor of hospital ship "Connecticut."

GLC08362

3 Decemeber [1863]

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents, [brother-in-law], and sister

Writes that there has been a small pox outbreak in Nashville and a hospital has been set up for Wheeler's company. Reassures his family that he is not at risk because his vaccine is still good. Reports that the major of the 13th [Illinois] and Charlie Pesk of Co. F were killed. Wishes that his brigade was with the main Army. Writes that if his brigade were not a favorite of General Granger, they wouldn't be in Nashville. Discusses cooking in his tent and writes that he purchased a fry pan and copper-bottomed coffee pot for $1.90. Compares current rations to rations in Lavergne and…

GLC07460.063

28 December [1863]

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister Martha

Remarks on a recent sermon he heard at the Post Chapel. He reports on the deaths of soldiers and soldiers' family members. Addressing his brother-in-law, he writes about a group of drafted men from Michigan that are presently at camp. Inquires about the "Sons of T" [The Sons of Temperance] and his membership status. Continued on December 19th. Wishes his family a happy new year. Describes holiday festivities between the soldiers and officers.

GLC07460.067

1861-1865 circa

Blackman, Francis G., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Blackman and his sister Ruth

Brief note to his mother and sister. Not dated. "Signed Francis G. Blackman, Washington D.C., Company K 7 Reg CV." Written in pencil.

GLC02159.20

February 28, 1864

Ekings, Thomas, fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Ogden

Writes from camp near Perrine. Says upon arriving at Trenton, he received orders to proceed to Washington, D.C. with a detachment of deserters and "stragglers." Describes his activities at camp and the various people he met during the course of his duties. Also describes an industrious escape attempt by a group of Rebel prisoners, which he and his men thwarted. Informs Ogden that a detachment of recruits will be sent to Chattanooga, Tennessee. Expresses his anger over the way Mr. Patterson treats Ogden and says, "he used language to me which to a soldier was an insult," and calls Mr.…

GLC06559.027

February 9, 1862

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Written at Camp Pierpont to his wife. Complains about the rain and that Lile, his wife, does not write to him enough. Writes, "...the government has opened a Recruiting office at McCalls head quarters for the Regular Army any volunteer enlisting there for five years is to get one hundred dollars Bounty... and a furlough for sixty days and i have heard they are enlisting verry fast..."

GLC02155.033

February 10, 1863

Armstrong, George E., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his mother

GLC02157.09

24 April [1865]

Blackman, Francis G., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Blackman

Writes to his mother about the war being just about over. "...the Jonnes [Johnnies] keep coming in hear every day ...pitch on them and kill some and drive them of if it wasnt for the soldiers bing hear the Jonnes would not stand much chance..." Mentions some Confederate soldiers [Johnnies] that scouts apprehended. 100,000 dollars was found on one and 5,000 dollars on another. The scouts killed him. On stationary of the U.S. Christian Commission.

GLC02159.19

February 9, 1862

Davis, William B., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents and sisters

Describes his regiment's participation in the Battle of Roanoke Island. Written in pencil on patriotic stationery.

GLC02160.02

February 8,1864

Grey, John, fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Ogden

Writes to "Madam," likely referring to Sarah Ogden based on content. Thanks Ogden for her kindness to him during his stay in the hospital (likely the Broad and Cherry Streets Hospital). Express his anger at being sent off to war without even having a chance to bid his wife and family goodbye. Informs Ogden that the eleventh Pennsylvania cavalry is to march to Richmond, Virginia to release the Union prisoners there. A portion of the letter has been torn causing minor text loss.

GLC06559.041

February 8, 1863

Jones, Ira D., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Ogden

Requests a loan of two hundred dollars to pay for his home. Says he will pay the loan back over four years. Offers to give Ogden a mortgage on the house if she grants him this favor. Identifies himself to Ogden as a soldier she nursed in a Philadelphia hospital, whose left hand was wounded, and to whom she gave a pillow to rest the hand on during his journey home.

GLC06559.055

February 7, 1864

Kessler, Thomas J., fl. 1843-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth N. Kessler

Writes to his sister from Camp Douglas. Requests that she send him a shirt and a pair of boots. Informs her that another soldier wants her picture after seeing his picture of her. Discusses his picture and other soldier's pictures. The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner. A small fragment of paper is included. Signs with his middle name Jefferson.

GLC03523.52.34

11 November [1861]

Blackman, Francis G., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Blackman

Writes to his mother. "...I never knew what it was to go hungy till I come here...I was on the sick list when we got here but I shouldered my gun and marched with the Regiment...we have had one meal of bull soup, we slept in the sand 3 nights all I had to eat in 30 hours was 1/2 pint of rice." "...10 guns boats but we did not get but one of the boats...the Rebel's genarl was kild and then the rest run and flung their things away...we did at Bull Run..." No year on letter.

GLC02159.01

February 19, 1863

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Miller writes to his wife from camp near Union Mills. Notes that their duties are difficult, since there are no other Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteers at their location. Describes standing picket in mud and water for 24 hours at a time. Comments on his living quarters, rations, and clothing.

GLC02155.083

February 18, 1862

Mortimer, Caleb C.E., 1835-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his wife

Written from Camp Follett.

GLC01898.15

February 19, 1864

Johnston, Witter H., fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Miss Sue Johnston

He took a walk on the beach for the first time in a long time. The weather has been very cold.

GLC02167.15

February 19, 1863

Parrott, Henry C., fl. 1861-1877

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sophia Parrott

All the rain has made the roads very muddy and nearly impassable. He expects to paid soon. He was playing ball with the other men but paused to write.

GLC03858.02.08

February 18, 1864

Perkins, Jacob N., fl. 1860-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to "Healus"

Signed "J. N. Perkins"

GLC02181.33

1865/01/28

Wallace, Oliver V., fl. 1850-1865

Newspaper

Title: Soldier's letter. Second Colorado cavalry. [Vol. 1, no. 13 (January 28, 1865)]

GLC04587

1861/08/15

Various

Autograph letter signed

Title: re: sight of secession flag over Marshall House in Annapolis, with photograph

Letter written by a private in the 13th NY volunteers, alluding to the circumstances of the death of Col. Elmer Ellsworth. "We begged for permission to land, to tear form that house that hated emblem of 'traitors', had we been permitted to land, doubt not but the life of Col. Ellsworth might have been saved..." Also mentions Baltimore riots and getting his uniform at Brooks Brothers. Accompanied by an oval photograph of Tomes in uniform.

GLC07304

1862/07/21

Grant, William F., fl. 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Grant re: soldiers' reasons for enlistment

from Union soldier in Company D, 100th Pa.: "Soldiers say they never enlisted to fight for the freedom of the slaves and if they make this a war to eradicate slavery they will throw down their arms contrabands...I would drive them all into the sea and drown them." To his father. With patriotic envelope.

GLC07227

15 April [1864]

Tillotson, Mary, fl. 1866

Autograph letter signed

Title: To her brother George Tillotson

George has lost a son. Describes the invalids who come to Vineland to be cured by fresh air and water. Also includes a letter to her sister-in-law Libbey on verso and a small postscript to her sister Fanny.

GLC04558.174

28 August [1865]

Tillotson, Mary, fl. 1866

Autograph letter signed

Title: To her sister Fanny

Post war lettter also addressed to George Tillotson and his wife Libby. Discusses family news.

GLC04558.175

5 April [1862]

Tillotson, Louisa, fl. 1861-1898

Autograph letter signed

Title: To George Tillotson

Family news. Brother Nelson may have been captured in Tennessee. Nelson, a teamster, believed Negroes would be recruited to drive them teams so white men could fight.

GLC04558.185

February 10, 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents, sister and [brother-in-law]

Discusses farm business back home. He describes a "grand foraging expedition" led by Major Dutton. In response to his father's comment about taking Wheeler's place, Lysander states "I couldn't let you have my place under any consideration...I would be ashamed to live in a country I was not willing to fight for." He tells his mother that she must stop worrying about him or he will leave the hardships he encounters out of future letters. Wheeler explains that it is his desire to write these letters as journals and include as many accounts as possible, so that he can read them in the…

GLC07460.014