February 7, 1864

Johnston, Witter H., fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Friends at home

They will make a diversion in favor of another movement under Gilmore. Her will let her know where they move as soon as possible.

GLC02167.14

22 May 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Received their letter last night. "It is hot enough to roast a nigger alive out here." Everyone has sat down under a row of pine or cedar trees for shade or has created improvised shade with tree branches. It looks "like the town hall when they have it trimmed for a festival." Will use an undershirt as a shirt for now to cope with the heat. Heavy work in this heat is "no fun." Assumes they think Hooker was beaten "worse than Burnside," but "the corps was not whipped in the least." Sedgwick fought "nobly," and the 6th corps did the best of the entire army. The retreat after the battle "…

GLC09355.003

21 June 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Has received two letters from them since he last wrote. Has not had time to write because "we have been on a continued move." Has been here for three days, but "expect to move every moment." It is impossible to know where they are going. Is now "a number of miles" north of the Rappahannock river and close to Washington D.C. "I should think that Hooker thought there was no other troops in the army but the 6th corps" given what he has put them through. Written at Fairfax Court House

GLC09355.007

24 August 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Received a letter from home on Saturday. Is frustrated that he has not received what he wanted, but blames it on his experience in the army where he has been trained to obey every order without question or delay. "This kind of life makes a great change in a man." Was glad to see Kate. Some troops are quartered in Washington Square Park while the draft goes on. Over 30,000 troops are now in the city, deterring many from rioting. His regiment was sent back to Fort Hamilton on Friday afternoon. Marched with fixed bayonets. Weather is nice. Has seen Fred Stockwell "2 or 3 times." Thinks they will…

GLC09355.017

19 May 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Fourth page of the document is a sketch diagramming how a military review works, showing where men of a certain rank stand. Does not have much to write, but knows how much they like to hear from him. Has returned to the old routine: "same number of company and battalion drills… cleaning up quarters… sweeping streets… and inspections." Had a division review yesterday; was inspected by Generals Sedgwick and Newton. Each regiment gave Sedgwick "3 rousing cheers." Describes a review in detail: "Each regiment is led out on the ground selected for the review by its own Colonel, and they are…

GLC09355.002

24 May 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to brother

Received a letter from him last week, and owes him a reply. Hopes he is staying cool because it is unbearably hot at camp. Has suffered "more from heat this past week than ever before." Seems as if the sun is "hotter here than anywhere else." Hopes he is fully healthy by the time he returns, and encourages him to "keep with good spirits," even though he has been through enough to kill "a half dozen common folks." Expects he will be quite a businessman, for Joe is an excellent tutor. Does not know how they will be able to keep the garden in shape without Uncle Williams. Hopes business is "…

GLC09355.004

31 May 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Received a few lines from Banks through them recently. Took him a few readings to "make head or tail of it." Wishes they had sent him the portfolio. Glad to have received the tobacco, socks, handkerchiefs, towels, and straps in the mail. The tobacco was a "godsend." Stockings are "just what I wanted." Is now "about all right" with clothes again. Thanks Aunt Caroline for her gift. Just finished the regular Sunday morning inspection. Had part of the regulations of the army read to them. With respect to his superiors, he notices that "they are very particular to read to us for what we shall be…

GLC09355.005

3 June 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Received their letter last night. Will be crossing the (Rappahannock) river again in a few days. "They have taken a lot of artillery down near the river today." It is "bad weather for a fight." Received the order to pack up and be ready to march at midnight, but at 4:30 AM was told to go back to his quarters. Had gotten ready to march because there was word that the Rebels were heading north, but guesses that they "got the start on them." Thinks that his corps might head south to "return the compliment." Has no trouble reading his mother's handwriting, but does not get letters from her as…

GLC09355.006

10 July 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

He, Elisha, and Sid are all well. Has marched from Falmouth up through Virginia and Maryland into Pennsylvania. Has returned to Maryland and are driving the Rebels back south. Expecting "a big fight near here." Asks for money, as they are short on rations. Wants one $5 bill and another $5 in smaller notes and coins. Has covered over 300 miles in recent weeks. "Was in the fight at Gettysburg, PA 4 days and no one in the company was hurt. The regiment lost 25." Lee "is a whipped man. I think Old Hooker is not our commander and I am glad of it. He liked whisky too well." Halway between Boonsboro…

GLC09355.009

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 July 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Went and picked some berries for dinner on Sunday night. Regiment was then ordered to the top of a nearby hill to set up an encampment. "It now looks as though we shall have a good rest." Thinks they will stay there until the corps can be filled out with new soldiers and horses. Army wagons also need to be repaired and the men need to rest if they are to embark on another grueling campaign. Lice outbreak at camp forced many to wash their clothes and put them back on while they were still wet. "I have not had a dry shirt or pair of pants on me since we left Falmouth." Has sweat more this…

GLC09355.013

3 August 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Is within 150 miles of home. Landed here yesterday afternoon and will be staying here for "two or three months." Preparations around the fort indicate they will be staying for a very long time. Is now "out of the Army of the Potomac and out of the bloody 6th Corps." Made their way to New York City by foot, rail, and boat. Left the Army of the Potomac at daylight on Friday morning. "It was very sudden to us, only having about 4 hours notice." Did not have a chance to say goodbye to Sid. It is "all nice and pretty" at the camp; gets a cool sea breeze during the day. Asks for two new shirts.…

GLC09355.014

14 August 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Received his valise with all of his things in it. "Very glad" to see Joe. Did not send a letter back with him. Had a "pretty rough time" with dysentery and diarrhea from the time we left Baltimore… but now I am first rate." "Did not look well" before, but looks better now. Does not want a new cap. Thinks they will be at this camp a long time. Wishes his father had sent him more money. Asks for $12-15 more. Written at Fort Hamilton

GLC09355.015

16 August 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

This letter came with a note saying it was dated 1863/08/16 but came in an envelope from 1863/10/07. Most of the soldiers are at church, so he has time to write. Very quiet around the fort today. Did not go to church because he did not have his uniform and did not want to be dressed poorly in church. Camp is "flooded with ladies. Most of them are from home come to see their relatives in the 37th." It is "quite warm" in New York City. Often takes a salt water bath in New York Harbor in the morning. Thinks he will have "a chance to come home after the Draft has taken place." The draft starts…

GLC09355.016

8 September 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Has not written to them for some time and therefore feels obligated to do so. No news to write about; "it is about the same routine of duties every day." Does not know where they will be going next or when they will be doing so. Is "about ready to go back" to Virginia again. Does not like the structure of military life in Fort Hamilton. "My health is good as ever." Is eating very well. Has gotten some oysters from the harbor and has access to all sorts of meat and vegetables. "I can't tell the reason why but there are no signs of any furloughs being given as yet." People in the field are…

GLC09355.018

21 September 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Returned to the camp "unmolested;" no one gave him any trouble. Spoke to captain Hayden about the charges against him, and Hayden "says he will make it all right. Of course I must be punished but he might make it as easy as possible for me." His company is not with its regiment but is instead stationed in the city itself. Bliss did not have a chance to arrest him because he turned himself in. Does not know what his punishment will be. Managed to get onto a train in Springfield and eventually made it back into the city. Stayed with Uncle William one night. His wife is in Boston now and is…

GLC09355.019

27 September 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

It is the eighth day of his confinement. There are 12 other soldiers there "for company." Has a 20 foot by 50 foot guarded space to stay in. Has "nothing but bread and water" to eat. "We managed to smuggle in most anything we want to eat." Luke Day, a friend of his, lets him help himself to whatever he needs from the cook house. Captain Hayden saw him a few days ago to inform him that he would have a court martial in a day or two. Looks like "it will come out all well minus a few months pay and a little while longer under arrest." Hayden says that he "has not got a man in his own company he…

GLC09355.020

4 October 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Is still under guard. Has waited for a letter from them for a week but has not heard from them. Met with the colonel who asked them a few questions including how long they had been locked up for. Not sure if he will receive a court martial at all. "If Captain Moody was here… things would be straightened out pretty quick." Three people left the guard house last night. "We shall never see them again." Got a letter from Sid, who is sympathetic to the situation. Knows that he would have just gotten a furlough if he had been in the field. Has put a picture for an album in the envelope with this…

GLC09355.021

11 October 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Received their letter from the quartermaster last night. Some rumors that they were leaving soon. Had a good visit and "am contented now." Saw George Wright yesterday. Did not have a chance to ask him what he had heard about what was going to happen to him. "I do not think I can help the case now." Does not expect to ever look young again; is growing old daily. Thanks them for the stamps, but cannot write any more today.

GLC09355.023

18 October 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Once again has gone into the field. In camp about 100 rods away from the 10th Massachusetts. Joined the brigade this morning after leaving New York City on Wednesday. Just saw Sid and the rest of his regiment. Engine on their train broke down, demonstrating "our usual good luck." In the front line of battle. "I don't think we shall have a fight here although we can't tell" for sure. Was taken out of the guard house the morning they left New York, and was "ordered to report to my company which I did and am with them now." Presumes he has finished that ordeal.

GLC09355.024

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

February 27, 1862

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Written at Camp Pierpont to his wife. Writes that the whole division is preparing to move, and "where we are to go, we do not know, or any person else i suppose excep [sic] Genl McClellan..." Post script is written in pencil.

GLC02155.037

February 27, 1863

Armstrong, George E., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his mother and Charley

Written from "Camp Parapet," located in Shrewsbury, Louisiana, near New Orleans. Addressed to his mother and brother Charley.

GLC02157.10

February 7, 1864

Blackman, Francis G., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ruth J. Sheldon

Writes that the weather is pleasant but that they cannot enjoy it because the rebels are moving about.

GLC02159.13