21 June 1862

Mortimer, Caleb C.E., 1835-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his wife

States that the rebels had a "big time" last night and he heard that General Robert E. Lee got drunk. There is a lot of sickness in camp because they are near the swamp. Written from camp of the 3rd Massachusetts Battery, near New Bridge, Virginia.

GLC01898.22

January 25, 1863

Blackman, James A., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Blackman

Writes to his mother. Mentions General Ambrose Burnside, "Burnsides under took to cross the river gain and he had to give it up for the night before he intended to cross it commced[sic] to rain...the roads was so mudy that was all most imposabel for infentrey to get along much more Artillry and supplies for such a large army..." Mentions Generals William B. Franklin and Joseph Hooker. States many men are sick or have died and many are discouraged with the war.

GLC02159.05

27 July 1864

Knox, Andrew, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Knox

Knox writes to his wife from camp outside Petersburg, Virginia. Complains about the lack of letters from her. Expresses anxiety about her well-being. Suspects the siege has not begun yet. States he is not kept busy enough, and they cannot get the rebels to fire a shell at their battery. Claims he has never missed her more. Reports he has a severe cold. Mentions two men in the company died of typhoid fever. Letter continues on 28 July 1864. Says the rebels opened fire and he had to return fire for two hours which silenced them.

GLC03523.20.14

11 August 1864

Knox, Andrew, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Knox

Knox writes to his wife from Spring Hill, Virginia. Worries about her lack of letters and wonders if her health is compromised. Expresses desire to "...enjoy each others society again..." Mentions he will be exempt from any future drafts unlike "...others who have neglected their plain duty in this war." Refers to the explosion at Civil Point, Virginia, Union General Ulysses S. Grant's headquarters next to the James River. Expresses relief he was not nearby at the time.

GLC03523.20.15

8 January 1784

Cogswell, William, 1760-1831

Autograph document signed

Title: Return of the general hospital at Moorse house from the 1st to the 8th of January 1784

Cogswell, hospital mate, directs this hospital return to Major General Henry Knox. Lists admitted, discharged, deceased. Also lists numbers of those with fever, dysentery, rheumatism, epilepsy, and other conditions at the "General Hospital at [Moorse house]." Addressed to John Forbes, hospital steward.

GLC02437.02926

02/01/1863

Bogart, Abram, fl. 1825-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary M. Bogart

Writes to his wife that he "is well at present and hop I shal be til this cursed war is at a close for The soldiers have got tired of fighting and are talking raising and going home..." Reports that they still have not been paid, and that he was vaccinated yesterday for smallpox. Tells her that Mr. Mason Parker was there for a visit and he sent home a new rubber blanket and that he "wants you to get it and use it in wet weather and keep it to remember me by if I should never return..." Also asks her to "take good care of your self and children til I come home and not expose your self at the…

GLC03523.11.04

09/12/1863

Bogart, Abram, fl. 1825-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary M. Bogart

Reports to his wife that his camp is quite sickly as the "measles have made their apearence." Writes that he has sent his pay, which is 25 dollars, minus "two and a few cents," which he kept for himself because "a man can't live here without some thing besides rations to eat..." He continues on to say that he values his health too much not to eat properly, and notes that he can do it quite inexpensively. Explains that the army does not seem to care about its soldiers, "if they cant do duty they are no more consequence than an old horse for there is no feeling for one another after they have…

GLC03523.11.10

2 August 1783

Shaw, John, fl. 1783

Manuscript document signed

Title: to William Heath

Written by Shaw, a soldier under Major General Heath. Shaw took a furlough beginning 22 June and he thought his unit would have been discharged by now. Since it is not, he is asking for an extension of his furlough because "the state of my Health will not admit of the Fatigue [of] a march to Camp[.] I having for some time been Exercised with a Dysentery." Below Shaw's letter is a signed note from Percival Hall, a physician in New Braintree, who confirmed Shaw's poor health. Hall seems to have written Shaw's portion of the letter, but Shaw signed it himself.

GLC02437.02360

27 March 1864

Henry, Josiah E., 1840-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Angeline Henry

Henry writes to his sister from a camp outside Brandy Station, Virginia. Comments on the radical changes in weather. Reports that the army has been reorganized and his corps is a third larger. Expects Union General Ulysses S. Grant to take command. Reports a friend, Willy Rogers, has died of measles. Adds that Mrs. Henry Rogers (perhaps Willy's mother) "...has got a pickanina..."

GLC03523.07.25

09/25/1864

Bogart, Abram, fl. 1825-1865

Autograph letter

Title: to Mary M. Bogart and children

Writes to wife and children reporting that he is doing well, albeit disenchanted with the war. Tells them that James, possibly a neighbor or friend from home, is sick with dysentery. Reports that there are many other new recruits from Masonville that are sick. Updates them about his colonel, who resigned because he was found drunk in the general's headquarters. Reports that "the boys are danceing in the cookhouse and now it is rollcall and the drums are beating and the boys are falling in to line and then we go to bead and blow the light out..." Letter incomplete and unsigned.

GLC03523.11.27

09/29/1864

Bogart, Abram, fl. 1825-1865

Autograph letter

Title: to Mary M. Bogart [incomplete]

Writes to wife updating her on James, possibly a neighbor or friend from home, who is still sick. Asks that she write him more letters. Inquires how all the widows are getting on and tells her that "misary loves company and you must comfort each other when you can..." Not addressed to his wife, but inferred from content. Letter incomplete and unsigned.

GLC03523.11.28

7 August 1863

Henry, Josiah E., 1840-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sophia Henry

Henry writes to his mother from the U.S. General Hospital in Brattleboro. Reports that he has had chronic diarrhea for three weeks and left his regiment on 29 July 1863. Expects to return to his regiment within two to three weeks. Comments there is no possibility for a furlough.

GLC03523.07.18

5 January 1865

Henry, Josiah E., 1840-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sophia Henry

Henry writes to his mother from camp on the Weldon Railroad. Reports brother George is in the hospital with bronchitis. Comments on the high number of deserters. Informs three will be hung. Anticipates being paid in four weeks and will send 90 dollars.

GLC03523.07.32

1861-1865

Cherry, Kate, fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Maitland [incomplete]

Written to Joseph M. Maitland from cousin Kate Cherry. Expects to come down with the measles soon. Reports she will reluctantly begin training as a school teacher as it "...is the only way at present to obtain any money." Says she will board in a home with a melodeon and hopes to improve her musical skills. Incomplete letter.

GLC03523.10.247

1861-1865

Maitland, James M., 1815-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [Elhanan Mast]

Reports on many children dying of dysentery. Says the weather has been dry all summer an the corn crop will be short. Comments the political situation is unsettled, with much name-calling and disagreement about the war. Gives him an objective accounting of a viscous rumor circulating about a female neighbor. Urges him to come home and run as a Democratic representative in the fall. Letter is incomplete.

GLC03523.10.254

13 December 1874

Hemans, Nancy A., 1843-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Frances B. Shiras

Discusses her son's broken leg and a visit from her sister and brother-in-law, Indian teacher at Fort Sully in the Dakota Territory. Comments on her husband's good health and expresses Christmas thanks to God for living another year.

GLC02429.37

19 June 1875

Hemans, Daniel Wright, fl. 1872-1881

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander Shiras

Discusses his wife Nancy's illness with rheumatism, a book he received, and the threat to his garden posed by grasshoppers.

GLC02429.39

27 August 1875

Hemans, Daniel Wright, fl. 1872-1881

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander Shiras

Discusses the death of his daughter Mary and affirms his belief that it is God's will. Also discusses the destruction of his garden in the night by a herd of cattle. Notes he has a hemorrhage.

GLC02429.40

January 20, 1878

Hemans, Nancy A., 1843-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Frances B. Shiras

Discusses her husband's declining health and how she recovered her own health, which became bad after her daughter Mary died, while camping. Notes visiting the sick via horseback. Comments on the local school, Christmas, and a visit by whites to Bazille Creek, where they heard a church service in Dakota.

GLC02429.41

14 March 1878

Hemans, Nancy A., 1843-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander Shiras

Discusses her husband's sickness and impending death. Comments on sympathetic visitors, her friendship with the Shiras's, and the tragedy the death will be for their son.

GLC02429.42

3 April 1878

Hemans, Nancy A., 1843-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander Shiras

Reports the death and burial of her husband, Daniel Hemans.

GLC02429.43

8 September 1878

Hemans, Nancy A., 1843-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Frances B. Shiras

Discusses her loneliness and friendlessness since her husband's death and how a letter from Reverend Shiras lifted her spirits. Notes that her son is growing. Asks Shiras to pray for her "that the evil will not overcome me." Comments that she would like to move away and notes that her niece has consumption.

GLC02429.45

circa August 1880

Hemans, Nancy A., 1843-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander Shiras and Frances B. Shiras

Thanks them for Allie's saddle. Discusses going eight miles with her son to "hunt up something" good to eat for her younger son, who had been sick with dysentery and vomiting. On that trip, her son was thrown from his horse, which made her reflect on her late husband as her protector, and how now she feels alone. Notes her plans to talk to the Bishop about insurance money. Comments on her garden. Discusses her plans to go to Flandreau, Dakota, in the fall to sell the acre of land her sister gave her there.

GLC02429.52

February 23, 1871

Hemans, Daniel Wright, fl. 1872-1881

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Frances B. Shiras

Thanks Frances for her help and interest in his missionary work. Describes his mission work at the Yankton Agency with Reverend James Cook. Notes his improving health. Discusses teaching, singing, and language issues. Comments on privations at the mission and dependency on provisions from Sioux City. Describes his log house next to the chapel.

GLC02429.05

27 May 1871

Prichard, A. A., fl. 1871-1881

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Frances B. Shiras

Discusses Daniel and Nancy Hemans's recent wedding, attended by Indians and whites on a very rainy day. Notes Daniel's bad health and susceptibility to consumption.

GLC02429.09