14 October 1863

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria Damuth

Writes from the same campground where he wrote his last letter. Damuth thinks they will be there for some time. They are very isolated, "for all I know peace may be declaired now we are so far from any whear." The men have noticed a "great difference eather between Banks and Grant or els the Expedition against Vixburg and this is not much alike." Describes their lifestyle as calm and pleasant. Finds that he has "been to work for Old Abe 14 months," so that he has almost gotten halfway through his three years service. Mentions that there have been rumors "that France was about to…

GLC03523.14.39

3 August 1864

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria Damuth

Writes to his sister with little war news, there has not been recent action, and Damuth says, "I sleep most of my time." There have been rumors that the men will be moved to the Potomac. The men have received information about "the great fight that Sherman had…The Death of Gen McPherson is a great loss to the country he is the best Gen we have lost in this war and I think we have but one better Gen left and that is Grant." Describes seeing McPherson, Logan and Grant during the Siege of Vicksburg. Damuth hopes Lincoln will not settle with the Confederates, but will make them "lay down…

GLC03523.14.64

28 June 1863

Maitland, James M., 1815-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph M. Maitland

Informs his son that his friend John S. Petty recently left Vicksburg, after being taken by Confederates, then was released and paroled by his commander. Asks whether Joseph will rejoice if his colonel resigns after Vicksburg. Continues writing 29 June 1863.

GLC03523.10.077

19 July 1863

S., Mattie, fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elhanan M. Mast

A vibrant letter written to "brother Mast." Writes, "Good morning brother Mast! What are you doing this delightful sabbath sunday! The bells are ringing the birds are singing and every thing and every body seems to say 'God and gratitude' and you Mr. Mast, you too should feel free from responsibility and sadness." Discusses soldiering, remarking how it has a "tendency to make you look sober." Comments on recent Union victories at Gettysburg, Vicksburg, and Port Hudson: "Vicksburg and Port Hudson have [certainly] fallen Charleston must capitulate. Rosecrans has been doing admirably, and Lees…

GLC03523.10.081

21 July 1863

Maitland, James M., 1815-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elhanan M. Mast

Informs his brother-in-law, Lieutenant Colonel Mast, that he received a letter from his son, Joseph. Joseph was not at Vicksburg when the surrender took place because he moved with Sherman's corps to a location near Black River to monitor the movements of Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston. Reports that Colonel Benjamin P. Runkle is in pursuit of Confederate General John H. Morgan through Ohio. Writes, "Our community on last monday week was thrown into great commotion on the receipt of the news of the entry of Morgan into the State of Ohio. The Independent Companies of Militia were…

GLC03523.10.083

25 July 1863

Blanchard, Ira, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary (Wright) Kellogg

Blanchard writes to Mary Wright from Vicksburg. Discusses in detail the fall of Vicksburg and the long siege. Claims "...70,000 men had received the death blow and fell into the hands of the invincible troops of U. S. Grant..." Reports the stars and stripes now fly from the spire of the court house. Says he hopes the war will be over and he will be home by the next Fourth of July. Reports many citizens and soldiers are sick. Mentions an abundance of peaches, figs and melons.

GLC03523.31.23

27 April 1863

Maitland, Joseph M., 1836-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Grier Maitland

Reports to his brother, discussing possible troop movements. Reports a "rumour" the Rebels are evacuating Vicksburg. Writes that all their friends are doing well, and notes that his brother may call "the Colt after Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, the last name will do very well." Includes a short note which was written 28 April.

GLC03523.10.065

9 June 1863

Maitland, James M., 1815-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph M. Maitland

Reports to his son that their family friend has gone deaf and dumb in service and did not receive a discharge from the army. Writes, "I trust by the time this reaches you Vicksburg will have fallen. I do not know whether you are aware that the Legislature passed a new Militia Law which requires every able-bodied white man between the ages of Eighteen and forty five to perform Military duty. The preparatory steps are being taken now by the Trustees of the Township to say who are exempt by Surgeons Certificate... This should have been done two years ago: When the Rebellion commenced; and by…

GLC03523.10.070

8 June 1863

Maitland, Joseph M., 1836-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his Brother

Writes from the "Rear of Vicksburg," reporting that "little firing has been done for several days on either side. We are just lying here keeping the Rebs. in & tormenting them once in a while with a few Shells. It is hard to tell when they will be willing to surrender but I don't think they can hold out very long."

GLC03523.10.071

20 June 1863

Maitland, Joseph M., 1836-1918

Autograph letter

Title: to Brother [incomplete]

Writes from the "Rear of Vicksburg" to his brother. Tells him, "last night Co. E of our Regt. went on Picket. They advanced so close to the Rebs. that they were fired into & 8 or 9 of Co. were wounded..." Reports that the next morning, "a general bombardment of the Rebels was to be made all round the line accordingly...then you had better believe we heard music, The firing continued until 10 o'clock this forenoon when it gradually ceased. What effect our firing had on the Rebs I cant tell but think it certainly must have been a tolerably warm place inside their Fort. Johnston was coming…

GLC03523.10.073

27 June 1863

Maitland, Joseph M., 1836-1918

Autograph letter

Title: to his friend

Writes to a friend from camp near Black River, Mississippi, reporting that they recently left their camp in Vicksburg because "old Joe Johnston was coming up in our rear." Mentions that Generals Ambrose Burnside and Stephen Hurlbut have come with reinforcements. Reports that Union forces are strong in the area, as he is flanked by Quinby's Division, Sherman's Corps, and part of McClernand's Corps. Writes that two days prior, in Vicksburg, "Rebels came out their Fortifications and attempted to break through our lines but were defeated... They were forced to go back in their fort with heavy…

GLC03523.10.076

12 July 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

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

Thanks his family for sending him the trunk of food and writes that it came at a good time because rations have been meager. Jokes that he will take his trunk with him now that he knows it can be carried and will give it furlough when it needs to return home. Writes that he wishes General John Hunt Morgan would massacre all the Copperheads in Indiana and "get massacred himself and all his crew". Also writes that the war would end more quickly if the Rebels "penetrated all the way up to Chicago" as the Northern Copperheads would "get sacked up". Praises Rosecrans and the fall of Vicksburg…

GLC07460.039

circa 1880-1890

Volck, Adalbert John, 1828-1912

Print

Title: Cave life in Vicksburg during the siege

Depicts a devout, domestic scene of a woman kneeling in prayer amidst the items associated with middle class daily life-a broom, a trunk, an ottoman, a set of silver, a fine hat atop a settee. Only upon closer inspection does one discern that all of these items of daily life, along with a bed discreetly hidden behind a hanging blanket, are closely packed into a rather small space: a cave. Many citizens of Vicksburg sought shelter in caves during the siege of that city by Federal troops in the spring and summer of 1863. Vicksburg was captured by U.S. forces under General Ulysses S. Grant on 4…

GLC00493.28

circa 1880-1890

Volck, Adalbert John, 1828-1912

Print

Title: Vicksburg canal

In a lush swamp, two men spy on something unseen, probably the canal. One of the men appears to be a scout, dressed in animal skins and wearing a fur hat. The other man wears a Confederate uniform and peers through a telescope. Both men are armed with rifles, the latter is also equipped with a pistol. Size in extent is for the mount. The actual size of the etching is 20.6 x 26.7 cm. Title in pencil on verso.

GLC00493.29

14 August 1863

Prentice, George Dennison, 1802-1870

Newspaper

Title: Louisville daily journal. [Vol. 33, no. 266 (August 14, 1863)]

Fed. Reinforced at Charleston, Official Report from General Grant on Vicksburg, Large Numbers of Rebel Prisoners at Camp Chase, Removal of the Dead from Gettysburg, News From Charleston. A bitter diatribe on Jefferson Davis from the Mississippi Examiner is reprinted in this issue. Another article describes the government's attempt to take over the Almaden Mines in California. Several short articles criticize secession, and a longer editorial examines the practicality of union of freedom and slavery at this point, criticizing Lincoln. Articles about the upcoming state fair, fashions in…

GLC05959.14.06

16 March 1863

Hale, E.J., 1802-1880

Newspaper

Title: Fayetteville observer. [Vol. 43, no. 2389 (March 16, 1863)]

Greeley's Plan for Peace, Bombardment of Vicksburg, Northern Report on Battle at Murfreesboro.

GLC05959.34.14

26 November 1862

Reynolds, J. L. (James Lawrence), 1814-1877

Newspaper

Title: Confederate Baptist. [Vol. 1, no. 9 (November 26, 1862)]

"Secession" examines secession in a religious context. Another "Welsh Neck Association" report is included. "How Can Pastors Live?" explains how pastors live based on their salaries. About half of page 3 called "Secular News" is devoted to war news -- topics in this section include the Battle of Suffolk, President Davis' Order to the Trans-Mississippi Department, Destruction of St. Mary's, Ga. by Federal Gunboats, Arrival of Rosecrans at Murfreesboro, Yankee Defeat at Suffolk, Lee Refuses to Surrender Petersburg, Action at Fredericksburg, Admiral Porter to Attack Vicksburg.

GLC05959.39.06

29 April 1863

Newspaper

Title: Natchez weekly courier. [Vol. 34, no. 19 ( April 29, 1863)]

Early Siege of Vicksburg Content, General Chalmers Gallantly Repulsed 4,000 Yankees, Address to the People of Confederate States from Jefferson Davis, Battle at Camp Bisland, Capture of the "Queen of the West" , Evacuation of Local Citizens in and Around Vicksburg.

GLC05959.21

27 May 1863

Reynolds, J. L. (James Lawrence), 1814-1877

Newspaper

Title: Confederate Baptist. [Vol. 1, no. 31 (May 27, 1863)]

"An Essay" on the safety of the church is published on request of the Union, continued from the preceding issue. Short articles examine the death of Christianity ("A Dead Christianity"), wealth ("Men of Wealth"), belief in God ("Sweet Saying"), character ("Charaacter is Power"), and exercise ("Exercise"). "Army Correspondence" and "About the Soldiers" prints letters that describe soldiers' experiences at the front. An article describes the "South Carolina Institution for the Deaf, Dumb, and Blind." "Secular News" includes reports from the Battle of Vicksburg.

GLC05959.39.25

3 June 1863

Reynolds, J. L. (James Lawrence), 1814-1877

Newspaper

Title: Confederate Baptist. [Vol. 1, no. 32 (June 3, 1863)]

"Army Correspondence" prints a letter from the army evangelist of the Domestic Mission Board reporting on their work and requesting for more copies of the paper to be sent to soldiers. A chaplain reports the revival work in their camp during a quiet time without battle. "Two Things" describes two sins which most beset the soldier: swearing and gambling. "Blockade" examines the current trade embargos and their effects. "Voice of 'Fathers' in Time of War" compares church minutes from previous times of war. "Secular News" includes General Ulysses S. Grant demanding the Surrender of Vicksburg…

GLC05959.39.26

17 June 1863

Reynolds, J. L. (James Lawrence), 1814-1877

Newspaper

Title: Confederate Baptist. [Vol. 1, no. 34 (June 17, 1863)]

A letter to the editor discusses "Apparent Discrepencies in the Scriptures." In "A Soldier's Macedonian Cry," pastors are encouraged to leave their churches and go preach in the battlefield to soldiers. A letter by Chaplain with the 14th South Carolina Volunteers on thanks the paper for improving the religious condition of the regiment. An article titled "Religious Controversy" questions the method of discussing religious topics. Articles examine skepticism ("The Credulity of Scepticism), declension ("National Declension"), prayer ("Prayer"), and baptism ("Design of Baptism"). "Secular News"…

GLC05959.39.27

24 June 1863

Reynolds, J. L. (James Lawrence), 1814-1877

Newspaper

Title: Confederate Baptist. [Vol. 1, no. 35 (June 24, 1863)]

"Rev. A.E. Dickinson's Annual Report to the General Association of Virginia" discusses plans to send out further evangelists and take care of churches at home. "Army Correspondence" prints a lengthy letter by Chaplain 1st South Carolina Volunteers regarding religious interest in the brigade. "For the Army" reminds soldiers to remain faithful to their mothers, sisters, wives, and daughters back home. "Our Olio" contains a scathing account of the "Yankee Army," describing it as "composed of friendless foreigners and hirelings constrained by want of food to offer themselves as food for powder…

GLC05959.39.28

15 July 1863

Reynolds, J. L. (James Lawrence), 1814-1877

Newspaper

Title: Confederate Baptist. [Vol. 1, no. 37 (July 15, 1863)]

"We Plead for Our Soldiers" asks readers to support soldiers by sending bibles and papers. A discussion of "The Parable of the Tares" is included. In "Nomination," the editors publish their support for Dr. Boyce's seat in the Confederate Congress. A letter to the editor titled "Associations" examines associations within other denominations. "Secular News" reports on the Union victory at Vicksburg and Union attacks on Charleston amongst other news.

GLC05959.39.30

7 July 1862

Pinckney, Henry Laurens, 1794-1863

Newspaper

Title: Charleston mercury. [Vol. 81, no. 11, 493 (July 7, 1862)]

The Battle of Richmond, Bombardment of Vicksburg, The War in Arkansas, Particulars of the Defeat of McClellan.

GLC05959.43.06

22 June 1863

Cushing, Edward H., 1829-1879

Newspaper

Title: The Tri-weekly telegraph. [Vol. 29, no. 42, (June 22, 1863)]

News about Gen. Johnston in Vicksburg. Northern news. Editorial on Pendleton Murray, candidate for governor. Juvenile entertainment. Correspondence with Lord Lyons about the war.

GLC05959.51.079