January 22, 1864

Pennington, D., fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to L. D. Wood

re: lack of food and clothing.

GLC03135.06.021

February 13, 1812

Autograph letter

Title: to unknown recipient

A letter entailing the call for volunteers and the initial experience of a group of men who answered that call. The author refers to this group of men as a "band of brothers" acting "for the preservation of of ourself and country." The author also mentions a lack of blankets and utensils, but that "like good soldiers," they did not complain. The corners of the letter are torn and the there is some content loss at the top of the page due to discoloration and fading.

GLC02669.003

1862

Paul, Miles W., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Celicia Paul

Paul tells his wife about camp life, food rations and other Companies he came in contact with. He informs her that he doesn't know when he will get his bounty money, but that he will send money along once he gets it. He also advises her to take their cow up to Thode, presumably a family friend or relative, to keep it from running off again. No month on document, word processor inventory indicates month as August. Written at Camp Curton.

GLC03058.01

14 October 1861

Smith, Asa, fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

to mother [Ann Smith] His life at camp is "quiet," and the troops are making their own fun by stealing beer from the sutler's tent. He was surprised when he saw in a paper that Corporal Asa Smith from Indiana was injured, but "was pleased to know that it wasn't me." Sends news back of other soldiers presumably from his hometown. Numbered in pencil "16." Written at Camp Hamilton.

GLC03696.01

25 November 1861

Smith, Asa, fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

to mother [Ann Smith] He notes the arrival of three regiments, saying that it appears there is going to be a fight and implying that Yorktown will be hurt by the Union's forces. He describes how troops from Delaware caught a Confederate soldier, and also captured six more Confederates nearby. He tells of an altercation between the Massachusetts 16th and the New York 20th, a largely German unit. The New York 20th men attacked a Massachusetts 16th soldier one day, which resulted in a huge brawl where the New York 20th got the worse of it. He tells about giving up their meals to a cavalry unit…

GLC03696.04

15 October 1863

Cranor, Franklin, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Delia Slocum

re: Cranor refers to the Copperhead movement and Vallandigham's unsuccessful run for Ohio's governorship. He mentions that it has been a while since his brigade has seen action and was not involved in the most recent skirmish and has instead been involved in fort building. He makes passing reference to the fact that long and vulnerable supply lines forced a cut in rations but reports that the good health of his company.

GLC03791.008

23 June 1864

Slayton, Chester, fl. 1863-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Asa W. Slayton

Chester mentions a letter sent the day before and the continued good health of their brothers with him. He describes the location of regiment in relationship to Atlanta and the rail road tracks and expresses hope that they will be in possession of the railroad soon. He mentions the importance of having possession of the railroad tracks. Chester describes the methods of fortifying the rear of camp at the battle of Kennesaw Mountain. He reports of heavy casualties suffered by NY regiment and other MI regiments at the battle of Kennesaw Mountain. He describes preparation of rations. Chester…

GLC03955.01

4 July 1864

Slayton, Chester, fl. 1863-1864

Autograph letter

Title: to Asa W. Slayton

Chester mentions a letter sent a week ago. He explains that because it is a holiday no work has been assigned. He describes fighting in recent week in the battles of Kennesaw Mountain and Marietta, GA as particularly bloody. He describes a break through Confederate lines and the theft of Confederate rations also indicating a lack of rations among Union troops. Chester explains that another member of the engineering company was shot while preparing a breastwork. Expresses frustration at lack of knowledge of outcome of battles and movements of forces. Describes the taking of prisoners.…

GLC03955.02

5 July 1864

Slayton, Chester, fl. 1863-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Asa W. Slayton

All is quite on the front but troops expect to fight again soon. Chester requests that Asa send him a new diary. He mentions the inferiority of camp medical care and fear of comrade's death. A comrade who had a good chance of recovery in last letter is now facing a chance of survival that is less than one in ten. Chester also mentions theft of rations among Union troops. He has received a pay raise to 18.00 per month, "a little better wages, and every little helps."

GLC03955.03

1861-1877

Slayton, Chester, fl. 1863-1864

Autograph letter

Title: to unknown

[Written on scrap paper with no names or date] "Look out for thieves Roch. has lost four or five bushels of wheat lately others have lost oats & - we keep on the look-out- & somebody will get caught- some of these times Il bet."

GLC03955.07

26 April 1864

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to brothers

"Everyone is waiting expecting to have orders to move almost every day now." Rations have come from Washington "in abundance" to prepare for the march. Anything that cannot be carried has been sent away to Washington. Had gotten word that a dozen or so prisoners were going to try to "make a dash and get away," but the guards were prepared and therefore prevented any escape attempt. Wishes he could see him now. "We are having such fine weather."

GLC09355.062

21 November 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Is in his tent while it rains, and therefore has nothing to pass the time with other than writing. Got a short letter from his father yesterday. Hopes mother's eyes do not get much worse than they already are. Just went to visit Sid; "he is well as ever." He will be home in seven months, and "it don't seem to me such a very long time before we can say the same." Believes that by the time Sid's group leaves the rebellion will be "a good part crushed out." Camp has become very monotonous; takes consolation in the knowledge that at dinner at the end of the day he can tell himself "one day more…

GLC09355.028

27 December 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Has not received any letters from them, but did get two newspapers. Now has time to read the papers, a luxury that he did not have before. Can even read at night sometimes when they get candles, "which we do have given [to] us sometimes." Drew rations for up through January 1, 1864 yesterday. Got, among other things, beans and dried apples. Also got a good amount of fresh potatoes and soft bread for 3 out of the 5 days. Will eat hardtack for the other 2. Has heard that a box is on its way from Northampton for a Christmas dinner for the company. "We are very comfortable in our log houses." Got…

GLC09355.034

3 January 1864

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Received their letter on New Years Day. "What a change there has been" in the past year. All of the commissioned officers who came with the company from Northampton are gone for one reason or another. Perhaps more importantly, "the old troops now in the field with whom we have lived and associated with for the past 18 months will take their leave and return to their peaceful firesides" soon. Soon he will be one of the veterans. "I dread [that] hour as much as anything I know of." Lieutenant Robinson is going to be promoted to captain of the company, "and no one will suit the company any…

GLC09355.037

13 March 1864

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

It is tough to realize that it has already been 18 months since he first joined the army. Back then, "we were quite confident of a speedy success." Thought he would be back by the following spring. "Today everything denotes that we may confidently expect no cessation of these hostilities during our term of service." Part of the problem is that they are fighting an enemy "who are bound to hold out to the last man." Believes that many are deserting the Rebel army because they are not as invested in the conflict. Most of them are not rich slaveholders and therefore are not inclined to risk their…

GLC09355.051

31 May 1864

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

Finally got a letter from them last night. Does not know if they have gotten his other letters; they had not received any when they wrote their most recent letter. Manson [Munyan] died a week ago at Fredericksburg. "I think we will have a big fight here this afternoon or tomorrow." Nearly got sunstroke yesterday it was so hot. Did not have very hard work to do, but had not had anything to eat because rations are running low. "I should have had enough to last me but the boys in my company were entirely out and hungry as wolves, so I let what I had go to them." Will write a few lines to Hattie…

GLC09355.068

9 June 1864

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

As he is neither on duty nor cooking, has some time to write. There is not much firing going on alone the lines at the moment. "Now both armies lay facing each other." Both sides fire 20 or 30 cannons over the course of 24 hours and have made heavy fortifications. "They rake our camp [with] every shot." When the shells come, "we all make a grand rush for the breastworks just like a pack of frightened rabbits going for their holes." Did not have anything to eat the other night. Found a group of "dead beats" - soldiers who take jobs such as cooking for an officer in order to stay away from the…

GLC09355.071

11 May 1943

Weiner, Morris "Moe", 1909-1988

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sylvia Weiner

Moe refers to Joe and his new job, and also mentions his mother. He says he is jealous that Sylvia ate bacon and eggs for breakfast. He claims that eating in the army is the same as "feeding coal to a furnace."

GLC09414.0700

10 December 1862

Jackson, Richard H., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Father

They are ordered to cook three days rations and to cross the Fredricksburg river. He discusses his payment details.

GLC07705.119

January 16, 1863

Jackson, Richard H., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Father

They have been marching with three days cooked rations and 16 rounds ammunition. Meanwhile their destination is unknown.

GLC07705.127

30 September 1863-1 October 1863

Jackson, Richard H., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Father

One of their heavy batteries opened fire and shot Johnson, then threw some shells into Sumter....has been installed as a caterer...seems to be improving on his arithimetic. He feels contempt for the Watson family.

GLC07705.177

14 August 1863

Eaton, A. B., fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to M. R. Morgan

He writes that Richard Jackson has been engaged as a clerk in the subsistence department at a salary of $75 per month.

GLC07705.164

1 September 1863

Jackson, Richard H., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Father

Transferring of post to the Commissary Department.

GLC07705.169

28 October 1864

Schumpert, Amos K., fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to dear, loving and sweet wife

received orders to draw and cook up rations for 3 days. will soon be in a fight. wishes he could come home and stay there for the rest of his days. Written in Camp Stevens

GLC08270.03

4 December 1862

Lowrie, James Addison, 1843-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mother

writes that their rations have been reduced to crackers and beef. passed by the 22nd regiment the other day. they all appeared well and looked like they had been marching for 12 days.Written in a camp near Fredericksburg

GLC08300.11