22 July 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter

Title: to R. West [incomplete]

Says they arrived in the Navy Yard at Washington the night before after being towed up the Potomac River. As they came up the river they heard "furious cannonading which never ceased until after our arrival at the city and learned that a desperate battle was going on at Bull's Run about 30 miles distant." Says they suddenly received an order from Captain Dahlgren to get underway at once and proceed to Alexandria. A steamer was pulling the brig as fast as it could and they speculated that the army lost and that they were needed to protect the town from a Confederate attack or to keep it "being…

GLC03836.10

19 November 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

Written aboard the USS "Alabama." Encloses a one-page hand-drawn chart of the 7 November 1861 naval battle at Port Royal Harbor, which he had copied by "placing a sheet of thin paper" over the original. Reports that the original chart had been made by one of the officers of the 'Susquehanna' and was "said to be very accurate." Says he is at Charleston and that they are still blockading "this nest of secession." Duty has been dull; since "the stunning blow inflicted on them [Confederates in the area] by Dupont's splendid victory. We have seen no sign of the small steamers which were in the…

GLC03836.27

18 August 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Weir

Says he has little to tell him. Relates to him how he ended up in Alexandria in the aftermath of Bull Run. Says "I could not help thinking that if I was an inhabitant, I should prefer having an enemy to a friend to do the protecting; however as obedience to orders is a great military virtue, the men, doubtless with the utmost philanthropy towards the people, proceeded to select their targets among the various church steeples, buildings &c." Says half his crew of his brig is on shore manning guns. Says that the ship is not sent to sea because the commander does not like the vessel and "…

GLC03836.17

4 December 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

References his mother's letter of 26 November. Says the Confederates are trying to avoid the blockade by stopping in Nassau and transferring their cargo to smaller ships to slip past the Union Navy. Says the Union controls the sea islands off South Carolina and that "the niggers being lords of the land. They have availed themselves of the opportunity to sell to the invaders large quantities of beer, mutton and vegetables, the ownership of which nobody troubles themselves to inquire about." Says he gave some money to one of the former slaves and he remarked that he would probably give it to…

GLC03836.28

21 December 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

Says he started down for Fernandine. Says they previously boarded an English ship loaded with salt heading for New Brunswick. The ship had a letter stating that it should try to get to Savannah, Georgia if possible, but to go to New Brunswick otherwise. They thought it was a weak ruse to avoid the blockade and they towed the ship into Port Royal. Says they captured a ship ladened with provisions after it ran ashore on the beach. Describes the capture and eventual burning of the ship in detail. Says he was able to get some coffee and a new pair of shoes and that 12,000 cigars were captured.…

GLC03836.29

January 20, 1862

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

References his mother and sister's letters of 19 and 20 December and another from 6 January. Mentions remembering his father riding on a pig's back down Seventh Street along the Schuylkill River. Says the fog has been bad lately, which helps ships run out of the harbor, but makes running in hard. Says 2 nights ago a boat with 3 contrabands came to their ship. Says 1 of the 3 was very intelligent and gave them valuable information about the harbor, as he had been in a pilot boat. Describes their escape. Says one was "a full blooded darky," another "a mulatto," and the other "so nearly white…

GLC03836.30

January 23, 1863

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

References his mother's letter of 20 January. Says they are waiting in Newport News under sailing orders, which means they could leave at any minute or sit for an indefinite period. Says the tugboats are sent 8 or 9 miles upriver to keep a lookout for Confederate riverboats and that they announced an attack the night before. There was great confusion when the ships deployed to defend against the attack because of a night fog. Nothing came of the supposed attack. Goes on to describe the Norfolk navy yard in detail, saying it was "a scene of utter ruin and desolation." Says the hull of the USS…

GLC03836.41

19 October 1861

Bope, Conrad, 1839-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliza Jane Bope

Bope writes to his sister reporting that brother John is well. Complains about the continuous rain and states that one of their men was shot. Writes about the rebels destroying a bridge over Green River. Comments that they are waiting for artillery: "...we have only 16 or 20 big guns here..." Asks her to use pen in future letters because pencil is hard to read. Complains that postage stamps are scarcer than money. Envelope has image of William G. Brownlow.

GLC03523.03.01

circa August 1863

Bope, Abraham, 1837-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: unknown

Bope writes possibly to his sister Eliza, probably from a camp in Virginia. Comments on the "...plundering and destruction..." of Ohio by Confederate General John Morgan who was captured on 26 July 1863 and imprisoned at Camp Chase, Ohio. Expresses hope that the Copperheads will come to their senses.

GLC03523.03.18

31 March 1865

Bope, Abraham, 1837-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Sr. and Lydia Bope

Bope writes to his parents from Goldsboro. Reports he has "... finished the gratest and the best campaign since the war." Informs they have marched through the entire state of South Carolina, burning houses. Discusses in detail the towns he passed through. Comments that he went through two pairs of boots and marched the last three days barefoot.

GLC03523.03.23

28 June 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

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

Thanks his family for the food they sent him and requests that they send him some emery paper (for filing his gun), tea, and pepper. Reports that Rosecrans has taken five or six hundred rebel prisoners to Nashville. Writes that rebels planted two underground shells on the railroad tracks which caused severe damage to the tracks but resulted in no casualties to either army. Discusses spending the fourth of July in Dixie land. He also reports that furloughs will only be granted with a recommendation from a doctor. Pages five and six differ in size from pages one to four.

GLC07460.037

19 August 1861

Clark, Hank S., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Washington

Written at camp near Rolla, Missouri. Writes that is he sorry that Franklin Fuller's army was so "knocked up." He states that he cannot complain because things have not been bad in Missouri. The officers refused to move until they had been paid and received rifles. When they received word that General Nathaniel Lyon had been killed, the men were ready to go on the condition that Major General John C. Fremont provide rifles and money. According to Clark, General Fremont did not have enough money so used money from his "own pocket and took the government as security for it." He thinks there is…

GLC03523.42.04

24 March 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary

He is glad to hear that Emma is doing well. He writes that he is doing well also. Once he arrived in Washington, D.C. he is unsure of what the army's next move will be. On the march from Charlestown, Maryland to Berryville, Virginia there was a great amount of rain and the roads became extremely muddy. Once the Union Army arrived in Berryville they drove off the rebels there by firing their artillery. The troops had no tents and had to sleep on the cold ground while it rained. They also had no fires as the rebels were close by. The troops expected an attack at night but none came. In the…

GLC03523.42.09

2 November 1864 - 3 November 1864

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

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

Written near the Chattahoochee River in Georgia. He writes that the weather has been poor as it continues to rain. Assumes that by the time his family receives the letter the army will have moved from their currently location to an unknown destination. They are expected to be ready to move out by 4 November. The men have heard that the 20th Corps and the Army of the Tennessee are preparing to conduct a large raid. The troops have prepared 50 days worth of rations and have sent all their heavy baggage and equipment to the rear. Writes that he visited Atlanta, Georgia and was interested in the…

GLC07460.105

December 30, 1864 - January 4, 1865

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

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

Writes about those who have died during the past year and the sacrifice they made for their country. General William T. Sherman reviewed the 20th Corps. today. General Ulysses Grant was supposed to review the men as well but he failed to show up. A rebel blockage runner arrived in Savannah, Georgia not knowing the town was now occupied by the Union Army. The number of guns taken from Savannah is around 207, which is quite large, assuming the number is correct. He likes Savannah but thinks that many of the buildings looked "weather aged." He has a "Britannia" tea pot in his tent that was made…

GLC07460.110

12 March 1865

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

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

The Union 14th Corps. captured Fayetteville, North Carolina yesterday. They are now encamped there along with the 20th, 15th, and 17th Corps. On 2 February his regiment had a "brisk" skirmish with Confederates near Lawtonville, South Carolina. They suffered only eight wounded and they are all doing well, none of the wounded were the Sycamore men. They have had a severe and tedious march but they are doing well. He expects that will move on to Goldsboro, North Carolina next. The Union raids have been "gigantic" destroying as much as possible including buildings, cotton, and other provisions.…

GLC07460.114

29 March 1865

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter

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

Writes that he is very grateful for everyone at home for caring about him and worrying about his safety while he is at war. He feels bad for them because the letters they receive from him take so long to arrive so they are usually "in the dark" about his safety. Writes that the North is ignorant of the cost of the war; while the South understands its effects very well. The Union Army has ravaged much of the South and this greatly affects the women and children. Writes that the Union troops stole from houses and destroyed possessions of people. Gives an example saying that some troops…

GLC07460.117

10 September 1864

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

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

Written near the Chattahoochee River in Georgia. There are numerous raids on the roads north of Atlanta, Georgia and have interrupted mail and supplies moving south. Their camp has moved to the south side of the Chattahoochee River. Writes that they expect go to into Atlanta soon. The center of the main Union Army is about two or three miles from Atlanta. The city has suffered much damage from Union shell and shot. The rebels had constructed some defenses to keep the Union out of the city. The Union attacked and retreated while General William T. Sherman moved into the Confederate rear. This…

GLC07460.099

10 May 1863

Painter, Heber, 1841-1900

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister Kate

Believes that the rebel forces at Kinston, North Carolina have moved to assist Lee in suppressing the advancement of the Grand Army of the Potomac. He has heard news that the rebels have "held their ground" in two days of fighting and have captured 5,000 prisoners. Writes "we have just begun to see the rough side of war" and relays the stories of two Southern families whose homes were taken over by Union soldiers and were forced out. Reports that there is rumor of General Hooker re-crossing the Rappahannock River with greater loss than General Burnside. Expresses his concern of the effect…

GLC02016.032

14 September 1863

Painter, Heber, 1841-1900

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister Kate

Writes to reassure his sister that he is well. Urges her to look on a map and trace his trip from the mouth of the Neuse River to the Pamplico River and then onto Washington, North Carolina; a distance of 110 miles. Reports that rebels destroyed the office of the Raleigh "Standard" and in retaliation friends of the editor of the newspaper destroyed the office of the "State Journal"; the latter being considered "the mouthpiece of the Confederacy in this state (North Carolina)".

GLC02016.040

11 May 1864

Painter, Heber, 1841-1900

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister Anna

Reports that the company landed at City Point on the evening of 5 May and started towards Petersburg early the next day. There was some fighting between Confederate and Union forces consisting of 9th New Jersey and 27th Massachusetts. The following day Confederate forces attacked Painter's picket during the night of which all but eleven were killed and wounded. The soldiers were once again met with battle on Monday the 9 May. The following morning they advanced to the Petersburg and Richmond railroad of which they tore up a large part; fighting resumed and positions were held until 6 pm…

GLC02016.051

31 May 1864

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

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

Written on the battle field near Dallas, Georgia. He explains that he is unsure of what effect the army has had on the war being in Georgia but hopes that it is good. Writes that they have had all the rations they can eat and keep several days worth in their haversacks. Notes that General William T. Sherman is with the army in Georgia. Reports that General Sherman was not afraid to go to the front with the skirmishers. The rebels leveled the log house that was the headquarters of Ward who commands their brigade. He writes that he celebrated his birthday on the battlefield and that part of the…

GLC07460.077

31 May 1865

Painter, Heber, 1841-1900

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister Kate

He is happy to hear that his aunt and uncle may be visiting Richmond, but warns her that the city is in shambles. Writes that his name was forwarded for recognition for meritorious conduct. Asks that his sister not mention the news to anyone, as he was told the news in confidence. Sends his regards to Miss Sallie and hopes to see her soon. Hopes that the matrimony of Mr. and Mrs. Gearhart is a union in peace.

GLC02016.083

16 April 1778

Gerrish, Jacob, 1739-1817

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Debt notice]

Informs the members of Oliver Titcomb's regiment that, while staying in Gerrish's regiment's barracks they caused six pounds sixteen schillings damage, and General Heath has ordered him to remove this money from their pay. Addressed to "Gentleman Soldiers," all the men belonging to Titcomb's regiment.

GLC01450.229.02

April 19, 1777

Bromfield, Sally, fl. 1777-1782

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Bromfield

Affectionate, and at some points funny, letter to her brother. Jokes about who in the family was going to take up the pen to write him. Worries about the destruction the war is causing. Says she "cannot help hoping that an overuling providence will interpose in our favor before we are utterly ruin'd." Says respectful gentleman are being dragged out of their houses and surrounded by the rabble. Laments the evil side of human nature. Sends family's love. Postscript says she has sent several letters before this and asks him to pick up red leather pocketbooks for ladies, if he can find them.

GLC01450.803.04