January 11, 1864

Newspaper

Title: World morning courier and New-York enquirer. [Vol. 3, no. 1113 (January 11, 1864)]

Repulse of four thousand rebels under Mosby.

GLC08720.09

1860

United States. Congress

Book

Title: Invasion at Harper's Ferry

Congressional report on John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry. Report investigated the plans and motives of the raiders, and concluded no legislation should be made to try prevent similar occurrences in the future. Includes a "Journal" of the Committee's meetings on the subject, a dissenting opinion, numerous documents by or about John Brown and the raid, and testimony regarding the subject. Same as GLC00267.206.

GLC08581.04

1860

Redpath, James, 1833-1891

Book

Title: Public life of Capt. John Brown, by James Redpath, with an auto-biography of his childhood and youth.

Tells John Brown's life in heroic terms, praising him as a hero and a martyr. Signed by Alfred Chesebrough. Same book as GLC00267.212.

GLC08581.05

September 12, 1862

Smith, Edmund Kirby, 1824-1893

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Hunt Morgan

Smith ordering Morgan to defend Nicholasville and Bryantsville, near Lexington, Kentucky. Letter written in pencil.

GLC01049

27 November 1865

Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: to David D. Porter

Autograph endorsement signed of Sherman to Porter on a letter of Lewis Wolfery, a resident of Louisville, Kentucky to Sherman dated 23 November 1865. Wolfery writes to General Sherman to inform him that, on the recommendation of Copperhead Representative Burwell Ritter, James Wheeler, a former Confederate guerrilla who was tried as a spy, had been appointed to Annapolis Naval Academy over "two true Union boys," Tommy David Jackson and James Gore. Wolfery claims that Wheeler was, " ... a rebel soldier, one of the meanest types that while belonging to the army was back in the State,…

GLC00947

29 December 1861

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown [incomplete]

His regiment is guarding a bridge between New Haven, Kentucky and Boston, Kentucky. Guerrillas (led by John H. Morgan) cut the telegraph lines in Boston and then stayed over night in the house of a noted secessionist. Also mentions Confederate raids near the Boston Bridge.

GLC05241.01

1 January 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Magie

Headquarters 78th Regt., Illinois Volunteers. Describes Morgan's raids at Springfield and New Haven, Kentucky, 30 December 1862. Magie, dressed as a southerner, undertook a dangerous mission to rescue the officers' horses. Union troops managed to drive back the rebels.

GLC05241.02

14 June 1862

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Louise Walbridge

Mentions Stuart's raid at Tunstall's Station.

GLC04663.04

14 August 1862

Churchill, Byron, 1846-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Drazilla Churchill.

Two men, Jonathan Snook and O.B. Boughton have been sent to Michigan to recruit soldiers for the company. Churchill is well and "as fat as a stuffed chicken." The Cavalry took 26 "cotton burners or guerillas," all of whom will presumably be released on parole of honor, "as General Ross, the Commander of this Post, has a peculiar way of returning fugitive slaves." Churchill speculates that some generals have sympathy for the "poor slave holder and nigger driver." David McCord and David Tyler are to be discharged and sent home.

GLC03859.04

08 September 1862

Churchill, Byron, 1846-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Drazilla Churchill.

Churchill reports that "one of the men in Co. F accidentally shot his mess mate yesterday through the body," and that accidents such as this are frequent. As he writes, two pickets are approaching with a pair of "secesh." He again expresses contempt for men at home who have not enlisted. As he ends the letter, a report has just arrived, placing "the guerillas…within five or six miles."

GLC03859.07

14 July 1863

Dederer, N. A., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Peter B. Rathbone

Writing from the Marine Hospital, Dederer, with the New York Volunteer Regiment notes the success of Grant at Vicksburg. His opinion of pardoning rebel soldiers: "Gen'l Butler is the damned'st Scoundrel in the whole Federal Army, but it needs such a man to deal with these pretended senior men; men who just as soon as our backs are turned render all the possible aid and comfort to these small armies or bands of Guerrillas. I would not allow so many of them to take the oath, as but few of them regard it as all binding, and it only furnishes them with a cloak by which they hide their…

GLC04703.11

1858 - circa 1897

Wright, Miller A., fl. 1861-1864

Header Record

Title: [Personal and military correspondence and documents related to August or Miller Wright] [decimalized]

More than half of these items, to, from, or relating to Augustus or Miller Wright, are Civil War-period. Includes an 9 February 1864 autograph letter signed from Walter Herron Taylor, aide to Robert E. Lee, regarding General Lee's refusal to approve transfers without consultation of commanding officers; a 22 April 1864 autograph letter signed from Augustus to Miller Wright, discussing "the great inefficiency in our officers" and a "very odious" conscription bill; a 20 July 1864 pass issued to Miller Wright by Joseph Rollins, Jr., by order of General Vandever; a 8 September 1864 autograph…

GLC02691.11

14 April 1865

Sarsons, Eleazer L., 1836-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his brothers and sisters

Explains the course of travel that brought him to Goldsboro, North Carolina and his expectation to head to the front. Comments that "this Rebellion is about played out they are in our grasp. Lee has surrendered and Johnson is hemed in...Richmond is ours." Also comments on his quarters, the recent capture of twenty men by guerillas, and his pay.

GLC03953.01

25 April 1864

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Wood

Written from Camp Smith to his wife. Describes spells of depression after sinning. Continues speaking of trust in God. Mentions receiving some old letters. Says the Colonel is determined to keep them there on duty, even if they have to ride mules. Tells of Company G which was captured by guerillas after sleeping without sufficient guard in a barn. Finally, describes failing at quitting tobacco: "remember I said I was a going to to quit using tobacco and send you the price it was costing me but you see I tried it a while but no go I believe I would have went Crazy or got sick or done both so I…

GLC02176.16

December 2, 1864

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Wood

Written from Savannah, Georgia to his wife. Describes the march through Georgia from Atlanta to Savannah, after receiving orders from General Judson Kilpatrick, and being harassed by guerrilla fighters. Describes the destruction in good detail: "All the main wealth of the country was consumed by fire as we marched along the country was filled with smoke." Joins with General Judson Kilpatrick's division, who had a fight with Joseph Wheeler's cavalry, and they are then pursued by Wheeler's men. Moves on to Macon and Waynesboro. Describes being driven from camp by shelling as "the most trying…

GLC02176.24

26 July 1863

Brunt, William, fl. 1863-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Martha Weir

Discusses the health of Martha's brother, Robert, who has been sent home from his regiment to recuperate. Talks about recent Union victories at the battles of Vicksburg and Port Hudson and predicts that "a few more blows...& the rebelion will be on a parr with our stock in the Bull Run fight." Writes about the effect of the climate on the good health of soldiers. Mentions that soldiers practicing guerrilla warfare are "scattered through the country, but they do more good than evil for they live off the citizens, who are professionaly Union men but practically trecherous cowards."…

GLC07006.02

13 September 1863

Brunt, William, fl. 1863-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Martha Weir

Writes to Martha about hurting his hand by accidentally falling down six weeks prior to writing -- "it is still swelled some & quite weak." Discusses health of family members and friends; mentions the birth of a grandson. Writes that the mail service has been irregular because low river water prevents easy water travel. Brunt's camp has been "scouting after the Guerillas," recently capturing two guerrilla soldiers who "were pritty saucy at first." The guerrilla soldiers are being held hostage in retaliation for the capture of two Union soldiers. Tells a detailed story of a deserter…

GLC07006.03

February 7, 1864

Wright, Augustus Romaldus, 1813-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Miller A. Wright

Writes from Alabama. "[G]reat scarcity in the land…we are where we hear nothing & know nothing. I have tried to keep as unobserved as possible…It now takes $100 to buy a bunch of thread…Charlie has been made clerk of Wheeler's ordnance he writes it is "bomb proof place: and for the first time he cries with the wiley fire eaters hurra for the war…The desertions from the army are awful I don't see how they keep an army together at all. It is strange our leaders don't see the hand writing on the wall & make peace on the best terms they can get…Scouts still threaten occasionally to kill…

GLC02691.11.054

May 23, 1864

Ives, Warren A., fl. 1863-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

He writes that the country ground is full of "wandering guerillas."Some of their wounded were shot going from here to Belle Plains, a distance of seven miles. The wounded will be sent away soon and they will get more men.

GLC00653.03.02

12 June 1864

Pugh, A., fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to L. D. Wood

re: attacks by bushwhackers and retaliation on them; capture and sale of a horse.

GLC03135.06.023

16 July 1862

Parrott, John A., fl. 1861-1877

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

sister [Sophia Parrott] He is camped near the junction of the Nashville, Chattanooga, Memphis, and Charleston Rail Road. "[T]he Army is being divided up and distributed over the country to guard the Points already in our possession" because "there are Guerrilla Parties all through the country" and 'it will be necessary to put a stop to such work before the main Army can advance any farther with safety." He believes that it is "safe to conclude that active operations have ceased" and they will have a chance to recruit men for the regiments. Signed with the rank of Captain.

GLC03858.01.05

17 October 1863

Parrott, John A., fl. 1861-1877

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

He was almost killed by Bushwhackers on his way back from visiting Henry with the 75th and "had to run the gauntlet" for four miles and "just before I got through I was compel[l]ed to leave my horse & take to the mountains" and walk over 15 miles. The 75th is just 50 rods from the Confederates, "the two Armies lying so near each other and no firing by eather and at the same time each doing every thing to conquer the other but such is war." He believes the Confederates will fall back to Rome, Georgia in which case his department would not have to fight, only to open communications…

GLC03858.01.20

January 17, 1864

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Received a letter from them last night. Generally, when they mail a letter on a Monday, it arrives on a Thursday. Is happy to read their letters no matter how long they are. Is no longer working for the General Court Martial. The division headquarters has moved to Sandusky, Ohio along with two more brigades. Now will return to doing work with the company. When the court martial comes back, he can have the job again. Asks them to send the boots down to camp as soon as they are ready. Has not moved in a while, and therefore thinks his division has some "skedaddling" to do. General Terry, well…

GLC09355.041

5 November 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Received their letter last night and was surprised to find out that they had not received his most recent letter. Are now camped almost in the town center and is very near General Sedgwick's headquarters. Is guarding a road that has been a target for guerrillas. The guerrillas took "the drivers and mules of a whole wagon train consisting of 46 mule teams. "They are a cunning set of people." Does not know what he will be doing before setting up winter quarters; Meade does not seem willing to make an offensive move. His main objective right now seems to be to "keep a close watch on Lee and not…

GLC09355.026

January 31, 1864

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

Has finished all of his Sunday work and now is able to write. Describes his normal daily chores: "As soon as we get our breakfast we commence to fix up generally. First - take down the gun and rub it up and clean it. Next follow suit with the bayonet. Then comes the cartridge box and belts to black and polish. Then polish the pieces of brass on them. Then black our boots. Then make the bed and fold up the blankets and coats and lay them at the head of the bed on the knapsack. Then clean off the shelves of which we have only two." The list continues. He has to clean up his dishes and utensils…

GLC09355.044