February 1, 1863

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Believes the winter campaign to be over. More men are allowed furloughs and there are plans to improve the camps. Hopes that arrangements will be made to have better mail service and that the sutlers will be supplied more efficiently.

GLC03603.187

2 July 1864

Kessler, Thomas J., fl. 1843-1868

Autograph letter

Title: to A. P. Kessler

Writes to his father. Informs him he received the memorandum book, paper, envelopes, and stamps. Discusses the hot weather. Notes they have plenty of ice water, lemonade, and a sutler who supplies almost everything. Reports they are preparing for a siege and have received considerable shelling. Describes a cellar he has dug out to protect himself from the shelling. Comments he would like to get out of the army but does not believe his lawyer will succeed. Complains about the lack of respect and mistreatment of soldiers. Writes, "I always thought I was as good as any one of the…

GLC03523.52.57

5 July 1862

Gardner, Horace B., fl. 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: To Nellie

Horace B. Gardner writes to Nellie Boardman from Fort Albany, where he is stationed with the 14th regiment. After writing that he has never heard her name before, he decribes his Fourth of July celebration, a picnic and fireworks. He writes about the fort and camp life. Gardner identifies the "Sutler" as the worst enemy to the soldiers, listing the high prices of his goods. This letter is on McClellan lettersheet with McClellan patriotic image envelope. Written at Fort Frederick (also known as Fort Albany).

GLC02665.01

17 December 1782

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Miles

Written to Captain Lieutenant [likely John] Miles of the Office of Police. At the top of the page, Shaw writes a note to Miles granting a license to a Mr. Reynolds to be a sutler at the West Point garrison. Asks Miles to keep a register of the licenses he grants, and that the licenses take the following standard format: "Mr. [blank space] is hereby licensed to suttle on West Point till further orders - he conforming himself to and strictly obeying all orders and regulations which are or may hereafter be given for the government of sutlers. Given at West Point by order of Gen. Knox."

GLC02437.01749

7 January 1783

Doughty, John, 1754-1826

Autograph document signed

Title: Return of the Women & Children at the Post of West Point & its Dependencies, that would have drawn Rations under the late Regulations, and also of the number of Extra Rations drawn under the new Contract

Lists number of women and children by regiment and includes the amount of extra rations they will receive under the new regulations.

GLC02437.01809

1 September 1782

Manuscript document

Title: Returns of the suttlers names, in the garrison of West Point, & by whome licensed

Lists the names of sutlers, or merchants who sold food and drink to troops, and lists who licensed them. Sutlers include Simon Richards, William Foot, James McMasters, Asa Spauldin, Samuel Warrin, Roger Magrath Gatsey, Mrs. Current, John Andrews, William Adams, Aaron Thompson, Able Boyington-Dunlap, Ezra Eaton, John Sullivan, and Mr. England. Licensing authorities include Generals [Alexander] McDougal, [William] Heath and [John] Paterson, and Colonels [John] Crane and Shephard [possibly William Shepard].

GLC02437.01561

8 October 1782

Moodie, Andrew, ?-1787

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Return of sutlers in garrison at West Point]

Return of sutlers and others in garrison at West Point, not of the army. Lists names, who they were licensed by, who gave them permission to build houses, and their trade or calling. Signed by Captain Andrew Moodie. Two dockets on verso.

GLC02437.10512

January 12, 1782

Carthy, Daniel, fl. 1780-1782

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Roll of inhabitants living near West Point]

Roll for the inhabitants living in and nearby the garrison. People listed by name (33 cited), occupation, length of stay and related remarks. A note at bottom state that 20 of them are sutlers.

GLC02437.10690

14 November 1861

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his mother

Writes about having a poor meal and about the camp sutler, who sometimes supplies food to the soldiers. Explains that he was forced to re-submit the monthly report because of the Assistant Adjutant General's incompetence.

GLC03603.030

January 23-January 26, 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Written on board the ship "H. J. Brookman." Mentions still being anchored in the sound and finally receiving mail from home. Discusses what he is reading and how he wishes he had brought a book of poetry. Reports receiving a pair of stockings from his "third cousin Lillie Coit Collins." Says that the soldiers are very isolated from outside news and he requests that his family send a copy of Norwich's weekly Tribune. Mentions men from the boat visiting the sutler on another boat to purchase food. Discusses the way men who buy food sell it to others at a large mark-up. Also reports that a…

GLC03603.069

21 April 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes of the construction of three batteries around Fort Macon for use during the attack on the Fort. Complains about faulty news coverage of the battles. Gives news of the death of Dr. Lathrop, one of the Division doctors. Tells of Major Appelman being wounded by a "spent grape-shot." He has sent in an order with the sutler to get fruit and farina from Newbern. He has still not fully recovered from his illness.

GLC03603.097

4 June 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that he is to report to the jail for Court Martial duty. Is resistant to go because he does not know anyone he will be serving with. Writes that though he is supposed to be relieved of his duty to his Company during this time, he does not trust Lieutenant Shepard. Tells of Shepard inviting other officers to drink with him and having such a rowdy time that Coit had to throw them off the company ground. Soon afterward, Shepard and his servant were both very ill. Because of this incident, Harland forbids the sutler from selling alcohol in the future. Also, the incident lead to the forced…

GLC03603.112

25 December 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document signed

Title: to Joseph Young

A copy of the request Knox sent Messrs Daniel Parker and Co. to furnish Young with provisions for the hospital in Albany, New York. States the order is to be enforced from January to April of 1784 and no longer.

GLC02437.02861

February 21, 1783

Strachan, William, 1752-1798

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses the condition of beef and states that "I think it not fit to be Issued to the Troops."

GLC02437.01941

circa March 24, 1783

Patten, Thomas, fl. 1777-1785

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Provision return for Captain Thomas Patten's company]

Return for rations of Captain Thomas Patten's Company of Artillery Artificers belonging to the Ordnance Department. 65 sergeants and privates received 1 1/2 rations per day from 21 March to 24 March for a total of 407 rations delivered (this included 17 extra rations). Signed by Captain Patten and countersigned by John Lillie. There are two notes on verso -- one signed by Captain Patten details the troops on furlough in his unit and the other was signed by Sergent George Groom, who stated contractors delivered the 407 rations.

GLC02437.02016

27 June 1783

Finck, Andrew, 1751-1820

Autograph document signed

Title: to the Contractors for the States of N. York & New Jersey

Finck, Major Commanding, New York State Regiment, issues one hundred and sixteen extra rations of provisions to an officer commanding a flag and his escort, from the British garrison at Oswego. Includes an endorsement signed by Immanuel Deake(?) stating the rations were received from the contractor for the states of New York and New Jersey.

GLC02437.02197

circa 1880-1890

Volck, Adalbert John, 1828-1912

Print

Title: Gen'l Stuart's raid to the White House

Depicts Confederate cavalrymen under the command of General J.E.B. Stuart descending upon the Federal line only to find one Hezekiah Skinflint, a sutler who had provided provisions, in this case "ale and lager," to the soldiers. Many Southerners held stereotypes against the free-market North, and Volck buys into that by giving the sutler a name that means selfish and miserly. A bewildered Skinflint is being taken into custody at gunpoint, his supplies confiscated. The long line of covered wagons stretching into the distance suggests that many other supplies were taken in this raid of the…

GLC00493.21

16 August 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

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

Discusses a dream in which he had gone home and realized that he had no furlough papers. Writes that his bottle of Radways Relief (most likely a stomach medicine) has broken and asks that he be sent one whenever possible. Wheeler mentions that the peddlers and women at camp sell bad food and goods at high prices.

GLC07460.044

11 April 1878

Lee, John F., 1813-1884

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Jackson Hunt

Relates that he is leaving Washington to travel to St. Louis, Missouri. Notes that Senator Ambrose Burnside (a Civil War General) is doing well but may need looking after. Mentions Representative Walsh (possibly William Walsh, a Representative from Maryland 1877-1878), and Hunt's friend O'Connor. Declares "The army is not in that state of patriotic satisfaction or submission the army of a republic ought to be. It rebels at public economy; and even threatens an indian war. I have advised, in case they get it up, to reduce their pay one half more..." Suggests the discharge of Sheridan (…

GLC02382.096

21 May 1863

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Complains that some of his fellows have obtained a furlough, while he has not. Discusses Mr. Frey, a sutler, and the sutler store. In a post script, notes that he enclosed a song (not included) with this letter.

GLC02155.101

[1698/06]

Livingston, Robert, 1654-1728

Manuscript document

Title: "Account of Gov. Fletcher's perquisites for victualling"

Livingston and Stephen van Cortlandt discuss their experiences as victuallers under Coll. Sloughter, Coll. Fletcher, and Coll. Ingoldesby; and the amount of money required to complete this task.

GLC03107.00437

1698/08/16

Livingston, Robert, 1654-1728

Manuscript document

Title: Account sheet re: money disbursed as victualler

Memorandum of money paid out to soldiers at Albany.

GLC03107.00438

February 10, 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Reports his move via train, making bunks from lumber and the new comfort, finding an old friend at the sutlers, describing the wreck of the Cumberland and iron-clads: "There is several of the iron clad monitors laying out here in the Rhodes [sic]. They are queer looking crafts, look about like a raft with a box on it, for they are mostly under water except the tur[r]et." Responds to friends at home.

GLC04558.067

1863/2/13

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charley

General Hooker has given orders that all Union troops and sutlers must be out of Falmouth by 10 AM the following day. He advises his son not to go to school as it may interfere with his health. He tells his younger son, Rufus, to begin chewing tobacco.

GLC04189.29

1863/08

O'Sullivan, Timothy H., 1840-1882

Photograph

Title: Sutlers Department, 93rd N.Y. Vols, Headquarters Army of the Potomac. [August 1863]

Negative by Timothy O'Sullivan. "Incidents of the War" series. [title continued] "A. Garrison. W. J. Babcock. C. Borum." Shows a group of four men in front of a sutler's tent. A group of nine men are gathered behind the tent. One of the men sits in a tree. Same as GLC 5111.01.0254 only with accompanying text.

GLC05111.01.0255