1863

Emerick, J. H., fl. 1861-1865

Diary

Title: Wallet dairy.

10 almanac and preface pages + 120 diary pages + 30 memoranda and account pages. Entries include details of working life, war news. NB. No entries from June 22 - July 10. Emerick was ill during this period, with "symptoms of typhus." (Entry for July 11th). Summary of selected entries: 1. 02/27/63. "Hooker gone to Washington tonight." 2. 03/02/63. "Sent rep. To Phila. Inquirer tonight. Not much for news. The rebels are reported as doing some damage with our ram "Queen of the West." Large force of rebels reported in vicinity of Bull Run range." 3. 04/10/63. "Rebel Report of our attack…

GLC06738.03

January 23, 1862

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Epperly

Writes from Camp Leids that there is a case of smallpox in the company, but he does not think it will spread since the company has been vaccinated. States that the Yankees are crossing the river above Fredricksburg, Virginia. Notes he will likely not get a furlough.

GLC02715.042

February 5, 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Continued February 6. With small greeting card. Worries about family succumbing to scarlet fever, commenting on his patriotism: "...I am not the only one in these digins whose patriotism has cooled down so that we can look at the matter as it stands, and count the cost also. And as I count it[,] it has cost now in treasure more than I would give for the whole south, to say nothing of the blood and misery. Now in all reason isnt it better to let that go and be lost rather than spend twice or three times as much more and then not be any better off but just the cost out, and be the worse…

GLC04558.066

19 July 1862

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Still in hospital. Family: "...how I do wish Dear Lib that I was at home to share your troubles, anxiety, sorrows, and to relieve you in some of your phisical [sic] labors.... How I tremble to think how near Georgiana also had been to the brink of the grave." Recounting his own problems with typhoid, increasing health, lack of news from regiment. Written at Camp Dickinson.

GLC04558.032

16 September 1858

Gibson, Randall Lee, 1832-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his father Tobias Gibson

Discussing the impact of the weather on crops at Live Oaks and Greenwood plantations, an order for "gas fixtures," and the incidence of fever in the vicinities. Tobias Gibson's family owned three plantations in Louisiana. In part: "The health of the neighborhood is not at all good - the type of Fever, however, is mild & yields readily to treatment. Nearly everybody has been sick...The sooner you come the better - but you will observe that the Yellow Fever only assumes a more malignant type & may yet spread. It was after this that it was fatal in Thibodeaux."

GLC04501.003

February 23, 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

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

He reports that John Fetterly has died of small pox. Writes that Fetterly was unable to march, so he was transferred to the pest house where he died. Wheeler informs his family that he will be on the march and may not be able to write for ten or twelve days.

GLC07460.017

February 15, 1862

Tillotson, Louisa, fl. 1861-1898

Autograph letter signed

Title: To George Tillotson

Worried that her brother was in Battle of Roanoke Island. Scarlet Fever breaks out in the Tillotson's school district.

GLC04558.186

26 April 1864

Morgan, George, fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his friends

Writes to his friends from Camp Blue Springs. Reports a couple of cases of smallpox in camp. Comments on the copperheads and how he would have liked to confront them while on furlough back home. Discusses new recruits in camp. The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner.

GLC03523.52.52

6 November 1863

Kessler, Thomas J., fl. 1843-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to A. P. Kessler

Writes to his father from Camp Douglas. Informs him not to send him boots. Reports two cases of smallpox in camp. Notes all soldiers are to be vaccinated. Comments if it spreads to the rebel prisoners it will take them clean. Reports one hospital has over 200 sick rebels and many die every day. The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner.

GLC03523.52.21

8 November 1863

Kessler, Thomas J., fl. 1843-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth N. Kessler

Writes to his sister from Camp Douglas. Reports a few cases of smallpox and measles in camp. Comments he will not be able to take a furlough in two weeks. Notes that he and the boys are hoping to spend the winter at home. Warns another gentleman about enlisting and not to be deceived. The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner. Addressee name taken from envelope.

GLC03523.52.22

6 March 1864

Wirt, I.F., fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to brother and sister

Writes to his brother and sister. Reports a lot of sickness and cases of smallpox. Describes attending three cases of small pox in one house. Comments that the whole town has been exposed to it and expects more cases. The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner.

GLC03523.52.39

31 October 1817

Ker, David, fl. 1817

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sally Ker

Updates his sister in Greenville, Mississippi about the condition of their brother who was suffering from a fever but is now recovering. Describes his medical treatments including taking tincture of bark and being rubbed with mercurial ointment. Mentions that the fever epidemic seems to be dying down in the area. Only a few new cases have been reported. Asks her to please send this letter on to their mother so that she may not worry. Assures Sally that he is telling the truth and that they should not believe the negative reports they hear as they are often false.

GLC04601.08

11 March 1820

Andrews, Edmund, fl. 1820

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Andrews

Writes to his uncle in Dover, New Hampshire and relays that the southwestern part of the country is suffering from a yellow fever epidemic. Informs him which family members have fallen ill and who has recovered. Updates him on the travels and businesses of family and acquintances. States that he cannot move into the city until they have ascertained whether or not the fever will return next summer. Discusses the cotton market. Gives regards and asks him to update him on family and friends at home.

GLC04601.10

12 September 1820

McComas, J.H., fl. 1820

Autograph letter signed

Title: [to the Chairman of the Board of Health]

Informs that he has received orders from the Commander in Chief to detail the necessary companies of infantry and artillery to assist the civil authority in enforcing the quarantine regulations for the city of Natchez. Signed as Brigadier General.

GLC04601.11

27 April 1835

Krepp, B., fl. 1835

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nathaniel Wordin

Describes the area where he lives in Mississippi as a clearing in the middle of an immense forest with a few houses and about 1600 inhabitants, half of them slaves. Reports that they have a Methodist and a Presbyterian church and a temperance society which he has joined. Discusses his hope that temperance will spread and prevail over vice. Gives a description of the crops, the land, and the weather. Mentions that on the other side of the river is the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations. Comments that he believes the Indians are abused by the white men, who con them by getting the Indians drunk…

GLC04601.13

4 August 1743

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790

Newspaper

Title: Pennsylvania gazette. [No. 764 (August 4, 1743)]

Includes international news from various overseas newspapers. Announces the death of England's Princess Teresa Benedictina Maria Barbara of smallpox, and her sister's contraction of the same disease. Domestic news and classified ads inhabit pages 2 through 4. Section reserved for announcing the indentured servitude of residents and the return of runaway slaves.

GLC06670.026

15 October 1918

Lyons, Curtis Blair, 1894-1968

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Helen Lyons

Writes to his wife about the camp and his duties. Wishes he could go home to visit but he is under quarantine. Originally mailed with GLC07810.065. Written on YMCA letterhead. Camp Colt was established at Gettysburg in 1917 and was the first US Army camp authorized to train the Tank Corps during WWI. Captain Dwight D. Eisenhower commanded Camp Colt. Written at Camp Colt.

GLC07810.064

February 22, 1853

Gerry, James T., 1797-1854

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elbridge T. Gerry

Gives advice to his young nephew and relates stories from his travels at sea. Encourages Elbridge to read and learn in coming years to "lay a foundation which will influence all your future prospects." Describes the city of Pensacola, which he is not fond of, and its weather. Mentions his encounters with yellow fever, and inquires how the holidays went in New York.

GLC09099.08

8 May 1777

Knox, Lucy Flucker, 1756-1824

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written at "Sewal's Point," evidently Sewall's Point, in Brookline, Massachusetts. Their daughter, Lucy, has small pox, and "the poor little soul- is covered from head to foot with it- she has upwards of eaighty [sic] on her sweet face..." Relates that Billy (Knox's brother William) has returned from Providence, Rhode Island. General [Henry] Jackson will begin recruiting troops soon, and General [William] Heath informed Lucy that an order has been issued for Jackson's troops to remain in Boston. Remarks, "the people in Boston are all mad moving out as fast as possible, for fear of genl…

GLC02437.10012

16 December 1793

Lyman, William, 1775-1811

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Bryant

Lyman, a Massachusetts congressman, discusses Captain Bryant's granting power of attorney to Mr. Emery and the delay in the business he wanted transacted due to the closure of public offices because of "the late raging Epidemic." Free frank signed by William Lyman and stamped "Free" on address leaf. Left side of the page is torn causing minor text loss.

GLC03432.081

7 October 1863

Ewing, Philemon, 1820-1896

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William T. Sherman

This letter is a draft copy of Philomen Ewing's final letter, GLC03601.06, as it contain crossouts. The text differs slightly. Ewing Consoles Sherman on the loss of his son. "He lived long enough to attain all that is of real value in human life - a passage to Heaven: and not long enough to taste the sorrows or bear the burdens which are inseperable from the happiest mortal life ... " Informs Sherman that their father, Thomas Ewing, has recovered from illness but that their mother is still very unwell. Written to Sherman in Memphis, Tennessee. Sherman's son, William T. Sherman, died in…

GLC03601.05

9 October 1863

Ewing, Philemon, 1820-1896

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William T. Sherman

This letter is the final copy of Philomen Ewing's letter to Sherman consoling him on the death of his son William. GLC03601.05 is a draft copy of the letter. The text differs slightly. Sherman's son, William T. Sherman, died in Memphis on 3 October 1863 of yellow fever.

GLC03601.06

21 September 1863

Moore, John, 1826-1907

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Moore Kelly

He has received a letter from Hyde about his investment with the Tolland County Bank in Connecticut. They have passed through the season without a yellow fever epidemic. The dismissal of the Surgeon General may affect his own orders. Dr. William A. Hammond was court-martialed on a trumped-up charge initiated by Edwin Stanton and was dismissed from the army in 1864 (later exonerated). "This will probably affect my position here as the Surg.-J. Mills[?]-who was here before me, is in favor with Stanton and will probably be sent back to spite Gen Hammond, as the latter after ordering him away…

GLC04195.20

August 24, 1866

Moore, John, 1826-1907

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Moore Kelly

A cholera epidemic has hit the soldiers and has kept him busy in the hospital. He remarks about their brother Robert and his poor condition since remaining in the South to practice medicine, marry, etc. Written on letterhead for the Headquarters, Department of Mississippi.

GLC04195.43

December 16, 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

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

Reports that Hiram Wright has been taken to the hospital with small pox and expects that he will come down with it pretty badly. Writes that he has been appointed cook for the week and discusses what he's had for dinner. He explains that the men in his tent take turns cooking; each one is given a one week appointment. Writes that rumors of [William H.] Wyman (of Co. B, Ill. 105th) were mistaken. Updates his brother-in-law, Darius, on the conditions of some of the soldiers they know mutually. Complains about the intensity of the rain and how much noise it makes. Writes that there is…

GLC07460.065