21 February 1864

Tittle, George A., fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Tells her he is now steaming up the English Channel and that he will send this letter by the first port they land in, either Calais or Dover. Left the waters around Brest on 17 January to go to Cadiz in order to reprovision, get coal, and have the ship repaired. Arrived in Cadiz on 23 January. Having taken care of the ship, they left Cadiz on 13 February and arrived at Brest again on 18 February. Reports the CSS "Florida" left Brest while they were away. Also, on 16 February, the CSS "Georgia" left Cherbourg. Says the "rebel Pirates" are probably sailing together. Will not be surprised if…

GLC02828.13

24 April 1864

Tittle, George A., fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Tells her it is just 27 months to this day that the "Kearsarge" has been commissioned and that their cruise will be done soon. Says he can "safely state" that they will be home around the end of June or early July. Reports that on 28 March their foretop mast was carried away and that they were compelled to go to London for a new one. Says they were there for a week and that he got to do some sightseeing. Arrived at Ostend, Belgium on 17 April and when entering the port they ran into a bridge and carried away an entire span of it. The ship's bow was stuck upon a rock afterward and they could…

GLC02828.14

16 May 1864

Tittle, George A., fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Says this will probably be the last letter she will receive from him this cruise. Arrived in Dover from Flushing, Holland yesterday. Says they will leave for Madeira tonight or tomorrow and from there to the U.S. Says he has reason to think their plans will not change. Written while aboard the USS "Kearsarge"

GLC02828.15

30 May 1864

Tittle, George A., fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Tells her he informed her that he would be home soon in his last letter, but he says that information was premature. Reports that on the day they were supposed to sail for Madeira, they received dispatches from the American minister to France, which detained them. Since then they have been sailing in the Straits of Dover. Says he is still of the opinion that they will be home in July. Claims it is rumored that the "Rappahannock" will never leave Calais as a Confederate vessel and that the Russians are about to purchase her. Leaves tomorrow for Flushing, Holland and probably from there to…

GLC02828.16

19 June 1864

Tittle, George A., fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Written directly after the engagement with the "Alabama." Says one week ago while in Flushing, Holland, Captain Winslow received information of the arrival of the CSS "Alabama" at Cherbourg. Says they left immediately and remained sitting outside Cherbourg until this "forenoon" when the "Alabama" came out to give them battle. At 11:10 a.m. "precisely, the 'Alabama' fired the first gun and just three minutes afterwards the 'Kearsarge' opened her battery and kept up a continuous fire for the space of one hour & two minutes, when the 'Alabama' fired a gun to the leeward and hoisted a white…

GLC02828.17

8 July 1864

Tittle, George A., fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

References her letter of 21 June, which he received on his arrival to Dover from Cherbourg on 6 July. Will cross over the English Channel tonight to Boulogne, and if they stay there long enough he will buy her the gloves she requested. Reports that "At Cherbourg we were crowded with visitors, among them where Louis Napoleon and the Prince Consort - since our arrival here we have been completely overrun, everybody in England seems anxious to see the famous 'Kearsarge and her guns.'" Says as he is writing this there are two steamers together with a large number of yachts and rowboats, all…

GLC02828.18

11 August 1864

Tittle, George A., fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Says their relief, the "Iroquois," arrived yesterday. Reports they leave tonight for Cherbourg to receive their wounded and that they will proceed home from there, probably via Cadiz and the Western Islands. Says she can expect him about the middle of next month. Written while aboard the USS "Kearsarge"

GLC02828.19

24 December 1859

Allen, Joseph H., fl. 1859-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Mayberry

Allen was a sailor on the USS "Congress." Says he has sent several letters home, but wanted to write specifically to her because he does not want to her think he has forgotten her. Sends many individual greetings to friends and family. Reports that "I am truging along the same a[s,] ever plenty to eat and nothing to do but read and sleep[;] you know I always liked to sleep after eating a hearty dinner." Says Captain Hoffman came on board to see him and was sorry he had nothing to send by him. References several other naval vessels. Sends regards to his father, who he hopes is still working…

GLC02829.01

24 August 1860

Allen, Joseph H., fl. 1859-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Bill and Mary Mayberry

Contains 2 letters, signed twice. Page 1 and half of page 2 is to his brother-in-law Bill and half of page 2 and page 3 is to his sister (he signed the letter on page 4). Allen is aboard the USS "Congress." Is glad to hear Bill is well and has plenty of work. Says he is healthy and has gained 20 pounds. Says he is about 60 miles down river (probably the Rio de la Plata) from Buenos Aires and that his captain came down to drill the crew. Says it is a fine place and that they go over to the "Island" every day to exercise. Says they are eating well and that every man has gained 20-30 pounds.…

GLC02829.02

21 October 1860

Allen, Joseph H., fl. 1859-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Mayberry

Written by Allen on the USS "Congress." Says his health and spirits are well. Reports there is no news other than "the Ball[.] I expect it will be a grand afair [sic] as the men at the head of it are the most respectable in the ship." Sends regards to individual friends and family members. Says I "hope soon to get our orders for home not that I am tired of the ship but I would like to see you all again." Says he would like to hear from his friends and in "particular the young Ladies." Postscript asks her to bundle letters as the Navy charges for each individual letter brought to the ship.…

GLC02829.03

26 April 1861

Allen, Joseph H., fl. 1859-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Mayberry

Written by Allen on the USS "Congress." References his sister's letter of 17 March. Says there is not much to write about. Says he is in good health and is comfortable. Reports that "the ships Company intend[s] giveing [sic] a grand Ball in Phila. when the ship is paid off for the purpose of taking people to enjoy themselves[.] in fact it is all the talk aboard the ship and I hope we will have a nice time of it." Heard that "by all accounts thair [sic] is pretty hard times in the states." Sends greetings to individual family members and friends and hopes they all have ample work. Says it has…

GLC02829.04

30 December 1861

Allen, George D., fl. 1859-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Mayberry

Written by Allen aboard the USS "Delaware." Says he has written to "all hands" and has not received any response. Says he will not write again if he does not get a response from her. Reports that "We had an engagement on a small scale which gave us an appetite for our breakfast[.] the enemy throwed a few schells [sic] over our boat. Joe's [his brother Joseph H. Allen] vessel layed close by but they were not concerned in it so we had it all to ourselves." Says their captain is a fine man who served as a first lieutenant on the USS "Congress." His brother Joseph served on the "Congress," and…

GLC02829.05

20 June 1862

Allen, George D., fl. 1859-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Mayberry

Written to his sister Mary. Aboard the USS "Delaware" about 60 miles from Richmond on the James River. Says they are with the USS "Monitor." Says they have left the company of the "Mosquitoe fleet" and are now with the "ironclads." Says they are eating well: chicken, mutton, veal, cherries, strawberries, plenty of fresh milk. Reports that the enslaved people of a rebel colonel named Cass sold them a young steer they stole from him for 5 dollars. Says he is getting the gout some nights when he goes to bed. Says there are sharpshooters along the banks of the James when they travel up it, but…

GLC02829.06

18 November 1862

Allen, Joseph H., fl. 1859-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Mayberry

Glad to hear that her children are in good health. Says he is not well himself, having caught a heavy cold. Has a rebel prisoner under his charge. The prisoner was taken for burning the clipper ship "Alagany" in Chesapeake Bay. He did not deny it, saying his commanding officer ordered him to do it. The POW said he was worth 26,000 dollars before the war and is now penniless with a sick wife and five small children depending on him. He "wanted to know how it was with the poor people at the North for the poor people at the South were in a very bad Condition[.] he was in hopes the war would…

GLC02829.07

29 May 1863

McIntire, Frank T., fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary and Bill Mayberry

References Mary's letter of 29 April. Also writes to Mary's husband Bill. Returned to Key West after a cruise of 43 days, in which they captured 8 sailing vessels and destroyed one steamer, the "Cuba." Says the loss of the "Cuba" was bad as they were set to receive good prize money for her. Says it is a severe blow to hear of Mather's death "but I have become reconciled to it and believe it all for the best." Tells Bill he likes Philadelphia as well as him, but that it will not be his home again. Is anxious to get home to settle his affairs and be off again. Says he is rushed with 50 letters…

GLC02829.10

20 June 1863

Allen, George D., fl. 1859-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Mayberry

Says he received her letter with his mother's letter about a week ago. Says he waited to write until he finished the clothes and had them shipped by the Express Office. They were made as close to the measurements sent to him as possible. Says she will have to turn up the pant legs as he lost that measurement. Tells her about other possible alterations. Wants her to get Willie's (who he made the clothes for) picture taken and sent to him. Sends greetings to friends and family. Writes after his signature: "Everything is lovely when the mood is slightly elevated." Written while aboard the USS…

GLC02829.11

6 September 1863

McIntire, Frank T., fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Bill Mayberry

Very informal letter. Says he has no doubt she has seen in the papers that his ship has taken several prizes. Says he is "getting rich damn it. [I] got more money than a horse could haul in a year. Without joking I suppose my share will amount to about fifteen thousand dollars at least." Does not know when he will get home. Says "By the way Bill in your last you told me you was going to give that d__d old fool Dupree a thrashing..." Written while aboard the U.S.S "Delaware"

GLC02829.12

4 August 1864

Allen, George D., fl. 1859-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Mayberry

Says he received her letter of the "28th" on 3 August. Is glad their mother's health is better, but sorry to hear that "little Mary" is ill. Sends his love to Will and tells "him to keep out of the Draft as it is bad for young men." Says "I am glad you can make my letters out. I think I can write better after a while as my hand is so heavy. I am trying to learn to read also and Jack is helping me all he can[.] I wish I had of taken it in hand when I first came out." Sends further greetings to family members and closes by saying there is "no news here at present of any account." Postscript…

GLC02829.14

13 August 1864

Allen, William, fl. 1834-1880

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Mayberry

Says heat is bad, but he feels better than he ever has except for loneliness. Says "I have not the least caus[e] to complain only some times when I am off of duty and get to thinking and studying I will get low spirited when thinking of home and friends and the time will get tedious but I have to throw it off[.] you Know my disposition as well as I do[.] I cant Help it sometimes." Received the photographs of Becky and Winfield. In reference to his family says "the longer I am from them the mor[e] I love them[.] I dont think I will be long from them[.] I dont know weithe[r] al men are alike…

GLC02829.15

26 August 1864

Allen, William, fl. 1834-1880

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Will Allen

Writes to his brother Will. Says he got a letter from their other brother George, which says he is well. Is glad that Will is getting along so well "in the Lodge" -- the Masonic Lodge. Says there are many Masons; on the Potomac Flotilla with him and they all seem happier when they meet. Says if he joins the Navy he can get him a position as paymaster steward for the flotilla. Says the pay is 45 dollars/month. Advises him to think about it rather than be drafted. Says he loves children and misses his very much. Goes on to send greetings to other family members. Says their brother Frank has…

GLC02829.16

29 March 1862

Oves, William, fl. 1862-1896

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Seems to have been written during the build up for the Peninsula Campaign. Left New York on Monday last and arrived on Wendesday in Hampton Roads. Says there are many war vessels in the harbor as an expedition is ready to go up the river to Yorktown and other places along the James River. Expects they will go up the river the middle of next week. Reports there were 14 or 15 steamers with 20,000 men in the harbor yesterday. More are on the way. Says there is 115,000 troops in the area. Wanted to see Bill Mayberry of the National Guard, but they were not there yet. References several of the…

GLC02829.17

December 12, 1862

Oves, William, fl. 1862-1896

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his friend

Writes to tell him he is doing well. Knows he owes him "that small some," but that he has not been able to draw his pay due to various circumstances until now. Includes the payment with this letter. Wants him to write to inform him that he received it. Says they will stay at Fortress Monroe for about a week and then will sail for Wilmington, North Carolina and expects to stay there all winter. Asks him not to talk to anyone about the money he borrowed. Says he will see Joseph Allen before he leaves. Letter only dated "Dec 12th," but year inferred from content. Wilmington was not taken by…

GLC02829.18

27 November 1861

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Discusses provisions and recruiting. Written on patriotic stationery.

GLC04558.001

18 [December] 1861

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

"I am not disappointed much as to soldiers life it is easier if anything as yet than I expected...." Also, "Damn the schoolmaster but then you know I an't [sic] afraid of him caus[e] why I've got good faith in my little wifes constancy besides I told Israel to take good care of you." Mentions money.

GLC04558.003

7 January 1862

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Payday of $24.26, sees Vice President but has not seen Lincoln or McClellan. Rumors about their expedition. The letter is continued the next day. Written aboard the "Arracan"

GLC04558.006