December 1839

Gerry, James T., 1797-1854

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ann T. Gerry

Desires to be a captain, and believes he may soon attain the role, though the Commodore, whom he dislikes, is making matters difficult for him. Describes Havana, Key West and the local flora, discusses slave traders and their evil ways. Believes he already does much of the work of a captain, and believes he should be promoted to the roll soon, though the Commodore may prevent this. Written on board the U.S.S. "Warren."

GLC09099.05

29 November 1860

McSherry, Anna, 1833-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Written by Anna to her brother Henry who was an assistant surgeon in the U.S. Navy and appears to be in New York. Mentions a band that came from Frederick, Maryland to play on Thanksgiving. Says that their father went to Baltimore on Friday morning to see their cousin William. They are going to look at a farm owned by a Mr. Keg. Questions the purchase and wonders if William can run it properly. Also mentions other investment possibilities. Last 2 pages updates him on friends and neighbors, especially on weddings that have taken place. Says there is little news to pass on, but mentions she did…

GLC03523.21.04

10 November 1861

Harlow, Charles D., fl. 1861

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Asa Smith

Written by Harlow to his cousin Asa Smith in the Union Army. Harlow and Smith were not close before Smith joined the army, but Harlow hopes they will get to know each other through writing. Harlow claims he heard Smith was in good health through Homer. Says the family is well and that 2 regiments will soon leave the area for Washington. Reports that there are 800 soldiers at Fort Warren in Boston Harbor. Claims "They have come from most all parts of the Union; they are men of Secession principles, who have said and done to[o] much, but they are in safe quarters now." Says a severe storm last…

GLC03742.03

10 November 1861

Smith, William Wallace, fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Asa Smith

Written by William Wallace Smith to his brother Asa Smith. References Smith's letter to him. Says everyone dives for the Washington papers when they arrive, but that Boston papers have more news on the war in them. Asks him " Do you think an attack is going to be made on Richmond or what are you cutting that road for[?]" Wallace says not much has happened recently except a divisional review by General George McClellan and his staff. Says it rained during the review he got soaked. Reports that "Our pickets brought in a contraband last week. Who was going to be killed by his master for giving…

GLC03742.04

January 31, 1861

McSherry, Richard M., 1792-?

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

From his father. References previous letters. There is confusion where the writer should send letters - to New York or Fortress Monroe in Virginia.

GLC03523.21.01

21 November 1860

McSherry, Richard M., 1792-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Written by Richard to his son Henry as an assistant surgeon in the U.S. Navy. References receiving Henry's letter the day before. Says he is in negotiations with John Janney(?) to purchase his farm "as you were so anxious I should buy land." Claims "The affairs in the South look very threatening - But when action comes they will find more difficulties in the way than they expect." Thinks they will reconsider and not break from the Union. Is worried he has too many temptations to spend his money where he is and will not send it home. Letter is fragile and has a partial tear along a fold.

GLC03523.21.02

27 November 1860

McSherry, Anna, 1833-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Written by Anna to her brother Henry who was an assistant surgeon in the U.S. Navy and is stationed in Brooklyn, New York aboard the USS "Vandalia." References receiving Henry's letter. Says he ought to get any books that he wants as "time spent in reading good works is well employed." Says the more she looks at his photograph, the more she realizes it is such a good likeness. Mentions sights to see in New York, including Trinity Church, the Cooper Insititute in the Astor Library, and "Mr. Aspinwall's picture of the Immaculate Conception." Says Dr. McGary came by to say goodbye. McGary is…

GLC03523.21.03

28 November 1860

McSherry, Richard M., 1792-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Written by Richard to his son Henry as an assistant surgeon in the U.S. Navy. References receiving his letter. Gives him investment advice. Tells him Tom is getting married tomorrow, Anna is writing him again, and that Dr. McGary will stop and call on him before going to Europe. Reports that two hogs were killed, giving them 659 pounds of meat. Says he has not settled on a contract to buy John Janney's(?) farm and will not "unless the southern difficulty is settled."

GLC03523.21.05

30 November 1860

McSherry, Anna, 1833-?

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Written by Anna to his brother Henry in the U.S. Navy. Letter is extremely faded in most sections and is hard to read. References receiving a letter from him. Says she cannot write a book, but has thought of writing children's stories. Wishes he was home and says his life must be hard without "intellectual and sympathetic association." Seems to be giving him an update on events in the neighborhood, but it is hard to read. Several tears in the letter.

GLC03523.21.06

December 1860

McSherry, Anna, 1833-?

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Written by Anna to her brother Henry who was in the U.S. Navy. Says the family was wondering what he was doing at the breakfast table this morning. Wants to know if he wants the "Intelligencer" or the "Mirror," or some other newspaper. Says she will still send the "Republican." Says Bishop McGill will be in Harper's Ferry next Sunday. Reports that their father made an offer on the Patterson land of John Janney(?) and says "he asks Pa 32. it is 1.50 more in the acre than he gave but Pa said Mr Janney would have $100 interest to pay. he said there were 129 acres. Pa said he would write to…

GLC03523.21.07

9 September 1861

McSherry, Eliza, 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Extremely faded letter with water damage and mold. Written by Eliza to her brother Henry in the U.S. Navy. Seems that several of Henry's friends have been killed. She says she especially is sad at the loss of Holmes and tries to console him. Says "I heard a lady say the other day that she would prefer her friend to be killed ... rather than wounded and suffering on the battlefield. that is terrible indeed." Updates him on friends and family.

GLC03523.21.11

8 December 1861

McSherry, Eliza, 1829-?

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Letter is faded from water damage. Written by Eliza to her brother Henry. Is sorry he has to "go away without even getting a sight of a home face." Wants him to come up to Littlestown to visit while his vessel is being prepared. Tells him to "not give in to low spirits. Ask Almighty God's direction and all will be for the best." In discussing the political leanings of Littlestown, she says "you would find some of the objections here, that you think you would met in B[altimore], tho' not in so great a degree." Says he can write whatever he wants "even the minutest details of our boat[,] every…

GLC03523.21.12

16 December 1861

McSherry, Richard M., 1818-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Written by Richard to his brother Henry. After Henry left, he went to see Mr. Lancaster, who showed him around. Went to the Academy of Music. References receiving his letter from New York, and was glad he made it back on time. Says he sent the $5 to Aunt Eliza and settled with their mother, and says they are now even. Says he walked down the street with Mrs. Spalding and that she enquired after him. Says "We are all rejoicing here over the news from the other side and I hope that you will soon have to leave off blockading etc and go to fight the British Lion." Says there has been a good deal…

GLC03523.21.13

3 January 1862

McSherry, Anna, 1833-?

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Letter is faded because of water damage. Says the letters sent on 10 December might not have reached him yet. Says they heard of him from Kate Dandridge who received a letter from Kate Latrobe, who had just seen him. The letter said he "looked so sad when you spoke of Holmes." Holmes was his friend who was recently killed. Says that is all they have heard of his visit to Baltimore. References his letter of 1 December and says she received it on 11 December. Provides quick update on friends. Creator inferred from content and handwriting. Anna was living in Martinsburg in letters from 1861, and…

GLC03523.21.14

January 17, 1862

McSherry, Kate, fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Signed as "Sister Kate" to her brother Henry. Her last name could be McSherry, but never appears in the census. She could be the Kate Latrobe mentioned in GLC03523.21.14, and if that is the case she was born in 1839. Says they received his letter from Key West, Florida. Says "We will feel very uneasy now as you think the Sciota is not very safe, it is a shame they send such boats to sea, and I think the officers should remonstrate against it. It is enough to face the guns, they might at least have a safe vessel to go in." The USS "Sciota" was a new ship, only commissioned on 15 December 1861…

GLC03523.21.15

29 June 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Expects marching orders; expresses doubts about their ability to capture Richmond but describes a raid by the 11th Pa. Cavalry which captured Fitz Hugh Lee. Mentions guerrillas "picking off those foolish as to expose themselves outsid[e] the lines."

GLC04558.103

7 July 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Describes long march to the Hanover court house and unsuccessful attack on railroad strongpoint; mentions successful cavalry raid against rebels. Expects to return to Gettey's Point.

GLC04558.104

1 August 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Written in pencil on patriotic stationery. Describes the situation of forts ringing Charleston (Moultrie, Sumter, Wagner), and mentions that Wagner was taken last night but lost due to shelling. "...I dont like the looks of things here in general...." Notes that he is farther away from her than before. Written while aboard the steamer Adelaid.

GLC04558.108

18 August 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Describes orders to march, countermarch and counter-countermarch. Says half the regiment is sick although he is healthy and that the monitors have begun attacking Forts Sumter and Wagner.

GLC04558.111

24 August 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Expects to receive order the next day; writes that he has a good view of operations and artillery; says Fort Sumter "is sometimes completely enveloped in a cloud of brick dust[,] smoke, and spray, from our balls and shells." Describes other operations; health of regiment.

GLC04558.112

7 September 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Complains of not receiving letters. Writes that he has been sick and the rest of the regiment on provost duty. Reports of Forts Wagner and Gregg surrendered with Morris Island. Asks sarcastically whether a conscripted acquaintance back home (George Duntley), is "as full of fight as ever[?]

GLC04558.113

13 September 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Received letter; sends $30. Recovered health and back on duty. Rumors of capture of Fort Sumter, and complete capture of Bragg's army by Rosecrans and Burnside. Relates news that he hopes to be discharged April 1, 1864 with the other 3-year troops.

GLC04558.114

4 October 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Received pile of mail, including a letter from Edwin and Mary [abolitionist relations] which "didn't set very well on my stomach." Health of other soldiers; comments that Charleston probably will not fall right away. News reports of Rosecrans and Burnside worry him.

GLC04558.117

1 November 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Has a runny nose; the siege drags on and another assault scheduled that night for Fort Sumter; expects conscripts to arrive soon and receive weapons, "til then they are guarded closer than rebel prisoners would be."

GLC04558.121

8 May 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Describes leaving New York and traveling to Yorktown without his regiment, journeying back to West Point to join them, and then the trip to Virginia. Briefly mentions battle for a railroad and the unit's transferred to the "seige Corps."

GLC04558.132