11 May 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Describes skirmishes and battle near the railroad between Petersburg and Richmond, where "lots of the men were sunstruck." Has not been able to "draw money for rations and I don't know when we shall"; mentions a letter from Urial, a need for stamps and a lack of whole sheets of paper.

GLC04558.133

17 May 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Has not heard from his wife since he left New York. Lengthy decription of the back and forth fighting around Richmond and the heavy losses by both sides. Cross writing questions whether money sent from Elmira was received.

GLC04558.134

24 May 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Placed in command of a "post" along the James, GWT directs the defense of his troops as Confederates repeatedly attack from across a ravine. Also defends himself against rumors that he played games and drank at Parkers (in New York).

GLC04558.135

6 June 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Writes news of the fighting at Cold Harbor and lists the fate of friends. "I take this opportunity of leting [sic] you know that I am still among the living, but still I have to acknowledge that life here at present is very uncertain."

GLC04558.138

9 June 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Still in the rifle pits at Cold Harbor. "On the 6th a flag of truce was sent out for the purpose of burying our dead that lay outside of our lines and began to smell so as to make it very disagreeable for us but the rebs would to allow it, the next day another was sent that was more sucessfull and upwards of two hundred were buried."

GLC04558.139

23 June 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Written in pencil. Cross written. Coming back from the hospital, finding many of his regiment wounded GWT takes his place in the trenches surrounding Petersburg. Describes life in the trenches, gives the number of wounded and killed for his regiment.

GLC04558.142

26 June 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Written in pencil. Camped less than a mile from the front. Observes that shells are more dangerous in the rear than at the front. Discusses events of past few days; wishes his foot had been wounded so he could get a furlough.

GLC04558.143

1 July 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Faint; written in pencil. Charging a confederate line; advice to his wife about breeding a horse.

GLC04558.144

4 July 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Written in pencil. Expresses disappointment that the fourth was not being "celebrated with more noise for it was rumored yesterday that at daylight this morning all of our batteries would open on Petersburg and the rebel fortifications."

GLC04558.145

21 July 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Cross written. Receives letters from home. Wonderful description of night time artillery barrages, comparing them to fireworks. Also writes of tearing down rebel fortifications, rain in the trenches, and news of comrades.Written in a camp near Petersburg, Virginia

GLC04558.148

31 July 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Written in pencil with portions of pages 1-4 traced in a darker pencil. The explosion and charge on fort along the rebel line by Burnside's 9th Corps was at first rumored to be a great success although GWT noticed Grant "appeared a little troubled." Later, GWT learned that casualties for the 9th Corps was 6,000 killed wounded and missing. GWT blamed "the disaster of yesterday" on a brigade of "negroes [who] when charged on scadaddled without fireing a volley."

GLC04558.151

5 August 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

The discovery that rebels had mined some of the Union forts discouraged Burnside's plan to blow up additional rebel forts. Requests that his wife not publish his letters. "Maybe you wouldn't like to think that I had killed any body but I do know that I have hurt some of them."

GLC04558.152

23 August 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Describes life in the trenches, including their proximity to the rebel line: "Every day our fellow[s] and the rebs are talking, and blackguarding, across, and yesterday one of Co. C's men went out half way and exchanged papers with them." Expects to be mustered out before he is mustered out.

GLC04558.157

28 August 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Relieved from the trenches by the 10th Corps. New camp is in wooded area; picket duty becomes fun; corporal arrested for exchanging papers with rebel pickets. Georgiana's illness continue.

GLC04558.158

16 September 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

With discharge time drawing near, the letter centers on preparations for mustering out. New clothes issued. Col. Fairchilds wants the regiment to go to Elmira to do some recruiting. Relates news about Petersburg: rebel troops steal cattle; large numbers of troops heading toward Petersburg, GWT believes it is the 19th Army Corps.

GLC04558.161

3 October 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Describes transfer from the fort to Chapins Farm and the action there including how he saved an officer. Long list of comrades killed, wounded and missing. Lost $130.

GLC04558.164

4 January 1862

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Marching orders, ammunitions, reporting to Burnside for naval expedition.

GLC04558.005

6 September 1862

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Sleeping on open ground, commending wife's economy, speculating that Jackson has been allowed to cross over into Maryland to cut him off.

GLC04558.042

February 4, 1862

Tittle, George A., fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Writes to his sister and says that he is enclosing 50 dollars in treasury notes. Would have sent more but did not anticipate being at the Portsmouth Navy Yard for so long. Says he has an allotment of 10 dollars a month for 2 years beginning on 31 March being saved at the Navy Agent's office in Boston. The allotment is payable to their father. Wants their father to get Uncle Prescott to collect it. Thanks his mother for the "Puff, Pillow, &c" but that they would not be of use to him. Will sail today or tomorrow and their first destination will be Cadiz, Spain. Tells her to watch the…

GLC02828.01

12 April 1862

Tittle, George A., fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Says his last letter was dictated because he was unable to write. That was because he injured his finger while assisting the ship's doctor remove the tonsils of another sailor. After making the cut, the doctor handed the knife to him "the point of which was covered with pus, and just at that time the ship rolled suddenly, and I accidentally scratched the end of my fore-finger of my right hand with the instrument; the finger immediately commenced paining me; and in the course of the day, swelled to an enormous size; the swelling extending over the whole hand and half way up to the elbow."…

GLC02828.02

24 August 1862

Tittle, George A., fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Says she was supposed to send letters to the American consul at Gibraltar before, but now asks her not to send any letters until she hears from him again. Says they have orders to leave Algeciras for Cadiz on 1 September. After that it is assumed they will go to Madeira, St. Thomas, and then Key West. Sends his love to the rest of the family. Letter sent by the store ship "Release." Written while aboard the USS "Kearsarge."

GLC02828.03

14 September 1862

Tittle, George A., fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his father

Says they are anchored in Gibraltar Bay for the purpose of painting the ship. Says they will probably stay until 1 October, when they expect to be relieved by the "Tuscarora." They will then go to Philadelphia for slight repairs, if not ordered elsewhere. Says his letters are probably uninteresting, but that he cannot find anything interesting to write about. Hopes to get material if they cruise through the West Indies and along the U.S. coast. Written while aboard the USS "Kearsarge"

GLC02828.04

6 October 1862

Tittle, George A., fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his father

Says they left Algeciras, Spain on 1 October and arrived in the Azores on 6 October. They are coaling and will be cruising in a few hours, he says. They are cruising with the "Tuscarora" in pursuit of two rebel steamers. One of them is the CSS "Alabama" captained by Raphael Semmes, formerly of the "Sumter." Reports that the "Alabama" has captured 12 Massachusetts-based whalers. Last report of the "Alabama," was that she was crusing on the other side of Fayal island last Saturday. Written while aboard the USS "Kearsarge".

GLC02828.05

8 January 1863

Tittle, George A., fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Says last letter sent was on 25 November 1862 by a barque bound for New York. Says they are at the Navy Yard in Cadiz with no prospect of leaving before the middle of March. Says if they went to an American port all their repairs could have been done in 20 days. Reports that Captain Pickering and their first lieutenant have been ordered home and that Captain Winslow and Lieutenant Thornton have been sent to the "Kearsage." They will arrive in a few days by the "Vanderbilt." Written while aboard the USS "Kearsarge"

GLC02828.06

23 March 1863

Tittle, George A., fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

References his sister's letters of 25 July and 5 September 1862, which he received on 15 March 1863. Also received her letters from 5 & 7 January as well as 5 February. Tells her not send letter by the Naval Lyceum as letters are allowed to sit there too long before being sent on. Obliged for the photographs, "although I do not consider them well executed." Leaving on 25 March to go to Fayal Island, Azores to pick up their new captain, Winslow. Does not know where they are going afterward, but assumes they will go after privateers. Written while aboard the USS "Kearsarge"

GLC02828.08