1865

Julian, George Washington, 1817-1899

Pamphlet

Title: Dangers and Duties. Reconstruction and Suffrage. Speech of Hon. George W. Julian, Delivered in the Hall of the House of Representatives, Indianapolis, Ind., November 17,1865, in Response to an Invitation from that Body

Published by Gazette Steam Print. Argues that although the rebel states have been defeated, the nation is still in a period of great uncertainty. Amongst other topics, Julian discusses punishment of rebel leaders, repudiation of the Union debt, and negro suffrage in Indiana.

GLC01265.41

1865

Chester, John, 1832-1910

Pamphlet

Title: The lesson of the hour : justice as well as mercy, a discourse preached on the Sabbath following the assassination of the President, in the Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church, Washington, D.C. by John Chester

Published by Washington Chronicle Print. Blames Lincoln's assassination on the rebel Southern states, slavery, and those from the North that have aided and sympathized with the rebels. States that the "duty of the hour" is to make sure that the heaviest punishment is given to rebel leaders and instigators by the hands of the government.

GLC02913.06

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

19 February 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Responds to his father who believes the rebels will be beaten sooner or later, talking about discharges and belief that a Binghampton lawyer in Washington can get them for $5, bemoaning his bad luck, mentions his bad grace about not getting promoted.

GLC04558.069

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

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

circa early 1861

McSherry, Anna, 1833-?

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Large parts of the letter are faded and it is hard to read. References receiving Henry's letter. Says she is sorry to hear that he is to lose Mr. Cunningham - who appeared to be a naval officer on Henry's ship. She knew he was an agreeable companion. Cunningham might have left the U.S. Navy to join the Confederacy. She writes, "It is a pity to think such a fine[,] efficient Navy may be no longer National." Says they will no longer be a "Great Power" if the country splits into Northern and Southern Confederacies. Says if it happens then the Pacific States, which are far away, will more than…

GLC03523.21.08

circa mid 1861

McSherry, Anna, 1833-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Letter is faded with water damage and mold. Written by Anna to her brother Henry in the U.S. Navy. Henry seems to have contracted malaria. Says through the tone of his letter she assumes his health is better. Asks if he has taken the quinine. Says their father feels badly for not giving him some before he left. Says that their father reported to her that Henry would not be well enough to travel by Saturday, at least not comfortably. Says 27 prisoners from Back Creek Valley were brought to town yesterday. She thinks a large force is around Winchester. Sends updates on family and friends. Name…

GLC03523.21.10

31 October 1861

Smith, Maria, fl. 1861

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Asa Smith

There are four separate notes from various family members to Asa Smith updating him on family and home life. One is from his sister "Maria," one from his sister "Carrie," another from his sister "Mary," and the last is from his mother. Maria's note: references receiving Asa's letter. She says they received a letter from Wallace ( Asa's brother William Wallace Smith) too. Wallace said he was under marching orders and expects to be in a battle soon. Wallace said he has not slept much, but eats well on corn beef, ham, rice, and beans. Says "Mother is fixing some trimming for an apron for me,…

GLC03742.02

5 February 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

15 February 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Furloughs, rations (mentions receiving soft bread for the first time in five and a half months), says that they subsist on coffee and crackers while marching, reports a CT soldier discharged for cutting his throat from ear-to-ear because he was detailed too often for guard duty. Hopes for peace convention.

GLC04558.068

14 April 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Reports extensive skirmishing, his regiment has a "bully position" that is easily held from Rebs who are trying to cross the Nansemond River; describes fight in which Gen Corcoran shot and killed Lt. Krimble of the Hawkins Zouaves. Information from captured rebel sergeant.

GLC04558.082

17 April 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Skirmishing, Federal expedition to dislodge snipers, being reinforced, expecting an attack. "We have taken some negro rebel prisoners. One was caught in a tree fireing at our scurmishers, there was a white reb also with him but they killed the white one and captured the black and he he [sic] declared if he was back there he would fight us just as hard again and also that there was fifteen thousand more out there like him, who was just as stout as he, and they would fight just as well so you can see how much the niggers want to fight for their own freedom."

GLC04558.083

19 April 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Trying to cheer his wife, orders and countermanded orders to cross the Nansemond, river rumored to be blocked by Rebs, and joking: "About the broomstick question I plead guilty and believe I oughter [sic] to be broomsticked cause I didnt stay at home... but... I hope you will exercize your supreme clemency and commute it to something less humiliating and more pleaseing [sic]." Postscript on p. 1 notes successful capture of rebel fort on the river.

GLC04558.084

23 April 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Battle letter. Taking the rebel fort (mentioned in #84): "as soon as the boat touched the shore the boys piled off like a flock of sheep and as soon as they got ashore struck a dead run for the fort. Some of the officers asked the officer in command if he wasnt going to form a line and his answer was 'to hell with your line the fort is what we want' and so they strung along every man for himself. They had to run pretty much around the fort on three sides and came in partially in rear on a road.... When the rebels saw them coming they whirled one of the 24 pounder guns around so as to sweep…

GLC04558.085

25 April 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Reports that a federal raid captured 3,000 rebel prisoners. Also says he does not notice the boom of guns anymore. Concludes with his longing to see his children and wife.

GLC04558.086

27 April 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Hot weather. Regiment's officers trying to get regiment mustered-out or to get a furlough. Mentions consolidation of corps and fears of officers. Reports rebels doubling pickets. Concludes with a joke that he might "go under" if he comes in-range of his wife's "kissing battery."

GLC04558.087

29 April 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Rebels "appear ready to siege us out" and reports "Old Stonewall Jackson has sent a flag of truce [to the city] warning the citizens to leave if they didnt want to get hurt." Mentions visiting other NY regiments and describes "a queer kind of battery used" by the rebels, a "large rocket containing a bombshell" which makes no sound when launched "but a mighty whizzing as they go through the air." He says they "would be very destructive only for the difficulty of makeing them go where they want them."

GLC04558.088

2 May 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Picket duty; worries that he might have to cross the river again to take the fort (see #85). Estimates forces on Union side. Written in a camp near Suffolk, Virginia

GLC04558.089

4 May 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Battle letter. Sent into battle as skirmisher, rebel pickets abandon their posts as the Federals advance but the advance is slowed. GT's gun tube bursts. Other regiments drive the rebels off. Speculates that their advance was intended as a probe of the enemy position. Reports rebels evacuated the next day. Written in a camp near Suffolk, Virginia

GLC04558.090

5 June 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Continued on June 6. Camping in the shade and making "artificial shade" with pine and cedar branches; according to letter from relative Matilda, "Nelson was a prisoner in the hands of the rebels;" other news. "As for Marys letter I dont think 'pretty much' of her abolition doctring [sic], she thinks it would be a glorious thing to fight and die for abolition but I dont. It is a sure thing though that I have got to fight for it, and may die for it, but I shall consider the fight a compulsory one, and the death inglorious. Pshaw!" Doubts that there will be much draft resistance; health;…

GLC04558.096

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