1815-1860

Higgins, Patrick, fl. 1859-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Fannie Schoonmaker

The letter has the same stamp as letter #8, so it could also have been written while Higgins was fighting in the Peninsular Campaign. Hopes the time will soon come when they will be reunited. Says he takes a great deal of comfort in writing, and therefore hopes to tell her all about his life. Has coughed often and complains of having a bad cold. He is not the only man who is sick; one man in Chasley was left behind on account of his illness. Higgins's company took him in when they found him. Felt very bad upon learning of the death of one T. Taylor.

GLC02164.09

1861-1864

Thomas, J. E., fl. 1863-1864

Telegram signed

Title: to James L. Botsford

"I have just learned from a rebel prisoner that it is the full intention of Col Swan Rebel to make a raid on your place . . . Swan has three or four hundred Infty & Cavalry prisoner thinks attack will be made very soon . . ." Dated 14 186.

GLC02414.331

October 30, 1864

Cook, George B., fl. 1845-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

Is well; hopes she is too. Has joined company E of the 42nd regiment. "I just got [here] in time to see a man shot… It was Fred Lammer's brother. He deserted and went to the [Yankee] lines." Another man deserted last night. Two more deserters are to be shot in a few days. Asks for a yarn shirt and a pair of socks as soon as possible. "We are camped 5 miles below Richmond in the woods along the breast works." Union soldiers charged their lines two days ago, but they were driven back with ease. "We can hear [the Yankees] all the time going on wit their music as if they have fine times." There…

GLC00653.22.01

November 10, 1864

Cook, George B., fl. 1845-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

Got her letter this evening. Sorry to hear of his brother's injury but glad to hear he is getting better. Also heard that "Pa" had to go to Concord to court. Wants to know why he did that. Got the shirt, socks, and gloves two days ago. Is well "considering the way things are now." Has been on picket duty for a night. W.G. Brown got here last Monday. "The boys are wearing clothes they have been wearing all summer without washing." Asks her to send a box of food as soon as she can by express mail to Richmond.

GLC00653.22.02

November 16, 1864

Cook, George B., fl. 1845-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to father and mother

"We are faring badly [here] now." They are not getting nearly enough to eat. The regiment might have to head home, for "we can't get neither clothes nor money nor provisions here." Does not know how much longer the troops can stand such poor conditions. "I believe we could gain our independence if we had provisions." Brown writes that he would love to be home to help him drink some of "that old Brandy."

GLC00653.22.03

November 20, 1864

Cook, George B., fl. 1845-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to father and mother

Has written them several times since arriving here but has only received two letters. Will not write again until he receives another letter. "There was a fight on our lines last night." His comrades killed or captured about 300 enemy soldiers. "No one hurt on our side." The campaign will likely end soon on account of the bad weather. "Artillery can't be moved on neither side." Mud has gotten as deep as the tops of soldiers' shoes.

GLC00653.22.04

November 28, 1864

Cook, George B., fl. 1845-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

Got her letter from the 20th. Happy to hear Frank [Frost] was as close to home as Raleigh. Sorry to hear he was ill. They must tell Mr. Whitlocks to come visit him when he comes up to Richmond. His current quarters are very nice, but does not know if he will be staying there long, "for we have had marching orders every time it goes to raining." Has left Company E to join Company F. Captain Brown was promoted to Major.

GLC00653.22.05

December 5, 1864

Cook, George B., fl. 1845-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

Got her letter from Eli Howell, who brought the letter from Salisbury. Got marching orders at 11:00 PM last night to go to Richmond to bury General [Gracy], who was killed by Union artillery. Is currently in a very vulnerable position. "If the Yanks was to come over they would have us all safe and it wouldn't surprise me if they was to come." General [Hoak] says he is looking for a Union attack any day now. Always will remain her affectionate brother; asks her to write soon. Asks her to tell their father that he must write soon. Also asks her friends to write; "I haven't had but one love…

GLC00653.22.06

December 9, 1864

Cook, George B., fl. 1845-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

Is replying to her letter from the 2nd. "I am not well at this time." Had a difficult march starting the night of the 7th. The marched started at night and continued until 12:00 AM in the middle of a rainstorm. Returned to camp the next day and does not know where they were marching to. Has heard they were going to Petersburg, but has also heard that they were going to Georgia. Would like to go to Georgia; it is warmer there. Last night was as cold of a night as any that the soldiers have experienced. Asks her to send him another box. All of the soldiers, including W. G. Brown, are well. Asks…

GLC00653.22.07

December 14, 1864

Cook, George B., fl. 1845-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to family

This letter is printed on half of a regimental attendance sheet, perhaps demonstrating the lack of paper in the Confederate camp. Is well and hopes these lines find them in a similar condition. "We are having some very [cold] weather here." It snowed last Friday night. Attacked Union picket lines on Saturday, charging through shoe-high mud to push them back to their breast works. Was not in the thick of the fight; was placed with the baggage train "though the balls whistled around me pretty thick." The meat they get is called beef but is clearly horse or mule meat. As dire as the food…

GLC00653.22.08

December 18, 1864

Cook, George B., fl. 1845-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

This letter is printed on the second half of the attendance sheet titled "Consolidated Morning Report." Is replying to her letter from the 11th. Glad to hear that his cousin Frank got home alright. Hopes they enjoy Christmas at home; wishes he could be there. Hopes he will be home for next year's Christmas, but "it is so far off it is all most out of sight." It has been over three months since he was drafted. "Everybody [says] there will be [peace] before spring." Peace "would be a very desirable thing to have at this time." Thinks that more men at home could be committed to the fight before…

GLC00653.22.09

January 2, 1865

Cook, George B., fl. 1845-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Cook mistakenly writes on the letter that the year is 1864. Is camped about a mile northeast of Wilmington. Left Richmond on 1864/12/20 and arrived on Christmas Eve. Immediately saw action at Fort Fisher. Lost "three or four" out of his company. "I am so near run down that I can hardly go at all. We marched all day yesterday without any thing to eat." Got a letter from them dated the 29th of December. Hears Mr. [Baley] has a box in town for him, but fears he will lose it. Weather is much warmer here.

GLC00653.22.10

January 4, 1865

Cook, George B., fl. 1845-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

Is replying to her letter dated 1864/12/25, which he received this evening. Can only enjoy Christmas so much when there are thousands of shells falling around him every hour. Fortunately, no one in the company was hurt. The shelling took place near where Cape Fear empties into the ocean, about 15 miles below Wilmington, where Fort Fisher is located. Sold one of his extra shirts today. "I can tell you that playing cards, getting drunk, cursing, quarreling, and fighting is a [thing] that Col. Brown don't allow." Claims people at home cannot know a thing about war until they are part of it. Asks…

GLC00653.22.11

January 11, 1865

Cook, George B., fl. 1845-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

Is replying to her letter from the 6th of this month, which he received yesterday. The letter found him well. Hopes Cousin Frank will recover soon from his "suffering condition." No news of interest. Heard that General Hoke might dock them all four months of pay for robbing a house. "If he does it will create a general buss up in his division though I don't think it will be done." Does not need any new clothing. Eats mostly corn bread and horse meat. "Horse meant went very rough for a while but it eats first rate now for its all… we get now." Asks her to see how the Browns are and to tell…

GLC00653.22.12

January 28, 1865

Cook, George B., fl. 1845-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

Is replying to her letter from the 19th. Glad to hear all is well with her but sorry to hear about Frank's sickness. Hopes he will get home soon. "I think this war will soon end." Heard word of a 60-day armistice. Since arriving in North Carolina, his division has lost 2,800 men. There has been a lot of fighting near the Cape Fear River, but only two men in his company have been hurt: Jerry Wellman and W.M. Sain. Send a pair of pants and boots home. "The sound is in front and the river in our rear, where the enemy can land either in front or rear of our lines."

GLC00653.22.13

February 1, 1865

Cook, George B., fl. 1845-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

Is replying to her letter from 1865/01/22. Not much news to report. There is "a heap" of talk about peace. Everyone believes the war is coming to an end. "The boys will all run away if they [aren't] fed a little better." Can read her letters just fine.

GLC00653.22.14

February 7, 1865

Cook, George B., fl. 1845-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Is well. Got a letter from her and a letter from his sister. Mr. Bailey gave him $200 but he does not need it now. Will keep $60 of it. Cannot tell them if William McMehan had received the clothes he ordered. Asked the captain if he would send his remains home should he be killed. The captain responded that "all I can promise you is this: I will have your grave marked so your friends will know it." Does not know how much good he is doing by being here; would rather be home "killing [hogs]." The army has never been as demoralized as it is now. They can retrieve the pants and boots he sent home…

GLC00653.22.15

February 16, 1865

Cook, George B., fl. 1845-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

Is writing in reply to her letter from the 9th. Is well; hopes she is too. Got the box they sent through Mr. Bailey. Did not need tobacco, as it "is an article I have quit using." Send the box home; asks her to give the piece of grape shot to Brother Harrison. The box will be at the Mocksville depot. "We had a little fight on the 17… the yanks charged our works with negroes. We drove them back after killing nearly all of them." Lost about 25 men, none of whom were in his company. "I can tell you the soldiers are the worst… I ever saw them. They all have come to the conclusion that we are […

GLC00653.22.16

March 23, 1865

Cook, George B., fl. 1845-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to father

Writes in response to his letter from March 13th. Is well and it was good to hear from them again. Has been a long time since he has received a letter. "We haven't had any mail for a month." Nothing new to write about. "We have had a heap of hard fighting" in the past two weeks. Losses were heavy. Lost a man in his own company named W. B. Sport. Had a hole shot in his coattail, but was not injured. Heard that the news at home was that "I had my thigh shot off," but this is not true. W.G. Brown and W.F. Anderson are both well.

GLC00653.22.17

1861-1864

Zeigler, J.L., ?

Telegram signed

Title: to Eliakim P. Scammon

"received information last night that Jenk[ins] was at the falls . . . with eight hundred (800) men infantry & cavalry also that there is some force what number not reported at Franks Hill am ready for them have sent out scouting parties . . . . "

GLC02414.309

1861-1864

Toland, John T., fl. 1863-1864

Telegram signed

Title: to Eliakim P. Scammon

"Scouts have all come in. Cavalry came in last night as reported infantry a few hours ago. They have been unable to get even a glimpse of the enemy . . . " Intellligence relayed by a conscript: ". . . Jenkins men were still at Salem . . The common talk in the rebel camps is that they must occupy this country as soon as the grass grows . . . The entire force of Rebels in Western Va is estimated at ten thousand . . . ." Dated 28 186

GLC02414.314

1861-1864

Paxton, J.C., fl. 1863

Telegram signed

Title: to unknown

"Rebel with about 50 secesh Infty that fell with me as friends . . . "

GLC02414.298

21 May 1863

Toland, John T., fl. 1863-1864

Telegram signed

Title: to Eliakim P. Scammond

I met two men in rebel uniform who gave themselves up as deserters...states that the force under McCausland [Confederate Brigadier General John McCausland] who attacked this place consists of...in all 1000 Infantry with one hundred cavalry with Bryants battery of 5-6 pounders and one 12 pounder. The programme for McCausland to come via Fayette. Echols by the Lewisburg Pike and Imboden via Summerville...The rebel loss is one Killed and 3 wounded..."

GLC02414.338

17 May 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond writes the letter while "comfortably loafing on hospital bed", waiting for surgery on a cyst. He tells Estelle that if her cousin joins the infantry and goes into active combat, he will have tremendous respect for him: "Truly the infantry is the 'Queen of Battle!'" He discusses the experience of those overseas, explaining that they all "burn with the injustice, inhumanity of the entire mess..."

GLC09120.412

6 July 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that he had given a lecture to an infantry outfit that morning. Sidney writes a short "scene" between a man and his wife.

GLC09120.451