1862/02/17

Morris, Joseph W., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Wilmor W. Morris.

Joseph had not heard from Wilmor in over a month. Many people in the neighborhood have been getting married, though no one in his family has, and he imagines that "God's command to Noah 'to be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth' is about being speedily fulfilled." He believes that "our recent glorious victories at Somerset, Fort Henry, and Roanoke Island" must make the "soldiers about Washington feel in fighting mood just now." He expects that Wilmor and his company must be "eager to make a dash at the Rebels and gain a little glory too."

GLC06451.025

1862/03/07

Moms, Joseph W., fl. 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: George M. Morris.

Joseph's division is close to the Confederate forts which have fired at the camp but have not hit anyone yet. The soldiers "holler[e]d over to them if they co[ul]d not dew any better than that they had better quit." They are two miles of Yorktown where "Cornwallis gave oup [up] his sword to Washington." General McClellan, who "was dressed verry common," is with the division and "has sent a flag of truse to General McGruder." Joseph assumes "the ball will be opened this afternoon if they dew not surrender." He was on picket 300 yards from the forts while the Confederates, "belching and…

GLC06451.027

1862/06/22

Morris, Joseph W., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: "Dear Brother."

Joseph claims that so many of the men in his regiment are sick because of Doctor McFadden, but now they have a new doctor who is much better. Washington was a good doctor but was a drunk, as are so many of the doctors and officers. Joseph's Colonel is "drunk when ever there is any [chance] of a fight" and "is not half the man that Col. Morgan was." Jesse is at New Haven and is doing well.

GLC06451.030

1861/09/12

Morris, Wilmor W., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Tilley Wilson.

Wilmor has heard that "the battle of yesterday is in our favor…our men took 1300 prisoners and 18 army wagons [but] it may not be true." He was only given "a pair of shoes a gunn a flanel shirt a pair of drawers." His camp moved so that is just half a mile from the capitol. He lightheartedly describes the goats nearby, wishing he could send one "by mail to you." The firing he heard earlier was a skirmish, "the rebbles wer[e] drove back" but "we lost 6 men."

GLC06451.037

1861/09/15

Morris, Wilmor W., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: "Dear Friend."

A guard "charged on the bush with 4 men expecting to find a man with a cigar in his mouth" but found only a firebug. He has received more of his uniform now. He saw two "female soldiers" passing on the road with "blue velvet wa[i]st and a dark skirt to the knee and blue pants…tha [they] look grand." There was a dance and he and several friends "got fo[u]r shirts and made dresses so we imitation [imitated] ladys." General Kearney said his men would have to fight by the beginning of next month or they "would be sirrounded [surrounded] so that thare provisions would be impos[s]ible to get"…

GLC06451.038

1862/05/01

Morris, Wilmor W., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: "Much Esteemed Friend."

Wilmor reports that "Niggerdom is a question that is talked over in camp verry much." The men think Congress had better find a way to pay the soldiers at the appointed times. He describes their line of defense, which is within a mile of the Confederates, on "the same ground that Washington had his armey on before the sur[r]ender of Cornwallis." He thinks the Confederates will be surprised when the Union cannons "open the[i]r mouthes an[d] begin to bark at them think of 2000 ball[s] an[d] shells per minut[e]" flying through the air. Written at Camp Winfield Scott.

GLC06451.047

1862/12/02

Rose, Champman, fl. 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: [Wilmor Morris]

Written on the back of an envelope addressed to Wilmor at the Army Square Hospital in Washington, D.C. re: "[T]his come to hand to day and I start it to you with out delay, I have not heard from you since you left but hope you got home safe, my health is po[o]rer than when you left or else I would write more."

GLC06451.055

1863/03/20

Wilson, Washington, fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Wilmor W. Morris.

Wilson's regiment drills six hours a day when the cold snowy weather permits and he claims it is "the best in the brigade so far." As its officers are promoted, its position moves to the extreme left of the brigade. The area seems uninhabited except for the army. They are under Major General Doubleday, a "surly looking old fellow." They are not under Hooker now and Wilson has never seen him.

GLC06451.059

1863/08/29

Miller, James, fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Wilmor W. Morris.

Miller is at the "most delightful camp" at a former summer resort. Bernie's headquarters are at the springs and "his kids have their women and they enjoy themselves highly." Samuel Pedan has been sick and is in Washington. He wants to know when Wilmor and Tillie Wilson will get married.

GLC06451.063

1863/11/07

Pleasant, Charles E., fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: [Wilmor?] Morris.

"So long a time has passed since you were notified to be examined that the Pension Office repeats the request. Le us hear from you at once; and send to us the Doctor's receipt for the $150 which you must pay him; and he will see that you are reimbursed."

GLC06451.064

2 January 1777

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Longs to be with her, and hopes that he will have a chance at the end of winter. The men are fighting on past their enlistment dates and have "high spirits but want Rum and clothing." Informs her that he has been made Brigadier General over all artillery, which was "unsolicited on my part, tho' I cannot say unexpected." Says that people are too lavish in their praise of him, and that he possesses nothing more than industry and love of country. "War my Lucy is not a humane trade," and says the attack on Trenton damaged the residents there. Dated 1776, but written 1777.

GLC02437.00511

3 January 1777

Horton, Jotham, 1749-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

States that he and two other officers have smallpox, and asks if Knox can forward them "hard money" for "the Common Necessaries." Letter is dated 1776, but should be dated 1777. On the second page of the letteer is an unsigned Lucy Knox autograph letter to Henry Knox. In the draft she expresses her displeasure with Knox for not seeing him more often, but also her love for him.

GLC02437.00512

5 January 1777 - 11 July 1783

Manuscript document

Title: Brigadier General Knox's account of Clothing

Contains accounts for amount of money Knox spent on various items of clothing from 1777-1779. Items include fabric, shoes, coats, shirts, etc. Many of the items listed are for other officers under Knox's command. Annotations made as late as 1783, in the hand of Knox's aide Samuel Shaw, appear throughout.

GLC02437.00513

8 January 1777

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Explains that his letters may be short, but he still loves his brother. Feels God has favourably turned "the tide of our affair." Knows that war is hard, and has prepared himself for losses either "public or personal." Hopes to hear from William more often, though admits the mail is difficult. Thinks that Lucy should sell the horses if she winters in Boston. Dated 1776, but written 1777.

GLC02437.00515

8 January 1777

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

States that his other recent letter, probably GLC02437.00514, is not full of sentiment because its contents is of public importance and she might wish to show the letter to others. Says that, while there love is public, the full expressions of it need not be put in a letter that may be seen by strangers. Here he expressed the love for her that he did not in the previous letter. Hopes to be with her soon, and hopes for more letters. In a postscript advises her to sell the horses if she is in Boston, and in a note on the address leaf asks her to forward a letter for him. Dated 1776, but…

GLC02437.00516

[n.d.]

Morris Family

Autograph note

Title: to unknown

List of names with numeric notations written after each. [with Charles Morris' papers]

GLC06451.013

1862/02/09

Morris, George, fl. 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Wilmor W. Morris.

George tells Wilmor that he saw Tilley Wilson and Jones Stuart who "is s[u]ch a devel of a fool and it is good fun to watch him." George would like to know "if Matt Mitchel [got an] honorable discharge" as he so claims.

GLC06451.014

1862/10/31

Morris, George, fl. 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Wilmor W. Morris.

George reports that their father is getting better and promises to write Joseph very soon. He sends word to Joseph that "his purty girl Miss E. Talor had a litt[l]e one by old Hicky."

GLC06451.015

1862/06/06

Morris, Jesse M., fl. 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: John Morris.

Jesse was wounded in the shoulder in the last battle. The steamer is headed for New York and then Pennsylvania but he will try to get a furlough to come home if his shoulder does not heal.

GLC06451.016

1862/08/27

Morris, Jesse M., fl. 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: George M. Morris.

Jesse expects to leave soon but he is enjoying himself and knows that will end when he rejoins the army as it is no "pleasure to tote a heavy knapsack in warm weather." He believes all those who will volunteer already have and there will be a draft. He hopes George will not be drafted as "4 out of one family ought to do pret[t]y well."

GLC06451.017

1862/10/15

Morris, Jesse M., fl. 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: George M. Morris.

Jesse is getting better and his shoulder only hurts occasionally. He thinks "the girls will soon think different after the soldiers" return and if there are not enough, "two or three can take one in partnership." Joseph has not been well and is only 105 pounds. Jesse got into a fight with one of the many secessionists in town and was fined $1.50 but has no money to pay.

GLC06451.018

1862/11/13

Morris, Jesse M., fl. 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: George M. Morris.

Jesse is sorry their brother Charles has died but says they must console themselves "as we know he died for a good cause." Jesse had a piece of bone removed from his shoulder and encloses it with the letter. He has heard that no more men will be discharged from the hospital but wants to go back "to revenge my wound and the death of my dear brother." If he returns to the regiment, he will go to Charles' grave and see if he can arrange a tombstone.

GLC06451.019

1863/03/31

Trout, James R., fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Jesse M. Morris.

Trout's leg has gotten worse since Jesse left the hospital. A letter with five dollars came for Jesse from George and Wilmor and Trout distributed the money as Jesse had asked.

GLC06451.020

1862/02/10

Morris, John, fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Jesse M. Morris and Joseph W. Morris.

John updates Jesse on the spasm in his mare's leg, which John [another with the same name] has been trying to cure. He read in the paper that there was another battle in Kentucky. John tells Joseph that their mother is working on a box to send them and is knitting "you all a pair of socks a pese [piece]."

GLC06451.022

1862/07/11

Davison, Luke B., fl. 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: "Old Mr. Morris" [John Morris]

Davison apologizes for any insult one of his boys may have made against Mr. Morris. He was unaware of an offense but respects Mr. Morris and wishes to know who the boy was so that he may reprimand him.

GLC06451.023