23 June 1864

Clifton, A. D., fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sallie Clifton

Written from camp near [Colombus]. Describes a sore on his arm and the swelling it has caused. Teases her about the number of shirts she sent him and tells her the weight of them is ruining his horse's back. Assures her of his safety and says he has faith God will allow him to see his family again. Writes, "I hope to meete god at the judgement bare and then be welcome to a seete onn his right hand and it is my prayers that you may be prepared to go with me thare to dwell in piece and happiness where there is no wars and pestilence..." Complains about the contempt other regiments feel…

GLC03135.09.05

31 December 1862

Jones, Maxine Harris, fl. 1860-1920

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alfred Jones

Letter from his wife, signed "Max." Expresses her fears, anxiety, and despair over the war. Says they have heard bombing all day. Writes, "what agony would be mine to-night, did I not know this field of duty to your Country calls you, leads not to constant exposure on the field of battle, &c that today your dear bosom has not be exposed to those missles of death hurled by our enemies."

GLC03135.13.043

9 November 1860

Braithwaite, Mary, fl. 1860-1867

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Discusses the upcoming presidential election. Writes about the Prince of Wales, Edward Albert, passing through the area. Comments that they had special train cars (the royal train) that were done up in the most beautiful style. Describes the train cars as having silk velvet sofas, white muslin curtains, and rocking chairs. Inquires about the attire that the ladies wear and wants her to send some of the material.

GLC03523.32.01

18 November 1860

Braithwaite, Mary, fl. 1860-1867

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Writes to her friend about how much she misses her. Wishes for her not to move away in case they may return. Comments how she has not been to church but once and how she longs to go. Notes that she has spent the last week in bed and that she needs the prayers of all the Christians. Writes, "Isora are the young folks as wild as ever I hope they may see a beauty in religion for there is nothing else that can save them..." Inquires about friends and family.

GLC03523.32.02

circa 1862

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Writes to his sister. Describes how they were supposed to go to Cincinnati, Ohio but just as they loaded the train car they received orders to stay put because their destination had changed. Discusses how the men behaved the night before they were supposed to leave for Cincinnati, Ohio. Describes them as building a great bonfire out of old barrels and pieces of boards and giving speeches. Writes, "you would not have known them when they had to come back by their actions for they was as sober as Deacons when they came back." Notes that several of the boys said that they would prefer being…

GLC03523.32.03

circa 1862

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Informs his sister about the condition of a friend of theirs named Spencer. Writes that the last time he saw Spencer was back at the junction in the hospital and that he heard that he was really sick. Notes that a gentleman told him that Spencer did not know anything at all for four days but that he has since improved. Comments that the rebels burned down the depot at Abbeville, Mississippi just before they arrived. Reports that several thousands of dollars were lost in property. They managed to save about 100 dollars in horse shoes, sugar molasses, and iron pots. Apologizes for not…

GLC03523.32.04

27 August 1862

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Informs his sister that he and the boys are well. Discusses promotions that have been given out in his company. Notes that two of their sergeants were promoted to captains in "Negro Companys." Comments on all the marriages, including hers, that have taken place back home. Writes of how he would have liked to see the fight between two men that took place back home. Request that she has their father send him some stamps. Pages five through six are on a separate leaf measuring 19.3 x 11.9 cm.

GLC03523.32.05

22 February 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Informs his sister about the men in camp. Writes of one man who is really sick in the hospital and of another who had "yelow janders" [yellow jaundice?]. Comments that several of the boys have had it. Describes his camp as being low and flat and that when it rains it gets very wet and muddy. The mud is so thick that it covers the men's boots and they cannot leave their tents without getting their feet wet. Requested that she writes him and tells him what the folks back home are doing.

GLC03523.32.06

circa 1862-1865

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Writes to his sister from a camp two miles outside of Memphis, Tennessee. Mentions having some hard marches since they have been there. Comments that they have marched some 200 miles. Thanks her or his father (he does not know which one) for sending him stamps. Informs her about a man named Spencer dying of typhoid. Reports that his captain is on a furlough because he accidentally shot himself in the arm. The envelope has an image of a women and a flag on it.

GLC03523.32.07

22 March 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Sends his best wishes to everyone back home. Comments that he has not been sick since he has been in "Dixie." Writes that he is sorry to hear how many people are sick and dying back home. Describes how he would like to see all the deserters caught and returned to the regiment so they can see what soldiering is like. Informs her that he is not tired of soldiering yet. They completed cutting a canal through the levy last night. Mentions that some believe the whole lower part of Louisiana will flood. Writes of hearing cannons in the direction of Vicksburg, Mississippi every day and says…

GLC03523.32.08

March 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Informs his sister that he was happy to hear that people are still patriotic. Comments he was happy to hear their late friend Spencer's body was returned home to his family. Mentions how he would like to see the Havens family begin teaching at a school. Believes that the Havens are the most capable to fill the station. Request that his sister tells a man named Arvin that, "he must not get in a pet at any thing if he wants to Succeed with the girls for they are Curious beings one has to pet them as he would any other pet or else they will sack him." Wishes her and everyone else back home…

GLC03523.32.09

6 May 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter

Title: to Isora Sayles

Informs his sister that he sent 30 dollars by express to a man named Mr. Wells. Reports that there were 560 rebels who were marched into their camp the other night and that another 6000 to 8000 were taken in the same place. Writes that they are planning on taking them to Cincinnati, Ohio and exchanging them for our boys. Comments that he has heard that he may have another brother. Written on paper with an image of a liberty and the Union flag with a boat in the background. The ink has bled through the paper making some of the words illegible.

GLC03523.32.10

10 May 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Informs his sister that he will be marching out today towards Black River, Mississippi. Writes of a man named Nathan shooting himself in the hand, and says that his middle finger is now an inch back. Mentions various men in the army and reports on what they are up to and how they are doing. Comments on hearing big guns fired in the direction of Vicksburg, Mississippi. Reports that they took Grand Gulf, Mississippi and captured somewhere between 600 and 800 prisoners. Notes that some people believe that the prisoners have done their last fighting while others believe that they will be…

GLC03523.32.11

21 May 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Writes to his sister from camp Fort Hill, two miles from Vicksburg, Mississippi. Discusses charging on the enemy last Tuesday. Describes having to charge over a large hill and fallen timber and brush where they then laid low and fired on the enemy. Reports that seven of their men were killed and 52 wounded. Writes that a man a named Robert Meade from his company was killed on the field and that Meade's brother who was right beside him was wounded and had to be carried off the field.

GLC03523.32.12

29 May 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Writes to his sister from a camp two miles from Vicksburg, Mississippi. Reports that they have stormed the enemy's works twice, once on the 19th of May and the other on the 22nd of May. Writes that his company did not lose any men in the last assault, however, another company suffered heavy casualties, losing several men and wounding many others. Notes that several Captains were killed in the battle. Describes one of the men dying from a bullet entering through his neck and exiting out of his mouth.

GLC03523.32.13

6 June 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Writes to his sister from the field. Reports that he has been in two fights so far and has not been injured yet. Discusses her upcoming wedding and how he would like to be there. Writes about there being very few girls and says that he has not seen 25 girls since he left home.

GLC03523.32.14

6 June 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Requests that his sister tell their father to do what he thinks is best with the money that he sent home. Writes that he should be able to send more money after the fall of Vicksburg, Mississippi. Speaks of a friend being well and as fat as a pig. Mentions that he is also still fat but does not know how much he weighs. Comments that the plums are ripe right now and the peaches are almost ready. Writes that it is very warm there and that it barely rains now. Reports that they are digging rifle pits and making forts. Says that some of the rifle pits are close enough to the enemy where…

GLC03523.32.15

21 June 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Writes to his sister. Discusses how a man named Erving A. Porter died. Writes that Erving got up at 3:00 am as usual to get a drink and then went back to bed and never woke up again. His bunk mate found him lying still in the morning with his hand crossed over his breast. Believes that he must have died peacefully. Sends his sympathies to Mrs. Porter. Request that she tell Mash that he must stick it out in his place for if he left nobody would have anything to do with him. Has an embossed seal in the upper corner.

GLC03523.32.16

11 July 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Writes to his sister. Reports that they entered Vicksburg, Mississippi on July 4th. Describes conquering and entering Vicksburg, Mississippi as being the most glorious fourth he ever had. Reports that 30 to 40 thousand men surrendered and were taken prisoner. Remarks on the layout of Vicksburg, Mississippi and says that is made up of nothing but gulfs and levies. Comments that they are now busy fortifying and performing guard duty. Notes that they have to be on guard duty every other day and sometimes daily. Writes of a man named Burnsam being a scamp and wishes that he would have to…

GLC03523.32.17

20 July 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Writes to his sister. Describes the beauty of Natchez, Mississippi. Notes that it is situated on a high bluff and that it is the main part of the town. Comments, "I thought that lake Providence louisanna [sic] was the gratest place for white Niggars in the whole world but i was mistaken for this place beats it all to piecies their is some of them that you can not tell from whites [sic]." Mentions that they have all kinds of vegetables like green corn, watermelons, muskmelons, potatoes, cucumbers, and peaches. Writes that they have been there for a week and have "lived on the fat of the…

GLC03523.32.18

28 July 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Writes to his sister. Comments on how happy he and the boys were to learn of General John Pemberton's surrender. Discusses various people and news from back home. Mentions that he is on duty every other day.

GLC03523.32.19

7 August 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Informs his sister that there is no reason why he should not share his letters from her with the other boys. Comments that the information given is sure to leak out somehow anyway and that it is only fair that he shares his letters because the men share their letters with him. Says that if there is anything really bad in the letters that he will tear them up. Reports that they recently went on a foraging exhibition by steamboat. Comments that they went to one plantation and made the "Negroes" help load the boat with corn and cattle. Request that she sends him some stamps.

GLC03523.32.20

18 September 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Skinkle

Thanks his sister for the package that she sent him. Inquires if she likes her new mother-in-law. Informs her that he will not be able to get a furlough this year and that he prefers it that way. Writes that he would prefer to wait until he can come home permanently. Believes that the running back and forth only makes "it so much worse than it otherwise would." Discusses a fight between a woman named Mary Gardner and two other gentlemen. Writes, "it is a bad thing to get wounded for ones feelings." The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner.

GLC03523.32.22

30 September 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Skinkle

Informs his sister that they might be heading up the river to Vicksburg, Mississippi. Writes that it has been raining for the last couple of days and the rivers are finally rising. Says that the rivers have been so low that several steamers have gotten stuck on the sand bars. Discusses a friend and says how she needs to get married before it is too late. Informs her that he received the stamps that she sent him.

GLC03523.32.23

28 October 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Skinkle

Informs his sister that they will be spending the winter in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Complains about not receiving letters from people back home. Writes that he is afraid that he might have offended a friend named Mill in his last letter because she has not written him for some time. Says that if so it cannot be helped now and that there "is no use in crying for spit milk." Inquires after friends and family. The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner.

GLC03523.32.24