9 October 1861

Van Nuys, John H., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Watson Van Nuys

Fears that his previous two letters mistakenly direct to Cheat Mountain. Describes sowing and harvesting activities at home. Mentions the previous day's election, an observes that "this war has made 'strange bedfellows.'" Includes a brief note in a juvenile hand urgining Vannuys to write.

GLC07687.108

24 October 1861

Van Nuys, John H., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Watson Van Nuys

Travels to Switz[?] recently for a family meeting. Samuel Voris [relationship unclear] was buried the day they arrived for the meeting. Describes the effort at home to gather clothing for soldiers ("Jake Davis....says he has a wagon bed full.") Several at home have been striken with typhoid fever. Asks "Did your Reg. Run (Cowardly) at the green Briar fight?" Includes a clipping reporting Col. Baker killed, among other news.

GLC07687.109

1 November 1861

Van Nuys, John H., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Watson Van Nuys

Daily activities around the farm. Resumes letter two days later (3 November), and again mentions the outbreak of typhoid fever. He has heard that one fourth of Capt. William's company is sick, and that John Hervey [Harvey?] Voris accidently shot himself in the foot while sleeping on his rifle. Also discusses a letter relating details of the Confederate army's attack on Humbolt, Kansas.

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14 November 1861

Van Nuys, John H., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Watson Van Nuys

Good condition of the hogs at home. Speculates that the price of pork will depend largely on the actions of the Army. Expresses frustration at the Army's general lack of progress and frequent change of ccommand.

GLC07687.111

19 November 1861

Van Nuys, John H., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Watson Van Nuys

Reports general news from home ("Aunt Emma is no better...."), inquires where they are likely to spend the winter, and again laments the Army's lack of action, although he commends the Navy: "Our naval expeditions are playing smart with them Sauf Cerolinians [sic]. I hope we will make them cry for mercy and then give them none."

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2 December 1861

Van Nuys, John H., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Watson Van Nuys

Discusses the fine yield of c orn for th year, religious services, and the clergy. He reports more than 100,000 Union troops in Kentucky, and the anticipation of a great battle. Expresses dissappointment to find his son in "a Briggaded whose General has distinguished himself only in catching runaway slaves and returning them to do their Rebbel Masters, a most contemptible little business for any white man to do."

GLC07687.113

19 October 1864

Hammond, Horace J., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to friends

Here "safe and sound." Got here this morning, had to write as soon as possible. Met a lady from Elmira who worked for a Christian organization that "assisted me all they could." She accompanied him to the boarding house where he got breakfast. Had to wait until 5:00 PM for the boat. They accompanied him on the boat. Had to take an oath of loyalty to the United States. Got a pass to go on to the boat. One of his friends went with him. Had breakfast the next day free of charge. Says the Christian Commission has been "brothers and sisters to me." Found Charles to be "as well as could be expected…

GLC09273.06

20 October 1864

Hammond, Horace J., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eleanor Hammond

Glad to hear all is well. Sad to hear that [Silphey] had died and "sorry to hear that Charley was wounded." One of his comrade's guns had gone off, shooting him in the leg just above the ankle. The surgeon took the bullet out, and "it did not go through." Has been with the boys the whole time. His leg is rehabilitating quickly. "Can walk some" on the bad leg, but not completely. Still not much to do around camp. Weather is fine. Have not been in any real danger here. Joseph has gained seven pounds since he left. "They have sent plenty of men up to the front and they are going to take…

GLC09273.07

25 October 1864

Hammond, Horace J., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eleanor Hammond

The weather has cooled recently, but it is still nice out. Leg has recuperated significantly and "has got almost well." Put a book in with the letter. Had meant to put it with an earlier letter but forgot. Put two pennies for Oscar in the letter he wrote last night. Reminds her to tell him about the money he had sent her. Asks her to put her trust in the Lord as he has.

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7 November 1864

Hammond, Horace J., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eleanor Hammond

It is raining very hard, but all at camp are in good health. Asks how the potato harvest went. Advises her not to sell any more hay after the last half ton, because "you may want it" later. If she does not want it, she can always sell the rest. If Betsey wants any hay, she should receive hers first. Reminds her not to spend too much money and "keep something to buy your wheat with." Is not sure when he will be paid again. If she runs out of money, she can always borrow some from Betsey. Asks her to put her trust in the Lord if times get tough.

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1861-1864

Hammond, Horace J., fl. 1862-1865

Sketch

Title: [sketch of "shanty"]

circa November, 1864. Hammond to wife. The first side of the sketch is a detailed drawing of the "shanty" Hammond will be living in throughout the winter. It is made of logs, and seems to be fairly well built. The shanty also includes a chimney and a roof. The other side of the sketch is an overhead view of what the entire camp looks like. The houses are laid out in lines and are marked by short pencil lines. The regiment then formed "streets" that sort the shanties into columns.

GLC09273.11

1 December 1864

Hammond, Horace J., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eleanor Hammond

Received two letters from her last night, one dated 11/23/64 and the other 11/25/64. Happy she included four extra postage stamps in one of them. Leg is "almost well." Weather is "very warm." Has recovered from his cold. Beef for dinner tonight. If Cary comes for the half ton of hay, he can have it. She must not let the hay rot. Realizes that on the 7th of the month it will have been exactly three months since he left for war. She will "have to do the best you can about that wood." Sorry that he cannot write to Charles, but he does not have much time. If he wants to he can slip in a half…

GLC09273.12

13 December 1864

Hammond, Horace J., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eleanor Hammond

Is in good health; cold has almost gone. Received a letter from her this morning. Joseph's health is very good. Started on a raid this past Tuesday. Marched five miles one day, 22 the next, and 20 the day after. Upon reaching their destination, they "commenced and tore up the railroad and piled up the ties and then lugged the rails on the piles of ties and then set them afire." Also destroyed "30 miles of the road and burnt it up." Soldiers killed and ate any farm animals that they saw and "burnt everything that we came to." Rained and hailed all that night. Began their march back through the…

GLC09273.13

14 December 1864

Hammond, Horace J., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eleanor Hammond

The letter is printed on stationery provided by the U. S. Christian Commission. Is in good health. Received two letters from her this morning. One had some cough medicine in it. Got the receipt for his box. "I want to kiss you." Will be staying in camp for the winter. Found Joseph in camp; he is healthy and did very well on the march. Guernsey also "stood it first rate." John, on the other hand, "growled all of the way but he came through [alright]." Had some pudding for dinner. Has been living very well; gets at least two loaves of bread a day and will be making his shanty even better for…

GLC09273.14

15 December 1864

Hammond, Horace J., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eleanor Hammond

Cough is almost gone. Leg is a bit sore but is getting better. In all other respects his health is "tip top." Got another letter from her today. Was happy to see that it had four stamps in it. Received orders to build shanties today. Joseph and Fayette are both healthy. John "grunts about the same." Guernsey is alright. Is cooking beef for supper. Says he prays to the Lord all the time to get him through the war. "Fayette has made up his mind to live a different life than" the one he has lived so far. Asks her to teach the Christian way to Oscar so he can learn "to be a good boy." Loves both…

GLC09273.15

18 December 1864

Hammond, Horace J., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eleanor Hammond

Is very healthy: "cough is most well, my appetite is first rate, and I feel first rate." Leg is still a bit sore, but it is getting better. Fayette is healthy, but Joseph has the mumps. Eats all he can get at, and gets enough food. Moved about a mile and a half from where they had been in order to get more wood. General Gregory says that they might be putting up their shanties there. Would greatly appreciate it if she sent him his box. Wishes he could see her and Oscar, but his faith in the Lord has given him patience. Will likely wait out the winter at his current position. By the time…

GLC09273.16

25 December 1864

Hammond, Horace J., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eleanor Hammond

Hopes she is having a merry Christmas. Got some sausage, apples, and soft bread for breakfast. Most of the company left for picket duty, but he stayed behind with Joseph and ten others. It has been very wet and cold for the past three or four days. It is a bit warmer today. Has been working at his shanty, but has the day off today. The new camp is about five miles farther from Petersburg than the old one. Just went to dinner; had some boiled rice . Feels "first rate." Has gotten some sores on his leg, including one "just below my knee" that hurt "a good deal." Got another letter on the 22nd…

GLC09273.17

January 1, 1865

Hammond, Horace J., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eleanor Hammond

Wishes her a happy new year. Everyone is healthy except Joseph, who has a cold but is recovering. Glad to hear she is all well. Heard about the note from Armstrong; thought Betsey was going to let her have some money. Advises her that if Betsey will not let her have any money, she should talk to Jerome and see if he will give her some money to pay Armstrong with. Will hopefully receive some pay soon that he can send up to cover whatever money is owed. Asks if the creditors will wait for him to get paid so he can cover the debt. If she pays him $30, maybe he will wait until fall to be paid the…

GLC09273.18

January 12, 1865

Hammond, Horace J., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eleanor Hammond

Letter is printed on U. S. Christian Commission stationery. All are well and hope the same is true of her and Oscar. His health is "the best that it has been since I was shot." Received his fourteenth letter from her the night before. Urges her to look out for herself. Glad that she got that money to pay off the creditors. Once he gets paid, he will send his salary home so that she can pay whomever needs the money and still have some left over for herself. He can pay the rest once he returns home in the fall. Discussed the financial situation with Fayette. Asks her to tell Jane that he thinks…

GLC09273.20

January 13, 1865

Hammond, Horace J., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eleanor Hammond

Leg is "almost well." Received two letters from her the night before. Glad she got most of the wood drawn. Weather is warm and nice. Has been cooking most of the day. Does not have time to write much. Soldiers went looking for some boats today that were carrying supplies. "We don't get many papers here." Glad she did not buy anything from Betsey. Wants to know how much money is left, and tells her to save as much of that money as possible. Tells her to feed the cows some meal before they come in "so that they will be a-gaining when they come in." It is very important to keep the cows well-fed…

GLC09273.21

January 18, 1865

Hammond, Horace J., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eleanor Hammond

All are healthy. Fayette "is the fattest that I ever saw him and his health is tip top." Joseph is healthy, and John "grunts some but I guess he always will." Has heard from a letter that Fayette received that [Serrisey] is staying with her friend [Prudy], but he does not want her coming over to his house because she "[is not] fit to be in a hog pen." It is very cold at camp, and the ground has almost frozen. Has heard that he will not be paid until the first of March. Until then, she will have to do "the best you can." "There is a great many men down here that are making bets that the war…

GLC09273.22

January 24, 1865

Hammond, Horace J., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eleanor Hammond

All are in "tip top health" and hopes she is too. Weather is clear but cool. Has been cooking beef all day. Is "the fattest I have been since we have been married." All the men can eat "like pigs." Does not think he will have to fight much once fighting starts, because his regiment is in the reserve corps. Leg had almost healed when it "began to swell up on my knee and got very sore." The doctor put "some stuff" on it, and it is getting better. Can still walk very well. His work is not too hard. Does not think any of his friends will get hurt fighting. Stopped writing for the night, and…

GLC09273.23

February 3, 1865

Hammond, Horace J., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eleanor Hammond

All are healthy; hopes the same is true back home. Leg is improving. Received another letter from her this morning. Weather is "quite cold," especially at night. Hopes the war will be over before spring so that he will not face any extensive fighting. Thinks that leaders are working to end the war, and "it is very still along the line." Thinks Leonard and Betsey made her a very nice present. She should buy what she needs to live on and not much else, because he will not be paid until the middle of March. She should also be sure to give enough slop to the heifer, but she should also be sure…

GLC09273.24

February 12, 1865

Hammond, Horace J., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eleanor Hammond

All are well and in good spirits; hopes the same is true for her and Oscar. Company left camp last Sunday and went "to the left." He and Joseph did not go with the company along with eight others. If they do not return in a few days, they will leave camp and meet them. Some came back last night to get some things they had kept in their tents. "They said it was about 8 miles from here where they were." Had felt sick earlier and decided to take some pills, but feels better now. Very cold today. Received two letters from her. Sorry to hear she had to go down to the switch in the snow to get…

GLC09273.25

February 13, 1865

Hammond, Horace J., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eleanor Hammond

John got hypothermia after going out to meet the rest of the company. He was sent to the hospital, but sent a letter to Joseph yesterday saying "he was getting better very fast." Is feeling "first rate" and hopes she is too. He and Joseph pray together in their shanty often. Thinks "we have wasted too much of our precious time." "If the good Lord spares my life to come back to my dear loving family, I never will forget to serve as long as I live." Prays once, sometimes twice daily. Does not have anything to do today, and it is very cold. Does not yet know whether or not he will move to where…

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