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To his wife

Preparations for march and expedition including cleaning guns, etc. Written on patriotic stationery. Written at Camp Dickinson.

GLC04558.018

To his wife

Received portrait of family but glass is cracked. Expedition delayed. Written at Camp Dickinson.

GLC04558.019

To his wife

Expedition to and battle at Elizabeth City [Camden, N.C. 4/19] described at length: 12 hour forced march of 35 miles, fatigue, errors in battle formation, thrown back and reformation in woods: "We were rallyed again here under the shelter of the...

GLC04558.020

To his wife

Mails, frying (and living-off) doughnuts, payday early because the Colonel has "the best brandy of any regiment." Written at Camp Dickinson.

GLC04558.021

To his wife

Clothing, trimming his hair, shell-collecting, "I hope that McClellan will bag the whole nest of rebels at Yorktown...." Describes how he drills with equipment and mentions a Burnside order "directing us to inscribe on our colors the words Camden...

GLC04558.022

To his wife

Soldiers leaving on furlough, one of whom "told us that the Dickinson Guards might kiss his [drawing of donkey]...." Describes men pretending sickness to avoid drill, salute for capture of New Orleans. "You must excuse the looks of this sheet for I...

GLC04558.023

To his wife

Mail call and man's epileptic seizure, rumor of Richmond's capture, news accounts of battle at Camden.

GLC04558.024

To his wife

Farm work (neighbors helped put-in crops), more rumors of Richmond's capture, drills, call for 100,000 men: "I think that the best way to end the concern [of enough men] would be to enlist and arm the contrabands for all the darkeys I have talked...

GLC04558.025

To his wife

Home affairs: children, horses, business deals. Food: "We have plenty of salt pork, bacon, and beef there has been a lot of fat cattle brought here which they butcher so as to have fresh beef twice a week.... We get a kind of conglomerated...

GLC04558.026

To his wife

Short letter about going to hospital with diarrhea. Top of the letter is torn.

GLC04558.027

To his wife

Shock at daughter Lucy's death, sick in hospital.

GLC04558.028

To his wife

Left behind in hospital by regiment which is going to Newburn, unable to get furlough. Written at Camp Dickinson

GLC04558.029

To his wife

Still in hospital, regiment to go to Richmond, concerned about haying season at the farm, worries over children's severe illness: "Save them if it costs the farm and all the rest.

GLC04558.030

To his wife

Still in hospital, Regiment at Norfolk. Mail, picking whortle berries, wishing he could help on the farm, different tent styles. "There are about three hundred Contrabands sent from this island the other day to Newburn to go to school."

GLC04558.031

To his wife

Still in hospital. Family: "...how I do wish Dear Lib that I was at home to share your troubles, anxiety, sorrows, and to relieve you in some of your phisical [sic] labors.... How I tremble to think how near Georgiana also had been to the brink of...

GLC04558.032

To his wife

Discharged from hospital previous day. Waiting for regiment at Norfolk and their speedy mail service, dreamed of seeing family except Lucy.

GLC04558.033

To his wife

Laying around, regiment ordered from Newport News to Richmond, problems with fleas. Discusses rations from Uncle Sam and NC peddlers: "that come from main land in boats. There is sometimes as many as ten or a dozen here in a day and some of them...

GLC04558.034

To his wife

Voyage to Virginia, joining Pope's division. Written in Aquia Creek, Virginia, located in Stafford County.

GLC04558.035

To his wife

Re-joining regiment, likes camp. "Scouting parties are sent out every day who frequently have scermishes with parties of the enemy and unless the rebels play their scadaddle game their [sic] will soon be bloody work done." Expects to leave, but...

GLC04558.036

To his wife

Addressed "Dear Elizabeth". Still at Fredericksburg but things are packed. Trying to get rid of extra clothing, still feels weak. Nurses and women's work: "Tell Mrs Rosa that if she feels so bad she had better enlist herself, as a nurse. I...

GLC04558.037

To his wife

Second time on picket duty, contacts with rebel troops, relations with rebel farmer whose animals have been stolen, reading of a general order prohibiting theft, desertions listed, men re-enlisting, advice on farm, home and family to wife.

GLC04558.038

To his wife

Ailment of another soldier, Dan, and his own visit to doctor about lameness and soreness (given an emetic). Hears artillery in distance but expects to continue guard duty. Letter continued on August 23rd.

GLC04558.039

To his wife

Signed "your affectionate Husband" and addressed to "Mrs. A.E. Tillotson." Joking to his wife at how quickly haying was done on the farm: "I suppose that that fifth hand with petticoats on is what drove business, dont you think so?" Diarrhea...

GLC04558.040

To his wife

Called-out to repel rebels but "divel a one did we see at all." Evacuation of Fredericksburg camps, destroying bridges, foundry and machine shop; "most of us would have liked to have seen the whole of the city on fire, but then that was rebels...

GLC04558.041

to his wife

Holding themselves in readiness, rumors on Burnside, McClellan. "We have just got news that the president has issued a proclamation freeing all the slaves on the first of January. It may be for the best but stil my hopes (if I had any) of a speedy...

GLC04558.044