February 26, 1781

Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834

Autograph letter signed

Title: To: Jean B. Gouvion

Lays foundations for a reconnaissance by Lt. Col. Gouvion on the James River.

GLC08016.01

1863/5/10

Elwell, D. B., fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Friend Furm

Letting his old tentmate know what has happened to him.

GLC04189.42

1863/2/13

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charley

General Hooker has given orders that all Union troops and sutlers must be out of Falmouth by 10 AM the following day. He advises his son not to go to school as it may interfere with his health. He tells his younger son, Rufus, to begin chewing tobacco.

GLC04189.29

1863/2/26

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith

Contains a lengthy description of the weather including rain, snow, and more mud. Discusses picketed duty and his mess mates. He has not shaved "except with a pair of scissors" since he left Salem.

GLC04189.30

1863/3/5

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith

His wife has rented out part of the Barn. He is very ill.

GLC04189.31

1863/3/6

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith

Discusses picket duty in a ravine and guard duty near the Lacy House. He agonizes over keeping warm and adds "the way we kept warm at the Lacy House was by Running around it[.] The main house was about 100 ft long." He also discusses fraternization with the Confederates: "The Rebels are very sociable across the River and are very anxious to trade anything they have got for Coffee & the way they get it across the River is to fastening it to a board & hoist sail in it & set it afloat & the wind will carry it across."

GLC04189.32

1863/3/17

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith

Discusses skirmishing along his picket line and mentions the funeral of a member of their regiment. His regiment got into a fight with a New York regiment over wood. Only twenty-five men from his company are fit for duty.

GLC04189.33

1863/3/25

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith

He is ill again. Sickness has decimated the regiment: "a good many get sick that never get well again[.] [W]e have a funeral in the Regiment nearly every day on an average[.] [L]ast night we had 3 . . . ." Describes a skirmish on the 17th between Cavalry units.

GLC04189.34

1863/4/13

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith and children

He is ill with dysentery. He requests a box [i.e. care package] containing Wrights pills, medicine for diarrhea, and food. The regiment has not been paid in a long time. Thirty-six men in the regiment are now fit for duty.

GLC04189.35

1863/4/15

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith

The regiment's orders to move out have been delayed by rain. He asks his wife not to send the box [see #35] since boxes become lost when they are forwarded. He believes the regiment may go to Charleston, Vicksburg, or Richmond.

GLC04189.36

1863/4/21

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith and family

He is feeling better, although "the medicine I have taken has settled in my bones So it is hard for me to walk. Some has [sic] lost the use of their limbs altogether & others have lost all the toes off their feet." He still expects his package to come and mentions that it may be delayed because the transport boats have been moving out of the area. He describes rebel deserters who complain of a lack of food, clothing and pay.

GLC04189.37

1863/4/24

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles

He describes cooking in camp and speculates that Hooker is moving the army out to keep the Confederates from sending reinforcements to Vicksburg.

GLC04189.38

1863/4/30

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith and family

He received his box. Last night, troops crossed below Fredericksburg found the city well fortified. His regiment has also moved from their old camp and may see action soon.

GLC04189.39

1863/5/4

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith

Describes the move from Falmouth to his current position on the battlefield. He writes of his units performance in the battle and notes "the old troops say it was the hardest Battle so far they was ever in..."

GLC04189.40

1863/05/07

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith and family

The army has retreated back to their old camp. Describes Stonewall Jackson's maneuver which forced them to retreat. He discusses losses to the regiment and lists the names of friends who were killed or wounded. He writes that he had been in battle five days and nights and "2 nights & 1 day under fire of artillery & Small arms...I can get along with small arms very well for we cannot hear the Ball until it strikes. But the shells Grape & canister you can hear from the time they start (or are in the air) and every one thinks it may hit him (So the feeling at such times is…

GLC04189.41

1863/5/18

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith and family

The regiment has moved near General French's headquarters. They earned the nickname the "bloody 12th." General French sent orders to retreat three times before the regiment finally obeyed. Discusses comrades wounded in the battle.

GLC04189.43

1863/5/22

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith

He believes the unit may be ordered back to Ellicotts Mills to guard the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. Most of the men in the regiment have nine month enlistments that will be ending soon. Nine month men are called "Lincoln's pets."

GLC04189.44

1863/6/5

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith

The regiment is under marching orders, probably to Maryland or Pennsylvania. He hopes to hear good news from Vicksburg.

GLC04189.46

1863/6/22

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith

A description of the old Bull Run battlefield. He describes trees cut in half and open graves. "We passed over an old Battle Field they say it was one of Bull Run Battles. I saw a number of Graves Some with legs out. Some with arms out & Some Scarcely Covered at all. Boots lay about with feet still in them & Some seen fingers laying on the ground & I seen several sculls & other Bones about the feild [sic] & woods." The regiment belongs to French's division, which is being held in reserve to guard supplies and ammunition.

GLC04189.48

1863/7/10-11

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith

Describes the Battle of Gettysburg. Smith was stationed in the Union center near a stone wall. Smith's regiment may have missed the first day's battle because he writes Pickett's Charge occurred on the second day. "We was in the front & center for 3 days & nights it Rained every day & night. 2 nights I lay or sit in water about 6 inches deep by the side of a Stone fence that was of good use to us for protection against their Balls there was a powerful effort made on the centre the Second day after they had tried the Right & Left & been Repulsed in both they had 160…

GLC04189.49

1863/7/19

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Family

He reports that Marylanders act more friendly toward the troops than the people in Pennsylvania. News concerning the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson.

GLC04189.50

1863/7/29

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith

His legs are bothering him again. He hopes to either get a job as a blacksmith in the brigade or get a transfer to the invalid Corps. Currently his regiment is guarding the supply train [wagons] against guerrilla attacks.

GLC04189.51

1863/8/14

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith

Discusses the problem of locating Confederate guerrillas. He is very ill and his legs are swollen. He predicts that the war will be over soon.

GLC04189.53

1863/8/21

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith

His right leg is getting worse. He believes Lee may attack them near Alexandria. The regiment now totals 343 men out of the 984 men who enlisted one year ago. In a section addressed to his wife, Smith indicates someone wrote him a note, on one of Charley's letters, requesting money. He is not sure she wrote the note but will send her money any way. He writes that he will have to go to the hospital.

GLC04189.54

1900/12/01

Horsfall, Charles G., fl. 1900-1910

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Owen Horsfall

He describes his daily morning chores. There was ice on the beach 10-15 feet high that morning. He would give $50,000.00 if he had it to be able to spend Thanksgiving at home with his family.

GLC05245.06