23 September 1862

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Miller writes to his wife six days after the Battle of Antietam (also known as the Battle of Sharpsburg). Describes "Rebels lying around through the woods and fields that have not Been Burried and perhaps never will..."

GLC02155.065

9 October 1862

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Thanks his wife for a recent package she sent.

GLC02155.066

16 October 1862

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Miller writes to his wife. Mentions his sister, Sallie. Promises that if something happens to her, he will never marry another woman.

GLC02155.067

3 November 1862

Sallie

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Aunt Sallie writes to Lile from "Catoctin," possibly either Catoctin Mountain in Maryland or Catoctin Creek in Virginia. Reports they can "hear the Cannons in Virginia Fighting again." Expects to be able to visit Lile closer to Christmas. Comments on the high price of goods, mutual acquaintances, and an injury which left her temporarily unable to sew.

GLC02155.068

23 November 1862

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Written from camp near Acquia Landing on Acquia Creek, Virginia. Comments on their hard march. Notes that they are in [General George] Meade's Division, in [General John F.] Reynold's Corps.

GLC02155.069

December 2, 1862

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Miller writes to his wife from camp at Brooks Station. Sends Lile money and comments that "here all is quiet."

GLC02155.070

December 14, 1862

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Miller writes to his wife from camp at Brooks Station. Writes, "there is a terrible Battle Raging at Fredericksburg the canonading [sic] yesterday was tremendous, i believe it exceeded any thing i ever heard, either Malvern hill or Sharpsburg, it is still raging this morning having commenced at day light, we have heard no Particulars of any account yet more than they say the Rebels yesterday had Rather the advantage and cut our men down awfull i suppose to day will decide the Battle as we heard that Genl Seigel arrived there last night with sixty thousand fresh troops..." Comments on…

GLC02155.071

December 17, 1862

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Miller writes to his wife from camp at Brooks Station. Comments on the Battle of Fredericksburg: "Our company mad [sic] a lucky escape in not getting into this last Battle, All the Rest of our Division were in it and as usual were the first or nearly so in the fight we were told last evening the loss in the Division that is the Reserve Corps in killed wounded & missing is something over 21 hundred we have not heard the loss of our Army But is must have Been severe and the worse is we gained nothing as they have fell back again to this side of the River and the Rebels again ocupy [sic]…

GLC02155.072

December 18, 1862

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph note signed

Title: [to Lile Miller]

Possibly written from camp at Brooks Station. Miller encloses money for his wife and comments on the high price of goods. Location and recipient inferred based on date and accompanying letters.

GLC02155.073

December 28, 1862

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Miller writes to his wife from camp at Brooks Station. Discusses the metaphoric "dark cloud" that hangs over the country and his feelings of disheartenment. Mentions the high rate of desertion, including a "rascal" who borrowed $100 from the other soldiers before deserting.

GLC02155.074

December 31, 1862

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Miller writes to his wife from camp at Brooks Station. Reports, "all appears quiet here..." Notes that the previous Sunday, "Stewart's Cavalry threatened to make a raid on this Road..." Asks about the well being of his father.

GLC02155.075

January 12, 1863

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Miller writes to his wife from camp near White Oak Church. Notes Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War, will not allow his regiment to return to "the state," possibly Pennsylvania, where he is from. Refers to a victory of [General William] Rosecrans "in the South West" (possibly the Battle of Stones River). Writes, "But i am afraid it is dearly won when we look at the immense loss of life... our men have got in earnest and the Rebels will fight to the death... it will never Be settled now till one side [or] the other is whipped and it will never be the north..."

GLC02155.076

January 16, 1863

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Miller writes to his wife from camp near White Oak Church. Reports that he is under marching orders. Comments on his father's well being (his father is also apparently in the service). Notes, "tell him i am not now the Puny little sickly looking soninlaw i was when he saw me at Sharpsburg, but a Regular Big fat live corporal with an apetite [sic] that is death on hard tack..."

GLC02155.077

January 24, 1863

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Miller writes to his wife from camp near White Oak Church. Describes marching to Falmouth, Virginia. Referring to Burnside's Mud March, writes: "Burnside army got fast in the mud, although as usual they had the Old Pa Reserves for their wheel Horses we could not help them in this fix." Adds, "Poor Burnside i Pitty him for i Believe he tries to do his Best, But McClellan is the only man that is able to Command this Army."

GLC02155.078

January 26, 1863

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Miller writes to his wife from camp near White Oak Church. Mentions that his father, who is also in the military, is ward master of an unspecified hospital. Writes, "in this letter you filled a large space with the doings of of [sic] the Government all you sad [sic] is true i Believe, yet you folks do not know the one half that is carried on in this war, it is getting worse and worse, it is dimond cut dimond among the Politicians and the soldier is the Real Nigger now."

GLC02155.079

February 15, 1863

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Miller writes to his wife from camp near Union Mills. Describes his recent march from Alexandria via Manassas Road and Fairfax Court House. Mentions a mutiny in his company; Miller sided with the officers. Writes, "the Division is Ruined."

GLC02155.081

February 16, 1863

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Miller writes to his wife from camp near Union Mills. Reports that although he did not take part in his regiment's recent refusal to disobey orders, he does not blame the men for doing so, since they recently had to march a long way through mud and water. Notes that they are under the command of Brigadier General Hayes.

GLC02155.082

19 February 1863

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Miller writes to his wife from camp near Union Mills. Notes that their duties are difficult, since there are no other Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteers at their location. Describes standing picket in mud and water for 24 hours at a time. Comments on his living quarters, rations, and clothing.

GLC02155.083

February 23, 1863

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Miller writes to his wife from camp near Union Mills. Describes another miserable night on picket. Notes that they will receive four months pay the following month.

GLC02155.084

February 24, 1863

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Miller writes to his wife from camp near Union Mills. Comments on a recent situation in which some men in his regiment refused to obey orders; he previously described the incident to Lile and now reprimands her for reading the letter to another woman. Expresses his melancholy mood, writing, "Dear Lile i cannot look at People and the world as i one [sic] did."

GLC02155.085

6 March 1863

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Miller writes to his wife from camp near Union Mills. Comments on the draft: "...the Conscription Act... comes down verry heavily on the men from 21 to 35 years of age, But it is only what they should have done one year ago, had they have given Genl McClellan six (hundred) thousand or the half of that number [when] we were on the Peninsula last spring..." Describes the complicated process of obtaining a furlough. Heard a report that General [John] F. Reynolds is angry about how his regiment is treated. Gives news of his promotion to first corporal.

GLC02155.086

17 September 1862

Ogden, Edward H., fl. 1835-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Ogden

Informs his wife that he is using Howard Mitchell's back as a writing surface, as his regiment pauses briefly during a march. Says he has been the corporal of his guard for only twenty-four hours. Ends the letter abruptly because his line has started to move. Envelope includes a three cent stamp.

GLC06559.138

17 September 1862

Ogden, Edward H., fl. 1835-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Ogden

Notes he and the other soldiers think that they will be "getting in the cars for Hagerstown," but they are not positive. Says he is presently in a field, using his tin plate as a writing surface. Despite talks of Hagerstown, Maryland he believes that his regiment will be doing work until March. Mentions that his sole desire is to throw "these miserable miscreants from our homes."

GLC06559.139

1861-1865

Ogden, Edward H., fl. 1835-1865

Autograph letter

Title: to Sarah Ogden

Writes to his "Dear Wife" on his "Way to Hagerstown." Informs his wife he will mail this letter at the "first stopping place" his regiment reaches. Discusses the soldiers' inexperience, wishing that they had more time to drill. Despite their lack of experience, says the men are willing to go into battle and do their best. Writes he has resigned himself to the fact that he may not survive the war, and he asks that she realize this as well. Tells her that he will see both her and "our little ones" in Heaven. In a postscript, he asks that she remember him to Harriet Jacobs.

GLC06559.140

1861-1865

Ogden, Edward H., fl. 1835-1865

Autograph letter

Title: to Sarah Ogden

Writes that his regiment completed a march of about twenty miles, and finally arrived in Hagerstown on Friday afternoon. Notes they expected an attack last night from [General Stonewall] Jackson and "several thousand men." Says they spent the night "lying on their arms to receive him, but he did not come." Mentions that Stan's Battery was stationed on a hill, making a human wall across the entire hill and neighboring road. His regiment reinforced their barricade, so that if the rebels attacked, "a warm reception awaited them." Because the rebel troops did not come, they believe that "…

GLC06559.141