19 November 1864

Gibson, Randall Lee, 1832-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his brother John McKinley Gibson

A request for sugar and tea. "I prefer good English tea to coffee."

GLC04501.031

27 November 1864

Gibson, Randall Lee, 1832-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his father Tobias Gibson

Kin (John McKinley Gibson) is unwell. Randall assigned him duty in Mississippi, where he would be out of the winter weather and the line of battle.

GLC04501.032

January 14, 1865

Gibson, Randall Lee, 1832-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister Louisiana Hart Gibson

Addressed to "Louly" Louisiana Gibson's nickname. He tells her to send her letters through John Slidell. [Louly is studying in Europe.] He was pleased to hear her account of the bazaar in Liverpool. He expects his command to be sent to Louisiana soon. Signed "Lee."

GLC04501.033

January 17, 1865

Cooper, Joseph, fl. 1864

Manuscript letter signed

Title: Special orders no.12

Extends Lieutenant J.M. Gibson detail to the 13th La Vols. for an additional 60 days. 3/16/65 note on verso further extends John McKinley's detail. Written on a printed Head Quartes Army of Tennessee, Special Orders form.

GLC04501.034

21 March 1865

Bekner, P.E., fl. 1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: To the hands employed or expect to be employed on Mr. Gibson's plantations

Letter from the office of the Provost Marshall orders the hands on the three plantations to go to work whether or not they have an agreement. Accompanied by a U.S. Military telegraph envelope addressed to Tobias Gibson with a docket date of October 31, 1862.

GLC04501.035

18 November 1867

Gibson, Randall Lee, 1832-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: [to his sister Sarah Gibson]

Recipient inferred from content. He and Hart are going to the city to try to earn money, so the family must keep their hopes up and economize. Father cannot take Loula at the present time. He asks Sarah to send several of his old photographs to Miss Mary E. Montgomery (Randall's future wife) in Tremont, New York.

GLC04501.036

28 December 1867

Gibson, Randall Lee, 1832-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: [to his sister Sarah Gibson Humphreys]

He is going to Live Oak plantation and make plans with Tobias for next year. He hopes things will be better and plans to go to New York in January. Randall Gibson married Mary Montgomery in New York on 1/25/1868. Written on "Gibson & Austin, Attorneys at Law" letterhead from Randall Lee Gibson's law office.

GLC04501.037

31 March 1822

Whitman, Kilborn, 1792-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Aaron Hobart

Judge Whitman indicates that he has extended the "Indictment against Hanover" to August, giving Hobart time to act on it.

GLC06313.04.180

16 April 1822

Dorr, Ebenezer Ritchie, 1799-1873

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Aaron Hobart

Seeks information for Thomas Wilson of London about a claim made by William Sutton Skinner under "the Florida Treaty."

GLC06313.04.182

1 January 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents and sister

Lysander recounts how they surrounded and ambushed a suspected secessionist's house during the night, only to find nothing. The secessionist claimed to be a Unionist but admitted his brother is in the Confederate Army and that there were things hidden on the plantation. Reports Lieut. Timothy Wells and Capt. Alexander Warner have been petitioned to resign by all of the officers. Wheeler explains that he signed the petition for Warner because Warner wanted Darius, Wheeler's brother-in-law, to sleep with his negro servant.

GLC07460.010

January 18, 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents, sister and [brother-in-law]

Writes that many men have been receiving discharge papers, particularly those who are disabled. Reports that the mail has been irregular due to a heavy storm that washed away the tressel work of the train tracks. Relates the news that Captain Warner has tendered his resignation.

GLC07460.011

January 30, 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents, sister and [brother-in-law]

Writes that he has received his mother's likeness and will treasure it. Asks that Darius write as soon as he is well enough to do so. General Rosecrans has prohibited picket fires at night, so they have to make a big pile of coals and sleep beside it to keep warm during picket duty. Wheeler doesn't think Morgan will confront them for a while. Writes that the Union victory at Murfreesboro was so difficult that "old Bragg claims one on his side." Reports that Porter West, and Phil Hartman were wounded at Vicksburg. He encloses a letter from Captain Warner to Darius; which reports that…

GLC07460.012

February 4, 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents, sister and [brother-in-law]

Wheeler writes that he was very happy to receive the box they sent him. His regiment marched to Gallatin to fight Morgan. Writes that the new camp is far better than any they have seen since Chicago and far exceeds their camp in Tunnel, Tennessee. Reports that Ruthven Russell has died in the hospital at Gallatin. Writes that some fifty or sixty blacks have run away and come into the camp where General Paine has put them to work. Wheeler writes that a "good many of the Secesh are getting sick of their job and they are sneaking home." Thirteen soldiers from Wheeler's regiment have also…

GLC07460.013

10 February 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents, sister and [brother-in-law]

Discusses farm business back home. He describes a "grand foraging expedition" led by Major Dutton. In response to his father's comment about taking Wheeler's place, Lysander states "I couldn't let you have my place under any consideration...I would be ashamed to live in a country I was not willing to fight for." He tells his mother that she must stop worrying about him or he will leave the hardships he encounters out of future letters. Wheeler explains that it is his desire to write these letters as journals and include as many accounts as possible, so that he can read them in the…

GLC07460.014

February 21, 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents and sister

The whole regiment has been healthier since they left Tunnel, Tennessee where many from Wheeler's regiment died. Wheeler has heard rumor that Vicksburg was taken from the Rebels. Some of the men are trying to publish the truth about Captain Warner in the Sycamore Republican (Warner is from Wheeler's hometown of Sycamore, Illinois). Reports that Warner is no longer officially captain of company C and instructs Darius to dispell rumors that Captain Warner left the Army honorably. The men believe Warner kept their money from board bills and are determined to make him pay it back. General…

GLC07460.015

February 23, 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents, [brother-in-law], and sister

Asks Darius, his brother-in-law, to settle some acounts for him back home. Reports that his regiment will march to meet General Hooker tomorrow morning. Mentions the Sons of Temperance a brotherhood of men who were committed to not drinking alcohol and asks if they have "turned him out".

GLC07460.016

February 23, 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents, [brother-in-law], and sister

He reports that John Fetterly has died of small pox. Writes that Fetterly was unable to march, so he was transferred to the pest house where he died. Wheeler informs his family that he will be on the march and may not be able to write for ten or twelve days.

GLC07460.017

February 25, 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents and sister

He remarks "truly a soldier's life is a life of inequalities it learns a person to take everything as it comes." George Bowen has deserted; he was under 18 when he enlisted and his father came to get him but "failing to do it by fair means George ran away." Captain Warner denied having taken the men's board money (see GLC07460.015). Fields has been appointed the new Captain.

GLC07460.018

2 March 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents, [brother-in-law], and sister

Wheeler writes that a new order has been announced in which deserters will be dealt with promptly, even with the punishment of death. He also reports that new regulations are in affect for furloughs and only a certain number of furloughs will be granted per company to the best men. Comments on the lightness of guard duties and writes that he's only been on picket and camp guard once.

GLC07460.019

7 March 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents, [brother-in-law], and sister

They have been on the march for a few days and are probably headed for Chattanooga. Ward led them down the wrong road and they had to pick their path through the hills. He received a letter from his family assuring him "that the war will close this summer" and he is pleased with the idea.

GLC07460.020

7 March 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents, [brother-in-law], and sister

Darius is almost fully recovered. There is talk of Wheeler's regiment moving to Camp Douglas, but Lysander does not want to go North unless they are going for good. Expresses that hewould like to drive all the copperheads in the Army SOuth, and run them in front at Murfreesboro. He is glad that Dick Yates is governor of Illinois so the soldiers don't have to worry about losing their homes. He hopes they will "Draft, Conscript and any other way old Abe may cho[o]se to rush this thing through to completion." He updates Darius on the situation with Captain Warner and the board bills.

GLC07460.021

15 March 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents, [brother-in-law], and sister

Wheeler writes that the men have been busy foraging for Rosecrans' Army. He comments that they've been learning drilling in the French fashion. Writes that the men have taken to singing at night in their tents and have some pieces of sheet music including "The Soldier's Dream". He also writes that his favorite piece is "Never Forget the Dear Ones that Cluster Around thy Home". Updates his family on the health of his company and writes that it is harder for a soldier to get a furlough. Writes about the alcohol problem at camp and states that although he is offered liquor everyday, he…

GLC07460.022

18 November 1863 or 1864

McSherry, Anna, 1833-?

Autograph letter

Title: To Henry F. McSherry

Written by Anna to to her brother Henry. Saw by two previous letters that he was in Baltimore and Washington and was sorry he could not come up to visit the family. Asks to be kept informed of his movements. She knows Henry is eventually going to Memphis and she will send letters there. Is sorry he can't stop in St. Louis or Knoxville. Tells him that "I am afraid Memphis is a place of no intrest as to socialty or locality and you will have to look to other cities perhaps for your pleasantri[e]s [and] associations, but it is so much better than going to sea that I am inclined to look in the…

GLC03523.21.25

19 August 1864

St. John, Sister, fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Written by "Sister St. John," who was working at the naval hospital in Memphis. References McSherry's letter of 30 July 1864. Says she is glad he is happy with "the change" - a reference to his apparent transfer from Memphis - and says he is missed. Updates him on several doctors and other friends in Memphis and say she will leave the city on 29 August to go to Washington, but that she expects to eventually return. At the top of first page is written "Blessed be the Holy name of God." Large water stains on all pages.

GLC03523.21.30

December 21, 1886

Black, John, fl. 1865-1898

Printed document signed

Title: Pension record for George Tillotson

Describes his disabilty as typhoid fever resulting in swelling limbs.

GLC04558.201