14 July 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Describes march from White House in great detail: foraging, washing clothes, giving away blanket to contraband, and more marching.

GLC04558.105

20 July 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Resting and settling down after the marches. On politics: "Your Copperheads up ther[e] I see have been kicking up quite a rumpus, but they will get sick of it, if they are not already. Didnt know one spell but what they would spite 'Massa Greely's' establishment entirely so that you would loose the chance of getting your favorite papers to read. Hip, hip, Hurrah! bulley!" Received pictures; worries about Leon's thin appearance and praises Georgiana's growing-up. Mentions Lucy. Talks about terms of the draft.

GLC04558.106

29 July 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Written in pencil aboard a barge docked at Portsmouth. Describes marching and countermarching; speculates that they are destined for Charleston's Fort Wagner.

GLC04558.107

1 August 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Written in pencil on patriotic stationery. Describes the situation of forts ringing Charleston (Moultrie, Sumter, Wagner), and mentions that Wagner was taken last night but lost due to shelling. "...I dont like the looks of things here in general...." Notes that he is farther away from her than before. Written while aboard the steamer Adelaid.

GLC04558.108

2 August 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Describes the pettiness of an officer who would not allow the troops to land until their officer had reported to him; describes the island.

GLC04558.109

6 August 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Written on patriotic stationery. Continued August 7. Describes lack of tents, current duties and situation around Charleston (Sumter, Wagner). Fatigued from unloading vessels.

GLC04558.110

18 August 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Describes orders to march, countermarch and counter-countermarch. Says half the regiment is sick although he is healthy and that the monitors have begun attacking Forts Sumter and Wagner.

GLC04558.111

24 August 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Expects to receive order the next day; writes that he has a good view of operations and artillery; says Fort Sumter "is sometimes completely enveloped in a cloud of brick dust[,] smoke, and spray, from our balls and shells." Describes other operations; health of regiment.

GLC04558.112

7 September 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Complains of not receiving letters. Writes that he has been sick and the rest of the regiment on provost duty. Reports of Forts Wagner and Gregg surrendered with Morris Island. Asks sarcastically whether a conscripted acquaintance back home (George Duntley), is "as full of fight as ever[?]

GLC04558.113

13 September 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Received letter; sends $30. Recovered health and back on duty. Rumors of capture of Fort Sumter, and complete capture of Bragg's army by Rosecrans and Burnside. Relates news that he hopes to be discharged April 1, 1864 with the other 3-year troops.

GLC04558.114

18 September 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Fatigue from hard duties and false alarms, which he describes. Belief that they are outnumbered. With pencil note of 9/19 written on margin of each page about picket duty in the cold without shelter.

GLC04558.115

27 September 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Wonders about her letters being misdirected; describes food (oysters, clams) and cost of other items; mentions other soldiers getting furloughs including one "in the hospital on account I suppose of the 'ladies disease' contracted in Norfolk...."

GLC04558.116

4 October 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Received pile of mail, including a letter from Edwin and Mary [abolitionist relations] which "didn't set very well on my stomach." Health of other soldiers; comments that Charleston probably will not fall right away. News reports of Rosecrans and Burnside worry him.

GLC04558.117

11 October 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Notes that it is his tenth wedding anniversary and writes that the thought of her distance and the time remaining cause "a choaking sensation" and tears. Says that he is the only man in Co. H with a family. Mentions slow siege of Charleston, health, selling his whiskey ration; recruiting officer sent away by commanding officer.

GLC04558.118

17 October 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Worry of "calamity" at home; hopes for discharge next April 1st; sarcastically mentions letter of 1st Lt. of 114th NYS Vols. (unidentified); discusses current rations and how only cooks make cook food; comments that the food always causes digestive problems.

GLC04558.119

22 October 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Cold. Cannot make mud chimneys because sand will not stick; other soldiers enlisting as cavalry, including Capt. Lewis (who did not get along with GWT). This letter is fully addressed "Mrs. A. Elizabeth Tillotson"

GLC04558.120

1 November 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Has a runny nose; the siege drags on and another assault scheduled that night for Fort Sumter; expects conscripts to arrive soon and receive weapons, "til then they are guarded closer than rebel prisoners would be."

GLC04558.121

8 November 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Describes picket duty on the north side of the island and how his thoughts roam. Expectations of assault on Fort Sumter. Promises to send Edwin's letter (mentioned in #117 and accompanies this item). He writes "Not that I have any objections to his advocating abolition but I dont acknowledge his right to 'jump to conclusions,' and call hard names. Would you? If I were to answer[,] it should to say the least have to tell him that a 'radical' of his stamp I have not found in the Union army, as yet, and that however plenty they may be in his section, they have'nt [sic] the courage, to come…

GLC04558.122.01

15 November 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

He has put on more weight; has gotten used to constant firing on Charleston; encloses a "greenback" for Dolly.

GLC04558.123

21 November 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Hopes for furlough; talks about presidential election "I dont suppose for a moment that any soldier would go home and vote a Copperhead ticket, and on the other hand, I wouldnt vote a republican ticket just merely because it was republican but I should most assuredly vote for the Union, and those that would maintain it, let the principle appear under any name whatsoever." Jokes about appearance.

GLC04558.124

4 December 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

News, other soldiers' furloughs; expects promotion; has daily, long drills; says he is cheered by news from the west.

GLC04558.126

12 December 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Writes that he enjoys good health; mentions seeing Gen. Gilmore riding "with a woman said to be his wife, but I will say I think him the best looking of the two." Mentions the special favors some Masons; receive; speculates on the destination of an expedition; expects to see fighting soon.

GLC04558.127

27 December 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

On furlough. Had hoped to surprise her by coming home, but must go to Albany. Still hopes to see her.

GLC04558.128

14 April 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Describes taking trains; expects to go to Folly Island.

GLC04558.129

19 April 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Unsure when he will leave; mentions visiting sights in New York City (Wood's minstrels, Barnum's Museum, theatre). Writes that Grant's name "got a tolerably good cheer (and I helped him on that) and then he got a good many hisses. But when McClellan's name came up he got a big cheer and then I helped hiss him, I did. But Fremonts couldnt get a single thing but hisses."

GLC04558.130