1862/01/07

Morris, Joseph W., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Wilmor W. Morris.

There was a surprise snowstorm and the neighborhood seems "determined to get the interest of the money invested in their sleighs." He has not been sledding yet as he is taking the chance to fill the icehouse. He reports that Anthony is the only member of the family married so far. He corrects Wilmor in a postscript, explaining that his middle initial is E and not W. [Joseph W. is Wilmor's brother.]

GLC06451.024

1862/01/18

Morris, Joseph W., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter

Title: to: George M. Morris.

Joseph just bought a Clipper newspaper; he believes "there has been a battle some place, but I cannot tell you where till I read the paper." They are only able to shoot hogs and birds when on picket. Their shanty caught fire the night they were on picket. He addresses Susannah to tell her that a box she wrote Wilmor about has not arrived. He will send home three likenesses.

GLC06451.026

1862/03/08

Morris, Joseph W., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: George M. Morris.

Joseph heard that John is trying to find a wife "which I sup[p]ose he wil[l] while all the rest of the boys is away." He encourages George to look for a wife as well but supposes him to be "gon[e] with Darby Kain."

GLC06451.028

1862/03/22

Morris, Joseph W., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: George M. Morris.

Joseph reports that they wade out to the oyster beds after the tide goes out early in the morning. General McClellan's division is coming soon so he should see Charles. Written at Camp Hamilton

GLC06451.029

1862/06/27

Morris, Joseph W., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Tilley Wilson.

There was a "sharp" fight two days ago during which his regiment and Hooker's distracted the enemy so that Porter could cross the Chickahominy and position his men on a hill above the Confederate capital from which he "can shell the city from where he is when ever he pleases." Joseph believes the Confederates would surrender if the Union were to capture Fort Darling on the James River. He claims that if McClellan had simply attacked Richmond he would have been defeated but "by getting out by degree," the Confederates leave their earthworks to the Union. He believes that once they have the…

GLC06451.031

1862/09/20

Morris, Joseph W., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: George M. Morris.

General McClellan gave orders for boxes to be forwarded because he "could not spare the gunboats to guard them up and down the James river." He has not heard from Charles. Joseph has gives a list of the wounded, which includes James Miller, James McAtee, and Wilmor Morris.

GLC06451.032

1862/12/20

Morris, Joseph W., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Wilmor W. Morris.

Joseph has seen several family members and sends word that Aunt Sally is dead. He gives news of the relatives and sends their addresses.

GLC06451.033

1863/04/16

Morris, Joseph W., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: George M. Morris.

Joseph would like to know how Jesse felt when a letter from his wife got home before he did and how their mother reacted when she learned that he was married.

GLC06451.034

1863/11/25

Morris, Joseph W., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: George M. Morris.

Joseph has not improved since George's visit. He got "power of attorney and sent it to Wilmor." His hand shakes so he will not write more.

GLC06451.035

1864/11/13

Morris, Samuel, fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Wilmor W. Morris.

Charles has been wounded. He intended to visit Wilmor on his way to see his brother Joseph E. but was unable to. Joseph E. is now three miles south of Harpers Ferry. Samuel asks Wilmor's opinion of the removal of McClellan from the command of the Army of the Potomac, but reserves his own judgment stating that "time will test the matter wither for good or for ill." He prays that peace will be "reestablished on the ruins of Southern Secession."

GLC06451.036

1861/12/07

Morris, Wilmor W., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: "Dear Brothers."

Wilmor writes his brothers that Jo will send three likenesses for Wilmor's mother, for Susan, and for Elizabeth. Jesse said to tell George he is too busy drilling to write George back. Wilmor asks after the sheep and cows and gives news of family friends. [separate letter on same leaf] Morris, Wilmor W. ALS: Camp Johnson, to Ann Morris. 7 December 1861. 2 p. Wilmor tells his mother "you need not be uneasy About your Sons thay get a long firss[t] rate." He can't get a pass that extends past one and if he is late, he must go to the guard house for as long as he was out past one. He…

GLC06451.039

1861/12/07

Morris, Wilmor W., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Susannah L. Morris; John Morris.

Morris writes to his sister about guard duty, and to his father [in a separate letter on the same leaf]. Wilmor tells his father that "this regiment has the most stri[n]gent laws of any in the brigade you must toe the mark or the guard house is your quarters." He mentions the Quakers of Aquatink Town who "won't have nothing to do with soldiers" but whose "girles likes to talk to the soldiers when the old folks" are not in sight. He remarks that writing to both of them on the same page is "the way to save postage."

GLC06451.040

1862/01/01

Morris, Wilmor W., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Susannah L. Morris.

Jesse has a cold but "is able to kick foot ball." It is not true that Charles was shot, Wilmor just received a letter from him and "he said it was good funn he did not get hurt." They have received new French rifles which are "warented to shoot 1,000 yards." The rifles are "the len[g]th of a shot gunn and the bayonets are longer than musket bayonet[s]."

GLC06451.041

1862/02/27

Morris, Wilmor W., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Susannah L. Morris.

Wilmor conjectures that "we will come home when we leave here fore the rebles are getting whip[p]ed every where thay meet our boys." He ate at a table for the first time since leaving home, at the home of a "pritty little plump girl" he met near the picket line. He reports that they "get a long firss[t] rate we are all fat."

GLC06451.042

1862/03/08

Morris, Wilmor W., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: George M. Morris.

Wilmor's regiment is leaving Camp Johnston. He heard the Confederates "talking and whistling yankee doodle" on picket last night. The 63rd lost three men and one was wounded because Colonel Morgan thought the Confederates were "new york boys" when they passed through his ambush and did not fire on them. Wilmor still trusts Morgan but says that Berrenger is "the boy" and "he would have shot all the rebles." The little tents they carry on their backs make them look like "land turtles."

GLC06451.043

March 24, 1862

Morris, Wilmor W., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter

Title: to: Mr. & Mrs. John Morris.

Wilmor describes leaving Camp Johnston on 17 March and arriving at Fortress Monroe the next day. They are "encamped at the mouth of James River [with]in about 200 yards of ex President Tyler['s] mansion." Fourteen vessels brought the men up the bay and the scenery along the river was "the pritest [prettiest] sight I ever saw." He saw the Monitor, which at first glance looked "about sunk it is all under water only a steel tur[r]et [is not]," and describes how it defeated the Confederate gunboat Merrimac. It was pouring when they arrived and they "would have drowned" if the 16th…

GLC06451.044

March 1862

Morris, Wilmor W., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: George M. Morris.

The provost guard caught 40 men from New York and Pennsylvania regiments stealing and sent them "to the ripraps to work." It is "harder soldiering than we have had yet" now.

GLC06451.045

1862/04/16

Morris, Wilmor W., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: George M. Morris.

Wilmor describes a confrontation near three Confederate forts. The Confederates nearly surrounded them and fired rifles and muskets, creating a "shower of balls mixed with grape an[d] shell" but they retreated and "lost not a man." He declares "It is not hard work so long as a person dont git hurt." Written at Camp McClellan.

GLC06451.046

May 11, 1862

Morris, Wilmor W., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: John Morris.

Wilmor's regiment lost many men at Williamsburg, but the Confederates lost twice as many and "left in a hurry." The road between Yorktown and Williamsburg is strewn with "guns, wagons, knives, clothing of all kinds." He is using "secesh paper" and the "envelope is secesh" as well. A note to George promises a letter soon.

GLC06451.048

1862/06/10

Morris, Wilmor W., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: "Brother an[d] friends."

Wilmor is not sure whether Jesse went to Philadelphia or not but assures them that "god will shield us in the day of Battle." He describes the recent Battle of Fair Oaks, whose battlefield "was the most terrifying place I ever seen the dead lay thick." He claims the Confederates meant to take them all prisoner and "a heap of the nobility came out too see us runn." He has heard that the Confederate soldiers are tired and that they had to "force the North Carolina troops too fight they don't know that the state has returned too the union an[d] called her Troops home."

GLC06451.049

1862/07/04

Morris, Wilmor W., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: "Dear Friends."

Wilmor reports that Joseph is getting better and Charles is well. He had been sick for two weeks and has not been fighting. He threw away his knapsack and all its contents because he can no longer carry it. He is unsure how the war will continue as "we are half whip[p]ed or it looks like it" and "it is gloomy looking times here."

GLC06451.050

1862/07/20

Morris, Wilmor W., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Mr. and Mrs. John Morris.

Wilmor has seen Charles several times and he is looking better though he was very sick. Doctor Whitssell has left with swamp fever and Wilmor hopes he has a bad case as he made men "that was not able to walk hardley" stand duty, saying they "wanted exorcise [exercise]." He will send money through a young lady so it is less likely to be rifled.

GLC06451.051

1862/07/22

Morris, Wilmor W., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: George M. Morris.

Wilmor reports that Doctor Whitssell is dead and some of the men "are rejoicing at his death" since he "made fun of" the sick and told them they were "playing off." The Colonel has given orders to reform the ten companies into six, putting Company A and Wilmor with Company F but he hopes this will not come to pass. Wilmor wants to know "how the war fever is an[d] how the peoples pulse beats in the north on the war."

GLC06451.052

1861

Mason, Anna, fl. 1861

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: "Friend" Wilmor Morris.

Mason is going to school now. She goes to prayer meetings every Friday night and there are only nine or ten men now. Bill Stewart takes the girls home one by one while the rest wait inside. She hopes Wilmor will visit before running off with "that pretty English girl" or bring the girl with him. She wishes she could "peep in" and see how he is doing in his camp.

GLC06451.053

1861/10/22

Watson, J., fl. 1861

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Wilmor W. Morris.

Watson considered writing earlier but explains "I know you get all the current news of your old haunts from the fair sex." He reports that conditions are improving, most of the "iron works, rolling mills, glass houses etc. have resumed operations," and predicts it is "very likely the northern states will see tolerable good times this winter." He reminds Wilmor that "there are thousands upon thousands of pulses beating in expectation of your efforts." He heard that Senator Baker from Creyor was killed in a skirmish under General Stone.

GLC06451.054