23 June 1864

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

The letter is dated 1864/06/24, but Clapp's next letter, dated 1864/06/24, was written the next day, and he acknowledges his error in the prior letter. Would be sleeping instead of writing, "but the flies eat me up." Feels better than he did the last time he wrote. Moved to the extreme left flank of the army at dusk. There has not been much heaving fighting here, just "a little lively skirmishing." Is about 5 miles west of Petersburg. The mail coming from home has not had trouble, but it seems that the mail going home has been stopped. "I guess [Sid] will not grumble at a few months sojourn…

GLC09355.073

24 June 1864

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

Attached to this letter is a poem titled "Another Brave has Fallen" that was cut from a newspaper. Yesterday's letter dated the 24th was actually written on the 23rd. Did not march last night. Had heard that the Rebels were massing for an attack on their lines, but the attack never came. At daylight, however, there was some "sharp fighting on our right." Would like very much to receive a package from home, but tells them not to send it with a man home on furlough. As soon as they find a camp, "I will give you some good long letters all about this campaign." Has kept a daily record of events…

GLC09355.074

27 June 1864

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

Mail has become more regular, so they can send as much as they want. Is almost out of paper and needs more. Also needs a lot of new envelopes. They can send those things fairly easily by speaking to a postman before sending it. If they write "Soldier Package" on the outside, then it will not cost much to send. Also needs new socks. If they do as he says and send the package direct, "I will get it and no mistake in 3 days time." The government has been working hard to fix up the mail. There is a well nearby; managed to get some very clean water. The handkerchief they sent him "is the prettiest…

GLC09355.075

5 July 1864

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

Finally received a letter from them. Will respond immediately, as he had held off writing another letter home for the arrival of one. The corps left on a raid to destroy part of the Weldon Railroad. "They met with no trouble at all" and returned 4 days later. Headquarters for the corps has moved a mile and a half into the woods. That raid was the first march that he did not go on with the rest of the corps. "When we move the dust is so thick we can hardly see a rod from us either way." Their division's job seems to be to guard the far left and rear of the besieging Union army. "They are…

GLC09355.076

8 July 1864

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

"I am once more with the regiment on duty." Is no longer with the provost guard. What remained of the 7th, 10th, and 37th regiments were consolidated into one regiment in the 3rd brigade, 1st division of the corps. "I felt some ashamed" of being so far from danger while in the provost guard. Expects they will go on the move in a day or so.

GLC09355.077

8 July 1864

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to brother

Received a letter from him and a letter from Mother yesterday. July 4th was a pretty quiet day, "hardly a gun fired all day." No July 4th could surpass that of last year when Vicksburg fell. Is back with the company he first came out with. General Wright is his new commander, but "we don't have half the confidence in him we did in the one we lost." Weather is very warm and it has not rained in a long time. Went to see Eddy Wright right before his corps crossed the James River. Was on guard all night last night near regiment headquarters. Must try and answer his mother's letter too. Wishes he…

GLC09355.078

9 July 1864

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mother

Just finished writing a letter to Charlie and will now write to her. Glad to hear her July 4th was so pleasant. One year ago on the 4th his corps was celebrating the victory at Gettysburg. Does not know where he will be for the next July 4th, but hopes he will be in Massachusetts. Does not have much news to write of. Does not know if she has gotten news that he is back with his original company. Came back from guard duty with 22 others.

GLC09355.079

27 July 1864

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

Just camped for the night. Feeling very tired. He and his friend John Banks decided to stop at 9:00 PM one night to get some rest while the army moved on. Found a good orchard to sleep in. Later caught up with the rest of the army at about 2:00 the next afternoon. "I believe it is decided to keep the 6th Corps here and not send them back to the Army of Potomac again." Knows they are worried about Sid, but is convinced he is fine. Thinks he will be exchanged sooner rather than later. Knows Grant cannot control everything "here, there, and everywhere. I never thought he was a supreme being."…

GLC09355.081

Circa 1864

Autograph document signed

Title: [record of the wound that George Clapp suffered on 1864/09/19]

This document is a record of the wound that George Clapp suffered on 1864/09/19, which was a "right humerus shattered by mini ball." Shows that Clapp was discharged a year later and pensioned in September 1873.

GLC09355.082

15 August 1864

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

Does not know when he will be able to send his letters, for they are now over 50 miles from Harpers Ferry, the nearest supply station where he can send mail. His brigade was detached from the rest of the army and ordered to wait for the supply train. "Where we go next is beyond my imagination." General Sheridan has taken control of this part of the army. Hopes they will not move for some time so that they have time to rest. Does not see what good can come from the fact that "we have lost more men than we could by active campaigning." Wishes he could be with Sid. They should not wait to send…

GLC09355.084

20 August 1864

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

Clapp says Charles Town is in Virginia, but was mistaken. Received two letters from them yesterday. One also came with $1, socks, suspenders, and a handkerchief, all of which he appreciated greatly. Does not get mail as regularly as while at Petersburg. In "the last 48 hours… we had no sleep nor not a mouthful of food." Encountered some farm animals and killed them, but did not have much time to prepare and cook them. His brigade was sent back to Winchester, Virginia to wait for the supply train while the rest of the corps marched south. The supply train consists of over 3,000 wagons full of…

GLC09355.085

24 August 1864

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

Will write quickly; the mail goes out in half an hour. Does not feel "in the best mood." At about 8:00 AM on the 21st, the Rebels attacked the army's pickets. The entire army scrambled into fighting position "as soon as possible." His company was marshaled into the skirmishers line. A few members of his company were mortally wounded. Was on picket duty when the Confederates attacked. Did not know Johnny Banks was wounded until he rejoined the company the day after the attack. "We fell back to this place and they followed us up closely all the time a fighting our rear guard of cavalry." Pratt…

GLC09355.086

26 August 1864

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

Got a letter from them dated 1864/08/21 last night. They write of not having received a letter from him in a long time, but does not know why his letters have not been delivered. Most of his letters have been short, "hurried" ones simply letting them know he was alright, but now will write a longer one. Saw that Metcalf died. Has made several raids into different cornfields and gardens for food. "The Army has stripped every corn field and potato patch they have been near in this valley and made perfect hogs of themselves." Thinks the war will end this fall. If they are not going to send the…

GLC09355.087

1 September 1864

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

Just received a letter from them. Glad to know that everyone is well. Has moved farther up the valley since his last letter. During the march, the cavalry fought in front of them the whole way. The Confederates turned back upon discovering the main infantry column of the army, "so we escaped any fight with them." Has heard that much of the Rebel army in the area is on its way to Richmond. Thinks the war is about over in this part of the country. Has sent some papers home for them to read. Also sent an engraving of their winter quarters. His company's street was the first on the left side of…

GLC09355.088

9 September 1864

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

Would have sent the earlier letter sooner, but had to march the next day and therefore did not have time to mail it. Is now on picket for three days starting from last night. Elisha has not arrived yet. "The Johnnies are a not very great distance from us." Most of the fighting has involved cavalry, but was involved in "a little fight for 3 or 4 hours." Asks them to say hello to Mrs. Phillips for him. Does not need them to send him a new pen. News has been nothing but good for a couple of weeks now. Hopes the war will be over by winter. Would like to be at home for the election.

GLC09355.089

13 September 1864

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

Received his first letter from them in over two weeks. "I think this department is the worst we have ever been in for mail arrangements." Has started to drill twice a day. "The weather is variable." It often rains without warning, and nights can be very cold. Has gotten much better at carrying heavy loads on marches. Will not have to spend any extra money on clothing this fall and winter. Will not write a letter to Johnny Banks' mother. "I am not capable of writing such a letter as I should wish to send to her under the existing circumstances, and again E.P.B. wrote immediately to her."…

GLC09355.090

1861-1877

Parker, Richard, fl. 1777

Photograph

Title: [Carte de viste of John Brown taken by James M. Holmes]

GLC09190.10

2 July 1860

Laueey, fl. 1860

Printed document signed

Title: [commission of McSherry as Assistant Surgeon in the U.S. Navy]

GLC09324.15

11 September 1862

Oakes, Cyrus, fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Father

GLC03136.002

26 September 1862

Oakes, Cyrus, fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to S. P. Oakes

Written at Camp Wallace

GLC03136.004

11 October 1862

Oakes, Cyrus, fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to S. P. Oakes

GLC03136.005

8 November 1862

Oakes, Cyrus, fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to S. P. Oakes

GLC03136.006

18 November 1862

Oakes, Cyrus, fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to S. P. Oakes

GLC03136.007

2 December 1862

Oakes, Cyrus, fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to S. P. Oakes

GLC03136.008

7 December 1862

Oakes, Cyrus, fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to S. P. Oakes

Letter found in same envelope as GLC03136.08.

GLC03136.009