31 July 1864

Donahue, Thomas, fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Almira Winchell

Written from camp "in front of" Richmond. Discusses the Battle of the Crater. Describes the attempt of the 9th Army Corps to mine under a rebel fort, blow it up and break the Confederate line at Petersburg. Donahue's battery offered supporting fire after the explosion took place. Describes the charge, capture of the fort by a black regiment, and the fort's recapture. Writes, "All that I am Sorry for is that the Rebs did not Capture every nigger there was there and Shoot them for I think that we have got white men enough in the north to fight our battles..."

GLC04706.10

15 September 1864

Donahue, Thomas, fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Almira Winchell

Written from a fort near the Weldon Railroad. Says he is sorry to hear about the death of friends. Accompanied by an envelope printed with the insignia of the Fifth Corps.

GLC04706.11

13 October 1864

Donahue, Thomas, fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Almira Winchell

Written from three miles to the left of their previous position (possibly near the Weldon Railroad in Virginia). Writes of the captured rebel prisoners and four cannons. Expresses confidence in the success of the Union army but admits there are obstacles to victory, including Copperheads and traitors in the North.

GLC04706.12

28 December 1864

Donahue, Thomas, fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Almira Winchell

Written from Camp Battery B. Writes that the battery fired a 100 gun salute in celebration of [General William T] Sherman's capture of Savannah, Georgia. Thinks the winter campaigns are over. Describes how he and his friends spent Christmas.

GLC04706.13

20 January 1865

Donahue, Thomas, fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Almira Winchell

Written from Camp Battery B. Responds to a letter from Almira. Writes that he is sorry that there are no single men left home to attend the dances.

GLC04706.14

5 March 1865

Donahue, Thomas, fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Almira Winchell

Written from Camp Battery B. Cautions her not to be to optimistic about General Ulysses S. Grant taking Richmond, Virginia. Notes that he is glad to hear a friend has been captured: "I would rather have him a prisoner than a Deserter."

GLC04706.15

29 April 1862

Remington, William, fl. 1864-1873

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Almira Winchell

Addresses Almira as his cousin. Writes about a friend who is being discharged. Accompanied by an envelope printed with the insignia of the Fifth Corps. Written at Warren, possibly Warren County, Virginia.

GLC04706.17

26 May 1862

Remington, William, fl. 1864-1873

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Almira Winchell

The regiment has moved across the Potomac to Fort Lyon. Gives news of the death of a friend. Accompanied by an envelope printed with the insignia of the Fifth Corps.

GLC04706.18

20 March 1864

Remington, William, fl. 1864-1873

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Almira Winchell

In regard to Almira's admonishment to leave whiskey alone, writes, "I never liked it any way."

GLC04706.19

23 July 1864

Remington, William, fl. 1864-1873

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Almira Winchell

Writes from Harris Hospital. Expects to be home in two weeks. He went to see the "old dutch woman that tells fortunes and well never mind."

GLC04706.20

20 November 1864

Newman, William, fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Almira Winchell

Writes from a hospital. Describes his leg amputation six months ago, which still gives him trouble.

GLC04706.21

13 December 1864

Newman, William, fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Almira Winchell

Writes while on his way home via ambulance. Relates that he is still having problems with his leg. Thinks that he should not have left Nashville but the Confederates were too close to the city and could be seen from the hospital. Is sorry to hear that so many from their town have been crippled in the war.

GLC04706.22

27 December 1864

Newman, William, fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Almira Winchell

Relates that his leg is infected and he needs another operation. Writes about Sherman's capture of Savannah, Georgia, with "150 pieces of artillery, 130 locomotives, and lots of other stuff."

GLC04706.23

14 April 1865

Remington, William, fl. 1864-1873

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Almira Winchell

Writes from the General Hospital. Expects to come home on furlough next month. Does not know what he will do for a living once the war is over.

GLC04706.24

20 June 1865

Lawton, Pyrrus H., fl. 1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Almira Winchell

Writes to "Mrs. Thankful" Winchell. Written from [Clouds Mill]. Notes that he spends most of his time picking huckleberries. Asks whether Thomas Donahue has returned home yet.

GLC04706.25

1863

Document

Title: "When This Cruel War is Over."

Advertisement /song sheet with small hand-colored picture of Union soldiers in the countryside entitled "Reconnoitering Party after the battle of Gettysburg."

GLC04706.26

29 December 1861

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown [incomplete]

His regiment is guarding a bridge between New Haven, Kentucky and Boston, Kentucky. Guerrillas (led by John H. Morgan) cut the telegraph lines in Boston and then stayed over night in the house of a noted secessionist. Also mentions Confederate raids near the Boston Bridge.

GLC05241.01

1 January 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Magie

Headquarters 78th Regt., Illinois Volunteers. Describes Morgan's raids at Springfield and New Haven, Kentucky, 30 December 1862. Magie, dressed as a southerner, undertook a dangerous mission to rescue the officers' horses. Union troops managed to drive back the rebels.

GLC05241.02

4 January 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Magie

Headquarters 78th Regt. Ill. Vol. Misdated 1862, discusses Morgan's raid at New Haven, see GLC05241.02. Recounts more of his adventures as a spy dressed in rebel uniform. Mentions his capture of a Confederate named Floyd Price. Asks for a copy of the Macomb Journal, which printed his New Years Address. Notes that the "colored ladies" of the town held a reception for them. Briefly mentions Unionist civilians.

GLC05241.03

8 January 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Magie

Writes from Headquarters of the 78th Regt, Illinois Volunteers. Notes that he has not received a letter from her in two weeks. Informs her about friends who were killed or wounded in recent fighting. Yesterday, January 7th, was his 37th birthday and he displays a hint of a mid-life crisis. Mentions Unionist civilians.

GLC05241.04

13 January 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Magie

He is in Louisville on regimental business. He received a letter which indicated that Eddie, their son, was gravely ill. He wants to know what was wrong with him. Another son, Charles has begun to swear. Magie advises Mary to tell Charles that if he respects his father "he will not take up the loafish practice of swearing." Wants to go to the theater before he must rejoin his unit.

GLC05241.05

21 January 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Magie

Writes from Headquarters of the 78th Regiment, Illinois Volunteers. He asks her to write at least once a week. They have received marching orders, but heavy rains made the river rise and they may not be able to move. He spent last night playing a game "with a very pretty young lady. You must not yet be jealous about it, although I begin to think I have some right to go about among the girls as you have almost [quit] writing to me." A runaway slave from Spencer County is employed by the Colonel. He does odd jobs, dances and makes speeches. Plans to stay with the regiment and go back to…

GLC05241.06

27 January 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Magie

The regiment has moved to Louisville. He and a few other officers have taken possession of a building to use as their quarters. The contraband cook is practicing his spelling. He received a letter detailing Eddy's illness. He wants his son Charles to stay with his mother and go to school.

GLC05241.07

30 January 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Magie

Written on board the steamer J. H. Groesbeck. Between fourteen and eighteen steamboats are loaded with troops and ready to move out, but no one is sure where they are going. He has been paid and will send the money home by express. He gives her instructions about paying and collecting debts.

GLC05241.08

2 February 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Magie

Written on board the steamer J. H. Groesbeck. Notes the regiment is bound for Fort Donelson. Says he has comfortable quarters in a cabin with some other officers but the enlisted men are very crowded. Mentions that his colonel is under arrest for refusing to search the boat for escaped slaves. Notes he was put in charge of the contraband cook, who now wishes to go home with "Massa Magie."

GLC05241.09