10 August 1862

Bell, Grove L., 1844-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to home friends

Bell to friends. Stationery has a Union stamp of a stars and stripes shield inside a five-pointed white star. On guard duty today. Left Washington on Thursday; arrived in Fredericks City [Fredericksburg?] on Friday. Witnessed heavy fighting with the Confederates. Stonewall Jackson fought McClellan and Burnside. Miles let Stonewall up the mountain, and was accused of treason. "They say old Stonewall is the man… I wish we had a few Generals as wide awake as him. It would not take long to finish the war" then. Is on the move to Harpers Ferry, where John Brown "first commenced his execution."

GLC08913.01

1862

Bell, Grove L., 1844-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to home friends

Month is unknown, but based on the known whereabouts of the 20th Connecticut, this letter was written on October, November, or December 28th, 1862. Printed on stationery portraying the battle of Mill Spring, Kentucky. Implores his friends to write as often as possible, as much as once a week. Has had trouble finding time to write, for they have been drilling "almost all of the time." His commanding officer is extremely tough, and he is very unpopular amongst the troops: "although he is a grand good military man he… is as wicked as he can be." His company is going to be placed in the thick of…

GLC08913.03

1 October 1863

Bell, Grove L., 1844-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to home friends

Is somewhere between Indianapolis and Louisville on a train. Decided to write as soon as the cars stopped moving. Had to be ready to leave at a moment's notice. Marched to Rappahannock Station, where they were put "into cattle cars." No room to lie down to sleep; have to sleep sitting up. Train travelled to Washington D. C. through the night; continued on to Wheeling, VA/WV. Had to change to their current train at Wheeling. Got "a good supper" last night. Arrived in Louisville at about dark. The dinner he had last night was better than even the nicest dinner he had had back home. Describes…

GLC08913.14

22 October 1862

Bell, Grove L., 1844-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to home friends

Bell to friends. Letter written in pencil. Very faded. Some parts are illegible. The envelope is addressed to Mr. Edwin Bell. Received last letter two days ago. Had tried a couple of times to write a letter but had not been able to do so. Some mail and provisions came for Company D today, but because he did not move quickly he did not get any. "Everyone but me had a large bundle of cake." "Felt as if I hadn't any friends." Got some cookies; first time he had not been hungry in a long time. "There [are] a few big men with scraps on their shoulders that are making all of the money." Considering…

GLC08913.02

25 November 1862

Bell, Grove L., 1844-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

Received a letter night before last. Have not had much time to sleep. Happy to receive mail; "had it not have been for that barrel, I should not have been here now." "Living pretty hard" at the moment. Have built log huts. Very cold while standing guard. Asks for new boots and emphasizes just how much he wants them. Fireplace in the camp reminds him of his fireplace at home. Asks to hear about the quarry. Asks for stamps, paper, and "a little hunk of black thread."

GLC08913.04

26 December 1862

Bell, Grove L., 1844-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

Had not received stamps in a long time and was therefore unable to write. Sorry to hear of his friend's sickness. Arrived in Fairfax a few days ago. "Threw away everything" on the march. Everyone had too much to carry, and one soldier in particular was very sore and tired from the march. Threw away everything they had except blankets and clothing. Mud soaked right through stockings because it is deeper than his boots. Very hungry; makes sure to eat all of his food. "It is a shame for us not to get any more rations." It is getting very cold very quickly. His friend is writing the same letter…

GLC08913.05

6 January 1863

Bell, Grove L., 1844-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to home friends

Friends have asked for boxes from home, and now wants to do the same. Asks to have the box ready as quickly as possible, within a day of the delivery of this letter if possible. Says to speak to Max Cadwell to see when he sent his box down. If they send the box express mail, it could arrive at the regiment in the next day or two. Asks for boots. Gives specific specifications for what kind of boot he wants and what size it should be. Asks for the boots to be "two sizes larger" than they think they should be for unexplained reasons. Also wants to make sure the boots are high enough. Also asks…

GLC08913.06

January 16,1863

Bell, Grove L., 1844-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to home friends

So angry he "can hardly write." Had to wait a long time in the cold. Angry because he has not received favorable news about his box. Instead was advised to get some good boots on because they would be marching the next day. Had his friends done as he said, Bell would have the boots right now. Will "never [write] for anything" else. Upset because he does not have a decent pair of shoes. Soldiers only have three days' rations. Discusses the difficulty of pulling horses out of the thick, deep mud. "Everyone is sick of this war… I don't blame anyone for skedadeling" One soldier named Geer "is but…

GLC08913.07

February 2, 1863

Bell, Grove L., 1844-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to home friends

Happy to finally have received the box that he had been complaining about in his earlier letter. Box was mostly undamaged, and his boots arrived in good condition; they fit well. Had a particularly good breakfast today of sausage and fried potatoes. Various members of his regiment have been sick, and some have spent time in the hospital. Describes members of his company as "messy mice." Hopes to get a picture of himself taken to send back home so they "can see a soldier boy." Asks if they can get his [walick] fixed and sent to him. Asks if they want the box back, thinks they might need it…

GLC08913.08

1 March 1863

Bell, Grove L., 1844-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

Borrowed a friend's pen to write with, although he has practically forgotten how to use one. Has very poor ink. Wishes he had his own pen so badly that he is thinking of sending for one in his next letter home. Afraid he would ruin the pen while down in camp. Understands he would need a good bottle of ink along with the pen. Hopes she saw Gaston before he left. Hopes she will get to see John at some point. Has a new commander of the company. Seems like a "grand good fellow." He is the best officer in the regiment. Has received every paper she has sent so far. Has read them with the rest of…

GLC08913.09

4 April 1863

Bell, Grove L., 1844-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

Bell to his sister. Written on 20th Connecticut stationery. Was waiting to be paid before writing this letter. Wants to send some money back to her. Discovered a box last Friday, and found his black hat inside. His new commander is "a grand good looking officer and looks as so he might be a good union man." His wife and daughters were accompanying him. Were building a new house, but have completed it. Hooker has "assessed the signs" and has ordered the regiment to move to participate in what will become the battle of Chancellorsville. Promises to send some money next time. Tells his sister to…

GLC08913.10

21 May 1863

Bell, Grove L., 1844-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to home friends

Received their letter the night before last; would have answered earlier but has had a lot to do. Had a lot of fun bathing and fishing. Recently fought at Chancellorsville. "Anything but fighting for me" after the horror of his first battle. Soldiers used to really want to see a battle, but not anymore. "They have all got enough of it." Vouches for the courage of his compatriots, saying that they would not have retreated had the order not been given. Several of his fellow troops were maimed. One, Herman, lost his leg from below the thigh. Cad, their commander, is trying to get a furlough…

GLC08913.11

6 July 1863

Bell, Grove L., 1844-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to home friends

Apologizes for not having written sooner, but has not slept well in days and has not had time to write on account of the battle. Does not think that the Confederates will be returning to Pennsylvania anytime soon after the results of the battle at Gettysburg. Says the regiment was "lucky" not to lose more men in the battle. Casualties were 6 killed and "23 or 30" wounded, which was "a very high loss for the time we were under fire." Had a piece of shell strike "within… inches of my leg" while lying prone. Comments that members of his own company named B. [Sifson] and Sandy [Gib] were badly…

GLC08913.12

28 July 1863

Bell, Grove L., 1844-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to home friends

Would have written earlier, but could not obtain any paper. Had to beg a friend for some. Threw away knapsack at Gettysburg. Lost "everything but a rubber blanket." Asks to send "a lot of things," specifically paper, a pencil, stamps, envelopes, and, most importantly, money. [Money is underlined with a thick pencil mark]. Points out that they cannot complain about his not writing if he has nothing with which to write. Asks for these things to be sent immediately upon the delivery of this letter.

GLC08913.13

1861-1864

Bell, Grove L., 1844-1863

Autograph letter

Title: to unknown

Paper includes a stamp of a ship with the stars and stripes for sails. Letter is only ½ page long, and looks ripped at the bottom. Asks for a box to be sent including a small silk handkerchief, which is "all that I can think of." Asks to be sent a letter along with another towel and some money.

GLC08913.15

August 1862-October 1863

Bell, Grove L., 1844-1863

Header Record

Title: [Civil War letters of Grove Bell, a private in the Union Army] [decimalized]

This collection is a series of 15 letters and one printed poem from Private Grove Bell to a number of recipients, including his sister. The poem is dedicated to the Ladies of Portland, Connecticut, Bell's hometown. Private Bell enlisted in the 20th Connecticut Infantry on August 4, 1862. He was mustered into D Company. In 1862 and 1863 the 20th Connecticut fought as part of the Army of the Potomac and saw action in Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. Although Bell survived extensive action in both these battles, he died on December 4, 1863. Highlights of the collection include a letter…

GLC08913