February 7, 1864

Blackman, Francis G., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ruth J. Sheldon

Writes that the weather is pleasant but that they cannot enjoy it because the rebels are moving about.

GLC02159.13

2 December 1861

Blackman, Francis G., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his friend Bennett

"...plenty of cotton here and sweet potatoes, peanuts, oringes, rice, Niggers, rattlesnakes coper heads glass snake mocins and another cind about 18 feet long...alligators..." "...the Rebel's boats fired 2 or 3 round and run up the creek...Rebels fought well but their guns was ranged too high..." "... the stars and stripes was floating over the R Battery and we was the first regiment that went ashore. We went in the fort...came to a plantation and found plenty of knapsacks ...100 or more knapsacks in the woods..." "...we asked the Niggers whair thar masters was and they said lord Jesus…

GLC02159.02

14 September 1862

Blackman, Francis G., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Blackman

Writes to his mother. States James's (his brother's) regiment went by but he did not get to see him. Tells her to direct letters to Fort McHenry, Baltimore, MD, 18th regiment [CV]. Written in pencil.

GLC02159.03

25 October 1863

Blackman, Francis G., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Blackman

Writes to his mother. "...had a rite smart battle here ...prisons had no arms so they sent them away out of danger..." Describes the hard time they had getting to Martinsburg. Mentions going through New London, Washington, Baltimore, Harpers Ferry and finally Martinsburg. "...and put us in prison...put us on board a transport with 700 conscrips..." Written in pencil.

GLC02159.11

7 October 1864

Blackman, Francis G., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Blackman

Writes to his father. States he is in General Rite's [Horatio Gouverneur Wright?] brigade and mentions General George McClellan. They are sailing for North Carolina soon and expect a battle as there is a large Confederate force there.

GLC02159.16

5 March 1863

Blackman, Francis G., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Blackman

Writes to his mother "we are in the tufest old hole that i ever was in the lise are as thick as fles in fly time." Written from Fort McHenry.

GLC02159.07

10 June 1863

Blackman, Francis G., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Blackman

Writes to his mother. Mentions "bushwhackers." Written in pencil.

GLC02159.08

26 July 1863

Blackman, Francis G., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Blackman

Writes to his mother. "...i thought that I had seen hard times but I never did until i was taken prisoner...we fought them 3 days with 6,000 men and they had 45,000 with 84 pices of artirly we kiled 900 of them but they out winded us." Talks of the miserable conditions, no food. Mentions "5000 of prisons on two acors of ground and to see the men goin aroud with holes eys and sunken cheeks was a enough to draw tears from a [stone] and it rained everyday and we had to lay in the mud but thair was enough strenth left to cheer the old flag..."

GLC02159.09

2 December 1864

Blackman, Francis G., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Blackman

Writes to his mother that he spent Thanksgiving in Gettersburg [Gettysburg?]. They are now four miles from Harper's Ferry.

GLC02159.17

1861-1865 circa

Blackman, Francis G., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Blackman and his sister Ruth

Brief note to his mother and sister. Not dated. "Signed Francis G. Blackman, Washington D.C., Company K 7 Reg CV." Written in pencil.

GLC02159.20

24 April [1865]

Blackman, Francis G., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Blackman

Writes to his mother about the war being just about over. "...the Jonnes [Johnnies] keep coming in hear every day ...pitch on them and kill some and drive them of if it wasnt for the soldiers bing hear the Jonnes would not stand much chance..." Mentions some Confederate soldiers [Johnnies] that scouts apprehended. 100,000 dollars was found on one and 5,000 dollars on another. The scouts killed him. On stationary of the U.S. Christian Commission.

GLC02159.19

11 November [1861]

Blackman, Francis G., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Blackman

Writes to his mother. "...I never knew what it was to go hungy till I come here...I was on the sick list when we got here but I shouldered my gun and marched with the Regiment...we have had one meal of bull soup, we slept in the sand 3 nights all I had to eat in 30 hours was 1/2 pint of rice." "...10 guns boats but we did not get but one of the boats...the Rebel's genarl was kild and then the rest run and flung their things away...we did at Bull Run..." No year on letter.

GLC02159.01