1861-1865

Bogart, Abram, fl. 1825-1865

Header Record

Title: Collection of Abram Bogart [Decimalized .01-.32]

Abram Bogart's correspondence discusses the war and his experience in the army. The collection of letters primarily details army life, much of which focuses on his disdain for senior officers and the treatment of privates in the army. The vast majority of the letters are written to his wife, with some of them also addressed to their children. Bogart struggles with loneliness and often complains of homesickness throughout the collection. Of particular interest are his war date letters from South Carolina and Florida.

GLC03523.11

12/1862

Bogart, Abram, fl. 1825-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary M. Bogart

Writes to his wife whom he refers to as his "partner in life," that he is well and has received her letter. Reports that he has been standing guard and expects to stay put for the winter. Tells her they have fixed up their winter quarters and now have a little iron stove, which "makes it comfortable these cold nights." Explains that there were not enough men in the "I" company, so all the soldiers were transferred into different companies. Asks her to make an inquiry about some folks named Amner the next time she writes. Letter is addressed to Masonville in Delaware County, New York.

GLC03523.11.01

12/23/1862

Bogart, Abram, fl. 1825-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary M. Bogart

Reports to his wife, "with pleasure," that he is well and hopes that she is the same. Expresses that he is "sorry that paper and time is so scarce with you up there that it takes two of you to fill a half sheet." Tells her that he is going to Georgetown tomorrow to visit some of the sick boys. Asks that when she writes to him next time that she writes a full sheet. Signs the letter off by stating, "so you se how us soldiers are useed more like beasts than men." Letter is addressed to Masonville in Delaware County, New York.

GLC03523.11.02

12/31/1862

Bogart, Abram, fl. 1825-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary M. Bogart

Writes to his wife, his "companion in life" telling her about his well-being and inquiring about her. "How did you hold Christmas and what good things did you have and where do you suppose I was well I can tel you I was in georgetown visiting sick soldiers from our regement and I took dinner with them and a dinner it was to it was furnished by the citisons up north it was chickens turkeys beef ham mutton potato turnups cabage apples jellys pies cakes oranges grapes and oyster soup and I like to eat my self to death..." Tells her that he wants her to write often as it helps him much to hear…

GLC03523.11.03

02/01/1863

Bogart, Abram, fl. 1825-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary M. Bogart

Writes to his wife that he "is well at present and hop I shal be til this cursed war is at a close for The soldiers have got tired of fighting and are talking raising and going home..." Reports that they still have not been paid, and that he was vaccinated yesterday for smallpox. Tells her that Mr. Mason Parker was there for a visit and he sent home a new rubber blanket and that he "wants you to get it and use it in wet weather and keep it to remember me by if I should never return..." Also asks her to "take good care of your self and children til I come home and not expose your self at the…

GLC03523.11.04

03/01/1863

Bogart, Abram, fl. 1825-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary M. Bogart

Writes to his wife from Camp California, reporting that he is well and hopes she is the same. Reports that he visited the War Department in Washington. Informs her that when he visited the capital he heard a number of speeches and went to the "presedents house and saw old abe [Abraham Lincoln] and shook hands with him..." Encloses five dollars in the letter. Letter is addressed to Masonville in Delaware County, New York. Written at Camp California.

GLC03523.11.05

03/01/1863

Bogart, Abram, fl. 1825-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary M. Bogart

Reports to his wife from Fairfax Seminary Hospital, Virginia. Tells her that there will be no more furloughs given for a while, but that he will come home when the war is over. Asks her to write "all the news and some of the olds for I have got behind one month..." Letter is addressed to Masonville in Delaware County, New York.

GLC03523.11.06

03/10/1863

Bogart, Abram, fl. 1825-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary M. Bogart

Writes to his wife, noting that he received her letter a few days ago, and apologizes for being too lazy to answer it until now. He includes trinkets for the children in the letter, and tells her that "I should like to send you all a kiss if I could so you must do the kising for me..." He asks her not to blame him for using some of his money, and explains in detail what rations he is using the money for, and why he needs them. Requests that when she writes she includes all the "partickelers about all the folks." Mentions someone named James, who he thinks should stay at home and take care of…

GLC03523.11.07

04/10/1863

Bogart, Abram, fl. 1825-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary M. Bogart

Writes to his wife from Fairfax Seminary Hospital to let her know where he is. He reports that he could not move along with the rest of the regiment as he is "quite lame." He speculates that he will "get over it when warm weather comes" so "do not worry about me..." Letter is short as "it is dredful hard work for me to write now for my back is lame as well as hip..." Tells her that they have not been paid for five months. Letter is addressed to Masonville in Delaware County, New York.

GLC03523.11.08

07/01/1863

Bogart, Abram, fl. 1825-1865

Autograph letter

Title: to Mary M. Bogart and friend [incomplete]

Writes letter addressed to his wife and friend, which explains that he left Yorktown this morning and is on march with the army to Richmond. Reports that they "have a good general at our hand this time and a good supply of cannon..." Shares with them his thoughts on Virginia, which he thinks is a beautiful state and would be very good for farming. Letter ends abruptly, pages probably missing. With additional scrap of paper, measuring 8.5 x 12.5 cm, addressed to "Dear Friend," which is unsigned and undated. The letter is in regards to a Mr. Teaning, who "has been with us for over two years...…

GLC03523.11.09

09/12/1863

Bogart, Abram, fl. 1825-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary M. Bogart

Reports to his wife that his camp is quite sickly as the "measles have made their apearence." Writes that he has sent his pay, which is 25 dollars, minus "two and a few cents," which he kept for himself because "a man can't live here without some thing besides rations to eat..." He continues on to say that he values his health too much not to eat properly, and notes that he can do it quite inexpensively. Explains that the army does not seem to care about its soldiers, "if they cant do duty they are no more consequence than an old horse for there is no feeling for one another after they have…

GLC03523.11.10

09/24/1863

Bogart, Abram, fl. 1825-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary M. Bogart

Writes to his wife telling her he wished she wrote more often as he is lonely and in a "godforsaken plase for we are hemed in here on an island where we can see nor hear nothing but death and distruction on every side..." He reports to her that their numbers have been greatly reduced in rank. Tells her that lately he has been detailed to tending for the sick even though he is quite lame himself. He is hopeful, however, that "it wont last long but it will fetch me home this winter unless I go into the calvery..." Shares with her that every march he goes on makes him lame and then by the time…

GLC03523.11.11

10/15/1863

Bogart, Abram, fl. 1825-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary M. Bogart

Writes to wife, addressing her as "friend," inquiring about his parents, and why they have not written to him more than they have. Speculates that it is because he has not sent home more money and asks his wife if there is perhaps something between them and her that might explain their behavior. Asks her to tell them that, "this is not the place to make money" and details some of his expenses to her. He also requests that she "must not keep nothing back for I shal feel better than to worry about it..." Encloses 10 dollars in the letter, which he would like her to keep for herself. Also asks…

GLC03523.11.12

09/25/1864

Bogart, Abram, fl. 1825-1865

Autograph letter

Title: to Mary M. Bogart and children

Writes to wife and children reporting that he is doing well, albeit disenchanted with the war. Tells them that James, possibly a neighbor or friend from home, is sick with dysentery. Reports that there are many other new recruits from Masonville that are sick. Updates them about his colonel, who resigned because he was found drunk in the general's headquarters. Reports that "the boys are danceing in the cookhouse and now it is rollcall and the drums are beating and the boys are falling in to line and then we go to bead and blow the light out..." Letter incomplete and unsigned.

GLC03523.11.27

09/29/1864

Bogart, Abram, fl. 1825-1865

Autograph letter

Title: to Mary M. Bogart [incomplete]

Writes to wife updating her on James, possibly a neighbor or friend from home, who is still sick. Asks that she write him more letters. Inquires how all the widows are getting on and tells her that "misary loves company and you must comfort each other when you can..." Not addressed to his wife, but inferred from content. Letter incomplete and unsigned.

GLC03523.11.28

10/09/1864

Bogart, Abram, fl. 1825-1865

Autograph letter

Title: to Mary M. Bogart [incomplete]

Encloses thirty dollars in letter and tells wife to "do what you think best with it." Explains to her that he was paid for four months, but he had previously borrowed some money which he had to pay back. Updates her that James, possibly a neighbor or friend from home, is "getting quite smart again so that he walks out some..." Tells her again not to speak of his updates on the boys to others at home. Letter incomplete and unsigned. Envelope addressed to Mrs Abram Bogart, Masonville, Delaware County, New York.

GLC03523.11.29

10/24/1864

Bogart, Abram, fl. 1825-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary M. Bogart and children

Writes to his wife and children. Scolds his wife, "I didn't think that I was writing to two wives before but you had to go up and show Abby the letters I shall have to be carfull what I write here after if that is the way for I say things some times that wont do to go away from home..." Discusses the potential sale of their property. Tells her, "I think if he hant bought it yet that if he wants it bad enough to give one thousand dollars for it...if you think that you can do better sell it in well come and I will say good for you for I dont expect to be good for much if I ever get home and I…

GLC03523.11.30

11/01/1864

Bogart, Abram, fl. 1825-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary M. Bogart and children

Writes to his wife and children expressing that he would very much like to come home and that "it is no comfort for me to be away from home so long and living like arabs in tents and not houses..." Informs her that James, possibly a neighbor or friend from home, came for a visit. Ends letter by writing, "I will close it by saying that you must take good care of yourself and babys for you wont get eny more..."

GLC03523.11.31

06/07/1865

Bogart, Abram, fl. 1825-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary M. Bogart and children

Begins letter with "dear ones at home." Reports that he is well and at a hospital taking care of the sick, waiting for his release papers to come. Tells his wife that he expects to "come to delhie to be discharged and paid and take all of our equipage with us...by the first of July..." Informs her that his work is light and he has food to eat. "You needent worry a bout me now and I shant about you..." Asks that she meet him at "the franklin road" and "tell my children that I have not forgotten them..." Mentions that he has a trial tomorrow, but does not discuss the details of what it concerns.

GLC03523.11.32

10/06/1863

Bogart, Abram, fl. 1825-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to dear friends, care of Mary M. Bogart

Writes to his friends asking them to write him. Tells them that he needs a "friendely letter to chear us on to victory and death for some die here for the dead volly sounds pretty often and it is lonely not to hear from reletives to dround trouble and kill dull care while in the army for we are ruled with rod of masonry and the secret order..." Reports to them that they have "gaged a private that had been sick almost ever since we have been on the island because he wouldent go on picket" and speculates that "I shal get it next for I have said something that they dont like very well..."…

GLC03523.11.13

10/07/1863

Bogart, Abram, fl. 1825-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary M. Bogart and friend

Begins his letter, "Dear Wife and only friend on earth it is to you that I write a few lines in rememberence of old times..." Speculates that "there must be a good many widows and orfant children now in the land that are made so by this war..." Asks them to write to him about home. Apologizes for the poor writing, however "it is hard work to write a poor pen..." Offers them farming advice. Letter addressed to Mrs. Abram Bogart in Masonville, Delaware County, New York.

GLC03523.11.14

10/12/1863

Bogart, Abram, fl. 1825-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary M. Bogart

Writes to his wife, "how I do want to se you once more if the lord so wills that I can and my children to for I have got tired of this war is ever a fellow was in this world for they hant but a few left for duty in the regement and grow less every day and it is discourageing to do enny thing..." Reports to her his belief that their lack of food contributes to many soldier deaths. Tells about a time that he "happened to be with an old regement one day and we went to a house and asked for some thing to eat and they said that they had nothing in the house so we filed in line around the house and…

GLC03523.11.15

10/31/1863

Bogart, Abram, fl. 1825-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary M. Bogart

Addresses his letter to his wife, "companion and friend," and tells her that he hopes she is feeling well and taking good care of their children. Asks that she not speak anymore of him getting a discharge, as "that is a thing hard to get here..." Tells her that he "lives in hopes of better time to come but we must keep good courege and a contented mind if we would keep up disease and not worry our selfs to death for a contented mind is a continual beast and what we cant get we must not covet but wait with patience..." Notes that he would like her to ask James, possibly a neighbor or friend…

GLC03523.11.16

11/03/1863

Bogart, Abram, fl. 1825-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary M. Bogart

Writes to wife expressing "much love" and hopes to speak "face to face" once again. Inquires about how she will live this winter and who will do things such as collect her wood. Asks her "who comes to se you now are a lone whether westys folks come to se you or any body or you aught to have some beau by this time to keep up with other folks while I am here for there is stores here as weel as fun and I must have a little of it for the boy are a laughing at me now about our wifes having beaus while we are a soldiering..." Requests that she write to him. Tells him that he was "mustered" for his…

GLC03523.11.17

11/06/1863

Bogart, Abram, fl. 1825-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary M. Bogart

Writes to wife that he "hopes she is enjoying life while you have it for we dont know where death will come to us..." Expresses great concern for both of their livelihood, as he believes that "we are all in danger at home and a broad..." Tells her how much it excites him to think of coming home some day, and notes that he has not drank liquor or played cards. Letter most likely sent from Folly Island, South Carolina, based on location of other letters around this date.

GLC03523.11.18