22 April 1864

Dewey, Orville S., fl. 1861-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to father

He shipped a trunk home yesterday. They will march today or tomorrow to Fort Monroe.

GLC02161.122

12 July 1864

Dewey, Orville S., fl. 1861-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Harriet W. Dewey

He thinks the "Head of the Nation" is frightened by the raid into Maryland and want to protect Washington. He would like to hear that the Johnnies are burning Buffalo.

GLC02161.134

25 April 1864

Dewey, Orville S., fl. 1861-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

He was assigned to the 10th army corps. He asks if a fellow lieutenant's body was received by the military.

GLC02161.123

1 May 1864

Dewey, Orville S., fl. 1861-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

He is in desperate need of money. He only has $15.35. He has no money to give them and asks if she knows anyone who will loan them $100 or $150.

GLC02161.124

8 May 1864

Dewey, Orville S., fl. 1861-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to father

They shipped from Gloucester Point and are now in Bermuda Hundreds. There were heavy skirmishes but they are all in good sprits and feel they will have Richmond soon.

GLC02161.125

14 May 1864

Dewey, Orville S., fl. 1861-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Norman R. Dewey

A dispatch from Grant came saying he had taken Johnson's whole division. One of the batteries from Camp Barry was lost but then retaken by the 13th division. He is afraid Charley will have a hand in the fighting.

GLC02161.126

20 May 1864

Dewey, Orville S., fl. 1861-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary "Mollie" McLean

Written "in the field." The "Johnnies" have been skirmishing with their infantry and artillery. They have a strong position. They have three regiments of colored troops but they have not been let in yet.

GLC02161.127

22 May 1864

Dewey, Orville S., fl. 1861-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Harriet W. Dewey

Written "in the field." He read of Henry's death in the papers after he thought he had escaped unharmed. They may lose their guns. He is sick of the expedition.

GLC02161.128

28 May 1864

Dewey, Orville S., fl. 1861-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to father

Yesterday the whole command except for one division was ordered to embark to reinforce Grant. Gen. Lee assumes he will save Richmond. No one really likes Butler, the commanding officer.

GLC02161.129

3 June 1864

Dewey, Orville S., fl. 1861-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary "Mollie" McLean

The infantry has been behaving badly. At a seven infantry engagement with the "Johns", the men got inside the mark as soon as possible. In other words, they ran at the first fire.

GLC02161.130

11 June 1864

Dewey, Orville S., fl. 1861-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Norman R. Dewey

He has enclosed the key to his trunk. He gives instructions on what to do with the items inside.

GLC02161.131

19 June 1864

Dewey, Orville S., fl. 1861-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Harriet W. Dewey

He is very healthy and there is no sickness in the army. They are all full of fight for the campaign that will decide whether this "nation is one or two."

GLC02161.132

4 July 1864

Dewey, Orville S., fl. 1861-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary "Mollie" McLean

He feels sorry for Burns. All the old officers are gone from the old 5th. The new ones are strangers. The captain of his old company has been dismissed.

GLC02161.133

20 July 1864

Dewey, Orville S., fl. 1861-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary "Mollie" McLean

The 19th corps from N. Orleans have been pressing up the river for the last couple of days. If Sherman gets Atlantis, they should have some real fighting ahead of them.

GLC02161.135

31 July 1864

Dewey, Orville S., fl. 1861-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary "Mollie" McLean

It is very hot and he is writing on cheap paper. The 9th corps made a bad name for themselves and ruined their reputation and position but he doesn't elaborate.

GLC02161.136

15 August 1864

Dewey, Orville S., fl. 1861-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary "Mollie" McLean

He is concerned that if the chances aren't good enough in Buffalo, he will have to go somewhere else. Written at Fort Pocahontas

GLC02161.137

21 August 1864

Dewey, Orville S., fl. 1861-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary "Mollie" McLean

He tells her to have a badge made for him. He gives explicit instructions. Written at Fort Pocahontas

GLC02161.138

31 August 1864

Dewey, Orville S., fl. 1861-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary "Mollie" McLean

He is kind of sick. He sent a photograph of Gen. Binney.

GLC02161.139

18 September 1864

Dewey, Orville S., fl. 1861-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary "Mollie" McLean

He has someone else in mind for president. Someone who takes the bull by the horn. Someone like Sherman. He knows the war is coming to an end soon. He saw Charley recently.

GLC02161.140

26 September 1864

Dewey, Orville S., fl. 1861-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary "Mollie" McLean

He received the badge and put it on top of the cap he wears.They get paid this week. He saw Tom McCabe but couldn't get to Charley.

GLC02161.141

4 October 1864

Dewey, Orville S., fl. 1861-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary "Mollie" McLean

There has been a lot of fighting in the past week. They drove the rebels out of key positions. It has rained a lot.

GLC02161.142

5 October 1864

Dewey, Orville S., fl. 1861-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary "Mollie" McLean

There is no real news today. Everyone is sleeping in the fields. He has his tent up.

GLC02161.143

9 October 1864

Dewey, Orville S., fl. 1861-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary "Mollie" McLean

The cavalry division was badly whipped. The Johnnies followed and attacked their line. They (Dewey and regiment) smashed their artillery in turn.

GLC02161.144

1864

Dewey, Orville S., fl. 1861-1902

Diary

Title: [1864 diary]

In April, he notes that he does not like working under Butler which corresponds to one of his letters. In May he describes some very animated fighting occurring near their pickets. Later on the 28th he gives details of Henry's (a fellow soldier) death which he only alludes to in a letter. In the last entry he wonders when he will hear from Cassie, a common complaint throughout the letters. Includes 4 cards.

GLC02161.146

1 January 1865

Dewey, Orville S., fl. 1861-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary "Mollie" McLean

Difficult to read but he says something [illegible] is harder than soldiering but pays better. There is a new set of officers. He asks when she will be married.

GLC02161.147