August 1862- July 1865

Elmore, Bruce, fl. 1862-1865

Header Record

Title: [Collection of Bruce Elmore, C company, 143rd regiment, New York, infantry] [decimalized]

Over 200 letters from Sergeant Elmore to his wife, with an additional 60 from his wife. Highlights include pursuit of Lee's army after Gettysburg, the siege of Atlanta, Sherman's march to the sea, and other campaigns. Also includes several loose pages of an informal diary kept by Elmore during the March to the Sea, which he mailed home to his wife upon reaching Savannah. Elmore was discharged in July 1865.

GLC06588

26 April 1865

Elmore, Bruce, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Libbie Elmore

The terms Sherman and Johnston agreed upon have not been ratified by the authorities at Washington. He hopes there will be no more fighting but he doesn't have the faith in the new president that he did in Lincoln.

GLC06588.205

29 April 1865

Elmore, Bruce, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Libbie Elmore

General Sherman has ordered the army to march to Richmond and to continue toward Washington they think by the middle of May. He lists some promotions in the regiment. Written near Raleigh, North Carolina

GLC06588.207

circa 1861-1864

Elmore, Bruce, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Libbie Elmore

He does not think she will be able to make a hundred dollars off the farm this year but he thinks she has done the best she could possibly have done. He hasks her to tell him how much of the farm she has sold this summer.

GLC06588.167

22 October 1864

Elmore, Bruce, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Libbie Elmore

They have been having very good food lately. He requests another pair of socks. he worries about her health because she works too hard.

GLC06588.168

29 October 1864

Elmore, Bruce, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Libbie Elmore

They have been foraging and they have been successful in their efforts. Willard was sent to a hospital in Nashville. He continues to worry about her health.

GLC06588.169

2 November 1864

Elmore, Bruce, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Libbie Elmore

They have been preparing for a march for several days. They are hoping to gain a foothold before Lee's army can bother them. He hopes Libbie can sell the farm to that man. He is owed ten months pay.

GLC06588.170

8 November 1864

Elmore, Bruce, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Libbie Elmore

He speculates on when they will get paid and what he will do if he gets the money. They have marched out of camp and back again. While their pay is late, they were told to take their bonds.

GLC06588.171

circa 1861-1864

Elmore, Bruce, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Libbie Elmore

He assumes her father must be home by now. Tomorrow it will be ten months since they were last paid. He notes that it must be hard on those families that have nothing but the wages of their husband to depend on.

GLC06588.172

23 October 1864

Elmore, Bruce, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Libbie Elmore

He says that when Father corrects the mistakes in the deed for their farm he should note that that it was done before signing. Willard is feeling no worse nor better.

GLC06588.173

1864

Elmore, Bruce, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Libbie Elmore

He still hasn't been paid. She will have to manage to pay taxes herself.

GLC06588.174

1864

Elmore, Bruce, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Libbie Elmore

Letter is completely faded.

GLC06588.175

29 November 1864 - 7 December 1864

Elmore, Bruce, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph manuscript

Title: Daily Diary

He describes his movements and places of encampment. for each day.

GLC06588.176

January 21, 1865

Elmore, Bruce, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Libbie Elmore

Peskey is down with chronic diarrhea. Dekay is well. He heard Willard is doing great. They get some clothes but they really need more clothes.

GLC06588.177

8 December 1864

Elmore, Bruce, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Libbie Elmore

Includes a daily diary through Dec. 24th. He has sent some money because they finally received eight months pay.

GLC06588.178

17 December 1864

Elmore, Bruce, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Libbie Elmore

He enjoyed the childrens' picture. They started from Atlanta and have been destroying railroads and burning cotton whereever they go. They had good food on the march. Written near Savannah, Georgia

GLC06588.179

31 December 1864

Elmore, Bruce, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Libbie Elmore

He mentions Sherman's army and their strategies. They are owed four months pay now. He suspects taxes will be high this years. Written near Savannah, Georgia

GLC06588.180

circa 1861-1864

Elmore, Bruce, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Libbie Elmore

Letter is completely faded.

GLC06588.181

8 January 1865

Elmore, Bruce, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Libbie Elmore

He advises her to sell all but a cow or a hog if she feels she needs one. He wishes he could have seen the children on Christmas morning. he has felt unwell. Emmit was badly wounded. Written near Savannah, Georgia

GLC06588.182

January 14, 1865

Elmore, Bruce, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Libbie Elmore

He hopes the proposed bill to raise the soldiers' wages passes. They are trying to bribe the soldiers into renlisting for another two years when their time is up with 30 day furlough and a bounty. He mentions the lack of vegetables and the need for better rations. Was written near Chattanooga, Tennessee.

GLC06588.183

circa 1861-1864

Elmore, Bruce, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Libbie Elmore

He asks for tobacco and mittens.

GLC06588.184

circa 1861-1864

Elmore, Bruce, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Libbie Elmore

He received some woolen gloves. He gives the health status of mutual acquaintances.

GLC06588.185

January 20, 1865

Elmore, Bruce, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Libbie Elmore

They received orders to pack up and move and he thinks they will stay at their new camp site until the trains come. He wonders whether it would be a good idea to invest the money they make from the sale of the farm in bonds. Was written near Hardeville, South Carolina.

GLC06588.186

January 13, 1865

Elmore, Bruce, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Libbie Elmore

He says they are still stuck in a Carolina swamp. Captain Bruin has just come to the regiment. Back side features an order to guards and patrolmen. Written near Savannah, Georgia

GLC06588.187

January 24, 1865

Elmore, Bruce, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Libbie Elmore

Bruce writes that he doesn't know what the Rebels are fighting for since they have no hope of whipping their armies. He is disappointed to learn she has not yet sold the farm. Willard has not felt better in a long time. Written near Savannah, Georgia

GLC06588.188