1861-1865

Knox, Andrew, 1835-?

Header Record

Title: [Collection of Andrew Knox, B company, 1st regiment, Connecticut, heavy artillery] [Decimalized .01-.23]

Knox served as Lieutenant in the 1st Connecticut Artillery. The letters discuss the sieges of Yorktown and Petersburg, support Lincoln's re-election, condemn McClellan's Peace Platform, and mention William, a freeman working for McClellan as a servant. States that William was the most consistent "Christian" he ever met.

GLC03523.20

4 September 1862

Knox, Andrew, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Knox

Knox writes to his wife from Fort Scott in Virginia. Expresses pleasure at receiving her letters, and the Herald and Danbury newspapers. Reports he has seen nephew George and he is very thin. States the rebels will have to capture the forts before they can take Washington, D.C. and is confident that will not happen due to the determination of the men in his company. Refers to the conflict between Union Generals George B. McClellan and John Pope. Remarks that "the troops of Gen. Pope when they came in look more like a mob than disciplined soldiers." Expresses confidence in the superiority of…

GLC03523.20.06

6 January 1863

Knox, Andrew, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Knox

Knox writes to his wife from Fort Scott in Virginia. Expresses deep love for her constant support. Mentions the capture of Vicksburg, Mississippi. Anticipates a battle under the leadership Union General Ambrose E. Burnside. Comments that Union General William F. Barry cannot spare them from Washington D.C. Remarks the picture she sent of herself looks so sober, he hardly recognized her. Complains he hasn't been paid in almost seven months. Letter is dated 1862 in error.

GLC03523.20.07

28 April 1864

Knox, Andrew, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Knox

Knox writes to his wife from Fort Scott in Virginia. Informs he was officer of the day. Reports he must take the company to Fort Ward. Mentions that a complete siege train is being prepared at the Washington arsenal for a sudden move. Suspects their destination is Richmond. Comments Union General Ulysses Grant will have no less than 200,000 troops outside Richmond. Promises his next letter will not be a war letter.

GLC03523.20.10

8 July 1863

Knox, Andrew, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Knox

Knox writes to his wife from Fort Scott in Virginia. Expresses deep love for her. Comments "It will be a source of great gratification for me to know that we have done our share towards preserving the Union and Liberties of our country." Inquires about the baby and requests a lock of her hair. Asks when the baby will be baptized. Reports he is officer of the day and they will start for Fort Richardson. Complains about fleas. Says Confederate General Robert E. Lee is so badly defeated, the rebels will not be able to recover. Letter has a Union logo on it.

GLC03523.20.08

25 April 1864

Knox, Andrew, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Knox

Knox writes to his wife from Fort Scott in Virginia. Reports he took the company to Fort Ward for a very severe brigade review and inspection. Expresses deep love for her. Expects to move to the front as artillery. Reports Union General Ambrose Burnside passed by their fort with nearly 40,000 men who are camped all around them. States he is being asked to give up his bed for the night for a sick General. Informs he was officer of the day. .

GLC03523.20.09

11 July 1864

Knox, Andrew, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Knox

Knox writes to his wife from camp outside Petersburg, Virginia. Inquires about the shirt and socks she sent him. Informs her the gun he fires into Petersburg is called the Petersburg Express and takes fourteen seconds to reach its target. Mentions his regiment reports directly to Union General Ulysses S. Grant. States he is along the Appomattox River. Comments Union General Ambrose Burnside is there with the 9th Corps.

GLC03523.20.11

19 July 1864

Knox, Andrew, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Knox

Knox writes to his wife from camp outside Petersburg, Virginia. Expresses how down-hearted and lonesome he feels. Reports heavy artillery on the picket lines, even at night. Informs her they will use new thirteen inch mortar shells that weigh 200 pounds each instead of the Petersburg Express. Writes about the death of their young child and his belief that she was too good for this earth. Letter includes a brief postscript written the following morning.

GLC03523.20.12

25 July 1864

Knox, Andrew, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Knox

Knox writes to his wife from camp outside Petersburg, Virginia. Complains about the lack of letters from her and expresses his deep need to receive word from her. Requests the New York papers be sent to him. Says he is extremely lonely and camp conditions are miserable, with cold, wind and rain. Reports a new man was wounded by a piece of shell. Asks for stamps and envelopes.

GLC03523.20.13

27 July 1864

Knox, Andrew, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Knox

Knox writes to his wife from camp outside Petersburg, Virginia. Complains about the lack of letters from her. Expresses anxiety about her well-being. Suspects the siege has not begun yet. States he is not kept busy enough, and they cannot get the rebels to fire a shell at their battery. Claims he has never missed her more. Reports he has a severe cold. Mentions two men in the company died of typhoid fever. Letter continues on 28 July 1864. Says the rebels opened fire and he had to return fire for two hours which silenced them.

GLC03523.20.14

11 August 1864

Knox, Andrew, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Knox

Knox writes to his wife from Spring Hill, Virginia. Worries about her lack of letters and wonders if her health is compromised. Expresses desire to "...enjoy each others society again..." Mentions he will be exempt from any future drafts unlike "...others who have neglected their plain duty in this war." Refers to the explosion at Civil Point, Virginia, Union General Ulysses S. Grant's headquarters next to the James River. Expresses relief he was not nearby at the time.

GLC03523.20.15

14 September 1864

Knox, Andrew, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Knox

Knox writes to his wife from a camp outside Petersburg, Virginia. Reports eight shells were fired into Petersburg last night. Expresses happiness at receiving three letters from her. Complains of the cold weather and sleeping outside. Comments on the large number of men from Danbury, Connecticut who have enlisted and expresses his wish they would join his regiment. Discusses several rumors regarding the discharge date for officers. Informs he will stay until March 1865 due to his sense of duty. Feels he will be offered a promotion to Captain, but will decline as he wants to get home to her.…

GLC03523.20.17

21 September 1864

Knox, Andrew, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Knox

Knox writes to his wife from a camp outside Petersburg, Virginia. Expresses deep love for her and gratitude for her support of the war. Predicts success for the Union is imminent. Refers to Union control of the Weldon Railroad in Petersburg, Virginia and the capture of Mobile, Alabama. Mentions a grand salute with large mortars in honor of these victories.

GLC03523.20.18

18 August 1862

Knox, Andrew, 1835-?

Autograph letter

Title: to Sarah Knox

Knox writes to his wife from Harrison's Landing. Complains about her scarce letters and wonders if it is because she is sick. Expresses anger about nephew George F. Knox enlisting because so many men are dying daily. Recommends George tries to get out of the company he is assigned to because it is comprised of inexperienced young boys. Requests the name of the man who enlisted George and informs he will write to him. Reports he will be moving onto Fredericksburg or Washington, D.C. soon.

GLC03523.20.05

29 April 1861

Knox, Andrew, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Knox

Knox writes to his wife from the trenches at Yorktown. Reports he has been sick for three days due to the constant rain. Expresses appreciation for her constant love in his absence. Mentions the enemy's fort at Gloucester point and constant shelling. Encloses a "specimen" of Southern money. Asks if she received the forty dollars he sent by express.

GLC03523.20.01

14 July 1861

Knox, Andrew, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Knox

Knox writes to his wife from Camp McDowell. Reports he's had a terrible tooth-ache and has not been able to sleep for four days. Complains of constant rain. Mentions rumors they are heading to Fairfax. States they have orders for a long march and can carry only their blankets and three days provisions. Comments there are 70,000 union troops along the York river.

GLC03523.20.02

19 July 1861

Knox, Andrew, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Knox

Knox writes to his wife from a battle field three miles outside Manassas Junction. Describes in detail a fierce battle that lasted five hours and resulted in 60 killed or wounded soldiers. Expects another large battle soon.

GLC03523.20.03

6 August 1862

Knox, Andrew, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Knox

Knox writes to his wife from Harrison's Landing. Expresses concern for her health. Inquires how the new baby is doing. Mentions he sent her ten dollars. States he is watching for Rebel gunboats. Expects to move on to Malvern Hill soon. Complains of the heat and mosquitoes. Refers to a talk he had with Union General George McClellan "...about the niggers that were marching for us."

GLC03523.20.04

10 September 1864

Knox, Andrew, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Knox

A Union lieutenant in the 1st Connecticut Artillery offers his opinion of McClellan's presidential campaign. " ... Gen. Mc Clellan's election, on the platform of the late convention I do not think he stands any sight whatever. It is decidedly a peace platform. I doubt if he will get many votes from the soldiers ... In fact I hear many soldiers already denouncing him ... Perhaps if he would come out with a strong war acceptance these things may be changed ... I think the majority of the soldiers are for Lincoln." Also discusses everyday things like what he has been eating; codfish,…

GLC03523.20.16

24 September 1864

Knox, Andrew, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Knox

Knox writes to his wife from a camp outside Petersburg, Virginia. Reports receipt of her letters and the joy they bring him. Says he destroys her letters after reading them several times because "I do not wish anyone but myself to read them." Refers to the success of Union General Philip Sheridan. Informs he was ordered to appear for an examination for promotion which he declined in writing because of his longing to return to her as soon as possible, and not be mustered into service for an additional three years. States quite a lot of officers have done the same. Comments he is in a safe…

GLC03523.20.19

16 October 1864

Knox, Andrew, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Knox

Knox writes to his wife from a camp outside Petersburg, Virginia. Says her letters help the tediousness of war. Reports the city of Petersburg is plainly visible and "...I heard the church bells ringing from there, this morning, the same as if nothing like war was going on around it..." States the churches are targets and they can see eight from their position. Mentions they offered him a promotion to Captain if he consents to be mustered into service for an additional six months, which he refused. Says there is a strong desire to keep all officers in the regiment. Letter has a small hole on…

GLC03523.20.20

12 November 1864

Knox, Andrew, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Knox

Knox writes to his wife from a camp outside Petersburg, Virginia. Expresses deep love and longing for her. Comments how much he misses her kisses and dancing with her. Reports he has not seen a lady in six months except on the streets of Petersburg through a "glass." Discusses when he should return home after being mustered out on 12 March 1865. Complains he has no blankets, socks or proper fitting shirts. Comments on President Abraham Lincoln's re-election and the demise of the Democratic party.

GLC03523.20.21

28 November 1864

Knox, Andrew, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Knox

Knox writes to his wife from a camp outside Petersburg, Virginia. Reports he has put out a "shingle" that reads "...shirts repaired wholesale and retailed,"and opened a shirt business. Says he repaired a neckband and a wristband and it took him three hours to do it. Mentions considerable artillery firing on their lines the past four days. Complains the rebels have drove in the picket lines.

GLC03523.20.22

9 January 1865

Knox, Andrew, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Knox

Knox writes to his wife from a camp outside Petersburg, Virginia. Tells her not to send anymore shirts, he will buy government shirts and stockings even though they are not as good as hers. States there is plenty of good whiskey available to them for two dollars seventy five cents per gallon. Writes about a visit with his "...coloured servant William..." Says they discussed religion and William is "...a modle of a Christian man." Mentions a possible move to Wilmington, Virginia. Informs of constant shelling and dangerous conditions.

GLC03523.20.23