4 October 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Received pile of mail, including a letter from Edwin and Mary [abolitionist relations] which "didn't set very well on my stomach." Health of other soldiers; comments that Charleston probably will not fall right away. News reports of Rosecrans and Burnside worry him.

GLC04558.117

11 October 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Notes that it is his tenth wedding anniversary and writes that the thought of her distance and the time remaining cause "a choaking sensation" and tears. Says that he is the only man in Co. H with a family. Mentions slow siege of Charleston, health, selling his whiskey ration; recruiting officer sent away by commanding officer.

GLC04558.118

17 October 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Worry of "calamity" at home; hopes for discharge next April 1st; sarcastically mentions letter of 1st Lt. of 114th NYS Vols. (unidentified); discusses current rations and how only cooks make cook food; comments that the food always causes digestive problems.

GLC04558.119

22 October 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Cold. Cannot make mud chimneys because sand will not stick; other soldiers enlisting as cavalry, including Capt. Lewis (who did not get along with GWT). This letter is fully addressed "Mrs. A. Elizabeth Tillotson"

GLC04558.120

1 November 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Has a runny nose; the siege drags on and another assault scheduled that night for Fort Sumter; expects conscripts to arrive soon and receive weapons, "til then they are guarded closer than rebel prisoners would be."

GLC04558.121

8 November 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Describes picket duty on the north side of the island and how his thoughts roam. Expectations of assault on Fort Sumter. Promises to send Edwin's letter (mentioned in #117 and accompanies this item). He writes "Not that I have any objections to his advocating abolition but I dont acknowledge his right to 'jump to conclusions,' and call hard names. Would you? If I were to answer[,] it should to say the least have to tell him that a 'radical' of his stamp I have not found in the Union army, as yet, and that however plenty they may be in his section, they have'nt [sic] the courage, to come…

GLC04558.122.01

15 November 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

He has put on more weight; has gotten used to constant firing on Charleston; encloses a "greenback" for Dolly.

GLC04558.123

21 November 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Hopes for furlough; talks about presidential election "I dont suppose for a moment that any soldier would go home and vote a Copperhead ticket, and on the other hand, I wouldnt vote a republican ticket just merely because it was republican but I should most assuredly vote for the Union, and those that would maintain it, let the principle appear under any name whatsoever." Jokes about appearance.

GLC04558.124

4 December 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

News, other soldiers' furloughs; expects promotion; has daily, long drills; says he is cheered by news from the west.

GLC04558.126

12 December 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Writes that he enjoys good health; mentions seeing Gen. Gilmore riding "with a woman said to be his wife, but I will say I think him the best looking of the two." Mentions the special favors some Masons; receive; speculates on the destination of an expedition; expects to see fighting soon.

GLC04558.127

27 December 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

On furlough. Had hoped to surprise her by coming home, but must go to Albany. Still hopes to see her.

GLC04558.128

14 April 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Describes taking trains; expects to go to Folly Island.

GLC04558.129

19 April 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Unsure when he will leave; mentions visiting sights in New York City (Wood's minstrels, Barnum's Museum, theatre). Writes that Grant's name "got a tolerably good cheer (and I helped him on that) and then he got a good many hisses. But when McClellan's name came up he got a big cheer and then I helped hiss him, I did. But Fremonts couldnt get a single thing but hisses."

GLC04558.130

23 April 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Still in New York, unsure about where the regiment will go next. Weary of traveling. Longs to here from his wife.

GLC04558.131

8 May 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Describes leaving New York and traveling to Yorktown without his regiment, journeying back to West Point to join them, and then the trip to Virginia. Briefly mentions battle for a railroad and the unit's transferred to the "seige Corps."

GLC04558.132

11 May 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Describes skirmishes and battle near the railroad between Petersburg and Richmond, where "lots of the men were sunstruck." Has not been able to "draw money for rations and I don't know when we shall"; mentions a letter from Urial, a need for stamps and a lack of whole sheets of paper.

GLC04558.133

17 May 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Has not heard from his wife since he left New York. Lengthy decription of the back and forth fighting around Richmond and the heavy losses by both sides. Cross writing questions whether money sent from Elmira was received.

GLC04558.134

24 May 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Placed in command of a "post" along the James, GWT directs the defense of his troops as Confederates repeatedly attack from across a ravine. Also defends himself against rumors that he played games and drank at Parkers (in New York).

GLC04558.135

27 May 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Details the health of friends, including one who has measles, and acknowledges a pay raise. "This dearest is an awful campaign. Rivers of blood have already been shed but still the story is not half told yet."

GLC04558.136

2 June 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Describe marches and the break up of the brigade. Sends his wife his new address and cautions her not to work too hard.

GLC04558.137

6 June 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Writes news of the fighting at Cold Harbor and lists the fate of friends. "I take this opportunity of leting [sic] you know that I am still among the living, but still I have to acknowledge that life here at present is very uncertain."

GLC04558.138

9 June 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Still in the rifle pits at Cold Harbor. "On the 6th a flag of truce was sent out for the purpose of burying our dead that lay outside of our lines and began to smell so as to make it very disagreeable for us but the rebs would to allow it, the next day another was sent that was more sucessfull and upwards of two hundred were buried."

GLC04558.139

12 June 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Continued June 13. Written in pencil while on picket duty "in a hole about four feet square." Describes the loneliness of picket duty and the unexpected orders to pull out which came on the morning of the 13th, possibly to Bermuda Hundreds. Asks his wife to send him paper, envelopes and newspapers.

GLC04558.140

16 June 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Writing from a hospital after bullet hit GWT in the foot, bruising the foot and making him lame. Discusses Grants losses in the campaign and the defenses of Petersburg.

GLC04558.141

23 June 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Written in pencil. Cross written. Coming back from the hospital, finding many of his regiment wounded GWT takes his place in the trenches surrounding Petersburg. Describes life in the trenches, gives the number of wounded and killed for his regiment.

GLC04558.142