26 June 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Written in pencil. Camped less than a mile from the front. Observes that shells are more dangerous in the rear than at the front. Discusses events of past few days; wishes his foot had been wounded so he could get a furlough.

GLC04558.143

1 July 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Faint; written in pencil. Charging a confederate line; advice to his wife about breeding a horse.

GLC04558.144

4 July 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Written in pencil. Expresses disappointment that the fourth was not being "celebrated with more noise for it was rumored yesterday that at daylight this morning all of our batteries would open on Petersburg and the rebel fortifications."

GLC04558.145

9 July 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Evaluates the damage that different types of artillery shells (i.e. mortar and rifled cannon shot) create at various distances from the front line. Mentions troops rotations between lines, and farm business. Gives a current price for cotton cloth (75 cents a yard) and comments that bullies make cowardly soldiers. Written in a camp near Petersburg, Virginia

GLC04558.146

16 July 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Written on U.S. Christian Commission stationery. More discussion of artillery shelling and trenches; predicts a possible evacuation; worries over not having heard from his wife; better rations; illness. Written in a camp near Petersburg, Virginia

GLC04558.147

21 July 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Cross written. Receives letters from home. Wonderful description of night time artillery barrages, comparing them to fireworks. Also writes of tearing down rebel fortifications, rain in the trenches, and news of comrades.Written in a camp near Petersburg, Virginia

GLC04558.148

24 July 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Farm business, mainly the price of wool, leads into a discussion of the value of paper money versus gold. "You will probably notice that as gold goes up (and consequently paper down) that "prices" also "go up" so as just to keep pace with gold, so you see gold, and not paper is, and must be the basis." Hopes to get paid soon. Written in a camp near Petersburg, Virginia

GLC04558.149

29 July 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Advises his wife on how to cope with a long drought and offers some remedies for her illness. Details a letter from Louisa, encloses a recipe for condensed milk with a request for a sample. Still has not been paid. Written in a camp near Petersburg, Virginia

GLC04558.150

31 July 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Written in pencil with portions of pages 1-4 traced in a darker pencil. The explosion and charge on fort along the rebel line by Burnside's 9th Corps was at first rumored to be a great success although GWT noticed Grant "appeared a little troubled." Later, GWT learned that casualties for the 9th Corps was 6,000 killed wounded and missing. GWT blamed "the disaster of yesterday" on a brigade of "negroes [who] when charged on scadaddled without fireing a volley."

GLC04558.151

5 August 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

The discovery that rebels had mined some of the Union forts discouraged Burnside's plan to blow up additional rebel forts. Requests that his wife not publish his letters. "Maybe you wouldn't like to think that I had killed any body but I do know that I have hurt some of them."

GLC04558.152

9 August 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Discusses farm business, friends, camp news, and politics. "I may vote for "Old Abe" if on keeps on behaveing [sic] himself, and calls for 300000, or 500000, more occasionally between this and election.

GLC04558.153

11 August 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Warns his wife of a reoccurring dream in which he is taken prisoner and recounts occasions when his dreams have come true. Page 4 is addressed to his daughter "Dollie". Encourages her to improve herself. Tells her of the dangers of camp life. With accompanying letter from Dollie. [Georgiana - reference to # 145] Written near Petersburg, Virginia

GLC04558.154.01

15 August 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Thanks his wife for stamps and 50 cents. Assumed the duties of orderly after the previous orderly was mustered out. Describes preferential treatment he received due to his status as an orderly (orderlies were allowed to stay in camp when their regiments were sent to the trenches). Mentions movement on the north side of the James and other camp news. Written near Petersburg, Virginia

GLC04558.155

18 August 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

A flash flood prevented GWT from joining his regiment at the front and swept away many people's belongings. 40 bodies were found after the flood. One sutler offered a $3000 reward for the return of his cash box. After the regiment returned, their camp was moved to the position formerly occupied by the 9th Corps. Worried about Georgiana's health. Written near Petersburg, Virginia.

GLC04558.156

23 August 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Describes life in the trenches, including their proximity to the rebel line: "Every day our fellow[s] and the rebs are talking, and blackguarding, across, and yesterday one of Co. C's men went out half way and exchanged papers with them." Expects to be mustered out before he is mustered out.

GLC04558.157

28 August 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Relieved from the trenches by the 10th Corps. New camp is in wooded area; picket duty becomes fun; corporal arrested for exchanging papers with rebel pickets. Georgiana's illness continue.

GLC04558.158

4 September 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Continued on Sept. 6. Promoted to first sergeant, regiment moves to Fort Powhattan. Expresses his views on blacks. "I think you must have been delightfully entertained by the "darkies" to form so favorable an opinion of them. I declare you are getting to be as radical as our old Quarter Master used to be. He said he had rather his daughter would marry a negro than a white man. For My part sooner than come to that I would see the whole black rase [sic] exterminated. To be sure the negro is a human being and as such has a right to stay on the footstool, but the farther he gets from me the…

GLC04558.159

9 September 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Continued Sept. 10th. Cross written. Describes arrival at the Fort and Garrison duty. Fort is manned by "the 89th New York [GWT's regiment], one company of darkey cavalry, one company of heavy artillery, and a signal station." Relieved to hear the family was all well.

GLC04558.160

16 September 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

With discharge time drawing near, the letter centers on preparations for mustering out. New clothes issued. Col. Fairchilds wants the regiment to go to Elmira to do some recruiting. Relates news about Petersburg: rebel troops steal cattle; large numbers of troops heading toward Petersburg, GWT believes it is the 19th Army Corps.

GLC04558.161

21 September 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his wife

Farm advice; mustering out in one month's time. Politics: predicts Lincoln will win; eludes to soldiers support of Lincoln; Copperheads (democrats) are worse than sessionists. Has a cold. Written at Fort Powhatan .

GLC04558.162

25 September 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Cross written. Receives 10 months pay ($150) in "Green Backs": "four [months] of which I had drawn once before . . . . " Can not use the dollar his wife sent him because it is state money. Fever & ague strike the regiment; drawing clothes rations; expects to be mustered out on November 11th.

GLC04558.163

3 October 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Describes transfer from the fort to Chapins Farm and the action there including how he saved an officer. Long list of comrades killed, wounded and missing. Lost $130.

GLC04558.164

6 October 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

The mustering out of the 89th New York begins slowly. Officers will be mustered out with their companies. GWT declares he will not reenlist even for a captain's to colonel's commission.

GLC04558.165

10 October 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Begins making out discharge papers for Company H. GWT given command after Lieutenant is taken to hospital. Weather turns cold; camp news.

GLC04558.166

16 October 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Travels to Point of Rocks to make out Muster Out rolls and to the hospital to visit friends. Sent money to wife. Written on U.S. Christian Commission stationery.

GLC04558.167