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to cousin [Lydia A. Bishoff]

Sam is still in Oakland, and does not know how soon he will be called to take the line of march, although he is going to get his arms this week. He describes the health of a few members of his company, and asks how his mother is doing back home. He...

GLC03523.40.04

to cousin [Lydia A. Bishoff]

Foglesong is sick. He says he does not fear his past, but he admits that now is the first time he has cared about getting home. Foglesong describes the condition of various friends from home, including Dan Swisher (who is well again). Foglesong...

GLC03523.40.05

to sister [Lydia A. Bishoff]

Swisher reports that he has the measles, and is still in the hospital in the city. He expects to go to camp in a week or ten days. Swisher is sorry to hear that his [brother] Jim has fallen ill. Swisher tells Bishoff that he is also sorry to hear...

GLC03523.40.06

to sister [Lydia A. Bishoff]

Swisher describes his surprise upon receiving his most recent letter from Bishoff. He had not heard from Bishoff for a long time, and had resolved not to write until he did hear from her. He now understands Bishoff's reason for not writing: she was...

GLC03523.40.07

to cousin [Lydia A. Bishoff]

Foglesong informs Bishoff that he arrived at Sleepy Creek Station, and from there, traveled to Martinsburgh yesterday evening. He and his fellow troops received new guns. According to Foglesong, a dispute is underway between the officers and some...

GLC03523.40.08

to brother and sister

The author writes that he expects to leave Winchester on the following Friday to go to 70 or 80 miles South to Gordonsville. He reports that there are currently only nine companies of his regiment still in Winchester, as six of the companies left...

GLC03523.40.09

to sister [Lydia A. Bishoff]

Swisher reports that since the last time he wrote, there has been a "Considerate Skirmish" and that the "3rd and 4th of July Did not go off as nice as it did Last year." On the 4th of July, Swisher's regiment suffered one casualty and three wounded...

GLC03523.40.11

to cousin [Lydia A. Bishoff]

Foglesong received Bishoff's letter on the 22nd, and currently has orders to take transports somewhere at a moment's warning (some think to North Carolina, others believe to New Orleans). Foglesong's Brigade is an Independent Brigade, and consists...

GLC03523.40.12

to sister [Lydia A. Bishoff]

Swisher tells Bishoff of the great battle that took place on the 14th of September. His Regiment was in the fight and was "Terribly cut to pieces Taking in to The fight 340 and Brought out 200. getting 112. wounded. and 28 Killed." There were three...

GLC03523.40.14

to [Lydia A. Bishoff]

[written on stationery with the poem "The Girl I Left Behind"] Shafer tells Bishoff he was sorry to hear that she was mad about not being able to go to town, but he expects it has quit raining by now. He adds that he would be glad for some rain...

GLC03523.40.15

to cousin [Lydia A. Bishoff]

Heckert came to Oakhill last Thursday evening and joined his regiment which had arrived there 3 weeks before. The regiment had a hard time getting there from Cumberland Gap. The men were for 13 days without any rations except what corn they could...

GLC03523.40.16

to sister [Lydia A. Bishoff]

Swisher traveled towards Winchester to follow the Rebel army. They wiped them out of Charlestown and came back to camp again. He is tired by hard marching in the rain. Swisher tells Bishoff he would come home if he could, but he can't. He then...

GLC03523.40.17

to [Lydia A. Bishoff]

Shafer reports that times are fine at present, for the men can go anywhere that they please inside of the pickets which are placed 2-3 miles from camp. But there are not as many apples and cakes and pies as they had previously at Camp Willey. Also...

GLC03523.40.18

to sister [Lydia A. Bishoff]

Swisher tells Bishoff he has undertaken a long, fatiguing march since he last wrote. He is now 22 miles south of Manassas Junction in camp until his regiment receives some clothes. He believes that his regiment will then take up the march for the...

GLC03523.40.19

to John Bishoff Jr.

Swisher has set up a house which has a fire place that he can use to cook. He suspects Bishoff has already heard about the battle of Fredericksburg, so he will not bother to give him all the particulars. His regiment fought for two days with...

GLC03523.40.20

to sister [Lydia A. Bishoff]

Swisher plans to send Bishoff a valentine [see # 32 for text of the valentine].

GLC03523.40.21

to Lydia A. Bishoff

He arrived safely at 11 o'clock. He wishes he were home to have a talk with Nelly, and wants Bishoff to tell Elenor Heckert that John Deets arrived safely, but has to go on guard tomorrow. He heard that they caught the horse thief at home and would...

GLC03523.40.22

to Lydia A. Bishoff

He got his likeness taken and intends to send it to Bishoff the first chance he gets. But he tells her not to get "Scarred when you se it for it is ugly Enough to Scare the Devill out of his shoes." Swisher suggests that Bishoff hang the likeness up...

GLC03523.40.23

to Lydia A. Bishoff

There has been some confusion over delayed receipt of letters. Even though Bishoff wrote Shafer twice, he only received one letter (in February). He thought she had forgotten her "best friends that are absent from home." Regardless, Shafer promises...

GLC03523.40.24

to Lydia A. Bishoff

Swisher tells Bishoff he supposes the man she loves is Major [David] Stemple [Jr.] He says that if she marries him, he will make her a happy home as he is well-off and a man of principle. But he reminds Bishoff that she is a young woman while Major...

GLC03523.40.25

[request for Reynolds to report to Adjutant General's office]

Reynolds has passed an examination before the board and should report to the Adjutant General's office for instructions. Docket: 1/1/1867 Noting amount of money reimbursed to Reynolds for his trip to New Orleans and then to New Orleans.

GLC03614.02.10

Special Orders No. 1

Special Orders, No. 1. Assigned command of the Sib-District of the Rio Grande. Docket indicates mileage paid from New Orleans, Louisiana to Galveston, Texas.

GLC03614.02.12

[Reynolds to take command of the sub-district of the Rio Grande]

Orders Major General J.J. Reynolds to take command of the "Sub-District of the Rio Grande, relieving Bv't Brigadier Lewis G. Brown, Col. 177th U. S. C. Troops."

GLC03614.02.13

to Joseph J. Reynolds

He jokes that Reynolds must be in a healthy climate judging by the weight of the ladies. He also discusses various improvements to the city including a railroad and a penitentiary.

GLC03614.02.16

A Topographical Description of Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland and North Carolina, Comprehending the Rivers...

"A Topographical Description of Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland and North Carolina, Comprehending the Rivers Ohio, Kenhawa, Sioto, Cherokee, Wabash, Illinois, Mississippi, ect. The Climate, Soil and Produce, Whether Animal, Vegetable, or Mineral...

GLC03638.01

to mother

to mother [Ann Smith] His life at camp is "quiet," and the troops are making their own fun by stealing beer from the sutler's tent. He was surprised when he saw in a paper that Corporal Asa Smith from Indiana was injured, but "was pleased to know...

GLC03696.01

to mother

to mother [Ann Smith] A "spasm" occurred involving an attack on a Union foraging party, causing orders to be prepared to leave. He describes the arrival of troops, arms, and ships, noting those ships from Massachusetts. He tells of a letter he...

GLC03696.02

to father

to father [Ebeniser Smith] the possibility of his regiment moving from Camp Cameron either on that day or the next. He says they will probably move by land, not steamer, but is unsure where they were going. Written at Camp Cameron.

GLC03696.03

to mother

to mother [Ann Smith] He notes the arrival of three regiments, saying that it appears there is going to be a fight and implying that Yorktown will be hurt by the Union's forces. He describes how troops from Delaware caught a Confederate soldier, and...

GLC03696.04

to mother

to mother [Ann Smith] Life in camp is dull. The regiment has a new lieutenant. His company is very good at drilling, and they are practicing under Col. Max Weber from Europe. The brigade practiced firing, and he says "there is music in the whistle...

GLC03696.05

to sister

He writes that he heard southern regiments mutinied by Norfolk when they were not allowed to go to the defense of their states and said they would only fight under "the stars and stripes." A hard-of-hearing Union sergeant was accidentally shot by his...

GLC03696.06

to mother

to mother [Ann Smith] Companies A, C, and D marched to Newport News and saw white flags in house windows and a house on fire. The "great expedition" sailed, and he saw it in the paper and in person. Yesterday [October 30] there was a grand review...

GLC03696.07

to mother

to mother [Ann Smith] He is bored, as "There is nothing stirring here now, it is the dullest time that I have seen since I have been here," and talks about a recent storm and requests a blanket be sent to him. The regiment may soon receive a Sibley...

GLC03696.08

to mother

to mother [Ann Smith] He thanks his mother for the food she sent. His regiment may move forward soon, and he hopes the Pennsylvanian troops are not put on picket duty as they are incompetent: "The soldiers of the 16th fear them more than they do the...

GLC03696.09

to sister

to sister He says there is nothing new to report except the arrival of more troops. One of the soldiers in Company C deserted and will either run to the "secesh camp" or be shot if he returns. He praises Colonel Wyman for his character, saying
"for...

GLC03696.10

to mother

to mother [Ann Smith] The men took up a collection to replace the twenty-three dollars he lost, and he says, "It came unexpected but was welcome and shows a good feeling towards me that pleases me much." He sent fifteen dollars home to avoid losing...

GLC03696.11

to mother

to mother [Ann Smith] He is feeling better now and his shakes are gone. The "mounted rifles" [cavalry] have arrived, and brought a "secesh" with them. Another squad of cavalry had a skirmish with 150 rebels and was overpowered. Eventually the...

GLC03696.12

to mother

to mother [Ann Smith] The regiment has received orders, and will probably soon be moving to Richmond. He was unable to break the bill from home. The Union boys "played some rough games on the ignorant Secesh, in the matter of money," using wrappers...

GLC03696.13

to mother

to mother [Ann Smith] He received a letter from the clerk of Victor, and sends it on to other men. The troops have left Camp Huger and marched to the fairgrounds. He has the shakes. The mayor of the town has given up his keys, and the Union military...

GLC03696.14

to mother

to mother [Ann Smith] The regiment is now under the command of General McClellan. General Wool has stepped down. He says Wool was starting to show his age. They have no orders to go yet, but it seems to be coming soon. Col. [Peirce] is a "disgrace to...

GLC03696.15

to Lydia A. Bishoff

Times are dull and lonesome, and Swisher has not received any news from home for the past two months. His regiment has continually been on the march, and has not stopped long enough for him to write a letter. He would like to know how Bishoff is...

GLC03523.40.27

to Lydia A. Bishoff

He would like to know how Bishoff and the "Old major" are getting along, and he would like to be informed when they get married. There are about 100 sick soldiers in the hospital. The Colonel has moved his headquarters to Rowlsburg and there are...

GLC03523.40.26

to Lydia A. Bishoff

He had a difficult time at St. George and "traveled like the Devil" until arriving at Rowlsburg. He wants Bishoff to tell Dan to come down and visit if he comes home, and he asks how everyone is getting along at the mill. Swisher mentions some...

GLC03523.40.28

Lines to my Husband

The poem describes the feelings of a wife as she contemplates being replaced by another after her death. "The love which once I called my own/To her will then be given," Bishoff writes, later describing how "My children will then be taught/ To call...

GLC03523.40.29

Young Sandy the Sailor

The poem describes the story of a sailor who dies at sea, and who is attempting to console his loved one, telling her that, "The storm is past and I'm at rest/ So mary weep nomore for me."

GLC03523.40.30

The Copperhead Song

The poem describes "the southern copper head/It's head is big its heart is black/In treacherous deeds there will nothing lack." The author discusses the possibility of "desert[ing] this glorious union cause and join[ing] the rebel side," but...

GLC03523.40.31

to James R.Y. Fendall

Encourages his son to come home to rest and discuss plans for the future, rather than stay in Mississippi, which will take some time to recover economically after the end of the war.

GLC03135.11.02

to James R.Y. Fendall

Reiterates his desire for his son to return to Washington, D.C., and promises to consider his son's suggestions regarding employment. Also provides information on property belonging to James's aunt.

GLC03135.11.03

to James R.Y. Fendall

In an addendum to his earlier letter of the same date (see GLC03135.11.03). Discusses a packet of letters he is trying to send to various political figures in Mississippi, including Governor William L. Sharkey.

GLC03135.11.04

to James R.Y. Fendall

Discusses the possibility of James taking an appointment with the Post Office in New Orleans, but mentions that he would have to take an oath of allegiance to the United States, as recently mandated by Congress. Also mentions the provisional...

GLC03135.11.06