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1 May 1862
Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918
To his wife
Mails, frying (and living-off) doughnuts, payday early because the Colonel has "the best brandy of any regiment." Written at Camp Dickinson.
GLC04558.021
3 May 1862
Clothing, trimming his hair, shell-collecting, "I hope that McClellan will bag the whole nest of rebels at Yorktown...." Describes how he drills with equipment and mentions a Burnside order "directing us to inscribe on our colors the words Camden...
GLC04558.022
15 May 1862
Soldiers leaving on furlough, one of whom "told us that the Dickinson Guards might kiss his [drawing of donkey]...." Describes men pretending sickness to avoid drill, salute for capture of New Orleans. "You must excuse the looks of this sheet for I...
GLC04558.023
17 May 1862
Mail call and man's epileptic seizure, rumor of Richmond's capture, news accounts of battle at Camden.
GLC04558.024
30 May 1862
Farm work (neighbors helped put-in crops), more rumors of Richmond's capture, drills, call for 100,000 men: "I think that the best way to end the concern [of enough men] would be to enlist and arm the contrabands for all the darkeys I have talked...
GLC04558.025
2 June 1862
Home affairs: children, horses, business deals. Food: "We have plenty of salt pork, bacon, and beef there has been a lot of fat cattle brought here which they butcher so as to have fresh beef twice a week.... We get a kind of conglomerated...
GLC04558.026
14 June 1862
Short letter about going to hospital with diarrhea. Top of the letter is torn.
GLC04558.027
28 June 1862
Shock at daughter Lucy's death, sick in hospital.
GLC04558.028
2 July 1862
Left behind in hospital by regiment which is going to Newburn, unable to get furlough. Written at Camp Dickinson
GLC04558.029
9 July 1862
Still in hospital, regiment to go to Richmond, concerned about haying season at the farm, worries over children's severe illness: "Save them if it costs the farm and all the rest.
GLC04558.030
16 July 1862
Still in hospital, Regiment at Norfolk. Mail, picking whortle berries, wishing he could help on the farm, different tent styles. "There are about three hundred Contrabands sent from this island the other day to Newburn to go to school."
GLC04558.031
19 July 1862
Still in hospital. Family: "...how I do wish Dear Lib that I was at home to share your troubles, anxiety, sorrows, and to relieve you in some of your phisical [sic] labors.... How I tremble to think how near Georgiana also had been to the brink of...
GLC04558.032
24 July 1862
Discharged from hospital previous day. Waiting for regiment at Norfolk and their speedy mail service, dreamed of seeing family except Lucy.
GLC04558.033
Laying around, regiment ordered from Newport News to Richmond, problems with fleas. Discusses rations from Uncle Sam and NC peddlers: "that come from main land in boats. There is sometimes as many as ten or a dozen here in a day and some of them...
GLC04558.034
7 August 1862
Voyage to Virginia, joining Pope's division. Written in Aquia Creek, Virginia, located in Stafford County.
GLC04558.035
8 August 1862
Re-joining regiment, likes camp. "Scouting parties are sent out every day who frequently have scermishes with parties of the enemy and unless the rebels play their scadaddle game their [sic] will soon be bloody work done." Expects to leave, but...
GLC04558.036
11 August 1862
Addressed "Dear Elizabeth". Still at Fredericksburg but things are packed. Trying to get rid of extra clothing, still feels weak. Nurses and women's work: "Tell Mrs Rosa that if she feels so bad she had better enlist herself, as a nurse. I...
GLC04558.037
19 August 1862
Second time on picket duty, contacts with rebel troops, relations with rebel farmer whose animals have been stolen, reading of a general order prohibiting theft, desertions listed, men re-enlisting, advice on farm, home and family to wife.
GLC04558.038
22 August 1862
Ailment of another soldier, Dan, and his own visit to doctor about lameness and soreness (given an emetic). Hears artillery in distance but expects to continue guard duty. Letter continued on August 23rd.
GLC04558.039
26 August 1862
Signed "your affectionate Husband" and addressed to "Mrs. A.E. Tillotson." Joking to his wife at how quickly haying was done on the farm: "I suppose that that fifth hand with petticoats on is what drove business, dont you think so?" Diarrhea...
GLC04558.040
2 September 1862
Called-out to repel rebels but "divel a one did we see at all." Evacuation of Fredericksburg camps, destroying bridges, foundry and machine shop; "most of us would have liked to have seen the whole of the city on fire, but then that was rebels...
GLC04558.041
24 September 1862
to his wife
Holding themselves in readiness, rumors on Burnside, McClellan. "We have just got news that the president has issued a proclamation freeing all the slaves on the first of January. It may be for the best but stil my hopes (if I had any) of a speedy...
GLC04558.044
1 October 1862
Ordered to act as Sergeant (from Corp.) and arresting two deserters who returned. Reconnaissance balloons report rebels digging rifle pits 10 miles to the south.
GLC04558.045
6 October 1862
Complains of no letters received, diarrhea, reviewed by Pres. Lincoln, officers resigning, wishes for Sibley tents so he can be warmer. Written on patriotic stationery.
GLC04558.046
9 October 1862
five miles from Harpers Ferry. Farm business, complains of food. "I am pretty weak from the diarea I weigh only 136 lbs."
GLC04558.047
14 October 1862
Soldiers talking about enlisting in regular service for $50 bounty and 40 day furlough but Tillitson says he will stick to his three-year enlistment. "Dont know but I could afford to loose a leg for the sake of going home but it would be rather a...
GLC04558.048
17 October 1862
More diarrhea "about all I eat is parched corn or a little grated meal made into pudding...." asks for money, mentions recruiting by other soldiers, reports battle across the river, troops held in readiness. the letter is continued on October 18th.
GLC04558.049
24 October 1862
Feeling better, wishing he could help his wife with farm-work, speculating about McClellan's intentions. "...I dont feel as patriotic as I did, Maybe, because I have lost confidence in most of the head officers, for I dont believe they want the war...
GLC04558.050
30 October 1862
Marching towards Leesburgh, describes confiscations despite guards, loss of mattress, "Rebels scadaddleing towards Richmond."
GLC04558.051
1 November 1862
On premises of Rebel Gen. Wright who is home as paroled prisoner. Expecting battle, mentioning enlisted soldiers.
GLC04558.052
9 November 1862
Marching. Near the Rappahannock and approaching Fredericksburg. Mentions artillery fighting, and long discussion of stealing from Confederate civilians: "Notwithstanding all the orders to the contrary, we soldiers dont considder [sic] it much sin...
GLC04558.053
19 November 1862
Written in pencil while on guard duty. Marching, Burnsides sending flag of truce to civilians telling them to leave, farm business.
GLC04558.054
23 November 1862
Rainy weather, rebels hold city, rebel pickets taunting about election, Bull Run and Antietam; Colonel courtmartialed twice for drunkenness but cleared, Colonel and regiment's surgeon trying to get regiment out of battle area, soldiers mutilating...
GLC04558.055
28 November 1862
Interrupted by orders and drills. Reports rebels fortifying heights beyond Fredericksburg, believes they are equal or superior in numbers, re-building the same depot as done last year, comment about blacks riding the railroad while soldier walk...
GLC04558.056
5 December 1862
Raining, rising price of food and living on "Uncle Sam's hard-tack, soldiers deserting and noting the carelessness of guards, asking for express package. Letter is continued on December 6th.
GLC04558.057
8 December 1862
Money sent to wife, difficulty of collecting debts from other soldiers, mentions pursuit of deserters.
GLC04558.058
20 December 1862
Damaged at top left. With pencil note in margin p.1 enclosing "secesh" belt buckle for Georgiana. Trying to stay warm, describes previous week eating well in the town: "If you ever see a city rocked to pieces it is Fredericksburgh." Briefly...
GLC04558.059
1 January 1863
Continued January 3 ["Dec."]. Written in pencil. Increasing strictness of the colonel for infractions, mentions that soldier mutilating himself (cutting off thumb) was court-martialed and sentenced to hard labor and half-pay for rest of service...
GLC04558.060
9 January 1863
Drilling, describes detail work for loading supplies, size of regiment: 13 discharged, 10 deserted, 2 died,2 killed in battle and 26 absent. Punishments for deserters described, jokes about needing a drum to organize his life when he returns home...
GLC04558.061
13 January 1863
Sending photograph to wife "one of the crossest sourest looking fellows imagineable." Regarding the war effort: "If they make any offensive movement here I dont know what it will be unless 'On to Richmond' and the General that undertakes that will...
GLC04558.062
20 February 1822
Peirce, Levi, 1773-1847
to Aaron Hobart
Seeks to have Hobart prevent the efforts of Zacheriah Eddy, "the worst kind of Federalist we have in this town," to get a money-losing post office in his neighborhood.
GLC06313.04.157
25 February 1822
Watson, George, fl. 1822
Describes a visit to Massachusetts, a planned visit to Maine with the possibility of sleighing, and gives news of family and mutual friends.
GLC06313.04.160
26 February 1822
Seeks advice about his liability in a local matter in which he was bondsman for a tax collector. Asks about specific charges he might be liable for.
GLC06313.04.162
Sampson, Zabdiel, 1781-1828
Discusses the upcoming selection of candidates for state senate. Discusses the suggestion that Sampson's salary (as district Collector) be abolished and thanks Hobart for being against it. Comments on the bill (with the salary provision) and its...
GLC06313.04.163
1802
Scott, John B., 1761-1814
[Indictment of Absalum in the Easter Plot]
Indictment of Absalum by Scott as Deputy Attorney for the Commonwealth in a court of Oyer and Terminer. Absalum, "a negro man slave of the estate of John Hilyard," is charged with conspiring to create an insurrection and plotting murder on 14 April...
GLC06338.01
[Indictment of Frank in the Easter Plot]
Indictment of Frank by Scott as Deputy Attorney for the Commonwealth in a court of Oyer and Terminer. Frank, "a negro man slave the property of Archer Robertson," is charged with conspiring to create an insurrection and plotting murder on 10 April...
GLC06338.02
[Indictment of Phiby in the Easter Plot]
One document dated 1802. Item is an indictment of Phiby written by John B. Scott, Deputy Attorney for the Commonwealth in a court of Oyer and Terminer. Phiby is identified as Black woman enslaved by Daniel Price. Document details that she has been...
GLC06338.03
[Indictment of Jim in the Easter Plot]
Indictment of Jim by Scott as Deputy Attorney for the Commonwealth in a court of Oyer and Terminer. Jim, "a negro man slave the property of James Booker," is charged with conspiring to create an insurrection and plotting murder on 6 April 1802....
GLC06338.05
[Indictment of Abram in the Easter Plot]
Indictment of Abram by Scott as Deputy Attorney for the Commonwealth in a court of Oyer and Terminer. Abram, "a negro man slave the property of William Smith," is charged with conspiring to create an insurrection and plotting murder on [7 ?] March...
GLC06338.06
17 April 1802
Spragins, Mel, fl. 1802-1819
[Writ of summons for the sheriff of Halifax County to summon county justices for a trial of slaves involved in the Easter Plot]
Writ of summons signed by Spragins and Dejurnatt (some ancestral records cite "Dejarnett," among various other spellings). Ordering the county sheriff to summon justices for a 23 April trial of "Sanco [Sancho] a Negro Man Slave now in possession of...
GLC06338.08
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