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16 June 1864
Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918
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
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...
GLC04558.142
26 June 1864
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
Faint; written in pencil. Charging a confederate line; advice to his wife about breeding a horse.
GLC04558.144
4 July 1864
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
June 28, 1864
Tillotson, Georgiana, fl. 1856-1920
To her father George Tillotson
Writes that she can't write very well yet as she has only been practicing for about four weeks. Describes her studies at school and wishes her father were home.
GLC04558.145.01
To his daughter Georgiana Tillotson
Compliments Georgiana on her writing and thanks her for the letter. Encourages her to keep practicing her lessons: "If . . . you wish to improve in any thing, always strive to do what you do do , well."
GLC04558.145.02
9 July 1864
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...
GLC04558.146
16 July 1864
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
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...
GLC04558.148
24 July 1864
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...
GLC04558.149
29 July 1864
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...
GLC04558.150
31 July 1864
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."...
GLC04558.151
5 August 1864
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...
GLC04558.152
9 August 1864
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
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...
GLC04558.154.01
Writes that she has been sick and therefore unable to write. Updates her father on family members and wishes that her father were home.
GLC04558.154.02
15 August 1864
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...
GLC04558.155
18 August 1864
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...
GLC04558.156
23 August 1864
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...
GLC04558.157
28 August 1864
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
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...
GLC04558.159
9 September 1864
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...
GLC04558.160
16 September 1864
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...
GLC04558.161
21 September 1864
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
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