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1 October 1862
Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918
To his wife
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
6 April 1802
[Indictment of Sancho in the Easter Plot]
One document dated 1802. Item is an indictment of Sancho written by John B. Scott, Deputy Attorney for the Commonwealth in a court of Oyer and Terminer. Sancho is identified as Black man enslaved by John Booker. Document details that he has been...
GLC06338.04
[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
18 April 1802
Spragins, Mel, fl. 1802-1819
[Warrant to the Halifax County jailer to hold three slaves convicted of participating in the Easter Plot]
Spragins orders the Halifax County jail keeper to receive into custody "the body of" Absolam, belonging to John Hillard (in GLC 6336.01 "Absalum" belonging to John "Hilyard"), Bob, belonging to Peter Barksdale, and Martin, belonging to Henry Bass....
GLC06338.07
17 April 1802
[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
[Warrant to the jailer of Halifax County to receive Abram, a slave, into custody until 23 April]
Spragins and Dejurnatt order the Halifax County jail keeper to receive into custody "Abram a Negro Man Slave the property of William Smith...he being a Witness in behalf of the Commonwealth" against Sanc[h]o, Frank, Jim and Phebey. A note at bottom...
GLC06338.09
[Warrant to the Halifax County jailer to receive the slaves Sancho, Frank, Jim, and Phebey into custody]
Spragins orders the Halifax County jail keeper to receive into custody "the body of Sancho a man slave now in the possession of Richard Booker of the s[ai]d County and said to be the property of John Booker of Amelia County Frank a negro man slave...
GLC06338.10
[Writ of summons for the sheriff to call county justices for a trial of the slaves Bob, Absalum, and Martin]
Writ of summons, signed by Spragins, Ordering the county sheriff to summon justices for a 26 April trial of "Bob a Negro Man Slave the property of Peter Barksdale, Absalum a Negro Man Slave belonging to the Esta. of John Hilyard, Martin a Negroe Man...
GLC06338.11
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