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14 August 1862
Dewey, Orville S.
to his mother
The paymaster still hasn't been around, but his health is good, though he has been fatter in the past.
GLC02161.049
21 August 1862
to Mary "Mollie" McLean
He has been marching for four days. They have been on their way to Yorktown. But he was so tired he decided to go to Fort Monroe via a steamer. He has no idea what the army's final destination is.
GLC02161.050
Will is in the hospital and he is hoping he can get a leave because he will need lots of home care if he is to be fit for duty again. They leave for Newport News tonight. He is afraid the new movement will break the army up.
GLC02161.051
28 August 1862
Dewey, Orville S. (fl. 1862-1867)
There was a rumor that Smith's Division had been taken from the army of the Potomac and assigned to the central department. Four months ago they came to this same place with 780 men. Now they only have 400.
GLC02161.052
3 September 1862
Dewey, Orville S. (fl. 1862 -1 867)
They arrived in Bull Run only to find out they had been whipped. He lists the names of the officers that were wounded. He had a letter written to her which he tore up, for fear the Rebels would get it if he were wounded or killed.
GLC02161.053
6 September 1862
to his father
He is upset because he received a package from Adams Express in which everything was rotten. But he was able to salvage a few things.
GLC02161.054
7 September 1862
to William McLean
He tells a story in which a lot of soldiers and cavalry were standing around and someone asked, 'Where's Gen. Pope?' And someone else answered: 'In his headquarters.' Upon asking where his headquarters were, the reply was: 'In his saddle.'
GLC02161.055
11 September 1862
They are between the enemy and the river. Marching is very rough. The skin on his heels came off and he had to march the entire way in that condition.
GLC02161.056
16 September 1862
to mother
They have since passed through several cities and escaped the warm fire of artillery. There has been heavy firing in the direction of Harper's Ferry though he hears their side has surrendered at Harper's Ferry.
GLC02161.057
27 September 1862
He is very bitter towards the Buffalonians for their bias toward other regiments. It looks like many regiments will be consolidated since some have lost a considerable number of men. Some officers will be discharged and if he is one, he will not...
GLC02161.058
1 October 1862
Charley will be a lieutenant in a battery. He read in the paper that the government will allow three years men to fill up the 21st. But if he thinks they would stay any longer than that he is stupid. Even Gen. McClellan thinks they were held...
GLC02161.059
5 October 1862
They were reviewed by Lincoln on the third. Unfortunately, they've had to wear the same clothes since before Richmond. There is much description concerning their raggedy clothes.
GLC02161.060
10 October 1862
He tells his sister not to worry because his health is first-rate and he always tells her the truth. He discusses his pick for gubernatorial honors.
GLC02161.061
13 October 1862
No one is getting paid. Some of the men have no clothes and few tents. He assures his sister he will send some money the moment he is paid.
GLC02161.062
16 October 1862
to sister
He does not like how she phrased his current activities. She said he was 'on the retreat' which sounds like he ran away. He mentions the recent raid in Pennsylvania. He doesn't agree with the general's decisions there.
GLC02161.063
28 October 1862
He is glad Will got a promotion. He will be leaving the 49th and he is glad about that. A soldier named Hancock will have been court marshaled for several offenses.
GLC02161.064
2 November 1862
to father
He thinks they will go to Virginia tomorrow where everything is destroyed. They may have big fight soon. McClellan tries to avoid fights, apparently. He afraid of harming his reputation, should they lose.
GLC02161.065
10 November 1862
McClellan is gone now. He rather liked him and feels that the new commander, Burnside, may only do better because he is luckier. They may or may not have a heavy battle soon.
GLC02161.066
23 November 1862
He thanks her for the package she sent. He has rheumatism in his hip, he thinks. Their lieutenant resigned on account of sickness.
GLC02161.067
Dewey, Mollie
Mollie writes that Tom resigned and is coming home, though he wanted to keep it a surprise. She also writes that when Will comes, he will bring Fanny with him.
GLC02161.068
27 November 1862
Platt, E. R.
Honorable discharge of O. S. Dewey
Officially gives Orville Dewey an honorable discharge from the military.
GLC02161.069
4 December 1862
Kate
to Orville "Tom" S. Dewey
He speculates on when the war will end, at one point saying that some think not until the Southern race is exterminated. He asks how he has coped with the change in command, adding that he always like McClellan.
GLC02161.070
16 January 1863
He has been appointed 2nd lieutenant of Capt. Eaton's battery. He has decided to accept it.
GLC02161.071
18 January 1863
He will be unable to visit this week. His new appointment will make him very busy.
GLC02161.072
21 January 1863
He thanks his father for the $100 loan. From now on his pay will be $129 per month, an amount they can all live comfortably together.
GLC02161.073
5 March 1863
He has enclosed his photograph. (Not included here.) Will and George gave Mrs. Forbes (the woman they boarded with) a silver urn.
GLC02161.075
He wrote to his uncle about Charley's horse. He has since recovered from his illness and feels great. Mrs. Bird and Nellie stopped by and they had a nice visit.
GLC02161.076
4 May 1863
He says to tell mother he liked the shirts she sent. He notes that she has moved. He wants a description of the new place and hopes they can be together again.
GLC02161.080
22 July 1863
He says he'd rather shoot copperheads than Southerners because copperheads are disgracing the North. They are in Philadelphia and he thinks Philadelphians are the friendliest people.
GLC02161.087
30 July 1863
He is afraid he will never get his his back pay. Though if he gets mustered back to the 24th of January he'll get six months pay. This will be a big help to the entire family.
GLC02161.088
31 July 1863
He mentions Charley. He is glad they received the money for the horse. He asks Will Whedon to write his brother Al.
GLC02161.089
5 August 1863
They marched from Philadephia to Reading. He heard from Mooney who heard from her. He thinks there might be trouble in this section of the country among the miners who want to resist the draft.
GLC02161.090
13 August 1863
They went out among the mines yesterday and enrolled 500 people. Though they had to arrest 7 or 8 for attacking a quartermaster. They will probably have to stay until those men are drafted.
GLC02161.091
15 August 1863
He is extremely grateful for the box of food they sent and knows they must have denied themsleves many pleasures in order to have sent it. They have got the mines thoroughly intimidated.
GLC02161.092
6 September 1863
Aunt Kitty is having her teeth extracted. He would rather take a bullet that have someone take his teeth. The ladies of Pottsville provided a slendid dinner for their battery.
GLC02161.093
13 September 1863
He returned to camp and couldn't find his battery. So he wandered around the city until 1 am when he finally found them on Ridge Road. He mentions Mooney and Al Wheeler.
GLC02161.094
06 October 1863
Charley arrived early in the morning and he was very glad to see him. He wrote to the general describing his case in a very favorable light, but has heard nothing yet.
GLC02161.095
17 October 1863
He got a promotion as 1st lieutenant. He now has a better chance of getting his back pay as 2nd lieutenant. If so, he can come home for a week. He may have to put off his wedding for some time.
GLC02161.096
22 October 1863
He mentions Will and Al Wheeler. Capt. Eaton has made him promise to come back as Jr. 1st lieutenant. He asks about Cassie.
GLC02161.097
27 October 1863
He is finally to be mustered for his back pay He acknowledges all Al Wheeler is doing for him by offering him lieutenancy in his battery. He wishes Uncle S.P would offer him a commission in the regular army.
GLC02161.098
1 November 1863
The mustering officer has not shown up yet. As soon as he comes, he can start for New York. He heard that head quarters approves of his new appointment.
GLC02161.099
16 February 1864
Diven, Eugene
[Special orders for Lt. O. S. Dewey]
Dewey is ordered to go to Buffalo to recruit for the 33rd battery.
GLC02161.114
25 April 1864
He was assigned to the 10th army corps. He asks if a fellow lieutenant's body was received by the military.
GLC02161.123
1 May 1864
He is in desperate need of money. He only has $15.35. He has no money to give them and asks if she knows anyone who will loan them $100 or $150.
GLC02161.124
8 May 1864
They shipped from Gloucester Point and are now in Bermuda Hundreds. There were heavy skirmishes but they are all in good sprits and feel they will have Richmond soon.
GLC02161.125
14 May 1864
to Norman R. Dewey
A dispatch from Grant came saying he had taken Johnson's whole division. One of the batteries from Camp Barry was lost but then retaken by the 13th division. He is afraid Charley will have a hand in the fighting.
GLC02161.126
20 May 1864
Written "in the field." The "Johnnies" have been skirmishing with their infantry and artillery. They have a strong position. They have three regiments of colored troops but they have not been let in yet.
GLC02161.127
23 May 1864
to Harriet W. Dewey
Written "in the field." He read of Henry's death in the papers after he thought he had escaped unharmed. They may lose their guns. He is sick of the expedition.
GLC02161.128
28 May 1864
to unknown
Yesterday the whole command except for one division was ordered to embark to reinforce Grant. Gen. Lee assumes he will save Richmond. No one really likes Butler, the commanding officer.
GLC02161.129
3 June 1864
The infantry has been behaving badly. At a seven infantry engagement with the "Johns", the men got inside the mark as soon as possible. In other words, they ran at the first fire.
GLC02161.130
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