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21 January 1863
Dewey, Orville S.
to father
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
to mother
He has enclosed his photograph. (Not included here.) Will and George gave Mrs. Forbes (the woman they boarded with) a silver urn.
GLC02161.075
to Mary "Mollie" McLean
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
to sister
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
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
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
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
11 June 1864
to Norman R. Dewey
He has enclosed the key to his trunk. He gives instructions on what to do with the items inside.
GLC02161.131
4 July 1864
He feels sorry for Burns. All the old officers are gone from the old 5th. The new ones are strangers. The captain of his old company has been dismissed.
GLC02161.133
20 July 1864
The 19th corps from N. Orleans have been pressing up the river for the last couple of days. If Sherman gets Atlantis, they should have some real fighting ahead of them.
GLC02161.135
15 August 1864
He is concerned that if the chances aren't good enough in Buffalo, he will have to go somewhere else.
GLC02161.137
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