Army of the Potomac Nov. 5th 1863 My Mary. My Own Dear Wife. We are still inactive though reports thick and fast have been our guests since my last to you. Time flies so swiftly I hardly know when my last to you was written. of one thing I am certain no word from you has reached me since.
Campbell, James – November 4, 1863
Camp Convelessant Virginia Nov 4th/63 Mr. & Mrs. Snook Since you heard from me last I have been plaised on the sacred soil again, and looks more gloomy & forsaken, more dessolate than ever, for while at Annapolis I was favored with the opportunity of looking out on a living cultivated world, but here all is dead or dying except soldiering, forts, cannon, rifle pits & breastworks.
Shafer, Marion A. – October 26, 1863
US Hospital Washington D.C. Monday Oct 26th 63 Dear folks at home – I thought I would write a few lines this morning. The weather has been and is cold yet and what makes it seem more cold, we dont have any fire. The sun made its appearance this morning about sunrise.
Burns, Robert – July 16, 1863
Huntsville Alabama July 16, 1863 My dear Brother, We dropped in here yesterday for a few days after diners and sunday wanderings up and down the country. How long we shall remain the military powers that he can only tell. We have been in the saddle nearly all the time since I wrote you last (July 4th).
Franklin, Luther – April 13, 1863
Camp Fairbanks, Va. Apr. 13th, 1863 I believe I can write a pretty long letter today or between this & the time I sent it. In the first place we expect to be paid in a few days as the pay master is in the Brigade and will commence paying today. We have had a visit from the President his wife & son.
Byrns, William – April 9, 1863
Camp near Potomac Creek, Va. April 9th, 1863 My Darling Wife, Another odd day comes & with it the inclination to write you. No letter came within the last two days. I was congratulating in my last that we had escaped the review, but we only had a postponement. It took place yesterday. It exceeded in magnitude any I have ever attended, even surpassed the Great Review near Washington more than a year since. There were four Corps in all & when I state that they will average 20,000 to a Corps you can form some idea of the tract of land covered by the troops. The joke of the matter is that the review took place back of the Lacy House & in full view of the rebel encampments. Mr. Rebel must have thought his enjoying a holiday. Today the visit of the army was reviewed – the President evidently needs to form an opinion own regarding the Army of the Potomac. He is taking time & trouble enough to have it correct.
Byrns, William – April 7, 1863
Camp near Potomac Creek, Va. April 7th, 1863 My Dear Florence, Your letter of the 28th came last night & I enjoyed reading it far too much to write. I am so glad to know that you are so well. Keep on improving & do not let your mind be troubled. Everything here is as usual. Save that today we were honored with a visit from “Father Abraham”. Last night there came an order that our Corps would be reviewed today by the President & this A.M. we were congratulating ourselves because of the beautiful day. For some reason we take pride in being reviewed by the President. We were bound to disappointment for early this A.M. came an order saying that there would be no review by that Lincoln would ride through our camps.
Graves, Ira – 1863
Lebanon Ky, 12/1863 Dear Miss Clara it is with the grest of plash that I write to you and hope in due time that I shallhear from you I [ ? ] not hird from you in so long that I most think that you halve pargating that I am a live I halve writing to you twice since I have hird from you but I will try once more
Lincoln, Abraham – January 1, 1863
It seems by the with. in papers that Ira F. Pay son, was nominated as a Q.M. & for lieu of a confirmation for want of time. His [ ? ] are so good that I say let him be reappointed, if the services of an additional Q.M. is now needed. A. Lincoln
Smith, Thomas – December 3, 1862
Headquarters 11th Michigan Volunteers Nashville Dec. 3rd 1862 Friend Kate, With pleasure last night I received your kind letter of the 26th of November. I was much pleased to see that you had not forgotten me for I waited long and patiently for an answer. But your letter explained the reason why it did not come. So you came near giving me a scolding did you.
Byrns, William – October 22, 1862
Camp near Sharpsburg Md October 22nd 1862 My darling Florence Tis is a cold rainy night + the storm as it falls against my canvass house making music not calculated to cheer or elevate the feelings. I am blue. Why I should feel depressed + sad, I cannot tell.
Byrns, William – October 12, 1862
Camp near Sharpsburg Md. October 12th 1862 My Dear Florence Another week gone to the past + no no important movement made by our Army so far as elates to ourselves. We hear cheering news from the War + hope that tis all true
Byrns, William – September 25, 1862
Camp at Blackfords Ford Md. Sept. 25th 1862 My Dear Florence Two of your letters came this morning. The first mail I have received since leaving Washington. I know you must have written.
Burns, Robert – August 24, 1862
Camp Minty, Detroit Aug 24, 1862 My dear Mother To you I will send the first word I have written since I entered camp. I am now as you see the second of your boys who has taken up soldiering as a business for a little while.
Clark, Gardner B. – July 13, 1862
Harrison Landing Va July 13th 1862 My Mary, Yours of the 6th I received this morning and two or three beside I believe since writing you.
Clark, Gardner B. – March 15, 1862
Camp near Yorktown Mar. 15th/62 My Own Mary. Still we are waiting. for what I can only guess. It may be to let those who are to die live a few days longer. for the week past we have done very little. Troops and Artillery have been coming up until now we have 110,000 fighting men and near 800 peices of cannon. A day or two ago six of our men (Co. “C”) were on picket about eight or nine hundred yards from the Rebel guns. “Old California” as we call him. (his name is Truman Head and he says he is over fifty years old we think he is near score more than that. he came from Cal. to join Col. Bakers Reg. but for some reason did not do so and as good luck would have it came into our Co.) has a Sharps Rifles which he bought just before leaving Wash.
Forbes, Carey – January 14, 1862
1862 Camp Broadhead Fredrick Jan 14th Tuesday afternoon. Dear Father and Mother I have just received your very kind letter and as I have nothing to this afternoon I thought that I would try to write you a few lines in reply to yours. I am well at present and in good Spirits I do not want to be discharged. what makes you think that I want my discharge
Crawford, John Gault – January 11, 1862
Head Qrs. 2d Batt. 2d Mich. Cav. New Haven, Ky. Jan. 11, 1863 Cousin James: Seated upon this beautiful Sabbath afternoon all alone within my tent, trying to pass away the time the thought occurred to my mind that I would do something I never did before in my life, “to wit,” write Cousin James a letter and see how mad he would be at my imprudence.
Fisher, George W. – January 6, 1862
Head Quarters 2d Wis. Volunteers Camp Tillinghast V.a. January 6th 1862 Hark a voice from — Dixie Dear Brother John yours of Jany 1st I received last night and was glad to hear from you once more and I hope you will keep your word good for I would like to hear from you every week if no oftener.
Carter, Walter P. – December 2, 1861
Camp Arlington Dec 2 1861 Friend Mary, I received your letter yesterday, and should have answered it last night if I had not been on guard. I shall not agree to write much of a letter this morning for I am so tired and sleepy and I can hardly think what I am trying to write about and my mind is constantly reverting to other selves which have passed and gone never to return.
Hitchcock, Eli – December 1, 1861
Camp Arlington December the 1 Headquarters 7 Reg’t. W.I Co. H Camp the 1861 Dear father and mother it is with plasure that I now set down to right a few lines to let you now that we are all at presant and hope theas few [ ? ] will find you all the same I have not much news to right
Black, John C. – October 13, 1861
Washington, Mariadain Hill Oct 13/61 Co. B. 8th Regt Mich Inft Mr John N McDougall Dear Sir We have moved to the seat of war we started the 27th Sept from Fort Wayne Detroit on the steam boat to Cleveland & the cars from there to Pits burg & the cars from there to Harrisburg & ther to Baltimore & then to Washington
Burge, Caroden S. – June 12, 1861
Georgetown Heights, D.C. 1861 Camp Mansfield, June 12 Dear College Mates: here we are right in the enimies country, U.S. soldiers! It is hardly possible for me to realize that I am one of Uncle Sam’s soldier who must go and come at his nod, no matter how perilous or disagreable the duty.
Oliver, John M. – May 21, 1861
LETTER FROM HON. C. C. CLAY, JR. Washington, May 21, 1860. MY DEAR SIR: Severe illness, which has confined me to my room for ten days, has prevented my answering your letter sooner. And such is my prostration at this time that I feel I am not equal to the mental or physical effort necessary to reply fully to each of the questions you suggest. The action of our delegates in the Charleston Convention meets my cordial approval. It evinced a fidelity to principle and an unconquerable intrepidity in its maintenance that merits the admiration. and gratitude of every true Southern heart. I am happy to state that their course is approved by nearly all the Senators of the seceding States(I am not sure that I should except one) and a large majority of the Representatives of those States. I know it it is approved by four of my colleague-Messrs. Moore, Curry, Clopton, and Pugh.