Mackie’s Island
Came to Portland, was clothed with soldier’s garb and furnished with knapsack etc.and put under guard in City Buildings. Have had a hard day doing nothing. Companions, gamblers and rogue Sergeants would go out with me if I would give them anything from one dollar to five. Did not go out till we were marched down to the wharf between five or six corpoals and segeants.
Portland, Wednesday
Sworn into the service of the United States, and let go at liberty. Went to Brunswick.
Headquarters Eleventh Corps,
Dearest,
I get more and more frightened everyday. I think you must be still visiting and cannot write, I think you must be sick and cannot. I remember that roughly cough and am afraid it is holding on. I did not write you at Farmington for you intended to go to Leeds so shortly I sent my first letter there – one from Washington with a check and two or three since I returned. Day before yesterday I wrote Guy a letter and directed it to Augusta. The days are now quite warm and considerably monstrous. […]
Oliver Otis Howard to his wife, Elizabeth Anne Waite [Oliver Otis Howard Papers]
Headquarters Eleventh Corps, Va.
My dear Guy,
Papa begins to wonder why he does not get a letter from Mamma. Is Mamma sick so that she cannot write? Is her cough bad? Are any of the children ill? How is that sweet little baby who talked in his own way and pulled his father’s whiskers? How is Jamie with his keen black eyes and his quiet form? How is sister Gracie, with her loving heart? And how is our manly boy Guy? Did you have a happy time at uncle Rowland’s? And how is papa’s mother, who used to have him, not many years ago as her little boy? Has Grandpa’s finger got well? I want to know all these things and whatever else you can tell me about your visit. […]
Oliver Otis Howard to his son, Guy [Oliver Otis Howard Papers]
Camp 20th Maine Vols. at Beverly Ford, Va.
My Dear Brother:
It is Sabbath evening and very quiet and peaceful for the army it does not usually seem much like the Sabbath but now that the business of the Regt. is so well kept up, that we do not have any writing to do on that day. It seems now like a, “Day of Rest.” […]
Holman Melcher to brother, Nathaniel Melcher [Holman Melcher Papers]
As regards the retaliation question General Lee and Captain Winder are in close confinement still, and authorities never having received any notice of Captain Sawyer and Flynn being placed on a level with other prisoners of war. The sake is the case with Morgan in Ohio. He will be released when the rebel Commissioner notifies General Meredith that Colonel Streight and his officers are released in Alabama as reported.
The following was found written upon the back of a $500 note sent into the Treasury for redemption:—
“This bill was paid for one plate of ice cream in Jersey City, at a fair for the benefit of the sick and wounded soldiers, by J. A., esq, April 11, 1863. H.M.H.”
Boston Daily Advertiser, September 5, 1863 [Historic Newspaper Collection]
Headquarters Eleventh Corps, Va
Dearest,
I wonder how you are and where you are this morning. I felt quite homesick for a day or two, but begin to get accustomed to the old life.
Oliver Otis Howard to his wife, Elizabeth Anne Waite [Oliver Otis Howard Papers]
Headquarters Eleventh Corps, Army of the Potomac.
My dear mother:
The day I wrote you from Washington (last Saturday) at half past seven in the evening we reached Catlett’s Station …I found my horses all looking well after their long rest. Yesterday Otis reviewed one of the Brigades and today another. He has just returned from the Review. I have been at home as my presence was not required and have been listening to music both from Piano and melodeon by a Capt of General Schurz’s staff. Monday Otis with manual assistance from me and an occasional help of memory or other suggestion, made out his report of the battle of Gettysburg. I was writing from early in the morning until late in the evening, but finished it all up in one day, 37 pages on paper like this. I am writing in my tent which is shared by Capt. Stinson who is now sitting upon my Cot. Our tent is just in [illeg. word] of the house, north, under the shade of locust trees. Little Lottie Catlett is just in here, a little girl of 5 or 6, prattling and playing. She is quite a roguish little piece. …
Charles Henry Howard to his mother, Eliza Otis Howard [Charles Henry Howard Collection]
The Richmond Whig of the 29th has the following sign Samuel Jones, Major-General, and dated at White Sulphur Springs, Va., 27th:–
“We met the enemy this morning about a mile and a half from this place on the road leading to the Warm Springs. We fought him from 9 A.M. to 7 P.M.
“Every attack made by the enemy was repulsed. At night each side occupied the same as they had n the morning.
“The enemy made thwo other attacks and were handsomely repulsed, when he abandoned his position and retreated towards Warm Springs, pursued by cavalry and artillery.
“The enemy were about 3000 strong with six pieces of artillery, under Brig-Gen Averill. Our loss is about 200 killed and wounded. The enemy’s loss is not known. We have taken about 150 prisoners nd one piece of artillery.”
