Civil War Blog

mvanders

November 12, 1863

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Lookout Valley, Tenn.

My Dear boy,

I have just received a letter from Mamma. She says Guy has improved in reading. I am glad to hear this for a poor reader seems like a poor scholar. In this part of the country I have not met a little boy who can read or write. There are no school houses. Hardly any of the grown up people can read. They make their mark. […]

From the high mountain the rebels throw shells down every day with their guns: only one or two have done us any harm. They fire at us in the morning. […]

Lovingly, Papa

Oliver Otis Howard to his son, Jamie [Oliver Otis Howard Papers]

November 11, 1863

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Adjutant’s Office 20th Maine Vols, Camp at Kelly’s Ford, Va

My Dear Brother:

I improve the first opportunity since the battle to write you. You have learned from this I am unhurt by the list of causalities in our Corps. I wrote home just as soon as I could snatch a moment which you shall possibly read – in which I tried to give a description of the engagement of the 7th. If you get the same account by the papers that we do, you have but a faint idea of the affair. It is considered the most brilliant feat of the war by those that witnessed it. […]

Holman Melcher to Nathanial Melcher [Holman Melcher Papers]

November 10, 1863

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Stevinson, Ala.

Dear Father,

I suppose that before this reaches you will have heard through Fannie of my situation. I have been here since Oct 35th having had a very severe diarhia  with a slight attack of fever. I am better now, but not well enough for action operations. I hope soon to be able to go forward for lying here is very irksome.

James D. Fessenden to his father, William Pitt Fessenden [Fessenden Collection] 

November 9, 1863

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Limington

Dear Malley,

I want you to write me a good long letter, let me know how you are getting along with your studies, are they very hard; I see by the report your rank is not so high as last year, I want you to try with all your might to do your very best- don’t  relax your effort in the least. I want you to take a high stand in every respect in murrals [sic] and religion, as well as in intellectual and scientific culture. I wish you would write me a good long letter once in a while. I will answer all your questions, and write all the news.

With Love,
Mother

Sarah Prince Miltimore McArthur to her son, Malcolm McArthur [McArthur Family Papers]

November 7, 1863

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This book was retaken in the Charge upon the enemies works Nov. 7th.  Lieut. A. M. Riddles who seems by this diary to have been very anxious to meet the Yanks was taken prisoner by a boy belonging to Co. D 5th Maine Reg’t. who found this book and papers in his valise.

The 5th Maine and 121st N[ew] York were to march for N.C. and La.

Diary owned by a succession of soldiers: S.W Croft, Excelsior Brigade USV; A.M Riddle, Louisiana Guard Artillery; C.H. Small, 5th Maine Volunteers [Civil War Miscellany]

 

November 6, 1863

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Adjutant’s Office 20th Maine Vols

Camp at Three Mile Station, Va.

My Dear N.

I have had a rich feast this evening in [illegible] “No 38” – I assume far. You thought you had “tried my patience” – why no! Not by [illegible] letter each – and certainly not in this case. I am so glad to learn of your good health and of those also at home! (Then it seems that you have found art after 3 years in College that you have got two “tremendous” obstacles to overcome viz “thickness of shall” & “natural stupidity” but it is something, you know,  to know what we have to contend with in order that we may prepare ourselves for the conflict.) Wonder if you are the only person to trouble with such? In Maine? Guess you would not think so if you could see some of our Officers (excuses for Officers) on drill even after being in the service for over a year. […]

Holman Melcher to his brother, Nathaniel Melcher [Holman Melcher Papers]

November 5, 1863

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Hd Qtrs 1st Maine Batter, In the field near Vermillion

Dear Friend

I received a letter from home yesterday and was very much surprised and pained to learn that you had not received any letters from me since I left home.

I wrote Emma as soon as I arrived in Baton Rouge and to you as soon as I received your letter and now been expecting to hear from you in reply by every mail.

I cannot see why there should be any difficulty in having the mails go properly and safely. I know you must have thought it very strange that I did not write, but that fault was not mine.

It seems they have not received more than one out of five of my letters that I have sent home for I have written nearly every week and at the date of this last letter they had not received but three. […]

John S. Snow to a member of the Hubbard Family [Hubbard Family Papers]

 

November 4, 1863

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Company drill this morning and battalion this afternoon.  Our Lieut. Bartels drilled was in skirmishing as he did yesterday.  Col. West put us over a course this afternoon.  It was thorough and long.  Noble brought me some soft bread today, and I have lived.  Toast tonight.  Called to see the Hospital Steward this evening.  A long talk.  Onions and crackers for luncheon.  No letters from Maine for sometime.  Have been disappointed.  Furnished Butler with two columns today.  Reports of an advance.  Also reports of drills to be resumed tomorrow.  Fine and warm day.

Diary of Henry Hastings Hunt [Henry Hastings Hunt Papers]

November 3, 1863

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Hartford, Conn.

Dear Em,

Mr. Curtis is absent and I can’t find time for a long letter. I can’t tell either until his return just what I shall do about remaining here. If he should be able to engage such a teacher as he wishes for the year I cannot of course expect that he will prefer to make all arrangement with me to the Christmas vacation merely.

As sofar as I have settled the matter I will send a list of such things as I shall need. It is rarely worthwhile to send it now when I may need nothing more than I have. I will write at once after Mr. C returns. Love to all.

Virginia “Ginny” Hubbard to her sister, Emma Hubbard [Hubbard Family Papers]