Author Archives: mvanders

May 19, 1863

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18Tuesday.  Got up before roll call this morning, & feeling much better than I did last night.  Took my third blue pill & went out & took my morning wash, ate only gruel for breakfast.  Took a dose of salts by the Dr’s advice, & kept [to] my room most

Of the forenoon.  Still feeling pretty well.  Wrote a letter to Mother, finished Nellie’s, & put in a short acc’t. of Edwin Young for Pamelia, inclosed all in the same envelope, addressed to Nellie.  Mailed Holbrook & Staples final statements to Adj. Genl, Washington.  We expect to leave this place for Brashear City tomorrow.  George went out this morning & brought in a fine roasting pig, which he soon dressed, & Betsy the Col’s Cook roasted nicely.  My appetite for roast pig is strong, but shall not indulge it to any great extent, as my diarrhea still continues

Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection]

May 18, 1863

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18Monday.  Ate a very light breakfast & only flour gruel for dinner & supper.  My diarrhea continues, & have felt sick at the stomach this afternoon.  Took a couple of opium pills, & just before supper a small blue pill, the first I ever took I think.  Commenced a letter to Nellie but felt hardly well to finish it.  Took another blue pill about dark, & went to bed & slept soundly.

Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection]

May 17, 1863

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Headquarters Eleventh Corps

My dear Mother,

It has been a warm pleasant day. We have had services at out Hd. qrs., as usual. The Band of the 33d Mass which plays so beautifully was in attendance. Rev. Mr. Warren of the Christian Commission officiated who has been laboring in the hospitals many of which – in fact all the General Hospitals of the Army – are located in this vicinity. The General Hospitals have all the worst cases of sick and all the wounded except such as have been conveyed to Washington – farther North. They consist of a large encampment (like a brigade) for a Corps. The Hospital tents are some 20 by 12 feet or perhaps larger.
These in this vicinity look very neat & comfortable. Otis intends visiting our Corps hospital this P.M.

We had the great rarity of two ladies at services and at dinner today. Mrs. Genl. Barlow and Mrs Parker wife of Lieut. Parker of the Regular Army. Mrs. Parker was an acquaintance of Mrs. Barlow – and stays with Mrs B in a house not far from here although Lt. Parker belongs to another Divn. & another Corps. He gets Leave to visit his wife often now that we are doing but little. I think you will remember Gen. Barlow who now commands one of our Brigades and was formerly Colonel of my Regiment, 61st N.Y. -
was with us at Fair Oaks. He is a brave & good officer. Mrs. B. is a very smart woman. She reached the Antietam battle field, the next day after the fight and was in time to take care of her husband who was wounded very severely. [...]

Charles Henry Howard to his mother, Eliza Gilmore [Charles Henry Howard Collection]

 

May 16, 1863

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Limington

Dear William,

I have written to you but once since you left home. I am alone this afternoon, and it very quiet, so I will write a few lines.

Mrs. L.W. Rounds of Malden wrote to Catharine and gave her an invitation to visit her in the month of May, which invitation she has accepted, and started upon her journey this morning, to be gon a fortnight.

Malkey writes he expects to be on his way home in five weeks, it is not probable that he will be at home again for some time, can you not make your arrangements so as to be at home, this summer? If it is only for a short time, it would be very pleasant, for you both and all of us.

I do not see any prospect of the war being ended. There are awfull battles, without any decided victory. Do you think we have one great, good man in the country? (I mean “among the powers that be”) it seems to me that each one is seeking his own individual interest and honor and not that of the nation. [...]

Your affectionate Mother

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

May 15, 1863

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15Friday.  A beautiful day after the shower of last night.  Had Co. Drill this forenoon & Batt. Drill, inspection & dress parade in afternoon.  Spent most of the day in reading Darby’s description of Louisiana, a book published in 1816, which I found in the house.  Several of the boys went up the bayou (Courtableau) & got a couple of hogs for the Company.  But little meat is issued by the Commissary,–about half rations of fresh, & a very little of salt port—no salt beef.  The balance is made up by the men themselves, shooting their own cattle & hogs in the woods.  Double rations of salt were brought in the train, for this purpose I presume.

Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection]

May 14, 1863

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New York

Maj. Gen. O.O. Howard

Dear Sir,

Your letter of the 10th, in answer to my inquiry after the late Capt. Dessauer, is received, for which you will please accept my thanks. I have already written to Lt. Col. Asmussen in relation to his effects. If you wish to keep his horse you will please send the value of it to my daughter, Mrs. Dessauer [...] or to me.

Very respectfully yours, G.L. Kraft

[Oliver Otis Howard Papers]

May 13, 1863

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13Wednesday.  Had a Batt. Drill of an hour just after breakfast.  The men did admirably, making few mistakes in the movements.  Spent most of the day on my quarterly return of Camp & Gun Eq[uipment] for the last quarter.  Intend to finish it up tomorrow, if possible, & have it off my hands.  Had a very slight shower yesterday & the clouds this p.m. look like rain.  A smart shower would be very acceptable; have had no rain to speak of since the heavy shower at Franklin.  The weather in the middle of the day is quite hot but we get a fine S. W. breeze every afternoon which is quite cool & refreshing.  Yesterday our “Cavalry” under Lt. Putnam started with a provision train for the front.  His Company is made up by details—Baker, Blanchard & Ramsdell going from our Company.  Just before night a soldier belonging to the 1st La. came in with torn & soiled clothes, saying that he was fired upon by the rebels five or six miles up the bayou & escaped by running his horse into the bayou, & then when his horse got stuck in the mud, taking to the woods & after a roundabout journey, reached here.  He said there were both cavalry 7 infantry, & he observed among them several prisoners.  We suppose them the have been Dr. Jordan 7 four men who started with him this morning for head quarters.  As they must have been some distance behind the train that started yesterday, they could easily be captured by any small body of guerrillas.  The Col. at once sent notice of the affair to Col. Chickering at Barre’s landing.  Worked on my Qu[arterlyl] Return till about midnight.

Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection]

May 12, 1863

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New Haven

My dear Mr. Hubbard,

I so wish that we could hear from you – and if this reaches you won’t you please write soon. I am afraid that it will not for harry is away and I do not know that I have your address. I do not feel like writing more for this may never reach you, but if it ever does be assured that it is free of loss and sympathy.

From your true friend, Lara A. Bridgman

Lara A. Bridgman to Thomas H. Hubbard [Hubbard Family Papers]

May 11, 1863

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12Monday.  No orders to move have yet come, & we are still encamped where we stopped Saturday night.  No salt meat of any kind has been issued to the men for several days & but short rations of fresh, but the boys have.  Made up the deficiency in the last by “detailing” swine in the neighborhood of the city.  Spent most of the day in reading.  In afternoon had a Reg. inspection of arms & ammunition, & a dress parade at 5 ½ o’clock.

Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection]

May 10, 1863

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West Point

Dear Father,

Your letter of 3d. was received 6th. inst. You seemed quite troubled about my demerits. I do not know how I happened to have so many. I was just as careful as ever. I think I am getting along very well in demerits. Forty for four months is not many. Four or five in the class have got 99. Don’t be alarmed about my demerits, they are not going to hurt me any. I received a very kind letter from Catharine this week. I should have written to her a long time ago, but I can not get any time to write letters. In about five weeks more I expect to be on my way home, only three weeks to study.

Catharine said you expecting Charlie home a little this summer. What did he say about it? Did he say what he expected to do in Limington?

There is a rumor today that Richmond is taken.

Your Affec. Son, Malcolm McArthur

Malcolm McArthur to his father, Arthur McArthur [McArthur Family Papers]