Friday, February 18, 2011

Union Civil War Soldier's Letter 1863

Union Civil War soldier's letter, dated Camp Massachusetts, Near Potomac Creek, Jan 28 1863, from Private George F. Stone, Company "D," 22nd Massachusetts Infantry Regiment,
Potomac Creek Bridge ca 1861 to 1865
Union Civil War soldier's letter, dated Camp Massachusetts, Near Potomac Creek, Jan 28 1863, from Private George F. Stone, Company "D," 22nd Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, to his brother Perley

In part, "Here last night it began to rain, turning into snow ... a real 'Noth Easter' and now the mud and snow together are very deep and the possibility of operations on the offensive put far away into the future. I think I have written of our camping in the woods. 

You should see ... the large pines bending beneath its accumulated weight ,until one can hold no more ... woe to the unlucky .. who might be passing ... big patches have been dropping 'thud' 'thud' kerslap ... upon our tent ... I received ... the box in good order. The apples had not hurt to notice, nor the cakes and pie, tho' the little tunover had a coat of green and there was no lack of spice, the cover having come off the box of ginger, but that was no harm and we have plenty of the article, but the bottle of mint in solution was a puzzle, as yet I have only smelt of it. The mince and one cake ... have been tried and pronounced first rate, and also the apples. ... 

The boots are a fit, though large, which is a good fautt, the clothing all very acceptable and what I wished. I am much pleased with the knive and pocket book ... the diary and portfolio will daily find use ... " Also received a sewing kit. " I would like a needle or two in next letter, as those sent have eyes too small for black thread that we use. 

I should have received it ten days ago, but that last week our grand division, with the left guard division, made a move to attack the rebels; the intent was to surprise them crossing the river above Fredericksburg and so turn their works, but that weather was against us and ere, the pontoons were at the river side from the opposite beach. 

The rebel song 'Burnside in the mud' guided us and we were fast, so commenced 6 days in floundering above in the mud, accomplishing but a march of six miles and return, the loss in horses and teams very great. The prospect is worse now than ever. [Union generals] Burnside, Sumner and Franklin were relieved, and Hooker took the command of the whole Army Monday at 5 A.M. I can see enough to make us cheer or hope for a speedy end of this war. But hope for the best. 

I believe little 'Mac' [Union General George McClellen] will yet have to come back. We, the Army of the Potomac, will do anything. Desertions are very numerous,1,800 from one corps this year. Something is truly needed to put heart into the men ...

[signed] George F.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Quarryville, Pennsylvania,

15 Letters Mailed to Teenager Joseph Denny of Quarryville, Pennsylvania
Dated 1926 to 1929 Most Letters while Joseph was a Patient in Pennsylvania Hospital, in Philadelphia.

These letters are:

March 22, 1926. From Catharine Books of Quarryville, PA. Addressed to Joseph Denny at the Children's Hospital in Philadelphia. She is a classmate of Joseph Denny. Information about school and classmates.

October 2, 1926. From Charles V. Denny on the U. S. S. Umpgua at the Navy Yard of Charleston, South Carolina. Addressed to Joseph Denny in Quarryville. Reference to sister Alma Denny, etc.

January 6, 1926. From Paul W. Sweigart of Morgantown, PA. Addressed to Joseph Denny in Quarryville. Reference to Joseph's sister Alma Denny. Information about being a Boy Scout, and about Paul's bicycle.

September 12, 1929. From Charles E. Byler of Morgantown, PA. Addressed to Joseph Denny in Philadelphia's Pennsylvania Hospital. Information about school. References to high school classmates George Boyer and Paul Sweigart. Information about high school and a barn fire at farm of Vernon Orr. Reference to Rosie Kurtz.

September 13, 1929. From Sadie Fisher of Morgantown, PA. Addressed to Joseph Denny in Philadelphia's Pennsylvania Hospital. Includes information about a singing at the home of John Hartzler, and singing at the County Home in Reading, PA. Information about barn burning of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Orr. Information about Boston terriers, Edna Plank, Alfred Plank.

October 2, 1921. From George B. in State College, PA. Addressed to Joseph Denny in Philadelphia's Pennsylvania Hospital. Information about George's Classes, presumedly at Penn State. Information about George Zook and Christ Rhiel car racing. Information about Charles Kurtz and Bill Peck in Wilminglton, Delaware, out of jail on bail, apparently for bootlegging during prohibition: "they found 9 quarts of liquor in his car."

August 26, 1929. From Dr. Horace H. Jenks of Philadelphia. Addressed to Joseph Denny in Morgantown. Instructions to Joseph Denny about taking medicine for his swollen legs, with a pharmacy label from Pharmacist J. B. Shenk of Philadelphia.

Setpember 29, 1929. From Wilmer W. Hoffman of Morgantown, PA. Addressed to Joseph Denny in Philadelphia's Pennsylvania Hospital. Wilmer Hoffman was a classmate of Joseph Denny. Reference to a new International truck bought by David Hartz.

October 12, 1929. From Robert Byler in State College, PA. Addressed to Joseph Denny in Philadelphia's Pennsylvania Hospital. Information about Penn State vs. University of Penn football game. Information about the World Series baseball games, and initiating freshmen into a Penn State fraternity.

October 9, 1929. From Lois Benedict in Philadelphia. Addressed to Joseph Denny in Philadelphia's Pennsylvania Hospital. Information about sending postage stamps to Joseph.

October 14, 1929. From the Alfred Plank and Edna Plank Family in Morgantown, PA. Addressed to Joseph Denny in Philadelphia's Pennsylvania Hospital. Information about Chautauqua. Alfred rode the goat at the Odd Fellows Lodge. Reference to Frank Plank of Willow Glen. Reference to Verna Kurtz getting married.

October 16, 1929. From William Daley of Dunwoody Home / Dunwoody Village, a convalescent home in Newtown Square, PA. Addressed to Joseph Denny in Philadelphia's Pennsylvania Hospital. Descriptions of Dunwoody Home. This Bill Daley had been in the Philadelphia hospital with Joseph Denny.

October 23, 1929. From Charles (Byler). Addressed to Joseph Denny in Philadelphia's Pennsylvania Hospital. Information about breaking his toe while wrestling, etc.

December 14, 1929. From Charles Byler and Mrs. Alice Byler of Morgantown, PA. Addressed to Joseph Denny at the Coatesville Hospital. Information about a car garage and a car wreck of Henry Zook, and a fire at Backersville, and the school buses of David Hartz. Emery Wells shoots a deer at Pine Swamp near Elverson, PA. Charles Peck trapped a weasel, but a thief stole the weasel and traps

Item number: 350435057849

Saturday, February 05, 2011

Havana, Cuba, Jun 23 1806

Havana, Cuba, Jun 23 1806, from Messrs. Gay & Bowen, to Charles Churchill, Newbern, North Carolina, with black Charleston/ SC, Jul 3 (1808),postmark

The content reads, in part, as foillows,

"We had the papers forwarded by you translated & attached to the process against the captors of the Schooner NELSON ... The officers of the [Cuban colonial] Government move slow, therefore you must wait with patience for their decision. We paid for translating the papers and also paid the attorney fees ... M. Guadal having refused to do it. We shall give every assistance in our power to bring that unfortunate business a happy close. We do not recollect what Captain Barnet sold your Negroes [slaves] for, but it was for less sum, as well as we can recollect, that he would have brought in the United States. He sold his for part cash and part for a note, and to accomodate him for amout advanced, we received the note & endeavor to collect it, but have not yet received payment. We informed Captain Barnet that we did not believe that it would be paid. Dr. Bynes, who purchased the Negroes, and whose note we hold, says that he will not pay it until he gets a bill of sale from you, and further that he wishes to dispose of the Negroes. You had therefore better send us as soon as possible a bill of sale in favor of Bynes, or funds to puchase them on your own account. Bynes is poor, there a good bargain in the Negroes may be had ... [signed} Gray & Bowen."

Item number: 260726637348

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