Henry Howes, Indiana to Joseph Howes, Vermont, 1847

This stampless letter has a circular date stamp for PERU Ind., a match PAID, a handwritten 10 cent rate, and is addressed to Joseph Howes, Montpelier, Vermont, and is a one paragraph letter written by Henry Howes.

The headline is Monday Nov 8, 1847.

The letter reads: "Dear Brother, I now inform you that I have received your kind letter containing A draught of Six hundred dollars and feel very thankful for the same and I think that if my life is spared I shal make you a visit next season. My self and famaly are all well, give my respects your famaly and all enquiring friends, please to write as often as you think proper, so Adieu for the present."

Diary of Tully Crosby Brewster on board Ship Charlotte of Boston, 1848-1850 Massachusetts

This leather covered diary is hardbound and is a bit over 100 pages, or a total of 200 pages front and back

The diary is identified clearly in manuscript on the back fly page-- Tully Crosby Brewster [Massachusetts]

The diary entries begin with October 13, 1848 and end with June 19, 1850. Also included with the diary is a beautifully written, 4-page tipped in letter dated January 10, 1843,by the hand of Captain Crosby, addressed from London to his brother and sister, in Brewster, Massachusetts.

The following are just few of the highlights of the entries in this diary. The excerpts were chosen at random. You will learn from this brief list of entries that Captain Crosby was a brave man, sailing the treacherous mighty deep time after time, experiencing utter despair and frustration. He was a devoutly religious man so much so he heaps guilt upon himself for repairing masts on the Sabbath. But at the same time he and his crew wage utter brutality against the poor sea creatures, the whale and the porpoise.

October 13, 1848

I left my home at a late hour of the night to go forth and seek bread for the wife and little ones, whom God hath given me, to follow the profession which in my youth I so unwisely chose. I am one of those people who do business upon the might waters, who go down to the deep in ships, and there behold the wonders of the Lord & . I go because my duty calls me, yet my soul will dwell with you [my wife and children]. On the 14th, arrived in Boston, passed the day there. But in the evening I take cars for New York, and after a pleasant passage through the sound in the Empire State, I arrive safe &

Wednesday, January 27th, 1849
Ship Monterey of Boston
a high rolling sea at 6 p.m. It commences to blow again. Took in said as required and & we had to take all off but close reefed main top said and fore topmost stay sail. Midnight, a tremendous gale of wind & and the sea was terrific. May god have mercy on us... A heavy sea & filled the decks fore and aft and came nigh washing the whole watch off deck. On e many was swept from the bows of the ship, under the spars and was some bruised, passengers necessary was washed away & . It is indeed a very heavy gale, and the sea seems frightful .

Monday, January 31st, 1849
Ship Monterey of Boston

we passed close along side of a squid, a laying on the top of the water. I should think him 20 to 25 feet long and as large as a house the larges I ever saw, though I have heard of them much larger .

Sunday, February the 4th, 1849
Ship Monterey of Boston

we feel at times as if there was no one so unfortunate as we are, but we know when we exercise our better judgment that there is many worse off, by far, yet we feel bad, we are making a very long passage, and our freight is of the loveliest kind. The heavy winds which are continually so spitefully against us is a striping us of all our sails, or rather is straining and tearing them to pieces. We fear that our employees will get tired of our hard luck, but we must do our best and have [left] the result to God .

Sunday, February the 11th, 1849
Ship Monterey of Boston

we find by looking back in this our Journal that this is the twelfth gale of wind that we have experienced since we left port, that has caused us to have our ship too under close reefed main top sail and I think we have been laid too, about 13 days & Midnight calm. It is truly strange how sudden these N gales die down to a calm. In one or two hours from a gale to a perfect calm, all the latter part it is calm and clear and we are obliged to turn all of the watch onto work to repair sails, although it is a Sabbath day, we feel that it is our duty, yet we hate to work, or set men to work on the Lords day, but we have had a dreadful time, and our sails have all got split and strained to pieces and if we don t take the advantage of the good weather, we fear we shall lose them. Our Father, who art in heaven, again we are permitted through thy mercy to behold another Sabbath day. Although we have been at work all the day, upon our sail & c., we felt that it was our duty, and if we have sinned in thy sight, we pray that we may be forgiven, surely we have not meant it for sin, nor have we done it thinking light of thy Command, which requires of us not to work, neither ourselves or our servants, but we have looked upon it as work of necessity. And, our Master and Savior taught us that if we have an ass & that falls in the ditch, it is lawful to pull them out on the Sabbath day. True, such was not our state, but our sails have fallen in to very rough weather, and we feel that we are acting upon the same principle by taking advantage of a moderate day to repair them. Since this is only the third or fourth moderate day we have had out of 44 days, yet Father we do not wish to justify ourselves before thee, for we know that we have often done things that are forbidden in thy sacred work and left undone things that we are commanded to do.

Thursday, February the 15th, 1849
Ship Monterey of Boston & standing to the South to get clear of the Gulf where we find we have been for the last two days, although we have been from 60 to 120 miles south of where we ever knew the gulf to be before in this longitude, but everything has undergone a change apparently since we passed these parts before.

Midnight - a tremendous gale with lightning, thunder, and much rain. Oh God, have mercy on us, for surely we fear our good little ship will not be able to stand it much longer. We have now washed away our head sails, and started our head and main rail, and we fear our head will go altogether as the knees are gone, and if it does, we fear it will start a leak .

Saturday, February the 17th, 1849
Ship Monterey of Boston

Wonderful to relate we have not had to close reef our top sails for 24 hours. May god be praised for this blessing. At 10 a.m., we passed as bale of Cotton floating close along side of the ship, and some pieces of ship s bull works, the Cotton had not been long in the water. Some poor fellow no doubt had his decks swept about here during the late heavy gales. We still pray for a fair wind and may God her our prayers at last, and save us .

Thursday, February 22, 1849

Ship Monterey of Boston
Washington s Birthday.

when it blows, it always blows against us, and when it is calm, of course, we can do nothing, and we are almost ready to despair & surely there must be some cause for all this detention, and for so many, many disappointments, for when our hears are for the moment encouraged with the appearance of a fair wind, lo, and behold it is only for a moment for soon it is all withdrawn from us .

March 15th, 1849
In Baltimore
Ship Monterey of Boston

All of this 24 hours we have a thick rainy, foggy weather, but in the after part of the day, we commence discharging some of our cargo crates, and we hope and pray that tomorrow we may have a better day. Saw Mr. Paul Leans just from [here] from Boston and had a long talk with him about Boston friends there. Nothing new occurring this day & . Saturday, March the 20th, 1849Still in BaltimoreShip Monterey of Boston & Tolerable pleasant, but on Monday, the 20th, much rain which continues for two or three days, but we chartered the Ship for Liverpool to William Mankin. On the 25th had a letter from my wife and she was sick. Complains of weakness, cough, & c. and writes very discouraging. Oh, my Father in Heaven, what can this be, my fears are great, but in thee I put my trust. I immediately sent on for another Master for the ship for not for worlds would I go to sea and leave her sick. On the 29th had a letter saying Capt. George Dunbar is to take the ship, which I am glad to hear. He is a good fellow. On the 2nd of April, Capt Dunbar got on, expected to find the ship ready, but we had not began to load. I have trouble to get my fright as the rates have declined. I fear that Mr. Mankin will lose money by the ship. On the 11th we got her loaded and on the morning of the 12th started her off, and at the same time I started for home. Passed the evening and night in Philadelphia with Mr. Freeman, left next morning and arrived at New York. Left same evening, and the next day I got safe home with my dearly beloved family. Found my wife feeble indeed. But in a few days we start off for a town down east which proves a great benefit to her & . All the month of July and June, I was employed with Carpenters at work making alteration in my house. On the 10th of August, the Monterey arrived in Boston. I went up and took charge, got her Cargo out and I was taken down sick with bowel complaint. Was one week sick in Charlestown. Got a little better, went home and was taken with relapse. Found I should not be able to go in the ship, she being ready for Rio de Janeiro, sent up my old friend and neighbor Thacker, who I was glad to hear got the ship. She sailed on the 3rd of September. On the 20th of September, my health having been recovered, had letter from Mr. Lincoln to come to Boston. Went up on the 22nd, made an agreement to take the old ship Charlotte for a voyage to California.

Saturday, December 29th, 1849
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

At 4 p.m. we spoke to the Bark, Leonoria. Off and from Liverpool, England, 23 days for Demerana (?), he complains with us that we are so far south and no trade winds. He wishes us a pleasant passage, a plenty of Gold & c., for which we are much obliged and wish him the same with all of our heart & [Barque (or Bark) A barque is square-rigged at fore and main masts, and differs from a ship in having no top, and carrying only fore-and-aft sails at her mizzenmast. She has at least three masts. All of them are rigged with at least three square sails each, except for the stern most one, which is rigged with fore-and-aft sails. The wooden three-masted barque was a common sight in the port of san Francisco in the middle of the 19th century. Barques were important in California's early development. Until the fast, elegant clippers and huge steamers began arriving in 1850-1851, barques, ships and brigs carried huge cargo loads from around the world. ]

Tuesday, January the 1st, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

All hail Happy New Year! We greet you with the warmth and sincerity of an old friend. Yet we acknowledge that we are perfect strangers. But then we have been expecting you, and knew in reason that you would come about this time, January 1st. Well, you find poor Pill Garlick here on board of the old Charlotte, bobbing off for California, all down upon one side with the NE trade winds all from the SW. We hope friend fifty that we shall be good friends, and that we shall prosper much better under your administration than we did under the reign of your elder sister Queen 49. Yet we know that we even then was permitted to live, and sometimes took much comfort, but our gains in a Worldly sense was small .

Friday, January the 4th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

At 5 p.m., spoke [with] the schooner S.D. Bailey, & bound for San Francisco, all well, intended to touch at St. Cruz, Cape Verd, passengers on board of her all in high glee. They gave us three cheers as they passed across our stern. We wish them good luck and hope God will prosper them and give them abundance of Gold, and return all those who desire it in safety to their fatherland, again in safety .

Wednesday, January the 15th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

There is an American Hermaphrodite Brig within a main top sail & a coming up with us as they all do. We have only seen one vessel yet but what passed us, and this one will soon no doubt. But we are dragging along slowly all down upon our side. We have crossed the equator & . [Hermaphrodite Brigantine--If a ship has two masts, the foremast square rigged and the main mast fore-and-aft rigged, it can be called a hermaphrodite brig or a brigantine. Calling it a brigantine is a bit wrong, because the true brigantine should also have square sails on her main topmast. The brigantine must not, however, have a main course, because then it is called a brig and does not belong to the family of schooners since its main sail is not a fore-and-aft sail.]

Thursday, January the 17th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

The Brig Crocas of and for Gardner Mc Cane up and spoke with us. 39 days out for California . He says he has spoke with two or three vessels before and he was to the east of them all

Wednesday, January the 23rd, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

It is dreadful hot weather, and I am troubled with one of my bilious starts (bowel complaint?), but hope by the mercy of God soon to be well again. Have taken some of the wonderful Brandwiths pills .

Thursday, January the 16th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

spoke to the ship Em? & from New Bedford, 80 days out on a whaling cruise. Had 400 bbls oil and three noble, large whales then turned up which the boats was then trying to get along side. Two of them already fast to the ship. Monstrous looking they are. And it is wonderful to think of the power of man to subdue all other creatures unto himself. But all under God must it be done.
Thursday, July the 20th , 1850

Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

There is an American ship and Brig in Company. I expect they are bound to the Gold Regions, and I wish them much success .


Sunday, July the 24th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

The Bark Emma, camp up and spoke and passed us. Reported 67 days from Bath for the Gold Regions. Full of passengers, and the little Bark sailed like a witch, while our good old Charlotte moves slow and graceful, as well the Charlotte should .

Wednesday, March the 6th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

Wonderful events have this morning transpired. Mr. Lincoln our second officer has been all the voyage a trying to catch a porpoise. Was fortunate enough to hit one and draw blood. And although he did not save him, yet he is wonderfully elated, and is sharpening up his iron, and woe to the porpoises that now come nigh us, for blood is now drawn and the battle is fairly begun

Wednesday, March the 13th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

thank our heavenly Father for every little that we gain on our course helps to carry us from this Cape Horn of which we have had enough for one cruise.

Sunday, March the 24th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

ship laying and laboring in a tremendous sea, within 50 miles of the western entrance to the Straights of Magellan

Wednesday, March the 31st, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

yet we feel thankful indeed that we can say that we have got clear of the Cape Horn without any material accident, though we have had a rough and long time of it, yet we flatter ourselves that we have got clear with as little damage and most any of the California craft, and we pray that we may be as fortunate the rest of the voyage.

Monday, April the 8th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

this voyage we had a strong hope that we should have reached Valparaiso before this time, and as the first part of our passage was so prosperous, that hope was strengthened, but since we got up with Cape Horn, we have indeed had a hard time of it, although through the mercy of a kind providence, we have been preserved alive, and have not met with any serious accident, and we are now only 400 miles from Valparaiso .

Monday, April the 14th, 1850
ANCHORED AT VALPARAISO
Ship Charlotte of Boston

Monday morning went on shore and found to my great regret that there is no letters for me to be found here from any part, and I further find that there is no prospect of my selling the cargo on any part of it h ere to advantage so that I have no course to pursue but to continue on the San Francisco and the prospect does not look very flattering even there, but we must go

Friday, April the 26th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCSICO
Ship Charlotte of Boston

at midday there was a large whale one of the largest species came along side of the ship so near as to rub his sides against the bottom of the ship and continued to pass under the bottom from one side to the other, occasionally blowing close beside us and throwing his flukes about to our no great satisfaction, until we shot a Rifle Ball into his head when he left us in double quick time


Wednesday, March the 6th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston

hand variously employed in ship s duty & myself reading Doctor Allcot s novel, Reformer, but think as I ever have that the said Doctor Allcot is an ass, and I don t believe he thinks half what he writes true. Still he says some good things as who many not who writes so much

Wednesday, May the 8th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston

O how time flies away. It seems all most impossible, but such is the fact. We had hopes of being a little nearer to California when this day came around, but we had such a cruel hard, and long time off of Cape Horn which causes us to be no further on now

Thursday, May the 9th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston

hands employed in painting ship, cleaning iron work & . The weather is getting very hot, and we feel somewhat the effects of it operating upon our digestive organs. We have a craving appetite, and have not strengths of mind enough to curb its desires, when we know it hurts us to eat so much. Well, of people will dance, they ought to pay the fiddler

Monday, May the 12th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston

Clear, pleasant weather all sail out low and aloft, and our good ole ship is a doing the best she can towards reaching California

Monday, May the 13th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston

all hands employed scrubbing and scraping ship outside making ready for painting myself and Mr. Gould, passenger, practicing pistol and rifle shooting, the weather is very warm. Indeed the heat is very oppressive. We have one man sick threatened with fever

Tuesday, May 14th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston

hands employed painting ship outside, I had some high words with my mate Mr. Gillson. He provokes me all the passage, I suppose he wants to aggravate me to discharge him when the ship arrives, and heaven knows he may go for it. If I can t have an officer who will pay a little respect towards me as master of the ship, I don t want any. And I am quite sure that he does not, and he boasts of not caring a d**** whether he gives me satisfaction or not. I am sure of one thing and that is; that I never tried to treat a mate better than I have him, and I never had one who took such improper advantage of good treatment before, and I am sure I never had such improper advantage of good treatment before and I am sure I never had such abusive language from any one before. I could put him off duty, but this would be just what he would like, besides I am not disposed to do his duty for him, and as our voyage cannot be more than 20 or 50 days longer, I pray that God may give me patience. I hope to treat him in a proper manner, and deport myself toward him as becomes a gentleman and Christian. God knows I wish him no harm, but I pray that he may possess a better disposition. I am sure he will one day regret the abusive language that he has used toward me. But he has many things to repent of. He boast of having taken many Negroes from their native land to the West Indies and sold them, and swears he will do it again, one day. This will rise up in judgment again him

Sunday, May the 26th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston

we are now within 1200 miles of San Francisco

Monday, June the 4th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston

a high rolling sea, all of which continues all the 24 hours, just as it has for the last nine days & but I expect it is fair for some people, and we ought to be content. But our philosophy has got pretty much used up into fiddle strings, and we wish to Heaven we could get on fair wind to take us to San Francisco for we want to see the Elephant, and satisfy ourselves whether that animal has got horns or not. Cause folks says he has

Tuesday, June the 18th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston

at 9 a.m., the Baltimore schooner called C.A. Slicer came up and spoke to us she left Valparaiso eight days after us, and she came up and passed us like a bird

Wednesday, June the 19th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston

the Schooner that passed us yesterday is still in sight. We came up with some in the night, we begin to get some of the California weather, and our hope soon to get a fair breeze t take us in for we are truly sick of this long passage.

Tuesday, June the 20th, 1850
NEAR THE PORT OF SAN FRANCISCO~LAST DIARY ENTRY
Ship Charlotte of Boston

Commenced with a light air from WNW, nearly calm. All sails set low and aloft. Our ship a moving on her course about 4 knots an hour, which continues all the 24 hours nearly the same. The Schooner that we spoke to on the 18th is still in sight. She gets way ahead of us in the day time, but at night, we come up with her, and find her near us in the morning. We hope soon to reach our port, and as we now are a drawing nigh, we pray God to give us clear weather and direct our courses right and keep us in safety & Amen

WW1 - William Holloway Clark 1919

WWI 14-PAGE LETTER FROM SOLDIER IN FRANCE TO SWEEHEART IN KENTUCKY

14-page letter written by Private William Holloway Clark, on "American YMCA" stationary.

Private William Clark of Louisville, Kentucky, writes an interesting, newsy letter to his sweetheart, Lila Robinson, dated Tuesday, February 25, 1919--only a couple of months after the Armistice Agreement with Germany was signed. Private Clark was with Company "A", 110th F.S. Battalion, 35th Division—American Expeditionary Force


LETTER EXCERPTS

"On Active Service with the American Expeditionary Force, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 1919, Commercy, France

Dear Lila:

I don’t know whether you’ll ever survive the shock of receiving this letter, but I’ll take a chance anyway. Hang up your Map of France and follow me in my wanderings. I’ve been all over this country from North to South and back again, and the only part of it that is worth a @#$%@___ is Paris. And I only got to spend two days there. Think I’ll get a job as brakeman on a freight train when I get home. I’m so used to riding inside door Pullmans—the kind that accommodate 40 hommes or 8 chevaux. I really think the horses have the best of it. Left New York September 8, landing at Glasgow, Scotland, Sept. 21. No excitement at all coming across, although one of the ships from our convoy did sink a submarine. However, we knew nothing of it until it was all over. I had an elegant bed on the boat, slept on the dining room table all the way over….

Ours was an English ship, and we have all been hating the English ever since. We took train at Glasgow for Winchester, England, arriving at latter place about 3 a.m., Sept. 22….

Landed at Cherbourg morning of Sept. 25 and marched out to rest camp where we spent 4 days. Only reason I could give for calling it a rest camp is that your stomach got much a nice rest, near starved. Being a British camp, more love stored up for the British. Get out your map of France now. Left Cherbourg evening of Sept. 28 in horse cars from Neuvic, France, a small town about 18 miles from Perigueux. 34 men in my car and fine sleeping, not one day and two nights along the way. Arrived at Neuvic station 7 a.m., Sept. 30 and were billeted in a small village about a mile from Neuvic. I slept in a nice airy barn—quite airy. In fact, my battalion remained here until Nov. 3, although the 84th div. was made a replacement div. about Oct. 10, and 12,000 of the infantry were sent away as replacements….

On Nov. 3, we left Neuvic for Cours Cheverny. Had to hike three or four miles to St. Astier where we took train. While we were waiting to entrain, who should look me up but Major Ford. First time I had seen him since leaving Sherman…. When our cars pulled in, we were agreeably surprised to find them to be passenger coaches, not first class ones, but passenger coaches just the same. Spent two days and two nights on the train and the morning of Nov. 5, detrained at Cours Cheverny and took a 10-mile hike to Les Montils, a small town about 8 miles from Blois….
On Nov. 11, the day the Armistice was signed, we heard that the 309th was to be broken up and the men sent to other units in replacements. That night, about 10 o’clock as I was coming back to my billet after celebrating the Armistice, I heard that the battalion had orders to move at 1 a.m. that night. I don’t see yet how that bunch ever walked the 10 miles back to Cours Cheverny. Nearly everybody was half shot after the celebration, and it was a wild mob that left Les Montil at 130 a.m., Nov. 5 on the hike to Cours Cheverny….

We spent five days on the train, detrained…to finish the last lap of our trip on foot. It was in the region…that I had my first view of the battlefield. About 75 of us from the 309th had been ordered to report to the division headquarters of the 28th div. at Hendicourt, about 3 miles from Woinville. We arrived at Hendicourt on the afternoon of Nov. 16. Nov 10, the day before the Armistice was signed, Hendicourt had received a final shelling from the Germans. We remained at Hendicourt from Nov. 16 to 18. There had been a mix up in orders and the 28th didn’t want us, so on Nov. 18, we were ordered to report to the 409th telegraph….
While at Brunieres, ran into Joe Lazarus from Louisville, a Lieut. in the 806th Pioneer Infantry, a Negro outfit. He was the first Louisville man I had run across since landing in France…. Ran up on Dick Jones…He was convalescing from the flu and [from] begin gassed….

[excerpt only]

….Signed ‘Holloway’ Clark…

Civil War: Confederate. Liddy Berry, Charlestown, 1861

THE BATTLE OF THE FIRST MANASSAS—THE FIRST BULL RUN

"[Monte] was taken before General Pope and he sat with his hat on all the time and with a most indifferent manner. The General asked him a great many questions. Monte replied he didn’t think it fair to question him so, [and] that General Pope had his [own] resources from which to get his information and that now he [Monte] would like to ask him a few…."

A FEW OF THE LETTER'S HIGHLIGHTS
**Lee mentioned several times in letter. Possibly family members of Robert E. Lee
**General Pope’s Three-hour Interrogation of Confederate Soldier
**General Banks
**Harper’s Ferry
**Union troops search houses
**Fairfax Court House
**Oath of Allegiance and Agreement Refusing to Aid Confederate Army
**Many Negroes Have Gone
**Surrounded by Federal Troops

Confederate history—a 12-page letter written only seven days after the Battle of the first Bull Run.

The letter is written by Aunt Berry to her nephews, Charles James Berry and Lawrence Lee Gribbs Berry, both of Company "B", 2nd Virginia Infantry. The letter’s content is absolutely wonderful and gives one a sense of the early Confederate emotion as the war, in its infancy began to rage. The entire letter is filled with fantastic content. Because of its length it is quoted below in excerpts.

On July 21,1861, a bright, warm day, two armies of a divided nation clashed for the first time on the fields overlooking Bull Run. Their ranks were filled with enthusiastic young volunteers in colorful new uniforms, gathered together from every part of the country. Confident that their foes would run at the first shot, the raw recruits were thankful that they would not miss the only battle of what surely would be a short war. But any thought of colorful pageantry was suddenly lost in the smoke, din, dirt, and death of battle. Soldiers on both sides were stunned by the violence and destruction they encountered. At day's end nearly 900 young men lay lifeless on the fields of Matthews Hill, Henry Hill, and Chinn Ridge. Ten hours of heavy fighting swept away any notion the war's outcome would be decided quickly.

The two Berry brothers fought in the same Confederate Regiment, the same Company—but only one would survive the war. Lawrence Lee Gribbs Berry was killed at the age of 22 years while on picket duty at Falls Church, Virginia, only two months from the day of the first battle of Bull Run. His brother Charles James Berry would be discharged on October 14, 1862. He lived in Albany, Georgia, until his death in 1886. He is buried in Edge Hill Cemetery, Charlestown, West Virginia.

In the letter, other soldiers were also mentioned and a request was made by the Aunt for information on their fate. Richard Lewis Timberlake mustered into Company "B" of the 17th VA Infantry and later into Company "B", 12th VA Infantry was killed on September 16, 1864 at Sycamore Church and while on Hampton’s Cattle Raid. Francis H. Abbott, (Warren Rifle Company) also in the 17th VA Infantry, Company "A" would never see home again. He was killed on May 5, 1862 at Williamsburg, Va. He was described as 6’ 1" (tall for those days), fair complexion, blue eyes and light hair.

EXCERPTS OF BERRY LETTER

The battle of the First Manassas commenced on a Saturday, July 21, 1861. News of the bloody battle spread fast to the Berry family. Not knowing whether the Berry brothers were alive or dead, they anxiously awaited news from the front. Finally on Friday, July 26, 1861, Aunt F…received word. On Monday, she wrote to her nephews.

"Charlestown—July 29, 1861 (Monday morning)—

My Dear Nephews—

After a great anxiety, I received your welcome letters, chiefly welcome because they proved you both lived. Oh how thankful we ought to be that you were spared, and I am indeed so. I have been greatly distressed for those who have been killed and died. It was an awful loss of life and I wish it were sufficient to stop now. We could hear nothing of you boys until we got your letters. There were many letters received here, giving an account of the battle and of the dead and wounded among our acquaintances and as you were not mentioned we hoped for the best, but still feared the worst. We did not get your letter until Friday…."

…Charlie…has had his utmost ambition now gratified, I should think—as he was in the greatest fight that ever took place n this side of the globe--we have been surrounded by the Federal troops, but I am thankful to say we were not treated with any indignity by any of them—though I have been told that had they remained a day longer, our house was to have been searched as several others had been. I presume your Pa gave you a description of their stay and departure in and from our midst…."

…I was so sorry to her of Mr. Harrison & Conrad’s deaths. [The Harrison mentioned here is Major Carter Henry Harrison, VA 11th Infantry, killed on July 17, 1861 at Manassas. Conrad is identified either Henry T. Conrad or Holmes A. Conrad, both died at Manassas, both in Company "D",2nd VA Infantry.] Oh, what a loss! And to think ours is spared—to God be all the praise for ours…." George is in Col. Preston’s command, a waggoneer. [Col. Preston was wounded at Manassas on July 21, 1861 and died of his wounds in January, 1862, at the age of 50.] Have you seen or heard anything of Frank Abbott or Richard Timberlake wounded in your company. They were in Warren Rifle Company. Heard Seth was one, who was the other? [Seth Timberlake was severely wounded in both legs on July 21, at Manassas and later discharged. He survived the war and died in 1907.] We have heard from persons who have been over and returned from the battlefield, an account of the fight—and of many incidents after it….

I heard last evening that the Federal army was passing over the river at Ferry, but whether they will leave entirely or not, I do not know. The paper has stated that Harper’s Ferry is to be headquarters—a large party of their cavalry was up yesterday, in town, scouting. I have been told that some of them are here every night—he servants say they have the horses hoofs padded….

Cousin Betsy’s house was searched and M[onte’s] military coat and pants taken, and he afterwards was taken prisoner and made to sign a paper, refusing to aid our side. It is a great mortification to him. He was taken before General Pope and he sat with his hat on all the time and with a most indifferent manner. The General asked him a great many questions. Monte replied he didn’t think it fair to question him so, that General Pope had his resources from which to get his information and that now he would like to ask him a few…. Monte was kept for three hours…. Charlotte says it s a sore subject to him. When you write home…perhaps you best not mention about Monte unless you hear it spoken of. Still, I don’t know what harm it will do for it is true, he had to sign the paper. I understand General Pope has returned to Philadelphia and that Gen. Banks has his position.

I heard yesterday that your Uncle Lee was at Fairfax Court House. I wish you could hear positively how he is and let us hear—I fee anxious about him and hope he will not go into service until well. I hear this morning that there is none of the Federals at the ferry except the pickets, but understand they are fortifying the opposite side as they hear Johnson is going into Maryland….


Be sure to write and send the bag and burn or destroy this [letter]. If you see Lee, tell him I heard from his house a day or two ago—all were well. Lucky was out to persuade Jim not to go with the Federal army. She was so much afraid some older one might take him off. She don’t like the Northern men. Many Negroes have gone—among others….

Your Aunt Lidy Joe."

Civil War: Charlotte Couch, Illinois 1865

Civil War letter written by Charlotte Couch of Fairview, Illinois, and dated April 19, 1865. It is addressed to a Civil War soldier, identified as "Henry".

It is clear by this letter that Charlotte Couch was an intelligent, outspoken women. She makes her feelings about the South and it’s military leaders clear in this letter.

LETTER EXCERPTS

"Fairview, Illinois—April 19, 1865
Friend Henry—

…I received your letter last Friday that was due the the 30 of March. I also got a letter from John Couch last Friday. [Most likely the John Couch referenced here belonged to Company "C", 103rd Illinois Infantry.] He never said how he was, but he seemed to be very much engaged and inclined to think that Sherman’s army is the best one in the field. I think myself that he is very good. Grant has been doing some good work within the last few weeks. Well I felt very well satisfied to hear that Richmond was taken the way it was--only I should liked for Lee to have been killed!

Well I suppose many other think that the war cannot last much longer. We heard late last evening that they had taken Johnston’s Army…. We have got many Rebels up north. We killed them with the Draft. They may turn again…they don’t want any more men. The Draft went off in Deerfield last week. Three of the young men run off but just as soon as they heard that they was not wanted, they came right back to Bayless….

I suppose that A. Lincoln was buried at Springfield yesterday. I have no doubt but what it was the largest funeral that was ever known in the United States. There was a great many went from Canton. Well it seems hard to think that good true men should b shot down by the likes of Northern Traitors. It seems bad enough to fall in battle. Of I would like to see the one hang that shot Lincoln. Well I hope that Johnson will be harder than ever. Lincoln was on the Rebels.
I was glad that you all had such good success while on your last march. Well I will close for this time, hoping that after a few more letters that we can have the pleasure of hearing soldier’s tell of their hardships that they have went through on account of this rebellion.

I remain, your friend, Charlotte Couch…."

Civil War: Steamer John Raine, 1869

Name: JAN BETTENCOURT
E- mail: JANNPAUL@WMCONNECT.COM

CAIRO
US STEAMER JOHN RAINE
MARCH 26, 1869

Cousen lydia ann b.

I take my pen to write thee a few lines. I met with an accident yesterday we get orders to out and drill our horses some i saddle up a fool horse that no one can ride i left my horse in the stable he was sick. Well i got on this one at the edge of the river he got to rearing up and ran in to the river i got him out and raired and throughed me off and fell on me and smashed mu ankle up he layed on me untill some to the boys pulled him off they carried me on the boat and put me to bed i am going on a crutch this morning.

Will got his finger shot off day before yesterday so you see we are both crippled he got it done accidently putting his revolver in the scabbard our boat is at cairo the rest of the boats are a vicksburg and we will go down the river before long. I expect will will get a furlong till his finger gets well or the place where his finger ought to be but i can;t get one without the bone was broken

i want you to write to me and let me know if you get the money i sent and if bev has got tht receipt for expressing them boots to me put it in a letter and send it to me and when i get to memphis i will make them pay for it send quick before i leave cairo direct to cairo us steamer john raine a.j. fraizer co d 1st car mmb

give my love to all inquiring friends write soon ashley j. Fraizer i will send you john will photographs. Keep it until i get home for i woulod not take a arm for it. He's going to send mine to his folks look out for my picture to it is is a case so so

Notes: the letter writer is ashley j. Frazier, cousin of lydia ann burgess parker. He was born in 1840 in indianna and died in ohio

Civil War: Ashley Fraizer, Fort Pickering 1862

Name: JAN BETTENCOURT
E- mail: JANNPAUL@WMCONNECT.COM

FORT PICKERING DECEMBER 10TH 1862

cousen lidia a. Burgess

i got your letter the other day and with it one from louisa leonard. I was very glad to hear from you. My health is very good. I thought sometime ago that i would have to give up and go to the hospital but did not go and i expect it was best for i have got better my old cough came back again. Well there is no news of importance to write.

I think the war is about over if our troops will stand right up to them. They are completely whiped hear. They say that theyare readuy to give up now . If some of our home cowards would come and help us a little them fellows that have come from virginia to silas george they are nothing but cowards that wont fight for ther homes and ought not to be countinanced at all.. They ought to be drove out of highland county, they shirk out of the war and run from there homes when they might voluntered in some regiment and fight when we must do there fighting for them.

There john barrett and bill barrett such as them and the homes. We must suffer. It makes me mad to think of it. I ever get back they must hope ther gab to ther selves or ther will be somebody hurt.

Well my boots has no come yet but it is likely they will come before long. I am wanting them very bad as the weather is getting very disagreeable. If the expressage is payed i can get them as quick as the get here. If not i can't tell when they will be delivered for money is very scarce hear now we have not got our pay yet. I am still working at the fort yet but we may go away from hear before long.

Write soon give my love to everbody but home cowards
ash fraizer

Notes: ashley j. Frazier was a cousin of lydia burgess parker he was born in 1840 in indianna and was related through the leonard connection.

Civil War Letter: Ashley J. Fraizer, Louisiana 1864

Name: JAN BETTENCOURT
E- mail: JANNPAUL@WMCONNECT.COM

U.s. ste
john raine water prof la.
Sunday jan. 3rd 1864

dear cousen i am so tired i can hardly write but i suppose i must try to answer your letter i got yesterday it is the 2nd one i have got sense i left home, i have been in the saddle for three days scouting and it is very hard work where ther is as many rebs as ther is hear yesterday. We was in miss.

Today we roade 25 miles through la runing rebs scouts and taken prisonors they are very thick hear we have been fighting them for three weeks they slip up on us and kill our pickets and then run and we catch them if we can. We are 75 miles below vicksburg and i expect we will go on down the river the day after christmas. We had fight at port gibson and yesterday we drove the rebs a way from oakland colage and held it about 3 hours then we collected all the fat cattle we could get and started for rodney. We get off the boats 10 miles above rodney and the boats was to be ther befor us we got there by land after we got the cattle together. The major started me ahead of the column to see if the boats had got to rodney and to tell them to be ready to kill the cattle it was a dangerous tripp and i didn't know the way but i loaded my carbine and took my revolver in my hand and away i went. It was three miles and some places i could not see 50 yards ahead of me, steepe hills and steepe cuts but i whiped through and got to town safe.

The boat got there as i did. 50 rebs could get in to them hills and whip 500 of us if they had sense enough there is a good deal of suffering amongst the reb families hear this morning there was two women come on board to see if they could buy some shoes for there children they had three small children with them they were bair footed cold wet and muddy such things make me feel sorry i bought them some soda and crackers which was the first flower bread they had tasted for some six months well i quit for this time direct to the john raine be sure to put co d car mmb

ashley j. Fraizer write soon tell all the news my health is good i will write again soon

Notes: ashley j. Fraizer son of john j. Frazier and abigail leonard born 1840 indianna died in ohio cousin of lydia ann burgess parker written as wrote no corrections of spelling or punctuation

Civil War Letter: Ashley J. Frazier, Virginia 1863

Name: JAN BETTENCOURT
E- mail: JANNPAUL@WMCONNECT.COM

U.s. hospitle sts
woodford vicksburg
july 21, 1863

Dear cousen lidia

i am still in the land of the living and _______and harty but ther is a good deal of sickness as high as 7 or 8 die of a night on our boat thye liked me so well as a nurse they put me in gen ward master of all the sick i have 164 beds and 150 sick in them i have 18 nurses and it keeps them busy to get along it takes 30 neggroes busy to wash and iron and scrub the boat

i have got plenty of money and would send some home if i had a chance but there is no chance now i hant saw ben gadd yet nore any of the 48th i don't know whether he is a living or not the rest of the boats has gone down the river towards new orleans and we will start down in a few hours. I don't know where we will go i hear the rebs is in indianna county up river they had better look out

tell me all the news going for i hant got time to write more now direct as before

ashley j. Frazier

Civil War Letter: Ashley J. Frazier, Mississippi (no date)

Name: JAN BETTENCOURT
E- mail: JANNPAUL@WMCONNECT.COM

U.s. ste john rearn brumis burough miss. Feb 26

cous i receivied your letter today and was glad to hear from you. My health is good and we are confiscating cotton. I got in last night about 10 clock after two days scouting cotton we found 800 bailes back in the hills concealed. We brought in 100 bailes with us and are going out after the rest a baile of cotton is worth $350 no just count that up and see we are making money for uncle sam recolect that is not half we are at the business all the time, we have got the rebs cleaned out in these parts for awhile

well i must tell about my getting my dinner at port gibson we made a raid on port gibson the other day we charged into town on a gallop but found a few rebs there hill is back and with me after we got into town we stopped on main street to let our horses rest and eat a bit of hard tack hill called me by name and there was an old man hered him and come up to me and wanted to know who i was. I told him and he claimed kin with me and made hill and my gang eat dinner with him. We had a good dinner and good buttermilk, his name was milegan. He has some relation living in clinton and fayette co., Ohio so you see i have friends hear in the suney south i also got acquainted with dr. Sprute out there by hill knowing his dad at keokuk, iowa he wanted us to come and take dinner with him next time we come to town hill is stouter than he was so no more for this time

ashley j. Frazier writ soon

Civil War: Natchez Mississippi Hospital 1869 - Ashley Frazier

Name: JAN BETTENCOURT
E- mail: JANNPAUL@WMCONNECT.COM

Natchez missippi
u.s. hospital ster woodford
aug. 27,1869

Notes: dear cousin i am down the river 110 miles below vicksburg at a nice town called vatchez the nicest place i have saw in the confederacy we come down for a holaday the head dockter thought it would be a nice tripp for the sick and so it is. We get all the fruit we can eat and melons by the dossen so you we have good times i took the ambulance and took a load of boys on out to see the town we had a merry time i tell you i bought some apples and a mess of dumplings but i missed aunt malindas cream dip very much and will have something more good.

The 48th regt passed hear going to new orleans yesterday my health is not very good i have got the gripp? Part of the time so no more now write soon ashley j. Frazier well lydia we once more in sight of vicksburg and will soon land there againe our frollick is over for a while but i have some hope of getting a letter and that will be joy give my love to aunt malinda tell her i had apple dumplings for dinner give my love to emma stalker tell unkle beve i will vote for john bough for governer of ohio and i am going to send my ticket home

ashley j. Frazier direct u.s. ster woodford

Civil War: on board the Steamer John Raine 1862

Name JAN BETTENCOURT
E- mail: JANNPAUL@WMCONNECT.COM

U.S. Steamer John Raine
Vicksburg, Miss.
April 22nd 1862

Miss Lidia Burgess

Your Kind Letteer Of The 12 Ins, Came To Hand This Morning Finding Me Enjoying Reasonable Fashion Of Health, I Got One Letter From Ashley Some Time Ago. I Will Send It Enclosed With This And You Can See For Your Self What He Has To Say. I Also Herd From Him A Few Days Ago They Was In Al. Then. I Don't Think They Will Be Sent To Richman On The Account Of Our Troops. You Spoke Of The File At Columbus I Guess It's A Mistake But Perhaps You Have Herd Of The File At Fort Sillow? One Of The Most Horred Things I Ever Herd Of On The Nite Of The 22 The Gun Boat Number 5 Was Sunk Up The Yazoo River And Number 11 There Was 3 Shots Entered Him But She Made His Escape Being Disabled Some. The Dianna And The Adams They Run Up And The Rebs They Disapered, The Hopital Woodford Was Sunk Up Red River She Run Afowl Of A Snag And Sunk In 15 Feet Of Water, No Lives Lost. One Of Our Transports Was Sunk Below Natier By The Rebs Nite Before Last.

It Appears As Tho The Rebs Are Getting The Upper Hand Of Us Now. This Is All Done By These Gorillas.We Have Just Come In From The River But We Coudn't Find Anything. I Guess They Are Afraid Of The Marines. You Wanted To Know About Our File. We Was Guarding A Train Of Cotton And As We Was Coming In We Was Ambooshed ... We Fought Them About 20 Minutes When They Retreated Killing 2 Of Our Men And Taking 10 Prisoner. We Killed 5 There Men And Held Our Ground And Wounded Some They Took All Of Our Advanced Guards. Ash Was In The Advanced.

Please Exuse This As I Am Have A Lame Arm And Can't Write Much. And Write When Concenietn And Direct To As Before

Respectfuly Yours J.H. Hill

Notes: This Writer Is A Friend Of Ashley J. Frazier, He Is Writing To Cousin Lydia To Let Her Know That Ashley Has Been Taken Prisoner.

Civil War: Ashley J. Fraizer, POW 1864

Name JAN BETTENCOURT
E- Mail: JANNPAUL@WMCONNECT.COM

Letter:
u.s. steamer john raine
august 6th 1864

miss burgess your note of july 20th is just received and i will answer it without delay. Ashley j. Fraizer was taken prisoner on the night of march 4, 1864. We have heard from him several times since his capture. There are seven of the company with him. The last we heard from them they were in georgia, three of the number that were captured where he was have been exchanged and are now in the company. The last time we heard from him he was well which was about june 25th. I expect he will be exchanged soon at least the rebel authorities promised to exchange the marine prisoners at the next exchange in this dept. Please never make any excuses for writing me in the future relative to him or any other member of my company. For i feel it is a duty and with pleasure give any information to friends relating to any member of the company. I am respectfully yours f.v.decosten ----co d com m.m.b.

Notes: i assume this letter was sent to lydia burgess parker from the commanding officer of the company that her cousin ashley j. Frazier belinged.

WW1: Albert Bertram Mudge, Ontario 1915

Name: Linda M. Shea
E- mail: shaylin@telus.net

Belgium,
April 28, 1915

Mrs. R. Mudge,
41 Queen St., W.,
Guelph, Ontario

Dearest Mother and the rest;

I suppose you are anxiously awaiting the receipt of this letter to know if I am all right. Well, I am as fit as a fiddle thanks to my good health and God’s help and mercy in sparing me. By the time you will have received this letter the papers will have told, as best they know how of the way the Canadians brought honour to the country that sent them here, but the half will never be known of the individual heroism displayed during the charge and the days that followed.

I had gone to an important city near our billets about 5 o’clock and was in a store when suddenly there was an awful roar and all the windows were broken and the goods on the shelves fell on the floor. About a hundred yards up the street on the other side a “Jack Johnson” (18 inch shell) had demolished a house. It is wonderful the damage one shell can do. They have been dropping them into this town steadily for two days -- a case of wanton destruction, as the town was demolished last November, this just seems like heaping insult on injury. Our captain came along then, a fine man, whom we lost in the charge, and who sent us ahead to tell the officers to have the men fall in at once. Shortly afterwards we were ready to march off, after having filled our water bottles and gathered some grub into our haversacks, a wise precaution, not taken by all companies. On our way to the position we were to attack we met the French on the road coming back, gasping for breath from the effects of the gas bombs that were used by the dastardly Germans, in their attack.

One cannot blame the French for not being able to face it, as it made our eyes smart when we were half a mile from the trenches, almost an hour after it was used. The success of our attack depended on it being a complete surprise which it surely was. As one prisoner we captured said “We had thousands of men in reserve at this point ready to continue the advance at daybreak, and never in the least expected a counter attack so soon.” Our boys advanced in extended order, with fixed bayonets. (as per instructions received in Salisbury Plains) As they came through the hedge 150 yards in front of the trenches the enemy has almost completed, they were met by a hail of bullets from rifle and machine guns through which it would seem impossible for a man to pass alive, but some of us did, other poor fellows only got part way. As we got within a few yards of the trenches, the Huns beat it, for they will not stand and face cold steel when backed up by a “Tommie.”

As we stopped for breath in the trench, I found myself sitting on a big strapping Hun, who was crouching down in a corner. We took his rifle and ammunition from him and one of the boys stayed with him. We made other prisoners there too, who held up their hands pleading not to be bayoneted. Our Colonel Lockie then led us through the woods and out the other side. We lost a number there, and also captured many besides two large French guns, which has been captured. Dawn broke at 3:30 a.m. and found the Canadians “standing to” ready for a counter attack in trenches that had been dug within the last two hours. We were shelled something fierce all day and early the next morning were relieved by fresh troops. We went back about ½ mile and dug ourselves in for reserves for the excitement still continued as far as the shelling goes. They dropped them all about us all day long, and all night, but we were safe unless a shell happened to drop right in close to our dug out.

There are fresh troops and big guns here now so just watch our “smoke” save the day. At what cost I cannot say yet until it is official, but the losses later would have been far worse, if we had not checked them that night.

Mother, dear, you would not know me now. I haven’t washed in five days and am covered with mud from head to foot, and am writing this in a hole 3 ft. in diameter and 4 ft. deep, with plenty of straw and a horse blanket to cover me, and a couple of green shutters for a roof. The paper was supplied me by W. Forgie our Y.M.C. secretary who brought it to us with the shells bursting all about him but he knew we wanted to write home and let our folks know we were safe. Our officers were bricks and there are none better in the British army when it comes to going right into it, leading the men.

Well, mother, dear, I will have to close for this time. Let my friends know I am safe, as I cannot write more now. By God’s grace I came through thus far safely and I am leaving to Him the final outcome. Be brave, mother, dear and trust Him to see me safely home. Give my love to all and tell them that Canada has need to be proud of her boys, and to send more like them.

Yours lovingly, Bert

Notes: My granduncle Albert Bertram Mudge was b. 14 Nov. 1894 in Peterborough, Ontario the eldest son of Richard Mudge & Minnie Ellen Crossley. The family moved to Guelph around 1901. He was a private in the 16th battalion, Canadian Scottish Highlanders. After the war he moved to Winnipeg where he married Verta Eileen Meacham, 21 April 1920 and had one son. Uncle Bert worked for Eaton's from 1919 until 1958 when he retired. He died 28 Nov. 1968 in Winnipeg.

Civil War: LETTERS FROM SOLDIER ON USS VANDERBILT, 1864

1864 NAVAL LETTERS FROM SOLDIER ON USS VANDERBILT

"Elias, I do not steal as much here as I used to in the Army for I used to help myself to sugar and from the quartermaster. But here I steal fresh water to wash in. Every night I manage to steal a qt. to wash in. In the morning I have to be very sly about it for there is a guard constantly over it. But I have not been caught yet. It is great business stealing water when there is nothing to be seen but water." Bloom, October 1864

Correspondence written by a naval soldier covering three days, October 25, 26, and 27, 1864, while aboard the USS Vanderbilt. The soldier’s name was "Bloom" and he is writing to his brother. Bloom makes several interesting confessions regarding his less than becoming conduct. an interesting look into life aboard the Vanderbilt.

The letter comprises three pages dated Oct. 25, and one page dated Oct. 26, 1864). The fifth page is dated October 27, 1864, and is written on a half sheet lined paper

THE USS VANDERBILT

The Vanderbilt was originally a transatlantic passenger and mail steamer, built by Jeremiah Simonson of Greenpoint, Long Island, N.Y., in 1856 and 1857. It was chartered by the Union Army shortly after the start of the Civil War in April 1861, offered to the Army by her owner, Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, in early 1862; and transferred to the Navy on March 24, 1862.

Popularly known as "Vanderbilt's Yacht," the former flagship of Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt's North Atlantic Mail Steamship Line began her military career in Hampton Roads, Va., intended for use as a ram against the Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia. Commodore Vanderbilt, suggested filling the bow of the vessel with concrete and reinforcing it with iron plating. This was not done, however, and the Vanderbilt was turned over to the Navy on and fitted with a heavy battery of 15 guns at the New York Navy Yard during the summer of 1862. The Vanderbilt left New York on November 10 and, after conducting a brief search for the CSS Alabama, the most destructive Confederate commerce raider of the entire war, was put into Hampton Roads on January 17, 1863.

Ten days later, the Vanderbilt received orders to conduct a much longer and more thorough search for Alabama. This year-long cruise took the vessel to the West Indies, eastern coast of South America, Cape of Good Hope, St. Helena, Cape Verde, the Canary Islands, Spain and Portugal. During the West Indies portion of her deployment, Vanderbilt served as flagship of Commodore Charles Wilkes' Flying Squadron. During the search, Vanderbilt captured the blockade-running British steamer Peterhoff on 25 February, off St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, causing a dispute between the British and Americans as to the disposition of mail carried aboard the steamer. President Lincoln eventually ordered the mail returned to the British. Vanderbilt's captures also included the British blockade runner Gertrude, taken off Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas on April 16, 1863, and the British bark Saxon, seized at Angra Peguena, Africa, on 30 October. Saxon was suspected of having rendezvoused with and taken cargo off CSS Tuscaloosa earlier. However, pursuing lead to the whereabouts of Alabama, became increasingly frustrating as Vanderbilt would often arrive at a port only to discover that her quarry had departed only a few hours earlier. She eventually returned to New York in January 1864 for repairs without ever having sighted the Confederate vessel.

About the time this letter was written, the Vanderbilt was deployed with the blockade off Wilmington in November and participated in the unsuccessful first amphibious assault upon Confederate Fort Fisher in the Cape Fear River, N.C., on December 24 and 25. The Fleet took the fort during a second amphibious assault on 13 and 15 January 1865.

Vanderbilt returned to New York in late January, remaining until March 24, when she left for the Gulf of Mexico ferrying new recruits. From there, she proceeded to Charleston, S.C., towing the uncompleted Confederate ram Columbia from Charleston to Norfolk in May, and towed the Onondaga from Norfolk to New York in June. Vanderbilt served as a receiving ship at the Portsmouth (N.H.) Navy Yard during the summer of 1865.

The Civil War now over, Vanderbilt sailed from Portsmouth on 14 August and put into the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 27 August to be fitted out for a cruise around Cape Horn. She left Philadelphia on 25 October and arrived in Hampton Roads three days later. There, she was designated flagship of a special squadron consisting of herself, Tuscarora, Powhatan, and Monadnock. The squadron was commanded by Commodore John Rodgers and intended to increase the Pacific Squadron to a 14-ship force. The vessels left Hampton Roads on 2 November and arrived at San Francisco, Calif., on 21 June 1866 after stopping at most major South American ports while circumnavigating the South American continent.

Vanderbilt was decommissioned at Mare Island, Calif., on 30 June, but was soon recommissioned and on 13 October, sailed from San Francisco to Honolulu Hawaii, with the Hawaiian monarch, Queen Emma, on board. The cruiser returned to San Francisco on 3 December and remained there at anchor until placed in ordinary at Mare Island on 24 May 1867. She lay there, in ordinary, until sold on 1 April 1873 to Howe Company of San Francisco. Her new owners removed her machinery, gave her a graceful clipper bow, and full rigging. Renamed Three Brothers, she spent most of her time in the grain trade between San Francisco Le Havre, Liverpool, and New York where she acquired an enviable reputation for speed and handling. Vanderbilt's Yacht" served successive owners until 1899, at which time the vessel, now a coal hulk, was sold for scrap at Gilbraltar.

BLOOM LETTER

The letter is quoted in its entirety. For ease of reading, grammar and spelling have been corrected: "USS Vanderbilt at Sea Thursday Evening, Oct. 25, 1864

Dear Brother—

I write you these few lines under difficulties. I have wrote letters by moonlight and by campfire but this setting here and the ship rocking so hard that I scan scarcely sit still and the wind blowing the light out continually beats everything, so you must excuse the writing.
Well we left Boston yesterday 4. This morning I was up at 5 to wash some clothing. It was still dark. But as soon as I commence a heavy sea came over the vessel and wet me almost through. The sea was very high. I finished washing but no sooner hung them up then it commenced raining. It has been a very disagreeable day. I never saw the vessel rock so. I have done nothing all day. Near noon I was a little sea sick or rather had a headache. But I went [and had] my dinner. I never felt better as I do now. I ate some of mother’s doughnuts tonight and will eat more before retiring. I thank her very much for them. They make me think of her and home. Tomorrow we expect to arrive at Fortress Monroe, and I will send you these lines.

We have on board 25 or 30 men to leave there. I believe from there I don not know where we will go. The boys on here now are very lively and are enjoying themselves singing. But some of them was very sea sick this morning. Elias I would like to have you along on one cruise to know how you would like it. I guess if you could come aboard tonight you would give anything to get off before morning. You would be so sea sick. (Fifteen Minutes later). I have just been on the hurricane deck securing the accommodation ladders afraid they would be washed away. The sea washes clean over. It does not rain now.

Elias, I do not steal as much here as I used to in the Army for I used to help myself to sugar and from the quartermaster. But here I steal fresh water to wash in. Every night I manage to steal a qt. to wash in. In the morning I have to be very sly about it for there is a guard constantly over it. But I have not been caught yet. It is great business stealing water when there is nothing to be seen but water. Salt water is miserable stiff to wash in. I must now close for the present. You would think the sailors were wild. Could you be here now, they have all sorts of mineral instruments and they are all going tin pans and everything. It sounds like a ? at a wedding. I will write you a few more lines before I send this. Excuse this as it is written as hasty as some of yours was to me.

I remain. Your loving brother…Bloom.


At Sea Wednesday Eve. Oct. 26, 1864

Dear Brother—

We are still on the ocean sailing. We expect to land tomorrow. Today has been pleasant and warm. This morning I again washed some clothing at 5. What do you think of washing clothing at night. We have to do it here. I have been quite busy all day. I am glad to tell you that my friend Cosgrove has been promoted today as Ship Corporal. It will be an easy berth for him and he can have all night in[side]. We are sorry to loose him as a cook of our mess as he cannot be easily replaced. I ate some of that bolonie [sic] tonight only I want to take care of those army letters of mine under the bureau in your room. You must not read them. You can sell my silk hat if you can get any reasonable price for it and let the money go in my account. Nor more at present. I remain your loving brother, Bloom. P.S. Excuse the writing as I am writing by a dim light.

Oct. 27th 1864

— Dear Brother— We arrived here at noon as the mail ? and I am very busy. I write these lines to let you know I am well more tomorrow. Bloom.
Direct your letter to Fortress Monroe, USS Vanderbilt.

T R Harrison & Frances Darling to Capt. Ed Richmond, Massachusetts, 1854

This stampless letter has a circular date stamp for PAW PAW Mich., a matching PAID and 3 cent rate, and is addressed to Capt. Ed Richmond, N. Adams, Mass., It is a two+ page letter (plus a small enclosure) written by T.R. Harrison and Frances Darling. The headline is Paw Paw, Mich, Aug 16 / 54 [1854].

Some abstracts:

"Inclosed you will find orders for the payment of amounts due to Frances N. Darling, & Jane E. Darling, daughters of William Darling, deceased, from the estate of their Grandfather David Darling of which you are Administrator."

"There are two other children of the said William Darling & only two both boys & of age, Charles & Edgar, the former residing in Jackson in this state & the latter at Leoni in the same county, where also the Mother (now Mrs. Haywood) [Kaywood?] also resides."

"The amount due Jane E. you will forward directly to me, she being my wife, also the amount for Frances you will forward to my care; she is now teaching school a few miles from her & makes it her home with me."

Emma Wadsworth Letter, 1865

The correspondent, Emma Wadsworth is clearly an intelligent, articulate, young woman and does not hesitate to speak her mind. She gives the reader a descriptive literary sketch of the intrigue and the controversy surrounding the Lincoln Assassination. Excerpts of the letter are quoted below.

LETTER EXCERPTS

"Speedwell, Ills.—April 21, 1865

Dear Friend--

Your favor of March 20th, I believe it was for the first part of it has been scattered among my papers so I have not time now to hunt it up…I forthwith proceed to reply. Here is a goodly piece of paper to begin with but letter writing is getting to be such a bore that I can hardly content myself to write…

I am in glorious spirits and good health and you know when we feel well everything is bright and joyous, and when the prospect of peace lifts one up to the ‘ether regions’ or with peace and calm will come, cool reason and soberness. O how anxious I feel . O my beloved country will thy children buy bitterness and wrath, prejudice and the sorrows of this cruel civil war and write on the glorious principles of Madison and Jefferson. I fear they will not do it for many years. Oh but I welcome that sweet angel of peace!

Everything is peace around here since Richmond was taken. Goods and everything else have fell 50 percent. It has been a hard winter….

Mr. William McClury and [Mr.] Flowers are home paroled. McClury has been with us some. Lincoln’s assassination has cast a gloom over the north. The anti-war party bitterly detested Lincoln and have no crocodile tears to spill over his death. But heaven save us from the drunken debaucher [Andrew Johnson] who reigns in his place. I would a thousand times rather had Lincoln than the thing who by virtue of the second office is the gift of the people, now holds the first place. Not a paper I have seen has failed to denounce him for his shameless ‘incoherency’ on the inauguration day and I have seen the friends of Lincoln shed tears of vexation over that exhibition, the shoddy Democrats by to mourn loudest of all over Lincoln’s fate—who when living, they denounced everything he did and said. It reminds of the way the opposite party carried on when the noble Mr. Douglas died, I lament that our land has been darkened by the assassin’s hand, but for one who from my very soul, I believe to be the worst enemy of my country almost. I would have him suffer for his actions by the laws of our country and not by the assassin’s hand. But if it is possible in Andy Johnson we have the essence of combined meanness, instead of a thoughtless, cruel joker….

I like frankness in all matters and I nknow you do or I would not dare to write as I do…. Write often…E.W."

******END OF LETTER******

An 1860 pre-civil war dated letter from William Wadsworth to his sister, Emma Wadsworth

1860 PRE-CIVIL WAR LETTER WRITTEN BY CORPORAL WILLIAM WADSWORTH

"…A good nigger is worth from fourteen to eighteen hundred dollars here…." William Wadsworth, July 1, 1860"

A pre-civil war dated letter from William Wadsworth to his dear sister, Emma Wadsworth. The letter by Wadsworth is written from Camden, South Carolina on July 1, 1860.

Little did William Wadsworth know, but a short two years later, in 1862, he would muster into Company "I" of the 83rd Illinois Infantry. His perspective on the South in 1860 is very interesting. What he was doing in South Carolina at the time is left to the imagination.

At the time this letter was written, Abraham Lincoln was busy campaigning and was soon to be elected President on November 6, 1860. South Carolina would be the first to secede on December 20, 1860, on the heels of the Lincoln winning the election. What a time for Wadsworth to be visiting South Carolina. The political atmosphere must have been exciting with the North and South at each other’s throats. This letter gives us great insight into the days just before the Civil War commenced.

WADSWORTH LETTER

Below I have quoted excerpts of the letter

"July 1, 1860

Miss Emma--Sister

I received yours of the 16th and was very glad to hear from you. I am well and doing as well as could be well as could be expected for these times. You asked me to tell you what I think of the South. I think just as I always have about the South and the Slavery question. I always thought that if you would rather live in a slave state than a free one and I expect to live farther South than this before many years. I do not believe that Slavery is right, but still I think that under the circumstances that they are held in the South that it is better to keep them as they are for the Slave and Master, although there is is not one Slave out of ten that does not work enough to pay his master the interest on the money that he has invested in him. A good Nigger is worth from fourteen to eighteen hundred dollars here. As for politics there is not much ‘tis made here yet. I think that the race in this state will be pretty close between Bell and S.A. Douglas.

******
[Wadsworth refers here to John Bell and Steven A. Douglas. John Bell initially opposed secession; however, he later gave his full support to President Jefferson Davis and the Confederate Army. In 1860 Douglas was nominated by northern Democrats for the presidency.] ******

You spoke in your letter about some of them trying to make a split in the…church on the slavery questions there is…and I suppose they can all do what they please, but I hope that they will find…foolish enough to have anything to do with such measures, and I think that if old John Miller would strain as hard for the salvation of his soul as he does for popularity, that he would let such things alone and to counting up men he has cheated in horse trades and pay them the difference.

I left Lexington about a month ago. Times got so dull that we had nothing to do and as I was the lost jer in the shop, I had to take my chances. I came from Lexington to here. I have a good job here carrying on a shop for a man that does not know anything about the business. I am getting two dollars per day. I have been out of stock for two or three days but look for more everyday. I cannot tell anything about when I will be at home. I have not got a letter from Lib since I left home. I wrote to Ed twice or three times and to Lib once but have got no answer yet. I do not think that I will write anymore unless they write to me.

Politics does not bother me as much as the girls. There are so many good looking ones here and they all want to marry. I have almost made up my mind to tie to one of them, but I cannot decide which. I think that I shall find one after…need not be surprised if I should bring her home with me when I come. If I do you…expect to see something good looking. We will have a grand ball at the hotel where I am boarding on the fourth and as I am one of the floor mangers, I will have a good chance to look around among them.

If I leave the man that I am at work for soon I will go farther south, and I think that I will stay here and after the first of next month I am going to try to carry…on the shop on my own …
Give my respects to all inquiring friends and not to ones that do not inquire to. Tell Kate and James that I would like to hear from them….[edited the rest of the letter].

Yours truly….Wm. Wadsworth"

1859 PIKES PEAK, COLORADO GOLD RUSH LETTER BY WILLIAM WADSWORTH

1859 PIKES PEAK, COLORADO GOLD RUSH LETTER BY WILLIAM WADSWORTH

"…I expect to start for Pikes Peak about the first of April…. They say that the prospect is full as good as that of California…" Wm. Wadsworth, Feb. 19, 1859"

Here is another William Wadsworth letter written to his sister, Emma Wadsworth. It is written from Greenbush, (presumably Illinois) on February 19, 1859.

William Wadsworth, an apparent mover and shaker, would also live in South Carolina in 1860, immediately preceding the Civil War. See his 1860 letter up for auction, too! Later, in 1862, he would serve in the Civil War (Company "I" of the 83rd Illinois Infantry).

In this letter, Wadsworth tell his sister of his intentions to travel to Colorado—during the Pikes Peak Gold Rush of 1858-59. Like others, he heard rumors of gold, of large nuggets and gold-bearing quartz. Trappers had seen the flash of color in Rocky Mountain streams. Cherokee Indians had found golden flakes in the sands of Ralston's Creek. In the early spring of 1858 four parties of gold seekers started out for the Front Range of the Rockies to verify the truth of these rumors.

WADSWORTH LETTER

"Greenbush—Feb. 19, 1859

Dear Sister

It is with pleasure that I take this opportunity of writing to you. We received a letter from you for Martha. She has not been here since Christmas. She is at Mother’s. Mailed your letter to her this morning. Ed’s folks are all well. Ella is as fat and sAucy as she can be. She is beginning to talk a little. My health is improving. I think that I will get well as soon as warm weather comes.

I expect to start for Pikes Peak about the first of April. I do not know whether I will have time to come to see you before I go or not. I have seen letters from several young men of my acquaintances from there. They say that from 3 to 8 dollars per day is a low estimate of what a man can make. Besides there is two or three men in this neighborhood that has been all through that country. They say that the prospect is full as good as that of California.

I have been shut up in the shop so much for the last five years that I think that the trip will do me good. I intend to go there and if I can do well there, I will stay for a year or two. If not, I will go south and work at my trade. [This is exactly what Wadsworth did in 1860]. I can make from 15 to 18 dollars per week there, which I can only get from 11 to 12 here. I have been getting thirty dollars per month board and wasting since I have been here. I expect to go and see mother before I go away…

.Yours truly, Wm Wadsworth"

Lydia Giles, San Francisco California, 1881

~1880 OVERLAND JOURNEY~SAN FRANCISCO~MARITIME~

“When I have good pen and some better paper, I will write you of the Rocky Mountains, the Plains, the Hills and Valleys, and the Sierra Nevada Mountains that we crossed coming here. If anyone had told me a year ago that I would come Overland to California, I would not have believed it, would you?”

Lydia Ann Giles,
San Francisco, California,
July 10, 1881

Two great letters written by an exciting and adventurous, female sailor, and pioneer who made the Overland journey through the Sierra Nevadas in 1880. The letters are written by Lydia Ann Giles and addressed for the most part to family members in Tenants Harbor, Maine. She sailed the world over with her husband, Captain Henry Giles who worked for J. M. Grace & Company, San Franscisco, shipping and commission merchants

LYDIA'S FIRST LETTER TO HER SISTER
***Oakland, California--July the 10th, 1881***

“Dear Sister-- Will write you a few lines this evening. I arrived here all right—was eight days—got along nicely. Was sick a week after I got here. Had a bad cold-cough and sore throat. I was not on deck for a week. Was over to San Francisco yesterday.

Sherry and I took the afternoon to ourselves and had a good walk. Took the car and went to Laurel Hill Cemetery. It is a beautiful place. [Laurel Hill Cemetery founded in 1854 is no longer in existence. Also formerly known as Lone Mountain Cemetery, San Francisco County, it was sadly forgotten and left to the vandals. Many of San Francisco’s pioneering politicians were buried there. Many of the bodies were moved and retinterred at Laurel Hill Mound, Cypress Lawn, Colma.] Then we took the steam car and went home with Mr. Chapman[of J. F. Chapman & Co., shipping and commission merchants, San Franscisco] to Sea and spent the evening. His wife was a Levensaller. She has two brothers here.

Capt. Wallace sailed yesterday. The ‘Gibson’ lays at the same wharf we do. Mrs. Speed has spent one day with me and I have been one day there. Henry has a bad cold; other ways, his health is good. He likes the long voyages very much.

I had a letter from Leann yesterday. Said there was a present waiting for her when she got home. A real silver butter dish. Had a bail to it and a place to lay the knife on the side. It was from Edward Gleason, a cousin. Henry has sent her a pair of blankets. Had them made to order. Her name wove in the border. I did not see them, but they must have been very nice. Mr. Chapman is going to give me a pair and Mr. Levensaller will give me a pair.

We intend to go to William Long someday after Henry gets over his cold. He lives at Shawood, a small town back of here. When I have good pen and some better paper, I will write you of the Rocky Mountains, the Plains, the Hills and Valleys, and the Sierra Nevada Mountains that we crossed coming here. If anyone had told me a year ago that I would come Overland to California, I would not have believed it, would you?

Henry says he will send Joe’s pipe by mail. We have two nice great hogs on board. Write as soon as you get this and write all the news. Kiss Eddie for me.

My love to all and a good share to yourself.
Yours affectionately. L. A. Giles.
Henry sends his regards.”