Simply enter the word you wish to find and the search engine will search for every instance of the word in the journals. For example: Fight. All instances of the use of the word fight will show up on the results page.
Using an asterisk (*) will increase the odds of finding the results you are seeking. For example: Fight*. The search results will display every instance of fight, fights, fighting, etc. More than one wildcard may be used. For example: *ricar*. This search will return most references to the Aricara tribe, including Ricara, Ricares, Aricaris, Ricaries, Ricaree, Ricareis, and Ricarra. Using a question mark (?) instead of an asterisk (*) will allow you to search for a single character. For example, r?n will find all instances of ran and run, but will not find rain or ruin.
Searches are not case sensitive. For example: george will come up with the same results as George.
Searching for a specific phrase may help narrow down the results. Rather long phrases are no problem. For example: "This white pudding we all esteem".
Because of the creative spellings used by the journalists, it may be necessary to try your search multiple times. For example: P?ro*. This search brings up numerous variant spellings of the French word pirogue, "a large dugout canoe or open boat." Searching for P?*r*og?* will bring up other variant spellings. Searching for canoe or boat also may be helpful.
Entering in only one field | Searches |
---|---|
Year, Month, & Day | Single day |
Year & Month | Whole month |
Year | Whole year |
Month & Day | 1600-#-# to 2100-#-# |
Month | 1600-#-1 to 2100-#-31 |
Day | 1600-01-# to 2100-12-# |
very thankful to you for the kindness you have shown and Still Show to our poor boy i cant express My
from Culpeper William Did not think of asking what it would cost to Send him on to his frinds the captain
a Coffin they buryed him as Decently as they could by pining him up in a thick woolen blanket the captain
mother, how are you nowadays—I do hope you feel well & in good spirits—I think about you every day of my
see women in the hospitals, mothers come to see their sons, & occasionally one that makes me think of my
dear mother—one did very much, a lady about 60, from Pennsylvania, come to see her son, a Captain, very
as it was that time that my hand was cut in the artery, & I was liable to gangrene myself—but she and
breakfast in my room in the morning myself, & dinner at a restaurant about 3 o'clock—I get along very
He had held the rank of captain since November 1, 1862, and after the war he attempted unsuccessfully
to secure a commission as a captain in the regular standing army (Jerome M.
machine, and that I must consign myself to the fate of the rest....Meantime I make about enough to pay my
neck, draws my face down, &c. quite a scene for the New Bowery.)
My beard, neck, &c. are woolier, fleecier, whiteyer than ever.
Now you write to me good long letters, my own boys.
This room is up on the fifth floor, (a most noble and broad view from my window.)
Fred, I wish you to present my best respects to your father.
John Frederick Schiller Gray was a captain in the Twentieth New York Infantry and later held the same
.On May 1, 1863, Gray excused his neglect in replying because of his military duties and "bothering my
brain with the detestable clerical duties incidental to my position": "I have just come from my Mother
, who, together with my Father, desires to be kindly remembered to you. . . .I lead a very different
I'm damned if I wouldn't have given up all my hopes in the future to have had you and my little girl
If so I suppose we will march to Aquia Creek, and go on board of Transports My own oppinion is that
I have my house nearly finished, and was going to have a nice warm place.
Sims, a captain in George's Fifty-first New York Volunteer Regiment, had been the subject in part of
letter to his mother on December 16, 1862: "I have come out safe and sound, although I had the side of my
jaw slightly scraped with a peice of shell which burst at my feet."
going to have a sepperate command and that Fortress Monroe is to be the place of rendezvous, and if my
Capts Sims and Wright (from this Regt) are home now, and when they get back I believe it is my turn,
come and see me as it is here, and if I can get a chance to come home I shall want the money to pay my
I had my log house almost finished, when the orders came for us to get ready to move, and was going to
Sims, a captain in George Whitman's Fifty-first New York Volunteer Regiment, had been the subject in
letter to his mother on December 16, 1862: "I have come out safe and sound, although I had the side of my
jaw slightly scraped with a peice of shell which burst at my feet."
as when you left, I am still liveing in Capt Francis's tent as I have not been able to get one of my
Francis, also of Buffalo, New York, was promoted to the rank of captain to replace Hazard when the latter
Daily Eagle for January 5, 1863, a factual report of the activities of Brooklyn soldiers, especially Captain
give even a mere resume of the movements, service, fights, marches, sufferings of the 51st since, as my
He likes his position of Captain of Company G, in which rank he started from Palace Garden; and the men
Captain George Washington Whitman was Walt Whitman's younger brother by ten years and was wounded in
A letter from his Captain says: Five of our color guard had either been killed or disabled, when Byram
.; Captain George Washington Whitman was Walt Whitman's younger brother by ten years and was wounded
It is said the government purposes something of this kind—it will throw a good many captains & lieutenants
Mother, you tell him I sent him my love, and Nancy the same, and the dear little boys the same.
I find I have to restrain myself and keep my composure—I succeed pretty well.
Give my best respects to Dr. Ruggles.
3—I have been in my room all day, so far—shall have dinner in ½ an hour, and then down to Armory.
I find them of great use in giving me ideas about my business and they are too cursed costly to buy."
Captain John Mullan (1830–1909), an army engineer, was associated with General Isaac I.
requesting ten copies of the Daily Eagle, Walt asked Jeff in a letter dated April 28, 1863 for "5 more of my
Hart, a captain and acting assistant adjutant general in Company K of the Eighty-eighth New York Volunteers
Sims, a captain in George Washington Whitman's Fifty-first New York Volunteer Regiment, had been the
letter to his mother on December 16, 1862: "I have come out safe and sound, although I had the side of my
jaw slightly scraped with a peice of shell which burst at my feet."
I send George papers now & then—Mother, one of your letters contains part of my letter to the Union,
It seems to be mostly as I intended it, barring a few slight misprints—was my last name signed at the
or think too deeply—So I go giving you all good advice— O Mother, I must tell you how I get along in my
of you & Hat right away)—one thing is I am quite by myself, there is no passage up there except to my
room, & right off against my side of the house is a great old yard with grass & some trees back, & the
Sims, a captain in George Washington Whitman's Fifty-first New York Volunteer Regiment, had been the
letter to his mother on December 16, 1862: "I have come out safe and sound, although I had the side of my
jaw slightly scraped with a peice of shell which burst at my feet."
On September 22, 1863, George informed Jeff that Captain Sims was in Brooklyn to recruit for the regiment
Jeff explained the situation on October 22, 1863: "It is not like you think in regard to cutting down my
you a few lines to let you now that I am well and have got safe to the regment and I have bin to see my
famley they are well wee are all m[o]unted an wee have got the pras of the finest regment in these pats My
Captain Francis M.
We are soon to see a thing accomplished here which I have often exercised my mind about, namely, the
Not at all, to my eye.
many respects of our constructive nation and age, and even so poetical, that I have even balanced in my
When a train comes to a bad spot in the road this Captain reins in his horse and stands there till they
I find this everywhere, and very pleasing to my sight.
companys of our regmet is at millsprings an 5 here they will return today they 70 prisners yesterd give my
Captain Francis M.
On March 17, Captain Whitman left Brooklyn to return to Newport News.
Captain John Mullan (1830–1909), an army engineer, had just published for the U.S.
Lane concerning Captain Mullan (see also Jeff's letter to Walt from April 20, 1863).
I have almost made up my mind to set it so that a 65 or 70 x 20 foot lot can at any time be made in front
Mr Lane compliments me highly on my bargain and says I have done well .
Sims, a captain in George Washington Whitman's Fifty-first New York Volunteer Regiment, had been the
letter to his mother on December 16, 1862: "I have come out safe and sound, although I had the side of my
jaw slightly scraped with a peice of shell which burst at my feet."
On February 1, 1863, Geroge wrote to Walt Whitman: "I have my log hut partly finished and should have
My old friend Bill DeBevoise is home sick with " weakness " I suppose you might call it.
My friend J. W.
Mason, (used to be in my party on the Water Works) was in Brooklyn on Saturday He was then on his way
Would'nt it be good if he was home just now to build my "house" I should like much to have it done by
All send their love to you and receive my best wishes for your health and success I remain as ever your
Sims, a captain in George's Fifty-first New York Volunteer Regiment, had been the subject in part of
letter to his mother on December 16, 1862: "I have come out safe and sound, although I had the side of my
jaw slightly scraped with a peice of shell which burst at my feet."
cry" yesterday in reading of how you had to get along, and I myself could hardly keep the water from my
Hart, a captain and acting assistant adjutant general in Company K of the Eighty-eighth New York Volunteers
Moses Lane wrote to Captain James J.
Mother, when you or Jeff writes again, tell me if my papers & MSS are all right—I should be very sorry
ground is an inch and a half deep with snow—and it is snowing & drizzling—but I feel very independent in my
I have felt quite well of my deafness and cold in my head for four days or so, but it is back again bad
Dear mother, I wrote the above, in my room—I have now come down to Major Hapgood's office.
I find a good letter from one of my New York boys, (Fifth Avenue)—a young fellow named Hugo Fritsch,
Captain John Mullan (1830–1909), an army engineer, was associated with General Isaac I.
April 20th 1863 Dear Walt, I was glad to hear—from your letter to mother—that you had received my letters—containing
Captain John Mullan (1830–1909), an army engineer, was associated with General Isaac I.
John Frederick Schiller Gray was a captain in the Twentieth New York Infantry and later held the same
wensday Wednesday morning My dear Walt i have just got your letter with the shinplasters dident didn't
you get my letter when mary was here saying i got the other there is no letters miscarries that is directed
here i think i have had another attack of the rheumatism but not much in my hands so i can use them
but in my neck and shoulders i had not A very good night last night but am better this morning i am in
here the same morning he returnd returned poor man he said you was very kind to him indeed good bie my
In his April 19, 1863 letter from Winchester, Kentucky, Greenback wrote, "Captain Whitman is ordered
The pseudonym "Greenback" may be a pun: Captain Whitman, the one sending the greenbacks (dollars) to
noise & laughing & drinking, of a dozen young men, & I among them, I would see your face before me in my
it would be if I could leave all the fun & noise & the crowd & be with you—I don't wish to disparage my
there is something that takes down all artificial accomplishments, & that is a manly & loving soul—My
Well, it is now past midnight, pretty well on to 1 o'clock, & my sheet is most written out—so, my dear
dear loving comrade, & the blessing of God on you by night & day, my darling boy.
I do not know that I told you that both of my parents were dead but it is true and now, Walt, you will
be a second Father to me won't you. for my love for you is hardly less than my love for my natural parent
say much more of what the world calls educated & polished, & brilliant in conversation, &c, than you, my
Boston December 11, 1863 Walt Whitman— My dear sir— I went to the hospital in Pemberton Square yesterday
There seems a sort of hopelessness about this, and being unused to hospitals my feelings were far from
See Trowbridge, My Own Story, with recollections of noted persons (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1903), 179
On October 18, 1863, Babbitt was depressed—"dark clouds seem to be lying in my pathway and I can not
remove them nor hide them from my mind"—until he mentioned his beloved, Nellie F.
My dear Walt.
from the booksellers for the present, so I sent you today a package of such books as I could pick from my
Good-bye, my dear friend, and may the good angels help you in your good work. J. T. Trowbridge.
biography, The Ferry Boy and the Financier (Boston: Walker and Wise, 1864); he described their meetings in My
Though Trowbridge was not an idolator of Whitman, he wrote to O'Connor in 1867: "Every year confirms my
See Trowbridge, My Own Story, with recollections of noted persons (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1903), 179
Lew is so good, so affectionate—when I came away, he reached up his face, I put my arm around him, and
As to me, there is nothing new with me, or my affairs.
I manage to pay my way here in Washington, what I make writing letters for the New York papers, &c.
My love you have in life or death forever.
Good bye, my darling comrade, my dear darling brother, for so I will call you, and wish you to call me
However, on April 12, 1863, Sawyer himself had written to Brown: "I want you to give my love to Walter
Whitman and tell him I am very sorry that I could not live up to my Prommice because I came away so
soon that it sliped my mind and I am very sorry for it, tell him that I shall write to him my self in
a few days, give him my love and best wishes for ever" (Henry W. and Albert A.
reply until January 21, 1864: "Dear Brother, I hardly know what to say to you in this letter for it is my
Dear Sir, My brother wishes me to inform you of the state of his health, also of his journey home he
On October 18, 1863, Babbitt was depressed—"dark clouds seem to be lying in my pathway and I can not
remove them nor hide them from my mind"—until he mentioned his beloved, Nellie F.
On October 18, 1863, Babbitt was depressed ("dark clouds seem to be lying in my pathway and I can not
remove them nor hide them from my mind") until he mentioned his beloved, Nellie F.
biography, The Ferry Boy and the Financier (Boston: Walker and Wise, 1864); he described their meetings in My
Though Trowbridge was not an idolator of Whitman, he wrote to O'Connor in 1867: "Every year confirms my
On October 18, 1863, Babbitt was depressed—"dark clouds seem to be lying in my pathway and I can not
remove them nor hide them from my mind"—until he mentioned his beloved, Nellie F.
My Dear Sir : On my return, a few days since, from a long Western journey, I found your note respecting
go to-day to Montreal to be gone a week, and I have found quite tyrannical necessities at home for my
Of the O'Connors, Thomas Jefferson Whitman wrote on June 13, 1863: "I am real glad, my dear Walt, that
biography, The Ferry Boy and the Financier (Boston: Walker and Wise, 1864); he described their meetings in My
Though Trowbridge was not an idolator of Whitman, he wrote to O'Connor in 1867: "Every year confirms my
See Trowbridge, My Own Story, with recollections of noted persons (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1903), 179
partly scornful, or occasionally put a dry remark, which only adds fuel to the flame—I do not feel it in my
find that the deeper they go in with the draft, the more trouble it is likely to make—I have changed my
family, still I feel somewhat uneasy—about Jeff, if any one, as he is more around—I have had it much on my
have no doubt I shall make a few hundred dollars by the lectures I shall certainly commence soon, (for my
hospital missionary purposes & my own, for that purpose) & I could lend that am't to Jeff to pay it
From my own personal observations I think that the newspapers would give one the most perverted kind
On October 1, 1863, Babbitt was depressed—"dark clouds seem to be lying in my pathway and I can not remove
them nor hide them from my mind"—until he mentioned his beloved, Nellie F.
Dear comrade, you must be assured that my heart is much with you in New York, & with my other dear friends
Dear comrade, I still live here as a hospital missionary after my own style, & on my own hook—I go every
I have cut my beard short, & hair ditto: (all my acquaintances are in anger & despair & go about wringing
My face is all tanned & red.
Then around my majestic brow, around my well-brimmed felt hat—a black & gold cord with acorns.
New York, I had to be in Washington: I was never in the one place but I was restless for the other: my
Sq Hospital, Sunday evening Oct 4 Dear Madam, Your letter reached me this forenoon with the $30 for my
the midst of those it was sent to aid—& best by a sample of actual hospital life on the spot, & of my
in the way of thanks—is a country boy—always smiles & brightens much when I appear—looks straight in my
face & never at what I may have in my hand for him—I mention him for a specimen as he is within reach
of my hand & I can see that his eyes have been steadily fixed on me from his cot ever since I began
After Whitman gave this letter to Horace Traubel on July 27, 1888, he observed: "My main motive would
with surprises—with fancy turns of speech—with unusual, unaccustomed words—but to say them—to shoot my
Whitman included this entry among "verbatim extracts from letters home to my mother in Brooklyn, the
. & I am not with him any more—he has moved his office to his private room—I am writing this in my room
456 Sixth st—but my letters still come to Major's care, they are to be addrest same as ever, as I can
early, went down through the market, it is quite a curiosity—I bought some butter, tea, &c—I have had my
breakfast here in my room, good tea, bread & butter &c— Mother, I think about you all more than ever
George—I have no doubt the 51st is still at Crab Orchard — Mother, I hope you will try to write—I send you my
led the explosive Jeff to exclaim in a letter to Walt from December 15, 1863: "I love Mat as I love my
There would be but few tears shed on my part I can tell you. . . .
wrote Mother abt getting Jess in the Asylum—It does not seem to meet with her wishes—when I wrote you my
If my letters home don't show it, you don't get 'em.
enough to eat & drink, and shelter, in the moderatest limits) any more, since the last four months of my
Dear Sir I feel that as my brothers friend you have been neglecred but owing to sickness in the family
On October 18, 1863, Babbitt was depressed—"dark clouds seem to be lying in my pathway and I can not
remove them nor hide them from my mind"—until he mentioned his beloved, Nellie F.
[April 6, 1863] [Dear Brother Walt,] As I was abt putting these in the envelope my eye caught this blank
much of a beauty as ever…well, not only as much, but more so—I believe I weigh about 200 and as to my
face, (so scarlet,) and my beard and neck, they are terrible to behold…like a great wild buffalo, with
letter from December 29, 1862: "I wish you would write for me something…that I can present, opening my
Chase, however, kept the letter because he wanted an Emerson autograph; see Trowbridge, My Own Story
I am real glad my dear Walt that you are among such good people.
series of lectures & readings &c. through different cities of the north, to supply myself with funds for my
As he wrote Jeff, he hoped it would enable him "to continue my Hospital ministrations, on a more free
by the window in Major Hapgood's office—all the Potomac & Maryland & Virginia hills in sight—writing my
shall send him some papers to-day—I send papers quite often—(why hasn't Jeff sent me the Union with my
are well—I have rec'd another letter from Mrs Price, she has not good health, I am sorry for her from my
Mary's mother-in-law, wrote to Whitman from Farmingdale, Long Island, on September 25: "I have raiced my
Curtis, and the other friends, I will briefly say, tells daily & nightly & shall tell to the best of my
power, upon my dear boys here, in hospital.
Good by, my friend. Walt Whitman to James Redpath, 12 October 1863
After this sentence Whitman deleted the following: "Do you want to print my new little volume of poetry
He wrote in a letter dated May 14, 1863, "my profoundest help to these sick & dying men is probably the
Dear friend, My idea is a book of the time, worthy the time—something considerably beyond mere hospital
interest I surely think—in some respects somewhat a combination in handling of the Old French Memoires, & my
own personality (things seen through my eyes, & what my vision brings)—a book full enough of mosaic,
I have many hospital incidents, [that] will take with the general reader—I ventilate my general democracy
know the people generally now are too (far more than they know,) & would readily absorb & understand my
could easily publish a small Book, but the one you propose...implies an expenditure that may be beyond my
I find them of great use in giving me ideas about my business and they are too cursed costly to buy
letter to his mother, Louisa Van Velsor Whitman: "Mother, when you or Jeff writes again, tell me if my