Search Results

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

My own visits and distributions

Dear sister, You have heard of my fortunes and misfortunes of course, (through my letters to mother and

Since I laid my eyes on dear brother George, and saw him alive and well—and since I have spent a week

The weather is perfect—I have had that in my favor ever since leaving home—yesterday and to-day it is

I write this in the place where I have my lodging room, 394 L street, 4th door above 14th street.

My Brooklyn boys were John Lowery, shot at Fredericksburgh, and lost his left forearm, and Amos H.

Moses Lane wrote to Captain James J.

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

I was in hopes that you would not hear of our Regts being in the fight untill you got my letter.

How my name came to be in the papers I cant see, as I was very careful not to report myself in the list

of wounded in my company, but I think Colonel Potter who saw the scratch on my face, must have aded

my name to the list little thinking I suppose how much uneasyness it would cause at home.

Jeff write me often, and give my love to all. George W.

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

Buffalo— 12 Jan y 1863 Dear Sir, I am very sorry to be so late with my reply to your note, which was

You will see that I have dated my note from my known residence. With best hope, R. W.

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

Lane and Probasco, a pretty plain schedule of the manner of my outlays of the sums sent by them to the

Nothing definite appears to-day about the status or movements of the Army of the Potomac, but my guess

one of the putty nosed scoundrel's temporary fits of ugliness, but a deliberate thing meant for good, my

About my own concerns here—I must tell you dear brother, my general idea was, (and is) to make application

, one letter to Seward, and one to Chase, which I hope, (and though I have well learnt not to count my

I thank you, dear sir, in their name, and in my own, as the organ of your charity.

My friend, I must meet you soon again.

They find me still hanging around here—my plans, wants, ideas, &c gradually getting into shape.

Not to fly off to these clouds, however, I must abruptly say to my friends, where interested, that I

I have just written to Walt, and although it is pretty late, I must write you a few lines while my hand

musent say anything about it Mother or the rebs might hear of it and come over here and eat us all up)  my

Well Mother it is getting chilly sitting here in my tent as the fire has gone out, so I must bid you,

The contributions of Willie Durkee and my little girl are rather small but it takes all their spare funds

I have my log hut partly finished and should have had it completed long ago, but after I had cut the

As soon as he gets back, I shall apply, and if I dont get it I dont know but I will send in my resignation

Walt I think you had better write on to Mother and let her send you (by express) $20 of my money and

it on here to me when you come, for if I go home I shall want it, as I may not have a chance to get my

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."

I think I shall be able to carry through my little "real estate" scheme without much trouble, and I think

Mother, I am quite in hopes George will get a furlough—may-be my expectations are unfounded, but I almost

On February 6, 1863, Jeff wrote: "I think I shall be able to carry through my little 'real estate' scheme

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."

there, for any purpose—In some haste, dearest mother, as I am off to visit for an hour or so, one of my

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."

I dont know, certain, that I can get, leave of absence, next week but I thnk my chances are pretty good

nothing at all, about what they brought us here for, but I rather think I was right in the surmise (in my

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

Meantime I make about enough to pay my expenses by hacking on the press here, and copying in the paymasters

thing is favorable here, namely, pay for whatever one does is at a high rate—I have not yet presented my

letters to either Seward or Chase —I thought I would get my forces all in a body, and make one concentrated

You will easily recognize the article—I enclose you my address—write me a line about it, at your leisure

written to you in quite a long time, as I have been waiting to find out something deffinite, about my

Walt you see I aint got my furlough yet.

or in a case of life and death or something of that sort, so I dont know but they will jew me out of my

down here and see a feller, and if I do go home you must come as soon as I get back,  I shall have my

My dear Walt— You will find the article you sent will be in the Times of this morning, when it is published

My brother William sailed for Port Royal ten days ago—to be present at the attack on Charleston—if it

would be of any service to you in any way, I know he would be rejoiced to serve you, if you mentioned my

I got it, looked into it with wonder, and felt that here was something that touched on depths of my humanity

Upon a few of these hospitals I have been almost daily calling as a missionary, on my own account, for

On recurring to my note-book, I am puzzled which cases to select to illustrate the average of these young

time never have been excuse from any duty whatever and having urgent business at home which demands my

I had my plan fixed up as I wanted it and left it with some three or four carpenters and got bids on

it. much to my astonishment I found that what I was supposed would cost at 11 or $1200 could not be done

I think that I have a good bargain in my lot if I can manage to hold on to it.

indirect approach by instructing his brother in a letter from March 18, 1863, thus: "Jeff, you must give my

About what is called the Conscript Bill (an improper name) I hope and pray from the bottom of my heart

every man in the land—I would like to see the people embodied en-masse —I am very sure I shall see that my

name is in its place on the lists, and my body in the ranks, if they do it that way—for that will be

With my office-hunting, no special result yet. I cannot give up my Hospitals yet.

I never before had my feelings so thoroughly and (so far) permanently absorbed, to the very roots, as

got lost I am more on the alert and mention them)— The poor Frenchman d'Almeida I told you about in my

Mother, my heart bleeds at all sorts of such damnable things of one kind or another I meet with every

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

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

there from Saturday night until Monday morning before any train left I dont think I ever was so sick in my

with your office I am in hopes you have recd it before this time I begun to think that your office & my

discharge had gone to the same place now I have got my papers I think you had ought to receive yours

I cant write any more this time my hand trembles so I can hardly write but I will try & do better next

time give my best respects to Mr & Mrs O Connor.

Of the O'Connors, Thomas Jefferson Whitman wrote on June 13, 1863: "I am real glad, my dear Walt, that

I would offer, as an illustration of my meaning, that, in times of peace, a slightly greater ratio of

The Hospitals still engross a large part of my time and feelings—only I don't remain so long and make

It comes from a bad cold, gathering I think in my head.

Things here are just the same with me, neither better nor worse—(I feel so engrossed with my soldiers

, I do not devote that attention to my office-hunting, which is needed for success.)

Jeff, you must give my best respects to Mr. and Mrs.

They have taken up my principal time and labor for some months past.

I always carry some, cut up in small plugs, in my pocket.

I thought I would include in my letter a few cases of soldiers, especially interesting, out of my note-book

, but I find my story has already been spun out to sufficient length.

Nor do I find it ended by my doing some good to the sick and dying soldiers.

you may think he is not very well i am sorry walt your head is no better how bad it must b e good by 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 you do not use them, and you dont think George will want them for the present, (my reason for thinking

Everything in the way of eating and wearing is awful high, but I manage to make enough to keep my head

John Frederick Schiller Gray was a captain in the Twentieth New York Infantry and later held the same

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.

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

On March 17, Captain Whitman left Brooklyn to return to Newport News.

He wrote in a letter dated May 14, 1863, "my profoundest help to these sick & dying men is probably the

I immediately appealed to my lady friends and patriots in Philadelphia, and they have sent me on a fine

I have never had better health in my life, perhaps I can explain it to you.

My regards to them and hope they are out of Campbell Hospital. What became of poor Dick?

[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

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).