SCOUT

This letter, composed in 1862 at Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., is written by William H. Blake, 3rd Iowa Volunteers, Company C, to his brother and discusses events leading to the Battle of Shiloh.

This letter by William H. Green, of the 45th New York Regiment, Company F, was written to his brother, from Nashville, Tenn. on February 16, 1865. In the letter, Green writes of a large battle that took place between the Rebel General Hood and the Union General Thomas. He also states that the city is under martial law.

This Civil War letter written by Union soldier William H. Gripman to his friends describes the conditions in Chattanooga, where his regiment was stationed in 1865. The letter is dated March 1, 1865. He describes how bad the officers are and how they got rid of an officer that hung one of the boys up by his thumbs.

William H. Lambert wrote this letter to George and Jesse Cox of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 24 February 1863 while he was stationed in Lookout Valley, Tennessee. In it, Lambert discusses the bureaucratic processes of discharge and resignation. He also mentions that he has been promoted from Adjutant to Captain and recounts meeting a friend, Colonel Joseph B. Palmer, who he had not seen since the Battle of Antietam in Chattanooga the previous week.

William J. Crook wrote this letter to his cousin Hattie from Tullahoma, Tennessee on November 12, 1862. He discusses the failure of the Kentucky campaign, the hardships accompanying the retreat, Northern politics, and the future course of the war. He also asks for news of his other cousins.

William J. Crook wrote this letter to his cousin, Hattie Crook, at Columbia Female College in Columbia, South Carolina on May 4, 1864. In it, he describes enemy reconnaissance, discusses the upcoming Northern Presidential election, relates news about family and friends, enumerates his thoughts on marriage, and mentions that the enemy is advancing on Cleveland road.

Collection contains a single letter written by William Helsley, a soldier in the 19th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, on August 29, 1864. Helsley penned this letter to his wife, Mary Yauser Helsley, while stationed in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In the letter, Helsley discusses a scare in which he and others were warned of activities by Confederate Colonel Wheeler that ultimately never happened.

This collection consists of six letters that William J. Ricketts wrote to his parents in Wales, Massachusetts from October 2, 1863 to March 15, 1864. In them, he discusses camp life, poor rations, being hospitalized in Knoxville, various battles that his unit has engaged in, marching across Tennessee, citizens forming the National Guard of East Tennessee, and his plans for returning home.

In this autobiographical sketch, William Jay Smith describes his military career and ends with his election to the Tennessee Senate in 1867.

William M. Cloer, a private in the 62nd North Carolina Infantry (CSA), wrote this letter to friends at home from Morristown, Tennessee on June 24, 1863. He discusses recent Yankee raids in Tennessee, specifically those made during the push towards Knoxville, and his regiment's upcoming move to Cumberland Gap.

This collection consists of ten letters and five envelopes from Union soldier William Styer to his wife Susannah (Defenbaugh) Styer dating from 1862 November 12 to 1863 September 5. One letter was written in Camp Morton, Indiana; one was written on board the Ohio Belle; and the rest were written from Fort Pickering, Tennessee.

William T. Presley wrote this letter to his wife Henry (Henryetta) on September 27, 1862 from camp in or near Knoxville, Tennessee. Presley mentions that her last letter caused tears to stream down his cheeks. He remarks on the poor condition of several men in his camp, saying that one looks like an old shoe. He goes on to tell Henryetta that she must hire someone to build a pen for the hogs and try go with out killing any of them til hog Billing time.

Three letters from Private William Taylor of the 43rd Ohio Infantry to his sister Susan in Morrow County, Ohio, describe experiences in the Gayoso Hospital in Memphis and another military hospital in LaGrange, Tenn., during 1863.

This letter, written by William Velie and sent from Fort Rosencrance in Murfreesboro, Tennessee describes battles in the Middle Tennessee area, including Franklin and Nashville. Velie notes that the Commanding Officer of the Confederate Army in the area is General Hood, while his own commander in the Union Army is General Melroy.

William W. Daugherty wrote this letter to his father from Tullahoma, Tennessee on April 13, 1864. In it, he discusses social life among the regiment's officers, describes troop movements just before the Battle of Resaca, and expresses his optimism about General Sherman's campaign in Georgia.

William Weber wrote this letter to his brother, Martin Weber, from camp at McMinnville, Tennessee on August 10, 1862. He reports that he and his company are well and tells of their recent victory against Confederate guerrillas. He also recounts an amusing story about their Major General (“Moniter”), who slept all day and got the company into trouble.