SCOUT

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.

This collection contains a letter written by William Klice to his father and mother on September 7,1862. Klice was a Union soldier in the 7th Missouri Volunteers, Company A. In the letter he describes skirmishes on the Mississippi Central Railroad and at Medon Station, Tenn.

In this letter, William Lenoir informs James Plunket that he will not be traveling to Cincinnati, Ohio, as he had expected and so will not be able to visit Plunket in Nashville. He also asks Plunket to write to a machinist that he had mentioned on Lenoir's behalf.

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.

This collection houses a letter from William Styer to his wife Susanah dated April 2, 1863 and sent from Fort Pickering, Tennessee. Styer sends his greetings to his family, discusses a smallpox outbreak in camp, relates news of Union victories, and sees hope that the war will end soon due to poor Confederate morale.

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.

Tennessee Governor Willie Blount wrote this letter to Henry Newman, Jr. in Boston on December 10, 1811. In it, he expresses his hope that the United States will teach the indigenous people on the Wabash and their [foreign] aiders and abetters, that we are not only united but determined to be free and independent of all nations. He also discusses family and personal business, including Judge Hugh L. White and his family.