Tag Archives: Mississippi

3 June 1863: “Jo took deliberate aim and there was one rebel less to contend against.”

Item description: This letter, dated 3 June 1863, was written by A.J. Withrow to his wife in Iowa. Withrow is a part of the tightening Union ring around Vicksburg, Mississippi, and he describes the pressure being applied to the Confederate … Continue reading

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6 May 1863: “List of Negroes working on the fortifications at Fort Pemberton”

Item description: “List of Negroes working on the fortifications at Fort Pemberton,” dated 6 May 1863. Fort Pemberton was a Confederate fortification constructed on a narrow strip of land between the Tallahatchie and Yazoo Rivers, near Greenwood, Mississippi. Item citation: From … Continue reading

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12 February 1863: “I am here gathering up conscripts straglers and absentees and hope you will come up before I leave”

Item description: Letter, 12 February 1863, from Robert E. Brumby to his sister Sarah Simpson, while he was on leave in Goodman, Mississippi. [Item transcription available below images.] Item citation: From the Simpson and Brumby Family Papers, #1408-z, Southern Historical Collection, The … Continue reading

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26 January 1863: “…for my part I want them all free and I should like that the war was over for I would like to be at home…”

Item description: This letter, dated 26 January 1863, was written by Andrew Sproul to his wife in Ohio. Sproul, a private in the Union Army, describes activities near the mouth of the Yazoo River in Mississippi. Of particular interest are … Continue reading

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7 December 1862: “such military necessities as they are egregiously called will crush that spirit upon which the foundation of all republics are built- namely good will”

Item Description: Letter, 7 December 1862, from Arnoldus Brumby to his sister, Sarah Catherine (Kate) Brumby Simpson. Arnoldus studied medicine and became a physician in Holmes County, Mississippi. The letter mentions their brother Robert, who died in the war in 1864, and … Continue reading

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1 December 1862: “dried fruit, red pepper, sugar, a jug of molasses, jelly, some preserves, a pone of lightbread, some sweet cakes, a bottle or two of ketchup, pepper sauce, etc.”

Item description: Letter, 1 December 1862, from Ruffin Thomson, 18th Mississippi Infantry Regiment, to his mother Hannah Lavinia Thomson. He comments extensively on food, clothing and supplies, including the provisions being used by his body servant “Press.” More about Ruffin Thomson: Ruffin Thomson … Continue reading

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6 November 1862: “Press is a faithful servant to me considering the chances he has. I am satisfied with him.”

Item description: Letter, 6 November 1862, from Ruffin Thomson, 18th Mississippi Infantry Regiment, to his “Pa” (William H. Thomson). Thomson reports on the status of his regiment following the Battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg). He also mentions his satisfaction with his body … Continue reading

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30 October 1862: “A map of Port Hudson and its defences”

Item description: Map, dated 30 October 1862, of Port Hudson (La.) and its defences, including a descriptive list of batteries (hand-drawn and colored). More about this map and the Gilmer Maps Collection: This map is part of the Southern Historical … Continue reading

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27 August 1862: “I was not afraid, slept with the doors open. the pickets with the guns at the street corners seemed protection for me.”

Item description: Entry, dated 27 August 1862, from the diary of Mahala Roach of Vicksburg, Miss. Mahala P. H. Roach (1825-1905) was the daughter of Dick H. Eggleston, M.D., and Elizabeth Gildart Eggleston (d. 1895), and grew up in Woodville, Wilkinson … Continue reading

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30 July 1862: “…so the wise Dr. concluded to saw the poor boys leg off a third time above the knee which caused his death.”

Item description: Letter, 30 July 1862, from Harry Lewis, 16th Mississippi Infantry Regiment, to his mother, Mrs. John S. Lewis, of Woodville, Miss. Item citation: From the Harry Lewis Letters, #1222-z, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North … Continue reading

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