Mortimer, Caleb C.E., 1835-1862 Collection of Caleb C.E. Mortimer, 3rd regiment, Massachusetts, artillery [Decimalized .01-.23]

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Mortimer was Lieutenant in the 3rd Massachusetts Artillery, covering action in the Peninsula campaign, skirmishing, casualties, picket duty at Yorktown, Hanover and New Bridge. One letter from 1861 describes capture of the "Steam gun." Most letters have been written to his wife. Includes 22 war-date union soldier letters, 9 envelopes, 1 receipt and 1 envelope that used to contain a photograph.

GLC#
GLC01898
Type
Header Record
Date
1861-1862
Author/Creator
Mortimer, Caleb C.E., 1835-1862
Title
Collection of Caleb C.E. Mortimer, 3rd regiment, Massachusetts, artillery [Decimalized .01-.23]
Place Written
Various Places
Pagination
23 items, 9 envelopes
Primary time period
Civil War and Reconstruction, 1861-1877
Sub-Era
The American Civil War
Soldier's Letter
Civil War
Union Forces
Union Soldier's Letter
Military History
Artillery
Weaponry
Battle

Showing 20 of 23 records

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Collection Item
Autograph letter signed

to his wife

circa May 1861

Mortimer, Caleb C.E., 1835-1862

Describes the capture of a steam gun. "... we disembarked and took possession of the renowned Steam gun and four mules which was on its way to harpers ferry to the sesesion [sic] army there ... it is quite a curious machine and if it does what its...

GLC01898.01
GLC01898.02
Collection Item
Autograph letter signed

to his wife

15 June 1861

Mortimer, Caleb C.E., 1835-1862

Mentions he might be going down to Fort Monroe. "...the boys are in high spirtis at the Idea of going into active service and having an opportunity of making a mark for the sake of old Massachusetts." Speaks of his loyalty to the Boston Light...

GLC01898.02
Collection Item
Autograph letter signed

to his wife

26 June 1861

Mortimer, Caleb C.E., 1835-1862

Believes there will be a fight soon in Baltimore as it is "a hot Bed of secession."

GLC01898.03
Collection Item
Autograph letter signed

to his wife

15 July 1861

Mortimer, Caleb C.E., 1835-1862

Speaks critically of "our renowned surgeon Dr. Ordway."

GLC01898.04
Collection Item
Autograph letter signed

to his wife

27 October 1861

Mortimer, Caleb C.E., 1835-1862

Mentions being reviewed by General George McClellan and calls him "a fine looking man." The whole division was under the command of General Fitz-John Porter. States McClellan would have had the enemy trapped at Munson's Hill but for a traitor in...

GLC01898.05
Collection Item
Autograph letter signed

to his wife

14 November 1861

Mortimer, Caleb C.E., 1835-1862

Mentions that a review by General George McClellan is planned for the next day. Includes a "List of wants of a poor devil in the Army" on a separate sheet of paper.

GLC01898.06
GLC01898.07
Collection Item
Autograph letter signed

to his wife

December 1, 1861

Mortimer, Caleb C.E., 1835-1862

GLC01898.07
Collection Item
Autograph letter signed

to his wife

December 13, 1861

Mortimer, Caleb C.E., 1835-1862

Mentions being in General Fitz-John Porter's division. Read a piece in the Boston Herald about Porter's Battery being in a skirmish and Sargeant Barnes shooting a rebel but says it was all a lie. Describes meeting Abraham Lincoln at Captain Griffin...

GLC01898.08
Collection Item
Autograph letter signed

to his wife

December 14, 1861

Mortimer, Caleb C.E., 1835-1862

Gives an hour by hour account of a routine day in camp. Written from Camp Follett.

GLC01898.09
Collection Item
Autograph letter signed

to his wife

December 19, 1861

Mortimer, Caleb C.E., 1835-1862

Mentions doing drills with General Daniel Butterfield and General John Henry Martindale's brigades. The whole division under command of General Fitz-John Porter staged an imaginary battle. Stationary embossed "Farrar, Follett & Co. Metals, Boston."...

GLC01898.10
GLC01898.11
Collection Item
Autograph letter signed

to his wife

December 20, 1861

Mortimer, Caleb C.E., 1835-1862

Writes that tomorrow General George B. McClellan will do a ground review of General Fitz-John Porter's division. Captain Follett's battery will be there. Written from Camp Follett. Stationary embossed "Farrar, Follett & Co. Metals, Boston." and...

GLC01898.11
Collection Item
Autograph letter signed

to his wife

December 26, 1861

Mortimer, Caleb C.E., 1835-1862

Writes about what the regiments did to celebrate Christmas, including a burlesque parade and a band. Describes building winter quarters and a guard house. Written from Camp Follett. Stationary embossed "Congress A.P. Co."

GLC01898.12
Collection Item
Autograph letter signed

to his wife

December 30, 1861

Mortimer, Caleb C.E., 1835-1862

Written from Camp Follett. Stationary embossed "Congress A.P. Co."

GLC01898.13
Collection Item
Autograph letter signed

to his wife

February 16, 1862

Mortimer, Caleb C.E., 1835-1862

Mentions that General John H. Martindale wants to get Mortimer's battery attached to his brigade as Martindale thinks "this is the ne plus ultra of batteries." Written from Camp Follett.

GLC01898.14
GLC01898.15
Collection Item
Autograph letter signed

to his wife

February 18, 1862

Mortimer, Caleb C.E., 1835-1862

Written from Camp Follett.

GLC01898.15
Collection Item
Autograph letter signed

to his wife

19 March 1862

Mortimer, Caleb C.E., 1835-1862

Mentions being near Fitz-John Porter's battery and close to the fifth Massachusetts battery. Written from Camp Fitz John Porter.

GLC01898.16
Collection Item
Autograph letter signed

to his wife

14 April 1862

Mortimer, Caleb C.E., 1835-1862

Describes some action in the Peninsular campaign and the Battle of Yorktown. "...there will not probably be much fighting here for some days yet as they are landing our siege guns and mortars and getting them into position the rebels are in large...

GLC01898.17
Collection Item
Autograph letter signed

to his wife

2 May 1862

Mortimer, Caleb C.E., 1835-1862

Mentions a Union hot air balloon that was used for reconnaissance. "Our big Balloon is just making preparations to take a look at the rebs they are getting very vicious and they make night hideous with the howling and bursting of shells..." Describes...

GLC01898.18
GLC01898.19
Collection Item
Autograph letter signed

to his wife

26 May 1862

Mortimer, Caleb C.E., 1835-1862

Camped eight miles from Richmond, Virginia. Mentions the reconnaissance balloon again. Marked "Camp of 3rd Mass Battery" and "near Chickahominy River, Va."

GLC01898.19
Collection Item
Autograph letter signed

to his wife

4 June 1862

Mortimer, Caleb C.E., 1835-1862

Mentions that they have not seen action since the Battle at Hanover Courthouse on 27 May 1862 where a of their men were wounded. States "Mac [General George B. McClellan] is confident of success and means to make a clean sweep of them this time."...

GLC01898.20