Tillotson, George W. (fl. 1830-1918) to his wife
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04558.044 Author/Creator: Tillotson, George W. (fl. 1830-1918) Place Written: Harpers Ferry, Maryland Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 24 September 1862 Pagination: 4 p. ; 25 x 20 cm. Order a Copy
Holding themselves in readiness, rumors on Burnside, McClellan. "We have just got news that the president has issued a proclamation freeing all the slaves on the first of January. It may be for the best but stil my hopes (if I had any) of a speedy termination of the war is thereby nocked in head for I know enough of the southern spirit so that I think that they will fight for the institution of slavery even to extermination. I am glad that the enlisting spirit has been felt so generaly through the north for I wish we had army enough to sink the south out of existance in a day. I know that it is wishing tolerably strong but then you see I am geting [sic] provoked that the cursed gray backs should rob me of the enjoyments of home so long. I tell you what Dearest when the real story of war comes it is easy to pick out the cowards." Soldiers who ran from shells and got lost, others taken prisoner in battle.
Tillotson was thirty-one years old when he enlisted as a corporal on November 5, 1861. He mustered in H company of the NY 89th infantry or Dickinson Guards and later promoted to Sergeant. He was discharged on December 18, 1864.
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