Tillotson, George W. (fl. 1830-1918) To his wife
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04558.122.01 Author/Creator: Tillotson, George W. (fl. 1830-1918) Place Written: Folly Island, South Carolina Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 8 November 1863 Pagination: 4 p. ; 21 x 13.5 cm. Order a Copy
Describes picket duty on the north side of the island and how his thoughts roam. Expectations of assault on Fort Sumter. Promises to send Edwin's letter (mentioned in #117 and accompanies this item). He writes "Not that I have any objections to his advocating abolition but I dont acknowledge his right to 'jump to conclusions,' and call hard names. Would you? If I were to answer[,] it should to say the least have to tell him that a 'radical' of his stamp I have not found in the Union army, as yet, and that however plenty they may be in his section, they have'nt [sic] the courage, to come and fight for the thing which they so loudly clammer."
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.
Folly Island S. C. Nov 8th 1863
My Dear Wife
Your letter of the 17th Ult I recd the fore part of the week, and of the 25th and the Tribune of the 24th day before yesterday. I should have written yesterday but had washing to do in the fore noon and then I felt dozy on account of the fleas keeping me awake all the night before so I lay down for a nap and slept til supper time and then went on picket. I had a post of four men besides myself, on the north side of the island, I volunteered to stand one trick myself which made us two hours and a quarter apiece. I really enjoy a trick of guard in a clear pleasant night, as well as anything, in the soldier line, when you have nothing to do,(except [inserted: it is] to face your beat and "keep [2] an eye about ye,") but to let your thoughts roam where ever they list, and you may rest assured that mine are not confined to Folly island, if my body is, besides there was at regular intervals of about ten minutes the flash of the rebel gun, followed soon after by the flash of the shell as it burst over Morris island, then in a few seconds the report of the gun and the roar of the shell like the [inserted: lengthened] growl of an angry tiger, as it rushes on its errand of distruction, then the report of the shell, and lastly after the laps of a few seconds the echo-like the reverbration of distant thunder. I was sorry to hear that fathers health was so poor but as you said nothing about it in the last, I conclude he is better.
Tell Mother to rest perfectly easy about my enlisting over, for your supposition that I don't think [3] of such a thing is perfectly correct I think I cautioned you some time ago not to be too impatient to hear of the fall of Charleston, and as far as I can see that same caution is as good today as ever. Our Monitors and batteries have, been pounding away, at Sumpter for the last fortnight and one in our company, as well as others declair that they actually saw Sumpter fire a shot at ft Gregg, this morning. There has been no assault made of ft Sumpter lately though I rather expected it last night as the 7th Ct regt that has been drilling for that purpose for the last month or more went on board of transports here at Pawnee landing yesterday.
I am very glad to hear that you have got somebody to cut your winters wood, but I am thinking it will have to be mostly chestnut and therefore not first rate. Yes I will send [4] you Ed's letter since you wish it. His letters have all been very much in the same style, and I don't like it. Not that I have any objections to his advocating abolition but I don't acknowledge his right to "jump at conclusions", and call hard names. Would you? If I were to answer it should to say The least have to tell him that a "radical" of his stump. I have not found in the Union army, as yet, and that however plenty they may be in his section, they haven't the courage, to come and fight for the thing for which they so loudly clammor. My health is very good I am happy to know that you have such full confidence in you husband's integrity. May you never have occasion to have less. I too; am happy in the belief that I have a loveing, true confiding, and honest wife. May such a jewel ever be mine, and I worthy to wear it, is the sincere wish of
Your Devoted husband
G. W. Tillotson
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