Tillotson, George W. (fl. 1830-1918) To his wife
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04558.153 Author/Creator: Tillotson, George W. (fl. 1830-1918) Place Written: Petersburg, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 9 August 1864 Pagination: 4 p. ; 18 x 12 cm. Order a Copy
Discusses farm business, friends, camp news, and politics. "I may vote for "Old Abe" if on keeps on behaveing [sic] himself, and calls for 300000, or 500000, more occasionally between this and election.
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.
In the Trenches Near Petersburg Va
Aug 9th 1864
My Dear Wife
Yours and Georgianna letter I received the night of the fifth, and also one from Mary. We left the pits the evening of the 5th and were in camp a couple of days but came out again the night before last. We are not in the same place in the line that we have usually been, but farther to the left. We are in the front pit and our company is right in front of one of our forts so that they fire over us. When we came in here this pit was a very poor one, a good deal of it being so that a man could'nt stand up in it without exposing more that half their length, but we went at it yesterday and last night and have made [struck: the] it passable. Will Horton has just been here. Came back to [2] regt from the hospital last night he is looking quite fat and healthy, says he has seen Rus down at the hospital but that he is now sent off to the general hospital. Frank he says has sent to Capt Brown for his descriptive list and that he was at Hilton head. I told him what you had written about John, and he says he wont get any of his money to drink up No: I dont "think that they will take Petersburg and eventually Richmond" at least not right away. I don't see the use of keeping us here unless it is to keep the rebs here also, but I'll warrant there is as many of us kept as there is rebels. I may vote for "Old Abe" if he keeps on behaving himself, and calls for 300000 , or 500000, more occasionally between this and election. This idea of paying such bounties [3] though to get his 500000 more I don't like. It is a plan that is always advocated by Copperheads and [struck: and] after a while when they find their taxes are more than they can well pay the will curse union men because they (taxes) are so. No Lib dont sell of any of the sheep at least no ewes and I shouldnt be anxious to give away the white cow, nor to sell her too cheap either If she will get decently fat she can be barreled and if you will notice the market price of beef per bbl you will see they don't give it away. Sheep can be kept through the winter easier, and on scanter fodder, than cows. The other day just before we were relieved they got up quite an excitement. The rebels under-took to blow up one of our forts, and because they failed I suppose they were mad, they acted so at least No that Foster was not from [4] Smithville but from [Pansylvania] Lieut Morris has not the command of the company and has not had since the 20th of June. He is on somebodys staff. Lieut Harris has command of Co H
Dearest I am sorry to hear of your wearing yourself out so, Cant you [take] it [easier] and not work so hard. What if you don't do everything. Tell Dolly that I guess I will answer her letter in a day or two when I get into camp. Guess we shall go in tonight for there is a general order that the troops shall be in the trenches half the time and in reserve half the time and the ones that we relieved had been here 48 hours. Two of the 11th Ct deserted to the rebs last night. It is near dinner time and the cooks will be here soon with bean soup, and besides the rebs are shelling this fort and their mortar shells are bursting short so I'll quit. Good Bye
In Love Eternally Yours
Geo W Tillotson
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