Tillotson, George W. (fl. 1830-1918) To his wife
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04558.091 Author/Creator: Tillotson, George W. (fl. 1830-1918) Place Written: Suffolk, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 8 May 1863 Pagination: 4 p. ; 20.5 x 13 cm. Order a Copy
Continued May 9. Responding to family news, concerned that Edwin fought at Fredericksburg, comments on sister Louisa's plan to keep a school, escort for deceased officer, has bad cold, news of Hooker. With postscript apologizing for damaging the ambrotype (#207): "...while I was cleaning the glass to your pictures with Tripoli[,] I was careless enough to let the clothe haveing the tripoli on get drawn across the face of the glass that the likenesses were taken on, and Leon's is spoiled and Georgiana's is damaged...."
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.
Suffolk V.A. May 8th 1863
My Dear Wife
Yours of the first I received yesterday, Was glad to hear that you are well, and feel independent as the rest of them. Just show them that you dont ask any odds of them as dont ask any of you Thats the way I feel, but perhaps it is owing to my not being cringeing and "pervalering" enough to suit other folks, the reason why I havent received my rights, but I cant help it, it is my nature. I should think that Mother might afford to stay with you as I dont see as it would make much odds with her and would be so much company to you. I ant at all surprised at [fathers] advise about building if I had been asked to give his answer for him beforehand I think I should have given it in about the same words. [2][Hense] to let me know how you get along with the springs work. I had a letter yesterday, from Louisa. She says that Edwin has gone back to his regiment so he is probably in the fight at Fredericksburg. His Corps (the 6th) I see by the papers crossed the river near where we did last December, but I havent seen any notice of his regiment being engaged as yet. We get the daily papers here regular the day after they are issued so that we keep pretty well posted. Our attact out here last Sunday effectually raised the seige of Suffolk, though probably the greater part of their force had been, or was being, withdrawn at the time Louisa says that she is a going to keeping school for small children was to commence the first of. May, keeps it in her own house Don't know what she wont go into yet.
[3]May 9th I was broken off yesterday by the drum beating to get into line to escort the remains of the Colonel of the 103d to the depot. Although it is not but a little over half a mile from camp there they took us around some three miles for the sake of haveing the procession pass up through the whole length of the town. The whole of the [8]9th acted as escort and we marched with arms reversed all the way. I had a hard cold in my head and was about sick and when I got back went right to bed and didnt get up again til late this morning to go to the doctors with the Neuralgey and sore throat, and I now feel as cross and snappish as a dog with a sore head but you neednt be afraid, for I ant near enough to bite ye. We have got to move camp again today, We are a going to fort [4]Perico a mile and a half from here on the Portsmouth rail road Dr Smith of our regiment was shot by a Major in [struck: the ] a [Mish] [strikeout] regt that had the delerium tremens. Smith was supposed to be mortally wounded but I believe is not dead yet although shot last Saturday. From the papers of the 7th [inserted: we] have not much news but what there was showed rather unfavorable for Hooker. I hope and pray that Hooker may succeed, but accounts show that Longstreet with the force that he had here, has arrived there, and have already nearly turned the scales. Pleas excuse me for not writing more at present for I don't feel like it.
Yours in Love
Geo W. Tillotson
P.S. I am very sor[inserted: r]y for it but the other day while I was cleaning the glass to your pictures with Tripoli I was care less enough to let the clothe haveing the Tripoli on get drawn across the face of the glass that the likenesses were taken on, and leon's is spoiled and Georgianas is damaged, but I am thankful that Lucys and yours were uninjured. George
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