American University Library. Archives and Special Collections.
Description
Letter written by John E. Gillespie, a Union soldier in the 1st Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment (later the 30th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry), to his father during the early months of the U.S. Civil War. A typed transcript is included with digital images of Gillespie's original handwritten letters. Excerpt: "We left Camp Wayne on Sunday morning about 9 o'clock, marched to the depot, escorted there by the Seventh. We arrived at Harrisburg at 6 o'clock & marched out to Camp Curtin & pitched our tents. At three o'clock in the morning we struck our tents & packed everything & were formed into line & at 8 o'clock we left. We crossed the bridge below Harrisburg & went down the Northern Central railroad & arrived at Baltimore about 8 o'clock. We laid in the cars at the Depot until 12 o'clock when we marched through Baltimore to the Calvert Street depot (I think it is) where we stayed till morning when we marched through the streets, the same I believe where the fight was, out here. The place is called Mount Clare. It is a splendid place. Our encampment is situated right on a knoll facing south east. We have a splendid view of the bay."
American University Library. Archives and Special Collections.
Description
Letter written by John E. Gillespie, a Union soldier in the 30th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, to his father during the early months of the U.S. Civil War. A typed transcript is included with digital images of Gillespie's original handwritten letters. Excerpt: "Last Wednesday about 3 o'clock in the afternoon we got marching orders. We packed our knapsacks & fell into line, where we stood for over two hours, waiting for wagons to carry our camp equipage, but finally we broke ranks & went to our quarters, got our supper, struck our tents, formed into line again, took our place in our Brigade & left Tenallytown 'en route' for the sacred soil of Virginia, crossed the Chain Bridge & marched about four miles on this side to a place called Langley where we arrived about eleven o'clock."
American University Library. Archives and Special Collections.
Description
Letter written by John E. Gillespie, a Union soldier in the 30th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, to his father during the first year of the U.S. Civil War. A typed transcript is included with digital images of Gillespie's original handwritten letters. Excerpt: "I suppose you saw the account of that affair at Bales Rock. It disheartened the men (a) great deal. Yesterday there were orders read before the regiment that it wasn't by Gen. McClellan(s) orders that the fight occurred, that he knew nothing of it until after the fight was over. That expedition that had gone down on the coast will leave its mark. If that expedition is successful, we will advance farther South. If not, we will winter here."
American University Library. Archives and Special Collections.
Description
Letter written by John E. Gillespie, a Union soldier in the 30th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, to his father during the early months of the U.S. Civil War. A typed transcript is included with digital images of Gillespie's original handwritten letters. Excerpt: "We had a review last Saturday, we were reviewed by Gen. McClellan & staff & Prince De Joinville. I suppose you also saw the account of our march to the Chain Bridge. It was of no avail, we were too late. We had to march right back. I have been under marching orders for the last two days. Gen Smith's Brigade at the Chain Bridge went out into Virginia to reconnoiter. We had orders to march in a minute 's notice in case he would be attacked, but we didn't go."
American University Library. Archives and Special Collections.
Description
Letter written by John E. Gillespie, a Union soldier in the 1st Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment (later the 30th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry), to his father from training camp during the early months of the U.S. Civil War. A typed transcript is included with digital images of Gillespie's original handwritten letters. Excerpt: "Three companies came in last night. They were from Phila. They came from Camp Curtin. One of the men had his nose broken & some other injuries inflicted. He had gotten up on top of the cars coming down from Harrisburg & was struck by a bridge & knocked off the cars. He is here in Hospital. He is getting better. I went to meeting in a squad of 10 or dozen Last Sunday. We also had service on the ground in the afternoon. Last Sunday week we escorted the remains of Judge Bell from his late residence, through the town, part of the way to the bur(y)ing ground. Last Saturday there was a fellow drunnned out (of) Camp for being insolent to one of the officers in his Company. He was hemmed in by six muskets to keep the crowd from tearing him to pieces. There were 9 fifes and sixteen drums."
American University Library. Archives and Special Collections.
Description
Letter written by John E. Gillespie, a Union soldier in the 1st Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment (later the 30th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry), to his father from training camp during the early months of the U.S. Civil War. A typed transcript is included with digital images of Gillespie's original handwritten letters. Excerpt: "I suppose you begin to think it strange that I have not written sooner but I have hardly time enough to perform the little duties that are put upon me. I arrived safely in West Chester and put up at the Green Tree. I got my uniform on Saturday evening & also most of my equipment. Albert came up on Sunday morning with Jim Connors. He brought his shawl up for me. He went home about five o'clock. We all met at the Armory at 9 o'clock Monday morning and about 12 o'clock we formed into line, marched through the principal streets of the town, stopping at the principal places and giving three cheers for the ladies, and then we proceeded to Camp Wayne."
American University Library. Archives and Special Collections.
Description
Letter written by John E. Gillespie, a Union soldier in the 30th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, to his father while stationed in Northern Virginia during the second year of the U.S. Civil War. A typed transcript is included with digital images of Gillespie's original handwritten letters. Excerpt: "Of course you have seen the accounts of Banks retreat - of his being reinforced, & of the battles McClellan has had before Richmond - of the evacuation of Corinth, & of Halleck taking ten thousand prisoners & fifteen thousand stand of arms - therefore it is no use for me to write any description. We get the Baltimore (daily) paper about noon & the Phila. ones about five o'clock."
American University Library. Archives and Special Collections.
Description
Letter written by John E. Gillespie, a Union soldier in the 30th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, to his father while stationed in Northern Virginia during the first year of the U.S. Civil War. A typed transcript is included with digital images of Gillespie's original handwritten letters. Excerpt: "There is a report flying around here, that our division was to go South in the next fleet, but I think that is all talk. Lieut. Christman, an officer out of the 4th Reg. who is a clerk in some of the Military Departments in Washington, says he saw our Division entered for one - that is to sail in the next fleet. The men all seem anxious to go, but I think it is very uncertain about us going."
American University Library. Archives and Special Collections.
Description
Letter written by John E. Gillespie, a Union soldier in the 30th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, to his father while stationed in Northern Virginia during the first year of the U.S. Civil War. A typed transcript is included with digital images of Gillespie's original handwritten letters. Excerpt: "We have been expecting marching orders for the last two or three days. The men are all anxious to move (although we are comfortably fixed) & yesterday we got orders to march with three days rations without tents. But this morning I heard that the orders were countermanded."
American University Library. Archives and Special Collections.
Description
Letter written by John E. Gillespie, a Union soldier in the 30th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, to his mother during the early months of the U.S. Civil War. A typed transcript is included with digital images of Gillespie's original handwritten letters. Excerpt: "I received your kind letter day before yesterday & was pleased to hear that you were all well. Having a little time to myself, this morning, I thought I would write you a few lines if I can get a chance of sending it, as it (is) reported here that we will not be allowed to send any more letters for a week or so, because the soldiers writing home have given more information than they ought to have done."