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- Joseph Spafford Correspondence
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Joseph Spafford served in the 4th and 16th Vermont Infantry Regiments. His letters are written to his mother and to his sister, M. Jane Spafford, in Upper Falls, Vt. (a village in Weathersfield), as well as to a friend, Homer White, in New York City. In his letters, Joseph Spafford writes of camp...
Show moreJoseph Spafford served in the 4th and 16th Vermont Infantry Regiments. His letters are written to his mother and to his sister, M. Jane Spafford, in Upper Falls, Vt. (a village in Weathersfield), as well as to a friend, Homer White, in New York City. In his letters, Joseph Spafford writes of camp life including information about men from Weathersfield and surrounding towns. In a letter dated January 2, 1862 and marked confidential, Spafford writes very frankly about officers and the politics of promotion. He also writes of an opium user with the initial C. In other letters he describes troop movements, and gives information on sickness in the Regiment. He also writes of having his picture taken and of receiving newspapers and other items from home. In one of his letters while in the 16th Regiment, he describes how some soldiers collect souvenirs from battlefields, including human remains.
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- John Spafford to Joseph Spafford, Joseph Spafford to John Spafford
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Topics include inquiries about writing materials, tobacco, dress coats, and stockings.
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- John Spafford to Joseph Spafford, Joseph Spafford to John Spafford
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Letter from John Spafford to his son Joseph. Both serving in the military. John inquires about what needs Joseph might have, of the importance of keeping body and clothes clean and the movement of the regiment from Washington to Camp Griffin. Joseph answers his father's questions on the same...
Show moreLetter from John Spafford to his son Joseph. Both serving in the military. John inquires about what needs Joseph might have, of the importance of keeping body and clothes clean and the movement of the regiment from Washington to Camp Griffin. Joseph answers his father's questions on the same letter to be returned to John.
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- Joseph Spafford to Homer White
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Topics include receiving marching orders for possible move out on Feb 27th but not knowing in what direction or where the soldiers are headed, whether the Army of the Potomac will move during heavy rain, a sick soldier's brother is providing medical care, and a visitor from Cavendish, Vt.
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- Joseph Spafford to Homer White
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Still writing from Carver Hospital in Washington D.C. topics include hoping to get his papers to go home to surprise his family, plans to meet Homer White in New York City and hopes that his friend Homer will come to Vermont with him.
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- Joseph Spafford to Homer White
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Writing from Windham, Vt to his friend Homer White topics include Joseph Spafford deciding to enlist and reference to others who have decided to enlist.
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- Joseph Spafford to Homer White
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Writing from Greenbush topics include a description of the regiments being formed and the position assignments of Joseph Spafford’s friends.
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- Joseph Spafford to Marianne Spafford
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Writing from Camp Vermont, topics include a copy of Joseph Spafford’s accounts of camp life from November 10th until November 24th written on stationery with a beautiful color illustration of Richmond, Virginia. Mentions the orphan boys wanting to go along with the soldiers have run away.
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- Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
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From Centreville, Va., a brief letter to sister Mary Jane requesting copies of the Boston Daily Journal with information about the battles of Bull Run (August 1862) and Chantilly (September 1862), mention of skirmish of cavalry pickets with the rebels, of how desolate the area is with empty,...
Show moreFrom Centreville, Va., a brief letter to sister Mary Jane requesting copies of the Boston Daily Journal with information about the battles of Bull Run (August 1862) and Chantilly (September 1862), mention of skirmish of cavalry pickets with the rebels, of how desolate the area is with empty, burned buildings and Joseph’s good health.
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- Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
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Letter head with color illustration of a camp scene written in the field. Topics include several diary entries detailing Joseph’s experiences from November 25th, 1862 to January 8th, 1863 that include camp life, soldiers marching music, viewing the Chantilly battlefield, desecration of the dead,...
Show moreLetter head with color illustration of a camp scene written in the field. Topics include several diary entries detailing Joseph’s experiences from November 25th, 1862 to January 8th, 1863 that include camp life, soldiers marching music, viewing the Chantilly battlefield, desecration of the dead, discovery of coffin of Confederate officer in barn of area family, firing at Rebels with death of a horse resulting, burned and empty buildings in the area, activities of local people including assisting a southern woman regain her father who had been taken prisoner.
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- Joseph Spafford to Homer White
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Writes of being in the military for 9 months and not knowing what the future will bring, of moving from Camp Vermont to Fairfax Court House, of having done picket duties at Bull Run, of doing drills, writes of the personality of a man named Az as well as mentioning other men he is with, of the...
Show moreWrites of being in the military for 9 months and not knowing what the future will bring, of moving from Camp Vermont to Fairfax Court House, of having done picket duties at Bull Run, of doing drills, writes of the personality of a man named Az as well as mentioning other men he is with, of the promotion of George Clark to 2nd Lieutenant in Company D.
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- Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
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Considers the possibility of bringing home a Southern woman after the war, asks how family thinks about that, indifferent about having family send a box of goods as he is living well, if he needs money he may borrow from another man, the improvement in George’s health, the need for a new drum...
Show moreConsiders the possibility of bringing home a Southern woman after the war, asks how family thinks about that, indifferent about having family send a box of goods as he is living well, if he needs money he may borrow from another man, the improvement in George’s health, the need for a new drum major, and teases his sister Sophia about having a Southern woman as a sister-in-law.
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- Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
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Topics include the 16th Vermont Regiment and whole Brigade moving to Occoquan and Wolf Run, the measles going around the regiment, looking forward to marching as the weather is good, states many soldiers have deserted, the government not paying the soldiers, officers having to buy their own...
Show moreTopics include the 16th Vermont Regiment and whole Brigade moving to Occoquan and Wolf Run, the measles going around the regiment, looking forward to marching as the weather is good, states many soldiers have deserted, the government not paying the soldiers, officers having to buy their own outfits, writes again about whether or not to have a box of goods sent to him.
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- Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
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Topics include how often to write, of not getting a letter Mary Jane says she wrote, the snowy and rainy weather, Williams and the Captains poor health, a trip to Washington, Joseph’s clothing, the resignation of the 2nd Lieutenant of Company F, and Joseph’s good health.
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- Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
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Time doing battalion drills, the capture of Stoughts, Rebels capturing Brig. Gen without a gunshot, digging pits, inquiries about a letter that perhaps was inappropriate with questions about who wrote it & how disgruntled privates can give misconceptions, and a few officers in Company E becoming...
Show moreTime doing battalion drills, the capture of Stoughts, Rebels capturing Brig. Gen without a gunshot, digging pits, inquiries about a letter that perhaps was inappropriate with questions about who wrote it & how disgruntled privates can give misconceptions, and a few officers in Company E becoming intoxicated.
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- Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
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Brief letter about moving to Union Mills, where 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th regiments are, the resignation of the Lieutenant, Kit Haskins of 1st Lieut Co I has left camp, Adin Whitmore resigned.
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- Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
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Topics include a description of the good tent living conditions, the picket line from Union Mills to Blackburns Ford along Bull Run, the return of Lieutenant Williams to camp with recovered health and plans for when back home by April 1864.
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- Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
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Topics include several promotions in the regiment, a trip to Washington, to the theater to see performances (Werner, Still Waters Run Deep, My Aunt), book of poems to send home, music to send home (I'm sitting on the Stile Mary & The Vacant chair), the cold weather, and the expectation to be paid...
Show moreTopics include several promotions in the regiment, a trip to Washington, to the theater to see performances (Werner, Still Waters Run Deep, My Aunt), book of poems to send home, music to send home (I'm sitting on the Stile Mary & The Vacant chair), the cold weather, and the expectation to be paid soon.
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- Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
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Topics include a description of the area beyond the pickets, rethinking the idea of marriage before next April & idea of possibly going to Mexico after the war made in fun, recreational fun by the men in camp, the expectation of being paid soon, the probability of not returning home before July...
Show moreTopics include a description of the area beyond the pickets, rethinking the idea of marriage before next April & idea of possibly going to Mexico after the war made in fun, recreational fun by the men in camp, the expectation of being paid soon, the probability of not returning home before July 23rd, concerns about health of Grandmother.
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- Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
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Topics include preparations to take the field for up to seven days, reflections on what living conditions might be light, what items are being taken, sending music home (Sitting on the Style & Dear Mother, I’ll come home again)