CIVIL WAR LETTERS
of George Washington Miller
Introduction to G.W. Miller Letters
Electronic Transcriber’s Note: Electronic transcription of the “Jack
Lane Civil War Letters of George W. Miller” in Western Michigan
University at Kalamazoo (as cited in book, Battle at Bull Run, by William
C. Davis, published May 1981 by Louisiana State University Press) were
done June 2008 by Mary M. Lane to be sent to the Bowne Township
(Michigan) Historical Society website for public use and enjoyment.
Transcriber has maintained spelling and punctuation as found in copies
done by Norma Lane (see below), but added footnotes or corrections as
identified by ML at end.
Modern Transcription: George Washington Miller’s original letters to
his parents have disappeared (to the best knowledge of these family
descendants), however, happily, Delia Miller Colby guarded her letters
from her brother George and copied her parents’ letters from him, which
is how these have survived. In 1955, John F. “Jack” Lane used the
letters as the basis for a class paper for U.S. History of Professor Starring
at Western Michigan University. Learning from his grandmother,
Theodosia Colby Lane, that her mother’s letters were then held by
Lawrence Headworth (a descendant of younger sister, Jessie Miller
Headworth), Jack Lane asked to be able to copy them. Lawrence and
Ruth Headworth would not allow the letters to be taken from their house,
but Norma Lane copied, then typed up the letters. The letters were said
to have passed to someone who took them to California; whether they
survive or not is unknown.
Lawrence Headworth also owned a spinning wheel owned by the Colbys
or Millers, as well as Jared Miller’s clock. The clock and spinning wheel
were passed down to William Harris. The spinning wheel is now in the
possession of Roger Harris’s sister, while Roger has the clock.
Copies of photos of Jared and Jeanette Miller have been disseminated
among their descendants.
Following is information about the George W. Miller letters by unsigned
authors.
ML
“Miller Genealogy”
“CHILDREN::
George W. – Born Sept. 2, 1843. Enlisted in Company A, 3rd Michigan
Volunteers and served in the Civil War. He lost his life on the field or in
prison. Joined at Grand Rapids, Mich. For 3 months in April, 1861,
which afterwards disbanded. He then re-enlisted for 3 years. The
Regiment went to Washington in June the same year. In 1862 they were
engaged in the Battle of Fair Oaks. May 31st, 1862, their regiment was
quite badly cut up. George was detailed with others from Company A.
After the battle he was numbered with the missing, which has never
been cleared up. A story is told by soldiers of the 2nd Regiment Inft.
Which was also in the battle, which may or may not be a solution of
George’s fate. The 2nd was detailed to hunt for the dead and wounded
of their Regiment. They came upon a body of a Michigan 3rd soldier who
had been wounded in the thigh and he had bound the wound with a
black silk necktie handkerchief to stop the flow of blood, then crawled off
to the edge of a swamp, but he bled to death. Nevertheless his gun lay
by his side, on the stock of which was initialed, worked in with pin
heads. Instead of reporting this to the 3rd, as they probably should have
done, they dug a hole in the muck with their bayonets and buried him
there.”
“The Civil War Letters of George W. Miller”
“George W. Miller was born on March 5, 18421, in Wheatland, New
York. In July of 1846, he emigrated to Michigan with his parents, Jared
and Janet2 Miller, and his one year old sister, Delia. They traveled by
stagecoach and train to Battle Creek, Michigan. From there they
proceeded by ox-team wagon to Bowne township in southeastern Kent
County where Jared purchased some land to build his homestead.
Jared built a log cabin on his property and young George helped
his father clear the land and plant crops. Janet Miller, who had some
education, taught young George and Delia to read and write. As George
grew older, he developed a keen sense of the land and the crops growing
there as evidenced by some of his observations of the terrain in Virginia
during the Civil War.3
On May 13, 1861, shortly after George’s nineteenth birthday4, he
enlisted in the Union army for a term of three years at Grand Rapids,
Michigan. George’s mother initially opposed his enlisting, but finally was
convinced by George’s patriotic fervor.
Miller was enrolled in Company A, Third Michigan Infantry, which
was made up almost exclusively of men from the Grand Rapids area.
This birth date per this ? author, but copy of “Miller Genealogy” of unknown author
also gives date of September 2, 1843. 1860 U.S. Census, taken 22 August 1860 lists
George as 16 years old; and 1850 Census, taken 1 June 1850 lists George as 6 years.
ML
2 “Janet” Miller, variously spelled as Jenette, Jeanette, Jennet, or Janette Miller, born
Jenette McPherson January 27, 1823 in Wheatland, Monroe County, New York.
3 Footnote #1 from original lost. ML
4 See footnote #1 above.
1
The 3rd Michigan Infantry was mustered into service on June 10,
1861, with 1040 officers and men. They were led by Colonel Daniel
McConnell, with Lieutenant Colonel Ambrose Stevens second in
command. Company A’s officers were Captain Samuel A. Judd, 1st
Lieutenant Frederick Shriver, and 2nd Lieutenant Charles Lyon.
The 3rd Michigan regiment left Grand Rapids by train on June 13,
1861, for Washington D.C. Following their participation in the battle of
Blackburn’s Ford on July 18, 1861, they went into winter quarters at
Alexandria, Virginia.5
Miller rose rapidly in the ranks, eventually being promoted to
sergeant. He received awards for his marksmanship and was assigned to
be a skirmisher (sharpshooter).6
When the 3rd Michigan was transferred to active duty in the
Peninsula campaign in 1862, Miller’s unit participated in the Battle of
Fair Oaks, Virginia, where Miller was killed on May 31, 1862.7 His body
was never recovered.
His mother continued to inquire about Miller’s fate. She wrote
letters to his friends in the 3rd Michigan regarding the circumstances of
her son’s death. Miller was thought to have been captured at first, but
later inquiries show that he disappeared “in a thicket of pines. The
Sharpshooters had difficulty penetrating a mass of fallen timber to
Footnote #2 in original, lost to this transcriber. ML
Hand written note asking for footnote for this information on transcriber Mary’s copy.
7
Hand written note asking for footnote for this information on transcriber, Mary’s copy.
5
6
dislodge the enemy from their strong position. Captain Samuel Judd
and his bravely led sharpshooters fell in action.”8
Until her death on April 7, 1880, Janet Miller would always light a
kerosene lamp and place it in the window of their home, and at dusk,
would walk out to the road leading to the railroad crossing looking for
her lost son.9 She and her husband Jared were buried in the Bowne
Township cemetery next to a memorial stone to her lost son.
The George W. Miller letters belong to Mr. John F. Lane10 to whom
I am grateful for allowing me access to them. Mr. James Hummel was a
most valuable source in helping my research with his fine collection of
Civil War books and artifacts. I thank them both for sharing the letters
and their knowledge with me.
[Following were excerpts from the letters]
Footnote #3 in original, lost now.
Footnote #4 in original, lost now.
10 John F. Lane only owned copies he and wife, Norma Lane made from Delia Miller
Colby’s originals and copies. Delia’s originals and copies were owned by Lawrence
Headworth, but whereabouts are now unknown. ML
8
9
[Unknown if related or how to above writing]
These are the letters written by G. W. Miller, Company A Third
Regiment, Michigan Infantry. They portray a farmer boy’s impressions of
the early days fo the Civil War. The enthusiasm for adventure and the
lure of war induced this boy to leave home without his parents’
permission and join the army. Being only 17 years old at this time his
father would not give his permission to join: after much pleading he was
finally allowed to go.11
He was promoted to the rank of sergeant and awarded for his rifle
marksmanship. He was sent out on an advance patrol at the battle of
Fair Oaks and was never heard from again. His mother wrote to various
officers and men in his company in hopes of obtaining some information
as to the possibility of his being captured or killed. Her letters and
answeres are found in the final pages of this account. Until her death
every night Mrs. Miller would gaze down the road at dusk looking for the
return of her lost son.
G.W. Miller was my great-great uncle.
My great-grandfather, Isaac C. Colby, also participated in the Civil
War. He enlisted in the army on February 14, 1862 in the 18th Ohio
Volunteer Infantry12, Company F. He engaged in battles at Perryville,
Stone Rivers Gap, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and through the
According to 1850 and 1860 U.S. Census, this information should be correct, but see
footnote #1 on prior paper for controversy as to George’s actual age. ML
12 Hand written above: “Reg. U.S. Infantry”. According to Veteran’s claim in the U.S.
National Archives, Washington, D.C., Isaac Colby served in the 18th U.S. Infantry. ML
11
Georgia campaign. He was wounded at New Hope Church Gap on May,
1864 and was captured in that area and sent to Libby Prison Camp
where he remained until the expiration of the war.13 He was married to
Delia M. Miller, sister of G. W. Miller. He died a natural death in 1916.
No information can be found of his accounts of the Civil War.”
- John F. Lane
This information incorrect according to the Veteran Pension Records, National
Archives. ML
13
Grand Rapids
April 28, 1861
Dear Parents,
Today is the quiet and peaceful Sabbath, the usual din of the city is
suscided* while here and there the citizens are flocking to church. We have
orders from the Captain to met at the armory at 1:00 and proceed to St. Mark’s
Church in a body.
We had a great mass meeting here yesterday, all the people took an oath
of allegiance, our company marched down Canal Street and
joined the Rifle Company from over the river and marched back to the square,
stayed a little while and then marched back to quarters, and here dismissed.
Stone’s boys** and Brannans were down here yesterday.
I expect we will have our uniforms and guns this week’ we are going to
camp out after this, it is going to be down the flank road somewhere in a field. I
believe some of the officers have just been in, they say we will not leave town
under three weeks.
We drill on the square every day when it is fair; we shall commence
practicing with muskets tomorrow I expect.
Write back as soon as possible. I shall get it I guess.
Goodbye,
Your affectionate son,
G. W. Miller
* Transcriber has retained original spellings and punctuation of G. W. Miller.
** See Index of People and Places for explanatory notes.
Georgetown Hights
June 17, 1861
Dear Parents,
We have arrived at Washington and are encamped about three miles
from Georgetown on the Georgetown Hights by the Potomac River and
Cheasepeake Canal. We arrived here without any accident of any account, we
got into Detroit about 6:00 that day, we marched about the streets of Detroit
an hour or so then went to the depot and took refreshments and then took
steamboat for Cleveland.
At every station along the line through Michigan there was a little
crowd, they would greet us with cheer and sometimes with cannon or an
anville, at Pontiac they brought us refreshments of cake and cheese. We got
into Cleveland a little after sunrise, we took cars from there to Pittsburg, the
through the northern part of Ohio is level and nice but down towards the
southern part it grows mountainous and rocky, it is a great coal region here.
There is lots of places along the line where the hills are pierced for coal. This
is the great oil region; I saw oil wells all along, we struck the Ohio River
opposite Virginia at a little place called Wellsville, the railroad from there
follows the Ohio all the way to Pittsburg, the Ohio here is a little stream about
as wide as the Grand River at Lowell, we arrived a t Pittsburg about dark on
Friday, we changed cars there for Harrisburg, at almost every station along
the line through Ohio there was crowds of men and women who cheered and
waved their handerchiefs or brought us refreshments, the girls with cheers,
the citizens came and shook hands with us, in going
from Pittsburg to Harrisburg we crossed the Allegany Mountains; although
there is some pretty big hills they don’t come up to mountains, there is
some big rocks though, the railroad mostly follow course of small streams,
we passed through four tunnels, the hills have been dug down through
about fourty feet through the solid rock. We arrived at Harrisburg a little
after noon on Saturday, took refreshment, then changed cars for
Baltimore; we passed the Massachusetts Six Regiment about daylight,
before we got into Baltimore. When we arrived at Baltimore we formed into
platoons and marched through the city without the least sign of fight, we
saw some houses there marked with bullets. We took another train for
Washington, on the way we passed the relay house where the secession
troops were stationed, it is occupied by the New York troops now I believe,
we arrived at Washington about noon we formed in marching order and
marched through Washington across the Potomac (a little stream about
thirty or fourty feet wide at this place) and up through Georgetown and
about three miles beyond, we are encamped between the Michigan Second
and the District of Columbia troops, it is a nice healthy spot and no
warmer than in Michigan. But I must close for want of paper, when you
write address G. W. Miller, Company A Third Regiment Michigan Inft.,
Georgetown HIghts, D.C. There is a rumor that there is a fight twenty
miles up the river but I can’t vouch for the truth of it. A Pennsylvania
Regiment camped three miles captured thirty secession troops yesterday.
G. W. Miller
Camp Blair
Friday, June 28, 1861
Dear Parents,
We are still encamped on the Georgetown Hights. We haven’t had any
fight yet or seen any signs of any yet they are continually on the alert for
secessionists. Down at the bridge there was what appeared to be a finely
drest lady with a horse and buggy, came up to the bridge to cross, she was
stopped to be examined according to orders, they found under some grass in
the buggy, about a bushel of precussion caps. This led to closer
examination of the lady which ended in the discovery that the supposed lady
was a man and a rank secessionist at that, they have got him prisoner.
There is a regiment of D. C. troops beside us, they are building a battery on
the bank that overlooks the bridge and the considerable distance up and
down the Potomac, the Potomac here is about fourty feet wide but is very
deep, it flows through a rocky basin about fourty rods wide with high blufs
on the sides, the river runs on one side and the Chespeake Canal on the
other. The Land around here is very hilly and rocky, there is considerable
sickness at camp mostly the summer complaint caused by change of
weather and climate. I have had the measles and am now enjoying the
mumps, they are getting better now, they keep me in the tent pretty much
all the time. Ben Morse** is doing well, I believe he has had the measles, our
living is composed of good stubbed material for breakfast we are always sure
of our beef bread and rice for supper, beef bread and coffee, it is not our full
rations but it is the best we can get now.
I had the pleasure of receiving that paper you sent me, I shall endever to
follow the rules for health as near as I can. Please write a letter as often
as you can, it does me good to hear from home.
Our regiment had the honor of a visit from Old Abe and Wm. H.
Seward** last night, Old Abe was dressed in black pants, black plug hat
and a linin coat, he is slightly stooped shouldered and looks more like a
track pedlar than the president of these U.S. Wm. H. Seward is a short
man with grey hair and a big mosel. I don’t know where we shall go from
here or when we shall go, I have heard that our colonel has his choice to
stay and guard the city of march into Virginia so fight; however we shall
not move for a while yet I guess, when you answer this address the same
as I told you in my last excepting the change of Camp Blair instead of
Georgetown Hights.
Write soon and give me all the news from home.
Your affectionate son,
G.W. Miller
Camp Blair, Washington D.C.
July 7, 1861
Dear Parents,
I received you letter of the 28th and glad enough I was to get it, I am now
enjoying excelent health although camp life does not add a great deal of flesh
to a person, I am sorry I was not at home when cousin Maggie and Mary**
were there but I suppose you remembered to them, I am glad father has got
them stones picked up for I dreaded them more than all the rest of the
summer’s work. I will bet Arthur don’t get dry nor hungry the 4th after
getting so much money for climbing that pole, I spent my 4th by standing
guard two hours out of six all day and all night; there was no celebration
whatever except firing a few guns from the battery. They boys had spent all
their money before so there was no getting drunk. Taking it all together it was
a very quiet 4th. We are on the Georgetown Hights and are likely to be for a
considerable time to come, for as I can find out we are to be kept as a kind of
home guard, if you wish to know our exact locality take the map of the District
of Columbia and look up in the corner on the line of Maryland on the Potomac
and you will see our locality exactly.
We are encamped on D.C. ground while just over the fence from
Maryland, and right across the river is Virginia. The people around here have
finished their haying and harvesting enough I should judge their corn was not
much ahead of the corn in Michigan at this time. There is a great many old
deserted fields in Maryland where low bush blackberries grown in abundance
and cherries grow in every direction; and we get out of camp once in a while
and then we live, the woods with
chestnuts and if we should lay here till fall we will have great times
eating chestnuts.
It was rumored that there was a fight at Fairfax Courthouse
yesterday, but we can’t say for certain if it was so or not. Ex.
Governor [Andrew] Johnson of Tennessee came down here last night
and made a speech, he made the boys feel quite patriotic for a while.
We are getting our new uniforms now we have already received
the pants, they’re of blue, the old greys are worn out, we understand
that most of the secessionist wear grey, the pants are not particularly
noted for fit, the pants that I drew was big enough to contain his
excelency the Rev. C. Cluth**, but by considerable ingenuity, patience
and tailoring I have managed to make a passable fit, some of the boys
wear the pants up under their arms. Reading is rather scarce here
and I would be much oblidged if you would send me a paper now and
then; we are allowed one franked envelope a week to write to our
friends.
The health of the regiment is generally good, one man out of
Company C died last week, he was buried on a hill not far from here;
his comrades fired three salutes over his grave, he leaves a widow who
had followed him here; one man out of Company K went over into
Virginia the other day and got poisoned, his recovery is doubtful, but
close I must so goodbye. Write soon.
Your affectionate son,
G. W. Miller
Camp Blair, Washington D.C.
July 14, 1861
Dear Parents,
I am still alive and well, I am still able to eat my regular rations and do
duty. The health of the soldiers is generally good. The summer complaint
trouble a good many. One man died in the hospital last week.
We have orders to be ready to march at any moment although I do not
think we will leave in a week or more.
They detailed a party of men out of our company today who are going
over to the Second Regiment to drill as skirmishers for the Brigade. The D.C.
troops is out ad have left – a company of New York light artillery have taken
possession of the battery. The New York Twelfth Regiment is encamped just
above us, they are to belong to our Brigade, they are dressed in dark blue
uniforms with a tall black felt hat – the rim turned up on one side and a feather
of black pined on.
I have not been to the city since I had the measles, I intend to go down
some of these days though. The Colonel is very strict about giving passes now,
some of the soldiers would go out and trespass on the people’s property who
would come and make complaints to the Colonel, ever since he has been very
particular about giving passes.
The Dutch Company have moved over across the river to guard that end
of the bridge. I forgot to answer in my last letter the question you asked me
about Captain Judd, when we embarked on the boat at Detroit Captain Judd
and Lieutenant Striver were accidently left but they took the next boat and
come after us, they over took the rear train at Pittsburg, they
overhauled our train just before we got to Harrisburg. Our train had stopped
for something when the second train came up, Captain Judd and the
Lieutenant came up and joined us, as they came walking up they were greeted
with three hearty cheers from our boys who swore they would not go through
Baltimore without Captain Judd. When we got through to Washington we
were all of us nearly fagged out, the day that we arrived was exceedingly
warm, and marching four or five miles after so long a journey being kept up
night and day was pretty hard on us, some of our men gave out – before we
got to camp we have heard since that no other Regiment had come in without
stopping at least a day to rest in Washington, that days march was the cause
of a great deal of sickness to some of our men. A little railroad ride is fun but
four days ad nights of it begins to be hard work. The people in front of our
camp have been harvesting their oats this week, they have ten or a dozen
slaves to work all the time, it has been bad weather for harvesting this week,
for there or four days back it has rained everyday almost regular at four
o’clock.
The corn looks fine, one of our sick boys that was left at the Rapids
came on last night – he said the weather there was very hot and every thing
was burning up,it is quite the contrary here the weather is cool and pleasant,
the nights are decidedly cool, as cool as any I ever saw in Michigan at this
time of the year.
It was reported last nigh that Congress passed a bill lowering the
officers wages and raising the privates to
$15 a month, we have not received this months pay yet although it is
expected everyday.
I received a paper last night that you sent me. I was very glad to
get it although I had rather it had been a letter. I have not received
but one since I have been here, but I must close, write as often as you
can.
Your affectionate son,
G. W. Miller
P.S. Tell Delia to write me a long letter and tell me all the news.
P.S. Tell Delia to write me I should be glad to hear from her, too. G.W.
Bull Run
July 20, 1861
Dear Parents,
I am alive and well, and in good spirits and although I cannot say I have
been in a fight, I have been pretty close proximity to one. We left Camp Blair last
Tuesday with the Mass. First and the New York Twelfth, Michigan Second and took
our line of march for Fairfax Courthouse. On Wednesday we passed Fairfax just
as the enemy was retreating; they fired a few shots into their rear. We marched
through a small place called Germantown where the enemy had extensive
enbarkment* thrown up which were deserted. On Thursday marched through a
place called Centerville where the enemy embankments* thrown up. These were
also deserted, but after marching about three miles from Centerville we came upon
a masked battery or rather our pickets discovered one, a part of Sherman’s**
battery was sent forward and opened fire on them, the fire was not returned much
at first – our skirmishers were then sent forward. They came suddenly upn an
advance guard of the enemy picket concealed in the bushes, where a sharp
skirmish ensued in which some men were killed and wounded. One man out of
our company was wounded in the killed.** The enemy had the advantage of o8ur
boys so they retreated slowly. Our Regiment, the New York Regiment and the
Massachusetts First were sent forward to support them, we were taken out into an
open field and formed in line of battle where we made excellent marks for the
enemy who commenced firing at us, the bullets whistled musically around us, but
fortunately not a man was hurt, a spent bullet struck one of our men on his breast
** (Note: that man was Edward Morse from Nunica, Michigan.)
strap and bounded off again, we were halted on a piece of high ground
where the rebels began to throw cannon shot at us, we did not like the
sound of the things, so the Colonel led us under cover of a ravine, at least
we got the order for a general charge on them, we marched up Batallion
front till we got to the edge of the woods then we were ordered to halt, the
Cavalry made a charge and retreated. The Artillery then charged and
fired several shots when the Battery opened full fire on them which killed
one man and mortally wounded another, they then retreated, the New
York Twelfth was ordered to charge bayonets. The Massachusetts First
was then ordered forward. They marched into the very teeth of the
battery and stood there till they were ordered back. The rebel forces
proved to be much stronger than was supposed, we were then ordered to
fall back, we fell back about a quarter of a mile and got into the shelter of
a ravine, our battery then opened fire on them of shot and shell which
was answered quickly by the enemy, the cannon shot shirred over our
heads like a shower of bumble bees and struck in the ground a few feet
beyond. I used to think it foolishness to dodge a cannon ball but I think
the other way now, you can hear a cannon ball quite a while before it gets
to you and sometimes you can see them. I saw several that were coming
pretty strate for us in time to dodge them, finally our battery fell short of
amunition* so we fell back on Centerville.
We are waiting for reinforcements now, they are bringing on large
batteries of cannon to cannonade them.
I must hurry and close or I shall loose my chance to
Send it out. Do not feel concerned about me. I shall take care of
myself.
Good-bye,
G. W. Miller
P.S. There was about thirteen of our men killed and ten wounded and
missing.
Arlington Hights*
Saturday July 27, 1861
Dear Parents,
I am still alive and well. We are now encamped opposite the city of
Washington. You will hear all the particulars of the battle of Bull Run
probably long before this will reach you, so it will not be necessary to
recount the particulars.
The next Sunday after I wrote you a general attact* was made on the
battery from the different batteries placed by our men. The cannonading
was kept up al the forenoon which was answered by a single shot by the
enemy.
I happened to be detailed as picket guard through the day, so I did not
have a hand in the skirmishing that our company was engaged in through
the day, there was fortunately none of our men hurt.
About 8 o’clock a heavy cannonading commenced two or three miles to
the right of us, with long rolls of musquetry* at intervals from which we
knew that a hard fight was going on in that quarter; the firing continued till
about 7 o’clock in the afternoon when it ceased --- about this time I was
taken in from picket, and our Regiment marched back into the woods to
camp and had just stacked our guns when a heavy firing commenced on our
left at Hunts Battery, we were ordered to fall into ranks again and throw our
blankets in a pile for a hearty charge on the rebels, we started down the road
on double quick, all anxious for a fight, till we got as far as Centerville and
as they were forming us in order of battle, a messenger from the filed of
battle gave us the doleful intelligence that our army were all cut to pieces
and were retreating every man on his
own hook. The firing had then ceased on the left and we were formed in close
column, stacked our guns and lay down in the ranks to sleep without any blankets
of any sort. We could see the dust flying down from the many roads as far as th
eye could reach, in the direction of the Blue Ridge, many miles distant, which were
filled with our retreating soldiers, and the Rebels Cavalry galloping around in
search of straglers. We were called up about 11 o’clock and commenced a retreat,
our Regiment bringing up the rear, being the first in the field and the last out, we
marched all night and the next day till about 3 o’clock when we arrived a t
Arlington Hights opposite the city of Washington tired, hungry and wet to the skin.
We found quarters in an old barn that night, next day we pitched our tents in a
field close by with two or three other regiments.
I went to Washington the other day and visited the Capitol, the Post Office,
Patent Office and Smithsonian Institution, and saw things to numerous to
mention. Among the great curiosities of the Patent Office was General
Washington’s coat, vest and pants, his sword that he carried all through the
Revolution also his camp chest and a piece of his tent and a cane that was
presented to him by Ben Franklin. What a link between the present and the past.
It seemed to me, as I gazed on the very things that the great Father of our Country
used and handled in time gone by, especially the sword that he waved of many
stern fought battlefield. I saw the original Declaration of Independence – it looks
very old and some of it is unintelligible. I saw the name of John Hancock put on in
bold hand, I saw also the coat General ----- [Jackson? By N. Lane] wore in the
Battle of New Orleans. There is
a large collection of stuffed animals and birds at the Smithsonian Institute.
I don’t know how long we shall stay here or where we shall go next. But I
presume there will be no more fighting for the present.
Your affectionate son,
G. W. Miller
P.S. Write soon.
Index of Persons, Places and Events
Mentioned in the Civil War Letters of G.W. Miller
People (in alphabetical order)
Name
Arthur
Brannans
Cluth, Reverend C.
Cousin Maggie &
Mary
Letter date Reference Quote
7/7/1861
“I will bet Arthur don’t get
dry nor hungry the 4th
after getting so much
money for climbing that
pole.”
4/28/1861
7/7/1861
Judd, Captain
Lieutenant, the
7/14/1861
7/14/1861
Morse, Ben
6/28/1861
Stone’s boys
4/28/1861
Explanation