1
50
36
-
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<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td></td>
<td><p>William A. Leonard</p>
<p>Gt, Barrington</p>
<p>Mass.</p>
<p>Co F. 16<sup>th</sup> Mass. Vols.</p>
<p>Deep Bottom James</p>
<p>River Aug. 17th /64</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-08-17
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<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td></td>
<td><p>William A. Leonard</p>
<p>Gt, Barrington</p>
<p>Mass.</p>
<p>Co F. 16<sup>th</sup> Mass. Vols.</p>
<p>Deep Bottom James</p>
<p>River Aug. 17th /64</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
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<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td></td>
<td><p>/64</p>
<p>Sunday.</p>
<p>Aug. 7. Detailed to go in the</p>
<p>Ambulance Train. they</p>
<p>are about a mile + a half from</p>
<p>Camp. Put up a Tent and</p>
<p>are quite comfortable.</p>
<p>Monday.</p>
<p>Aug. 8. Mailed a letter home.</p>
<p>went over to the Regt.</p>
<p>Wednesday.</p>
<p>Aug. 10. Station blew up at</p>
<p>City Point. Adams Express</p>
<p>Office demolished.</p>
<p>Friday.</p>
<p>Aug. 12. Mailed a litter home</p>
<p>Ordered to pack up and</p>
<p>be ready to move. Sargt. gave</p>
<p>me an Ambulance to drive.</p>
<p>Went to the Hospital and took</p>
<p>a load of Sick + wounded to</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
Dublin Core
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Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-08-07
1864-08-08
1864-08-10
1864-08-12
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<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td></td>
<td><p>/64</p>
<p>Sunday.</p>
<p>Aug. 7. Detailed to go in the</p>
<p>Ambulance Train. they</p>
<p>are about a mile + a half from</p>
<p>Camp. Put up a Tent and</p>
<p>are quite comfortable.</p>
<p>Monday.</p>
<p>Aug. 8. Mailed a letter home.</p>
<p>went over to the Regt.</p>
<p>Wednesday.</p>
<p>Aug. 10. Station blew up at</p>
<p>City Point. Adams Express</p>
<p>Office demolished.</p>
<p>Friday.</p>
<p>Aug. 12. Mailed a litter home</p>
<p>Ordered to pack up and</p>
<p>be ready to move. Sargt. gave</p>
<p>me an Ambulance to drive.</p>
<p>Went to the Hospital and took</p>
<p>a load of Sick + wounded to</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
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<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>City Point. Hospital broke</p>
<p>up. Marched from the Point</p>
<p>till about half past three.</p>
<p>towards the right of the line.</p>
<p>Saturday</p>
<p>Aug. 13. Joined the Heavy Train</p>
<p>to night
+ Marched to</p>
<p>Turkey Bend on the James</p>
<p>River + Parked.</p>
<p>Sunday</p>
<p>Aug. 14. Have not moved to day</p>
<p>day. Horses hooked up all day</p>
<p>Monday</p>
<p>Aug. 15. Moved into the Woods.</p>
<p>Tuesday.</p>
<p>Aug. 16. Mailed a letter and</p>
<p>Dairy home mailed a letter </p>
<p>to Aunt Lib. Detail of ten</p>
<p>of us to cross the River.</p>
<p>Parked on the other side till</p>
<p>morning</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td><p>Wednesday</p>
<p>Aug. 17. Went to the front all</p>
<p>quite.</p>
<p>Thursday</p>
<p>Aug 18. Carried a sick man to</p>
<p>the Hospital. Hevy musketry on</p>
<p>the right. night.
our Division</p>
<p>crossing the River. Took the</p>
<p>sick + wounded + crossed the</p>
<p>river. Marching
all night.</p>
<p>Letter from home, one from A. </p>
<p>C. Turner + C. Dinehart.</p>
<p>Friday.</p>
<p>Aug. 19. Parked in the Woods</p>
<p>before Petersburg. Strecher-bearer</p>
<p>gone to the front. Raining.</p>
<p>Saturday.</p>
<p>Aug. 20. Oiled my Harness to</p>
<p>day.</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
Dublin Core
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Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-08-12
1864-08-13
1864-08-14
1864-08-15
1864-08-16
1864-08-17
1864-08-18
1864-08-19
1864-08-20
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<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>City Point. Hospital broke</p>
<p>up. Marched from the Point</p>
<p>till about half past three.</p>
<p>towards the right of the line.</p>
<p>Saturday</p>
<p>Aug. 13. Joined the Heavy Train</p>
<p>to night
+ Marched to</p>
<p>Turkey Bend on the James</p>
<p>River + Parked.</p>
<p>Sunday</p>
<p>Aug. 14. Have not moved to day</p>
<p>day. Horses hooked up all day</p>
<p>Monday</p>
<p>Aug. 15. Moved into the Woods.</p>
<p>Tuesday.</p>
<p>Aug. 16. Mailed a letter and</p>
<p>Dairy home mailed a letter </p>
<p>to Aunt Lib. Detail of ten</p>
<p>of us to cross the River.</p>
<p>Parked on the other side till</p>
<p>morning</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td><p>Wednesday</p>
<p>Aug. 17. Went to the front all</p>
<p>quite.</p>
<p>Thursday</p>
<p>Aug 18. Carried a sick man to</p>
<p>the Hospital. Hevy musketry on</p>
<p>the right. night.
our Division</p>
<p>crossing the River. Took the</p>
<p>sick + wounded + crossed the</p>
<p>river. Marching
all night.</p>
<p>Letter from home, one from A. </p>
<p>C. Turner + C. Dinehart.</p>
<p>Friday.</p>
<p>Aug. 19. Parked in the Woods</p>
<p>before Petersburg. Strecher-bearer</p>
<p>gone to the front. Raining.</p>
<p>Saturday.</p>
<p>Aug. 20. Oiled my Harness to</p>
<p>day.</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
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<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>Sunday</p>
<p>Aug. 21. Mailed a letter home.</p>
<p>Heavy Cannonading on</p>
<p>the Left.</p>
<p>Monday.</p>
<p>Aug. 22. Went to City Point</p>
<p>to get my Wagon repared.</p>
<p>Wednesday</p>
<p>Aug. 24. Back to Camp. Mailed</p>
<p>a letter to A.C.Turner.</p>
<p>Thursday.</p>
<p>Aug. 25. Two letters from</p>
<p>home. Mailed one home + one</p>
<p>to Mrs. H. Roys.</p>
<p>Friday.</p>
<p>Aug. 26. Hard fighting on the</p>
<p>left yesterday. Rebs Charged</p>
<p>the times. Only
two Divis.</p>
<p>of our Corps engaged, they</p>
<p>broke our line the last</p>
<p>Charge. our
reinforcements</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td><p>not in time. Our Train</p>
<p>went out there + took a</p>
<p>lot of wounded to City Point</p>
<p>Saturday</p>
<p>Aug. 27. Back from City Point.</p>
<p>washing Ambulances for</p>
<p>Inspection to morrow.</p>
<p>Sunday.</p>
<p>Aug. 28. Inspection. Mailed</p>
<p>a letter home.</p>
<p>Monday.</p>
<p>Aug. 29.On Picket, carried</p>
<p>two Sick + one wounded</p>
<p>men to the Hospital. Papers</p>
<p>from F. Langsdorf.
Mailed</p>
<p>a letter to M. E. Hughes +</p>
<p>a paper home. Letter from</p>
<p>E.D. Humphrey.</p>
<p>Tuesday.</p>
<p>Aug. 30. Regt. gone into Fort</p>
<p>Warren. Ambulance turned</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
Dublin Core
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Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-08-21
1864-08-22
1864-08-24
1864-08-25
1864-08-26
1864-08-27
1864-08-28
1864-08-29
1864-08-30
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<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>Sunday</p>
<p>Aug. 21. Mailed a letter home.</p>
<p>Heavy Cannonading on</p>
<p>the Left.</p>
<p>Monday.</p>
<p>Aug. 22. Went to City Point</p>
<p>to get my Wagon repared.</p>
<p>Wednesday</p>
<p>Aug. 24. Back to Camp. Mailed</p>
<p>a letter to A.C.Turner.</p>
<p>Thursday.</p>
<p>Aug. 25. Two letters from</p>
<p>home. Mailed one home + one</p>
<p>to Mrs. H. Roys.</p>
<p>Friday.</p>
<p>Aug. 26. Hard fighting on the</p>
<p>left yesterday. Rebs Charged</p>
<p>the times. Only
two Divis.</p>
<p>of our Corps engaged, they</p>
<p>broke our line the last</p>
<p>Charge. our
reinforcements</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td><p>not in time. Our Train</p>
<p>went out there + took a</p>
<p>lot of wounded to City Point</p>
<p>Saturday</p>
<p>Aug. 27. Back from City Point.</p>
<p>washing Ambulances for</p>
<p>Inspection to morrow.</p>
<p>Sunday.</p>
<p>Aug. 28. Inspection. Mailed</p>
<p>a letter home.</p>
<p>Monday.</p>
<p>Aug. 29.On Picket, carried</p>
<p>two Sick + one wounded</p>
<p>men to the Hospital. Papers</p>
<p>from F. Langsdorf.
Mailed</p>
<p>a letter to M. E. Hughes +</p>
<p>a paper home. Letter from</p>
<p>E.D. Humphrey.</p>
<p>Tuesday.</p>
<p>Aug. 30. Regt. gone into Fort</p>
<p>Warren. Ambulance turned</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
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<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>in. Out with the Strecher</p>
<p>Bearers.</p>
<p>Sept. 7. Received a letter from</p>
<p>home.</p>
<p>Sept. 8. Mailed a letter home</p>
<p>Sargt. gave me an Ambulance</p>
<p>drive.</p>
<p>Friday.</p>
<p>Sept. 9. Went to City Point with</p>
<p>Sick. Loaded with Sanitary</p>
<p>Stores for Hospital comeing</p>
<p>back</p>
<p>Saturday.</p>
<p>Sept. 10. Our Brigade Captured</p>
<p>the Rebel Picket last night.</p>
<p>Sunday.</p>
<p>Sept. 11. Mailed a letter to</p>
<p>Nora. Reading Rev. Joseph</p>
<p>Samuel C. F. Frey's Sermons</p>
<p>+ Lectures. like them very</p>
<p>much.</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td><p>Monday</p>
<p>Sept. 12. On Picket. Brought</p>
<p>one wounded man to the</p>
<p>Hospital to day.</p>
<p>Tuesday</p>
<p>Sept. 13. Carried a wounded</p>
<p>man in to day.
Pickets</p>
<p>fireing
all the while.</p>
<p>Wednesday.</p>
<p>Sept. 14. Releived. Carried</p>
<p>a Man to City Point to be</p>
<p>Embolmed to night</p>
<p>Thursday.</p>
<p>Sept. 15. Back from the</p>
<p>Point. A
letter from home.</p>
<p>Saturday</p>
<p>Sept 17. Building stable.</p>
<p>Sunday.</p>
<p>Sept. 18. Sick to day. Saw the</p>
<p>Doctor, gave me some pills.</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-08-30
1864-09-07
1864-09-08
1864-09-09
1864-09-10
1864-09-11
1864-09-12
1864-09-13
1864-09-14
1864-09-15
1864-09-17
1864-09-18
PDF Text
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<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>in. Out with the Strecher</p>
<p>Bearers.</p>
<p>Sept. 7. Received a letter from</p>
<p>home.</p>
<p>Sept. 8. Mailed a letter home</p>
<p>Sargt. gave me an Ambulance</p>
<p>drive.</p>
<p>Friday.</p>
<p>Sept. 9. Went to City Point with</p>
<p>Sick. Loaded with Sanitary</p>
<p>Stores for Hospital comeing</p>
<p>back</p>
<p>Saturday.</p>
<p>Sept. 10. Our Brigade Captured</p>
<p>the Rebel Picket last night.</p>
<p>Sunday.</p>
<p>Sept. 11. Mailed a letter to</p>
<p>Nora. Reading Rev. Joseph</p>
<p>Samuel C. F. Frey's Sermons</p>
<p>+ Lectures. like them very</p>
<p>much.</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td><p>Monday</p>
<p>Sept. 12. On Picket. Brought</p>
<p>one wounded man to the</p>
<p>Hospital to day.</p>
<p>Tuesday</p>
<p>Sept. 13. Carried a wounded</p>
<p>man in to day.
Pickets</p>
<p>fireing
all the while.</p>
<p>Wednesday.</p>
<p>Sept. 14. Releived. Carried</p>
<p>a Man to City Point to be</p>
<p>Embolmed to night</p>
<p>Thursday.</p>
<p>Sept. 15. Back from the</p>
<p>Point. A
letter from home.</p>
<p>Saturday</p>
<p>Sept 17. Building stable.</p>
<p>Sunday.</p>
<p>Sept. 18. Sick to day. Saw the</p>
<p>Doctor, gave me some pills.</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
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<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>Monday.</p>
<p>Sept. 19. Went to the Hospital</p>
<p>to night. Pain
in Back. put</p>
<p>a mustard plaster on it. feeling</p>
<p>better.</p>
<p>Tuesday.</p>
<p>Sept. 20. Carried me to City</p>
<p>Point Hospital to
day. feeling</p>
<p>better.</p>
<p>Wednesday 21. on
the gain</p>
<p>Monday</p>
<p>Sept. 26. Back to the Train.</p>
<p>Paid $19.25. Went to City Point</p>
<p>with sick, had a Chill on</p>
<p>the road. Letter from home</p>
<p>with Picture. Wrote a letter</p>
<p>home and one to Mr. Walker</p>
<p>while at the Hospital.</p>
<p>Tuesday</p>
<p>Sept. 27. Had a Chill to day</p>
<p>Details come in for the Train</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td><p>Sent a letter home $5 in</p>
<p>it.</p>
<p>Wednesday</p>
<p>Sept. 28. On Picket, had a</p>
<p>Chill, came in, + went to</p>
<p>the Hospital. Went to City</p>
<p>Point Hospital to night.</p>
<p>Thursday</p>
<p>Sep. 29. Chill to day.</p>
<p>Friday</p>
<p>Sept. 30. No Chill to day, but</p>
<p>a good deal fever.</p>
<p>Saturday.</p>
<p>Oct. 1. Feeling better to day</p>
<p>have had no Chill. Mailed</p>
<p>a letter home.</p>
<p>Monday</p>
<p>Oct. 3. Feeling quite well</p>
<p>Tuesday.</p>
<p>Oct. 4. Mailed a letter home.</p>
<p>Doct. marked me Converlessant
[Convalescent]</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-09-19
1864-09-20
1864-09-21
1864-09-26
1864-09-27
1864-09-28
1864-09-29
1864-09-30
1864-10-01
1864-10-03
1864-10-04
PDF Text
Text
<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>Monday.</p>
<p>Sept. 19. Went to the Hospital</p>
<p>to night. Pain
in Back. put</p>
<p>a mustard plaster on it. feeling</p>
<p>better.</p>
<p>Tuesday.</p>
<p>Sept. 20. Carried me to City</p>
<p>Point Hospital to
day. feeling</p>
<p>better.</p>
<p>Wednesday 21. on
the gain</p>
<p>Monday</p>
<p>Sept. 26. Back to the Train.</p>
<p>Paid $19.25. Went to City Point</p>
<p>with sick, had a Chill on</p>
<p>the road. Letter from home</p>
<p>with Picture. Wrote a letter</p>
<p>home and one to Mr. Walker</p>
<p>while at the Hospital.</p>
<p>Tuesday</p>
<p>Sept. 27. Had a Chill to day</p>
<p>Details come in for the Train</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td><p>Sent a letter home $5 in</p>
<p>it.</p>
<p>Wednesday</p>
<p>Sept. 28. On Picket, had a</p>
<p>Chill, came in, + went to</p>
<p>the Hospital. Went to City</p>
<p>Point Hospital to night.</p>
<p>Thursday</p>
<p>Sep. 29. Chill to day.</p>
<p>Friday</p>
<p>Sept. 30. No Chill to day, but</p>
<p>a good deal fever.</p>
<p>Saturday.</p>
<p>Oct. 1. Feeling better to day</p>
<p>have had no Chill. Mailed</p>
<p>a letter home.</p>
<p>Monday</p>
<p>Oct. 3. Feeling quite well</p>
<p>Tuesday.</p>
<p>Oct. 4. Mailed a letter home.</p>
<p>Doct. marked me Converlessant
[Convalescent]</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
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<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>Wednesday</p>
<p>Oct 5. Saw Sargt. Jones
[Sergeant William Jones], are</p>
<p>in the same Camp. will</p>
<p>go back the first chance I get</p>
<p>Thursday</p>
<p>Oct. 6. First Divis.
Train</p>
<p>down, rode part way with</p>
<p>them + walked the rest.</p>
<p>Mailed a letter to A. C. T.</p>
<p>Letter from home + one from</p>
<p>M. J. Holmes. Had a new</p>
<p>Pr. Pants Stolen from my</p>
<p>knapsack at the Point.</p>
<p>Letter from E. D. Humphrey.</p>
<p>Friday.</p>
<p>Oct. 7. Mailed a letter home</p>
<p>Ferguson [Abram Ferguson] here to see me.</p>
<p>Saturday.</p>
<p>Oct. 8. Cold + windy. Mansur
[Henry W. Mansir]</p>
<p>went to the Point with a </p>
<p>man to be Embalmed.</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td><p>Wednesday.</p>
<p>Oct. 12. Mailed a letter home</p>
<p>Mansur [Henry W. Mansir] Sick.</p>
<p>Thursday.</p>
<p>Oct. 13. Mansur [Henry W. Mansir]
gone to the</p>
<p>Hospital. Mailed a Letter</p>
<p>to M. J. Holmes. Driving</p>
<p>Mansur's [Henry W. Mansir]
Team.</p>
<p>Friday.</p>
<p>Oct. 14. Mansur [Henry W. Mansir]
is pretty</p>
<p>sick. gave
me his watch</p>
<p>to keep. </p>
<p>Sunday</p>
<p>Oct. 16. Letter from Home.</p>
<p>Inspection. Mailed a letter</p>
<p>Home.</p>
<p>Monday</p>
<p>Oct. 17. Went to City Point to</p>
<p>get my Ambulance repa-</p>
<p>red. dinner
at the Sanitary</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-10-05
1864-10-06
1864-10-07
1864-10-08
1864-10-12
1864-10-13
1864-10-14
1864-10-16
1864-10-17
PDF Text
Text
<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>Wednesday</p>
<p>Oct 5. Saw Sargt. Jones
[Sergeant William Jones], are</p>
<p>in the same Camp. will</p>
<p>go back the first chance I get</p>
<p>Thursday</p>
<p>Oct. 6. First Divis.
Train</p>
<p>down, rode part way with</p>
<p>them + walked the rest.</p>
<p>Mailed a letter to A. C. T.</p>
<p>Letter from home + one from</p>
<p>M. J. Holmes. Had a new</p>
<p>Pr. Pants Stolen from my</p>
<p>knapsack at the Point.</p>
<p>Letter from E. D. Humphrey.</p>
<p>Friday.</p>
<p>Oct. 7. Mailed a letter home</p>
<p>Ferguson [Abram Ferguson] here to see me.</p>
<p>Saturday.</p>
<p>Oct. 8. Cold + windy. Mansur
[Henry W. Mansir]</p>
<p>went to the Point with a </p>
<p>man to be Embalmed.</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td><p>Wednesday.</p>
<p>Oct. 12. Mailed a letter home</p>
<p>Mansur [Henry W. Mansir] Sick.</p>
<p>Thursday.</p>
<p>Oct. 13. Mansur [Henry W. Mansir]
gone to the</p>
<p>Hospital. Mailed a Letter</p>
<p>to M. J. Holmes. Driving</p>
<p>Mansur's [Henry W. Mansir]
Team.</p>
<p>Friday.</p>
<p>Oct. 14. Mansur [Henry W. Mansir]
is pretty</p>
<p>sick. gave
me his watch</p>
<p>to keep. </p>
<p>Sunday</p>
<p>Oct. 16. Letter from Home.</p>
<p>Inspection. Mailed a letter</p>
<p>Home.</p>
<p>Monday</p>
<p>Oct. 17. Went to City Point to</p>
<p>get my Ambulance repa-</p>
<p>red. dinner
at the Sanitary</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/440c3f072493fbef6dbd4e19d14f7689.jpg
124b3d2d1ab26d0519fd1e504894fe0a
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>Wednesday</p>
<p>Oct. 19. Back to the Train.</p>
<p>Letter from A. C. Turner.</p>
<p>Brought a dead man up to</p>
<p>the Artillery Brigade from</p>
<p>this side of the Point, was</p>
<p>killed by the negroes, in a</p>
<p>row.</p>
<p>Friday</p>
<p>Oct. 21. On Picket at Fort</p>
<p>Stevenson. Mailed a letter</p>
<p>Home. Pleasant
weather.</p>
<p>Saturday</p>
<p>Oct. 22. Mailed a letter to A.</p>
<p>C. Turner. Cold + windy.</p>
<p>Sunday</p>
<p>Oct. 23. Releived from Picket</p>
<p>Letter from Home.</p>
<p>Monday.</p>
<p>Oct. 24. Building Quarters.</p>
<p>Division is Moveing.</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td><p>Tuesday.</p>
<p>Oct. 25. Mailed a letter Home</p>
<p>Seven days feed, for Horses.</p>
<p>Wednesday</p>
<p>Oct. 26. Moved this Afternoon</p>
<p>down beyond the Yellow House</p>
<p>where we Parked for the night.</p>
<p>Paper from Home.</p>
<p>Thursday</p>
<p>Oct. 27. Marched this morning</p>
<p>at day light. met
the Enemy</p>
<p>drove them out of some</p>
<p>rifle pitts.
Division eng-</p>
<p>aged to day,
hard fighting.</p>
<p>Ambulances under fire,</p>
<p>most surrounded in an</p>
<p>open field. only
one Am-</p>
<p>bulance
hit. Stoped on</p>
<p>the field after the Train</p>
<p>had gone, to gather the</p>
<p>wounded together. Driving</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-10-19
1864-10-21
1864-10-22
1864-10-23
1864-10-24
1864-10-25
1864-10-26
1864-10-27
PDF Text
Text
<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>Wednesday</p>
<p>Oct. 19. Back to the Train.</p>
<p>Letter from A. C. Turner.</p>
<p>Brought a dead man up to</p>
<p>the Artillery Brigade from</p>
<p>this side of the Point, was</p>
<p>killed by the negroes, in a</p>
<p>row.</p>
<p>Friday</p>
<p>Oct. 21. On Picket at Fort</p>
<p>Stevenson. Mailed a letter</p>
<p>Home. Pleasant
weather.</p>
<p>Saturday</p>
<p>Oct. 22. Mailed a letter to A.</p>
<p>C. Turner. Cold + windy.</p>
<p>Sunday</p>
<p>Oct. 23. Releived from Picket</p>
<p>Letter from Home.</p>
<p>Monday.</p>
<p>Oct. 24. Building Quarters.</p>
<p>Division is Moveing.</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td><p>Tuesday.</p>
<p>Oct. 25. Mailed a letter Home</p>
<p>Seven days feed, for Horses.</p>
<p>Wednesday</p>
<p>Oct. 26. Moved this Afternoon</p>
<p>down beyond the Yellow House</p>
<p>where we Parked for the night.</p>
<p>Paper from Home.</p>
<p>Thursday</p>
<p>Oct. 27. Marched this morning</p>
<p>at day light. met
the Enemy</p>
<p>drove them out of some</p>
<p>rifle pitts.
Division eng-</p>
<p>aged to day,
hard fighting.</p>
<p>Ambulances under fire,</p>
<p>most surrounded in an</p>
<p>open field. only
one Am-</p>
<p>bulance
hit. Stoped on</p>
<p>the field after the Train</p>
<p>had gone, to gather the</p>
<p>wounded together. Driving</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/cfa392951698001cf762047f011cd105.jpg
a2404745e2e429409a00e1dc4da3985f
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>all night, reached the</p>
<p>Hospital inside our lines</p>
<p>about noon. Carted wou-</p>
<p>nded
to the Cars till night</p>
<p>and then went back to</p>
<p>our old Camp in front of</p>
<p>Petersburg.</p>
<p>Friday</p>
<p>Oct. 28. Letter from Home.</p>
<p>Sunday</p>
<p>Oct. 30. On Picket at Fort</p>
<p>Stevenson.</p>
<p>Monday,</p>
<p>Oct. 31. Brigade moved to</p>
<p>the Right near Fort Morton.</p>
<p>Tuesday,</p>
<p>Nov. 1. Releived. Wrote a letter</p>
<p>home.</p>
<p>Wednesday.</p>
<p>Nov. 2. Raining.</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td><p>Saturday,</p>
<p>Nov. 5. Mailed a letter to</p>
<p>F. S. Turner</p>
<p>Sunday,</p>
<p>Nov. 6. Rebels made a Charge</p>
<p>+ were Repulsed. Mailed a</p>
<p>letter Home</p>
<p>Monday,</p>
<p>Nov. 7. On Picket. went to</p>
<p>City Point with a man</p>
<p>that had the Small Pox.</p>
<p>Tuesday,</p>
<p>Nov. 8. Came back from</p>
<p>the Point. Flag of Truce</p>
<p>in, 17 Rebe
dead carried to</p>
<p>their lines by our Strecher</p>
<p>bearers. were
killed in the</p>
<p>Charge. Letter
from Home.</p>
<p>Wednesday</p>
<p>Nov. 9. Releived. Paper from</p>
<p>A. C. Turner.</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-10-27
1864-10-28
1864-10-30
1864-10-31
1864-11-01
1864-11-02
1864-11-05
1864-11-06
1864-11-07
1864-11-08
1864-11-09
PDF Text
Text
<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>all night, reached the</p>
<p>Hospital inside our lines</p>
<p>about noon. Carted wou-</p>
<p>nded
to the Cars till night</p>
<p>and then went back to</p>
<p>our old Camp in front of</p>
<p>Petersburg.</p>
<p>Friday</p>
<p>Oct. 28. Letter from Home.</p>
<p>Sunday</p>
<p>Oct. 30. On Picket at Fort</p>
<p>Stevenson.</p>
<p>Monday,</p>
<p>Oct. 31. Brigade moved to</p>
<p>the Right near Fort Morton.</p>
<p>Tuesday,</p>
<p>Nov. 1. Releived. Wrote a letter</p>
<p>home.</p>
<p>Wednesday.</p>
<p>Nov. 2. Raining.</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td><p>Saturday,</p>
<p>Nov. 5. Mailed a letter to</p>
<p>F. S. Turner</p>
<p>Sunday,</p>
<p>Nov. 6. Rebels made a Charge</p>
<p>+ were Repulsed. Mailed a</p>
<p>letter Home</p>
<p>Monday,</p>
<p>Nov. 7. On Picket. went to</p>
<p>City Point with a man</p>
<p>that had the Small Pox.</p>
<p>Tuesday,</p>
<p>Nov. 8. Came back from</p>
<p>the Point. Flag of Truce</p>
<p>in, 17 Rebe
dead carried to</p>
<p>their lines by our Strecher</p>
<p>bearers. were
killed in the</p>
<p>Charge. Letter
from Home.</p>
<p>Wednesday</p>
<p>Nov. 9. Releived. Paper from</p>
<p>A. C. Turner.</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/433733f96fefb579ee0c7d83f1943bbb.jpg
0e98774ea90a1587056bb6b1249ecf23
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>Thursday,</p>
<p>Nov. 10. Went to City Point</p>
<p>with sick + Wounded.</p>
<p>Friday.</p>
<p>Nov. 11. Mailed a letter Home.</p>
<p>Saturday</p>
<p>Nov. 12. Cleaning up for</p>
<p>Inspection. Orders to be</p>
<p>ready to move at a moment,</p>
<p>notice.</p>
<p>Sunday,</p>
<p>Nov. 13. Inspection.</p>
<p>Monday,</p>
<p>Nov. 14 Mailed a letter to</p>
<p>E. D. Humphrey. Putting</p>
<p>up Brush in front of Stables.</p>
<p>Friday,</p>
<p>Nov. 18. Mailed a letter</p>
<p>Home. Orders to be ready</p>
<p>to move with eight days</p>
<p>rations. Train gone to the</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td><p>Station with the Sick.</p>
<p>Saturday.</p>
<p>Nov. 19. Rainy. not moved yet</p>
<p>Sunday,</p>
<p>Nov. 20. Still Raining Paper</p>
<p>from Home.</p>
<p>Monday,</p>
<p>Nov. 21. Letter from Home.</p>
<p>Tuesday,</p>
<p>Nov. 22. Mailed a Letter Home</p>
<p>Thursday,</p>
<p>Nov. 24. Thanksgiving to day</p>
<p>Pleasant. Rost
Chicken for</p>
<p>dinner</p>
<p>Friday,</p>
<p>Nov. 25. Letter from F. S. Turner.</p>
<p>Saturday,</p>
<p>Nov. 26. Mailed a letter to</p>
<p>A. C. T. + one to F. S. T.</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-11-10
1864-11-11
1864-11-12
1864-11-13
1864-11-14
1864-11-18
1864-11-19
1864-11-20
1864-11-21
1864-11-22
1864-11-24
1864-11-25
1864-11-26
PDF Text
Text
<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>Thursday,</p>
<p>Nov. 10. Went to City Point</p>
<p>with sick + Wounded.</p>
<p>Friday.</p>
<p>Nov. 11. Mailed a letter Home.</p>
<p>Saturday</p>
<p>Nov. 12. Cleaning up for</p>
<p>Inspection. Orders to be</p>
<p>ready to move at a moment,</p>
<p>notice.</p>
<p>Sunday,</p>
<p>Nov. 13. Inspection.</p>
<p>Monday,</p>
<p>Nov. 14 Mailed a letter to</p>
<p>E. D. Humphrey. Putting</p>
<p>up Brush in front of Stables.</p>
<p>Friday,</p>
<p>Nov. 18. Mailed a letter</p>
<p>Home. Orders to be ready</p>
<p>to move with eight days</p>
<p>rations. Train gone to the</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td><p>Station with the Sick.</p>
<p>Saturday.</p>
<p>Nov. 19. Rainy. not moved yet</p>
<p>Sunday,</p>
<p>Nov. 20. Still Raining Paper</p>
<p>from Home.</p>
<p>Monday,</p>
<p>Nov. 21. Letter from Home.</p>
<p>Tuesday,</p>
<p>Nov. 22. Mailed a Letter Home</p>
<p>Thursday,</p>
<p>Nov. 24. Thanksgiving to day</p>
<p>Pleasant. Rost
Chicken for</p>
<p>dinner</p>
<p>Friday,</p>
<p>Nov. 25. Letter from F. S. Turner.</p>
<p>Saturday,</p>
<p>Nov. 26. Mailed a letter to</p>
<p>A. C. T. + one to F. S. T.</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/ff252549246be4718075872e0bc896d9.jpg
d3b7108e19c54fc22556c98eeac0dc05
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>Sunday,</p>
<p>Nov. 27. Mailed a Paper</p>
<p>Home. Inspection of the Corps</p>
<p>Train.</p>
<p>Monday,</p>
<p>Nov. 28. Took my Ambulance</p>
<p>to City Point for repares,</p>
<p>left it there.</p>
<p>Dec.</p>
<p>Thursday 15. Have neglected</p>
<p>to write in my diary for</p>
<p>a number of weeks. Have</p>
<p>moved to the Left near Patrick</p>
<p>Station. Our Divis. + the 5<sup>th</sup></p>
<p>Corps have been on a raid,</p>
<p>tore up about twenty miles</p>
<p>of the Weldon Rail Road.</p>
<p>went to City Point + back</p>
<p>to day
for our Ambulances,</p>
<p>were there for repares.</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td><p>Friday.</p>
<p>Dec. 16. Cleaning Camp. Drew</p>
<p>a Pr. of Boots. Letter from</p>
<p>Home, Grandmother very low</p>
<p>Saturday,</p>
<p>Dec. 17. Washing Ambulance</p>
<p>+ soaping Harness, for Insp-</p>
<p>ection.
Mailed a letter Home</p>
<p>Sunday,</p>
<p>Dec. 18. Went to Brigade Head</p>
<p>Quarters to night with an</p>
<p>Officers things. Letter from</p>
<p>A. C. Turner.</p>
<p>Monday.</p>
<p>Dec. 19. Drew Oil for Harness</p>
<p>Tuesday</p>
<p>Dec. 20. Oiling Harness.</p>
<p>Thursday.</p>
<p>Dec. 22. Mailed a letter to A. C. T.</p>
<p>Friday</p>
<p>Dec. 23. Mailed a letter Home.</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-11-27
1864-11-28
1864-12-15
1864-12-16
1864-12-17
1864-12-18
1864-12-19
1864-12-20
1864-12-22
1864-12-23
PDF Text
Text
<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>Sunday,</p>
<p>Nov. 27. Mailed a Paper</p>
<p>Home. Inspection of the Corps</p>
<p>Train.</p>
<p>Monday,</p>
<p>Nov. 28. Took my Ambulance</p>
<p>to City Point for repares,</p>
<p>left it there.</p>
<p>Dec.</p>
<p>Thursday 15. Have neglected</p>
<p>to write in my diary for</p>
<p>a number of weeks. Have</p>
<p>moved to the Left near Patrick</p>
<p>Station. Our Divis. + the 5<sup>th</sup></p>
<p>Corps have been on a raid,</p>
<p>tore up about twenty miles</p>
<p>of the Weldon Rail Road.</p>
<p>went to City Point + back</p>
<p>to day
for our Ambulances,</p>
<p>were there for repares.</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td><p>Friday.</p>
<p>Dec. 16. Cleaning Camp. Drew</p>
<p>a Pr. of Boots. Letter from</p>
<p>Home, Grandmother very low</p>
<p>Saturday,</p>
<p>Dec. 17. Washing Ambulance</p>
<p>+ soaping Harness, for Insp-</p>
<p>ection.
Mailed a letter Home</p>
<p>Sunday,</p>
<p>Dec. 18. Went to Brigade Head</p>
<p>Quarters to night with an</p>
<p>Officers things. Letter from</p>
<p>A. C. Turner.</p>
<p>Monday.</p>
<p>Dec. 19. Drew Oil for Harness</p>
<p>Tuesday</p>
<p>Dec. 20. Oiling Harness.</p>
<p>Thursday.</p>
<p>Dec. 22. Mailed a letter to A. C. T.</p>
<p>Friday</p>
<p>Dec. 23. Mailed a letter Home.</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/81b6fd1ecc41b9ee5981e9f272156fa9.jpg
25202f0ebf9b40f496affb48a5be45ef
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>Saturday</p>
<p>Dec. 24. Cleaning up for Inspe-</p>
<p>ction.
Went up to the</p>
<p>Brigade. Manuel returned,</p>
<p>been home.</p>
<p>Sunday</p>
<p>Dec. 25. Christmas. Birth</p>
<p>day, twenty two. Inspection</p>
<p>went to the Brigade after</p>
<p>sick.</p>
<p>Thursday</p>
<p>Dec. 29 Letter from Home.</p>
<p>Have to excersize the Horses</p>
<p>every day.</p>
<p>Friday</p>
<p>Dec. 30. Mailed a letter Home</p>
<p>Monday</p>
<p>1865 Jan. 2. Mailed
a letter Home.</p>
<p>Received one from Home.</p>
<p>box on the way here.</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td><p>Tuesday</p>
<p>Jan. 3. Snowing to night.</p>
<p>Saturday.</p>
<p>Jan 7. Mailed a letter Home.</p>
<p>Tuesday.</p>
<p>Jan. 10. Raining all day.</p>
<p>Mailed a letter to M. E. Hughes</p>
<p>Saturday</p>
<p>Jan. 14. Received my Box</p>
<p>from Home to day.</p>
<p>Sunday</p>
<p>Jan. 15 Mailed a letter to Nora</p>
<p>Monday</p>
<p>Jan. 16. Mailed a letter to</p>
<p>F. S. Turner.</p>
<p>Jan. 18. Received a letter</p>
<p>from A. C. Turner, Infor-</p>
<p>ming
me of the Death of</p>
<p>my Dear Grandmother.</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-12-24
1864-12-25
1864-12-29
1864-12-30
1865-01-02
1865-01-03
1865-01-07
1865-01-10
1865-01-14
1865-01-15
1865-01-16
1865-01-18
PDF Text
Text
<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>Saturday</p>
<p>Dec. 24. Cleaning up for Inspe-</p>
<p>ction.
Went up to the</p>
<p>Brigade. Manuel returned,</p>
<p>been home.</p>
<p>Sunday</p>
<p>Dec. 25. Christmas. Birth</p>
<p>day, twenty two. Inspection</p>
<p>went to the Brigade after</p>
<p>sick.</p>
<p>Thursday</p>
<p>Dec. 29 Letter from Home.</p>
<p>Have to excersize the Horses</p>
<p>every day.</p>
<p>Friday</p>
<p>Dec. 30. Mailed a letter Home</p>
<p>Monday</p>
<p>1865 Jan. 2. Mailed
a letter Home.</p>
<p>Received one from Home.</p>
<p>box on the way here.</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td><p>Tuesday</p>
<p>Jan. 3. Snowing to night.</p>
<p>Saturday.</p>
<p>Jan 7. Mailed a letter Home.</p>
<p>Tuesday.</p>
<p>Jan. 10. Raining all day.</p>
<p>Mailed a letter to M. E. Hughes</p>
<p>Saturday</p>
<p>Jan. 14. Received my Box</p>
<p>from Home to day.</p>
<p>Sunday</p>
<p>Jan. 15 Mailed a letter to Nora</p>
<p>Monday</p>
<p>Jan. 16. Mailed a letter to</p>
<p>F. S. Turner.</p>
<p>Jan. 18. Received a letter</p>
<p>from A. C. Turner, Infor-</p>
<p>ming
me of the Death of</p>
<p>my Dear Grandmother.</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
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3207062f6671f0b5a037b45c212b309f
Scripto
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A written representation of a document.
<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>Jan. 19. Mailed a letter</p>
<p>Home, + one to H. [Mc?]. Neal</p>
<p>Saturday,</p>
<p>Jan. 21. Raining all day,</p>
<p>Orders for Roll Call.</p>
<p>Sunday.</p>
<p>Jan. 22. Mailed a letter Home</p>
<p>Monday</p>
<p>Jan. 30. Received a letter from</p>
<p>F. S. Turner. Mailed a letter</p>
<p>Home.</p>
<p>Wednesday.</p>
<p>Feb. 1. Packed up in the</p>
<p>night to move.</p>
<p>Thursday</p>
<p>Feb. 2. Mailed a letter to</p>
<p>F. S. Turner. Have not moved</p>
<p>Friday</p>
<p>Feb. 3. Received a letter</p>
<p>from Home, + a Bundle</p>
<p>of Papers from, F. Langsdorf</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td><p>Mailed a letter Home.</p>
<p>Letter from E. D. Humphrey.</p>
<p>Sunday</p>
<p>Feb. 5. Moved this morning</p>
<p>to the left near Hatcher</p>
<p>run. drove
in their pickets</p>
<p>Reb's Charged our Brigade</p>
<p>three times + were repulsed</p>
<p>every time. 8<sup>th</sup> New
Jersey</p>
<p>lost heavey.
Taking wounded</p>
<p>to the Hospital to night.</p>
<p>Monday</p>
<p>Feb. 6. Cold + rainy to day.</p>
<p>5<sup>th</sup> Corps engaded.</p>
<p>Friday</p>
<p>Feb. 10. Back to Camp. they</p>
<p>have lengthed
the lines.</p>
<p>Troops have to build new</p>
<p>Quarters. Mailed a letter</p>
<p>Home.</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-01-19
1865-01-21
1865-01-22
1865-01-30
1865-02-01
1865-02-02
1865-02-03
1865-02-05
1865-02-06
1865-02-10
PDF Text
Text
<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>Jan. 19. Mailed a letter</p>
<p>Home, + one to H. [Mc?]. Neal</p>
<p>Saturday,</p>
<p>Jan. 21. Raining all day,</p>
<p>Orders for Roll Call.</p>
<p>Sunday.</p>
<p>Jan. 22. Mailed a letter Home</p>
<p>Monday</p>
<p>Jan. 30. Received a letter from</p>
<p>F. S. Turner. Mailed a letter</p>
<p>Home.</p>
<p>Wednesday.</p>
<p>Feb. 1. Packed up in the</p>
<p>night to move.</p>
<p>Thursday</p>
<p>Feb. 2. Mailed a letter to</p>
<p>F. S. Turner. Have not moved</p>
<p>Friday</p>
<p>Feb. 3. Received a letter</p>
<p>from Home, + a Bundle</p>
<p>of Papers from, F. Langsdorf</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td><p>Mailed a letter Home.</p>
<p>Letter from E. D. Humphrey.</p>
<p>Sunday</p>
<p>Feb. 5. Moved this morning</p>
<p>to the left near Hatcher</p>
<p>run. drove
in their pickets</p>
<p>Reb's Charged our Brigade</p>
<p>three times + were repulsed</p>
<p>every time. 8<sup>th</sup> New
Jersey</p>
<p>lost heavey.
Taking wounded</p>
<p>to the Hospital to night.</p>
<p>Monday</p>
<p>Feb. 6. Cold + rainy to day.</p>
<p>5<sup>th</sup> Corps engaded.</p>
<p>Friday</p>
<p>Feb. 10. Back to Camp. they</p>
<p>have lengthed
the lines.</p>
<p>Troops have to build new</p>
<p>Quarters. Mailed a letter</p>
<p>Home.</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
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0e238e0b48f4a48b65326eba583a35ed
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Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>Sunday</p>
<p>Feb. 12. On Picket</p>
<p>Monday</p>
<p>Feb. 13. Releived.</p>
<p>Tuesday</p>
<p>Feb. 14. Letter from Home.</p>
<p>one from Lizzie Hughes</p>
<p>Mailed a letter Home.</p>
<p>Feb. 15</p>
<p>Wednesday. Mailed a letter</p>
<p>to M. J. Holmes + a paper</p>
<p>Home</p>
<p>Thursday</p>
<p>Feb. 16 Mailed a letter</p>
<p>to M. E. Hughes. raining</p>
<p>here to day.</p>
<p>Friday</p>
<p>Feb. 17. Mailed a letter</p>
<p>to E. D. Humphrey.</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td><p>Saturday</p>
<p>Feb. 18. Received a letter</p>
<p>from F. S. Turner.</p>
<p>Mailed a letter to him</p>
<p>Tuesday</p>
<p>Feb.21. Went to the 37<sup>th</sup></p>
<p>Mass. + 2d Conn. Pay</p>
<p>Master arrived.</p>
<p>Charleston evacuated</p>
<p>Wednesday</p>
<p>Feb. 22. Mailed a letter</p>
<p>Home. $10 enclosed.</p>
<p>Thursday</p>
<p>Feb. 23. Letter + paper from Home</p>
<p>went to Meeting to night.</p>
<p>Saturday</p>
<p>Feb. 25. Mailed a letter</p>
<p>Home $10 enclosed.</p>
<p>Raining. the
fall of Fort</p>
<p>Anderson in the Papers</p>
<p>to day</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-02-12
1865-02-13
1865-02-14
1865-02-15
1865-02-16
1865-02-17
1865-02-18
1865-02-21
1865-02-22
1865-02-23
1865-02-25
PDF Text
Text
<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>Sunday</p>
<p>Feb. 12. On Picket</p>
<p>Monday</p>
<p>Feb. 13. Releived.</p>
<p>Tuesday</p>
<p>Feb. 14. Letter from Home.</p>
<p>one from Lizzie Hughes</p>
<p>Mailed a letter Home.</p>
<p>Feb. 15</p>
<p>Wednesday. Mailed a letter</p>
<p>to M. J. Holmes + a paper</p>
<p>Home</p>
<p>Thursday</p>
<p>Feb. 16 Mailed a letter</p>
<p>to M. E. Hughes. raining</p>
<p>here to day.</p>
<p>Friday</p>
<p>Feb. 17. Mailed a letter</p>
<p>to E. D. Humphrey.</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td><p>Saturday</p>
<p>Feb. 18. Received a letter</p>
<p>from F. S. Turner.</p>
<p>Mailed a letter to him</p>
<p>Tuesday</p>
<p>Feb.21. Went to the 37<sup>th</sup></p>
<p>Mass. + 2d Conn. Pay</p>
<p>Master arrived.</p>
<p>Charleston evacuated</p>
<p>Wednesday</p>
<p>Feb. 22. Mailed a letter</p>
<p>Home. $10 enclosed.</p>
<p>Thursday</p>
<p>Feb. 23. Letter + paper from Home</p>
<p>went to Meeting to night.</p>
<p>Saturday</p>
<p>Feb. 25. Mailed a letter</p>
<p>Home $10 enclosed.</p>
<p>Raining. the
fall of Fort</p>
<p>Anderson in the Papers</p>
<p>to day</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
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419c24b07d745f75aa2eac33913fc6cb
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Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>Sunday</p>
<p>Feb. 26. Mailed a letter +</p>
<p>paper Home. went
to</p>
<p>Meeting to night.</p>
<p>Tuesday</p>
<p>Feb. 28 went to meeting</p>
<p>Books to read from the</p>
<p>Hospital Liabrary.</p>
<p>Wednesday</p>
<p>Mar. 1. Went to meeting.</p>
<p>Sent to E. + H T Anthony</p>
<p>+ Co. for Photograph Alb-</p>
<p>rum</p>
<p>Thursday</p>
<p>Mar 2. Mailed a letter</p>
<p>to A. C. Turner. raining.</p>
<p>Tuesday</p>
<p>Mar 7. Mailed a letter</p>
<p>to Nora. Washing Harness</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td><p>Wednesday</p>
<p>Mar 8. Mailed a letter</p>
<p>Home $10 enclosed</p>
<p>Friday</p>
<p>Mar 10. Letter from Home</p>
<p>went up to the Brigade</p>
<p>Letter from M. J. Holmes</p>
<p>Potograph Album come.</p>
<p>Sunday</p>
<p>Mar. 12. Homer Williams</p>
<p>came to hospital Sick</p>
<p>Tuesday</p>
<p>Mar. 14. Mailed a letter</p>
<p>Home with Ambrotype</p>
<p>in. one to F. S. Turner +</p>
<p>one to M. J. Holmes with</p>
<p>Ambrotypes enclosed.</p>
<p>Inspection.</p>
<p>Wednesday</p>
<p>Mar. 15. mailed a letter home</p>
<p>$10 enclosed. Orders to move</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-02-26
1865-02-28
1865-03-01
1865-03-02
1865-03-07
1865-03-08
1865-03-10
1865-03-12
1865-03-14
1865-03-15
PDF Text
Text
<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>Sunday</p>
<p>Feb. 26. Mailed a letter +</p>
<p>paper Home. went
to</p>
<p>Meeting to night.</p>
<p>Tuesday</p>
<p>Feb. 28 went to meeting</p>
<p>Books to read from the</p>
<p>Hospital Liabrary.</p>
<p>Wednesday</p>
<p>Mar. 1. Went to meeting.</p>
<p>Sent to E. + H T Anthony</p>
<p>+ Co. for Photograph Alb-</p>
<p>rum</p>
<p>Thursday</p>
<p>Mar 2. Mailed a letter</p>
<p>to A. C. Turner. raining.</p>
<p>Tuesday</p>
<p>Mar 7. Mailed a letter</p>
<p>to Nora. Washing Harness</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td><p>Wednesday</p>
<p>Mar 8. Mailed a letter</p>
<p>Home $10 enclosed</p>
<p>Friday</p>
<p>Mar 10. Letter from Home</p>
<p>went up to the Brigade</p>
<p>Letter from M. J. Holmes</p>
<p>Potograph Album come.</p>
<p>Sunday</p>
<p>Mar. 12. Homer Williams</p>
<p>came to hospital Sick</p>
<p>Tuesday</p>
<p>Mar. 14. Mailed a letter</p>
<p>Home with Ambrotype</p>
<p>in. one to F. S. Turner +</p>
<p>one to M. J. Holmes with</p>
<p>Ambrotypes enclosed.</p>
<p>Inspection.</p>
<p>Wednesday</p>
<p>Mar. 15. mailed a letter home</p>
<p>$10 enclosed. Orders to move</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/46616cebd4dbe2dec9caa76679299aa7.jpg
b8ccd470d0267293dc462f24f3d1df3f
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A written representation of a document.
<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>Breaking up Hospital.</p>
<p>Mar. 17</p>
<p>Friday. Sutlers
ordered to</p>
<p>leave the Army.</p>
<p>Sunday</p>
<p>Mar 19. Corps Inspection.</p>
<p>Letter from Home. Mailed</p>
<p>a letter Home. Pleasant.</p>
<p>Monday</p>
<p>Mar. 20. Mailed a letter to</p>
<p>F. Langsdorf. Went up to</p>
<p>the Brigade. Very warm</p>
<p>Tuesday</p>
<p>Mar. 21. Mailed a letter to</p>
<p>M. E. Hughes.</p>
<p>Wednesday</p>
<p>Mar. 22. Mailed a letter</p>
<p>to E. D. Humphrey. very</p>
<p>hard wind to
day, blew</p>
<p>large trees down, took one</p>
<p>large pine up by the roots</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td><p>close by my Tent and</p>
<p>smashed one of the Sarg-</p>
<p>ents
tents down. Troops</p>
<p>Revewed to day. Rebels</p>
<p>deserting very fast.</p>
<p>Saturday</p>
<p>Mar 25. Fighting to day all</p>
<p>along the line. Over Divis.</p>
<p>Engaged a good many</p>
<p>Wounded. 120 N. Y. lost a</p>
<p>good many. Carting wounded</p>
<p>Sunday</p>
<p>Mar. 26. On Picket. took</p>
<p>two wounded men to</p>
<p>Hospital + two dead</p>
<p>Bodies.</p>
<p>Monday</p>
<p>Mar. 27. Mailed a letter</p>
<p>Home. Received a letter</p>
<p>from home. Taking to</p>
<p>Hosp. Sheridan [Philip Henry Sheridan] here with</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-03-15
1865-03-17
1865-03-19
1865-03-20
1865-03-21
1865-03-22
1865-03-25
1865-03-26
1865-03-27
PDF Text
Text
<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>Breaking up Hospital.</p>
<p>Mar. 17</p>
<p>Friday. Sutlers
ordered to</p>
<p>leave the Army.</p>
<p>Sunday</p>
<p>Mar 19. Corps Inspection.</p>
<p>Letter from Home. Mailed</p>
<p>a letter Home. Pleasant.</p>
<p>Monday</p>
<p>Mar. 20. Mailed a letter to</p>
<p>F. Langsdorf. Went up to</p>
<p>the Brigade. Very warm</p>
<p>Tuesday</p>
<p>Mar. 21. Mailed a letter to</p>
<p>M. E. Hughes.</p>
<p>Wednesday</p>
<p>Mar. 22. Mailed a letter</p>
<p>to E. D. Humphrey. very</p>
<p>hard wind to
day, blew</p>
<p>large trees down, took one</p>
<p>large pine up by the roots</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td><p>close by my Tent and</p>
<p>smashed one of the Sarg-</p>
<p>ents
tents down. Troops</p>
<p>Revewed to day. Rebels</p>
<p>deserting very fast.</p>
<p>Saturday</p>
<p>Mar 25. Fighting to day all</p>
<p>along the line. Over Divis.</p>
<p>Engaged a good many</p>
<p>Wounded. 120 N. Y. lost a</p>
<p>good many. Carting wounded</p>
<p>Sunday</p>
<p>Mar. 26. On Picket. took</p>
<p>two wounded men to</p>
<p>Hospital + two dead</p>
<p>Bodies.</p>
<p>Monday</p>
<p>Mar. 27. Mailed a letter</p>
<p>Home. Received a letter</p>
<p>from home. Taking to</p>
<p>Hosp. Sheridan [Philip Henry Sheridan] here with</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/1768f68f2591618153852ed762e32bdd.jpg
2bd0711634ca1a532b085db9100f3cce
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>his Cavalry.</p>
<p>Tuesday</p>
<p>Mar. 28. Orders to be ready</p>
<p>to move. Releived.</p>
<p>Wednesday.</p>
<p>Mar. 29. Broke Camp. This</p>
<p>morning + went to Humph-</p>
<p>reys
Station. Parked. Four</p>
<p>Ambulances gone with</p>
<p>the Brigade. Mailed a</p>
<p>letter Home. Ambulance</p>
<p>full of Sick. Made my</p>
<p>bed under the wagon to</p>
<p>night. waked
up in the</p>
<p>morning it was raining</p>
<p>+ the water was running</p>
<p>in onto me, into my</p>
<p>Boots, Blankets all wet</p>
<p>I am all wet + mud</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td><p>Thursday</p>
<p>Mar. 30. Raining to day. Saw</p>
<p>About a hundred + fifty</p>
<p>Prisoners over at the Station.</p>
<p>The 5<sup>th</sup> Corp engaded to day.</p>
<p>Friday</p>
<p>Mar 31. My Division engaged</p>
<p>to day,
went to the front</p>
<p>after wounded. Fighting</p>
<p>all along the line.</p>
<p>Saturday</p>
<p>Apr. 1. went to the front.</p>
<p>mailed a letter Home.</p>
<p>Sunday</p>
<p>Apr. 2. The 8<sup>th</sup> New Jersy
[New Jersey]</p>
<p>Charged the Rebel Picket</p>
<p>line. Carting wounded.</p>
<p>The 6<sup>th</sup> Corps broke their</p>
<p>lines near Petersburg +</p>
<p>were
coming down on their</p>
<p>flank. They had to leave</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-03-27
1865-03-28
1865-03-29
1865-03-30
1865-03-31
1865-04-01
1865-04-02
PDF Text
Text
<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>his Cavalry.</p>
<p>Tuesday</p>
<p>Mar. 28. Orders to be ready</p>
<p>to move. Releived.</p>
<p>Wednesday.</p>
<p>Mar. 29. Broke Camp. This</p>
<p>morning + went to Humph-</p>
<p>reys
Station. Parked. Four</p>
<p>Ambulances gone with</p>
<p>the Brigade. Mailed a</p>
<p>letter Home. Ambulance</p>
<p>full of Sick. Made my</p>
<p>bed under the wagon to</p>
<p>night. waked
up in the</p>
<p>morning it was raining</p>
<p>+ the water was running</p>
<p>in onto me, into my</p>
<p>Boots, Blankets all wet</p>
<p>I am all wet + mud</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td><p>Thursday</p>
<p>Mar. 30. Raining to day. Saw</p>
<p>About a hundred + fifty</p>
<p>Prisoners over at the Station.</p>
<p>The 5<sup>th</sup> Corp engaded to day.</p>
<p>Friday</p>
<p>Mar 31. My Division engaged</p>
<p>to day,
went to the front</p>
<p>after wounded. Fighting</p>
<p>all along the line.</p>
<p>Saturday</p>
<p>Apr. 1. went to the front.</p>
<p>mailed a letter Home.</p>
<p>Sunday</p>
<p>Apr. 2. The 8<sup>th</sup> New Jersy
[New Jersey]</p>
<p>Charged the Rebel Picket</p>
<p>line. Carting wounded.</p>
<p>The 6<sup>th</sup> Corps broke their</p>
<p>lines near Petersburg +</p>
<p>were
coming down on their</p>
<p>flank. They had to leave</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/724ecdb61d4fdbc35491d04137d098aa.jpg
aaeae7c6bea022c5a0c359cd120f63a0
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>their works. Our Corps in</p>
<p>the rear of Petersburg.</p>
<p>Monday</p>
<p>Apr. 3. Rebs left the City</p>
<p>last night. Am in W</p>
<p>Warren Station with wounded</p>
<p>went back. the
troops gone</p>
<p>in pursuit of Lee. Marched</p>
<p>till eleven oclock
at night</p>
<p>+ Parked. Richmond ours.</p>
<p>Tuesday</p>
<p>Apr. 4. On the March to</p>
<p>day troops a good way</p>
<p>ahead of us. The 9<sup>th</sup>
Corps</p>
<p>with the Trains.</p>
<p>Wednesday</p>
<p>Apr. 5. Marching all day</p>
<p>Bringing Prisoners to the rear</p>
<p>Found three of our men</p>
<p>hung on the road by Guerrillas</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td><p>Thursday</p>
<p>Apr. 6. Marching all day</p>
<p>passed through Ottaway [Nottoway, VA]</p>
<p>Court House. Heavy Cannonading</p>
<p>at the front.</p>
<p>Friday</p>
<p>Apr. 7. Halted at Burkesville [Burkeville, VA]</p>
<p>about noon. Sheridan [Philip
Henry Sheridan] +</p>
<p>our troops Captured Euwells [Richard S. Ewell]</p>
<p>Corps. a
large wagon Train</p>
<p>Saturday</p>
<p>Apr. 8. Marched to day. passed</p>
<p>through Farmesville
[Farmville, VA]. Rebs</p>
<p>Retreating.</p>
<p>Sunday</p>
<p>Apr. 9. Marching to day. Reac-</p>
<p>hed
the front this afternoon</p>
<p>Gen. Lee [Robert E. Lee] has Surrendered to</p>
<p>Gen. Grant [Ulysses S. Grant]. fireing salutes,</p>
<p>Cheering, Bands playing</p>
<p>every one rejoiceing.</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
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Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-04-02
1865-04-03
1865-04-04
1865-04-05
1865-04-06
1865-04-07
1865-04-08
1865-04-09
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Text
<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>their works. Our Corps in</p>
<p>the rear of Petersburg.</p>
<p>Monday</p>
<p>Apr. 3. Rebs left the City</p>
<p>last night. Am in W</p>
<p>Warren Station with wounded</p>
<p>went back. the
troops gone</p>
<p>in pursuit of Lee. Marched</p>
<p>till eleven oclock
at night</p>
<p>+ Parked. Richmond ours.</p>
<p>Tuesday</p>
<p>Apr. 4. On the March to</p>
<p>day troops a good way</p>
<p>ahead of us. The 9<sup>th</sup>
Corps</p>
<p>with the Trains.</p>
<p>Wednesday</p>
<p>Apr. 5. Marching all day</p>
<p>Bringing Prisoners to the rear</p>
<p>Found three of our men</p>
<p>hung on the road by Guerrillas</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td><p>Thursday</p>
<p>Apr. 6. Marching all day</p>
<p>passed through Ottaway [Nottoway, VA]</p>
<p>Court House. Heavy Cannonading</p>
<p>at the front.</p>
<p>Friday</p>
<p>Apr. 7. Halted at Burkesville [Burkeville, VA]</p>
<p>about noon. Sheridan [Philip
Henry Sheridan] +</p>
<p>our troops Captured Euwells [Richard S. Ewell]</p>
<p>Corps. a
large wagon Train</p>
<p>Saturday</p>
<p>Apr. 8. Marched to day. passed</p>
<p>through Farmesville
[Farmville, VA]. Rebs</p>
<p>Retreating.</p>
<p>Sunday</p>
<p>Apr. 9. Marching to day. Reac-</p>
<p>hed
the front this afternoon</p>
<p>Gen. Lee [Robert E. Lee] has Surrendered to</p>
<p>Gen. Grant [Ulysses S. Grant]. fireing salutes,</p>
<p>Cheering, Bands playing</p>
<p>every one rejoiceing.</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
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A written representation of a document.
<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>Monday</p>
<p>Apr. 10. Mailed a letter</p>
<p>Home. Started for Burkesville
[Burkeville, VA]</p>
<p>junction, with Sick +</p>
<p>wounded. Marched till</p>
<p>about eleven oclock
at</p>
<p>night.</p>
<p>Tuesday</p>
<p>Apr. 11. Marched all day</p>
<p>Passed through Farmsville
[Farmville, VA]</p>
<p>Parked for the night.</p>
<p>Roads very bad. a number</p>
<p>died on the Road.</p>
<p>Wednesday</p>
<p>Apr. 12. Marched to Bur-</p>
<p>Kesville [Burkeville, VA]. Cars
running</p>
<p>up here. Parked with</p>
<p>the Heavy train Mailed</p>
<p>a letter home.</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td><p>Thursday</p>
<p>Apr 13. Mailed a letter</p>
<p>to A. C. Turner. Out</p>
<p>Forageing for</p>
<p>Horses. Corps laying</p>
<p>two miles from here</p>
<p>Friday</p>
<p>Apr 14. Received a letter</p>
<p>from A. C. T. + M. E. H.</p>
<p>moved up to the Corps</p>
<p>+ Parked.</p>
<p>Saturday</p>
<p>Apr. 15. Mailed a letter</p>
<p>Home + one to E. D. H.</p>
<p>Sunday</p>
<p>Apr. 16. Rumored the</p>
<p>President is shot. Mailed</p>
<p>a letter home. Received</p>
<p>a letter from Home.</p>
<p>It is confermed about</p>
<p>the President [Abraham Lincoln]
being</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
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Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-04-10
1865-04-11
1865-04-12
1865-04-13
1865-04-14
1865-04-15
1865-04-16
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Text
<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>Monday</p>
<p>Apr. 10. Mailed a letter</p>
<p>Home. Started for Burkesville
[Burkeville, VA]</p>
<p>junction, with Sick +</p>
<p>wounded. Marched till</p>
<p>about eleven oclock
at</p>
<p>night.</p>
<p>Tuesday</p>
<p>Apr. 11. Marched all day</p>
<p>Passed through Farmsville
[Farmville, VA]</p>
<p>Parked for the night.</p>
<p>Roads very bad. a number</p>
<p>died on the Road.</p>
<p>Wednesday</p>
<p>Apr. 12. Marched to Bur-</p>
<p>Kesville [Burkeville, VA]. Cars
running</p>
<p>up here. Parked with</p>
<p>the Heavy train Mailed</p>
<p>a letter home.</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td><p>Thursday</p>
<p>Apr 13. Mailed a letter</p>
<p>to A. C. Turner. Out</p>
<p>Forageing for</p>
<p>Horses. Corps laying</p>
<p>two miles from here</p>
<p>Friday</p>
<p>Apr 14. Received a letter</p>
<p>from A. C. T. + M. E. H.</p>
<p>moved up to the Corps</p>
<p>+ Parked.</p>
<p>Saturday</p>
<p>Apr. 15. Mailed a letter</p>
<p>Home + one to E. D. H.</p>
<p>Sunday</p>
<p>Apr. 16. Rumored the</p>
<p>President is shot. Mailed</p>
<p>a letter home. Received</p>
<p>a letter from Home.</p>
<p>It is confermed about</p>
<p>the President [Abraham Lincoln]
being</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
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27bf2f9192381cd0280d52a294710b44
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<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>Shot, was shot by a man</p>
<p>by the name of Booth [John
Wilkes Booth]</p>
<p>Monday</p>
<p>Apr. 17. Oout forageing.</p>
<p>Mailed a letter to M. E.</p>
<p>Hughes.</p>
<p>Tuesday</p>
<p>Apr. 18. Fireing minute</p>
<p>guns for the President [Abraham
Lincoln]</p>
<p>Mailed a letter to W. W.</p>
<p>Walker.</p>
<p>Thursday</p>
<p>Apr 20. mailed a letter</p>
<p>to M. J. Holmes</p>
<p>Friday</p>
<p>Apr. 21. Got an old Hand</p>
<p>Car + went up to Rice </p>
<p>Station. Distance seven</p>
<p>miles</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td><p>1865</p>
<p>Monday</p>
<p>Apr. 24. Received a letter</p>
<p>from F. S.Turner.</p>
<p>Fixing up Camp.</p>
<p>Tuesday</p>
<p>Apr 25 Moving Camp and</p>
<p>Washing Ambulances.</p>
<p>Fireing a cannon every half</p>
<p>hour all day. 13 guns this</p>
<p>morning + 32 at night</p>
<p>for the death of abram</p>
<p>Lincoln [Abraham Lincoln] President of the</p>
<p>U.S. who was shot by</p>
<p>a man by the name of</p>
<p>Booth [John Wilkes Booth]</p>
<p>Monday</p>
<p>Apr. 26. Mailed a letter</p>
<p>to F. S. Turner.</p>
<p>Paper from home</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-04-16
1865-04-17
1865-04-18
1865-04-20
1865-04-21
1865-04-24
1865-04-25
1865-04-26
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<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>Shot, was shot by a man</p>
<p>by the name of Booth [John
Wilkes Booth]</p>
<p>Monday</p>
<p>Apr. 17. Oout forageing.</p>
<p>Mailed a letter to M. E.</p>
<p>Hughes.</p>
<p>Tuesday</p>
<p>Apr. 18. Fireing minute</p>
<p>guns for the President [Abraham
Lincoln]</p>
<p>Mailed a letter to W. W.</p>
<p>Walker.</p>
<p>Thursday</p>
<p>Apr 20. mailed a letter</p>
<p>to M. J. Holmes</p>
<p>Friday</p>
<p>Apr. 21. Got an old Hand</p>
<p>Car + went up to Rice </p>
<p>Station. Distance seven</p>
<p>miles</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td><p>1865</p>
<p>Monday</p>
<p>Apr. 24. Received a letter</p>
<p>from F. S.Turner.</p>
<p>Fixing up Camp.</p>
<p>Tuesday</p>
<p>Apr 25 Moving Camp and</p>
<p>Washing Ambulances.</p>
<p>Fireing a cannon every half</p>
<p>hour all day. 13 guns this</p>
<p>morning + 32 at night</p>
<p>for the death of abram</p>
<p>Lincoln [Abraham Lincoln] President of the</p>
<p>U.S. who was shot by</p>
<p>a man by the name of</p>
<p>Booth [John Wilkes Booth]</p>
<p>Monday</p>
<p>Apr. 26. Mailed a letter</p>
<p>to F. S. Turner.</p>
<p>Paper from home</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
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acb958ef162b48c46d1a6d798129bb56
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A written representation of a document.
<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>Friday Apr. 28</p>
<p>Mailed a letter</p>
<p>home. News of the</p>
<p>surrender of</p>
<p>Johnson [Joseph E. Johnston].</p>
<p>Saturday Apr 29</p>
<p>Received a letter</p>
<p>from home. Mailed</p>
<p>one home. Washing</p>
<p>harness for inspection</p>
<p>Sunday Apr 30</p>
<p>Went</p>
<p>to Farmville and got</p>
<p>Rebel wounded and</p>
<p>took them to the</p>
<p>junction. Letter from</p>
<p>M J Holmes with</p>
<p>picture enclosed</p>
</td>
<td></td>
</tr></table>
Dublin Core
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Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-04-28
1865-04-29
1865-04-30
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Text
<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>Friday Apr. 28</p>
<p>Mailed a letter</p>
<p>home. News of the</p>
<p>surrender of</p>
<p>Johnson [Joseph E. Johnston].</p>
<p>Saturday Apr 29</p>
<p>Received a letter</p>
<p>from home. Mailed</p>
<p>one home. Washing</p>
<p>harness for inspection</p>
<p>Sunday Apr 30</p>
<p>Went</p>
<p>to Farmville and got</p>
<p>Rebel wounded and</p>
<p>took them to the</p>
<p>junction. Letter from</p>
<p>M J Holmes with</p>
<p>picture enclosed</p>
</td>
<td></td>
</tr></table>
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ef1058fb5af50e1936bcd5921aee3dd6
Dublin Core
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Title
A name given to the resource
William A. Leonard Papers, 1864-1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Diaries.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Description
An account of the resource
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Letters following Lee's surrender emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge and payment. All the letters in this collection were written home to Leonard's parents, usually his mother. He continually reassures her not to worry about him, requests various things from home (especially stamps), and talks about his daily life. He frequently writes about plans for when he gets home. Leonard's religious sentiments also recur throughout his correspondence. He also includes war news and who he has seen, though he reveals his priorities and lack of interest in being a soldier, saying in March 1865:
"we have got a good man to steer the machine, that fellow they call U. S. Grant. Sheridan & Sherman are giving them fits. I have seen Grant & Mede a number of times this summer I had a great deal rather see you + Pa. I dont want to see Nora because she wanted me to go soldiering"
Although battle descriptions are not necessarily the focus of Leonard's letters, his 1864 correspondence contains details of being fired upon a Petersburg, of picket duty, and later, of transporting injured men. In June 1865, he writes several letters detailing the sight of unburied dead men and horses and the sound of fighting from the front at Petersburg. In May 1865, he writes of the incompetence of the doctors:
"The Doctors here dont have any thing fit to give any one and the bigest of them dont know how to doctor a hen anyway. They take the wounded men legs and arms off half the time. when there is no need of it, do it practice there has been a number of times I have heard of that...The Doct of the Regt was a clerk in an apothecary shop..."
Leonard's diary begins in August 1864, apparently when he was appointed to drive an ambulance. His entries are short and refer mostly to his daily activities: who or what he was conveying to and from the hospital at City Point outside Petersburg; what letters he sent or received; war news; or when he attended religious meetings. Shortly before the diary ends in April 1865, he notes the firing of guns and cannons "for the death of abram Lincoln President of the U.S. who was shot by a man by the name of Booth." He refers to the death of Lincoln and its effect on the soldiers in several letters, as well. Leonard's own correspondence suggests he kept a previous diary--in August 1864, he inquires if his mother has received the one he sent home--but it is unknown if this diary still exists.
William A. Leonard was born about 1843 to Joel A. (b.1817) and Sophia Leonard (1816-d. before 1880). His parents were both natives of Vermont who moved to Massachusetts. William and his two sisters, Leonora (b. abt. 1852; and who William calls "Nora" in his letters and is later listed as "Mary" in a least one set of census records) and Roselia (b. abt. 1859) were all born in Great Barrington, Berkshire County. It is unknown what line of work William Leonard was in prior to the war, though he was living at home with his family. He was drafted into service in July 1863 for a three year term with Company F, 16th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. In mid-July 1864, the 16th Infantry mustered out. Existing veterans and recruits, Leonard included, were transferred to the 11th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. From at least August of 1864 until Lee's surrender, Leonard served as an ambulance driver, transporting wounded from battlefield to hospital. His unit spent nearly a year in and around Petersburg. While stationed outside Washington, DC, waiting to muster out, Leonard also drove civilians in and around the city. He particularly makes mention of taking family members to hospitals to get news of soldiers. Leonard returned home to Great Barrington in July 1865. In 1880, he was living at home with his father, Leonora and her husband, and Leonora's brother-in-law. At the time, he was employed at a woolen mill. In 1894, he purchased a plumbing and steam fitting business from a former employer. Later census records suggest he was married to a woman named Hattie (probably Henrietta; b. abt. 1863), but it is unknown when. They had daughter, Nellie, in June 1897.
Sources: Ancestry.com Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service. The Metal Worker, vol. XLI, January to June 1894. New York: David Williams, 1894. Via Google Books, November 2011.
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Post-surrender letters emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864/1865
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Diary, William Leonard, August 17, 1864 to April 30, 1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Description
An account of the resource
Leonard's diary begins in August 1864, apparently when he was appointed to drive an ambulance. His entries are short and refer mostly to his daily activities: who or what he was conveying to and from the hospital at City Point outside Petersburg; what letters he sent or received; war news; or when he attended religious meetings. Shortly before the diary ends in April 1865, he notes the firing of guns and cannons "for the death of abram Lincoln President of the U.S. who was shot by a man by the name of Booth."
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-08-17/1865-04-30
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Diaries
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Language
A language of the resource
English
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106_LeonardWilliam_B1F4_Diary_1864-1865
-
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Text
<p></p>
<p>Camp at Readville July 21st/65</p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>I thought I
would </p>
<p>write you a
few lines in this </p>
<p>American
Army once more but </p>
<p>expect it
will be my last. We </p>
<p>will get payed + discharged now </p>
<p>in two or
three days at the most </p>
<p>We were
expecting to have got </p>
<p>payed yesterday, + we may yet, </p>
<p>but I think
it wont be </p>
<p>before
Monday or Tuesday. a few </p>
<p>dayes is not long to wait is </p>
<p>it, although
the days seem </p>
<p>very long to
me. Coolie has </p>
<p>turned up at
last all right, </p>
<p>+ there wont be any thing done </p>
<p>with him. he
was in a Hospital </p>
<p>at
Baltimore, if he had some </p>
<p>Officers he
would not got any </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p></p>
<p>Camp at Readville July 21st/65</p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>I thought I
would </p>
<p>write you a
few lines in this </p>
<p>American
Army once more but </p>
<p>expect it
will be my last. We </p>
<p>will get payed + discharged now </p>
<p>in two or
three days at the most </p>
<p>We were
expecting to have got </p>
<p>payed yesterday, + we may yet, </p>
<p>but I think
it wont be </p>
<p>before
Monday or Tuesday. a few </p>
<p>dayes is not long to wait is </p>
<p>it, although
the days seem </p>
<p>very long to
me. Coolie has </p>
<p>turned up at
last all right, </p>
<p>+ there wont be any thing done </p>
<p>with him. he
was in a Hospital </p>
<p>at
Baltimore, if he had some </p>
<p>Officers he
would not got any </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-07-21
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ec5e12f6996ef7fb208a15f52787e1ae
PDF Text
Text
<p>any pay,
+ a dishonorable discharge </p>
<p>but his Capt
did not drop </p>
<p>him from the
rools so he </p>
<p>is all
right. If we should </p>
<p>get payed tomorrow I shall </p>
<p>be in
Barrington Monday </p>
<p>night. I
think it is doubtful. </p>
<p>I expect you
are very sorry </p>
<p>your Solider
Boy is comeing </p>
<p>home again.
Well if you </p>
<p>get tired of
me I can </p>
<p>enlist in
the Regulars. how </p>
<p>would you
like that. I suppos </p>
<p>you saw our
arrival here </p>
<p>in the
Papers about as soon </p>
<p>as we got
here. They give us </p>
<p>plenty to
eat here which is </p>
<p>more than I
can say for </p>
<p>the
Washington Authorrites. </p>
<p>If you have
not sent any </p>
<p>letters here
dont do it now. </p>
<p>I want to get
this in the mail </p>
<p>to night so good bye. From </p>
<p>Willie</p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>any pay,
+ a dishonorable discharge </p>
<p>but his Capt
did not drop </p>
<p>him from the
rools so he </p>
<p>is all
right. If we should </p>
<p>get payed tomorrow I shall </p>
<p>be in
Barrington Monday </p>
<p>night. I
think it is doubtful. </p>
<p>I expect you
are very sorry </p>
<p>your Solider
Boy is comeing </p>
<p>home again.
Well if you </p>
<p>get tired of
me I can </p>
<p>enlist in
the Regulars. how </p>
<p>would you
like that. I suppos </p>
<p>you saw our
arrival here </p>
<p>in the
Papers about as soon </p>
<p>as we got
here. They give us </p>
<p>plenty to
eat here which is </p>
<p>more than I
can say for </p>
<p>the
Washington Authorrites. </p>
<p>If you have
not sent any </p>
<p>letters here
dont do it now. </p>
<p>I want to get
this in the mail </p>
<p>to night so good bye. From </p>
<p>Willie</p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-07-21
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/b53864329629dff3fa7a86d1b73c4fbe.jpg
54129443133ad0f6346c3de6d91c9289
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
William A. Leonard Papers, 1864-1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Diaries.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Description
An account of the resource
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Letters following Lee's surrender emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge and payment. All the letters in this collection were written home to Leonard's parents, usually his mother. He continually reassures her not to worry about him, requests various things from home (especially stamps), and talks about his daily life. He frequently writes about plans for when he gets home. Leonard's religious sentiments also recur throughout his correspondence. He also includes war news and who he has seen, though he reveals his priorities and lack of interest in being a soldier, saying in March 1865:
"we have got a good man to steer the machine, that fellow they call U. S. Grant. Sheridan & Sherman are giving them fits. I have seen Grant & Mede a number of times this summer I had a great deal rather see you + Pa. I dont want to see Nora because she wanted me to go soldiering"
Although battle descriptions are not necessarily the focus of Leonard's letters, his 1864 correspondence contains details of being fired upon a Petersburg, of picket duty, and later, of transporting injured men. In June 1865, he writes several letters detailing the sight of unburied dead men and horses and the sound of fighting from the front at Petersburg. In May 1865, he writes of the incompetence of the doctors:
"The Doctors here dont have any thing fit to give any one and the bigest of them dont know how to doctor a hen anyway. They take the wounded men legs and arms off half the time. when there is no need of it, do it practice there has been a number of times I have heard of that...The Doct of the Regt was a clerk in an apothecary shop..."
Leonard's diary begins in August 1864, apparently when he was appointed to drive an ambulance. His entries are short and refer mostly to his daily activities: who or what he was conveying to and from the hospital at City Point outside Petersburg; what letters he sent or received; war news; or when he attended religious meetings. Shortly before the diary ends in April 1865, he notes the firing of guns and cannons "for the death of abram Lincoln President of the U.S. who was shot by a man by the name of Booth." He refers to the death of Lincoln and its effect on the soldiers in several letters, as well. Leonard's own correspondence suggests he kept a previous diary--in August 1864, he inquires if his mother has received the one he sent home--but it is unknown if this diary still exists.
William A. Leonard was born about 1843 to Joel A. (b.1817) and Sophia Leonard (1816-d. before 1880). His parents were both natives of Vermont who moved to Massachusetts. William and his two sisters, Leonora (b. abt. 1852; and who William calls "Nora" in his letters and is later listed as "Mary" in a least one set of census records) and Roselia (b. abt. 1859) were all born in Great Barrington, Berkshire County. It is unknown what line of work William Leonard was in prior to the war, though he was living at home with his family. He was drafted into service in July 1863 for a three year term with Company F, 16th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. In mid-July 1864, the 16th Infantry mustered out. Existing veterans and recruits, Leonard included, were transferred to the 11th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. From at least August of 1864 until Lee's surrender, Leonard served as an ambulance driver, transporting wounded from battlefield to hospital. His unit spent nearly a year in and around Petersburg. While stationed outside Washington, DC, waiting to muster out, Leonard also drove civilians in and around the city. He particularly makes mention of taking family members to hospitals to get news of soldiers. Leonard returned home to Great Barrington in July 1865. In 1880, he was living at home with his father, Leonora and her husband, and Leonora's brother-in-law. At the time, he was employed at a woolen mill. In 1894, he purchased a plumbing and steam fitting business from a former employer. Later census records suggest he was married to a woman named Hattie (probably Henrietta; b. abt. 1863), but it is unknown when. They had daughter, Nellie, in June 1897.
Sources: Ancestry.com Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service. The Metal Worker, vol. XLI, January to June 1894. New York: David Williams, 1894. Via Google Books, November 2011.
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Post-surrender letters emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864/1865
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter, William Leonard to Mother, Camp Near Readville Ma., July 21, 1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
Civil War
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-07-21
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Letters
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Language
A language of the resource
English
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106_LeonardWilliam_B1F3_Letter_1865_0721
-
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/1d9afaf671efc25d0678973513482a2c.jpg
9d06bc4bfb01fb9972f8ca9fb6b7181b
PDF Text
Text
<p>[<em>Continued from page 2</em>]</p>
<p>Island</p>
<p>was</p>
<p>with</p>
<p>us.</p>
<p>Love</p>
<p>to</p>
<p>all.</p>
<p>From</p>
<p>Willie</p>
<p>Camp near Readsville [Readville, MA] July 18<sup>th</sup> 1865</p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>You see by the head-</p>
<p>ing of this letter I am in</p>
<p>Massachusetts once more, and</p>
<p>am hearty glad of it. I dont</p>
<p>know how soon we will get</p>
<p>payed, our Officers say right</p>
<p>off. But there are Regt here</p>
<p>that have been here three</p>
<p>weeks now. but they say it is</p>
<p>the Officers fault, that they</p>
<p>are off home + not attending</p>
<p>to it. when I opned my</p>
<p>portfolio this morning I</p>
<p>found a letter that I thought</p>
<p>I had sent the day before I</p>
<p>started from Washington. I</p>
<p>will send it now. I will</p>
<p>give you an account of</p>
<p>my journey when I get home.</p>
<p>I dont know but I had</p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>[<i>Continued from page 2</i>]</p>
<p>Island</p>
<p>was</p>
<p>with</p>
<p>us.</p>
<p>Love</p>
<p>to</p>
<p>all.</p>
<p>From</p>
<p>Willie</p>
<p>Camp near Readsville [Readville, MA] July 18<sup>th</sup> 1865</p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>You see by the head-</p>
<p>ing of this letter I am in</p>
<p>Massachusetts once more, and</p>
<p>am hearty glad of it. I dont</p>
<p>know how soon we will get</p>
<p>payed, our Officers say right</p>
<p>off. But there are Regt here</p>
<p>that have been here three</p>
<p>weeks now. but they say it is</p>
<p>the Officers fault, that they</p>
<p>are off home + not attending</p>
<p>to it. when I opned my</p>
<p>portfolio this morning I</p>
<p>found a letter that I thought</p>
<p>I had sent the day before I</p>
<p>started from Washington. I</p>
<p>will send it now. I will</p>
<p>give you an account of</p>
<p>my journey when I get home.</p>
<p>I dont know but I had</p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-07-18
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/04a57fe2393fef35ee5c60bb1bd939f8.jpg
f0b33e20b1f9ff19e259a8fb005554aa
PDF Text
Text
<p>better buy a pair of Pants</p>
<p>in Boston or Springfield will</p>
<p>see. <s>I</s> my health is good</p>
<p>but am very poor hope to</p>
<p>recruit up some now I</p>
<p>have got out of Virginia.</p>
<p>we came through ten or twelve</p>
<p>Cities on our rout. I hope</p>
<p>to be home soon. do as you</p>
<p>like about sending me a little</p>
<p>money. I can get along without</p>
<p>it. how is wages home now.</p>
<p><s>Philal</s> Philadelphia is the</p>
<p>best City in the Union to trat</p>
<p>soldiers + it has the name of it</p>
<p>treat us better than our own state</p>
<p>we gave them rousing cheers when</p>
<p>we left. they always treat Soldiers</p>
<p>so. it all comes out of the Citizens</p>
<p>to. we arrived in New York City</p>
<p>Sunday. gave us our Supper and we</p>
<p>marched up to the Aster [Astor] house +</p>
<p>gave fighting Joe Hooker [Joseph Hooker] three</p>
<p>cheers + then took the Boat for</p>
<p>New Haven where we arrived in</p>
<p>the morning. the 58<sup>th</sup> Mass Regt.</p>
<p>came with us. were on the road all</p>
<p>night last night. 2<sup>nd</sup> Rhode</p>
<p> </p>
<p>[<em>Continued on page 1</em>]</p>
<p>Island</p>
<p>was</p>
<p>with</p>
<p>us.</p>
<p>Love</p>
<p>to</p>
<p>all.</p>
<p>From</p>
<p>Willie</p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>better buy a pair of Pants</p>
<p>in Boston or Springfield will</p>
<p>see. <s>I</s> my health is good</p>
<p>but am very poor hope to</p>
<p>recruit up some now I</p>
<p>have got out of Virginia.</p>
<p>we came through ten or twelve</p>
<p>Cities on our rout. I hope</p>
<p>to be home soon. do as you</p>
<p>like about sending me a little</p>
<p>money. I can get along without</p>
<p>it. how is wages home now.</p>
<p><s>Philal</s> Philadelphia is the</p>
<p>best City in the Union to trat</p>
<p>soldiers + it has the name of it</p>
<p>treat us better than our own state</p>
<p>we gave them rousing cheers when</p>
<p>we left. they always treat Soldiers</p>
<p>so. it all comes out of the Citizens</p>
<p>to. we arrived in New York City</p>
<p>Sunday. gave us our Supper and we</p>
<p>marched up to the Aster [Astor] house +</p>
<p>gave fighting Joe Hooker [Joseph Hooker] three</p>
<p>cheers + then took the Boat for</p>
<p>New Haven where we arrived in</p>
<p>the morning. the 58<sup>th</sup> Mass Regt.</p>
<p>came with us. were on the road all</p>
<p>night last night. 2<sup>nd</sup> Rhode</p>
<p> </p>
<p>[<i>Continued on page 1</i>]</p>
<p>Island </p>
<p>was </p>
<p>with </p>
<p>us. </p>
<p>Love </p>
<p>to </p>
<p>all. </p>
<p>From </p>
<p>Willie </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-07-18
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/9d14b853c6b2ecdfc1663dcdb5bd28ed.jpg
ae0ce36f17e3150a5638226dbbf1254c
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
William A. Leonard Papers, 1864-1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Diaries.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Description
An account of the resource
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Letters following Lee's surrender emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge and payment. All the letters in this collection were written home to Leonard's parents, usually his mother. He continually reassures her not to worry about him, requests various things from home (especially stamps), and talks about his daily life. He frequently writes about plans for when he gets home. Leonard's religious sentiments also recur throughout his correspondence. He also includes war news and who he has seen, though he reveals his priorities and lack of interest in being a soldier, saying in March 1865:
"we have got a good man to steer the machine, that fellow they call U. S. Grant. Sheridan & Sherman are giving them fits. I have seen Grant & Mede a number of times this summer I had a great deal rather see you + Pa. I dont want to see Nora because she wanted me to go soldiering"
Although battle descriptions are not necessarily the focus of Leonard's letters, his 1864 correspondence contains details of being fired upon a Petersburg, of picket duty, and later, of transporting injured men. In June 1865, he writes several letters detailing the sight of unburied dead men and horses and the sound of fighting from the front at Petersburg. In May 1865, he writes of the incompetence of the doctors:
"The Doctors here dont have any thing fit to give any one and the bigest of them dont know how to doctor a hen anyway. They take the wounded men legs and arms off half the time. when there is no need of it, do it practice there has been a number of times I have heard of that...The Doct of the Regt was a clerk in an apothecary shop..."
Leonard's diary begins in August 1864, apparently when he was appointed to drive an ambulance. His entries are short and refer mostly to his daily activities: who or what he was conveying to and from the hospital at City Point outside Petersburg; what letters he sent or received; war news; or when he attended religious meetings. Shortly before the diary ends in April 1865, he notes the firing of guns and cannons "for the death of abram Lincoln President of the U.S. who was shot by a man by the name of Booth." He refers to the death of Lincoln and its effect on the soldiers in several letters, as well. Leonard's own correspondence suggests he kept a previous diary--in August 1864, he inquires if his mother has received the one he sent home--but it is unknown if this diary still exists.
William A. Leonard was born about 1843 to Joel A. (b.1817) and Sophia Leonard (1816-d. before 1880). His parents were both natives of Vermont who moved to Massachusetts. William and his two sisters, Leonora (b. abt. 1852; and who William calls "Nora" in his letters and is later listed as "Mary" in a least one set of census records) and Roselia (b. abt. 1859) were all born in Great Barrington, Berkshire County. It is unknown what line of work William Leonard was in prior to the war, though he was living at home with his family. He was drafted into service in July 1863 for a three year term with Company F, 16th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. In mid-July 1864, the 16th Infantry mustered out. Existing veterans and recruits, Leonard included, were transferred to the 11th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. From at least August of 1864 until Lee's surrender, Leonard served as an ambulance driver, transporting wounded from battlefield to hospital. His unit spent nearly a year in and around Petersburg. While stationed outside Washington, DC, waiting to muster out, Leonard also drove civilians in and around the city. He particularly makes mention of taking family members to hospitals to get news of soldiers. Leonard returned home to Great Barrington in July 1865. In 1880, he was living at home with his father, Leonora and her husband, and Leonora's brother-in-law. At the time, he was employed at a woolen mill. In 1894, he purchased a plumbing and steam fitting business from a former employer. Later census records suggest he was married to a woman named Hattie (probably Henrietta; b. abt. 1863), but it is unknown when. They had daughter, Nellie, in June 1897.
Sources: Ancestry.com Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service. The Metal Worker, vol. XLI, January to June 1894. New York: David Williams, 1894. Via Google Books, November 2011.
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Post-surrender letters emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864/1865
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter, William Leonard to Mother, Camp Near Readville Ma., July 18, 1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-07-18
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Letters
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Language
A language of the resource
English
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106_LeonardWilliam_B1F3_Letter_1865_0718
-
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/d12147a263f0a6c23cd7cdecaf79244d.jpg
cac7c5d5873a1b1474d17ab75611407c
PDF Text
Text
<p>Camp near Washington July 12<sup>th</sup></p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>I once more and</p>
<p>prehaps for the last time in the Army seat</p>
<p>myself to write you. The Boys</p>
<p>in the Regt. expect to leave</p>
<p>here Saturday or Monday. They have</p>
<p>got the muster out rools most</p>
<p>done. I dont hardly realise we</p>
<p>are going home, but it is so.</p>
<p>I guess that letter I</p>
<p>wrote you the other day made</p>
<p>you look smiling. There was</p>
<p>some Cheering done when the</p>
<p>order came in. The order includes</p>
<p>the whole Provisional Corps. They</p>
<p>were calculating to have kept</p>
<p>us, but I guess they got scart</p>
<p>out of it. The Order came in</p>
<p>to move up into Maryland +</p>
<p>was countermanded + then the order</p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>Camp
near Washington July 12<sup>th</sup> </p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>I once more
and </p>
<p>prehaps for the last time in the Army seat </p>
<p>myself to
write you. The Boys </p>
<p>in the Regt.
expect to leave </p>
<p>here
Saturday or Monday. They have </p>
<p>got the muster
out rools most </p>
<p>done. I
don’t hardly realise we </p>
<p>are going
home, but it is so. </p>
<p>I guess that
letter I </p>
<p>wrote you
the other day made </p>
<p>you look smiling.
There was </p>
<p>some
Cheering done when the </p>
<p>order came
in. The order includes </p>
<p>the whole
Provisional Corps. They </p>
<p>were
calculating to have kept </p>
<p>us, but I
guess they got scart </p>
<p>out of it.
The Order came in </p>
<p>to move up
into Maryland + </p>
<p>was
countermanded + then the order </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-07-12
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/b43efdd22e57f5e9ff6f35e9b93a7d12.jpg
86d21d0902d5c8da55fcafa55b082560
PDF Text
Text
<table>
<tbody>
<tr><th>Left Page</th><th>Right Page</th></tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>came to discharge. The Mary-</p>
<p>landers sent in a petition to</p>
<p>Washington, that they did not</p>
<p>want their State trode down</p>
<p>with Troops any more, that it</p>
<p>had been laid waste enough. They</p>
<p>wanted a good crop this year.</p>
<p>I guess that was one thing that</p>
<p>made them discharge us. Did I</p>
<p>never tell you about the tree</p>
<p>measuring three foot at the</p>
<p>but, that was shot off by</p>
<p>bullets at Sottsvania [Spotsylvania, VA]. it was</p>
<p>completely chawed off. well</p>
<p>the Goverment has sent on and</p>
<p>got it. they have it in the</p>
<p>Patent Office for folks to look</p>
<p>at. went by here the other day.</p>
<p>There was a steady fire kept up</p>
<p>where it stood for a day + a half.</p>
<p>when it fell it fell on a dead</p>
<p><s>Rebbel</s> Rebel.</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Friday. we are going to be</p>
<p>mustered out to day and are</p>
<p>going to start either to</p>
<p>night or tomorrow for Boston</p>
<p>so I guess this will be the</p>
<p>last letter, till I get to</p>
<p>Readsville [Readville, MA]. hope they wont</p>
<p>keep us long there. I will</p>
<p>close now.</p>
<p>From Willie.</p>
<p>P.S.</p>
<p>I sent you a paper +</p>
<p>forgot to put on a stamp</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<table>
<tr>
<th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>came to
discharge. The Mary-</p>
<p>landers sent
in a petition to </p>
<p>Washington,
that they did not </p>
<p>want their
State trode down </p>
<p>with Troops
any more, that it </p>
<p>had been
laid waste enough. They </p>
<p>wanted a
good crop this year. </p>
<p>I guess that
was one thing that </p>
<p>made them
discharge us. Did I </p>
<p>never tell
you about the tree </p>
<p>measuring
three foot at the </p>
<p>but, that was
shot off by </p>
<p>bullets at Sottsvania [Spotsylvania, VA]. it was </p>
<p>completely
chawed off. well </p>
<p>the Goverment has sent on and </p>
<p>got it. they
have it in the </p>
<p>Patent
Office for folks to look </p>
<p>at. went by
here the other day. </p>
<p>There was a
steady fire kept up </p>
<p>where it
stood for a day + a half.</p>
<p>when it fell
it fell on a dead </p>
<p><s>Rebbel</s> Rebel. </p>
</td><td><p>Friday.
we are going to be </p>
<p>mustered out
to day and are </p>
<p>going to
start either to </p>
<p>night or
tomorrow for Boston </p>
<p>so I guess
this will be the </p>
<p>last letter,
till I get to </p>
<p>Readsville [Readville, MA]. hope
they wont </p>
<p>keep us long
there. I will </p>
<p>close now. </p>
<p>From Willie.</p>
<p>P.S. </p>
<p>I sent you a
paper + </p>
<p>forgot to
put on a stamp</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-07-12
1865-07-14
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/35b297079e73ea81515d53e9a3fc14fb.jpg
e4bf93953cb7c05f9463024e32fe3f71
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
William A. Leonard Papers, 1864-1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Diaries.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Description
An account of the resource
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Letters following Lee's surrender emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge and payment. All the letters in this collection were written home to Leonard's parents, usually his mother. He continually reassures her not to worry about him, requests various things from home (especially stamps), and talks about his daily life. He frequently writes about plans for when he gets home. Leonard's religious sentiments also recur throughout his correspondence. He also includes war news and who he has seen, though he reveals his priorities and lack of interest in being a soldier, saying in March 1865:
"we have got a good man to steer the machine, that fellow they call U. S. Grant. Sheridan & Sherman are giving them fits. I have seen Grant & Mede a number of times this summer I had a great deal rather see you + Pa. I dont want to see Nora because she wanted me to go soldiering"
Although battle descriptions are not necessarily the focus of Leonard's letters, his 1864 correspondence contains details of being fired upon a Petersburg, of picket duty, and later, of transporting injured men. In June 1865, he writes several letters detailing the sight of unburied dead men and horses and the sound of fighting from the front at Petersburg. In May 1865, he writes of the incompetence of the doctors:
"The Doctors here dont have any thing fit to give any one and the bigest of them dont know how to doctor a hen anyway. They take the wounded men legs and arms off half the time. when there is no need of it, do it practice there has been a number of times I have heard of that...The Doct of the Regt was a clerk in an apothecary shop..."
Leonard's diary begins in August 1864, apparently when he was appointed to drive an ambulance. His entries are short and refer mostly to his daily activities: who or what he was conveying to and from the hospital at City Point outside Petersburg; what letters he sent or received; war news; or when he attended religious meetings. Shortly before the diary ends in April 1865, he notes the firing of guns and cannons "for the death of abram Lincoln President of the U.S. who was shot by a man by the name of Booth." He refers to the death of Lincoln and its effect on the soldiers in several letters, as well. Leonard's own correspondence suggests he kept a previous diary--in August 1864, he inquires if his mother has received the one he sent home--but it is unknown if this diary still exists.
William A. Leonard was born about 1843 to Joel A. (b.1817) and Sophia Leonard (1816-d. before 1880). His parents were both natives of Vermont who moved to Massachusetts. William and his two sisters, Leonora (b. abt. 1852; and who William calls "Nora" in his letters and is later listed as "Mary" in a least one set of census records) and Roselia (b. abt. 1859) were all born in Great Barrington, Berkshire County. It is unknown what line of work William Leonard was in prior to the war, though he was living at home with his family. He was drafted into service in July 1863 for a three year term with Company F, 16th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. In mid-July 1864, the 16th Infantry mustered out. Existing veterans and recruits, Leonard included, were transferred to the 11th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. From at least August of 1864 until Lee's surrender, Leonard served as an ambulance driver, transporting wounded from battlefield to hospital. His unit spent nearly a year in and around Petersburg. While stationed outside Washington, DC, waiting to muster out, Leonard also drove civilians in and around the city. He particularly makes mention of taking family members to hospitals to get news of soldiers. Leonard returned home to Great Barrington in July 1865. In 1880, he was living at home with his father, Leonora and her husband, and Leonora's brother-in-law. At the time, he was employed at a woolen mill. In 1894, he purchased a plumbing and steam fitting business from a former employer. Later census records suggest he was married to a woman named Hattie (probably Henrietta; b. abt. 1863), but it is unknown when. They had daughter, Nellie, in June 1897.
Sources: Ancestry.com Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service. The Metal Worker, vol. XLI, January to June 1894. New York: David Williams, 1894. Via Google Books, November 2011.
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Post-surrender letters emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864/1865
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter, William Leonard to Mother, Camp Near Washington, July 12, 1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
Civil War
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-07-12
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Letters
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Language
A language of the resource
English
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106_LeonardWilliam_B1F3_Letter_1865_0712
-
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/15f46c9ade3e3f58acda24211863d9f2.jpg
adb0fcb732b90e49a2311ca235150ebb
PDF Text
Text
<p>Camp
near Washington July 9<sup>th</sup> /65</p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>I am going
to write </p>
<p>you a few
lines to day which </p>
<p>will be good
news to you and </p>
<p>Father I
expect we are going to </p>
<p>be mustered
out as soon as the </p>
<p>muster rools can be made out </p>
<p>they are at
work on them </p>
<p>now. I expect
in a week from </p>
<p>to day to be
on the road to </p>
<p>Readsville Mass [Readville, MA].
The Order came </p>
<p>to muster
out all of the Provisinal </p>
<p>Corps. I
have got over thirty </p>
<p>dollars
clothing money due me. </p>
<p>They are
going to put the $75.00 </p>
<p>Bounty on
the Pay rool, but </p>
<p>some say we wont get it. I know </p>
<p>we will, for
that was the Order </p>
<p>when we came
out. You must </p>
<p>not feel to
glad, for there may </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>Camp
near Washington July 9<sup>th</sup> /65</p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>I am going
to write </p>
<p>you a few
lines to day which </p>
<p>will be good
news to you and </p>
<p>Father I
expect we are going to </p>
<p>be mustered
out as soon as the </p>
<p>muster rools can be made out </p>
<p>they are at
work on them </p>
<p>now. I expect
in a week from </p>
<p>to day to be
on the road to </p>
<p>Readsville Mass [Readville, MA].
The Order came </p>
<p>to muster
out all of the Provisinal </p>
<p>Corps. I
have got over thirty </p>
<p>dollars
clothing money due me. </p>
<p>They are
going to put the $75.00 </p>
<p>Bounty on
the Pay rool, but </p>
<p>some say we wont get it. I know </p>
<p>we will, for
that was the Order </p>
<p>when we came
out. You must </p>
<p>not feel to
glad, for there may </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-07-09
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/db700b703cbd77f6821b20d205bd3a7e.jpg
c505db92a2a5fc9c4ebfaa8d8bbc7861
PDF Text
Text
<p>
something turn up yet to stop </p>
<p>us. We have
been disapointed so </p>
<p>many times
it dont seem as if </p>
<p>we were
going till we get aboard </p>
<p>the Cars. I
think I shall buy </p>
<p>me a flutina on the road </p>
<p>home. I was
over to Washington </p>
<p>all day
yesterday. This will be </p>
<p>a short
letter but sweet. Tell </p>
<p>Nora I will
have my claws on </p>
<p>her in a few
days. you had not </p>
<p>better write
more than one letter </p>
<p>after you
get this if you do that. </p>
<p>You will
think by the looks of me </p>
<p>I have been
starved in Andersonville </p>
<p>I guess. dont look much as I did </p>
<p>last winter.
will send Nora a song </p>
<p>in this. I
know the tune for </p>
<p>it if she dont. I expect Aunt </p>
<p>Mary has
gone back by this time. </p>
<p>if not tell
her to stay till I come. </p>
<p>Good bye for
this time. Willie</p>
<p> </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>
something turn up yet to stop </p>
<p>us. We have
been disapointed so </p>
<p>many times
it dont seem as if </p>
<p>we were
going till we get aboard </p>
<p>the Cars. I
think I shall buy </p>
<p>me a flutina on the road </p>
<p>home. I was
over to Washington </p>
<p>all day
yesterday. This will be </p>
<p>a short
letter but sweet. Tell </p>
<p>Nora I will
have my claws on </p>
<p>her in a few
days. you had not </p>
<p>better write
more than one letter </p>
<p>after you
get this if you do that. </p>
<p>You will
think by the looks of me </p>
<p>I have been
starved in Andersonville </p>
<p>I guess. dont look much as I did </p>
<p>last winter.
will send Nora a song </p>
<p>in this. I
know the tune for </p>
<p>it if she dont. I expect Aunt </p>
<p>Mary has
gone back by this time. </p>
<p>if not tell
her to stay till I come. </p>
<p>Good bye for
this time. Willie</p>
<p> </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-07-09
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/eef974efeedadfddae0ab19c4e7f0904.jpg
d92b0d33e9cd4973c4aeeb61480f48aa
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
William A. Leonard Papers, 1864-1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Diaries.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Description
An account of the resource
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Letters following Lee's surrender emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge and payment. All the letters in this collection were written home to Leonard's parents, usually his mother. He continually reassures her not to worry about him, requests various things from home (especially stamps), and talks about his daily life. He frequently writes about plans for when he gets home. Leonard's religious sentiments also recur throughout his correspondence. He also includes war news and who he has seen, though he reveals his priorities and lack of interest in being a soldier, saying in March 1865:
"we have got a good man to steer the machine, that fellow they call U. S. Grant. Sheridan & Sherman are giving them fits. I have seen Grant & Mede a number of times this summer I had a great deal rather see you + Pa. I dont want to see Nora because she wanted me to go soldiering"
Although battle descriptions are not necessarily the focus of Leonard's letters, his 1864 correspondence contains details of being fired upon a Petersburg, of picket duty, and later, of transporting injured men. In June 1865, he writes several letters detailing the sight of unburied dead men and horses and the sound of fighting from the front at Petersburg. In May 1865, he writes of the incompetence of the doctors:
"The Doctors here dont have any thing fit to give any one and the bigest of them dont know how to doctor a hen anyway. They take the wounded men legs and arms off half the time. when there is no need of it, do it practice there has been a number of times I have heard of that...The Doct of the Regt was a clerk in an apothecary shop..."
Leonard's diary begins in August 1864, apparently when he was appointed to drive an ambulance. His entries are short and refer mostly to his daily activities: who or what he was conveying to and from the hospital at City Point outside Petersburg; what letters he sent or received; war news; or when he attended religious meetings. Shortly before the diary ends in April 1865, he notes the firing of guns and cannons "for the death of abram Lincoln President of the U.S. who was shot by a man by the name of Booth." He refers to the death of Lincoln and its effect on the soldiers in several letters, as well. Leonard's own correspondence suggests he kept a previous diary--in August 1864, he inquires if his mother has received the one he sent home--but it is unknown if this diary still exists.
William A. Leonard was born about 1843 to Joel A. (b.1817) and Sophia Leonard (1816-d. before 1880). His parents were both natives of Vermont who moved to Massachusetts. William and his two sisters, Leonora (b. abt. 1852; and who William calls "Nora" in his letters and is later listed as "Mary" in a least one set of census records) and Roselia (b. abt. 1859) were all born in Great Barrington, Berkshire County. It is unknown what line of work William Leonard was in prior to the war, though he was living at home with his family. He was drafted into service in July 1863 for a three year term with Company F, 16th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. In mid-July 1864, the 16th Infantry mustered out. Existing veterans and recruits, Leonard included, were transferred to the 11th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. From at least August of 1864 until Lee's surrender, Leonard served as an ambulance driver, transporting wounded from battlefield to hospital. His unit spent nearly a year in and around Petersburg. While stationed outside Washington, DC, waiting to muster out, Leonard also drove civilians in and around the city. He particularly makes mention of taking family members to hospitals to get news of soldiers. Leonard returned home to Great Barrington in July 1865. In 1880, he was living at home with his father, Leonora and her husband, and Leonora's brother-in-law. At the time, he was employed at a woolen mill. In 1894, he purchased a plumbing and steam fitting business from a former employer. Later census records suggest he was married to a woman named Hattie (probably Henrietta; b. abt. 1863), but it is unknown when. They had daughter, Nellie, in June 1897.
Sources: Ancestry.com Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service. The Metal Worker, vol. XLI, January to June 1894. New York: David Williams, 1894. Via Google Books, November 2011.
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Post-surrender letters emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864/1865
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter, William Leonard to Mother, Camp Near Washington, July 9, 1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Civil War
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-07-09
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Letters
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Rights Holder
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<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
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English
Identifier
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Ms2011-106_LeonardWilliam_B1F3_Letter_1865_0709
-
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/fe402a989933d5667b7e47bdd1288f7c.jpg
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<p>[<em>Continued from page 2</em>]</p>
<p>one with</p>
<p>the six</p>
<p>stamps</p>
<p>with</p>
<p>much</p>
<p>love</p>
<p>I</p>
<p>remain</p>
<p>your</p>
<p>loveing</p>
<p>Son</p>
<p>Willie</p>
<p>July 7<sup>th</sup> My health is good as</p>
<p>ever only I have the tooth ache.</p>
<p>Got over the Chills + fever. when</p>
<p>I get home will have all my</p>
<p>teeth puled out + a new set in</p>
<p>The weather is so hot + nothing</p>
<p>fit to eat is what makes me</p>
<p>poor. I have just been over</p>
<p>to the Hospital and had two</p>
<p>of my teeth puled out and</p>
<p>feel so much better I guess</p>
<p>I can finish this. It dont</p>
<p>cost any thing for Doctors</p>
<p>bill here. I have sent my bundle</p>
<p>to day, ant any thing very</p>
<p>valuable in it, but it is worth</p>
<p>to you what the Express would</p>
<p>be. Them two tent mates of</p>
<p>mine that went home belonged</p>
<p>to the 120<sup>th</sup> N.Y. which were in</p>
<p>my Brigade + they went home on the</p>
Scripto
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A written representation of a document.
<p>[<i>Continued from page 2</i>]</p>
<p>one with</p>
<p>the six</p>
<p>stamps</p>
<p>with</p>
<p>much</p>
<p>love</p>
<p>I</p>
<p>remain</p>
<p>your</p>
<p>loveing</p>
<p>Son</p>
<p>Willie</p>
<p>July 7<sup>th</sup> My health is good as</p>
<p>ever only I have the tooth ache.</p>
<p>Got over the Chills + fever. when</p>
<p>I get home will have all my</p>
<p>teeth puled out + a new set in</p>
<p>The weather is so hot + nothing</p>
<p>fit to eat is what makes me</p>
<p>poor. I have just been over</p>
<p>to the Hospital and had two</p>
<p>of my teeth puled out and</p>
<p>feel so much better I guess</p>
<p>I can finish this. It dont</p>
<p>cost any thing for Doctors</p>
<p>bill here. I have sent my bundle</p>
<p>to day, ant any thing very</p>
<p>valuable in it, but it is worth</p>
<p>to you what the Express would</p>
<p>be. Them two tent mates of</p>
<p>mine that went home belonged</p>
<p>to the 120<sup>th</sup> N.Y. which were in</p>
<p>my Brigade + they went home on the</p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-07-07
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d93cd9272fad27636ac60f541aad4323
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<p>first call (the 62 men) all went but</p>
<p>the vetrans + these two were vetrans</p>
<p>so they were put into the 73 New</p>
<p>York in the 2<sup>nd</sup> Brigade. + that Regt</p>
<p>went home on the second call so</p>
<p>of coarse they went with it. we</p>
<p>belong to the Provisinal Corps. you</p>
<p>can direct your letters the same</p>
<p>till I tell you different. They</p>
<p>are not going to break up the Train</p>
<p>any more till the rest of the troops</p>
<p>go. I hear there is an order to discharge</p>
<p>us all. I have a splendid span of</p>
<p>Horses. I never heard a Soldier speak</p>
<p>a good word of Andy Johnson [Andrew Johnson] yet, they</p>
<p>all wish Uncle Abram [Abraham Lincoln] was alive. They</p>
<p>all say they would not fire another shot</p>
<p>for this Goverment to keep it from distruc-</p>
<p>tion, they are so mad because they dont</p>
<p>pay or let them go home. ther is lots of them</p>
<p>that would have come out as Regulars</p>
<p>if they had discharged them before, but</p>
<p>now they wont. The Goverment dont make</p>
<p>any thing by it. John F Adams is with</p>
<p>the Company + Ferg. [Abram Ferguson] is at the Comvisarys</p>
<p>we got some more Bread to day. wonder</p>
<p>what is going to happen wish I had some</p>
<p>of Parmy’s milk to eat with my bread</p>
<p>get tired of Pork fat. yes I am out of</p>
<p>money + thank you for that you have</p>
<p>sent. have got all your letters but the</p>
<p> </p>
<p>[<em>Continued on page 1</em>]</p>
<p>one with</p>
<p>the six</p>
<p>stamps</p>
<p>with</p>
<p>much</p>
<p>love</p>
<p>I</p>
<p>remain</p>
<p>your</p>
<p>loveing</p>
<p>Son</p>
<p>Willie</p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>first
call (the 62 men) all went but </p>
<p>the vetrans + these two were vetrans </p>
<p>so they were
put into the 73 New </p>
<p>York in the 2<sup>nd</sup>
Brigade. + that Regt </p>
<p>went home on
the second call so </p>
<p>of coarse they went with it. we </p>
<p>belong to the
Provisinal Corps. you </p>
<p>can direct
your letters the same </p>
<p>till I tell
you different. They </p>
<p>are not
going to break up the Train </p>
<p>any more
till the rest of the troops </p>
<p>go. I hear
there is an order to discharge </p>
<p>us all. I
have a splendid span of </p>
<p>Horses. I
never heard a Soldier speak </p>
<p>a good word
of Andy Johnson [Andrew Johnson] yet, they </p>
<p>all wish Uncle
Abram [Abraham Lincoln] was alive. They </p>
<p>all say they
would not fire another shot </p>
<p>for this Goverment to keep it from distruc-</p>
<p>tion, they are so mad because they dont
</p>
<p>pay or let
them go home. ther is lots of them </p>
<p>that would
have come out as Regulars </p>
<p>if they had
discharged them before, but </p>
<p>now they wont. The Goverment dont make </p>
<p>any thing by it. John F Adams is with </p>
<p>the Company
+ Ferg. [Abram Ferguson] is at the Comvisarys </p>
<p>we got some
more Bread to day. wonder </p>
<p>what is
going to happen wish I had some </p>
<p>of Parmy’s milk to eat with my bread </p>
<p>get tired of
Pork fat. yes I am out of </p>
<p>money +
thank you for that you have </p>
<p>sent. have
got all your letters but the </p>
<p> </p>
<p>[<i>Continued on page 1</i>]</p>
<p>one with</p>
<p>the six</p>
<p>stamps</p>
<p>with</p>
<p>much</p>
<p>love</p>
<p>I</p>
<p>remain</p>
<p>your</p>
<p>loveing</p>
<p>Son</p>
<p>Willie</p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-07-07
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
William A. Leonard Papers, 1864-1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Diaries.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Description
An account of the resource
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Letters following Lee's surrender emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge and payment. All the letters in this collection were written home to Leonard's parents, usually his mother. He continually reassures her not to worry about him, requests various things from home (especially stamps), and talks about his daily life. He frequently writes about plans for when he gets home. Leonard's religious sentiments also recur throughout his correspondence. He also includes war news and who he has seen, though he reveals his priorities and lack of interest in being a soldier, saying in March 1865:
"we have got a good man to steer the machine, that fellow they call U. S. Grant. Sheridan & Sherman are giving them fits. I have seen Grant & Mede a number of times this summer I had a great deal rather see you + Pa. I dont want to see Nora because she wanted me to go soldiering"
Although battle descriptions are not necessarily the focus of Leonard's letters, his 1864 correspondence contains details of being fired upon a Petersburg, of picket duty, and later, of transporting injured men. In June 1865, he writes several letters detailing the sight of unburied dead men and horses and the sound of fighting from the front at Petersburg. In May 1865, he writes of the incompetence of the doctors:
"The Doctors here dont have any thing fit to give any one and the bigest of them dont know how to doctor a hen anyway. They take the wounded men legs and arms off half the time. when there is no need of it, do it practice there has been a number of times I have heard of that...The Doct of the Regt was a clerk in an apothecary shop..."
Leonard's diary begins in August 1864, apparently when he was appointed to drive an ambulance. His entries are short and refer mostly to his daily activities: who or what he was conveying to and from the hospital at City Point outside Petersburg; what letters he sent or received; war news; or when he attended religious meetings. Shortly before the diary ends in April 1865, he notes the firing of guns and cannons "for the death of abram Lincoln President of the U.S. who was shot by a man by the name of Booth." He refers to the death of Lincoln and its effect on the soldiers in several letters, as well. Leonard's own correspondence suggests he kept a previous diary--in August 1864, he inquires if his mother has received the one he sent home--but it is unknown if this diary still exists.
William A. Leonard was born about 1843 to Joel A. (b.1817) and Sophia Leonard (1816-d. before 1880). His parents were both natives of Vermont who moved to Massachusetts. William and his two sisters, Leonora (b. abt. 1852; and who William calls "Nora" in his letters and is later listed as "Mary" in a least one set of census records) and Roselia (b. abt. 1859) were all born in Great Barrington, Berkshire County. It is unknown what line of work William Leonard was in prior to the war, though he was living at home with his family. He was drafted into service in July 1863 for a three year term with Company F, 16th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. In mid-July 1864, the 16th Infantry mustered out. Existing veterans and recruits, Leonard included, were transferred to the 11th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. From at least August of 1864 until Lee's surrender, Leonard served as an ambulance driver, transporting wounded from battlefield to hospital. His unit spent nearly a year in and around Petersburg. While stationed outside Washington, DC, waiting to muster out, Leonard also drove civilians in and around the city. He particularly makes mention of taking family members to hospitals to get news of soldiers. Leonard returned home to Great Barrington in July 1865. In 1880, he was living at home with his father, Leonora and her husband, and Leonora's brother-in-law. At the time, he was employed at a woolen mill. In 1894, he purchased a plumbing and steam fitting business from a former employer. Later census records suggest he was married to a woman named Hattie (probably Henrietta; b. abt. 1863), but it is unknown when. They had daughter, Nellie, in June 1897.
Sources: Ancestry.com Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service. The Metal Worker, vol. XLI, January to June 1894. New York: David Williams, 1894. Via Google Books, November 2011.
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Post-surrender letters emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864/1865
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter, William Leonard to Mother, Camp Near Washington, July 7, 1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Civil War
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-07-07
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Letters
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Language
A language of the resource
English
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106_LeonardWilliam_B1F3_Letter_1865_0707
-
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/d05eeb341a9abe3202bb718f2aafd283.jpg
71f84cb2f5e6f2900af624bc31b1a46f
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Text
<p>There </p>
<p>is thousands
</p>
<p>of Black-</p>
<p>berries </p>
<p>about </p>
<p>three </p>
<p>miles </p>
<p>from </p>
<p>here </p>
<p>can </p>
<p>pick </p>
<p>bushels </p>
<p>of them </p>
<p>they </p>
<p>are </p>
<p>spoiling </p>
<p>for </p>
<p>want </p>
<p>of </p>
<p>picking </p>
<p>Camp near
Washington July 4th</p>
<p>Dear
Parents,</p>
<p>The fourth
of July </p>
<p>has arrived
once more. I was </p>
<p>in hopes it
would not overtake </p>
<p>me in the
Army again, but </p>
<p>it seems it
has. There is a </p>
<p>rumor now
that they are going </p>
<p>to discharge
all veterans, but </p>
<p>you know I
am not a vetran. </p>
<p>I shall get
out some time </p>
<p>if I live. I
went out and </p>
<p>picked a
pint cup full of</p>
<p>huccleberries for my fourth. </p>
<p>There would
be a good many </p>
<p>here but
there is so many Soldiers </p>
<p>to pick
them. we have plenty of </p>
<p>Salt Horse +
hard tack yet. been </p>
<p>most two
weeks since we have </p>
<p>had any Soft
Bread. The troops </p>
<p>get it oftner than we do. </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>There </p>
<p>is thousands
</p>
<p>of Black-</p>
<p>berries </p>
<p>about </p>
<p>three </p>
<p>miles </p>
<p>from </p>
<p>here </p>
<p>can </p>
<p>pick </p>
<p>bushels </p>
<p>of them </p>
<p>they </p>
<p>are </p>
<p>spoiling </p>
<p>for </p>
<p>want </p>
<p>of </p>
<p>picking </p>
<p>Camp near
Washington July 4th</p>
<p>Dear
Parents,</p>
<p>The fourth
of July </p>
<p>has arrived
once more. I was </p>
<p>in hopes it
would not overtake </p>
<p>me in the
Army again, but </p>
<p>it seems it
has. There is a </p>
<p>rumor now
that they are going </p>
<p>to discharge
all veterans, but </p>
<p>you know I
am not a vetran. </p>
<p>I shall get
out some time </p>
<p>if I live. I
went out and </p>
<p>picked a
pint cup full of</p>
<p>huccleberries for my fourth. </p>
<p>There would
be a good many </p>
<p>here but
there is so many Soldiers </p>
<p>to pick
them. we have plenty of </p>
<p>Salt Horse +
hard tack yet. been </p>
<p>most two
weeks since we have </p>
<p>had any Soft
Bread. The troops </p>
<p>get it oftner than we do. </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-07-04
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/8c98a4e7cb35bdb1c206a090ab641aa0.jpg
edeca20fbf1826c60f6be77ffea9a0b9
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Text
<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>There
has been some mutinous</p>
<p>doing here,
a good many Regts </p>
<p>stacked
their arms with the </p>
<p>determination
to do no more duty </p>
<p>unless they payed them or give </p>
<p>them better rations.
The main </p>
<p>thing was
their discharge. Our </p>
<p>Regt. was
one of them. I dont </p>
<p>blaim them much. they have </p>
<p>took them
again after a good </p>
<p>many
promises + coxing. If I </p>
<p>ever get
home will tell you </p>
<p>all about
it. I could write </p>
<p>two or three
sheets full about </p>
<p>it but will
wait. The Soldiers lost </p>
<p>their best
friend when Abram Lincoln [Abraham Lincoln]</p>
<p>was killed.
It would make you </p>
<p>shudder to
hear the men Curse </p>
<p>the Goverment. It always seemed </p>
<p>wrong to me their the one years </p>
<p>men who had
four or five months </p>
<p>to stay were
discharged. they got big bountys. </p>
<p>one whole
Company went home </p>
<p>out of our
Regt. that came to us </p>
<p>in front of
Petersburg. it seems </p>
</td><td><p>hard to
see them go + men kept </p>
<p>who have
been out most four </p>
<p>years. July
5<sup>th</sup> The folk in </p>
<p>Washington got
scart last night </p>
<p>They hear
that the 2<sup>nd</sup> + 5<sup>th</sup> Corps </p>
<p>were going to go into Washington </p>
<p>last night +
they put seven Regts </p>
<p>of Regulars
in the work to stop </p>
<p>them. they
know they deserve it. </p>
<p>if the whole
of the two Corps were </p>
<p>here it
would take all the Regulars </p>
<p>in the States
to stop them. we have </p>
<p>moved Camp a
little this morning. </p>
<p>There is so
many rumors here </p>
<p>one dont know what to believe. </p>
<p>one minute
we are going home + </p>
<p>the next we
are going to stay. We </p>
<p>have drawed some soft Bread to </p>
<p>day. The
mustering Officer says </p>
<p>that the vetrans time is out, </p>
<p>according to
the orders </p>
<p>the war
Department gave him </p>
<p>when he
swore the men in. </p>
<p>and he told
them all at the </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<table>
<tr>
<th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>There
has been some mutinous</p>
<p>doing here,
a good many Regts </p>
<p>stacked
their arms with the </p>
<p>determination
to do no more duty </p>
<p>unless they payed them or give </p>
<p>them better rations.
The main </p>
<p>thing was
their discharge. Our </p>
<p>Regt. was
one of them. I dont </p>
<p>blaim them much. they have </p>
<p>took them
again after a good </p>
<p>many
promises + coxing. If I </p>
<p>ever get
home will tell you </p>
<p>all about
it. I could write </p>
<p>two or three
sheets full about </p>
<p>it but will
wait. The Soldiers lost </p>
<p>their best
friend when Abram Lincoln [Abraham Lincoln]</p>
<p>was killed.
It would make you </p>
<p>shudder to
hear the men Curse </p>
<p>the Goverment. It always seemed </p>
<p>wrong to me their the one years </p>
<p>men who had
four or five months </p>
<p>to stay were
discharged. they got big bountys. </p>
<p>one whole
Company went home </p>
<p>out of our
Regt. that came to us </p>
<p>in front of
Petersburg. it seems </p>
</td><td><p>hard to
see them go + men kept </p>
<p>who have
been out most four </p>
<p>years. July
5<sup>th</sup> The folk in </p>
<p>Washington got
scart last night </p>
<p>They hear
that the 2<sup>nd</sup> + 5<sup>th</sup> Corps </p>
<p>were going to go into Washington </p>
<p>last night +
they put seven Regts </p>
<p>of Regulars
in the work to stop </p>
<p>them. they
know they deserve it. </p>
<p>if the whole
of the two Corps were </p>
<p>here it
would take all the Regulars </p>
<p>in the States
to stop them. we have </p>
<p>moved Camp a
little this morning. </p>
<p>There is so
many rumors here </p>
<p>one dont know what to believe. </p>
<p>one minute
we are going home + </p>
<p>the next we
are going to stay. We </p>
<p>have drawed some soft Bread to </p>
<p>day. The
mustering Officer says </p>
<p>that the vetrans time is out, </p>
<p>according to
the orders </p>
<p>the war
Department gave him </p>
<p>when he
swore the men in. </p>
<p>and he told
them all at the </p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
Dublin Core
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Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-07-04
1865-07-05
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5191a5b351228410fbcb8a41f83de38e
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Text
<p>time he
wanted them to distinct-</p>
<p>ly understand that if the war </p>
<p>was over
before the three years </p>
<p>was up their
time was out. and </p>
<p>he says now
if the men are kept </p>
<p>they were
sworn in, under false </p>
<p>pretinces from the Goverment . </p>
<p>now who
blames them for want-</p>
<p>ing to go home or using any </p>
<p>way in their
power to get there. </p>
<p>It is no
excuse for the Goverment </p>
<p>to say there
is no transportating </p>
<p>for it is
only about thirty-five </p>
<p>miles to
Baltimore where there </p>
<p>is plenty of
it, + the men will </p>
<p>march that
far, + there is no need </p>
<p>of that. if they
would come out </p>
<p>+ say to
them we will discharg </p>
<p>you as quick
as possible it </p>
<p>would be all
right. I know we </p>
<p>all out to +
are thankfull to </p>
<p>get out
alive + whole. but it </p>
<p>is very agrivating to see how </p>
<p>they treat
us after doing so </p>
<p>much for
them. I guess they are </p>
<p>afraid to
let us go Home for fear </p>
<p>we will hurt
some of the Copper-</p>
<p>heads. July
6<sup>th</sup> I received your last </p>
<p>letter with
the stamps + money. I have </p>
<p>been to
Washington, Georgetown + Arlin-</p>
<p>gton Hights [Arlington Heights,
VA]. I did not take my </p>
<p>bundle because
I did not know where </p>
<p>I was going.
I will finish this tomorrow </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>time he
wanted them to distinct-</p>
<p>ly understand that if the war </p>
<p>was over
before the three years </p>
<p>was up their
time was out. and </p>
<p>he says now
if the men are kept </p>
<p>they were
sworn in, under false </p>
<p>pretinces from the Goverment . </p>
<p>now who
blames them for want-</p>
<p>ing to go home or using any </p>
<p>way in their
power to get there. </p>
<p>It is no
excuse for the Goverment </p>
<p>to say there
is no transportating </p>
<p>for it is
only about thirty-five </p>
<p>miles to
Baltimore where there </p>
<p>is plenty of
it, + the men will </p>
<p>march that
far, + there is no need </p>
<p>of that. if they
would come out </p>
<p>+ say to
them we will discharg </p>
<p>you as quick
as possible it </p>
<p>would be all
right. I know we </p>
<p>all out to +
are thankfull to </p>
<p>get out
alive + whole. but it </p>
<p>is very agrivating to see how </p>
<p>they treat
us after doing so </p>
<p>much for
them. I guess they are </p>
<p>afraid to
let us go Home for fear </p>
<p>we will hurt
some of the Copper-</p>
<p>heads. July
6<sup>th</sup> I received your last </p>
<p>letter with
the stamps + money. I have </p>
<p>been to
Washington, Georgetown + Arlin-</p>
<p>gton Hights [Arlington Heights,
VA]. I did not take my </p>
<p>bundle because
I did not know where </p>
<p>I was going.
I will finish this tomorrow </p>
Dublin Core
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Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-07-05
1865-07-06
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/b2f0ca3bcd3cf94d6eb498fa485ee2b4.jpg
66f8f17e92c08fec54eb2a06242de6ea
Dublin Core
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Title
A name given to the resource
William A. Leonard Papers, 1864-1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Diaries.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Description
An account of the resource
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Letters following Lee's surrender emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge and payment. All the letters in this collection were written home to Leonard's parents, usually his mother. He continually reassures her not to worry about him, requests various things from home (especially stamps), and talks about his daily life. He frequently writes about plans for when he gets home. Leonard's religious sentiments also recur throughout his correspondence. He also includes war news and who he has seen, though he reveals his priorities and lack of interest in being a soldier, saying in March 1865:
"we have got a good man to steer the machine, that fellow they call U. S. Grant. Sheridan & Sherman are giving them fits. I have seen Grant & Mede a number of times this summer I had a great deal rather see you + Pa. I dont want to see Nora because she wanted me to go soldiering"
Although battle descriptions are not necessarily the focus of Leonard's letters, his 1864 correspondence contains details of being fired upon a Petersburg, of picket duty, and later, of transporting injured men. In June 1865, he writes several letters detailing the sight of unburied dead men and horses and the sound of fighting from the front at Petersburg. In May 1865, he writes of the incompetence of the doctors:
"The Doctors here dont have any thing fit to give any one and the bigest of them dont know how to doctor a hen anyway. They take the wounded men legs and arms off half the time. when there is no need of it, do it practice there has been a number of times I have heard of that...The Doct of the Regt was a clerk in an apothecary shop..."
Leonard's diary begins in August 1864, apparently when he was appointed to drive an ambulance. His entries are short and refer mostly to his daily activities: who or what he was conveying to and from the hospital at City Point outside Petersburg; what letters he sent or received; war news; or when he attended religious meetings. Shortly before the diary ends in April 1865, he notes the firing of guns and cannons "for the death of abram Lincoln President of the U.S. who was shot by a man by the name of Booth." He refers to the death of Lincoln and its effect on the soldiers in several letters, as well. Leonard's own correspondence suggests he kept a previous diary--in August 1864, he inquires if his mother has received the one he sent home--but it is unknown if this diary still exists.
William A. Leonard was born about 1843 to Joel A. (b.1817) and Sophia Leonard (1816-d. before 1880). His parents were both natives of Vermont who moved to Massachusetts. William and his two sisters, Leonora (b. abt. 1852; and who William calls "Nora" in his letters and is later listed as "Mary" in a least one set of census records) and Roselia (b. abt. 1859) were all born in Great Barrington, Berkshire County. It is unknown what line of work William Leonard was in prior to the war, though he was living at home with his family. He was drafted into service in July 1863 for a three year term with Company F, 16th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. In mid-July 1864, the 16th Infantry mustered out. Existing veterans and recruits, Leonard included, were transferred to the 11th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. From at least August of 1864 until Lee's surrender, Leonard served as an ambulance driver, transporting wounded from battlefield to hospital. His unit spent nearly a year in and around Petersburg. While stationed outside Washington, DC, waiting to muster out, Leonard also drove civilians in and around the city. He particularly makes mention of taking family members to hospitals to get news of soldiers. Leonard returned home to Great Barrington in July 1865. In 1880, he was living at home with his father, Leonora and her husband, and Leonora's brother-in-law. At the time, he was employed at a woolen mill. In 1894, he purchased a plumbing and steam fitting business from a former employer. Later census records suggest he was married to a woman named Hattie (probably Henrietta; b. abt. 1863), but it is unknown when. They had daughter, Nellie, in June 1897.
Sources: Ancestry.com Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service. The Metal Worker, vol. XLI, January to June 1894. New York: David Williams, 1894. Via Google Books, November 2011.
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Post-surrender letters emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864/1865
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter, William Leonard to Mother, Camp Near Washington, July 4-6, 1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
Civil War
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-07-04
1865-07-05
1865-07-06
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Letters
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Language
A language of the resource
English
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106_LeonardWilliam_B1F3_Letter_1865_0704
-
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/566690e5aec4a8ccffdd0ab8379bc66b.jpg
bf9c1e7d92a2ce76f6239133ce04a9f3
PDF Text
Text
<p>Camp
near Washington June 27 </p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>I got your
last </p>
<p>letter to
night with the 50 cts </p>
<p>bill + two
stamps. I think </p>
<p>the Express
on them things </p>
<p>to much. There is two boys </p>
<p>going home
out of my </p>
<p>tent and if
they dont take </p>
<p>their
blankets I can get </p>
<p>them and
will make up </p>
<p>another
bundle and send. </p>
<p>Coolie has
not come back </p>
<p>yet I have
seen thousands </p>
<p>of better Blankets
then the </p>
<p>one I sent,
thrown away + </p>
<p>bumt up. Overcoats with </p>
<p>them on a
march. I will </p>
<p>try and get two
or three </p>
<p>to send
home. will make </p>
<p>up a bundle
of something </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>Camp
near Washington June 27 </p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>I got your
last </p>
<p>letter to
night with the 50 cts </p>
<p>bill + two
stamps. I think </p>
<p>the Express
on them things </p>
<p>to much. There is two boys </p>
<p>going home
out of my </p>
<p>tent and if
they don’t take </p>
<p>their
blankets I can get </p>
<p>them and
will make up </p>
<p>another
bundle and send. </p>
<p>Coolie has
not come back </p>
<p>yet I have
seen thousands </p>
<p>of better Blankets
then the </p>
<p>one I sent,
thrown away + </p>
<p>bumt up. Overcoats with </p>
<p>them on a
march. I will </p>
<p>try and get two
or three </p>
<p>to send
home. will make </p>
<p>up a bundle
of something </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-06-27
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/e6cbb9683e554edbf2fe1447c181836f.jpg
a894b97e27fd6aca220b1cd4b208c22d
PDF Text
Text
<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>I was almost
tempted to </p>
<p>apply for a furlow to day </p>
<p>then I
thought I should </p>
<p>be home
before many months </p>
<p>and it will
cost considerable </p>
<p>then again
if any of you </p>
<p>should be
very sick, I </p>
<p>should want
to come and </p>
<p>could not if
I had, had a </p>
<p>furlow lately. I am very </p>
<p>much obliged
to you for </p>
<p>the money.
can get some </p>
<p>stamps now.
I will finish </p>
<p>this to morrow, so good night. </p>
<p>I am so
sorry Fathers health </p>
<p>is so poor, dont let him work </p>
<p>hard.
Wednesday. One of the Boys </p>
<p>that goes
home gave me a </p>
<p>rasor, strap, Brush, Portfolio, </p>
<p>Pocket book,
two shirts, +c. +c. </p>
<p>and if he dont take his blanket </p>
<p>he will give
me that. He think </p>
</td><td><p>the
world of me. one of the boys </p>
<p>gave me a
good knife. so </p>
<p>you see I
have some friends </p>
<p>here. I got
that letter you </p>
<p>spoak about of Abbies. </p>
<p>And I got a
Picture of </p>
<p>Mary J.
Holmes at Burkesville [Burkeville, VA]. </p>
<p>I am pretty shure I told </p>
<p>you about it
in one of </p>
<p>my letters.
If I send </p>
<p>home a bundle
I will </p>
<p>write you, I
may and I </p>
<p>may not just
as I can </p>
<p>make a raise
of Blankets </p>
<p>If I can get
enough to </p>
<p>pay shall
send one. I </p>
<p>wish our
Regt. was going </p>
<p>out on this
call. I would </p>
<p>feel good.
The Fly’s here </p>
<p>pester us to
death. they </p>
<p>wont let you sleep in the </p>
<p>day time.
bite like a bee </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<table>
<tr>
<th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>I was almost
tempted to </p>
<p>apply for a furlow to day </p>
<p>then I
thought I should </p>
<p>be home
before many months </p>
<p>and it will
cost considerable </p>
<p>then again
if any of you </p>
<p>should be
very sick, I </p>
<p>should want
to come and </p>
<p>could not if
I had, had a </p>
<p>furlow lately. I am very </p>
<p>much obliged
to you for </p>
<p>the money.
can get some </p>
<p>stamps now.
I will finish </p>
<p>this to morrow, so good night. </p>
<p>I am so
sorry Fathers health </p>
<p>is so poor, dont let him work </p>
<p>hard.
Wednesday. One of the Boys </p>
<p>that goes
home gave me a </p>
<p>rasor, strap, Brush, Portfolio, </p>
<p>Pocket book,
two shirts, +c. +c. </p>
<p>and if he dont take his blanket </p>
<p>he will give
me that. He think </p>
</td><td><p>the
world of me. one of the boys </p>
<p>gave me a
good knife. so </p>
<p>you see I
have some friends </p>
<p>here. I got
that letter you </p>
<p>spoak about of Abbies. </p>
<p>And I got a
Picture of </p>
<p>Mary J.
Holmes at Burkesville [Burkeville, VA]. </p>
<p>I am pretty shure I told </p>
<p>you about it
in one of </p>
<p>my letters.
If I send </p>
<p>home a bundle
I will </p>
<p>write you, I
may and I </p>
<p>may not just
as I can </p>
<p>make a raise
of Blankets </p>
<p>If I can get
enough to </p>
<p>pay shall
send one. I </p>
<p>wish our
Regt. was going </p>
<p>out on this
call. I would </p>
<p>feel good.
The Fly’s here </p>
<p>pester us to
death. they </p>
<p>wont let you sleep in the </p>
<p>day time.
bite like a bee </p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-06-27
1865-06-28
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/94c45806bc68834ab76a864a9684398a.jpg
12ae2676ccc8772abcd48afb4dfb37e1
PDF Text
Text
<p>sting.
if you take any thing </p>
<p>in your had to
eat you </p>
<p>have to
fight them off with </p>
<p>the other.
They make the </p>
<p>Horses half
crazy. : O’h that </p>
<p>I was home again
out of </p>
<p>this Country
of Secession. </p>
<p>Thursday. I
hear there is to be </p>
<p>a lot more
Regiments disch-</p>
<p>arged as soon as this last </p>
<p>batch gets
away. I hope it </p>
<p>will take
our Regt. this </p>
<p>time. There
are Regiments </p>
<p>starting for
home every day </p>
<p>now. I am as
poor as a </p>
<p>snail this
warm weather </p>
<p>dont look much as I did </p>
<p>last Winter.
One thing if </p>
<p>I stop out
here through the </p>
<p>hot weather
+ dont have to </p>
<p>work much +
get pay for it </p>
<p>it is better
than to have to </p>
<p>work hard in
the hot sun. </p>
<p>I am in
hopes Pa will </p>
<p>get better.
he must not </p>
<p>work hard.
Give my love to </p>
<p>all Friends.
dont beleive you </p>
<p>can read
this. From Willie.</p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>sting.
if you take any thing </p>
<p>in your had to
eat you </p>
<p>have to
fight them off with </p>
<p>the other.
They make the </p>
<p>Horses half
crazy. : O’h that </p>
<p>I was home again
out of </p>
<p>this Country
of Secession. </p>
<p>Thursday. I
hear there is to be </p>
<p>a lot more
Regiments disch-</p>
<p>arged as soon as this last </p>
<p>batch gets
away. I hope it </p>
<p>will take
our Regt. this </p>
<p>time. There
are Regiments </p>
<p>starting for
home every day </p>
<p>now. I am as
poor as a </p>
<p>snail this
warm weather </p>
<p>dont look much as I did </p>
<p>last Winter.
One thing if </p>
<p>I stop out
here through the </p>
<p>hot weather
+ dont have to </p>
<p>work much +
get pay for it </p>
<p>it is better
than to have to </p>
<p>work hard in
the hot sun. </p>
<p>I am in
hopes Pa will </p>
<p>get better.
he must not </p>
<p>work hard.
Give my love to </p>
<p>all Friends.
dont beleive you </p>
<p>can read
this. From Willie.</p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-06-28
1865-06-29
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/57340a6b09a7ad326dd753b586d5838f.jpg
07109b4bf49d4588ec593566cc5e9d87
PDF Text
Text
<p>Friday I
guess you will think this </p>
<p>letter is
long enough in </p>
<p>getting started
but I was </p>
<p>buisy yesterday went to </p>
<p>Washin [Washington] + from there to Fort </p>
<p>baker. and I
have just </p>
<p>come from
Washington to </p>
<p>day. I hear
good news </p>
<p>to day they sat as quick </p>
<p>as this
batch gets away </p>
<p>the Rest of
us are </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>Friday I
guess you will think this </p>
<p>letter is
long enough in </p>
<p>getting started
but I was </p>
<p>buisy yesterday went to </p>
<p>Washin [Washington] + from there to Fort </p>
<p>baker. and I
have just </p>
<p>come from
Washington to </p>
<p>day. I hear
good news </p>
<p>to day they sat as quick </p>
<p>as this
batch gets away </p>
<p>the Rest of
us are </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-06-30
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/4ae3ec613ffbed5e3e7269f6dcbde69b.jpg
a4016328b0b8b2eab3c8ca659ca45c05
PDF Text
Text
<p>going.
One of the Boys see </p>
<p>in the paper
to day that </p>
<p>all of the
Army of the Potomac </p>
<p>was going to
be discharged </p>
<p>I dont know whether I will </p>
<p>sent a
bundle or not I have </p>
<p>only got two
Blankets and I </p>
<p>would have
to keep one. I could </p>
<p>send one blankets
and some </p>
<p>shirts +
trinkets. I will see what </p>
<p>I can do
from Willie </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>going.
One of the Boys see </p>
<p>in the paper
to day that </p>
<p>all of the
Army of the Potomac </p>
<p>was going to
be discharged </p>
<p>I dont know whether I will </p>
<p>sent a
bundle or not I have </p>
<p>only got two
Blankets and I </p>
<p>would have
to keep one. I could </p>
<p>send one blankets
and some </p>
<p>shirts +
trinkets. I will see what </p>
<p>I can do
from Willie </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-06-30
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/220b3be6a48be1e8870a594aa2cb6f61.jpg
d357f92a0e9b74e692a8ad86189ee40a
PDF Text
Text
<p>To
Mother</p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>To
Mother</p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-06-27
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/3eb7139e2936fa7475fed4fe5a26ea47.jpg
3678af9a1d8881d785511b89ab23f93a
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Text
<p>Dear
Mother, I send this note </p>
<p>in Abbies Letter. Have got </p>
<p>a bundle all
ready to send </p>
<p>may get a
chance to day. have </p>
<p>been into
Washington four </p>
<p>days running
now. so you </p>
<p>see they
keep us buisy. There is </p>
<p>an order to
muster out more </p>
<p>troops. Some
say it takes my </p>
<p>Regt and
some say it dont </p>
<p>we are all
in a flurry about </p>
<p>it. hope we
will go. love to all </p>
<p>write soon.
From Willie </p>
<p> </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>Dear
Mother, I send this note </p>
<p>in Abbies Letter. Have got </p>
<p>a bundle all
ready to send </p>
<p>may get a
chance to day. have </p>
<p>been into
Washington four </p>
<p>days running
now. so you </p>
<p>see they
keep us buisy. There is </p>
<p>an order to
muster out more </p>
<p>troops. Some
say it takes my </p>
<p>Regt and
some say it dont </p>
<p>we are all
in a flurry about </p>
<p>it. hope we
will go. love to all </p>
<p>write soon.
From Willie </p>
<p> </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-06-27
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/bb9668bb2bce96874b274d46e88e9ed3.jpg
704b37550e15a455b03e7ef404cf2104
Dublin Core
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Title
A name given to the resource
William A. Leonard Papers, 1864-1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Diaries.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Description
An account of the resource
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Letters following Lee's surrender emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge and payment. All the letters in this collection were written home to Leonard's parents, usually his mother. He continually reassures her not to worry about him, requests various things from home (especially stamps), and talks about his daily life. He frequently writes about plans for when he gets home. Leonard's religious sentiments also recur throughout his correspondence. He also includes war news and who he has seen, though he reveals his priorities and lack of interest in being a soldier, saying in March 1865:
"we have got a good man to steer the machine, that fellow they call U. S. Grant. Sheridan & Sherman are giving them fits. I have seen Grant & Mede a number of times this summer I had a great deal rather see you + Pa. I dont want to see Nora because she wanted me to go soldiering"
Although battle descriptions are not necessarily the focus of Leonard's letters, his 1864 correspondence contains details of being fired upon a Petersburg, of picket duty, and later, of transporting injured men. In June 1865, he writes several letters detailing the sight of unburied dead men and horses and the sound of fighting from the front at Petersburg. In May 1865, he writes of the incompetence of the doctors:
"The Doctors here dont have any thing fit to give any one and the bigest of them dont know how to doctor a hen anyway. They take the wounded men legs and arms off half the time. when there is no need of it, do it practice there has been a number of times I have heard of that...The Doct of the Regt was a clerk in an apothecary shop..."
Leonard's diary begins in August 1864, apparently when he was appointed to drive an ambulance. His entries are short and refer mostly to his daily activities: who or what he was conveying to and from the hospital at City Point outside Petersburg; what letters he sent or received; war news; or when he attended religious meetings. Shortly before the diary ends in April 1865, he notes the firing of guns and cannons "for the death of abram Lincoln President of the U.S. who was shot by a man by the name of Booth." He refers to the death of Lincoln and its effect on the soldiers in several letters, as well. Leonard's own correspondence suggests he kept a previous diary--in August 1864, he inquires if his mother has received the one he sent home--but it is unknown if this diary still exists.
William A. Leonard was born about 1843 to Joel A. (b.1817) and Sophia Leonard (1816-d. before 1880). His parents were both natives of Vermont who moved to Massachusetts. William and his two sisters, Leonora (b. abt. 1852; and who William calls "Nora" in his letters and is later listed as "Mary" in a least one set of census records) and Roselia (b. abt. 1859) were all born in Great Barrington, Berkshire County. It is unknown what line of work William Leonard was in prior to the war, though he was living at home with his family. He was drafted into service in July 1863 for a three year term with Company F, 16th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. In mid-July 1864, the 16th Infantry mustered out. Existing veterans and recruits, Leonard included, were transferred to the 11th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. From at least August of 1864 until Lee's surrender, Leonard served as an ambulance driver, transporting wounded from battlefield to hospital. His unit spent nearly a year in and around Petersburg. While stationed outside Washington, DC, waiting to muster out, Leonard also drove civilians in and around the city. He particularly makes mention of taking family members to hospitals to get news of soldiers. Leonard returned home to Great Barrington in July 1865. In 1880, he was living at home with his father, Leonora and her husband, and Leonora's brother-in-law. At the time, he was employed at a woolen mill. In 1894, he purchased a plumbing and steam fitting business from a former employer. Later census records suggest he was married to a woman named Hattie (probably Henrietta; b. abt. 1863), but it is unknown when. They had daughter, Nellie, in June 1897.
Sources: Ancestry.com Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service. The Metal Worker, vol. XLI, January to June 1894. New York: David Williams, 1894. Via Google Books, November 2011.
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Post-surrender letters emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864/1865
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter, William Leonard to Mother, Camp Near Washington, June 27, 1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-06-27
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Letters
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Language
A language of the resource
English
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106_LeonardWilliam_B1F3_Letter_1865_0627
-
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/0e6495799153f470afb3164d70331626.jpg
73fcb6b898076d69cd087656915008b4
PDF Text
Text
<p>Camp
near Washington June 24</p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>I will commence
</p>
<p>you a letter
to night. All of the </p>
<p>Regt in our
Division but five </p>
<p>are going
home in a few days. </p>
<p>Our Regt. is
one of the </p>
<p>Regt. to
stay, the 7<sup>th</sup> + 8<sup>th</sup> Jersey </p>
<p>stay to. There
is something very </p>
<p>strange about
it. The Boys </p>
<p>have found
out to day that </p>
<p>the Officers
have sent in </p>
<p>a petition
to the war Depart. </p>
<p>that most of
their men were </p>
<p>vetrans + had been through </p>
<p>all the
Battles and now there </p>
<p>was a soft
job that they </p>
<p>ought to
have it. So they are </p>
<p>going to
stay how long we dont </p>
<p>know. when they
men found </p>
<p>it out they
were raving and </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>Camp
near Washington June 24</p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>I will commence
</p>
<p>you a letter
to night. All of the </p>
<p>Regt in our
Division but five </p>
<p>are going
home in a few days. </p>
<p>Our Regt. is
one of the </p>
<p>Regt. to
stay, the 7<sup>th</sup> + 8<sup>th</sup> Jersey </p>
<p>stay to. There
is something very </p>
<p>strange about
it. The Boys </p>
<p>have found
out to day that </p>
<p>the Officers
have sent in </p>
<p>a petition
to the war Depart. </p>
<p>that most of
their men were </p>
<p>vetrans + had been through </p>
<p>all the
Battles and now there </p>
<p>was a soft
job that they </p>
<p>ought to
have it. So they are </p>
<p>going to
stay how long we dont </p>
<p>know. when they
men found </p>
<p>it out they
were raving and </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-06-24
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/a7b1774fae08c0fbc3f2d00b09a67d37.jpg
9e09f43e8adb24fc1fe377e1a0f3928e
PDF Text
Text
<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>one of the
senor Captains </p>
<p>is going to
work and get </p>
<p>up a petition.
I head our </p>
<p>Regt. are at
it to day. I tell </p>
<p>you some of them
Officers </p>
<p>will be
killed by the men </p>
<p>yet. You see
the most of them </p>
<p>when they go
home will have </p>
<p>to go to
work for a living </p>
<p>and it galls
them, after being </p>
<p>an Officer
here so long. Our </p>
<p>Colnel has gone home and </p>
<p>the Major is
a mean man. </p>
<p>he petitoned before the Colnel </p>
<p>went, to go
into the Regular </p>
<p>Army, and I
expect he has </p>
<p>had a hand
in this. The Colnel </p>
<p>of the 7<sup>th</sup>
+ 8<sup>th</sup> are meaner </p>
<p>than he is.
just to think of </p>
<p>them taking
upon themselfs </p>
<p>the say of
all their men. They </p>
<p>ought to be
strung. When </p>
</td><td><p>think of
their being the means </p>
<p>of my staing here, it is very </p>
<p>hard to keep
my temper. </p>
<p>Sunday 23<sup>rd</sup>
I hear to day that </p>
<p>what troops
remain here will </p>
<p>go to
Harpers Ferry. I would </p>
<p>not care a
mite would stay </p>
<p>my time out,
but I want to </p>
<p>see you all
so bad. I know </p>
<p>I could not
earn my money </p>
<p>any easer than I do now. </p>
<p>There is a
Clerk in the Agitant </p>
<p>Gens. Office,
that belongs to </p>
<p>our train
was detailed there </p>
<p>say the Officers
are doing all </p>
<p>they can to
keep the men, it </p>
<p>is to bad. they go and represent </p>
<p>to the War Departiment that the </p>
<p>men want to
stay; when they </p>
<p>dont know any thing about it. </p>
<p>I pity some
of the Officers if </p>
<p>the men ever
catch them at </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<table>
<tr>
<th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>one of the
senor Captains </p>
<p>is going to
work and get </p>
<p>up a petition.
I head our </p>
<p>Regt. are at
it to day. I tell </p>
<p>you some of them
Officers </p>
<p>will be
killed by the men </p>
<p>yet. You see
the most of them </p>
<p>when they go
home will have </p>
<p>to go to
work for a living </p>
<p>and it galls
them, after being </p>
<p>an Officer
here so long. Our </p>
<p>Colnel has gone home and </p>
<p>the Major is
a mean man. </p>
<p>he petitoned before the Colnel </p>
<p>went, to go
into the Regular </p>
<p>Army, and I
expect he has </p>
<p>had a hand
in this. The Colnel </p>
<p>of the 7<sup>th</sup>
+ 8<sup>th</sup> are meaner </p>
<p>than he is.
just to think of </p>
<p>them taking
upon themselfs </p>
<p>the say of
all their men. They </p>
<p>ought to be
strung. When </p>
</td><td><p>think of
their being the means </p>
<p>of my staing here, it is very </p>
<p>hard to keep
my temper. </p>
<p>Sunday 23<sup>rd</sup>
I hear to day that </p>
<p>what troops
remain here will </p>
<p>go to
Harpers Ferry. I would </p>
<p>not care a
mite would stay </p>
<p>my time out,
but I want to </p>
<p>see you all
so bad. I know </p>
<p>I could not
earn my money </p>
<p>any easer than I do now. </p>
<p>There is a
Clerk in the Agitant </p>
<p>Gens. Office,
that belongs to </p>
<p>our train
was detailed there </p>
<p>say the Officers
are doing all </p>
<p>they can to
keep the men, it </p>
<p>is to bad. they go and represent </p>
<p>to the War Departiment that the </p>
<p>men want to
stay; when they </p>
<p>dont know any thing about it. </p>
<p>I pity some
of the Officers if </p>
<p>the men ever
catch them at </p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-06-24
1865-06-25
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/f78a5e1ffec185f3b041cd589b133caf.jpg
ee3954977282c56d6ac94183eff25732
PDF Text
Text
<p>home
will kill them. If I find </p>
<p>out we have
to stay long, will </p>
<p>try to get a
furlow. I am looking </p>
<p>all the time
now for an order </p>
<p>to discharge
drafted men, and </p>
<p>I think it
will come as quick </p>
<p>a they get things straight. They </p>
<p>ant going to
keep drafted men </p>
<p>that dont get any bounty. The </p>
<p>men that
were drafted after </p>
<p>sixty three
get no bounty, I </p>
<p>expect to
get mine. I ant worried </p>
<p>but what I
shall get out in a </p>
<p>month
whether the Regt. does or </p>
<p>not. I
expect the train will be </p>
<p>broak up in a few days, and I </p>
<p>may have to
go to the Regt. there </p>
<p>will be a
few Ambulances kept </p>
<p>I expect.
well there is no fighting </p>
<p>so it ant so
bad, only guard </p>
<p>duty to do.
I have had a turn </p>
<p>of Chills +
fever again but have </p>
<p>got them broak up and am all </p>
<p>right again.
Here I am writing </p>
<p>to you again
and only day before </p>
<p>yesterday
sent you a letter. well </p>
<p>you see I
want you to hear all </p>
<p>the news. I
see by the Papers </p>
<p>that the 37<sup>th</sup>
have gone home </p>
<p>or are
going. </p>
<p> </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>home
will kill them. If I find </p>
<p>out we have
to stay long, will </p>
<p>try to get a
furlow. I am looking </p>
<p>all the time
now for an order </p>
<p>to discharge
drafted men, and </p>
<p>I think it
will come as quick </p>
<p>a they get things straight. They </p>
<p>ant going to
keep drafted men </p>
<p>that dont get any bounty. The </p>
<p>men that
were drafted after </p>
<p>sixty three
get no bounty, I </p>
<p>expect to
get mine. I ant worried </p>
<p>but what I
shall get out in a </p>
<p>month
whether the Regt. does or </p>
<p>not. I
expect the train will be </p>
<p>broak up in a few days, and I </p>
<p>may have to
go to the Regt. there </p>
<p>will be a
few Ambulances kept </p>
<p>I expect.
well there is no fighting </p>
<p>so it ant so
bad, only guard </p>
<p>duty to do.
I have had a turn </p>
<p>of Chills +
fever again but have </p>
<p>got them broak up and am all </p>
<p>right again.
Here I am writing </p>
<p>to you again
and only day before </p>
<p>yesterday
sent you a letter. well </p>
<p>you see I
want you to hear all </p>
<p>the news. I
see by the Papers </p>
<p>that the 37<sup>th</sup>
have gone home </p>
<p>or are
going. </p>
<p> </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-06-25
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/83dd13bc6dfb6567beee952b2a90ea15.jpg
ebec82d1bd3815148ee8a491822361da
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-06-25
PDF Text
Text
<p>Tell Father he had better put</p>
<p>up a small Building on his</p>
<p>lot and when I come home</p>
<p>we will start a Grocery Store.</p>
<p>would not that be fine. I</p>
<p>shall have to get into some</p>
<p>kind of work that I can be</p>
<p>near home, to make up for</p>
<p>my long sojourn in this distant</p>
<p>Country. Did I ever tell you</p>
<p>about my taking a man with</p>
<p>the small Pox to City Point from</p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>Tell
Father he had better put </p>
<p>up a small Building
on his </p>
<p>lot and when
I come home </p>
<p>we will
start a Grocery Store. </p>
<p>would not
that be fine. I </p>
<p>shall have
to get into some </p>
<p>kind of work
that I can be </p>
<p>near home,
to make up for </p>
<p>my long
sojourn in this distant </p>
<p>Country. Did
I ever tell you </p>
<p>about my
taking a man with </p>
<p>the small
Pox to City Point from </p>
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/d943f0afbcef1cceb7b0441100617522.jpg
284c82fdb31b75bc8af852867d14cb13
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-06-25
PDF Text
Text
<p>in front of Petersburg. his face</p>
<p>was all of bloches. I felt rather</p>
<p>squirmish about it. you know</p>
<p>I told you Coolie had Deserted</p>
<p>well he has wrote to me from Bal-</p>
<p>timore under a fals name, he</p>
<p>wants to know how to get back</p>
<p>and not have any thing done</p>
<p>with him. poor fellow. well so</p>
<p>so the world goes every one has</p>
<p>their troubles to contend with.</p>
<p>The only true happiness is in Religion</p>
<p>let the things of this world</p>
<p>take care of themselfs. I guess</p>
<p>you will think I write enough.</p>
<p>Love to all. Tell Aunt Abby I have got</p>
<p>the Elephant tamed but cant bring him</p>
<p>home. write me often. From Willie.</p>
<p>June 25</p>
<p> </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>in front
of Petersburg. his face </p>
<p>was all of bloches. I felt rather </p>
<p>squirmish about it. you know </p>
<p>I told you
Coolie had Deserted </p>
<p>well he has
wrote to me from Bal-</p>
<p>timore under a fals name, he </p>
<p>wants to
know how to get back </p>
<p>and not have
any thing done </p>
<p>with him.
poor fellow. well so </p>
<p>so the world
goes every one has </p>
<p>their
troubles to contend with. </p>
<p>The only
true happiness is in Religion </p>
<p>let the
things of this world </p>
<p>take care of
themselfs. I guess </p>
<p>you will
think I write enough. </p>
<p>Love to all.
Tell Aunt Abby I have got </p>
<p>the Elephant
tamed but cant bring him </p>
<p>home. write
me often. From Willie. </p>
<p>June 25</p>
<p> </p>
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/5b73ff3aabc7e3ffdd3de5882020b337.jpg
cd49e8b272e4c676dc7fc99eaeb3726c
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
William A. Leonard Papers, 1864-1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Diaries.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Description
An account of the resource
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Letters following Lee's surrender emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge and payment. All the letters in this collection were written home to Leonard's parents, usually his mother. He continually reassures her not to worry about him, requests various things from home (especially stamps), and talks about his daily life. He frequently writes about plans for when he gets home. Leonard's religious sentiments also recur throughout his correspondence. He also includes war news and who he has seen, though he reveals his priorities and lack of interest in being a soldier, saying in March 1865:
"we have got a good man to steer the machine, that fellow they call U. S. Grant. Sheridan & Sherman are giving them fits. I have seen Grant & Mede a number of times this summer I had a great deal rather see you + Pa. I dont want to see Nora because she wanted me to go soldiering"
Although battle descriptions are not necessarily the focus of Leonard's letters, his 1864 correspondence contains details of being fired upon a Petersburg, of picket duty, and later, of transporting injured men. In June 1865, he writes several letters detailing the sight of unburied dead men and horses and the sound of fighting from the front at Petersburg. In May 1865, he writes of the incompetence of the doctors:
"The Doctors here dont have any thing fit to give any one and the bigest of them dont know how to doctor a hen anyway. They take the wounded men legs and arms off half the time. when there is no need of it, do it practice there has been a number of times I have heard of that...The Doct of the Regt was a clerk in an apothecary shop..."
Leonard's diary begins in August 1864, apparently when he was appointed to drive an ambulance. His entries are short and refer mostly to his daily activities: who or what he was conveying to and from the hospital at City Point outside Petersburg; what letters he sent or received; war news; or when he attended religious meetings. Shortly before the diary ends in April 1865, he notes the firing of guns and cannons "for the death of abram Lincoln President of the U.S. who was shot by a man by the name of Booth." He refers to the death of Lincoln and its effect on the soldiers in several letters, as well. Leonard's own correspondence suggests he kept a previous diary--in August 1864, he inquires if his mother has received the one he sent home--but it is unknown if this diary still exists.
William A. Leonard was born about 1843 to Joel A. (b.1817) and Sophia Leonard (1816-d. before 1880). His parents were both natives of Vermont who moved to Massachusetts. William and his two sisters, Leonora (b. abt. 1852; and who William calls "Nora" in his letters and is later listed as "Mary" in a least one set of census records) and Roselia (b. abt. 1859) were all born in Great Barrington, Berkshire County. It is unknown what line of work William Leonard was in prior to the war, though he was living at home with his family. He was drafted into service in July 1863 for a three year term with Company F, 16th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. In mid-July 1864, the 16th Infantry mustered out. Existing veterans and recruits, Leonard included, were transferred to the 11th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. From at least August of 1864 until Lee's surrender, Leonard served as an ambulance driver, transporting wounded from battlefield to hospital. His unit spent nearly a year in and around Petersburg. While stationed outside Washington, DC, waiting to muster out, Leonard also drove civilians in and around the city. He particularly makes mention of taking family members to hospitals to get news of soldiers. Leonard returned home to Great Barrington in July 1865. In 1880, he was living at home with his father, Leonora and her husband, and Leonora's brother-in-law. At the time, he was employed at a woolen mill. In 1894, he purchased a plumbing and steam fitting business from a former employer. Later census records suggest he was married to a woman named Hattie (probably Henrietta; b. abt. 1863), but it is unknown when. They had daughter, Nellie, in June 1897.
Sources: Ancestry.com Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service. The Metal Worker, vol. XLI, January to June 1894. New York: David Williams, 1894. Via Google Books, November 2011.
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Post-surrender letters emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864/1865
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter, William Leonard to Mother, Camp Near Washington, June 24-25, 1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Civil War
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-06-24
1865-06-25
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Letters
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Language
A language of the resource
English
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106_LeonardWilliam_B1F3_Letter_1865_0624
-
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/844a55647f75ab4501bf8e8f9b604f9d.jpg
ba7a14a073980d2df1bcca1941ca52c3
PDF Text
Text
<p>Camp near Baleys Cross Roads [Bailey’s Crossroads, VA] June 16<sup>th</sup></p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>I received your</p>
<p>letter of the 13<sup>th</sup> last night +</p>
<p>was glad to hear from you.</p>
<p>the stamps were all right. I</p>
<p>have got all your letters</p>
<p>but the one with six stamps</p>
<p>in it.</p>
<p>[<em>4 lines of scratched out text</em>]</p>
<p>I have just been</p>
<p>over to the Regt. they all seem</p>
<p>to think the Regt. will go</p>
<p>home in a few days. Any man</p>
<p>can take home his gun and</p>
<p>quipments for six dollars.</p>
<p>cheep enough, is not half the</p>
<p>worth of them. if Pa wants</p>
<p>one I will buy one. I dont</p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>Camp
near Baleys Cross Roads [Bailey’s Crossroads, VA]
June 16<sup>th</sup></p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>I received
your </p>
<p>letter of
the 13<sup>th</sup> last night + </p>
<p>was glad to
hear from you. </p>
<p>the stamps
were all right. I </p>
<p>have got all
your letters </p>
<p>but the one
with six stamps </p>
<p>in it. </p>
<p>[<i>4 lines of
scratched out text</i>] </p>
<p>I have just
been </p>
<p>over to the
Regt. they all seem </p>
<p>to think the
Regt. will go </p>
<p>home in a
few days. Any man </p>
<p>can take
home his gun and </p>
<p>quipments for six dollars. </p>
<p>cheep enough, is not half the </p>
<p>worth of them.
if Pa wants </p>
<p>one I will
buy one. I dont </p>
Dublin Core
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Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-06-16
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/64ce17cd78b0a0ba81460c76eb4b7ff4.jpg
09d869d72ac703435814f5329cb55ce7
PDF Text
Text
<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>know how
they would shoot </p>
<p>shot. they
are creased. I think </p>
<p>they are to thin to bore out. </p>
<p>Revolvers
are eight dollars. I </p>
<p>think we
will be in Massachusetts </p>
<p>in a month
at the longest and </p>
<p>proboly in less time. Our Colnel </p>
<p>has resined + is going home. I </p>
<p>took some
Ladies over to Washington </p>
<p>the other night.
did not get back </p>
<p>till after
eleven oclock. One of </p>
<p>them gave me
some Bread + butter </p>
<p>+ cake. Have
a trip to Washington </p>
<p>every little
while. Saturday 17<sup>th</sup></p>
<p>There has
one vetran Regt. gone </p>
<p>home. The 33<sup>rd</sup>
Mass. so I have some </p>
<p>hopes of
ours. I have been looking </p>
<p>for an order
conserning the Draf-</p>
<p>ted men, but
it dont seem to </p>
<p>come. think
it will before long. </p>
<p>Gov. Andrew [John
Albion Andrew] did all he could to </p>
<p>get the men
to enlist, but he </p>
<p>dont use much influence to </p>
<p>get them
home. The Goverment </p>
<p>was all
honey + pie when men </p>
</td><td><p>were
enlisting. now the danger is </p>
<p>over they
sit and laugh at us + </p>
<p>feed us on
hardtack + salt horse. </p>
<p>Sunday. The
weeks pass by pretty fast. </p>
<p>If I thought
we would not get </p>
<p>home in the
course of six or eight </p>
<p>months,
should be tempted to try </p>
<p>for a furlow but I guess it wont </p>
<p>be as long
as that I dont want to </p>
<p>be to any
more expence than I can </p>
<p>help. Yes
Mother I will try and </p>
<p>be patient
and look on the </p>
<p>bright side.
If I had only known </p>
<p>where to
have found Mr. Humphrey </p>
<p>in
Washington, would get a pass + </p>
<p>went and
seen him. If any </p>
<p>of you are
sick you must </p>
<p>write and I
will get a furlow. </p>
<p>you see we
have to show the </p>
<p>letter at
Corps head Quarters, so </p>
<p>you would
not want to write </p>
<p>any thing but what you would </p>
<p>care them to
read. you see I </p>
<p>tell you so
if any thing should </p>
<p>happen, but
I hope you all will </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<table>
<tr>
<th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>know how
they would shoot </p>
<p>shot. they
are creased. I think </p>
<p>they are to thin to bore out. </p>
<p>Revolvers
are eight dollars. I </p>
<p>think we
will be in Massachusetts </p>
<p>in a month
at the longest and </p>
<p>proboly in less time. Our Colnel </p>
<p>has resined + is going home. I </p>
<p>took some
Ladies over to Washington </p>
<p>the other night.
did not get back </p>
<p>till after
eleven oclock. One of </p>
<p>them gave me
some Bread + butter </p>
<p>+ cake. Have
a trip to Washington </p>
<p>every little
while. Saturday 17<sup>th</sup> </p>
<p>There has
one vetran Regt. gone </p>
<p>home. The 33<sup>rd</sup>
Mass. so I have some </p>
<p>hopes of
ours. I have been looking </p>
<p>for an order
conserning the Draf-</p>
<p>ted men, but
it don’t seem to </p>
<p>come. think
it will before long. </p>
<p>Gov. Andrew [John
Albion Andrew] did all he could to </p>
<p>get the men
to enlist, but he </p>
<p>dont use much influence to </p>
<p>get them
home. The Goverment </p>
<p>was all
honey + pie when men </p>
</td><td><p>were
enlisting. now the danger is </p>
<p>over they
sit and laugh at us + </p>
<p>feed us on
hardtack + salt horse. </p>
<p>Sunday. The
weeks pass by pretty fast. </p>
<p>If I thought
we would not get </p>
<p>home in the
course of six or eight </p>
<p>months,
should be tempted to try </p>
<p>for a furlow but I guess it wont </p>
<p>be as long
as that I dont want to </p>
<p>be to any
more expence than I can </p>
<p>help. Yes
Mother I will try and </p>
<p>be patient
and look on the </p>
<p>bright side.
If I had only known </p>
<p>where to
have found Mr. Humphrey </p>
<p>in
Washington, would get a pass + </p>
<p>went and
seen him. If any </p>
<p>of you are
sick you must </p>
<p>write and I
will get a furlow. </p>
<p>you see we
have to show the </p>
<p>letter at
Corps head Quarters, so </p>
<p>you would
not want to write </p>
<p>any thing but what you would </p>
<p>care them to
read. you see I </p>
<p>tell you so
if any thing should </p>
<p>happen, but
I hope you all will </p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-06-16
1865-06-17
1865-06-18
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/fcdc45101552cc39081048326937719c.jpg
3ad7ccabb6131a610ddbcab9f4c1e0c5
PDF Text
Text
<p>have
good health. I would like </p>
<p>to be home
to day to go to meeting </p>
<p>with you.
most two years since I </p>
<p>was inside a
church. what a beaut-</p>
<p>ifull place Heaven must be, must </p>
<p>it not
Mother. there will be no more </p>
<p>sorrow
there. There we shall meet </p>
<p>those dear
ones that have gone </p>
<p>before us.
Let us strive to live </p>
<p>such a life
that we may gain that </p>
<p>happy home.
I got a Christian </p>
<p>paper from a
man who was </p>
<p>distributeing them to day. We are troubled </p>
<p>with flyes here. so think one cant </p>
<p>hardly eat
without getting them </p>
<p>in his
mouth. how does the </p>
<p>fruit trees
look this year. is </p>
<p>it the
bearing year for our apple </p>
<p>trees I hope
so, for you know I </p>
<p>calculate to
be home to help eat </p>
<p>some of them,
if I live. I should </p>
<p>think them
young apple trees </p>
<p>would begin
to bear some by </p>
<p>this time.
Oh the good times </p>
<p>I used to
have when I was a </p>
<p>little boy
around our home, going </p>
<p>after
berries, hunting, +c +c. well </p>
<p>if I ever
get home I shall stay </p>
<p>there I
recon. give my love </p>
<p>to all
friends. and write to </p>
<p>me often. dont be afraid I cant </p>
<p>read them
for I can without </p>
<p>any trouble.
This from your Willie </p>
<p> </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>have
good health. I would like </p>
<p>to be home
to day to go to meeting </p>
<p>with you.
most two years since I </p>
<p>was inside a
church. what a beaut-</p>
<p>ifull place Heaven must be, must </p>
<p>it not
Mother. there will be no more </p>
<p>sorrow
there. There we shall meet </p>
<p>those dear
ones that have gone </p>
<p>before us.
Let us strive to live </p>
<p>such a life
that we may gain that </p>
<p>happy home.
I got a Christian </p>
<p>paper from a
man who was </p>
<p>distributeing them to day. We are troubled </p>
<p>with flyes here. so think one cant </p>
<p>hardly eat
without getting them </p>
<p>in his
mouth. how does the </p>
<p>fruit trees
look this year. is </p>
<p>it the
bearing year for our apple </p>
<p>trees I hope
so, for you know I </p>
<p>calculate to
be home to help eat </p>
<p>some of them,
if I live. I should </p>
<p>think them
young apple trees </p>
<p>would begin
to bear some by </p>
<p>this time.
Oh the good times </p>
<p>I used to
have when I was a </p>
<p>little boy
around our home, going </p>
<p>after
berries, hunting, +c +c. well </p>
<p>if I ever
get home I shall stay </p>
<p>there I
recon. give my love </p>
<p>to all
friends. and write to </p>
<p>me often. dont be afraid I cant </p>
<p>read them
for I can without </p>
<p>any trouble.
This from your Willie </p>
<p> </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-06-18
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/f5e021042b55d2b92aa92de72568081d.jpg
ee39ed08f0128b3ed79a612c443c2c44
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
William A. Leonard Papers, 1864-1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Diaries.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Description
An account of the resource
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Letters following Lee's surrender emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge and payment. All the letters in this collection were written home to Leonard's parents, usually his mother. He continually reassures her not to worry about him, requests various things from home (especially stamps), and talks about his daily life. He frequently writes about plans for when he gets home. Leonard's religious sentiments also recur throughout his correspondence. He also includes war news and who he has seen, though he reveals his priorities and lack of interest in being a soldier, saying in March 1865:
"we have got a good man to steer the machine, that fellow they call U. S. Grant. Sheridan & Sherman are giving them fits. I have seen Grant & Mede a number of times this summer I had a great deal rather see you + Pa. I dont want to see Nora because she wanted me to go soldiering"
Although battle descriptions are not necessarily the focus of Leonard's letters, his 1864 correspondence contains details of being fired upon a Petersburg, of picket duty, and later, of transporting injured men. In June 1865, he writes several letters detailing the sight of unburied dead men and horses and the sound of fighting from the front at Petersburg. In May 1865, he writes of the incompetence of the doctors:
"The Doctors here dont have any thing fit to give any one and the bigest of them dont know how to doctor a hen anyway. They take the wounded men legs and arms off half the time. when there is no need of it, do it practice there has been a number of times I have heard of that...The Doct of the Regt was a clerk in an apothecary shop..."
Leonard's diary begins in August 1864, apparently when he was appointed to drive an ambulance. His entries are short and refer mostly to his daily activities: who or what he was conveying to and from the hospital at City Point outside Petersburg; what letters he sent or received; war news; or when he attended religious meetings. Shortly before the diary ends in April 1865, he notes the firing of guns and cannons "for the death of abram Lincoln President of the U.S. who was shot by a man by the name of Booth." He refers to the death of Lincoln and its effect on the soldiers in several letters, as well. Leonard's own correspondence suggests he kept a previous diary--in August 1864, he inquires if his mother has received the one he sent home--but it is unknown if this diary still exists.
William A. Leonard was born about 1843 to Joel A. (b.1817) and Sophia Leonard (1816-d. before 1880). His parents were both natives of Vermont who moved to Massachusetts. William and his two sisters, Leonora (b. abt. 1852; and who William calls "Nora" in his letters and is later listed as "Mary" in a least one set of census records) and Roselia (b. abt. 1859) were all born in Great Barrington, Berkshire County. It is unknown what line of work William Leonard was in prior to the war, though he was living at home with his family. He was drafted into service in July 1863 for a three year term with Company F, 16th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. In mid-July 1864, the 16th Infantry mustered out. Existing veterans and recruits, Leonard included, were transferred to the 11th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. From at least August of 1864 until Lee's surrender, Leonard served as an ambulance driver, transporting wounded from battlefield to hospital. His unit spent nearly a year in and around Petersburg. While stationed outside Washington, DC, waiting to muster out, Leonard also drove civilians in and around the city. He particularly makes mention of taking family members to hospitals to get news of soldiers. Leonard returned home to Great Barrington in July 1865. In 1880, he was living at home with his father, Leonora and her husband, and Leonora's brother-in-law. At the time, he was employed at a woolen mill. In 1894, he purchased a plumbing and steam fitting business from a former employer. Later census records suggest he was married to a woman named Hattie (probably Henrietta; b. abt. 1863), but it is unknown when. They had daughter, Nellie, in June 1897.
Sources: Ancestry.com Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service. The Metal Worker, vol. XLI, January to June 1894. New York: David Williams, 1894. Via Google Books, November 2011.
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Post-surrender letters emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864/1865
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter, William Leonard to Mother, Camp Near Bailey's Crossroads Va., June 16, 1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-06-16
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Letters
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Language
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English
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106_LeonardWilliam_B1F3_Letter_1865_0616
-
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a076c05ee915dc5ce9ebbef1f63dda7a
PDF Text
Text
<p>This is
the commencement of this </p>
<p>letter</p>
<p>Camp near Baleys Cross Roads [Bailey’s Crossroads, VA] June 10<sup>th</sup></p>
<p>Dear Mother
I received your letter </p>
<p>of the 8<sup>th</sup>
to night but have </p>
<p>not got the
one with the stamps </p>
<p>in it. As
you do not put the </p>
<p>Brigade on
them it could </p>
<p>not have
gone there. guess it </p>
<p>is lost,
although it may come </p>
<p>along after
a while. I have </p>
<p>sent you a
bundle by Express </p>
<p>containing
my Overcoat, Jacket, </p>
<p>Woolen
blanket, Pr. Drawers + Shirt. </p>
<p>I mailed you
a letter yesterday. </p>
<p>Was over to
Washington again </p>
<p>to day, took over a Soldier who </p>
<p>got his
discharge from the Hosp-</p>
<p>ital. Coolie
has deserted, been </p>
<p>gone a week
or so. lots are deserting </p>
<p>I ant at all
afraid but what </p>
<p>I shall get
my discharge in </p>
<p>a month or
so, but I want it </p>
<p>sooner. they
wont keep any drafted </p>
<p>men in the
service. </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>This is
the commencement of this </p>
<p>letter</p>
<p>Camp near Baleys Cross Roads [Bailey’s Crossroads, VA] June 10<sup>th</sup>
</p>
<p>Dear Mother
I received your letter </p>
<p>of the 8<sup>th</sup>
to night but have </p>
<p>not got the
one with the stamps </p>
<p>in it. As
you do not put the </p>
<p>Brigade on
them it could </p>
<p>not have
gone there. guess it </p>
<p>is lost,
although it may come </p>
<p>along after
a while. I have </p>
<p>sent you a
bundle by Express </p>
<p>containing
my Overcoat, Jacket, </p>
<p>Woolen
blanket, Pr. Drawers + Shirt. </p>
<p>I mailed you
a letter yesterday. </p>
<p>Was over to
Washington again </p>
<p>to day, took over a Soldier who </p>
<p>got his
discharge from the Hosp-</p>
<p>ital. Coolie
has deserted, been </p>
<p>gone a week
or so. lots are deserting </p>
<p>I ant at all
afraid but what </p>
<p>I shall get
my discharge in </p>
<p>a month or
so, but I want it </p>
<p>sooner. they
wont keep any drafted </p>
<p>men in the
service. </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-06-10
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94289094519ce38edff2cd598e50b7be
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Text
<p>Sunday
morning. It is a nice cool day </p>
<p>to day.
going to have some beans for </p>
<p>Breakfast.
we drew a loaf of Soft </p>
<p>Bread
yesterday for a wonder. It </p>
<p>says in yesterdays Chronicle that </p>
<p>all volenteers are going to be dischar-</p>
<p>ged, that means all by the Regular </p>
<p>Army. They
have sent five hundred </p>
<p>men down to
the Wilderness, with </p>
<p>coffins to
bury the dead. Some </p>
<p>of Shermans [William Tecumseh Sherman] Army come through </p>
<p>there + reported
there were lots </p>
<p>of men unburried there, or the </p>
<p>bones of men.
you see there </p>
<p>is only a
little dirt thrown over them </p>
<p>and the
first rain washes it all </p>
<p>off. At Spottsvania [Spotsylvania, VA] I saw lots of </p>
<p>them with
arms + legs sticking </p>
<p>out of the
ground. when we came </p>
<p>through Chansorlesville [Chancellorsville, VA] there was </p>
<p>a mans scull in the road. could </p>
<p>see the
graves where something had dug </p>
<p>into them
and left the bones uncovered </p>
<p>I did not
write you horrors </p>
<p>of war
before because I knew it </p>
<p>would make
you feel bad. folks at </p>
<p>home know
little of a Battlefield. </p>
<p>The stench
of dead Horses + men is </p>
<p>awful. wish
I was at home to day </p>
<p>to go to
meeting with you, how would </p>
<p>you like
that. we dont have any </p>
<p>meeting here
there is virtuly no </p>
<p>Sunday in
the Army. </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>Sunday
morning. It is a nice cool day </p>
<p>to day.
going to have some beans for </p>
<p>Breakfast.
we drew a loaf of Soft </p>
<p>Bread
yesterday for a wonder. It </p>
<p>says in yesterdays Chronicle that </p>
<p>all volenteers are going to be dischar-</p>
<p>ged, that means all by the Regular </p>
<p>Army. They
have sent five hundred </p>
<p>men down to
the Wilderness, with </p>
<p>coffins to
bury the dead. Some </p>
<p>of Shermans [William Tecumseh Sherman] Army come through </p>
<p>there + reported
there were lots </p>
<p>of men unburried there, or the </p>
<p>bones of men.
you see there </p>
<p>is only a
little dirt thrown over them </p>
<p>and the
first rain washes it all </p>
<p>off. At Spottsvania [Spotsylvania, VA] I saw lots of </p>
<p>them with
arms + legs sticking </p>
<p>out of the
ground. when we came </p>
<p>through Chansorlesville [Chancellorsville, VA] there was </p>
<p>a mans scull in the road. could </p>
<p>see the
graves where something had dug </p>
<p>into them
and left the bones uncovered </p>
<p>I did not
write you horrors </p>
<p>of war
before because I knew it </p>
<p>would make
you feel bad. folks at </p>
<p>home know
little of a Battlefield. </p>
<p>The stench
of dead Horses + men is </p>
<p>awful. wish
I was at home to day </p>
<p>to go to
meeting with you, how would </p>
<p>you like
that. we dont have any </p>
<p>meeting here
there is virtuly no </p>
<p>Sunday in
the Army. </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-06-11
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8a5c3ef9b2545a6350002215b0fb1578
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Text
<p>there </p>
<p>is a </p>
<p>heavy </p>
<p>wagon </p>
<p>going </p>
<p>by </p>
<p>piled </p>
<p>up full </p>
<p>of </p>
<p>Coffins </p>
<p>I am sorry I
dont get that </p>
<p>letter with
the stamps. Has Pa </p>
<p>got the wach yet that he traded </p>
<p>for. tell
him I shall claim it </p>
<p>as mine when
I come home, if I </p>
<p>live to. You
know that piece of </p>
<p>Camphor gum
you sent me </p>
<p>well, it has
not disolved hardly </p>
<p>any yet, and
I have had it </p>
<p>wet two or
three times. we are </p>
<p>all looking
for another order </p>
<p>for dischargeing troop, now all </p>
<p>the time. I
think it will come </p>
<p>this week,
and are in hopes it </p>
<p>will include
me. I guess they </p>
<p>have got
most all the sixty two men off. </p>
<p>There was
another fight in washington </p>
<p>yesterday.
the white troops pitched </p>
<p>on the
Negroes. I guess they will </p>
<p>be glad when
they get the army </p>
<p>away from
here. they do not dare </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>there </p>
<p>is a </p>
<p>heavy </p>
<p>wagon </p>
<p>going </p>
<p>by </p>
<p>piled </p>
<p>up full </p>
<p>of </p>
<p>Coffins </p>
<p>I am sorry I
dont get that </p>
<p>letter with
the stamps. Has Pa </p>
<p>got the wach yet that he traded </p>
<p>for. tell
him I shall claim it </p>
<p>as mine when
I come home, if I </p>
<p>live to. You
know that piece of </p>
<p>Camphor gum
you sent me </p>
<p>well, it has
not disolved hardly </p>
<p>any yet, and
I have had it </p>
<p>wet two or
three times. we are </p>
<p>all looking
for another order </p>
<p>for dischargeing troop, now all </p>
<p>the time. I
think it will come </p>
<p>this week,
and are in hopes it </p>
<p>will include
me. I guess they </p>
<p>have got
most all the sixty two men off. </p>
<p>There was
another fight in washington </p>
<p>yesterday.
the white troops pitched </p>
<p>on the
Negroes. I guess they will </p>
<p>be glad when
they get the army </p>
<p>away from
here. they do not dare </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-06-11
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10b30ed11d2d2884cf7e2a9a089d6845
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Text
<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>to pay
the army here, if they did they </p>
<p>tear washington all to peices. well </p>
<p>I must go
and take care of my Horses. </p>
<p>Monday. The
Pay Master told one </p>
<p>of our Sargents that the troops </p>
<p>would not be
payed till they </p>
<p>were musted out, so you see </p>
<p>by that,
that they calculate to </p>
<p>discharge us
soon. I drempt </p>
<p>of home last
night. I have been </p>
<p>away from
home so long now </p>
<p>that it dont seem as if I were </p>
<p>ever going
home again. but I </p>
<p>hope + trust
I shall come home </p>
<p>to you once
more. when I </p>
<p>think of the
many brave boys </p>
<p>that have
been killed, how thank-</p>
<p>full to God.
I had ought to </p>
<p>be, for preserving
my life and </p>
<p>health. I expect
you will </p>
<p>want me to
tell you all about </p>
<p>the Battles,
Skermishes, and the </p>
<p>like I have
been in. would like </p>
<p>to sit down
and have a good </p>
<p>long talk
with you. I shall be </p>
</td><td><p>anxious
now till I hear from </p>
<p>my bundle I
sent. I forgot to </p>
<p>tell the man
I sent it by, the </p>
<p>value of it,
and he only told </p>
<p>them five dollars, so I expect </p>
<p>the express wont be so much. </p>
<p>they go by
the value I believe, </p>
<p>but if it was
lost I could </p>
<p>only collect
five dollars for it </p>
<p>and that
would not pay the </p>
<p>trouble. I
think the bundle is </p>
<p>worth near
twenty dollars. I </p>
<p>dont want to loose the Jacket </p>
<p>I thought I would
keep the </p>
<p>Jacket to
wear home then, I </p>
<p>altered my
mind, if I get a </p>
<p>chance shall
draw a new blouse </p>
<p>if not wear
the one I have got. </p>
<p>there is an
old Pr. of Gloves in </p>
<p>the pockets
of the Overcoat, one </p>
<p>of the men gave
me. The Over-</p>
<p>Coat wants
cleaning some. it </p>
<p>only cost me
four dollars last </p>
<p>fall. the
price when new is nine </p>
<p>or ten
dollars. if I had known </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<table>
<tr>
<th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>to pay
the army here, if they did they </p>
<p>tear washington all to peices. well </p>
<p>I must go
and take care of my Horses. </p>
<p>Monday. The
Pay Master told one </p>
<p>of our Sargents that the troops </p>
<p>would not be
payed till they </p>
<p>were musted out, so you see </p>
<p>by that,
that they calculate to </p>
<p>discharge us
soon. I drempt </p>
<p>of home last
night. I have been </p>
<p>away from
home so long now </p>
<p>that it dont seem as if I were </p>
<p>ever going
home again. but I </p>
<p>hope + trust
I shall come home </p>
<p>to you once
more. when I </p>
<p>think of the
many brave boys </p>
<p>that have
been killed, how thank-</p>
<p>full to God.
I had ought to </p>
<p>be, for preserving
my life and </p>
<p>health. I expect
you will </p>
<p>want me to
tell you all about </p>
<p>the Battles,
Skermishes, and the </p>
<p>like I have
been in. would like </p>
<p>to sit down
and have a good </p>
<p>long talk
with you. I shall be </p>
</td><td><p>anxious
now till I hear from </p>
<p>my bundle I
sent. I forgot to </p>
<p>tell the man
I sent it by, the </p>
<p>value of it,
and he only told </p>
<p>them five dollars, so I expect </p>
<p>the express wont be so much. </p>
<p>they go by
the value I believe, </p>
<p>but if it was
lost I could </p>
<p>only collect
five dollars for it </p>
<p>and that
would not pay the </p>
<p>trouble. I
think the bundle is </p>
<p>worth near
twenty dollars. I </p>
<p>dont want to loose the Jacket </p>
<p>I thought I would
keep the </p>
<p>Jacket to
wear home then, I </p>
<p>altered my
mind, if I get a </p>
<p>chance shall
draw a new blouse </p>
<p>if not wear
the one I have got. </p>
<p>there is an
old Pr. of Gloves in </p>
<p>the pockets
of the Overcoat, one </p>
<p>of the men gave
me. The Over-</p>
<p>Coat wants
cleaning some. it </p>
<p>only cost me
four dollars last </p>
<p>fall. the
price when new is nine </p>
<p>or ten
dollars. if I had known </p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-06-10
1865-06-11
1865-06-12
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f5c9de0ce53c0e1bb6e65a526d63232f
PDF Text
Text
<p>I could
sent things by express </p>
<p>would picked
up two or three </p>
<p>Over-coats on
the march. they </p>
<p>did not used
to let Soldiers </p>
<p>send home Goverment clothes </p>
<p>If Coolie dont come back I </p>
<p>shall take
one of his woolen </p>
<p>blankets. I
might as well have </p>
<p>them as
somebody else. where </p>
<p>did you say
Uncle Allen lived </p>
<p>now. I have
forgot, I think you </p>
<p>said they
had moved. we get a </p>
<p>pretty good
share of Salt </p>
<p>Horse now.
have got a big </p>
<p>Camp kettle
full boiling on </p>
<p>the fire now.
I want to </p>
<p>get home
before huccleberries </p>
<p>are gone. Would
like to be </p>
<p>home Rasberry time so to have </p>
<p>a short
cake. how nice it will </p>
<p>be to get
home and have plenty </p>
<p>of Potatoes,
Biscuit + other good </p>
<p>things. I
have not eat a potatoe </p>
<p>as I think
of now since last </p>
<p>winter. we
might have [drawed?] </p>
<p>one or two
at Burkesvill [Burkeville, VA] but </p>
<p>I think not.
how good some </p>
<p>pickles would
taste. well this </p>
<p>is a long
letter and I will </p>
<p>close. love
to all and </p>
<p>write soon.
from Willie</p>
<p> </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>I could
sent things by express </p>
<p>would picked
up two or three </p>
<p>Over-coats on
the march. they </p>
<p>did not used
to let Soldiers </p>
<p>send home Goverment clothes </p>
<p>If Coolie dont come back I </p>
<p>shall take
one of his woolen </p>
<p>blankets. I
might as well have </p>
<p>them as
somebody else. where </p>
<p>did you say
Uncle Allen lived </p>
<p>now. I have
forgot, I think you </p>
<p>said they
had moved. we get a </p>
<p>pretty good
share of Salt </p>
<p>Horse now.
have got a big </p>
<p>Camp kettle
full boiling on </p>
<p>the fire now.
I want to </p>
<p>get home
before huccleberries </p>
<p>are gone. Would
like to be </p>
<p>home Rasberry time so to have </p>
<p>a short
cake. how nice it will </p>
<p>be to get
home and have plenty </p>
<p>of Potatoes,
Biscuit + other good </p>
<p>things. I
have not eat a potatoe </p>
<p>as I think
of now since last </p>
<p>winter. we
might have [drawed?] </p>
<p>one or two
at Burkesvill [Burkeville, VA] but </p>
<p>I think not.
how good some </p>
<p>pickles would
taste. well this </p>
<p>is a long
letter and I will </p>
<p>close. love
to all and </p>
<p>write soon.
from Willie</p>
<p> </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-06-10
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/a6d5a5904cecda2b4ae074e9cc2b6e8c.jpg
9cd2900c7c7bf27f235ebb39017f45d0
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
William A. Leonard Papers, 1864-1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Diaries.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Description
An account of the resource
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Letters following Lee's surrender emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge and payment. All the letters in this collection were written home to Leonard's parents, usually his mother. He continually reassures her not to worry about him, requests various things from home (especially stamps), and talks about his daily life. He frequently writes about plans for when he gets home. Leonard's religious sentiments also recur throughout his correspondence. He also includes war news and who he has seen, though he reveals his priorities and lack of interest in being a soldier, saying in March 1865:
"we have got a good man to steer the machine, that fellow they call U. S. Grant. Sheridan & Sherman are giving them fits. I have seen Grant & Mede a number of times this summer I had a great deal rather see you + Pa. I dont want to see Nora because she wanted me to go soldiering"
Although battle descriptions are not necessarily the focus of Leonard's letters, his 1864 correspondence contains details of being fired upon a Petersburg, of picket duty, and later, of transporting injured men. In June 1865, he writes several letters detailing the sight of unburied dead men and horses and the sound of fighting from the front at Petersburg. In May 1865, he writes of the incompetence of the doctors:
"The Doctors here dont have any thing fit to give any one and the bigest of them dont know how to doctor a hen anyway. They take the wounded men legs and arms off half the time. when there is no need of it, do it practice there has been a number of times I have heard of that...The Doct of the Regt was a clerk in an apothecary shop..."
Leonard's diary begins in August 1864, apparently when he was appointed to drive an ambulance. His entries are short and refer mostly to his daily activities: who or what he was conveying to and from the hospital at City Point outside Petersburg; what letters he sent or received; war news; or when he attended religious meetings. Shortly before the diary ends in April 1865, he notes the firing of guns and cannons "for the death of abram Lincoln President of the U.S. who was shot by a man by the name of Booth." He refers to the death of Lincoln and its effect on the soldiers in several letters, as well. Leonard's own correspondence suggests he kept a previous diary--in August 1864, he inquires if his mother has received the one he sent home--but it is unknown if this diary still exists.
William A. Leonard was born about 1843 to Joel A. (b.1817) and Sophia Leonard (1816-d. before 1880). His parents were both natives of Vermont who moved to Massachusetts. William and his two sisters, Leonora (b. abt. 1852; and who William calls "Nora" in his letters and is later listed as "Mary" in a least one set of census records) and Roselia (b. abt. 1859) were all born in Great Barrington, Berkshire County. It is unknown what line of work William Leonard was in prior to the war, though he was living at home with his family. He was drafted into service in July 1863 for a three year term with Company F, 16th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. In mid-July 1864, the 16th Infantry mustered out. Existing veterans and recruits, Leonard included, were transferred to the 11th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. From at least August of 1864 until Lee's surrender, Leonard served as an ambulance driver, transporting wounded from battlefield to hospital. His unit spent nearly a year in and around Petersburg. While stationed outside Washington, DC, waiting to muster out, Leonard also drove civilians in and around the city. He particularly makes mention of taking family members to hospitals to get news of soldiers. Leonard returned home to Great Barrington in July 1865. In 1880, he was living at home with his father, Leonora and her husband, and Leonora's brother-in-law. At the time, he was employed at a woolen mill. In 1894, he purchased a plumbing and steam fitting business from a former employer. Later census records suggest he was married to a woman named Hattie (probably Henrietta; b. abt. 1863), but it is unknown when. They had daughter, Nellie, in June 1897.
Sources: Ancestry.com Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service. The Metal Worker, vol. XLI, January to June 1894. New York: David Williams, 1894. Via Google Books, November 2011.
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Post-surrender letters emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864/1865
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter, William Leonard to Mother, Camp Near Bailey's Crossroads Va., June 10, 1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Civil War
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-06-10
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Letters
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Language
A language of the resource
English
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106_LeonardWilliam_B1F3_Letter_1865_0610
-
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/553474480a038fa06186333be880d713.jpg
414372bd9bb2102692832795093b6965
PDF Text
Text
<p>Saturday
June 3<sup>rd</sup> I said I was </p>
<p>going to
take my time with </p>
<p>this letter.
think so dont you. </p>
<p>"Gentle
Annie;" was here a few </p>
<p>minutes ago.
she is the woman </p>
<p>that has
always been with our </p>
<p>Division
always up to the front </p>
<p>when there is
any fighting going </p>
<p>on. Dressing
wounds she is not </p>
<p>afraid to be
under fire either </p>
<p>she road
along the line in </p>
<p>front of
Petersburg. Horse-back </p>
<p>and the Rebs firing at her. </p>
<p>At the North
Anna one of the </p>
<p>boys let her
take his gun </p>
<p>and fire at
them. The Boys </p>
<p>call her
Gentle Annie her </p>
<p>name is
Annie. I do not </p>
<p>know her
other name. It is </p>
<p>very hot
weather here now. </p>
<p>Sunday June
4<sup>th</sup> I hear to day </p>
<p>drafted men ant going to get </p>
<p>any Bounty
and have got to </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>Saturday
June 3<sup>rd</sup> I said I was </p>
<p>going to
take my time with </p>
<p>this letter.
think so dont you. </p>
<p>"Gentle
Annie;" was here a few </p>
<p>minutes ago.
she is the woman </p>
<p>that has
always been with our </p>
<p>Division
always up to the front </p>
<p>when there is
any fighting going </p>
<p>on. Dressing
wounds she is not </p>
<p>afraid to be
under fire either </p>
<p>she road
along the line in </p>
<p>front of
Petersburg. Horse-back </p>
<p>and the Rebs firing at her. </p>
<p>At the North
Anna one of the </p>
<p>boys let her
take his gun </p>
<p>and fire at
them. The Boys </p>
<p>call her
Gentle Annie her </p>
<p>name is
Annie. I do not </p>
<p>know her
other name. It is </p>
<p>very hot
weather here now. </p>
<p>Sunday June
4<sup>th</sup> I hear to day </p>
<p>drafted men an’t going to get </p>
<p>any Bounty
and have got to </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-06-03
1865-06-04
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/1f23063807edd1a8a5117768e6dd993b.jpg
42a0b6dc9f8d7356cea159273d7209ce
PDF Text
Text
<p>pay back
the $25 we did get. </p>
<p>That is
about as mean as I </p>
<p>always
thought the Goverment </p>
<p>was. They
are going to cheat </p>
<p>the men out
of as much </p>
<p>bounty as
they can, now the war </p>
<p>is over. all
I ask of them, is </p>
<p>to let me
out, and they can </p>
<p>keep their
bounty. They have </p>
<p>got most all
of the sixty two </p>
<p>men mustered
out. I hope it </p>
<p>will be my
turn next. It is </p>
<p>very warm to
day. I wonder </p>
<p>why Mr.
Humphrey did not come </p>
<p>and see me.
I think I shall be </p>
<p>home in a
month. I think if </p>
<p>I am not
discharged before & a </p>
<p>requisition
goes in for clothes </p>
<p>I shall get
another Pr of pants </p>
<p>then I shall
have a new pair </p>
<p>to wear home
+ one in my knap-</p>
<p>sack. The 120
New York went this </p>
<p>morning.
There is one thing sertain </p>
<p>if they keep
me this hot weather </p>
<p>I can’t earn
$16 a month and </p>
<p>board +
clothes any easier </p>
<p>than here.
the worst of it is I </p>
<p>want to see
home once more. </p>
<p>I think the
next that are disch-</p>
<p>arged will go by Regiments. </p>
<p>I will close
now write often send </p>
<p>me a few
stamps. </p>
<p> </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>pay back
the $25 we did get. </p>
<p>That is
about as mean as I </p>
<p>always
thought the Goverment </p>
<p>was. They
are going to cheat </p>
<p>the men out
of as much </p>
<p>bounty as
they can, now the war </p>
<p>is over. all
I ask of them, is </p>
<p>to let me
out, and they can </p>
<p>keep their
bounty. They have </p>
<p>got most all
of the sixty two </p>
<p>men mustered
out. I hope it </p>
<p>will be my
turn next. It is </p>
<p>very warm to
day. I wonder </p>
<p>why Mr.
Humphrey did not come </p>
<p>and see me.
I think I shall be </p>
<p>home in a
month. I think if </p>
<p>I am not
discharged before & a </p>
<p>requisition
goes in for clothes </p>
<p>I shall get
another Pr of pants </p>
<p>then I shall
have a new pair </p>
<p>to wear home
+ one in my knap-</p>
<p>sack. The 120
New York went this </p>
<p>morning.
There is one thing sertain </p>
<p>if they keep
me this hot weather </p>
<p>I can’t earn
$16 a month and </p>
<p>board +
clothes any easier </p>
<p>than here.
the worst of it is I </p>
<p>want to see
home once more. </p>
<p>I think the
next that are disch-</p>
<p>arged will go by Regiments. </p>
<p>I will close
now write often send </p>
<p>me a few
stamps. </p>
<p> </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-06-04
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
William A. Leonard Papers, 1864-1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Diaries.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Description
An account of the resource
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Letters following Lee's surrender emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge and payment. All the letters in this collection were written home to Leonard's parents, usually his mother. He continually reassures her not to worry about him, requests various things from home (especially stamps), and talks about his daily life. He frequently writes about plans for when he gets home. Leonard's religious sentiments also recur throughout his correspondence. He also includes war news and who he has seen, though he reveals his priorities and lack of interest in being a soldier, saying in March 1865:
"we have got a good man to steer the machine, that fellow they call U. S. Grant. Sheridan & Sherman are giving them fits. I have seen Grant & Mede a number of times this summer I had a great deal rather see you + Pa. I dont want to see Nora because she wanted me to go soldiering"
Although battle descriptions are not necessarily the focus of Leonard's letters, his 1864 correspondence contains details of being fired upon a Petersburg, of picket duty, and later, of transporting injured men. In June 1865, he writes several letters detailing the sight of unburied dead men and horses and the sound of fighting from the front at Petersburg. In May 1865, he writes of the incompetence of the doctors:
"The Doctors here dont have any thing fit to give any one and the bigest of them dont know how to doctor a hen anyway. They take the wounded men legs and arms off half the time. when there is no need of it, do it practice there has been a number of times I have heard of that...The Doct of the Regt was a clerk in an apothecary shop..."
Leonard's diary begins in August 1864, apparently when he was appointed to drive an ambulance. His entries are short and refer mostly to his daily activities: who or what he was conveying to and from the hospital at City Point outside Petersburg; what letters he sent or received; war news; or when he attended religious meetings. Shortly before the diary ends in April 1865, he notes the firing of guns and cannons "for the death of abram Lincoln President of the U.S. who was shot by a man by the name of Booth." He refers to the death of Lincoln and its effect on the soldiers in several letters, as well. Leonard's own correspondence suggests he kept a previous diary--in August 1864, he inquires if his mother has received the one he sent home--but it is unknown if this diary still exists.
William A. Leonard was born about 1843 to Joel A. (b.1817) and Sophia Leonard (1816-d. before 1880). His parents were both natives of Vermont who moved to Massachusetts. William and his two sisters, Leonora (b. abt. 1852; and who William calls "Nora" in his letters and is later listed as "Mary" in a least one set of census records) and Roselia (b. abt. 1859) were all born in Great Barrington, Berkshire County. It is unknown what line of work William Leonard was in prior to the war, though he was living at home with his family. He was drafted into service in July 1863 for a three year term with Company F, 16th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. In mid-July 1864, the 16th Infantry mustered out. Existing veterans and recruits, Leonard included, were transferred to the 11th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. From at least August of 1864 until Lee's surrender, Leonard served as an ambulance driver, transporting wounded from battlefield to hospital. His unit spent nearly a year in and around Petersburg. While stationed outside Washington, DC, waiting to muster out, Leonard also drove civilians in and around the city. He particularly makes mention of taking family members to hospitals to get news of soldiers. Leonard returned home to Great Barrington in July 1865. In 1880, he was living at home with his father, Leonora and her husband, and Leonora's brother-in-law. At the time, he was employed at a woolen mill. In 1894, he purchased a plumbing and steam fitting business from a former employer. Later census records suggest he was married to a woman named Hattie (probably Henrietta; b. abt. 1863), but it is unknown when. They had daughter, Nellie, in June 1897.
Sources: Ancestry.com Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service. The Metal Worker, vol. XLI, January to June 1894. New York: David Williams, 1894. Via Google Books, November 2011.
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Post-surrender letters emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864/1865
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter, William Leonard to Mother, Camp Near Washington, June 3-4, 1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Civil War
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-06-03
1865-06-04
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Letters
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Language
A language of the resource
English
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106_LeonardWilliam_B1F2_Letter_1865_0603
-
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/c400e3d81399e7ded2ad20ea329d1ca5.jpg
4d5c3e269cb5c5cc0f772aa7b96b6b4d
PDF Text
Text
<p>[<em>Continued from page 2</em>] from your Willie</p>
<p>Camp near Washington May 31<sup>st</sup></p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>I will commence</p>
<p>you a letter and finish it at</p>
<p>leasure. I expect you are waiting</p>
<p>as patient as possibly for my</p>
<p>return home + I hope the time</p>
<p>is not far distant. There was</p>
<p>a Review of our Corps yesterday</p>
<p>and I went over to washington</p>
<p>after some folks for the Officers</p>
<p>to see it. they keep us pretty</p>
<p>buisy carting Citizens back and</p>
<p>forth but it is rather more</p>
<p>pleasant to do that than to</p>
<p>Cart poor wounded men. I took</p>
<p>a woman over to the Long Bridge</p>
<p>day before yesterday, who was out</p>
<p>here, to see about her son. she</p>
<p>did not know whether he was</p>
<p>taken Prisoner or died in Hospital</p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>
[<i>Continued from page 2</i>] from your Willie</p>
<p>Camp near
Washington May 31<sup>st</sup> </p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>I will
commence </p>
<p>you a letter
and finish it at </p>
<p>leasure. I expect you are waiting </p>
<p>as patient
as possibly for my </p>
<p>return home
+ I hope the time </p>
<p>is not far
distant. There was </p>
<p>a Review of
our Corps yesterday </p>
<p>and I went
over to washington </p>
<p>after some
folks for the Officers </p>
<p>to see it.
they keep us pretty </p>
<p>buisy carting Citizens back and </p>
<p>forth but it
is rather more </p>
<p>pleasant to
do that than to </p>
<p>Cart poor
wounded men. I took </p>
<p>a woman over
to the Long Bridge </p>
<p>day before
yesterday, who was out </p>
<p>here, to see
about her son. she </p>
<p>did not know
whether he was </p>
<p>taken
Prisoner or died in Hospital </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-05-31
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/dc1f3ee5cf7c4b109b1bbf0c84ca0f4a.jpg
eb075f37619748309b5f254ac38545c0
PDF Text
Text
<p>she
found out that he died at the </p>
<p>City Point Hospital.
I felt sorrow for </p>
<p>her, she
felt very bad. was not that </p>
<p>a [fenish?] plot of the Rebs to
spread </p>
<p>the small
pox + yellow fever North </p>
<p>+ in the
Army. Our Lieut. put </p>
<p>in for a furlow and it came </p>
<p>back disaproved stating that </p>
<p>all of the
Army would be </p>
<p>mustered out
of service in </p>
<p>two months.
They are going to </p>
<p>discharge them
by Regiments. </p>
<p>June 1<sup>st</sup>
I received a Paper </p>
<p>from you
yesterday. I dont hear </p>
<p>much news.
All the Light Artillery </p>
<p>is to be
turned in + the men </p>
<p>go home. The
Soldiers are all in </p>
<p>a great stew.
They all feel now </p>
<p>the war is over
as if the Gover-</p>
<p>ment had no claim to them </p>
<p>they listed
to put down the </p>
<p>Rebelion, not to stop any longer. </p>
<p>There will
be trouble to if they </p>
<p>dont discharge them, the men </p>
<p>wont stand it. </p>
<p> </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>she
found out that he died at the </p>
<p>City Point Hospital.
I felt sorrow for </p>
<p>her, she
felt very bad. was not that </p>
<p>a [fenish?] plot of the Rebs to
spread </p>
<p>the small
pox + yellow fever North </p>
<p>+ in the
Army. Our Lieut. put </p>
<p>in for a furlow and it came </p>
<p>back disaproved stating that </p>
<p>all of the
Army would be </p>
<p>mustered out
of service in </p>
<p>two months.
They are going to </p>
<p>discharge them
by Regiments. </p>
<p>June 1<sup>st</sup>
I received a Paper </p>
<p>from you
yesterday. I dont hear </p>
<p>much news.
All the Light Artillery </p>
<p>is to be
turned in + the men </p>
<p>go home. The
Soldiers are all in </p>
<p>a great stew.
They all feel now </p>
<p>the war is over
as if the Gover-</p>
<p>ment had no claim to them </p>
<p>they listed
to put down the </p>
<p>Rebelion, not to stop any longer. </p>
<p>There will
be trouble to if they </p>
<p>dont discharge them, the men </p>
<p>wont stand it. </p>
<p> </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-05-31
1865-06-01
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/8395b8a29811ea7b29ed7f326c390e6c.jpg
38a38a7eddd3245908f7c4c84f2ea29f
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
William A. Leonard Papers, 1864-1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Diaries.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Description
An account of the resource
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Letters following Lee's surrender emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge and payment. All the letters in this collection were written home to Leonard's parents, usually his mother. He continually reassures her not to worry about him, requests various things from home (especially stamps), and talks about his daily life. He frequently writes about plans for when he gets home. Leonard's religious sentiments also recur throughout his correspondence. He also includes war news and who he has seen, though he reveals his priorities and lack of interest in being a soldier, saying in March 1865:
"we have got a good man to steer the machine, that fellow they call U. S. Grant. Sheridan & Sherman are giving them fits. I have seen Grant & Mede a number of times this summer I had a great deal rather see you + Pa. I dont want to see Nora because she wanted me to go soldiering"
Although battle descriptions are not necessarily the focus of Leonard's letters, his 1864 correspondence contains details of being fired upon a Petersburg, of picket duty, and later, of transporting injured men. In June 1865, he writes several letters detailing the sight of unburied dead men and horses and the sound of fighting from the front at Petersburg. In May 1865, he writes of the incompetence of the doctors:
"The Doctors here dont have any thing fit to give any one and the bigest of them dont know how to doctor a hen anyway. They take the wounded men legs and arms off half the time. when there is no need of it, do it practice there has been a number of times I have heard of that...The Doct of the Regt was a clerk in an apothecary shop..."
Leonard's diary begins in August 1864, apparently when he was appointed to drive an ambulance. His entries are short and refer mostly to his daily activities: who or what he was conveying to and from the hospital at City Point outside Petersburg; what letters he sent or received; war news; or when he attended religious meetings. Shortly before the diary ends in April 1865, he notes the firing of guns and cannons "for the death of abram Lincoln President of the U.S. who was shot by a man by the name of Booth." He refers to the death of Lincoln and its effect on the soldiers in several letters, as well. Leonard's own correspondence suggests he kept a previous diary--in August 1864, he inquires if his mother has received the one he sent home--but it is unknown if this diary still exists.
William A. Leonard was born about 1843 to Joel A. (b.1817) and Sophia Leonard (1816-d. before 1880). His parents were both natives of Vermont who moved to Massachusetts. William and his two sisters, Leonora (b. abt. 1852; and who William calls "Nora" in his letters and is later listed as "Mary" in a least one set of census records) and Roselia (b. abt. 1859) were all born in Great Barrington, Berkshire County. It is unknown what line of work William Leonard was in prior to the war, though he was living at home with his family. He was drafted into service in July 1863 for a three year term with Company F, 16th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. In mid-July 1864, the 16th Infantry mustered out. Existing veterans and recruits, Leonard included, were transferred to the 11th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. From at least August of 1864 until Lee's surrender, Leonard served as an ambulance driver, transporting wounded from battlefield to hospital. His unit spent nearly a year in and around Petersburg. While stationed outside Washington, DC, waiting to muster out, Leonard also drove civilians in and around the city. He particularly makes mention of taking family members to hospitals to get news of soldiers. Leonard returned home to Great Barrington in July 1865. In 1880, he was living at home with his father, Leonora and her husband, and Leonora's brother-in-law. At the time, he was employed at a woolen mill. In 1894, he purchased a plumbing and steam fitting business from a former employer. Later census records suggest he was married to a woman named Hattie (probably Henrietta; b. abt. 1863), but it is unknown when. They had daughter, Nellie, in June 1897.
Sources: Ancestry.com Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service. The Metal Worker, vol. XLI, January to June 1894. New York: David Williams, 1894. Via Google Books, November 2011.
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Post-surrender letters emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864/1865
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter, William Leonard to Mother, Camp Near Washington, May 31, 1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-05-31
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Letters
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Language
A language of the resource
English
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106_LeonardWilliam_B1F2_Letter_1865_0531
-
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/f388dc50ae1bc1b9d905053fb98feac0.jpg
230f59ac7315ff73c4a52dbbc62f0264
PDF Text
Text
<p>3<sup>rd</sup></p>
<p>May 26. It
is raining here this </p>
<p>morning. I
saw a splendid </p>
<p>sight last
night. the 5<sup>th</sup> Corps </p>
<p>+ part of
ours got up an illum- </p>
<p>ination with Candles, it was </p>
<p>splendid to
look at. just think </p>
<p>of a numer of thousand candles </p>
<p>all it at
once. some of them </p>
<p>were
marching around with them </p>
<p>then they
had lots of little rock-</p>
<p>ets they made with wet + dry </p>
<p>powder +
they would shoot </p>
<p>them at each
other. it looked </p>
<p>like an engagement
with mortors </p>
<p>I cant describe it. wish you could </p>
<p>have seen
it. you wanted to know </p>
<p>if they
could not do any thing </p>
<p>for them
that died. the Lieut </p>
<p>that was in
my ambulance </p>
<p>had the cronic Dioareah. he wanted </p>
<p>them to send
him on the Cars </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>3<sup>rd</sup>
</p>
<p>May 26. It
is raining here this </p>
<p>morning. I
saw a splendid </p>
<p>sight last
night. the 5<sup>th</sup> Corps </p>
<p>+ part of
ours got up an illum- </p>
<p>ination with Candles, it was </p>
<p>splendid to
look at. just think </p>
<p>of a numer of thousand candles </p>
<p>all it at
once. some of them </p>
<p>were
marching around with them </p>
<p>then they
had lots of little rock-</p>
<p>ets they made with wet + dry </p>
<p>powder +
they would shoot </p>
<p>them at each
other. it looked </p>
<p>like an engagement
with mortors </p>
<p>I cant describe it. wish you could </p>
<p>have seen
it. you wanted to know </p>
<p>if they
could not do any thing </p>
<p>for them
that died. the Lieut </p>
<p>that was in
my ambulance </p>
<p>had the cronic Dioareah. he wanted </p>
<p>them to send
him on the Cars </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-05-26
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/a992872cafb43d46e3eb2cc1e02ce4df.jpg
fe3502bbd6624ffa532544af543bd509
PDF Text
Text
<p>but they
would not because an </p>
<p>Officer
could not go unless he had </p>
<p>a furlow. The Doctors here </p>
<p>dont have any thing fit to give </p>
<p>any one and
the bigest part of </p>
<p>them dont know enough to </p>
<p>doctor a hen
anyway. They take </p>
<p>the wounded
men legs an arms </p>
<p>off half the
time when there </p>
<p>is no need
of it, do it practice </p>
<p>there has
been a number of times I </p>
<p>have heard
of that. they were about to </p>
<p>take off a
leg when the Chief Surgeon </p>
<p>would happen
along + stop them. The </p>
<p>Doct of our Regt. was a clerk in an </p>
<p>apothacary shop. that is all he know </p>
<p>about
doctoring. they give you a pill for </p>
<p>every thing dont make any difference.
</p>
<p>this letter
is composed of scraps of paper </p>
<p>I have
numbered them so you will </p>
<p>know which
to take. If Pa wants me to </p>
<p>draw him a
pair of Pants I will. guess I </p>
<p>can bring
them. If they would let me </p>
<p>express a
box of Goverment clothes I would </p>
<p>but I dont believe they would. you may </p>
<p>send me a
few stamps if you have a </p>
<p>mind to. we
did not come by the way </p>
<p>of
Petersburg we took the nearest rout. I </p>
<p>guess I
shan’t see Mr Humphrey it is to </p>
<p>bad. How I
would have liked you and </p>
<p>Pa to see
our Army + Sherman [William Tecumseh Sherman]. you would </p>
<p>though there
were a heap of men. Lots </p>
<p>of Invalids
in the City doing guard duty </p>
<p>our Boys
call them condemed Yanks </p>
<p>there are
lots of them that ar better able </p>
<p>to be in the
ranks than some that are </p>
<p>in. well do
write soon. I had the blues </p>
<p>becaus I did not get a letter from you. </p>
<p>love to all.
From Willie</p>
<p> </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>but they
would not because an </p>
<p>Officer
could not go unless he had </p>
<p>a furlow. The Doctors here </p>
<p>dont have any thing fit to give </p>
<p>any one and
the bigest part of </p>
<p>them dont know enough to </p>
<p>doctor a hen
anyway. They take </p>
<p>the wounded
men legs an arms </p>
<p>off half the
time when there </p>
<p>is no need
of it, do it practice </p>
<p>there has
been a number of times I </p>
<p>have heard
of that. they were about to </p>
<p>take off a
leg when the Chief Surgeon </p>
<p>would happen
along + stop them. The </p>
<p>Doct of our Regt. was a clerk in an </p>
<p>apothacary shop. that is all he know </p>
<p>about
doctoring. they give you a pill for </p>
<p>every thing dont make any difference.
</p>
<p>this letter
is composed of scraps of paper </p>
<p>I have
numbered them so you will </p>
<p>know which
to take. If Pa wants me to </p>
<p>draw him a
pair of Pants I will. guess I </p>
<p>can bring
them. If they would let me </p>
<p>express a
box of Goverment clothes I would </p>
<p>but I dont believe they would. you may </p>
<p>send me a
few stamps if you have a </p>
<p>mind to. we
did not come by the way </p>
<p>of
Petersburg we took the nearest rout. I </p>
<p>guess I
shan’t see Mr Humphrey it is to </p>
<p>bad. How I
would have liked you and </p>
<p>Pa to see
our Army + Sherman [William Tecumseh Sherman]. you would </p>
<p>though there
were a heap of men. Lots </p>
<p>of Invalids
in the City doing guard duty </p>
<p>our Boys
call them condemed Yanks </p>
<p>there are
lots of them that ar better able </p>
<p>to be in the
ranks than some that are </p>
<p>in. well do
write soon. I had the blues </p>
<p>becaus I did not get a letter from you. </p>
<p>love to all.
From Willie</p>
<p> </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-05-26
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
William A. Leonard Papers, 1864-1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Diaries.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Description
An account of the resource
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Letters following Lee's surrender emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge and payment. All the letters in this collection were written home to Leonard's parents, usually his mother. He continually reassures her not to worry about him, requests various things from home (especially stamps), and talks about his daily life. He frequently writes about plans for when he gets home. Leonard's religious sentiments also recur throughout his correspondence. He also includes war news and who he has seen, though he reveals his priorities and lack of interest in being a soldier, saying in March 1865:
"we have got a good man to steer the machine, that fellow they call U. S. Grant. Sheridan & Sherman are giving them fits. I have seen Grant & Mede a number of times this summer I had a great deal rather see you + Pa. I dont want to see Nora because she wanted me to go soldiering"
Although battle descriptions are not necessarily the focus of Leonard's letters, his 1864 correspondence contains details of being fired upon a Petersburg, of picket duty, and later, of transporting injured men. In June 1865, he writes several letters detailing the sight of unburied dead men and horses and the sound of fighting from the front at Petersburg. In May 1865, he writes of the incompetence of the doctors:
"The Doctors here dont have any thing fit to give any one and the bigest of them dont know how to doctor a hen anyway. They take the wounded men legs and arms off half the time. when there is no need of it, do it practice there has been a number of times I have heard of that...The Doct of the Regt was a clerk in an apothecary shop..."
Leonard's diary begins in August 1864, apparently when he was appointed to drive an ambulance. His entries are short and refer mostly to his daily activities: who or what he was conveying to and from the hospital at City Point outside Petersburg; what letters he sent or received; war news; or when he attended religious meetings. Shortly before the diary ends in April 1865, he notes the firing of guns and cannons "for the death of abram Lincoln President of the U.S. who was shot by a man by the name of Booth." He refers to the death of Lincoln and its effect on the soldiers in several letters, as well. Leonard's own correspondence suggests he kept a previous diary--in August 1864, he inquires if his mother has received the one he sent home--but it is unknown if this diary still exists.
William A. Leonard was born about 1843 to Joel A. (b.1817) and Sophia Leonard (1816-d. before 1880). His parents were both natives of Vermont who moved to Massachusetts. William and his two sisters, Leonora (b. abt. 1852; and who William calls "Nora" in his letters and is later listed as "Mary" in a least one set of census records) and Roselia (b. abt. 1859) were all born in Great Barrington, Berkshire County. It is unknown what line of work William Leonard was in prior to the war, though he was living at home with his family. He was drafted into service in July 1863 for a three year term with Company F, 16th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. In mid-July 1864, the 16th Infantry mustered out. Existing veterans and recruits, Leonard included, were transferred to the 11th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. From at least August of 1864 until Lee's surrender, Leonard served as an ambulance driver, transporting wounded from battlefield to hospital. His unit spent nearly a year in and around Petersburg. While stationed outside Washington, DC, waiting to muster out, Leonard also drove civilians in and around the city. He particularly makes mention of taking family members to hospitals to get news of soldiers. Leonard returned home to Great Barrington in July 1865. In 1880, he was living at home with his father, Leonora and her husband, and Leonora's brother-in-law. At the time, he was employed at a woolen mill. In 1894, he purchased a plumbing and steam fitting business from a former employer. Later census records suggest he was married to a woman named Hattie (probably Henrietta; b. abt. 1863), but it is unknown when. They had daughter, Nellie, in June 1897.
Sources: Ancestry.com Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service. The Metal Worker, vol. XLI, January to June 1894. New York: David Williams, 1894. Via Google Books, November 2011.
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Post-surrender letters emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864/1865
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter, William Leonard to Mother, Camp Near Washington, May 26, 1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-05-26
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Letters
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Language
A language of the resource
English
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106_LeonardWilliam_B1F2_Letter_1865_0526
-
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/f8f8df3d3c273838cff2b4738b7ce5d9.jpg
508b138ee5d5a17ba2366ab86a588bfe
PDF Text
Text
<p>1<sup>st</sup></p>
<p>Camp near
Washington May 25th</p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>I recieved your letter </p>
<p>to night and
was ever so glad </p>
<p>to hear from
you. It seemed a </p>
<p>long time
since I had heard </p>
<p>from you. we
had our Grand </p>
<p>Review
Tuesday and it was </p>
<p>grand I tell
you. the streets </p>
<p>were
decorated with flags, with </p>
<p>mottoes from
every state and </p>
<p>the names of
every Battle. the </p>
<p>Streets were
jamed full of </p>
<p>folks stagings built up. </p>
<p>President
Johnson and all the </p>
<p>rest of the
big bugs were there </p>
<p>and Mr.
Humphrey, came up </p>
<p>to my
ambulance and shook </p>
<p>hands with
me, he said he </p>
<p>would see
me. but he has </p>
<p>not come
yet, I did not </p>
<p>have a
chance to talk with </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>1<sup>st</sup></p>
<p>Camp near
Washington May 25th</p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>I recieved your letter </p>
<p>to night and
was ever so glad </p>
<p>to hear from
you. It seemed a </p>
<p>long time
since I had heard </p>
<p>from you. we
had our Grand </p>
<p>Review
Tuesday and it was </p>
<p>grand I tell
you. the streets </p>
<p>were
decorated with flags, with </p>
<p>mottoes from
every state and </p>
<p>the names of
every Battle. the </p>
<p>Streets were
jamed full of </p>
<p>folks stagings built up. </p>
<p>President
Johnson and all the </p>
<p>rest of the
big bugs were there </p>
<p>and Mr.
Humphrey, came up </p>
<p>to my
ambulance and shook </p>
<p>hands with
me, he said he </p>
<p>would see
me. but he has </p>
<p>not come
yet, I did not </p>
<p>have a
chance to talk with </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-05-25
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/468902486a87b9bad14e9e852ec545be.jpg
50b4e2821b01ecc727271416f0b2b085
PDF Text
Text
<p>him. Did
you get the letter </p>
<p>I mailed at
Richmond. I am </p>
<p>going to fech home my woolen </p>
<p>Blanket +
Rubber. and Over-</p>
<p>coat. and I
have a new Pr of </p>
<p>Pants and a
Cavalry Jacket. </p>
<p>The Pants
cost now $4.75 and </p>
<p>they wont wear very good. some </p>
<p>of them are
good and some are </p>
<p>not. it is
all luck and chance </p>
<p>if you get a
good Pair. you put </p>
<p>your name
down for a pair </p>
<p>and the
number you want. well </p>
<p>when they
come, the Lieut </p>
<p>hands you a
Pair the number </p>
<p>you want.
well prehaps they will </p>
<p>be nice fine
ones and prehaps </p>
<p>coarse one,
you cant take your </p>
<p>pick. all Goverment clothes </p>
<p>want sewing
over again. will </p>
<p>all rip
apart in a week. the Pr. </p>
<p>of pant I am
wearing now I got </p>
<p>in the
winter some time. there </p>
<p>is holes comeing in the knees </p>
<p>now. I think
you can get better </p>
<p>ones home
for the same money </p>
<p>although I dont know. I aint as </p>
<p>fat as I was
in the winter. I am </p>
<p>so sorry
Pas health is so poor </p>
<p>I will write
more tomorrow. </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>him. Did
you get the letter </p>
<p>I mailed at
Richmond. I am </p>
<p>going to fech home my woolen </p>
<p>Blanket +
Rubber. and Over-</p>
<p>coat. and I
have a new Pr of </p>
<p>Pants and a
Cavalry Jacket. </p>
<p>The Pants
cost now $4.75 and </p>
<p>they wont wear very good. some </p>
<p>of them are
good and some are </p>
<p>not. it is
all luck and chance </p>
<p>if you get a
good Pair. you put </p>
<p>your name
down for a pair </p>
<p>and the
number you want. well </p>
<p>when they
come, the Lieut </p>
<p>hands you a
Pair the number </p>
<p>you want.
well prehaps they will </p>
<p>be nice fine
ones and prehaps </p>
<p>coarse one,
you cant take your </p>
<p>pick. all Goverment clothes </p>
<p>want sewing
over again. will </p>
<p>all rip
apart in a week. the Pr. </p>
<p>of pant I am
wearing now I got </p>
<p>in the
winter some time. there </p>
<p>is holes comeing in the knees </p>
<p>now. I think
you can get better </p>
<p>ones home
for the same money </p>
<p>although I dont know. I aint as </p>
<p>fat as I was
in the winter. I am </p>
<p>so sorry
Pa’s health is so poor </p>
<p>I will write
more tomorrow. </p>
Dublin Core
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Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-05-25
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/f6f4b5f826632448c1de9803b2bd8683.jpg
cfe9cb2477f62c45494a426065bf359b
PDF Text
Text
<p>2<sup>nd</sup></p>
<p>I guess I will write a little more</p>
<p>to night. <s>as I am</s> I heard to day</p>
<p>that the Goverment had taken</p>
<p>procession of the Rail Roads</p>
<p>for fifteen or twenty days. If</p>
<p>that is so I dont think I will</p>
<p>see Mr. Humphrey, for I guess</p>
<p>he will have to dig out for they</p>
<p>wont let any Citizens travel on</p>
<p>them. I hear to, to day that</p>
<p>our Corp was going to march</p>
<p>to Baltimore. The 120 N.Y.</p>
<p>+ 11 New Jersey are going home</p>
<p>in a day or two, they are most</p>
<p>all sixty two men. It is my</p>
<p>opinion we will all get out</p>
<p>in a month or so. If they keep</p>
<p>me till the 15<sup>th</sup> of July it will</p>
<p>be two years and I will get</p>
<p>my $75 Bounty, but if they dont</p>
<p>It will be a matter for Goverment</p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>2<sup>nd</sup></p>
<p>I guess I will write a little more</p>
<p>to night. <s>as I am</s> I heard to day</p>
<p>that the Goverment had taken</p>
<p>procession of the Rail Roads</p>
<p>for fifteen or twenty days. If</p>
<p>that is so I dont think I will</p>
<p>see Mr. Humphrey, for I guess</p>
<p>he will have to dig out for they</p>
<p>wont let any Citizens travel on</p>
<p>them. I hear to, to day that</p>
<p>our Corp was going to march</p>
<p>to Baltimore. The 120 N.Y.</p>
<p>+ 11 New Jersey are going home</p>
<p>in a day or two, they are most</p>
<p>all sixty two men. It is my</p>
<p>opinion we will all get out</p>
<p>in a month or so. If they keep</p>
<p>me till the 15<sup>th</sup> of July it will</p>
<p>be two years and I will get</p>
<p>my $75 Bounty, but if they dont</p>
<p>It will be a matter for Goverment</p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-05-25
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/f63d6df6ae185fd2eb4de677456166c1.jpg
e436ee02722df71651d9a905218c23f2
PDF Text
Text
<p>to
decide. The Goverment use the </p>
<p>soldiers
real mean in some </p>
<p>things.
there was a man here </p>
<p>wose wife was dead and they </p>
<p>would not
let him go home </p>
<p>to bury her.
and another who’s </p>
<p>Father was
very sick they </p>
<p>would not
let go. but I suppose </p>
<p>it was the
Corps General who </p>
<p>would not sine it. there </p>
<p>are so many
rumors one dont know </p>
<p>what to
believe. one thing I dont </p>
<p>want to go
to Texas. who is </p>
<p>Nora Candie is it my old teachers </p>
<p>sister. The
Troops and all marched </p>
<p>all the war
from Burkesville [Burkeville, VA], could </p>
<p>not get
transports. about the time </p>
<p>comeing through Richmond you </p>
<p>see our
train was next to the </p>
<p>troops and
the 1<sup>st</sup> Divis Heavy </p>
<p>train came
in on a cross road </p>
<p>a run right
in front of the </p>
<p>Doctors. it
was their fault </p>
<p>letting them
run in so. they </p>
<p>were leading
the train. when our </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>to
decide. The Goverment use the </p>
<p>soldiers
real mean in some </p>
<p>things.
there was a man here </p>
<p>wose wife was dead and they </p>
<p>would not
let him go home </p>
<p>to bury her.
and another who’s </p>
<p>Father was
very sick they </p>
<p>would not
let go. but I suppose </p>
<p>it was the
Corps General who </p>
<p>would not sine it. there </p>
<p>are so many
rumors one dont know </p>
<p>what to
believe. one thing I dont </p>
<p>want to go
to Texas. who is </p>
<p>Nora Candie is it my old teachers </p>
<p>sister. The
Troops and all marched </p>
<p>all the war
from Burkesville [Burkeville, VA], could </p>
<p>not get
transports. about the time </p>
<p>comeing through Richmond you </p>
<p>see our
train was next to the </p>
<p>troops and
the 1<sup>st</sup> Divis Heavy </p>
<p>train came
in on a cross road </p>
<p>a run right
in front of the </p>
<p>Doctors. it
was their fault </p>
<p>letting them
run in so. they </p>
<p>were leading
the train. when our </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-05-25
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/5263d7d9b73e0d02f40c356c82ad48ed.jpg
40a9b7f06c2a74253fbc3c276fd3ca94
PDF Text
Text
<p>Lieut found it out he made a fuss </p>
<p>about it and
they all got into a </p>
<p>fight over it.
one of our sergeants breaks </p>
<p>through
their train + we followed him </p>
<p>you see by
keeping close up close to- </p>
<p>gether they could not get through </p>
<p>his horse
kicked the mules. it was </p>
<p>a great
time, shouting to horses men </p>
<p>swearing + every thing. Lieut Pancoast </p>
<p>came back
and we went it over the </p>
<p>pavements on
a dead run, we would </p>
<p>cut their
train and away we would </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>Lieut found it out he made a fuss </p>
<p>about it and
they all got into a </p>
<p>fight over it.
one of our sergeants breaks </p>
<p>through
their train + we followed him </p>
<p>you see by
keeping close up close to- </p>
<p>gether they could not get through </p>
<p>his horse
kicked the mules. it was </p>
<p>a great
time, shouting to horses men </p>
<p>swearing + every thing. Lieut Pancoast </p>
<p>came back
and we went it over the </p>
<p>pavements on
a dead run, we would </p>
<p>cut their
train and away we would </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-05-25
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/dd9b3e73f1aef811899e2ecb9440de0d.jpg
eba558f78484b6a9f10797bc94138fb1
PDF Text
Text
<p>go it.
blind as the boys call it. wall </p>
<p>after a hard
struggle we got through </p>
<p>ahead of
them. you see the Trains </p>
<p>are so long
it takes an hour nearly </p>
<p>for them to
pass. and on a march the </p>
<p>train on the
lead of the Corps </p>
<p>stops at
dark and them in the </p>
<p>rear wont get up till ten or eleven </p>
<p>oclock, they take turns of going </p>
<p>ahead. I
tell you an Army is a </p>
<p>big machine
to run. you say we </p>
<p>had ought to
stop before dark. we dont </p>
<p>have the say in such things. the line of </p>
<p>march is all
laid out by the Corps Gen </p>
<p>how many
miles and you have to go it </p>
<p>if it takes
till morning. you know but </p>
<p>little about
an army. it is like being a slave. </p>
<p> </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>go it.
blind as the boys call it. wall </p>
<p>after a hard
struggle we got through </p>
<p>ahead of
them. you see the Trains </p>
<p>are so long
it takes an hour nearly </p>
<p>for them to
pass. and on a march the </p>
<p>train on the
lead of the Corps </p>
<p>stops at
dark and them in the </p>
<p>rear wont get up till ten or eleven </p>
<p>oclock, they take turns of going </p>
<p>ahead. I
tell you an Army is a </p>
<p>big machine
to run. you say we </p>
<p>had ought to
stop before dark. we dont </p>
<p>have the say in such things. the line of </p>
<p>march is all
laid out by the Corps Gen </p>
<p>how many
miles and you have to go it </p>
<p>if it takes
till morning. you know but </p>
<p>little about
an army. it is like being a slave. </p>
<p> </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-05-25
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/d661d75093fdaa0e01f6f2ad46a5ddfa.jpg
5b665754d0f40dcd93ecac101de611d1
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
William A. Leonard Papers, 1864-1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Diaries.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Description
An account of the resource
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Letters following Lee's surrender emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge and payment. All the letters in this collection were written home to Leonard's parents, usually his mother. He continually reassures her not to worry about him, requests various things from home (especially stamps), and talks about his daily life. He frequently writes about plans for when he gets home. Leonard's religious sentiments also recur throughout his correspondence. He also includes war news and who he has seen, though he reveals his priorities and lack of interest in being a soldier, saying in March 1865:
"we have got a good man to steer the machine, that fellow they call U. S. Grant. Sheridan & Sherman are giving them fits. I have seen Grant & Mede a number of times this summer I had a great deal rather see you + Pa. I dont want to see Nora because she wanted me to go soldiering"
Although battle descriptions are not necessarily the focus of Leonard's letters, his 1864 correspondence contains details of being fired upon a Petersburg, of picket duty, and later, of transporting injured men. In June 1865, he writes several letters detailing the sight of unburied dead men and horses and the sound of fighting from the front at Petersburg. In May 1865, he writes of the incompetence of the doctors:
"The Doctors here dont have any thing fit to give any one and the bigest of them dont know how to doctor a hen anyway. They take the wounded men legs and arms off half the time. when there is no need of it, do it practice there has been a number of times I have heard of that...The Doct of the Regt was a clerk in an apothecary shop..."
Leonard's diary begins in August 1864, apparently when he was appointed to drive an ambulance. His entries are short and refer mostly to his daily activities: who or what he was conveying to and from the hospital at City Point outside Petersburg; what letters he sent or received; war news; or when he attended religious meetings. Shortly before the diary ends in April 1865, he notes the firing of guns and cannons "for the death of abram Lincoln President of the U.S. who was shot by a man by the name of Booth." He refers to the death of Lincoln and its effect on the soldiers in several letters, as well. Leonard's own correspondence suggests he kept a previous diary--in August 1864, he inquires if his mother has received the one he sent home--but it is unknown if this diary still exists.
William A. Leonard was born about 1843 to Joel A. (b.1817) and Sophia Leonard (1816-d. before 1880). His parents were both natives of Vermont who moved to Massachusetts. William and his two sisters, Leonora (b. abt. 1852; and who William calls "Nora" in his letters and is later listed as "Mary" in a least one set of census records) and Roselia (b. abt. 1859) were all born in Great Barrington, Berkshire County. It is unknown what line of work William Leonard was in prior to the war, though he was living at home with his family. He was drafted into service in July 1863 for a three year term with Company F, 16th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. In mid-July 1864, the 16th Infantry mustered out. Existing veterans and recruits, Leonard included, were transferred to the 11th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. From at least August of 1864 until Lee's surrender, Leonard served as an ambulance driver, transporting wounded from battlefield to hospital. His unit spent nearly a year in and around Petersburg. While stationed outside Washington, DC, waiting to muster out, Leonard also drove civilians in and around the city. He particularly makes mention of taking family members to hospitals to get news of soldiers. Leonard returned home to Great Barrington in July 1865. In 1880, he was living at home with his father, Leonora and her husband, and Leonora's brother-in-law. At the time, he was employed at a woolen mill. In 1894, he purchased a plumbing and steam fitting business from a former employer. Later census records suggest he was married to a woman named Hattie (probably Henrietta; b. abt. 1863), but it is unknown when. They had daughter, Nellie, in June 1897.
Sources: Ancestry.com Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service. The Metal Worker, vol. XLI, January to June 1894. New York: David Williams, 1894. Via Google Books, November 2011.
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Post-surrender letters emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864/1865
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter, William Leonard to Mother, Camp Near Washington, May 25, 1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-05-25
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Letters
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Language
A language of the resource
English
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106_LeonardWilliam_B1F2_Letter_1865_0525
-
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/22bcd38b3cdf358ff4f02c5dc1cbb831.jpg
ffbd925d3d22770f695d1b8a7b9d8582
PDF Text
Text
<p>Camp
near Washington May 18th</p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>We are in
Camp </p>
<p>once more
and no Rebs </p>
<p>to bother
us. It dont seem </p>
<p>as if it
could be; the war </p>
<p>over and no
more fighting </p>
<p>to do. We
had a pretty long </p>
<p>march from
Burkesville [Burkeville, VA] </p>
<p>here most
two hundred miles </p>
<p>passed through
that famous </p>
<p>Rebel strong
hold, Richmond </p>
<p>I will bet
it made some </p>
<p>of the Scitizens there feel </p>
<p>quer to see the Yankee </p>
<p>Army pass
through their </p>
<p>Capital with
flags flying </p>
<p>+ Bands
playing </p>
<p>patriotic
songs. We crossed </p>
<p>Bell Island
went by Libby </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>Camp
near Washington May 18th</p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>We are in
Camp </p>
<p>once more
and no Rebs </p>
<p>to bother
us. It dont seem </p>
<p>as if it
could be; the war </p>
<p>over and no
more fighting </p>
<p>to do. We
had a pretty long </p>
<p>march from
Burkesville [Burkeville, VA] </p>
<p>here most
two hundred miles </p>
<p>passed through
that famous </p>
<p>Rebel strong
hold, Richmond </p>
<p>I will bet
it made some </p>
<p>of the Scitizens there feel </p>
<p>quer to see the Yankee </p>
<p>Army pass
through their </p>
<p>Capital with
flags flying </p>
<p>+ Bands
playing </p>
<p>patriotic
songs. We crossed </p>
<p>Bell Island
went by Libby </p>
Dublin Core
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Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-05-18
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bc69a4ff297bc258bbaf4da940dab158
PDF Text
Text
<table>
<tbody>
<tr><th>Left Page</th><th>Right Page</th></tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>Prison. We went so fast by</p>
<p>that part of the City I</p>
<p>did not have a chance to</p>
<p>see much. the 1<sup>st</sup> Division</p>
<p>Supply train tryed to cut</p>
<p>us off, <s>but we</s> had a fight</p>
<p>over it. we got through first</p>
<p>after a while had the Horses</p>
<p>under a dead run some</p>
<p>of the way. it made things</p>
<p>gingle over the pavements.</p>
<p>one of the Red Diamonds got</p>
<p>a black eye + one of the 1<sup>st</sup></p>
<p>Divis. fellows got his head cut</p>
<p>open. one night just before</p>
<p>dark there came up a</p>
<p>heavy thunder shower and</p>
<p>it raised a small stream</p>
<p>so that the water run through</p>
<p>the body of the Ambulances</p>
<p>run terrible swift my</p>
<p>horses were most covered up</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>one team had to swim. the</p>
<p><s>1st Div</s> 2<sup>nd</sup> Divis Train was</p>
<p>behind us + it come up so</p>
<p>they had to stay on the other</p>
<p>side till morning. two or three</p>
<p>of them that undertook to get</p>
<p>across tiped over, the water</p>
<p>run so swift. After we got</p>
<p>across we came into a woods</p>
<p>+ it was so dark we could</p>
<p>not see the Ambulance before</p>
<p>us. then the Lightning was</p>
<p>so sharp it would blind you</p>
<p>the roads were bad + we</p>
<p>were wet + cold. stoped for</p>
<p>the nigh just fed the Horses</p>
<p>and <s>crawled</s> craled up on to</p>
<p>the seat (ambulance was</p>
<p>full of sick) and went to sleep</p>
<p>without any supper. waked</p>
<p>up in the morning half</p>
<p>froze. had to lay all cramped</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<table>
<tbody>
<tr><th>Left Page</th><th>Right Page</th></tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>Prison. We went so fast by</p>
<p>that part of the City I</p>
<p>did not have a chance to</p>
<p>see much. the 1<sup>st</sup> Division</p>
<p>Supply train tryed to cut</p>
<p>us off, <s>but we</s> had a fight</p>
<p>over it. we got through first</p>
<p>after a while had the Horses</p>
<p>under a dead run some</p>
<p>of the way. it made things</p>
<p>gingle over the pavements.</p>
<p>one of the Red Diamonds got</p>
<p>a black eye + one of the 1<sup>st</sup></p>
<p>Divis. fellows got his head cut</p>
<p>open. one night just before</p>
<p>dark there came up a</p>
<p>heavy thunder shower and</p>
<p>it raised a small stream</p>
<p>so that the water run through</p>
<p>the body of the Ambulances</p>
<p>run terrible swift my</p>
<p>horses were most covered up</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>one team had to swim. the</p>
<p><s>1st Div</s> 2<sup>nd</sup> Divis Train was</p>
<p>behind us + it come up so</p>
<p>they had to stay on the other</p>
<p>side till morning. two or three</p>
<p>of them that undertook to get</p>
<p>across tiped over, the water</p>
<p>run so swift. After we got</p>
<p>across we came into a woods</p>
<p>+ it was so dark we could</p>
<p>not see the Ambulance before</p>
<p>us. then the Lightning was</p>
<p>so sharp it would blind you</p>
<p>the roads were bad + we</p>
<p>were wet + cold. stoped for</p>
<p>the nigh just fed the Horses</p>
<p>and <s>crawled</s> craled up on to</p>
<p>the seat (ambulance was</p>
<p>full of sick) and went to sleep</p>
<p>without any supper. waked</p>
<p>up in the morning half</p>
<p>froze. had to lay all cramped</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-05-18
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e305b5cfb5b81b59afba01ea6c683fee
PDF Text
Text
<p>up, was
not room on the seat </p>
<p>to stretch
out. that is one nights </p>
<p>experiance Soldiering. They </p>
<p>say there is
going to be a big </p>
<p>Revew of the Army. I hope </p>
<p>not, it is
all noncense, if </p>
<p>they had
been to the front </p>
<p>all the time
they would not </p>
<p>want any Revew. </p>
<p>I have not
had a letter </p>
<p>from you
since I was at </p>
<p>Burkesville
[Burkeville, VA]. I am afraid </p>
<p>there is
something the matter </p>
<p>if any of
you are sick I </p>
<p>want to know
it. I mailed </p>
<p>Abbie Turner
a letter yesterday </p>
<p>It has been
very hot here </p>
<p>for a day or
two. we have a </p>
<p>very cool
place for a Camp </p>
<p>on a hill. I
can see the doome </p>
<p>of the Capital.
Tell Pa to keep </p>
<p>up good
spirits now the war </p>
<p>is over.
guess it wont be </p>
<p>many months
before I get </p>
<p>home. Give
my love to all </p>
<p>friends. do
you ever hear </p>
<p>from Aunt
Mary. do write </p>
<p>often. you
see I write often </p>
<p>when I can
mail letters. </p>
<p>From your
Willie</p>
<p> </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>up, was
not room on the seat </p>
<p>to stretch
out. that is one nights </p>
<p>experiance Soldiering. They </p>
<p>say there is
going to be a big </p>
<p>Revew of the Army. I hope </p>
<p>not, it is
all noncense, if </p>
<p>they had
been to the front </p>
<p>all the time
they would not </p>
<p>want any Revew. </p>
<p>I have not
had a letter </p>
<p>from you
since I was at </p>
<p>Burkesville
[Burkeville, VA]. I am afraid </p>
<p>there is
something the matter </p>
<p>if any of
you are sick I </p>
<p>want to know
it. I mailed </p>
<p>Abbie Turner
a letter yesterday </p>
<p>It has been
very hot here </p>
<p>for a day or
two. we have a </p>
<p>very cool
place for a Camp </p>
<p>on a hill. I
can see the doome </p>
<p>of the Capital.
Tell Pa to keep </p>
<p>up good
spirits now the war </p>
<p>is over.
guess it wont be </p>
<p>many months
before I get </p>
<p>home. Give
my love to all </p>
<p>friends. do
you ever hear </p>
<p>from Aunt
Mary. do write </p>
<p>often. you
see I write often </p>
<p>when I can
mail letters. </p>
<p>From your
Willie</p>
<p> </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-05-18
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/6700bddc5044d8f79accdfdcf776ce2e.jpg
cc55f9e309d0c0f20e1c5fdec6967f76
Dublin Core
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Title
A name given to the resource
William A. Leonard Papers, 1864-1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Diaries.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Description
An account of the resource
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Letters following Lee's surrender emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge and payment. All the letters in this collection were written home to Leonard's parents, usually his mother. He continually reassures her not to worry about him, requests various things from home (especially stamps), and talks about his daily life. He frequently writes about plans for when he gets home. Leonard's religious sentiments also recur throughout his correspondence. He also includes war news and who he has seen, though he reveals his priorities and lack of interest in being a soldier, saying in March 1865:
"we have got a good man to steer the machine, that fellow they call U. S. Grant. Sheridan & Sherman are giving them fits. I have seen Grant & Mede a number of times this summer I had a great deal rather see you + Pa. I dont want to see Nora because she wanted me to go soldiering"
Although battle descriptions are not necessarily the focus of Leonard's letters, his 1864 correspondence contains details of being fired upon a Petersburg, of picket duty, and later, of transporting injured men. In June 1865, he writes several letters detailing the sight of unburied dead men and horses and the sound of fighting from the front at Petersburg. In May 1865, he writes of the incompetence of the doctors:
"The Doctors here dont have any thing fit to give any one and the bigest of them dont know how to doctor a hen anyway. They take the wounded men legs and arms off half the time. when there is no need of it, do it practice there has been a number of times I have heard of that...The Doct of the Regt was a clerk in an apothecary shop..."
Leonard's diary begins in August 1864, apparently when he was appointed to drive an ambulance. His entries are short and refer mostly to his daily activities: who or what he was conveying to and from the hospital at City Point outside Petersburg; what letters he sent or received; war news; or when he attended religious meetings. Shortly before the diary ends in April 1865, he notes the firing of guns and cannons "for the death of abram Lincoln President of the U.S. who was shot by a man by the name of Booth." He refers to the death of Lincoln and its effect on the soldiers in several letters, as well. Leonard's own correspondence suggests he kept a previous diary--in August 1864, he inquires if his mother has received the one he sent home--but it is unknown if this diary still exists.
William A. Leonard was born about 1843 to Joel A. (b.1817) and Sophia Leonard (1816-d. before 1880). His parents were both natives of Vermont who moved to Massachusetts. William and his two sisters, Leonora (b. abt. 1852; and who William calls "Nora" in his letters and is later listed as "Mary" in a least one set of census records) and Roselia (b. abt. 1859) were all born in Great Barrington, Berkshire County. It is unknown what line of work William Leonard was in prior to the war, though he was living at home with his family. He was drafted into service in July 1863 for a three year term with Company F, 16th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. In mid-July 1864, the 16th Infantry mustered out. Existing veterans and recruits, Leonard included, were transferred to the 11th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. From at least August of 1864 until Lee's surrender, Leonard served as an ambulance driver, transporting wounded from battlefield to hospital. His unit spent nearly a year in and around Petersburg. While stationed outside Washington, DC, waiting to muster out, Leonard also drove civilians in and around the city. He particularly makes mention of taking family members to hospitals to get news of soldiers. Leonard returned home to Great Barrington in July 1865. In 1880, he was living at home with his father, Leonora and her husband, and Leonora's brother-in-law. At the time, he was employed at a woolen mill. In 1894, he purchased a plumbing and steam fitting business from a former employer. Later census records suggest he was married to a woman named Hattie (probably Henrietta; b. abt. 1863), but it is unknown when. They had daughter, Nellie, in June 1897.
Sources: Ancestry.com Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service. The Metal Worker, vol. XLI, January to June 1894. New York: David Williams, 1894. Via Google Books, November 2011.
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Post-surrender letters emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864/1865
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter, William Leonard to Mother, Camp Near Washington, May 18, 1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
Civil War
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-05-18
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Letters
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Language
A language of the resource
English
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106_LeonardWilliam_B1F2_Letter_1865_0518
-
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/f6c3dd29a05b0fbc5add726708ad1206.jpg
e93d63209514713c47ab7a450620daa3
PDF Text
Text
<p>[<em>Continued from page 2</em>]</p>
<p>let us</p>
<p>go home</p>
<p>good</p>
<p>bye</p>
<p>for this</p>
<p>time</p>
<p>Love to</p>
<p>all</p>
<p>From</p>
<p>Willie</p>
<p>Alexandria May</p>
<p>14</p>
<p>Park about three miles from</p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>I once more</p>
<p>seat myself to write you</p>
<p>a few lines. the last letter</p>
<p>I wrote was at Richmond.</p>
<p>we have had a pretty long</p>
<p>march. about two hundred</p>
<p>miles. had a great time</p>
<p>foarding rivers. there</p>
<p>came up a storm and</p>
<p>raised them so the water</p>
<p>was most over the Horses</p>
<p>backs, run through the</p>
<p>body of the wagon. we</p>
<p>can see Alexandria from</p>
<p>here. The Paper states this</p>
<p>morning that Jeff Davis [Jefferson Davis]</p>
<p>is captured it seems</p>
<p>to be official. I thought</p>
<p>I would write this to</p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>
[<i>Continued from page 2</i>] </p>
<p>let us </p>
<p>go home </p>
<p>good </p>
<p>bye </p>
<p>for this </p>
<p>time </p>
<p>Love to </p>
<p>all </p>
<p>From </p>
<p>Willie</p>
<p>Alexandria
May </p>
<p>14</p>
<p>Park about
three miles from </p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>I once more </p>
<p>seat myself
to write you </p>
<p>a few lines.
the last letter </p>
<p>I wrote was
at Richmond. </p>
<p>we have had
a pretty long </p>
<p>march. about
two hundred </p>
<p>miles. had a
great time </p>
<p>foarding rivers. there </p>
<p>came up a
storm and </p>
<p>raised them
so the water </p>
<p>was most
over the Horses </p>
<p>backs, run
through the </p>
<p>body of the
wagon. we </p>
<p>can see
Alexandria from </p>
<p>here. The
Paper states this </p>
<p>morning that
Jeff Davis [Jefferson Davis] </p>
<p>is captured
it seems </p>
<p>to be
official. I thought </p>
<p>I would
write this to </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-05-14
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53856d05c60bf74da2a16b756863baf0
PDF Text
Text
<p>let you know where I</p>
<p>was. I am glad I did</p>
<p>not have to march all the</p>
<p>way afoot. when I got</p>
<p>tired riding on the seat</p>
<p>would trade with the</p>
<p>Sargents + ride Horse-back</p>
<p>Now the question is what</p>
<p>are they going to do with</p>
<p>us, some say one thing</p>
<p>and some another, I am</p>
<p>more uneasy than</p>
<p>ever, if they are going to</p>
<p>keep me I want a furlow</p>
<p>home. now the war is</p>
<p>over I want to get home</p>
<p>Monday 15. We are going to</p>
<p>move into Camp to day.</p>
<p>I suppose it will be three</p>
<p>or four months before we</p>
<p>find out what we will</p>
<p>do I hear they are going to</p>
<p>keep the years men and</p>
<p> </p>
<p>[<em>Continued on page 1</em>]</p>
<p>let us</p>
<p>go home</p>
<p>good</p>
<p>bye</p>
<p>for this</p>
<p>time</p>
<p>Love to</p>
<p>all</p>
<p>From</p>
<p>Willie</p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>let you know
where I </p>
<p>was. I am
glad I did </p>
<p>not have to
march all the </p>
<p>way afoot.
when I got </p>
<p>tired riding
on the seat </p>
<p>would trade
with the </p>
<p>Sargents + ride Horse-back </p>
<p>Now the question
is what </p>
<p>are they
going to do with </p>
<p>us, some say
one thing </p>
<p>and some
another, I am </p>
<p>more uneasy than
</p>
<p>ever, if
they are going to </p>
<p>keep me I
want a furlow </p>
<p>home. now
the war is </p>
<p>over I want
to get home </p>
<p>Monday 15.
We are going to </p>
<p>move into
Camp to day. </p>
<p>I suppose it
will be three </p>
<p>or four
months before we </p>
<p>find out
what we will </p>
<p>do I hear they
are going to </p>
<p>keep the
years men and</p>
<p> </p>
[<i>Continued on page 1</i>] </p>
<p>let us </p>
<p>go home </p>
<p>good </p>
<p>bye </p>
<p>for this </p>
<p>time </p>
<p>Love to </p>
<p>all </p>
<p>From </p>
<p>Willie</p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-05-14
1865-05-15
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/f2cb8b37ef0cfdbd44e1a273c01b0ebb.jpg
13f757fa60379d11c33dc5ee72bdf276
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
William A. Leonard Papers, 1864-1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Diaries.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Description
An account of the resource
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Letters following Lee's surrender emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge and payment. All the letters in this collection were written home to Leonard's parents, usually his mother. He continually reassures her not to worry about him, requests various things from home (especially stamps), and talks about his daily life. He frequently writes about plans for when he gets home. Leonard's religious sentiments also recur throughout his correspondence. He also includes war news and who he has seen, though he reveals his priorities and lack of interest in being a soldier, saying in March 1865:
"we have got a good man to steer the machine, that fellow they call U. S. Grant. Sheridan & Sherman are giving them fits. I have seen Grant & Mede a number of times this summer I had a great deal rather see you + Pa. I dont want to see Nora because she wanted me to go soldiering"
Although battle descriptions are not necessarily the focus of Leonard's letters, his 1864 correspondence contains details of being fired upon a Petersburg, of picket duty, and later, of transporting injured men. In June 1865, he writes several letters detailing the sight of unburied dead men and horses and the sound of fighting from the front at Petersburg. In May 1865, he writes of the incompetence of the doctors:
"The Doctors here dont have any thing fit to give any one and the bigest of them dont know how to doctor a hen anyway. They take the wounded men legs and arms off half the time. when there is no need of it, do it practice there has been a number of times I have heard of that...The Doct of the Regt was a clerk in an apothecary shop..."
Leonard's diary begins in August 1864, apparently when he was appointed to drive an ambulance. His entries are short and refer mostly to his daily activities: who or what he was conveying to and from the hospital at City Point outside Petersburg; what letters he sent or received; war news; or when he attended religious meetings. Shortly before the diary ends in April 1865, he notes the firing of guns and cannons "for the death of abram Lincoln President of the U.S. who was shot by a man by the name of Booth." He refers to the death of Lincoln and its effect on the soldiers in several letters, as well. Leonard's own correspondence suggests he kept a previous diary--in August 1864, he inquires if his mother has received the one he sent home--but it is unknown if this diary still exists.
William A. Leonard was born about 1843 to Joel A. (b.1817) and Sophia Leonard (1816-d. before 1880). His parents were both natives of Vermont who moved to Massachusetts. William and his two sisters, Leonora (b. abt. 1852; and who William calls "Nora" in his letters and is later listed as "Mary" in a least one set of census records) and Roselia (b. abt. 1859) were all born in Great Barrington, Berkshire County. It is unknown what line of work William Leonard was in prior to the war, though he was living at home with his family. He was drafted into service in July 1863 for a three year term with Company F, 16th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. In mid-July 1864, the 16th Infantry mustered out. Existing veterans and recruits, Leonard included, were transferred to the 11th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. From at least August of 1864 until Lee's surrender, Leonard served as an ambulance driver, transporting wounded from battlefield to hospital. His unit spent nearly a year in and around Petersburg. While stationed outside Washington, DC, waiting to muster out, Leonard also drove civilians in and around the city. He particularly makes mention of taking family members to hospitals to get news of soldiers. Leonard returned home to Great Barrington in July 1865. In 1880, he was living at home with his father, Leonora and her husband, and Leonora's brother-in-law. At the time, he was employed at a woolen mill. In 1894, he purchased a plumbing and steam fitting business from a former employer. Later census records suggest he was married to a woman named Hattie (probably Henrietta; b. abt. 1863), but it is unknown when. They had daughter, Nellie, in June 1897.
Sources: Ancestry.com Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service. The Metal Worker, vol. XLI, January to June 1894. New York: David Williams, 1894. Via Google Books, November 2011.
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Post-surrender letters emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864/1865
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter, William Leonard to Mother, Alexandria Va., May 14, 1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
Civil War
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-05-14
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Letters
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Language
A language of the resource
English
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106_LeonardWilliam_B1F2_Letter_1865_0514
-
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/ddc0e48fe90a1dbaeb36fba424f64fb9.jpg
6a55d024231b42d13d0191969017e813
PDF Text
Text
<p>Park
near Richmond May 5</p>
<p>Dear Mother</p>
<p>We arrived
near </p>
<p>Richmond
last night about </p>
<p>one oclock at night after </p>
<p>marching all
day. The roads </p>
<p>are good,
but it is raining </p>
<p>+ will make
them muddy. </p>
<p>The order is
now that the </p>
<p>Troops are
going by Transports </p>
<p>to
Washington and the </p>
<p>Train by
land. I had </p>
<p>about as [?]
go by </p>
<p>land as any
way dont </p>
<p>like to be crowded
</p>
<p>on them. we
can make </p>
<p>Washington
in five or six </p>
<p>days any
way. we all think </p>
<p>Officers +
all that each </p>
<p>Regiment
will be sent </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>Park
near Richmond May 5</p>
<p>Dear Mother</p>
<p>We arrived
near </p>
<p>Richmond
last night about </p>
<p>one oclock at night after </p>
<p>marching all
day. The roads </p>
<p>are good,
but it is raining </p>
<p>+ will make
them muddy. </p>
<p>The order is
now that the </p>
<p>Troops are
going by Transports </p>
<p>to
Washington and the </p>
<p>Train by
land. I had </p>
<p>about as [?]
go by </p>
<p>land as any
way dont </p>
<p>like to be crowded
</p>
<p>on them. we
can make </p>
<p>Washington
in five or six </p>
<p>days any
way. we all think </p>
<p>Officers +
all that each </p>
<p>Regiment
will be sent </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-05-05
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/2be05c3a65beb4cc97667b85a8895952.jpg
800bfc69310c1cc02e86606716e4fda6
PDF Text
Text
<p>to their
own states + </p>
<p>disbanded.
that is the way </p>
<p>the 6<sup>th</sup>
Corp did. I hope </p>
<p>I will get a
chance to </p>
<p>mail this
before starting </p>
<p>on the
march. we have </p>
<p>been three
days comeing </p>
<p>from Burkesville
[Burkeville, VA] </p>
<p>I hope they
will let us </p>
<p>go through
Richmond </p>
<p>I want to
see the place </p>
<p>well I cant write much </p>
<p>before many
weeks. I send </p>
<p>this just to
let you know </p>
<p>where I am.
Love to all </p>
<p>From Willie.</p>
<p> </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>to their
own states + </p>
<p>disbanded.
that is the way </p>
<p>the 6<sup>th</sup>
Corp did. I hope </p>
<p>I will get a
chance to </p>
<p>mail this
before starting </p>
<p>on the
march. we have </p>
<p>been three
days comeing </p>
<p>from Burkesville
[Burkeville, VA] </p>
<p>I hope they
will let us </p>
<p>go through
Richmond </p>
<p>I want to
see the place </p>
<p>well I cant write much </p>
<p>before many
weeks. I send </p>
<p>this just to
let you know </p>
<p>where I am.
Love to all </p>
<p>From Willie.</p>
<p> </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-05-05
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/dc873d8e93755d3f8abe89c641ebfd19.jpg
c428bfa93b795b5284aa124198206c07
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
William A. Leonard Papers, 1864-1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Diaries.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Description
An account of the resource
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Letters following Lee's surrender emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge and payment. All the letters in this collection were written home to Leonard's parents, usually his mother. He continually reassures her not to worry about him, requests various things from home (especially stamps), and talks about his daily life. He frequently writes about plans for when he gets home. Leonard's religious sentiments also recur throughout his correspondence. He also includes war news and who he has seen, though he reveals his priorities and lack of interest in being a soldier, saying in March 1865:
"we have got a good man to steer the machine, that fellow they call U. S. Grant. Sheridan & Sherman are giving them fits. I have seen Grant & Mede a number of times this summer I had a great deal rather see you + Pa. I dont want to see Nora because she wanted me to go soldiering"
Although battle descriptions are not necessarily the focus of Leonard's letters, his 1864 correspondence contains details of being fired upon a Petersburg, of picket duty, and later, of transporting injured men. In June 1865, he writes several letters detailing the sight of unburied dead men and horses and the sound of fighting from the front at Petersburg. In May 1865, he writes of the incompetence of the doctors:
"The Doctors here dont have any thing fit to give any one and the bigest of them dont know how to doctor a hen anyway. They take the wounded men legs and arms off half the time. when there is no need of it, do it practice there has been a number of times I have heard of that...The Doct of the Regt was a clerk in an apothecary shop..."
Leonard's diary begins in August 1864, apparently when he was appointed to drive an ambulance. His entries are short and refer mostly to his daily activities: who or what he was conveying to and from the hospital at City Point outside Petersburg; what letters he sent or received; war news; or when he attended religious meetings. Shortly before the diary ends in April 1865, he notes the firing of guns and cannons "for the death of abram Lincoln President of the U.S. who was shot by a man by the name of Booth." He refers to the death of Lincoln and its effect on the soldiers in several letters, as well. Leonard's own correspondence suggests he kept a previous diary--in August 1864, he inquires if his mother has received the one he sent home--but it is unknown if this diary still exists.
William A. Leonard was born about 1843 to Joel A. (b.1817) and Sophia Leonard (1816-d. before 1880). His parents were both natives of Vermont who moved to Massachusetts. William and his two sisters, Leonora (b. abt. 1852; and who William calls "Nora" in his letters and is later listed as "Mary" in a least one set of census records) and Roselia (b. abt. 1859) were all born in Great Barrington, Berkshire County. It is unknown what line of work William Leonard was in prior to the war, though he was living at home with his family. He was drafted into service in July 1863 for a three year term with Company F, 16th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. In mid-July 1864, the 16th Infantry mustered out. Existing veterans and recruits, Leonard included, were transferred to the 11th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. From at least August of 1864 until Lee's surrender, Leonard served as an ambulance driver, transporting wounded from battlefield to hospital. His unit spent nearly a year in and around Petersburg. While stationed outside Washington, DC, waiting to muster out, Leonard also drove civilians in and around the city. He particularly makes mention of taking family members to hospitals to get news of soldiers. Leonard returned home to Great Barrington in July 1865. In 1880, he was living at home with his father, Leonora and her husband, and Leonora's brother-in-law. At the time, he was employed at a woolen mill. In 1894, he purchased a plumbing and steam fitting business from a former employer. Later census records suggest he was married to a woman named Hattie (probably Henrietta; b. abt. 1863), but it is unknown when. They had daughter, Nellie, in June 1897.
Sources: Ancestry.com Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service. The Metal Worker, vol. XLI, January to June 1894. New York: David Williams, 1894. Via Google Books, November 2011.
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Post-surrender letters emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864/1865
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter, William Leonard to Mother, Near Richmond, May 5, 1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
Civil War
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-05-05
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Letters
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Language
A language of the resource
English
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106_LeonardWilliam_B1F2_Letter_1865_0505
-
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/697c073b03b282e2aea442e80bbfa683.jpg
a0b4633763740914b1389dd58cc761a5
PDF Text
Text
<p>No 5 </p>
<p>Camp two
miles from Burkesville [Burkeville, VA] Apr 29</p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>I received
you </p>
<p>letter of
the 23<sup>rd</sup> this morning </p>
<p>an was real
glad to hear </p>
<p>from you. I
mailed you a </p>
<p>letter
yesterday but forgot to </p>
<p>Number it it ought to be No </p>
<p>4 I beleive. I dont beleive </p>
<p>the folks
home felt much </p>
<p>worse about
Lincoln [Abraham Lincoln] than the </p>
<p>Soldiers
did. I tell you if they </p>
<p>could have
got hold of Booth [John Wilkes Booth] </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>No 5 </p>
<p>Camp two
miles from Burkesville [Burkeville, VA] Apr 29</p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>I received
you </p>
<p>letter of
the 23<sup>rd</sup> this morning </p>
<p>an was real
glad to hear </p>
<p>from you. I
mailed you a </p>
<p>letter
yesterday but forgot to </p>
<p>Number it it ought to be No </p>
<p>4 I beleive. I dont beleive </p>
<p>the folks
home felt much </p>
<p>worse about
Lincoln [Abraham Lincoln] than the </p>
<p>Soldiers
did. I tell you if they </p>
<p>could have
got hold of Booth [John Wilkes Booth] </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-04-29
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/364c809ef0a58c5d082069ac5aa5ea3c.jpg
2ef6053e514336a3aa7e0d446a3b3a1e
PDF Text
Text
<p>they would
have killed him by </p>
<p>inches. well
I hear he is shot </p>
<p>was shot
near the Rappahannock </p>
<p>by some of
our detectives. We </p>
<p>got good
news last night </p>
<p>Johnson
[Joseph E. Johnston] has surrendered to Grant [Ulysses S. Grant] </p>
<p>on the same
terms as Lee [Robert E. Lee] did </p>
<p>I tell you
if there was not </p>
<p>some
cheering. now there is </p>
<p>no Rebel
Army in the field </p>
<p>Mosby [John
S. Mosby] has surrendered his men </p>
<p>and run away
himself. his </p>
<p>own men are
after him to </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>they would
have killed him by </p>
<p>inches. well
I hear he is shot </p>
<p>was shot
near the Rappahannock </p>
<p>by some of
our detectives. We </p>
<p>got good
news last night </p>
<p>Johnson
[Joseph E. Johnston] has surrendered to Grant [Ulysses S. Grant] </p>
<p>on the same
terms as Lee [Robert E. Lee] did </p>
<p>I tell you
if there was not </p>
<p>some
cheering. now there is </p>
<p>no Rebel
Army in the field </p>
<p>Mosby [John
S. Mosby] has surrendered his men </p>
<p>and run away
himself. his </p>
<p>own men are
after him to </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-04-29
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/00ba327569c9c2aeb90ed1c319551224.jpg
1e5b48034c8484bbb2ae4a704aa4626e
PDF Text
Text
<p>get the
reward offered for </p>
<p>him. Kerby Smith [Kirby Smith] has disbanded </p>
<p>his forces
and sent them to their </p>
<p>homes. There
is a story here </p>
<p>now that
they have got Jeff </p>
<p>Davis
[Jefferson Davis]. The Soldiers all feel anxious </p>
<p>to get home
now more so than </p>
<p>they did
before Lee [Robert E. Lee] surrendered </p>
<p>because they
know what was </p>
<p>before them
then. now all </p>
<p>absticles are removed. there </p>
<p>would be any
amount of them </p>
<p>if they get
home spend all </p>
<p>their money
and wont work </p>
<p>will enlist
as regulars. I </p>
<p>asked you in
my letter </p>
<p>yesterday if
I should try for </p>
<p>a furlow, but now Johnson [Joseph E. Johnston] </p>
<p>has give up
I dont think it </p>
<p>hardly worth while. as long </p>
<p>as you are
all well. I tell </p>
<p>you let the
Copperheads say </p>
<p>a word when
the Soldiers get </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>get the
reward offered for </p>
<p>him. Kerby Smith [Kirby Smith] has disbanded </p>
<p>his forces
and sent them to their </p>
<p>homes. There
is a story here </p>
<p>now that
they have got Jeff </p>
<p>Davis
[Jefferson Davis]. The Soldiers all feel anxious </p>
<p>to get home
now more so than </p>
<p>they did
before Lee [Robert E. Lee] surrendered </p>
<p>because they
know what was </p>
<p>before them
then. now all </p>
<p>absticles are removed. there </p>
<p>would be any
amount of them </p>
<p>if they get
home spend all </p>
<p>their money
and wont work </p>
<p>will enlist
as regulars. I </p>
<p>asked you in
my letter </p>
<p>yesterday if
I should try for </p>
<p>a furlow, but now Johnson [Joseph E. Johnston] </p>
<p>has give up
I dont think it </p>
<p>hardly worth while. as long </p>
<p>as you are
all well. I tell </p>
<p>you let the
Copperheads say </p>
<p>a word when
the Soldiers get </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-04-29
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/84616bcb9fad3f9e13dfb33df3392cb1.jpg
85991434a05a386cc15450c3e3daf316
PDF Text
Text
<p>home + they
wont live very </p>
<p>long I will warrent you. one </p>
<p>of our Boys
in the Brigade </p>
<p>was home on furlow when </p>
<p>Lincoln
[Abraham Lincoln] was killed one fellow </p>
<p>says he was
glad. This Soldier just </p>
<p>knifes him
on the spot </p>
<p>killed him.
he is back did not </p>
<p>do any thing with him. they </p>
<p>could not
hold him any way </p>
<p>after his furlow was out. if </p>
<p>they wanted
to try him it </p>
<p>would have
to be done by </p>
<p>Court Marshall.
We are getting </p>
<p>ready for
Inspection tomorrow. </p>
<p>How did Pa
act when he heard </p>
<p>of the
Surrender of Lee [Robert E. Lee] Capture </p>
<p>of
Petersburg + Richmond bet </p>
<p>he was glad.
I suppose you </p>
<p>have heard
of Johnsons [Joseph E. Johnston] Surrender </p>
<p>before this.
I am glad you </p>
<p>have a good
Cow. Tell Nora I </p>
<p>guess I could
beat her in a </p>
<p>race to the
Apple treen now </p>
<p>on account
of not haveing </p>
<p>any so long.
what is the matter </p>
<p>Emma Bump dont teach. Give </p>
<p>my love to
Mr. Humphreys folks </p>
<p>+ Mrs. H.
Sister Polly. I mailed </p>
<p>a letter to
Mr. Walker the 19<sup>th</sup> of </p>
<p>April. Keep
up good Spirits, no </p>
<p>more
fighting to do so you need not </p>
<p>worry about
that. From Willie</p>
<p> </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>home + they
wont live very </p>
<p>long I will warrent you. one </p>
<p>of our Boys
in the Brigade </p>
<p>was home on furlow when </p>
<p>Lincoln
[Abraham Lincoln] was killed one fellow </p>
<p>says he was
glad. This Soldier just </p>
<p>knife’s him
on the spot </p>
<p>killed him.
he is back did not </p>
<p>do any thing with him. they </p>
<p>could not
hold him any way </p>
<p>after his furlow was out. if </p>
<p>they wanted
to try him it </p>
<p>would have
to be done by </p>
<p>Court Marshall.
We are getting </p>
<p>ready for
Inspection tomorrow. </p>
<p>How did Pa
act when he heard </p>
<p>of the
Surrender of Lee [Robert E. Lee] Capture </p>
<p>of
Petersburg + Richmond bet </p>
<p>he was glad.
I suppose you </p>
<p>have heard
of Johnsons [Joseph E. Johnston] Surrender </p>
<p>before this.
I am glad you </p>
<p>have a good
Cow. Tell Nora I </p>
<p>guess I could
beat her in a </p>
<p>race to the
Apple treen now </p>
<p>on account
of not haveing </p>
<p>any so long.
what is the matter </p>
<p>Emma Bump dont teach. Give </p>
<p>my love to
Mr. Humphreys folks </p>
<p>+ Mrs. H.
Sister Polly. I mailed </p>
<p>a letter to
Mr. Walker the 19<sup>th</sup> of </p>
<p>April. Keep
up good Spirits, no </p>
<p>more
fighting to do so you need not </p>
<p>worry about
that. From Willie</p>
<p> </p>
Dublin Core
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Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-04-29
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/c5999a5ca9987d6e6b437c1504532482.jpg
ddfcea8ac69dbb2b816e26c1ae9060f9
Dublin Core
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Title
A name given to the resource
William A. Leonard Papers, 1864-1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Diaries.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Description
An account of the resource
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Letters following Lee's surrender emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge and payment. All the letters in this collection were written home to Leonard's parents, usually his mother. He continually reassures her not to worry about him, requests various things from home (especially stamps), and talks about his daily life. He frequently writes about plans for when he gets home. Leonard's religious sentiments also recur throughout his correspondence. He also includes war news and who he has seen, though he reveals his priorities and lack of interest in being a soldier, saying in March 1865:
"we have got a good man to steer the machine, that fellow they call U. S. Grant. Sheridan & Sherman are giving them fits. I have seen Grant & Mede a number of times this summer I had a great deal rather see you + Pa. I dont want to see Nora because she wanted me to go soldiering"
Although battle descriptions are not necessarily the focus of Leonard's letters, his 1864 correspondence contains details of being fired upon a Petersburg, of picket duty, and later, of transporting injured men. In June 1865, he writes several letters detailing the sight of unburied dead men and horses and the sound of fighting from the front at Petersburg. In May 1865, he writes of the incompetence of the doctors:
"The Doctors here dont have any thing fit to give any one and the bigest of them dont know how to doctor a hen anyway. They take the wounded men legs and arms off half the time. when there is no need of it, do it practice there has been a number of times I have heard of that...The Doct of the Regt was a clerk in an apothecary shop..."
Leonard's diary begins in August 1864, apparently when he was appointed to drive an ambulance. His entries are short and refer mostly to his daily activities: who or what he was conveying to and from the hospital at City Point outside Petersburg; what letters he sent or received; war news; or when he attended religious meetings. Shortly before the diary ends in April 1865, he notes the firing of guns and cannons "for the death of abram Lincoln President of the U.S. who was shot by a man by the name of Booth." He refers to the death of Lincoln and its effect on the soldiers in several letters, as well. Leonard's own correspondence suggests he kept a previous diary--in August 1864, he inquires if his mother has received the one he sent home--but it is unknown if this diary still exists.
William A. Leonard was born about 1843 to Joel A. (b.1817) and Sophia Leonard (1816-d. before 1880). His parents were both natives of Vermont who moved to Massachusetts. William and his two sisters, Leonora (b. abt. 1852; and who William calls "Nora" in his letters and is later listed as "Mary" in a least one set of census records) and Roselia (b. abt. 1859) were all born in Great Barrington, Berkshire County. It is unknown what line of work William Leonard was in prior to the war, though he was living at home with his family. He was drafted into service in July 1863 for a three year term with Company F, 16th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. In mid-July 1864, the 16th Infantry mustered out. Existing veterans and recruits, Leonard included, were transferred to the 11th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. From at least August of 1864 until Lee's surrender, Leonard served as an ambulance driver, transporting wounded from battlefield to hospital. His unit spent nearly a year in and around Petersburg. While stationed outside Washington, DC, waiting to muster out, Leonard also drove civilians in and around the city. He particularly makes mention of taking family members to hospitals to get news of soldiers. Leonard returned home to Great Barrington in July 1865. In 1880, he was living at home with his father, Leonora and her husband, and Leonora's brother-in-law. At the time, he was employed at a woolen mill. In 1894, he purchased a plumbing and steam fitting business from a former employer. Later census records suggest he was married to a woman named Hattie (probably Henrietta; b. abt. 1863), but it is unknown when. They had daughter, Nellie, in June 1897.
Sources: Ancestry.com Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service. The Metal Worker, vol. XLI, January to June 1894. New York: David Williams, 1894. Via Google Books, November 2011.
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Post-surrender letters emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864/1865
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter, William Leonard to Mother, Near Burkeville Va., April 29, 1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
Civil War
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-04-29
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Letters
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Language
A language of the resource
English
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106_LeonardWilliam_B1F2_Letter_1865_0429
-
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/0404102e4d2cf827fb3650acff586467.jpg
b057fc332d33b1aee61562319f683e75
PDF Text
Text
<p>No 3</p>
<p>Park two
miles from Burksville [Burkeville, VA] Apr 23</p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>I will again
write </p>
<p>you a few
lines to let you know </p>
<p>we are still
laying in the same </p>
<p>place, as
when I last wrote, but </p>
<p>I dont think we will stay here </p>
<p>long for
they are sending all the </p>
<p>stuf away, I think we will go </p>
<p>towards
Washington before </p>
<p>long. Our
Col. is going to try </p>
<p>+ get our
Regt home by the 12<sup>th</sup></p>
<p>of June and
I guess he will </p>
<p>for it is
the oldest Mass </p>
<p>Regt. in the
field now. I </p>
<p>think it
will depend all on </p>
<p>what Johnson
does. they say </p>
<p>he has
Surrendered but I guess </p>
<p>they dont know any thing </p>
<p>Official
about it. Any way </p>
<p>you need not
worry much </p>
<p>about our haveing much fighting </p>
<p>to do. It is
to bad that </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>No 3</p>
<p>Park two
miles from Burksville [Burkeville, VA] Apr 23</p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>I will again
write </p>
<p>you a few
lines to let you know </p>
<p>we are still
laying in the same </p>
<p>place, as
when I last wrote, but </p>
<p>I dont think we will stay here </p>
<p>long for
they are sending all the </p>
<p>stuf away, I think we will go </p>
<p>towards
Washington before </p>
<p>long. Our
Col. is going to try </p>
<p>+ get our
Regt home by the 12<sup>th</sup> </p>
<p>of June and
I guess he will </p>
<p>for it is
the oldest Mass </p>
<p>Regt. in the
field now. I </p>
<p>think it
will depend all on </p>
<p>what Johnson
does. they say </p>
<p>he has
Surrendered but I guess </p>
<p>they dont know any thing </p>
<p>Official
about it. Any way </p>
<p>you need not
worry much </p>
<p>about our haveing much fighting </p>
<p>to do. It is
to bad that </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-04-23
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/f2dc6489df638980a51bbb3aa466ee28.jpg
def2c96120d5c3472100a22a0ea38769
PDF Text
Text
<p>the
President is Killed. cant be </p>
<p>helped. I am
more uneasy </p>
<p>about
getting home now than </p>
<p>I was
before. seems as if I </p>
<p>could not
wait. I dont like </p>
<p>to be laying
in Camp, time </p>
<p>drags so.
Seven of us the other </p>
<p>day got an
old hand Car and </p>
<p>put it on
the track + went up </p>
<p>to Rice
Station about seven </p>
<p>miles + back
for the fun of it </p>
<p>the Cars dont run between </p>
<p>here + farmsville [Farmville, VA], they only </p>
<p>altered the
track up as Burke </p>
<p>Station. the
track is wider </p>
<p>than our track.
there is </p>
<p>a Picket on
now so we cant </p>
<p>leave Camp.
got the old hand </p>
<p>Car up a
steep bank about </p>
<p>thirty feet,
fun was it not. I </p>
<p>hear the 9<sup>th</sup>
Corps have gone to </p>
<p>Washington.
Would it not be </p>
<p>nice to
march through Boston </p>
<p>what will
the folks do North </p>
<p>with all us
Soldiers when we </p>
<p>get home. wont be room for us </p>
<p>will there.
I ant a bit sorry </p>
<p>I came, be
you, I hant got much </p>
<p>news to
write dont get many papers </p>
<p>write soon, does
me good to get </p>
<p>letters.
Willie</p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>the
President is Killed. cant be </p>
<p>helped. I am
more uneasy </p>
<p>about
getting home now than </p>
<p>I was
before. seems as if I </p>
<p>could not
wait. I dont like </p>
<p>to be laying
in Camp, time </p>
<p>drags so.
Seven of us the other </p>
<p>day got an
old hand Car and </p>
<p>put it on
the track + went up </p>
<p>to Rice
Station about seven </p>
<p>miles + back
for the fun of it </p>
<p>the Cars dont run between </p>
<p>here + farmsville [Farmville, VA], they only </p>
<p>altered the
track up as Burke </p>
<p>Station. the
track is wider </p>
<p>than our track.
there is </p>
<p>a Picket on
now so we cant </p>
<p>leave Camp.
got the old hand </p>
<p>Car up a
steep bank about </p>
<p>thirty feet,
fun was it not. I </p>
<p>hear the 9<sup>th</sup>
Corps have gone to </p>
<p>Washington.
Would it not be </p>
<p>nice to
march through Boston </p>
<p>what will
the folks do North </p>
<p>with all us
Soldiers when we </p>
<p>get home. wont be room for us </p>
<p>will there.
I ant a bit sorry </p>
<p>I came, be
you, I hant got much </p>
<p>news to
write dont get many papers </p>
<p>write soon, does
me good to get </p>
<p>letters.
Willie</p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-04-23
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/a24c81a22c2c36af2caa0071220c3b3f.jpg
ed43e5e657b32b85c68ecb5c89fa418b
PDF Text
Text
<p>I wrote
Mr. Walker a letter </p>
<p>the other
day. this makes </p>
<p>seven
letters I have wrote </p>
<p>since we stoped here. How </p>
<p>does Charleyhorse, the Cow, hens </p>
<p>Willie
Weaver + all the rest </p>
<p>get along. Tell
Nora it wont </p>
<p>be many
years before she </p>
<p>will see her
Big Brother. </p>
<p>Give my love
to all enquireing </p>
<p>friends. I
hope Mother you </p>
<p>will get rid
of that cold of </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>I wrote
Mr. Walker a letter </p>
<p>the other
day. this makes </p>
<p>seven
letters I have wrote </p>
<p>since we stoped here. How </p>
<p>does Charleyhorse, the Cow, hens </p>
<p>Willie
Weaver + all the rest </p>
<p>get along. Tell
Nora it wont </p>
<p>be many
years before she </p>
<p>will see her
Big Brother. </p>
<p>Give my love
to all enquireing </p>
<p>friends. I
hope Mother you </p>
<p>will get rid
of that cold of </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-04-23
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/70258bf336a4faa88704bd2bab2f772f.jpg
f95a4f85e06b3566159da74e4f87fd62
PDF Text
Text
<p>yours.
Keep up good </p>
<p>Spirits. it
is all comeing </p>
<p>out all right.
when I come </p>
<p>home can say
we have whipd </p>
<p>them. Good
bye, From </p>
<p>W. A. L. </p>
<p>No 3 </p>
<p>1865</p>
<p> </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>yours.
Keep up good </p>
<p>Spirits. it
is all comeing </p>
<p>out all right.
when I come </p>
<p>home can say
we have whip’d </p>
<p>them. Good
bye, From </p>
<p>W. A. L. </p>
<p>No 3 </p>
<p>1865</p>
<p> </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-04-23
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/563ee70dac1eb4f0aff4daca581771ce.jpg
4907d622953593ca5234aac966e99079
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
William A. Leonard Papers, 1864-1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Diaries.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Description
An account of the resource
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Letters following Lee's surrender emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge and payment. All the letters in this collection were written home to Leonard's parents, usually his mother. He continually reassures her not to worry about him, requests various things from home (especially stamps), and talks about his daily life. He frequently writes about plans for when he gets home. Leonard's religious sentiments also recur throughout his correspondence. He also includes war news and who he has seen, though he reveals his priorities and lack of interest in being a soldier, saying in March 1865:
"we have got a good man to steer the machine, that fellow they call U. S. Grant. Sheridan & Sherman are giving them fits. I have seen Grant & Mede a number of times this summer I had a great deal rather see you + Pa. I dont want to see Nora because she wanted me to go soldiering"
Although battle descriptions are not necessarily the focus of Leonard's letters, his 1864 correspondence contains details of being fired upon a Petersburg, of picket duty, and later, of transporting injured men. In June 1865, he writes several letters detailing the sight of unburied dead men and horses and the sound of fighting from the front at Petersburg. In May 1865, he writes of the incompetence of the doctors:
"The Doctors here dont have any thing fit to give any one and the bigest of them dont know how to doctor a hen anyway. They take the wounded men legs and arms off half the time. when there is no need of it, do it practice there has been a number of times I have heard of that...The Doct of the Regt was a clerk in an apothecary shop..."
Leonard's diary begins in August 1864, apparently when he was appointed to drive an ambulance. His entries are short and refer mostly to his daily activities: who or what he was conveying to and from the hospital at City Point outside Petersburg; what letters he sent or received; war news; or when he attended religious meetings. Shortly before the diary ends in April 1865, he notes the firing of guns and cannons "for the death of abram Lincoln President of the U.S. who was shot by a man by the name of Booth." He refers to the death of Lincoln and its effect on the soldiers in several letters, as well. Leonard's own correspondence suggests he kept a previous diary--in August 1864, he inquires if his mother has received the one he sent home--but it is unknown if this diary still exists.
William A. Leonard was born about 1843 to Joel A. (b.1817) and Sophia Leonard (1816-d. before 1880). His parents were both natives of Vermont who moved to Massachusetts. William and his two sisters, Leonora (b. abt. 1852; and who William calls "Nora" in his letters and is later listed as "Mary" in a least one set of census records) and Roselia (b. abt. 1859) were all born in Great Barrington, Berkshire County. It is unknown what line of work William Leonard was in prior to the war, though he was living at home with his family. He was drafted into service in July 1863 for a three year term with Company F, 16th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. In mid-July 1864, the 16th Infantry mustered out. Existing veterans and recruits, Leonard included, were transferred to the 11th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. From at least August of 1864 until Lee's surrender, Leonard served as an ambulance driver, transporting wounded from battlefield to hospital. His unit spent nearly a year in and around Petersburg. While stationed outside Washington, DC, waiting to muster out, Leonard also drove civilians in and around the city. He particularly makes mention of taking family members to hospitals to get news of soldiers. Leonard returned home to Great Barrington in July 1865. In 1880, he was living at home with his father, Leonora and her husband, and Leonora's brother-in-law. At the time, he was employed at a woolen mill. In 1894, he purchased a plumbing and steam fitting business from a former employer. Later census records suggest he was married to a woman named Hattie (probably Henrietta; b. abt. 1863), but it is unknown when. They had daughter, Nellie, in June 1897.
Sources: Ancestry.com Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service. The Metal Worker, vol. XLI, January to June 1894. New York: David Williams, 1894. Via Google Books, November 2011.
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Post-surrender letters emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864/1865
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter, William Leonard to Mother, Near Burkeville Va., April 23, 1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-04-23
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Letters
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Language
A language of the resource
English
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106_LeonardWilliam_B1F2_Letter_1865_0423
-
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/199c48412e858e330cf6a4e2562f5400.jpg
f21329cae98672444f81344fabd73718
PDF Text
Text
<p><s>Camp ne</s>Park near Burksville Vir. [Burkeville, VA].</p>
<p>Apr 7.</p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>I will write</p>
<p>a few lines but dont know</p>
<p>when I shall have a chance to</p>
<p>send it. I mailed you a</p>
<p>few words at warren Station</p>
<p>after we had taken Petersburg</p>
<p>was over there with wounded</p>
<p>well when we went back</p>
<p>to Petersburg our Corps was</p>
<p>after the Rebs and they</p>
<p>left orders for us to stay</p>
<p>back with the Heavy</p>
<p>wagons. We have not overtak-</p>
<p>en the troops yet, they are</p>
<p>eight or ten miles ahead</p>
<p>of us now. they have had</p>
<p>a fight taken 13,000 Prisoners</p>
<p>17 Cannon + Gen. Euwell [Richard S. Ewell]. so</p>
<p>the report is guess it is true</p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p><s>Camp ne</s>Park
near Burksville Vir.
[Burkeville, VA]. </p>
<p>Apr 7.</p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>I will write
</p>
<p>a few lines
but dont know </p>
<p>when I shall
have a chance to </p>
<p>send it. I
mailed you a </p>
<p>few words at
warren Station </p>
<p>after we had
taken Petersburg </p>
<p>was over
there with wounded </p>
<p>well when we
went back </p>
<p>to
Petersburg our Corps was </p>
<p>after the Rebs and they </p>
<p>left orders
for us to stay </p>
<p>back with
the Heavy </p>
<p>wagons. We
have not overtak-</p>
<p>en the troops yet, they are </p>
<p>eight or ten
miles ahead </p>
<p>of us now.
they have had </p>
<p>a fight
taken 13,000 Prisoners </p>
<p>17 Cannon +
Gen. Euwell [Richard S. Ewell].
so </p>
<p>the report
is guess it is true </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-04-07
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/8b5453674a37ddcf0ecdc6fc1ae5b41c.jpg
8d48bd2ba8a56021816908ae60d2ea94
PDF Text
Text
<p>will </p>
<p>mail </p>
<p>this </p>
<p>the </p>
<p>first </p>
<p>chance </p>
<p>Willie. </p>
<p>Ferguson
[Abram Ferguson] is </p>
<p>with the
train </p>
<p>again. </p>
<p>besides a immence wagon </p>
<p>train. that
was yesterday </p>
<p>Richmond is
ours to. the </p>
<p>9th Corps
has been escorting</p>
<p>us on the
road. plenty of </p>
<p>Guerrillas on
the road sculk </p>
<p>in the woods
our men have </p>
<p>killed a
number of them </p>
<p>have been forageing on </p>
<p>the road
pretty well for </p>
<p>horses +
men. Our men </p>
<p>are just hiveing [giving?] the Rebs </p>
<p>fits. wish I
could send </p>
<p>this now but
cant dont </p>
<p>have a
chance very often. </p>
<p>I expect you
are getting </p>
<p>tellegraph dispaches now</p>
<p>all
excitement North </p>
<p>Grant
[Ulysses S. Grant] dont wait to let </p>
<p>them rest as most of our </p>
<p>Gens. have
he just keeps </p>
<p>them on the run.
</p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>will </p>
<p>mail </p>
<p>this </p>
<p>the </p>
<p>first </p>
<p>chance </p>
<p>Willie. </p>
<p>Ferguson
[Abram Ferguson] is </p>
<p>with the
train </p>
<p>again. </p>
<p>besides a immence wagon </p>
<p>train. that
was yesterday </p>
<p>Richmond is
ours to. the </p>
<p>9th Corps
has been escorting</p>
<p>us on the
road. plenty of </p>
<p>Guerrillas on
the road sculk </p>
<p>in the woods
our men have </p>
<p>killed a
number of them </p>
<p>have been forageing on </p>
<p>the road
pretty well for </p>
<p>horses +
men. Our men </p>
<p>are just hiveing [giving?] the Rebs </p>
<p>fits. wish I
could send </p>
<p>this now but
cant dont </p>
<p>have a
chance very often. </p>
<p>I expect you
are getting </p>
<p>tellegraph dispaches now</p>
<p>all
excitement North </p>
<p>Grant
[Ulysses S. Grant] dont wait to let </p>
<p>them rest as most of our </p>
<p>Gens. have
he just keeps </p>
<p>them on the run.
</p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-04-07
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/d4bc2ae7ea0fcee414416b242a7f6a71.jpg
c53d07cd6aeb8aeae5630d4d5aacde24
PDF Text
Text
<p>fourth Dispach</p>
<p>Niggers
crazy with </p>
<p>joy on the
road </p>
<p>Boys get
lots of Tobacco </p>
<p>whole
Hogsheads full all </p>
<p>along the rout help themselfs</p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>fourth Dispach</p>
<p>Niggers
crazy with </p>
<p>joy on the
road </p>
<p>Boys get
lots of Tobacco </p>
<p>whole
Hogsheads full all </p>
<p>along the rout help themselfs</p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-04-07
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/b68ecb7888a33e21a10821e3e8640c8e.jpg
6713b9d1819ab50c1eca73edc18586a7
PDF Text
Text
<p>Turkeys,
chickens, corn, fodder, </p>
<p>Pigs,
Cattle, all have to suffer </p>
<p>junctions of
roads here at </p>
<p>Burksville [Burkeville, VA]. guess we will move </p>
<p>on to morrow. Love to all. </p>
<p>Rebs did not have time to distroy
</p>
<p>anything.
will give the</p>
<p>particulars
some time </p>
<p>dont worry if you dont get </p>
<p>letters as
often, cant mail them </p>
<p>Willie</p>
<p> </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>Turkeys,
chickens, corn, fodder, </p>
<p>Pigs,
Cattle, all have to suffer </p>
<p>junctions of
roads here at </p>
<p>Burksville [Burkeville, VA]. guess we will move </p>
<p>on to morrow. Love to all. </p>
<p>Rebs did not have time to distroy
</p>
<p>anything.
will give the</p>
<p>particulars
some time </p>
<p>dont worry if you dont get </p>
<p>letters as
often, cant mail them </p>
<p>Willie</p>
<p> </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-04-07
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/27bc2ba35fb82d014a461cae90074938.jpg
aabc57b624991daa4aedcdb49109fd8c
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
William A. Leonard Papers, 1864-1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Diaries.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Description
An account of the resource
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Letters following Lee's surrender emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge and payment. All the letters in this collection were written home to Leonard's parents, usually his mother. He continually reassures her not to worry about him, requests various things from home (especially stamps), and talks about his daily life. He frequently writes about plans for when he gets home. Leonard's religious sentiments also recur throughout his correspondence. He also includes war news and who he has seen, though he reveals his priorities and lack of interest in being a soldier, saying in March 1865:
"we have got a good man to steer the machine, that fellow they call U. S. Grant. Sheridan & Sherman are giving them fits. I have seen Grant & Mede a number of times this summer I had a great deal rather see you + Pa. I dont want to see Nora because she wanted me to go soldiering"
Although battle descriptions are not necessarily the focus of Leonard's letters, his 1864 correspondence contains details of being fired upon a Petersburg, of picket duty, and later, of transporting injured men. In June 1865, he writes several letters detailing the sight of unburied dead men and horses and the sound of fighting from the front at Petersburg. In May 1865, he writes of the incompetence of the doctors:
"The Doctors here dont have any thing fit to give any one and the bigest of them dont know how to doctor a hen anyway. They take the wounded men legs and arms off half the time. when there is no need of it, do it practice there has been a number of times I have heard of that...The Doct of the Regt was a clerk in an apothecary shop..."
Leonard's diary begins in August 1864, apparently when he was appointed to drive an ambulance. His entries are short and refer mostly to his daily activities: who or what he was conveying to and from the hospital at City Point outside Petersburg; what letters he sent or received; war news; or when he attended religious meetings. Shortly before the diary ends in April 1865, he notes the firing of guns and cannons "for the death of abram Lincoln President of the U.S. who was shot by a man by the name of Booth." He refers to the death of Lincoln and its effect on the soldiers in several letters, as well. Leonard's own correspondence suggests he kept a previous diary--in August 1864, he inquires if his mother has received the one he sent home--but it is unknown if this diary still exists.
William A. Leonard was born about 1843 to Joel A. (b.1817) and Sophia Leonard (1816-d. before 1880). His parents were both natives of Vermont who moved to Massachusetts. William and his two sisters, Leonora (b. abt. 1852; and who William calls "Nora" in his letters and is later listed as "Mary" in a least one set of census records) and Roselia (b. abt. 1859) were all born in Great Barrington, Berkshire County. It is unknown what line of work William Leonard was in prior to the war, though he was living at home with his family. He was drafted into service in July 1863 for a three year term with Company F, 16th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. In mid-July 1864, the 16th Infantry mustered out. Existing veterans and recruits, Leonard included, were transferred to the 11th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. From at least August of 1864 until Lee's surrender, Leonard served as an ambulance driver, transporting wounded from battlefield to hospital. His unit spent nearly a year in and around Petersburg. While stationed outside Washington, DC, waiting to muster out, Leonard also drove civilians in and around the city. He particularly makes mention of taking family members to hospitals to get news of soldiers. Leonard returned home to Great Barrington in July 1865. In 1880, he was living at home with his father, Leonora and her husband, and Leonora's brother-in-law. At the time, he was employed at a woolen mill. In 1894, he purchased a plumbing and steam fitting business from a former employer. Later census records suggest he was married to a woman named Hattie (probably Henrietta; b. abt. 1863), but it is unknown when. They had daughter, Nellie, in June 1897.
Sources: Ancestry.com Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service. The Metal Worker, vol. XLI, January to June 1894. New York: David Williams, 1894. Via Google Books, November 2011.
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Post-surrender letters emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864/1865
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter, William Leonard to Mother, Near Burkeville Va., April 7, 1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
Civil War
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Description
An account of the resource
Please note: the two pages making up this letter contain what appear to be three separate notes. In addition, the lack of continuity suggests there is at least one missing page.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-04-07
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Letters
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Language
A language of the resource
English
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106_LeonardWilliam_B1F2_Letter_1865_0407
-
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/a922db84315e6ca60a3d27ae597151e7.jpg
be2818e7dbc5c234342e13fc94c90c81
PDF Text
Text
<p>Second
Dispatch</p>
<p>Humphrey’s
Station Mar 30th/65</p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>I sent you a
letter </p>
<p>yesterday
stating our Divis. had </p>
<p>gone with
Sheridan [Philip Henry Sheridan] but it has </p>
<p>not. they
are out near the place </p>
<p>where we got
surrounded, the Bull </p>
<p>ring we call
it. the 5th Corps </p>
<p>are off
there some where. our </p>
<p>Divis. of it has had a fight </p>
<p>+ some of
our Ambulances </p>
<p>went last
night at dark to </p>
<p>help bring
off their wounded. </p>
<p>they have
just got back. was </p>
<p>traveling
all night and all </p>
<p>day to day
for it is late in </p>
<p>the afternoon
now. it has </p>
<p>been raining
all day. my </p>
<p>ambulance is
full of sick </p>
<p>and I +
Coolie made </p>
<p>our bed
under the wagon </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>Second
Dispatch</p>
<p>Humphrey’s
Station Mar 30th/65</p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>I sent you a
letter </p>
<p>yesterday
stating our Divis. had </p>
<p>gone with
Sheridan [Philip Henry Sheridan] but it has </p>
<p>not. they
are out near the place </p>
<p>where we got
surrounded, the Bull </p>
<p>ring we call
it. the 5th Corps </p>
<p>are off
there some where. our </p>
<p>Divis. of it has had a fight </p>
<p>+ some of
our Ambulances </p>
<p>went last
night at dark to </p>
<p>help bring
off their wounded. </p>
<p>they have
just got back. was </p>
<p>traveling
all night and all </p>
<p>day to day
for it is late in </p>
<p>the afternoon
now. it has </p>
<p>been raining
all day. my </p>
<p>ambulance is
full of sick </p>
<p>and I +
Coolie made </p>
<p>our bed
under the wagon </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-03-30
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/b68b5a30236628082b82920f581f7a45.jpg
9a48805258ff23aff8a200105b3da66e
PDF Text
Text
<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>the
ground. waked up </p>
<p>in the
morning it was </p>
<p>raining and
the water was </p>
<p>running
through under us </p>
<p>I lay on the
upper hill </p>
<p>side + there
was a </p>
<p>regular dam
of water </p>
<p>by my side I
raised up </p>
<p>and let it
run through </p>
<p>on Coolie.
He hollard good </p>
<p>it all ran
into my Boots </p>
<p>+ got my
feet wet and I </p>
<p>was wet
enough. crawled out </p>
<p>made a fire
and got dry </p>
<p>some. the
Blankets are as </p>
<p>wet as sop
has got them </p>
<p>tied on
under side, waiting </p>
<p>for a chance
to dry them. </p>
<p>well it is a
Soldiers luck </p>
<p>tant the first I have </p>
<p>slept in a
mud puddle </p>
</td><td><p>one
thing it is pretty </p>
<p>warm. so it
ant so bad </p>
<p>think I
shall sleep on </p>
<p>the seat to
night, put a </p>
<p>rubber up on
front. saw </p>
<p>about a
hundred + fifty </p>
<p>Prisoners at
the Station. </p>
<p>I will wait
for further </p>
<p>developments
before I send </p>
<p>this. Friday
There is hard </p>
<p>fighting out
front to day </p>
<p>dont know yet how they </p>
<p>have made
it. the Negro </p>
<p>Corps hold
where our Corps </p>
<p>did they were
fighting some </p>
<p>this
morning. we have not </p>
<p>been called
on yet. it rained </p>
<p>all night.
night. there has </p>
<p>been hard
fighting to day, our </p>
<p>Divis. has been engaged we </p>
<p>have been up
to the feild </p>
<p>Hospital +
got wounded </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<table>
<tr>
<th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>the
ground. waked up </p>
<p>in the
morning it was </p>
<p>raining and
the water was </p>
<p>running
through under us </p>
<p>I lay on the
upper hill </p>
<p>side + there
was a </p>
<p>regular dam
of water </p>
<p>by my side I
raised up </p>
<p>and let it
run through </p>
<p>on Coolie.
He hollard good </p>
<p>it all ran
into my Boots </p>
<p>+ got my
feet wet and I </p>
<p>was wet
enough. crawled out </p>
<p>made a fire
and got dry </p>
<p>some. the
Blankets are as </p>
<p>wet as sop
has got them </p>
<p>tied on
under side, waiting </p>
<p>for a chance
to dry them. </p>
<p>well it is a
Soldiers luck </p>
<p>tant the first I have </p>
<p>slept in a
mud puddle </p>
</td><td><p>one
thing it is pretty </p>
<p>warm. so it
ant so bad </p>
<p>think I
shall sleep on </p>
<p>the seat to
night, put a </p>
<p>rubber up on
front. saw </p>
<p>about a
hundred + fifty </p>
<p>Prisoners at
the Station. </p>
<p>I will wait
for further </p>
<p>developments
before I send </p>
<p>this. Friday
There is hard </p>
<p>fighting out
front to day </p>
<p>dont know yet how they </p>
<p>have made
it. the Negro </p>
<p>Corps hold
where our Corps </p>
<p>did they were
fighting some </p>
<p>this
morning. we have not </p>
<p>been called
on yet. it rained </p>
<p>all night.
night. there has </p>
<p>been hard
fighting to day, our </p>
<p>Divis. has been engaged we </p>
<p>have been up
to the feild </p>
<p>Hospital +
got wounded </p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-03-30
1865-03-31
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/6f1158cb5343549ad24db31911e495f1.jpg
d94c7b7e09969a3af43814bc115abfca
PDF Text
Text
<p>brought
them to the Station </p>
<p>they say
Sheridan [Philip Henry Sheridan] has got </p>
<p>the South Side
road. There </p>
<p>was a number
from </p>
<p>our Regt.
wounded. can </p>
<p>hear Sheridans [Philip Henry Sheridan] Cannon </p>
<p>as far as
you can hear. </p>
<p>the Roads
are awful </p>
<p>Ambulances
go in up to </p>
<p>the Hub. saw
twelve </p>
<p>mules on a
heavy wagon </p>
<p>set. It has
cleared off and </p>
<p>I hope it wont rain any </p>
<p>more. saw
them cutting off </p>
<p>legs up
there, run a knife </p>
<p>around to the
bone then take </p>
<p>a saw + saw
it off. lots of </p>
<p>Prisoners
come in. war is </p>
<p>an awful thing.
I am glad </p>
<p>I have got
as good a job as </p>
<p>I have well
I will send </p>
<p>this along.
there is a House </p>
<p>here some
good looking Girls in </p>
<p>it. son in Reb. army </p>
<p>From Willie</p>
<p> </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>brought
them to the Station </p>
<p>they say
Sheridan [Philip Henry Sheridan] has got </p>
<p>the South Side
road. There </p>
<p>was a number
from </p>
<p>our Regt.
wounded. can </p>
<p>hear Sheridans [Philip Henry Sheridan] Cannon </p>
<p>as far as
you can hear. </p>
<p>the Roads
are awful </p>
<p>Ambulances
go in up to </p>
<p>the Hub. saw
twelve </p>
<p>mules on a
heavy wagon </p>
<p>set. It has
cleared off and </p>
<p>I hope it wont rain any </p>
<p>more. saw
them cutting off </p>
<p>legs up
there, run a knife </p>
<p>around to the
bone then take </p>
<p>a saw + saw
it off. lots of </p>
<p>Prisoners
come in. war is </p>
<p>an awful thing.
I am glad </p>
<p>I have got
as good a job as </p>
<p>I have well
I will send </p>
<p>this along.
there is a House </p>
<p>here some
good looking Girls in </p>
<p>it. son in Reb. army </p>
<p>From Willie</p>
<p> </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-03-31
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/3b7786ec5df454f9cdcdf99031f6f7bb.jpg
0cda82432cfd044af12aa92f44052d11
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
William A. Leonard Papers, 1864-1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Diaries.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Description
An account of the resource
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Letters following Lee's surrender emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge and payment. All the letters in this collection were written home to Leonard's parents, usually his mother. He continually reassures her not to worry about him, requests various things from home (especially stamps), and talks about his daily life. He frequently writes about plans for when he gets home. Leonard's religious sentiments also recur throughout his correspondence. He also includes war news and who he has seen, though he reveals his priorities and lack of interest in being a soldier, saying in March 1865:
"we have got a good man to steer the machine, that fellow they call U. S. Grant. Sheridan & Sherman are giving them fits. I have seen Grant & Mede a number of times this summer I had a great deal rather see you + Pa. I dont want to see Nora because she wanted me to go soldiering"
Although battle descriptions are not necessarily the focus of Leonard's letters, his 1864 correspondence contains details of being fired upon a Petersburg, of picket duty, and later, of transporting injured men. In June 1865, he writes several letters detailing the sight of unburied dead men and horses and the sound of fighting from the front at Petersburg. In May 1865, he writes of the incompetence of the doctors:
"The Doctors here dont have any thing fit to give any one and the bigest of them dont know how to doctor a hen anyway. They take the wounded men legs and arms off half the time. when there is no need of it, do it practice there has been a number of times I have heard of that...The Doct of the Regt was a clerk in an apothecary shop..."
Leonard's diary begins in August 1864, apparently when he was appointed to drive an ambulance. His entries are short and refer mostly to his daily activities: who or what he was conveying to and from the hospital at City Point outside Petersburg; what letters he sent or received; war news; or when he attended religious meetings. Shortly before the diary ends in April 1865, he notes the firing of guns and cannons "for the death of abram Lincoln President of the U.S. who was shot by a man by the name of Booth." He refers to the death of Lincoln and its effect on the soldiers in several letters, as well. Leonard's own correspondence suggests he kept a previous diary--in August 1864, he inquires if his mother has received the one he sent home--but it is unknown if this diary still exists.
William A. Leonard was born about 1843 to Joel A. (b.1817) and Sophia Leonard (1816-d. before 1880). His parents were both natives of Vermont who moved to Massachusetts. William and his two sisters, Leonora (b. abt. 1852; and who William calls "Nora" in his letters and is later listed as "Mary" in a least one set of census records) and Roselia (b. abt. 1859) were all born in Great Barrington, Berkshire County. It is unknown what line of work William Leonard was in prior to the war, though he was living at home with his family. He was drafted into service in July 1863 for a three year term with Company F, 16th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. In mid-July 1864, the 16th Infantry mustered out. Existing veterans and recruits, Leonard included, were transferred to the 11th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. From at least August of 1864 until Lee's surrender, Leonard served as an ambulance driver, transporting wounded from battlefield to hospital. His unit spent nearly a year in and around Petersburg. While stationed outside Washington, DC, waiting to muster out, Leonard also drove civilians in and around the city. He particularly makes mention of taking family members to hospitals to get news of soldiers. Leonard returned home to Great Barrington in July 1865. In 1880, he was living at home with his father, Leonora and her husband, and Leonora's brother-in-law. At the time, he was employed at a woolen mill. In 1894, he purchased a plumbing and steam fitting business from a former employer. Later census records suggest he was married to a woman named Hattie (probably Henrietta; b. abt. 1863), but it is unknown when. They had daughter, Nellie, in June 1897.
Sources: Ancestry.com Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service. The Metal Worker, vol. XLI, January to June 1894. New York: David Williams, 1894. Via Google Books, November 2011.
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Post-surrender letters emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864/1865
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter, William Leonard to Mother, Humphrey's Station Va., March 30, 1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-03-30
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Letters
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Language
A language of the resource
English
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106_LeonardWilliam_B1F2_Letter_1865_0330
-
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/6ca824e25722756279471f98ed949537.jpg
8afa616d29dcd552488fda2c1fb2ca27
PDF Text
Text
<p>Camp
near Patrick Station Mar 28<sup>th</sup></p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>I received
your last </p>
<p>letter
yesterday, + although I </p>
<p>sent you one
the day before yesterday, </p>
<p>I will answer
it to day. I am </p>
<p>so sorry you
are bothered with </p>
<p>the teeth
ache. I have not had it </p>
<p>now in a
good while. I am </p>
<p>glad you are
pleased with </p>
<p>the picture.
I ant as fat </p>
<p>as I was a
while ago. Tell Pa </p>
<p>I have been
scared so by the </p>
<p>shot + shell
that any whiskers </p>
<p>wont grow very fast. I am out </p>
<p>on Picket to day, expect to get </p>
<p>relieved. I
told you in my </p>
<p>other letter
we had been figh-</p>
<p>ting more. I
would give a </p>
<p>good deal if
you could have </p>
<p>been here
(out of range I mean) </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>Camp
near Patrick Station Mar 28<sup>th</sup> </p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>I received
your last </p>
<p>letter
yesterday, + although I </p>
<p>sent you one
the day before yesterday, </p>
<p>I will answer
it to day. I am </p>
<p>so sorry you
are bothered with </p>
<p>the teeth
ache. I have not had it </p>
<p>now in a
good while. I am </p>
<p>glad you are
pleased with </p>
<p>the picture.
I ant as fat </p>
<p>as I was a
while ago. Tell Pa </p>
<p>I have been
scared so by the </p>
<p>shot + shell
that any whiskers </p>
<p>wont grow very fast. I am out </p>
<p>on Picket to day, expect to get </p>
<p>relieved. I
told you in my </p>
<p>other letter
we had been figh-</p>
<p>ting more. I
would give a </p>
<p>good deal if
you could have </p>
<p>been here
(out of range I mean) </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-03-28
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/104887e62c196c9f9229317265d53493.jpg
eda6d067b61c59c18139187a2485e210
PDF Text
Text
<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>and heard
the musketry and </p>
<p>Cannonading,
just to give you </p>
<p>an idea about
a fight. Our Regt </p>
<p>only had one
man wounded </p>
<p>the 120 N.Y.
lost heavy. they </p>
<p>kept us pretty
busy carting the </p>
<p>wounded.
Sheridan [Philip Henry Sheridan] is here with </p>
<p>his Cavalry
force, they are going </p>
<p>to try the
South Side road, cut </p>
<p>off cumication between Lee [Robert E. Lee] and </p>
<p>Johnston
[Joseph E. Johnston]. All I know about </p>
<p>Esias + George is what they told </p>
<p>me at the 37<sup>th</sup>.
they just came </p>
<p>out to us
with some Bread. we </p>
<p>are not
going to get relieved till </p>
<p>to morrow. I can read your letters </p>
<p>just as fast
as I can look at </p>
<p>them. it dont take me two minutes </p>
<p>dont try to be particular when </p>
<p>you write. I
can read them, when </p>
<p>I write I
ant particular when I </p>
<p>write to
you. guess it bother’s </p>
</td><td><p>you to
read mine. Wednesday. </p>
<p>There is
another move </p>
<p>our Brigade
has gone with </p>
<p>Sheridan [Philip
Henry Sheridan] on a Raid, only </p>
<p>four of our
Ambulances </p>
<p>went. I did
not have to </p>
<p>go we left
Camp this </p>
<p>morning and
came over </p>
<p>to Humphreys
Station, dont </p>
<p>know whether
we will be </p>
<p>called on or
not. cant </p>
<p>write any
more now, will </p>
<p>try + mail
this. from, </p>
<p>Willie</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<table>
<tr>
<th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>and heard
the musketry and </p>
<p>Cannonading,
just to give you </p>
<p>an idea about
a fight. Our Regt </p>
<p>only had one
man wounded </p>
<p>the 120 N.Y.
lost heavy. they </p>
<p>kept us pretty
busy carting the </p>
<p>wounded.
Sheridan [Philip Henry Sheridan] is here with </p>
<p>his Cavalry
force, they are going </p>
<p>to try the
South Side road, cut </p>
<p>off cumication between Lee [Robert E. Lee] and </p>
<p>Johnston
[Joseph E. Johnston]. All I know about </p>
<p>Esias + George is what they told </p>
<p>me at the 37<sup>th</sup>.
they just came </p>
<p>out to us
with some Bread. we </p>
<p>are not
going to get relieved till </p>
<p>to morrow. I can read your letters </p>
<p>just as fast
as I can look at </p>
<p>them. it dont take me two minutes </p>
<p>dont try to be particular when </p>
<p>you write. I
can read them, when </p>
<p>I write I
ant particular when I </p>
<p>write to
you. guess it bother’s </p>
</td><td><p>you to
read mine. Wednesday. </p>
<p>There is
another move </p>
<p>our Brigade
has gone with </p>
<p>Sheridan [Philip
Henry Sheridan] on a Raid, only </p>
<p>four of our
Ambulances </p>
<p>went. I did
not have to </p>
<p>go we left
Camp this </p>
<p>morning and
came over </p>
<p>to Humphreys
Station, dont </p>
<p>know whether
we will be </p>
<p>called on or
not. cant </p>
<p>write any
more now, will </p>
<p>try + mail
this. from, </p>
<p>Willie</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-03-28
1865-03-29
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/1c92f2c78a42307d8056dffb689415ba.jpg
992cb35379394133961933ce0e66e6f7
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
William A. Leonard Papers, 1864-1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Diaries.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Description
An account of the resource
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Letters following Lee's surrender emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge and payment. All the letters in this collection were written home to Leonard's parents, usually his mother. He continually reassures her not to worry about him, requests various things from home (especially stamps), and talks about his daily life. He frequently writes about plans for when he gets home. Leonard's religious sentiments also recur throughout his correspondence. He also includes war news and who he has seen, though he reveals his priorities and lack of interest in being a soldier, saying in March 1865:
"we have got a good man to steer the machine, that fellow they call U. S. Grant. Sheridan & Sherman are giving them fits. I have seen Grant & Mede a number of times this summer I had a great deal rather see you + Pa. I dont want to see Nora because she wanted me to go soldiering"
Although battle descriptions are not necessarily the focus of Leonard's letters, his 1864 correspondence contains details of being fired upon a Petersburg, of picket duty, and later, of transporting injured men. In June 1865, he writes several letters detailing the sight of unburied dead men and horses and the sound of fighting from the front at Petersburg. In May 1865, he writes of the incompetence of the doctors:
"The Doctors here dont have any thing fit to give any one and the bigest of them dont know how to doctor a hen anyway. They take the wounded men legs and arms off half the time. when there is no need of it, do it practice there has been a number of times I have heard of that...The Doct of the Regt was a clerk in an apothecary shop..."
Leonard's diary begins in August 1864, apparently when he was appointed to drive an ambulance. His entries are short and refer mostly to his daily activities: who or what he was conveying to and from the hospital at City Point outside Petersburg; what letters he sent or received; war news; or when he attended religious meetings. Shortly before the diary ends in April 1865, he notes the firing of guns and cannons "for the death of abram Lincoln President of the U.S. who was shot by a man by the name of Booth." He refers to the death of Lincoln and its effect on the soldiers in several letters, as well. Leonard's own correspondence suggests he kept a previous diary--in August 1864, he inquires if his mother has received the one he sent home--but it is unknown if this diary still exists.
William A. Leonard was born about 1843 to Joel A. (b.1817) and Sophia Leonard (1816-d. before 1880). His parents were both natives of Vermont who moved to Massachusetts. William and his two sisters, Leonora (b. abt. 1852; and who William calls "Nora" in his letters and is later listed as "Mary" in a least one set of census records) and Roselia (b. abt. 1859) were all born in Great Barrington, Berkshire County. It is unknown what line of work William Leonard was in prior to the war, though he was living at home with his family. He was drafted into service in July 1863 for a three year term with Company F, 16th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. In mid-July 1864, the 16th Infantry mustered out. Existing veterans and recruits, Leonard included, were transferred to the 11th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. From at least August of 1864 until Lee's surrender, Leonard served as an ambulance driver, transporting wounded from battlefield to hospital. His unit spent nearly a year in and around Petersburg. While stationed outside Washington, DC, waiting to muster out, Leonard also drove civilians in and around the city. He particularly makes mention of taking family members to hospitals to get news of soldiers. Leonard returned home to Great Barrington in July 1865. In 1880, he was living at home with his father, Leonora and her husband, and Leonora's brother-in-law. At the time, he was employed at a woolen mill. In 1894, he purchased a plumbing and steam fitting business from a former employer. Later census records suggest he was married to a woman named Hattie (probably Henrietta; b. abt. 1863), but it is unknown when. They had daughter, Nellie, in June 1897.
Sources: Ancestry.com Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service. The Metal Worker, vol. XLI, January to June 1894. New York: David Williams, 1894. Via Google Books, November 2011.
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Post-surrender letters emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864/1865
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Identifier
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Ms2011-106
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
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<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Document
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Title
A name given to the resource
Letter, William Leonard to Mother, Camp Near Patrick Station Va., March 28, 1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-03-28
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Letters
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Language
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English
Identifier
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Ms2011-106_LeonardWilliam_B1F2_Letter_1865_0328
-
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/f113c31e5cf6bf2ccd16a4737871f4e1.jpg
5c5b77f3997e17d0f71a0a6f0faf7e78
PDF Text
Text
<p>Camp
near Patrick Station Mar 18</p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>I once more
seat </p>
<p>myself to
write to you. In my </p>
<p>last I wrote
we were preparing </p>
<p>to move.
well we have not gone </p>
<p>yet + I dont know whether we </p>
<p>will or not.
I guess it depends </p>
<p>all on the
movements of the</p>
<p>Rebs. I wish we might stop </p>
<p>here all
Summer for that matter </p>
<p>dont care to see another fight. </p>
<p>The last
letter I sen a ten dollar </p>
<p>Bill to you.
They owe us a </p>
<p>little over
two months pay yet. </p>
<p>I sent Nora
a letter there was </p>
<p>a dollar in
for you + half for </p>
<p>Nora. The
letters have most all </p>
<p>gone, but I
hear they are coming </p>
<p>back again. If
they do there wont </p>
<p>be a move. I
sent you a picture </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>Camp
near Patrick Station Mar 18</p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>I once more
seat </p>
<p>myself to
write to you. In my </p>
<p>last I wrote
we were preparing </p>
<p>to move.
well we have not gone </p>
<p>yet + I dont know whether we </p>
<p>will or not.
I guess it depends </p>
<p>all on the
movements of the</p>
<p>Rebs. I wish we might stop </p>
<p>here all
Summer for that matter </p>
<p>dont care to see another fight. </p>
<p>The last
letter I sen a ten dollar </p>
<p>Bill to you.
They owe us a </p>
<p>little over
two months pay yet. </p>
<p>I sent Nora
a letter there was </p>
<p>a dollar in
for you + half for </p>
<p>Nora. The
letters have most all </p>
<p>gone, but I
hear they are coming </p>
<p>back again. If
they do there won’t </p>
<p>be a move. I
sent you a picture </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-03-18
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/bc7d9448bbdb2ffec432488a2b749e7f.jpg
dc8c46ed1521645d0bc0c755862b4201
PDF Text
Text
<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>in one
letter. I received a </p>
<p>letter from
Ed Humphrey yesterday </p>
<p>The last
letter I received from </p>
<p>you was
dated Mar 1st. I believe </p>
<p>it is time
got another there </p>
<p>may be one
at Brigade Head </p>
<p>Quarters
that was where I got </p>
<p>that one. I
do hope Pa is not </p>
<p>going to
have a bad time of it. </p>
<p>you must be
very lonesome </p>
<p>now Aunt
Mary has gone. </p>
<p>Sunday. I
have just come in </p>
<p>from Inspection
+ the Sargent </p>
<p>gave me your
+ Noras letter </p>
<p>dated Mar 8<sup>th</sup>.
I could read </p>
<p>Noras letter right off, she must </p>
<p>try and
improve in writing </p>
<p>let her
write as often as she </p>
<p>wants to. I
will send you </p>
<p>some money
to buy yourself </p>
<p>+ Nora
writing materials if you </p>
<p>will only
write. I shall want </p>
</td><td><p>some
stamps after a while </p>
<p>myself. I
have got twenty stamps </p>
<p>now + shall
try + get some more </p>
<p>before we
move. I ought to </p>
<p>write a
letter to Mr. Langsdorf </p>
<p>+ guess I
will. That must have </p>
<p>been Mrs.
Barnes that spoke </p>
<p>to Pa, she
is a nice woman. I </p>
<p>hope you aint a going to be </p>
<p>sick. it worrys me to have </p>
<p>any of you
sick. I think we </p>
<p>will give
the finishing touch </p>
<p>to the Rebelion this Summer </p>
<p>dont you. I guess you will </p>
<p>think by
that Picture I sent </p>
<p>you, I have
not grown old </p>
<p>much. After
I get through </p>
<p>this Summer
+ fall (if my life </p>
<p>is spared) I
shall begin to think </p>
<p>my time
short. Envelopes are </p>
<p>forty +
fifty cents a pack. I </p>
<p>have got two
packs + over on </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<table>
<tr>
<th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>in one
letter. I received a </p>
<p>letter from
Ed Humphrey yesterday </p>
<p>The last
letter I received from </p>
<p>you was
dated Mar 1st. I believe </p>
<p>it is time
got another there </p>
<p>may be one
at Brigade Head </p>
<p>Quarters
that was where I got </p>
<p>that one. I
do hope Pa is not </p>
<p>going to
have a bad time of it. </p>
<p>you must be
very lonesome </p>
<p>now Aunt
Mary has gone. </p>
<p>Sunday. I
have just come in </p>
<p>from Inspection
+ the Sargent </p>
<p>gave me your
+ Noras letter </p>
<p>dated Mar 8<sup>th</sup>.
I could read </p>
<p>Noras letter right off, she must </p>
<p>try and
improve in writing </p>
<p>let her
write as often as she </p>
<p>wants to. I
will send you </p>
<p>some money
to buy yourself </p>
<p>+ Nora
writing materials if you </p>
<p>will only
write. I shall want </p>
</td><td><p>some
stamps after a while </p>
<p>myself. I
have got twenty stamps </p>
<p>now + shall
try + get some more </p>
<p>before we
move. I ought to </p>
<p>write a
letter to Mr. Langsdorf </p>
<p>+ guess I
will. That must have </p>
<p>been Mrs.
Barnes that spoke </p>
<p>to Pa, she
is a nice woman. I </p>
<p>hope you aint a going to be </p>
<p>sick. it worry’s me to have </p>
<p>any of you
sick. I think we </p>
<p>will give
the finishing touch </p>
<p>to the Rebelion this Summer </p>
<p>dont you. I guess you will </p>
<p>think by
that Picture I sent </p>
<p>you, I have
not grown old </p>
<p>much. After
I get through </p>
<p>this Summer
+ fall (if my life </p>
<p>is spared) I
shall begin to think </p>
<p>my time
short. Envelopes are </p>
<p>forty +
fifty cents a pack. I </p>
<p>have got two
packs + over on </p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-03-18
1865-03-19
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/93f9efa27b49bc43f5eb3b5beedc12e8.jpg
54272cd277dec76f0182eb35d730e33d
PDF Text
Text
<p>hand.
The Sanitary gives me </p>
<p>them Envelopes + Paper that </p>
<p>have their
name printed on </p>
<p>them. have
got Quite a lot </p>
<p>of their
Paper now. we went out </p>
<p>on
Inspection this morning </p>
<p>at nine oclock + did not get </p>
<p>in until about
two. the whole </p>
<p>Corps Train was
there Ambulance </p>
<p>+ Heavy
Trains. our whole Corps </p>
<p>Train would
make about twelve </p>
<p>miles of
wagons close to each </p>
<p>other. Tell
Pa I dont know but </p>
<p>Uncle Sam
would trade, for </p>
<p>I think they
think more of an </p>
<p>old horse
than they do the men </p>
<p>down to our other
Camp one </p>
<p>of the Boys
had his Horse die and </p>
<p>some Officers
rode along and </p>
<p>enquired all
about him what </p>
<p>ailed him + e.
at the same time </p>
<p>they were carring a dead </p>
<p>man by them
on the Strecher </p>
<p>to be burried, but they did not </p>
<p>apy any attention to him. never </p>
<p>asked how he
came to die, whether </p>
<p>he was shot
or not. There are </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>hand.
The Sanitary gives me </p>
<p>them Envelopes + Paper that </p>
<p>have their
name printed on </p>
<p>them. have
got Quite a lot </p>
<p>of their
Paper now. we went out </p>
<p>on
Inspection this morning </p>
<p>at nine oclock + did not get </p>
<p>in until about
two. the whole </p>
<p>Corps Train was
there Ambulance </p>
<p>+ Heavy
Trains. our whole Corps </p>
<p>Train would
make about twelve </p>
<p>miles of
wagons close to each </p>
<p>other. Tell
Pa I dont know but </p>
<p>Uncle Sam
would trade, for </p>
<p>I think they
think more of an </p>
<p>old horse
than they do the men </p>
<p>down to our other
Camp one </p>
<p>of the Boys
had his Horse die and </p>
<p>some Officers
rode along and </p>
<p>enquired all
about him what </p>
<p>ailed him + e.
at the same time </p>
<p>they were carring a dead </p>
<p>man by them
on the Strecher </p>
<p>to be burried, but they did not </p>
<p>apy any attention to him. never </p>
<p>asked how he
came to die, whether </p>
<p>he was shot
or not. There are </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-03-19
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/a48b7fb49981b05ef49888b3c3fe5aef.jpg
8b641ac757275413557b59f7316c8fff
PDF Text
Text
<p>plenty
of such Officers </p>
<p>here, all
they care for is whiskey </p>
<p>+ dress. The
Corps Gen. are as </p>
<p>bad as any
of them. Our Brigade </p>
<p>Gen
McAllister [Robert McAllister] does not drink </p>
<p>he is a Christian
man. they all </p>
<p>like him. well
I must go </p>
<p>and get some
supper. I </p>
<p>hope this
will find you </p>
<p>all well and
in good </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>plenty
of such Officers </p>
<p>here, all
they care for is whiskey </p>
<p>+ dress. The
Corps Gen. are as </p>
<p>bad as any
of them. Our Brigade </p>
<p>Gen
McAllister [Robert McAllister] does not drink </p>
<p>he is a Christian
man. they all </p>
<p>like him. well
I must go </p>
<p>and get some
supper. I </p>
<p>hope this
will find you </p>
<p>all well and
in good </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-03-19
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/eb4ebc52e5c5223e7bd9c2e939c115f6.jpg
49570bf746e0b61cb0994299c842bca2
PDF Text
Text
<p>spirits.
give my love to all </p>
<p>friends. you
must write </p>
<p>often. good
bye </p>
<p>From your </p>
<p>Son Willie </p>
<p>Patrick
Station </p>
<p>Virginia </p>
<p>a dollar for
you</p>
<p> </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>spirits.
give my love to all </p>
<p>friends. you
must write </p>
<p>often. good
bye </p>
<p>From your </p>
<p>Son Willie </p>
<p>Patrick
Station </p>
<p>Virginia </p>
<p>a dollar for
you</p>
<p> </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-03-19
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/23bbf7871a4b41137b83fa155f46cb6e.jpg
885ba0d6d13bba09f165d59c741366c6
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
William A. Leonard Papers, 1864-1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Diaries.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Description
An account of the resource
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Letters following Lee's surrender emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge and payment. All the letters in this collection were written home to Leonard's parents, usually his mother. He continually reassures her not to worry about him, requests various things from home (especially stamps), and talks about his daily life. He frequently writes about plans for when he gets home. Leonard's religious sentiments also recur throughout his correspondence. He also includes war news and who he has seen, though he reveals his priorities and lack of interest in being a soldier, saying in March 1865:
"we have got a good man to steer the machine, that fellow they call U. S. Grant. Sheridan & Sherman are giving them fits. I have seen Grant & Mede a number of times this summer I had a great deal rather see you + Pa. I dont want to see Nora because she wanted me to go soldiering"
Although battle descriptions are not necessarily the focus of Leonard's letters, his 1864 correspondence contains details of being fired upon a Petersburg, of picket duty, and later, of transporting injured men. In June 1865, he writes several letters detailing the sight of unburied dead men and horses and the sound of fighting from the front at Petersburg. In May 1865, he writes of the incompetence of the doctors:
"The Doctors here dont have any thing fit to give any one and the bigest of them dont know how to doctor a hen anyway. They take the wounded men legs and arms off half the time. when there is no need of it, do it practice there has been a number of times I have heard of that...The Doct of the Regt was a clerk in an apothecary shop..."
Leonard's diary begins in August 1864, apparently when he was appointed to drive an ambulance. His entries are short and refer mostly to his daily activities: who or what he was conveying to and from the hospital at City Point outside Petersburg; what letters he sent or received; war news; or when he attended religious meetings. Shortly before the diary ends in April 1865, he notes the firing of guns and cannons "for the death of abram Lincoln President of the U.S. who was shot by a man by the name of Booth." He refers to the death of Lincoln and its effect on the soldiers in several letters, as well. Leonard's own correspondence suggests he kept a previous diary--in August 1864, he inquires if his mother has received the one he sent home--but it is unknown if this diary still exists.
William A. Leonard was born about 1843 to Joel A. (b.1817) and Sophia Leonard (1816-d. before 1880). His parents were both natives of Vermont who moved to Massachusetts. William and his two sisters, Leonora (b. abt. 1852; and who William calls "Nora" in his letters and is later listed as "Mary" in a least one set of census records) and Roselia (b. abt. 1859) were all born in Great Barrington, Berkshire County. It is unknown what line of work William Leonard was in prior to the war, though he was living at home with his family. He was drafted into service in July 1863 for a three year term with Company F, 16th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. In mid-July 1864, the 16th Infantry mustered out. Existing veterans and recruits, Leonard included, were transferred to the 11th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. From at least August of 1864 until Lee's surrender, Leonard served as an ambulance driver, transporting wounded from battlefield to hospital. His unit spent nearly a year in and around Petersburg. While stationed outside Washington, DC, waiting to muster out, Leonard also drove civilians in and around the city. He particularly makes mention of taking family members to hospitals to get news of soldiers. Leonard returned home to Great Barrington in July 1865. In 1880, he was living at home with his father, Leonora and her husband, and Leonora's brother-in-law. At the time, he was employed at a woolen mill. In 1894, he purchased a plumbing and steam fitting business from a former employer. Later census records suggest he was married to a woman named Hattie (probably Henrietta; b. abt. 1863), but it is unknown when. They had daughter, Nellie, in June 1897.
Sources: Ancestry.com Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service. The Metal Worker, vol. XLI, January to June 1894. New York: David Williams, 1894. Via Google Books, November 2011.
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Post-surrender letters emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864/1865
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter, William Leonard to Mother, Camp Near Patrick Station Va., March 18, 1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Civil War
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-03-18
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Letters
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Language
A language of the resource
English
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106_LeonardWilliam_B1F2_Letter_1865_0318
-
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/0be2e4c40106c8796cbb35a137d016d8.jpg
578d377b78cf2856c7c20d1ef81949b6
PDF Text
Text
<p>Mar 15</p>
<p>Camp near Patrick Station</p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>I will write</p>
<p>you a few lines to day</p>
<p>because I want to send a</p>
<p>ten dollar bill, for we expect</p>
<p>to move soon, the Sutlers</p>
<p>are all leaving + we have</p>
<p>orders to be ready at any</p>
<p>time, although it may</p>
<p>be a number of weeks yet</p>
<p>before we go. I sent you a</p>
<p>letter yesterday with a amb-</p>
<p>rotype [ambrotype] in it. They have sent</p>
<p>all the sick off to City Point.</p>
<p>If we get on the move you</p>
<p>must not worry if I dont</p>
<p>write so often, but I shall</p>
<p>write often if the mail goes</p>
<p>some times the mail dont go.</p>
<p>I am glad I am not in</p>
<p>the ranks this Summer.</p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>Mar 15</p><p>Camp
near Patrick Station</p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>I will write
</p>
<p>you a few
lines to day </p>
<p>because I
want to send a </p>
<p>ten dollar
bill, for we expect </p>
<p>to move
soon, the Sutlers </p>
<p>are all
leaving + we have </p>
<p>orders to be
ready at any </p>
<p>time,
although it may </p>
<p>be a number of
weeks yet </p>
<p>before we
go. I sent you a </p>
<p>letter
yesterday with a amb-</p>
<p>rotype [ambrotype] in it. They
have sent </p>
<p>all the sick
off to City Point. </p>
<p>If we get on
the move you </p>
<p>must not
worry if I dont </p>
<p>write so
often, but I shall </p>
<p>write often if
the mail goes </p>
<p>some times the mail dont go. </p>
<p>I am glad I
am not in </p>
<p>the ranks
this Summer. </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-03-15
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/12fbca248cc1749de2a80fe8e00c0369.jpg
7d90386bd1e1e8c8212d0757291fae79
PDF Text
Text
<p>You must
keep up good </p>
<p>courage +
not get the blues </p>
<p>for we are
going to whip them </p>
<p>out this
Summer. we </p>
<p>have got a good
man </p>
<p>to steer the
machine, </p>
<p>that fellow
they call U. </p>
<p>S. Grant. [Ulysses
S. Grant] Sheridan [Philip Henry Sheridan] & Sherman [William Tecumseh
Sherman]</p>
<p>are giveing them fits. I </p>
<p>have seen
Grant [Ulysses S. Grant] & Mede [George Meade] a </p>
<p>number of
times this summer </p>
<p>I had a
great deal rather </p>
<p>see you +
Pa. I dont want </p>
<p>to see Nora
because </p>
<p>she wanted
me to go Soldiering </p>
<p>when we get
on the move </p>
<p>the time
will pass of quick </p>
<p>it drags in
Camp. write </p>
<p>often, love
to all. </p>
<p>From your
Willie</p>
<p> </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>You must
keep up good </p>
<p>courage +
not get the blues </p>
<p>for we are
going to whip them </p>
<p>out this
Summer. we </p>
<p>have got a good
man </p>
<p>to steer the
machine, </p>
<p>that fellow
they call U. </p>
<p>S. Grant. [Ulysses
S. Grant] Sheridan [Philip Henry Sheridan] & Sherman [William Tecumseh
Sherman]</p>
<p>are giveing them fits. I </p>
<p>have seen
Grant [Ulysses S. Grant] & Mede [George Meade] a </p>
<p>number of
times this summer </p>
<p>I had a
great deal rather </p>
<p>see you +
Pa. I dont want </p>
<p>to see Nora
because </p>
<p>she wanted
me to go Soldiering </p>
<p>when we get
on the move </p>
<p>the time
will pass of quick </p>
<p>it drags in
Camp. write </p>
<p>often, love
to all. </p>
<p>From your
Willie</p>
<p> </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-03-15
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/222228b5e8ecb18363eb253c6e99505d.jpg
c03a1a077911c169670635fdd19cce9a
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
William A. Leonard Papers, 1864-1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Diaries.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Description
An account of the resource
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Letters following Lee's surrender emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge and payment. All the letters in this collection were written home to Leonard's parents, usually his mother. He continually reassures her not to worry about him, requests various things from home (especially stamps), and talks about his daily life. He frequently writes about plans for when he gets home. Leonard's religious sentiments also recur throughout his correspondence. He also includes war news and who he has seen, though he reveals his priorities and lack of interest in being a soldier, saying in March 1865:
"we have got a good man to steer the machine, that fellow they call U. S. Grant. Sheridan & Sherman are giving them fits. I have seen Grant & Mede a number of times this summer I had a great deal rather see you + Pa. I dont want to see Nora because she wanted me to go soldiering"
Although battle descriptions are not necessarily the focus of Leonard's letters, his 1864 correspondence contains details of being fired upon a Petersburg, of picket duty, and later, of transporting injured men. In June 1865, he writes several letters detailing the sight of unburied dead men and horses and the sound of fighting from the front at Petersburg. In May 1865, he writes of the incompetence of the doctors:
"The Doctors here dont have any thing fit to give any one and the bigest of them dont know how to doctor a hen anyway. They take the wounded men legs and arms off half the time. when there is no need of it, do it practice there has been a number of times I have heard of that...The Doct of the Regt was a clerk in an apothecary shop..."
Leonard's diary begins in August 1864, apparently when he was appointed to drive an ambulance. His entries are short and refer mostly to his daily activities: who or what he was conveying to and from the hospital at City Point outside Petersburg; what letters he sent or received; war news; or when he attended religious meetings. Shortly before the diary ends in April 1865, he notes the firing of guns and cannons "for the death of abram Lincoln President of the U.S. who was shot by a man by the name of Booth." He refers to the death of Lincoln and its effect on the soldiers in several letters, as well. Leonard's own correspondence suggests he kept a previous diary--in August 1864, he inquires if his mother has received the one he sent home--but it is unknown if this diary still exists.
William A. Leonard was born about 1843 to Joel A. (b.1817) and Sophia Leonard (1816-d. before 1880). His parents were both natives of Vermont who moved to Massachusetts. William and his two sisters, Leonora (b. abt. 1852; and who William calls "Nora" in his letters and is later listed as "Mary" in a least one set of census records) and Roselia (b. abt. 1859) were all born in Great Barrington, Berkshire County. It is unknown what line of work William Leonard was in prior to the war, though he was living at home with his family. He was drafted into service in July 1863 for a three year term with Company F, 16th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. In mid-July 1864, the 16th Infantry mustered out. Existing veterans and recruits, Leonard included, were transferred to the 11th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. From at least August of 1864 until Lee's surrender, Leonard served as an ambulance driver, transporting wounded from battlefield to hospital. His unit spent nearly a year in and around Petersburg. While stationed outside Washington, DC, waiting to muster out, Leonard also drove civilians in and around the city. He particularly makes mention of taking family members to hospitals to get news of soldiers. Leonard returned home to Great Barrington in July 1865. In 1880, he was living at home with his father, Leonora and her husband, and Leonora's brother-in-law. At the time, he was employed at a woolen mill. In 1894, he purchased a plumbing and steam fitting business from a former employer. Later census records suggest he was married to a woman named Hattie (probably Henrietta; b. abt. 1863), but it is unknown when. They had daughter, Nellie, in June 1897.
Sources: Ancestry.com Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service. The Metal Worker, vol. XLI, January to June 1894. New York: David Williams, 1894. Via Google Books, November 2011.
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Post-surrender letters emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864/1865
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter, William Leonard to Mother, Camp Near Patrick Station Va., March 15, 1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-03-15
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Letters
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Language
A language of the resource
English
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106_LeonardWilliam_B1F2_Letter_1865_0315
-
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/ee40e5dd73781d6d52b9ec124dd9fc8f.jpg
c9df1b5ff67ade7b9b8b146946d07a34
PDF Text
Text
<p>I</p>
<p>sent</p>
<p>Nora</p>
<p>a letter</p>
<p>yesterday</p>
<p>Mar 3<sup>rd</sup></p>
<p>Camp near Patrick Station</p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>I once more seat</p>
<p>myself to write to you. I dont</p>
<p>know what to do with myself,</p>
<p>the days are drag slowly by, some-</p>
<p>times I wish it was time</p>
<p>to move so the time would</p>
<p>pass by quicker, but I know</p>
<p>that is wicked, to wish our time</p>
<p>away. God has been very good</p>
<p>to me, has he not. The 15th</p>
<p>of next July I can say only</p>
<p>one year more, after it gets</p>
<p>to be one year then I shall</p>
<p>think it drawing near to a</p>
<p>close. The last letter I got</p>
<p>from you was dated Feb the</p>
<p>14<sup>th</sup> it is time I got another.</p>
<p>I mailed Abbie Turner a</p>
<p>letter yesterday. I sent a ten</p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>I </p>
<p>sent </p>
<p>Nora </p>
<p>a letter </p>
<p>yesterday</p>
<p>Mar 3<sup>rd</sup></p>
<p>Camp near
Patrick Station</p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>I once more
seat </p>
<p>myself to
write to you. I dont </p>
<p>know what to
do with myself, </p>
<p>the days are
drag slowly by, some-</p>
<p>times I wish
it was time </p>
<p>to move so
the time would </p>
<p>pass by
quicker, but I know </p>
<p>that is wicked,
to wish our time </p>
<p>away. God
has been very good </p>
<p>to me, has
he not. The 15th </p>
<p>of next July
I can say only </p>
<p>one year
more, after it gets </p>
<p>to be one
year then I shall </p>
<p>think it
drawing near to a </p>
<p>close. The
last letter I got </p>
<p>from you was
dated Feb the </p>
<p>14<sup>th</sup>
it is time I got another. </p>
<p>I mailed Abbie
Turner a </p>
<p>letter
yesterday. I sent a ten </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-03-03
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/13b057f4f4a158bfba0517cf7b977c5d.jpg
bec8ae07a4766ae44be14a8e974efb6a
PDF Text
Text
<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>dollar Bill
in one letter </p>
<p>I dont like to send any more </p>
<p>till I hear
from it. it has </p>
<p>been raining
for two or three </p>
<p>days past.
There were two </p>
<p>men shot
here to day for </p>
<p>deserting.
The Sanitary gave </p>
<p>me a Handkerchief
and Pair </p>
<p>of mittens
to day besides books </p>
<p>to read.
Saturday. the wind </p>
<p>blows and it
rains to day. </p>
<p>I got a
Letter from Frank </p>
<p>last night,
he has moved to </p>
<p>State Line.
went to meeting </p>
<p>last night.
was a good one </p>
<p>when you
write after you get </p>
<p>this Direct Head
Quarters </p>
<p>3d Division
2d Corps, not put </p>
<p>on the Brigade
they have got </p>
<p>a notion
lately of sending the </p>
<p>Letters to Brigad Head Quarters </p>
<p>so I dont get them as quick. </p>
</td><td><p>our mail
boy get our mail </p>
<p>from
Division Head Quarters </p>
<p>put on Head
Quarters 3d Division </p>
<p>+ leave off
the Brigade the </p>
<p>rest wants
to be the same </p>
<p>as before,
in Care of Lieut </p>
<p>Pancoast. Sunday. We have </p>
<p>news to day that Sherman [William Tecumseh Sherman] has </p>
<p>burnt Columbia in retaliation </p>
<p>for the Sitizens fireing on his men </p>
<p>The Rebel
Congress men are leaving </p>
<p>Richmond,
begin to get scart </p>
<p>Monday.
Morning I have washed </p>
<p>to day and am cooking soup </p>
<p>for dinner.
I went to meeting </p>
<p>twice
yesterday, I want to </p>
<p>hear from
you to see If </p>
<p>that ten
dollar Bill came </p>
<p>safe. I see
in the Papers the </p>
<p>Army mail
has been robed </p>
<p>I have been
some time </p>
<p>writing this
letter, but I </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<table>
<tr>
<th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>dollar Bill
in one letter </p>
<p>I dont like to send any more </p>
<p>till I hear
from it. it has </p>
<p>been raining
for two or three </p>
<p>days past.
There were two </p>
<p>men shot
here to day for </p>
<p>deserting.
The Sanitary gave </p>
<p>me a Handkerchief
and Pair </p>
<p>of mittens
to day besides books </p>
<p>to read.
Saturday. the wind </p>
<p>blows and it
rains to day. </p>
<p>I got a
Letter from Frank </p>
<p>last night,
he has moved to </p>
<p>State Line.
went to meeting </p>
<p>last night.
was a good one </p>
<p>when you
write after you get </p>
<p>this Direct Head
Quarters </p>
<p>3d Division
2d Corps, not put </p>
<p>on the Brigade
they have got </p>
<p>a notion
lately of sending the </p>
<p>Letters to Brigad Head Quarters </p>
<p>so I dont get them as quick. </p>
</td><td><p>our mail
boy get our mail </p>
<p>from
Division Head Quarters </p>
<p>put on Head
Quarters 3d Division </p>
<p>+ leave off
the Brigade the </p>
<p>rest wants
to be the same </p>
<p>as before,
in Care of Lieut </p>
<p>Pancoast. Sunday. We have </p>
<p>news to day that Sherman [William Tecumseh Sherman] has </p>
<p>burn’t Columbia in retaliation </p>
<p>for the Sitizens fireing on his men </p>
<p>The Rebel
Congress men are leaving </p>
<p>Richmond,
begin to get scar’t </p>
<p>Monday.
Morning I have washed </p>
<p>to day and am cooking soup </p>
<p>for dinner.
I went to meeting </p>
<p>twice
yesterday, I want to </p>
<p>hear from
you to see If </p>
<p>that ten
dollar Bill came </p>
<p>safe. I see
in the Papers the </p>
<p>Army mail
has been robed </p>
<p>I have been
some time </p>
<p>writing this
letter, but I </p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-03-03
1865-03-05
1865-03-06
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/6bdbda12a29429718877961814a22123.jpg
04cdd0b5e53eb6f9903069d21901082d
PDF Text
Text
<p>guess I
will finish it </p>
<p>and send it
to night. </p>
<p>It is a very
Pleasant day </p>
<p>and the mud
is drying </p>
<p>up fast.
Tell Pa not to </p>
<p>work and get
his arm </p>
<p>lame again.
I hope this </p>
<p>will find
you all well </p>
<p>2 or 3
hundred Jhonnnys came </p>
<p>in last
night so I hear, they are </p>
<p>coming in fast
a squad came </p>
<p>in the other
day, and their men </p>
<p>fired at
them, they turned around </p>
<p>and fired
back + then run. </p>
<p>They came out
between the </p>
<p>picket lines
with a mule </p>
<p>team after
wood, and drove </p>
<p>the whole [consern?] inside our </p>
<p>lines. shant send this until to </p>
<p>morrow. Wednesday.
Raining </p>
<p>to day I will send a ten dollar </p>
<p>Bill in
this, although I have </p>
<p>not heard
from the other. </p>
<p>you dont write often enough </p>
<p>or else I
dont get them. </p>
<p>good bye for
this time from </p>
<p>your Son W.
A. Leonard </p>
<p> </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>guess I
will finish it </p>
<p>and send it
to night. </p>
<p>It is a very
Pleasant day </p>
<p>and the mud
is drying </p>
<p>up fast.
Tell Pa not to </p>
<p>work and get
his arm </p>
<p>lame again.
I hope this </p>
<p>will find
you all well </p>
<p>2 or 3
hundred Jhonnny’s came </p>
<p>in last
night so I hear, they are </p>
<p>coming in fast
a squad came </p>
<p>in the other
day, and their men </p>
<p>fired at
them, they turned around </p>
<p>and fired
back + then run. </p>
<p>They came out
between the </p>
<p>picket lines
with a mule </p>
<p>team after
wood, and drove </p>
<p>the whole [consern?] inside our </p>
<p>lines. shant send this until to </p>
<p>morrow. Wednesday.
Raining </p>
<p>to day I will send a ten dollar </p>
<p>Bill in
this, although I have </p>
<p>not heard
from the other. </p>
<p>you dont write often enough </p>
<p>or else I
don’t get them. </p>
<p>good bye for
this time from </p>
<p>your Son W.
A. Leonard </p>
<p> </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-03-06
1865-03-08
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/9c0807fc0363c7d51d246316da11a423.jpg
199e099b8c060471a243bd94ab016fa4
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
William A. Leonard Papers, 1864-1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Diaries.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Description
An account of the resource
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Letters following Lee's surrender emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge and payment. All the letters in this collection were written home to Leonard's parents, usually his mother. He continually reassures her not to worry about him, requests various things from home (especially stamps), and talks about his daily life. He frequently writes about plans for when he gets home. Leonard's religious sentiments also recur throughout his correspondence. He also includes war news and who he has seen, though he reveals his priorities and lack of interest in being a soldier, saying in March 1865:
"we have got a good man to steer the machine, that fellow they call U. S. Grant. Sheridan & Sherman are giving them fits. I have seen Grant & Mede a number of times this summer I had a great deal rather see you + Pa. I dont want to see Nora because she wanted me to go soldiering"
Although battle descriptions are not necessarily the focus of Leonard's letters, his 1864 correspondence contains details of being fired upon a Petersburg, of picket duty, and later, of transporting injured men. In June 1865, he writes several letters detailing the sight of unburied dead men and horses and the sound of fighting from the front at Petersburg. In May 1865, he writes of the incompetence of the doctors:
"The Doctors here dont have any thing fit to give any one and the bigest of them dont know how to doctor a hen anyway. They take the wounded men legs and arms off half the time. when there is no need of it, do it practice there has been a number of times I have heard of that...The Doct of the Regt was a clerk in an apothecary shop..."
Leonard's diary begins in August 1864, apparently when he was appointed to drive an ambulance. His entries are short and refer mostly to his daily activities: who or what he was conveying to and from the hospital at City Point outside Petersburg; what letters he sent or received; war news; or when he attended religious meetings. Shortly before the diary ends in April 1865, he notes the firing of guns and cannons "for the death of abram Lincoln President of the U.S. who was shot by a man by the name of Booth." He refers to the death of Lincoln and its effect on the soldiers in several letters, as well. Leonard's own correspondence suggests he kept a previous diary--in August 1864, he inquires if his mother has received the one he sent home--but it is unknown if this diary still exists.
William A. Leonard was born about 1843 to Joel A. (b.1817) and Sophia Leonard (1816-d. before 1880). His parents were both natives of Vermont who moved to Massachusetts. William and his two sisters, Leonora (b. abt. 1852; and who William calls "Nora" in his letters and is later listed as "Mary" in a least one set of census records) and Roselia (b. abt. 1859) were all born in Great Barrington, Berkshire County. It is unknown what line of work William Leonard was in prior to the war, though he was living at home with his family. He was drafted into service in July 1863 for a three year term with Company F, 16th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. In mid-July 1864, the 16th Infantry mustered out. Existing veterans and recruits, Leonard included, were transferred to the 11th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. From at least August of 1864 until Lee's surrender, Leonard served as an ambulance driver, transporting wounded from battlefield to hospital. His unit spent nearly a year in and around Petersburg. While stationed outside Washington, DC, waiting to muster out, Leonard also drove civilians in and around the city. He particularly makes mention of taking family members to hospitals to get news of soldiers. Leonard returned home to Great Barrington in July 1865. In 1880, he was living at home with his father, Leonora and her husband, and Leonora's brother-in-law. At the time, he was employed at a woolen mill. In 1894, he purchased a plumbing and steam fitting business from a former employer. Later census records suggest he was married to a woman named Hattie (probably Henrietta; b. abt. 1863), but it is unknown when. They had daughter, Nellie, in June 1897.
Sources: Ancestry.com Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service. The Metal Worker, vol. XLI, January to June 1894. New York: David Williams, 1894. Via Google Books, November 2011.
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Post-surrender letters emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864/1865
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter, William Leonard to Mother, Camp Near Patrick Station Va., March 3, 1865 (2nd letter) (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Description
An account of the resource
Although this letter is dated March 3, the Union Army victories at Petersburg and Richmond took place in early April. It is more likely this note was written on April 3rd. In addition, the related envelope is stamped April 5.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-03-03
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Letters
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Language
A language of the resource
English
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106_LeonardWilliam_B1F2_Letter_1865_0303b
-
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/20fe16e1f88fd1e935771637f16667e7.jpg
9d6bef067a10060d70a13b45ea722088
PDF Text
Text
<p>March 3d
<i>Note: Although this short note is dated March 3, the Union Army victories at
Petersburg and Richmond took place in early April. It is more likely this note
was written on April 3rd. In addition, the related envelope is stamped April
5.</i> </p>
<p>Dear Mother</p>
<p>Petersburg
is ours </p>
<p>I am all
right I just </p>
<p>came from
there with </p>
<p>wounded to
the station </p>
<p>came across through
</p>
<p>the works.
Manuel is </p>
<p>wounded, not
bade.</p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>March 3d
<i>Note: Although this short note is dated March 3, the Union Army victories at
Petersburg and Richmond took place in early April. It is more likely this note
was written on April 3rd. In addition, the related envelope is stamped April
5.</i> </p>
<p>Dear Mother</p>
<p>Petersburg
is ours </p>
<p>I am all
right I just </p>
<p>came from
there with </p>
<p>wounded to
the station </p>
<p>came across through
</p>
<p>the works.
Manuel is </p>
<p>wounded, not
bade.</p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-03-03
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/d4684b30a99baeb74a3092d2276fabbf.jpg
17105aa92eeb3f95897176fa98a23c06
PDF Text
Text
<p>Rumorded Richmond </p>
<p>is taken, we
made </p>
<p>them travel.</p>
<p>Willie</p>
<p>3d Dispach</p>
<p>No time to
write</p>
<p> </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>Rumorded Richmond </p>
<p>is taken, we
made </p>
<p>them travel.</p>
<p>Willie</p>
<p>3d Dispach</p>
<p>No time to
write</p>
<p> </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-03-03
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/76db88faaf5877f1aefae0b7392a7417.jpg
c4123139d33ae770dff61b5d64638e95
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
William A. Leonard Papers, 1864-1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Diaries.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Description
An account of the resource
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Letters following Lee's surrender emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge and payment. All the letters in this collection were written home to Leonard's parents, usually his mother. He continually reassures her not to worry about him, requests various things from home (especially stamps), and talks about his daily life. He frequently writes about plans for when he gets home. Leonard's religious sentiments also recur throughout his correspondence. He also includes war news and who he has seen, though he reveals his priorities and lack of interest in being a soldier, saying in March 1865:
"we have got a good man to steer the machine, that fellow they call U. S. Grant. Sheridan & Sherman are giving them fits. I have seen Grant & Mede a number of times this summer I had a great deal rather see you + Pa. I dont want to see Nora because she wanted me to go soldiering"
Although battle descriptions are not necessarily the focus of Leonard's letters, his 1864 correspondence contains details of being fired upon a Petersburg, of picket duty, and later, of transporting injured men. In June 1865, he writes several letters detailing the sight of unburied dead men and horses and the sound of fighting from the front at Petersburg. In May 1865, he writes of the incompetence of the doctors:
"The Doctors here dont have any thing fit to give any one and the bigest of them dont know how to doctor a hen anyway. They take the wounded men legs and arms off half the time. when there is no need of it, do it practice there has been a number of times I have heard of that...The Doct of the Regt was a clerk in an apothecary shop..."
Leonard's diary begins in August 1864, apparently when he was appointed to drive an ambulance. His entries are short and refer mostly to his daily activities: who or what he was conveying to and from the hospital at City Point outside Petersburg; what letters he sent or received; war news; or when he attended religious meetings. Shortly before the diary ends in April 1865, he notes the firing of guns and cannons "for the death of abram Lincoln President of the U.S. who was shot by a man by the name of Booth." He refers to the death of Lincoln and its effect on the soldiers in several letters, as well. Leonard's own correspondence suggests he kept a previous diary--in August 1864, he inquires if his mother has received the one he sent home--but it is unknown if this diary still exists.
William A. Leonard was born about 1843 to Joel A. (b.1817) and Sophia Leonard (1816-d. before 1880). His parents were both natives of Vermont who moved to Massachusetts. William and his two sisters, Leonora (b. abt. 1852; and who William calls "Nora" in his letters and is later listed as "Mary" in a least one set of census records) and Roselia (b. abt. 1859) were all born in Great Barrington, Berkshire County. It is unknown what line of work William Leonard was in prior to the war, though he was living at home with his family. He was drafted into service in July 1863 for a three year term with Company F, 16th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. In mid-July 1864, the 16th Infantry mustered out. Existing veterans and recruits, Leonard included, were transferred to the 11th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. From at least August of 1864 until Lee's surrender, Leonard served as an ambulance driver, transporting wounded from battlefield to hospital. His unit spent nearly a year in and around Petersburg. While stationed outside Washington, DC, waiting to muster out, Leonard also drove civilians in and around the city. He particularly makes mention of taking family members to hospitals to get news of soldiers. Leonard returned home to Great Barrington in July 1865. In 1880, he was living at home with his father, Leonora and her husband, and Leonora's brother-in-law. At the time, he was employed at a woolen mill. In 1894, he purchased a plumbing and steam fitting business from a former employer. Later census records suggest he was married to a woman named Hattie (probably Henrietta; b. abt. 1863), but it is unknown when. They had daughter, Nellie, in June 1897.
Sources: Ancestry.com Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service. The Metal Worker, vol. XLI, January to June 1894. New York: David Williams, 1894. Via Google Books, November 2011.
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Post-surrender letters emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864/1865
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter, William Leonard to Mother, Camp Near Patrick Station Va., March 3, 1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Description
An account of the resource
Although this short note is dated March 3, the Union Army victories at Petersburg and Richmond took place in early April. It is more likely this note was written on April 3rd. In addition, the related envelope is stamped April 5.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-03-03
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Letters
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Language
A language of the resource
English
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106_LeonardWilliam_B1F2_Letter_1865_0303a
-
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/53f88ab67e88d6b449d69361019363d0.jpg
67feab34cee05d1d4a68d0a582067c3c
PDF Text
Text
<p>[<em>Continued from page 4</em>]they probly</p>
<p>carried</p>
<p>off all</p>
<p>they could</p>
<p>one deserter</p>
<p>that came</p>
<p>down just</p>
<p>after the</p>
<p>fight said</p>
<p>the roads</p>
<p>were full</p>
<p>of wounded</p>
<p>write soon</p>
<p>good</p>
<p>Bye</p>
<p>From</p>
<p>Willie</p>
<p>Camp near Patrick Station Feb 24</p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>I received your last</p>
<p>letter yesterday, three stamps and</p>
<p>a dollar bill. we got payed yesterday</p>
<p>It has been rainy for a day or</p>
<p>two, is raining now. You said in</p>
<p>your letter you say the 11<sup>th</sup> Mass</p>
<p>lost heavily. they did not loose</p>
<p>a man. It was the 8<sup>th</sup> New Jersey</p>
<p>that lost so many. I think I</p>
<p>will send what money I send</p>
<p>home by letter. I have always</p>
<p>had such good luck with my</p>
<p>letters. They only charge forty and</p>
<p>fifty cents a bunch for envelopes.</p>
<p>You need not send any more</p>
<p>stamps. Tell Aunt Mary I</p>
<p>thank her very much for</p>
<p>them Stamps she sent me</p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>[<i>Continued from page 4</i>]they probly </p>
<p>carried </p>
<p>off all </p>
<p>they could </p>
<p>one deserter
</p>
<p>that came </p>
<p>down just </p>
<p>after the </p>
<p>fight said </p>
<p>the roads </p>
<p>were full </p>
<p>of wounded </p>
<p>write soon </p>
<p>good </p>
<p>Bye </p>
<p>From </p>
<p>Willie</p>
<p>Camp near
Patrick Station Feb 24</p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>I received
your last </p>
<p>letter
yesterday, three stamps and </p>
<p>a dollar
bill. we got payed yesterday </p>
<p>It has been
rainy for a day or </p>
<p>two, is
raining now. You said in </p>
<p>your letter
you say the 11<sup>th</sup> Mass </p>
<p>lost
heavily. they did not loose </p>
<p>a man. It
was the 8<sup>th</sup> New Jersey </p>
<p>that lost so
many. I think I </p>
<p>will send
what money I send </p>
<p>home by
letter. I have always </p>
<p>had such
good luck with my </p>
<p>letters.
They only charge forty and </p>
<p>fifty cents
a bunch for envelopes. </p>
<p>You need not
send any more </p>
<p>stamps. Tell
Aunt Mary I </p>
<p>thank her
very much for </p>
<p>them Stamps
she sent me </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-02-24
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/c5950a94dab34a08061abc09cb87f03e.jpg
7dd942ad1043e551eb2fe3a5c904cfcc
PDF Text
Text
<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>What do
you think of Charleston </p>
<p>now, that hot
bed of treason, </p>
<p>they had to get
up and get out </p>
<p>of it when
Sherman [William Tecumseh Sherman] came along. </p>
<p>We have news
here to day that </p>
<p>Sherman
[William Tecumseh Sherman] is dead, poisend, but </p>
<p>we dont credit it. Am sorry </p>
<p>Fathers arm
is lame, tell him </p>
<p>to be
careful with it. Grant [Ulysses S. Grant] </p>
<p>has got the
Rail Road most up </p>
<p>to where our
Divis. is already, up </p>
<p>hill + down,
dont stop him. Wm </p>
<p>Smith
[William Smith] may enlist in the Regu-</p>
<p>lars if he
wants to; for life, all </p>
<p>I want is to
get through my </p>
<p>three years
that will be regular </p>
<p>enough for
me. Sargt. Jones that </p>
<p>was with the
Strecher bearers at the </p>
<p>line of the
fight went up to our </p>
<p>Regt and
tore cartridges for them </p>
<p>I shall </p>
<p>write Abbie
soon. </p>
</td><td><p>There is
all kinds of rumors </p>
<p>afloat here to night. Petersburg </p>
<p>Evacuated. Williamton captured </p>
<p>and so on. I
think there will </p>
<p>be something
done before long, as </p>
<p>quick as the
weather will premit. </p>
<p>Saturday. well
another day has </p>
<p>dawned. it
is cloudy & rainy </p>
<p>I went to
Prayer Meeting last </p>
<p>night, like
the Chaplain very </p>
<p>much. I
think I will put a </p>
<p>ten dollar
bill in this letter </p>
<p>and you let
me know if </p>
<p>it comes
safe. guess I will </p>
<p>put it in a
Sanitary Envelope </p>
<p>without any
stamp, that will </p>
<p>throw them
off the track, </p>
<p>they will
think if a soldier </p>
<p>hant got money to buy stamps </p>
<p>with there hant any money </p>
<p>in the letter.
I am looking </p>
<p>out for such
fellows as that </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<table>
<tr>
<th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>What do
you think of Charleston </p>
<p>now, that hot
bed of treason, </p>
<p>they had to get
up and get out </p>
<p>of it when
Sherman [William Tecumseh Sherman] came along. </p>
<p>We have news
here to day that </p>
<p>Sherman
[William Tecumseh Sherman] is dead, poisend, but </p>
<p>we dont credit it. Am sorry </p>
<p>Fathers arm
is lame, tell him </p>
<p>to be
careful with it. Grant [Ulysses S. Grant] </p>
<p>has got the
Rail Road most up </p>
<p>to where our
Divis. is already, up </p>
<p>hill + down,
dont stop him. Wm </p>
<p>Smith
[William Smith] may enlist in the Regu-</p>
<p>lars if he
wants to; for life, all </p>
<p>I want is to
get through my </p>
<p>three years
that will be regular </p>
<p>enough for
me. Sargt. Jones that </p>
<p>was with the
Strecher bearers at the </p>
<p>line of the
fight went up to our </p>
<p>Regt and
tore cartridges for them </p>
<p>I shall </p>
<p>write Abbie
soon. </p>
</td><td><p>There is
all kinds of rumors </p>
<p>afloat here to night. Petersburg </p>
<p>Evacuated. Williamton captured </p>
<p>and so on. I
think there will </p>
<p>be something
done before long, as </p>
<p>quick as the
weather will premit. </p>
<p>Saturday. well
another day has </p>
<p>dawned. it
is cloudy & rainy </p>
<p>I went to
Prayer Meeting last </p>
<p>night, like
the Chaplain very </p>
<p>much. I
think I will put a </p>
<p>ten dollar
bill in this letter </p>
<p>and you let
me know if </p>
<p>it comes
safe. guess I will </p>
<p>put it in a
Sanitary Envelope </p>
<p>without any
stamp, that will </p>
<p>throw them
off the track, </p>
<p>they will
think if a soldier </p>
<p>han’t got money to buy stamps </p>
<p>with there hant any money </p>
<p>in the letter.
I am looking </p>
<p>out for such
fellows as that </p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
Dublin Core
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Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-02-24
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Text
<p>Ministers son in Barrington.</p>
<p>Mary Riley has married Henry</p>
<p>Bristol well he is a pretty good</p>
<p>fellow I used to like him.</p>
<p>It takes Ed + Mattie quite a</p>
<p>while to make up their mind</p>
<p>dont it. that is the best way</p>
<p>not to be in to great a hurry</p>
<p>Tell Nora she must write</p>
<p>to me she hant got anything</p>
<p>els to do. I suppose she goes</p>
<p>to School. Tell her when she</p>
<p>gets so to beat Emma she</p>
<p>may stop. We have got the</p>
<p>News by Paper of the fall of</p>
<p>Fort Anderson + our Army are</p>
<p>marching on Williamton. Sherman [William Tecumseh Sherman]</p>
<p>is after Beauregard. The Rebelion</p>
<p>will be chrushed this Spring. If</p>
<p>Lee [Robert E. Lee] dont leave Petersburg soon</p>
<p>he will be pened in, so he cant.</p>
<p>every thing looks good. Love to all</p>
<p>Friends. Tell Aunt Mary I say not</p>
<p>to go to Adams. Tell Pa we are</p>
<p>going to give the Rebs fits this</p>
<p>Spring. wonder if they dont want to</p>
<p>make another Charge on our Brigade</p>
<p>our Boys counted 70 graves in one place in</p>
<p>front of our Brigade</p>
<p> </p>
<p>[<em>Continued on first page</em>]they probly</p>
<p>carried</p>
<p>off all</p>
<p>they could</p>
<p>one deserter</p>
<p>that came</p>
<p>down just</p>
<p>after the</p>
<p>fight said</p>
<p>the roads</p>
<p>were full</p>
<p>of wounded</p>
<p>write soon</p>
<p>good</p>
<p>Bye</p>
<p>From</p>
<p>Willie</p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>Ministers son in Barrington. </p>
<p>Mary Riley
has married Henry </p>
<p>Bristol well
he is a pretty good </p>
<p>fellow I
used to like him. </p>
<p>It takes Ed
+ Mattie quite a </p>
<p>while to
make up their mind </p>
<p>dont it. that is the best way </p>
<p>not to be in
to great a hurry </p>
<p>Tell Nora
she must write </p>
<p>to me she hant got anything </p>
<p>els to do. I suppose she goes </p>
<p>to School.
Tell her when she </p>
<p>gets so to
beat Emma she </p>
<p>may stop. We
have got the </p>
<p>News by
Paper of the fall of </p>
<p>Fort
Anderson + our Army are </p>
<p>marching on Williamton. Sherman [William Tecumseh Sherman] </p>
<p>is after Beauregard.
The Rebelion </p>
<p>will be chrushed this Spring. If </p>
<p>Lee [Robert
E. Lee] dont leave Petersburg soon </p>
<p>he will be pened in, so he cant. </p>
<p>every thing looks good. Love to all </p>
<p>Friends.
Tell Aunt Mary I say not </p>
<p>to go to
Adams. Tell Pa we are </p>
<p>going to
give the Rebs fits this </p>
<p>Spring.
wonder if they dont want to </p>
<p>make another
Charge on our Brigade </p>
<p>our Boys
counted 70 graves in one place in </p>
<p>front of our
Brigade </p>
<p> </p><p>[<i>Continued on first page</i>]they probly </p>
<p>carried </p>
<p>off all </p>
<p>they could </p>
<p>one deserter
</p>
<p>that came </p>
<p>down just </p>
<p>after the </p>
<p>fight said </p>
<p>the roads </p>
<p>were full </p>
<p>of wounded </p>
<p>write soon </p>
<p>good </p>
<p>Bye </p>
<p>From </p>
<p>Willie</p>
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Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-02-24
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108c771a29b0b49cd8620185ef21e771
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Title
A name given to the resource
William A. Leonard Papers, 1864-1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Diaries.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Description
An account of the resource
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Letters following Lee's surrender emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge and payment. All the letters in this collection were written home to Leonard's parents, usually his mother. He continually reassures her not to worry about him, requests various things from home (especially stamps), and talks about his daily life. He frequently writes about plans for when he gets home. Leonard's religious sentiments also recur throughout his correspondence. He also includes war news and who he has seen, though he reveals his priorities and lack of interest in being a soldier, saying in March 1865:
"we have got a good man to steer the machine, that fellow they call U. S. Grant. Sheridan & Sherman are giving them fits. I have seen Grant & Mede a number of times this summer I had a great deal rather see you + Pa. I dont want to see Nora because she wanted me to go soldiering"
Although battle descriptions are not necessarily the focus of Leonard's letters, his 1864 correspondence contains details of being fired upon a Petersburg, of picket duty, and later, of transporting injured men. In June 1865, he writes several letters detailing the sight of unburied dead men and horses and the sound of fighting from the front at Petersburg. In May 1865, he writes of the incompetence of the doctors:
"The Doctors here dont have any thing fit to give any one and the bigest of them dont know how to doctor a hen anyway. They take the wounded men legs and arms off half the time. when there is no need of it, do it practice there has been a number of times I have heard of that...The Doct of the Regt was a clerk in an apothecary shop..."
Leonard's diary begins in August 1864, apparently when he was appointed to drive an ambulance. His entries are short and refer mostly to his daily activities: who or what he was conveying to and from the hospital at City Point outside Petersburg; what letters he sent or received; war news; or when he attended religious meetings. Shortly before the diary ends in April 1865, he notes the firing of guns and cannons "for the death of abram Lincoln President of the U.S. who was shot by a man by the name of Booth." He refers to the death of Lincoln and its effect on the soldiers in several letters, as well. Leonard's own correspondence suggests he kept a previous diary--in August 1864, he inquires if his mother has received the one he sent home--but it is unknown if this diary still exists.
William A. Leonard was born about 1843 to Joel A. (b.1817) and Sophia Leonard (1816-d. before 1880). His parents were both natives of Vermont who moved to Massachusetts. William and his two sisters, Leonora (b. abt. 1852; and who William calls "Nora" in his letters and is later listed as "Mary" in a least one set of census records) and Roselia (b. abt. 1859) were all born in Great Barrington, Berkshire County. It is unknown what line of work William Leonard was in prior to the war, though he was living at home with his family. He was drafted into service in July 1863 for a three year term with Company F, 16th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. In mid-July 1864, the 16th Infantry mustered out. Existing veterans and recruits, Leonard included, were transferred to the 11th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. From at least August of 1864 until Lee's surrender, Leonard served as an ambulance driver, transporting wounded from battlefield to hospital. His unit spent nearly a year in and around Petersburg. While stationed outside Washington, DC, waiting to muster out, Leonard also drove civilians in and around the city. He particularly makes mention of taking family members to hospitals to get news of soldiers. Leonard returned home to Great Barrington in July 1865. In 1880, he was living at home with his father, Leonora and her husband, and Leonora's brother-in-law. At the time, he was employed at a woolen mill. In 1894, he purchased a plumbing and steam fitting business from a former employer. Later census records suggest he was married to a woman named Hattie (probably Henrietta; b. abt. 1863), but it is unknown when. They had daughter, Nellie, in June 1897.
Sources: Ancestry.com Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service. The Metal Worker, vol. XLI, January to June 1894. New York: David Williams, 1894. Via Google Books, November 2011.
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Post-surrender letters emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864/1865
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter, William Leonard to Mother, Camp Near Patrick Station Va., February 24, 1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-02-24
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Letters
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Language
A language of the resource
English
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106_LeonardWilliam_B1F2_Letter_1865_0224
-
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/b72444dd9a5b025e054ea23f87c7ca57.jpg
fa01b7458534b4f701a6e30dc34dad1c
PDF Text
Text
<p>Tell</p>
<p>Nora</p>
<p>to give</p>
<p>my</p>
<p>Respects</p>
<p>to</p>
<p>Emma</p>
<p>Bump</p>
<p>W L</p>
<p>Camp near
Patrick Station Feb 21</p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>I will
commence you </p>
<p>a letter to
day because I know you </p>
<p>like to hear
from me often. I </p>
<p>had such a nice
dream last night </p>
<p>thought I
was at home, had my </p>
<p>discharge
from the Army. I was </p>
<p>haveing such a good time. I was </p>
<p>telling you
some of my experiance </p>
<p>and was
showing you my New </p>
<p>jacket, when
I was waked up </p>
<p>by; fall in
for roll call; I found </p>
<p>I was in the
Shanty, and had to </p>
<p>tum out for
roll call. It is very </p>
<p>pleasant here
to day, and after </p>
<p>we exersize our horses, am going </p>
<p>over to the
37<sup>th</sup>, to see Jonas [Jonas Scott] + </p>
<p>the Boys. We
are haveing pretty </p>
<p>good news
from Sherman [William Tecumseh Sherman], has </p>
<p>took
Columbia, Charlston [Charleston, SC] will </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>Tell</p>
<p>Nora</p>
<p>to give</p>
<p>my</p>
<p>Respects</p>
<p>to</p>
<p>Emma</p>
<p>Bump</p>
<p>W L</p>
<p>Camp near
Patrick Station Feb 21</p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>I will
commence you </p>
<p>a letter to
day because I know you </p>
<p>like to hear
from me often. I </p>
<p>had such a nice
dream last night </p>
<p>thought I
was at home, had my </p>
<p>discharge
from the Army. I was </p>
<p>haveing such a good time. I was </p>
<p>telling you
some of my experiance </p>
<p>and was
showing you my New </p>
<p>jacket, when
I was waked up </p>
<p>by; fall in
for roll call; I found </p>
<p>I was in the
Shanty, and had to </p>
<p>tum out for
roll call. It is very </p>
<p>pleasant here
to day, and after </p>
<p>we exersize our horses, am going </p>
<p>over to the
37<sup>th</sup>, to see Jonas [Jonas Scott] + </p>
<p>the Boys. We
are haveing pretty </p>
<p>good news
from Sherman [William Tecumseh Sherman], has </p>
<p>took
Columbia, Charlston [Charleston, SC] will </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-02-21
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/f9a399031a3eb70b79fdd145113d2421.jpg
479c7a37f9905a7ec106ec4406dac37e
PDF Text
Text
<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>fall
next. The Rebels are </p>
<p>deserting
over to us fast, come </p>
<p>in every
night. next fall will </p>
<p>see this war
finished. I went to </p>
<p>Meeting Sunday,
think I shall </p>
<p>go to night.
One young man in </p>
<p>the train
goes home to day his </p>
<p>time is out.
Night. We have </p>
<p>got the news
of the Capture </p>
<p>of
Charleston; the have been </p>
<p>firing a Salute.
I have been </p>
<p>over to the
6th Corps, saw </p>
<p>Jonas [Jonas
Scott], Geo Seely [George Seeley], Steve Collar, </p>
<p>I went to
the 2d Com.[Heavy Artillery] and </p>
<p>saw Thomas Birge. Tom is </p>
<p>trying to
get a furlow. </p>
<p>Wednesday.
The Pay-master came </p>
<p>last night. Yo know I wrote </p>
<p>you at the
time that </p>
<p>raid was
made on the Rail </p>
<p>Road and
when they came </p>
<p>back, found
some of our </p>
</td><td><p>men with
their throat cut </p>
<p>+ of their
Burning the Houses </p>
<p>well two of them
that were </p>
<p>found with
their throats </p>
<p>cut was Esaius Lutesinger </p>
<p>+ Geo. Mallery [George Mallory]. They belonged </p>
<p>to the 1<sup>st</sup>
Massachusetts </p>
<p>Cavalry.
Their Horses played </p>
<p>out + the
Guerrillas murdered </p>
<p>them. Jack Mallery [Edward J. Mallory] belonged </p>
<p>to the same
Regt. he has </p>
<p>deserted.
Geo. Ray [George G. Ray] has </p>
<p>been taken
Prisoner. Tim </p>
<p>Pelton [Timothy Pelton] is
Orderly at Army </p>
<p>Head
Quarters, he belongs </p>
<p>to the 1<sup>st</sup>
Mass. Cavalry. I </p>
<p>saw him with
Meads staf </p>
<p>on the left
the other day. </p>
<p>I would not
advise you </p>
<p>to tell Mrs.
Lutesinger about </p>
<p>it. it will
make her feel bad. </p>
<p>it is so.
Tom Birge [Thomas Birge] looks
fat </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<table>
<tr>
<th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>fall
next. The Rebels are </p>
<p>deserting
over to us fast, come </p>
<p>in every
night. next fall will </p>
<p>see this war
finished. I went to </p>
<p>Meeting Sunday,
think I shall </p>
<p>go to night.
One young man in </p>
<p>the train
goes home to day his </p>
<p>time is out.
Night. We have </p>
<p>got the news
of the Capture </p>
<p>of
Charleston; the have been </p>
<p>firing a Salute.
I have been </p>
<p>over to the
6th Corps, saw </p>
<p>Jonas [Jonas
Scott], Geo Seely [George Seeley], Steve Collar, </p>
<p>I went to
the 2d Com.[Heavy Artillery] and </p>
<p>saw Thomas Birge. Tom is </p>
<p>trying to
get a furlow. </p>
<p>Wednesday.
The Pay-master came </p>
<p>last night. Yo know I wrote </p>
<p>you at the
time that </p>
<p>raid was
made on the Rail </p>
<p>Road and
when they came </p>
<p>back, found
some of our </p>
</td><td><p>men with
their throat cut </p>
<p>+ of their
Burning the Houses </p>
<p>well two of them
that were </p>
<p>found with
their throats </p>
<p>cut was Esaius Lutesinger </p>
<p>+ Geo. Mallery [George Mallory]. They belonged </p>
<p>to the 1<sup>st</sup>
Massachusetts </p>
<p>Cavalry.
Their Horses played </p>
<p>out + the
Guerrillas murdered </p>
<p>them. Jack Mallery [Edward J. Mallory] belonged </p>
<p>to the same
Regt. he has </p>
<p>deserted.
Geo. Ray [George G. Ray] has </p>
<p>been taken
Prisoner. Tim </p>
<p>Pelton [Timothy Pelton] is
Orderly at Army </p>
<p>Head
Quarters, he belongs </p>
<p>to the 1<sup>st</sup>
Mass. Cavalry. I </p>
<p>saw him with
Meads staf </p>
<p>on the left
the other day. </p>
<p>I would not
advise you </p>
<p>to tell Mrs.
Lutesinger about </p>
<p>it. it will
make her feel bad. </p>
<p>it is so.
Tom Birge [Thomas Birge] looks
fat </p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-02-21
1865-02-22
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d3dd2695cd1a4860d7a09349de99cc22
PDF Text
Text
<p>and
healthy. he was glad </p>
<p>to see me.
James Oles [James H. Olds] </p>
<p>belongs to
the Invalid Corps </p>
<p>he was wounded
in the Vally. </p>
<p>Erastus
Strickland was</p>
<p>wounded in
the Vally. I dont </p>
<p>know of much
more news to write </p>
<p>It is very Pleasant
weather </p>
<p>here. I
dreamt of being home last </p>
<p>night. thought
I saw Tommy </p>
<p>Bump + Emma.
I suppose </p>
<p>we will get
some Green-backs </p>
<p>to morrow. We are cooking beans </p>
<p>to day. We
have a nice little </p>
<p>house, have
moved. you see </p>
<p>the Strecher-bearers stop out with </p>
<p>the Brigade
now so we moved </p>
<p>into one of
their houses it is better </p>
<p>than ours
was. wish you could </p>
<p>look in and
see us now. it is </p>
<p>about six
feet long + three + a half </p>
<p>wide, can
stand up strait most any </p>
<p>where in it
door in the end and </p>
<p>fire-place
in the side. well </p>
<p>I will stop
writing and try a </p>
<p>few beans +
coffee. Love to Aunt </p>
<p>Mary if she
is there. Jonas [Jonas Scott] sends </p>
<p>his love to
you all. write soon</p>
<p>From your
Son, Willie</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>and
healthy. he was glad </p>
<p>to see me.
James Oles [James H. Olds] </p>
<p>belongs to
the Invalid Corps </p>
<p>he was wounded
in the Vally. </p>
<p>Erastus
Strickland was</p>
<p>wounded in
the Vally. I dont </p>
<p>know of much
more news to write </p>
<p>It is very Pleasant
weather </p>
<p>here. I
dreamt of being home last </p>
<p>night. thought
I saw Tommy </p>
<p>Bump + Emma.
I suppose </p>
<p>we will get
some Green-backs </p>
<p>to morrow. We are cooking beans </p>
<p>to day. We
have a nice little </p>
<p>house, have
moved. you see </p>
<p>the Strecher-bearers stop out with </p>
<p>the Brigade
now so we moved </p>
<p>into one of
their houses it is better </p>
<p>than ours
was. wish you could </p>
<p>look in and
see us now. it is </p>
<p>about six
feet long + three + a half </p>
<p>wide, can
stand up strait most any </p>
<p>where in it
door in the end and </p>
<p>fire-place
in the side. well </p>
<p>I will stop
writing and try a </p>
<p>few beans +
coffee. Love to Aunt </p>
<p>Mary if she
is there. Jonas [Jonas Scott] sends </p>
<p>his love to
you all. write soon</p>
<p>From your
Son, Willie</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
Dublin Core
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Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-02-22
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/328c76046986e6ba449fbab9295b7281.jpg
5ef025d9806a2f494246a585ac1ce21b
Dublin Core
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Title
A name given to the resource
William A. Leonard Papers, 1864-1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Diaries.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Description
An account of the resource
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Letters following Lee's surrender emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge and payment. All the letters in this collection were written home to Leonard's parents, usually his mother. He continually reassures her not to worry about him, requests various things from home (especially stamps), and talks about his daily life. He frequently writes about plans for when he gets home. Leonard's religious sentiments also recur throughout his correspondence. He also includes war news and who he has seen, though he reveals his priorities and lack of interest in being a soldier, saying in March 1865:
"we have got a good man to steer the machine, that fellow they call U. S. Grant. Sheridan & Sherman are giving them fits. I have seen Grant & Mede a number of times this summer I had a great deal rather see you + Pa. I dont want to see Nora because she wanted me to go soldiering"
Although battle descriptions are not necessarily the focus of Leonard's letters, his 1864 correspondence contains details of being fired upon a Petersburg, of picket duty, and later, of transporting injured men. In June 1865, he writes several letters detailing the sight of unburied dead men and horses and the sound of fighting from the front at Petersburg. In May 1865, he writes of the incompetence of the doctors:
"The Doctors here dont have any thing fit to give any one and the bigest of them dont know how to doctor a hen anyway. They take the wounded men legs and arms off half the time. when there is no need of it, do it practice there has been a number of times I have heard of that...The Doct of the Regt was a clerk in an apothecary shop..."
Leonard's diary begins in August 1864, apparently when he was appointed to drive an ambulance. His entries are short and refer mostly to his daily activities: who or what he was conveying to and from the hospital at City Point outside Petersburg; what letters he sent or received; war news; or when he attended religious meetings. Shortly before the diary ends in April 1865, he notes the firing of guns and cannons "for the death of abram Lincoln President of the U.S. who was shot by a man by the name of Booth." He refers to the death of Lincoln and its effect on the soldiers in several letters, as well. Leonard's own correspondence suggests he kept a previous diary--in August 1864, he inquires if his mother has received the one he sent home--but it is unknown if this diary still exists.
William A. Leonard was born about 1843 to Joel A. (b.1817) and Sophia Leonard (1816-d. before 1880). His parents were both natives of Vermont who moved to Massachusetts. William and his two sisters, Leonora (b. abt. 1852; and who William calls "Nora" in his letters and is later listed as "Mary" in a least one set of census records) and Roselia (b. abt. 1859) were all born in Great Barrington, Berkshire County. It is unknown what line of work William Leonard was in prior to the war, though he was living at home with his family. He was drafted into service in July 1863 for a three year term with Company F, 16th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. In mid-July 1864, the 16th Infantry mustered out. Existing veterans and recruits, Leonard included, were transferred to the 11th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. From at least August of 1864 until Lee's surrender, Leonard served as an ambulance driver, transporting wounded from battlefield to hospital. His unit spent nearly a year in and around Petersburg. While stationed outside Washington, DC, waiting to muster out, Leonard also drove civilians in and around the city. He particularly makes mention of taking family members to hospitals to get news of soldiers. Leonard returned home to Great Barrington in July 1865. In 1880, he was living at home with his father, Leonora and her husband, and Leonora's brother-in-law. At the time, he was employed at a woolen mill. In 1894, he purchased a plumbing and steam fitting business from a former employer. Later census records suggest he was married to a woman named Hattie (probably Henrietta; b. abt. 1863), but it is unknown when. They had daughter, Nellie, in June 1897.
Sources: Ancestry.com Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service. The Metal Worker, vol. XLI, January to June 1894. New York: David Williams, 1894. Via Google Books, November 2011.
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Post-surrender letters emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864/1865
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter, William Leonard to Mother, Camp Near Patrick Station, February 21, 1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1865-02-21
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Letters
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Language
A language of the resource
English
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106_LeonardWilliam_B1F2_Letter_1865_0221
-
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/d91cf49fe1b7fd396ee7192dddb1762d.jpg
b86465956ea96b1bc1b8470d55fa0fa3
PDF Text
Text
<p>Tell Pa
I </p>
<p>would like </p>
<p>to have had </p>
<p>him with </p>
<p>me the </p>
<p>other </p>
<p>day if </p>
<p>I had been </p>
<p>sure he </p>
<p>would not </p>
<p>been hit </p>
<p>so he could </p>
<p>have seen </p>
<p>a little </p>
<p>bit of </p>
<p>soldiering </p>
<p>That charge </p>
<p>was grand </p>
<p>roaring of </p>
<p>musketry </p>
<p>+ the artill-</p>
<p>ery making </p>
<p>things tremble</p>
<p>Camp near
Petersburg Nov 1<sup>st</sup></p>
<p>Dear Parents</p>
<p>I have just
came in from </p>
<p>Picket. went
out Sunday </p>
<p>was down at
Fort Stevenson but the </p>
<p>Brigade has moved
up in front of </p>
<p>Petersburg.
Got your letter of the 27<sup>th</sup></p>
<p>Sunday
morning + was very sorry to </p>
<p>hear that the
Diptheria had made </p>
<p>its apperance again. It curious </p>
<p>we never
have it in the army </p>
<p>where the
men are most exposed </p>
<p>live out
doors as you may say. I </p>
<p>do hope
there wont any of you get </p>
<p>it. In my last
I wrote you about the </p>
<p>fight we
had. well I see in the Papers </p>
<p>they try to
make it out a reconnoisance </p>
<p>in force.
well I dont want to reconn-</p>
<p>oitor in force again if that is the </p>
<p>way they do
it. Hancock [Winfield Scott Hancock] said they </p>
<p>did not have
any prisoners taken but a </p>
<p>few straglers. that may be, but I was </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>Tell Pa
I </p>
<p>would like </p>
<p>to have had </p>
<p>him with </p>
<p>me the </p>
<p>other </p>
<p>day if </p>
<p>I had been </p>
<p>sure he </p>
<p>would not </p>
<p>been hit </p>
<p>so he could </p>
<p>have seen </p>
<p>a little </p>
<p>bit of </p>
<p>soldiering </p>
<p>That charge </p>
<p>was grand </p>
<p>roaring of </p>
<p>musketry </p>
<p>+ the artill-</p>
<p>ery making </p>
<p>things tremble</p>
<p>Camp near
Petersburg Nov 1<sup>st</sup> </p>
<p>Dear Parents</p>
<p>I have just
came in from </p>
<p>Picket. went
out Sunday </p>
<p>was down at
Fort Stevenson but the </p>
<p>Brigade has moved
up in front of </p>
<p>Petersburg.
Got your letter of the 27<sup>th</sup> </p>
<p>Sunday
morning + was very sorry to </p>
<p>hear that the
Diptheria had made </p>
<p>its apperance again. It curious </p>
<p>we never
have it in the army </p>
<p>where the
men are most exposed </p>
<p>live out
doors as you may say. I </p>
<p>do hope
there wont any of you get </p>
<p>it. In my last
I wrote you about the </p>
<p>fight we
had. well I see in the Papers </p>
<p>they try to
make it out a reconnoisance </p>
<p>in force.
well I dont want to reconn-</p>
<p>oitor in force again if that is the </p>
<p>way they do
it. Hancock [Winfield Scott Hancock] said they </p>
<p>did not have
any prisoners taken but a </p>
<p>few straglers. that may be, but I was </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-11-01
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/e9ad0e9abab9cf0406662e33480d8f38.jpg
80985bc210611a1f13d8be4cc8c2ba21
PDF Text
Text
<table>
<tbody>
<tr><th>Left Page</th><th>Right Page</th></tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>was the last ambulance to leave</p>
<p>the Field + there was lots of wounded</p>
<p>there then + I dont see what became</p>
<p>of them if they were not taken for the</p>
<p>Cavalry did not have any ambulances</p>
<p>there. guess they did not stay long after</p>
<p>the Infantry left. The Rebs would not</p>
<p>have surrounded us so if Hancock [Winfield Scott Hancock] had</p>
<p>not got clear ahead of the 5th Corps</p>
<p>+ left a gap for them to come in</p>
<p>+ flank us Grant [Ulysses S. Grant] was there and</p>
<p>ordered Hancock [Winfield Scott Hancock] to fall back and</p>
<p>the Rebs actacked us just as he was</p>
<p>going to do it, but we repulsed them</p>
<p>our Brigade was surrounded + had</p>
<p>to cut its way out once. They are</p>
<p>the Boys that can do it. it looked</p>
<p>rather blue for us fellows for a while</p>
<p>we would have been captured if we</p>
<p>had not repulsed them, for there</p>
<p>was no place to get out had to</p>
<p>stay right there. The Doctors were</p>
<p>scart out of their wits. the whole</p>
<p>Train was just as cool as can be</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>came into line as if they were on</p>
<p>Inspection. the solid shot + shell were</p>
<p>tearing around like fun. In any</p>
<p>such time I ant nervous a bit</p>
<p>if I do say it. the time I am nervous</p>
<p>is just before I get under fire. then</p>
<p>my had trembles some but when</p>
<p>I get in it is all right. we stood</p>
<p>up in the ambulances and see</p>
<p>the johnnys Charge but, take care</p>
<p>they went the other way when they</p>
<p>got the Grape + Cannister. The Hosp-</p>
<p>ital was right in the field could</p>
<p>not get it any where els one shot</p>
<p>went through it. One poor old</p>
<p>Negro woman came by where we</p>
<p>stood muttering about going into</p>
<p>woods to get out of way of the shell</p>
<p>she had not gone far before Crack;</p>
<p>Crack; was heard in the woods in</p>
<p>that direction, dont know where</p>
<p>she went then. The Pack mules</p>
<p>+ Coffee coolers were in an awful</p>
<p>pickel could not get out of the</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<table>
<tr>
<th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>was the
last ambulance to leave </p>
<p>the Field + there
was lots of wounded </p>
<p>there then +
I dont see what became </p>
<p>of them if
they were not taken for the </p>
<p>Cavalry did
not have any ambulances </p>
<p>there. guess
they did not stay long after </p>
<p>the Infantry
left. The Rebs would not </p>
<p>have
surrounded us so if Hancock [Winfield Scott Hancock] had </p>
<p>not got
clear ahead of the 5th Corps </p>
<p>+ left a gap
for them to come in </p>
<p>+ flank us
Grant [Ulysses S. Grant] was there and </p>
<p>ordered
Hancock [Winfield Scott Hancock] to fall back and </p>
<p>the Rebs actacked us just as he was </p>
<p>going to do
it, but we repulsed them </p>
<p>our Brigade
was surrounded + had </p>
<p>to cut its
way out once. They are </p>
<p>the Boys
that can do it. it looked </p>
<p>rather blue
for us fellows for a while </p>
<p>we would
have been captured if we </p>
<p>had not
repulsed them, for there </p>
<p>was no place
to get out had to </p>
<p>stay right
there. The Doctors were </p>
<p>scart out of their wits. the whole </p>
<p>Train was
just as cool as can be </p>
</td><td><p>came
into line as if they were on </p>
<p>Inspection.
the solid shot + shell were </p>
<p>tearing
around like fun. In any </p>
<p>such time I
ant nervous a bit </p>
<p>if I do say
it. the time I am nervous </p>
<p>is just
before I get under fire. then </p>
<p>my had
trembles some but when </p>
<p>I get in it
is all right. we stood </p>
<p>up in the
ambulances and see </p>
<p>the johnnys Charge but, take care </p>
<p>they went
the other way when they </p>
<p>got the
Grape + Cannister. The Hosp-</p>
<p>ital was
right in the field could </p>
<p>not get it any where els one shot </p>
<p>went through
it. One poor old </p>
<p>Negro woman
came by where we </p>
<p>stood muttering
about going into </p>
<p>woods to get
out of way of the shell </p>
<p>she had not
gone far before Crack; </p>
<p>Crack; was
heard in the woods in </p>
<p>that
direction, dont know where </p>
<p>she went
then. The Pack mules </p>
<p>+ Coffee
coolers were in an awful </p>
<p>pickel could not get out of the </p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-11-01
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/2955186174958983e29523b51f33af20.jpg
27a89086a32ff0932f8d9bacc00a72c4
PDF Text
Text
<p>way go a little way in one direction</p>
<p>when whiz would come a shell that</p>
<p>was about face + go the other way</p>
<p>and it was just as bad (what we call</p>
<p>Coffee coolers are Officers Cooks, +c +c)</p>
<p>One of our Boys was telling one fellow</p>
<p>was leading a mule, swearing because</p>
<p>he would not come long faster when</p>
<p>come to look around he only had the</p>
<p>mules head, the rest part what gone.</p>
<p>guess that is a story. You asked about</p>
<p>my chills + fever I most always had</p>
<p>the Chill before any fever one or twice</p>
<p>had a little fever before, guess I wont</p>
<p>have them any more. the fellow</p>
<p>that was at City Point at the</p>
<p>same time I was has had them</p>
<p>some since was from our Train.</p>
<p>I have not got your paper with the [Camphor?]</p>
<p>in it yet got the Pills. Drew two</p>
<p>loves of Bread to day wish I had</p>
<p>some of your Butter to eat on it.</p>
<p>I wrote in one letter for Pa to send</p>
<p>me a Pr of gloves by mail. what did</p>
<p>he say about it, do them them up</p>
<p>in a small package. well I guess</p>
<p>I will close now + mail this to day.</p>
<p>I am so afraid of that deseasze, we</p>
<p>must hope for the best. may God</p>
<p>protect us from all harm. love to</p>
<p>all. from your Son, Willie.</p>
<p> </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>way go a
little way in one direction </p>
<p>when whiz
would come a shell that </p>
<p>was about
face + go the other way </p>
<p>and it was
just as bad (what we call </p>
<p>Coffee
coolers are Officers Cooks, +c +c) </p>
<p>One of our
Boys was telling one fellow </p>
<p>was leading
a mule, swearing because </p>
<p>he would not
come long faster when </p>
<p>come to look
around he only had the </p>
<p>mules head,
the rest part what gone. </p>
<p>guess that
is a story. You asked about </p>
<p>my chills +
fever I most always had </p>
<p>the Chill
before any fever one or twice </p>
<p>had a little
fever before, guess I wont </p>
<p>have them any more. the fellow </p>
<p>that was at
City Point at the </p>
<p>same time I
was has had them </p>
<p>some since
was from our Train. </p>
<p>I have not
got your paper with the [Camphor?] </p>
<p>in it yet
got the Pills. Drew two </p>
<p>loves of Bread to day wish I had </p>
<p>some of your
Butter to eat on it. </p>
<p>I wrote in
one letter for Pa to send </p>
<p>me a Pr of
gloves by mail. what did </p>
<p>he say about
it, do them them up </p>
<p>in a small
package. well I guess </p>
<p>I will close
now + mail this to day. </p>
<p>I am so
afraid of that deseasze, we </p>
<p>must hope
for the best. may God </p>
<p>protect us
from all harm. love to </p>
<p>all. from
your Son, Willie.</p>
<p> </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-11-01
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/7481e22ba4d77e49e919f02107a4cd97.jpg
5e84ced028629a09ec064ea621f18f7a
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
William A. Leonard Papers, 1864-1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Diaries.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Description
An account of the resource
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Letters following Lee's surrender emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge and payment. All the letters in this collection were written home to Leonard's parents, usually his mother. He continually reassures her not to worry about him, requests various things from home (especially stamps), and talks about his daily life. He frequently writes about plans for when he gets home. Leonard's religious sentiments also recur throughout his correspondence. He also includes war news and who he has seen, though he reveals his priorities and lack of interest in being a soldier, saying in March 1865:
"we have got a good man to steer the machine, that fellow they call U. S. Grant. Sheridan & Sherman are giving them fits. I have seen Grant & Mede a number of times this summer I had a great deal rather see you + Pa. I dont want to see Nora because she wanted me to go soldiering"
Although battle descriptions are not necessarily the focus of Leonard's letters, his 1864 correspondence contains details of being fired upon a Petersburg, of picket duty, and later, of transporting injured men. In June 1865, he writes several letters detailing the sight of unburied dead men and horses and the sound of fighting from the front at Petersburg. In May 1865, he writes of the incompetence of the doctors:
"The Doctors here dont have any thing fit to give any one and the bigest of them dont know how to doctor a hen anyway. They take the wounded men legs and arms off half the time. when there is no need of it, do it practice there has been a number of times I have heard of that...The Doct of the Regt was a clerk in an apothecary shop..."
Leonard's diary begins in August 1864, apparently when he was appointed to drive an ambulance. His entries are short and refer mostly to his daily activities: who or what he was conveying to and from the hospital at City Point outside Petersburg; what letters he sent or received; war news; or when he attended religious meetings. Shortly before the diary ends in April 1865, he notes the firing of guns and cannons "for the death of abram Lincoln President of the U.S. who was shot by a man by the name of Booth." He refers to the death of Lincoln and its effect on the soldiers in several letters, as well. Leonard's own correspondence suggests he kept a previous diary--in August 1864, he inquires if his mother has received the one he sent home--but it is unknown if this diary still exists.
William A. Leonard was born about 1843 to Joel A. (b.1817) and Sophia Leonard (1816-d. before 1880). His parents were both natives of Vermont who moved to Massachusetts. William and his two sisters, Leonora (b. abt. 1852; and who William calls "Nora" in his letters and is later listed as "Mary" in a least one set of census records) and Roselia (b. abt. 1859) were all born in Great Barrington, Berkshire County. It is unknown what line of work William Leonard was in prior to the war, though he was living at home with his family. He was drafted into service in July 1863 for a three year term with Company F, 16th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. In mid-July 1864, the 16th Infantry mustered out. Existing veterans and recruits, Leonard included, were transferred to the 11th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. From at least August of 1864 until Lee's surrender, Leonard served as an ambulance driver, transporting wounded from battlefield to hospital. His unit spent nearly a year in and around Petersburg. While stationed outside Washington, DC, waiting to muster out, Leonard also drove civilians in and around the city. He particularly makes mention of taking family members to hospitals to get news of soldiers. Leonard returned home to Great Barrington in July 1865. In 1880, he was living at home with his father, Leonora and her husband, and Leonora's brother-in-law. At the time, he was employed at a woolen mill. In 1894, he purchased a plumbing and steam fitting business from a former employer. Later census records suggest he was married to a woman named Hattie (probably Henrietta; b. abt. 1863), but it is unknown when. They had daughter, Nellie, in June 1897.
Sources: Ancestry.com Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service. The Metal Worker, vol. XLI, January to June 1894. New York: David Williams, 1894. Via Google Books, November 2011.
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Post-surrender letters emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864/1865
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
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Title
A name given to the resource
Letter, William Leonard to Parents, Camp Near Petersburg Va., November 1, 1864 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-11-01
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Letters
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Language
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English
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106_LeonardWilliam_B1F1_Letter_1864_1101
-
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/e9acf9fbce94fb86bfa2c395832612ef.jpg
3081c28af3dafcabff554d228fc80691
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Text
<p>let me </p>
<p>know if </p>
<p>you get </p>
<p>my diary </p>
<p>I mailed </p>
<p>it the 16<sup>th</sup></p>
<p>Camp near
Petersburg Aug 25</p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>I have
received </p>
<p>your last
two letters. the one </p>
<p>that did not
have the Corps </p>
<p>on it, + the
other one that you </p>
<p>wrote after
getting mine to Ed </p>
<p>humphrey. I made a mistake in </p>
<p>not telling
you to put on the </p>
<p>Corps, but
it came all right </p>
<p>there was a
figure two marked </p>
<p>on the
Envelope with a lead </p>
<p>pencil. I
was down to City </p>
<p>Point getting
my ambulance </p>
<p>repared when they came and </p>
<p>the Sargent
thought that the </p>
<p>other mans name was Leonard </p>
<p>that came
with me. (he was a </p>
<p>stretcher
bearer + had to be out </p>
<p>to the
front) so he sent them </p>
<p>out to him +
I did not get </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>let me </p>
<p>know if </p>
<p>you get </p>
<p>my diary </p>
<p>I mailed </p>
<p>it the 16<sup>th</sup>
</p>
<p>Camp near
Petersburg Aug 25</p>
<p>Dear Mother,</p>
<p>I have
received </p>
<p>your last
two letters. the one </p>
<p>that did not
have the Corps </p>
<p>on it, + the
other one that you </p>
<p>wrote after
getting mine to Ed </p>
<p>humphrey. I made a mistake in </p>
<p>not telling
you to put on the </p>
<p>Corps, but
it came all right </p>
<p>there was a
figure two marked </p>
<p>on the
Envelope with a lead </p>
<p>pencil. I
was down to City </p>
<p>Point getting
my ambulance </p>
<p>repared when they came and </p>
<p>the Sargent
thought that the </p>
<p>other mans name was Leonard </p>
<p>that came
with me. (he was a </p>
<p>stretcher
bearer + had to be out </p>
<p>to the
front) so he sent them </p>
<p>out to him +
I did not get </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-08-25
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/dad0cb5ce659ee3706764703582e4fb0.jpg
66f3dd0e0591f81800208b1b0ce1d8d9
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Text
<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>them till
this morning. the </p>
<p>four stamps
was stuck fast </p>
<p>to the
Papers. I made out to </p>
<p>get off two
of them whole. you </p>
<p>want to
double the faces to </p>
<p>gether when you send them </p>
<p>+ let them
lay loose in the </p>
<p>letter. it
is so warm I have </p>
<p>some trouble
to keep my env-</p>
<p>elopes from
sticking to gether. </p>
<p>Pa says not
to let the mules </p>
<p>kick me we dont deal in them </p>
<p>kind of
animals. we drive hor-</p>
<p>ses a span to an ambulance </p>
<p>the
ammunition + supply wagons </p>
<p>use mules.
we have plenty of </p>
<p>water + rain
now. mailed </p>
<p>Abbie Turner
a letter yesterday </p>
<p>+ mailed you
one Sunday the </p>
<p>21<sup>st</sup>.
We dont never have to go </p>
<p>out foraging
our hay + grain </p>
</td><td><p>is
brought to us. nothing only </p>
<p>Cavalry
forage any. we are allowed </p>
<p>ten quarts
of oats a day for each </p>
<p>horse now.
my horses are gentle </p>
<p>they are not
ugley at all. I keep </p>
<p>my knapsack.
the stretcher bearers </p>
<p>have all
their things carried for </p>
<p>them, but
they have to walk </p>
<p>on a march,
then ambulances </p>
<p>are generaly full of sick on a </p>
<p>march. they
ride when we do </p>
<p>not have a
load. the ambulances </p>
<p>stop back by
the Hospital + </p>
<p>a detail of two
or three go out </p>
<p>to the front
+ stay 48 hours </p>
<p>then they
are releived + some </p>
<p>more go out.
I have not been </p>
<p>out yet
since we came back </p>
<p>from over
the James. was </p>
<p>out there do
not have to </p>
<p>go very
close. if there is a </p>
<p>general
engagement we all </p>
<p>would have
to go. if they are </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<table>
<tr>
<th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>them till
this morning. the </p>
<p>four stamps
was stuck fast </p>
<p>to the
Papers. I made out to </p>
<p>get off two
of them whole. you </p>
<p>want to
double the faces to </p>
<p>gether when you send them </p>
<p>+ let them
lay loose in the </p>
<p>letter. it
is so warm I have </p>
<p>some trouble
to keep my env-</p>
<p>elopes from
sticking to gether. </p>
<p>Pa says not
to let the mules </p>
<p>kick me we dont deal in them </p>
<p>kind of
animals. we drive hor-</p>
<p>ses a span to an ambulance </p>
<p>the
ammunition + supply wagons </p>
<p>use mules.
we have plenty of </p>
<p>water + rain
now. mailed </p>
<p>Abbie Turner
a letter yesterday </p>
<p>+ mailed you
one Sunday the </p>
<p>21<sup>st</sup>.
We dont never have to go </p>
<p>out foraging
our hay + grain </p>
</td><td><p>is
brought to us. nothing only </p>
<p>Cavalry
forage any. we are allowed </p>
<p>ten quarts
of oats a day for each </p>
<p>horse now.
my horses are gentle </p>
<p>they are not
ugley at all. I keep </p>
<p>my knapsack.
the stretcher bearers </p>
<p>have all
their things carried for </p>
<p>them, but
they have to walk </p>
<p>on a march,
then ambulances </p>
<p>are generaly full of sick on a </p>
<p>march. they
ride when we do </p>
<p>not have a
load. the ambulances </p>
<p>stop back by
the Hospital + </p>
<p>a detail of two
or three go out </p>
<p>to the front
+ stay 48 hours </p>
<p>then they
are releived + some </p>
<p>more go out.
I have not been </p>
<p>out yet
since we came back </p>
<p>from over
the James. was </p>
<p>out there do
not have to </p>
<p>go very
close. if there is a </p>
<p>general
engagement we all </p>
<p>would have
to go. if they are </p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-08-25
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/fb30f382128f1203f2a50bf0d2309551.jpg
389c28f2f07a9ef26bb09ddedb5c9470
PDF Text
Text
<p>wounded
very bad so to have </p>
<p>to lay down,
we take two + three </p>
<p>if they can
sit up four + five. </p>
<p>I like my
job tip top. Ferguson [Abram Ferguson]</p>
<p>went as
guard for the wagon </p>
<p>train I
believe it is a good </p>
<p>job. he had
been gone two </p>
<p>or three
days when I went. </p>
<p>There has
been some hard </p>
<p>fighting on
the left on the </p>
<p>Weldon Rail
Road, it tells </p>
<p>all about it
in yesterdays </p>
<p>paper. we
could hear them </p>
<p>here. I have
got your letters </p>
<p>+ Papers
that were directed to </p>
<p>the Regt. the
Strecher bearers </p>
<p>get them +
send them to me </p>
<p>we have a
Lieut. + Sargent. there </p>
<p>is Orderly I
mean there is a </p>
<p>number of Sargents in all they </p>
<p>have to go
with us if we go </p>
<p>out any where. a sargent went </p>
<p>with me to City
Point to get </p>
<p>my wagon
fixed. I did not </p>
<p>break the
wagon but it wanted </p>
<p>a new neap +
other fixing. am</p>
<p>glad Pa has
got some apples </p>
<p>to naw on. it is quite comfort-</p>
<p>able here to day not very warm </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>wounded
very bad so to have </p>
<p>to lay down,
we take two + three </p>
<p>if they can
sit up four + five. </p>
<p>I like my
job tip top. Ferguson [Abram Ferguson]</p>
<p>went as
guard for the wagon </p>
<p>train I
believe it is a good </p>
<p>job. he had
been gone two </p>
<p>or three
days when I went. </p>
<p>There has
been some hard </p>
<p>fighting on
the left on the </p>
<p>Weldon Rail
Road, it tells </p>
<p>all about it
in yesterdays </p>
<p>paper. we
could hear them </p>
<p>here. I have
got your letters </p>
<p>+ Papers
that were directed to </p>
<p>the Regt. the
Strecher bearers </p>
<p>get them +
send them to me </p>
<p>we have a
Lieut. + Sargent. there </p>
<p>is Orderly I
mean there is a </p>
<p>number of Sargents in all they </p>
<p>have to go
with us if we go </p>
<p>out any where. a sargent went </p>
<p>with me to City
Point to get </p>
<p>my wagon
fixed. I did not </p>
<p>break the
wagon but it wanted </p>
<p>a new neap +
other fixing. am</p>
<p>glad Pa has
got some apples </p>
<p>to naw on. it is quite comfort-</p>
<p>able here to day not very warm </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-08-25
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/127ee3044f4f8f40fe6e8d885534d175.jpg
fab3c1f70bfaba0d27f67dbc2c122618
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Text
<p>I am writing a letter to Mrs. Roys, she</p>
<p>put in a note in Eds letter for me</p>
<p>would like a dip at them plums</p>
<p>them large ones. it is to bad</p>
<p>you dont have any more water</p>
<p>there are lots of well dug here that</p>
<p>some of the troops dug. there is</p>
<p>no danger of their caveing in the</p>
<p>ground is so hard + clayey they</p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>I am
writing a letter to Mrs. Roys, she </p>
<p>put in a
note in Eds letter for me </p>
<p>would like a
dip at them plums </p>
<p>them large ones.
it is to bad </p>
<p>you dont have any more water </p>
<p>there are
lots of well dug here that </p>
<p>some of the
troops dug. there is </p>
<p>no danger of
their caveing in the </p>
<p>ground is so
hard + clayey they </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-08-25
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ed711a9c3ce09af8f521c3b9d6119099
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Text
<p>are as
good as if they were stoned </p>
<p>up. if you
read this you will do </p>
<p>well to
write so fast. I have no </p>
<p>trouble in
reading yours. My </p>
<p>health is
good, I think I am </p>
<p>growing fat
since I came here. </p>
<p>can hear the
booming of cannon </p>
<p>all they
while here. at night </p>
<p>the Picket
will commence + </p>
<p>keep it up
all night. wish Pa </p>
<p>was here to
go up front + look </p>
<p>around,
should want him to be </p>
<p>in the boom
proofs when they </p>
<p>sent a shell
whizzing over. I have </p>
<p>been in Breast
Works not very strong </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>are as
good as if they were stoned </p>
<p>up. if you
read this you will do </p>
<p>well to
write so fast. I have no </p>
<p>trouble in
reading yours. My </p>
<p>health is
good, I think I am </p>
<p>growing fat
since I came here. </p>
<p>can hear the
booming of cannon </p>
<p>all they
while here. at night </p>
<p>the Picket
will commence + </p>
<p>keep it up
all night. wish Pa </p>
<p>was here to
go up front + look </p>
<p>around,
should want him to be </p>
<p>in the boom
proofs when they </p>
<p>sent a shell
whizzing over. I have </p>
<p>been in Breast
Works not very strong </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-08-25
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1e8040fae80a31dab951f92a3635c721
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Text
<p>either, when they would send the</p>
<p>solid shot + shell so it would</p>
<p>graze the top of the earth, that</p>
<p>will make a fellow lay low. have</p>
<p>been in worse places than that</p>
<p>been where there was no Works +</p>
<p>minie balls + shell both were flying</p>
<p>around you. in the Wilderness when</p>
<p>the rebs flanked us I was behind</p>
<p>a big tree loading + fireing as fast</p>
<p>as I could, + the ball were nocking</p>
<p>the bark off on both sides of the</p>
<p>tree. I stuck to the tree till</p>
<p>the Rebs had got within a few</p>
<p>rods of me comeing on in line</p>
<p>of Battle. I was so engaged that</p>
<p>come to look around there was</p>
<p>no troops on our right or left</p>
<p>(they had fell back) + only a few</p>
<p>of our Regt. with me trying to</p>
<p>get off the wounded. I thought</p>
<p>it was about time to varmous</p>
<p>that position if I did not want</p>
<p>to go to Richmond, so <s>got the</s></p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>either,
when they would send the </p>
<p>solid shot +
shell so it would </p>
<p>graze the
top of the earth, that </p>
<p>will make a
fellow lay low. have </p>
<p>been in
worse places than that </p>
<p>been where
there was no Works + </p>
<p>minie balls + shell both were flying </p>
<p>around you.
in the Wilderness when </p>
<p>the rebs flanked us I was behind </p>
<p>a big tree
loading + fireing as fast </p>
<p>as I could,
+ the ball were nocking </p>
<p>the bark off
on both sides of the </p>
<p>tree. I
stuck to the tree till </p>
<p>the Rebs had got within a few </p>
<p>rods of me comeing on in line </p>
<p>of Battle. I
was so engaged that </p>
<p>come to look
around there was </p>
<p>no troops on
our right or left </p>
<p>(they had
fell back) + only a few </p>
<p>of our Regt.
with me trying to </p>
<p>get off the
wounded. I thought </p>
<p>it was about
time to varmous </p>
<p>that
position if I did not want </p>
<p>to go to
Richmond, so <s>got the</s></p>
Dublin Core
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Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-08-25
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b2a0ffb706a60f6ed4817576efd0067f
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Text
<p>kept the
tree between me + </p>
<p>the Jonneys + started for the rear </p>
<p>the balls
went whiz, whiz all </p>
<p>around me
but did not hit </p>
<p>me. I
thought the ball came </p>
<p>pretty thick
at mine run but </p>
<p>that place
bat it all hollow. </p>
<p>If my life
is spared to come </p>
<p>home I will
tell you all my </p>
<p>adventures.
that was the place </p>
<p>Capt. Hills [Joseph
S. Hills] + Lieut Woodfin [John
H. Woodfin] was </p>
<p>killed.
wonder if that is so, that </p>
<p>Nell Adams
[Nelson Adams] is killed. it is a </p>
<p>wonder to me
that any one comes </p>
<p>out of a
fight alive dont it </p>
<p>to you. you
want to read that </p>
<p>little piece
before you read this. </p>
<p>this is a quear letter. the money </p>
<p>I send you I
Want you to use for </p>
<p>Yourself for
anything you want. Let </p>
<p>us all give
praise to our Heavenly </p>
<p>Father for
his protecting care of us. </p>
<p>love to all
friends. this from your </p>
<p>affectionate
Son Willie.</p>
<p> </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>kept the
tree between me + </p>
<p>the Jonneys + started for the rear </p>
<p>the balls
went whiz, whiz all </p>
<p>around me
but did not hit </p>
<p>me. I
thought the ball came </p>
<p>pretty thick
at mine run but </p>
<p>that place
bat it all hollow. </p>
<p>If my life
is spared to come </p>
<p>home I will
tell you all my </p>
<p>adventures.
that was the place </p>
<p>Capt. Hills [Joseph
S. Hills] + Lieut Woodfin [John
H. Woodfin] was </p>
<p>killed.
wonder if that is so, that </p>
<p>Nell Adams
[Nelson Adams] is killed. it is a </p>
<p>wonder to me
that any one comes </p>
<p>out of a
fight alive don’t it </p>
<p>to you. you
want to read that </p>
<p>little piece
before you read this. </p>
<p>this is a quear letter. the money </p>
<p>I send you I
Want you to use for </p>
<p>Yourself for
anything you want. Let </p>
<p>us all give
praise to our Heavenly </p>
<p>Father for
his protecting care of us. </p>
<p>love to all
friends. this from your </p>
<p>affectionate
Son Willie.</p>
<p> </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-08-25
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/0e424fbc319108f81e8b20bd47b23ca3.jpg
d147c99835ee0a7beabe11cdfa317a7b
Dublin Core
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Title
A name given to the resource
William A. Leonard Papers, 1864-1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Diaries.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Description
An account of the resource
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Letters following Lee's surrender emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge and payment. All the letters in this collection were written home to Leonard's parents, usually his mother. He continually reassures her not to worry about him, requests various things from home (especially stamps), and talks about his daily life. He frequently writes about plans for when he gets home. Leonard's religious sentiments also recur throughout his correspondence. He also includes war news and who he has seen, though he reveals his priorities and lack of interest in being a soldier, saying in March 1865:
"we have got a good man to steer the machine, that fellow they call U. S. Grant. Sheridan & Sherman are giving them fits. I have seen Grant & Mede a number of times this summer I had a great deal rather see you + Pa. I dont want to see Nora because she wanted me to go soldiering"
Although battle descriptions are not necessarily the focus of Leonard's letters, his 1864 correspondence contains details of being fired upon a Petersburg, of picket duty, and later, of transporting injured men. In June 1865, he writes several letters detailing the sight of unburied dead men and horses and the sound of fighting from the front at Petersburg. In May 1865, he writes of the incompetence of the doctors:
"The Doctors here dont have any thing fit to give any one and the bigest of them dont know how to doctor a hen anyway. They take the wounded men legs and arms off half the time. when there is no need of it, do it practice there has been a number of times I have heard of that...The Doct of the Regt was a clerk in an apothecary shop..."
Leonard's diary begins in August 1864, apparently when he was appointed to drive an ambulance. His entries are short and refer mostly to his daily activities: who or what he was conveying to and from the hospital at City Point outside Petersburg; what letters he sent or received; war news; or when he attended religious meetings. Shortly before the diary ends in April 1865, he notes the firing of guns and cannons "for the death of abram Lincoln President of the U.S. who was shot by a man by the name of Booth." He refers to the death of Lincoln and its effect on the soldiers in several letters, as well. Leonard's own correspondence suggests he kept a previous diary--in August 1864, he inquires if his mother has received the one he sent home--but it is unknown if this diary still exists.
William A. Leonard was born about 1843 to Joel A. (b.1817) and Sophia Leonard (1816-d. before 1880). His parents were both natives of Vermont who moved to Massachusetts. William and his two sisters, Leonora (b. abt. 1852; and who William calls "Nora" in his letters and is later listed as "Mary" in a least one set of census records) and Roselia (b. abt. 1859) were all born in Great Barrington, Berkshire County. It is unknown what line of work William Leonard was in prior to the war, though he was living at home with his family. He was drafted into service in July 1863 for a three year term with Company F, 16th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. In mid-July 1864, the 16th Infantry mustered out. Existing veterans and recruits, Leonard included, were transferred to the 11th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. From at least August of 1864 until Lee's surrender, Leonard served as an ambulance driver, transporting wounded from battlefield to hospital. His unit spent nearly a year in and around Petersburg. While stationed outside Washington, DC, waiting to muster out, Leonard also drove civilians in and around the city. He particularly makes mention of taking family members to hospitals to get news of soldiers. Leonard returned home to Great Barrington in July 1865. In 1880, he was living at home with his father, Leonora and her husband, and Leonora's brother-in-law. At the time, he was employed at a woolen mill. In 1894, he purchased a plumbing and steam fitting business from a former employer. Later census records suggest he was married to a woman named Hattie (probably Henrietta; b. abt. 1863), but it is unknown when. They had daughter, Nellie, in June 1897.
Sources: Ancestry.com Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service. The Metal Worker, vol. XLI, January to June 1894. New York: David Williams, 1894. Via Google Books, November 2011.
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Post-surrender letters emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864/1865
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter, William Leonard to Mother, Camp Near Petersburg Va., August 25, 1864 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-08-25
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Letters
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Language
A language of the resource
English
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106_LeonardWilliam_B1F1_Letter_1864_0825
-
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fb081246f530360fe2dc3e6af892ceeb
PDF Text
Text
<p>Love to </p>
<p>all Friends </p>
<p>poor Gramma </p>
<p>I wish I </p>
<p>could see
her </p>
<p>Aunt Mary</p>
<p>tell her she
</p>
<p>must eat </p>
<p>my part of </p>
<p>short</p>
<p>cake </p>
<p>this year </p>
<p>Virginia
June 25th /64</p>
<p>Dear Parents</p>
<p>the hot sun
is pouring down to day. we have </p>
<p>had no rain
now for a long time and it </p>
<p>is almost
impossible to get any water + if a </p>
<p>fillow gets a little it is about an inch thick </p>
<p>with mud.
you would not think of letting </p>
<p>your horse
drink it. they cant get any for their </p>
<p>horses
without going about five miles to </p>
<p>the rear. it
is dead swamp water then, it </p>
<p>dont seem as if it were possible to stop here </p>
<p>long. we cant wash any Clothes + will be </p>
<p>rotten with
dirt soon. are drawing three </p>
<p>days rations
to day that will make us </p>
<p>six days on
hand. all is quit along </p>
<p>the line
accept the boom </p>
<p>of a Cannon
on the right once in a </p>
<p>while. the
mail came a few minutes </p>
<p>ago and with
it a paper for me. did </p>
<p>you read the
piece about men </p>
<p>talking to
each other. that is true every</p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>Love to </p>
<p>all Friends </p>
<p>poor Gramma </p>
<p>I wish I </p>
<p>could see
her </p>
<p>Aunt Mary</p>
<p>tell her she
</p>
<p>must eat </p>
<p>my part of </p>
<p>short</p>
<p>cake </p>
<p>this year </p>
<p>Virginia
June 25th /64</p>
<p>Dear Parents</p>
<p>the hot sun
is pouring down to day. we have </p>
<p>had no rain
now for a long time and it </p>
<p>is almost
impossible to get any water + if a </p>
<p>fillow gets a little it is about an inch thick </p>
<p>with mud.
you would not think of letting </p>
<p>your horse
drink it. they cant get any for their </p>
<p>horses
without going about five miles to </p>
<p>the rear. it
is dead swamp water then, it </p>
<p>dont seem as if it were possible to stop here </p>
<p>long. we cant wash any Clothes + will be </p>
<p>rotten with
dirt soon. are drawing three </p>
<p>days rations
to day that will make us </p>
<p>six days on
hand. all is quit along </p>
<p>the line
accept the boom </p>
<p>of a Cannon
on the right once in a </p>
<p>while. the
mail came a few minutes </p>
<p>ago and with
it a paper for me. did </p>
<p>you read the
piece about men </p>
<p>talking to
each other. that is true every</p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-06-25
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/f2c871f2423840e56782e26db69d2e6c.jpg
7344cd5a3a40da657eb46bccdbfcfb83
PDF Text
Text
<table><tr><th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr><tr><td><p>word of
it. we are pretty close together </p>
<p>sometimes I
tell you. you see this Regt </p>
<p>time is most
out and I expect they </p>
<p>will send
the Conscripts + Recruits into </p>
<p>some other
Regiment. the rumor was </p>
<p>last night
we were going to leave here </p>
<p>but did not
go prehaps will go to </p>
<p>night. I would
like to get out of here </p>
<p>but prehaps would get into a worse </p>
<p>one. try and
send me some Envellopes </p>
<p>some way you
can put two or three </p>
<p>in a
newspaper. one of our Comp. Wm Haley </p>
<p>was taking
Prisoner the other day we </p>
<p>expect. he
was lame and could not </p>
<p>get away I
guess. sent you a letter </p>
<p>day before
yesterday telling you about </p>
<p>our getting flanked
and drove back </p>
<p>to our
works. this is a great life to </p>
<p>live cant take much quite. go to </p>
<p>bed or call
it what you like, we cant </p>
<p>call it
going to bed we lay down on </p>
<p>the round
without undoing our things </p>
<p>just the ground
under us + the </p>
<p>heavans over head, just as like as not </p>
</td><td><p>got the
sleep when the guard will rout </p>
<p>you up to
stand by your gun because </p>
<p>the picket
are haveing a fuss only </p>
<p>have to
stand guard one hour + a </p>
<p>half during
the night. I jus went </p>
<p>after water
+ returned with about </p>
<p>half a pint
of mud. I dont want </p>
<p>you to think
I am complaining </p>
<p>because I am
not. I am so thankfull </p>
<p>my life is
spared. God has been very </p>
<p>good to me. Leonard
Fielder the German </p>
<p>from
Sheffield that I have spoke about </p>
<p>in one or
two of my letters from Brandy </p>
<p>Station was
shot through the leg so </p>
<p>high up that
they could not take it </p>
<p>off the same
ball went through his wrist </p>
<p>he is alive
yet it is a hard case. the </p>
<p>other the day,
the day that Charge was </p>
<p>made one
poor fellow was wounded </p>
<p>in the side
+ he was in so much misery </p>
<p>that he
wanted some one to shoot him </p>
<p>finding no
one would do it he </p>
<p>put the
muzzle of his rifle to his </p>
<p>head and
took a stick and pushed </p>
</td>
</tr></table>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<table>
<tr>
<th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>word of
it. we are pretty close together </p>
<p>sometimes I
tell you. you see this Regt </p>
<p>time is most
out and I expect they </p>
<p>will send
the Conscripts + Recruits into </p>
<p>some other
Regiment. the rumor was </p>
<p>last night
we were going to leave here </p>
<p>but did not
go prehaps will go to </p>
<p>night. I would
like to get out of here </p>
<p>but prehaps would get into a worse </p>
<p>one. try and
send me some Envellopes </p>
<p>some way you
can put two or three </p>
<p>in a
newspaper. one of our Comp. Wm Haley </p>
<p>was taking
Prisoner the other day we </p>
<p>expect. he
was lame and could not </p>
<p>get away I
guess. sent you a letter </p>
<p>day before
yesterday telling you about </p>
<p>our getting flanked
and drove back </p>
<p>to our
works. this is a great life to </p>
<p>live cant take much quite. go to </p>
<p>bed or call
it what you like, we cant </p>
<p>call it
going to bed we lay down on </p>
<p>the round
without undoing our things </p>
<p>just the ground
under us + the </p>
<p>heavans over head, just as like as not </p>
</td><td><p>got the
sleep when the guard will rout </p>
<p>you up to
stand by your gun because </p>
<p>the picket
are haveing a fuss only </p>
<p>have to
stand guard one hour + a </p>
<p>half during
the night. I jus went </p>
<p>after water
+ returned with about </p>
<p>half a pint
of mud. I dont want </p>
<p>you to think
I am complaining </p>
<p>because I am
not. I am so thankfull </p>
<p>my life is
spared. God has been very </p>
<p>good to me. Leonard
Fielder the German </p>
<p>from
Sheffield that I have spoke about </p>
<p>in one or
two of my letters from Brandy </p>
<p>Station was
shot through the leg so </p>
<p>high up that
they could not take it </p>
<p>off the same
ball went through his wrist </p>
<p>he is alive
yet it is a hard case. the </p>
<p>other the day,
the day that Charge was </p>
<p>made one
poor fellow was wounded </p>
<p>in the side
+ he was in so much misery </p>
<p>that he
wanted some one to shoot him </p>
<p>finding no
one would do it he </p>
<p>put the
muzzle of his rifle to his </p>
<p>head and
took a stick and pushed </p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-06-25
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218f36abd764c61d5bd4088e1da7c36c
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Text
<p>his gun off and blew his <s>gun off</s> Brains</p>
<p>out. Barrington done well on the</p>
<p>draft l should think. the other day</p>
<p>on the march from the James</p>
<p>river I came acros a poor fellow</p>
<p>on the ground, asked him if he</p>
<p>was tired out. Yes he said and</p>
<p>hungry, he had eat one hard tack</p>
<p>in three days. he was not the only</p>
<p>one. I could not do any thing for</p>
<p>him for I only had one or two</p>
<p>we have plenty of rations now</p>
<p>the way we get water is now is to</p>
<p>go in the night when they are</p>
<p>most all asleep, one way ant it.</p>
<p>to morrow is the Sabbath</p>
<p>the blessed Sabbath, in heaven</p>
<p>it will be one continual</p>
<p>Sabbath, there will be no sorrow there</p>
<p>+ what is the best is it will be for</p>
<p>ever, thank God for his mercy.</p>
<p>Oh Mother we will meet in heaven</p>
<p>if not on earth. I remember you</p>
<p>all in my Prayers every day.</p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>his gun
off and blew his <s>gun off</s> Brains </p>
<p>out.
Barrington done well on the </p>
<p>draft l should
think. the other day </p>
<p>on the march
from the James </p>
<p>river I came
acros a poor fellow </p>
<p>on the
ground, asked him if he </p>
<p>was tired
out. Yes he said and </p>
<p>hungry, he
had eat one hard tack </p>
<p>in three
days. he was not the only </p>
<p>one. I could
not do any thing for </p>
<p>him for I
only had one or two </p>
<p>we have
plenty of rations now </p>
<p>the way we
get water is now is to </p>
<p>go in the
night when they are </p>
<p>most all
asleep, one way ant it. </p>
<p>to morrow is the Sabbath </p>
<p>the blessed Sabbath,
in heaven </p>
<p>it will be
one continual </p>
<p>Sabbath,
there will be no sorrow there </p>
<p>+ what is
the best is it will be for </p>
<p>ever, thank
God for his mercy. </p>
<p>Oh Mother we
will meet in heaven </p>
<p>if not on
earth. I remember you </p>
<p>all in my
Prayers every day. </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-06-25
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377819a078dde07c970a750efb29de3c
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Text
<p>you must
remember Aunt </p>
<p>Abbie tell
her I have seen all </p>
<p>I want to.
Oh for a good drink </p>
<p>of water out
of your spring a quart </p>
<p>of such
water would fech two dollars </p>
<p>here. money
is no object where men </p>
<p>are suffering.
there is a house about </p>
<p>half a mile frome here. where they </p>
<p>will let you
have a drink, but </p>
<p>that is all.
Men dont know how </p>
<p>to appretiate the blessing they </p>
<p>enjoy untill they are deprived of them </p>
<p>Geo.
Phillips [George W. Phillips] + Ed Adams [Edward Adams] or Dosenberry
</p>
<p>and a number
of others in our Comp. </p>
<p>were not
with us when they were </p>
<p>wounded,
they all have slight wounds. </p>
<p>there is a
good deal of doubt about </p>
<p>rebbles balls doing it. I could not </p>
<p>say though I
dont want to judge </p>
<p>any one. I
know there are a </p>
<p>great many
that do wound themselfs </p>
<p>(to get out
of it.) I shall feel bad </p>
<p>when our
Captain goes home I like </p>
<p>him very
much. I guess you </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>you must
remember Aunt </p>
<p>Abbie tell
her I have seen all </p>
<p>I want to.
Oh for a good drink </p>
<p>of water out
of your spring a quart </p>
<p>of such
water would fech two dollars </p>
<p>here. money
is no object where men </p>
<p>are suffering.
there is a house about </p>
<p>half a mile frome here. where they </p>
<p>will let you
have a drink, but </p>
<p>that is all.
Men dont know how </p>
<p>to appretiate the blessing they </p>
<p>enjoy untill they are deprived of them </p>
<p>Geo.
Phillips [George W. Phillips] + Ed Adams [Edward Adams] or Dosenberry
</p>
<p>and a number
of others in our Comp. </p>
<p>were not
with us when they were </p>
<p>wounded,
they all have slight wounds. </p>
<p>there is a
good deal of doubt about </p>
<p>rebbles balls doing it. I could not </p>
<p>say though I
dont want to judge </p>
<p>any one. I
know there are a </p>
<p>great many
that do wound themselfs </p>
<p>(to get out
of it.) I shall feel bad </p>
<p>when our
Captain goes home I like </p>
<p>him very
much. I guess you </p>
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Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-06-25
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a2de40310ee790143b6ab24e6c7575d4
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Text
<p>will
think I am writing pretty </p>
<p>often. but I
wanted something to </p>
<p>do as we are
laying still to day so </p>
<p>far. you
must write often because </p>
<p>it does me
heaps of good to get </p>
<p>a letter
from home. I have had one </p>
<p>from Lizzie
Hughes one from Abbie </p>
<p>Turner and
three from you I think </p>
<p>since I left
Brandy Station. Abbie </p>
<p>in her
letter spoke of its being very </p>
<p>dry at home.
I was dipping up a </p>
<p>little out
of a hole in swamp the </p>
<p><span class="SpellE">othe day when a young lad came along </span></p>
<p>(looked about
fifteen) and asked me </p>
<p>for a drink
he was most crying. I </p>
<p>felt sorry
for him and gave him </p>
<p>some he
swallowed it as if he was </p>
<p>most chocked.
well I will close </p>
<p>this now <span class="SpellE">hopeing to hear from </span></p>
<p>you soon. I
am your </p>
<p>Affectionate
Son, </p>
<p>Willie</p>
<p> </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>will
think I am writing pretty </p>
<p>often. but I
wanted something to </p>
<p>do as we are
laying still to day so </p>
<p>far. you
must write often because </p>
<p>it does me
heaps of good to get </p>
<p>a letter
from home. I have had one </p>
<p>from Lizzie
Hughes one from Abbie </p>
<p>Turner and
three from you I think </p>
<p>since I left
Brandy Station. Abbie </p>
<p>in her
letter spoke of its being very </p>
<p>dry at home.
I was dipping up a </p>
<p>little out
of a hole in swamp the </p>
<p><span
class=SpellE>othe day when a young lad came along </p>
<p>(looked about
fifteen) and asked me </p>
<p>for a drink
he was most crying. I </p>
<p>felt sorry
for him and gave him </p>
<p>some he
swallowed it as if he was </p>
<p>most chocked.
well I will close </p>
<p>this now <span
class=SpellE>hopeing to hear from </p>
<p>you soon. I
am your </p>
<p>Affectionate
Son, </p>
<p>Willie</p>
<p> </p>
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Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-06-25
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f5faf1f8379bec84571e129605c2ee02
Dublin Core
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Title
A name given to the resource
William A. Leonard Papers, 1864-1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Diaries.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Description
An account of the resource
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Letters following Lee's surrender emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge and payment. All the letters in this collection were written home to Leonard's parents, usually his mother. He continually reassures her not to worry about him, requests various things from home (especially stamps), and talks about his daily life. He frequently writes about plans for when he gets home. Leonard's religious sentiments also recur throughout his correspondence. He also includes war news and who he has seen, though he reveals his priorities and lack of interest in being a soldier, saying in March 1865:
"we have got a good man to steer the machine, that fellow they call U. S. Grant. Sheridan & Sherman are giving them fits. I have seen Grant & Mede a number of times this summer I had a great deal rather see you + Pa. I dont want to see Nora because she wanted me to go soldiering"
Although battle descriptions are not necessarily the focus of Leonard's letters, his 1864 correspondence contains details of being fired upon a Petersburg, of picket duty, and later, of transporting injured men. In June 1865, he writes several letters detailing the sight of unburied dead men and horses and the sound of fighting from the front at Petersburg. In May 1865, he writes of the incompetence of the doctors:
"The Doctors here dont have any thing fit to give any one and the bigest of them dont know how to doctor a hen anyway. They take the wounded men legs and arms off half the time. when there is no need of it, do it practice there has been a number of times I have heard of that...The Doct of the Regt was a clerk in an apothecary shop..."
Leonard's diary begins in August 1864, apparently when he was appointed to drive an ambulance. His entries are short and refer mostly to his daily activities: who or what he was conveying to and from the hospital at City Point outside Petersburg; what letters he sent or received; war news; or when he attended religious meetings. Shortly before the diary ends in April 1865, he notes the firing of guns and cannons "for the death of abram Lincoln President of the U.S. who was shot by a man by the name of Booth." He refers to the death of Lincoln and its effect on the soldiers in several letters, as well. Leonard's own correspondence suggests he kept a previous diary--in August 1864, he inquires if his mother has received the one he sent home--but it is unknown if this diary still exists.
William A. Leonard was born about 1843 to Joel A. (b.1817) and Sophia Leonard (1816-d. before 1880). His parents were both natives of Vermont who moved to Massachusetts. William and his two sisters, Leonora (b. abt. 1852; and who William calls "Nora" in his letters and is later listed as "Mary" in a least one set of census records) and Roselia (b. abt. 1859) were all born in Great Barrington, Berkshire County. It is unknown what line of work William Leonard was in prior to the war, though he was living at home with his family. He was drafted into service in July 1863 for a three year term with Company F, 16th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. In mid-July 1864, the 16th Infantry mustered out. Existing veterans and recruits, Leonard included, were transferred to the 11th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. From at least August of 1864 until Lee's surrender, Leonard served as an ambulance driver, transporting wounded from battlefield to hospital. His unit spent nearly a year in and around Petersburg. While stationed outside Washington, DC, waiting to muster out, Leonard also drove civilians in and around the city. He particularly makes mention of taking family members to hospitals to get news of soldiers. Leonard returned home to Great Barrington in July 1865. In 1880, he was living at home with his father, Leonora and her husband, and Leonora's brother-in-law. At the time, he was employed at a woolen mill. In 1894, he purchased a plumbing and steam fitting business from a former employer. Later census records suggest he was married to a woman named Hattie (probably Henrietta; b. abt. 1863), but it is unknown when. They had daughter, Nellie, in June 1897.
Sources: Ancestry.com Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service. The Metal Worker, vol. XLI, January to June 1894. New York: David Williams, 1894. Via Google Books, November 2011.
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Post-surrender letters emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864/1865
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter, William Leonard to Parents, Near Petersburg Va., June 25, 1864 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Civil War
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-06-25
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Letters
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Language
A language of the resource
English
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106_LeonardWilliam_B1F1_Letter_1864_0625
-
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/18b32987cbbb967dfb8f589ef12f730a.jpg
95213619a85ade5754b73b629bdd11bd
PDF Text
Text
<p>Virginia, June 23d, 1864</p>
<p>Dear Parents</p>
<p>I mailed you a letter yesterday, but as I had a</p>
<p>little spare time this morning, I write you a little</p>
<p>of what transpired through the day. our lines were</p>
<p>advanced in the morning and after getting into</p>
<p>position it was some time before we began to throw</p>
<p>up any works. it was very hot and water scarce.</p>
<p>I took four Canteens and went for water, had to</p>
<p>go about a mile. bad at that. I had got most back</p>
<p>to the Regt. when the Rebs poured a volley into us</p>
<p>from the rear. the men came running back like</p>
<p>sheep. the bullets flying so I about faced and fell</p>
<p>back with the rest. we never stoped till we got</p>
<p>to the Breast Works. most all of our Regt came</p>
<p>in safe. they must have taken a great many</p>
<p>Prisoners, five or six thousand the report is this</p>
<p>morning. the Officers that had command of the</p>
<p>left flank told the Generals that the Enemy were</p>
<p>massing there troops on the left to flank them</p>
<p>but they did not pay any attention to it untill it</p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>Virginia,
June 23d, 1864</p>
<p>Dear Parents</p>
<p>I mailed you
a letter yesterday, but as I had a </p>
<p>little spare
time this morning, I write you a little </p>
<p>of what transpired
through the day. our lines were </p>
<p>advanced in
the morning and after getting into </p>
<p>position it was
some time before we began to throw </p>
<p>up any
works. it was very hot and water scarce. </p>
<p>I took four
Canteens and went for water, had to </p>
<p>go about a
mile. bad at that. I had got most back </p>
<p>to the Regt.
when the Rebs poured a volley into us </p>
<p>from the
rear. the men came running back like </p>
<p>sheep. the
bullets flying so I about faced and fell </p>
<p>back with
the rest. we never stoped till we got </p>
<p>to the Breast
Works. most all of our Regt came </p>
<p>in safe.
they must have taken a great many </p>
<p>Prisoners,
five or six thousand the report is this </p>
<p>morning. the
Officers that had command of the </p>
<p>left flank
told the Generals that the Enemy were </p>
<p>massing there
troops on the left to flank them </p>
<p>but they did
not pay any attention to it untill it </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-06-23
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a3cd282c3d0eb77a589b256fe9a8f6e9
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Text
<table>
<tbody>
<tr><th>Left Page</th><th>Right Page</th></tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>was to late. any thing but a fire in the rear</p>
<p>they were right on top of us before we knew it. the</p>
<p>Capt. that had command of the picket told the</p>
<p>Aids and they told Burney two or three times but</p>
<p>he thought it was all a scare. they tryed to break</p>
<p>through the Breast Works a little to our left</p>
<p>but could not do it. they then tryed on the</p>
<p>right with the same success. If they had broke</p>
<p>through it would have been all day with us.</p>
<p>one of our Comp was taken prisoner I think.</p>
<p>if I had not had any friends at home I</p>
<p>should have stoped and let them took me.</p>
<p>our Orderly Sargent was so near he could see</p>
<p>them push them out of the road in to the</p>
<p>woods. they did not fire at them at all. they</p>
<p>took lots of spades, shovels + picks, that the men</p>
<p>were working with. the Boys threw away their</p>
<p>knapsacks and every thing. the Rebs made a</p>
<p>pretty good haul of it. I stuck to my things.</p>
<p>I did not have to hurry quite as fast as some</p>
<p>of them on account of going after the water.</p>
<p>it is so very hot here, it is enough to melt</p>
<p>one. we get all covered with dust + dirt then</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>sweat and we look + feel nice I tell you. when</p>
<p>we stop it is most always in the plowed</p>
<p>ground and lay down in the dirt. the Army</p>
<p>need a rest now. they cant march + fight</p>
<p>like this all Summer. I get this Paper</p>
<p>pretty dirty but cant help it. please tell</p>
<p>me if it rubs out so you cant read</p>
<p>it. are laying behind the works now guess</p>
<p>will stop here to day hope so. The amount</p>
<p>of the matter is the Officers are drunk</p>
<p>half the time you see I speak my mind</p>
<p>if they under take to do anything they</p>
<p>always blunder around long</p>
<p>enough to do it a dozzen times. hope the</p>
<p>mail will go before we leave here so</p>
<p>to send this. I am very thankful my</p>
<p>health and life has been preserved so</p>
<p>long. The Boys are just going to draw</p>
<p>two days rations. that will make four</p>
<p>we have on hand. The <s>longer a man</s></p>
<p>more a Man is under fire the less</p>
<p>he dreads it. I dont dread it half as</p>
<p>bad as I did back at the Wilderness.</p>
<p>you let a Regt. of old soldiers go into</p>
<p>a fight and they wont loose half the</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<table>
<tr>
<th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>was to late. any thing but a fire in
the rear </p>
<p>they were
right on top of us before we knew it. the </p>
<p>Capt. that
had command of the picket told the </p>
<p>Aids and
they told Burney two or three times but </p>
<p>he thought
it was all a scare. they tryed to break </p>
<p>through the
Breast Works a little to our left </p>
<p>but could
not do it. they then tryed on the </p>
<p>right with
the same success. If they had broke </p>
<p>through it
would have been all day with us. </p>
<p>one of our
Comp was taken prisoner I think. </p>
<p>if I had not
had any friends at home I </p>
<p>should have stoped and let them took me. </p>
<p>our Orderly
Sargent was so near he could see </p>
<p>them push
them out of the road in to the </p>
<p>woods. they
did not fire at them at all. they </p>
<p>took lots of
spades, shovels + picks, that the men </p>
<p>were working
with. the Boys threw away their </p>
<p>knapsacks
and every thing. the Rebs
made a </p>
<p>pretty good
haul of it. I stuck to my things. </p>
<p>I did not
have to hurry quite as fast as some </p>
<p>of them on
account of going after the water. </p>
<p>it is so
very hot here, it is enough to melt </p>
<p>one. we get
all covered with dust + dirt then </p>
</td><td><p>sweat
and we look + feel nice I tell you. when </p>
<p>we stop it
is most always in the plowed </p>
<p>ground and
lay down in the dirt. the Army </p>
<p>need a rest
now. they cant march + fight </p>
<p>like this
all Summer. I get this Paper </p>
<p>pretty dirty
but cant help it. please tell </p>
<p>me if it
rubs out so you cant read </p>
<p>it. are
laying behind the works now guess </p>
<p>will stop
here to day hope so. The amount </p>
<p>of the
matter is the Officers are drunk </p>
<p>half the
time you see I speak my mind </p>
<p>if they
under take to do anything they </p>
<p>always
blunder around long </p>
<p>enough to do
it a dozzen times. hope the </p>
<p>mail will go
before we leave here so </p>
<p>to send
this. I am very thankful my </p>
<p>health and
life has been preserved so </p>
<p>long. The
Boys are just going to draw </p>
<p>two days
rations. that will make four </p>
<p>we have on
hand. The <s>longer a man</s></p>
<p>more a Man
is under fire the less </p>
<p>he dreads
it. I dont dread it half as </p>
<p>bad as I did
back at the Wilderness. </p>
<p>you let a
Regt. of old soldiers go into </p>
<p>a fight and
they wont loose half the </p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-06-23
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82a5308c63f7b7824f2818bc520cebe2
PDF Text
Text
<p>men a
raw Regt will in the same </p>
<p>place. they cover
themselfs more raw </p>
<p>recruits dont understand it. it is just </p>
<p>like learning
a trade. you must not </p>
<p>worry if you
dont get a letter so </p>
<p>regular I
suppose it dont go through </p>
<p>straight.
there are lots of the Regts </p>
<p>times most out
and the men </p>
<p>are looking
out for their heads. I </p>
<p>tell you dont blaim a bit do you </p>
<p>Tell Abbie Turner
</p>
<p>I have just
received </p>
<p>her letter
and it has </p>
<p>done me a
sight of </p>
<p>good. love
to her </p>
<p>and her
Father </p>
<p>it is very
hot the </p>
<p>sweet rools off me </p>
<p>in the shade
and </p>
<p>I get this
all dirt. </p>
<p>I will close
now. </p>
<p>may God
bless and </p>
<p>take care of
you all </p>
<p>my Prayer is
we </p>
<p>may soon
meet </p>
<p>again. from
your </p>
<p>Son Willie </p>
<p>P. S. We are
drawing </p>
<p>dryed dryed apples </p>
<p>so I will
make apple </p>
<p>sauce it is
good.</p>
<p> </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>men a
raw Regt will in the same </p>
<p>place. they cover
themselfs more raw </p>
<p>recruits dont understand it. it is just </p>
<p>like learning
a trade. you must not </p>
<p>worry if you
dont get a letter so </p>
<p>regular I
suppose it dont go through </p>
<p>straight.
there are lots of the Regts </p>
<p>times most out
and the men </p>
<p>are looking
out for their heads. I </p>
<p>tell you dont blaim a bit do you </p>
<p>Tell Abbie Turner
</p>
<p>I have just
received </p>
<p>her letter
and it has </p>
<p>done me a
sight of </p>
<p>good. love
to her </p>
<p>and her
Father </p>
<p>it is very
hot the </p>
<p>sweet rools off me </p>
<p>in the shade
and </p>
<p>I get this
all dirt. </p>
<p>I will close
now. </p>
<p>may God
bless and </p>
<p>take care of
you all </p>
<p>my Prayer is
we </p>
<p>may soon
meet </p>
<p>again. from
your </p>
<p>Son Willie </p>
<p>P. S. We are
drawing </p>
<p>dryed dryed apples </p>
<p>so I will
make apple </p>
<p>sauce it is
good.</p>
<p> </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-06-23
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/f61770bfa6ac458011e99cfa5670d299.jpg
ce447318a2a5c620bae49d3df666af2b
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
William A. Leonard Papers, 1864-1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Diaries.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Description
An account of the resource
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Letters following Lee's surrender emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge and payment. All the letters in this collection were written home to Leonard's parents, usually his mother. He continually reassures her not to worry about him, requests various things from home (especially stamps), and talks about his daily life. He frequently writes about plans for when he gets home. Leonard's religious sentiments also recur throughout his correspondence. He also includes war news and who he has seen, though he reveals his priorities and lack of interest in being a soldier, saying in March 1865:
"we have got a good man to steer the machine, that fellow they call U. S. Grant. Sheridan & Sherman are giving them fits. I have seen Grant & Mede a number of times this summer I had a great deal rather see you + Pa. I dont want to see Nora because she wanted me to go soldiering"
Although battle descriptions are not necessarily the focus of Leonard's letters, his 1864 correspondence contains details of being fired upon a Petersburg, of picket duty, and later, of transporting injured men. In June 1865, he writes several letters detailing the sight of unburied dead men and horses and the sound of fighting from the front at Petersburg. In May 1865, he writes of the incompetence of the doctors:
"The Doctors here dont have any thing fit to give any one and the bigest of them dont know how to doctor a hen anyway. They take the wounded men legs and arms off half the time. when there is no need of it, do it practice there has been a number of times I have heard of that...The Doct of the Regt was a clerk in an apothecary shop..."
Leonard's diary begins in August 1864, apparently when he was appointed to drive an ambulance. His entries are short and refer mostly to his daily activities: who or what he was conveying to and from the hospital at City Point outside Petersburg; what letters he sent or received; war news; or when he attended religious meetings. Shortly before the diary ends in April 1865, he notes the firing of guns and cannons "for the death of abram Lincoln President of the U.S. who was shot by a man by the name of Booth." He refers to the death of Lincoln and its effect on the soldiers in several letters, as well. Leonard's own correspondence suggests he kept a previous diary--in August 1864, he inquires if his mother has received the one he sent home--but it is unknown if this diary still exists.
William A. Leonard was born about 1843 to Joel A. (b.1817) and Sophia Leonard (1816-d. before 1880). His parents were both natives of Vermont who moved to Massachusetts. William and his two sisters, Leonora (b. abt. 1852; and who William calls "Nora" in his letters and is later listed as "Mary" in a least one set of census records) and Roselia (b. abt. 1859) were all born in Great Barrington, Berkshire County. It is unknown what line of work William Leonard was in prior to the war, though he was living at home with his family. He was drafted into service in July 1863 for a three year term with Company F, 16th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. In mid-July 1864, the 16th Infantry mustered out. Existing veterans and recruits, Leonard included, were transferred to the 11th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. From at least August of 1864 until Lee's surrender, Leonard served as an ambulance driver, transporting wounded from battlefield to hospital. His unit spent nearly a year in and around Petersburg. While stationed outside Washington, DC, waiting to muster out, Leonard also drove civilians in and around the city. He particularly makes mention of taking family members to hospitals to get news of soldiers. Leonard returned home to Great Barrington in July 1865. In 1880, he was living at home with his father, Leonora and her husband, and Leonora's brother-in-law. At the time, he was employed at a woolen mill. In 1894, he purchased a plumbing and steam fitting business from a former employer. Later census records suggest he was married to a woman named Hattie (probably Henrietta; b. abt. 1863), but it is unknown when. They had daughter, Nellie, in June 1897.
Sources: Ancestry.com Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service. The Metal Worker, vol. XLI, January to June 1894. New York: David Williams, 1894. Via Google Books, November 2011.
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Post-surrender letters emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864/1865
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter, William Leonard to Parents, Near Petersburg Va., June 23, 1864 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-06-23
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Letters
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Language
A language of the resource
English
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106_LeonardWilliam_B1F1_Letter_1864_0623
-
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/d4c5d16b202001fa8e9dc676869f833a.jpg
b514c877d669d0eb215da63f1cda9733
PDF Text
Text
<p>noon Sunday
19</p>
<p>to day </p>
<p>we are haveing a day of rest so far </p>
<p>after a hard
day yesterday. nothing </p>
<p>but stray
shots from the Skirmishers </p>
<p>come over
here where we are. there has </p>
<p>a mail just
come nothing for </p>
<p>me. I hear
there is to be another this </p>
<p>afternoon. I
shall look out for </p>
<p>number one I
am willing to </p>
<p>fight where
there is any sight at </p>
<p>all but this
Charging over an open </p>
<p>field pretty
near half a mile and </p>
<p>they pouring
Grape + Cannister, Minnie</p>
<p>ball in to
us all the time dont </p>
<p>pay all of the
Boys say they wont </p>
<p>do it. who
blames them it is just </p>
<p>like standing
up and getting shot </p>
<p>down, there
was a bank to climb </p>
<p>over when I
got to the bank the </p>
<p>men were floundering
back, some </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>noon Sunday
19</p>
<p>to day </p>
<p>we are haveing a day of rest so far </p>
<p>after a hard
day yesterday. nothing </p>
<p>but stray
shots from the Skirmishers </p>
<p>come over
here where we are. there has </p>
<p>a mail just
come nothing for </p>
<p>me. I hear
there is to be another this </p>
<p>afternoon. I
shall look out for </p>
<p>number one I
am willing to </p>
<p>fight where
there is any sight at </p>
<p>all but this
Charging over an open </p>
<p>field pretty
near half a mile and </p>
<p>they pouring
Grape + Cannister, Minnie</p>
<p>ball in to
us all the time dont </p>
<p>pay all of the
Boys say they wont </p>
<p>do it. who
blames them it is just </p>
<p>like standing
up and getting shot </p>
<p>down, there
was a bank to climb </p>
<p>over when I
got to the bank the </p>
<p>men were floundering
back, some </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-06-19
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/153bb6b8f034b00fd5bb929b13aba964.jpg
ed118b8a74b43d6b472fc4d9fde15ce7
PDF Text
Text
<p>shot
dead and some wounded there </p>
<p>was not many
of our Regt. went over </p>
<p>or any of
the old men. we lost </p>
<p>in our Regt
yesterday about a </p>
<p>dozzen. the 1<sup>st</sup> Maine that went out </p>
<p>on the field
lost from three to five </p>
<p>hundred.
their poor Col. was crying. </p>
<p>we drawed some dryed apples to </p>
<p>day and I
have made some </p>
<p>apple sauce.
when I was cooking </p>
<p>it, it make
one think of the times </p>
<p>I used to
see you make it. I had </p>
<p>some sugar
to put in it. it is good </p>
<p>I tell you.
it tasts the best of any </p>
<p>thing I have
ate since I left camp.</p>
<p>you must
write often I dont know </p>
<p>whether you
get my letters or not </p>
<p>tell Abbie
Turner I drempt of seeing </p>
<p>her last
night. had the best nights </p>
<p>sleep for a
good while. well I </p>
<p>will close
now, trust in God </p>
<p>and all will
be well. tell Father </p>
<p>not to worry
about me.</p>
<p>W. A. L.</p>
<p> </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>shot
dead and some wounded there </p>
<p>was not many
of our Regt. went over </p>
<p>or any of
the old men. we lost </p>
<p>in our Regt
yesterday about a </p>
<p>dozzen. the 1<sup>st</sup> Maine that went out </p>
<p>on the field
lost from three to five </p>
<p>hundred.
their poor Col. was crying. </p>
<p>we drawed some dryed apples to </p>
<p>day and I
have made some </p>
<p>apple sauce.
when I was cooking </p>
<p>it, it make
one think of the times </p>
<p>I used to
see you make it. I had </p>
<p>some sugar
to put in it. it is good </p>
<p>I tell you.
it tasts the best of any </p>
<p>thing I have
ate since I left camp.</p>
<p>you must
write often I dont know </p>
<p>whether you
get my letters or not </p>
<p>tell Abbie
Turner I drempt of seeing </p>
<p>her last
night. had the best nights </p>
<p>sleep for a
good while. well I </p>
<p>will close
now, trust in God </p>
<p>and all will
be well. tell Father </p>
<p>not to worry
about me.</p>
<p>W. A. L.</p>
<p> </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-06-19
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
William A. Leonard Papers, 1864-1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Diaries.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Description
An account of the resource
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Letters following Lee's surrender emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge and payment. All the letters in this collection were written home to Leonard's parents, usually his mother. He continually reassures her not to worry about him, requests various things from home (especially stamps), and talks about his daily life. He frequently writes about plans for when he gets home. Leonard's religious sentiments also recur throughout his correspondence. He also includes war news and who he has seen, though he reveals his priorities and lack of interest in being a soldier, saying in March 1865:
"we have got a good man to steer the machine, that fellow they call U. S. Grant. Sheridan & Sherman are giving them fits. I have seen Grant & Mede a number of times this summer I had a great deal rather see you + Pa. I dont want to see Nora because she wanted me to go soldiering"
Although battle descriptions are not necessarily the focus of Leonard's letters, his 1864 correspondence contains details of being fired upon a Petersburg, of picket duty, and later, of transporting injured men. In June 1865, he writes several letters detailing the sight of unburied dead men and horses and the sound of fighting from the front at Petersburg. In May 1865, he writes of the incompetence of the doctors:
"The Doctors here dont have any thing fit to give any one and the bigest of them dont know how to doctor a hen anyway. They take the wounded men legs and arms off half the time. when there is no need of it, do it practice there has been a number of times I have heard of that...The Doct of the Regt was a clerk in an apothecary shop..."
Leonard's diary begins in August 1864, apparently when he was appointed to drive an ambulance. His entries are short and refer mostly to his daily activities: who or what he was conveying to and from the hospital at City Point outside Petersburg; what letters he sent or received; war news; or when he attended religious meetings. Shortly before the diary ends in April 1865, he notes the firing of guns and cannons "for the death of abram Lincoln President of the U.S. who was shot by a man by the name of Booth." He refers to the death of Lincoln and its effect on the soldiers in several letters, as well. Leonard's own correspondence suggests he kept a previous diary--in August 1864, he inquires if his mother has received the one he sent home--but it is unknown if this diary still exists.
William A. Leonard was born about 1843 to Joel A. (b.1817) and Sophia Leonard (1816-d. before 1880). His parents were both natives of Vermont who moved to Massachusetts. William and his two sisters, Leonora (b. abt. 1852; and who William calls "Nora" in his letters and is later listed as "Mary" in a least one set of census records) and Roselia (b. abt. 1859) were all born in Great Barrington, Berkshire County. It is unknown what line of work William Leonard was in prior to the war, though he was living at home with his family. He was drafted into service in July 1863 for a three year term with Company F, 16th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. In mid-July 1864, the 16th Infantry mustered out. Existing veterans and recruits, Leonard included, were transferred to the 11th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. From at least August of 1864 until Lee's surrender, Leonard served as an ambulance driver, transporting wounded from battlefield to hospital. His unit spent nearly a year in and around Petersburg. While stationed outside Washington, DC, waiting to muster out, Leonard also drove civilians in and around the city. He particularly makes mention of taking family members to hospitals to get news of soldiers. Leonard returned home to Great Barrington in July 1865. In 1880, he was living at home with his father, Leonora and her husband, and Leonora's brother-in-law. At the time, he was employed at a woolen mill. In 1894, he purchased a plumbing and steam fitting business from a former employer. Later census records suggest he was married to a woman named Hattie (probably Henrietta; b. abt. 1863), but it is unknown when. They had daughter, Nellie, in June 1897.
Sources: Ancestry.com Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service. The Metal Worker, vol. XLI, January to June 1894. New York: David Williams, 1894. Via Google Books, November 2011.
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Post-surrender letters emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864/1865
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter, William Leonard to Parents, Near Petersburg Va., June 19, 1864 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Civil War
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-06-19
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Letters
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Language
A language of the resource
English
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106_LeonardWilliam_B1F1_Letter_1864_0619
-
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/418bb46428b197997a57c0c53b925b95.jpg
88354e840584bb3186f4a19f3e518f49
PDF Text
Text
<table>
<tbody>
<tr><th>Left Page</th><th>Right Page</th></tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>find you well. [<em>Continued from previous letter written on the other side of the paper</em>]</p>
<p>Saturday June 18</p>
<p>Dear Mother I have had no chance</p>
<p>to send this letter. the mail went</p>
<p>last night but I did not have it</p>
<p>ready. I sent one to Mr. Walker</p>
<p>that I wrote a while ago. we are</p>
<p>within a mile and a half of Petersburg</p>
<p>in the Breast Works. we have had</p>
<p>some pretty hard fighting since I</p>
<p>wrote the above, but I am</p>
<p>alive and well thank God. you</p>
<p>will see we have had a long march</p>
<p>and crossed the James river</p>
<p>you will see all of our operations</p>
<p>in the Papers. Ferguson [Abram Ferguson] is all</p>
<p>right. I cant write any more</p>
<p>now. I will seal this up so</p>
<p>to have it ready to send</p>
<p>when the mail boy comes he comes</p>
<p>in a hurry. trust in God he is</p>
<p>good and all will be well</p>
<p>love to all. how I wish</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>I was home. we have plenty</p>
<p>of rations just now. cant say</p>
<p>that all of the time. good bye</p>
<p>this from your</p>
<p>Affectionate Son</p>
<p>Wm A Leonard [William A. Leonard]</p>
<p>P. S. Our Brigade made a charge</p>
<p>this afternoon. our Regt. was in</p>
<p>the third line, the heavy artillery</p>
<p>took the lead. they were repulsed</p>
<p>with awful slaughter there was</p>
<p>a long open field to go across our</p>
<p>line did not advance but a little</p>
<p>ways. I tell you Charging is played</p>
<p>out with the Men it makes us</p>
<p>discouraged to Charge it dont amount</p>
<p>to any thing. I expect the Officers</p>
<p>were all drunk that ordered it. it</p>
<p>was nothing but a Slaughter pen.</p>
<p>lots of them were shot ded and fell</p>
<p>on to us as we went over the works</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<table>
<tr>
<th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>find you
well.[<i>Continued from previous letter written on the other side of the paper</i>]</p>
<p>Saturday
June 18</p>
<p>Dear Mother
I have had no chance </p>
<p>to send this
letter. the mail went </p>
<p>last night
but I did not have it </p>
<p>ready. I sent
one to Mr. Walker </p>
<p>that I wrote
a while ago. we are </p>
<p>within a
mile and a half of Petersburg </p>
<p>in the Breast
Works. we have had </p>
<p>some pretty
hard fighting since I </p>
<p>wrote the
above, but I am </p>
<p>alive and
well thank God. you </p>
<p>will see we
have had a long march </p>
<p>and crossed
the James river </p>
<p>you will see
all of our operations </p>
<p>in the
Papers. Ferguson [Abram Ferguson] is all </p>
<p>right. I cant write any more </p>
<p>now. I will
seal this up so </p>
<p>to have it
ready to send </p>
<p>when the
mail boy comes he comes </p>
<p>in a hurry.
trust in God he is </p>
<p>good and all
will be well </p>
<p>love to all.
how I wish </p>
</td><td><p>I was
home. we have plenty </p>
<p>of rations
just now. cant say </p>
<p>that all of
the time. good bye</p>
<p>this from
your </p>
<p>Affectionate
Son</p>
<p>Wm A Leonard
[William A. Leonard]</p>
<p>P. S. Our
Brigade made a charge </p>
<p>this
afternoon. our Regt. was in </p>
<p>the third
line, the heavy artillery </p>
<p>took the lead.
they were repulsed </p>
<p>with awful
slaughter there was </p>
<p>a long open
field to go across our </p>
<p>line did not
advance but a little </p>
<p>ways. I tell
you Charging is played </p>
<p>out with the
Men it makes us </p>
<p>discouraged
to Charge it dont amount </p>
<p>to any thing. I expect the Officers </p>
<p>were all
drunk that ordered it. it </p>
<p>was nothing but
a Slaughter pen. </p>
<p>lots of them
were shot ded and fell </p>
<p>on to us as
we went over the works </p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-06-18
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/9f4c651cd830842062e124c944eb5ac9.jpg
39f708468f6c817cdafb372884bef86b
PDF Text
Text
<p>some of them
got halfway across </p>
<p>the field.
and were shot, we could </p>
<p>look out and
see the ground </p>
<p>covered with
them. I heard some </p>
<p>of our men
say if the Gen. that </p>
<p>ordered that
charge were there </p>
<p>they would
shoot him as quick </p>
<p>as they
would look at him. only </p>
<p>hope you can
read this </p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>some of them
got halfway across </p>
<p>the field.
and were shot, we could </p>
<p>look out and
see the ground </p>
<p>covered with
them. I heard some </p>
<p>of our men
say if the Gen. that </p>
<p>ordered that
charge were there </p>
<p>they would
shoot him as quick </p>
<p>as they
would look at him. only </p>
<p>hope you can
read this </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-06-18
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/bc0a286df987c65806482d5551b0eb25.jpg
5df8a3483088ac3eef8d64aeadb0b335
PDF Text
Text
<p>one in
our Company was </p>
<p>wounded, Oh
Mother If I ever get </p>
<p>home I can
tell you about it but </p>
<p>I cant write it. the daily papers </p>
<p>are now I
guess the mail will go </p>
<p>they have
taken us to the rear </p>
<p>now guess
they are satisfied. I tell </p>
<p>you the men
are down on Charging. good night</p>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>one in
our Company was </p>
<p>wounded, Oh
Mother If I ever get </p>
<p>home I can
tell you about it but </p>
<p>I cant write it. the daily papers </p>
<p>are now I
guess the mail will go </p>
<p>they have
taken us to the rear </p>
<p>now guess
they are satisfied. I tell </p>
<p>you the men
are down on Charging. good night</p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-06-18
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/6af0c9b41f24a31a6b4b9c91b479d7be.jpg
55c31880f4a73c63a0588da3572902f0
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
William A. Leonard Papers, 1864-1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Diaries.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Description
An account of the resource
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Letters following Lee's surrender emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge and payment. All the letters in this collection were written home to Leonard's parents, usually his mother. He continually reassures her not to worry about him, requests various things from home (especially stamps), and talks about his daily life. He frequently writes about plans for when he gets home. Leonard's religious sentiments also recur throughout his correspondence. He also includes war news and who he has seen, though he reveals his priorities and lack of interest in being a soldier, saying in March 1865:
"we have got a good man to steer the machine, that fellow they call U. S. Grant. Sheridan & Sherman are giving them fits. I have seen Grant & Mede a number of times this summer I had a great deal rather see you + Pa. I dont want to see Nora because she wanted me to go soldiering"
Although battle descriptions are not necessarily the focus of Leonard's letters, his 1864 correspondence contains details of being fired upon a Petersburg, of picket duty, and later, of transporting injured men. In June 1865, he writes several letters detailing the sight of unburied dead men and horses and the sound of fighting from the front at Petersburg. In May 1865, he writes of the incompetence of the doctors:
"The Doctors here dont have any thing fit to give any one and the bigest of them dont know how to doctor a hen anyway. They take the wounded men legs and arms off half the time. when there is no need of it, do it practice there has been a number of times I have heard of that...The Doct of the Regt was a clerk in an apothecary shop..."
Leonard's diary begins in August 1864, apparently when he was appointed to drive an ambulance. His entries are short and refer mostly to his daily activities: who or what he was conveying to and from the hospital at City Point outside Petersburg; what letters he sent or received; war news; or when he attended religious meetings. Shortly before the diary ends in April 1865, he notes the firing of guns and cannons "for the death of abram Lincoln President of the U.S. who was shot by a man by the name of Booth." He refers to the death of Lincoln and its effect on the soldiers in several letters, as well. Leonard's own correspondence suggests he kept a previous diary--in August 1864, he inquires if his mother has received the one he sent home--but it is unknown if this diary still exists.
William A. Leonard was born about 1843 to Joel A. (b.1817) and Sophia Leonard (1816-d. before 1880). His parents were both natives of Vermont who moved to Massachusetts. William and his two sisters, Leonora (b. abt. 1852; and who William calls "Nora" in his letters and is later listed as "Mary" in a least one set of census records) and Roselia (b. abt. 1859) were all born in Great Barrington, Berkshire County. It is unknown what line of work William Leonard was in prior to the war, though he was living at home with his family. He was drafted into service in July 1863 for a three year term with Company F, 16th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. In mid-July 1864, the 16th Infantry mustered out. Existing veterans and recruits, Leonard included, were transferred to the 11th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. From at least August of 1864 until Lee's surrender, Leonard served as an ambulance driver, transporting wounded from battlefield to hospital. His unit spent nearly a year in and around Petersburg. While stationed outside Washington, DC, waiting to muster out, Leonard also drove civilians in and around the city. He particularly makes mention of taking family members to hospitals to get news of soldiers. Leonard returned home to Great Barrington in July 1865. In 1880, he was living at home with his father, Leonora and her husband, and Leonora's brother-in-law. At the time, he was employed at a woolen mill. In 1894, he purchased a plumbing and steam fitting business from a former employer. Later census records suggest he was married to a woman named Hattie (probably Henrietta; b. abt. 1863), but it is unknown when. They had daughter, Nellie, in June 1897.
Sources: Ancestry.com Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service. The Metal Worker, vol. XLI, January to June 1894. New York: David Williams, 1894. Via Google Books, November 2011.
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Post-surrender letters emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864/1865
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter, William Leonard to Parents, Near Petersburg Va., June 18, 1864 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
Civil War
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-06-18
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Letters
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Language
A language of the resource
English
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106_LeonardWilliam_B1F1_Letter_1864_0618
-
https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/7daba48fa65d69e9982c7c570a542ba6.jpg
840b30961107e7988253eb20d259124c
PDF Text
Text
<table>
<tbody>
<tr><th>Left Page</th><th>Right Page</th></tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>Virginia Wednesday June 15th /64</p>
<p>Dear Parents</p>
<p>I thought I would write you again</p>
<p>to let you know my whereabouts and</p>
<p>that I am well. we started Sunday</p>
<p>night from Gains Farm and marche all</p>
<p>the day Monday and Brought up at the</p>
<p>James River. pretty well worn out.</p>
<p>last night we crossed on the Transport</p>
<p>Emily to this side of the river, where we</p>
<p>are now I dont know when we can send</p>
<p>this there has been no mail since we</p>
<p>left Gains Farm [Gaine’s Mill]. I put a letter in the</p>
<p>mail bag to Mr. Walker but had to</p>
<p>take it out again. I guess we will</p>
<p>get a mail before long. most of the</p>
<p>boys are out of rations again but we</p>
<p>are going to draw this morning. I have</p>
<p>a few hard tack + Coffe + Sugar yet. they</p>
<p>had ought to give us rations for</p>
<p>the nights to for they keep us up so</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>much. the James river is a pretty</p>
<p>large river. I hear we are within nine</p>
<p>miles of Petersburg. when they tell you</p>
<p>it is nine miles to a place you may depend it</p>
<p>is twenty. you may depend if Richmond</p>
<p>is not taken this time it never can</p>
<p>be. the Country we came through is a</p>
<p>beautifull Country Wheat + Oats fields</p>
<p>every thing nice fruit of all kinds</p>
<p>the People have plenty to eat, so do</p>
<p>the Rebbel Army. I saw twenty five</p>
<p>hundred Prisoners in one batch they</p>
<p>were nice looking men haver sacks</p>
<p>full, did not look as if they had been</p>
<p>starved. they were taken at the</p>
<p>Wilderness I have not much faith</p>
<p>that Grant [Ulysses S. Grant] can take Richmond it</p>
<p>is so strongly fortified. It seemed</p>
<p>good to see some Steemboats once</p>
<p>more looked kind of human. if there</p>
<p>was only Peace this must be a nice</p>
<p>place to live. you cant Immagine</p>
<p>what a sight of Property is destroyed</p>
<p>where the Army goes. I hope this will</p>
<p>[<em>Continued on the next page</em>] find you well.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<table>
<tr>
<th>Left Page</th>
<th>Right Page</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>Virginia
Wednesday June 15th /64</p>
<p>Dear Parents</p>
<p>I thought I
would write you again </p>
<p>to let you
know my whereabouts and </p>
<p>that I am
well. we started Sunday </p>
<p>night from
Gains Farm and marche all </p>
<p>the day
Monday and Brought up at the </p>
<p>James River.
pretty well worn out. </p>
<p>last night
we crossed on the Transport </p>
<p>Emily to
this side of the river, where we </p>
<p>are now I dont know when we can send </p>
<p>this there
has been no mail since we </p>
<p>left Gains
Farm [Gaine’s Mill]. I put a letter in the</p>
<p>mail bag to
Mr. Walker but had to </p>
<p>take it out
again. I guess we will </p>
<p>get a mail
before long. most of the </p>
<p>boys are out
of rations again but we </p>
<p>are going to
draw this morning. I have </p>
<p>a few hard
tack + Coffe + Sugar yet. they </p>
<p>had ought to
give us rations for </p>
<p>the nights
to for they keep us up so </p></td><td><p>much.
the James river is a pretty </p>
<p>large river.
I hear we are within nine </p>
<p>miles of
Petersburg. when they tell you </p>
<p>it is nine miles
to a place you may depend it </p>
<p>is twenty.
you may depend if Richmond </p>
<p>is not taken
this time it never can </p>
<p>be. the
Country we came through is a </p>
<p>beautifull Country Wheat + Oats fields </p>
<p>every thing nice fruit of all kinds </p>
<p>the People
have plenty to eat, so do </p>
<p>the Rebbel Army. I saw twenty five </p>
<p>hundred
Prisoners in one batch they </p>
<p>were nice
looking men haver sacks </p>
<p>full, did
not look as if they had been </p>
<p>starved.
they were taken at the </p>
<p>Wilderness I
have not much faith </p>
<p>that Grant
[Ulysses S. Grant] can take Richmond it </p>
<p>is so
strongly fortified. It seemed </p>
<p>good to see
some Steem
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-06-15
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
William A. Leonard Papers, 1864-1865 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Diaries.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Description
An account of the resource
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Letters following Lee's surrender emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge and payment. All the letters in this collection were written home to Leonard's parents, usually his mother. He continually reassures her not to worry about him, requests various things from home (especially stamps), and talks about his daily life. He frequently writes about plans for when he gets home. Leonard's religious sentiments also recur throughout his correspondence. He also includes war news and who he has seen, though he reveals his priorities and lack of interest in being a soldier, saying in March 1865:
"we have got a good man to steer the machine, that fellow they call U. S. Grant. Sheridan & Sherman are giving them fits. I have seen Grant & Mede a number of times this summer I had a great deal rather see you + Pa. I dont want to see Nora because she wanted me to go soldiering"
Although battle descriptions are not necessarily the focus of Leonard's letters, his 1864 correspondence contains details of being fired upon a Petersburg, of picket duty, and later, of transporting injured men. In June 1865, he writes several letters detailing the sight of unburied dead men and horses and the sound of fighting from the front at Petersburg. In May 1865, he writes of the incompetence of the doctors:
"The Doctors here dont have any thing fit to give any one and the bigest of them dont know how to doctor a hen anyway. They take the wounded men legs and arms off half the time. when there is no need of it, do it practice there has been a number of times I have heard of that...The Doct of the Regt was a clerk in an apothecary shop..."
Leonard's diary begins in August 1864, apparently when he was appointed to drive an ambulance. His entries are short and refer mostly to his daily activities: who or what he was conveying to and from the hospital at City Point outside Petersburg; what letters he sent or received; war news; or when he attended religious meetings. Shortly before the diary ends in April 1865, he notes the firing of guns and cannons "for the death of abram Lincoln President of the U.S. who was shot by a man by the name of Booth." He refers to the death of Lincoln and its effect on the soldiers in several letters, as well. Leonard's own correspondence suggests he kept a previous diary--in August 1864, he inquires if his mother has received the one he sent home--but it is unknown if this diary still exists.
William A. Leonard was born about 1843 to Joel A. (b.1817) and Sophia Leonard (1816-d. before 1880). His parents were both natives of Vermont who moved to Massachusetts. William and his two sisters, Leonora (b. abt. 1852; and who William calls "Nora" in his letters and is later listed as "Mary" in a least one set of census records) and Roselia (b. abt. 1859) were all born in Great Barrington, Berkshire County. It is unknown what line of work William Leonard was in prior to the war, though he was living at home with his family. He was drafted into service in July 1863 for a three year term with Company F, 16th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. In mid-July 1864, the 16th Infantry mustered out. Existing veterans and recruits, Leonard included, were transferred to the 11th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. From at least August of 1864 until Lee's surrender, Leonard served as an ambulance driver, transporting wounded from battlefield to hospital. His unit spent nearly a year in and around Petersburg. While stationed outside Washington, DC, waiting to muster out, Leonard also drove civilians in and around the city. He particularly makes mention of taking family members to hospitals to get news of soldiers. Leonard returned home to Great Barrington in July 1865. In 1880, he was living at home with his father, Leonora and her husband, and Leonora's brother-in-law. At the time, he was employed at a woolen mill. In 1894, he purchased a plumbing and steam fitting business from a former employer. Later census records suggest he was married to a woman named Hattie (probably Henrietta; b. abt. 1863), but it is unknown when. They had daughter, Nellie, in June 1897.
Sources: Ancestry.com Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service. The Metal Worker, vol. XLI, January to June 1894. New York: David Williams, 1894. Via Google Books, November 2011.
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
The collection includes William A. Leonard's letters home from February-July 1865, as well as his diary from August 1864-April 1865. Leonard served as an ambulance driver in and around the siege at Petersburg, which is the focus of his short diary entries. His early letters focus on war news and rumors, daily life, and news from home. Post-surrender letters emphasize Leonard's experiences while stationed around Washington, DC, daily life (including the growing frustrations of soldiers wanting to get home) and his complaint's about the rumors and delays of his regiment's discharge.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864/1865
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter, William Leonard to Parents, Near Petersburg Va., June 15, 1864 (Ms2011-106)
Subject
The topic of the resource
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Diaries.
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William A. Leonard Papers, Ms2011-106, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00953.xml">See the Finding Aid for the William A. Leonard Papers</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-06-15
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the William A. Leonard Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Letters
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leonard, William A., b. abt. 1843
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, Virginia Tech</a>
Language
A language of the resource
English
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2011-106_LeonardWilliam_B1F1_Letter_1864_0615