George H. Mellish papers, 1862-1865

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Summary

Creators:
Mellish, George H., 1844-1907
Abstract:
Correspondence of American Civil War Union soldier George H. Mellish.
Extent:
1.2 Linear Feet (1 box)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. George H. Mellish papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

Letters from George H. Mellish to his parents posted from various places in Virginia and Maryland from 1862 to 1865. Also included are letters from his mother Mary Mellish, from 1864 to 1865. Mellish's letters home contain accounts and discussions of the military operation in the Eastern front from 1862 to 1865, the Battle of Fredericksburg, Burnside's second campaign (Mud March), duty in New York, military operations at Salem Heights, Bristoe, Rappahannock Station, Spotsylvania Court House, North Anna River, Cold Harbor, Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign, Appomattox campaign, and march to and duty at Danville. He writes about camp life in Virginia, Maryland, and New York, the commanding officers, war news and politics, including McClellan's presidential bid and the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. His letters also contain brief discussions about escaped enslaved people and news of a female soldier in the 20th New York Infantry Regiment. Letters of Mary Mellish to her son discuss family matters and news from Woodstock, Vermont.

Biographical / historical:

George H. Mellish was born in Schenectady, New York, in 1844, but moved to Woodstock, Vermont, as a young man where he learned to be a printer. He worked for the Boston Advertiser office for twenty years. He was a private of the 6th Regiment of Vermont Infantry, Company C, during the American Civil War. He enlisted in March 1862 and was mustered out in June 1865. The 6th was attached to the Army of the Potomac and Army of the Shenandoah, and fought in Virginia and Maryland, taking part in Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg campaigns, the Battle of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, and operations in the Shenandoah Valley. In September 1863 his company was sent to New York to enforce drafts. In 1884 he married Flora C. Moors; they had one daughter, Martha A. Mellish. Mellish died in Woodstock, Vermont, in June 1907.

Acquisition information:
Purchased from C.E. Tuttle, June 1965.
Processing information:

Processed by Harriet McLoone in July 1983. In September 2024, Brooke M. Black created a finding aid.

Arrangement:

Arranged chronologically.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

Terms of access:

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. George H. Mellish papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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