Finding Aid for the George W. Williams Civil War correspondence 2019.056.w.r
Andrew Harman
Center for American War Letters Archives
7/10/2019
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: George W. Williams Civil War correspondence
Creator:
Williams, George W.
source:
Davidson, Elizabeth E.
source:
Angers (Arnold), Bernadette
Identifier/Call Number: 2019.056.w.r
Physical Description:
0.01 Linear feet
(1 folder)
Date: 1861 December 26
Abstract: This collection contains one letter from George W. Williams to his father during the Civil War.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: Civil War 2
Container: 13
Container: 1
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Elizabeth E. Davidson, found among her mother-in-laws possessions, Bernadette Angers (Arnold).
This letter was found amongst the possessions of Bernadette Angers (Arnold) after her passing. She and her husband lived in
Canada. There is no known connection to the author of the letter.
[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], George W. Williams Civil War correspondence (2019.056.w.r), Center for American
War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.
For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this
collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.
This collection contains one letter from George W. Williams to his father during the Civil War. The letter, dated December
26, 1861, was written on paper with a front page that contains a poem, "Hero's Memento," by James P. Herron and illustrated
with the American flag, an eagle, and music notes. The letter was written in Falls Church, Virginia while Williams was serving
the Union with Company G, 35th Regiment, New York Volunteers. Also included in the collection is one small envelope in which
the letter was stored, but not the original envelope in which the letter was sent.
In the letter to his father, Williams describes standing guard and getting into skirmishes at night while on 48-hour picket
guard, "but the enemy do not trouble us in day light." He also mentions no man being killed in his unit since he joined them
and that they have won every battle. He tells his father that he is having easy times in camp and even lives in a shanty with
a stove and an expensive blanket sent to him by a friend. They clear out every place the "Rebels" have been, taking "one hundred
loads of corn and hay," and he says the weather is turning cold.
He finishes by saying that he has seen President Abraham Lincoln and that he saw the house where "General Washington" [President
George Washington] was born.
There are no restrictions on the use of this material except where previously copyrighted material is concerned. It is the
responsibility of the researcher to obtain all permissions.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
Correspondence -- American Civil War
Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865
Washington, George, 1732-1799.
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Campaigns & battles -- Virginia
Davidson, Elizabeth E.
Angers (Arnold), Bernadette