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Dalzell, William, d. 1863. William Dalzell letters, 1862-1863.

Title: William Dalzell letters, 1862-1863.

The collection consists of 52 letters written by William Dalzell to his wife Lizzie from October 8, 1862-August 19, 1863. Dalzell's letters begin with his departure from New York State in October 1862. His regiment served in the area of Washington, D. C., and was stationed at fortifications at Suffolk, West Point, Yorktown, White House, Warrenton Junction, and Newport News, Virginia, and Folly Island, near Charleston, South Carolina. He describes camp life, pickets, hard marches, drills, inspections, raids on Southern farms for food, and confiscation of whiskey; he also recounted skirmishes with rebel forces, the capture of prisoners, and gunboat activity. He advises his wife on the management of their farm in his absence and sent money to pay debts, even though he was paid irregularly. He debates whether to stay in the army a month longer and then muster out (July 31, 1863), or to take a furlough of twenty days and stay through the winter. Shortly thereafter, he contracted typho-malarial fever (August 9, 1863); however, he made the trip on the America with his company from Newport News to Charleston, South Carolina. In his last letter, he mentions that he is very sick and has put in for a discharge (August 19, 1863); J. D. Ransom, Captain of his company, notified Dalzell's wife of his death in an addition to this letter, dated August 24, 1863.

ArchivalResource: .25 linear ft. (1 box)

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/80277887 View