Bittle Civil War Letter Collection

Title

Bittle Civil War Letter Collection

Description

The Bittle Civil War Letter Collection includes letters written between 1861 and 1865 by brothers Robert (Bert), George and Charles Sealy, their sister Mary, and another relative, Christopher T. Dunham.

The Sealy siblings - Charles, George, Robert, and Mary Ann - were all born in Castle Cary, Somersetshire, England to Richard Sealy and Maria Louisa Champion Sealy. The family moved to Rochester, New York around 1843, finally settling in Rockford, Illinois in 1855.

When the Civil War arrived, Charles Sealy enlisted in the Company G 44th Regiment of the Illinois Infantry from Winnebago County. Meanwhile George and Robert Sealy each enlisted in the Company G 45th Illinois Volunteers. Charles was injured and eventually captured during the battle of Chickamauga. He was taken to Andersonville Prison where he died June 10, 1864.

Robert and George Sealy were present at the Battle and Fall of Vicksburg and survived to see the end of the war and beyond. George returned to Rockford, Illinois and worked for Emerson, Talcott & Co. He died in 1909. Robert moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa in 1868. He died in 1888.

Christopher T. Dunham (connected to the Sealy family through his daughter’s marriage), lived in Freeport, Illinois starting in 1856 and worked as county surveyor. He enlisted in the 11th Illinois Regiment of the Union Army and served on and off throughout the Civil War. He and Sarah Cummings married in 1862. After the war he returned to his surveying work in Freeport, but was admitted to the Elgin Insane Asylum in 1872 where he died 6 years later.

The letters speak of their experiences serving in the army, of their camp sites, and plans, and are a record of the confusion and stress families back home felt during this time.

Date

1861-1865

Rights

Midway Village Museum

Collection Items

Charles Sealy to his sister Mary Ann (Mate) Sealy, on September 14, 1861 from Camp Ellsworth, Chicago, Illinois.
Charles Sealy, born in Castle Cary, Somersetshire, England. Moved to Rochester, NY with parents in 1835. Came to Rockford in 1855. He & his 2 brothers served in Union Army during the Civil War. Charles enlisted in Company G, 44th Regiment out of…

Charles Sealy to his sister Mary Ann (Mate) Sealy Woodward, written December 14, 1862 from Camp Sheridan.
Charles Sealy was born in the town Castle Cary, Somersetshire, England. He moved with his parents and brothers to Rochester, New York in 1835. They later moved to Geneva , NY and finally Rockford, IL in 1855. He and his 2 brothers served in the Union…

Charles Sealy to his father Richard Sealy written January 17, 1863 while camped near Murphysboro, Tennessee.<br /><br />
The letter appears to be dated January 1860 by Charles Sealy but the date January 17, 1863 is written in different handwriting on the document.
Charles Sealy, born in Castle Cary, Somersetshire, England. Moved to Rochester, NY with parents in 1835. Came to Rockford in 1855. He & his 2 brothers served in Union Army during the Civil War. Charles enlisted in Company G, 44th Regiment out of…

Charles Sealy to his sister Mary Ann (Mate) Sealy Woodward, written April 12, 1863 at Camp Shaefer.
Charles Sealy, born in Castle Cary, Somersetshire, England. Moved to Rochester, NY with parents in 1835. Came to Rockford in 1855. He & his 2 brothers served in Union Army during the Civil War. Charles enlisted in Company G, 44th Regiment out of…

Charles Sealy to his sister Mary Ann (Mate) Sealy Woodward written April 19, 1863 at Camp Shaefer.
Charles Sealy was born in the town Castle Cary, Somersetshire, England. He moved with his parents and brothers to Rochester, New York in 1835. They later moved to Geneva , NY and finally Rockford, IL in 1855. He and his 2 brothers served in the Union…

Charles Sealy to his sister Mary Ann (Mate) Sealy Woodward written April 26, 1863 at Camp Shaefer.
Charles Sealy was born in the town Castle Cary, Somersetshire, England. He moved with his parents and brothers to Rochester, New York in 1835. They later moved to Geneva , NY and finally Rockford, IL in 1855. He and his 2 brothers served in the Union…

Charles Sealy to his sister Mary Ann (Mate) Sealy Woodward, written May 17, 1863 at Camp Shaefer.
Charles Sealy was born in the town Castle Cary, Somersetshire, England. He moved with his parents and brothers to Rochester, New York in 1835. They later moved to Geneva , NY and finally Rockford, IL in 1855. He and his 2 brothers served in the Union…

Charles Sealy to his sister Mary Ann (Mate) Sealy Woodward, written May 21, 1863 at Camp Shaefer.
Charles Sealy was born in the town Castle Cary, Somersetshire, England. He moved with his parents and brothers to Rochester, New York in 1835. They later moved to Geneva , NY and finally Rockford, IL in 1855. He and his 2 brothers served in the Union…

Charles Sealy
Charles Sealy was born in the town Castle Cary, Somersetshire, England c. 1831 to Richard Sealy (born c. 1804 in South Welton, England d. 2/2/1897 in Rockford, IL) and Maria Louisa Champion Sealy (born c. 1803 in Wells, England). His family…

Robert Sealy to father Richard Sealy written October 29, 1863 from Headquarters, 45th Regiment Illinois Infantry, Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Robert “Bert” P. Sealy was born in the town Castle Cary, Somersetshire, England, on January 13, 1835 to Richard Sealy (born c. 1804 in South Welton, England) and Maria Louisa Champion Sealy (born c. 1803 in Wells, England). His family (including 2…

Robert Sealy to his father Richard Sealy on February 21, 1862 from Fort Donaldson.
Robert “Bert” P. Sealy was born in the town Castle Cary, Somersetshire, England, on January 13, 1835 to Richard Sealy (born c. 1804 in South Welton, England) and Maria Louisa Champion Sealy (born c. 1803 in Wells, England). His family (including 2…

Robert Sealy to his mother Maria Louisa Champion Sealy written on  June 20, 1862 while camped at Jackson, Tennessee.
Robert “Bert” P. Sealy was born in the town Castle Cary, Somersetshire, England, on January 13, 1835 to Richard Sealy (born c. 1804 in South Welton, England) and Maria Louisa Champion Sealy (born c. 1803 in Wells, England). His family (including 2…

Robert Sealy to his father Richard Sealy written on August 17, 1862 from Jackson, Tennessee.
Robert “Bert” P. Sealy was born in the town Castle Cary, Somersetshire, England, on January 13, 1835 to Richard Sealy (born c. 1804 in South Welton, England) and Maria Louisa Champion Sealy (born c. 1803 in Wells, England). His family (including 2…

Robert Sealy to his mother Maria Louisa Champion Sealy and father Richard Sealy on June 28, 1864 from Etowah Bridge, Tennessee.
Robert “Bert” P. Sealy was born in the town Castle Cary, Somersetshire, England, on January 13, 1835 to Richard Sealy (born c. 1804 in South Welton, England) and Maria Louisa Champion Sealy (born c. 1803 in Wells, England). His family (including 2…

George Sealy to his father Richard Sealy from Wilderness, Tennessee on February 5, 1862.
George A. Sealy was born in the town Castle Cary, Somersetshire, England, May 11, 1841 to Richard Sealy (born c. 1804 in South Welton, England) and Maria Louisa Champion Sealy (born c. 1803 in Wells, England). His family (including 2 brothers & 1…

George Sealy to his father Richard Sealy written March 20, 1862 from Savannah, Tennessee. Letter is damaged, missing a portion of the paper.
George A. Sealy was born in the town Castle Cary, Somersetshire, England, May 11, 1841 to Richard Sealy (born c. 1804 in South Welton, England) and Maria Louisa Champion Sealy (born c. 1803 in Wells, England). His family (including 2 brothers & 1…

George Sealy to his mother Maria Louisa Champion Sealy on June 29, 1862.
George A. Sealy was born in the town Castle Cary, Somersetshire, England, May 11, 1841 to Richard Sealy (born c. 1804 in South Welton, England) and Maria Louisa Champion Sealy (born c. 1803 in Wells, England). His family (including 2 brothers & 1…

George Sealy to his sister Mary Ann Sealy Woodward written August 2, 1862 from Tennessee.
George A. Sealy was born in the town Castle Cary, Somersetshire, England, May 11, 1841 to Richard Sealy (born c. 1804 in South Welton, England) and Maria Louisa Champion Sealy (born c. 1803 in Wells, England). His family (including 2 brothers & 1…

George Sealy to his sister Mary Ann Sealy Woodward written December 9, 1862 from Oxford, Lafayette County, Mississippi.
George A. Sealy was born in the town Castle Cary, Somersetshire, England, May 11, 1841 to Richard Sealy (born c. 1804 in South Welton, England) and Maria Louisa Champion Sealy (born c. 1803 in Wells, England). His family (including 2 brothers & 1…

George Sealy to his father Richard Sealy written January 24, 1863 from Memphis, Tennessee.
George A. Sealy was born in the town Castle Cary, Somersetshire, England, May 11, 1841 to Richard Sealy (born c. 1804 in South Welton, England) and Maria Louisa Champion Sealy (born c. 1803 in Wells, England). His family (including 2 brothers & 1…

George Sealy to his Father Richard Sealy on February 10, 1863 from Memphis, Tennessee.
George A. Sealy was born in the town Castle Cary, Somersetshire, England, May 11, 1841 to Richard Sealy (born c. 1804 in South Welton, England) and Maria Louisa Champion Sealy (born c. 1803 in Wells, England). His family (including 2 brothers & 1…

George Sealy to his sister Mary Ann Sealy Woodward written February 17, 1863 from the Camp of the 45th Regiment of Illinois Volunteers in Memphis, Tennessee.
George A. Sealy was born in the town Castle Cary, Somersetshire, England, May 11, 1841 to Richard Sealy (born c. 1804 in South Welton, England) and Maria Louisa Champion Sealy (born c. 1803 in Wells, England). His family (including 2 brothers & 1…

George Sealy to his father Richard Sealy on March 30, 1863 written from Vista Plantation.
George A. Sealy was born in the town Castle Cary, Somersetshire, England, May 11, 1841 to Richard Sealy (born c. 1804 in South Welton, England) and Maria Louisa Champion Sealy (born c. 1803 in Wells, England). His family (including 2 brothers & 1…

George Sealy to his father Richard Sealy on July 5, 1863 from  Vicksburg, Mississippi.
George A. Sealy was born in the town Castle Cary, Somersetshire, England, May 11, 1841 to Richard Sealy (born c. 1804 in South Welton, England) and Maria Louisa Champion Sealy (born c. 1803 in Wells, England). His family (including 2 brothers & 1…

George Sealy to his father Richard Sealy on October 31, 1863 from Vicksburg, Mississippi.
George A. Sealy was born in the town Castle Cary, Somersetshire, England, May 11, 1841 to Richard Sealy (born c. 1804 in South Welton, England) and Maria Louisa Champion Sealy (born c. 1803 in Wells, England). His family (including 2 brothers & 1…

George Sealy to his father Richard Sealy written July 2, 1864 from near Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia.
George A. Sealy was born in the town Castle Cary, Somersetshire, England, May 11, 1841 to Richard Sealy (born c. 1804 in South Welton, England) and Maria Louisa Champion Sealy (born c. 1803 in Wells, England). His family (including 2 brothers & 1…

George Sealy to his mother Maria Louisa Champion Sealy written July 4, 1864 from Etowah Crossing, Georgia.
George A. Sealy was born in the town Castle Cary, Somersetshire, England, May 11, 1841 to Richard Sealy (born c. 1804 in South Welton, England) and Maria Louisa Champion Sealy (born c. 1803 in Wells, England). His family (including 2 brothers & 1…

George Sealy to his Father Richard Sealy written July 19, 1864 from Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia.
George A. Sealy was born in the town Castle Cary, Somersetshire, England, May 11, 1841 to Richard Sealy (born c. 1804 in South Welton, England) and Maria Louisa Champion Sealy (born c. 1803 in Wells, England). His family (including 2 brothers & 1…

George Sealy to his friend John at camp 18 miles above Vicksburg, Mississippi
George A. Sealy was born in the town Castle Cary, Somersetshire, England, May 11, 1841 to Richard Sealy (born c. 1804 in South Welton, England) and Maria Louisa Champion Sealy (born c. 1803 in Wells, England). His family (including 2 brothers & 1…

George Sealy to his sister Mary Ann Sealy Woodward written January 19 from Camp Defiance.
George A. Sealy was born in the town Castle Cary, Somersetshire, England, May 11, 1841 to Richard Sealy (born c. 1804 in South Welton, England) and Maria Louisa Champion Sealy (born c. 1803 in Wells, England). His family (including 2 brothers & 1…

Christopher T. Dunham to Sarah E. (Sadie) Cummings, written May 28, 1861 at Camp Mandin.
Christopher Theodore Dunham was born Sept 24, 1836 in Berkshire, Tioga County, NY. He moved to Freeport, Stephenson County, IL around 1856 and in 1860 was elected county surveyor. In the spring of 1861 he enlisted as a corporal in Capt. Atkin's…

Christopher T. Dunham to Sarah E. (Sadie) Cummings written June 6, 1861 at Camp Mandin.
Christopher Theodore Dunham was born Sept 24, 1836 in Berkshire, Tioga County, NY. He moved to Freeport, Stephenson County, IL around 1856 and in 1860 was elected county surveyor. In the spring of 1861 he enlisted as a corporal in Capt. Atkin's…

Christopher T. Dunham to Sarah E. (Sadie) Cummings written June 17, 1861.
Christopher Theodore Dunham was born Sept 24, 1836 in Berkshire, Tioga County, NY. He moved to Freeport, Stephenson County, IL around 1856 and in 1860 was elected county surveyor. In the spring of 1861 he enlisted as a corporal in Capt. Atkin's…

Christopher T. Dunham to Sarah E. (Sadie) Cummings, written  September 27, 1861 from Camp Lyon Birds Point, Missouri.
Christopher Theodore Dunham was born Sept 24, 1836 in Berkshire, Tioga County, NY. He moved to Freeport, Stephenson County, IL around 1856 and in 1860 was elected county surveyor. In the spring of 1861 he enlisted as a corporal in Capt. Atkin's…

Christopher T. Dunham to Sarah E. (Sadie) Cummings, written November 3, 1861 at Camp Lyon Birds Point, Missouri
Christopher Theodore Dunham was born Sept 24, 1836 in Berkshire, Tioga County, NY. He moved to Freeport, Stephenson County, IL around 1856 and in 1860 was elected county surveyor. In the spring of 1861 he enlisted as a corporal in Capt. Atkin's…

Christopher T. Dunham to Sarah E. (Sadie) Cummings, written October 18, 1862 at Covington, Kentucky.
Christopher Theodore Dunham was born Sept 24, 1836 in Berkshire, Tioga County, NY. He moved to Freeport, Stephenson County, IL around 1856 and in 1860 was elected county surveyor. In the spring of 1861 he enlisted as a corporal in Capt. Atkin's…

Christopher T. Dunham to wife Sara E. (Sadie) Cummings, written February 25, 1863 while camped near Nashville, Tennessee.
Christopher Theodore Dunham was born Sept 24, 1836 in Berkshire, Tioga County, NY. He moved to Freeport, Stephenson County, IL around 1856 and in 1860 was elected county surveyor. In the spring of 1861 he enlisted as a corporal in Capt. Atkin's…

Christopher T. Dunham to his mother, Mary Hess, written April 30, 1863 from the headquarters of the 3rd Division Army of Kentucky in Franklin, Tennessee.
Christopher Theodore Dunham was born Sept 24, 1836 in Berkshire, Tioga County, NY. He moved to Freeport, Stephenson County, IL around 1856 and in 1860 was elected county surveyor. In the spring of 1861 he enlisted as a corporal in Capt. Atkin's…

Christopher T. Dunham to his wife Sarah E. (Sadie) Cummings written May 9, 1863 from Franklin, Tennessee.
Christopher Theodore Dunham was born Sept 24, 1836 in Berkshire, Tioga County, NY. He moved to Freeport, Stephenson County, IL around 1856 and in 1860 was elected county surveyor. In the spring of 1861 he enlisted as a corporal in Capt. Atkin's…
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