Charles Sealy to his sister Mary Ann (Mate) Sealy Woodward, written May 21, 1863 at Camp Shaefer.
Title
Charles Sealy to his sister Mary Ann (Mate) Sealy Woodward, written May 21, 1863 at Camp Shaefer.
Description
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 Army during the American Civil War. Charles enlisted in Company G, 44th Regiment (a Winnebago County, Illinois Regiment of Volunteers, General Sheridan's Division) as a private. It is unknown whether he was ever promoted. He was captured during the Battle of Chickamauga and died as a P.O.W. in Andersonville Prison on June 10, 1864, Grave #1787 ( his name was misspelled Seely in the roster). Most of his letters were sent to his sister Mary Ann "Mate" Sealy (through 1861), Mary Ann "Mate" Woodward 1862 -1863. (Mary Ann married Amos Woodward.)
Creator
Charles Sealy
Date
May 21, 1863
Rights
Midway Village Museum
Format
jpeg
pdf
Identifier
2013.70.18
Text
2013.70.18
To Mary
Camp Shaefer
May 31st 1/63
Dear Sister
I Promised you in my last letter that I would to my Dairy [sic] and give you a week’s [dats] still earlier in the spring but as I feel this afternoon it will be almost impossible for me to do so as we have been so busey [sic] clearing our camp up our old shack and putting up new and I have just come off of 48 hours picket that this morning that I find that I have a seviere headache [sic] but I hope that I shall be free from it in the morning otherwise I am in good
Page 2
health the wether [sic] is just about as warm here as it is in Ills in the latter part of June we have had but little rain here for the past two weeks until yesterday and then we had quite a heavy thunder shower you have enquired [sic] who is our capt. His name is A. W. Clark of 12 mile Grove, 1st Lieut. S. B. Merchant, Uprights wifes Son 2nd Lieut E.P. Davis of Rockton so you see that we have a full compliment [sic] of company officers so you can disect [sic] my letters in case of the capt. after this please tell the Boys when you write that I will answer thier [sic] letters in a few days I ought to write them some time [ago] but I have put it off from time that I am now almost ashamed to write to them tell Mrs. [J.T.]
Page 3
if she wishes me to write her she must answer my last letter to her the articles that I recieved [sic] in the box are as follows a paper of black berries [sic] a paper of Prunes a paper of Strawberries a piece of the Maple sugar a fruit cake and a can of pickeled [sic] Tomatoes for which I am much oblidge [sic] and if there is any thing that I can do for you while I am in the army please write and let me know as I am almost blind with the headake [sic] pleas [sic] excuse this short letter give my love to all and oblige [sic] your
Loving Bro
Chas Sealy
To Mary
Camp Shaefer
May 31st 1/63
Dear Sister
I Promised you in my last letter that I would to my Dairy [sic] and give you a week’s [dats] still earlier in the spring but as I feel this afternoon it will be almost impossible for me to do so as we have been so busey [sic] clearing our camp up our old shack and putting up new and I have just come off of 48 hours picket that this morning that I find that I have a seviere headache [sic] but I hope that I shall be free from it in the morning otherwise I am in good
Page 2
health the wether [sic] is just about as warm here as it is in Ills in the latter part of June we have had but little rain here for the past two weeks until yesterday and then we had quite a heavy thunder shower you have enquired [sic] who is our capt. His name is A. W. Clark of 12 mile Grove, 1st Lieut. S. B. Merchant, Uprights wifes Son 2nd Lieut E.P. Davis of Rockton so you see that we have a full compliment [sic] of company officers so you can disect [sic] my letters in case of the capt. after this please tell the Boys when you write that I will answer thier [sic] letters in a few days I ought to write them some time [ago] but I have put it off from time that I am now almost ashamed to write to them tell Mrs. [J.T.]
Page 3
if she wishes me to write her she must answer my last letter to her the articles that I recieved [sic] in the box are as follows a paper of black berries [sic] a paper of Prunes a paper of Strawberries a piece of the Maple sugar a fruit cake and a can of pickeled [sic] Tomatoes for which I am much oblidge [sic] and if there is any thing that I can do for you while I am in the army please write and let me know as I am almost blind with the headake [sic] pleas [sic] excuse this short letter give my love to all and oblige [sic] your
Loving Bro
Chas Sealy
Original Format
Letter
Collection
Citation
Charles Sealy, “Charles Sealy to his sister Mary Ann (Mate) Sealy Woodward, written May 21, 1863 at Camp Shaefer.,” Midway Village Museum - Digital Collections, accessed April 25, 2024, https://midwayvillagemuseumdigitalcollections.omeka.net/items/show/16.