George Sealy to his father Richard Sealy from Wilderness, Tennessee on February 5, 1862.
Title
George Sealy to his father Richard Sealy from Wilderness, Tennessee on February 5, 1862.
Description
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 sister) moved to Rochester, New York around 1843. They later moved to Geneva, NY and final settled in Rockford, IL in 1855. He and his 2 brothers served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. George (along with brother Robert) served in Company G, 45th Illinois Volunteers. He enlisted September 17, 1861 as a private and was later promoted to sergeant by his brother Robert. He was involved in both the siege and the occupation of Vicksburg, and was mustered out July 12, 1865. He married twice. His first wife was Jennie A. Paxson, who died of consumption at age 33 May 4, 1876. His second wife was Fannie E. Zimmerman (died in 1908), whom he married August 5, 1877 in Winnebago County. After the war, George worked for Emerson, Talcott and Co. in Rockford, acting as their superintendent. Upon leaving Talcott Emerson in 1896 he spent a short while working for Henry Sears Cutlery in Chicago before retiring the next year and moving to San Jose, CA. It was there he passed in November 15, 1909 suddenly, while dancing at a social gathering.
Creator
George Sealy
Date
February 5, 1862
Rights
Midway Village Museum
Format
jpeg
pdf
Type
Text
Identifier
2013.70.59
Text
2013.70.59
Willderness [sic] Tenn Feb 5/62
you will see by this that we have got in new quarters and in the rebble [sic] land satturday[sic] night at about nine O clock we had orders to prepare for a march on sunday and at about three O clock we went on A boat and staid [sic] on the boat till munday [sic] till noon and then started for up the river and arrived hear [sic] about four miles below fort Henry and expect to attact [sic] it at any time they have been firing guns from the gun boats all day to day some of our advance
Page 2
pickets had A little scermish [sic] and killed three or four of thare [sic] men and they killed one of our men and three or four of our horses I sleppt[sic] out dorse[sic] last night for the first time in my life but we have got our tents up now but the grass is green hear [sic] in the woods I have got interly [sic] well and feel better than ever we live interly [sic] on see buiscuit [sic] and myer [sic] bacon thare [sic] is a house in sight of us that the man that ones [sic] it is a capttain [sic] in the Rebble [sic] army and has got two suns [sic] with him but the Oficers [sic] will not lett [sic] us take any of the chickens or any thing elce[sic] two of the boys
Page 3
killed a pig and have got to go on [extry] duty for three days and have two dollars and A half taken out of ther[sic] pay on pay day so that they had to [dear] for it we shall probely [sic] see fight before you hear from me again but I hope to go thrugh [sic] it safe when you write to me direct to Cairo the same as before give my love to mother and all the rest and I remane [sic] as ever your affectionate sun [sic]
George
Willderness [sic] Tenn Feb 5/62
you will see by this that we have got in new quarters and in the rebble [sic] land satturday[sic] night at about nine O clock we had orders to prepare for a march on sunday and at about three O clock we went on A boat and staid [sic] on the boat till munday [sic] till noon and then started for up the river and arrived hear [sic] about four miles below fort Henry and expect to attact [sic] it at any time they have been firing guns from the gun boats all day to day some of our advance
Page 2
pickets had A little scermish [sic] and killed three or four of thare [sic] men and they killed one of our men and three or four of our horses I sleppt[sic] out dorse[sic] last night for the first time in my life but we have got our tents up now but the grass is green hear [sic] in the woods I have got interly [sic] well and feel better than ever we live interly [sic] on see buiscuit [sic] and myer [sic] bacon thare [sic] is a house in sight of us that the man that ones [sic] it is a capttain [sic] in the Rebble [sic] army and has got two suns [sic] with him but the Oficers [sic] will not lett [sic] us take any of the chickens or any thing elce[sic] two of the boys
Page 3
killed a pig and have got to go on [extry] duty for three days and have two dollars and A half taken out of ther[sic] pay on pay day so that they had to [dear] for it we shall probely [sic] see fight before you hear from me again but I hope to go thrugh [sic] it safe when you write to me direct to Cairo the same as before give my love to mother and all the rest and I remane [sic] as ever your affectionate sun [sic]
George
Collection
Citation
George Sealy, “George Sealy to his father Richard Sealy from Wilderness, Tennessee on February 5, 1862.,” Midway Village Museum - Digital Collections, accessed April 19, 2024, https://midwayvillagemuseumdigitalcollections.omeka.net/items/show/50.