George Sealy to his sister Mary Ann Sealy Woodward written August 2, 1862 from Tennessee.

2013.70.64 - front color.jpg
2013.70.64 - inside color.jpg

Title

George Sealy to his sister Mary Ann Sealy Woodward written August 2, 1862 from Tennessee.

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

August 2, 1862

Rights

Midway Village Museum

Format

jpeg
pdf

Identifier

2013.70.64

Text

2013.70.64
[Toons] Station Tenn Aug 17/62
Dear Sister
Another week [sic] has gone and still no word or letter from home what is the reason have you all forgotten me or has thare [sic] something happened that you do not write to me it is most three weeks since I receved [sic] A letter frome [sic] home and begin to think that I am not going to get any last moday [sic] we wer [sic] ordered from jackson [sic] to guard rail rode [sic] and came about twenty eight miles from jackson [sic] south and have been hear [sic] most A week and shall probbelly [sic] go back this week bob is not with us as he has his business to attend to
Page 2
at jackson [sic] we have had the order rcd to us to take slaves to do our cooking and other work and to confiscate Rebbel [sic] property we are aloud [sic] four blacks to A company we begin to think that the preasident [sic] is in earnest now that he has called for so many more troops and by the time that they git [sic] redy [sic] for the field we shall be redy [sic] for action and I do not think it will take long to wind up this war when they git [sic] so that they can cary [sic] it on without being afraid of hurting the dear little Rebble [sic] whitch [sic] they have been so afraid of doing hear [sic] to fore will Wenebago [sic] Co furnish her full quota without drafting by the accounts that we hear they will not have to draft any in Ill I hope not
Page 3
as I should like to have her troops all volinteer [sic] I am sory [sic] to hear that thare [sic] is some contemptable [sic] cowards that tried to desert thare [sic] cuntry [sic] such men are not fit to live I wish that Hurbut had enlisted we get all the fruit that we want and some times more as we eat untill [sic] we can eat no more I am in first rate helth [sic] and geting [sic] fat every day I got a letter from Charley day before yesterday he does not like throwing up brest [sic] works very much he complanes [sic] of not hearing from home very often has mother got well yet I hope so give her and father my love and the same to you and all the rest of the good folks and beleave [sic] me as ever your loving brother
George

Original Format

Letter

Citation

George Sealy, “George Sealy to his sister Mary Ann Sealy Woodward written August 2, 1862 from Tennessee.,” Midway Village Museum - Digital Collections, accessed March 29, 2024, https://midwayvillagemuseumdigitalcollections.omeka.net/items/show/55.