George Sealy to his sister Mary Ann Sealy Woodward written January 19 from Camp Defiance.
Title
George Sealy to his sister Mary Ann Sealy Woodward written January 19 from Camp Defiance.
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.
Rights
Midway Village Museum
Format
jpeg
pdf
Identifier
2013.70.70a
Text
2013.70.70a
Camp Defiance Jan 19
Dear Sister
We left camp Duglas [sic] last Wednesday and arrived in Cairo thursday night the snow was six or eight inches deep in Chicago and thare [sic] was not any hear [sic] it rained all day yesterday hear [sic] and the mud is anckl [sic] deep all over the town it is allmost to [sic] warm for [Campart] hear [sic] to day it begins to look some like war hear [sic] now there is three camps in sight of one another one hear [sic] one on the Kentucky side and one on the Moesury [sic] side and cannons pointed to the river at each place
Page 2
so that it is an imposable [sic] thing for a boat to come up or down either river without being bloone [sic] out of the water if they are enemys [sic] the town is full of cesesh and stand gard [sic] with loded [sic] guns now thare [sic] was another Regiment came hear [sic] the night after we did the 8th Wisconsin Frank Whisner is in it I have seen him one of thare [sic] men went in a seloon [sic] hear [sic] and got som [sic] Whiskey and it was poisened and he is to be burried [sic] to day and [two] of the boys in our Regament [sic] got in a fight cesesh and Shot one of them through the thumb and the other one shot him and kiled [sic] him so you see that it begins to look like war
Page 3
We have got prity [sic] good qurters [sic] but it is so mudy [sic] that thare [sic] is about an inch of mud on the flore [sic] all the time I dont know how long we shall stay hear [sic] but hope not long I want to see some action I am very well and so is bob I have been on the [JE and M] shore as you see that I was in three states in one day We expect the north Western Regiment hear [sic] and I may see Charlie I am on gard [sic] to day and have not got A very nise [sic] place to write so good by for now give love to father and mother and I am your affectionate brother
George
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P S I forgot to tell you that thare [sic] is seven gun boats hear [sic] all most redy [sic] to go down the river and they look savage I can tell you Direct to the [Lead Mine] 45th Regament Cairo Ill care of capt Sealy and the letter will follow us whare [sic] ever we go Write us soon as you can for I shall not get letters from home very often I will write to you once a weak [sic]
George
Camp Defiance Jan 19
Dear Sister
We left camp Duglas [sic] last Wednesday and arrived in Cairo thursday night the snow was six or eight inches deep in Chicago and thare [sic] was not any hear [sic] it rained all day yesterday hear [sic] and the mud is anckl [sic] deep all over the town it is allmost to [sic] warm for [Campart] hear [sic] to day it begins to look some like war hear [sic] now there is three camps in sight of one another one hear [sic] one on the Kentucky side and one on the Moesury [sic] side and cannons pointed to the river at each place
Page 2
so that it is an imposable [sic] thing for a boat to come up or down either river without being bloone [sic] out of the water if they are enemys [sic] the town is full of cesesh and stand gard [sic] with loded [sic] guns now thare [sic] was another Regiment came hear [sic] the night after we did the 8th Wisconsin Frank Whisner is in it I have seen him one of thare [sic] men went in a seloon [sic] hear [sic] and got som [sic] Whiskey and it was poisened and he is to be burried [sic] to day and [two] of the boys in our Regament [sic] got in a fight cesesh and Shot one of them through the thumb and the other one shot him and kiled [sic] him so you see that it begins to look like war
Page 3
We have got prity [sic] good qurters [sic] but it is so mudy [sic] that thare [sic] is about an inch of mud on the flore [sic] all the time I dont know how long we shall stay hear [sic] but hope not long I want to see some action I am very well and so is bob I have been on the [JE and M] shore as you see that I was in three states in one day We expect the north Western Regiment hear [sic] and I may see Charlie I am on gard [sic] to day and have not got A very nise [sic] place to write so good by for now give love to father and mother and I am your affectionate brother
George
Page 4
P S I forgot to tell you that thare [sic] is seven gun boats hear [sic] all most redy [sic] to go down the river and they look savage I can tell you Direct to the [Lead Mine] 45th Regament Cairo Ill care of capt Sealy and the letter will follow us whare [sic] ever we go Write us soon as you can for I shall not get letters from home very often I will write to you once a weak [sic]
George
Original Format
Letter
Collection
Citation
“George Sealy to his sister Mary Ann Sealy Woodward written January 19 from Camp Defiance.,” Midway Village Museum - Digital Collections, accessed April 18, 2024, https://midwayvillagemuseumdigitalcollections.omeka.net/items/show/59.