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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC03523.49.04 |
| From Archive Folder | Collection of Diton Phelps, F company, 6th regiment, Pennsylvania, infantry |
| Title | Diton Phelps to Edith M. Phelps, describing an impending battle planned by General Scott |
| Date | 11 August 1861 |
| Author | Phelps, Diton (fl. 1861-1864) |
| Recipient | Edith M. Phelps |
| Document Type | Correspondence |
| Content Description | Writes to his sister from Camp Gibson. Says that they are placing a masked battery about a mile from camp. Writes that they are clearing an area of trees that is about a mile in width. Says that 14 men out of his company were chopping down trees yesterday and today. Reports that they are about nine miles from Fairfax Court House where there is a rebel camp. They have picket guards in place between them and the rebel camp with the bridge being heavily guarded. Describes an impending battle that General [Winfield] Scott is planning. He is preparing a masked battery to relieve the picket guards from the bridge and allowing the Confederates to cross. The battle is expected to be near the camp which is about nine miles from Washington, up the Potomac River. Comments that he and the boys are anxious to engage the enemy. Speaks of another man named Eugene and his regiment arriving to camp. Says that Eugene and his regiment had a little skirmish in Piedmont, Virginia where they killed eight Virginian horsemen. Writes of camp life and how they have some "mean" men. Tells of an incident involving a slave and a few of the men. A slave was sent into town to sell some apples for his master when their men ran into the slave. They grabbed the bag of apples and dumped them out and ate them all. Written on paper depicting the capitol and the words, "UNITED STATES CAPITOL." |
| Subjects | Civil War Military History Union Forces Soldier's Letter Union Soldier's Letter Fortification Military Camp Artillery Confederate States of America Battle Infrastructure Death Cavalry Slavery African American History Commerce Diet and Nutrition Wartime Pillaging and Destruction Washington, D.C. Architecture Patriotism Stationery Union General |
| People | Phelps, Diton (fl. 1861-1864) Phelps, Edith M. (fl. 1861) |
| Place written | Washington, D.C. |
| Theme | The American Civil War; African Americans; Merchants & Commerce |
| Sub-collection | Papers and Images of the American Civil War |
| Additional Information | Diton Phelps enlisted as a private on 15 May 1861. He mustered into "F" Co. PA 35th Infantry. He was mustered out on 11 June 1864 at Harrisburg, PA. |
| Copyright | The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History |
| Module | Civil War, Reconstruction and the Modern Era: 1860-1945 |
| Civil War: Recipient Relationship | Sister |
| Civil War: Unit | 6th Regiment, Pennsylvania, infantry, F company, |