The full content of this document is only available to subscribing institutions. More information can be found via www.amdigital.co.uk

Collection Reference Number GLC02161.077
From Archive Folder Collection of Orville S. Dewey 
Title Orville S. Dewey to his father detailing how William died
Date 12 April 1863
Author Dewey, Orville S. (1861-1902)  
Recipient Dewey, Norman R.  
Document Type Correspondence
Content Description He gives him detail as to how William died. He says he cannot allow himself to mourn and thinks of his death as a warning.
Subjects Soldier's Letter  Military History  Civil War  Union Forces  Union Soldier's Letter  Death  
People Dewey, Orville (fl. 1852-1901)  
Place written Camp Barry, Washington, D.C.
Theme The American Civil War; Children & Family; Health & Medicine
Sub-collection Papers and Images of the American Civil War
Additional Information Nicknamed "Tom" by his family and coming from Buffalo, Dewey served in the army of the Potomac, primarily in Washington at an instructional camp. Many of the letters are addressed to his sister Mary "Mollie" McLean. Dewey stayed in the Army after the war and died of yellow fever in New Orleans during an epidemic only 5 months after re-enlisting in 1867. The collection includes mention of the Petersburg campaign (1864), and includes a carte de visite (unsigned) of Colonel J.P. Gould, who led the 54th Mass. (Colored) Regt., and of his commander William Brewster. Partial inventory available. Organization: 1) letters 1861-1862 Penninsula campaign, 2) letters 1863 (instructional camp, Pennsylvania), 3) letters 1864 Grant's Petersburg campaign, 4) postwar letters 1865, 1867, 1869 (including 5/26/1867 ALS from Texas mentioning Custer), 5) miscellaneous: 2 cartes de visite with 1/23/1861 ALS and 3/27/1864 ALS with lock of hair, 6) documents relating to his commissioning and re-enlistment, and the death of his brother-in-law William McLean, member of Custer's 5th Cavalry, 7) Dewey family papers, including deeds and some letters, 8) Dewey's diary for 1864, with small photos of commanders pasted into front pastedown. Includes 176 letters, 4 certificates, 1 telegram, 1 diary, 1 page of calculations, 37 envelopes, 3 carte de visites and 1 lock of hair.
Copyright The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Module Civil War, Reconstruction and the Modern Era: 1860-1945
Civil War: Recipient Relationship Father  
Civil War: Theater of War Main Eastern Theater  
Civil War: Unit 27th New York Volunteer Battery