Compiled service records of 8th Penna Reserves Infantry at https://archive.org/stream/compiledrecordss0169unit#page/n1479/mode/2up.

Compiled service records of 85th Penna Infantry from NA microfilm online at https://archive.org/stream/compiledrecordss0177unit#page/n333/mode/2up.

Compiled service records for the 140th Penna Infantry from NA microfilm collection online at https://archive.org/stream/compiledrecordss0182unit#page/n7/mode/2up.

Compiled service records for Ringgold Cavalry are online from National Archives at
https://archive.org/stream/compiledrecordss0167unit#page/n741/mode/2up

Letters of Albert Mildred, Company I, 8th Pennsylvania Reserves Infantry Regiment

        Albert Mildred was the son of Charles Hart Mildred and Nancy Botkins Mildred.  His sister, Mary, was married to William Silveus, who enlisted in Company I of the Eighth Pennsylvania Reserves in August 1862.  Albert  enlisted and was mustered into Company I on June 20, 1861.  He served throughout the war until the Eighth Pennsylvania was mustered out on May 24, 1864:

   
                                    “Camp Tenley Aug 28th 1861

Dear Mother

It is with great pleasure that I seat myself to answer your letter which came to hand in due time in which i was glad to hear from you that you was well and hope that this will still find you enjoying the same good blessings I received your letter day before yesterday and would have answered it sooner but we had to go out on picket guard and did not get back last night at dusk the place where we was stationed was about 4 miles from our camp I put the night in scouting as there was a scouting party sent out and I was picked as one of the party we met with no adventures however as we could get no Prisoners Our officers place a good deal of Confidence in me as they generally pick on me to undertake anything that way we are expecting marching orders any minute as the order was last night to hold ourselves in readiness to march at a minutes warning So we have our provisions cooked and all ready to march where we will have to go I do not know but I think that we will have to cross the chain bridge over into Virginia as I expect we will have a small brush over there Harris Smith is still at the Hospital the boys say that he is well enough but I suppose that he will have no fighting to do while he is there I suppose that Nelson Thomas told plenty of lies by what Mrs. Watson wrote to Will but you need not believe a word he says as he was the worst man in our whole company and was dishonorably discharged on account of his bad conduct we have a nice place to incamp here we have everything that is good to eat Harpers company is here David Rhinehart was here last night as the Asa Leonard is well he wants you when you write to let me know how Asa folks are getting along and then I want them to let me know how my folks are getting along so we can hear how you all are tell Jess Fordyce that I want him to write to me but I must bring my letter to a close tell all of them that I want them to write give my love to all and receive a share from your ever loving son

 

A. Mildred

 

Please write as soon as you receive this and give me all the news

Direct yours to A Mildred company I 8^th Reg Pa Res Corps in care of Capt. SM Bailey

 

                                                                                                            Nancy Mildred

 
 
                                 Camp Pierpont Feb 18th 1862

Dear mother

Your letter came to hand last evening by which I was truly glad to hear from you that you was well this finds me in good health and I hope that it may find you enjoying the same good blessing. You said that you did not get any letters from me I do not know what is the reason as I am always being punctual in answering them I was sorry to hear of Libs ill health and of her grieving after Jo but I think when she gets the news we have here it will make her heart leape for joy Oh the soldiers are in such good spirits as we have such glorious news Within the last few weeks we have gained glorious victories. We have taken forts cities and some 25,000 prisoners besides some of their head generals. Even now their fate is sealed before two months the flag of the union will be waving over every rampart of the Southern Confederacy and then how happy will be our meeting husbands will be restored to their weeping wives sons to their fond parents and parents to their children and how happy will each one feel one to know that he has done his duty as a soldier to his country and the others proud to have such husbands and sons and brothers. Well mother I am glad to hear that you had got the money safe it will not be very long until we get paid again and then I will send you some more now I will try and give you some of the news about camp well we have been laying about camp all winter doing nothing except occasionally standing piquet which comes on our company about one every 15 days I was on camp guard night before last It is very bad underfoot now as there is a sleet underfoot which makes it very bad walking but while writing I hear the booming of cannon and the cheering of men I suppose we have heard more good news but I do not know what it is well mother I must bring my letter to a close as I believe I have given you all the news but I want you to answer this letter immediately and give my respects to all relations tell tell [sic] William to write also Martha tell Mary and Lib I would like to hear from them I want you to tell me what has become of Nancy as I have written her several letters and have never received any answer but I must close my respects to all friends no more but remain your affectionate son

Albert Mildred

PS write immediately and give me all the news. Farewell”

 

 

 

 

 

Emanuel Patterson, Co. D, 6th USCT

I found some interesting material on the only Black resident from Greene County identified by Samuel Bates as being killed in action in the Civil War.  Bates identifies the man as Emanuel Patterson, Company D, 6^th United States Colored Troops Regiment.  Patterson was mustered into the service on July 16, 1863, and was killed at New Market Heights, Virginia, on September 29, 1864.  Company D suffered 87% casualties in the charge made by the 6^th USCT that day.  The Captain of Company D, John McMurray described the terrible action in a memoir he published after the war.  In that memoir, he relates the circumstances surrounding the death of Emanuel Patterson.  The matter is discussed in a book by Noah Andre Trudeau, “Like Men of War:  Black Troops in the Civil War 1862-1865” (Castle Books, 2002), pp. 286-289.  On the morning of the battle, McMurray noticed that Patterson was looking ill and he sent him to the regimental surgeon.  The surgeon pronounced Patterson fit for duty, and McMurray noticed him in the ranks when the 6^th USCT began its charge against Confederate entrenchments at New Market Heights.  McMurray later found Patterson dying on the field from a severe wound to the abdomen.  McMurray stated that he never forgave himself for not having Patterson relieved from duty that day.  My research continues.   

Pennsylvania Civil War Era Newspapers Online from Penn State University Library

A valuable resource for research on Pennsylvania Civil War history are the Pennsylvania Civil War newspapers available online courtesy of the Pennsylvania State University Library.  There are newspapers available from all the major cities--Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, etc.  In addition, there are newspapers from several smaller towns and counties throughout the Commonwealth.  I have used this collection extensively, and I believe it is one of the best research tools on the internet.  I only wish that the collection included newspapers from Washington County and Fayette County.  I understand, however, that this is an ongoing project, so I hope someday to see these two counties represented in the files.  Papers available date from 1831 to the 1870s.  The site has a nice search engine, and anyone can use it with ease to search the collection.  I have included a link that leads to the collection on this blog.