American Historical Ephemera & Photography, Featuring Property from the James Milgram, M.D., Collection of Broadsides, Ephemeral Americana & Historical Documents

Joe C. Tomlinson, Co. E, 62nd Ohio Infantry, Osborn's Brigade, Ferry's Division. Address to his brother and sister, 15 February 1863, Island of St. Helena. Tomlinson's letter describes the situation upon arriving at the island, and reflects the racism that was often present amongst northern soldiers, even those who believed in emancipation: "The Island is divided into very large slave plantations, and the owners all ran away and joined the Rebel army or went somewhere else and left their slaves here. And the expedition to which we belong was the first to land on the Island, and the boys just more than 'went for things' such as pigs, chickens, ducks, turkeys, and various other things all left in the care of the slaves referred to. There were so many of the Niggers that it almost caused a young war among them and our troops. Finally, guards were put around the camps with very strict instructions, and hence the reason I cannot roam at will... But just now, I think of it, I forgot to tell you one thing about the Niggers on this Island. Guns have been given to a great many of them with orders to shoot any white soldier that offers to molest them or their property. Bill, I just tell you that this won't win.... Tonight I would rather receive the intelligence that Jeff Davis was the supreme ruler of the land than that every nigger in the South as well as the North had the unlimited freedom of going where he pleases in any of the states. To stay as long as he pleases and have all the privileges of the whites. I do not want them to be held as slaves. I say make them free and send them away. I don't care where to."

[With:] William H. Leslie, Co. B, 11th Massachusetts Infantry, 21 March 1862, to his uncle, Budds Ferry [MD], primarily describing difficulties of a soldier's life but with brief description of how African Americans were used as a cruel form of entertainment for soldiers: "We have a lot of niggers here and we amuse ourselves by setting them to butting their heads together. They butt like two rams." -- Mark Langdon Elwell, 4th Maine Battery, writing on 2 May 1865 from City Point, VA, to his friend in Maine, relaying a portion of his experiences guarding a "Union house full of girls" three weeks prior, including description of "Negro" women with whom soldiers engaged in sexual activity. -- Watson H. Anderson, Co. K, Ohio 102nd Infantry, 18 September 1862, to his family from 'Camp Potato Patch," a new soldier's letter describing his first weeks in the service, with a brief reference to the hard labor of a regiment of African Americans stationed nearby, noting" "This forenoon I was on duty digging in the entrenchments. Although there is a reg. of negroes around here some place (at least I saw one marching through camp the other day) for that purpose & for cutting down trees, etc. They can't do everything. The officers had to dig with the rest."