Ransom W. Towle Correspondence
Collection Overview
Ransom W. Towle of Rochester, Vt. enlisted as a Sergeant in Co. E, 4th Vermont Regiment, on August 24, 1861. He was wounded at Savage's Station, Va. on June 29, 1862. He re-enlisted on December 15, 1863 and was promoted to 1st Sergeant of Co. A....
Show moreRansom W. Towle of Rochester, Vt. enlisted as a Sergeant in Co. E, 4th Vermont Regiment, on August 24, 1861. He was wounded at Savage's Station, Va. on June 29, 1862. He re-enlisted on December 15, 1863 and was promoted to 1st Sergeant of Co. A. On May 17, 1864, he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in Co. A. He was wounded and taken prisoner at Weldon Railroad, Va. on June 23, 1864 but subsequently escaped. On September 19, 1864 he was killed in action at Winchester, Va. Thomas N. Flanders of Braintree, Vt. enlisted as a Private in Co. G., 8th Vermont Regiment on November 30, 1861. He was taken prisoner on September 4, 1862 at Bayou des Allemands, La. and was paroled on November 13, 1862. On January 5, 1864 he re-enlisted. He was promoted to Corporal on July 1, 1864, to Sergeant on April 12, 1865, and was mustered out of the service on June 28, 1865. Towle's letters include accounts of his responsibilities within the regiment, foraging for food, the cold weather, his stay at Camp Griffen, and requests for provisions.
Show less
(1 - 20 of 26)
Pages
- Title
- Letter to Rufus and Sebra Towle
- Description
-
December 7, 1861. Topics include Ransom W. Towle's responsibilities in the regiment, discipline if duties not carried out, foraging for food, marching in preparation to join an attack, request for newspapers and the location of the camp.
- Title
- Letter to Rufus and Sebra Towle
- Description
-
From Camp Griffen, Va. Topics include the health of the regiment (measles, Typhoid fever), requests for food, tea, clothing and the cold weather.
- Title
- Letter to Rufus and Sebra Towle
- Description
-
December 29, 1861. Topics include the health of the regiment in the cold weather (rheumatism, boils, homesickness), camp inspection, lack of presence of Chaplain except at religious services, and the prospect of battle.
- Title
- Ransom W. Towle to [Family and Friends]
- Description
-
Towle writes from the field near Richmond, Va on heavy firing between Union gun boats on James River and Fort Darlin, an exchange of fire with the enemy, the seemingly deterioration of Gen. McClellan's appearance and the arrest of Colonel Stoughton for not turning out with his regiment to in line...
Show moreTowle writes from the field near Richmond, Va on heavy firing between Union gun boats on James River and Fort Darlin, an exchange of fire with the enemy, the seemingly deterioration of Gen. McClellan's appearance and the arrest of Colonel Stoughton for not turning out with his regiment to in line of battle.
Show less
- Title
- Ransom W. Towle to [Family and Friends]
- Description
-
Writing from the field topics include cleaning up the streets of Richmond, Va., Rebel and Union pickets conversing and trading bread and whiskey, the hot weather causing Sun Stroke, and building bridges and shoring up roads to ease the difficulty of moving the heavy artillery on the soft roads.
- Title
- Ransom W. Towle to [Family and Friends]
- Description
-
Writing from in the field near Richmond, Va. topics include a detailed description of Company E at Lees Mills and speaks well of officers (Pingree, Terry). He criticizes a fellow soldier for shirking duty and writes of fighting of the the union and rebel batteries.
- Title
- Ransom W. Towle to [Family and Friends]
- Description
-
Writing seven miles from Richmond topics include packing up camp and marching at 10pm, a terrible rain storm that soaked the men, of sick soldiers including Towle.
- Title
- Ransom W. Towle to Family
- Description
-
Towle writes in some detail of the hardships of and the way foraging expeditions are conducted, of the cold weather, of rumors of a recall of Vermont troops and of news from home.
- Title
- Ransom W. Towle to Family
- Description
-
Towle writes from his Virginia camp to his parents and sister on the mud while out on picket duty, fearfulness of some of the soldiers, list of items to send from home including a reference to his much needed new boots, sickness and deaths in the Regiment, and news of the Rochester boys.
- Title
- Ransom W. Towle to Family and Friends
- Description
-
Towle writes to parents and friends from Camp Griffin in Virginia about foraging for wood by tearing down fences, desolation of the countryside due to the war, Southerners pretending Union sympathies so as to not be driven from their homes, of the mud, and of making a pipe for smoking from the...
Show moreTowle writes to parents and friends from Camp Griffin in Virginia about foraging for wood by tearing down fences, desolation of the countryside due to the war, Southerners pretending Union sympathies so as to not be driven from their homes, of the mud, and of making a pipe for smoking from the root of a Laurel tree.
Show less
- Title
- Ransom W. Towle to Family and Friends
- Description
-
Towle writes of missing his newspaper and his wish to remain informed on both foreign and army news and of some of the men's morale writing home about the hardships of war and a desire to see it end. He writes of Col. Stoughton resignation, of officers' wives attending the camp's religious...
Show moreTowle writes of missing his newspaper and his wish to remain informed on both foreign and army news and of some of the men's morale writing home about the hardships of war and a desire to see it end. He writes of Col. Stoughton resignation, of officers' wives attending the camp's religious service and how the service differs from the traditional church worship.
Show less
- Title
- Ransom W. Towle to Friends
- Description
-
Topics include Towle’s sickness Saturday night, of illness and death within the company and regiment, praise for officer Lieut. Pingree, reference to rumor of the capture of Savannah (does he refer to Georgia?), and a brief reference to the possible firing of guns at Fort Ethan Allen for some...
Show moreTopics include Towle’s sickness Saturday night, of illness and death within the company and regiment, praise for officer Lieut. Pingree, reference to rumor of the capture of Savannah (does he refer to Georgia?), and a brief reference to the possible firing of guns at Fort Ethan Allen for some victory somewhere.
Show less
- Title
- Ransom W. Towle to Friends
- Description
-
Writing from his Virgina camp Griffin, Towle gives a description of a Battalion Drill and the ill health effects on the soldiers, of a gale storm damaging tents and overturning an ambulance with a sick soldier inside. He writes of orders from General McClellan to be ready to move, and states men...
Show moreWriting from his Virgina camp Griffin, Towle gives a description of a Battalion Drill and the ill health effects on the soldiers, of a gale storm damaging tents and overturning an ambulance with a sick soldier inside. He writes of orders from General McClellan to be ready to move, and states men are sick and death count to date for his regiment is 66.
Show less
- Title
- Ransom W. Towle to Friends
- Description
-
From his camp near Alexandria, Virginia Towle writes of the rainy weather, muddy conditions, sleeping conditions wet and tents inadequate for keeping the soldiers dry and of the number of troops camped out in the area. Towle makes a brief reference to his father’s misfortunes [ill health?].
- Title
- Ransom W. Towle to Friends
- Description
-
Writing seven miles from Richmond, Virginia topics include the mention of the Chickahominy River, a prediction of a battle and a description of skirmishes.
- Title
- Ransom W. Towle to Friends
- Description
-
From Camp Griffin, Towle writes of a brigade and bayonet drill, the increasing number of sick men with the death count for the regiment at 77, and of the monotony of camp life.
- Title
- Ransom W. Towle to Parents and Friends
- Description
-
Topics include Towle’s not receiving wages, the high prices of food, poverty in camp, the destruction of the countryside by the Rebels, how the Union soldiers are forbidden to even touch any property, the movement of the regiment in Virginia, and the attitude of the slaves towards the Yankees.
- Title
- Ransom W. Towle to Rufus and Sebra Towle
- Description
-
Towle responds to his parents' letter that expresses low morale at home, financial difficulties at home and Towle encourages the doing without luxuries on the home front as much as possible. He writes of a 30 hour picket trip, the capture of rebel two scouts, drills being only two a day and of a...
Show moreTowle responds to his parents' letter that expresses low morale at home, financial difficulties at home and Towle encourages the doing without luxuries on the home front as much as possible. He writes of a 30 hour picket trip, the capture of rebel two scouts, drills being only two a day and of a self inflicted wounding of a Union soldier requiring amputation of the wounded soldier's leg.
Show less
- Title
- Ransom W. Towle to Rufus and Sebra Towle
- Description
-
A brief letter to his parents from Camp Griffin in Virginia of marching orders with three days rations and the hope to encounter the Rebels. He makes a brief reference to Brigade surgeon Dr. Phelps. Towle expresses his dismay that the troops in the west are fighting and gaining glory while the...
Show moreA brief letter to his parents from Camp Griffin in Virginia of marching orders with three days rations and the hope to encounter the Rebels. He makes a brief reference to Brigade surgeon Dr. Phelps. Towle expresses his dismay that the troops in the west are fighting and gaining glory while the army of the Potomac lays idle.
Show less
- Title
- Ransom W. Towle to Rufus and Sebra Towle
- Description
-
Towle writes of orders received to march on Richmond, Virginia and of his many camp duties. He writes of soldiers letters being detained and of their camp being fired upon by the Rebels. No harm done.