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.
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(1 - 4 of 4)
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- Ransom W. Towle to [Family and Friends]
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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.
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- Ransom W. Towle to [Family and Friends]
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Towle's regiment pursues the Rebels after finding their hasty departure from their camps. The men marched to the enemy's strong holds at Williamsburg, Virginia including Fort Magruder and a battle was fought. Killed and wounded reported. Soldiers had to endure heavy rain and muddy conditions....
Show moreTowle's regiment pursues the Rebels after finding their hasty departure from their camps. The men marched to the enemy's strong holds at Williamsburg, Virginia including Fort Magruder and a battle was fought. Killed and wounded reported. Soldiers had to endure heavy rain and muddy conditions. Some men did reconnaissance.
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- Ransom W. Towle to [Family and Friends]
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Still in the field near Richmond, Va topics include the Battle of Richmond being fought since May 31, soldiers wounded and killed by Rebel fire, shell fire by the Rebels, balloon reconnaissance.
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- Ransom W. Towle to Sister and Friends
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Camping in the field near Richmond topics include the weather in Virginia with food crops growing well in the hot temperatures, pickets conversing and trading papers, coffee, whiskey, fighting resulting in losses, reference to Rifle Pits, preparations for the Battle of Richmond, sickness among...
Show moreCamping in the field near Richmond topics include the weather in Virginia with food crops growing well in the hot temperatures, pickets conversing and trading papers, coffee, whiskey, fighting resulting in losses, reference to Rifle Pits, preparations for the Battle of Richmond, sickness among the soldiers.
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