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The Civil War Letters of William Beynon Phillips

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A summary of the 1864 letters in the collection

Date From To

Contents
2/9/1864 Wm Phillips Thomas Richards Requests personal item be sent to Washington, staying at Pennsylvania Hotel in Washington while serving as defense witness at Col. Augustus A. Gibson's court marshal. 
3/4/1864 Wm Phillips Annie Richards Leaves unit, takes civilian job at 22nd Army Corps headquarters with significant increase in pay.
3/10/1864 Wm Phillips Margaret Richards Describes life of leisure working as a civilian in Washington for military department, attends Sanitary Fair at Patent Office, influx of recruits raise optimism in Washington..
4/18/1864 Wm Phillips Annie Richards Anticipates spring campaign against Rebels, expresses political views on war aims, visits site where Colonel Ellsworth was "murdered" in Alexandria.
4/29/1864 Wm Phillips Annie Richards Rejoins unit and becomes 1st Lieutenant in Company M of the "Provisional" 2nd PA Heavy Artillery, assigned to Burnside's IX Corps, guarding trains in Virginia, witnesses execution of soldier for desertion.    
5/5/1864 Wm Phillips Thomas Richards Enroute to Battle of Wilderness, writes from Brandy Station, men tossing extra clothing, communication ordered stopped. 
7/4/1864 Wm Phillips Annie Richards Writes from siege trenches before Petersburg, describes 17 June assault on Rebel fortifications. 
7/20/1864 Wm Phillips Annie Richards Writes from siege trenches before Petersburg, describes artillery duel, strength of Rebel fortifications, rumors of Rebel desertions, confidence of ultimate victory.  
9/14/1864 David Phillips Thomas Richards Describes William Phillips capture and confinement as a prisoner of war.

 


griffing@fnal.gov