A handful of providence : the Civil War letters of Lt. Richard Goldwaite, New York volunteers, and Ellen Goldwaite / edited by Marti Skipper and Jane Taylor.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Goldwaite, Richard.

Contributor:

Goldwaite, Ellen.

Skipper, Marti, 1942-

Taylor, Jane.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Goldwaite, Richard--Correspondence.

Goldwaite, Richard.

Goldwaite, Ellen--Correspondence.

Goldwaite, Ellen.

United States. Army. New York Infantry Regiment, 99th (1861-1865).

United States.

United States. Army. New York Infantry Regiment, 3rd (1861-1865).

Soldiers--New York (State)--Correspondence.

Soldiers.

New York (State).

New York (State)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives.

History.

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives.

Saratoga County (N.Y.)--Biography.

Saratoga County (N.Y.).

Genre:

Correspondence.

Personal narratives.

Biographies.

Personal correspondence.

Physical Description:

viii, 272 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Jefferson, N.C. : McFarland & Co., [2004]

Summary:

These 132 letters, written from 1861 to 1863, chronologically follow Richard Goldwaite's service throughout the war: his voluntary enlistment; his service on a Union ferry; time spent in the "Union Coast Guard"; postings in Virginia and North Carolina; and his return home. A brief explanation introduces each group of letters. The Goldwaites' lives before the war and afterwards are details. The text is illustrated with more than 40 photos. Appendices include a history of Goldwaite's regiment and an account of his company's service in the Mexican War; newspaper accounts of events described in the letters; orders for Goldwaite's postings; details about the deaths of colleagues in the war; and military communications between Richard Goldwaite and other servicemen.

Contents:

1 The Double Quick Step 15

2 A Patriot's Wife 55

3 Union Coast Guard 91

4 Gloom, Doom and Defection 126

5 Deep Creek, Dismal Swamp and Den of the Rebels 158

6 The Homecoming 178

I A Brief History of the 1st Regiment, New York Volunteers, in The Mexican War 215

II Letter to Richard Goldwaite from George Van Vechten, June 4, 1859 217

III The Hymn "The Parting Hand" 219

IV Newspaper Account of 3rd Regiment's Arrival in New York City 221

V Newspaper Account of 3rd Regiment's Transport to Fort Monroe 224

VI Newspaper Account of the Battle of Bethel 226

VII Official Correspondence Regarding Payment of Expenses 229

VIII One Soldier's Thoughts on His Superiors' Battle Plans 234

IX Special Orders for Presence of Officers in Camp 235

X Newspaper Account of New Year's Day, 1862, at Fort McHenry 236

XI Order for Richard to Command Guard on Steamboat Adelaide 237

XII History of the 99th New York Volunteers 238

XIII Account of John Greble's Life and Death 241

XIV Order for Richard to Take Command of Company B at Camp Hamilton 242

XV Newspaper Account of James Kinnear's Funeral 243

XVI Correspondence Richard Received While on Recruiting Service 246

XVII Letter from Colonel Wardrop 249

XVIII Order transferring Richard from Company I to Company B 250

XIX The Dismal Swamp Skirmish 251

XX The Siege of Suffolk: The Charge of the 99th New York Volunteers 254.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 258-260) and index.

ISBN:

0786418567

OCLC:

55534848