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Special Collections Research Center
William & Mary Special Collections Research CenterFinding Aid Authors: Carl Hinton.
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William P. Allcot Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
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Processed by Carl Hinton.
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Correspondence, 1861-1864, of William P. Allcot while he was serving with the 62nd New York Infantry Regiment. Includes letters from Allcot from various camps around Washington, D. C. and in Virginia, ending with his stay in Island Hospital, New York in 1861-62; those from Allcot while he was serving at camps and on battlefields in Virginia and Maryland, 1862-1864; and those from Allcot while he was a patient at Carver Hospital, Washington, D. C., 1864. Their contents describe conditions in camp and on the battlefield (Fredericksburg, Fair Oaks, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg); express Allcot's views on the Civil War; discuss family affairs; and tell of his health and conditions at Carver Hospital.
Acknowledges receiving a letter from his brother, Edmond, and writes of his letter to him; expresses appreciation to his parents for all that they have done for him; tells of the capture of Union Colonel [James Adelbert] Mulligan and the possibility of battle; describes his physical accomodations. [Letter written on letterhead showing a woman wearing a dress made of the United States flag and carrying a United States flag, while pointing and with one foot placed on a world globe, all surrounded by the emblazoned words "Onward to Victory. 1776. 1861."] 3 pages, Autographed letter signed.
Recieved letter from parents; describes his love of country and his favorable situation within his unit; his intention to have his friend John Hall receive a portion of his pay every two months; his intention to visit home; tells of the gold watch given him by his unit [62nd Anderson Zouaves]. Including autographed letter signed from W[illiam P.] Allcot, to his sister, Ann Louisa, concerning his intention to come home and tell her of Washington, D.C.; he wishes happiness for the family; relates how he had eaten his first chicken since leaving New York. 2 pages. Autographed letter signed.
Acknowledges the receipt of January 11 letter from his parents; tells of the possibility of a furlough; acknowledges the receipt of letters from his brother [Edmond]; complains of the men in his regiments wasting money on drink; discusses the error of the Southern cause; expresses admiration for Abraham Lincoln. 2 pages. Autographed letter signed.
Is glad his parents liked the picture he sent them; sent money to his brother John; will send money for his sister Anna Louise's wedding; describes the watch and address given him by the members of his unit [D Company, Anderson Zouaves]; wishes his family well; cautions mother not to overtax herself; sends his regards to his brother Henry. [Letter written on letterhead showing a rock emblazoned with the printed slogan "The Constitution and the Laws," with an eagle perched on the rock with arrows grasped by its talons and a United States flag on a flagpole stuck vertically in the rock.] 4 pages. Autographed letter signed.
Inquires about the health of his mother and the health of the entire family; states belief that the war will be over shortly and that Europe will not aid the Confederacy; describes the welcoming of Colonel Michael Corcoran after his release by the Confederates; the manpower price the Confederacy is paying for the war; [General Sterling] Price taken with the remnant of his army; General [Simon Bolivar] Buckay [sic] [Buchner] to be tried for treason in the wake of the capture of Fort Donelson; Jeff[erson] Davis must see how the Confederacy is collapsing; laments that the Confederate leaders exist; hopes his sister Anna Louise's wedding went well; wishes the family well and urges them to write him. [Letter written on letterhead showing the interior of Fort Welles (later Fort Walker, Hilton Head, S.C.), including buildings, tents, canon, canal, and Union soldiers marching and on guard duty.] 4 pages. Autographed letter signed.
Asks about his mother's health after her fall; discusses the possibility of his death in battle; his belief in the Union cause; his past illness; names commanders of his division [1st] General [Darius Nash] Coutch [sic] [Couch] and of his brigade [1st] General [John James] Peck; the arrest and release of his unit's [62nd Regiment Infantry] commanding Colonel [J. Lafayette Riker]; the imminent march of his regiment. Including autographed signed letter from W[illiam] C. Allcot, Newport News, Virginia, to his brother, E[dmond] C. Allcot, 1 April 1862, informing him that he may be written at Newport News, and saying that "I have seen the boys at Fort Munrow [Monroe] they are all well." 4 pages. Autographed signed letter.
Describes the fighting around Yorktown, as well as the Confederate breastworks; his ill health; expresses affection for his family; expresses incredulity over the willingness of the Confederates to burn their own homes; expresses determination that the Union government not compromise with the Confederacy; describes the wet ground conditions in camp. 4 pages. Autographed letter signed.
Describes the damp conditions at camp; his admiration for the commanding general [Darius Nash Couch]; the corduroy road used by the Union army; condemns the Confederate killing of a Union picket; happiness that his brother Edmond received his letter; describes his recent illness; will send money home; relates suffering caused by the war to the people in the South; wants his parents not to worry about him. [Including as letterhead a full-color panoramic view of the fortifications around Washington, D.C., looking south across the Potomac River, with the Anacostia River flowing into the Potomac at the left of the picture.] 4 pages. Incomplete.
Is happy about his mother's health; describes scene of dead and wounded, and the Battle of Williamsburg; Captain [?] Lee of the 5th North Carolina Regiment and his paucity of remaining manpower; the demoralized state of the Confederate forces; corrects his mother's misconception about the material state of the Union forces; the destruction about him; return of property to a Union sympathizer; rumor of Norfolk [VA.] in Union hands; he will send money to his parents. [Letter written on letterhead showing a radiating circle bordered in red and blue and containing an eagle standing on a red and white striped shield while grasping a sword and struggling with a snake, against a blue background emblazoned with a partial circle of stars.] 4 pages. Autographed letter signed.
Acknowledges receipt of mother's letters; describes the recent operations of the 6th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, including the hard marching; crossing the [Rappahannock] River; picket duty; the marching in bad weather to Fairfax Station; the readiness of General [Joseph] Hooker's Army of the Potomac for a battle. 4 pages. Incomplete.
Has almost recovered from his illness; received letter and shirt from his mother; regrets having missed his father in New York, which he visited on a pass; describes his visit to Sing Sing [N.Y.] and his brother John on that pass; his desire to again visit home. 2 pages. Incomplete.
Describes the battle around Fredericksburg [VA.], involving the crossing of the [Rappahannock] River by the [Left Grand Division] under General [William Buel] Franklin, and the subsequent engagement; Confederate and Union artillery dueling; urges his father to use the money he sent him for his own benefit; the difficulty of driving out the Confederates ensconced behind their breastworks; expresses love for the family and hopes they will write him. 3 pages. Autographed letter signed.
Ackowledges receipt of letter and papers from his parents; the Army of the Potomac is largely inactive; his father has difficulty drawing money [out of his bank] without the signature of Allcot's brother John; the victory of General [William Starke] Rosecrans at [Stones River] and how it was good for morale; wishes he were out of the war; his appointment to sergeant; acknowledges receipt of a letter from his brother Thomas, and the sending of a letter to his brother Edmond. 3 pages. Autographed letter signed.
Acknowledges receipt of letters from his parents and siblings; blames the people of the North for being divided over the issue of the war; the rainy conditions at camp; his [VI] Corps' battle with the elements; the relief of Generals [William Buel] Franklin, [Ambrose Everett] Burnside, and [Edwine Vose] Sumner from command, and the assumption of command of the Army of the Potomac by General [Joseph] Hooker; complains about the relief of General [George Brinton] McClellan as [commander of the army]; he expects pay soon; acknowledges receipt of letters from siblings; the commander of the [3rd] Brigade is Brigadier General [Frank] Wheating [Wheaton], and they have had four commanders in all; they got on picket duty; the enemy lines are close; hopes for a better national future. 4 pages. Autographed letter signed.
Hopes for his brother's good health; the bad weather; the reinstatement and promotion of Colonel [J. Lafayette Riker] as brigade [3rd] commander; morale is high; sends regards to the family; expresses concern for the fate of his brother John; believes in the Union and decries those who call for peace; morale high in the 10th Regiment, which his friend Frank Allen belongs to; officers must carry their own tents; Edmond should not send him newspapers. 4 pages. Autographed letter signed.
Received a letter from his brother Thomas; a friend of his brother John informed him that John had become a major; Phebe [his sister] now lives with his parents; his unit [62nd New York Infantry Volunteers] is about to march; his determination that the war should be won; urges the family to tell Phebe to answer his letter; family must not believe that John is a provost marshall until they have heard from him; wrote his brother Thomas, telling him that his father thanked him for the kind words; no news in the Richmond [VA.] papers about the sinking of a Union gunboat. Including autographed letter signed from W[illiam P.] A[llcot], camp of the 62nd New York Infantry Volunteers, near Falmouth, [VA.], to "Ma" [his mother Clarissa, New York, N.Y.], 14 April 1863, concerning the rainy weather; expectation of pay; the pleasentness of picket duty. 4 pages. Autographed signed letter.
Some 70 men of the [62nd] Regiment wounded or killed charging [at Fredericksburg]; his wound only minor because of the protection of his haversack; his [3rd] Division defeated with heavy losses; the possibility of having to fight all the way to Washington; sleeplessness and rain prevail. [Letter written on letterhead showing a belt fastened to form a circle, surrounding the intertwined letters "USA" and emblazoned with the words "United We Stand Divided We Fall."] 3 pages. Autographed letter signed.
Was slightly wounded at the battle of Fredericksburg; going to the rear for treatment; his [62nd] suffered 130 casualties; his [6th] Corps driven back from the heights of Fredericksburg by the Confederates; two companies of his regiment taken prisoner and 160 men killed, wounded, or prisoners; General [Joseph] Hooker's plan of attack should have worked; conscription should be enforced; wishes the family well, and his parents should write him concerning money he sent; rheumatism and his wound affect him minimally; wants to know if his parents have heard from him. 4 pages. Autographed letter signed.
Describes the march of the [3rd Regiment] north from Centersville [Centerville, VA.] to the vicinity of Gettiesburg [Gettysburg, PA.]; General [John Fulton] Reynolds killed at Gettiesburg [Gettysburg, PA.]; his [3rd] division ordered into the battle; much use of bayonet; Confederates beaten, but regiment ordered not to pursue; next day [July 3] Confederates charged and were repulsed; his division charged, overrunning the position of the 15th Georgia [Regiment]; discusses the search for blankets against the rain; march resumed on [July 5]; many Confederates wounded, left behind; pursuit of Confederates continued from Fairfield [MD.]; battle fought with the Confederates at Boomsboro [Boonesboro, MD.]. Including postscript from Allcot, July 12, stating that he had received a letter from his brother John on June 28, 1863. 4 pages. Incomplete.
States that for 150 miles there has been incessant marching and fighting; his [62nd] regiment skirmished with the Confederates May 30; enemy cavalry chased; a black man says people in the vicinity are preparing to leave; foraging necessary due to an absence of rations; Allcot will be home by July 4; he wishes his family well. 3 pages. Autographed signed letter.
Acknowledges receiving his mother's two letters; his arm wound is healing, and his appetite is improving; his strength is not sufficient for him to write a longer letter; the family members should write him; he would like to receive a newspaper from his brother, Edmond. 2 pages. Autographed letter signed.
Acknowledges receipt of 5 dollars from his brother [Edmond]; the weather is warm; he will not be home as soon as expected; he wishes his father and brothers well. 2 pages. Autographed letter signed.
Acknowledges receipt of his mother's letter; there is an abcess in his arm; the medical treatment is as good as can be expected; he received a letter from Sing Sing [N.Y.]; he received [news]papers from his sister, Anna; conditions at Carver Hospital are bad. Includes a listing of numbers added up in two columns. 1 page. Autographed letter signed.
Acknowledges receipt of his mother's letter; his shattered arm will heal only slowly, and he is weak; urges his mother not to visit him at the hospital; will be home as soon as he can; weather is good; acknowledges receipt of [news]papers. 2 pages. Autographed letter signed.
Acknowledges receipt of her letter dated [September 7]; asks his mother not to send him anything else, including stamps or money; received a letter from Anna [his sister]; his general condition is poor. 2 pages. Autographed letter signed.
Acknowledges receipt of both his mother's letters; his medical condition improves, but the abscess in his arm wound continues; if his father visits him, it should be November 1; thanks his mother for sending money. 1 page. Autographed letter signed,
Acknowledges receipt of both of his mother's letters; received lettters from his brothers Thomas and John; John does not yet have a house; believes his mother should not come to Washington, D.C. to visit him; Allcot's medical condition has improved. Includes a note [not dated] instructing his mother to give one of his books to his brother John and another to his sister Clara. 1 page. Autographed letter signed.
His medical condition improves; two pieces of bone taken out of his shoulder; his brother Thomas should write him; acknowledges receipt of a letter from his mother. Includes note apologizing for the shortness of the letter. 2 pages. Autographed letter signed.
Acknowledges receipt of his mother's letter, but sorry she is not well; the day is lovely; his physical strength is returning; Frank Kelly, the many who carried Allcot off the field when he was wounded, visited Allcot's parents; Allcot and Kelly promised to assist each other in the war; John, his brother, promised in a letter to see their parents at Thanksgiving. 2 pages. Autographed letter signed.