The following letters were written by 35 year-old Timothy M. Gillan (1827-1863), the son of Danial Gillan (b. 1805) and Sarah Reynolds (b. 1808) of Corning, Steuben county, New York. Timothy was the oldest of at least seven children born to Daniel and Sarah Gillan, a few of whom are mentioned in these letters. Sadly, Timothy’s father abandoned his family in 1858 and it fell upon the older children to provide for their mother’s support.

Timothy was one of the first to answer Lincoln’s call for volunteers to help put down the rebellion. He enlisted on 6 May 1861 at Elmira to serve as a private in Co. F, 23rd New York Infantry. By August 1861, he had been promoted to corporal. The first letter was penned from Upton’s Hill in March 1862; the second from Fredericksburg when they were part of Pope’s Army Of Virginia. Their biggest engagements were 2nd Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. Both letters were found in the Pension Files as evidence that Timothy continued to provide financial support to his mother, even while in the service. Timothy’s death is described in the file in a letter signed by William M. Dingeldry, Captain of Co. F (pictured below), who testified that on or about the 16th of May 1863, while the regiment was returning to Elmira, New York, to be discharged, and while at Washington D. C., Timothy was taken sick with Typhoid Fever” and sent to a hospital. He died on 29 May 1863.

Timothy refers to his younger brother “Frank” frequently in both letters. William Francis (“Frank”) Gillam (1845-1930) served 3 years and 8 months in Co. B, 1st New York Light Artillery.

Letter 1

Upton’s Hill
March 18th 1862

Dear Mother,

I now seat myself to address a few lines to you to let you know that I am well at present & hope you are all enjoying the same valuable blessing. We left camp last Monday or a week ago last Monday at 5 o’clock in the morning for Bulls Run but did not have to go all the way as the rebels had left. We had orders to go back to Alexandria & stayed all night in a piece of woods. It was a cold rain and rained all night. We were all wet and cold but came out all well enough after all.

We started next morning for Alexandria again. We had to wait till there was a bridge built over a creek. While we were waiting, an order came for us to go back to our old camp where we stayed Tuesday about 4 pm when [we] had an order to pack up and leave. We came out two miles and encamped & here we are now in the smoke and mud and we don’t know when we shall leave here. It may be in an hour.

I had commenced this sheet and had to lay it by to march. It is now the 21st [of March]. About that money, we have not got our money yet and I don’t know [how] long we shall have to wait. I suppose you could use it to good advantage now but I can’t hurry Uncle Sam one bit. I am begging my first stamp to send this. If you can read this, you will do well for the smoke is giving my eyes fits.

I don’t know where Frank is now. He may be within two miles but I can’t leave to look for him. I don’t know whether he will go with us or not & he may be gone but I suppose he has written to you. I suppose your old house wants to be shingled by this time. I have thought of it considerably lately but I can’t send the soap to do. it with so you must get someone to patch it up a little till you can shingle it & get along as well as you can. Frank sent home his money so close that I gave him two dollars. I suppose he is out long before this time unless they have had their pay. I guess he will save more this time. If I see him, I shall advise him to do so you must not look for anything of a letter. If you do, you. will surely be disappointed. So the best way will be to just read htis & then stick it in the stove.

The only letter I have had in some time was John’s of the 12th. I thought it might be that you thought I would not get them. You may send them right along just the same till I direct different. This may be in a few days and it may never be—I cannot tell any better how this will be than I can tell how the wind will blow next week.

Give my respects to Mr. & Mrs. Shoemaker and all the neighbors. The check or draft you will get will come to Gibson & you can draw soap anywhere. The smoke comes again so no more at present. From your affectionate son, — T. M. Gillan

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Letter 2

Camp. 23rd [New York] Regt.
Opposite Fredericksburg [Virginia]
June 27th 1862

Dear Mother,

It is with pleasure that I now seat myself to address a few lines to you to let you know that I am well. I have had a letter from Frank dated the 18th. He was well & says they have had a brush with the rebels at Fair Oaks. He says that it was pretty sharp work but the rebels used their legs as usual. I have sent his letter to Benjamin & requested him to send it to you when he has seen it

We have been back to Catlett’s Station & from there to Gainesville and we have been camping & moving camp this way till we have got back here & we have moved camp this forenoon. We are encamped in an open field about a mile and a half or two miles from the [Rappahannock] river. Our sick are in the city. James Smith was taken there last Sunday and yesterday he was well enough to come over to camp and went back again. He thought he would be able to come back to duty soon. Peter Calkins & Jackson Gorton is in the hospital also. Jackson is—to use James’ language—suffering considerable. Amos Beeman will soon come home, I suppose. At least I have heard that his papers were made out for his discharge.

We still have good news from the South. Though it has cost a great many lives, it is steadily gaining ground. I hope it may come to a close before long but it does not look as if it was going to close so that we shall be able to come home before fall, if we do then. We seem to be fixing our camp as if to stay here some time but we may leave here at any time & go to reinforce McClellan. But it seems to be the general opinion here that we may stay here some time. It is rather dull business to lay here in camp doing nothing. We shall not be worth a cent to work when our time is out if we lay round here in camp all the time. In the first place, we could not stand to do a day’s work now. And in the second place, we will [be] too shiftless.

I had like to have forgotten to mention that Jerome & John Gorton are well. I had a letter from Farmington. They were all well but Lide & she was getting better. They say they have had a letter from Jake’s folks. They were well & Jake had planted 8 acres of corn and was a going to plant half an acre of sugar cane & had a good garden. I should like to hear from all of the people in Buckwheat Square & vicinity. If we lay here in camp, I shall not be very likely to have much news for you. As it has been, I have nothing that seems new to me as we have not loaded our guns except we were on guard or went out foraging or something of that kind of duty.

Frank says that they did not have any loss of life in their Battery. There was one man shot in the neck & he was getting along first rate.

I am going to enclose fifteen dollars as before & hope you will get it as well as you did the last. This from your affectionate son, — T. M. Gillan