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Specific Civil war soldiers hand written paper


Rmj1979

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Hello, my son is doing a project on the civil war. His 3x great grandfather was a union solider who wrote his experience on paper. A distant relative had a picture but it’s faded and I can’t make much out. Is their anyway to make this legible?

A61A872D-615D-42FC-9C29-3F7FD375B7E1.png
 

JeffK

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Just to make it legible - there was one section on the right down the page that I was able to make readable. Hope this works for you.
Earliest letters I once found went back to 1930s between two sisters - one in the US and one in England - discussing the stories coming out of Germany. Gave me chills...
- Jeff
vintage letter edited.png
 
Last edited:

Rmj1979

Active Member
Messages
37
Likes
17
Just to make it legible - there was one section on the right down the page that I was able to make readable. Hope this works for you.
Earliest letters I once found went back to 1930s between two sisters - one in the US and one in England - discussing the stories coming out of Germany. Gave me chills...
- Jeff
View attachment 121073
Thank you!! Great job!
 

thebestcpu

Guru
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Hi @Rmj1979
If the handwriting is still hard to read just due to the script, here is my translation of the page with questions marks after words and am less sure of the transcription:

To My daughter Lulu E
Experience of her Father in the Civil War

I enlisted August 12 1862 for three (3) years
in the 83rd NY Vol Inf in which I served two (2)
years and then transfer to 97 NY Vol to serve
unexpired term in which regiment I served
until end of war. Joined my Reg on the Battle
field of Anteatam but to late for the battle.
Then Fredericksburg in which all were killed
or wounded around me. Then Chancellorsville.
Then Gettyhsburg (3) three days where? I was taking
prisoner. March from Gettysburg Pa to Staunton Va
and placed in Box cars and taking to Richmond Va
placed in Libby Prison for one day and everything
except our clothes on our backs taking from us and
then sent to Bell Island prison
where I remained until Nov or Dec. I was so sick I could not
remember what mo it was. I was taking to
Annapolis Navy Yard hospital. Was transferred
to David Island in Long Island Sound and rem-
ained there until Gen Grant was placed in command
of the army of the Potomac. Having got well
and bin exchanged? I went back and joined my

I am a genealogist and have had to do a number of transcirptions from faded and tough script out of diaries. They are similar to a time machine.
Thanks for sharing
John Wheeler
 

Rmj1979

Active Member
Messages
37
Likes
17
Hi @Rmj1979
If the handwriting is still hard to read just due to the script, here is my translation of the page with questions marks after words and am less sure of the transcription:

To My daughter Lulu E
Experience of her Father in the Civil War

I enlisted August 12 1862 for three (3) years
in the 83rd NY Vol Inf in which I served two (2)
years and then transfer to 97 NY Vol to serve
unexpired term in which regiment I served
until end of war. Joined my Reg on the Battle
field of Anteatam but to late for the battle.
Then Fredericksburg in which all were killed
or wounded around me. Then Chancellorsville.
Then Gettyhsburg (3) three days where? I was taking
prisoner. March from Gettysburg Pa to Staunton Va
and placed in Box cars and taking to Richmond Va
placed in Libby Prison for one day and everything
except our clothes on our backs taking from us and
then sent to Bell Island prison
where I remained until Nov or Dec. I was so sick I could not
remember what mo it was. I was taking to
Annapolis Navy Yard hospital. Was transferred
to David Island in Long Island Sound and rem-
ained there until Gen Grant was placed in command
of the army of the Potomac. Having got well
and bin exchanged? I went back and joined my

I am a genealogist and have had to do a number of transcirptions from faded and tough script out of diaries. They are similar to a time machine.
Thanks for sharing
John Wheeler
Thank you so much for taking the time to transcript the writing. My son is doing a project and the man who wrote this Andrew Engle (union solider) is his 3x great grandfather. My father in law actually has the ring Andrew carved from a soup bone while a prisoner of war . It’s amazing to see it in his words. Thanks again!!
 

thebestcpu

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Thank you so much for taking the time to transcript the writing. My son is doing a project and the man who wrote this Andrew Engle (union solider) is his 3x great grandfather. My father in law actually has the ring Andrew carved from a soup bone while a prisoner of war . It’s amazing to see it in his words. Thanks again!!

Your welcome and very cool. I totally agree with seeing/hearing it it their own words. I uncovered a diary of my GG Grandfather from 1850 of his journey from Ohio to the gold fields of California and back. Very tough faded script and after Photoshoping for reasonable readability. He had a pretty verbose entry most of the days. It took me a year to transcribe the tough script and scratchings yet it was worth the effort to get to know him and his trials, tribulations, and in the end some success. Quite the adventure.
 

Rmj1979

Active Member
Messages
37
Likes
17
Just to make it legible - there was one section on the right down the page that I was able to make readable. Hope this works for you.
Earliest letters I once found went back to 1930s between two sisters - one in the US and one in England - discussing the stories coming out of Germany. Gave me chills...
- Jeff
View attachment 121075
Hi I have another page of the letter. Can you do the same thing you did above to make it legible? Thanks so much

65946F61-3726-4EC6-A219-4A1B479AAB82.jpeg
 

thebestcpu

Guru
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2,751
Hi @Rmj1979
I will let @JeffK run his magic on the image yet it was plenty readable to me as is so here is my transcription:

"Regiment. Took part in the following
engagements Jerusalem Plank Road, Petersburg
Weldon Railroad 3 three days - Reams Station
Peebles Farm - Chaffins House - Hatchers Run
Five Forks - surrender of Gen Lee army.
In my first Battle I was fool enough to stand
and fight longer than any man in my Company
and they made me a Corporal. It was a hot
fight 26 men in my Co and 13 of us got back
300 in the Regt and 150 left on the field dead
and wounded in 30 minutes
As Gen Sherman once remarked. War
is hell
A S Engle
Very? Late? 83 and 97 NY Vol"

Very enjoyable to read and be part of the time machine.
John Wheeler
 

Rmj1979

Active Member
Messages
37
Likes
17
Hi @Rmj1979
I will let @JeffK run his magic on the image yet it was plenty readable to me as is so here is my transcription:

"Regiment. Took part in the following
engagements Jerusalem Plank Road, Petersburg
Weldon Railroad 3 three days - Reams Station
Peebles Farm - Chaffins House - Hatchers Run
Five Forks - surrender of Gen Lee army.
In my first Battle I was fool enough to stand
and fight longer than any man in my Company
and they made me a Corporal. It was a hot
fight 26 men in my Co and 13 of us got back
300 in the Regt and 150 left on the field dead
and wounded in 30 minutes
As Gen Sherman once remarked. War
is hell
A S Engle
Very? Late? 83 and 97 NY Vol"

Very enjoyable to read and be part of the time machine.
John Wheeler
Thanks again!!!
 

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