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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC08913.16 |
| From Archive Folder | Letters from Grove Bell |
| Title | "To the Ladies of Portland" |
| Date | n.d. |
| Document Type | Miscellany |
| Content Description | A poem inspired by the reception the 20th Connecticut received upon departing for war. The women of Portland, Connecticut gave the men a warm send-off. |
| Subjects | Civil War Military History Union Forces Poetry Women's History |
| Place written | s.l. |
| Theme | The American Civil War; Arts & Literature; Women in American History |
| Sub-collection | Papers and Images of the American Civil War |
| Additional Information | Private Bell enlisted in the 20th Connecticut Infantry on August 4, 1862. He was mustered into D Company. In 1862 and 1863 the 20th Connecticut fought as part of the Army of the Potomac and saw action in Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. Although Bell survived extensive action in both these battles, he died on December 4, 1863. Highlights of the collection include a letter describing his action in the battle of Gettysburg, including a harrowing experience where a shell landed within inches of his leg and descriptions of some of the wounds his comrades suffered. The letters also include Bell's doubts about the course of the war: "There [are] a few big men with scraps on their shoulders that are making all of the money. They are the ones keeping this war going." |
| Copyright | The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History |
| Module | Civil War, Reconstruction and the Modern Era: 1860-1945 |
| Civil War: Unit | 20th Connecticut Infantry |