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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC02155.123 |
| From Archive Folder | Collection of letters from Michael M. Miller, K company, 1st Pennsylvania Reserves |
| Title | Michael M. Miller to Lile Miller describing his general mood, his terrible dreams about her and his son and his uncertainty about his division's future movements |
| Date | 16 December 1863 |
| Author | Miller, Michael Murray (fl. 1861-1864) |
| Recipient | Miller, Lile |
| Document Type | Correspondence |
| Content Description | Written from camp near Manassas Junction. Complains that he has written three letters with no reply from his wife. States that he is in good health and that there is only one job to do in the camp, which is to dig rifle pits. Tells her that he has been having terrible dreams about home and describes a recent one, where he dreamt he returned home and found his son abandoned in the snow, with his wife uncaring. States that he is feeling depressed and does not know what will happen with his division; whether they will stay for the winter or not but believes that, whatever happens, he will not get leave. A postscript reads "write very soon". |
| Subjects | Soldier's Letter Civil War Military History Union Forces Union Soldier's Letter Women's History |
| People | Miller, Michael Murray (fl. 1861-1864) Miller, Lile (fl. 1861-1863) |
| Place written | Manassas, Virginia |
| Theme | The American Civil War; Children & Family; Women in American History |
| Sub-collection | Papers and Images of the American Civil War |
| Additional Information | Folder Information: Sergeant Michael Murray Miller of the 1st Pennsylvania Reserves came from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Most of the letters are to his wife. Included in 206 item collection are 39 letters from his wife to him from Gettysburg and 13 other letters to and from relatives. According to William A. Frassanito, Early Photography at Gettysburg (1995), Miller's letters are the only large archive of a soldier from Gettysburg. Miller's correspondence was split by a descendent so that this collection has every other letter. Michael Murray Miller was a member of Company K, 1st Pennsylvania Reserve Infantry. Company K was the only local company to fight in the battle of Gettysburg. He joined Company K on June 28, 1861 and by March 7, 1863, he rose to the rank of fourth sergeant. Michael was the son of Andrew Bushman Miller and Catherine Culp (14). Michael was married to Lile Zeigler his first cousin. Michael and Lile’s mothers were daughters of Mathias (5) Culp and Anna Maria Miller. Another daughter, Susan (17), was married to Adam Maurey. Adam and Susan’s son William Maurey was a member of Company C., 49th Tennessee, then a unit in the Confederate army that Gen. Joseph E. Johnston had assembled to seek to relieve Vicksburg. |
| Copyright | The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History |
| Module | Civil War, Reconstruction and the Modern Era: 1860-1945 |
| Civil War: Recipient Relationship | Wife |
| Civil War: Theater of War | Main Eastern Theater |
| Civil War: Unit | 1st Pennsylvania Reserve Infantry, Company K |