1. Dear Sister; The Civil War Letters of the Brothers Gould
By Robert F. Harris; John Niflot
Published 1998
Kaedyn R, Bella E, & Lukas L.

2. Co. I 3rd Regt Excelsior Brigade Enclosed I send you a letter which came yesterday for Charles. Otter Island S.C. March 18th 1862 [Tuesday]
Dear Sister,
I now embrace the oppurtunity of writting a few lines to you. I am very happy to say that I am well and enjoying my self good, and I hope that this will find you and the rest of the folks all well. I received a letter from William night before last stating that Dear Brother Charles was Dead, one of the saddest bereavments, that ever happened to our family, but it is some consolation to have his body brought home and laid beside those that watched over him so carefully in his childhood.

3. Co. I 3rd Regt Excelsior Brigade Enclosed I send you a letter which came yesterday for Charles. Otter Island S.C. March 18th 1862 [Tuesday]
It is hopefully that his spirit is now with theirs where there will be no more sorrow and no more wars, but singing ever lasting praises to the most high God. I have often thought how happy we would be if we should all meet at home after the war was over. But alas we can never meet with him again on earth, but let us try and meet him in heaven. What a joyfull meeting that will be when we shall meet to part no more. I would like to have been home to Dear Charleys funeral.

4. Co. I 3rd Regt Excelsior Brigade Enclosed I send you a letter which came yesterday for Charles. Otter Island S.C. March 18th 1862 [Tuesday]
You must not weep too much for him, for it is all for the best. If I should die here, I would like to be brought home and buried by the side of Brother Charley in the old garden. I think that if I live it will not be a great a while before I get home. There was about twenty of us upon Fenwick Is. last night on picket. There was a drove of horses came through the brush makeing a great noise. The sentinal halted them. They stoped as though they were men. It was so dark that we could not tell what they were, so we got ready for Battle. Last week there were three of our companies out a scouting. They were out in the night.

5. Co. I 3rd Regt Excelsior Brigade Enclosed I send you a letter which came yesterday for Charles. Otter Island S.C. March 18th 1862 [Tuesday]
They met unexpectedly, and it being so dark they could not tell each other, so Co H fired a volley of musket balls in Co K killing the captain and one of the corporals instantly, and wounding 7 more. One has since died. The rest are getting better. [ Captain Ezekieo Y. Rampo and Corporal D. J. Fessler died on March 11, The Reigham brothers, Samuel and William H., died four days later.] We have the news that manasas [ Virginia] is taken by our troops. I hope that it is so. We hear fighting about every day. Give my respects to all of my folks. We’ll meet again when storms are over, and ills of life are post. When partings rend the heart no more, we’ll meet the last of my folks. Excuse my poor writing. Write as soon as you receive this. So goodbye for this time. Direct as before [Wesley Gould]

6. How did the Wesley feel about the death of his brother Charles? Why?
Co. I 3rd Regt Excelsior Brigade Enclosed I send you a letter which came yesterday for Charles. Otter Island S.C. March 18th 1862 [Tuesday]
How did the Wesley feel about the death of his brother Charles? Why?
What are the author’s wishes if the author should die at war?
Author; Wesley Gould
Intended audience; a sister
Locally going on; the continuous fights
Nationally going on; the Civil War
Bias in the letter; No there is no discrimination

7. Hilton Head S C July the 4th 1862 [Friday]
Dear Sister,
I received your kind letter last Sunday evening. Was very glad to hear from you and to hear that you where well. I am well at presant. We have been within seven miles of Charleston but fell back to this place again. What for I do not know. There is some talk of our going to reienforce Gen McClellan [ General George B.]. I hope that we will, for I have had enough of S. C. It is very warm here at presant. We had some small fights while we where on James Island [ South Carolina].

8. Hilton Head S C July the 4th 1862 [Friday]
You will undoubtly hear of it before you get this, so I will not write much about it. It is now 4th of July, but Wes is not at home to eat strawberry short cakes this year. But I had one hard cracker and a cup of coffee for breakfast this morning. That is what trys a man. While we are in camp we get enough to eat, but while on a march we do not have but little to eat and drink. But then is the time we need the most. It appears that the boys [brothers] are all in for raising a family. If I do not get home, there will be so many Goulds that you will not miss me [five nieces and nephews born during Wesley's absence]. But, Hannah, as long as I am alive, I will not forget you, although I do not write very often, still my thoughts are on you and the home and scenes of my childhood.

9. Hilton Head S C July the 4th 1862 [Friday]
So you cannot expect us to write very good. And you know that I am a poor writter in aney place, but I guess that you can read it. You will find $5 dollars enclosed in this, if some one dont take it out. You must kiss Gertrude for me. Tell her that I am soon comeing home to see her, and you tell Marvin not to get angry with me for not writting to him. Write as soon as you get this. Write all the news. This is quite a business place. The harbor is full of vessels. There is a large fort here. All of the troops down here are at or very near this place. What is to be done, we do not know. But I must stop.

10. Hilton Head S C July the 4th 1862 [Friday]
I would write oftener, but do not have much time. But you must not wait for me, you must write. Give my love to all of the folks. You say that you intend to get Charles bounty money. You will run a great risk in sending the paper here for me to sign. You had better send it by express. [Beginning in July 1861 the federal government paid bounties of $100 for a three-year enlistment. Union states and some counties also paid bonuses.] Your plan in getting the tomb stones is a very good one. We have not had aney news from the north for quite a while. I would like to know how our men are getting along at Richmond. The boys from the Basket are all well. We do not have aney tables here to write on, but we have to sit down on our knapsacks and take a little peice of board on our knees and write on that.

11. Hilton Head S C July the 4th 1862 [Friday]
Author; John Gould
Intended audience; Hannah
Locally going on; marched through towns
Nationally going on; the Civil War
Bias in letter; Yes because he talked about not liking South Carolina, or when he mentioned eating a hard cracker and a cup of coffee for breakfast.
How does the author feel about receiving letters? Why?
Why do you think the author explained in the letter where he was?

12. Hart Island, N.Y.H. Oct 24, 1864 [Monday]
Dear Sister,
I received your letter on Satterday evening last & was much pleased to hear from you & that you was well. But whether or not Marvin is alive & well I cannot tell as you said nothing about him & he said nothing for himself. When I write to him again, I hope he will answer me in some shape.

13. Hart Island, N.Y.H. Oct 24, 1864 [Monday]
I enjoy very good health & strength & feel quite contented here & as I expect to stay [same]. Shall try & keep so & make myself comfortable. I got a letter from Eunice dated the day before yours & answered it on Saturday last & sent one to Will & Cynthia on Saturday before I got yours, so did not know that he had left home as Eunice said that he was there & he did not know when he should leave. But tell Cynthia that I shall be pleased to hear from her. I was very much grieved to hear that Wesley had been so unfortunate as to be taken Prisoner.

14. Hart Island, N.Y.H. Oct 24, 1864 [Monday]
[Wesley was captured on September 30, 1864, at Weldon Railroad site.] You did not say how you heard nor how to write to him. If you know send me the Directions as soon as you get this. Poor fellow. May God take care of him. He has seen a good deal of the war & is deserving of a better fate, but we must make the best of it & try to put an end to it as soon as possible. [Wesley remained a prisoner for five months in North Carolina].

15. Hart Island, N.Y.H. Oct 24, 1864 [Monday]
It does not seem as though I was doing much that way at present, but I suppose that if I was not here some other soldier would have to be, so it is about square anyway. We expect a lot of Rebel Prisoners here soon, & if Wesley sufers through any inhumanity of Jeffs [ CSA President Jefferson F. Davis], I shall have some excuse for shoot 1 or 2 or more while we are garding them, & I will do it as soon as I would a wood chuck. But let us hope for the best. He may get exchanged soon or the war may stop before long & then lookout. I hope that Dick will come home, & if he does he must come down & se[e] me without fail, as I want to se[e] him very much.

16. Hart Island, N.Y.H. Oct 24, 1864 [Monday]
We are prety well provided for here. Satterday we drew Dress Coats, another pair pants & a Rubber Blanket. I have now 1 wool Blanket, 1 rubber ditto, 1 Over Coat, 1 blouse, 1 Sack Coat, 1 Dress ditto, 1 Cap, 2 pair Pants, 2 shirts, 2 pair Drawers, Stockings & Gloves. I expect from home & I look for a Box every day now. We are kept buisy most of the time now & are learning the rotine of a soldiers life quite fast. I went to Church yesterday & the Preacher was not there. I went in the room & some men sat in a heap on the floor.

17. Hart Island, N.Y.H. Oct 24, 1864 [Monday]
I looked all around & then made a move for a chair of which there was about a dozen around the room & was going to set down in it. Up jumps a man & says get out of that. I stopt & looked around then says I understand this was a soldiers meeting, but it seems that I was misinformed so I think I will leave & out I went & the most of the soldiers after me. One of the Sargents wanted to know why I acted so. I told him that I had been in the habit of going to Church where I was as good as any man, & I would stay away untill I could go so again & I shall. We have most beautiful weather here & have had ever since I came here except a few days, & I do not anticipate much cold weather here this winter, but it blows sometimes, I tell you. Now, Hannah, go out & se[e] Eunice once in a while, & dont let her think that she has no friends.

18. Hart Island, N.Y.H. Oct 24, 1864 [Monday]
Give my best respects to all Friends [family]. Write soon & may you be blest with all the comforts of life. Your Brother, George Gould
Kiss the little ones for me, Bess, & Gerty, & Wille to. Give my love to Marvin

19. Hart Island, N.Y.H. Oct 24, 1864 [Monday]
Author; George Gould
Intended audience; Hannah
Locally going on; they went to church and things settled down
Nationally going on; the Civil War
Bias; Yes because he makes a prediction of what might happen to his brother Wesley who is a prisoner of war. Also, was asked to leave church since he was a solider.
What is George’s plan if his brother Wesley is mistreated as a prisoner of war?
What was the difference between George’s situation and his brother John?