-
Period: to
Scott Newton During Civil War
This is the website with all of the letters http://www.civilwarletters.com/letters_toc.html?_sm_au_=iVVtb011M0SRTTJQs1RjkK0W1TTNc He mainly writes to Hannah H Cone and that is Newton's best -
Men are freezing at camp Lincoln Keokuk in Iowa
Written to Hannah M. Cone
While Scott's regiment is camping at camp Lincoln in Keokuk Iowa, the freezing temperatures are making people very sick. This is causing many soldiers to die while camping here. Newton says that his fingers are on the verge of freezing off.
https://www.insider.com/cold-temperatures-affect-body-2019-1#prolonged-exposure-to-extreme-cold-can-lead-to-hypothermia-2 -
Travels to the Benton Barracks from Camp Lincoln
Written to Hannah M. Cone
After hearing of the battles that occurred near St. Louis, Scott's regiment travels to the Benton Barracks to act as backup and help those who were wounded during the battles.
https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMQ9PE_Benton_Barracks_St_Louis_MO -
Traveling through the Yazoo River
Written to Hannah M. Cone
Scott and his fellow soldiers are traveling through the very windy Yazoo Pass with 8 gun boats. They are trying to get into flanking position to flank the Confederate Army. Scott is ready for a battle that will likely take place soon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUy7Z-v5zQ8 -
Sickness is causing deaths in Fort Greenwood
Written to Hannah M. Cone
While Newton and other soldiers are camping in Fort Greenwood while on an expedition for intel, many soldiers were dying from sickness. Newton says that it is a sad time while they were there because of all of the people dying due to malaria.
https://www.malariasite.com/wars-victims/ -
The Battle of Champion Hill was won
Written to Hannah M Cone.
The Battle of Champion Hill was won and was led by Ulysses Grant. This battle was super important in the Union being able to control the area all around Vicksburg which was a huge advantage. Newton was ecstatic at this victory.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-EzSM38uiQ -
Newton is on Guard duty at Camp Prentifs
Written to Hannah M Cone.
While at Camp Prentifs in Arkansas, Scott is on guard duty while everyone else is sleeping. He feels as if since he has been serving the army since the beginning of the war, he should be promoted to a higher rank. He has thoughts of maybe going AWOL.
https://www.stonewallbrigade.net/guard-duty-a-primer-for-civil-war-reenactors/ -
Newton is Promoted to a Seargent
Written to Hannah M Cone.
Scott wishes came true and he was promoted to a sergeant. This makes him super happy because he feels as if he definitely deserved it. A sergeant's job was to help guide troop movements and keep soldiers in their positions.
https://www.ncmuseumofhistory.org/civil-war-army-organization-and-rank -
Traveling South to Louisiana
Written to Hannah M Cone.
Newton and his fellow soldiers decide to move south into Louisiana to try to get into position to surprise the confederate army. Newton is a little bit nervous because a battle might erupt.
https://newrepublic.com/article/86592/fort-sumter-civil-war-soldiers-march-weight -
Battle of Helena was won by Union
Written to Newton's parents
The battle of Helena aka the attack on Helena was a very gruesome battle that was won by the union. The Union also took 950 confederate hostages. Newton said that he was super happy at this victory because it would lead to the capturing of Little Rock.
https://www.battlefields.org/learn/civil-war/battles/helena -
Aftermath of Battle of Helena
Written to Newton's parents
The aftermath of the Battle of Helena was a gruesome and awful sight Newton had said. There was 2,000 or so dead bodies on the battlefield (400 union dead and 1,600 confederate dead). Newton said that for the next two days after the battle they were just burying dead bodies.
https://www.businessinsider.com/gettysburg-death-toll-so-high-bodies-still-found-1996-2019-6 -
The Battle of Helena left Newton with a lot of Responsibilities
Written to Newton's parents
Although there was a lot more deaths on the Confederate side than the union, a lot of Newton's generals and lieutenants were either dead or too sick to be able to lead. This left Newton with a lot of responsibilities which made him feel anxious.
https://www.ducksters.com/history/civil_war/life_as_a_soldier_during_the_civil_war.php -
Overjoyed at the Victories at Helena, Vicksburg, and Port Hudson
Scott newton wrote to Hannah M Cone while at Helena that he is overjoyed that the Union had won three battles in a short amount of time. Those battles were the Battle of Helena, the Battle at Vicksburg, and the Battle at Port Hudson.
https://www.battlefields.org/learn/civil-war/battles/port-hudson -
Travels from Helena to Little Rock where a Battle Occurred
Writes to Hannah M Cone
Newton and about 5,000 other soldiers are starting to travel to Little Rock. While at Little Rock a Battle happened and the Union won it. Newton feels quite confident that the Union will win the war.
https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-battles-detail.htm?battleCode=AR010 -
Christmas is very boring...
Written to Hannah Cone
Newton said that Christmas was very dull and boring with their being little to no festivities and no good food whatsoever. He tells Hannah that he feels as if he should be relived of working in the army since it had been 3 long years of him working without stop.
https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/christmas-during-civil-war -
A spy is caught at Little Rock
Written to Hannah M Cone
While Newton is staying at Little Rock after the victory of the battle, a spy was caught because someone found his letters that he was going to send the the confederate army. He was sentenced to be hung just a few days later. He wrote a letter to his parents before being hung.
This is the link to it --->http://www.civilwarletters.com/dodd_letter.html -
Soldiers are Dying Due to Sickness
Written to Hannah H Cone
While Newton's regiment is staying at Little Rock, many men are dying due to sickness. Newton said that during this time, most of the soldiers are missing home very much and it's just a very sad time overall.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8513069/ -
One of Newton's Best Friends Die
Written to Hannah H Cone
While at Little rock, Newton writes to Hannah that one of their best friends named Zellek H Collins had died. The reason for his death was due to a very severe case of typhoid fever. Newton is very distraught by his death.
http://www.pbs.org/mercy-street/blogs/mercy-street-revealed/typhoid-fever-and-the-american-civil-war/ -
Abraham Lincoln is Reelected
Written to Hannah H Cone
Newton hopes that the reelection of Abraham Lincoln will have a huge impact and hopefully put a stop to the 4 year long civil war. Scott said that he puts all of his trust in Lincoln and will vote for him without a doubt. Newton still wishes that he could leave the military since he had served the whole entire time.
https://civilwaronthewesternborder.org/timeline/lincoln-reelected -
On the Road to St. Charles from Little Rock
Written to Hannah H Cone
Newton's regiment travels from little rock to Duvall's bluff by trains, stay for a few days, and then travel by foot all the way to St. Charles for the rest of the way and time. Newton feels confident that the Union will win the War.
https://www.travelchannel.com/interests/road-trips/articles/civil-war-road-trips -
The War Has Ended!!!
Written to Hannah H Cone
Newton writes to Hannah that he doesn't know how to put how happy he is into words. The war had ended and he could finally make the trip home to see family and friends. He states that they have more issues to iron out before he can go home, so he will probably be home by august.
https://www.history.com/news/why-the-civil-war-actually-ended-16-months-after-lee-surrendered -
Newton's Lover Finds Someone Else
Written to Hannah H Cone
Newton says that he recently received a letter that mentioned that Newton's lover Hattie had found someone else. Scott said that he is trying to hold back the tears and emotion but he couldn't help but cry.
https://civilwar.vt.edu/long-distance-love-and-hardship-in-the-civil-war/ -
Confederate Soldiers are Taking the Oath
Written to Hannah H Cone
Scott Newton was very happy that the war had ended with Union Victory. But still months later, confederate soldiers are still turning themselves in and taking an oath to swear allegiance to the United States of America. Newton says that he hopes that all those people who deny the U.S. will be exterminated by God.
https://historyengine.richmond.edu/episodes/view/4083
