Thomas D. Christie

Date: December 24, 1861
Location: Fort Benton, Missouri
Addressee: Sarah J. Christie
Description: Thomas describes camp life at Fort Benton, Missouri. He also sends his wishes for a merry christmas.
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Date: July 4 – 7, 1862
Location: Corinth, Mississippi
Addressee: James C. Christie
Description: Thomas reports on celebrations for Independence Day. He also provides details about the artillery used by the Battery.
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Date: July 10, 1862
Location: Corinth, Mississippi
Addressee: Alexander S. Christie
Description: General news from camp. Thomas mentions a possible visit by Minnesota Governor Alexander Ramsey.
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Date: July 16, 1862
Location: Corinth, Mississippi
Addressee: Sarah J. Christie
Description: Activity in camp. Thomas contrasts the health and hygiene of the First Minnesota Light artillery with that of Wisconsin infantry units camped nearby.
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Date: July 19, 1862
Location: Corinth, Mississippi
Addressee: Alexander S. Christie
Description: A general description of camp life. Thomas also describes young Southern women, and recounts a strong storm in the area.
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Date: September 2, 1862
Location: Corinth, Mississippi
Addressee: Alexander S. Christie
Description: Thomas writes about news from the battle at Bull Run. He also describes Union Generals Ord and Rawlins.
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Date: September 8, 1862
Location: Corinth, Mississippi
Addressee: Sarah J. Christie
Description: This letter explains the process of foraging for food around camp, and also mentions the mobilization of the troops for maneuvers in the Iuka area. Thomas also provides advice to his sister on studying.
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Date: September 21, 1862
Location: Corinth, Mississippi
Addressee: Sarah J. Christie
Description: Thomas describes the maneuvers that took the soldiers through Iuka, Glendale, and Burnsville.
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Date: September 25, 1862
Location: Corinth, Mississippi
Addressee: James C. Christie
Description: Thomas mentions talk of using Union soldiers in the Sioux uprising in Minnesota. He also transcribes a commendation regarding the Battery's conduct in Iuka.
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Date: October 18, 1862
Location: Corinth, Mississippi
Addressee: James C. Christie
Description: Thomas describes the battle of Corinth, and details the tasks of the artillery during battle.
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Date: October 27, 1862
Location: Corinth, Mississippi
Addressee: James C. Christie
Description: Thomas complains of the unusually cold weather and describes the unit's impending reassignment.
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Date: October 28, 1862
Location: Corinth, Mississippi
Addressee: Sarah J. Christie
Description: This letter describes a particularly exciting session of artillery shooting.
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Date: June 5, 1863
Location: Vicksburg, Mississippi
Addressee: Alexander S. Christie
Description: Thomas describes the siege of Vicksburg. The Battery saw extensive action and was constantly fired upon. He also recounts the visit of General U.S. Grant into the gun emplacements.
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Date: June 7, 1863
Location: Vicksburg, Mississippi
Addressee: Sarah J. Christie
Description: Construction of battlements and forts is explained. Thomas also provides details on how his artillery gun is fired in battle.
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Date: June 28, 1863
Location: Vicksburg, Mississippi
Addressee: Sarah J. Christie
Description: In the midst of extremely heavy fighting, Thomas explains his personal attitude towards the War.
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Date: July 1, 1863
Location: Vicksburg, Mississippi
Addressee: Alexander S. Christie
Description: Thomas provides advice on school, and relates the status of the siege operation.
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Date: August 12, 1863
Location: Vicksburg, Mississippi
Addressee: Sarah J. Christie
Description: Now inside the city of Vicksburg, Thomas describes his recovery from illness. He also mentions the Wisconsin soldiers camped nearby.
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Date: October 26, 1863
Location: Vicksburg, Mississippi
Addressee: James C. Christie
Description: General camp news; Thomas injures his fingers during writing of the letter.
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Date: November 14, 1863
Location: Vicksburg, Mississippi
Addressee: Sarah J. Christie
Description: In the absence of many higher officers, Thomas is given command of the regiment. Thomas also recounts Logan's speech to the troops.
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Date: November 28, 1863
Location: Vicksburg, Mississippi
Addressee: Sarah J. Christie
Description: Thomas is involved in the creation of a soldiers' group called the Vicksburg Union Literary Society. He also writes about the prevalence of music in camp.
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Date: December 6, 1863
Location: Vicksburg, Mississippi
Addressee: Alexander S. Christie
Description: Thomas discusses reenlistment in the Battery, and of obtaining a furlough to return to Wisconsin. He also writes about the Vicksburg Union Literary Society.
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Date: December 9, 1863
Location: Vicksburg, Mississippi
Addressee: James C. Christie
Description: Thomas writes this letter on the back of a circular which calls for donations to the soldiers' lending library organized by the Vicksburg Union Literary Society. The library is the letter's main subject.
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Date: December 9, 1863
Location: Vicksburg, Mississippi
Addressee: Sarah J. Christie
Description: Thomas describes the large social event thrown by the Vicksburg Union Literary Society.
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Date: February 3, 1864
Location: Vicksburg, Mississippi
Addressee: James C. Christie
Description: Thomas writes about foraging operations in the area around the camp, delays in obtaining a furlough, and about debating at the Vicksburg Union Literary Society.
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Date: March 13, 1864
Location: Vicksburg, Mississippi
Addressee: Sarah J. Christie
Description: Thomas, acting as Sergeant, is brought in front of the captain by a drunken General Chambers, who believes that he was insulted by one of the Battery's soldiers.
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Date: June 5, 1864
Location: Rome, Georgia
Addressee: James C. Christie
Description: Thomas describes the march to the Rome area, and the fighting that occurred near Moulton. The march was very exhausting and the men were low on sleep.
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Date: June 8, 1864
Location: Near Ackworth, Georgia
Addressee: Alexander S. Christie
Description: Thomas details the position of the Battery as they prepare for battle.
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Date: July 1, 1864
Location: Near Ackworth, Georgia
Addressee:Alexander S. Christie
Description: Shells fly into camp in the midst of heavy fighting.
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Date: July 13, 1864
Location: Near Atlanta, Georgia
Addressee: Alexander S. Christie
Description: The Battery waits in camp for its orders to move. Thomas discusses the poor crop in Clyman that year, and tells of his conversations with Will McClain, a soldier who helped capture Confederate spy Belle Boyd.
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Date: July 25, 1864
Location: Near Atlanta, Georgia
Addressee: Alexander S. Christie
Description: The Battery, having just marched through Marietta and Decatur, finds itself in the middle of heavy fighting near Atlanta. However, they are not allowed to fire their guns. Thomas also details the death of General McPherson in this heavy fighting.
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Date: July 30, 1864
Location: Near Atlanta, Georgia
Addressee: Alexander S. Christie
Description: While shells land in camp, Thomas describes the Union Army as very confident. He also provides his brother an explanation of the organization of the Union Army, including the different divisions.
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Date: August 5, 1864
Location: Near Atlanta, Georgia
Addressee: Sarah J. Christie
Description: Thomas describes the heavy skirmishing near Atlanta, as well as the current encampment. He also discusses the strategy and progress of the Union advance.
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Date: August 12, 1864
Location: Near Atlanta, Georgia
Addressee: Alexander S. Christie
Description: Camp life is described as very dull, but a reconnaissance mission proves very exciting.
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Date: January 5, 1865
Location: Savannah, Georgia
Addressee: Alexander S. Christie
Description: Thomas offers his opinions on soldiering in general to his brother, who is considering enlistment.
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Date: April 15, 1865
Location: Clyman, Wisconsin
Addressee: Alexander S. Christie
Description: Thomas D. Christie describes his journey home to Wisconsin, and details interesting sights and conversations.
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Date: April 17, 1865
Location: Clyman, Wisconsin
Addressee: Diary Entry
Description: Not precisely a letter, Thomas' entry into James C. Christie's family diary describes the effect on the Christie family caused by the reports of Lincoln's assassination, and the news of the Confederate surrender arriving in Clyman nearly simultaneously with William G. Christie, freshly released from Confederate prison.
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