Newton Scott: A Union Army Soldier

Death of a Union Soldier named Tayler

Oct 24, 1862

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gettysburg_National_Cemetery The letter was to Miss Hannah. M. Cone . A soldier named Taylor died of sickness. He was one of the soldiers under a Union Army Captain named Nobles. 4 of the Captain’s men and 4 of Newton’s men escorted the body home. One can assume that Newton may have been upset by the death of Taylor, but his emotion on the topic was not shown in the letter.

Passing through Yazoo Pass

Nov 24, 1862

http://georgetownsteamboats.com/gs/site-introduction/civil-war-transports/ The letter was written to Miss Hannah Cone. Newton travels by steam boat for 6 days and 18 miles on one of the crookedest and narrowest channels, passing through Yazoo pass. They departed on the boat on Nov. 24,1863. Newton was unimpressed by the little towns they passed on the river, calling them "hard places" with the people to match.

Dysentery Disease

Nov 30, 1862

https://emergingcivilwar.com/2017/01/28/silent-death-dysentery-disease-and-sickness/ The letter was written to Miss Hannah Cone. Newton and his unit had a long March to a little village in St. Louis but there many sick men and they had to stay back because of dysentery disease. Newton explains how he hopes to have the sick one marching with them again soon.

Union Army Convoy of Boats

Apr 9, 1863

https://www.pbs.org/video/guerilla-warfare-figures-tennessee-civil-war-150-lts1fc/ This is another letter written to Miss Hannah Cone. Newton Scott’s company is traveling into the heart of Dixie on a crooked river on a convoy of boats, including 6 gun boats. Every day they have expected to be fired upon by Confederate guerillas.. Newton feels that he is ready to see some military action and hopes there will be a fight.

Promoted

Jun 17, 1863

https://fortconcho.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Military-Rank-for-19th-century-army.pdf Yet again, another letter to Miss Hannah Cone. He has been promoted and is no longer a private and he is really happy because he no longer has to do guard duty. The cold nights on guard duty he explains, were really getting to him. The picture is a promotion certificate

Photograph

Jun 17, 1863

https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/civil-war-soldiers-portraits-the-liljenquist-family-collection/ This is another letter to his neighbor Miss Hannah Cone. Newton gets his photograph taken and he is happy because they are a very rare thing to have. Having your photo taken back then was a special thing and was important for soldiers especially, as they may not survive the war.

Generals Holmes and Marmaduke attack the Union Army

Jul 4, 1863

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaCY2y1_sis This letter was written to Newton's parents. Confederate Generals Price, Holmes and Marmaduke attacked the Union Army in Helena, Ark. Newton Scott was there. It did not go well for the Confederate Generals and their army. Many of the Confederate soldiers ran or surrendered. Newton was excited by the victory which followed the unexpected attack.

Union Army took 960 prisoners

Jul 6, 1863

https://www.britannica.com/video/195089/lot-military-prisoners-American-Civil-War-Andersonville This letter was to his parents. Union Army took 960 prisoners from the battle of Helena. Newton was glad they had prisoners from the enemy. It is clear that Newton feels pride at how well the Union Army has fought in this battle and he expresses confidence that they can win the war.

General Price: Fight or flee

Aug 11, 1863

https://www.oxfordhandbooks.com/view/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190903053.001.0001/oxfordhb-9780190903053-e-27 This letter is another one to Miss Hannah M. Cone. Newtons whole unit marched from Helena towards Little Rock in order to force general Price to fight or flee. Newton shows excitement about what is to come in their pursuit of General Price.

Rebel Spy David O. Dodd is executed

Jan 19, 1864

http://arkansasroadstories.com/warriors/dodd.htm This letter is to Miss Hannah M. Cone. Newton reports that a 17 year old boy from Little Rock named David O. Dodd was caught spying and had rebel papers with him. He was quickly found guilty and then put to death by being hung. Newton does not seem too upset by this. He says that David O. Dodd was surrounded by 'Good People' at his execution.

The death of some recruits

Jul 22, 1864

https://www.essentialcivilwarcurriculum.com/disease-in-the-civil-war.html This letter is to his neighbor Miss Hannah Cone..He tells her about four men from the recruits that have died in the last month. Their names were Cattern , Carhart , Robert B Miller , Joseph Warren. Newton feels that the Summer months will bring yet more deaths from sickness amongst the new recruits.

Prisoner Exchange

Mar 13, 1865

http://digitalexhibits.wsulibs.wsu.edu/exhibits/show/civilwar/prisoners-of-war/prisoner-exchanges This letter is to Miss Hannah Cone. A prisoner exchange takes place between the Union and the Confederate Armies. Newton mentions that all the exchanged prisoners are on their way home, with the exception of 2 that are staying with his group. He is unhappy that 10 Union soldiers died after being capture by the Confederates.

Oath Of Allegiance

May 24, 1865

https://www.virginiamemory.com/online-exhibitions/exhibits/show/remaking-virginia/item/590 This is another letter to Newton's neighbor Miss Hannah Cone. The war is winding down for Newton Scott and there is not a lot of rebel activity around him. He does mention that the rebels around him are all surrendering and taking the oath of allegiance to the US. Newton sounds like he is very confident about the way the war is going.

Newton is going home at last!

Aug 18, 1865

http://www.civilwar.com/history/soldier-life-85851/148559-life-after-the-civil-war.html This letter is to his parents and I am sure that it was welcome news to them. After 3 years of military life and war, on August 18th 1865 Newton Scott writes to let them know that he is finally coming home! He is so happy to get to go home and see his friends and family again.