Handwritten letter from 9-year old Alice to her father, Thomas Welsh. Letter inquires about his health, reminds father of his birthday, and includes information on the weather and on visitors to the house.
Admin/Biographical History
Thomas Welsh (1824-1863) was a Lancaster County native (born and raised in Columbia), who rose from hardscrabble origins to local fame, first as a Mexican War hero, and then as a brigadier general during the Civil War. He was well known and well respected as a no nonsense officer, for his leadership and gallantry in battle, for his dedication to the service of his country, and for his concern for the welfare of his men.
Welsh lost his father at the age of 2, and went to work to support his family at age 8. He had very little formal schooling, and was largely self-educated. In 1843, at age 19, he left Lancaster County for Washington City, then went west as an itinerant carpenter/laborer to Cincinnati, Little Rock, and Fort Smith.
When the Mexican War broke out in 1846, he enlisted in a Kentucky regiment, and was severely wounded at the battle of Buena Vista (1847) from which he never fully recovered. Returning home to Columbia, he re-enlisted as a second lieutenant, assigned to the 11th U.S. infantry regiment in Mexico City. Within days of his arrival in Mexico City, he was declared unfit for service on account of his battle wound, and sent home again.
Back in Columbia as a civilian, he dabbled in politics, and received a patronage job in the Pennsylvania Main Line of Public Works (the rail and canal system connecting Philadelphia and Pittsburgh). After several years, he opened up a grocery and dry goods store in Columbia's canal basin. He also became an insurance agent. In 1857, he was elected Justice of the Peace, and his reputation grew as a community leader. By 1860, he was president of the Borough Council, a founding member of the Columbia Board of Trade, Vice President of the Columbia Cricket Club, and a canal boat operator, in addition to a dry goods merchant, insurance agent, and Justice of the Peace. He had a wife, 5 surviving children, and legal guardianship of his sister's 4 children.
When Confederate forces shelled Fort Sumter, marking the beginning of the Civil War, Thomas Welsh raised and organized the first company of volunteers from Lancaster County, and took them into the field as their Captain. Within days, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment, which served out its 90-day enlistment in the Shenandoah Valley.
Returning to Harrisburg, he was appointed Commandant of Camp Curtin, the problem-plagued processing center for new recruits. In short order, Welsh cleaned up the camp's poor sanitary conditions, improved the health of the camp, and implemented soldierly discipline and training.
In October 1861, he resigned from his camp duties, and as Colonel of the 45th Pennsylvania, led his regiment into the field. After brief service outside of Washington, they were sent to South Carolina in December, where they were posted to Otter Island. After the battle of James Island, they were recalled to Newport News, in July 1862, then sent to guard Aquia Creek.
In September, now in brigade command in Burnsides' 9th Corps, Welsh chased Lee's Confederate army west into central Maryland. His brigade broke the enemy line in Fox's Gap, on Sept. 14, then 3 days later achieved the furthest Union advance at Antietam, reaching the edge of Sharpsburg, and nearly cutting off Lee's only avenue of escape. Welsh's gallantry earned him a field promotion to brigadier general, which Congress confirmed on March 13, 1863.
The 9th Corps (Welsh now in command of the 1st Division) was sent west in the spring of 1863, then dispatched south to support Grant's investment of Vicksburg. After Vicksburg fell, they turned east and defeated Confederate General Johnston at the Battle of Jackson. Welsh contracted malaria in the southern swamps, and died in Cincinnati upon their return north. One of his men later recalled, "Had he lived, Welsh would undoubtedly have attained a much higher command. 1
1. Beauge, Eugene, in Albert, Allen D., Ed., History of the Forty-Fifth Regiment Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteer Infantry 1861-1865, Williamsport, PA: Grit Publ. Co, 1912, p. 79.
Letter is pasted into the Thomas Welsh Scrapbook, MG0828_SeriesF_Scrapbk2.
Parent Object ID
MG0828_SeriesD-61
Object ID
MG0828_SeriesD-61_F03
Location of Originals
Letter is pasted into the Thomas Welsh Scrapbook, MG0828_SeriesF_Scrapbk2.
Notes
Added to PP 12/23/2020 by HST
Provenance: Passed down through the family, Blanton Charles Welsh to Emilie Benson (Welsh) Wiggin to Nancy Jane (Wiggin) Townsend. Acquired from: Chuck Townsend, Knoxville, Tennessee, 2016/05/15.
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Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
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Additional Notes
Jail fees and expenses for prisoners from July 1 to October 1, 1821.
Vandike, Jacob. Person of color.
Francis, Fanney.
Smith, John.
McGrann, Patrick.
Stewart, George.
Hyden, George.
Kain, James.
Cannon, John.
Pinehart, Michael.
Green, Charles. Person of color.
Swann, Saul. Person of color.
Austen, James.
Bullman, James. Person of color.
Mooney, William.
Laferdy, Lewesa.
Hildebrand, John.
Ellinger, David.
Gallagher, Michael.
Carter, Charles. Person of color.
Ward, Michael. Person of color.
Christy, John. Person of color.
Banks, David. Person of color.
Leek, Margaret.
Stewart, Charles.
Black, Alexander.
Franton, Samuel.
Paterson, Charles.
Lynch, Hannah.
Myers, Jacob.
Markle, Jacob.
Jones, Samuel.
Mail, Urial.
Blotenberger, Peter.
Deneven, David.
Thompson, William.
Jones, John.
Hains, Samuel.
Bisco, John. Person of color.
Williams, Robert.
Milford, John.
Lewis, William. Person of color.
Burk, Joseph.
Campbell, Mary.
Dill, Thomas. Person of color.
Tate, Agnes.
Watson, Olaver.
Boyle, John.
Zarlet, Mary Ann.
A stranger. (Name not recorded).
Glasgoe, Abraham. Person of color.
Price, John. Person of color.
Eron, George. Person of color.
Richardson, John B. Person of color.
Bennet, Isaac.
Johnson, Thomas. Person of color.
Livey, John.
Kee, William.
O'Donnel, Barney.
McKitrick, Patrick.
Myers, John.
Parker, Joseph. Person of color.
Carns, Robert.
O'Donnel, Dennis.
Gray, John. Person of color.
Kauffman, Isaac.
Lyle, Hugh.
Shartz, Conrad.
Nagle, Frederick.
Keiler, Daniel.
Stewart, Christopher.
Tunaron, Francis. Person of color.
Cochran, Isaac.
Johnson, John. Person of color.
Willes, Thomas.
Moldoon, Charles.
Moore, James.
Clark, Henry.
Flick, Christian.
Taylor, William.
Howard, Adam.
Philips, Henry.
Frances, Fanny.
Lynch, Biddy.
Lynch, Elonor.
Cooper, William.
Milyert, Alexander. Person of color.
Chapman, Barbara.
Smuller, John.
Will, Conrad.
Clark, Henry. Person of color.
Williams.
Gallagher, Paterick.
Porter, Thomas.
Copelen, Isaac.
Peterson, Charles.
Debler, Joseph.
Fitzgerrel, George W.
Doress, James.
Shepperd, Benjamin.
Summervill, William.
Keiler, John.
A stranger (name not recorded).
Smith, Martin.
Davis, Hugh.
Wilson, John.
Dunlap, John.
Chapman, Barbera.
Will, John.
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at research desk. Photocopy made by staff member.
This record group contains canceled orders that were issued by the county commissioners for payment to be made by the county treasurer. The orders show date, order number, amount, name of payee, purpose, and signatures of the county commissioners.
This record group contains canceled orders that were issued by the county commissioners for payment to be made by the county treasurer. The orders show date, order number, amount, name of payee, purpose, and signatures of the county commissioners.
This record group contains canceled orders that were issued by the county commissioners for payment to be made by the county treasurer. The orders show date, order number, amount, name of payee, purpose, and signatures of the county commissioners.
