Partial transcript of the letter from Mr. Fletcher:

Having for the last year been engaged in furnishing supplies to the Government, I take the liberty of addressing you, desiring to know whether you are in want of Arms or Blankets for your state. I have now on hand Eighteen Thousand Superior Russian Muskets, which I can sell at prices considerably lower than they can now be imported for…I have also about 3500 of Denks Breech loading Carbines, a superior arm…

Citation: November 25, 1862, Letter from Joshua A. Fletcher, Gov—Ramsey—Letters Received State Purchases. Minnesota: Governor: Ramsey. Records. Minnesota Historical Society. State Archives. Minnesota Historical Society. [111.E.20.3B/4F]

Letter to Donnelly from J.A. Ashley

Washington, D.C. Nov. 25 1862
My Dear Sir;
Yours of 10th inst. written in behalf of Mr. J. R. Case, reached me on the 18th. In reply I must say that I cannot consent to sign the notes sent by Mr. Case. – I have paid on the note nearly $400, while Mr. Gibbs has not to my knowledge, paid a dollar. – In return for my exertions Mr. Case now proposes to exact from me $180.71 more than one half the note, at the same time that he is willing to permit Mr. G. to go free if he will pay that amount less than one half.

On my return from St. Paul in Feb. 1859, I suggested to Mr. Gibbs the propriety of paying me half the amount I had paid on the note. – He not only refused, but rejected the suggestion with disdain, saying that he could pay his own debts. But aside from this I have Mr. Case’s own statement in writing that he would ? me if I would pay one half the note.

You say that one half only of the $361.43 can be legally creditred to me, I have no desire to argue the case but the question arises in my mind how then can the entire $30 be legally credited to me? […]

Citation: November 25, 1862, Letter from J. A. Ashley to Ignatius Donnelly, Correspondence November 1862. Ignatius Donnelly and family papers, 1812-1973. Minnesota Historical Society. [146.C.19.5B]

Diary entry by Matthew Marvin, Private in the 1st Minnesota Regiment, written from the 1st Minnesota’s camp at Stafford Hills near Falmouth, Virginia. This week Marvin complains that he is “Dead-broke and 3000 mils from home”, then is ordered out on picket and writes that “Major Adams marched us over a darn tough road uselessly”, before falling in “to have the govarners Thanksgiving proclamation red to us”*.  On Monday the 24th he writes:

Reced Orders to have 2 days rations 60 rounds cartridge to be ready at a moments notice[;] perhaps a nite move[.] boys feel lively[.] Weather pleasant[.]

*Thanksgiving in the United States: by 1858, proclamations appointing a day of thanksgiving were issued by the governors of 25 (of 34) states and two territories. The next year (1863), President Lincoln would proclaim a national Thanksgiving Day on the last Thursday of November.

Citation: November 24-29, 1862 Diary entries by Matthew Marvin, Diary notes and memos. Matthew Marvin Papers. Minnesota Historical Society. [P2355 box 1]

Falmouth Va
Sunday November 23d 1862
Dear Mother If my memry dose not fail me I have not wrote to you since we left Bolivar Heights.
The mails have been so very irregular that if I wrote a letter I would have to carry it a week before I could send it off. I can tell you it dose not require a great length of time in my pocket to ware a letter out.  I have jest returned from meeting. the Reverend Mr. Conway of Winona delivered his first serman to the 1st Regt to day. I suppose you know him. he is a Methodist and yousto live up near Lewises house[.]
I am very glad to hear the city of Winona is being rebuilt. I cannot help but think that it will make Winona a City such a one as it should although it has been a great loss to some of the firms[.] they cant help but think of the money they have made thare and will rebuild much finer buildings, such as are in progress now. The rail road in Winona I hear is being completed fast and that will make Winona quite a grain depot as well as all the produces of a farm. grain will be bought in the country and shiped to Winona on the cars and from there to the Eastern market on board of the boats or the farmers will ship there own grain to Winona and sell it to grain buyers in the City. We are paying very high prices for evry thing we get here[.] tobacco is from $1.00 to $1.50 a plug and smokig tobacco $0.75 a paper[.] chees 50 cts per pound flour 10 cts per pound gees $1.50 a peace and beef 15 cts pound and can hardly get any of these things at these prices[.]
The weather has been very fine until the last day or two it has been disagreeable, I hardly feel any interest in this war since General McCllelens removell it was a grand mistake and I think they will rue the day they took him from the comand of the army of the Potomac. They will keep Gen Burnside in a little while and then the Editors of the papers through the country will rais the cry. he is doing nothing and tho people will take it up after them, untill the President thinks he had better put another one in and let old stone wall Jackson get after him, and chase him back to Washington. Then they will begin to think there is no man in the world like little McClellan after all
Give my love to Brother Orren
And best respects to all of my friends
Your son C. E. Goddard
We are not far from the City of Fredricksburg it is jest a cross the Rappahannock River
The Rebbles are in possession of the city

Citation: November 23, 1862 Letter from Charles Goddard to his mother, Correspondence 1853-1862. Smith, Orrin Fruit and Family Papers, 1829-1932. Minnesota Historical Society. [P1434 box 1]

To Donnelly:
Dear Igy, we received your last a few days ago. […]
I think your aspirations are not too great: for if I live, I am in hopes to see you President of the Union. […]

Citation:  November 23, 1862 Letter from “Mother” Lieutenant Governor Ignatius Donnelly, Correspondence November 1862. Ignatius Donnelly and family papers, 1812-1973. Minnesota Historical Society. [146.C.19.5B]

Just today we acquired this lovely menu from a 1936 Thanksgiving dinner at a Civilian Conservation Corps camp, Co. 1762 in Remer, Minnesota. Happy day everyone!

My Dear Sir
I have been so pushed and crowded with everything since the election, that I have not been able to speak more than a single line of congratulations upon your distinguished success in the last election. […]
I have a young cousin, a son of Mr. J. P. Abraham of Rich Valley in your county, who has a desire to go to West Point.  He is a tall, muscular stripling of 15 years, with good natural abilities and I think the qualifications to make a good soldier.  […]
Yours truly Uriah Thomas
Nov. 22d 1862

Citation:  November 22, 1862 Letter from Uriah Thomas to Lieutenant Governor Ignatius Donnelly, Correspondence November 1862. Ignatius Donnelly and family papers, 1812-1973. Minnesota Historical Society. [146.C.19.5B]

The Minnesota Historical Society holds the Walter F. Mondale Papers and has one of the nation’s premier collections of government, politics, and public affairs materials. Watch to learn more about the collections and how to use these fabulous materials.

 

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Onlookers crowd a Minneapolis sidewalk to watch a turkey race on the day after Thanksgiving.  Captured by a Minneapolis newspaper photographer on November 25, 1955.

For details, view the photograph in our online collections database.

Lebanon, Ky Nov 21st 1862
Lt Gov Donnelly
My dear Sir  [ …]the State has proved itself so firmly attached to Republican principles as to present a solid front to this movement of regalvanizing the fossil remains of the old pro-slavery party which now calls itself the “Conservative Party.”  I have no confidence in the boasted love for the Constitution and the union of men of such antecedent as those put into nomination (and in many States Elected) who have emerged from their late obscurity and rallied under this new name. I hope Republicans will now see the necessity for a more perfect organization and discipline since they have lost their political power in Congress by their want of vigilance and activity to fear. […]
With my best wishes for your success and welfare[.] I remain Respectfully and truly yours
Geo A. J. Overton

Citation:  November 21, 1862 Letter from Geo. A.J. Overton to Lieutenant Governor Ignatius Donnelly, Correspondence November 1862. Ignatius Donnelly and family papers, 1812-1973. Minnesota Historical Society. [146.C.19.5B]

Mahogany and tinned-iron patent model of a flour mill dust collector patented in 1879.  Air to be cleaned arrives from the middlings-purifying station of a mill, entering at the bottom of the device and exiting the top.  Dust collects on cloth filters as the air is forced through. A brass cam-shaft, driven by a maple belt-wheel, agitates the filters causing accumulated dust to fall to the bottom of the apparatus, where it is moved out by an auger-type conveyor.

The introduction of dust-collecting methods to flour factories greatly increased the safety of the milling process, preventing dust-ignited explosions like the one that destroyed Minneapolis’ Washburn A Mill in 1878.

For details, view the dust collector in our online collections database.

Head-Quarters, Army of the Potomac,
Camp near Falmouth, Va., Nov. 20, 1862
Hon Ignatius Donnelly— Dear Sir: – I have just learned the result of the election in Minnesota, and offer my most sincere congratulations. […]  And now we only hope that Col. Aldrich will be the Senator, and then I can assure you the First Regt. will be satisfied.
The Regt. is now about three miles from here.  It is very small, many of the boys having taken the “Cavalry Fever” and gone off to the Regulars.  As for me, I prize the associations of the past too highly to attach myself in the same capacity to any other regt. than the old First.
[…] Very respectfully My dear sir,  Your friend Frank J Mead

Citation:  November 20, 1862 Letter from Frank J. Mead to Lieutenant Governor Ignatius Donnelly, Correspondence November 1862. Ignatius Donnelly and family papers, 1812-1973. Minnesota Historical Society. [146.C.19.5B]