“Mrs. Mary Ann Lewis Bronson, A Visit With a Civil War Doctor’s Wife”

    My great, great grandfather Dr. George Bronson was a Hospital Steward with the 11th CT. Vol. Reg. He married my great, great grandmother, Mary Ann Lewis on September 5, 1861.   Five weeks later, Dr. Bronson enlisted in the Union Army. Much to his newly wed wife’s horror and disbelief, George enlists as a Private. This rank was to be short lived. He served proudly for four years as Hospital Steward.   The only contact that the newlyweds had was through their correspondence.  Our family is blessed to have in our possession forty four of George’s original  letters that he had sent to Mary Ann.

    Assuming the role of my great,great grandmother and namesake, “Mary Ann” shares her opinions and observations of the War from a northern lady’s point of view, and also relates George’s harrowing experiences by sharing six of his precious letters with you. 

    These six letters will take you from the docks of New York City on December 17, 1861 as the 11th Connecticut Vol. Reg. sets sail for Maryland.  September 17th,1862 finds George at the  Antietam Battlefield on Burnsides Bridge where he writes “ I do not know the name of the creek, but I have named it the creek of death.  Such slaughter I hope never to witness again.”  July 10th 1863 finds George in Portsmouth, Va. where he tells  Mary Ann “Why I joined the Army”.  And finally in April of 1865 letters arrive home from the Rebel Capitol of Richmond, Va.   George‘s Reg. is the first to enter the city as Richmond falls.  He writes Mary Ann upon learning that Lee has surrendered to Grant.   April 18, 1865 “A great and good man has fallen”. 

    As “Mary Ann’s” visit with you concludes, she bids you farewell as she anxiously awaits George’s return.

     For more information on this 45 minute program please contact:           

   Mary Lou Pavlik

bpavlik@mac.com