This letter was written by 25 year-old William Hunting Rogers of Lyons, Wayne county, New York. “Hunt” went into the 98th New York Volunteers (the “Malone & Lyons Regiment”) as a private and worked his way up to Lieut. Colonel. He was a quartermaster earlier in the war. The letter speaks frequently about watching the Merrimac [CSS Virginia] and its crew patrolling on the James River.
Hunt wrote the letter on 10 April 1862, a month after the Monitor and Merrimack dueled at Hampton Roads, and approximately ten days after the regiment arrived on the Peninsula as part of the 3d brigade; 3d division, 4th corps. In the weeks ahead they would participate in the siege of Yorktown and the battles of Williamsburg and Savage Station, but were not closely engaged until the battle of Fair Oaks, where the loss of the regiment was 71 killed, wounded or missing.
Hunt attended the Fort Plain Seminary in Lyons in 1854. He was married to Adele Isabella Mirick (1840-1898) in 1886.
Note: This letter is from the collection of Stephen Sklenar and was offered for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by express consent.
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
Headquarters Casey’s Division Newport News [Va.] 98 Regt. N. Y. S. April 10th 1862
Bro. Ed,
I haven’t received a word from home since I left Washington. I don’t know what it means. Hope I shall have a letter soon.
I went to Fort Monroe yesterday and had the filling of one of my teeth put in and what do you think he charged me—only $2.50. [It’s] the [same] one that Doct. put in a year or two ago and was glad to find a dentist that could do it at that. Ed, if you were here you could have all you could do in that line, but you would have to take your chance on pay.
While I am writing, there is Capt. [Orlando F.] Miller, Daniel’s brother, & two or three more playing Eucher. Have gay times, I tell you, and Capt. Miller is one of the Boys—the only one of the Malone Boys that knows anything. They are a seedy set of men, I tell you.
Ed, while I am writing, the Merrimack and two others are off the dock a scouting around and we are ordered to hold ourselves in readiness to march at a moment’s warning. The Quartermaster has just come in from Newport News and he says that the Merrimack came out this morning and took two schooners loaded with horses and went off with them.
Ed, I tell you, we are in for it now. I tell you, when I went to the Fort yesterday and passed through Hampton—which was a Union town when the Rebels were in camp—and when they left, they burnt the town. Such a [sorry] looking place you never saw. I should think it was a place larger than Lyons. There is nothing left but the walls of the buildings and the graveyard they have destroyed in such a manner that I was shocked, The tombstones were blown open and the graves dug up, &c.
You can see the Rebel batteries on the other side of the James River today very plainly. I could see them mounting guard today and the boys drilling, the ships of war in the river, and if we had another Monitor we could make them hunt their hole. But she has to lay in the harbor to protect the shipping so she can’t so anything you see.
Ed, Fort Monroe is not such a big thing after all. I have been all over it and have seen much after all, but if they come under her guns, they will want to wish themselves home, I think. And the Rip Raps are nothing more than a pile of stones—nothing on them but a house & guns, but of much consequence in case they undertake to come up to the fort.
What are you doing now, Ed? Are you going with Uncle Kat. I should if I were you. If I can’t find anything to [do] in the business which you [ ], you will find something to do in Sodus, I should think but don’t know.
Ed, the Boys in camp seem to all be sick. I don’t know what ails them. I never saw such works. They will none be ready to move, I am afraid, but hope they will get along. We have had such weather for a few days that it was enough to make anyone sick. But this morning the sun came out and I think we will have pleasant weather now. Breakfast on sweet potatoes and bread, coffee, fried hominy which was bully, I tell you.
Ed, I think I have written quite a letter to you and if you knew how much I liked to get a letter from home, you would write often I think. The Colonel is calling so here it goes. Your Hunt. Direct Fort Monroe
Ed, we had to bury one of our soldiers this afternoon and I tell you, it was a solemn thing. I don’t know what was the matter with him. [He was] one of the Malone Boys. 1
But Ed, the excitement there is in camp about the Merrimack. Why she isn’t more than a mile and a half from here and we can see the whole performance and I tell you, it is shameful. But there is no use of talking. Something is to be done. You can see how it is. The blockade can’t leave this place. If they do, the Merrimack would go up the river and bay and cut off our supplies. That wouldn’t do. I sometimes think the Monitor is afraid of her, but hope not. The Merrimack [Monitor] wants to get to Yorktown as I understand it, but if she does, the Merrimack will walk into Norfolk and shell the town and so they keep matching everything they can get hold of. But I think you will hear of a big thing soon. I tell you, it is a shame to see the [wrecks of the] Congress & Cumberland in the river and that Merrimack running around and we in her power. It has been such a pleasant day. You could see the men on board of her and see the officers on board of her.
Now I want you to write me now. Mind that now and have the others do so [too]. I think I have done my part if I know myself. I shall keep you posted when I can so goodbye. — Your Hunt.
I haven’t received a letter for three weeks. Don’t [know] what is the matter.
1 Possibly John Bassett of Malone who was a private in Co. C although muster records have his death as April 16th 1862 at Newport News, Va.
Pip: Spared and Shared arrives with ink-stained fingers and mud on its boots — letters written by men who were either deep in the field or anxiously watching from home, wondering when any of it would end.
Mara: Griff has assembled a set of Civil War correspondence that moves between two distinct worlds: soldiers writing home about what they’re living through, and family members on the home front trying to make sense of what’s happening to the men they love.
Pip: The gap between those two worlds is where most of this material lives — and it’s a surprisingly rich place.
Mara: Let’s start with the home front letters, where the war arrives as news, grief, and local politics all at once.
Home Front Family Correspondence
Pip: The question this set of letters keeps asking is what the war looks like when you’re not fighting it — when you’re in Illinois or Delaware, reading dispatches, burying brothers, and trying to hold a household together.
Mara: Thomas Barnfield’s letter from Vicksburg on January 5, 1865 captures the soldier’s side of that gap perfectly. He’s just ridden out in rain since four in the morning and he drops into pure storytelling: “We ‘wented’ at 9 a.m. yesterday and met Gen. G with 3 brigades of cavalry and 2 or 3,000 contrabands and 800 prisoners about 12 miles from town, badly in need of both food and forage.”
Pip: That word “wented” is doing a lot of work. He’s an officer writing to a fellow officer, and he’s still performing the whole thing as a comedy of exhaustion.
Mara: The stakes underneath the comedy are real. Grierson’s raid had just severed Confederate supply lines badly enough that Hood’s retreating army couldn’t get fed. Barnfield knows he’s describing something consequential, even as he calls it an “entire success” with deliberate lightness.
Pip: His second letter, written around mid-February, keeps the same register — humming “I want to go home” between lines about an upcoming expedition whose details are, he deadpans, “a profound secret only known to the Confederacy.”
Mara: The home front answer to Barnfield’s letters comes in Alfred Matthews Mann’s letter to his brother John Preston Mann — the same John Mann Barnfield was writing to — dated November 1863 from Pleasant Ridge, Illinois. Alfred is reporting on the death of their brother Clinton at Chattanooga, the local elections, and the mood in Randolph County.
Pip: Which was, apparently, a county divided enough that a Copperhead’s complaint counted as a political analysis.
Mara: Alfred quotes one directly: “the damned Union League done it all.” He means it as a victory report — the Union sentiment had just flipped the county by over two hundred votes.
Pip: And then there’s the Smith brothers correspondence — William and Grover writing home to Dover, Delaware across four years, tracking everything from boot sizes to battlefield losses to family farm decisions.
Mara: William was mortally wounded near Petersburg in October 1864. Grover survived and kept writing. Together their letters form a long, plainspoken record of what the war actually cost a single household, letter by letter.
Mara: The field letters carry a different weight — men writing from inside the thing, not around it.
Soldiers In The Field
Pip: If the home front letters are about absorbing the war from a distance, the field letters are about being inside something you can’t fully see — and still needing to write home.
Mara: Thomas Lancaster’s letter from Goodson, Virginia in November 1861 anchors this segment. He’s a Confederate pork contractor, not a soldier, but he’s watching the war arrive in real time. He writes: “We have had very exciting times here for 7 or 8 days. All ready to fight except some that has run away. The Union men in East Tennessee made a rise up for Old Abe, burnt five bridges between here and Chattanooga.”
Pip: The upshot of that passage is that Lancaster is simultaneously processing hogs by the hundreds and watching his region fracture along Unionist and secessionist lines — sometimes violently, across the Holston River at one in the morning.
Mara: His letter also documents something the history books tend to abstract: the logistics of salt. Getting it from Saltville required sending your own sacks, attending the kettle yourself, and paying seventy-five cents a bushel on the branch line. Without it, the pork contract — twelve to fifteen thousand hogs — falls apart.
Pip: Salt as a strategic material is not a glamorous subject, but Lancaster makes it feel urgent.
Mara: James Burton Allen’s letter from Richmond, dated May 1, 1861, sits at the other end of the experience. He’s just enlisted in the 15th Virginia Infantry, one week in, drilling five times a day, and he writes to his father: “I don’t hear anything about war and I don’t think there will be anything of it.”
Pip: One week in. That sentence lands differently knowing what the next four years looked like.
Mara: Edward Bond’s letter from June 1864 comes from yet another angle — a civilian teamster on General Sully’s Northwestern Indian Expedition into Dakota Territory, writing from a camp he addresses as “Camp Demoralization, Iowa.” His fellow teamsters he describes as “the worst of the worst of the dirty, low-lived villains and rascals that you ever saw.”
Pip: Even the logistics of violence had its own miserable supply chain.
Mara: Bond’s letter is the odd one out geographically — Dakota Territory, not the Civil War’s eastern theater — but it belongs here as a field correspondent writing from inside an operation he can barely explain and definitely didn’t romanticize.
Pip: All of these letters share the same quality: they were written before the writer knew how the story ended.
Mara: What holds this material together is the distance — between the front and home, between what soldiers knew and what families understood, between the moment of writing and everything that came after.
Pip: And the fact that someone kept the letters. That’s the whole premise of this site, really — next time, more of what survived.
John Emerson Anderson, 2nd Mass. Vols., taken prisoner at the Battle of Winchester on 24 May 1862 and paroled in June.
The following letters were written by Parney (Hastings) Anderson (1810-1905) and/or her husband John May Anderson (1809-1865) of Oakdale, Worcester county, Massachusetts. The letters were addressed to their son, John “Emerson” Anderson (1833-1896), a boot maker by trade before the war. Emerson enlisted on 25 May 1861 as a private in Co. D, 2nd Massachusetts Infantry. He was taken prisoner on 24 May 1862 during the battle of Winchester but was paroled in June 1862 and promoted to sergeant, mustering out of the regiment in mid-July 1865. The 2nd Mass Vols. participated in the battles of Cedar Mountain, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Resaca, Kennesaw Mountain, Siege of Atlanta, March to the Sea, Savannah, and others.
Parney’s letter of 13 June 1862 expresses relief at hearing of her son’s safety following his being taken prisoner during the Battle of Winchester in May 1862.
Glad to have the privilege of writing to you once more. Our minds have been greatly relieved by receiving yours of the 6th this morning. I do feel, Emerson, that the Lord is very kind to us. We did not expect to hear directly from you for some time. I said to your father, I think it was last night, that if I could only have the privilege of sending you some little comforts, how glad I should be, thinking you were in the hands of those cold-hearted rebels. I rejoice that you are once more a free man to act for yourself for your country, [and] the best of all, for God. When I think of the past dealings of God with us, I can but exclaim how wonderfully good He is to us. I have been wonderfully supported under these trials of late caused by the mismanagement of someone who thought perhaps they were doing the very best way. I have reference to your being left with so few men when you needed them the most. We wonder here they were were not all taken or killed.
Alfredy Chase has just been in to read us a letter from William. She also brought tidings of you but your letter came a little first, notwithstanding this did not cover their kindness in the least for this is not the first time, nor the second, but the fourth, certain, that they have been here to bring us tidings of you. William took pains after seeing the Major that returned from prison to write all about you to his folks requesting them to let us know immediately to relieve us of our suspense. How good he is. I shall always remember him and his kindness to us. The first that we heard of you that we could rely upon was Billy Beach when he came home. But Emerson, we felt almost sure that you were safe. It seems to me that I never before experienced that implicit trust in our Heavenly Father that I have for a few weeks past. I feel willing he should plan all things concerning my interest.
I received a letter from you the 24th of May—the day you were taken prisoner. In it was five dollars & a precious little bunch of flowers which I value much. I answered that on the Monday after the battle. I did not send you any stamps thinking you might not get them but we will send you some in this. Just write whether you received one wrote the 6th of May with 24 stamps in it. I may be mistaken about the stamps being in the one spoken of. I have sent you three that I have had no answer from. I presume they have fell into your hands ere this. If not, we will not complain for we have been highly favored.
The [Oakdale] Boys have sent on for some things and I will say here that if you would like to have us send you some, we will do so. Tell us what you would like. You have money enough at home to get you what you need so do not want for things to make you comfortable. Well, Emerson, you see I shall have to close. We are all well. Glad to think I may have another from you soon. Friends all well except Lydia. Said she has been sick for some time since. Getting better we hope. From your Parents.
Billy Beach is boot making for Mr. Robert Morrow.
Letter 2
Oakdale, [Massachusetts] October 24th 1863
Dear Emerson,
Yours of the 18th came yesterday. We had been waiting anxiously for some little time to hear from you. We received the letter sent from Alexandria which you spoke of in your last. I answered it immediately. I directed it to Washington. Perhaps you will get it sometime if you have not ere this. I hardly feel reconciled to your going so far from home when so many soldiers are wanted nearer. But then I have thought that you would have a good chance to see the country and this you no doubt will enjoy although circumstances of a painful nature hath called you there. It has been said since the 12th Corps left, that it was with Burnside so I thought you would stand a chance to find some of your old acquaintances, but I find by sending yours that you are with Rosecrans.
I wrote you in my last that Winser Newton was missing. There has not been anything heard from him as yet. His friends feel very anxious to know what has become of him.
Sister Belle [Isabella (Hastings) Bigelow] had a letter from Lewis Jor last week. He is married. Sent his picture and also one of his wife. She is very smart or her picture deceives her. He and wife are both teaching in an academy now. Isn’t this nice. What a lucky boy. She is a farmer’s daughter. Her name has slipped my mind. He wrote that his father enlisted into the service of his country and they had given him the commission of a recruiting officer. Said we hardly knew him on coming home dressed in uniform—it altered him so. I think he would look well for a field officer—he is so tall and stout built. He has changed his looks since you saw him. He is much thicker, or was when here, than he used to be. He wrote nothing of poor Horatio. Did not mention his name. Rather singular I should think. Must it be they have given him up for loss? If so, I hope they may be mistaken.
Had a letter from Mother last week. They were well but they [said] that Mr. B’s son Prentis was dead so he can have his society nor help anymore. Lizzie’s babe is very sick. Do not think it will live long. It has been sick for three weeks or more. I have been there a good part of the time for two weeks or more. Glad it is so that I can be with her some. She has done so much for me. The rest of our friends are well. Father is better than when I last wrote. You think he will soon be able to work some. My health is very good for me. You mentioned in your last of having a box, if sure of getting it. How much pleasure we would take in filling one for you and if at any time you should send for me, just write what you would like to have put in for by so doing, you would not have to do without the thing you needed most. I sent you but one stamp in the last letter. Did not know as you would get it. Will put but one in this. If you get this, I shall not hesitate to put more of them in my next. I will write often and perhaps you will get some of them.
Mr. Ford has been in [and] has just left. Much love is sent by friends. From your parents, — J. M. Anderson
Letter 3
Oakdale, [Massachusetts] November 28, 1863
Dear Emerson,
Yours No. 2 came last eve. Glad to know you were so comfortably situated. Still you may not be in those comfortable quarters now for I learn that that there has been a dreadful battle [at Chattanooga] in Rosecrans’ army since your last letter was wrote. The papers state that one division of the 12th Corps was engaged in it [but] does not give the number. But somehow I have felt that it was not the one you belong to. The papers say that our men have been very successful. It is called a splendid victory for Grant’s army. But could one noble victory be gained which would prove the last without the loss of lives, what a wonderful jubilee we should have. Oh that the time may soon come when war shall be known no more forever.
The Army of the Potomac are in motion. The papers say they were expecting a battle yesterday. If you think you could get papers from us, we will send you some. Father got a New York weekly this morning. Said he would like to send you but thought perhaps you might not get it. Said he would send a piece of it in an envelope for he knew that you would take great interest in reading it. It’s the doings of the National Cemetery at Gettysburg. I am glad that they are making some provisions for the memory of those brave men that fell in that hard battle. They ought to be honored in this way. Honor is to be obtained.
We held a Union Meeting in the Methodist House on Thanksgiving day. Preaching by Rev. Mr. Holbrook, prayer by Rev. Mr. Abbott. The services were very solemn, after which a collection was taken for the relief of the sick and wounded soldiers, Uncle B and Aunt Belle took dinner with us. Sarah and Walon was gone from home or they would have been here too. About 5 o’clock Brother B. went home, harnessed his horse, came up [and] carried us down to his house. We stayed until the next day when he brought us again to our home. We had a pleasant time. But dear Emerson, be assured the long absent one was not forgotten, neither at the Festival board nor at the alter.
Emerson, when you write us again, give us the name of the general of your division, if you please. By so doing, we may stand a better chance in times of battle to know whether you are engaged or not. We are as well as usual. Father is suffering some this afternoon with a pain in his head and neck, but thinks he will be better soon. Mrs. Ford sends with much love. Mt. Ford stamped and backed them. Your parents, Mother
I hope you had your anticipated dinner on Thanksgiving day. I should have liked to sit and see you eat of it. Your parents, — J. M. Anderson
The following letter was written by a teamster participating on the 1864 Northwestern Indian Expedition led by Gen. Alfred Sully into the Dakota Territory. The expedition consisted of two brigades of cavalry, each with an attached artillery battery. The First Brigade was assembled at Sioux City, Iowa, in May 1864. It consisted of the: 6th Iowa Cavalry Regiment, 3 companies of the 7th Iowa Cavalry Regiment, 2 companies of the 1st Dakota Cavalry Battalion, Brackett’s Minnesota Cavalry Battalion, and 1 artillery battery of four M1841 mountain howitzers under the command of Captain Nathaniel Pope. The Second Brigade, dubbed the “Minnesota Brigade”, was an all-Minnesota brigade led by Minor T. Thomas which consisted of: the 8th Minnesota Infantry Regiment (mounted), six companies of the 2nd Minnesota Cavalry Regiment, and the 3rd Minnesota Light Artillery Battery under the command of Captain John W. Jones. Weeks later the expedition would engage in the Battle of Killdeer Mountain (pictured in header) and the Battle of the Badlands.
The author of this letter has signed his name but I can’t be certain I’ve transcribed his surname correctly. It looks like Edward Bond. Based on the content of the letter, it seems that Edward was hired on with the expedition as a civilian teamster—one among fifty so hired whom Edward described as “among the worst of the worst of the dirty, low-lived villains and rascals that you ever saw.”
Camp of the 6th Iowa Cavalry on Sully’s Expedition of 1864
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
Camp Demoralization, Iowa June 8th 1864
Dear friend,
I expect you think I acted rather strangely in not letting you know about my sudden departure so I will just make you acquainted with the circumstances that you may not be laboring under any mistaken as to my promtness in fulfilling agreements. It is like this.
When I arrived at Minneapolis, I asserted that it took men that knew their business to go as scouts—that Sibley’s Expedition was likely to failure and that [Major Alfred B.] Brackett was going to send 50 men the next day to join Sully’s Expedition as teamsters. But he was not sure whether he had enough or not until he got them together. I thought it would be imprudent to take father measures or uncertainties so I let the matter rest until the appointed time when I found a chance and accepted it. I hope these facts will satisfy you.
Now I will say a word in regard to the crowd I am connected with although it will be impossible for me to give you much idea of them much less express my contempt. But perhaps I can get your imagination running in a direction that will give you some idea of them. Pick from among the worst of the worst of the dirty, low-lived villains and rascals that you ever saw and imagine them too as much worse than Bill Blake as he is [nothing more] than an ordinary villain and perhaps in this way you will get some idea of them though very distant. I assure you, their villainous tricks on the way are entirely too numerous to mention. You will dispute the whole story when I tell you I have as yet had little difficulty with them but I am all the time expecting it. If you should see Old Sturdevent, please start Ol___ on this subject and perhaps he would say something that would be very soothing, whatever it may be, to be sure.
We will get to Sioux City tomorrow, no preventing Providence. I have no more time to write although I have not wrote one-fourth I would like to. It may be that I will have another chance to write at Sioux City. I cannot tell you where to direct. Meantime you will observe this is from your friend, — Edward Bond
This Illinois home front letter was written by Alfred Matthews Mann (1837-1912) to his brother, John Preston Mann (1822-1908) who was serving in the 5th Illinois Cavalry. They were the sons of John Beattie Mann (1796-1881) and Albina Bloomer Balch (1797-1882) of Randolph County, Illinois. The letter was datelined from “Pleasant Ridge” near Kaskaskia on 27 November 1863.
John and Albina had five sons that volunteered to serve the Union cause in the Civil War. They were John Preston (“J. P.”) Mann (b. 1822) of the 5th Illinois Cavalry—to whom they addressed this letter, Robert “Clinton” Mann (b. 1824) who served in the 22nd Illinois Infantry and was mortally wounded in the Battle of Chickamauga, James “Luther” Mann (b. 1826) who served briefly in the 80th Illinois Infantry, Jonathan [“Jonta”] Balch Mann (b. 1828) who served in the 80th Illinois Infantry, and Calvin Anderson Mann (b. 1833) who served in the 5th Illinois Cavalry. All survived except Clinton.
When John and Albina settled in Randolph county in the late 1820s, Kaskaskia was the county seat. It remained so until the flood of 1844 forced the relocation of the county seat to Chester—a Mississippi river port about halfway between Cape Girardeau and St. Louis. During the Civil War, the citizens of Randolph county were deeply divided, many of the residents having come from and still had relatives living in Kentucky or other slave-holding states. Located in the region called “Little Egypt,” Randolph county was characterized by strong Democratic (“Copperhead”) sentiment and anti-war agitation. A sizable German population helped to turn public sentiment around in the middle of the war, as stated in this letter.
Alfred became a Presbyterian minister and later moved to Osawatomie, Kansas. He was married to Sallie Hood.
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
Addressed to Lieut. John P. Mann, 5th Illinois Cavalry, Vicksburg, Mississippi
Pleasant Ridge, Illinois November 27, 1863
Dear Brother,
Your kind letter of 6th has come to hand and I will try to answer it. I will commence by answering your question. You will doubtless hear before this reaches you of the fate of Clinton but I will rehearse the sad story. He died October 2nd (the same day you, Father, Mother, & Nancy went to Huston’s) in the hospital at Chattanooga—the same day that he was exchanged, and was buried in a Presbyterian graveyard. The full particulars we have not learned yet but I think we will receive more information soon. Lieutenant Hood wrote to us a long letter about his death but the letter never came to hand. We have written to him and I know he will write again. Martin Ireland told me that “Clinton fell while in the act of crossing a fence and was on the next panel to the one he was on” and that he “never saw him afterward.” Sam Hood sent home all his things, the most valuable of which was a journal from Sept. 1862 to February 1863 which is very interesting. You will be glad to see it when you get home.
Huston has administered on his estate which is insolvent. The boys are still with “Old Ann” and I do not know what disposition will be made of them. They will have a “hard row to hoe” I am afraid. I believe they are entitled to a pension. Sale of property is 5th of December.
You next ask how the “traitors” feel since the election. Well Sir, they feel most awfully used up. We “flaxed” them over 200 votes in Old Randolph County and they are badly whipped. The reason for such a change in our county may be briefly expressed in the language of a prominent “Copperhead,”—“the damned Union League done it all.” That is just the opinion of your humble servant and we will “do it more” next time. I will enclose you a ticket—a real Union ticket. The Union sentiment is stronger in this county than ever before and we intend to keep the wheels rolling till we roll up a large Union majority for President in 1864 (God grant that it may be “Old Abe”).
Next question. Luther is buying produce in Chester and shipping down the river—doing fine. He was out last night and we had a long chat about old camp scenes. Huston has been engaged for the public for the last 15 years and will “cap the sheaf” next week by taking our District School at $30 per month. He will have his patience tried “a few” or I’m much mistaken. You speak of “helping him within the year—as well as me.” Thank you—“Go in Josh, you shant be hurt.” Suit yourself and take your own time and youwill suit me (unless I get i a pinch).
Papa has bought a fine mare—very strong and very lazy. Just suits him. He is very proud of her. I work her when I wish. Mother’s health is good except a severe cold. She has borne the death of Clinton with Christian fortitude and all her anxiety is about the “boys” that still are alive. She got a good letter from Calvin yesterday. He is well and has received supplies from home. Jonta is in the mountains near Chattanooga. Says he “don’t mind wolves howling half as much as bombs bursting.” He is not very well. Sis is having tall times at Ellis Grove. She had a “hot engagement” a few days ago with one Jake Roberts and gained a “signal victory.” Took some prisoners and never lost a man.
We went to Chester to church Thanksgiving. Heard “Bro-Ben” preach a strong Union sermon after which the Ladies of Pleasant Ridge joined the “Ladies Union League” en-masse as they were holding a meeting at the residence of James H. Jones. I spent some time chatting with Uncle B. He takes his election very cooley. Mr. Conant & wife have been spending the day with us today. The old man is getting very feeble. His sands are almost run, I think. The old lady will run sometime yet. Aunt Jane has been spending a few days with us. She returns home tomorrow.
It is going to 10 o’clock p.m.—all asleep but me. Has been raining very hard since noon. The wind has whirled from the northwest—will be snowing before morning and I must close. I hope you will remain in good health till you can come home—be protected from all dangers incidental to a soldier’s life. May we all, by the mercy of God, through Christ our Savior, meet in Heaven—the home of the righteous—to sing the Song of Moses and the Lamb, to all eternity.
P. P. Sallie sends her love to you. Your brother, — Alfred
I could not find an image of James but here is one of Thomas Lee Alfriend (1843-1901) who served in Co. B, 15th Virginia Infantry
This letter was penned by 21 year-old Pvt. James Burton Allen (1840-1910) of Co. I (the “Hanover Grays”) of the 15th Virginia Infantry. The regiment was raised in April 1861 and James enlisted on 23 April, just one week prior to the date of this letter. It was organized in May drawing in recruits from across Richmond, Henrico, and Hanover counties. Its first colonel was Thomas P. August. James was detailed as an ambulance drive in February 1863.
James was the son of William Allen and Nancy Hooper of St. Paul’s Parish, Hanover county, Virginia. James survived the war and was married in 1867 to Lucy Ellen Earnest (1848-1923) in Hanover county. James and his wife are buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia.
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
[Richmond, Virginia] May 1st 1861
My dear Father,
I have seated myself down to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well and I hope that these few lines will find you the same. I have no news to write but we are drilling five times a day and we are learning very fast and I am more satisfied than I was at first and I hope that it will not be long before we will [get] out of the encampment. But I don’t hear anything about war and I don’t think there will be anything of it. The boys are very charming at the present time and they had meeting last Sunday and I was on guard for twenty-four hours but tonight is a pleasant night and the lights from the camp [are] pretty and you ought to come over here to see us drill. We are going through the tactics first rate and I do wish that you would get me some money from Dale Wicker. And if you can’t get it, I do wish that you would send me the amount by the first [man] that comes over here. And I do wish that you would send me my carpet bag.
And I have nothing more to write. I must close by saying give my love to all of the family and to Ma and tell her to write to me. And Pa, you must write me word how that are all and tell Benjamin Tucker 1 to write to me. Your most humble son, — James B. Allen
Answer this as soon as you get this.
1 Benjamin H. Tucker also lived in St. Paul’s Parish in Hanover county, Virginia, as did James Allen in 1860. He was three years older than James and the son of Henry Tucker and Sally Barker. Henry owned seven slaves in 1860.
The following letters were written by William Francis Smith (1840-1864) and his younger brother, Thomas D. “Grover” Smith (1843-1915), the oldest sons of John W. Smith (1817-1878) and Sallie Turner (1817-1903) of Dover, Kent county, Delaware.
William enrolled as 2nd Lieutenant of Co. D, 1st Delaware Infantry on 10 August 1861 at Milford, Delaware. He was promoted to First Lieutenant on 21 December 1861 and wounded in action at Antietam on 17 September 1862 of which he wrote afterward: “We were halted and ordered to fix bayonets. We began to think something was to do … We marched in line some mile and a half, when the Rebels made their appearance on our left … We still continue to advance, the shells coming over our heads, till we got through a cornfield that Rebels had to hide in, we drove them out of there. They fell back to a ditch [the Sunken Road] at the foot of the hill … as soon as we got through the corn field, the Rebels poured a volley into us. We got over the fence and up to the top of the hill, and there laid down and fired at the Rebels after firing some ten minutes, we received orders to charge. All the color guard was either killed or wounded. The state flag was almost shot to pieces, the staff cut in two by a ball. The fire was so hot we had to fall back with a great loss. It was here that Capt. Watson & Leonard was killed. Capt. Yardley, Woodall, & Shortledge was wounded. The regiment fell back to form, but got mixed up with the different regiments. Major Smith and about 150 men went up a lane and got on the Rebels right where we poured a directed fire upon them. Capt. Rickards was killed up here and Lt. Col. Hopkinson was wounded in the knee at the same place. We fought here sometime till we got relieved, then tried to reform the regiment, which we found very difficult for they were in all the regiments around fighting. We however got about 150 together and encamped for the night …“
This CdV of Capt. James L. Rickards was taken at Garrett’s, in Wilmington, Delaware, about 1862. He was killed at Antietam and William F. Smith promoted to take his place.
William was promoted to Captain of Co. C on 24 September 1862 to replace Captain James L. Rickards. William was wounded by a gunshot to the chest at Fredericksburg, VA in December and in the leg at Gettysburg in July 1863, and was promoted to Major on 6 November 1863. He was on recruiting duty in Delaware early in 1864 but returned on 23 April and was mortally wounded in the leg on the Boydton Plank Road near Petersburg, VA on 27 October 1864 and his leg was amputated, but that didn’t save him. He died on 6 November 1864.
Grover served the entire war without injury but was occasionally sidelined by disease. He mustered out of the regiment as 1st Lieutenant of his company in 1865. Later in life he became an electrician and died in 1915. It should be noted that Grover’s handwriting was atrocious and transcribed with some difficulty. As an officer, I can’t imagine how he managed to fill out any of his reports without the aid of a clerk. Only 6 of the 21 letters were written wholly or partially by William; the remainder by Grover.
Letter 1
Camp Hamilton, Fortress Monroe December 16th 1861
Dear Parents,
I have not received any answer to the last two letters I have sent. I do not know what is the matter—whether the letters have not gone or you have neglected to answer them. I received the box on Saturday 7th. Everything was very nice. The boots were too small. They would not fit Grover. He could not get them on. They were too small in the instep. I wrote the same day that I got the box and in the letter I sent my measure. Grover wants his pants—the one that he had in the Home Guards.
Colch Brown has been discharged for disability. J. B. Mahan has been discharged for the same cause. They both left here yesterday for home. They will be home before this letter reaches you. Grover sent a letter by C. Brown. I have been sick with the diarrhea but have got better and ready for duty.
There is nothing new about here. The health of the regiment is very good. Weather is rather cold. There was ice in the tent his morning. From your affectionate son, — William F. Smith
Camp Hamilton December [1861]
Dear Mother,
I take my pen in hand to inform you that I am well and hope that you are the same. We were on picket on Tuesday and there was a scouting party went out by us of about 600 men. They went out to [ ] bridge on the Back River but the rebels had gone about an hour before they got there.
We think that we will get new guns next week of the best and they say that they are in the fort now. The small pox is broke out here in a cavalry regiment and the typhoid fever is broke out here.
I wish that you would send my pants as soon as you can and send my scarf to me. Tell Sam Lathebury that I would like to hear from him. That box that you sent to us was nice for we can’t get any here now—there is so many of them sick that he has stopped them from coming into camp. — Grover
Letter 2
Camp Hamilton March 28, [1862]
Dear Mother,
I have just come off picket and find a box for me. I have opened it and it contains all the articles that you name in the letter. I received a letter from you yesterday, date 23rd. I had no chance to write yesterday or I should have done it. The shirts are very nice. Grove has not had them on and I do not know how they will fit. he mail will close very soon and I will have to close. Give our love to all. I remain your affectionate son, — W. F. Smith
Letter 3
In camp near Warrington November 1, 1862
Dear Mother,
I sit down to inform you that I am well and hope that these few lines will find you the same. We have been a resting here for a few days so that we are a little rested but we don’t know how long we will stay here. We will leave very soon, I think. You wanted to know what hospital I was in. I am in none. You need not send the box for we don’t know when we will go into winter quarters. Some says that we will go to Washington but that is all you can hear. But we never go where they say so that is [ ].
You asked if I got the money that you sent to me. I have got $1.80 cents. I got 1 dollar and ten cents one time and 50 cents another time and 20 the last time. That was in the last letter so that I guess that it has come all right. You say that Frank has got the ague. If she has it like I had it and the same, it will hurt her for it took 14 lb. of flesh off of me. I was weak when we marched but I kept up and by the use of the money that you sent me, I am a getting a great deal stronger. Was there a corporal with captain when you was up there by the name of Wolf?
It is a getting dark and I cannot see so that I will stop. We leave tomorrow. That is all at present. — Thomas D. G. Smith
Letter 4
Camp near Falmouth, Virginia June 9, 1863
Dear Mother,
I take my pen in hand to inform you that I am well and hope that thew few lines will find you enjoying the same. We have a very nice time here. We are encamped in a woods so that we have not to walk far to get in the shade. We think that we will have some more fun here very soon. They say that the Rebels a leaving so that if they do, we will get some hard marching this summer. But I would as soon be a marching as a laying here for the drill and picket is very nice but we do not get any fruit here and on the march we get plenty.
You asked what I would like you to send me by Ben [ ] Caboon. You can send whatever you think that you can get for it will be very nice down here. I wish that I was here to get some strawberries for they are very scarce here. You say that you had a plenty of them home. I wish that you would send me a paper of tacks and a tooth brush for I cannot get them here. And a lead pencil—a good one.
I would like to see Lew’s boat, but as Pa used to say, we have something else to think of besides sailing. But I will get a sail in here this summer. That is all at present but remain your affectionate son, Thomas D. G. Smith
Letter 5
Headquarters Camp near Rapidan October 3, 1863
Dear Mother,
I take my pen in hand to inform you that I am well and hope that these few lines will find you enjoying the same health. My hand is somewhat better but I cannot use the three fingers yet. They feel weak and I think that they are a coming to. If they don’t. Bub was a talking to me this morning about being worker. I think that I shall take it if I can get it. We was paid off this morning and I gave Bob 170 dollars to send home so that [you could] keep it until] we get home to vote. Send me some postage stamps and send me one of the smallest files that you can get—a three-cornered one. Send it in a newspaper. That is all at present. — Thomas D. G. Smith
Letter 6
Camp near the Blue Ridge November 3, 1863
Dear mother,
I sit down to inform you that I am well and hope that these few lines will find you the same. I got yours of the 25th the first of November and was glad to get the dollar for it is very handy to have money on a march for you can get something to eat. You talk about me a coming home. There is no more sign now than there was three months ago so that you need not fret about me a coming home without being wounded. I would like to come home very well but there is no chance for me. They are a going to beat [the drums] to fall in so that I will have to close. — Thomas D. G. Smith
Letter 7
Camp near the Rappahannock Headquarters, 1st Regt. Delaware Vols. November 15, 1863
Dear Father,
I take my pen in hand to inform you that I am well and hope that these few lines will find you enjoying the same. We have been at rest here all week but there has an order come o us to be ready for to move at a minute’s notice. But we don’t know where to for the railroad is not up here yet as it has set in to rain. We don’t know where we are a going but we are not a going far for the Rebels are not far off from here. But they will not make a stand before they get to Richmond for they are afraid to pick a battle. They are afraid to pick a battle with the Army of the Potomac for they have whipped them so often here of late that they are played out and the people want all of the officers burned out that was engaged in the last [paper torn]. The papers say that they have hauled down the flag more than any other Nation ever did in their years so that they are very near played out so they will not make a stand—only in their forts and they will have to fall back from here.
Bub has gone to Washington on some errand of business. He don’t come back before the 21st of this month. He will be home before he comes back, I suppose. We are all under the impression that he has gone for transports for us to come home. That is all of the talk here now. I wish that you would send me some postage stamps for Bub went away with all of them that you sent for he got the letter and got the stamps.
I send you a [ ] that I got off of the battlefield of Bristoe Station. It is from Rebeldom as you can see. The Rebels say that they don’t know where the rest of the army was for to let the two brigades get up so bad. A prisoner that I captured told me that all of A. P. Hill’s Corps was engaged there.
That is all at present but remain your affectionate son, — Thomas D. G. Smith
Letter 8
Camp near Stevenburg, Va. December 6th 1863
Dear Mother,
I arrived in camp this morning after a long and tiresome ride and march. I expected to get down last Thursday but I heard that communication with the army was opened. I thought my best chance was to get down as quick as possible.
I regard to the farm, I am still in the notion of taking it and I think it will suit you better for you cannot get a house in Philadelphia for less than one hundred & forty dollars and Wilmington is not much better. Frank has been looking around and she says that she would not live in a house that rents for less. The horse I think you had better keep this winter—[even] if you have to get someone to winter her. The colts I do not know what to do with. You can do as you please with them. I think Mr. Woodall can winter Yan or he can direct you where to go. You will have to keep a horse for it will cost you more to hire a horse to make a crop than to keep a horse all the year. I would like to keep the youngest colt, if possible. One cow, I think, would be as much as you could attend to as L___ ought to go to school this winter. Please let me know how much fodder you have on hand—if enough to last all winter, and if Father will let you keep it.
Let me know how the strawberries and clover patches are—whether they will pay to cultivate or to be put in grain. Tom is well and sends his love to all. He thought the cake & pie very good. No more but I remain your affectionate son, — William F. Smith
P. S. Enclosed you will find my photograph.
Letter 9
Camp near Stevensburg, Virginia December 22, 1863
Dear Mother,
I received your letter last night containing the receipts. I think Father is acting very strangely toward both of us. I know he has cheated me in the building but have said nothing about it.
We expect to be home this week as our regiment has reenlisted for Veteran Volunteers for three years or the war. I am mustering officer of the regiment and am kept very busy. Last Friday I mustered two hundred in. It only required one hundred and ninety-four to take the regiment home so we expect the order every day to report home.
I will take the articles at the price you named. We are both well and send our love to all. I received a letter from Frank but she said nothing about Father. From your affectionate son, — Wm. F. Smith
Letter 10
Alexandria, Virginia February 11th 1864
Dear Mother,
We left Wilmington Tuesday afternoon at three o’clock and arrived in Baltimore at nine o’clock at night. Left there at ten the next day. Arrived in Washington at three in the afternoon of the 10th. Saw Mr. Smithers and Fisher. They are both well. We leave here tomorrow.
When I left Philadelphia, Grandmother was very sick. Aunt Caroline said she intended to write but had not had time. We are both well and send our love to all. I remain your son, — W. F. Smith
My horse arrived safe. Also one bottle of wine. — W. F. Smith
Letter 11
Camp Stoney Mountain, Virginia February 19, 1864
Dear Mother,
I take my pen in hand to inform you that I am well and hope that these few lines will find you enjoying the same health.
We have been busy at building winter quarters and I have not had time to write before and Bub going home, I thought that it would do so that I was not very anxious about it, so then I thought that I would get up my tent before I wrote. We have got our camp fire up a little and are waiting for spring to open and then we will have to go with active operations. Then we will see what rebellions are good for. They say that they are a going to take Richmond from the Peninsula and that we will only make a feint over the river.
There is not much news around here for we are hard at work. I have been at putting up a chimney for one of the officers. I wish that you would send me some postage stamps for I forgot to get some before I came away. Send it along with that needle case of that Frank was a going to make for me and send me, and some pins and a [ ] I cannot get them down here. That is all at present but remain your affectionate son, — Thomas D. G. Smith
Letter 12
Headquarters 1st Delaware Detachment Camp near Stoney Mountain, Virginia
Dear Mother,
Chaplain Thomas Grier Murphey of 1st Delaware Infantry
I take my pen in hand to inform you that I am well and hope that these few lines will find you enjoying the same blessing. I received a letter from you last night and am very sorry that Lew went away. If I thought that he would a went, I should have served out my time and have enlisted again but it is done and there is no help for it. I wish that he would get in our company for then I could take care of him. We have a very nice church down here that we put up. We have church every night so that it makes the night go away very nice. There is a great many a getting religion for there is a couple goes off to Mister [Thomas G.] Murphey every night.
There is nothing new down here so that there is not much to write about. I sent $60 by Adams Express for that is the safest way and I have not heard from it yet. The house that I meant was the one that Hotster lived in.
That is all at present but give my love to little Johnny and tell him that I will get him his horse when I come home again. I sent the money in Frank’s name. That is all at present but remain your son, — Grover
3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 2nd Corps, Detachment at Stoney Mountain
Letter 13
Camp near Stoney Mountain, Va. March 27 [1864]
Dear Brother,
I take my pen in hand to inform you that I am well and hope that these few lines will find you enjoying the same health. We had a very deep snow down here last week. It was the deepest that I have seen in Virginia. Your horses look very bad and if you don’t get someone to look after them, you will lose them for the man that is attending to them is good for nothing for he does not care about your horses but he takes good care of the Colonel’s. Mr. [Thomas G.] Murphey called me up to look at them and told me that I ought to look after them. I told him that I would but if I did that they would say that I was a trying to put on airs, but that I would write home to you and let you know how they were a making out. You had better send an order on. Let Bill McCoy take care of them. You had better send some horse [ ] down here for them. They say that Col. [Thomas Alfred] Smyth is a going to command the Irish Brigade. Their brigade headquarters is a going to be broken up and the men ordered back to their regiments. There is nothing new down here. That is all at present but remain your brother, — Thomas D. G. Smith
Letter 14
Camp near Stoney Mountain, Va. March 30, 1864
Dear Mother,
I take my pen in hand to inform you that I am in the land of the living and hope that you are but I don’t know for I have not heard from you since the 9th of this month. You say that I never write but I think that the table has taken a turn for I have wrote four or five letters and have not received an answer from them yet. Johnny Smith got a letter from home and his father says Lew had gone to Wilmington to enlist. He had better stay home for he cannot stand it for he is not strong enough. I would get Bub to go and take him away and fetch him over the coals for two hours.
Brig. Gen. Thomas Alfred Smyth of Ireland. Was promoted to Brig. General upon Hancock’s recommendation following the Battle of Gettysburg where he was wounded.
A [ ] in the army wrote to Bub on the 20th and have not received an answer from him. They have made a great change here. Col. [Thomas Alfred] Smyth commands the Irish Brigade and Col. [Edward Brush] Fowler commands one. We are the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, and 2nd Corps so that we are only a detachment here.
They say that a great many are enlisting around Dover. I wish that all of them would but they think too much of themselves for they are afraid of getting a button hole work through them.
There was a big snow down here today but it is all washed away or it is a raining fast enough. There is [ ] down here so that I shall have to come to a close. I wish that you would send me some postage stamps for they are very scarce. Your son, — Thomas D. G. Smith. Direct your letters to the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 2nd Corps, Detachment at Stoney Mountain, Va.
Thomas D. G. Smith, Comp. D, 1st Regt. Del. Vet. Vol.
Letter 15
Camp near Stoney Mountain, Va. April 3rd [1864]
Dear Brother,
I take my pen in hand to inform you that I am well and hope that these few lines will find you enjoying the same blessing. We have very bad weather down here for it is a snowing down here so that it is a very disagreeable. We got some recruits. Some of them were from Dover. They were Ezekiel Butler and Charles Rork and a young fellow by the name of Still. You did not say what regiment Lew has enlisted in or if he has enlisted in the cavalry. He had better get Sam McCalister to swear him in our regiment for then we can be together.
You say that you will get Johnny’s broken horse. Very well, you can get it for I guess it will be a good while before I get home again. I have got an easy job here. They have made a colored guard and I have been picked out for one. We have no duty to do so that we have a very easy time of it. I forgot to tell you before. It was made as soon as we came down so that I have not done much duty. There is so much a going on down here so that I shall have to come to a close by giving my love to all. Tell Lew that he had better come down here. When you write again, let me know what regiment [ ]. –Thomas D. G. Smith
I have received two letters this week—one today which had ten dollars in it and some stamps. I was very glad that it came for I was very much in need of it. And with it came the paymaster which makes the boys feel lively.
The shirts I want to be flannel or something like them we got last summer a year. I wish that you would let Johnny Smith bring that valise, that of N that came here last—that is, if I don’t get there before he comes away. and my blue coat—that is, if Lew has not taken it with him. And then black pants that I bought when I was at home. But you need not send the sash for I do not want it. Johnny Smith will bring this down and I am in a hurry [so] I shall come to a close by sending my love to all.
I remain your affectionate son, — Thomas D. G. Smith
Letter 17
Headquarters 1st Regt. Delaware Vet. Vol. Camp near Petersburg, Virginia July 6, 1864
Dear Mother,
I seat myself to inform you that I am well and hope that these few lines will find you enjoying the same blessing. We have very dry weather down here and water is a getting very scarce. The Sanitary Commission is a doing a great thing for the soldiers. They have given us a great many things such as lemons, pickles, cabbage and other things too numerous to mention.
We have been a laying here in the breastworks for a week or two. There is rebels in our front now. There is some in front of the 5th Corps. There is a rumor that Harpers Ferry, Va., was captured and seven thousand prisoners with it but there is so many rumors afloat that we cannot believe one half of them.
Sgt. Samuel Morris Letherbury (1843-1864) was shot in the stomach during the final charge on the Dimmock Line outside of Petersburg, Va. on June 18th and died in a field hospital from his wound.
I seen John the other day and he was well as ever. He says that their [4th Delaware] Regiment was very cut up in the battle of the 18th [June]. They have lost more [ ] proportion than wounded. Sam[uel Morris] Letherbury was killed and L. Stevenson was wounded in the thigh. [ ] John if he was that lucky. I don’t think that he was for he was for he will not be able to walk for a good while and maybe he will [ ] for it is in the thick part of the thigh.
I have not received a letter from home since the 24th of last month and I have not heard from Lew since about the 1st of last month and then John seen him. He says that he was a making out very well. There is not much to talk about so that I shall have to come to a close by giving my love to all. I remain your affectionate son, — T. D. G. Smith
Dear Mother,
I wish you would send me a tooth brush. You can send it in a newspaper. Yardley came to the regiment last week. John K. is well. I saw him on Saturday last. — Wednesday. F. Smith
Letter 18
Camp near the Parkersburg [Petersburg] Railroad July 17, 1864
Dear Mother,
I now take my pen in hand to inform you that I am well and hope that these few lines will find you enjoying the same blessing. We have had a very nice time of it for a good while and have forgot how powder smells like. There is now rebels in our front and we have our pickets out about a mile from us so that if they does come, we will have time to get in line before they can get up to us. They say that they fell back 9 miles in front of us. The 4th Delaware [regiment] lays about one mile from here. I was over to see John and all of the Boys from Dover. They are few and far between. They are a [ ] them over like they did in our regiment. I have not heard from Lew since he left here. I wish that you would send my furlough as soon as you can. There is not much to write about from here. That is all at present but I remain your affectionate son, — T. D. G. Smith
P. S. I wish that you would send me some money for things are a getting very thick around here and no money to buy them with.
Letter 19
Headquarters 1st Delaware Vet. Volunteers Camp before Petersburg [September? 1864]
Dear Mother,
I received your letter last night. I think Father has not treated any of us as he should. I wrote to him today and told him about the sale. I expect he will think me very saucy. But I could not help telling him what I thought.
Our Corps had a very hard time at Reams Station last Thursday afternoon but our loss is very small in comparison with the force engaged against us.
Enclosed you will find a list of articles if I have left anything off, you can add it on to the list. We are all well and send our love to all. From your loving son, — William
Letter 20
Headquarters Ambulance Train December 23, 1864
Dear Mother,
Yours of the 13th came to hand this morning and I was very glad to hear from home. I began to think that you had forgotten us down here. We don’t hear very often from Dover. John Smith says that he never gets a letter from home—only every now and then. I wrote for Lew to send me a box and for him to put in [ ] paper, He need not for I have some. Will had some in his valise. Send a bog box for I am mighty hungry. Put in plenty of eating things. I would like to have it done by New Year’s Day for you can’t get anything down here. We have run all of our money out. I wish that you would send me some money. I had to get some things in the train that we did not think of before. Tell Lew that he had better stay at home and go to school this winter and then be a farmer for he will have it harder than he had before. Tell him that I can’t send his overcoat yet but I will bring it—that is, if I come home this winter and I think that I will. You can go to Sam Herrington and get him to get in [ ]. I can get one on account of me being the oldest child, that is by sending the money as soon as you get this. No more at present. Give my love to all of the family. I remain your affectionate son, — T. D. G. Smith
Direct your letters to Ambulance train, 2nd Division, 2nd Corps. Send some thick envelopes.
Letter 21
Headquarters 1st Regt. Delaware Veteran Vols. March 18 [1865]
Dear Mother,
Having a few leisure moments I thought that I would drop a few lines to inform you that I was enjoying good health. It was quite a lively time down here yesterday. They had horse raising and a great many other kinds of sport. I suppose that you have seen Charles Cooper by this time. If Jerry Smith did not bring my valise down, send it by Charley.
Is Lew home yet? If he is, ask him what he is a going to do. For my part I think that he had better stay at home and go to school. If will be better for him, I suppose, that the news from Sherman has been received down there. The sutlers has been ordered away from here and I suppose that we shall soon have the pleasure of sharing the honors of the Army of the Potomac. The rebels will not stand in our way this summer here. We intend to put this war of the campaign. The army is in the best of spirits now.
I do not feel like writing this afternoon so that I shall come to a close by sending my love to all of the family. I remain your affectionate son, –Thomas D. G. Smith
The following letters were written by Thomas Henry Barnfield (1833-1920), a native of Kentucky, who resided in Randolph county, Illinois, at the time of the Civil War. He served four years in Co. K, 5th Illinois Cavalry, rising from the rank of private to 2nd Lieutenant. He mustered out of the 5th Illinois Cavalry on 17 March 1865. Soon after, he reenlisted as a private in Co. I, of the 8th Regiment US Veteran Volunteer Infantry.
Thomas wrote the letter to John Preston Mann (b. 1822) who served with him in the 5th Illinois Cavalry. After mustering out of the regiment, John began practicing law in Rockwood, Illinois. John was married to Nancy Clendening. In 1867, Henry Barnfield married Nancy’s sister, Martha Alice Clendenin (1836-1890). After he left the service, Henry farmed in Randolph county for a while and then relocated to Bartlett Springs, Lake county, California, where he died in 1920.
Barnfield’s first letter describes the Battle of Egypt Station that unfolded as follows: “Grierson’s raiding cavalry left Memphis, Tennessee on 21 December and first demolished a Confederate supply depot at Verona. Moving south while wrecking bridges and track along the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, the Union raiders encountered the Confederate defenders at Egypt Station. After their victory, Grierson’s cavalry headed southwest to Vicksburg which it reached on January 5, 1865. The raiders destroyed a large amount of Confederate supplies and also damaged the Mississippi Central Railroad. Some of the men captured by Grierson’s raiders proved to be former Union soldiers who volunteered to fight for the Confederacy rather than languish in prison camps. When John Bell Hood’s army retreated into northern Mississippi after the Battle of Nashville, it was unable to obtain supplies because Grierson’s raiders had damaged the railroad so badly.”
I’m sitting by the fire to “Dry out” for it is 2 p.m. and I have been out in the rain and mud ever since 4 this morning. I’ll tell you how it was. The day before yesterday (at night) information reached Gen. Washburne’s Headquarters that [Brig. Gen. Benjamin] Grierson—the “Raiders”—was “coming” and to send him some grub out to “Oak Ridge.” The post train, 27 wagons, was loaded at once and the 5th [Illinois Cavalry] detailed to go out with it. We “wented” at 9 a.m. yesterday and met Gen. G[rierson] (with 3 brigades of cavalry and 2 or 3,000 contrabands and 800 prisoners) about 12 miles from town, badly in need of both food and forage, Col. [Embry D.] Osband’s Brigade, 1 Col. [Edward Francis] Winslow’s and another was along. We camped with them last night and came in before them this morning. I’ve just got in and found your letter of the 26th December ’64. Now I want you to know that I’ve quit answering last year’s letters. I may answer yours and John’s and Mollie’s, and any others I may chance to get, but, I’m not going to make a practice of it!
But about Grierson’s Raid. I suppose the Vicksburg Herald will give a detailed account of the whole affair. If it does, I’ll send you the paper. In the meantime let me say it was an “entire success.” The expedition left Memphis 16 days ago and stretched eastward far enough to strike the “Ohio & Mobile” [railroad], forty miles of which they destroyed. They took not a wheel with them (nor gun nor ambulance) and left their killed and wounded behind them except the adjutant of the 3 niggers was brought in dead—a carriage having been pressed into the service for the occasion.
Lt. Col. [Henry W.] Funk of the 11th [Illinois Cavalry] was again wounded (in the same shoulder too). The wound is however very slight. The destruction to property has been immense. An officer told me that at one place they killed several hundred hogs and piled them up and then carried rails and made a huge fire burning “Hogs, Rails, and Any.” They destroyed 13 railroad bridges and an immense quantity of “trestle-work,” besides three locomotives and twenty cars, one wagon train—several wagons of which were loaded with ammunition.
The Chicago Tribune, 14 January 1865
These are some of the outlines: Just an index, if you please, to the contents. But I will be sure to send you the paper and if it and I do not agree, then the chances are that it is right and I wrong. I will mention, however, that at Egypt they had quite a fight. We lost 108 men killed and wounded—mostly from the 2nd New Jersey Cavalry. The Rebs lost 600 prisoners, killed and wounded—slight loss. So much for the raid. Oh the Corn-fed-eracy’s busted.
So you have had a “party” at your house and didn’t even give me an “invite?” Oh (I beg pardon) it was a “Surprise?” Where were your pickets? And “wouldn’t I like to have been there?” (Can a fish swim?) Don’t you know I would. I’d give half a month’s pay to be at a “Party” in Old Randolph. So don’t tease me about it. You will confer a great favor by observing a stubborn and persistent silence concerning any parties at which you know I’d give my ear to be. Except—mark you—I want you to tell me all about the “Liberty Ladies—Union League—Candy-pullings.”
I saw a letter from “R” lately to “Enrey.” He wants a “position.” Enrey showed the letter to Nisbet and Nisbet to me. He says, “have you any of Commissary Mann’s Whiskey?” Whit. says to tell you the Rebs have loaned us 1500 mules and niggers, and Johnnies—not a few. This is in reference to the Grierson Raid.
[Unsigned or incomplete but the distinctive handwriting is clearly that of Tom Barnfield]
1 Grierson sent Osband’s brigade to the south with the mission of tearing up additional railroad track. The remainder of Grierson’s column moved southwest to Lexington and then Benton. On January 1, 1865, Osband’s brigade marched south through Vaiden and West Station, destroying an estimated 2.5 mi (4.0 km) of track, plus bridges, culverts, stations, and water tanks. The following day, a Confederate force was reported assembling at Goodman so Osburn moved his brigade southwest toward Ebenezer. Near Franklin, the 3rd U.S. Colored Cavalry ran into a Confederate force led by Brigadier General William Wirt Adams. The 11th Illinois took position on the right flank while the 4th Illinois supported the 3rd U.S. Colored. After a struggle lasting one hour and a half, both sides disengaged. Osband lost one officer killed and one wounded, and three enlisted men killed, seven wounded, and two missing. Two enlisted men were too severely wounded to be moved and were left at Franklin. Osband’s brigade moved through Ebenezer and joined Grierson’s main column at Benton at night on January 2. Adams reported 22 casualties: two officers and five enlisted men killed, and three officers and 12 men wounded.
Letter 2
[probably written in mid-February, 1865]
…is very naturally attracting some attention here. The soldiers think it best to not to “slack up” yet, but to continue the war (with energy) until the “Confederacy” is knocked into a “Mess of squirrels.” They literally wish to “crowd the mourners.” If “fortune favors the brave,” then Sherman’s all right and the Confederacy’s gone to the Devil.
Capt. [Kendall B.] Peniwell and Lt. [Clement] March [of Co. B, 5th Ill. Cav.] are mustered out and gone home. “I want to go. I must go. I want to go there too.” These are the words I keep humming. I tell you, my symptoms are alarming. Is there no balm in Gilead? Where is the Christian Commission? Where is the Liberty Ladies Union League Candy Pulling Society? Can they give no comfort nor consolation? No candy? But alas! at the very mention of its name, my disease is aggravated a thousand fold. “Wound open afresh which time nearly had healed, and the ills of this life at a glance are revealed.”
Now can you keep a secret? “Yes?” Well hold your ear a little closer. There’s an expedition afoot (a horesback, I mean). We are to take 100 rounds of rations nd 15 days ammunition. We go “in light marching order.” No soldier will be allowed more than 1 pack mule. There shall be no pillaging. Private property (including chickens) will be respected. The “General Orders” from “These Headquarters” are very heavy indeed. The particulars of the expedition are a profound secret only known to the Confederacy. Gen. Dana, Col. Orbund and the “rest of mankind.” When we go is a “question of time” but from the energy and activity exhibited in our Quartermaster Department, it is hoped the expedition will be ready to sail by the middle of the summer.
I hear that our [Illinois] Legislature has repealed “the Black Laws.” 1 Well the next thing is Negro Suffrage. I am opposed to it. I think the Negro has suffered enough already. Most of our Boys are in favor of it on the ground that they’d rather a Nigges suffer than for them to.
But I must bring my letter to a close. I see the toe of Lt. Col. [Abel Hildreth] Seley’s boots. It’s likely he will be here in a few minutes. Judging from appearances, I think he’s even “drunker” than “usual.” 2
Give my respects to all my friends. Tell Minnie I can’t see her Christmas gift yet. No more. Very respectfully yours. — T. Barnfield
P. S. James Hindman is not expected to live till morning. His brother is here. — Tom Barnfield
1 “Illinois was infamous throughout the free states for its anti-Black policies. The Illinois legislature updated and intensified the state’s racist laws from the 1820s through the 1850s. In addition to requiring that Black people register with local officials and criminalizing African Americans’ public assembly, state laws barred Black people from testifying in court cases involving whites and promised public education to white children only….The Illinois legislature updated the black laws many times, and in 1853 it attempted to bar Black migration into the state. Black Illinoisans fought these policies for decades. The legislature finally repealed the black laws on Feb. 7, 1865.” (Source: Slavery and Racist Laws.)
2 LTC Abel Hildreth Seley (1821-1886) must have had rather large feet. Seley was working for a railroad company in Nashville when the Civil War began and left immediately to return to Illinois (where his family resided) to “put down the Rebellion.”
The following letter by Thomas C. Lancaster reveals that he was a major supplier of salt pork to the Confederacy early in the Civil War. He wrote the letter to his brother-in-law Theodore Gannaway from his home in Goodson—a town in the Blue Ridge Mountains of southwest Virginia that straddled the Virginia-Tennessee border. His letter not only speaks of the difficulty in acquiring salt—a precious commodity necessary for food preservation, but of the large contract held with the government to supply salt pork to the troops. He also informs us of the tensions between secessionists in southwest Virginia and the Unionists of East Tennessee resulting in shootouts between civilian and militia bands along the Holston river.
A watercolor made from an engraving in Barton’s “A Hero in Homespun” depicting the burning of a railroad bridge in East Tennessee on the night of 8 November 1861.
For those unfamiliar with it, Saltville “was one of the Confederacy’s main saltworks. The saltworks were considered vital to the Confederate war effort because the salt was used in preserving meat for Confederate soldiers and civilians. Because of its importance, the town was attacked by Northern forces intent on destroying the saltworks. On October 2, 1864, the First Battle of Saltville was fought there. In the battle Union forces attacked Saltville but were defeated by Confederate troops. Following the battle a number of wounded black troops were murdered in what was dubbed the “Saltville Massacre.” (Shortly after the war Champ Ferguson was tried, convicted, and executed for war crimes for this and other killings.) Two months later General George Stoneman, a Union cavalry commander, led a second attack on the saltworks; the Second Battle of Saltville. This time the Confederates were defeated and the saltworks were destroyed by Union troops. The loss of the Saltville works was considered a major blow to the Confederacy’s dwindling resources.” [Source: Wikipedia]
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
Lancaster House, Goodson, Virginia November 17th 1861
Mr. Theodore C. Gannaway
Dear brother, your letter of the 11th came to hand this morning Sunday and I hasten to answer it as I well know the difficulty of obtaining salt. The only way to get the salt at Saltville 27 miles east of us is to send your own sacks and someone with them and get them filled from the kettle and attend to the shipping. There is a train of cars running to Glade Spring intersecting the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad to Lynchburg 12 miles long. The branch road to Saltville they charge 75 cents per bushel so you can make your calculations as to the balance of difficulties. We have to wagon all the salt we get except for governmental purposes. He have a large government contract for packing pork at this place. We have some 12 or 15 thousand hogs engaged at from 8 to 9 dollars gross and still purchasing. R. T. L. is now in Lee County paying for hogs. Took with him some thirty thousand dollars & has written back for 10 thousand more which we will send him in a day or two.
Confederate money is as plenty out here as Pos____ in Old Virginia. We are Pock___ or rather killing 300 hogs per day. We have a large establishment, well fitted up. Jeans cloth is selling here at from $1 to $1.25 per yard. Sheet thread scarce. Leather is selling at 70 to 80 cents per pound. Everything scarce and high. Bacon none to be had 25 cents per pound. Lard 20 cents. Butter 40 cents. Flour 6. Corn 50 cents per bushel.
We have had very exciting times here for 7 or 8 days. All ready to fight except some that has run away. The Union men in East Tennessee made a rise up for Old Abe, burnt five bridges between here and Chattanooga. We had a fight with them. Our side came out victorious. Several of our men wounded slightly. Killed nine Union men. We had only 22 men against about 300—or supposed. Fought across the Holston River about 1 o’clock in the night. We now have 600 well armed men stationed 20 miles below here sent from Richmond. They taking a good many prisoners. I suppose we have at least 2,000 men between here and Knoxville. We are about to be attacked at Pound Gap about 140 miles from the Salt works. We have great fears of their getting over a pass from Kentucky. I have just learned that the Lincoln forces have advanced on our army at Manassas all in sight of each other.
I have no news to write. All join in love to you and all. With best wishes to you, [ ] & sister. I remain your brother, — Thos. C. Lancaster
The trains are coming in from Tennessee so I must close. No news by the train from the [ ]. Just heard from Guyandotte a fight there—our side victorious. The town burnt to ashes, it is said. Understand Gen. Floyd had to retreat from Cotton Hill losing one whole company taken prisoners. Hope it’s not so.
This letter was written by 21 year-old William McCord (1842-18xx) of Co. F, 8th Missouri Infantry. He was the son of Thomas Jefferson McCord (1810-1853) and Mary Ann Layton (1813-1889) of Knox County, Illinois. William wrote the first letter to his sister Annie Rebecca McCord (1843-1935). She married Samuel C. Varner in September 1863 in Farmington, Illinois. The second letter was addressed to his brother, Thomas Jefferson McCord, Jr. (1840-18xx) of Canton, Fulton County, Illinois.
The 8th Missouri Infantry was organized in the late summer of 1861 and was composed of men recruited from both sides of the Missouri River. This was because Illinois easily met their quotas for volunteers but pro-Southern Missouri’s split loyalties caused them to come up short in supplying soldiers for the Union army. They wore the Zouave uniform and served with distinction during the Civil War, fighting decisive battles under Generals Grant and Sherman.
The first letter was written from Fort Heiman (pictured in header) on 18 February 1862 following the Battle of Fort Donelson which is described in some detail. The second letter was written from winter quarters near Memphis in November 1863.
Letter 1
Addressed to Miss Ann McCord, Yates City, Knox county, Illinois
Fort Hymen [Heiman] February 18, 1862
Dear Sister,
I once more sit down to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well at present and hope that when these few lines come to hand, they may find you enjoying the same.
I have been in one battle since I wrote to you at Fort Donelson on the Cumberland river. The fight lasted three days but our regiment wasn’t in only two hours. We lost 75 men killed and wounded. We only lost one man out of our company and one wounded. The battle commenced on the 14th and lasted till the 16th at night. On the morning of the 17th we was drawed up in line of battle and the news came to us that they had surrendered with about 6,000 prisoners, and that many stand of arms, 160 pieces of cannon and everything that they had.
Our men fought brave. It was the hardest battle that has been fought since the war commenced. I went over the battleground the next morning. You can’t imagine everything how it looked. It looked hard to see the men lating dead. The ground was covered with dead men. I can’t tell you the number killed. At the present, 75 killed out of our regiment. The way the bullets whistled through the brush, it made me think darn it.
The secesh is about gone up now since we got Fort Heiman and Fort Donelson. I think that I will get home about the first of April—at least I hope so any how.
I want to know if you got the likeness? I sent you one and Jane one. I put yours in the office first. I hope you got my money. I sent $30 home to Jake Ryner 1 for him to keep for me. I have got a piece of the secesh flag. I will send it to you. I got it on the battlefield. I want you to keep it.
The drums are beating for roll call now and it is getting late so I must quit and go to bed for I am tired. You must excuse this scratching for it is bad but I can’t help it this time. But I will try and do better for the next time. So good night for this time. Direct your letters as before. Co. F, 8th Regt., Missouri Volunteers, in care of Capt. Neill, Paducah, Kentucky.
Goodbye. — Wm. McCord
To Miss Annie McCord
1 In the 1860 US Census, William McCord is enumerated in the household of Jacob Clinton Riner (1830-1899), the son of Peter Riner (1803-1877) and Peggy Kelly (1798-1873), in Yates City, Knox county, Illinois. He was identified as a “farm laborer.”
Letter 2
Memphis, Tennessee November 3, 1863
Dear Brother,
I seat myself to write you a few lines to let you know that I am in a little better health than when I last wrote to you.
I received your letter and money and was glad to receive it. It will help me along till I get my money.
We was mustered the 31st November for pay and I think that we will get it before long. I have now ten months pay a coming to me — $130 dollars — which I will send you about $100 of it and you can do what you want to with it. I will send it by Express and will send you a letter at the same time so that you will know that I have sent it. If I have money enough to keep me in tobacco and other little things, that is all that I care about.
The weather is getting cool. We have had several frosts and one little snow which I never expected to see in Tennessee. We are fixed for cold weather. We have got a young city out in East Memphis. You would laugh to see the brick and log houses that 8th Missouri has built to winter in. We have big fire places in our houses and we are living at home now but I can’t tell how long we will stay here. We may stay all winter and we may not stay two weeks. It is hard for a soldier to tell one day where he will be the next.
I haven’t heard from [sister] Ann for some time — only what others has wrote. I heard about you being up to Yates City [Illinois] but I shan’t tell you who told me. I should like to be there for awhile myself but I don’t [see] any chance till this war is settled and that may not be till my time is out and I know that they can’t keep me any longer. If they leave us stay here at this post till the war is over, I will be satisfied.
I would like to have you to come down and see me but it costs too much money. It would cost you 40 dollars to come down here and go back.
The boys are all fixing to go to a funeral — one of our regiment got killed. I don’t know yet whether I will go or not. The health of the troops here is good.
I guess that I have told you about all the news — only William Van Pelt ¹ is about dead with the clap. Keep this to yourself.
So I will close by asking you to write soon and oblige your brother, — William McCord
¹ Pvt. William M. Van Pelt was absent sick in October and November 1863. He died 26 November 1863 in the General Hospital at Memphis, Tennessee. He is buried in Section H, Grave No 4322 in Memphis National Cemetery.
Spared & Shared 23 