1864: Daniel Edward Worthley to Luke Worthley

*I could not find a photograph of Daniel Worthley but here’s an early-war ambrotype of a Massachusetts man. (Dan Binder Collection)*

This letter was written by Private Daniel Edward Worthley (1836-1913) of Co. I of the 26th Massachusetts Infantry. This regiment was organized in the fall of 1861 and spent the first three years of the war in the Department of the Gulf. In July 1864, they were transferred to the Army of the Shenandoah and were on the Bermuda Hundred front from mid-July to the 1st of August when they were sent to the valley to participate in Sheridan’s Valley Campaign. They would see some serious fighting in the day’s ahead—at Third Winchester, Fisher’s Hill, and Cedar Creek. After the last named battle, Worthley and 44 other men of the 26th Massachusetts were captured while guarding a forage train at Newton, Virginia. He was exchanged in February 1865 and mustered out at Savannah.

Daniel was the son of Luke Worthley (1809-1878) and Elizabeth Poor (1810-1891) of Andover, Essex county, Massachusetts. He mustered out of the regiment in August 1865. Daniel’s siblings included Phebe Marian Worthley (1836-1913), Lewis T. Worthley (1842-1924), Abbie R. Worthley (1844-1901), and Luke Worthley (1849-1901).

Transcription

Bermuda Hundred, Virginia
July 20th 1864

Father, dear sir,

You see by the above that we are at last in Old Virginia. We started from New Orleans on the 11th instant & arrived here today. We had a pretty fair voyage—some rainy towards the end of it.

I suppose that I may have not got letters sent to me lately for two of the New Orlean mail steamers have been lost. The Locust Point was sunk off the coast of New Jersey and the Electric Spark captured by the rebels steamer Florida off the coast of North Carolina. I think I can get a reply to my letters in about 5 or 6 days now. That will be quite pleasant & I want you to write immediately. I have not heard whether you have got the money that I sent by Express.

We are about 15 or 20 miles from Richmond & about 8 miles from Fort Darling. While I write, the guns are booming along the front & perhaps we may soon be ordered forward.

We are under Gen. Butler & the 9th Connecticut Regiment—the one that went to Ship Island with us ¹—came today & are camped beside us as they used to be. But how much smaller both our regiments now are. As it is growing dark, I will close. Give love to all. From your respectful son, — Daniel

Direct to Washington D. C.

¹ The 9th Connecticut and the 26th Massachusetts were the first of twenty-seven Union infantry regiments to see service on Ship Island during the Civil War. They sailed together aboard the SS Constitution in late November 1861 and reached Ship Island on 2 December 1861.