The following letter was written by John Grandy (1843-1864), the son of Lyman Grandy (1804-1877) and Miranda Crandall (1817-1890) of Charleston, Montgomery county, New York. He wrote the letter to his younger sister, Mary L. Grandy (1847-1932).

John was a 20 year-old carpenter when he was recruited into Co. C, 153rd New Infantry on 1 September 1864. In his enlistment records, he was described as standing just north of 5′ 9″ tall with light hair and blue eyes. In this letter, penned at Harper’s Ferry, he had just arrived from Baltimore and had not yet been sent forward to the regiment. The letter has a tenor of foreboding within it which is poignant as he was soon to be mortally wounded (gunshot in right thigh) on 19 October 1864 in the fighting at Cedar Creek. He died in a Baltimore hospital on 16 November 1864. He now lies buried next to his parents in the Christian Church Cemetery at Charleston Four Corners, New York.

For Lyman and Miranda Grandy, John was the second son they had lost during the Civil War. John’s older brother, Corp. George W. Grandy was killed at Gettysburg while serving in Co. D, 1st Minnesota Infantry. He was buried in a mass grave with other members of his regiment.

Transcription

Camp in Harper’s Ferry, Virginia
[September 1864?]

Dear Sister,

I can’t hear from you but I will write to you to let you know that I am still among the living but I am not very well today nor ain’t been for some days. When we left Baltimore, Alexander carried my knapsack to the cares [for me]. We got to Harper’s Ferry Saturday night. There we had to lay out on the ground but Sunday I felt bad but today I went to a old woman’s house and got my dinner. Now I feel better but am not well.

We expect to go to the front every day—or every minute rather. They are a fighting just above here [in the Valley]. We can hear them fire the cannons here. It is as close as I want to be but expect I will have to go soon. You will hear of the battle before you get this.

Mary, when you get this, learn these verses and when I come home, sing them for me. I would like to hear from home to hear how Father was getting along and all the rest of the folks. As soon as we get to our regiment, then I will write again. We ain’t doing anything but laying around on the ground. Tell Charley that he is taking comfort at home.

Yours truly. This from your brother, — John Grandy

Mr. Charles Grandy, Leatherville Road, Rural Grove, Montgomery [New York]