These letters were written by John S. Halley (1837-1913), the son of John and Jessie (Spital) Halley of Markinch, Fifeshire, Scotland. He wrote the letters to his sister, Mary Arnot Halley (1836-1888).
Their father, John Halley, came to America with his family in 1847, his wife dying enroute in Montreal before he settled in Vermont. John grew up in Orange county, Vermont, and was married there in 1861 to Eveline A. Richardson (1841-1924) before enlisting in late August 1861 as a private in Co. H, 4th Vermont Infantry. He was wounded on 14 September 1862 at Crampton’s Pass, South Mountain, but the wound was not disabling and he continued in the service until mustering out on 30 September 1864. His name appears variously in military records as Holley or Halley.
John’s enthusiasm for fighting flagged considerably by the summer of 1864, prompting him to confess to his sister, “I am willing to recognize the South. I have got tired and sick of seeing so man men killed and mangled every day…I have but little faith of getting out [alive] anyway. It will make but little difference with me anyway. I have got demoralized out here.”
After the war he relocated to Lincoln, Black Hawk county, Iowa, where he made his living as a farmer.
Letter 1
Camp Winfield Scott
April 29, 1862
Dear Sister,
I received a letter from you day before yesterday. I was very glad to hear from you/ I should have answered it yesterday but lacked time so I will scratch a few lines today. You must not expect much of a letter more than to merely let you know that I am well. I was very much obliged to you for the stamps that you sent me as I was nearly out and was very saving of what I had left as I do not know when we shall get paid off. We have not got our pay for January and February yet. The boys are pretty short. I get along very well. All I need is stationery and I guess I shall get along till we are paid. I have saves some for some stamps.
My health is very good now—as good as it has ever been. I have written to no one but you and my wife for some time but I must write to Lizzie and Willy soon.
This place in front of us on the Peninsula is probably the strongest fortified place that the rebels have. How we shall succeed in taking it, time along will tell. I have not faith in us taking it although I hope we shall. You have ere this read in the paper about the skirmish that the Vermont Brigade had with the enemy. We got the most of it and had to retire. What the next move will be, I do not know. I do not know much about what is going on as I do not see many papers and what I do see is about a week old before I get them. I have no news to write nor nothing else. I suppose the most you care about is to know how I am getting along.
We had a lot of new recruits come in today. I pity them. I wished I was to home. But I also do not expect to get home till three years are out, if I live. I try to be as good as I can but I am in an awful place. I need your prayers. My letters you can [ ] as you have done. I will close hoping and praying for you, from your brother, — J. S. Holley
Letter 2
Camp near Hagerstown, Maryland
October 5, 1862
Sister Mary,
I received a letter from you the other day. the first that I have got from you for some time. I was very glad to hear that you was well. Did not know but that you was sick and I was glad to learn that you was back in Xenia. I feared that times were so hard that you would shut the school down.
Well, as I said, we have got into comfortable quarters for the present. It is rumored that we are going to move soon. How true it is, I cannot say. I hope not, however, as I want to stay here all winter. I like it here first rate. We are near what is called the White Springs, Maryland. We are near the town of Hagerstown. It is a place of about four thousand inhabitants.
There is nothing here now but our Brigade. I expect the whole Corps will be here soon. I have passed through the campaign of Maryland safe. At the Battle of Antietam, there was a piece of a shell struck me on the shoulder. It just bruised me a little making my arm a little lame for a day or two. If it had struck my shoulder two or three inches lower, it would have shattered my shoulder and probably I should never get better.
I am very thankful that I came off so easy. There is no news to write so I will close for this time. Yours respectfully and sincerely, — John S. Halley
Letter 3
Camp in the field
Near Spottsylvania Court House
May 21st 1864
Dear Sister Mary,
I write you a line and let a [ ] at the present. I suppose you will want to hear from e. I am well and am unhurt so far for we have had some terrible fighting and it is not over with [us] yet. It is as near a drawn battle as can be—at least that is the opinion of your humble servant.
We have lost fifty thousand in killed, wounded, and missing. Our reinforcements will keep our army as strong as when they crossed the Rapidan—that is, in point of numbers. Our regiment and brigade suffered terrible, losing more than half. It is awful. I can not give you particulars at this time. I am at the division hospital in the field. We keep one mile or two in the rear of the troops according to guard for the hospital. I have escaped unhurt so far.
My love to you, — John S. Halley
Letter 4
Camp in the field, Virginia
June 24, 1864
Dear Sister,
I received your letter today dated June 16th. I was very glad to hear from you and learn that you was well. I was very glad to learn of your intended change. Hope it will be for the better. You have my best wishes with you.
I am truly sorry, however, for Willie. He is too young. He ought to have a little more experience before he takes that step. I shall say nothing to him. Let him act his own pleasure. I wish it was otherwise. It may be all for the best. I have not heard from him since he left home or rather since he went back home.
I had a letter from [my wife] Eveline. She was well. No news worth repeating. Everybody was well. There is no news to write from here—only we are not in Richmond yet and hardly think we shall get there in a hurry. I am willing to recognize the South. I have got tired and sick of seeing so man men killed and mangled every day. Yesterday they used up the rest of the 4th [Vermont] Regiment. 1 They were on the skirmish line one mile and a half from any support. They were flanked by the rebels and there is but fifty men with the colors now [though] some more may come in. The rest are either killed, wounded, or prisoners. Capt. Tracey was brought in dead today. They will probably put what is left of us in to some other regiment. If so, I shall have to carry a gun and if I do, my chances of getting through safe are not worth much.
I have but little faith of getting out anyway. It will make but little difference with me anyway. I have got demoralized out here and will not work and there will be no other way for me to live. I can never save enough to but a house.
Excuse this as I feel blue. Truly yours, — J. S. Halley
1 On June 23, 1864, the regiment “suffered the greatest loss of men by capture” it ever experienced. It was engaged with the brigade and the Sixth Corps in a movement against the Weldon Railroad, and was thrown out in front under command of Major Pratt, with a battalion of the eleventh. The enemy broke through the line with a strong force, and surrounded and captured seven officers and 137 men of the Fourth, as well as almost the entire battalion of the Eleventh. The colors of the Fourth were saved by the activity and coolness of the color guard. The officers so captured were Major Pratt, Captains Chapin and Boutin, and Lieutenants Carr, Fisher, Needham and Pierce. Among the killed was Captain William C. Tracy, of Co. G. His dead body was found on the field next day, stripped of arms, watch, money and boots, and surrounded by the muskets of his men, showing that he had rallied his company around him, and that they threw down their arms only when their gallant leader had fallen.”
Spared & Shared 23 