The following letters were written by George W. Hill (b. 1842) of Beverly, Burlington county, New Jersey, while serving in Co. F, 6th New Jersey Infantry. He wrote the letters to his sister, Mary J. Hill (b. 1840). In the 1850 US Census, George and Mary were living with their uncle Thomas Foster (b. 1816) in Duck Hundred, Kent, county, Delaware. Also living in the same household was their grandmother, Elizabeth Foster (b. 1797). By the time of the 1860 US Census, Thomas Foster had relocated to Beverly, Burlington county, New Jersey, and George’s sister Mary had married (1859) to Jacob (“Jake”) Adams Canning (1838-1905). During the war, Jake had served as a drummer in Co. H, 29th Pennsylvania Infantry.
According to the company records, George enlisted as a private on 7 August 1861 to serve three years in the 6th New Jersey Infantry. He was promoted to corporal in late August 1861 and then busted back to private in November 1861. In August 1862, just before the 2nd Battle of Bull Run, he was reported as a deserter, and was not returned to duty until 16 November 1863. Where and what he did during this period of time isn’t known but he subsequently was detailed as a clerk for Gen. Gershom Mott so he must have been forgiven for his absence. The last letter suggests George has been considerably weakened by illness so he may have missed several months of duty at war’s end.
Letter 1
Arlington Heights
Wednesday, June 19, 1861
Dear Grandmother, sister, uncle, and brother-in-law,
I take my pen in hand to write you these few lines to let you know that I am enjoying good health at present and I hope these few lines find you the same. I received your kind and affectionate letter and money and was glad to hear from you all. I got the box of provision that Mrs. Craythorn sent to me and when I opened it I discovered a package that said on it to George W. Hill sent to him by his grandmother and I think more of that package than any other. You don’t say anything about how Jo Coney serve me. It will only make a fuss between him and me.
There was a little fight night before last. We had a parade out on a large field. There was nine regiments there and among them was one of the Ohio regiments and after the parade was dismissed, they started for their encampment and they were attacked before they reached their quarters. It was after they reached their quarters, I learn since. I heard the report of the guns. It was about one o’clock at night. I had just went on guard.
I have got use to way of encampment now and it seems to me from my post there is no talk of us moving. Some of our brigade moved last night. I don’t know where they are gone to. There is a talk of an attack tonight. If they don’t attack tonight, they won’t do it at all. If they come tonight, we will knock spots out of them. We will get behind the breastwork.
I suppose you read it in the paper. I just wish you could see this place once. I was in Washington yesterday. I was all through the Smithsonian Institute.
Write and let me know if you got the box of Washington that I sent you. I been in all them places that was on that paper. From your brother, — George Hill
Give my love to all. Don’t forget to write. Let me know if I had a letter from Delaware.
Letter 2
Headquarters
Hooker’s Division
December 15th 1861
Dear Sister,
I take this opportunity of answering your letter which I received this evening and was glad to hear from you all and that you was all well and doing well. Last Friday I got the long looked for—that is, that bundle. Everything come safe. I was never prouder of anything inn my life than I was of that blanket for that night I slept under it and slept as warm as you please. And if there is anything like keeping warm, I am going to do it, and that box for it will come safe and mark the things that is from me. The Quartermaster goes into the city on purpose after the boxes every week. I was glad to get such a long letter. Always write a long letter.
Sister, let me know where I shall direct when I write now he has moved; there may be some difference. I have been going to write for some time. I wrote two and did not get any answer.
Sister, last Sunday we was out on picket guard along the Potomac River, The Beverly Boys are all well. We are all in one tent and we have got them fixed nice. We have got a fire place made in our tent and bedsteads built up off the ground and we sleep bully.
We signed the pay roll today and we will get paid off in two weeks from today. I got the blanket, the mittens, the scarf, the tobacco, and am very thankful for them. I would like to be in Bryan’s regiment for I would have been there all the time. When they leave Beverly, let me know. I don’t think they will ever get to the seat of war.
That was a very strange dream that Uncle had about me. That snake—that was what got me. So one of the boys is sitting reading the Burlington paper. It has got Capt. [George C.] Burling‘s letter in it. Get it and read it. It’s dated 14th. In it you will see accounts of our march which is very interesting.
I am going to write to write to Homer and Jake too for I am anxious to hear from both. Write soon. I believe we are still in the same or in the neighborhood. I believe I have wrote all the particulars. Give my love to all my friends. Don’t forget the stuffed peppers for my mouth is all getting out of shape waiting for them.
I shall expect to see your likeness in the box. Don’t forget Sidy. Hang mine up in the privy. It will be good for the diarrhea. Mamma, keep in [good] spirits for your grandson will be a help to you in your old days. Nary one has told you so, have they not? I am glad to think that the Beverly folks are yet so kind to you as to send you some coal. I am glad to hear that uncle has got work. It won’t be very long before I can send you some more money.
The papers say that Charleston is laying in ashes. I will have to bring my letter to a close. From your brother to his sister, and grandmother and uncle. Truly yours, — George W. Hill
Write soon. Don’t forget to send the peppers for I am waiting. Truly yours, — George W. Hill
Letter 3
Rum Point
January 7, 1862
Dear Sister,
I received your kind letter just now and was glad to hear from you and that you was well but sorry to hear of uncle being sick. You said you had not received a letter from me. Sister, I have wrote two—one just after I got my box of things which came to me safe enough with the exceptions of a few of the pies [that] were mashed by the jar of pickles but I enjoyed my chicken and other things.
Now you all no doubt would like to see me come [home] just as bad as I would like to come. Now if you would just write in your next letter that some of the family was very sick and wasn’t expected to live, I would show the letter to Capt. [George C.] Burling and no doubt but what he would give me a furlough to come home. I seen Jim Colwell and he told me he was coming home on a furlough. The regiment he belongs to is only a half a mile from ours.
Dear sister, never think that I have forgot my home for I have not and never will as long as I draw breath. I am proud to think that I have a place that I can say, that’s my home. There’s where I have a doting grandmother, and affectionate uncle, and loving sister, and God forbid that I should turn traitor to my home. I can see my mama sitting by the stove with her arms folded and head resting on her knees, and likewise uncle the same while my sister is penning a few lines to her only brother that has gone forth in the defense of his mother country to protect her rights.
Dear sister, I am writing just as I feel. It is early in the morning and the glorious sun is shining down upon us with all its rays. The boys are building log houses to live in and when finished, will be warm. I hope you will never think that I have forgotten home. I am very well satisfied here as long as I can hear that all is in good health at home and getting along in regards living.
We have signed the pay roll and expect to be paid off in a day or two and I will send it to you as soon as I get it and use it as you like. Never let hard times worry you. If you want coal, send me word and I can have it hauled right to your door for you from Burlington. All I have to do is to go to Capt. Burling and tell him—he keeps a coal yard in Burlington—and he will send word to his brother.
I will have to bring my letter to a close sending you all my love. My regards to Aunt Lacy.
Truly yours, — George W. Hill
Write soon as possible and let me know how uncle is. I shall be uneasy till I hear from him. Goodbye. Goodbye.
Letter 4
Shipping Point, Virginia
April 20th 1862
Dear Sister,
I now sit down to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well and in good spirits and hope that these few lines will find you all the same. I received your letter and was glad to hear from you and that you was all well. We are now about 5 miles from Yorktown and when you hear from me again, I shall be in Yorktown. There will be a very hard fight at this place. The rebels have a very strong force at this place. If you don’t hear from me for awhile, don’t be uneasy about me for I heard that all the letters was going to be stopped till after the fight. I don’t know how true it is but if it is, don’t be uneasy about me.
We expect to move every hour today, to proceed on closer to Yorktown to throw up breastworks. They have been firing at one another back and forward for two or three days. Wounded some on both sides. From what I can hear, the attack will be made next week sometime.
Dear sister, it has been a long time since I saw you. I never thought that I could stay away from home this long but a person don’t know what he can do till he tries. It is now Sunday night and it is raining and been raning all day long and I am sitting in my tent [with] just room to turn around. We have little tents made to carry in our knapsacks—two men to a tent. They button together and each man carries half a tent. We have a nice man for our captain—ten times nicer than Captain Burling. His name is Jacob VanRiper. 1
We are going to move again tomorrow morning up nearer Yorktown. I want you to get the Burlington dollar paper and read the letter in it from Company F that one of our boys wrote to the editor of that paper. It will tell you all the particulars of our move from Rum Point. There was 1400 of us aboard of one boat—the John Brooks. We lived in devilish boat for five days. Just think of 1400 men on one [boat] five days in the rain the best part of the time. I have seen a great many fellows I knowed—Joseph Toms, Charley Adams, and Caspar Adams and the 3rd Regiment lays about a mile from us aboard the John Warner and all the Beverly Boys are in that regiment. I saw Nelson Fish, Jim lay Gelby, Bill Leonard, Gus Bevitts and Al Bishop and a great many more.
I am acquainted with both of them men that was there. One is [William A.] Bird and the other [Charles] Borden. Bird played off sick and got his discharge. The package that is coming for you is a pair of pants and a pair of drawers. It was the night before we started from Rum Point. I was going to throw mine away and Jim Smith come in the tent and says, “Hilly. have you anything to send home?” Says he, “I am going to send something home and now is your chance.” So I study awhile and could not think of anything to send but them pants.
I will have bring my letter to a close by sending you my love. Write soon. From your brother, — George W. Hill
Look for money in the next letter. They owe us 52 dollars at the end of this month. Don’t forget to send a paper to read. New York Weekly. Don’t forget to get that Dollar Newspaper and read it. 19th of April.
Sidy, tell Mary that I got her letter and paper and will answer after we move.
1 Capt. George Childs Burling (1834-1885) was promoted from Captain of Co. F to Major of the 6th New Jersey Regiment on 19 March 1862. He later became the Lt. Colonel and then Colonel of the regiment.
Letter 5
Camp 6th Regt. New Jersey Vols.
February 28th [1864]
My Dear Sister,
I received your kind letter this evening. I gave me great pleasure to hear from you. Tonight is Sunday eve. The weather has been warm for the past week. The 6th Corps is on a reconnoissance and the remainder of the ARmy is under marching orders ready to move at a moment’s notice.
Dear sister, by this time you have seen some of the boys from Co. F and perhaps talked with them. I have no duty to do. I am done working for Gen. [Gershom] Mott. There is 6 men left in Co. F. I am acting 1st Sergeant of them so that excuses me from all kind of duty like picket and guard.
Jake must not think hard of me for not writing to him. I hope I will have a chance to see him before long. I hear that those that has reenlisted will be assigned to the Army of the Potomac. If so, I will see him. He could not do anything better than buy a house with his money but 400 dollars for that house is too much money. If I wanted a house, I would buy one in the country and get piece of land with it.
Yesterday I had a dinner that put me in mind of home. I will tell you what it was composed of. 1st was boiled pork, cabbage, turnips, potatoes, a cup of cold coffee, and to top out we had a half dozen mince pies but that was all. For supper tonight was as much fried tripe as we could eat.
That’s about all we get to do at present. The drums are playing tattoo. It is cloudy. A storm is on hand but we prepared for it. Plenty of wood and a fire place large enough to burn a house if it was not so large. I never was in better sprits in my life and hope I will always be so.
I was sorry to hear that dear uncle has been so sick. He is very unfortunate as far as sickness is concerned but I hope that he will be better soon. Tell Mama that I will be home when my time is out. Kiss Edith for me. I will close. I still remain your true brother, — George W. Hill
Letter 6
3rd Division Hospital
June 28th 1865
Dear Sister,
Your letter came duly at hand a few days ago and it pleased me very much to hear from all. The money you sent me came all right. Don’t send any more. Keep it yourself for I have a prospect of getting home now soon. The talk is we start the 8th of July. They say we would of been home before this if we could get transportation.
Well, dear friends, I have to tell you there was a happy meeting the other day. I was laying in my bed and had just turned over and who should I see but my dear brother-in-law, Jake. I was so full that I could scarcely speak to him. It was a joyful meet. He stayed with me all the afternoon and had a good talk about home and old times. He looks as hearty as a buck and it does make me feel so bad to see people in such good health and enjoying themselves and here is poor me—nothing but a bunch of bones and not got ambition enough to move.
We will all be at home before the latter part of August and I think I will be at home in less than a week. The sergeant of my company came over to see me last night and he told me that the Lieutenant of my company was going to see what he could do for me.
Today I received a letter from Hannah last evening. She wrote me a very nice affectionate letter. Ross wrote part of it. I was surprised at the writing. He is going to make a good penman.
I am getting better. I get porter to drink and it strengthens me more than anything else. I should like to spend 4th of July with you but if the regiment was going home tomorrow, I could not go for I am too weak. I will have to close for the present. My love to all. From your loving brother, — G. W. Hill
Spared & Shared 23 