The following letters were written by J. M. Wilson, a volunteer in the 12th New York National Guard (or State Militia)—nicknamed “the Independence Guard.” This unit was sent for immediate service to Washington D. C. in April 1861 to guard the Nation’s Capitol. While in Washington they were encamped and drilled at Camp Anderson.

The regiment remained in Washington until the 7th of July, when, ordered to join the army of the Shenandoah, it proceeded by railroad to Baltimore, and thence to Harrisburg and Hagerstown, arriving at the latter place on the evening of the 8th. Left Hagerstown on the 9th, marched to Williamsport, forded the Potomac and marched all night; arriving at Martinsburg, Va., early on the morning of the 10th, having accomplished 80 miles without a pause. Colonel Butterfield, there reported to Major-General Patterson, and was immediately appointed an acting Brigadier-General, his brigade consisting of the Fifth and Twelfth N. Y. S. Militia, and the Nineteenth and Twenty-eighth N. Y. S. volunteers.

Wilson wrote the letters to his friend, an insurance agent for whom he probably worked in New York City named Henry Thayer Drowne (1822-1897).

[Note: These letters are from the private collection of Greg Herr and were transcribed and published on Spared & Shared by express consent.]

Letter 1

Camp Anderson Once More
Washington
June 4th 1861

Dear Sir,

Your letters of the 2nd and 3rd inst. were received this morning and gave me great pleasure to hear from you. The regiment is once more in Washington after an absence of a week and two days. I wrote to you in the last that we were under marching orders and that I would be unable to call and see Mr. Arnold. We were reviewed by Secretary Seward the same evening of the day I wrote you. The regiment looked fine. We were dressed in full uniform with white gloves. After the review we were drilled in loading and firing which was splendidly executed by the whole regiment.

After the dress parade was over, our captain gave us orders to take off our dress suit and to put on our fatigue dress ready for a march. About nine o’clock we had orders to fill our canteens and pack up our knapsacks and at 10 o’clock we got our rations of bread and preserved meat for one day. Soon after we went to bed and about 12 o’clock when we were all to sleep, we were aroused out of our shanties and ordered to fall in with out knapsacks and belts on and with our muskets and in about ten minutes time we were on our march to the Sacred Soil of Virginia. The moon shone bright and the air was cool and bracing. It was a night long to be remembered by all the regiment and those that witnessed our departure.

We marched from our camp down Fourteenth Street past Willard’s Hotel, across the canal when we halted and the Colonel gave us orders to load at will which looked very much like hot work. We then took up our line of march (past the Michigan Regiment) to the Long Bridge which we crossed about 1 o’clock and took up our march along an even road (expecting to be attacked every minute) till we got near Alexandria when we countermarched (passed the Michigan Regiment again), took another road, and marched quite a distance when we halted and rested for the rest of the day. We dined on crackers and preserved meat.

Awoke the next morning about 4 o’clock, commenced to rain about 8 o’clock, when we marched to the Mill for shelter (which was occupied by Company H before we got there) where we stayed till we returned to Washington. We had a pleasant trip, I can assure you. I went a fishing and bathing nearly every day. We were practiced in the skirmish drill several hours each day. We laid on our arms every night expecting an attack. On Friday morning about 5 o’clock, the long roll beat and before 10 minutes we were in line of battle ready for action. The cause of the alarm was the constant firing of guns in the vicinity of Alexandria. I laid out every night in the open air except when it rained. The Mills where we were quartered belong to a Mr. Roach—a secessionist. It was stated that there were 300 rebels there but when they heard we were coming, the took up traps and left.

We left Virginia unexpectedly (as we left Washington) not knowing anything of it till the night before and then we all thought we were going to march further into Virginia. About four o’clock Sunday morning the 1st Connecticut Volunteers marched into the Mill grounds and relieved us. We then took up our march (about 9 o’clock) for Washington. We halted after a march of about four miles when the articles of war were read to us by Rev. [ ] Hale Smith after which we had a short sermon. We then took up our line of march (past the New York 25th, the 69th, & 8th but I did not see Thorne Weyman. I looked for him but could not see him, and arrived in Washington about 3 o’clock. It was one of the hottest [days] we have had here and the men were completely tired out when they arrived.

We had a dress parade the same night. I wish you could witness some of our parades. There are about fifteen hundred persons witness our parade every evening. The 12th stands as high as any in Washington. I called yesterday to see Mr. Thornes’ son and had quite a stay with him. I intend to call on Mr. Arnold when I can get time. They are in encampment, I believe, and I will endeavor to find out where.

We were under marching orders last night and none of us thought we would be in Washington today. From all that I could see while I was in Virginia, there are more Union men than people are led to believe. The carte-de-visite I will get and send them to you as soon as possible. I was out yesterday and it will be impossible for me to get out for several days yet and then I will get them taken and send them on. If you would, you can send me on five dollars. The rest of the balance of my salary I wish you would retain it till I can get back to New York.

No more at present as my time is limited. Give my respects to Mr. Thorne and all in the office and my kind regards to Mrs. Drowne and your boy.

Truly yours, — J. M. Wilson

Enclosed find a sketch of the Mill that we occupied in Virginia. When I get to New York, I will make out a better one for you.

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Letter 2

Hagerstown, Maryland
July 9th 1861

Dear Sir,

I now take the opportunity of writing you a few lines to let you know how I am getting along. The last  time I wrote you I was in Washington but last Saturday night we received marching orders and everything was got in readiness for to march. Our dress uniforms we packed up and directed with our names on to it to our residences in New York which looked as if we had bid farewell to Washington during our term in this war.

We started from our camp in Washington Sunday afternoon [7 July] about 2 o’clock, marched down 14th street, up Pennsylvania Avenue to the Baltimore & Ohio Rail Road Depot where we took the train and got underway about 4 o’clock. Passed Annapolis Junction where we stopped for a  quarter of an hour. Got on our way again, stopped a few minutes at the Relay House, passed on and arrived in Baltimore about 8 o’clock, formed in line, marched up Eutaw Street to the Northern Central RR Depot.

The  streets were crowded and we met with a hearty reception. We took the train on the Northern Central RR and got underway about 1 o’clock at night. We passed through Glenbrock, stopped at little York for a  few minutes, passed on and stopped at Bridgeport opposite Harrisburg where we got dinner, which was provided for the regiment by the government. Rested ourselves about half an hour where we were joined by the 5th (NYSM) regiment.

We soon got underway and switched off on the Cumberland Valley Railroad. The train was composed of about sixty cars drawn by three engines. Our journey from Bridgeport to Hagerstown was one continuous ovation through the towns we came through—especially so at  Mechanicsburg and Greencastle where wagonloads of provisions were provided for us by the ladies of  the towns who heard we were coming. We arrived at Hagerstown about 9 o’clock where we slept for the night and are now staying.

[Maj.] Gen. Sandford is with us. We start this afternoon to join Gen’l. Patterson’s Brigade near Martinsburg some 16 miles which we will have to march. There is no doubt but that we will have a brush with the rebels in a few days but I must close as my time in limited. Did the carte-de-visites I sent you meet with your approval? Those that have seen them say they are taken well. I will write you again in a few days. Give my regards to Mr. Thorne, Mr. Craig, and all in the office, to Mrs. Drowne and the boy.

Yours Truly— J. M. Wilson

To HT Drown, Esq.

We have two contrabands with us (runaway slaves)—one in Co. F and one in Co. G.

Direct your answer to J. M. W., Camp Anderson, Washington D. C. or elsewhere.