The following two letters pertain to the death of 18 year-old Pvt. Daniel H. Williams (1845-1863) of Co. M, 2nd New York Veteran Cavalry. Daniel died of typhoid fever on 23 July 1863 at the General Hospital in New Orleans. His remains were laid to final rest in the Chalmette National Cemetery in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, Section 52, Plot 4086. Daniel H. Williams was son of John and Sarah (“Sally”) Williams of Newburgh, Orange County, New York. Pension records indicate that Sally was dependent on her son’s wages, however, as her husband abandoned her in 1858. Sarah applied for and received a pension in 1868 for her son’s service that terminated with her death in 1895.

One of the letters was written by Thomas Crosby who was drafted into Co. M and who also died at the US Army General Hospital in New Orleans. His death occurred on 22 September 1864. The other letter was written by someone named “M. L. Shipman” who was not in the same regiment; in fact, he may not have even been in the military service. He may have been a civilian volunteer in the hospital. I have transcribed both letters as written without corrections to spelling or grammar. This is not my custom as it makes searching for key words less successful on the internet but there is little in these letters that lend themselves to searches.

According to pension records, Daniel enlisted in the 2nd Veteran Cavalry Regiment (nicknamed the “Empire Light Cavalry”) at New York City on 1 December 1863. It was stationed at Washington during the ensuing winter, whence it embarked for New Orleans, and there joined the Department of the Gulf. Its entire term New York Regiments 203 of service was spent in the South, where it formed part of Arnold’s cavalry division, 19th corps. Assigned to the 5th cavalry brigade, it took part in Banks’ Red River campaign, in which it was 18 times in action. It was assigned to the 4th cavalry brigade on its return and through June, July and August was engaged in a number of raids and scouting expeditions, meeting with some losses.

Letter 1

U. S. Barracks
General Hospital
Neworleans, La
July 24th 1864

Mrs. Williams,

Madam, I take this opertunity to perform a duty witch as regards the human family we ow one a nother but it is a sad duty for me to inform you of the sickness of your son he came here the 18th of this month verry sick with the Typhoid Fevor and all though he had as good care as a soaldier can bestow he did not have that care that he should have for one of his age (A Mothers care) and last night 15 minutes before 11 o’clock he breathed his last to day he wil be burried with all the honors of a soaldier during his ilness here he was most of the time sense less therefore I cannot tel you what his last words were that is all that I have to say if there is eny thing that you wish to find out concerning your son, you wil have to write to the chaplain of this hospital and he wil inform you he is the best man for sutch buisness that I ever saw.

yours truly. — M. L. Shipman, Chief Nurce of Ward 29, Barracks US Hosptl, Neworleans, La

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Letter 2

U. S. A. Hospital
July 24th

Mrs. Williams,

I am sorry to state to you that your sun Daniel H. Williams one that belongs to Mi Company was taken very sick with the Tyfoid Fever and died last nite it is a hard job fore me to rite such bad news to you I came with your sun to the Hospital sick altho I dun all I cold for you poor sick boy But He hast gone to a better World then this Before we left the Regment your sun sent you 80 dolrs by Adams Express Co. I will send the receipt His discharge was maid out but he was to sick to come.

Yours with respets, — Thomas Crosby

U.S.A. Hospital, New orleans, La.