1865: David Gardner to James Emslie

The following letter was written by David Gardner (b. 1842) who enlisted on 8 April 1863 at New York City to serve three years in Co. I, 5th New York Cavalry. He was taken prisoner on 17 June 1864 at Ely’s Ford on the Rapidan river in Virginia and taken to Andersonville. Unlike most of his fellow prisoners, David survived the confinement and was paroled in January 1865.

*I could not find an image of David Gardner but here is an ambrotype of a cavalryman from the collection of my friend, Megan Kemble, who thinks he was in either the 5th or 6th New York Cavalry.*

The letter is addressed to “Dear Sir” and my assumption is that it was sent to James Emslie, the father of William H. Emslie (1842-1864) who enlisted on 12 August 1861 at the age of 18 in Co. G, 2nd New York Cavalry. William was captured at Ellis Ford on 17 January 1864 and died of chronic diarrhea at Andersonville Prison on 25 June 1864. William’s parents were James and Jane (Weston) Emslie of Cornwall, Orange county, New York. We learn from the letter that David and William were tent mates at Andersonville. William was buried at Andersonville.

Also mentioned in the letter are two other names. The first is Henry J. Brewer (1841-1864) who served with William in Co. G, 2nd New York Cavalry. Henry was taken prisoner on 22 August 1863 at U. S. Ford on the Rappahannock River in Virginia and was also sent to Andersonville. He died there on 31 October 1864. This letter informs us that he was suffering from scurvy.

The other soldier mentioned was Frank Wood (1842-1864) who served in Co. I, 5th New York Cavalry with David Gardner. He was taken prisoner on 1 March 1864 near Richmond and died at Andersonville Prison on 19 July 1864.

*A burial trench outside Andersonville Prison*

Transcription

Winchester, Virginia
February 10th 1865

Dear Sir,

I received a letter from you last night requesting me to let you know any particulars about your son, Wm. Emslie. He tented with me at Andersonville. He got the chronic diarrhea. I took him to the hospital and I heard in a few days after that he was dead. Frank Wood died of the same disease shortly after. The last I saw of Henry J. Brewer was at Andersonville and he was alive then. He had the scurvy very bad—had to walk with a cane. I did not see him at parole camp so I can’t say any further for him. I am sorry I did not see them friends of yours in New York. If I had, I could have told them all about it.

Wm. Emslie was taken sick soon after he was captured and was sick all the time until he died at Andersonville. He was so weak when we carried him to the hospital that he could not stand up without help. Frank Wood was the same. He told me before he died that he knew he could not live and gave up all hopes of ever getting well again. I have no more to say at present.

I remain, yours truly, — David Gardner