The following letters were written by Lucius E. Bidwell, Jr., (1833-1864), the son of Lucius E. Bidwell, Sr. (1806-1852) and Mary M. Barnes (1808-Aft1865) of Middletown, Middlesex county, Connecticut.
He lived in Middletown, and worked as a painter until he enlisted in Captain Elijah W. Gibbons’ famous Co. B of the 14th Connecticut Volunteers (the “Nutmeg Regiment”) in July of 1862. He was wounded at the Battle of Fredericksburg and survived, but died late in the war, in the Wilderness of northern Virginia May 5, 1864. His burial place is unknown, but a Cenotaph was erected in his name at Indian Hill cemetery in Middletown. On February 17, 1864, the local Middletown newspaper The Constitution published a letter from Bidwell that details his experiences fighting Confederate soldiers.
The first letter in this small collection provides details of the Battle of Chancellorsville. The regiment was held in reserve for the most part until Sunday, May 3rd, when they went into action and suffered several casualties, though no one was killed.
Two of Bidwell’s letters are housed at the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.
[Most of these letters were provided from the collection of the Senft Family for the express purpose of being transcribed and published on Spared & Shared.]
Letter 1
Camp near Falmouth, Virginia
May 8th 1863
Dear Brother,
I suppose you have heard of the battle long before this and that your brother Lucien has come out all right again which I suppose is goo news to you all but I tell you what it is, I barely escaped with my life each battle. I have had the leaden pills whistle about my head like hail stones in fly time. I have had them come so close as to blow my hair and make me wink and blink considerable and I have had shells burst at my feet, over my head, and had pieces of them graze my clothes. We call them soap blubbers out here. I had rather have a million bullets rattle about my head than one shell to burst over my head. They make quite a little noise, I tell you.
But I am one of the favored ones, I guess. The bullet is not cast yet for me. I hope not at least for it is not very pleasant to have one of them hit a fellow. I don’t see how I have escaped without a scratch three times and was in such a shower of shells and bullets too each time, and all three battles I have had comrades shot by my side. There was two wounded, one each side of me, and so it was at Antietam 1 and Fredericksburg 2 and this last battle, and I have escaped without a scratch.
It was about as bloody a battle as Fredericksburg. It was a five days fight. We were in a line of battle with our rifles loaded and kept ready for them four days and nights. Some nights we were on our feet with our pieces half cocked with the expectation of being called to the rifle pits to relieve the poor fellows who had been in them fighting hard for two or three days. But we were finally obliged to fall back across the [Rappahannock] river again. We went into the fight last Saturday night about 6 o’clock right under one of our batteries of half a dozen guns which kept firing all night. The night was a very dark night and the flash from the big guns kept the woods we were in illuminated about all night. If it was not in battle, it would have been a glorious sight to look upon and the roar of the [guns] was deafening I tell [you].
But about five o’clock in the morning the rebels broke through our lines and caused great confusion. Most of the whole army scattered and fled like sheep for a mile or so and made another stand and threw up earthworks at the entrance of a piece of woods and there we made out to keep them at bay until Thursday night about midnight [when] we packed up and got ready to start about three o’clock in the morning. It was very dark and rained quite hard all the day before and all night and oh! I tell you what, it was a little muddy about that time. We had to wade through mud up to our knees most of the way.
I never shall forget that night. It was awful dark and we had to march through a thick wood for about three miles to the river. It was awfully muddy. We were obliged to whisper to one another and the officers gave out their orders in whispers. If the rebs had known of our movement at the time, we would have had quite a hard time getting away. I tell you, they would have hurried us all the way, but we were so still about it that they knew nothing of it until we were about a;; across the river in safety. But as soon as thy found it out, they sent a few shells after us but done no harm. If we had reinforcements that night we would have been alright but the rebs were too strong for us. Our Brigadier General [William] Hays was wounded I believe very bad. He is now at Washington, they say.
We are now at our old camp again once more but I don’t think we shall stay here a great while. I think by what I can learn that we shall soon march towards Washington to recruit for we are of no use here now for most half of this army’s time are out. Some of them who enlisted for two years are up and some—and a great many for 9 months—are up, so it will make the army quite small. I hope they will get out of this hole anyhow for I think the Army of the Potomac have the most [Rebel] force to contend with and the most difficulties to surmount than any other army of the Union. We are trying to fight our way to Richmond and the rebel army that we are opposing are endeavoring to push their way towards Washington so that makes it the most desperate. I had rather be in any other army than the Army of the Potomac at the present time.
I believe I will close this letter for I guess it is long enough you will [be tired] read[ing] if you have not already, all about the battle and our retreat. It is a glorious day today. The whole regiment has gone out on picket duty yesterday adn have not arrived yet. I went with them but I had a very bad cold and did not feel like laying out all night for it was stormy and so I loitered behind until the regiment passed by and then went back to camp.
We call Mr. [Robert] Russell old Gob’s eye. I will tell you one of his mean tricks and then you can judge for yourself what sort of an animal he is. Day before yesterday (I mean yesterday morn), we had fresh meat dealt out to us and Gob’s eye cut it up and dealt it out to the company. I was still under my blanket and had my shoes off ( I had a bad cold) and so I asked one of my tent mates by the name of Joe Slater—A Dutchman, a good fellow too—if he would not get my ration with his. He said he would because we had often done so before but Russell was very cross that morning and told Joe that I must come and get myself if I wanted it. But Joe told him that I was not very well and wanted him to get it for me. But old Job’s eye told him that if I [was] too sick to come after it, I was too sick to eat it. I heard every word of it myself and I sung out to stick my ration of meat into his own guts and go to the Devil with it. So I went without. That is the way he accommodates his companions. He has got to be a complete hog and if ever we both get home together, I will treat [him] as I would a hog. I never had so much hatred for a human being in my life as I have for that man. Every time I lay my eyes on him, I can [hardly] keep from laying my hands on him.
Mother said in her letter which I received last night that our captain was at Mrs. Broatch’s but Mrs. Broatch was not at home and that Mrs. Russell did not tell him that you lived in the next house. Capt. Townsend said if he had known it, he would have called and seen you and Mother says that Mrs. Russell said that the Capt, said he hoped he should see Robert Russell with stripes on soon. I think he does but not to wear them in our company. If the Capt. gets him promoted, it will be to get him out of this company. The Capt. don’t like him any better than we do.
I meant to have stopped some time ago but I shall have to now for want of paper. I send you and all my best love. Your brother, — L. E. Bidwell
Dwight Davis send his respects and Johnny is all right and sends his best regards to you. Priest was hit in the shoulder. George Hubbard is well and safe.
1 On September 17, 1862, the regiment’s first action was at the Battle of Antietam. The regiment traveled along the flank and entered the East Woods, passing through Mumma’s orchard and cornfield toward the confederate line. The green troops performed well, but casualties came from confederate fire and accident; including a case of an exploding shell of Company D which killed 3 and wounded 4. In total, 21 men were killed and 88 wounded and 28 missing.
2 In the course of Battle of Fredericksburg, 10 men were killed, 92 were wounded and 20 were listed as missing, among the dead was Lieutenant Canfield and Captain Gibbons of Company B and the Lieutenant-Colonel Perkins was wounded.
Letter 2
Camp near Falmouth, Va.
May 23, 1863
Dear Mother,
I have just seated myself under beautiful shade a few yards from our log huts and the band is playing a few yards off [from] where I am seated writing and it sounds beautifully echoing through the woods. Oh, it is such a lovely day that I cannot help enjoying it as much as I possibly can. But Mother, the thought that this cruel war is still going on almost makes it impossible for me to enjoy myself even here in this beautiful grove of pines and a plenty to eat and good spring water to drink right in our camp and a splendid band of music to enliven us.
There is another band in our brigade—the 12th New Jersey Regt.—has got a very good band too. It is camped next to our regiment. They left their homes about the same time we did but never was in any engagement till the Battle of Fredericksburg last fall. They were a full regiment them and they number most three to our one now. We number about 350 men in our regiment but they are not all on duty. A good many are sick but not very sick. It is not very sickly here. It seems to be the dysentery that troubles the men more than anything else. I have it a great deal but not very bad as to keep me from duty.
A great many play off and go to the doctor and get excused so they won’t have anything to do all day but to sit around and eat their rations all day because they are so lazy. But that is a thing I never done yet and never mean to. I am willing to do my duty and my whole duty if I suffer by the means. And Mother, I can say—and speak the truth too—that I never had to be punished the least at all since I have been out in the service of my country and have always been on good terms with the commanders of the company of which I have the honor to be a member.
I thought a great deal of our noble Capt. E[lijah] W. Gibbons, our first captain. 1 And we have got an excellent one who has filled his place—Capt. [James L.] Townsend, a very young men about twenty-one or two years old, but he is a very fine young man and we all like him very much indeed. He belongs in Cromwell, I believe. He was very sorry that he did not know that my home was so near when he called to Mrs. Broatches. He said he would have been happy to have called on you if he had known of it. He is a very handsome young man. He makes a fine appearance out on drill. He is beardless.
I received a letter from you Thursday night and one from Augustus Friday night last night. He said that Cyrus Priest’s 2 mother wanted him to write to me to know where he is that she had not heard from him lately. I asked the captain if he knew where he was and he said that he is at Potomac Creek at a hospital there and that he was down there day before yesterday and seen him and that he was doing very well, as well as circumstances would admit. He says that the ball is still lodged in his shoulder. I forgot which shoulder it is but the ball has not been extracted yet it is under his shoulder blade somewhere. I intend to go down to see some of the boys myself in a day or two, if can get a pass to do so. It is about five miles down there.
If I do go down, I will write and let you know how they are getting along so that you can send word to his Mother. The Captain says it is a very bad wound. It being almost time for dress parade, I shall be under the obligation of bringing this letter to a close by sending my best love to you and all the rest of my friends and hope and pray that this will find you enjoying good health.
I subscribe myself your affectionate son who lives in hopes of soon seeing his Mother and all the rest of his dear friends again before long, — Lucius E. Bidwell
P. S. I received your picture in your last letter and was very much pleased with it. I think it looks very much like you but I don’t think it looks so much like you as one you had taken some time ago. I was a going to send mine home but the man that took them has gone away now after the battle. There is one at Falmouth but I will have to wait until I get some money now before I have it taken.
1 Capt. Elijah W. Gibbons was mortally wounded in the Battle of Fredericksburg.
2 Cyrus S. Priest (1840-1891) was wounded in the Battle Chancellorsville on 3 May 1863. He was transferred to the 159th Co., 2nd Battalion Veteran Reserve Corps on 14 September 1864 and discharge 5 July 1865.
Letter 3
Camp near Falmouth, Virginia
May 28th 1863
Dear Brother,
I again take my pen in hand to answer your last letter which I received a few days ago. William Murdock has arrived here in camp last night. I was very much disappointed when I found that he had not got the letter paper which I sent for. I should think he might have brought it for he brought a valise full of things for the boys. I received a letter from Mother by him enclosed in which was two or three sheet letter paper and envelopes, and a postage stamp. Mother says he told her that he had nothing to carry everything in but it seems he did have something to put the paper in.
Did he tell you all about our hardships or didn’t he have time to say much. I should like to have some letter paper sent out to me by the mail if it did not cost too much to send it. In that way we can get plenty of paper out here but it is very bad paper, It is so thin that the pen cuts through.
I wrote to Mother last week that we were packing up but it was a mistake of mine. The Major who is now in charge of the regiment gave orders to have the boys take off the roofs of their huts which were of tent cloth so as to let the air circulate through the huts. That was all.
But while writing this before I could not finish it. We have had real orders to pack up everything. What is it for? I don’t know but we are all packed up ready for a march and when we had got all through packing up, we were ordered to fall in for drill so we are out near French’s Headquarters resting in the shade until Major comes who has been sent for by Gen. French for him to come to his presence. I put the bottle of ink into my pocket and my paper in my cartridge box and I did not know how long we must remain before we began to drill so I thought that I would try and finish this letter so I can send it tomorrow. I expect a letter from you tonight and a trumpet. I have asked you to send me the Hartford Times instead of the Sentinel and Witness. I believe I must close this letter for I guess that we will fall in very soon for drill. So goodbye for the present
From your brother, — Lucous
To his brother Augustus
P. S. Since writing the above, we have unpacked our things but we are under marching orders yet. We are liable to be ordered to march at any moment. I think as near as I can learn, that we intend to fall back. The commissary stores have all been removed but where, I do not know. I guess the rebs mean to cross the river to attack us. I will write more soon.
Letter 4
Camp near Falmouth, Va.
May 31st 1863
Dear Brother,
I am now on picket and as I have plenty of time to myself, I thought I would spend it in writing to my friends in Middletown. I sent a letter to Mother yesterday and I told her about our being called out under orders. We were under arms most all day and they called the roll every hour but nothing has transpired to disturb using more than that. What it was for, I cannot tell but I suppose the Rebs were moving about rather more than common and that they thought they might so well to be on the safe side and keep one eye open. The Rebel Gen. Lee has made a proclamation or something of the kind that he intends to make a raid into Maryland again so we hear, but I guess the rebels know best what they intend to do, but the pickets that we have just relieved say that they should think by the appearance of things that the rebs were moving or getting ready to evacuate. We have stricter orders now than we have had before. It seems that Gen. Lee has given out orders to his men not to fish anymore in the river and we have received orders to that effect too. So it has knocked our fishing all in the head. A good many of the pickets used to catch a good many fish while on picket, but there is a small brook running close by our camp which has got some eels and rough in it so that we can catch a few once in awhile if we have small hooks and lines. You said you would send me some if I wished for any. I should like to have you send me some very much. I would like to have you send very small hooks—the smallest you can find—and a very fine line. I suppose you can send them in a letter.
The rebel pickets seem to be very shy for we cannot see any of them only now and then, one in the bushes on the other side of the river. It is something uncommon for we have always seen plenty of them before. I should not be surprised if they were leaving this part of the state in order to make a dash somewhere. Gen. Lee would like to crush this Army of the Potomac if he could but he has not done it yet. We still hold our old position. They don’t seem to like the idea of attempting to drive us from here. We have just as good a position to defend ourselves as they have on their side of the river and that is not all. We would like to have them try it on for we could have a better advantage and stand a better chance if they should attack us than we would by crossing the river and attack them. I am afraid that we will not have so good luck as to have them so that, but we will probably know what is going to be done in a few days. It cannot be possible that we will remain idle much longer. I wish to thunder we could make a dive right straight through to Richmond and make a clean thing of it.
You seem to have been disappointed in the news from Vicksburg. It seems that the New York papers still tread in their old line of story telling. I tell you what, Gus, I don’t place much confidence in what the papers say. But still I think that Grant will finally capture the place. I am in hopes of hearing of its capture now every day. I believe I must close this for it will be my turn to go on post in a few moments and watch the gray backs on the other side. Hoping this cruel war will soon be over, I subscribe myself your affectionate brother, — L. E. Bidwell
Letter 5
[This letter by Lucius was found on the internet transcribed by someone else and I add it here for information purposes only.]
In camp on north side of Rapidan
Feb. 7, 1864
My Dear Mother—
Our Heavenly Father has again saved your son Lucius safely through another battle and one of the worst kinds of a battle too. It was a night fight. Yesterday morning about 5 o’clock we were routed out of our beds with the orders to pack up and fall in. We took up our line of march for the River Rapidan at about nine o’clock in the morning and reached the river about an hour after. We crossed the Rapidan by fording it about noon. We had to ford it, it was up to our breasts and it was a very rapid stream, so much so that if we had accidentally slipped, we would have been carried down stream, and stood a very good chance of finding our graves at the bottom thereof. But as far as I know there was no accident of the kind happened, only now and then one would slip as he was crawling up the opposite bank, which was very steep, but no serious harm was done to my knowledge, but givng them a good dunking, and wetting their cartridges.
The water was very cold—it makes a fellow’s feet and legs ache, I tell you! But go it, we must follow our leader through fire and water. The regiment known as the Garbaldi’s Guards, a New York Regiment composed of Dutch, Irish, and Italians refused to wade because they said it was too deep. But General Hays, knowing of it, jumped from his horse without saying a word, and left his horse this side of the river and waded across to the other side, picking out good footing, and then waded back after his horse. They saw that he got over safe, so they finally plunged in, and arrived safely on the other side. I tell you what he is – a regular tiger! I suppose you have heard of him before. He is in command of our Division, and goes by the name of ‘Fighting Ellick’. He rides along the line of skirmishers with his hat in his hand, cheering the men on, crying, ‘Give them hell boys give them hell.’ He is an old tiger, he is most always a little tight when there is fighting going on and then he is in his glory.
He thinks the Old 14th is about right he is always pressing us up. He was with us in the thickest of the fight crying out ‘give ‘em hell, 14th–Bully for you! Bully for you, go in, boys, go in 14th!’ and so on–the balls flying around his head like hailstones without flinching in the least. He is a regular dare devil!
We marched to a hollow facing the rebels breast works, and remained there until about 5 o’clock within rifle shot of their rifle-pits. They sent a few shells over to us, but most of them passed over harmless. But two or three took effect, killing three or four and wounding several. They had only fired several shots when it was ascertained that the Rebs had …a solid line of battle advancing on us. We were ordered to advance. The bully 14th taking the load, and charged at the double quick time. They met us half way and poured an everlasting fire into us which caused us to waiver for a moment, and with a deafening yell we made a rush, pouring a volley of blue pills into them which they won’t soon forget and put them to flight, and drove them to their rifle pits.
By this time it was dark as pitch, we could not see our foes until we met them face to face, some shot at one another and knocked each others brains out with the butt of the musket. We were fighting in squads most of the night, each man for himself.
Company B and G were on the left and met a stronger party of Reb skirmishers but we charged on them with our little rifles and with deafening yells, we loaded and fired and drove them back to their rifle pits. We then sculked under the cover of darkness to within a few rods of their rifle pits and then popped away at them until we were sent for to go and support our boys on the right, for the Rebs were trying to flank us.
We went it on the double quick over fences and ditches, we charged on a cluster of two or three houses which were full of Rebels. They swarmed in great numbers around the building, firing from the windows and around the corners and out houses, but we made a rush on them, driving them like sheep dragging their wounded along with them. The houses were full of them. We, and some of the others smashed in the doors, which were closed and fastened, and rushed in and some of the rebels grappled with us. We soon overpowered, but strange to say we took only one prisoner. They made their escape out the windows before we were aware of it. They then retired behind their breastworks, and we stretched out a long line of pickets, and remained so until we were relieved about one o’clock in the morning by the 1st Division and recrossed the Rapidan on a sort of bridge which was built. The rest of the troops recrossed the river again soon after.
The Rebs never molested them after we left. It was a daring undertaking in leading this dividsion over there into such a nest. I don’t know why we were not all captured, for we numbered only three thousand men. It must be the Rebs did not know how strong we were after dark or they would have come down on us in a strong body and showed us into the river and cut us all to pieces, but we got off very well after all.
I think the Rebs felt the weight of our bullets before we parted with them. We had no artillery to support us on that side of the river. We, all alone, with only our rifles. I don’t know the exact number of killed and wounded yet. They say we might have lost over one hundred. Our Color Sergeant Cody, was brought into camp and buried by the Regt. with the band. He was a noble fellow and fell doing his duty. One of my tent mates, a fine young man, was shot through the breast. He is a sailor and a native of Germany. I thought a great deal of him. His name is Harrison.
James Ingles was hit on the leg, and a man named Winks in our camp, and another German, was shot through the head (named Stinall) and another tent-mate of mine was hurt in the ankle. Our Major was slightly wounded in the leg. Capt. John Broaht, I hear, had his finger shot off, but I have not seen him yet. I hear he is detailed to go after the recruits but I don’t know how true it is. I must stop for room. Lieut. Russell is all right; he was very brave during the fight. I will write more soon.
So I will bid you good bye for the present and subscribe myself your affectionate son—Lucius Bidwell.
P.S. Since I began this , we have returned to our old camp. After being on picket 24 hours. After we arrived from the fight. McCluskey is unhurt and very well and sends his respects to you and all. Tell Mrs. Rogers that I guess she will have the pleasure of beholding us again after all. Give all the neighbors our love….
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