The following letter was written by Edgar Knapp (b. 1834) of Adrian, Michigan, who was laboring as 27 year-old physician when he enlisted as a private in the 6th U. S. Cavalry with his younger brother, 20 year-old Randolph R. Knapp in the fall of 1861. Ed enlisted as a private but with his medical training and experience, Ed was later assigned to hospital steward duties in the 6th US Cavalry and later still, for many months at the hospital in Annapolis, Maryland, where he managed several wards.
Edgar wrote the letter to Sallie E. Armstrong, the sister of Martin Armstrong (1828-1863) of Co. M, 6th US Cavalry. Martin was born in 1828 in Chester county, Pennsylvania, and, as we learn in the letter, he was wounded at the Battle of Williamsburg in May 1862 and again at the Battle of Gettysburg where he was taken prisoner and marched all the way to Richmond, Virginia, as a POW. After his exchange, he was taken to Camp Parole at Annapolis, Maryland, where he encountered Edgar working as a hospital steward. Martin died there 4 October 1863.
The letter is not dated and was most likely only a draft of the letter that he sent since it was found among his papers in later years.
Transcription
[Parole Hospital, Annapolis, Maryland]
[Late October 1863]
Sallie E. Armstrong,
My dear Miss, your sad but very interesting letter of the 17th inst. was received yesterday on my return from an absence of a few days, and , although I feel my utter incompetency to answer so good a letter with any degree of satisfaction, I shall try to give you a history of your brother’s case as far as possible. He was a member of the same regiment with myself & although in different companies, I knew him well from often hearing his name among his associates. He was beloved by everyone who knew him and was an example to all.
Sunday evening, May 4th 1862, at the Battle of Williamsburg, Va., he was wounded by a bullet through the middle of his left thigh, and was sent to the hospital at Fortress Monroe where he soon recovered and about the middle of July, rejoined his regiment and remained with it until taken prisoner at Fairfield, Pennsylvania July 3d 1863 at which place he was wounded by a sabre cut on the left side of his head although not very severe. He walked the whole distance to Richmond, arriving there August 20th, and was paroled the same day and was delivered at City Point, Va., August 22nd and arrived here on board the steamer New York the 24th.
As I had been with the regiment only 6 months, I had not the pleasure of your brother’s acquaintance until he came to this place, but as he came from the steamer I felt confident that he belonged to my regiment & thought it must be Sergeant Armstrong and so confident was I of this that I asked him if that was not his name and you may be assured we had a very happy meeting. And having had some correspondence, we felt very well acquainted.
He was then enjoying very god health and went out to Camp Parole but visited here quite often, mostly on account of Benjamin F. Adams who is a member of his company & nurse in this hospital. He remained at Camp Parole until September 20th when he came in to visit his friends and was complaining of neuralgic pain in the region of his first wound and before he was ready to return to camp, was taken with a severe chill and we had him go to bed in Mr. Adam’s ward. The next day he had some fever but felt better toward night and the next day had another chill. The pain in his limb continued and commenced to swell. His fever continued and the swelling increased till October 1st when he became partially delirious and the swelling was opened and discharged freely a dark colored pus. From this time he commenced sinking and he became perfectly delirious, so much so that I could find out nothing about his family or friends.
The 2nd and 3rd, he sank very rapidly and at 6:10 on the morning of the 4th, he passed away quietly without a struggle. During his illness, his sufferings were very severe but he bore all with the patience and fortitude seen only in pure and upright Christians, and I feel that if there ever was a true and devoted Christian, he was one. Mr. Adams was his nurse during his illness and was as much devoted and took as good care of him as his own brother could have done—yes, even more, for he was as attentive to and as tender of him as a Mother is to her child, attending to his every want and listening to every word that fell from his lips. And when he found death had finished his work and the spirit had flown to that brighter world on high, he could not longer control his feelings, but wept like a child. Neither could he keep from weeping when I read to him your kind letter.
Too much praise cannot be given Mr. Adams for his attention and devotion to your brother. I saw him s often as possible during his sickness and did everything I could for him & was with him when he died, but my time was necessarily occupied by hospital duties which only allowed me to see him two or three ties each day, even though my own nephew occupied the ned next to your brother. Yet this was only a duty which I owe to every one of my companions in arms, and I hope always to perform that duty faithfully. Still, I should be happy indeed to know that my name was cherished by the sister of my noble and much loved friend, Martin Armstrong.
His funeral took place at the chapel and a beautiful wreath of flowers was placed upon his coffin by the ladies. He was buried in Ash Grove Cemetery (Soldier’s burial ground) about two miles from this hospital. Two lady nurses, Miss [Emily W.] Dana and Miss [Louise] Titcomb devoted much time to him and tried to supply the place of a sister, and Miss Dana has kindly offered to write you a letter which she will send with mine. His grave is marked and also numbered 1 so there can be no trouble or mistake in finding his remains.
1 Martin Armstrong’s grave is marked No. 2197.
Spared & Shared 23 