The following letter was written by John Warner Sturtevant (1840-1892) the son of Luther Sturtevant, Jr. (1803-1872) and Isabelle Litchfield (1810-1905) of Keene, Cheshire county, New Hampshire. At the outbreak of the Civil War, John was working as a clerk in Tilden’s bookstore in Keene.

In August 1862, he enlisted in the 14th New Hampshire Regiment and went to the front as a sergeant in Co. G. He performed gallant service, was badly wounded at the Battle of Opequan (gunshot wound left leg, right arm hurt by shell), and was mustered out in 1865 with the rank of captain. For two years after the war he was in business in Beaufort, South Carolina, but returned to Keene in the spring of 1867 and purchased an interest in the bookstore where he was formerly engaged as clerk. He served as the town clerk of Keene in 1869 until its incorporation as a city in 1874. He was a member of the State Legislature in 1876, 1877, and 1885.

John W. Sturtevant  married Clara, daughter of Charles Chase of Keene in January 1871.

See also—1864: John Warner Sturtevant to Family on S&S 17.

Transcription

Camp 14th New Hampshire Volunteers
1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 19th Army Corps
Berryville, Virginia
September 18th 1864

Dear Friends at Home,

Two years ago today I bid you “goodbye” and went into camp at Concord. One year ago today I came home again on my first furlough. How rapidly time slips by. The other year will soon be gone and long before that comes I hope all necessity for our being here will be removed. It’s Sunday & we have the prospect of a quiet day—the first I have seen for some time. The chaplain of the 9th Connecticut (Irish) holds Catholic services this morning at 9 to which all the Irish will of course go this p.m. Rev. Mr. Little of the 1st Vermont will hold exercises in our grove. The rain prevented the exercises last Sunday.

Our Sunday morning inspection’s over and I propose to write, read and sleep the remainder of the day, attending the services this p.m., though I have broken off my rest a good deal of late, and have had so much tto do daytimes that I could not find time to sleep.

Last night somebody fired five or six shots on the picket line about one o’clock and they got all the officers out and kept us on the alert for an hour or two, and then up again at 4 o’clock this morning. It turned out to be nothing but our pickets killing a sheep or something of that kind. This morning one of the men who was on picket came along with a quarter of splendid mutton to see which I bought for $1 and after reserving what Jesse and I wanted, we sold the remainder for $1. We call that “strategy” and say it was formed on a military necessity for we were short of meat and short of funds. The commissary has had some potatoes & onions which I have lived on chiefly of late. I had a soup this morning which was elegant. When it does not rain, I like to do my own cooking but rainy days I generally go hungry. I am trying to get a colored servant but they are scarce about here.

Friday we had a Brigade Drill of four hours duration. We all liked it but got pretty tired. Yesterday was our Monthly Inspection by the Brigade Inspector. He was a long while at it and gave us a thorough looking at. He decided as usual that “G” was rather ahead of anything in the regiment. After the inspection was over the Inspector sent to me to send to Gen. [ ] Sergt. Law of my company with his gun. It appears that the Inspector had made a bet that Law’s gun was the cleanest and best looking gun in the Division & had sent all around to the best regiments for their best guns. They sent them in & the General made his examination but could not find one that would compare with Sergt. L’s and so gave up the bet.

[Co.] G has always stood unrivaled for her guns & I mean she always shall. We had 14 new recruits join us from Concord yesterday. They all joined Company H which was the smallest company in the regiment.

Quartermaster Webster returned from Nash. last night. He saw Raish Friday night. Said he was well. There is nothing new in the regiment since last I wrote. Everybody seems to be in better condition & spirits than they have been for a long time. I certainly am. Jim Russell came Friday. Told me that things were pretty “Coppery” in K. He was glad to get back. Gen. Grant was here yesterday and I did not see him. Shall write you twice or three times a week as long as we remain here. Love to all. Ever your affectionate son, — Jno.