The following letter was written by Ichabod P. Hewitt (1844-1907), the son of James and Phebe (Clark) Hewitt of Warren county, Pennsylvania, who entered as a private in Battery G, 3rd Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery (a.k.a 152nd Pennsylvania Regiment), in early February 1864. Muster roll records indicate that he deserted on 28 July 1865 following the cessation of hostilities. After the war, Ichabod took a job in the oil production industry.
Hewitt wrote the letter to Samuel Erastus Barnes (1844-1902), the son of Asa and Letitia (Fice) Barnes of Warren county, Pennsylvania. Erastus worked in the lumber industry.
[Note: This letter is from the personal collection of Jeff Hilsmeier and was transcribed and published on Spared & Shared by express consent.]
Transcription
Redoubt Converse [near Appomattox River]
Spring Hill, Virginia
February 13, 1865
Mr. E. Barnes,
Sir, I received your kind and welcome letter of the 5th instant and I was glad to hear from you once more but was sorry to hear that Rose was sick. I hope she may recover.
Well, Mister Barnes, I disagree with you in the peace question for Mister Lincoln has offered them all that they could ask and the rebels would not accept it and now I want to see them all licked into the Union again. I was in favor of peace before but now I say lick them in and so does every other soldier.
Well, I hope they will find oil there? Has Elk County ever sent the bonds for the county? Do the best you can with them.
There is a young man here in Company E. He sends his respects. His name is Anthony Flanagan. 1 He worked for you once.
I suppose you have heard about the rebel rams coming down the James River and got drove back. That was where we done picket duty all summer. The got one boat blowed up and then went back. 2
Well, I will have to close. Write soon. Tell Rosa to write a poor soldier who is very lonesome. Yours and so far, — I. P. Hewitt
Address:
I. P. Hewitt
Battery G, 3rd Pa. Artillery
Redoubt Converse
Spring Hill, Va.
Via Fortress Monroe
Care of Capt. [Joseph W.] Sanderson
1 Anthony Flanagan entered the service on 2 January 1864 and mustered out with Battery E on 9 November 1865.
2 Hewitt is probably referring to the Battle of Trent’s Reach in which a flotilla of Confederate warships attempted to break through the Union blockade on the James River and attack Grant’s supply depot at City Point. The CSS Drewry was so heavily damaged that her crew abandoned ship just in time because fifteen minutes later, at 6:55 am, a round from one of the batteries ignited the vessel’s powder magazine. Instantly the gunboat exploded violently and sank. The large shock wave also heavily damaged the nearby Scorpion which had to be abandoned as well. Two men were killed on the torpedo boat and it sank along with the Drewry.
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