The following letter was written by Edward Seymour Holcomb (1826-1865) of Williamson, New York, who enlisted at the age of 35 to serve three years in Co. E, 111th New York Regiment on 12 August 1862. He was later transferred to Co. B, 12th Veteran Reserve Corps and discharged from the service on 22 March 1865 at the Armory Square Hospital in Washington D. C., but died of disease before leaving the hospital. He was buried at Arlington according to their records; another source says his body was sent home.

In his letter, Edward describes the journey from Auburn, New York, to Harper’s Ferry where they arrived just some two or three weeks after they were mustered into service, with little or no drilling to prepare them for duty. Being at Harper’s Ferry, they were one of the unfortunate regiments surrendered to Stonewall Jackson’s men the following month when Lee made his invasion into Maryland. The men were paroled at Camp Douglas, Chicago, and in Dec., 1862, were declared exchanged and went into winter quarters at Centerville, Va. 

Edward was the son of Chester Holcomb (1804-1865) and Catherine Beebe (1800-1841.

Transcription

Camp Halleck near Auburn
August 19th 1862

My dear wife,

have sent you by the hand of Mr. Stanton of Marion seventy-five dollars and the key to the satchel on a ring with another key. I expect now I shall have to send the satchel by Express. Have not received our 13 & 2 dollars yet. Expect it every moment by Mr. Standton is ready to go. I will send you more by mail.

I want two of those coarse shirts, the small ones, but how can I get them & there are lots of things I want but must go without.

5 o’clock. Well we have received thirteen dollars more in United States bills everybody that can is here today. Colonels, Adjutants, Commissioners, & I do not know what else among the rest.

Today I have signed with the rest an allotment roll by which you will receive ten dollars per month of my wages direct from the government paid into your hands without any risk on your or my part.

It is reported that we are to stop in New York [City] for two or three days but it is uncertain. It is the worst place in the world for reports.

August 27. My poor dear wife, I want to hear from you very much. I have not heard a word since I left home. What I have written above will have to be explained or made more intelligible.

The money 75 dollars I sent by Mr. Stanton, the satchel I sent by a Mr. Green of Williamson. I paid his 25 cents to deliver it to Williamson Cor. I suppose you have received them all.

Now for the history of the rest of the time. Thursday morn I was detailed to stand guard. Was relieved at 1o’clock with orders to pack and be ready to move which we did. We went on board the cars about 5 o’clock, arrived at Albany about 5, the next morning got for breakfast the amount of a biscuit split in two with a thin piece of raw ham, well covered with mustard or otherwise a sandwich. I guess we got a little something more before night though I was so sick I did not want anything. Felt well the next day—only weak.

We were 24 hours going from Albany to New York [City], laid around there till most night, when we were transferred to more comfortable quarters on another steamer & received a supper of soup, bread, and a cup of coffee. We sailed to Amboy, then by cars to Philadelphia. There we got another good meal, changed cars, and rode to Baltimore. Another meal, change cars, and then ride some, stand still more, until Monday morn we are set down at the most outlandish place I ever saw & this is the world renowned place, Harper’s Ferry. From Philadelphia to this place most of the way is the worst looking country I ever saw. Why, if all the southerner’s country is like what I have seen, I would not pay one half of the expenses of the war if I could have the whole of it—negroes and all.

Well, to sum up. We came from Auburn here starting Thursday towards night and getting into our camping ground Monday afternoon, following receiving some days one and some[times] two meals a day. There is probably a great glory in war but I say good Lord, deliver me from the glory.

Perhaps I have written too much in a complaining tone but it makes me mad to think of—500 men staying on a dirty barge within a few rods of the largest city on the continent all day without a mouthful to eat, or I should say 1,000 men on two barges. Well, I cannot write all today. I shall write again this week & I hope to make a more interesting letter or a more intelligible one at least. I shall send you some money in my next letter if nothing happens.

Kiss the children for me & keep up good courage. I shall come home in the spring if I do not before, I hope. Yours affectionately, — Edward

Direct to E. S. H., Co. E, 111th [New York] Regiment, Harper’s Ferry, Virginia