The following letter was written by 36 year-old Gabriel C. Hulse—or Hulce (1826-1898), the son of Samuel H. Hulce (1777-1853) and Sally Plummer (1780-1859) of Deposit, Delaware county, New York.

Gabriel enlisted at Windsor to serve three years in Co. G, 89th New York Infantry. He was promoted to sergeant on 31 October 1861 but did not serve out his term; he was discharged for disability on 5 January 5, 1863 at Baltimore, Maryland. Gabriel was working as a school teacher at the time of enlistment in 1861.

As stated in his letter, Gabriel was married to Almyra Dickson (1838-1894) in 1854. Though Gabriel survived the war, he grew deranged as he advanced in years. In 1894, when the couple lived in Central City, Merrick county, Nebraska, Gabriel’s reason reached the breaking point. It seems that Gabriel slaughtered his wife by means of broad axe—four blows to the skull, any one of which would have been fatal. When Almyra’s sister found her body, a note was pinned to her shoulder in her husband’s handwriting which read,”P. M. Died, Sept. 11, 1894. Died without knowledge of pain. I would like the whole world to die as easily.” Gabriel was found hours after discovering Almyra’s body. He was still alive after having attempted to shoot himself with an old revolver, firing three times but did not succeed. He was declared insane and did not die until 1898.

Gabriel wrote the letter to his cousin, George W. Plummer (1815-1891) who lived in Athens, Bradford county, Pennsylvania.

Transcription

Harewood Hospital
[Washington D. C.]
October 27th 1862

Cousin Plummer,

You will be surprised when you look at the margin to see who has written to you. I do not know that I ever wrote you a letter in my life owing to your removal when I was young & after that to my traveling from home. Suffice it to say we are both excusable for I believe neither of us have written. I have often talked of coming to pay you a short visit but something has always been in the way & now I promise if I get safe through this war, to try to visit you. I am informed that you have been at Deposit several times since you left Sanford but it so happened that I was from home.

I cannot write you much respecting Deposit or your old house for I have been a US Volunteer now for a good year. I enlisted 2nd day of October 1861 under Capt. S. L. Judd at Windsor, Broome county, New York, 89th Regt. N. Y. S. V. We went to Hatteras, North Carolina under Gen. Burnside January 5th 1862. We had a three weeks journey before we landed on account of bad weather. We stayed at Hatteras three weeks and then after the battle on Roanoke, we went there and stayed until July 10th. While there we had one battle at South Mills, or Camden, & several skirmishes also at Newbern.

Then on 10th July, we started for Norfolk, from Norfolk to Newport News, from there to Fredericksburg, then to Aquia Creek, Va., then to Washington D. C. Then we were in the Battle of Antietam where three of the boys belonging to my tent or squad were killed; 20 of our company wounded. I had a fever when I was on Hatteras which affects my leg yet, but I think I shall be over it within a month.

I am second sergeant. If my health had been good, would now have been 1st Lieutenant for I had that promise from our Colonel. But our Colonel has been wounded and resigned. Also our Captain resigned & it is hard telling what will be.

I suppose you heard I married Almira, daughter of David Dickson of Windsor, Broome County, N. Y. and she is in Windsor Village and will be a while. We have the good luck to have no children. I have written to Artimesia. Two of her boys enlisted—Calvin ¹ and Hiram. ² Calvin was killed. Abigail’s two youngest are in the army. Abigail’s youngest boy George, died of fever at Acquia Creek, Va. Sarah’s only boy is in the 16th New York Artillery. Samuel has one boy in the army. The last letter I had from Conner, all our friends are well.

Write soon & tell me all about your folks and all you think I would like to know. My respects to you and yours. Address me: Sergeant G. C. Hulse, Harewood Hospital, Ward C, Washington D. C.

---

¹ Calvin Ambrose Maxwell (1842-1863) was 21 years old when he was killed. He served in Co. B, 7th Illinois Cavalry.

² James Hiram Maxwell (1845-1919) survived the Civil War.