The following letter was written by Jervis McEntee (1828-1891), the son of James Smith McEntee (1800-1887) and Sarah Jane Goetchius (1805-1883) of Rondout, Ulster county, New York. Jervis had two younger brothers, both of who are also mentioned in this letter; Maurice (“Mory”) W. McEntee (1835-1883) and Girard (“Geddy”) Lindsley McEntee (1847-1913). Jervis was married Anna Gertrude Sawyer (1834-1878) in 1854. She was the daughter of a well-known Universalist minister, Rev. Thomas Jefferson Sawyer and his wife Caroline Fisher.

The following biographical sketch was written by David Levine in June 2023: “McEntee was born in Rondout in 1828, which later became part of Kingston. His father, James, moved there to work on the D&H Canal, and became an engineer. Jervis was named after his father’s mentor, civil engineer John B. Jervis, known for his work on the Erie and Delaware & Hudson Canals and designing the Croton Aqueduct.

McEntee was educated at the Clinton Liberal Institute in Clinton, near Utica, where he began his journaling. He was interested in art, too—in 1848, he asked Durand, unsuccessfully, to be his tutor. But by 1850, McEntee had become successful. He sold four paintings to the American Art-Union and had a painting accepted by the National Academy of Design. That winter, Church agreed to take him on as a student.

In 1851, he returned to his parents’ new home, the first on what would become West Chestnut Street in Kingston. He built an art studio on the property in 1854, which was designed by the esteemed architect Calvert Vaux, who shortly thereafter married his sister, Mary McEntee. (Soon after that, Vaux designed Church’s majestic Olana, Central Park in New York, and more noteworthy commissions.) McEntee married Gertrude Sawyer in 1854, and, gradually, they expanded the studio into a home. In 1855, he became a full-time artist, placing an ad in the Kingston newspaper announcing, “J. McEntee… Landscape Painter…Studio at his Residence on the Hill… Rondout N.Y.” He kept a second studio at the famed Tenth Street Studio Building in New York, where he and Gertrude became close friends with many of the other artists there.

McEntee’s other claim to fame—journaling—began in the early 1870s. He wrote about his creative friends and their daily lives, successes, failures, and challenges. He covered the social, political, and economic realities of the art world, including his own struggles with money, fame, and status. And he wrote about the decline of the Hudson River School’s popularity in the face of Impressionism.

The McEntees lived a happy life until Gertrude died unexpectedly in 1878, when she was just 44. Jervis continued painting and traveling, to Mexico and the American West, through the 1880s. In 1890, he grew ill, most likely from kidney disease, and died on January 27, 1891. He is buried in the family plot in Montrepose Cemetery in Kingston.”

This letter was written while Jervis served as a Lieutenant in Co. H (the “Ulster Guard”), 20th New York State Militia. This unit was ordered, April 23, 1861, to proceed to Washington, D. C. May 3, 1861, this order was revoked, the regiment being already at New York city en route. It was finally permitted to leave and left the State, May 7, 1861 (nine companies), commanded by Col. Geo. W. Pratt. It was mustered in the United States service May 11, 1861, to date April 23, 1861, at Annapolis, Md., to serve three months. It served at Annapolis, and at Baltimore, Md., and was mustered out at Kingston, August 2, 1861.

Both Maurice and Geddy served with Jervis in the Ulster Guard. Maurice became the Adjutant of the regiment and then in November, 1861, he was appointed Assistant Instructor in gunnery in the Washington Navy Yard with the rank of Master. Getty was only 15 when he served as a drummer boy in the regiment.

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Camp Reynolds
20th Regiment [New York State Militia (100 days)
Annapolis Junction, Maryland
Wednesday, June 12th 1861

My Dear Wife,

I received your letter yesterday of Sunday and today I received one from May and one from [Calvert] Vaux enclosing five dollars, one dollar to pay on his hotel bill which he forgot when he was here and the balance for his “relatives” in the 20th. I also received a letter signed by [John William] Casilear, Wm. Hart, [James Augustus] Suydam, E[astman] Johnson, Elinniger, [Albert J.] Hoyt, [Richard William] Hubbard, Lemuel [?] Thompson, E[rastus] D[ow] Palmer, [George Quincy] Thorndike, [Worthington] Whittredge. ¹

I don’t know whether Thompson or Hubbard made it but it was very pleasant advising me that a box was forthcoming containing three bottles olives, two of pickles, one can of salted salmon, 2 boxes sardines, one can of peaches, one small box of red pepper, one of mustard, three [ ] tobacco with a little bit of a pipe, a demijohn of whiskey, two bottles cherry brandy. What can a fellow do but cry like a baby when such tokens of the kind remembrance of warm-hearted friends come to pull at ones heart strings here in this land of strangers. What shall I do with all these delicacies. They evidently think I am living on soldier’s rations and they know how good such things taste in that case. I don’t drink liquor so I will have to give that away. I shall have plenty of visitors if they knew I have these things but I cannot dwell in this most pleasant epistle.

Mory is sick again, the result of imprudence, just as I predicted to him. His trouble is dysentery but he is getting well again. We have a splendid hospital here. A nice little house about the size of our cottage, entirely new and as sweet and clean and breezy as possible. It is nicely papered and is in a very pleasant location about a quarter of a mile from the camp in a quiet, commanding spot. It is the only cool and quiet place about here. There are only three or four cases in the hospital and all are convalescent.

The weather is fearfully hot here but we have a breeze to temper it. Fearful news has come from New Bethel of a blunder and the troops firing on each other and their being mowed down by a battery of rifled cannon. This moment the Washington train brings the rumor of the captain of the battery by a second assault, taking 1,000 prisoners with the loss of Gen. [Ebenezer W.] Peirce on our side. I hardly believe it. It is too good to be true.

We turn out to drill very soon and I must make my letter short. I have just been visited by two of my men, Henry York and John Bergeal who tell me that their wives are without means of support and that one of them could only get 50 cents from Mr. Harbouch (Johannes I suppose). They live in South Rondout in the same house on the street that runs into the Port Ewen road. I told them I would enquire into it. Will you go to see them personally and try to have them provided for either by your committee or the other one. Go at once and if you cannot find them, enquire for Jacob Fox of South Rondout, ship carpenter, who will direct you to them. Write to me at once about them.

I forgot to say that in the studio fellow’s letter, they say they are going to send Brady down here to take the spunkey little captain drilling his men out in the sun. I suppose of course this is only a joke. What can I ever do to reciprocate the kind feelings of these dear good fellows.

I was Officer of the Day yesterday in my new capacity of captain. I have had the title of captain nor do I aspire to promotion but I am doing captain’s duty and I should much rather have Capt. [John] Derrenbacher return than to succeed him. I did not come out for promotion and only desire to do my duty in the rank I hold. I wish you could be here to see some of the little perplexities captains. have to endure. Every time anything comes for the company, of course each one wants it and it is the most difficult thing in the world to distribute them so that all will be satisfied. Today all our non-commissioned officers are provided with new pantaloons of dark blue and new caps. We also received four new coats and I have had at least twenty-five applications for them. My tent is constantly surrounded by the “cadets” desiring something. I think I manage them pretty well as far as I believe—they feel that I am trying to be just.

“We hear today a rumor of the capture of Harper’s Ferry. I hope it is true for it will have a good effect upon the election tomorrow. If the state is carried for Secession, I think the devil will be to pay about here. We are in a hornet’s nest here and the least stir will have them about our ears.”

Lt. Jervis McEntee, Co. H, 20th NYSM, 12 June 1861

We hear today a rumor of the capture of Harper’s Ferry. I hope it is true for it will have a good effect upon the election tomorrow. If the state is carried for Secession, I think the devil will be to pay about here. We are in a hornet’s nest here and the least stir will have them about our ears. A repulse at Harper’s Ferry would not be a pleasant thing for the 20th either for I think it would be followed by a rising in Baltimore and a swoop down upon us.

We all regret the death of Conrad Elmendorf as the drum corps have drawn up a testimonial of respect which they are to sign and send to Rondout. Yesterday a little drummer boy [named Clarence D. McKenzie] of the 13th stationed at Annapolis was accidentally shot through the body and died in half an hour. He was playing with one of the muskets captured by Col. [Abel] Smith when it went off and killed him. His body passed through here this morning. Another of the 13th was killed by the accidental discharge of a musket only a day or two before.

Geddy continues well as I look to his comfort and buy some little extras for him occasionally. He is very proud of his new pantaloons. Geddy is every inch a man. I wish Mory were half as conscientious as he. It would be better for him and easier for me. I think he will be made adjutant of the regiment from all I can hear. The Adjutant ranks as 1st Lieutenant with ten dollars additional pay. He is on the Colonel’s staff, messes with him, rides a horse and is “some punkins.” He will have to get an outfit but I “can’t see it” as yet nor I think does he. The Colonel has a decided fancy for him. Col. [Hiram] Schoonmaker has resigned and on Saturday we have an election to fill his place. It will probably be [Theodore Burr] Gates and the Adjutant will likely be made Major, in which case it is understood, I hear, that Maurice will be the adjutant. I hope if he gets it, he will behave himself with dignity and attend to his duties.

I think of each of the family every day in detail—Ma, Pa, Sade, Lucy—(who neither of them write to me)…Geddy has just been in to tell me of the arrival of a box and is disappointed to hear it is not from home. It is my New York box and Ged is anxiously waiting for the box from home. I shall give him and Maurice the most of the eatables in my box. The call for evening parade has sounded and so. I am off.

13th Thursday. I forgot to mail this this morning and so I write a few lines more. Today is election day in Maryland and a very anxious day. The 13th Regiment from Annapolis has gone to Baltimore and the 20th from Washington. Companies H and D (mine and [Davis] Winne’s) hold themselves in readiness to march at a moment’s warning to put down any riotous proceedings hereabouts.

We had a most delightful incident in camp today. No less than a visit from three very nice ladies, two of them daughters of Col. [Abel] Smith ³ of the 13th from Annapolis and one one of them I think the wife of a captain. There were three officers of the 13th with them. I saw them in one of the streets of our camp and so thrilled with the blessed sight of crinoline I rushed out, told them I had just received a present of some good things from some artist friends in New York and invited them to come down to my tent which they did. I gave one of the ladies a seat on the “sofa” which is my trunk and each of the others on a soap box. The gentlemen took some whiskey and I treated the ladies to some of the candies you sent. We had a nice chat together. They are staying at Annapolis for a short time with the regiment and are having a good time. They noticed a withered bouquet which Mrs. Shaler sent me stuck in a champaign bottle and one of them remarked that if they had known they were going to visit us they would have brought me a nice fresh one. They were exceedingly cordial and seemed really to enjoy the visit. They had looked into. some of the tents before they came to ours but they at once complimented us on the pleasant look of ours. When they went away, they expressed a hope that they might see us in Brooklyn and hoped we would be sure to call on them if we went to Annapolis.

The paper today has an order from the War Department which says all the militia including those for three months will be paid as soon as the officers make out the pay rolls. Our pay master will attend to our pay at once and I hope soon to be able to send you some money. We are to be paid up to May 31 which will be about 5 weeks pay. Our regiment is going to be supplied with fatigue caps. The officers will have to buy theirs. I shall send to New York for mine.

Now see about those names at once and write me. Give my love to all at home. The result of this days proceedings in Maryland will be of vast importance in deciding the fate of the country. If it goes for Secession, the look out for trouble. If for the Union, then fresh courage will be given to the whole loyal part of the Nation. God bless you all at home and keep you, my dear wife, safe until my return. Your loving husband, — Jervis McEntee

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¹ I’ve been able to identify most of these artists—a virtual who’s who of the Hudson River School of landscape artists and friends of Jervis.

² Jervis is referring to the Battle of Big Bethel which took place on 10 June 1861 near Newport News in Virginia. Union forces were led by Gen. Ebenezer Peirce. It was a total fiasco. Peirce survived but friendly fire cut down several Union soldiers.

³ Col. Abel Smith (1814-1861) of the 13th New York State Militia. He was accidentally killed on 18 October 1861 while attempting to step into a railroad car of a moving train. His residence was in Williamsburgh, New York. In the 1870 US Census, Abel had two teenage daughters living with him ih his home: Elizabeth (“Lizzie”), age 18, and Frances (“Fanny”), age 16.