The following letters were written by Edward Brierly (1831-Bef1884) of Newburgh, Orange county, New York, who enlisted at age 30 as a private in Co. C, 72nd New York Infantry, the 3rd Regiment of the Excelsior Brigade. The regiment was mustered into service at Camp Scott, Staten island, from June to Oct., 1861, for three years. It left there on July 24, 1861, for Washington, where it was joined by two of its companies late in October. After serving for a few months in the vicinity of Washington the regiment was assigned to Sickles’ Excelsior brigade, Hooker’s division, served along the Potomac in Maryland, near Stafford Court House, Va.
He was discharged for disability on 17 March 1862 at Camp Wool, Maryland.
Letter 1
Camp Marsh
Washington D. C.
August 4, 1861
My dear and loving wife,
I write these few lines to you for to let you know where I am and how I am stationed at present. I am in good health at present hoping that you and Margaret is in good health also. Thank God for it. We are within 1.5 miles of Washington but unless to see it from our camp, that is all. we can say or tell about as neither men nor officers can leave the camp.
My dear wife, we have pretty fair treatment with respect to our feeding with the exception of our loaf of bread and that is very small. But that is the Baker’s gains. My dear wife, I wish you would answer this as soon as you get it as the Captain and myself is anxious to know if you received pay on my certificate or let me know all concerning it. Give my love to Sandy Fisher and family an all enquiring friends hoping that they are all in good health. Keep up your spirit and good cheer.
I think we will be able to be home next March—that is, if I get through the trials of war all safe as I am sure it will be all over at that time one way or the other. We expect to be paid on the first of the month but we are told that we will be paid on the 10th but as to that, no one can say as there is men here that has got no pay for three months.
I made an enquiry after Mr. Bingham son of the Newburgh’s regt. but I can get no true information about him as we never can get out of the camp. But I. understand that they are stationed at Arlington Heights. But the Newburgh fellows fought well although getting a great cutting up at the Battle of Bulls Run. But the battle was lost not through the men but the officers got bewildered and did not know what they were doing. Nevertheless the men fought well and retreated with a very little loss considering all circumstances.
Give my love to all enquiring friends. David Farrell is in the same company with me and is made corporal. He sends his love to Jane and Margaret Brierly. I remain your affectionate husband, — Ed Brierly
Direct your letter to me, Co. C, 3rd Regt. Excelsior Brigade, Capt. Chadwick, Col. Nelson [Taylor], Commanding, Camp Marsh, Washington D. C.
Letter 2
Headquarters 3rd Regiment, Co. C
Camp Caldwell
August 28, 1861
My dear wife,
I take this opportunity of writing to you hoping that yourself and Margaret is in good health as this leaves me at present. Thank you for it. My dear wife, I have written a letter to you on the 15th of this month and I have received no answers which makes me very uneasy so answer this as soon as you can as we are under marching orders and cannot tell the moment that we will leave here.
My dear wife, we have received no pay as yet but we expect it on the first of next week and then I will be able for to send you some money. You have better let me know in your letter to me if you ever got my certificate of enlistment and if so, if you got any relief on it and all particulars about it as the Captain is returned from New York and I will see to it here for there is several men in the Company that lives in the country—some in Newark and others in Patterson—and their families gets the relief money. So send me all particulars about it and I shall see to it here.
Our treatment here is fair considering all circumstances but we will not be much longer until we will have a brush with the enemy. We are at present within 6 miles of some of their camps so we never can tell how soon we may meet. But if it is the will of God to guide me through, I am almost sure that I will be home next spring as the war can not hold longer nor that time for the South is really starving at this present time.
Give my love to Sandy Fisher, wife and family, and all inquiring friends. Write as soon as you get this as I am anxious for to hear from you and my next letter shall be a long one. Remember me to Ed Darcey and all the boys in the gass house and old Mrs. Murphy, God bless her. I will say no more at present but remain with sincere love to yourself and Margaret.
Your affect husband, — Edw. Brierly
P. S. Direct your letters to Edward Brierly, Camp Caldwell, 3 Regt. Co C, Colonel Taylor commanding
1000 kisses to yourself and Margaret. God bless and protect you until I shall see you again.
Letter 3
Camp Caldwell
[Washington] D. C.
September 16, 1861
Dear wife,
I received your kind letter of the 13th on the 16th which gives me great pleasure to hear that you are all well. I sent you 20 dollars on Saturday by Adam’s Express. You will let me know if you got it in your next letter. I hope you are all right with regard to the certificate. If you receive anything on it, I would like to know. I hope this will find you in good health as this leaves me at present, thanks be to God for His mercies to us.
It will be 6 weeks before I can send you any more for it will be that time before we receive any more pay. I wish to send you all I can. If it was in my power, I would send you a hundred. I will send 20 more then, please God. I now conclude for the present wishing you health and happiness. I remain your affectionate husband, — Edward Brierly
P. S. Direct as usual.
N. B. My best wishes and kind respect to all enquiring friends. We are under marching orders. I will send you more news in my next. Goodbye. God bless you, — Edward Brierly
Letter 4
Camp Caldwell
October 10, 1861
My dear wife,
I write these few lines to you hoping that yourself and Margaret are in good health as this leaves me at present, thank God, for it my dear wife.
We are still here waiting for fresh orders nor is there any sign of any battle—no more than when we came here.
I am very glad to hear Mag likes her trade and let her be as good and attentive as she possibly can be and when I return with the blessing of God, I will be able to help Margaret for to get in business for herself.
The weather here is very changeable. Sometimes it is very cold considering it to be in a southern clime, but we have plenty of good clothes and our feeding is very fair considering camp life.
My dear wife, if you will send me a small box with a few pocket handkerchiefs and a few towels and I had a turn of the summer complaint [diarrhea] for two weeks and if you will send me a bottle of good brandy and a small bottle of laudanum as it is so hard for to get anything of the sort here. You cannot form any idea of camp life. In some cases it is very hard. You can direct it to me the same as my letters and send it by Adams Express.
Give my love to old Mr. Murphy and Edward Darcy and all enquiring friends and I hope as I said from the first letter I wrote to you that with the blessing of God, I will be home with you all again as this war cannot last long—about next spring. I will enclose this letter to you with my sincere love to yourself and Margaret. From your affectionate husband, — Edward Brierly
Direct your letter to me, Co. C, [ ] Colonel Taylor Commanding, Camp Caldwell, Washington, D. C.
Direct the box the same.
Letter 5
Camp Caldwell
October 17th, 1861
Dear wife,
I received your letter of 14th and I am happy to hear that it leaves you in good health as it finds me at present, thanks be to God for His mercies to us.
I wrote on the 12th to you. The reason of my letter being so much delayed was we getting the [ ] and we were for four days that we expected to go into action every hour and did not have a chance to write or do anything for ourselves during that time. The reason of me sending for them articles is on account things not being comfortable in any way or we do not expect it much better while we are here. But then I do not want you to put yourself about in any way as I will get along the best I can as the times is so hard and I suppose times very hard. Pay day will soon come round and I will send you something that will help you along, please God soon.
I hear the 10th Legion is getting along very well. I wish I had of stayed with them as I was in them before I came here. I believe they are preferable to ours. If you have any message, you can send by some of their boys coming out here as they will likely to be near.
I think Margaret must be dead as you have not said a word about her in your letter. I hope she is learning her trade. Keep up your spirits, Margaret. There is a good time coming. Don’t let down your hair. We will get over all this, please God. I duppose you hear more about the war than we do for you have the news about before us.
I now conclude, My best respects to Mrs. Murphy and Edward Darcy and family and all enquiring friends. Answer this letter as soon as possible as we expect to go to Texas.
I remain your affectionate husband, — Edward Brierly
My love to you both and I hope the Lord will spare [us all] to be together again. Direct as usual.
Letter 6
Camp Baker
Charles county, Maryland
November 7th 1861
My dear wife,
It is now three weeks since I have had any letter from you. I have been expecting a letter by every post since we came here but have been invariably disappointed. I fear there must be something wrong with you or you would write. I have written twice since the receipt of yours, but have got no answer to either. I wish you would write immediately in receipt of this and let me know the street and number where you live as I expect to get paid in a few days and as the Government undertakes to forward the money I wish to send, it will be necessary for me to know where to direct it to.
We are at present encamped on the Lower Potomac about 35 miles from Washington. We have been in the vicinity of this place for the past three weeks. The enemy are strongly posted directly opposite to us and sometimes amuse themselves by throwing shot & shell over to our side and at vessels passing up and down the river, generally without effet. Sometimes our batteries on this side responds with better success as they knocked the wheelhouse of the rebel steamer George Page and forced her to run aground on the other side.
We have done no fighting yet but I do not know how soon we may be called on. We have plenty of men and materiel, and are ready to show them our front as soon as it is required.
Give my love to Mr. & Mrs. Darcy, Mrs. Murphy, and all enquiring friends. Hoping this will find you enjoying good health as it leaves me at present. I remain as ever your affectionate husband. My love to yourself & margaret. No more at present. From yours, — Edward Bryerly
When you write, direct this:
Edward Bryerly, Co. C, 3rd Regt. Excelsior Brigade, Washington D. C., Camp Baker, Maryland
Letter 7
Camp Wool
Charles county, Maryland
December 4, 1862
Dear Wife,
I write these few lines hoping to find you and Maggie enjoying good health as I do at present, thank God for his blessings to us. I received the box and everything was correct. Me and my comrade had quite a good night. We got a goose and with you your present we enjoyed ourselves first rate. Only we felt lonesome when we thought ourselves lonesome we were far away from you and Maggie. I wish to let you know that I have been made a mess cook of. Me and my comrade has to cook for 100 men so we do not have much time to spare. I am Company Cook and we have quite a busy time of it but it is very good to have it this cold weather.
We hear that we are going to become New York State Volunteers. If so, it will be good for us as we will have extra pay from the state. I hope it is true for if it is, I will be able to send you and Maggie a nice New Year’s present. We expect the pay master round next week. As soon as ever I can I will forward the money to you. Everything appears quiet here. We can hear very little about the war here—only the roar of the big guns. We can hear them every day.
There is a rumor going round the camp that we will be home again March or April. I hope and trust in God it may be true as I would wish it from my heart.
I now conclude for the present. I send you and Maggie my love and my blessing. May God protect you both. I send my best respects to Mr. and Mrs. Darey and family. Also Sandy Fisher and wife and family and Old Mrs. Murphy. I remain your affectionate husband, — Edward Brierly
Letter 8
Camp Wool
January 1st 1862
This is to certify Edward Bryerly is a member of my company now at the seat of war and having a family consisting of a wife and one child depending on him for support we recommend them as worthy of relief from any committee appointed for such purpose.
— I[saac] L[ynden] Chadwick, Capt. Commanding Company C
3rd Regiment Excelsior Brigade
I certify that I. L. Chadwick is Captain in my regiment. — Col. Nelson Taylor, Commanding Regiment
Letter 9
Camp Wool
January 26th 1862
Dear Wife,
I am happy to inform you that we have at last received our pay. We have been expecting it for the last ten days and almost thought the paymaster had forgotten us. However, it is alright now and I have sent you twenty dollars by Adams Express so it will come the same as the last.
Now as I have got that most important piece of news over, I must proceed. How de do. I hope you are well and enjoying good health which I sincerely hope you are. Thank God I feel pretty well myself roughing it out as I best can with plenty to eat and a good bed to lie on. I can’t complain much. Yet I must say if this war was over I would know how to enjoy the comforts of a home with you and my pet. I expect she is growing a big girl and also a good one, God bless her. Give her a kiss from old dad and tell her to mind thee and all will go well.
We are still at the same old spot and for anything I can see likely to remain here for some time. We are settled down in winter quarters and have very good huts built to keep us dry and warm.
The Rebels have batteries right opposite but too far off to do us any harm with their big guns. They amuse themselves every day by firing at the sloops sailing up and down the Potomac but I have never [seen] of them touching them with their shot yet. We are stationed here to keep them out of Maryland but they dare not cross as we are 10 to 15 thousand strong. they would get a pretty war reception.
I have nothing more to add but be sure and write me as soon as you receive the money so that my mind may be easy on that score. I enclose another certificate but if the other answers as well, you can keep it as it will do no harm if it does no good. Write me soon and God bless you all from your affectionate husband, — Edward Bryerly
P. S. Remember me to all my friends. You know what to say. — E. B.
Letter 10
Camp Wool
February 5, 1862
Dear wife,
It is now over a week since I sent you home twenty dollars and have received no answer yet. If you have received it and sent an answer to me, all well. But if not, write me immediately for I am anxious to know whether it has gone all right or not.
I have but little news to send you. I am quite well working away as usual but there is not much drilling now on account of the muddy state of the country. You could scarcely walk a dozen yards out of camp without getting stuck in mud knee deep. Consequently we have to remain indoors and amuse ourselves as we best can.
Remember me kindly to all my old friends and when I get an answer from you I will write you more particularly. My love to Meg and self and believe me ever your loving husband, — Edward Bryerly
Letter 11
Philadelphia [Pennsylvania]
July 27th 1862
Dear Wife,
I now take my pen in hand to address you these few lines hoping they may have the pleasure of finding you in the enjoyment of goos health as this leaves me the same at present. But I am indeed really sorry to inform you that if you want to see me, you will have to come to Philadelphia at the Green Tree Hotel, Front Street above Dock, and if you want any money, you will have to come for it as I don’t intend to ever come that road any more. And if you don’t wish to come, please to have the kindness to send me my discharge as I want it very much. But as for me going for soldier, I never will.
No more at present but remain yours, &c.
P. S. Answer this and direct to me care of I. Bradley, Green Tree Hotel, South Front Street, Philadelphia, PA.
From yours, — Edward Briley
Washington D. C.
June 14, 1884
Sir,
In the claim No. 310035 of Jane Brierly, as widow of Edward Brierly, late of Co, F, 17th New York Vols., the records of the War Department show that the soldier deserted October 1863 and fail to show that he he has been discharged. No further action can be taken in this claim until the records of that Department are so amended as to show the fact of the soldier’s discharge from, or death in the service, for which purpose all communications should be addressed to the Adjutant General US Army. Very Respectfully, — W. W. Dudley, Commissioner
Spared & Shared 23 