The following letters, written in pencil from the breastworks before Petersburg in the summer of 1864, were composed by 38 year-old David Hopkins of Buffalo who mustered in as a sergeant in December 1862 to serve in the 27th New York Battery. He was discharged in early February 1865 to accept a commission as 2nd Lieutenant of Co. C, the 13th Heavy Artillery Colored Troops, joining the regiment at its post in Smithland, Kentucky.

David’s letter informs us that the 27th Battery, New York Light Artillery was in Burnside’s IX Corps, Ledlie’s 1st Division, and joined by two other batteries—the 2nd Maine Light Artillery and the 14th Massachusetts Light Artillery. The 1st Division black troops were the 56th, 57th, and 59th Massachusetts Regiments.

These two letters, in combination, make interesting reading. One was written roughly a month before the Battle of the Crater and the other a few days after that “big fizzle” as he termed it. The contrast in attitudes toward the Black soldiers is evident and unfortunate as they the USCT were made the scapegoats for the poorly executed battle plan of the Union leadership.

Letter 1

In the field
June 23rd 1864

Dear Sister,

I am now lying in the breastworks of our front lines, beside of my gun & occasionally firing a shot at the enemy & keeping my head out of sight as much as possible when not necessary to otherways. The sharp shooters are busy on both sides and make it very unpleasant, to say the least about it, for one dare not stir outside of the breast works.

We came into the present position at two o’clock this morning. How long we shall have to lay here is hard to tell. Our breastworks are within about three hundred yards of the Petersburg & City Point Railroad which constitutes our skirmish line. The rebel works are about the same distance beyond the railroad. Consequently we are firing over our own skirmish line. This is the second time we have been in the front line. The night of the 16th inst., we were in a warm place about two miles in rear of this place & lost three men wounded—one of whom has since died. Two more have been slightly grazed since we came here—all by sharp shooters. It is rumored that there is to be a charge made tonight & an attempt made to drive the enemy from his present position in front of us. If we are successful, it will leave us in the rear once more where we can hold up our heads.

“The knowing ones say that the colored troops are to make the charge. All former prejudice against the colored man has given way to words of praise. Every man is now willing that the negro should be a man & enjoy the rights of man with themselves.”

David Hopkins, 27th N. Y. Battery, 23 June 1864

The knowing ones say that the colored troops are to make the charge. All former prejudice against the colored man has given way to words of praise. Every man is now willing that the negro should be a man & enjoy the rights of man with themselves.

I trust you will excuse anything wrong in writing or composition in this sheet, for to be honest, I am not any cooler than I ought to be to sight a gun properly, for whilst I am writing, some of our own guns are firing which shakes the ground so that I can feel it very sensibly, and then a Mass. Battery which lays on our left & a little in the rear of us is sending her compliments to the enemy in the shape of rifled shell which scream like mad as they pass over our heads.

But I must close as the company clerk is around gathering up the letters of the men for mail. Please write often. Remember me in your prayers. I feel that I have great need of help from above at this time more than ever before. Much love to all the family. I have not time to write all separately. They must take will for the deed & consider this a family letter and all answer it. A little tin, if you can afford it, of black pepper in each letter or paper will be very thankfully received as I can’t get such things here in such quantities as are needed. Tea I cant get at all at any price.

Address 27th New York Battery, 1st Division, 9th Corps. There is a band playing national airs at the present time about one mile in the rear but we can hear it very distinctly & no doubt the Rebs can too, which must be anything but pleasing to them. But I don’t suppose that Grant intends to do anything to please them if can avoid it. But I must close. Goodby & may God bless you all, — David Hopkins

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Letter 2

Monday, August 1, 1864

Dear brother Charley,

Yours of the 26th came to hand in due season. Also the fourth paper containing tobacco which many thanks. Also for the postage stamps which were just on time.

You have no doubt ere this read an account of the big fizzle which came off here the 30th ult. & whilst I think of it I wish you would send me a full account of the affair as you can obtain, for although we were within long range of a good deal of the fighting, we know nothing about [it] and never shall unless we can get it from home. My private opinion is that the whole affair was very badly planned and worse executed. One thing is entirely certain, the execution was disgraceful & would have been so considered if nothing but schoolboys had been engaged in it. I sincerely hope for the sake of the cause that General Grant can find some hole to get out of for it would not do to have him fail.

We never left our park. We were ordered to turn out at 2 o’clock a.m. & hitch up and pack ourselves in readiness to march at a moment’s notice, & that was just as near as we came to moving. In the afternoon we unharnessed again and pitched our tents. The story has got around amongst the soldiers that the colored troops were the cause of the whole disaster. I hope this will not prove true. There’s plenty of white officers, however, who will leave nary stone unturned to make it so appear. If this rumor should go uncontradicted through the army, it will injure the Union cause more than a dozen such defeats produced in any other way. Men who were naturally prejudiced against the colored man & who had just begun to come to respect him, are now more bitter than ever. The Copperheads have got a new hold & mercy knows when they will cease to howl.

But enough of this. Just send me the best accounts of the affair you get. I will try & make good use of them.

Speaking of my letters not being directed in my own hand requires that I ought to have mentioned the cause. I have not always had ink & I have asked the officers to direct and mail my letters for me. As a general rule I shall direct my own but in any event, try and give yourself as little uneasiness as may be about. Be sure I shall not expose myself needlessly & if I fall to rise no more here, I hope to live in that other & better world wherewars will not trouble me.

My health is still poor & I am only half able to do duty & in fact, don’t pretend to do anything. I have not even energy enough left to wash my own shirts. And unless some important change takes place, I shall not write many letters for some days to come. But don’t you stop.

I wrote to Brother W. W. yesterday at West Andover. He may be gone before it reaches there but no matter. I shall slaim one ahead all the same. Goodbye, — David