William Henry Straw was a 33 year-old farmer from Hill, Grafton county, New Hampshire when he voluntarily enlisted on 14 August 1862 to serve as a corporal in Co. D, 12th New Hampshire Infantry. His father, Sargent Straw (1783-1871) was still living at the time, but his mother, Priscilla Bennett Sanborn (1794-1858) had already passed on. Staying home to tend the farm and their two young children was William’s wife, Caroline (“Callie”) (Thorne) Straw (1833-1889).

William wrote this letter to his hometown friend, Wilbur Henry Morrill (1836-1908) who was married in 1859 to Ann Woodford in August 1859 and had a young son of 18 months. It was datelined from the regiment’s camp opposite Georgetown in Virginia where they had recently arrived. In less than a week they would receive orders to move to Point of Rocks, Maryland, and then see their first action at the Battle of Fredericksburg.

Sometime during the winter 1862-63, William fell victim to typhoid fever and he died on 20 June 1863 at Alexandria, Virginia—his singing voice silenced forever.

Transcription

12th New Hampshire
[In camp opposite Georgetown in] Virginia
October 12, 1862

Friend Morrill,

I will write you a few lines to let you know how I am prospering. It is Sunday but don’t seem much like Sunday in New Hampshire. We have meeting here, however. One service at 11 o’clock, & prayer meeting in the afternoon, & one every evening through the week.

We have moved three times since we got into Washington. We are in camp now near Georgetown on the opposite side of the Potomac but are under marching orders & expect to move every day but don’t know where. It is quite cool here today—need an overcoat and mittens. I have seen some very warm weather within two weeks. Our boys are quite sick—a number of them. Two have been shot since we went into camp, one by accident, one supposed by a rebel. And another shot one of his hands off himself by accident. He was in our company—Prescott Y. Howland ¹ from Sanbornton, a first rate fellow. Had to have his right arm cut off. I saw it done and it looked pretty hard, but nothing to what I expect to see.

I will resume my writing now. I stopped to go to meeting though don’t have to go far—only two or three rods. Elder Dunbar preached—a Methodist preacher, a private soldier, a young man, or rather not very old. I wish you could have heard him though I suppose you are hearing something like it for he is about such a preacher as Burden, only he has a voice like a lion. He is a grand singer. He is the one that composed the sheet music that we have at home—some of it at least.

I should like to be there today but I should hate dreadfully to have to be back here if I was once at home, though I am quite contented & am well & hearty as a bear. Give my respects to all your singers. I should like to see them all. Tell them I have sung so much that my throat is most worn out though I mean to save it to sing with you when I get home—if I should be lucky enough to ever come there.

It is one o’clock & am going to meeting again. Will write a few lines more perhaps. Got home again. We have 4 or 5 ministers in our regiment. One tents with me. Five men tent together. R[obert] Martin tents with me. He has had the shakes but is some better now. It is 2 o’clock and is raining. A cold northeast storm.

I hear you are getting ready to draft in Hill, or rather getting ready not to be drafted. I want you to write me when you can. Don’t know if you can read htis. Give my respects to Mrs. Morrill & all the rest of your folks. Morrill, stay with your wife and child while you can & as long as you can.

I have seen Hattie Knox’s brother twice since we got here. Saw him last Friday in Washington. He was going to his regiment Saturday. He had a slight wound in the finger. Have seen quite a number from our way. Don’t many of them think much of the war. Hope you will excuse this poor writing for haven’t anything to write on or sit on. We live just like pigs and if dirt will make us happy, we shall all enjoy good health. From your friend, — W. H. Straw

[P.S.] Tell Gusta Marshall that [James] Frank [Marshall] is well & hearty now & is growing fat. It is Monday now—cold and stormy. It rained all night. Some of the boys woke up and found themselves swimming around like ducks. Please write all the news about drafting &c. Ed Cilley was here Friday and Saturday. Looks well & hearty. I sent a letter to Cally yesterday. I have sent 4 since I left Concord. I got one from home Wednesday. Some of the boys have a letter from Hill most every day. Direct your letter o Wm. H. Straw, Co. D, 12th Regiment N. H. Vols., Washington D. C.

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¹ Prescott Young Howland (1828-1876) was 33 years old when he enlisted as a corporal in Co. D, 12th New Hampshire Infantry. We learn from Straw’s letter than Howland accidentally shot his own hand off which necessitated an amputation of his right forearm. As a consequence, he was discharged from the service on 22 November 1862.