The following letters were written by Francis L. Pardee (1846-1864), the son of Silas Pardee (1820-1894) and Mary Brockett (1815-1897) of Bristol, Hartford county, Connecticut. Francis enlisted 24 July 1862 and was mustered 24 Aug 1862 into Co. K, 16th Connecticut Infantry. He was captured on 20 April 64 at Plymouth, North Carolina and held a POW at Andersonville, GA & Charleston, SC. He died on 5 Oct 1864 at Charleston, SC.
Silas J. Matthews (1842-1864) is mentioned here and throughout Francis’ letters. They were cousins who served together in Co. K, 16th Connecticut, both from Bristol. Like Francis, Silas was taken prisoner at Plymouth, North Carolina. He died in Andersonville Prison in 10 September 1864 at the age of 22. Silas’s parents were Henry N. Matthews (1807-1887) and Olivia Pardee (1819-1900).
Francis wrote most of the letters to his sister Estelle Pardee (b. 1851).
The saga of the 16th Connecticut is best summed up by Prof. Leslie Gordon’s “The Most Unfortunate Regiment—the 16th Connecticut and the Siege of Plymouth, N. C.” or “A Broken Regiment: The 16th Connecticut’s Civil War.”
Letter 1
Camp Hartford opposite Fredericksburg
January 23, 1863
Dear Sister,
I now take my pen in hand to let you know that I am well and hope these few lines will find you the same. I received your letter last night dated the 17th and was glad to hear that you were all well. I received a letter from Charley Bradley yesterday dated the 2nd and his folks were all well when he wrote the letter. He said that he went to school this winter. I answered his letter yesterday and are a going to send it today when I do this.
You spoke about them drawers. If Mr. Churchill is a going to send a box, you can wait and send them in with Charley’s things. If they are willing, you should and it won’t cost you much that way if you do so. But I hope they will send it before long because I hain’t got any for a change so that I can wash them. I am much obliged to you for that pepper which you sent to me in this letter which I received last night.
We have got a fireplace in our tent so so that we can keep it as warm as we are might and we can do all our cooking by it too. And I have got a big pail that I found when we was over to Fredericksburg and we can make enough for three or four to one mess. The other day we made some onions soup in it and they are just the things for us for we can put on our fireplace and it will cook just like a pin.
Have you heard from Uncle James lately. I hain’t heard from him since I wrote to him last. The last letter I wrote to him was on New Year’s Day and hain’t never received any answer from it yet and I don’t no what it means. Perhaps they are sick or else he has been hard up so in the shop that he couldn’t get time for he has always answered them before till now.
You say that Amelia is living to Plainville now. I suppose she likes it first rate there and I hope she will do the best she can and get along with them. I suppose you go to school this winter, don’t you? You must try and learn all you can before I come home for we shall want to go visiting all around and see all the folks. wouldn’t you like that? I would, I’ll bet. You tell mother that I am out of postage stamps and this is the last one on this letter and if she could send some in the next letter, I wish she wood.
Silas [J. Matthews] 1 is well and send his best respects to all. He wrote a letter to his folks yesterday and is a going to send it the same time I do mine and he wrote one to Ed [Norton] the same time and will send that today too. I wrote to before that. We had got to march the next day but we hain’t left yet.
I can’t think of more to write now so goodbye. My best respects to all. This from your truly brother, — Francis Pardee
1 Silas J. Matthews (1842-1864) is mentioned here and throughout Francis’ letters. They were cousins who served together in Co. K, 16th Connecticut, both from Bristol. Like Francis, Silas was taken prisoner at Plymouth, North Carolina. He died in Andersonville Prison in 10 September 1864 at the age of 22. Silas’s parents were Henry N. Matthews (1807-1887) and Olivia Pardee (1819-1900).
Letter 2
Newport News [Virginia]
March 8th 1863
Dear Mother,
I now sit down to answer your kind letter which I received yesterday, the 7th, and was very glad to hear from you and to hear that you were all well. We have just had a thunder shower and it rained pretty hard for about half an hour. We was expecting to have a Sunday morning inspection but it is so wet now since the rain that I don’t think that they will have any for it is so wet that they can’t very well inspect us. We have to have our knapsacks inspected to see if our clothes are all clean and then they have us open our coats so that they can see if we have got clean shirts on. And I have got some news to tell you. Night before last, just before dress parade, the company all had white gloves give out to wear our on dress parade.
You wrote to know whether I had ever received them candies which Freddy and Mary Allen sent to me. I believe I did find some in the toe of the boots. Tell them that I am very much obliged to them and I will try to remember them and if I ever come across anything, I will send them as much.
Yesterday we didn’t have any drill and so Co. K all went out and played ball and then in the afternoon, George Atkins and I went down to see a horse race about a mile and we had a pretty good time. This George Atkins that I’m tell you about is deaf and dumb Atkins that lives in Stafford the time we did. I wrote a letter to you with the picture of Newport News on the top of the page and I wrote one to Fannie too. Please write what you think about it and if you see Fannie, tell her to write too. You can’t tell much by it by that one for it was taken when the troops was here before, but I will get a large one for 25 cents that looks just as it does now and you can see the barracks which we are in too. And I will write over the top of it so that you can see what kind of a place it is.
I am glad to hear that you have got that money which I sent to you and if I stay here two years, I mean to have more than two hundred dollars in the bank for I guess I have got over 1 hundred now. I hain’t got much more news to write to you today.
Sile is well and sends his love to you all. What is Ed Norton doing now days? Does he trade as much as ever? I suppose that he is as fat as ever, ain’t he? Have you seen Wallace Sutleff lately? Tell him that I wish he would write and let a fellow know what is going on and wants to know whether you go hunting and what he does Sundays—whether he goes up around Elmore’s Shop and make water wheels and go up to the old shanty and down round by Waterzes old shop. I will now close my letter. So goodbye. My best respects to all. This from your own brother, — Francis Pardee
to Miss Estelle Pardee, Bristol, Conn. Please write how to direct a letter to Father.
Letter 3
Suffolk, Va,
April 23, 1863
Dear mother and sister,
I not site down to write a few lines to let you know that I am well and hope these few lines will find you the same. We are still lying out by the breastworks but don’t see any signs of any rebs not I don’t think we ever shall. It has rained like shot all day but we fixed our rubber blankets we didn’t get very wet. We have just drawed some new tents and so Ed Allen and I put one and then he went and bought some cookies and some paper and a dandy and we are enjoying ourselves pretty [well]. Sile is well and sends his best respects to you all. How does Amelia get along now days? Does she live to Mr. Mather’s yet?
Estelle, I suppose you go to school every day, don’t you? You must be a good girl and try and learn all you can and try and help mother till I come home and I will bring you something nice. I wrote a letter to Fannie yesterday. Tell mother that I wish she would send me some more postage stamps for I have sent the last one I had on this letter. You wrote in your letter that you wanted to have me have my picture taken without a cap on. Sile and I had our pictures taken together a long while ago and they are taken without any cap on and I will send it home to you as soon as I can. Ed Markland sent his picture to Sile the other day and it is a pretty [good] one too.
I don’t think of much more to write to you tonight. Ed Allen sits here drawing pictures. I must now close my letter. My best respects to all. So goodbye. This from your own brother, — Francis Pardee
Letter 4
White House Landing
June 27th 1863
Dear sister and mother,
I now take my pen in hand to write you a few lines to let you know how I am getting along. I am well and hope these few lines will find you the same. I received your letter the other day and was glad to find you were all well and hope these few lines will find you the same, We have had another route on the water. We was called up at three o’clock night before last to get ready to march. We then marched down about a mile down to the wharf and lay there till about 11 o’clock and then went aboard of the boat. We then started for the White House, it was called, about 70 miles from Yorktown to where we landed. We landed here about 5 o’clock in the afternoon. This White House is where General Lee was born and where General Washington was married. This house is now torn down. There is nothing but the under pinnings to it left. It ain’t but a few rods from our camp.
The rebs left here two or three days ago. They had been here and had got a fort built and was fixing the place for the guns so our folks drove them back. They had got a turn table fixed in the fort so that they could turn the gun clear around the fort and then they had got a railroad run from the fort into Richmond. They say that they was bringing in guns when our follks got here and drove them back.
You said that you had had a letter from Mirum. If I knew where to direct one, I would write to him. I don’t [know] of much more to write today. I wish when you write again that you would send me some fish hooks and lines and some large ones for it is a good place to fish down here and we can catch some big fish here too. Have you heard from Father lately? If you send them fish lines, you had better send them in a little bundle.
We are within 21 miles of Richmond and I guess that it is about as near as we ever shall get too. You spoke about the men being afraid that they would be drafted. I hope they will draft the right ones when they do draft. Sile is well and is writing to Amelia to put in with mine. I thank you very much for them postage stamps which you sent to me in your letter. I wish you could send me a little money for we don’t get much to eat now since we left Portsmouth and if you could send me a little box with dried beef, it would go first rate on a march—and a couple of calico shirts for I hain’t got but one shirt in the world.
I must now close my letter so goodbye. Give my respects to all and write as soon as you get this letter. This from your son, — Francis Pardee, 16th CT. V. M.
Letter 5
Camp near Portsmouth, Va.
July 23, 1863
Dear sister and mother,
I now sit down with pleasure to write you a few lines to let you know that we are well and hope these few miles will find you the same. I received them lines that you sent to me in Sile’s letter yesterday and you wrote that you would send them things in Charley Churchill’s box. I think that that would be a good thing and it saves you some work too, and it will be just as well. Have you heard from father lately? I haven’t heard from him yet and I don’t see why he don’t write unless he is sick. Perhaps he is. Mother, I wish you could send me some more postage stamps for I have sent my last one on this letter. There has two officers started this morning from our regiment to go to Connecticut after some drafted men to fill up our regiment. There is about 500 of them, I believe.
Mother, I wish you could see what a nice camp we have got. There is any quantity of preachers down here. I guess that the drafted men will find it a pretty hard place to come in with a lot of old soldiers for there will be a good deal of fun when they get here. I hope that there be some of them Republicans that have stayed at home and tried to get others to enlist so as to save them from going. I haven’t received any letter from Ed or Jo Bradshaw yet. I wish you would tell them that I want them to write and let a fellow know what is going on around Old Bristol now days. I don’t think of much more to write to you today. I wrote a letter and sent to Fannie yesterday.
Sile is well and sends his best respects to all. Give my best respects to grandmother and Uncle Henry’s folks. I must now close my letter so goodbye. Please write soon. This from your dear son, — Francis Pardee, 16th Regt. C. V.
The roses red the violets blue, I shall some time be with you.
Letter 6
Camp near Portsmouth, Va.
July 21st 1863
Dear sister and mother,
I now sit down to answer your kind letter which I received last night and was glad to hear from you and to hear that you were all well and hope these few lines will find you the same. We have just had a pretty hard shower. We have been trying to have a review for three days but the General didn’t come so we tried it today. We got out and stood in line for about two hours and the General just got here as it began to rain so we hain’t had any yet but the General is here ready to review us just as soon as it blows off. The man’s name is Foster, He is a going to take command of this Division. I tell you, when we have showers here, they come right straight down and the wind blew so hard that it blew some of the tents down and then the boys would laugh at them.
The story is now that we are a going to have Thanksgiving here next month and we have been to work fixing up the camp ever since we got back from the march. I have not heard from Father since I wrote to him to the White House, and I hain’t had any answer from it yet. I should have wrote to Uncle James before but I did not know [how] to direct the letters so I didn’t write. I wrote one when I was up to Suffolk but didn’t know how to direct it so I didn’t send it. I have wrote to Amelia and Lib since I got back and one to Ed day before yesterday. Please send the box as soon as you can and direct it to Portsmouth, Va., and when you don’t know where we are, direct them to Washington the same as you use to. But now direct them to Portsmouth for they will come through sooner. They say we ain’t a going to get our pay again under two months from this time but I don’t know the reason why. Give my best respects to grandmother and tell her that I am all right yet, and tell that I should like to have her write to me and I will do the same. And tell Uncle Henry’s folks that Sile is well and sends his best respects to all. And give my respects to Uncle Henry’s folks and tell them that I should like to have them write. Estelle, I am glad that you love to go to school so well. Give my best respects to all. This from your dear brother Francis Pardee
Please write soon as you get this letter.
Letter 7
Camp Tenent
Portsmouth, Va.
September 6th [1863]
Dear Sister,
I now take my pen in hand to answer your kind letter which I just received and was glad to hear from you and to hear that you were all well and hope these few lines will find you the same. I have had the sore throat for a week back but it is getting better now. There is a good many down here with the sore threat. i believe I wrote to you some time ago about mr. Rowley that died with the sore throat in our company. There has been quite a number of our boys in our company had it and are getting better now. Sile and Coony Sutliff have had it but are getting better now.
It hain’t been very warm down here for a week or two back till today it’s pretty warm and makes a fellow sweat writing letters. Estelle, ths is the first letter that I have had for over a week from anybody. I got a letter from CHarley Bradley today. Did mother show or tell Mrs. Allen what I wrote about the money> Tell mother that I think we shall get paid off again before long for the pay rolls have been made out. I have had my bounty check and I wanted some money so bad that I let it go to the sutler and he paid me the money for it so I have had spending money about all the while. I have got some of it left yet. I shall send home to have mother send me one pair of boots and a couple of woolen shirts for winter. But I shall write before I want them and what kind.
I don’t think if much more to write to you today. Sile sends his love to you and all the rest of the folks. How does Uncle Henry’s folks get along now days? I hain’t heard from them in some time. Give my love to them all and kiss the girls for me and tell them to write to me. I don’t think of any more to write now so I will close my letter and give my best respects to all. This from your own dear brother, — Francis Pardee
To his sister Estelle Pardee, Bristol, Conn.
Letter 8
Camp 16th Regiment
September 26, 1863
Dear sister and mother,
I thought [I] would write you a few lines as I have just received a letter from you. I have just put in one about 15 minutes ago but I thought I would answer this so as to get there as soon as I could. But I shall have to close now for I have got to go on fatigue but I will finish writing tonight.
You wanted to know what number my boots wanted to be. I want number 7s and I wrote in the other letter that I wanted a vest for it is getting pretty chilly down here and it’s pretty cold night down here. I am sorry that Amelia is so sick and hope she will get well before long. Please tell father that I want him to write to me and give him my best respects and Siles too. Sile is well and sends his respects to all. Does Fannie work to Forsville now, and Lib? Tell them the next time you see them to write to me. I hain’t had any letters from family in a long time. I must now close my letter. So goodbye. Please write soon. This from your own dear brother, — Francis Pardee
Rose red, violets blue, you love me and I love you. Goodbye Estella.
Letter 9
Camp 16th Regt Conn. Vol.
Near Portsmouth, V.
November 6, 1863
Dear mother,
I now take my take my pen in hand to answer your kind letter which I received today dated the 2nd of November and was glad to hear that you were well and hope these few lines will find you the same. Sile has received one from his folks the same time that I got one from you, and we thought we would sit down and write together, I was on guard yesterday and came off this morning and I am rather tired but I had not anything else to do only to write after I came off guard this morning.
Our regiment started to see two deserters shot and got about half ways to where they were going to be shot and then heard that they weren’t a going to shoot them today so we turned around and went back to camp. But I heard that they are a going to be shot Monday and some say that they ain’t a going to be shot at all.
We have begun to drill again. We commenced last Monday. We had not drilled any for about six months. I believe that I had rather do fatigue duty a good deal than to drill for it ain’t so hard work for me. Oh, Ike Dozier came here day before yesterday to see his folks in Norfolk and so he came to see us and is a coming again tomorrow noon or tomorrow night and I am in hopes that he will bring me something. But I don’t know whether he will or not. Perhaps you have given him something to bring to me? Who knows. I hope so if nothing but a hundred dollars for I would accept of it.
You wanted me to write what number I was for a furlough. I am somewhere between 15 and 25 so you need not make any preparations for me yet awhile. Our captain started today on a furlough and will be there in two or three days or if nothing happens. I am very much obliged to you for them postage stamps that you sent to me. I don’t think of much more to write to you today. Give my best respects to father and tell him to write to me. I will now close for today. So goodbye. This from your affectionate son, — Francis Pardee
Letter 10
Camp 16th Conn. Vol.
Plymouth, North Carolina
January 31st 1864
Dear mother and sisters,
I now sit down to answer your kind letter which I received last night and was glad to hear that you were all well and hope these few lines will find you all the same. I am very much obliged to you for that money and also the postage stamps. The postage stamps I will keep but the money I will send back for I have got plenty without it as we have been paid off sooner than we expected to when I wrote for the money. I have answered the letter that I received from Estelle and Amelia three or four days ago and was glad to hear from them. Yesterday I wrote a letter to Ed Parsons.
Last night there was a detail from our regiment to go out on a road and I was one of them and we took a ferry boat and sailed about five miles and then we met another squad coming back that went out day before our regiment so we turned around and came back. I can’t think of much to write to you today. Please give my best respects to all of my friends and relations. The boys all send their best respects to father. Tell father that I should like to have him write to me. I suppose father is getting along well getting his saloon. I now close, so goodbye. Please write as soon as you get this. This from your dear brother, — Francis Pardee
Spared & Shared 23 