The following letter was written by Alexander Gardiner (1833-1864), the son of James Dempster Gardiner (1806-1853) and Emeline Graham (1806-1872) of Catskill, Greene county, New York. He practiced law in New York City for a while, and from there he moved to Osawatomie, Kansas, in 1856 with the intention of publishing a free state newspaper but was foiled by pro-slavery men before he published his first issue. He was married to Mary Powers Cooper (1834-1898) in 1859 in Croydon, New Hampshire and then settled in 1859 Claremont, N. H. In 1863 he joined the 14th New Hampshire Volunteers as adjutant and later became its Colonel. He was killed in action on 7 October 1864 in the Battle of Winchester. Gardiner was made Brigadier General by Brevet on 18 April 1867.

This letter is from the personal collection of Jim Doncaster and was transcribed and published on Spared & Shared by express consent.

Transcription

Headquarters 14th New Hampshire Vols.
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
February 13th 1864

My Friend Colby,

I received a letter from Freem. last evening dated 8th inst. As I wrote to him early in the week informing him in relation to some matters of which he now inquires, and as I had designed writing to you at this time, I will let this serve as a letter to you and as an acknowledgement of his communication. First and most important, I wish to ask you to look after the check list and see that Coopers, Vaughans, and my own name is upon it for I think it quite probable that we may all be home to vote at March meeting, although of course in the army nothing is certain. When I was home last, someone intimated to me that I was not a voter in Claremont because my family were in Croydon. If I have not a right to vote in Claremont, then no one has. I am a resident of Claremont today as much as I ever was. All my books, harness, sleigh, wash-tub and cooking stove remain in Claremont. My family are in Croydon awaiting my return to Clarement, and from the day I first settled there nearly five years ago, I have never had any other home of my own and no present intention of having any other. I have no idea [if] they would let me vote in Croydon and I certainly have no desire to do so.

Unless something new turns up, we expect to remain in this vicinity towards April and hten to be off to New Orleans to which place we are still under orders. I don’t like the idea of going so far from home but then I find that my wishes and desires are not very likely to be consulted and so I try and make the best of it.

Please tell Freeman that I have no desire to purchase the house occupied by Walter Smith unless it can be got at a bargain sufficient to make it worth while.

Success to the “Young Men’s Working Club.” Anything that has Young Men about it I am in for strong. Joe Weber, Ed Baker and all the other “old fogies” to the contrary, notwithstanding. Tell Freem. to say to Mr. Putnam that I wish he would let the office, by all means, if he has an opportunity. The books and cases I should prefer to be stored or put in your office unless they are perfectly safe where they are and Mr. Walker consents to have these remain which belong to him.

This is an awful Department for bushwhacking, scouts and small excitement. Yesterday morning the train going north to Cumberland was thrown from the track and the passengers rolled. The same night a party came within half a mile of Snicker’s Gap where a picket from our regiment was stationed and did some slight stealing in the way of horses. We have nearly 200 men some 10 miles up the Shenandoah on picket since yesterday. I understand tonight that part of them have gone out further with cavalry and artillery after some of the thieving dogs. Sweet chase is it not? Infantrymen vs. horsemen.

Col. Wilson came up Thursday morning and I was happily ready to turn over to him everything that I took from Washington and all in good condition, but he was not much better than when we left him and at his request I continue in command.

I wish, my dear fellow, that you would come out and make us a visit. You shall have my best horse to ride and I will promise to try hard and make it pleasant for you. Won’t you come? Remember me kindly to my friend Freem. and believe me to be your sincere and grateful friend, — Alexander Gardiner

Ira Colby, Jr., Esq.

P. S. Isn’t is a burning shame that such a “Poodle” as Ben Tucker Hutchins is appointed Lt. Col. of the new cavalry regt. in New Hampshire while hard working, brave, faithful Ed Vaughan with more manhood in his little finger than Ben has in his whole body is left a simple Lieutenant?

9 p.m. Just closing this letter when I received orders to proceed forthwith to Washington. — A. G.