The following letters were written by Rollin E. Maranville (1836-1862) who enlisted at the age of 24 on 21 August 1861 at Fairhaven to serve as a private in Co. F, 2nd New York Cavalry, unofficially known as the “Harris Light Cavalry.” He was appointed a corporal sometime prior to his death on 13 September 1862, at the General Hospital in Alexandria, Virginia of wounds received 29 August 1862 in the Second Battle of Bull Run. His grave marker in East Poultney, Rutland county, Vermont states that he served as “Color Sergeant” of Harris Light Cavalry and “lost leg at Bull Run.” He was the son of Merit Lily DeMaranville and Mary Ann Reed.

After leaving New York during September and October, the regiment served with McDowell’s Division of the Army of the Potomac from the latter month, on duty in the defenses of Washington, D.C. It was transferred to the Third Division of the First Corps of the Army of the Potomac in March 1862, and in May briefly became part of King’s Division of the Department of the Rappahannock. The 2nd New York Volunteer Cavalry formed part of the Cavalry Brigade of the Second Division of the Third Corps of the Army of Virginia (temporarily redesignated from the First Corps) from June. 

Letter 1

Falmouth, [Virginia]
May 2nd 1862

Emma,

I received your letter in due time. I was out on picket guard and it was sent to me. It [found] me well but [soaked] through. It rains every other day and sometimes every day. It has been very warm all day and we are having a thunder shower now. Talk about rain [in the] North. It don’t begin to rain there. It pours down here in small rivers.

I went out on picket the last of April with six men to guard a road. We stayed in a slave hut made of logs and clay mud. The man that lived on the farm left when we first came here & left the negroes to take care of themselves. There was one white man there who pretended to be Union all over. I asked for some corn to feed my horse. He said the rebels had taken it all [but when] I went to looking around, I found upwards of a hundred bushels. I began to help myself. He objected but I could not help it. I sent out a couple of the boys to get a little milk. They found some and a couple of fine turkeys which I have just been picking their bones. We intend to live well if we can. We are so far from Washington that we can’t get everything. We have had to eat fresh beef some of the time without salt but the railroad is [al]most ready.

In the morning there is a large body of men going out on a scout to find some rebels that are lurking around. There is quite an army here now—fifty or sixty thousand from [what] we can learn of the rebels. They intend to dispute our march to Richmond. I don’t think we will [see them] again until McClellan gets them fast at Yorktown there.

I don’t think of anymore now. It is roll call & must close. Direct as before. — R. E. M.

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Letter 2

[Note: This letter is from the private collection of Greg Herr and was offered for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by express consent.]

Falmouth, [Virginia]
June 28, 1862

Emma,

Chancy Warren arrived here today & found [me] well & tough. I saw Orson this morning. He is well. We are on detached service yet. I expect every day that we will have to join the regiment which is encamped nearly a mile from us. I had rather stay where I be but I won’t do to find fault. [We] obey orders if a regiment of rebels are before us.

We are having the best time now that we ever have had since leaving Arlington. We have to stand picket & our horse guard & scouting. This morning a corporal and four men was sent out to scout on the Richmond Road. They came very near staying. They went out ten miles or more and came onto one hundred or more of mounted rebels. They saw them in time to get away. The rebels fired at them but did not do any damage. George Boyce of E. Poultney was one of them. William Dolphin of Castleton run & left the rest of the boys & reported that they had been captured.

I am on guard today & the darned horses are more trouble than they are worth. I have a sick horse to take care of. The poor child can’t eat.

I don’t get any news from Richmond at all. Everything is quiet here. I think that our government is concentrating a large force here to move somewhere but it is all guess work. All that I know is what I can see & hardly that. I am very much obliged to you for the little book that you sent to me. I will try & take good care of it.

It is beginning to rain and I must prepare for fun, It rained so hard here last week that it drove everyone out of their tents but me. I had my roost on high ground. There, I don’t think of any more to write now & I think I had better close & fix my tent. Direct to Harris Light Cavalry, Co. F, Washington D. C.

— Corporal R. E. Maranville