These letters were written by Matthew Hasbrouck (1828-1879) who was 34 years old when he enrolled on September 6, 1862, at Marbletown, Ulster county, New York, to serve three years in Co. D, 156th New York Infantry. He was promoted from private to quartermaster sergeant by late 1863 and was commissioned 1st Lieutenant of Co. I on 9 March 1864. He mustered out with his company on October 23, 1865, at Augusta, Ga.

Matthew was wounded at the Battle of Winchester on September 19, 1864. His wound was mentioned in Colonel Neafie’s report, October 12, 1864, “I cannot close without expressing my appreciation of the bravery and good conduct of the officers and men of my command. To mention one the officers would seem to impute that others did not do their whole duty, which was not case; but I cannot close without expressing my thanks to Lieut. M. Hasbrouck, Acting Quartermaster, who volunteered his services, and rendered me efficient aid. I regret to state that he received a severe wound from a piece of shell during the last charge, which disabled him temporarily.”

When Matthew enlisted, he was described as a blue-eyed, brown-haired, 5 foor 8 inch tall merchant of Marbletown. According to Dutch Reformed Church Records, Matthew was the son of Isaac S. Hasbrouck and Matilda Barnes of Marbletown. Matthew was married to Jane Catherine Hardenberg (1830-1883) prior to 1850 and had at least five children before enlisting.

Matt’s letters were addressed to Captain (later) Matthias S. Euen of the 156th New York Volunteers. 

Letter 1

Baton Rouge [Louisiana]
23rd September 1863

Friend Rip,

Your letter was received in due and succinct form and I was much pleased to hear that you had been at my house &c. although I expected to have a much longer letter from you in relation to your trip. However, I have made up my mind to excuse you just for that once if the next is big enough to fill a wheelbarrow.

We are still at Baton Rouge although we have moved our camp nearer to the Penitentiary. We have an excellent camp ground and expect to have some fighting very soon. The rebs have made their appearance outside in force, some say from 10 to 12,000. That woud give our brigade, 4th Wisconsin Cavalry, and 21st Indiana Artillery a dusty hunt, although all rebeldom couldn’t take the fortifications if we could get enough to eat. If they ever drive us inside as they may, then goodbye Baton Rouge. If those old “Bull dogs” [cannon] don’t level this place in no time, my name ain’t Mat. What will yours be?

Everybody is on guard and picket tonight—cooks and all. I tell you, things look kinder squally. They have been trying to kick up a muss at Donaldsonville again, but the Essex with the small number we had in the fort just sent ’em kiting. Our expedition to Texas by way of Sabine Pass was brought up with a short turn, losing the Clifton and obliged to come back to New Orleans and start again across lots by way of Brashear. Old Bisland is in the way thus again, the “gray backs” having increased the fortifications at that point to a great extent and I suppose have made a very strong place of it as you know could easily be done. If the 156th could only be there now and take the whole dam[n] army prisoners (you remember they took about all that were taken by our brigade the other time), wouldn’t it be glorious.

That order from the War Department offering a bounty of $400 for re-enlistments either in cavalry, infantry, or artillery I am afraid will play the devil with our regiment. At first it seemed as though about five-fourths of it was going in cavalry, but matters look better now and I guess will come out all straight after a little. Hurry up the conscripts.

Your papers are all ready to go in and would have been on the way two weeks since but [Lt. Alfred] Cooley has not been well and I didn’t want to sign too many names. Dr. Smith says he is afraid he [Cooley] may have an attack of the typhoid fever but thinks he is better able constitutionally to stand it than before. I hope so certainly but fear the worst. Your clothing account is short only one cap. Ain’t that good? The rest will all be right of course. Capt. Vaughn & Lieut. Gould have gone home discharged. You will probably see them. Col. Sharpe told me yesterday that in a day or two, he would forward my name for promotion and wished me to write to my Democratic friends to have it pushed through.

I wish I had held a commission a few days since. Our Brigade Commissary has been taken away and there was no one who dared to take hold of the machine and run it. If I wouldn’t have made that salt junk howl, then take me for a ‘orse. If my commission comes, I will want a uniform of course and I wish you would write to me stating what your folks will charge to send me a coat, vest, pants, cap and what measurements they want in order to come somewhere near fitting me. I also want you to tell me what a sword, belts, sash and pistol will cost. Now I want them all first rate. I don’t care about fancy but I know low priced goods are not the cheapest. I want just what you would get for yourself. I wish you would write to me immediately on receipt of this and when my commission comes, it come it do, I will send my order to your firm direct (if you will give me their direction) and enclose a draft together with a note to yourself. In haste.

Yours fraternally, — M. Hasbrouck

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Letter 2

Baton Rouge
8th March 1864

Say Mat, Capt. Rip, Major Euen, Lord what a tail our cat has got and then too what a string of titles and how euphonious. I just tell you, there are lots of fellers in the 156th N. Y. Vols right smart glad from Col. Sharpe down, down, down to your humble servant. I wish I was satisfied in regard to my kettle of fish. They don’t cook right. When I received my 2nd Lt. commission and was discharged, I then told Col. Sharpe my wish was to leave. He was opposed to that and although I could do much better outside, I deferred to his wishes and remained, but nearly 3 months have traveled “down the corridors of time” (whew! I feel better I couldn’t think what ’twas bothering me) and I am still nobody. I have been very busy however auditing accounts with the Government and now have only Capt. Mack’s to look after. You will have received yours ‘ere this reaches you. You will see that you want to fill up a letter of advice, sign the papers, and let ’em slide, forwarding the invoices to Johan [Lefevre] unless you can get away very soon yourself. He will have to begin his returns with October and I hope he will be able to close them up before we leave htis place. Cooley is left with the month of September on his hands and good for him. If he had shown a very little disposition to oblige, I would have worked him out but I thought he acted very much as though he would like to see you in a scrape with your returns and I let him go for just his actual value—nothing.

Military movements in this section are kept very still you know, but judging from appearances are likely to mover ere long. We have been ordered to see that every man is provided with all the fixings necessary for a light order march and yesterday the 38th [Mass.] & 156th [N. Y.] were taken down the river about 7 miles to practice march. On the way back, the 156th had a race with the 38th doing 5 miles in an hour. The result as obtained from the most reliable sources is as follows—first, 156th—-38th not to be seen. Very good for the boys and if we do get on a march again together, there will be fun.

My warmest thanks (you wouldn’t like to hear a fellow say “love” would you) to Mrs. Even for kindness in enclosing that music. I think they are first rate—especially “When old friends were here.” It carries me back to the days of individual and national peace, happiness, and love, when each one could enjoy the blessings of a kind Providence under his own vine & fig tree. But God’s ways are not as our ways and while they are often inscrutable, they are just. In this is our hope and consolation. While our National is passing through this bloody ordeal, may we as individuals be so influenced by His Holy Spirit that we too may be refined.

If my commission comes before I leave the regiment, I intend to express about $125 to Messrs. Brooks Brothers for an outfit consisting of cap, coat, vest, pants, sash, sword, pistol, belt and gauntlets. If this reaches you before you leave the City and you have time and know anything of the probability of my commission reaching this place in two or three weeks, it may perhaps be doing me a favor as well as expediting matters if you will leave my name with your house as a friend of yourself requesting them to make the investment for me. Tell [Isaac L.] Signer I have been obliged to sell my mare. She is so heavy with foal that she couldn’t stand a march of two days. I suppose you will bring about 400 recruits for the 156th with you when you come. I would like to see the boys all back again with a regiment right up to maximum. Tell Sigel (so Ellis calls him) that an application has gone on to Washington to enable him to get mustered there and that he must bring all his law books with him as Independent Advocates are in good demand in this country. With kind regards to all, I am as ever your friend and brother, — Mat

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Letter 3

Smithville, North Carolina
On board Steamer Ashland
9th March 1865

Dear Major,

We are again on the wing with our destination unknown. We left Savannah on the morning of the 6th installment. for Hilton Head when we received orders to go to sea. Orders opened said to go to Wilmington, report to Gen. Schofield, in his absence to Gen. Terry, if both were absent to Gen. Grant in the most expeditious way. Reported by letter to Gen. Terry. Have received no orders. Learn that the steamer Delaware which proceeded us with a part of our brigade went up to Wilmington (by the by, we are 30 miles below). Troops went ashore, were ordered on board again, and ore laying in the stream at Fort Fisher waiting orders. Our division is so broken up at present that it really seems to me as though we might be used as cloating capital for the balance of our period of service, filling up such little holes as may occur. I am tired of shifting the scene of our operations so often. I don’t like being shut up on board transports laying for days within a stones throw of shore and yet not being allowed any communication. Lt. Col. Richardson of 38th Massachusetts has been in command of our brigade since we left Winchester till just as we left Savannah when Col. Day of the 131st New York was transferred from 2nd Brigade to the command of this Brigade. Rather a cooler on Col. R., I think. I hardly expect to receive more than two letters now from home while in the service as we are gadding around so much that by the time a letter gets where we are, are not there. If ever a poor devil was sick and tired of a anything, I am of this service and sacred forever will be the 17th November 1865 if I live to see it.

A party of our prisoners have just come down from Salisbury (now in our possession) who have been paroled and are now on their way to Annapolis to be exchanged. They are a sorry-looking lot of mortals and say that out of 11,000 prisoners at that point, over 5,000 died. I learned no particulars in regard to those of our regiment captured the 19th October [at Cedar Creek, Va.]. James Elmendorf of your company is dead and Moses Daly is here. That is all the news from your company.

I wish you would ascertain if any of the colors of a regiment have found their way to Albany. When Alex[ander] Eltinge went home, he took the old National Colors of the regiment promising to use it in drawing out funds from Ellenville to buy a new one and then send the old one to Albany. He raised over $40 and that is the last we have heard from the money or flag, either new or old. When Capt. Hoyt returned from furlough, he brought a very fine one with him with our battles nicely embroidered on it. This flag together with the State Colors stripped from the staff by Capt. Cooley on 19th October after the color bearer had been shot was taken home by Col. Niafie when he left on furlough about 1st January 1865. That is the last we have heard from them. I fear that some of these days when our friends would like to refer to them as evidences of our patriotism & suffering, they will be wanting. Please find out through the Adjutant General of they have been received. It would be quite a relief to the officers of this regiment to know that they have been properly disposed of.

With kind regards to all friends, I am as ever yours sincerely, — Matt H.

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Letter 4

Goldsboro, North Carolina
10th April 1865

My dear friend,

We have made another move on the checker board of our military existence. I believe the 2nd Brigade of our Division now in North Carolina are to be known as the 1st Division, Tenth Corp. at least so say non official report. Capt. [Isaac L.] Signer [of Co. F] just came in and showed me the order for the above from Gen. Schofield. Capt. Signer sends his regards to you. I am glad to get away from Morehead City. The sand there was insufferable. This place is about as large as Ellsworth and before war torn down all fences and destroyed all improvements, no doubt rather pleasant. Sherman’s grand army is leaving and has been for the last 24 hours with 20 days rations and well equipped with all the “materiel” of war. If Johnston don’t move rapidly, Sherman will gobble him up. Sheridan with his gallant cavalry in the van of Lee will no doubt disperse his forces and I look for a speedy dissolution of the rebel armies.

Report says Sam Coykendall is Captain & C[ommisary] S[ergeant]. He either is or his resignation will no doubt be accepted shortly. In either case, the position of Regimental Quartermaster will be vacant and I would like to have it. Please direct your letters to Lieut. instead of Capt. It looks too much like a slur at my want of success in that direction. If the regiment had the requisite numbers, I would take Capt. Jake’s vacant place, but as it is, expect to pass off military life allotted to me with one bar. It is well. Since Grant taught Lincoln, Stanton & Co. to keep their advice and appointments as regards generals in obeyance to his orders, these political hacks have been obliged to turn their attention to scrutinizing the complexion (politically of course) of those whose only recommendation was from their commanding Generals and duties done, and give an unlimited number of appointments of those sneaking devils whose great points were that they stood afar off in civil life and cried Praise God Barebones.

You may remember some controversies we had at Port Hudson in regards to the course of the administration in the conduct of the war. Now I am willing to take the doctrine that to the victor belongs the spoils and fill all civil offices in the control of any administration with its friends, bu I claim under the same law that all military appointments in a time of war should be made from military men exclusively, so long as those in military life possessed proper abilities. I am disappointed tis true in not getting my [Captain’s] commission but would not accept it now under any conditions. I only wait for the 17th November to throw off—no. shake off all claims which A. Lincoln, Esqr. & Co. have on me. Till then and forever, remember me as your friend, — Mat

Cooley says you ask him about second shipments of reading matter. If more reached us. Owing I suppose to our migratory life. — Mat