The following letter was written by James Drury (1837-1919), a native of Limerick, Ireland. In 1860, James was enumerated in the household of 42 year-old Albert Baldwin in Chester, Windsor county, Vermont, where he worked as a farm hand. Living in the same household was his 62 year-old mother, Mary Drury.

It was on 21 September 1861 when James mustered into Co. C, 4th Vermont Infantry as a private. A month later he was promoted to corporal and eventually rose to the rank of sergeant. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery in action at The First Battle of Weldon Railroad, Virginia on June 23, 1864. His citation reads “He saved the colors of his regiment when it was surrounded by a much larger force of the enemy, and after the greater part of the regiment had been killed or captured.”

A description of the event was recorded in Deeds of Valor, page 368:

Drury replied: “They will have to kill this Irishman before they get it.” 

The officer pointed to a road which seemed to offer some chance as an avenue of escape. 

“Go that way and perhaps you may succeed in escaping the rebels,” the officer observed. Drury lost no time in following the advice. Wrapping the flag around the staff, he said to his command: ” Boys, I’m going to save this flag or die in the attempt.” 

Privates Brown and Wilson called out: “We’ll be with you, Sergeant.” And then the three started across the open fields. They had not progressed far, however, when the rebels shouted to them: ” Halt, you damned Yankees ! ” but the Yankees did not halt. A shower of bullets was sent after them. Poor Brown fell. To their regret they had to leave the brave fellow behind. Sergeant Drury and his remaining companion, Private Wilson, ran as fast as they could and safely reached the timber. By this time darkness had set in and the fugitives were able to conceal themselves in the woods till daybreak, when they found the Federal pickets, and thus saved the flag from falling into the enemy’s hands. 

I’m speculating on the recipient of this letter but presume it was Albert Baldwin for whom he labored and with whom he and his mother lived prior to the James’ enlistment.

Transcription

Camp Griffin
November 28, 1861

Dear sir,

I received your letter last evening and was [glad] to hear that you all are in good health as I am now. I got the box last evening and your letter. Believe me, I was glad of it. I sent ten dollars to Bellow’s Falls Bank so that you can draw it with this receipt and I want you to pay yourself out of it and give the rest to mother. But want you should pay yourself for your trouble.

Sir, I haven’t much news to write. We have not made an advance yet. The story is now that we are going to Florida. We went to a Great Review last week ten miles from here and a greater sight I never seen. There was seventy thousand men and among them was President Lincoln and his staff and you better believe that we cheered him and next day we went out to find some rebels but didn’t find many of them. There did 100 teams go with us and they all came back loaded with corn and hay.

I presume you think that we don’t work very hard. I should like to have seen your home guard come out and try it. We have to drill three times a day and do our own washing and that goes rather hard with me. There [are] about one third of our regiment sick at the present time. I should like to step in and have some supper with you. A year ago today I had Thanksgiving supper with you. Suppose now I’ll have to take my tin plate and go and draw my rations and sit down in the mud and go into it. I am a going to have you draw my state pay and take care of it but I want mother wants to be supplied. I like my boots well and the other things…

Silas and Brook is well. I will see that they will have their share of it. Dansen is well now. He is just got over the measles. Let me know how the folks is. Write soon. I hope you will excuse my writing. We have to sit down in the mud to write. Let me know if [ ] got that new house built yet. No more at present but remain, — James Drury