Though he only signed his name “Andrew,” I feel confident this letter was written by Andrew Nickerson (1834-1864), the son of Elihu Nickerson and Mary Winegarden. The family from Cattaraugus County, New York to Lake County, Indiana, about 1840 where they remained until sometime around 1848 when the family moved to Michigan. “By 1850 Elisha was running a hotel in Prairieville, Barry County, where Andrew attended school with seven of his younger siblings, including his brother Edwin who would also join the Third Michigan. By 1860 Elisha or Elihu had moved the family to a farm in Leighton, Allegan County where Andrew worked as a farm laborer (along with his younger brother Edwin) and was living with his family. He was 27 years old and probably still living in Allegan County when he enlisted as 4th Sergeant in Co. E on May 13, 1861; his younger brother Edwin would join Co. E the following year.

It is quite possible that Andrew enlisted in the Hastings Rifle Company in April of 1861. That company was disbanded shortly after it arrived in Grand Rapids to join the Third Michigan infantry then forming at Cantonment Anderson south of city and its members distributed to other companies of the Regiment. Andrew was promoted to 1st Sergeant on July 19 or July 23, 1861, at Hunter’s Farm, Virginia. He was subsequently promoted to 2nd Lieutenant and transferred to Co. H on August 12, 1862, at Harrison’s Landing, Va., replacing Lieutenant Thomas Waters. 

In October Andrew was transferred to Co. K and promoted to 1st Lieutenant on October 20, replacing Lt. Fred Stowe. He was home in Michigan during the winter of 1863, and rejoined the regiment in early March of that year. He was charged with neglect of duty, in that he reportedly forged discharge papers for a private, but nothing came of this apparently and he was never court-martialed. Andrew was then appointed acting Regimental Quartermaster from July 13, 1863, through September, and in December he was on detached service in Michigan, probably recruiting for the Regiment. Although he was still reported detached in Grand Rapids in January of 1864 (since December 28, 1863), he was promoted to Captain on January 18, 1864, and commissioned to date November 1, 1863. He eventually returned to the Regiment before the spring campaign of 1864, and was killed in action on May 6, 1864, at the Wilderness, Virginia.

According to Dan Crotty of Co. F, Nickerson was killed on May 7. Some years after the war Crotty wrote that during the engagement at the Wilderness, “The fearful butchery commences on the morning of the 7th, and charge after charge is made on both sides,” and at one point the Regiment had driven the rebels back inside their works. “They reform and drive us back. We take shelter in some temporary works thrown up by themselves, and here hold them in check for awhile. But they come down on us with superior numbers. We keep them on the other side for awhile, and a hand to hand fight takes place. Here is where Captain Nickerson, of Co. K, was killed by a bayonet thrust.” Andrew was buried in Fredericksburg National Cemetery: grave 3550 (old 191).

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

Transcription

Washington D. C.
August 10th 1861

Friend Emma,

Today I received your kind letter and perused it with great pleasure. You seem to have a wrong impression in regard to the battles up at Bull Run. We were in the battle on Thursday [at Backburn’s Ford]. There was not so much close fighting as on Sunday but the cannon balls and shells fell all around us and there we stood without any chance to shoot back. To be sure, our cannon kept firing all the time and did great execution among the rebels.

The next day, and the next, and the next we laid on the field of battle and on Sunday when the fight was raging upon our right, we were on the field in reach of the enemy’s cannon and sometimes some of their musket balls would come whizzing over our heads. It was more good luck than anything else that saved us from half being killed, or being half killed I should say.

Then you think that Ell Felton and Jim Drew are about to make their beds together. Well “long may they wave.” Ell is a very pretty girl and makes a very good appearance. As for Jim, I do not know much about him, not being much acquainted with him.

Then you don’t think much of the courage of Barrell family, eh? I thought you used to think considerable of one of the boys, didn’t you? But I suppose you don’t like the way he runs over west do you. I don’t believe I should like it either.

Now I know you want me to write a long letter and tell you all about the movements of the army, what Gen. Scott intends to do, and all that, but to tell the honest truth, I do not know much more about it than you do. To be sure, there is a hundred rumors a day but one does not know which to believe or whether to believe any.

Since I have been here, I have learned that one must not place much dependence on what we hear and many of the newspaper stories are mere fabricationsm got up for the occasion.

Our loss in both days fighting at Bulls Run was, in killed, wounded and missing, about 1,500; 375 or 400 killed, 800 wounded, and the remainder missing. Most of the wounded will be able for duty in a few days and many of the missing have already come in and others are continually coming in. The enemy’s loss as estimated by themselves is much greater.

But the drum is beating for dress parade and I must quit writing and finish tonight.

Well, dress parade is over, supper dispatched, the tent pinned down, and here I am again scribbling down traash ten times as fast as you will be able to read the miserable stuff. I guess your mother will be glad to have you get my letter for it will take you about a week to read one and while you are reading my letters you are out of mischief.

I am a good mind to write a letter to your school marm. No, I won’t either for I remember I wrote to her once and she wouldn’t answer it so now I swear I won’t get the mitten again from her, I swear I won’t.

There Em, I have written a mess of trash that is not fit to be called a letter and I am a good mind to wait till I get time and write a better one but not knowing when I will get time so I will send this along for what it is worth. No more at present, only I remain as ever your friend, — Andrew

My love to all. I wrote to Mate today.