The following letter was written by Isaac Clinton Wade (1848-1923) who enlisted on 23 February 1864 when he was 15 years old (claimed to be 18) to serve in Co. M, 22nd New York Cavalry. He mustered out with his company on 1 August 1865 at Winchester, Virginia. Isaac was the son of Thaddeus Wade and Mary J. Townsend of Leighton, Allegan county, Michigan.

The regiment left the state in March, 1864, and, considering the short time in the field, saw much hard fighting and sustained heavy losses. Its first service was with the 9th corps, after which it joined the 2nd brigade, 3d cavalry division. Army of the Potomac, for the Wilderness campaign. After Oct., 1864, it served with the Army of the Shenandoah in the campaigns in that valley, and from Feb., 1865, with the cavalry division. Army of West Virginia. It lost heavily at Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, on Wilson’s raid to the South Side and Danville railroads, and at the battle of Nineveh. It fought its final engagements at Fort Holly, New Market and Rude’s hill, Va. 

Isaac addressed the letter to his sister, Emma Frances (Wade) Holliday (b. 1846), the wife of John A. Holliday (1843-1913) with whom she married in 1862. Nothing more could be found regarding her. It’s believed she died in the mid-1860s.

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

Transcription

Camp 22nd New York Cavalry
Near Winchester, Virginia
July 2nd [1865]

Dear Sister,

I received your welcome letter of the 24th inst. Then you was out to Mr. Webster’s. I am well but George has left me. He has gone to the hospital. Frank needn’t be surprised if she don’t receive letters regular from him for a spell for he will be changed around so much that he can’t write as frequently as he would wish. She need not worry on his account for he has not got anything dangerous, I think. It makes me so lonesome here now. I am the last of the three. I don’t think George will ever come back to the regiment again for he will get his discharge.

Today is the Sabbath day. How different than two years ago and still a year ago for we had just coming off the [Wilson-Kautz] raid. But bygone is bygone. Day after tomorrow is the 4th. You must enjoy yourself as much as you can for you and me both.

The news is that the Middle Department is to be broken up. If it is so, we will soon get out of here. A good many of the New York Regiments are being mustered out and I don’t see why we should not as well as they.

I have got my money spent again and shall have to make another draft for five dollars. It is almost impossible to live here without some money. I spent some for George. He could not eat army rations while he was sick here and I bought milk and vegetables. I have over 200 dollars due me but I can’t get it so that is all the good it does me. But Pa will send me the five and that will stand me I think till I can get some.

But I shall have to close. I will direct this home instead of to Concord as I was calculating to. My love to all of the friends. Your brother, — Isaac C. Wade

I don’t remember of everything of any papers of Seth’s. If I did they are destroyed.