The following letters were written by Edward W. Pierce (1842-1919), the son of Dr. David and Caroline Pierce of Pownal, Cumberland county, Maine.
From the history of the 3rd Massachusetts Cavalry, published in 1903, we learn that “Pierce was one of the youngest officers of the regiment. On account of gallantry and meritorious conduct, he rose from the ranks and was commissioned to command. Before the war he was a mechanic in Boston. At 21, he responded to his country’s call, entered the [41st Massachusetts] regiment and was made Sergeant June 4th 1862. [The regiment was converted to cavalry in mid-June 1863 and designated the 3rd Massachusetts Cavalry.] Pierce became Sergeant Major in 1864. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant August 7, 1864 and for a time served as acting Adjutant. At one time he commanded Company H and at another Company G. He was discharged June 12, 1865.”
It should be noted that the first two letters were written while Edward served in Co. H, 41st Massachusetts Infantry. The last two letters were written after the regiment had been mounted and designated the 3rd Massachusetts Cavalry.
Letter 1
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
February 16, 1863
Dear Mother
I have once more received some of Uncle Sam’s “Green Backs” which of course I received with great pleasure as I have not seen one for over three months. Was payed up to the first of January. Had been in the service about seven months up to that time but was payed one month’s pay $13 in advance with my bounty. That left most six months to be payed for and as my warrant dated from the 6th of August, I received 17.00 per month only from that time which was most five months – $83.00. The month before received but $13.00 – Total $96.00.
You will find enclosed $85.00 which you may do as you think best with. Would like to have it earn something if it could. Shall keep with me but $11.00 and $2.00 of that will go to pay the express on this. My other debts are about $3.00. That will leave me $6.00 to keep which I think is enough to have on hand at once. If I want more, I will send for it. Please immediately after receiving, write to me and let me know about its safety.
This makes four letters that I have written home since I have been here—two to you, one to Henry, and one to Jennie. Don’t know how many of them has been received. Hope all. I shall write often [and] hope you will do the same. It takes a long time for one to write and get an answer—nearly a month.
I came off picket yesterday (Sunday). The times out there are very exciting. We were the outer pickets. I had 20 men and a corporal and a mounted picket on my post. We were on a road that was very level and strait. A man could be seen in day time two or three miles ahead of us. It put me in mind of the road through Bear Range [in Maine] as we were in the woods too. We could now and then see the enemy’s pickets mounted which would startle the boys and make them keep their heads towards the enemy. This suits “Ye boy” [and] it keeps us from being too sleepy.
I will have to close as Sergt. Horton is going to the Express Office and is going to take this for me. Am in good health—happy as a King. Please write soon. Love to all. From your affectionate son, — Edward
Sergt. E. W. Pierce, Co. H, 41st Reg. Mass Vols., Banks Expedition, New Orleans, La.
Letter 2
Port Hudson, Louisiana
Aug 28th 1863
My Dear Mother,
Sometime has elapsed since I wrote to you last. Not having a decent chance, I delayed it till the present time. Did not think that 22 days had passed since I wrote last at Baton Rouge. Wrote to Henry the 18th inst. so it will do as well. Received a long and kind letter from Grandfather on the eighteenth which I was very happy to get, I assure you. Received yours of the 26th the same mail. Was happy to learn that health was good amongst the good people of West Pownal and vicinity—“long may they prosper.”
I suppose the minds of people are a little troubled about this time owing to the draft. I know there are many that have fathers, husbands, sons and brothers which are drafted and in fact ought not to leave their homes. I am sorry for such but why not they sacrifice some things for their country as well as the volunteers that came before them? There are but very few families at the North but what have more or less friends or relations in the Army. No doubt they hesitate about having anymore there. There are some—yes many—that are too noble to refuse their friends and relations to their country. Yes, I have a mother that comes under that head. I know that if she was young and single, she would have been in service as nurse or some other good purpose long before this. God protect her.
We moved inside the fort a few days ago. There are no regiments outside the fort at present. There are one regiment of cavalry, between one & two regiments of artillery, 5 and 6 regiments of infantry—[all] Louisiana Native Guards. There is no white regiments of Infantry here. [They are] all gone to Baton Rouge. There is to be two Army Corps in this department—one under the command of Gen. W. B. Franklin which will be the 19th Corp., and the other under Gen. Herron, one of Gen. Grant’s officers, and both to be under the command of Gen. N. P. Banks. This is the talk now. Some thinks Banks will have command of the Army of the Potomac in case Meade resigns. He can fill that place as well as any other general. Gen. Franklin is now in command of the forces at Baton Rouge—“19th” Corps.
The whole department, at least all of the regiments in the department, are to be filled immediately with conscripts, the rumor says. After reorganizing and drilling, we are to leave this state for Texas which no doubt will come to pass as winter appears. We expect the conscripts in a few weeks. Poor fellows—they little know what the duty of a soldier is. No one knows until he has tried it on. There are thousands in the service that would give all they possess if they could just get out of the Army. I think I am perfectly contented as I am. May I remain so until after war, which will never be. The present war must soon close.
We are doing picket duty some two miles out from fort. The enemy hover around our post as near as courage will allow them. They are trying to take all they can of our regiment for the sake of the arms. We are armed splendidly with carbines, Colts revolvers, and good sabers and with a good will. We took three Rebs last night. They were at the time, when taken, in a house sitting down enjoying themselves when along came Mr. Yankee and pins them.
My health is good. Our duty is pretty hard at present there are about 310 men for duty in the regiment. Our details are over 100 a day. When we are filled up, it will be easier. I stand it like a brick. Work don’t hurt this child here. They are discharging all sick men in this regiment and those that will not make good cavalrymen are to be taken out and put into infantry. One of our bravest men was laid under the sod the other day, making three that we have lost since we left Massachusetts. Had a letter from Sergt. [John T.] Ayers 1 that got taken prisoner at Baton Rouge belonging to our company. He is in Maryland in the parole camp. The rebs carried him through Alabama, Georgia, North & South Carolina into Richmond’s Libby Prison, from there to Fortress Monroe. He is not exchanged. I may follow him but shall not if I can help it. My last mail was the 18th. Expecting another soon. Love and respect to all. Your most affectionate son, — Ed’d
1 Sergt. John T. Ayers of Baintree, Massachusetts, died on 19 October 1864 of wounds received at the Battle of Cedar Creek, Virginia.
Letter 3
New Orleans, Louisiana
February 29, 1864
Dear Mother,
As tonight is the last night of our stay in the city for some time to come, thought I would drop a line or so to you not knowing when I should have the chance again. We leave tomorrow morning at 5 o’clock a.m. to cross the river to Algiers. From thence we march to Franklin [and] from there I hardly know our destination but guess it is one of Banks feints on Texas to take Mobile. Our whole Brigade will go together under Acting Gen. Dudley. I suppose we shall see some Rebs before many days. If so, we will scatter them or they will us. Banks is bound to do something for his country ‘ere the next three months passes.
We had a General Review last Saturday of all the cavalry & artillery at this place by Gen. Banks and the ladies from New York, who are stopping at this place, presented our division with a splendid cavalry flag. Not long since the ladies from Massachusetts who are stopping at this City presented our brigade with a flag. When the Division flag was presented to us, Gen. Banks’ daughter was made Daughter of our Brigade.
Everything is turned topsy turvy here with us getting ready to move. Have got six days rations ready for ourselves and horses. Our teams have left to cross the river tonight.
Enclosed I send a piece of our old flag—the one I have carried many miles. It is now badly used up and I am going to give a small piece to each of the boys as we have got a new one. I have turned the honor of carrying it over to Sergt. Bates. I cannot, as I am [now] Orderly Sergeant. With this, I shall send a record of our company—one for you, one for Annie, one for Grandfather and the last for me. Shall send mine in your name. If you will get a frame for them, I will send the money as soon as paid. Shall want to show mine to my grandchildren you know. As I have not had time to open them, don’t know as they are perfect. Please let me know if they are. I had seventy five struck off so to let each man in the company have one and four for myself. They were got by your humble servant.
Health and spirits with me is good as usual. Everything lovely. We leave tomorrow with 60 men and we will see how many come back. As for myself, shall trust our Heavenly Father He doeth all things well.
The weather is fine at present. Growing warmer every week. I have written this in the midst of a great deal confusion so excuse. Well, Mother, shall write to you again soon. Please direct as before. Love to all. Your affectionate son, Ed’d
Letter 4
Remount Camp, Maryland
January 9th 1865
Dear Brother Henry,
Received a letter from you night before last. By its contents, should think you was in a “peck’ of trouble. Well Hen, am sorry you feel so bad. Then you think of leaving that part of the country and what? climb a tree? or go to Canada? Too bad that one little girl will make my little brother feel so worked up. Then you won’t own me as a brother if I write to your “doxy”? Think you are coming down on a fellow rather hard. Tell you what I will do with you, Hen. If you will write to me a little more regular than you have done of late, I won’t write to that little brunette girl of yours. I did not know what was the matter with you as you did not write, but now I have found out. So Hen, you know what to do to keep old things straight. Write to me often and I will not write to her. This thing don’t keep you awake nights, does it Hen? I should think it would. ha! ha!
You see I am in a different state now than when I wrote you last. Yes, we received orders from Our gallant Sheridan on Christmas to march to this camp for the purpose of being remounted again. Well, we are here as ordered, have already turned in our long guns to the Quartermaster’s Department, so at present we have no arms or horses. Nothing to do now but write home and read letters from there. Since we came here, we have put up a new set of log huts throughout—about one hundred and fifty in all. At present there are no horses here for us. So you can see we can lay by and enjoy ourselves as best we can. It makes it seem quite lonesome at times—nothing to do.
We have been on the move since the second day of March, making two campaigns via Red River and Shenandoah. They were both very hard fought battles. I was in them all, besides a great many more hard skirmishes. I can tell you something about them when I go home which I expect will be ‘ere long. Things are working quite well for me now. You may see me sometime next month. My leave of absence will be but for a few days at the longest [but] a few is better than none. That is the way I look at it, don’t you?
This camp is in Pleasant Valley but it is right the reverse of its name, for it is very unpleasant. It is three things here—sun, rain, and mud. Some mornings it will be clear and fine as we could wish and by noon it would be raining. As we have got pretty good huts, we don’t mind the weather so much as if we were in “Shelters” (thin fly tents). On the night the regiment arrived here, I was quite unwell, so I stayed at a hotel nearby and slept in a bed two nights—the first time since left home in July ’62. Guess I turned over about fifteen hundred times during each night. Thought I should have to get out and sleep on the floor several times.
No news of consequence with us. Believe the 19th Corps has gone to Baltimore to wait transportation—their destination I know not, perhaps Richmond. We do not belong to that Corps now but to the Cavalry Corps, Maj. Gen. Torbet commanding (formerly Sheridans Corps). We have not been assigned to a Brigade and Division yet but will be as soon as we get to the front again. I saw Aloin Lane just before leaving the other camp. Was looking nicely too. I am glad you like so well at South Paris. You like the place now much better than when you first went there. It ain’t to be wondered at. How is the sleighing at Paris about now?
I want you to have a team engaged by the time I come up there so we can have a ride. Have not been in a sleigh since ’62. Hen, what kind of business shall we go into after the war? You must look around and see what’s best. Don’t think it will be farming. I never liked that business very well. Perhaps we will go West into some new business. I think if I could join the Regular Army in my present rank, I should do it. The Army in time of peace is a dogs [life], after all. Will now close. Love to all. Remember, write often and I won’t write to that little girl. Your affectionate brother, — Eddy
Address Co “H” 3rd Mass Cavalry, Remount Camp, Near Sandy Hook, Md.
Spared & Shared 23 