These letters were written by Edson Emery (1833-1915) and Philo Emery (1836-1864) of Co. E, 2nd Vermont Infantry. They were the sons of Joel Emery (1787-1860) and Lucy Goddard (1797-1878) of Tunbridge, Vermont. The few letters were once part of a very large collection that had been in private hands for decades and yet had never transcribed and published before. There were 77 letters penned by either Edson or Philo—or both—while serving in the 2nd Vermont Infantry that I published in 2020 on Spared & Shared 19. Most of those letters, like these few, were sent to their brother Leonard who managed the family farm when he was not in the service, or to their mother—a semi-literate widow who saw four sons and one son-in-law go off to fight for the Union. One of her sons and her son-in-law did not survive the war.
The two other sons who served in the Union army were Silas Goddard Emery (1816-1884) and Leonard Emery (1829-1884). Both served in the 12th Vermont Infantry—a 9-month’s regiment organized in the late summer of 1862.
Obituary notice for Philo Emery, Vermont Journal (Windsor, Vermont), dated 9 July 1864:
“At Armory Square Hospital, Washington D. C., Philo Emery, of Tunbridge, aged nearly 28 years. He was a member of the 2nd Regiment of Vermont Vols. When the war broke out, he hastened to offer his services to his country. He passed through all the engagements in which his regiment participated up to the battle of the Wilderness on the 5th day of May. In this battle, he was seriously wounded in the knee. He was carried to the hospital and died June 9th. Mr. Emery was a good soldier, faithful to his duties to the Army and his government. He died as a Christian dies. His last message to his friends at home was, ‘Tell them I die right.’ His ashes repose among his native hills besides those of other members of his family.”
Obituary Notice for Edson Emery:
“Edson Emery was born in Tunbridge July 26, 1833, a son of Joel and Lucy (Goddard) Emery, and was the last of their nine children. He grew to young manhood in his native town, worked on the railroad, engaged in the drover business and interested himself in several pursuits until the Civil War broke out. Then he enlisted in Co. E, 2d Vermont Regiment twelve days after the Fort Sumter was fired upon and saw three years hard service. He was in 22 battles—the first battle of Bull Run, the Yorktown siege of five weeks, Lee’s Mills, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Golden’s Farm, Savage Station, White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill, second battle of Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Marye’s Heights, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Rappahannock Station, Mine Run, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Bethsaida Church and Cold Harbor. When the regiment was in front of Petersburg his term expired and he returned to the North.
He had three brothers—Silas, Leonard and Philo—and a brother-in-law [Jasper Lyman] in the army with him. Philo Emery was wounded and died. Mr. Edson Emery was never seriously hurt in the storms of lead he had so often to face but he bore the scars of a good many flesh wounds. During all his service, he kept a diary which is a faithful story of the stirring events in which he participated and reveals a keen eye and discerning mind.
On May 20, 1866, Mr. Emery married Jennie Gay of Gaysville,” the daughter of Paul W. and Phalina (Abbott) Gay.
- Edson Emery’s Civil War Diary and papers, 1861-1863 are housed in the Special Collections of the Universities of Vermont Libraries in Burlington, Vt.
- Philo Emery’s two diaries, (1861-1862) and (1863-1864), are housed in the Jack & Shirley Silver Special Collections Library at the University of Vermont in Burlington.
Letter 1
Fairfax County, Virginia
July 12, 1861
Dear Brother,
We come here night before last in a drenching rain. We come on a boat to Alexandria, then by rail down 5 miles—the furthest that any of our troops have been down this way. It was the first train of cars that have been this way for several weeks. We are nine miles from Fairfax Court House. Tomorrow we start for that place. There is a brigade forming here—three Maine Regiments, 1 New Hampshire, and ours. Ellsworth’s Zouaves—they act as scouts &c., and about 50 pieces of cannon. We expect to meet about 6 or 7 thousand rebels at the Court House.
We had a very hard march from our camp to the boat—about two and a half miles; thermometer up to 200 in the shade. There was over 100 fainted and fell by the way & if we should have had to march a might further, they would all give out. Gen. Scott wrote to the Colonel if he ever done the trick again, he should take his commission away.
At Washington, Philo was taken with the measles & several others. We sent them to the hospital. They stayed a little while, got out and run away. They got here yesterday. They are now in our camp hospital. I think he is doing well. We shall have to leave them here, I suppose, or they will have to stay in the cars. They did one night.
Montpelier companies—Co. A and Co. B—have gone out to guard a bridge & word has just come that they want more men. They say there is a band of rebels close by. Someone will have to go. I have been on guard all night [as] corporal of the guard. I have not been on the picket guard yet.
There is a good many of the regiment sick with the summer complaint & measles. One has died out of the Brattleboro Company—diphtheria. I received your letter & one from Jasper the day we came here. Why don’t you write often? You will direct to Washington D. C., Co. E, 2nd Regt. Vermont V. M.
We shall get it. Write as soon as you get this. Philo will write soon. Yours, –Edson Emery
Brother Leonard, as there is room I will write you a few lines in regard to that money. I never told you or Mother to do anything and you knew it. I left it with Briggs to see to but as it is settled, there need be no trouble about it. I had rather lose it than to have any trouble. I am sorry Mother done as she did. — Philo Emery
Letter 2
Washington D. C.
July 14, 1861
Clermont, Fairfax County, Virginia
Dear Brother,
We are here yet but expect to start tomorrow for Fairfax Court House & Manassas Junction. We shall take 5 days rations. We shall leave our tents & baggage behind till we get settled. It is 27 miles to Manassas & 9 to Fairfax. We expect a fight at Manassas—perhaps before we get there. Philo has got the measles pretty hard but I guess he will get along well enough. He is in the hospital. The hospital is three large tents in our camp. Philo will not go with us but will come on probably when the baggage comes. I guess he don’t think much of being sick in camp. There is about 25 sick with the measles in the regiment & about 150 that are not fit for drill.
Stoddard of Brattleboro is dead. The Zouaves in our brigade caught five of the rebels yesterday, I saw them. They were fine looking fellows. We sent them to Alexandria. One of the Zouaves was shot in the scrape.
I received your letter and the box of provisions over in Washington. We shall probably get them. I hardly think you had better send any more at present till we get settled. Much obliged. Write often. Direct to Washington as before. 2nd Regiment Vermont V. M.
Lieutenant says tell his brother that if he don’t write him he will never write him again. He is well. William & Charles Noyes are well. They want their folks to write. Tell them so. They are well. You will get the news from us often, We don’t know what we shall do one day before hand, I hope we shall come out all right. We shall write often & we want you to do the same. Phi will come out all right, I think, I wish he could come along with us. It is not quite so warm now as it was. My health is good. I have not been sick. They call me the toughest one of the lot. I take it rather cool. Tell the folks we are all right. Goodbye, — Edson
Letter 3
Bush Hill, Virginia
August 8, 1861
Dear Brother,
I received your letter last night. George Derrell is going home today & I will send this line by him. Also [Moses] Glines, [Daniel] Pember, and Horace Wills are going home on furloughs. It is very warm weather. We have begun to drill some every day. The boys don’t pick [it] up very fast.
The sore throat prevails some. Some have died and others complain some but I think they will manage it all right.
You say you don’ know where we are. Well, sir, we are about 4 miles south of Alexandria on the line of the railroad & about 14 miles south of Washington. We run the mail to Washington & back every day. The boat runs from Alexandria to Norfolk [?] several times a day. But we talk of leaving this brigade & going up to Chain Bridge above Washington about 8 miles. If we go there, we shall be with the 3rd Vermont Infantry and the others when they come in. [We will] have a Vermont Brigade.
We are now further advanced toward the rebels than any other regiment. We are close by them. Last night the report was that we should be attacked but it proved false as well as all other of the alarms.
Glines will carry that money. George is pretty well loaded down with letters, &c. I wrote you a few days ago & sent you a paper. Write often & direct as before. Yours truly, — Edson Emery
Letter 4
Camp Griffin, Virginia
December 6, 1861
Dear brother,
Your letter was duly received. Glad to hear from you and that you were alll well. My health is good. Have not done any duty yet today. Philo has gone out with a scouting party. The Vermont Brigade has gone. They have [gone] toward Dranesville. I hear they are a going to pony [?] on to a Rebel camp out that way. The teams have gone to bring in the spoils.
It is very pleasant weather now. Cold nights. The regiment is pretty healthy. Lieut. Bixby is getting better. He has had the fever. There is a good many that have been sick with the jaundice & measles. I am speaking of our company. There is about 15 ailing. They are mostly now recruits. Edson Wiggins of Chelsea, Ed Wills, Henry Noyes, & H. K. Goodwin will probably get their discharge pretty soon. Charles Reynolds of South Royalton is here now to see Bixby. Bixby is out now.
In regard to our cooking, we have detailed cooks. George Blakely & Jim Hovendon are the ones. They have fire out doors. They cook our meat and make coffee as you would boil soup. They have a regimental bakery where the bread is bakes for the whole regiment. Our living is not first rate though it is tolerable good. Once in a while it is too much of one thing. The boys are having a good many boxes now days sent to them. These is no objection to either of us to such an act…
I would like to see Isaac down here first rate. If he comes, I want he should bring me some butter—about 10 lbs. and six or eight lbs. of dried apples. Tell Mother she can contribute some is she likes. What little butter we get here we have to pay 20 cents per pound & if she could send something of the kind, it would be very acceptable & Isaac will do the favor. That butter you sent me was a great deal better than we get here. dried apples we can cook in a dish without any trouble if Isaac comes over or you go over there, you can fix it. I received your paper.
The company raised about $38 to buy a coffin for [Corp.] Cyrus [W.] Lunt. Capt. Smith went down to see about it. It cost $25 & the captain told the man Bill would pay for it. But Bill did not & the man was up and gave the captain a dun the other day. The man said that William told him that the captain would pay him but I think there is a misunderstanding about it. You need not say anything about it. I will wait and see how Philo gets around and let him finish…
Today is one of the pleasantest days you ever saw.
The company came in about 7 last night. They went to Vienna. they brought in a lot of stuff. They were not disturbed by the rebels…
Yours, — Edson Emery
Letter 5
Headquarters 2nd Vermont Regiment
Camp Griffin, Va.
December 20, 1861
Dear Brother,
Your letter & two papers was duly received. Very glad to hear from you. This afternoon there is heavy cannonading north of here toward Great Falls & Leesburg. Our regiment & most of the Vermont regiments have just started. Also the batteries & cavalry. Whether they will engage the enemy, I can’t tell. I should think by noise they were having some fighting. It looks some like rain this afternoon. Philo has gone. I did not go—my feet are very tender & I am pretty lame. [See Battle of Dranesville]
The rebels tried to cross the river above here the other day but were driven back. Gen. McCall’s Division went out early this morning. The rebels are closing in upon us. They are anxious for a fight. They want we should chase them down to Bull Run or Centerville. Then they will fight us. But I hardly think they come—that by keeping them where they are is whipping them fast enough.
We received a letter from Briggs last night. Caroline has a very bad eye. They are going down to Isaac’s to Christmas. Philo says he don’t think he will have you send any drawers. He has some. Brigg’s will help toward the box. Tell Mother to send a lot of good things—sausage, butter, &c. &c. You might put in a small piece of fresh pork if it is so cold weather, & some cookies, sweetened doughnuts, and if handy, a piece of cheese. You need not send any wheat bread. We have that here. But send anything good for we don’t get much that is good here. Dried apples goes well. But the sausage, I think I can eat. I wish you would get me a Memorandum Book at the book store at Bethel & have Isaac put it in the box. It will cost about 25 cents & you can charge it to me. Get one about 5 or 6 inches long and about 3 inches wide, well bound, and strap over. The inside to be an almanac, a space for every day in the year, and a cash account. Get a good one for I need one for next year & have none. You or Isaac or someone get it and send it.
Also, tell Ann to get four feet of blue tape about half inch wide. I want it to put on my arm to show the rank which I hold. I am the third corporal now. You can pay her. It will not be much—perhaps five or ten cents. Here it would be six times that.
As to our state money, we have not drawn any but we think we will next payday. Philo and I can draw $84 of state pay. Philo 42 and I the same, and we shall send about $40 of US pay which will make a good sum to let out. We lay up our money to what most of them do but it is dearly earned. Therefore you must do all you can for us. We have taken their lives in their hands. It is no small affair.
I will wait for Philo to come in. Tell Florence we will write her a letter pretty soon. Yours, — Edson
December 21. Philo came in about 8 last night. They went to Dranesille or a most there but did not see the enemy. McCall had driven them back. McCall killed and took 79 of the rebels & any quantity of blankets, overcoats, &c. &c. The boys had a hard march [of] 20 miles. They groaned some when they got back.
P. S. Our next pay will come about the 20th of January. Then we will send all.
Spared & Shared 23 