These letters were written by William Henry Hazlett (1843-1908), the son of Robert Hazlett (1816-1882) and Mary Ann Freeman (1824-1906). William served in Co. F, 105th Pennsylvania Infantry from September 1861 to July 1865.

William’s letters speak of the mortal wounds received by a relative, Adam Freeman (1833-1864) of Co. H, 105th Pennsylvania. Adam was wounded severely in the left leg on 13 May 1864 at Spottsylvania Court House and died on 28 May 1864 at Alexandria, Virginia. Adam was married in the mid-1850s to Sarah Ann Saylor (1838-1919) and had a son named Silas McMullen Freeman (1856-1928) when he left to serve his country.

Letter 1

Camp Bullard
February 22, 1864

Dear Sister,

It is with pleasure that I now sit down this night to write you these few lines to let you know that I am well at present and do sincerely hope that this may find you in good health.

Well, Sarah, I was home on a furlough and just got back to the camp yesterday evening and you had better think that I had a good time of it. I was just away 50 days and was home 32 days and the rest of the time we was in Pittsburgh and Harrisburg and Baltimore. I had intended to go out to see you but when I got home, I had such a good time that I could not get off very far but I think that when the next three years up that I will come to see you. Jane likes it at her [. ]. She says she would not go back on no account and she has growed [?] awfully since I saw her last.

Well, I have not much to write this time so I will stop by requesting you to write soon. Give my respects to Sam and tell him to write. — Wm. H. Hazlett

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Letter 2

Annapolis, Maryland
May 24th 1864

Dear Sister,

Now I set myself this beautiful afternoon to write these few lines to let you know that I am well at present and hope that this may find you the same. It has been some time since I have wrote to you and we have had some tough times since then but I got through middling well. I got shot through the left hand. It is very sore but it is nothing to what some of the boys got. Our regiment lost very heavy the first evening’s fight. We lost 203 men from four o’clock till dark.

Well, I saw Sam on the 3rd of this month. He was hearty and soo was all the rest of the Boys and I heard since that Adam Freeman had lost one of his legs in the Battle of the Wilderness. There was an awful sight of men killed and wounded. I was in the battle 8 days right straight along. It was the longest eight days ever I put in and I hope that Grant will go to Richmond now. If he don’t, he has lost a power of men for nothing.

I can’t tell you anything about home for I han’t heard from home for over a onth. The last I got, they was all well.

I can’t write very much for my hand pains me so. I will try and write more the next time. Direct to St. John College Hospital, Annapolis, Maryland, Ward 21.

— Wm. H. Hazlett

To Sarah M. McMullen

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Letter 3

Annapolis, Maryland
June 18, 1864

Dear Sister,

I now sit down this pleasant Sabbath morning to write you these few lines to inform you that I am well and hope that this may find you enjoying the same blessing. I received your letter some time ago and was glad to hear from you.

Well, I han’t got much to write at this time for it is such a dull place here.

I am sorry to hear of the death of Adam Freeman. It will go hard with his wife but there is thousands in the same way. But it is the fortunes of war. I got a letter from home a few days ago. They was all well but father. He had not been well for some time. They were getting along first rate. Jane han’t been at home much this summer and is living out. I will now stop hoping to hear from you soon.

[– Wm H. Hazlett]