The following letter was penciled by Stephen W. Fitts (1835-1903), the son of Daniel French Fitts (1805-1883) and Susan Fellows (1805-1888) of Haverhill, Essex county, Massachusetts. Steve enlisted on 8 October 1861 as a private in Co. H, 22nd Massachusetts Infantry. Also serving in the same company was his younger brother, Henry Thomas Fitts (1842-1919). Steve served with the regiment until 13 December 1862 when he was severely wounded at the Battle of Fredericksburg and was discharged three months later on 24 March 1863.

Steve was married in 1859 to Mary Abbie Chick and was working as a “shoe cutter” in Haverhill just prior to his enlistment. When he died in 1903, the Boston Post published the following notice: “Mr. Fitts, who was a Haverhill boy, and who had enlisted at the age of 27, who served throughout the hardest fighting of the war, taking part at Gettsyburg, Fair Oakes, Gaines Mills, the Wilderness, Antietam, and Frederickton, was wounded and discharged for disability March 1, 1863.” Knowledgeable readers will recognize that Gettysburg and the Wilderness were fought after Steve was discharged from the service.

Transcription

Hall’s Hill, Virginia
September 6th 1862

Dear Brother,

We are again on the old place and yesterday I went up and looked at the place where our tent used to stand last winter. It looked same as ever with the exception that grass now grows pretty freely on the place. There were many little pieces of work whch some of the boys done who are now buried on this soil. Poor fellows. It made me feel bad to think of them. Ben Cloutman ¹ and George Webster ² are the ones I speak of.

We received marching orders last night so I think we may leave this place soon. I don’t care much how soon for I seen enough of this place. I am unable to perceive that the prospects look very bright on our side yet. The last retreat from Harrison’s Landing of our forces have given the rebels new pluck and courage and it will be the means of adding many more men to their army. Their aim now is I expect to get into Maryland and this morning I hear they have done so—at least some of them. How do you feel about it at home? How is father? I am well. Write soon. From brother Steve.

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¹ Corp. Benjamin Cloutman died of disease on 26 July 1862.

² George Lewis Webster (1842-1862) was killed in the Battle of Gaines’ Mill, Virginia, on 27 June 1862.