The following letter was written by Seymour Orlando Drake (1841-1863) who enlisted at Crown Point, New York, to serve three years in Co. H, 5th New York Cavalry—sometimes referred to as the First Ira Harris Guard. The regiment left the State on November 18, 1861, and served in the Department of Annapolis, Md., from November, 1861 until they were reassigned to the 5th Corps and Department of the Shenandoah in March, 1862.
Corporal Drake did not survive the war. He was one among the twenty troopers who volunteered to charge on a Rebel battery in Mosby’s command that was attacking a Federal locomotive on the orange & Alexandria Railroad near Greenwich, Virginia, on 30 May 1863. The troopers were within about ten yards of the cannon when it opened on them with grape and canister killing or wounding all but seven. Drake was killed instantly with a grape shot through the head.
Seymour’s parents were Amos Begelow Drake (1812-1891) and Lucinda Chellis (1812-1890). He wrote the letter to his sister, Ann Eliza (“Lide”) Drake (1843-1927). He refers to his older brother Harvey B. Drake (1834-1922) and his sister in law, Martha J. (Crawford) Drake (1835-1876).
Transcription
Camp Harris, Annapolis
Co. H
Saturday afternoon, February 8th 1862
I am in a tent alone. Got to thinking about you. I thought I would write you a few lines. I don’t think I can improve my time any better. I received a letter from you day before yesterday and one the day before that and answered it. I like to get letters from home and like to hear that you are all well. I have been a looking for a letter from Harvey and Martha but it is in vain.
I am enjoying good health at present and I hope that these few lines will find you enjoying the same blessing.
Our company was inspected closer than they have ever been before by a doctor from Washington. Every man was stripped and they was three men throwed out of the company. John Oakley 1 was one of them. Henry Griffin 2 was one—the man that bet Mr. Benedict—and a man by the name of Woodward from Port Henry, so they will come home in a few days.
Sunday, eleven o’clock. Just got in from drill. I call it a drill but the Captain calls it an inspection. Well, this is a nice day here. The ground is as bare as June. It han’t much like Schroon. Still we have a good deal of rough weather here. Rain one day, snow the next, and then good weather a few days.
Well, Lide, I got a letter from Renda this morning and a short line from you. Was glad to get them. I will answer them both today if I can and to Harvey too for John Lamb is going home tomorrow and I can send them by him right home. Well, I will close this letter and try to write another one today. I will try to get my picture taken on my horse and send it to you by John Oakley.
Much love to all. Write soon as you get this. So goodbye for this time. From Seymour O. Drake
To Lide Drake
1 Rejected physically in 1862, John J. Oakley (1839-1864) of Schroon, Essex county, New York, later enlisted in August 1863 to serve in Co. D, 2nd New York Cavalry. He served as a teamster until he died on 4 July 1864 at Morganzia, Louisiana.
2 Probably Henry Griffin (b. 1830) of Ticonderoga, Essex county, New York.
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