The following letter was written by Corydon Venton Breese (1841-1938), the son of blacksmith Charles Pierson Breese (1808-1898) and Elizabeth Fletcher (1803-1876) of Breesport, Chemung county, New York.

According to muster rolls, Corydon enlisted as a private in Co. C of the 5th New York Heavy Artillery on 1 April 1862. In January 1863 he was transferred into the 5th US Artillery and remained with them until he was taken prisoner at Winchester, Virginia, and sent to Richmond until exchanged and discharged on 9 April 1865.

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

Camp Marshall
Headquarters, Fort McHenry
Co. C, 5th New York Heavy Artillery
July 11, 1862

Mother,

I received your letter some time ago and have neglected to answer it until now for I have been in hopes of sending pictures along with it but I cannot get out only as my turn comes for a pass, which is once in about two weeks. I have also neglected sending you some papers. The reason is there is none comes in camp but the [Baltimore] Clipper which is good for nothing—only New York papers.

I am well and hearty as ever I was in my life and doing first rate. I am in hopes we will get paid before long. Then I will be able to send you some money.

I have been in the city of Baltimore twice since we have been here. The cavalry regiment which Sam Early and Ed Hammond is in is quartered about a mile from this fort at Patterson Park Hospital. It is in plain sight of us. I have been over to see them. Ed Hammon has been quite sick but is getting better. I have heard that George Van Dusen died and was sent home. Also of the death of Myron Humphrey.

I seen in a paper dated July 4th a list of sick and wounded soldiers sent to Fortress Monroe in which I seen the name of T. Breese of the 5th Michigan. I do not know as that is the regiment that Tuttle belongs to or not but guess it is him. He was wounded in the shoulder. Hiram Vandusen’s son is sick in the hospital here in Baltimore somewhere. Five recruits of Whitneys just came in. They brought butter for Westlake and Shoppee. I did not know any of them.

We had a good time the 4th [of July]. Had a good many spectators. We took a secesh prisoner last night.

Lots of wheat cut here. Corn is up chin high.

I just learned that the prisoner we took last night had a big bottle full of strychnine and the boys are threatening some rather hard things to him. They came in a bad place to practice any such thing as that. We are looking out for them on every side. We go in swimming twice a week in the Patapsco River. I suppose you have heard all the war news. There are four companies of the 19th New York Militia here. Must bring this to a close hoping these few scrawls will find you all well and doing well. I remain your affectionate son, — Corydon B. Brees