The following letter was written by Charles W. Darling (1843-1922), the son of Artemus Darling (1798-1884) and Lydia Phillips (1801-1868) of Virgil, Cortland county, New York. He was a school teacher prior to his enlistment on 14 May 1861 at age 18 to serve two years in the Co. E, 32nd New York Infantry, sometimes called the First California Volunteers. Charles served his entire two years, mustering out with the company on June 9, 1863, at New York City.
The 32nd New York left the state for Washington on June 29; was quartered there for a week and then encamped near Alexandria, where it was assigned to the 2nd brigade, 5th division, Army of Northeastern Virginia; was engaged at Fairfax Court House, Bull Run, and at Munson’s hill, and spent the winter at Fort Ward, in Newton’s brigade of Franklin’s division. In March, 1862, with the 3d brigade, 1st division, 1st corps, Army of the Potomac, the regiment moved to Manassas; returned to Alexandria and embarked for the Peninsula; was engaged at West Point, with a loss of 67 killed, wounded or missing, and soon after was assigned to the 3d brigade, 1st division, 6th corps, with which it engaged in the Seven Days’ battles; then went into camp at Harrison’s Landing until Aug. 16, when it returned to Alexandria. The regiment participated in the battles of Crampton’s gap, Antietam and Fredericksburg; went into winter quarters at Belle Plain; participated in the Mud March, and on April 28, 1863, broke camp and joined the light brigade of the 6th corps for the Chancellorsville campaign, in which the 32nd lost 43 members killed, wounded or missing. It returned on May 8 to the camp at Belle Plain and on the 25th the three years’ men were transferred to the 121st N. Y. infantry. The two years men were mustered out at New York City on June 9, 1863. The total strength of the regiment up to Jan., 1863, was 1,040 members and it lost during its term of service 45 by death from wounds and 54 by death from other causes.
The letter may have been written to Edson F. Quinn of Marathon, Cortland county, New York. Edson later enlisted in Co. B, 1oth New York Cavalry. He was taken prisoner at Hawes’ Shop. on 28 May 1864 and died a prisoner at Andersonville on 27 September 1864.
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
Headquarters 1st California, 32nd New York, Co. E.
Camp Corwin, Washington D. C.
November 3, 1861
Dear friend Edson,
I received your letter of the 31st of October this morning. But for all your long neglect, it was full of good news. Edson, I had made up my mind that you had entirely forgotten me or wished to put an end to such an unprofitable communication but if you don’t want to hear from me, I do from you. Ed, it does me more good to hear from you than you have any idea of. If you had, you would have written to me before this. But I shall have to excuse you if you will try and do better next time. Ed, you must not consider this as a sermon for I did not intend it as such. But you have excused yourself so admirably well and had such good reasons that it is all right.
You wrote me about the boys that had enlisted in the Cortland Regiment. May success attend them in all cases. I should like to be there to enlist with them but Ed, I am glad to hear that V__ A. Johnson are not permitted to go for they are no needed at present and more than that, it is no place to improve oneself. Edson, I suppose you have heard all about the fight at and on the Upper Potomac on the 14th. 1 It was a failure quite serious. It will learn them not to be in quite such a hurry for as the old saying is, the more haste, the less speed. Edson, such disasters make me feel very lonely and sad. Edson, if we succeed, we must work and in order to make our work effectual, we must be united. If so, we cannot fail. If not, Edson, we must fail. God protect the right.
Ed, I am very glad to hear that you are well and enjoying yourself so well. you must not allow yourself to be lonely and sad for you are amongst kind and affectionate friends who will always welcome you to their pleasant firesides.
Dear Edson, you well know a little Brown Cottage where you would always be a welcome guest. Edson, if no pleasure to yourself, visit them for my sake. Anyone that ever knew me will always be welcome to their humble roof. Ed, I should like to see you very much and have a good long talk with you. I suppose you have nice times with the young ladies of your town. Well, I can’t blame you for I don’t know but I should do the same if I could. If I was in Old Virgil, I think I should try and dig up some fun with some of them. But never mind the girls in war times.
You write to me that Artemus is [at]tending the institution at Cortland with W. Miller. Sir, I have the pleasure of knowing Mr. Miller of Marathon and a very nice young man he is too. I should say very much enjoying self there if permitted not to take an active part but to be a patient listener to more capable heads. Dear Edson, when you see Art, tell him for me to kiss my —- I have written to him a long time ago and he has never answered it. But I don’t care of he don’t wish to write me. He is welcome to stop. I can get along awhile yet, I guess. Tell Peter & Lucino to write to me if possible.
Edson, you spoke of my writing that I was hard up for I was. You write that you. hear that I have got my pay from Uncle Sam. Please tell them that informed you that it is a mistake. I have not received a single cent from the gentleman. I should very much [like] to see some of his Yellow Boys. I think it would do my eyes good to look upon them. I hope to have the pleasure before long. How soon, I can’t tell. But never mind that or any other man or horse. You write about Artemus damaging crinolines. Pshaw! There is no danger of that. He is too slow on track of shakes. Edson, please give my love to all the folks and all. enquiring friends. If you see Miller, tell him to write to me and I will answer. It is getting late and shall have to close. I sign myself as ever your sincere and affectionate friend, — C. D.
P. S. Write soon.
1 I believe Charles meant October 21st, not October 15th. That would have been the Battle of Ball’s Bluff in which Senator-Colonel Edward D. Baker was killed.
Spared & Shared 23 