The following letter was written by Cyrus B. Tanner (1834-1893) while serving in Co. L, 9th New York Heavy Artillery. It was addressed to his wife, Mary Augusta (Quick) Tanner (1836-1911) who was at home on their farm northeast of Brutus in Cayuga county, New York with their two young children, Frank and Hetti. Cyris was the son of Seldon Bulkley Tanner and Polly Wheaton.

When Cyrus enlisted on 17 November 1863 at Auburn, he was described as a 29 year-old, 5′ 7″ farmer with hazel. eyes and light hair. He was discharged from the service on 29 May 1865 having just previously spent time at Satterlee Hospital in Philadelphia.

After the war, Cyrus relocated his family to Iowa, where he engaged in Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) activities and secured employment as a hired man at a hotel situated merely a block from the State House. The hotel was previously owned by John Crummey but acquired by the Schaedler family, who prudently renamed it from the “Crummey House” to the “Schaedler House.” Tragically, Cyrus’s life came to a sorrowful end, as detailed in the following newspaper notice under the heading, “Died Because of Drink”:

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

[Washington D. C.]
January 1st 1864

Dear Wife,

I take my seat once more to write you a few lines once more to let you know I am well and hope you are the same. It is 10 o’clock [a.m.] and up to this time everything is very dull. It rained all day yesterday so it is all mud today. I thought my box would of been here so I could of had a good time if I was all alone but it is too late. I think I shall get it tomorrow night or Sunday morning.

There will be 75 men transferred from this company into other companies in two or three days. I expect to be one so you hadn’t better write any more until you hear from me. If I do leave the company, I think of going into Co. E. They are four miles below Washington on the Potomac River. There is four companies of this regiment there. The other eight are here guarding four forts. If I go there, I shall be just as safe as I would be here. The place is called Rose’s Bluff.

I will send you a paper next Monday. We were mustered for our pay yesterday but the company is not organized yet.

6 o’clock [p.m.] This has been a long lonesome day to me. It was all mud this morning but it is froze up now. The wind is blowing very hard now. It is the coldest I have seen it this winter. I have sent John two letters this week and this will make two I have sent you. I have got one letter from you and one paper and a letter from John. If you knew how I have worked it to write this letter, you would excuse poor writing. I will give you a sample. We have got moved in our barracks. They are 20 feet wide and 100 feet long and here is 150 men. Some of them feel pretty good and some of them feel a little worse for too much drink. Well, I forgot to tell. you about my writing. I have set down a part of the time and wrote on my leg. I have stood up a part of the time and held my paper in my hand, and to finish I am laying down on my bed.

All at present from your faithful husband, — Cyrus Tanner

Co. L, 9th N. Y. S. V. Artillery, Washington D. C.

I will write again next Sunday.

January 2nd. 6 o’clock morn. I thought I would write and let you know that I didn’t freeze up last night but I tell you, it was hard work to keep warm in bed. Everything is froze as hard as it can be this morning. I can’t write anymore for want of time. — C. T.

Tell Franky there is his New Year’s present.