The following letters were written by Hosea B. Williams (1841-1864) who served in Co. C, 3rd Vermont Infantry. He enlisted on 16 July 1861 and was killed in the fighting at Spotsylvania Court House on 12 May 1864. Hosea wrote the letters to his mother, Olivia, in Concord, Vermont. The first letter was found in Hosea’s Pension File in Washington D. C.; the second letter is in private hands.

Hosea’s second letter refers to “bosom pins” that he opted to send home for safekeeping. Unfortunately he was no more specific as to the nature of these pins, but promised one to each of two older brothers, Hiram (b. 1836) and William (b. 1837), if he did not return home from the war.

Letter 1

Camp near Herson [Harrison] Landing
August 1, 1862

Dear Mother,

I received your letter and I was very glad to hear that you were as you were. I am well and I hope that these few lines will find you the same. Dan is well and he is a going to write a few lines to Father.

We have not had a battle since the Battle of Malvern Hill till last night the rebels drawed up some artillery and began to shell our troops but they were sorry that they ever come down there for we drawed out our siege guns and gunboats and give them hell to hteir own satisfaction so they left the ground. But it was a noisy time, I tell you.

Now I want you to write to me often as you can. You tell William to write and Hiram too. I have not much to write now. I want you to write whether John Morse has paid that money to your or not. I have got two hundred dollars in the State Treasury and I have put it so that you can draw it if I should be killed here for I stand a fair chance to be killed every day or so far it is shell and shot all the time. But Iam happy as a clam in deep water, Write to me often as you can. — Hosea B. Williams, Co. C, 3rd Vermont Volunteer Militia, Washington D. C.

I will send you a paper that [shows] where we fought the rebels at Savage Station and the battle elsewhere too on the retreat.

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Letter 2

Camp at Waterloo, [Fauquier Co.] Virginia
August 10, 1863

Dear Mother,

I now take this time to write you a few lines to let you know that I have got your letter and was very glad to hear that you were well. I am well and hope that these few lines will find you the same. I got your letter this morning and was glad to think that check had gone alright. I shall send a lot of money soon and you can take care of it for me better than I can for I am in a hard place to let money in the State Treasury and I am a going to draw it out and send it to you to take care of for me. And if you want any of this money to help you along, take it as I send it and I want you to get me a pair of boots made and then when I send to to send them, they will be ready. I want Patent No. 9 so you can get them alright.

There is no signs of a move for the present time. Have you seen Charles Mabury since he went home? Write when you hear from William and tell me where he is. As I wrote to Hiram a day or two ago, I shall not write so much to you this time. So goodbye for this time. This is from your son, — Hosea B. Williams

I am a going to send my Bosom Pins to you to keep for me till I get home and then I can wear them so you take care of them for me and if I am killed, give one to Hiram and the other to William. That is all I have to say now.