Yearly Archives: 2025

4th New Hampshire Infantry, Fort Marion, Florida

1862: John Wells Sanborn to Friend Luther

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I could not find an image of John but here is one of George Rumsey who served in the same company (Photo Sleuth)

The following letter was written by John Wells Sanborn (1843-1930) of Co. D, 4th New Hampshire Infantry. An obituary, published in the Palm Beach Post of 29 July 1930, reports that John was born in Sanbornton, Belknap county, New Hampshire on 7 May 1843. “He saw three years active service and during the capture of Morris Island was wounded and spent the remainder of the war in hospitals, being honorably discharged in September 1864.” After the war, John left New Hampshire to drive a bull team from Kansas City to Denver and enjoy life in Colorado. In 1874 he started a sheep ranch and eventually settled in Greeley, Colorado in 1884 where he lived until 1912. He then relocated to Lake City, Florida where he died in 1930. Census records reveal that John was the son of Christopher Sanborn (1803-1902) and his second wife, Mehitable Philbrick (1809-1883)

In this letter, John. gives a good description of Ferandina, Jacksonville and St. Augustine as the 4th New Hampshire made its way to Fort Marion where they would remain in garrison until October 1862.

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

Fort Marion
St. Augustine, Florida
May 3, 1862

Friend Luther,

I received your letter yesterday and was mighty glad to hear from you. I reckon there was no one in Co. D that felt any better than I did when I got your letter and papers and the same from home. I had been looking for news from you for some time and well I know I should get something worth reading.

Well about Governor [Nathaniel S.] Berry’s paying us our state pay, I guess if you could hear the tall swearing some of the soldiers get off about him you would think he had not payed us nor has he yet. Nor is there any prospect of his doing so very soon. So for once the Democrats don’t blow for nothing.

Ruth Smith’s marriage was news to me. What does King David think to have his boys leaving him so in his old age? I delivered the tobacco you sent to Horace who I guess thought it was a curious present. He had some bad spells of bleeding at the nose a few days ago but is now doing well.

When we went to Fernandina, we were all well pleased for although it is not so large or wealthy a place as this place, or Jacksonville, yet there is something about it that seems more like our pleasant hills in New Hampshire. The buildings and land look much more like those at home. The streets are of good width, well laid out, and a little sandy with many fine shade trees. In going up the river to Jacksonville, interesting sights presented themselves all of the way. Most of the way the banks are thickly wooded. Now and then you see cleared spots with a few negro huts here. You always see the occupants with flags of some kinds raised and waving handkerchiefs and showing every demonstrations of joy. On a little farther you see a good building looking out from some remote spot among the trees—also the negro shanties scattered around it. At these places you generally see white women, but not a man, if any there be dare show their heads. Corn was just large enough to be plainly seen. All these things with the expectation of being saluted with a ball or shell kept up quite an excitement.

Nearing Jacksonville, clouds of smoke could be seen rising on both sides of the river. This was the rebels last work before leaving. They burned a lot of sawmills, foundries, machine shops and a large hotel. Nearly everything on shore seemed to be on fire. There were but few white people left here. The Blacks were thicker than any other place I have been to. There are a large number of stores there [but] many of them had everything cleared out before we got there. Others were shut up with goods in them. The houses were mostly larger and more stately looking than at Fernandina. The streets are wide, very sandy, and hard to drill in. Nearly every street and garden are thivkly set out with fine shade trees.

There was no much to see in coming from Jacksonville here as the water came down in sheets as we came down the river. This is a peculiar looking place—narrow streets, little old unpainted houses except the stone ones which are painted with a coat of mortar. But two or three streets are wide enough to have any shade trees. Nearly every garden is filled with fruit trees of some kind, corn, potatoes, and such stuff is about as large as it is at home [by] the 4th of July. There is hardly a white man in this place but any quantity of fair damsels. 1

Direct your letters to me, 4th N. H. Regt., Co. D, Port Royal, S. C. Nothing else is needed. Yours truly, — John W. Sanborn

Write me another string of news when you get this.

1 To the annoyance of the soldiers of the 4th New Hampshire, the young damsels would often gather at the Plaza in St. Augustine, visibly chipping off pieces from the flagpole stump as souvenirs. This was from the flagpole that once waved the Confederate standard before they cut down the pole to prevent Union troops from flying the Stars and Stripes from it. [Source: St. August During the Civil War by Omega G. East, Florida Historical Quarterly, 1952.]

3rd New York Light Artillery, Skirmishes at Deep Gully, Soldier Artwork

1863: Alfred Orlo Smith to Cousin Nellie

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I could not find an image of Alfred but here is Phillip Faatz of Co. K, 3rd New York Light Artillery (ancestry.com)

This letter was written by Alfred Orlo Smith (1841-1912), the son of Norman Smith (1806-1865) and Emily L. Smith (1816-1892) of Rome, Oneida county, New York. Battery H, 3rd New York Artillery, was organized at Rome, New York in February 1862. They were sent to New Bern, North Carolina, in late March 1862, and were still garrisoned there a year later when this letter was penned. Alfred entered the service as a private and was appointed corporal on 1 September 1863—his highest rank.

Alfred’s obituary was published in the Democrat and Chronicle of Rochester, New York, on 12 October 1912, asserting that he “took an active part in the second battle of Bull Run and was also involved in the battles of Missionary Ridge and Antietam. He participated in twenty-eight battles, in addition to numerous skirmishes. He sustained a bullet wound in the leg during the battle of Missionary Ridge, which resulted in a lifelong disability.” However, an examination of Alfred’s military record indicates that he spent the entirety of his service along the eastern coastal seaboard, never once nearing the aforementioned battlefields, nor was he ever wounded in combat. These fabricated accounts likely originated during the post-war glory days of the GAR, an organization with which he was proudly associated.

In the 1890 Veteran’s Schedule, Alfred claimed he held the rank of 1st Lieutenant and served from mid-August 1862 to 24 June 1865 (2 years, 9 mo., 26 days). In the disability column of this record, he suggests periodic lung difficulty but says nothing of any wounds or having been lamed by a bullet.

In his letter, Alfred informs his cousin of the recent skirmish at Deep Gully that occurred in mid-March 1863, a segment of a poorly orchestrated Confederate assault on New Bern, aimed at regaining control of the city from Union forces. Concurrently, a less effective attack was launched against Fort Anderson, situated on the bank of the Neuse River, directly across from New Bern.

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

Hand drawn letterhead by Alfred

New Bern, North Carolina
April 1863

Dear Cousin Nellie,

I received yours of the 13th March and was happy to hear from you and to hear that you was well and in good health. I had begun to think that you had forgotten me but the letter came at last. We are having pleasant weather here at present and I hope these few lines that I write will find you enjoying good health as they leave me with a bad cold. We have been out on an expedition since I last wrote to you. We went into Onslow County within 8 miles of Jacksonville. We see nothing worthy of note. We captured some [ ] and prisoners of war. We arrived here on the 10th of March, safe and sound.

We were attacked here on the evening of the 13th by the Rebels at a place called Deep Gully, distance nine miles from New Bern. We got orders just as we were getting supper. We marched five miles double quick and come to a halt in Battery for the night. We lay by our guns all night in the chilly night air. In the morning we advanced two miles to the front. The Rebel skirmishers commenced firing on our advance. We were there to a halt about twenty minutes when we heard heavy firing in ythe direction of New Bern. We then could see what was up. The Rebels had come down on this road so as to decoy us out of New Bern. We got orders to counter march back to New Bern.

We arrived in New Bern about 10 o’clock a.m. When we got here, we could see the shells of the Rebels guns burst over our camp and around our gunboats. We were ordered to be ready at a moment’s warning but we did not get a chance to fire a gun. They kept up their firing all day. The next day they retreated and we have not seen them since and I am in hopes we won’t as we are not on very friendly terms.

Today the news is that Little Washington is taken by the Rebels. We heard heavy firing all day yesterday. We are expecting an attack every minute. We are under orders to be ready in a moment’s warning. We just got the order not five minutes ago and on that account, you. must excuse bad writing and spelling.

The trees are all leafed out, the fruit trees are all in [illegible due to repair tape]…as well as he ever was and a little better, I think. Dave Roberts is here in the 92nd New York Regiment. He has been here to my quarters several times. He has got a discharge and I think he is on his road home. I have heard that a good many are getting married. I hope you won’t stoop so low as to marry a man that is too big a coward to fight for his country in this hour of peril. Tell Marie I was glad to hear from her and I will answer it the first opportunity. I can’t think of anything else. Give my love to all enquiring friends. From your cousin, — O. Smith

I’ll do better next letter.

96th Ohio Infantry, Battle of Arkansas Post

1863: James M. Higgins to James Emery

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Martin Pence of Co. I, 96th OVI also died of disease at St. Louis in February 1863.

This letter was written by James M. Higgins (1835-1863) of Co. H, 96th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He wrote the letter to James Emery (1818-1888) of Bellfontaine, Logan county, Ohio, regarding the death of his son, Cyrus Eagle Emery, who enlisted when he was 19 years old on 8 August 1862 to serve in Co. H, 96th Ohio. We learn from the letter that Cyrus died on a hospital boat on the Arkansas River while en route to Memphis. What is most unusual about this letter is that less than a month later, James was also dead. His military record indicates that he died of chronic diarrhea on 15 February 1863 at the Jefferson Barracks Hospital in St. Louis, leaving a grieving wife and child back home in Bellfontaine, Ohio.

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

January 16, 1863

Mr. James Emery—dear sir,

It is my duty to inform you of the sad news that may strike with dead tears to your heart. I am sorry to inform you of the death of your son Cyrus Emery that was a worthy member of our company. Most two weeks ago he took the measles and caught cold which resulted in bringing on the Typhoid Fever [when] we were on the shore of the Arkansas River at the Post of the Arkansas and fight.

Soon after the fight there was a boat load of sick and wounded soldiers was started North but Cyrus was too bad that [even] with the carefullest attention that I could bestow, he died. I was sent with the boat that brought them to Memphis. I tried to bring his corpse up home but he could not be brought so far.

But do not grief overwhelm you for Cyrus was a very good boy and I hope that the kind God who gave him his existence hath gently taken him to a far more peaceful and richer reward. He is buried about 140 miles from Memphis, Tennessee. We put him as neatly in his grave as the nature of the case would admit of. He had no money—nothing but some clothes and paper. Nothing of value. The few things he had I calculate to give over to Clem Emery.

Frank [J.] Edwards was very sick when we left the regiment at Arkansas Post and [John] Clem Emery was not able to do. duty. There was so many sick that we could not procure boats sufficient. to bring them all up North as far as Memphis or St, Louis. We have been losing a great many of our regiment lately with sickness.

We had one of our company killed [possibly James Stanton?] and one wounded [Henry Harbaugh]. Our loss in the fight out of the regiment was 9 killed and 30 wounded. So nothing more at present but remain your friend, — J. M. Higgins

48th New York Infantry, Fort Pulaski

1863: George T. Conklin to Friend Emma

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Pvt. Philip Daniel Hublitz of Co. D, 48th NY Infantry

The following letter was written by George T. Conklin (1839-1863) of Co. K of the 48th New York Infantry. The regiment was organized at Brooklyn in September 1861 and participated in Sherman’s South Carolina Expeditionary Corps in the spring of 1862. They began siege operations of Fort Pulaski, Georgia, that led to the bombardment and capture of the Confederate stronghold until May 1863 when this letter was penned.

George appears erroneously in the regimental roster as “George A. Conklin.” That record states that he was 22 years old when he enlisted on 9 August 1861 at Galeville to serve three years. He was initially mustered into Co. D as a private but later transferred to Co. K. That same record states that George was captured in action during the assault on Fort Wagner, South Carolina, on 18 July 1863, and that he died of disease on 11 December 1863. His father made a pension claim in 1879 for his son’s service but there was no other information provided on-line.

The history of the 48th New York says that the regiment (with the exception of Cos. G and I) left Fort Pulaski and were transported to Hilton Head where they were attached to Strong’s Brigade, 10th Corps. In the assault on Fort Wagner, the loss of the 48th was 242 killed, wounded and missing, including Col. Barton wounded and Lieut.-Col. Green killed. The regiment received high praise from the commanding officers for its gallantry in this action. Strong’s Brigade included the Black troops of the 54th Massachusetts. How poignant that George would close his letter with: “And some of us may kiss the sod before long and I might be the first. Is it not enough to make you feel sad?”

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

Fort Pulaski [Georgia]
May 3rd 1863

Dear Emma,

Once more I have the pleasure of answering one of your kind and welcome letters. Emma, I will send you my picture as quick as I can get it taken and I would like to have you to do the same for I would like to see your dear face once more. But would rather see the owner of the picture than the picture itself.

Emma, war news is all stale. We do not hear any news from Charleston. Tomorrow we are to have regimental inspection by the Inspector General so for a hard day’s work.

Emma, you say all the girls is getting married so I will not have any when I come home. Well I will have to trust to luck. I suppose the next thing I will hear of your stepping off and then what will I do? Oh, Emma, if I was only home tonight where I could bask in some of your pleasant smiles, how happy G. T. Conklin would be once more in his life. Only think, Emma dear, of us poor soldiers that have been away from home for twenty months and have not seen any of those friends we left behind and love so dearly. Emma, how sad it makes me feel to think of it and then probably never will see them again for the war is not ended. Neither is our times out. And some of us may kiss the sod before long and I might be the first. Is it not enough to make you feel sad?

Well, Emma, you must tell me in your letter who is getting married. Probably I will know some of them. Well, Emma, I will have to close my short letter. Excuse the writing and spelling and if I have said anything out of the way, I pray you to forgive me. I send my love to Amelia and all my friends and the most to you. From your friend—yes, more than friend, — G. T. Conklin

To my dear Miss Emma

27th New York Infantry, Battle of 1st Bull Run

1861: Harrison Guiles to Annis Dillon

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A post war image of Harrison Guiles (Find-A-Grave)

The following letter was written by Harrison Guiles (1841-1896) who was born at at Charleston, Montgomery County, New York, on 17 January 1841, the son of William Guiles (1810-1877) and Margaret Rulison (1822-1916) of Conklin, Broome county, New York. At the age of twenty he enlisted (May 1861) in Co. F (the “Broom County Volunteers”), 27th New York Infantry and served two years when he was honorably discharged in 1863. This incredible letter was written on 6 August 1861, a couple weeks after the Battle of Manassas or 1st Bull Run in which the 27th New York Infantry participated, led by their Colonel Henry W. Slocum who was wounded in the day’s action. The regiment’s losses included 1 officer and 25 men killed; two officers and 42 enlisted men wounded. There were 60 reported missing.

Returning home after his term of service had ended, Harrison was married on the 12th of March 1864 to Miss Emma Jane Darling.

I can’t be certain but suspect the letter was written to Annis Dillon (1844-1926), the 15 year-old daughter of Hamlet Dillon (1812-1890) and Adelia Chapman (1817-1889) who lived in the same village as Harrison, Conklin, New York. She later married William Alexander Bowman (1829-1898)

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

Washington [D. C.]
August 6, 1861

My friend,

I now take my pen in hand to tell you about those friends but I am sorry that I have bad news for you. The report that I received when I wrote before is all false—a [ ] rumor. Our friend [Frank] Gunther I think is a prisoner and for all that I know, it not in the land of the living now but I hope he is. He has not been heard from since he was seen at Fairfax and the probability is that he is now in their doctor’s hands and the others. [Sidney A.] McKune has not been heard from since the battle. Tybe [?] is here but not very well at present. And Spencer Whipple I heard that he is wounded but how true it is is more than I can tell. And myself, I am well and hope these [lines] will find you the same.

I received your letter yesterday and you may be assured that it come welcome too. And so they all will be that you write. I am having a very good time now, not having to drill much since we returned from the battlefield. My friend, that was a hard time. We was almost tired out and then marched clear back to Washington. I traveled 60 miles and never tasted food and fought four hours besides. It was enough to make one think of home. We expect to leave here before long. I hope so.

Annis, you must excuse my poor writing for I have been on duty the last twenty-four hours and you must know how one feels after being out all night. I think you do it. It’s very warm here and what is worse, the flies is very troublesome here. I am eating here in our old shanty and have nothing but a rough board to write on at that. I would like to be home to go to camp meeting this fall but I hardly think I will sometimes. I have had no [ ] and the time we had the fourth I feel like flying. But never mind. It will come out all right by and by. I wish that you could be here just to see the cavalry and soldiers perform. They have great old times. But it is no sport for me to settle from them.

Annis, this is a time that will make many a poor mother grieve and many a fair and loving maiden mourn for her true love that is in the battle. But I have no sweetheart to mourn for me if I chance to fall. But there is a kind mother to mourn for me but I must take my chance with the rest of my comrades. I have been once where the cannon’s deafening roar and where the rattle of musketry was all that I could hear except some poor wretch that chanced to fall. That was a time that would make the sturdy hearts fail. I must confess that I felt a little bit wretched when we first marched on the field. I could see the cannon balls as they struck the ground but it was nothing after I got used to it.

But I must draw to a close as it is most drill time. But you spoke about that speech. If the party should ever meet, I dare not state what I think. But some time I will tell you my opinion. But now give my best respects to [ ] and receive the kind wishes of your friend that perhaps you will never see again. Goodbye Annis. Write Often. It is my wish. — Harrison Guiles

49th New York Infantry, Camp Griffin

1862: Clark Benjamin Ely to Cornelia (Mattocks) Ely

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A post war image of Clark B. Ely (ancestry.com)

This letter was written by 24 year-old Clark Benjamin Ely (1837-1926) who enlisted, August 26, 1861, at Jamestown, to serve three years in Co. K, 49th New York Infantry. He mustered into the service on September 18, 1861; was wounded in action, September 17,1862, at the Battle of Antietam; and was discharged for his wounds, November 13, 1862, at a hospital in New York City. Records from later in life reveal that Clark received gunshot wounds to the right hip and right ankle.

Clark was the son of Samuel Ely (1786-1886) and Artless Clark (1808-1903) of Chautauqua county, New York. His younger brother, mentioned in the letter, Samuel Ely, Jr. (1839-1923) also served in the same company of the 49th New York. Clark was married in 1859 to Cornelia Adele Mattocks (1837-1912) and was residing in Poland, New York, at the time of the 1860 US Census and employed as a “farm laborer.”

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

Camp Griffin [Langley, Virginia]
January 12, 1862

Dear Cornelia,

I seat myself to write to you again and I hope you are well and happy and the rest of your folks are the same. I am well as usual with the exception of the toothache and I had an old time yesterday having it pulled out and then did not get it. The Doctor tried it and broke the top off and then hitched onto it again and pulled and pulled and broke another piece off and twisted my jaw out of place and I guess he split it. I can’t open my mouth hardly any and can’t chew one bit. Oh Cornelia, I never was in such misery in all my life. The Doctor gave me morphine and laudanum but nothing could affect me one bit. I just raved and tore for two hours and he commenced to give me liquor and that eased it. I took two chunks of opium as big as the end of your thumb but could not sleep one bit until this morning and am so nervous today I can hardly write. I guess you will know it without my telling you of it.

George is well. He and I went and got our pictures taken yesterday morning and are going to send them today. They’re in one case and if Sarah don’t want it in the case, she can take it out. The case is mine and is a good one and you can get yours taken and put it in where his is and beside of me. That box has not come yet. Sam [Ely] is a getting better and is quite smart. I have not got any letter from you since the one with that receipt in. I sent you twenty dollars. It is at the Chautauqua County Bank.

The Boys all say my picture is a good one but I think it is some cross for my tooth ached dreadful hard and as soon as I came back, I let the Doctor at it and he gave me fits and [still] did not get the tooth out. The roots are all in [yet].

Sam [Ely] 1 was put in Corporal at New York but night before last he and one other corporal got reduced to the ranks and it was old tough for them for the Boys hooted them so. Sam was at the hospital and he did not hear any of it. It was read on Dress Parade before the whole regiment. It was because they were unfaithful to their duty when on guard and on picket. Oh Cornelia, I wouldn’t been in his place for the whole world hardly as I would rather been shot almost than to had it happened to me if I was Corporal.

Give my love to your folks and goodbye my own dear wife. And write often. I must stop for this sheet is full and if you. can read it, you will do well. But you will excuse all bad writing and spelling, won’t you? My love to you forever and ever, and think of your own true and loving husband, — Clark

But if it is the Lord’s will, we will meet again and I hope before long, don’t you?

1 Samuel Ely, Jr.—Age, 22 years. Enlisted, August 26,1861, at Jamestown, to serve three years; mustered in as corporal, Co. K, September 18, 1861; returned to ranks, January 10, 1862; promoted corporal, January 14, 1863; re-enlisted as a veteran, December 14, 1863; promoted sergeant, September 1, 1864; transferred to Co. D , September 17, 1S64; mustered out with company, June 27, 1S65, at Washington, D . C.

4th Maine Infantry

1861: John K. York to Alice S. [Debeck] York

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I could not find an image of John but here is a gemtype of William C. Rowe who also served as a private in the 4th Maine. (Photo Sleuth)

The following letter was written by John K. York who mustered into Co. H, 4th Maine Infantry on 9 November 1861. Two records in John’s pension file state that he died on 4 September 1862 from “wounds received in the neck” or “while engaged in battle with the enemy, he received a bayonet thrust in the neck and was sent to hospital and died from a wound and fever.” However, another affidavit, submitted by his captain, Albert L. Spencer, claims that John contracted a “Typhoid or Camp Fever” which was accompanied by a soreness in his throat and that he was sent to the hospital at David’s Island (NYC) about the 29th of June 1862 where he died on 4 September 1862. This claim is contradicted by Major Opdyke at David’s Island who says they treated John for a wound in the neck.

John was married to Alice (“Addie”) S. Debeck at Medway, Maine, on 30 April 1860. Their son, Willie, was born on 14 January 1861. A second child, Addie, was born on 22 July 1862. Their residence was given as Clifton, Penobscot county, Maine.

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

Addressed to Mrs. Allis S. York, East Eddington, Maine

Alexandria, Loser’s [?] Hill, Virginia
December 12th 1861

Dear wife,

I will write again as I have an opportunity. I am well as yet & hope these lines will find you the same. I have written all of the news that I can think of before. When we was out scouting, there was a regiment of rebels in sight of us. They see us but we did not see them. When they see us, they left in a hurry. They cut their horses from their artillery, left their blankets, and some of their guns. They retreated to Richmond, Va. They are somewhat afraid, I reckon.

The 11th of December we had our arms tacked and to be ready to fall in at a moment’s warning, but as it happened, we did not have to march. I have got a cold. I have to write & cough, so no more at this time.

Addie, be ever true to me. Give my love to all of the folks. From your ever true husband, — John K. York

A kiss for Willie and one for you. Tell Susan to write to Moses.

You have a better chance to write than I do. Why I send a half a sheet of paper because I snd this [ ]. I have not heard from Elisha yet nor Billy. We should of went to see Billy but we have to be on guard this week. We shall get a better chance now. Send me some little thing of yours. Yours forever. Good night, Addie. A kiss. — John K. York

to Alice S. York

I am a going to send you a bosom pin. Write if you get it.

22nd Wisconsin Infantry

1862: Orson D. Johnson to Mary (Cullen) Johnson

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I could not find an image of Orson but here is one of Ole Erickson of Co. G, 22nd Wisconsin Infantry. Note insignia on collar. (Ancestry. com)

The following letter was written by Corp. Orson D. Johnson (1833-1869) of Darien who enlisted on 15 August 1862 to serve in Co. D, 22nd Wisconsin Infantry. Orson was discharged for disability on 20 January 1863 after only four months in the service. His Find-A-Grave memorial states that he was wounded in the Battle of Stones River but this is undoubtedly an error as the 22nd Wisconsin did not participate in that battle. He was married to Mary Louise Cullen (1835-1913) in September 1854 in Walworth county, Wisconsin..

Orson wrote this letter from Lexington, Kentucky, after having been on the march from Cincinnati since the 7th of October, moving every few days until arriving in Lexington. They were there until the 31st of October and then moved on to Nicholasville where they were assigned provost guard duty until mid-December.

Many of Orson’s Civil War letters are are archived at the William L. Clements Library at the University of Michigan. 

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

Camp at Lexington, Kentucky
October 25th [1862]

Dear wife,

It has been some time since I heard from you and I have not written to you. It was when we was at Williamstown and I found that the post master was going out and the chances for sending letter is very poor now and I have about ten minutes to write and I will just say to you that we are in Lexington all right and I know that you would be so glad to hear from me as often as possible if you are like me. I begin to want a letter from you pretty bad and I know you are not to blame so I will write as often as I can. It will be only a few [lines] for my time is short.

Frank is sick this morning and lots of the boys are sick too.

Mary, write as often as you can. They will come sometime and then I shall feel better. It makes me feel home sick to not have a letter from you. I want to write a long letter to you and tell you all the news and what I have seen along the road. I will not try to write much this time—only to let you know that I’m in the land of the living and I hope that these few scratches will find you well and the little ones too.

Gip is in blowing so in here that I don’t know what I’m writing. So goodbye, Mary, for this time. From your own loving husband, — O. D. Johnson

Be sure to let Ann write on the outside of the envelope for you. She writes plainer. There is so many letters goes wrong.

84th Ohio Infantry

1862: Henry C. Smith to his Father

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The following letter was written by 18 year-old Henry C. Smith while serving in Co. C, 84th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI)—a three months’ regiment that was ordered to Cumberland, Md., June 11, and performed provost duty there till September. They were attached to Railroad District, Dept. of the Mountains, to July, 1862, and 8th Army Corps, Middle Department, to September. They moved to New Creek September 13 to repel an attack on that point by Jenkins and Imboden. They then moved to Camp Chase, thence to Camp Delaware, and mustered out October 14, 1862.

Co. C was recruited principally in Miami county, Ohio, but there were some members from Trumbull and Mahoning counties as well. Halbert Brigham Case (1838-1914) served as captain of Co. C. He had previously served as 1st Sergeant in Co. H, 7th OVI when it was a 3-months regiment and when it was reorganized as a 3-year’s organization, he was commissioned a Lieutenant and served in the campaigns of West Virginia. He resigned his commission to raise the company in the 84th OVI.

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

Camp Lawrence [Cumberland, Maryland]
August 27, 1862

Dear Father & Friends,

I received your letter dated the 24th today and will try and answer it. I should have written last Sunday but I had no paper nor money enough to buy any with but those stamps you sent came in play. But our time is so near out that I can get along without any more. I thought when I last wrote that we should be on the way home by this time but it seems as if that we was destined to stay in this old camp till our time is out. But we have stood it so long and I guess that we can make out a little longer.

There is not much news to write about. It is dull times here. There will be fun here in a few days for they will begin drafting and there will be lively times when that commences. It comes rather tough for some of them for they favor the secesh too much to go into the Union army and I am glad to see them brought to terms. I think they will learn to mind their own business and not say so much. But enough of this.

I am glad that there has been so many gone from our town. I think that we have sent our number of men and I hope they will not have to draft any in that town. Gov. Dennison of Ohio was here yesterday and made us a speech in regard to reenlisting. He wants we should all enlist again and he tried to scare us to enlist but he did not make out. He thinks that after we get home and stay a few days, we ought to go again but I think that we ought to be the judge in this matter. I believe that I would rather be drafted for 9 months than to enlist for three years.

The weather is very. hot and dry. It has not rained much for seven weeks and it is very dusty. The health of the regiment is very good considering all things. Walter has been quite sick but is getting better. He will be up in a few days again.

About coming home, I cannot tell anything about it. You will hear before we get there some way. If I come, I will let you know so as to meet us at Warren. I guess that I have written all I can think of and the mail will leave soon so I will stop. I may not write again before we leave this place but if I should not write, don’t be scared about me for if anything happens, you will hear of it very soon and with this I will close. yours as ever, — H. C. Smith

1st new York Light artillery

1862: Nelson A. Daines to Rebecca (Torrence) Daines

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This letter was written by 38 year-old Nelson A. Daines (1824-1875), who enlisted as an artificer in Battery E, 1st New York Light Artillery in September 1861. In December 1863, Nelson re-enlisted and in June 1864 was transferred into Battery L. He remained with the unit until 17 June 1865 when he mustered out at Elmira, New York. According to his enlistment record, Nelson was born in Yates county, New York, and was a 42 year-old blacksmith when he entered the service in 1861. He had dark eyes, dark hair, a dark complexion, and stood 6 foot 2 inches. According to on-line genealogical records, Nelson was the son of Simeon Daines and Catherine Boulongee. He was married to Rebecca Torrence. His son’s name was Emory. He died in Towlesville, Steuben county, New York in 1875.

Nelson’s service record indicates that he was present with his battery at the following engagements: Lee’s Mills, Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Seven Days, 2nd Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Thoroughfare Gap, Mine Run, Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Weldon Railroad. He claimed he “was never sick one hour” and that he never spent any time in a hospital unless it was “to look after sick & wounded boys.”

Nelson and his wife Rebecca were enumerated in Howard, Steuben county, New York in 1855 and 1860. He was buried in Bath, Steuben county, New York.

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

Washington [D. C.]
Sunday, February 9, 1862

My dear wife & boy,

I received your letter February 8th & I was very glad to hear from you and was glad to hear that your health was better. My health was never better & hope yours will keep improving. The weather here is very foul—rain and awful mud so that we don’t pretend to drill. Say to Old Mrs. Mills that Charles is getting better so he walks out. We still remain on the same ground a half mile of the Capitol.

You wanted to know what Uncle Henry wrote. He said that Henry Willis had not let you have anything since I left [and] that you suffered for wood, that you & him was going down to Snell’s and take up that mortgage. The amount was three dollars that I could send him—[all] the money that I had. Better have someone collect my books. [He also said] that Emery was so bad that you could do nothing with him. I felt mad and bad. It looked as though you and him was going to run the machine all together.

There is nothing would suit me better than to see you & Emery but I am in the service of my country & [in me] they’ll find one that will stand by it. The Boys consider themselves safe if I am with them. Till death or an honorable discharge, as long as the blood flows in the veins of N. Daines, I think I shall be by the first of July to help celebrate that glorious day. If Providence permits, we’ll have a good one. If its nothing more, we’ll cheer the old flag. Secesh begins to tremble at every point. As soon as the road dries up, [we] shall move on Old Virginia with three or four hundred thousand men. Our battery, it takes thirteen hundred horses to draw it from the field besides our baggage. But I and we are nothing but a drop of water in a bucket.

Emery, I want you to be a good boy & do all [you can] for your Mother. I can’t believe but what you will. There has some boys run away from home & come to the army but I will tell you how they stop it. When a boy [of] 15 or 16 is seen in a regiment, he is asked where he is from. He’s [then] reported to the Colonel [who] reports him to the marshal. If he won’t tell where he’s from, the marshal puts a ball on his leg that weighs 25 pounds, puts him in the lock up, lets them lay on the floor one night, and then they’ll tell their name & where they are from. The marshal then puts in handcuffs and sends him on the first train of cars to state he’s from [and to] the work house and then send a letter to his parents where….[end of letter is missing]