The following letters were written by Algernon D. Hazard who served as a corporal in Company F of the 112th New York Infantry Regiment during the Civil War. He enlisted on August 30, 1862, for a three-year term. The 112th New York, known as the “Chautauqua Regiment,” was organized in Jamestown, NY, and fought in Virginia and South Carolina.
Algernon was the son of Caleb Hazard (1808-1895) and Mary (Hannah) Newberry (1819-1885) of Ellery, Chautauqua county, New York. Only five of Algernon’s letters are presented here. There are three other letters, two by Capt Joseph S. Mathews, and one by Chaplain William Lyman Hyde, both of the 112th New York Regiment.
We learn from the regimental history that Algernon was “seriously wounded” in the fighting at Cold Harbor on June 1, 1864. A diary that I transcribed in 2024 by James Stafford of Co. C, 112th, included the following entry for that day: “Wednesday, June 1, 1864—We marched nearly all day and were tired out but were ordered right into the fight and we charged with knapsacks on. Many of our noble boys fell dead and dying…” The letter by Capt. Mathews, however, remembers the date of Algernon’s wounding as June 2nd. Stafford’s diary reveals that there was heavy fighting on that day as well: “Thursday, June 2, 1864. This morning we were ordered out to the front and many were killed and wounded…”
At a field hospital near the front, Algernon’s right leg was amputated—his wound being just above the right knee. A few days later he was transported several miles to the 18th Corps hospital at White House Landing where he died shortly after his arrival. Perhaps the jostling of the ambulance wagon resulted in uncontrolled bleeding around the sutures.
Letter 1
Camp on Folly Island near Charleston, [S.C.]
August 21st 1863
Respected Father,
Again I seat myself to let you know that I am well with the exception of a bile [boil] on my left ankle which is very painful. I have been excused from duty 4 days on the account of it. The weather here is quite warm (you would call it hot) but not much warmer than it was at Portsmouth. We had a little rain here twice.
There is firing on Morris Island nearly all the time. I hear that they have breached [Fort] Sumter and from what I know have no reasons to doubt it but as I said in my last letter, I ain’t allowed to write any news anything of what is going on.
Our duty here is pretty hard and there is a good many sick. There is over 100 a taking medicine of what is here—nearly one-fifth. There is nothing new here to write. I have received one letter from you since I have been here which I acknowledged in my other letter. It bore the daye of July 27th.
I have already wrote five letters which I have not heard from. One at Bower’s Hill, two at Portsmouth (one containing the check), and two since I have been here. I don’t know as there is anything more. Yours truly, — A. D. Hazard
Letter 2
Camp on Folly Island
November 2nd 1863
Respected Father,
Again I seat myself to let you know that I am well. I saw Kingsley a few minutes ago. He is well and fat as a hog. There has been heavy firing for three or four days in the direction of [Fort] Sumter and it is rumored that they haveat last demolished it. With the exception of the firing on Sumter, everything runs smoothly. The company has to go on picket once in ten days and when they are in camp, they drill from 2 to 4 hours each day.
The weather is comfortably warm—not hot enough to be disagreeable—and is so we can sleep comfortably nights. Our regiment is rather sickly as usual and always will be till we have a different man for a head doctor. We have lost 26 by sickness and one killed since we have been here in this department.
The sutler sells things very high here. Apples 10 dollars a barrel—good and bad altogether by whole sale. Potatoes are $5 a barrel. Sweet potatoes $7 a barrel. Mackerel 40 cents a pound, 75 cents a quart for preserved blackberries. Everything else in proportion and some things a little more so. I still continue to help cook. How long I shall, I don’t know.
Mr. P. S. Kimball has got home. He will probably show his patriotism at election tomorrow. No more at present. Yours truly, — A. D. Hazard
Letter 3
Big Bay Island
February 1st 1864
Respected Father,
I now seat myself to answer your welcome letter of January 8th which just came to this island by a dispatch boat. It had been miscarried some way because the one of the 15th I received day before yesterday.
This island is 6 miles long and we have the best water here that we have had since we have been in the service. I don’t expect to write any news for I have just mailed a letter. If I was there, they wouldn’t need to offer me 350 dollars town bounty only once unless I thought I could get more by waiting a little longer. I think the fighting part of this war is over mostly and unless I do happen to stop a reb ball, I can live as well in the army as anywhere.
I don’t think of anything else. Yours truly, — A. D. Hazard
Letter 4
Folly Island
February 24th 1864
Respected Father,
I now seat myself to answer your letter of the 1st of this month which I received today. We are back to Folly waiting transportation to Florida. The regiment left here for Jacksonville yesterday and we shall go there as soon as there is a boat goes that way. I am well and tough as I ever was in my life. I don’t want you nor mother to trouble any about me because it won’t do me any good and will damage your health. I am able to paddle my own canoe as long as I am well. What I meant by saying to pardon that I shouldn’t have been here is that I should have been in some other regiment.
The shells which I spoke of is some that I picked up on Big Bay Island and if they come through, I want you to pay the Express on them and take them and take care of them till I come home—if ever I do. If I don’t, do with them as you like. I have seen Kingsley and got my things all right.
The shirts that I sent for you need not send unless you have started them. If you have started them, you can’t do any other way—only let htem come. They will find me some time sooner or later. As for sending money home this summer, I don’t think I shall send much if I am where I can buy my things to eat. I have wrote to the Paymaster General asking him to cancel my allotment and send me my pay all in money. He will do it without any doubt. Kingsley said you had some talk of buying a piece of land. If you do, I will help you to $75 a year till it is paid for.
(There is some talk of our regiment reenlisting when they have been in two years. What shall I do about it? I shall do just as you say. Still, I have a mind of my own. I think the best thing I can do is to enlist. Don’t let mother [ ] you read this.)
After you get this, you needn’t look for anything more from me till it comes. Direct as before. Yours truly, — A. D. Hazard
Our being mustered at Big Bay was of no use. Consequently I shan’t get any pay till there is six months due me.
Letter 5
Jacksonville, Florida
April 1st, 1864
Respected Father,
I now seat myself to write a few lines. I am well and healthy as I ever was in my life. I have delayed writing for some days thinking I should get a letter from you but I have received none later than February 24th.
The weather is just comfortably warm with considerable rain and wind. The wind blows the sand so here some of the time so that it is more disagreeable than the snow is when the wind blows in the northern states. It is so sometimes that you can’t walk facing the wind.
Kingsley [John A. Kinsman?] has come to the regiment again. He looks healthy as I ever saw him. He got here night before last.
This morning about 4 A.M. the transport called the Maple Leaf was destroyed by a torpedo a few miles above here. The Maple Leaf arrived here night before last [31 March 1864] from Folly Island bringing on here the convalescent soldiers of our brigade and the whole of the camp and garrison equipage belonging to the brigade. She ran up to the dock and unloaded what soldiers was on her and then was ordered up the river with some more troops before she had time to unload the rest of the stuff, so we sent a guard of 10 men with her to take care of our part of the stuff. She made the trip [to Palatka] which she was ordered to and was coming back [when] the torpedo blowed her all to pieces back to the engine house. She sunk in three minutes. There was three negroes and two firemen drowned. The rest of the crew was saved but our tents, kettles, officer’s clothing, company books, regimental books, and so on are in about 18 feet of water. The officer’s clothing that is lost is undoubtedly worth 1,500 dollars.
No more at present. From your son, — A. D. Hazard
Direct [to] Co. F, 112th New York Volunteers, Jacksonville, Florida
Please send me some stamps.
Letter 6
In the Field
June 6, 1864
Caleb Hazard, Esq.
Dear sir, I regret to inform you that your son, Corporal A. D. Hazard of my company, was quite seriously wounded during a charge made by our regiment on the 2nd inst. and has suffered amputation of his right leg just above the knee.
Have just come from his side & a glad to inform you that he is in good spirits & more comfortable than could reasonably be expected. He will probably be sent home as soon as he is strong enough to travel. Very respectfully your obedient servant, — J[oseph] S. Mathews, Capt. Commanding 112th New York, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 18th Army Corps
Letter 7
In the Field
June 22, 1864
Caleb Hazard,
Dear sir, your letter of 16th inst. is just read and I hasten to reply. Having been in command of the regiment most of the time since June 1st and either fighting or marching constantly, I was unable to pay that attention to Corporal Hazard that I should under any other circumstances.
At the time I wrote you, I had just left him & found him so cheerful and feeling so well. I had no doubts in my own mind of his final recovery. The surgeon-in-charge of the hospital with whom I consulted was of the same opinion. Soon after my visit, all who could stand it to ride to White House were ordered away to make room for others of our poor boys constantly coming in and it seems the corporal’s ambition was greater than his strength for he died soon after reaching White House.
I am informed on good authority that his grave is plainly marked so there will be no difficulty in finding it at any future time. His effects were placed in a box & sent to you by Express. I presume, however, that many of them had been thrown away by him as men will not carry in their knapsacks on a long march only what is absolutely necessary. I hardly know what words of sympathy to offer you in this terrible bereavement for if Algernon was as good a son as he was reliable, true & faithful soldier, your loss is indeed very great.
I have watched his military career in the company closely & have always found him ever ready, of good habits, and attention to every duty. I never had to enquirer if any duty assigned to Corp. Hazard had been performed for I always knew it was done to the very letter. He stood high in my own estimation & was a favorite with his company and was first among the corporals that I should have promoted for he was in every way worthy of it. We shall miss him very much.
He fell but a few feet from me & I know he was doing his duty like a man.
Any assistance I can render you in procuring his remains will be gladly rendered as I cannot bear the thought of any of my brave boys sleeping in this accursed rebel soil if time or money will obtain their removal. Enclosed please find receipt of Express company. Also $3.25. With a heart full of sympathy, I remain very truly yours, — J[oseph] S. Mathews
Capt. Co. F, 112th NY Vols., 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 10th Army Corps, Bermuda Hundred, Va.
Letter 8
Camp 112th New York Vols.
Near Hatcher’s Run, Virginia
August 20, 1864
Caleb Hazard, Esq.,
Dear sir, yours of July 10th only reached me last week which is the reason you have not heard from me earlier. The money and account book and old papers were all that your son had with him. His knapsack was lost on the field of battle. The express receipt was for the little package which you received. It was put into the express by the chaplain at the hospital & the express company gave him the receipt. He gave me the money and the receipt which I in turn gave Capt. Mathews who sent them to you.
Your son was sent to the hospital at White House about a week after he was wounded—five days perhaps. His leg had been amputated and it was thought he was doing well. I told you in my last that I was not at White House when he died, but there was one of our men there—a Robert Jones of Co. H—who saw him as soon as he got there & was with him when he died. He called the Chaplain, Rev. Mr. Jones, chaplain of the I. H. Vols., to see him. The chaplain is now where I cannot reach him but will send your letter to him as soon as I can find out where he is.
The Co. H man says your son was very low when he got to White House. It is a hard, long ride from Cold Harbor there—the distance at least 14 miles and over a horrid rough road. He could not speak much above a whisper, and conversed but little, even with the chaplain. He told him he wanted him to send home his money & pocket book and gave him your name. Jones does not recollect that he said anything more. He was very weak and about an hour after getting to the hospital, he died.
He was buried by the regular attendants at the hospital and the place of his grave is marked. A plain board has his name, Company & Regiment on it at the head of his grave. You cannot get to this place of burial in October unless our troops occupy White House Landing again. But if our forces were there, it would be very easy to find his grave. It is by the side of many others buried from the 18th Army Corps Hospital. (We were in the 18th Corps then though we belong to the 10th.)
If the changes of war should next fall or winter take us to that locality, I could go with you to the very spot where his remains lie. I feel very sad when I think of Algernon and many others of our noblest, truest, young men who now sleep the sleep of Death. May God care for you in your sorrow and give you back your boy in Heaven. Very truly yours, — [William] L[yman] Hyde, Chaplain 112th N. Y.
Spared & Shared 23 