The following letter was written by Solomon Bates Starbird (1832-1889). After working for several years as a lawyer in New York City, Solomon was mustered into Co. B, 127th New York Volunteers on September 8, 1862, at the rank of sergeant and served with that regiment until October 31, 1864. He then served as a 1st Lieutenant in the 55th Massachusetts Volunteers—an African American regiment—from October 31, 1864 to August 29, 1865. After the war, he married Hannah Judkins (1832-1922) and moved to Nebraska and then Colorado, where he continued to work as a lawyer. He died in Denver, Colorado, in 1889.

This letter must have once been part of a huge collection of letters written by members of the Starbird family. There are 331 letters among the Starbird family papers housed at the William C. Clements Library at the University of Michigan, ranging from 1848 to 1864. They were written by three Starbird siblings: Solomon and George, who served in the Civil War in the 127th New York Infantry and 1st New York Mounted Rifles respectively, and Marianne, who operated a struggling art school in New York City.

Solomon Starbird wrote less frequently than his siblings, but his long letters were often filled with details of camp life. On January 23, 1863, he wrote to Marianne concerning the lack of pay to soldiers and the slovenliness of the privates. In his letter of August 21, 1863, he described a military gathering on Folly Island and Union positions in South Carolina. In other letters he gave accounts of being fired on during picket duty (September 30, 1863) and Christmas celebrations in camp (December 22, 1863). A talented sketcher, he included in a letter of October 8, 1863, a penciled map of Cole’s Island, South Carolina, labeled with the “old fort;” the 127th Regiment’s camp; and the surrounding marshes.

Over the years I have transcribed numerous letters by members of the 127th New York Infantry. These include:

William Edgar Oakey, Co. A, 127th New York (3 Letters)
Henry Blain Graham, Co. C, 127th New York (1 Letter)
John Allen, Co. E, 127th New York (1 Letter)
Lord Wellington Gillett, Co. H, 127th New York (1 Letter)
George Elbert Jayne, Co. I, 127th New York (1 Letter)
Jonathan Allen Bennett, Co. K, 127th New York (33 Letters)
Orlando S. Edwards, Co. K, 127th New York (1 Letter)
Josiah Parsons Miller, Co. K, 127th New York (3 Letters)
William B. Miller, Co. K, 127th New York (4 Letters)

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

Cole Island, South Carolina
Day after Christmas, December 26, 1863

Dear Brother George,

Received your letter last eve, 14 days after twas written. Five days ago received one from M[arianne] at Utica dated December 6th. She is of course now at Mr. W’s in Jersey City. Have just mailed one to her directing it to care of Mr. W. I must say that although I have had no fear of your being careless of health or anything else, yet I have sometimes almost longed to see a few lines from your pen, so I hope that though you have nothing new to write, you will not allow long periods to pass without some token from you. I will here state that I have tried to get possession of stamps enough to pay post on a book—Kinglake’s Crimean War—which has been wrapped to send you these 3 weeks. Think I shall succeed soon. I wished to surprise you but can’t wait to keep it from you. But you must wait till it reaches you somehow. Ere this you would have had it but stamp holders are so tenacious & I can’t bother M. to send.

Well we get on in the same stupid way. Don’t know when I will be relieved [of] this scout duty. But wind blows fierce & cold almost all each day so I can do little with glass. Besides, I’m not expected to chill self to death. Lately, say for a week, I’be been in quarters at ease except two afternoons. No roll calls or company inspections for me. In fact, only such as I choose at any time. Meanwhile my musket & things I keep shiny for sake of exercise. Wish to heaven I were in your regiment where something is ever going on.

Yesterday morning at daylight, the Marblehead (gunboat) lying about a mile and a half up Stono was attack[ed] by 13 reb field guns on a line half mile back from W shore Stono & about a mile from Marblehead. The Pawnee soon came up & helped to drive rebs from position, but the Marblehead, tis reported, lost three killed & 5 wounded. Reckon it was only a Christmas salute.

I’m going to apply to Washington for permit to appear for examination for commission in Colored Regiment. I [am] so damned tired on this inactivity—just throwing self & time away. Besides, just see this cursed mixing of politics with military affairs. A commission came here the other day for a private in Co. C next us. But said private was in guard house just then & must wait sentence of court martial at any rate. Out of spite, they managed to keep [him] in guard house although tis said the commission is dated previous to his arrest. But I think he’ll get discharged by sentence for they can from his quitting post as “signal private” without permission. They may reduce him to ranks, now the law gives the power. But the officers are all made that the said private’s brother—a New York politician—has succeeded in squeezing a 1st Lieutenant’s commission out of Gov. Seymour for this private in Co. C.

But the most stupid act is for Gov. Seymour to be deluded into sending a 2nd Lieutenant’s commission for our little, greasy, stupid under cook. We never thought him fit for cook proper. But some active, influential relation on Folly Island got him berth as errand man (orderly) at telegraph station over there & now another politician has made an officer of him. Oh Hell! to think the stupid ass might have power to command me. I feel like kicking him! — S. B. S.