The following letters were written by Philo Newton Fox (1847-1893), the oldest son of Perrin Veber Fox (1821-1910) and Louisa Maria Newton (1823-1901). He served with his father in the 1st Michigan Engineers & Mechanics, entering Co. D as a private in late December 1863 and transferring into the US Veteran Volunteer Engineers in mid-August 1864 as a sergeant major.
In 2024, I transcribed three letters by Newton’s father, Perrin Veber Fox. Those letters can be found here—1861-63: Perrin Veber Fox to his Wife.
Letter 1
1st Michigan Engineers & Mechanics Headquarters
Bridgeport, Alabama, May 10th 1864
Dear Mother,
It is a rainy, dismal, disagreeable day and I will improve the time by writing to you. I really don’t know when I shall get my pay but it will [be] before long, I hope. The pay master has gone to Chattanooga to pay Co’s. B, C, D, & K and on his way back he will stop with the rolls and I will get mine. But the trouble is I want to go to Stevenson and if I do, he may come here and go again and I know nothing about it. I guess it will come out all right in the end and I guess I will go by the old adage, “Patient waiting is no loss.”
Just before payday, the sutler (C. F. Miller, the one who used to be adjutant) got forty boxes of whiskey and since pay day, many foolish men and boys give 3 & 4 dollars a bottle for it. Although the bottle has been many times offered to me, not a drop of the cursed stuff has passed my lips and already I have got the name of being temperate which is in the army more honorable than to have shoulder straps, my way of thinking.
I wrote a long letter to Eddie a day or two ago and enclosed a note to you and the day before I wrote you a letter so you are hearing from me quite often. There is no news to write. Father & I are well and please excuse brevity as I don’t feel like writing today. With much love to you and Eddie. I remain your son, — Newton P. Fix
to Mother
Letter 2
Headquarters 1st Michigan Engineers & Mechanics
Bridgeport, [Alabama] May 20th 1864
Dear Mother,
I wrote to you only a few days ago but I thought a letter would always be acceptable so I will write again. I have not had a letter from you for some time. I wish you would try and write as often as I do—two or three times a week. When I left off last I went to see a Brigade review of the 1st Brigade, 12th Army Corps. Some of the regiments were very small. One in particular I noticed did not have more than 200 men but their flag was covered with the names of the hardest fought battles of the war, both on the Potomac & out here. The little band of battle-scarred heroes looked as proud and as contented as the other regiments who had not lost so many. Who shall number the precious lives that have ben laid on our country’s altar and who shall mete out vengeance to the leaders who have led our southern states into the war?
Wallace has not succeeded as well as I had hoped he was as I feared too well dressed to the soldiers and when they found out that he was only a private, they made all kinds of fun of him in his short stay at this place. I do not know how he has succeeded at Chattanooga but I fear he does not take well.
My opinion is that Dr. Smith’s stay in Grand Rapids will be short. He is entirely too sensitive. There is no man who likes to see people from other denominations in our church more than he and he should not think it a slight if sometimes his own people go to other churches.
The quartermaster has not returned from Nashville yet and for two or three days I have been learning the manual of arms and also how to issue rations. Night before last at the same place where Capt. Sligh was hurt, the train was thrown off, robbed, set afire, and Lieutenants Williams & Broughton were robbed of everything they had—even to their hats, coats and boots, watches, jewelry, money and all fared the same. One of Co. D’s boys was badly wounded; also a man by the name of Pitts. There were a number of officers and men from other regiments on board and they fared the same. The band who did this were bushwhackers who came from the region of Lynchburg. The powers that be ought to take severe measures to stop this thing. If they don’t, they are surely much if the fault.
It is three months today since I was mustered into the service of Uncle Sam. One fourth of a year I have been a soldier. It has passed rapidly and so far happily & pleasantly to me. Father is quite well and so am I. It is very windy. The dust is flying and makes the paper dirty and unpleasant to write in. I received Eddie’s picture. It is quite good. Might be better. I would like to hug the original and his mother and give them a few good kisses. I must close. I remain truly yours, — Newton P. Fox
Co. D, 1st M. E&M, Bridgeport, Alabama
To Mother
Letter 3
Stevenson, Alabama
August 7, 1864
Dear Mother,
I have not received a letter from you for some time but as Sunday has again come round, I will write to you [even] if it is a short one.
Father went to Chattanooga this morning to see Capt. Merrill. I expect him back tonight. Then I guess he will know exactly what time he will leave here to go into the new regiment. The fortifications at this place, of which he is in charge, are progressing finely. A few weeks now will finish them. I suppose I will go into the new regiment but know nothing certain yet. Expect I shall when Father gets back.
I received a letter yesterday from Cassius. He was on the late raid by Gen. Rousseau and is now on the Chattahoochie River but expects soon to return to Nashville. He says they had a hard time—hard marching, hard fighting, and hard fare. It seems to me as if he went backward in writing, spelling and construction of his sentences. The letter I got was a perfect puzzle and some of it I could not possibly read.
Father is feeling and looking better than I have seen him for a long time. He is now in a position where he only has to fight the enemies of his country and not an unprincipled set of personal enemies who rank him and are jealous of his true sterling worth. If he would drink whiskey, get drunk, go with bad women, curse the administration, and be a traitor, he would be hale fellow well met with Col. [William Power] Innes and his click. This you must put where no one will see it for in military law, it would be a heinous crime to say what I have against my superior officers and trusting to your good sense you are the only one I have said anything about it to.
With much love to yourself and Eddie and all friends, I remain your son, — Newton Fox
Letter 4
Stevenson, Alabama
August 23, 1864
Dear Mother,
I was very glad to receive your letter of the 16th as it was the first one for two weeks at least and I was getting quite anxious about you for fear you were sick or some accident had befallen you or Eddie. But I am glad to know that you are both well and your healths are improving. Martha writes me that Eddie is getting to be quite a horseman and thinks he can ride Uncle Henry’s horses.
I am glad to know that Mr. Mason’s family are so well situated. I am glad they left Grand Rapids for it was with difficulty they made both ends meet. I know Mr. Mason was mortified many times when they had company because she had done nothing better to offer in eating and accommodations.
I am sorry that Hiram writes home as he does for it will make his Mother feel, ore than ever, afraid and uneasy after an engagement. He has been more than usually fortunate since he became a soldier in passing through the severest battles of the war and escaping without a scratch.
You speak of sending me some two-cent stamps. I never have received the. Have you sent me the three-cent stamps I asked for? I have been out for some time and under the necessity of borrowing.
We received Eddie’s Ambrotype and I thought I spoke about receiving it. I do not think you receive all my letters so I will commence to number them calling this No. 1.
Gaius W. Perkins wrote to me of Mr. Squire’s death. Tell Aunt Mary and Uncle Henry to write to me as nothing would afford me greater pleasure than to correspond with them. I wrote to Uncle Henry while at Bridgeport but he has never answered the letter. Capt. Merrill, Chief Engineer D. C. was here yesterday and he wanted to know of Father why he did not have me take a course at West Point. Through his influence and Gen. Thomas, I think I could get the appointment. How would this suit you? It would be a cheap and honorable way of getting an education that would be complete and practical and as soon as I graduated, would be a commissioned officer in the U. S. A.
With much love to you and Eddie, I remain your son, – Newton
To Mother
