My passion is studying American history leading up to & including the Civil War. I particularly enjoy reading, transcribing & researching primary sources such as letters and diaries.
George’s headstone in Rake Cemetery, Washington County, Ohio
The following letter comes from the Widow’s Pension file at the National Archives. It was written by George Washington Snodgrass (1832-1868), a private in Capt. Hamilton F. Middleswarts’ Co. F, 92nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry. George served from 6 August 1862 and was discharged on 10 June 1865. He was born in Washington county, Ohio, and was 30 years old when he enlisted, according to his discharge papers. His papers also inform us that he stood 5 feet 10 inches tall, had a fair complexion, blue eyes, and light hair. He claimed to be a farmer.
A family tree in Ancestry.com reveals that George was the son of Hiram Snodgrass (1798-1879) and Druscilla Oliver (1801-1885). He was married in April 1852 to Mary Jane Evilsizer (1836-1913) and the couple had several children when George went to war. hey include Robert (b. 1851), John (b. 1853), William (b. 1858), and Isabella (b. 1861). In 1861, the were living in Lawrence, Washington county, Ohio.
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[Camp at the Mouth of Lake Creek, Va.] November 30th 1862
My dear wife,
I received your kind and welcome letter. I was much pleased to hear that you and the children was all well and that little Isabella could call on her Pap so nice and that John and Robert and Billy was such good children.
We are now building our winter quarters. We have to cut logs and haul them off the mountains with ropes. I put in 13 days of extra work. I get 25 cents extra per day.
You wrote that you have sold your tobacco. I want to know who you sold it to and how much you got paid down on it.
I was sorry to hear that you had had a gathering on your side and am glad that you have got well again. Tell Father Evilsizer that I want him to write to me and send me all the war news that he can rely on for we got the news here that Richmond was taken. Some believe it to be true and some say that it is a lie. We get dispatches here every day but they only come from camp and you know camp rumors is not very wholesome. But my humble opinion is that we will get home against the 1st of April if all things works as they are now.
Tell father & mother to write to me as they have a good chance. I expect to draw four months wages a Christmas or New Year’s Day.
This is one of the most God forsaken places that I have ever seen with my eyes. The mountains and rocks is so high that it takes a person about a half day to climb to the top of them. New River, about five miles above where we are now camped, has no bottom land at all. There is nothing but mountain and rocks surrounding it. Lake Creek at the mouth of which we are now encamped is nothing but rocks and mountains covered with laurel and cedar. I have come to the conclusion that if it was not for the salt works, that the rebels need not want this part of Virginia. But we expect Old [Albert Gallatin] Jenkins to pay us a visit in a few days after some salt. He has been within 8 miles from us. But if he does come, the 92nd is ready to receive him and we would be thankful to see him coming. We will give him pepper instead of salt.
You wish to know how many letters I have wrote to you. This makes 5 that I have wrote to you and I have received three from you. Write as soon as this letter comes to hand and give me all particulars. I must now conclude, wishing you and the children every blessing. I remain your affectionate and loving husband until death, — George Snodgrass
The following letter was written by Patrick John Quigley (b. 1842), a farmer from Orange, Connecticut who served in Co. E, 15th Connecticut Infantry. This regiment first saw action in the Battle of Fredericksburg and afterwards were sent to Suffolk in February where they remained for some time. In this late May 1863 letter John describes the hard work of digging entrenchments and mounting guns in the forts surrounding Suffolk.
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Addressed to Levertt Clark, Orange, Connecticut
May the 31st 1863
Dear Friend,
I take the opportunity to write these few lines to you hoping this will find you in good health as this leaves me in good health at present. Thank God for His goodness to us all. I have been sick for three weeks but I am better now.
We are now garrisoning forts at [Suffolk]. We have had a hard time here. We had to work hard. We defended the whole town for 14 days and done picket duty around the whole place. Now we are are at rest. We expect to go to Portsmouth in a week or more to build entrenchments. We have got a little over four hundred for duty in the regiment. We have had as hard a time as any other regiment since we came out. We have not had as much fighting as some other regiments has but we have worked.
Some of our boys were on picket for 9 days while the rest was digging. We have one of the best forts I have seen in three rods of the town. It has two Parrott Rifles. They throw one hundred pound shells and three that throw 132 pound, and three mortars and six Siege guns and they are going to put more up in it. It covers the whole ground that our Brigade camped on.
I have not had a letter from you but one and I don’t want you to stop writing cause you do not get one from me. Write as often as you get time and I will answer if I can. I thank you for that paper you sent me. It cost me 6 cents every day for paper to hear the news but now we are here, we can’t get the paper. Let me know how everything is to home in Connecticut and what you think of the times and the war and the draft. Give my love to the children and tell them that I will come and see them when the war is over and I think it will be short. The rebs is coming down and they will come down and they must come down, dead or alive.
No more at present, but remain your friend, — John Quigley
Address to P. J. Quigley, Co. E, 15th Regt. Conn. Vols., Suffolk, Va.
The following letter was written by Albert Everett (1840-1937), the son of Leonard Fessenden and Freelove Darling of Worcester county, Massachusetts. When Albert was 14, his widowed father took Hannah Hopkins as his second wife, she being the widow of George Mann. When Albert was 21 years old, he gave up his shoe cobbler’s hammer for a rifle and stepped into the ranks of Co. H, 15th Massachusetts Infantry as a private. Joining him in the same company was his 19 year-old step-brother William Maxy Burlingame Mann (1842-1861) with a name longer than his time in service; he was killed on the field of the regiment’s first fight, the Battle of Ball’s Bluff, on 21 October 1861
Albert was promoted to Corporal in 1 May 1863 and barely had his stripes sewed on when he was wounded in action in the fight near the Codori Barn on the 2nd day of Gettysburg. He was not alone. During the 3-day battle, the 15th Massachusetts lost 22 killed, 93 wounded, and 28 missing or captured—a casualty rate of 60%. Albert survived his wounds, however, and finished out his term of service, mustering out on 15 July 1864. Afterwards he volunteered as a teacher in the Freedman’s Bureau in South Carolina. [Historical Digression by Patrick Browne]
This letter was written while the regiment remained a part of the Corps of Observation stationed at Poolesville, Maryland–about halfway along the Potomac between Washington and Harpers Ferry. While in this assignment, they were called upon to play a significant role in the disastrous Battle of Ball’s Bluff on October 21, 1861, and a large number of the regiment was taken prisoner during the rout. They then spent the winter of 1861-1862 in camp along the Potomac and were not transferred to the Army of the Potomac until late March, just in time for the Peninsular Campaign.
Camp of the 1st Minnesota near Poolesville, Maryland in the winter of 1861-62. The 1st Minnesota were in the same brigade as the 15th Massachusetts. If you look closely you can see that they were using large Sibley tents as well.
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Addressed to L. F. Everett, Esq., Whitinsville, Massachusetts
Camp Foster Poolesville, Maryland February 24, 1862
Dear Father & Mother,
I sit down to write you a few lines today that probably will be the last that I shall date from this camp as we expect to move in a day or two. Nothing certain is known by us as to our place of destination. Last night after the Captain had inspected the company, he read an order that we should pack all our things that we did not want to carry in our knapsacks into boxes and have them all ready marked so when we moved, we should have only to nail them up and leave them in the Commissary’s care. The story is going round that we are going to join General Gorman’s Brigade and go to Washington and then go to join General Burnside. Gorman’s Brigade consists of our 20th, the N. Y. 34th and Minnesota 1st, I believe, and will be accompanied by another brigade—whose, I don’t know. All the regimental teams and camp furniture will be left, but what we can take on our backs. These large Sibley tents that hold 20 men are to be left and we are to carry little rubber ones that will hold 4 men, can be taken into four pieces, and can be pitched with our guns.
Whew, what a wind. Since writing the above, there has been no little commotion in camp. I have just come in from a sight of a very lively scene. Half or more of the tents in camp are flat as can be. Every tent in the Grafton quarters but one is down. Two of our tents are down and another is halfway and beneath its heavy folds, fifteen or twenty boys are struggling to get out like so many rats fastened up in a meal bag. The Clinton boys on the other side of us are no better off and we see part of them swarming round the ruins of their houses and the others are holding on to theirs with all their might hoping to keep them up if possible. Most of those who are not in such predicaments are indulging in the most hearty laughter at the ill luck of the rest.
When the blow first broke upon us, the boys all swarmed out and each catching an axe or club of wood, soon tightened the pins so we have not been rendered shelterless yet, though if the wind continues to blow such a hurricane, we shall have to “keep warm by traveling” before long. Rufus Belding has just come in bareheaded. He was down at the guard tents and standing beside one when over it came, knocked him flat, and held him there a minute or two. When he managed to get out from beneath the canvas, he found his hat had disappeared—on the “double quick” probably. This field is like Lawson Taylor’s plains—only it is up higher and as much exposed as the land up on Sutton Hills. 1
I am going to pack up 2 blankets with some of Lon’s & Reuben’s and other things and send them home if it is allowed, which some say is not so. But we have no use for them and are going to do so if we can. Lon sent home for a box of things, but he cant take them and if you see his folks, tell them not to send it.
I send you $5 more. I should 10 but if we are going to move, I shall probably want some of the other bill. I must close this here as it is so cold, the wind blowing into the tent terribly that I can’t write and the Captain is just now telling us to put out the fire and throw down the tent for the present. Give my love to all. Yours affectionately, — Albert Everett
1 This same wind storm was described by George W. Fernald of Co. C, 82nd New York Infantry who wrote to his cousin George on the same day from Camp Gorman (at Poolesville). “It is raining here now & the wind is a blowing a gale here. But I close now for our tent is blowing down.”
I can’t be certain of the author of this letter signed (I think) “E. Dana.” The Dana family had a long history in Boston and my hunch is that it was written by Edmund Trowbridge Dana (1818-1869), the son of Richard H. Dana, Sr. and Ruth Charlotte Smith. His more famous brother, Richard Henry Dana, Jr., served in the US Senate in 1859 and during the Civil War was a United States Attorney for Massachusetts.
Hon. Sherrard Clemens of Virginia
The letter opens with a reference to Virginia congressman Sherrard Clemen’s speech delivered in Congress on 22 January 1861 which was a warning to fellow Southern congressmen that a breakup of the Union would certainly mean the death of slavery—the key sentences in a long speech stating, “Before God, and in my utmost conscience, I believe that slavery will be crucified, if this unhappy controversy ends in a dismemberment of the Union. Sir, if not crucified, it will carry the death rattle in its throat. I may be a timid man; I may not know what it is to take up arms in my own defense. It remains to be seen, however, whether treason can be carried out with the same facility it can be plotted and arranged.” Referring to any fellow statesmen in Congress who advocated secession, he said, “He can take an oath to support the Constitution of the United States, but he can enter with honor into a conspiracy to overthrow it. He can, under the sanctity of the same oath advise the seizure of forts and arsenals, dockyards and ships, and money, belonging to the Union, whose officer he is, and find a most loyal and convenient retreat in State authority and State allegiance.”
The letter ends with a condemnation of the Massachusetts Senators in Congress (outspoken abolitionists) for not having been more outraged and vocal about the perceived treasonous acts of their fellow Congressmen and not trying harder enough to hold the Union together. The Union Meeting held at Faneuil Hall in early February 1861 emerged with a series of resolutions that essentially endorsed the “Crittenden Compromise” as an unsavory, but temporary solution to the secession crisis.
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Boston, [Massachusetts] 8 February 1861
My dear friend,
I am much obliged for [Sherrard] Clemens’ speech. I have read it with much pleasure— and wish it could be sent all over the South. Perhaps nothing will do them any good—but this must if anything will.
I see that [Henry Winter] Davis of Maryland made a ringing speech yesterday. 1 Is it to be published? if so, as we get only poorly printed copy in our papers—a partial even, I shall be glad if you will send me a copy. I don’t believe you can do a better thing than to send Capt. Holmes one—or indeed any speech that has real back bone in it. The Capt. sets at the Table and in the reading room and fights the Northern secessionists (of which white-livered bread Boston abounds) and Northern disunionists with real old Teutonic grit. It would have done you good to have heard him come down on the last Union meeting at Faneuil Hall.
The Hon. G. L. now gives him the go by—because the Capt. dares to go in for “the Union, the Constitution, and the enforcement of the Laws”—and he throws it in the face of the Bell Weathers to their great discomfort. Was there ever a more pitiable back down than that party North exhibits in their practically annulling all they pretended to fight for in the last canvass—and now refusing sympathy and support to their political friends South in the late campaign.
Here—this party deride Massachusetts & it seems as though they could not say enough of her—and to anything like argument, their reply is—Mass. delegation in the House. Charles Sumner, Henry Wilson, and the inevitable Nigger. Beyond this, their vision does not extend. The fabric of Massachusetts history would be ruined and suffer a total eclipse if left alone to their guardianship and patriotism.
The Capt.’s address is P. Holmes, Tremont House.
As I said before, I think he would be pleased to receive any speech that has back bone in it—like [Henry Winter] Davis, Millen [?], or [Charles F.] Adams—which [ ] he endorses very heartily.
Yours, E. Davis
The temp a.m. from 13o believe in the city. Is 22 in suburbs
1 The gist of Hon. Henry Winter Davis’ speech echoes that of Clemens’ speech. It also addresses the slavery argument thus: “As to slavery, the slavery question represents no interest which now requires to be touched by any department of the government. The mischief that has been done was done at home or South. The great cause of the excitement was the mode in which the recent political canvass had been conducted in the South. It had been by blackening and misrepresenting the true character and designs of the great mass of Northern people…If Southern gentlemen would go home and tell. truth about the North as they know it to be, there would be peace in all the country in a very short time.”
Rogena’s brother, Don Eugene Scott, 9th New Hampshire Infantry
The following letter was written by Rogena Almira Scott (1840-1869), the daughter of Madison Scott (1813-1851) and Hanna Landress Beach (1817-1872) of Franklin, Vermont. Genie and Rev. John G. Bailey were married on 17 February 1863 in Warner, New Hampshire, but she only lived until 1869. The Scott Family Record states that Rogena “finished her education at Ohnson Academy, Vermont, and devoted several years to teaching in the South. She was a lady of fine accomplishments.” Genie’s younger brother, Don Eugene Scott (1844-1923) served in the Civil War as a private in Co. E, 9th New Hampshire Infantry; later in Co. D, 11th New Hampshire Infantry.
We learn from this letter that 21 year-old Genie was teaching at the Southside Institute—a school for girls—in Nashville, Tennessee, when the Civil War erupted in 1861. The principal of the school was 41 year-old Mrs. Emma Holcombe. The school was operated in the 24-room mansion of Col. A. W. Putnam opposite the Capitol Building. The letter was addressed to her mother in Warner, New Hampshire, now married to her second husband, Rev. Daniel Warner—a Congregational clergyman. She writes of the recent fall of Nashville to the Union army. “I can hardly sit still to write this letter, but feel much more like dancing about the room like a child three years old or a crazy person,” she confessed to her mother, with whom all correspondence had been cut off six months previously.
She also gives us a stirring description of the panic by the citizens of Nashville following the receipt of news that Fort Donaldson had been taken by Grant’s army. “Men and women rushed out into the streets wringing their hands and crying, everybody seemed bewildered and not to know what to do, asked all sorts of incoherent questions and received just as incoherent replies.”
In researching the Southside Institute, I discovered that it was the 1861 graduating class of young women who made and presented the Confederate flag that flew over the State Capitol—perhaps the same flag that was lowered when Union troops took possession of the town.
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Addressed to Mrs. Hannah L. Warren, Warner, New Hampshire
Nashville [Tennessee] March 3rd, 1862
Dearest Mother,
The Federals now have possession of Nashville. The mails are once more opened and I can have the delightful, the thrice blessed privilege of writing and getting letters from the dearest being in all the world—this certainly is a brightening up of my prospects that I hardly looked for two months ago. Tonight I am so happy that I can hardly sit still to write this letter, but feel much more like dancing about the room like a child three years old or a crazy person.
The Federals have had possession of Nashville just eight days. No violence has been committed. The city is perfectly quiet except the noise of the troops passing through on their way farther South. We are very strictly guarded by a sentinel who never leaves his post just in front of our door. We feel quite secure from any violence as long as we are so strictly guarded. Oh Mother! you and I know now what misery there is in suspense, don’t we. I don’t think I have ever spent more bitter unavailing regrets in my whole life than during the past six months when shut out entirely from intercourse with home, friends, and relations. But all that is past now and we will not dampen our present pleasure with tears of sorrow for the past. Let us be merry over the good time that has come—the bright sunlight which has brightened up our horizon.
I have been very well—not even one sick day since last August. Have written numerous letters and sent them by all sorts of ways but have never received but one and that was written about Christmas times. It was a sad pitiful letter and almost broke my heart to read it, but it was impossible to comply with your request at that time. It was decidedly dangerous for a lady to travel by herself as it is still. Besides, I could not get my money changed without paying 50 percent discount and I could not afford that you know. I know you are glad now that I did not attempt it.
The panic in Nashville when the news of the defeat at [Fort] Donaldson reached us was terrific. Churches (for it was Sunday) were broken up in the midst of services, men and women rushed out into the streets wringing their hands and crying, everybody seemed bewildered and not to know what to do, asked all sorts of incoherent questions and received just as incoherent replies. After an hour or two or running to and fro, everybody seemed determined to get out of the city for the news came that the “Yankees would shell the city” and then such a scrambling for carriages and vehicles of every description was never witnessed before. Old wagons of fifty years ago, carts for lumber and market wagons were thought quite elegant and the fine fashionable people who had never before ridden in anything but a fine carriage were content to tumble into any sort of a thing on wheels with their silver packed in baskets on one arm and a change of clothing on the other. Fine elegant mansions are left tenantless and now the Federal officers are enjoying the comfort of splendid houses all furnished and ready for their acceptance.
Advertisement for Mrs. Holcombe’s School in the Daily Union & America, 6 February 1861
March 4th. Mrs. [Emma] Holcombe’s school of course had to suspend. Out of twenty boarders, only three remained. We had a recess of two weeks. In the meantime, the city has been calmed down. All is quiet, and the school resumed yesterday. But what a falling off from our original numbers! Only eight out of 110 pupils returned. We hope however to get at least half of them back again. Mrs. H. is very sick and I have been helping to nurse her. I am thus far the only teacher since the resumption of school for so few scholars do not need a corps of teachers such as we have had. Mrs. H.’s children are both south and now she cannot hear from them, and is in the same fix that you have been for so long. Our affairs you know are now just the reverse of what they were three weeks ago. Now we can have no communication with the South at all, while the mails northward have been reopened. Ever calculation we have had has been reversed and this in the short space of two weeks. I can hardly realize so sudden a reversion.
We get now all Northern papers and although our army is not over fifty miles from us, we know nothing of its movements. The general belief is that Nashville will be retaken. At least there will be a mighty struggle and that before long I think. If you have not written before this reaches you, do not delay one hour for your daughter is in most agonizing suspense and it is increasing everyday that I know I can get letters from the North and do not get one from you. I shall imagine all sorts of horrible things and even the worst of all if I do not hear soon. Love to all my Northern friends for I do love them very dearly and you and brother most of all. Goodbye. Love, Genie A. Scott
The following letter was written by Rev. Elmore Yocum Warner (1833-1886), the son of Jesse Warner (180201872) and Jane Goodfellow (1811-1843) of Wooster, Wayne county, Ohio. Elmore was married to Alice Maria Lee (1843-1915) in 1859 at North Fairfield, Huron county, Ohio.
Elmore accepted a commission as Chaplain of the 3rd Ohio Volunteer Cavalry on 11 December 1861 and remained with the regiment until 1 August 1862 when he resigned and returned to his home in North Fairfield, Huron county, Ohio. [Note: the regimental roster erroneously recorded his name as “Edward” rather than “Elmore.”]
Here it is Tuesday night and I have not written to you get. It is too bad. But O dear, how I have worked. You would forgive me if you only knew how I feel. I did intend to write yesterday. Tonight I have a severe pain in my stomach. Don’t know how much or how well I can write. I must tell you part now and the rest another time or when I see you which I wish may be soon.
Well with more sadness than I showed to you, I left you last Saturday night, thus leaving behind me all of earth that I would live for. We made your way to Shelby by half past eight. I stopped at a Hotel. Did not see Jason until next morning. I then went to church to hear Bro. Hartley but he was not there so I had to preach. I then took dinner at Beverstock’s brothers. At about four o’clock Sunday afternoon, we left Shelby [and] reached Camp D[ennison] at about eight. Found the awfullest mud hole you ever saw or heard tell of. But we got over to our quarters here a perfect sea of mud. I finally found a shanty for myself—new, but very dirty. I had to wait until nearly night for my boxes when I commenced “fixing up.”
We are now somewhat comfortably situated. The barracks are very nice when finished. Mine is a frame building with two rooms—a front room and bedroom. The men of each company occupy one building. Well, Mrs. Bliven is boarding about a mile from the camp and Mrs. Howland as far the other way. If you were here in camp, you could not leave the tent at all as it is now with[out] going half knee deep in the mud at every step, and yet how I wish you were here.
I am lonesome—very. It seems I cannot wait to see you. I never knew before how much I prize you What a comfort you are to me. I think you had better come as soon next week as you can. Capt. Skinner says he will write to his wife to stay where she is so you cannot wait for her. I was so sleepy last night that I could not write and now I will finish this morning.
We have just had breakfast. Dr. Selby & his son took breakfast with us. They want to board with us—perhaps will for the present. I slept cold last night on a hard board. But I shall try to do better hereafter. It seems that I left a good many things behind that I intended to bring such as letter paper, looking glass, saw, &c. I bought me a looking glass.
Then I forgot to say a great many things to you that I did not say. I wanted to say take care of your health. you know you are inclined to be a little careless in that respect. Do be careful. I wish you would put away my coats & vests that I left behind. Get things in the drawers and put away in various places all snug and safe so that they will not be scattered nor lost that we may have them when we want to go to housekeeping again. And I pledge you now that when I get through with this, I will never—unless in the strictest sense of duty—take a position that will separate us or tear us up in the world as we now are. You may write this down in your memorandum.
There is much talk and a strong probability of our being disbanded. Our officers fear it greatly—some of them, and some I guess don’t care much. I don’t, for one. If the regiment is not needed in war, I hope it will be disbanded. Keep for the present the money you have. Bring with you when you come one or two felt comforts after you get your trunk filled. Then have Hosford tie the comforts on the top. Bring your coarsest clothing and warmest, perhaps one nice dress, plenty of calico, and such as will bear the dirt and rub. Better get you a new calico frock. Get your shoes fixed, &c. &c. And come on.
You had better start from Monroeville on the morning train at 7 o’clock. Get you a ticket and get your baggage checked to Shelby Junction, not Shelby town. When at the junction, buy your ticket and get baggage checked to Camp Dennison. You will then come through safe without changing cars and I will meet you at the Depot here. By starting in the morning, you save the night travel and can see the country as you come.
You will have to wait a while at Shelby. Be sure and tell me what day you will come so that I can meet you. If I should not meet you, you would not know where to go. The Railroad runs directly through the camp. I have just been to see Capt. Skinner. He says he will send for his wife probably next week so that she can come the last of the week. Perhaps you had better wait until the last of the week. He is waiting for pay day. You had better come as soon as Friday of next week.
Well, you see my sheet is full and I must close. Keep good spirits and hope to meet soon. Sarah lives some 8 or 9 miles from Jason. Says tell you he is well and likes it first rate. I think though that he will get tired. Give my love to Mother and write soon as you receive this. Let us meet at the throne of grace often.
The following letter was written by Sergeant Plympton A. Mead (1835-1910) whose signature is barely legible at the end of the letter. Plympton mustered into Co. K, 111th Pennsylvania Infantry in late December 1861. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in January 1863 and a 1st Lieutenant in October 1864. On 5 June 1865, he was promoted to Captain of the company. He was wounded at Lookout Mountain and at Ringgold, Georgia.
Plympton was the son of Charles Mead (1806-1883) and Rebecca Legett (1810-1869) of Elk county, Pennsylvania.
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Co. K, 111th Pennsylvania Vol., Capt. Jonas J. Pierce Camp Sigel, Cedar Creek July 4th 1862
Dear Father and Mother,
As this is the Fourth of July and everything is quiet, I will drop a few lines to let you know that I am well and hope this will find you the same. It is a very fine day but it don’t seem much like the Fourth of July. It is just the same here today as it was yesterday. But we had a speech delivered by General Cooper. He spoke very well. They fired several guns but still I can’t have it seem like the Fourth of July. There is no place to go to and if there was, we couldn’t go. We cant leave camp. I would a given anything to have been in Ridgeway but I know it was impossible so I contented myself here. It is not calculated to have everything as we would like to so I take the time as they come and say nothing about it. I think this is the best way.
There is several of the Elk Co. boys sick but not very bad yet. I don’t think we have a very good surgeon in this regiment. Cas[tor] Maylin, Joseph Neiteriter, George Taylor, Orlando Campbell is in the hospital and [Israel] Gibson he is in the hospital at Frederick in Maryland, about forty miles from Harpers Ferry. Uriah Rodgers is nurse in the hospital at Winchester. James Harm is a going to get his discharge. The rest of the boys is all well at present.
We met with a man to day from Toby. I guess you are acquainted with him. It is Charley Simon.
You wanted I should tell you what I thought of our colonel. I think he is a first rate man but he has been promoted to Brigadier General—or at least he is acting. I am sorry he has left us but we are in his Brigade I believe Coope has command of this Division. The Boys don’t think much of him. I believe that is all the news for things are quiet in this valley. We haven’t seen any of the Johnnys here. [paper crease] They don’t think there is any around here. There is some talk that they are a going to recruiting for this regiment. I don’t know but that I can get a chance to recruit. If I can, I will come home. The captain wanted to know if I thought I could get some men in that country. I thought by that he had some notion of sending me back there. I heard the other night that Dick had deserted when he got his finger shot off. [paper crease] the other day that he had left….
I can’t think of anything more so I guess I will close this. Write often and let me know how you get along. My love to you all. Goodbye from your affectionate son, — Plympton A. Mead
The following letters were written by Edward Brierly (1831-Bef1884) of Newburgh, Orange county, New York, who enlisted at age 30 as a private in Co. C, 72nd New York Infantry, the 3rd Regiment of the Excelsior Brigade. The regiment was mustered into service at Camp Scott, Staten island, from June to Oct., 1861, for three years. It left there on July 24, 1861, for Washington, where it was joined by two of its companies late in October. After serving for a few months in the vicinity of Washington the regiment was assigned to Sickles’ Excelsior brigade, Hooker’s division, served along the Potomac in Maryland, near Stafford Court House, Va.
He was discharged for disability on 17 March 1862 at Camp Wool, Maryland.
Letter 1
Camp Marsh Washington D. C. August 4, 1861
My dear and loving wife,
I write these few lines to you for to let you know where I am and how I am stationed at present. I am in good health at present hoping that you and Margaret is in good health also. Thank God for it. We are within 1.5 miles of Washington but unless to see it from our camp, that is all. we can say or tell about as neither men nor officers can leave the camp.
My dear wife, we have pretty fair treatment with respect to our feeding with the exception of our loaf of bread and that is very small. But that is the Baker’s gains. My dear wife, I wish you would answer this as soon as you get it as the Captain and myself is anxious to know if you received pay on my certificate or let me know all concerning it. Give my love to Sandy Fisher and family an all enquiring friends hoping that they are all in good health. Keep up your spirit and good cheer.
I think we will be able to be home next March—that is, if I get through the trials of war all safe as I am sure it will be all over at that time one way or the other. We expect to be paid on the first of the month but we are told that we will be paid on the 10th but as to that, no one can say as there is men here that has got no pay for three months.
I made an enquiry after Mr. Bingham son of the Newburgh’s regt. but I can get no true information about him as we never can get out of the camp. But I. understand that they are stationed at Arlington Heights. But the Newburgh fellows fought well although getting a great cutting up at the Battle of Bulls Run. But the battle was lost not through the men but the officers got bewildered and did not know what they were doing. Nevertheless the men fought well and retreated with a very little loss considering all circumstances.
Give my love to all enquiring friends. David Farrell is in the same company with me and is made corporal. He sends his love to Jane and Margaret Brierly. I remain your affectionate husband, — Ed Brierly
Direct your letter to me, Co. C, 3rd Regt. Excelsior Brigade, Capt. Chadwick, Col. Nelson [Taylor], Commanding, Camp Marsh, Washington D. C.
Letter 2
Headquarters 3rd Regiment, Co. C Camp Caldwell August 28, 1861
My dear wife,
I take this opportunity of writing to you hoping that yourself and Margaret is in good health as this leaves me at present. Thank you for it. My dear wife, I have written a letter to you on the 15th of this month and I have received no answers which makes me very uneasy so answer this as soon as you can as we are under marching orders and cannot tell the moment that we will leave here.
My dear wife, we have received no pay as yet but we expect it on the first of next week and then I will be able for to send you some money. You have better let me know in your letter to me if you ever got my certificate of enlistment and if so, if you got any relief on it and all particulars about it as the Captain is returned from New York and I will see to it here for there is several men in the Company that lives in the country—some in Newark and others in Patterson—and their families gets the relief money. So send me all particulars about it and I shall see to it here.
Our treatment here is fair considering all circumstances but we will not be much longer until we will have a brush with the enemy. We are at present within 6 miles of some of their camps so we never can tell how soon we may meet. But if it is the will of God to guide me through, I am almost sure that I will be home next spring as the war can not hold longer nor that time for the South is really starving at this present time.
Give my love to Sandy Fisher, wife and family, and all inquiring friends. Write as soon as you get this as I am anxious for to hear from you and my next letter shall be a long one. Remember me to Ed Darcey and all the boys in the gass house and old Mrs. Murphy, God bless her. I will say no more at present but remain with sincere love to yourself and Margaret.
Your affect husband, — Edw. Brierly
P. S. Direct your letters to Edward Brierly, Camp Caldwell, 3 Regt. Co C, Colonel Taylor commanding
1000 kisses to yourself and Margaret. God bless and protect you until I shall see you again.
Letter 3
Camp Caldwell [Washington] D. C. September 16, 1861
Dear wife,
I received your kind letter of the 13th on the 16th which gives me great pleasure to hear that you are all well. I sent you 20 dollars on Saturday by Adam’s Express. You will let me know if you got it in your next letter. I hope you are all right with regard to the certificate. If you receive anything on it, I would like to know. I hope this will find you in good health as this leaves me at present, thanks be to God for His mercies to us.
It will be 6 weeks before I can send you any more for it will be that time before we receive any more pay. I wish to send you all I can. If it was in my power, I would send you a hundred. I will send 20 more then, please God. I now conclude for the present wishing you health and happiness. I remain your affectionate husband, — Edward Brierly
P. S. Direct as usual.
N. B. My best wishes and kind respect to all enquiring friends. We are under marching orders. I will send you more news in my next. Goodbye. God bless you, — Edward Brierly
Letter 4
Camp Caldwell October 10, 1861
My dear wife,
I write these few lines to you hoping that yourself and Margaret are in good health as this leaves me at present, thank God, for it my dear wife.
We are still here waiting for fresh orders nor is there any sign of any battle—no more than when we came here.
I am very glad to hear Mag likes her trade and let her be as good and attentive as she possibly can be and when I return with the blessing of God, I will be able to help Margaret for to get in business for herself.
The weather here is very changeable. Sometimes it is very cold considering it to be in a southern clime, but we have plenty of good clothes and our feeding is very fair considering camp life.
My dear wife, if you will send me a small box with a few pocket handkerchiefs and a few towels and I had a turn of the summer complaint [diarrhea] for two weeks and if you will send me a bottle of good brandy and a small bottle of laudanum as it is so hard for to get anything of the sort here. You cannot form any idea of camp life. In some cases it is very hard. You can direct it to me the same as my letters and send it by Adams Express.
Give my love to old Mr. Murphy and Edward Darcy and all enquiring friends and I hope as I said from the first letter I wrote to you that with the blessing of God, I will be home with you all again as this war cannot last long—about next spring. I will enclose this letter to you with my sincere love to yourself and Margaret. From your affectionate husband, — Edward Brierly
Direct your letter to me, Co. C, [ ] Colonel Taylor Commanding, Camp Caldwell, Washington, D. C.
Direct the box the same.
Letter 5
Camp Caldwell October 17th, 1861
Dear wife,
I received your letter of 14th and I am happy to hear that it leaves you in good health as it finds me at present, thanks be to God for His mercies to us.
I wrote on the 12th to you. The reason of my letter being so much delayed was we getting the [ ] and we were for four days that we expected to go into action every hour and did not have a chance to write or do anything for ourselves during that time. The reason of me sending for them articles is on account things not being comfortable in any way or we do not expect it much better while we are here. But then I do not want you to put yourself about in any way as I will get along the best I can as the times is so hard and I suppose times very hard. Pay day will soon come round and I will send you something that will help you along, please God soon.
I hear the 10th Legion is getting along very well. I wish I had of stayed with them as I was in them before I came here. I believe they are preferable to ours. If you have any message, you can send by some of their boys coming out here as they will likely to be near.
I think Margaret must be dead as you have not said a word about her in your letter. I hope she is learning her trade. Keep up your spirits, Margaret. There is a good time coming. Don’t let down your hair. We will get over all this, please God. I duppose you hear more about the war than we do for you have the news about before us.
I now conclude, My best respects to Mrs. Murphy and Edward Darcy and family and all enquiring friends. Answer this letter as soon as possible as we expect to go to Texas.
I remain your affectionate husband, — Edward Brierly
My love to you both and I hope the Lord will spare [us all] to be together again. Direct as usual.
Letter 6
Camp Baker Charles county, Maryland November 7th 1861
My dear wife,
It is now three weeks since I have had any letter from you. I have been expecting a letter by every post since we came here but have been invariably disappointed. I fear there must be something wrong with you or you would write. I have written twice since the receipt of yours, but have got no answer to either. I wish you would write immediately in receipt of this and let me know the street and number where you live as I expect to get paid in a few days and as the Government undertakes to forward the money I wish to send, it will be necessary for me to know where to direct it to.
We are at present encamped on the Lower Potomac about 35 miles from Washington. We have been in the vicinity of this place for the past three weeks. The enemy are strongly posted directly opposite to us and sometimes amuse themselves by throwing shot & shell over to our side and at vessels passing up and down the river, generally without effet. Sometimes our batteries on this side responds with better success as they knocked the wheelhouse of the rebel steamer George Page and forced her to run aground on the other side.
We have done no fighting yet but I do not know how soon we may be called on. We have plenty of men and materiel, and are ready to show them our front as soon as it is required.
Give my love to Mr. & Mrs. Darcy, Mrs. Murphy, and all enquiring friends. Hoping this will find you enjoying good health as it leaves me at present. I remain as ever your affectionate husband. My love to yourself & margaret. No more at present. From yours, — Edward Bryerly
When you write, direct this:
Edward Bryerly, Co. C, 3rd Regt. Excelsior Brigade, Washington D. C., Camp Baker, Maryland
Letter 7
Camp Wool Charles county, Maryland December 4, 1862
Dear Wife,
I write these few lines hoping to find you and Maggie enjoying good health as I do at present, thank God for his blessings to us. I received the box and everything was correct. Me and my comrade had quite a good night. We got a goose and with you your present we enjoyed ourselves first rate. Only we felt lonesome when we thought ourselves lonesome we were far away from you and Maggie. I wish to let you know that I have been made a mess cook of. Me and my comrade has to cook for 100 men so we do not have much time to spare. I am Company Cook and we have quite a busy time of it but it is very good to have it this cold weather.
We hear that we are going to become New York State Volunteers. If so, it will be good for us as we will have extra pay from the state. I hope it is true for if it is, I will be able to send you and Maggie a nice New Year’s present. We expect the pay master round next week. As soon as ever I can I will forward the money to you. Everything appears quiet here. We can hear very little about the war here—only the roar of the big guns. We can hear them every day.
There is a rumor going round the camp that we will be home again March or April. I hope and trust in God it may be true as I would wish it from my heart.
I now conclude for the present. I send you and Maggie my love and my blessing. May God protect you both. I send my best respects to Mr. and Mrs. Darey and family. Also Sandy Fisher and wife and family and Old Mrs. Murphy. I remain your affectionate husband, — Edward Brierly
Letter 8
Camp Wool January 1st 1862
This is to certify Edward Bryerly is a member of my company now at the seat of war and having a family consisting of a wife and one child depending on him for support we recommend them as worthy of relief from any committee appointed for such purpose.
— I[saac] L[ynden] Chadwick, Capt. Commanding Company C 3rd Regiment Excelsior Brigade
I certify that I. L. Chadwick is Captain in my regiment. — Col. Nelson Taylor, Commanding Regiment
Letter 9
Camp Wool January 26th 1862
Dear Wife,
I am happy to inform you that we have at last received our pay. We have been expecting it for the last ten days and almost thought the paymaster had forgotten us. However, it is alright now and I have sent you twenty dollars by Adams Express so it will come the same as the last.
Now as I have got that most important piece of news over, I must proceed. How de do. I hope you are well and enjoying good health which I sincerely hope you are. Thank God I feel pretty well myself roughing it out as I best can with plenty to eat and a good bed to lie on. I can’t complain much. Yet I must say if this war was over I would know how to enjoy the comforts of a home with you and my pet. I expect she is growing a big girl and also a good one, God bless her. Give her a kiss from old dad and tell her to mind thee and all will go well.
We are still at the same old spot and for anything I can see likely to remain here for some time. We are settled down in winter quarters and have very good huts built to keep us dry and warm.
The Rebels have batteries right opposite but too far off to do us any harm with their big guns. They amuse themselves every day by firing at the sloops sailing up and down the Potomac but I have never [seen] of them touching them with their shot yet. We are stationed here to keep them out of Maryland but they dare not cross as we are 10 to 15 thousand strong. they would get a pretty war reception.
I have nothing more to add but be sure and write me as soon as you receive the money so that my mind may be easy on that score. I enclose another certificate but if the other answers as well, you can keep it as it will do no harm if it does no good. Write me soon and God bless you all from your affectionate husband, — Edward Bryerly
P. S. Remember me to all my friends. You know what to say. — E. B.
Letter 10
Camp Wool February 5, 1862
Dear wife,
It is now over a week since I sent you home twenty dollars and have received no answer yet. If you have received it and sent an answer to me, all well. But if not, write me immediately for I am anxious to know whether it has gone all right or not.
I have but little news to send you. I am quite well working away as usual but there is not much drilling now on account of the muddy state of the country. You could scarcely walk a dozen yards out of camp without getting stuck in mud knee deep. Consequently we have to remain indoors and amuse ourselves as we best can.
Remember me kindly to all my old friends and when I get an answer from you I will write you more particularly. My love to Meg and self and believe me ever your loving husband, — Edward Bryerly
Letter 11
Philadelphia [Pennsylvania] July 27th 1862
Dear Wife,
I now take my pen in hand to address you these few lines hoping they may have the pleasure of finding you in the enjoyment of goos health as this leaves me the same at present. But I am indeed really sorry to inform you that if you want to see me, you will have to come to Philadelphia at the Green Tree Hotel, Front Street above Dock, and if you want any money, you will have to come for it as I don’t intend to ever come that road any more. And if you don’t wish to come, please to have the kindness to send me my discharge as I want it very much. But as for me going for soldier, I never will.
No more at present but remain yours, &c.
P. S. Answer this and direct to me care of I. Bradley, Green Tree Hotel, South Front Street, Philadelphia, PA.
From yours, — Edward Briley
Washington D. C. June 14, 1884
Sir,
In the claim No. 310035 of Jane Brierly, as widow of Edward Brierly, late of Co, F, 17th New York Vols., the records of the War Department show that the soldier deserted October 1863 and fail to show that he he has been discharged. No further action can be taken in this claim until the records of that Department are so amended as to show the fact of the soldier’s discharge from, or death in the service, for which purpose all communications should be addressed to the Adjutant General US Army. Very Respectfully, — W. W. Dudley, Commissioner
This Michigan home front letter was probably written by 18 year-old Matilda L. Brott who was the only “Matilda B.” in the 1860 US Census in Grattan, Kent county, Michigan, where she was employed as a “domestic” in the Joshua Howell household. She was married in May 1869 to George W. Fralick (1847-1876) who served in Co. B, 10th Michigan Cavalry during the Civil War.
Matilda wrote the letter to her former school teacher, Lt. Asa Walker Slayton (1830-1907), the son of Russell Slayton (1798-1863) and Bethena Clark (1803-1877) of Grattan. Asa served as a 2nd Lieutenant in Co. B, 25th Michigan Infantry.
Transcription
Addressed to Lieutenant Asa W. Slayton, Co. B, 25th Regt. Michigan Infantry, Camp Moore, Louisville[KY]
Grattan, [Michigan] October 22nd 1862
Far Distant though well remembered friend Asa,
With much pleasure I take this opportunity of intruding, if intrusion you would call it, upon the peace & quietude that you may be enjoying when you receive this, to let you know that I still remember those who have gone forth in that noble cause—the defense of our just & righteous government. And as you are far from home, I thought perhaps you might welcome this little message in friendship from a scholar. For that title I should prefer to all others. Although properly speaking I am not. But shall ever regard you as a Teacher and shall ever thank you for the instruction that I have received from you. And with this introduction, I will proceed.
We are all well at present and I sincerely hope that these few imperfect lines may find you enjoying the same blessing of health. I pity the poor soldier, far away from home who does not enjoy that blessing.
There is a great deal of excitement about the war around here at present. But not many enlisting now. Drafting commences in two weeks from today. I am afraid we shall see harder times when it comes to drafting than we have yet. But our country’s call must be obliged or it will not be long that we can call her Our Country. And I am glad that she has so many noble sons to send to its rescue. And I feel it an honor to call those my friends who have gone in her defense. And hope to be regarded as a friend by them.
Sometimes we hear news that encourages us & gives us some hope. And then again we hear very discouraging news. It seems very lonely in Grattan now. But the less there is left, the greater sacrifice we feel that we have made and feel proud of the representatives that she has sent forth to help quell this awful rebellion. And trusting in God, we believe that e’er long, we shall welcome them home again to our now lonely firesides and the dear homes they have left far behind with the many sacrifices they have made to obey their county’s loud call.
We know that it is hard to part with friends that we have spent the youthful part of our lives in our own quiet and peaceful homes with nothing to molest our happiness. But if our Government goes down, what is there that is not lost and gone with it? What more have we to hope for seeing all is gone? Our homes would be ours no longer to welcome you back to. I have often wished I might never live to see the agonies of my country begin. But now I only wish I were of more service to my country. And if my words of encouragement were any good, freely would I give them.
I feel that we all have an interest in the cause of Liberty. And who cannot feel interested in it. I think of you all very often. Those with whom I have passed many happy hours, yes and years of my girlhood. For we have been schoolmates together. But there is no choice. All must go. We cannot reserve those who we rather would stay. All must be separated for a while, perhaps forever. God only knows. And He that knoweth will preserve you all. The right must prosper and be victorious, and with this hope. I feel that we shall soon welcome you all back to our homes. I hope that this same feeling may encourage the soldier to persevere till the end may come.
I suppose I must say a few words about our schools around here and the scholars in general. John Goss is going to teach the school in Mr. Holmes’s district. Jenny B. is going to teach our school. I expect to teach the school in Bickford district if I get a certificate. I dread inspection day. But all our inspectors have gone to Dixie. I don’t now but we shall have to go without inspection this fall. I wish we had.
Clara & Frank are going to school this winter. Lodeska lives at Mr. Watkins. Will go to school north this winter. Rilla is going to school & Mary Gillitt is going home to the south part of the state. Our schools will be small around here this winter.
But as it is getting late and is the night previous to the departure of the mail and I shall have the letters all to mail yet, I will close with the few imperfect lines and not intrude upon the quietude you may be enjoying when you receive this. Think of us scholars often. So goodbye. Write soon and remember me at your writing desk. I remain as ever a friend. From a far distant but not unmindful although unworthy friend and well wisher, — Matilda B.
The following letter was written by Brooklyn born 18 year-old Zebulon P. Ryder (1841-1909) who enlisted in April 1861 as a private in Co. I of the 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry. He was the son of Christopher and Adeline Ryder. Zeb’s father worked as a Butcher in Brooklyn. Zeb must have lied about his age when he enlisted as he claimed to be 20 but census records tell us he was born in 1844-45. His younger brother Frank was born in 1848-49. Zeb survived the war and mustered out of the service on 16 May 1865.
Zeb’s letter was written from Suffolk, Virginia, in September 1862. He informs his mother that they were preparing for an attack at any time by a force with superior numbers but boasts that their Gray Horse Company—Company I—was dreaded so much by the Confederates that he didn’t think they’d come.
I received two letters from you last night—the first I received in a good while—and I was very glad to hear that you were well. You said you sent me letters before but I never got them and I suppose thy must be in the post office yet, The letters I got last night had 8.3 cent and 2.5 cents postage stamps in them and they came very handy. I got the box last Tuesday night and everything was all right—especially the bologna as I soon finished them. You said that you was glad that you thought it was hard for me to stay out here when all the boys went home but you thought wrong as there is nothing that suits me better than soldiering. And as for starving to death, you need not be alarmed about that as there is enough thrown away to keep two more companies besides ourself.
You said you would like to see me but not more than I would like to see you and all the rest of the family but there is a good time a coming yet so you must not worry about me. It would not do any good and it only makes you sick. And if I was home, you would not want me to stay home when I could do my country any good so take my advice and try and not worry about me. You say it always makes you feel so much better when you. hear from me. If I could write to you every day I would, but we don’t have much time to write now and if you should not hear from me for a week, you must not think strange as we are expecting to have a fight every day and they are a sending up troops from Washington by the thousands and we are ordered to hold the place at all hazards.
The infantry is busy cutting down the trees as they are a trying to clear a road through Dismal Swamp so as to let the artillery play on the Rebels if they try to out flank us as there is four roads for them to come on us. But if they know what is good for them, they will stay back as we will soon cut them to pieces. But we have got 15 thousand men and they have got about 30 thousand, but they are still coming up in the cars and we will soon have force enough to hold out against any number of men they can send against us.
They crossed the Black Water last night and was going to march down and make an attack on us and we was sent out to scout around the country and caught two of their pickets and when they heard that the Grey Horse Company was a coming, they turned back and went across the river again as they are in dread of our company because when we were over on the Peninsula, the farmers used to tell us that they heard them say they would never come down as long as the Grays was around and it must be so for 8 of us chased 25 of them over there and ran them down a steep hill and 4 of them fell into a hole that had been dug for a grave and it broke their necks and killed their horses.
But I must stop as I want to write to my grandmother 1 and Father so I must bid you goodbye. From your son, — Zebulon
Suffolk, September 21st 1862
Dear Brother Frank, I received your letter with my mothers and I was glad to hear that you was a getting along so well and that you was a going to school and I hope you will not play truant and that you will try and learn.
I got that knife and I thank you for sending it to me and I will send you a secesh button so as you can see the Virginia coat of arms. And I have got a dagger that I took from a man I caught when I was out on picket and I will send it to you when I get a chance. Write to me as soon as you can. From your brother, — Zebulon P. Ryder
1 The letter that Zebulon Ryder sent to his Grandmother on 21 September 1862 can be found in the digital archives of the Pamplin Historical Park. See 2015.002.081a.
Spared & Shared 23 