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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.
7th New York Heavy Artillery

1863-64: John W. Oliver to his Parents

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I could not find an image of John but here is one of Lucius Hagadorn who also served in the 7th New York Heavy Artillery (Photo Sleuth)

The following letters were written by John W. Oliver (1842-1895), the son of William Oliver (1815-1886) and Elizabeth Clute (1820-1888) of Union Church, Albany county, New York.

When he was 19 years old, John enlisted at Albany as private in Co. D, 113th New York Infantry on August 18, 1862, to serve three years. Before the end of 1862, the regiment had been reorganized as the 7th New York Heavy Artillery and garrisoned at Fort Kearney near Washington D. C. When the regiment was taken to the front and used as infantrymen in the spring of 1864, John was captured on June 16, 1864, at Petersburg, Va.; held at Andersonville prison for several months; paroled, December 6, 1864, at Charleston, S. C; returned to duty, April 5, 1865; promoted corporal, May 25, 1865; reduced, date not stated; mustered out with detachment June 16, 1865, at Fort Federal Hill, Baltimore, Md.

After the war, John married Mary E. Cady (1846-1881) and resided in Watervliet, Albany county, New York.

[Note: Three of the letters presented here are from the collection of Richard Weiner and were transcribed and published by express consent on Spared & Shared.]

Letter 1

Addressed to Mr. William Oliver, Union Church, Albany Co., New York

Fort Kearney
Tuesday, February 3rd 1863

Dear Parents and Brother,

I now take the opportunity to answer your letter that I received yesterday. It found us all well and I hope this will find you the same. I received your letter with the postage stamps. The one had six in it and this last letter had 3 in so it is all right.

You wanted Uncle Richard. Did you mean James’ father? He sent some smoking tobacco but if you can send me a pound of chewing tobacco, put it up and send it by mail. I have no tobacco or no money to buy it. We have not been paid yet and I don’t see as we are a going to get any pay. All the rest of the regiments in this brigade have been paid but us and I think they are afraid to pay us off for they think there is a god many that will skedaddle and run away after they get paid off. And they say we have not been mustered in the United States service. If it is so, there is a great many that won’t be mustered in the service adn I don’t know as there is any that will muster in.

You said you hoped we would stay at this place. I think we will stay here this winter at least and then perhaps we will go to North Carolina. That is the talk some around camp. I hope it will come to a close soon so that we can come home.

Oh, how is Uncle Coon’s folks getting along? I have not heard you say anything about them. And what is John Jo a doing? Is he home now? You must tell him I have not had an answer from the letter I sent to him yet.

Brother, you must write every week and I will answer it if I can. No more at this time. Give my respects to all. Tell Grammy that I am well and send my respects. Write soon as you get this. From your son and brother, — John W. Oliver

Letter 2

Fort Kearney
Sunday, February 22nd, 1863

Dear Parents and Brother,

I now take my pen in hand to inform you that we are all well and I hope this will find you the same. I received your letter in due time but have neglected to answer it until now.

James and me and Sergeant [Edward S.] Burbanks that is our 2nd Sergeant went down to Washington a Tuesday and it snowed all day but we went down with the stage as far as Georgetown. It cost 25 cents to ride down in the stage and 5 cents apiece to ride from Georgetown to Washington in the cars and ride right to the Capitol. We was all through the Capitol. It is splendid. It is worth going to see. The Albany Capitol is no beginning to it. It is all marble floors, steps, and all, and the gallery is all marble and pictures and images of all kinds most, and I think I saw Van Allen. Wasn’t he elected for Member of Assembly from Albany. And Corning’s name was called but I did not see him.

Well, we had a pretty good time [even] if it did snow, and we had a good dinner once. It was an oyster stew that was bully.

You wanted to know if we ever got the 7 dollars that I spoke about. No, we did not. We got the $2 hard money but the $5 we did not get nor I don’t expect we will get it. I do not know how much bounty money I did get. I spent nearly $20 before we left Albany and I had $50 paid to me after we came down here and I sent $25 of it home and kept the rest. And there is 18 dollars of my Allotment to the Chamberlin’s office for you to draw. We have been paid two months pay. Keep it all if it is enough to pay you what I owe you. If that is not enough, then take the rest out next pay day.

It is a snowing again today. There has fell about 6 or 8 inches of snow today. It does not look like the Sunny South today. There is too much snow.

Oh, tell Warren that he must come down and enlist or come down here and work. I think if ever I live to get home again and be free from a soldier again, I would come down here and live so well I like it. Did you get the picture I sent? My stamps are all gone. I will have to borrow one for this letter. Please write again soon. From your affectionate son, — John W. Oliver

Letter 3

[Note: The following letter was found in an antique store at Chickamauga, Georgia by Marilyn J, McCartney.]

Fort K[e]arney
Washington D. C.
June 25th 1863

Dear Parents,

I now take my pen in hand to inform you that I am well and I hope this will find you the same. I received your letter yesterday, June 24th, and was glad to hear from you. How does things go up North now? Have they got the corn all hoed up yet? They are a hoeing corn down here and some a drawing in hay. How is the grass this year up there? It is not much here. How is the bees getting along? Have they swarmed yet? And how many swarms did you winter?

How is my dog Rover? Pat him for me and tell him to be a good boy.

Robert, how do you get along drumming? Can you drum any tune yet? You ought to have your drum major to learn you. He is a bully drummer. We have as good a drum corps as is in the army. We have a bully little drummer in our company.

Mother, I suppose you will be home by the time this reaches its destination. I hope you have had a good time or visit rather. Did you go to Uncle John’s? What for a woman is she, do you think? I would think enough of her to call her Aunt. That is all. Tell Mrs. Cole that I answered her letter as soon as I got it. Did you get the papers I sent? No more at present. I remain your affectionate son, — John W. Oliver

To his parents.

Letter 4

Fort Kearney
Washington D. C.
February 24th 1864

Dear Parents,

I received your letter last week but have not had much time to write since until this morning. It found us all well and I hope this will find you all the same. I and James [Vanderbilt] was away Sunday all day down to Chain Bridge and Monday was Washington’s Birthday so we did not have any drill and we went down to the Potomac. We came home in time for dress parade and yesterday Corporal McCullic [McCollock], William J. Stalker and me went down to Washington after two of the boys that went off day before yesterday without permission and was not back yesterday morning when we started.

You spoke about writing two letters to my one. I have answered every letter you sent. Then you could not have got my one letter. And about Rachel Oliver, I sent the last letter to her. Oh, tell Rob I have not seen that picture yet. That one he sent was not the genuine article. Then they are all a selling out around there? Tell Father he must sell out and move to Albany or come down to New Jersey. I don’t intend to live up there anymore, if I had my discharge tomorrow.

Give my respects to all enquiring friends. No more at present. From your son, — John W. Oliver

Give the song to Robert. Cut it off.

7th New York Heavy Artillery

1862: James V. Vanderbilt to Relatives

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The following letter was written by 20 year-old James V. Vanderbilt of Co. D, 7th New York Heavy Artillery. James enlisted as a private in Co. D (originally the 113th New York Infantry) on 18 August 1862 to serve three years. At the time of his enlistment, his residence was given as Corymans, New York. He was described as a blue-eyed, dark-haired farmer who stood 5 foot 6 inches in height. He was promoted to corporal on 1 March 1863 and again to sergeant on 29 December 1863.

The letter was written from Ft. Kearny just outside Washington, D.C. during the early, passive phase of the regiment’s service, while they were part of the D. C. defensive ring. However, beginning mid-way through 1864, the unit was sent to the front as infantrymen and were heavily involved in battles, with much loss. James was killed in action on 3 June 1864 at the Battle of Cold Harbor, Virginia.

During the action on Petersburg on 16 June 1864, James’ cousin, John W. Oliver—who served with him in the regiment, was captured and sent to Andersonville prison, where he stayed until being paroled on 12/6/64. He is listed as having ‘returned’ to his unit on 4/8/65.

[Note: This letter is from the private collection of Richard Weiner and was transcribed ands published on Spared & Shared by express consent.]

7th New York Heavy Artillery (serving as infantry) preparing to leave the trenches and charge the Confederate line in Barlows charge near Cold Harbor Friday June 3rd, 1864, sketched by Alfred Waud.

Transcription

Fort Kearney
December 30th 1862

To Uncle & Aunt, Cousin, and Libbie too.

I now take the opportunity to write or scribble you a few lines. The reason why I have not written before was because [Cousin] John [Oliver] wrote for him & me too & I the same when I write home. But I am the feller that can do it and in a hurry too for I have to write many a one. Well, it is a good thing to have so many friends. We are all enjoying good health at present except John. He has a boil on his upper lip and it puts me in [mind] of some of those negroes down here and the reason he was not with Mr. Hayes & I building out house was because he was not well just thern. He had the ganders [jaundice]. But he is now well and at work. He did not have it but slightly.

He has been digging rifle pits & I have been washing and cleaning my gun. It takes us half our time or more to keep them in order as the Colonel wants them. This week we have all to go to headquarters on inspection and muster for our pay. Every two months [they] inspect all that Uncle Sam gave us. We have not been paid off yet and I cannot say for my part when we will get it. But never ind, good things come slow.

You spoke about that money John signed off. You cannot get it until we get paid here. When we get paid, we will let you know. Then go and try him. Some think it was a smart game but I think that it is alright.

We have our house done and are living like pigs in the clover and have bunks & floor and roof & window & stove. I tell you, we live good. Sometimes we have cabbage soup [or] stewed apples. If we only have money, we can live good as any of them. But we are close up for money. I never see a Christmas before but what I had 3 cents to my name. We did not have much Christmas but I hope we will have a better time—at least I hope so. You wished us a merry Christmas. Thank you. [We] wish you a merry one [too]. We wish you a happy new year.

We are now a Heavy Artillery [regiment] and the boys are all satisfied. We will not have to go in the field or have to march far at a time now. We will have to have other clothes. I have a new coat with red trimming. When you write, you must direct to the 7th New York Heavy Artillery, N. Y. S. Vol.,, Co. D, Washington D. C., Fort Kearney

From your nephew, — James V. Vanderbilt

Our respects to all enquiring friends. Goodbye. Remember us in your prayers. I hope to meet you all again if not in this world, in the world to come. Tell the rest to direct the same.

Fort Kearney as built by the 15th New Jersey Infantry in September 1862
6th Michigan Heavy Artillery, 6th Michigan Infantry

1864: Watson Asbury Cleveland to William Bryan Cleveland

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Watson Asbury Cleveland, 1863

The following letter was written by Watson Asbury Cleveland (1837-1915), the son of Josiah Douglas Cleveland (1792-1851) and Lucy Bryan (1794-1873) on Masonville, New York. He wrote the letter to his brother, William Bryan Cleveland (1820-1883).

Watson resided in Berrien county, Michigan, when he enlisted on 28 July 1861 as a private in Co. B, 6th Michigan Infantry. He mustered out of the regiment on 23 August 1864 at Kalamazoo, Michigan. At the time this letter was written in May 1864, during the Red River Campaign, the few remaining members of the original regiment (just 160 men and officers) were converted into the 6th Michigan Heavy Artillery and posted at Port Hudson, Louisiana. In June 1864, the regiment moved from Port Hudson to Morganza, Louisiana.

Watson was married to Jennie Atkinson of Sycamore, Illinois, in December 1867. They settled with other members of the religious sect known as the “Christophers” near Abilene, Kansas in 1872.

[Note: This letter was provided for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by Denise Hill, a descendant relative of the author.]

Transcription

Addressed to W. B. Cleveland, Postmaster, Frankfort, Will county, Illinois

Port Hudson [Louisiana]
May 6, 1864

Wm. B. Cleveland Esq.
My dear Brother,

As I have a few spare moments, I will write you a few lines. Everything is busy and excitement here today. The Regiment is under marching orders and expected to have left at eight o’clock, but it is now near noon and we have not left yet. The Hospital is to be broken up and the sick sent to the City. I shall join the company and take my gun. We are ordered first to Morganza Bend (a small place on the river near the mouth of Red River) where as I understand there to be an expedition fitted out to go up Red River commanded by [Brig.] General [Edward] Canby.

My health is quite good and I think that I shall be able to stand a jaunt as well as the best of them. Give my love to mother and the rest of the friends. Please write often and direct as before. Truly yours, — W. A. Cleveland

81st New York Infantry

1862: Franklin Darius Sizer to Julia A. Sizer

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Franklin D. Sizer, Co. I, 81st NYV

The following letter was written by Franklin Darius Sizer (1840-1862), the son of Luther Sizer (1798-1877) and Perlina Barnum (1802-1873) of Western, Oneida county, New York. Frank enlisted on 12 October 1861 to serve in Co. I, 81st New York Infantry. He died of disease on 29 December 1862 at Yorktown, Virginia.

He wrote the letter to his younger sister, Julia Ann Sizer (1842-1926).

Transcription

Co. I, 81st New York Volunteers
Camp near James River, Virginia
July 6th 1862

Dear Sister,

It is with pleasure I hasten to answer your letter which I received last night. I was glad to hear from you. The mail is a going out at noon today, the first chance I have had in four or five days to send a letter. We have been on the march for a week or so. I am well & I hope that these few lines will find you enjoying the same blessing. I have not had a letter from any of you before since the last of May some time.

We are within about a half a mile of the James River. It is a very pleasant place here. We are in the woods. The whole of the Army of the Potomac is stationed within four or five miles around here. I have seen the whole of the Army of the Potomac. They would cover a parcel of ground ten miles square, I should think. We have got marching orders & I must wind up pretty quick.

We celebrated the 4th of July here. They fired a salute at twelve o’clock and about four o’clock. General McClellan and his staff & bodyguards passed through the camps on the 4th. His guards numbers 100 cavalry. The bands was out a playing all over where they had any. Our men has got siege guns about 12 feet long here.

Mother wanted to know if I lost my bible or not. I did but I found two more old ones. I sent that money to George Barnard of Rome—the same man I sent to before. I hear the mail has gone out this morning & I shall have to wait till tomorrow so I can lengthen my letter a little more.

They have just detailed 200 men out of this brigade to so some chopping. I think there has been a thousand acres of woods chopped off in the whole. They have done it to give the artillery a chance to work.

We are a going to be paid again by the 15th of this month. We are a going to sign the pay rolls today or tomorrow. Ma wanted to know if I heard any preaching. I have not heard any in a month or over a month. No one knows where he is as I know of.

If you want to see the picture of the battle we was in, I suppose they have got them in Frank Leslie’s paper of June some time. You will find them in the book store in Rome somewhere. I have the picture of the Battle of Fair Oaks. That was the battle on Sunday of June the 1st. We was in the battle of the Seven Pines. That was on Saturday, 31st of May. I have heard that the Boonville Regiment [Third Oneida] has been battle in North Carolina & Colonel [Charles] Wheelock was killed & they charged on the rebels and got his body.

I would like to have you send me the Rome Sentinel or some others of the Rome papers. We don’t see any papers—only as the boys get them from home. I would like to have you send some postage stamps the most of anything. They cannot hardly be got for love or money. I think I shall send my money to the same man this time that I have before. I have [written all] I can think of pretty much. Write how you celebrated the 4th this year & all the rest of the news, how Old Doll & Mink looks. My love to all enquiring friends. Write soon. Goodbye. This from your brother, — Franklin D. Sizer

To Julia A. Sizer

1st new York Light artillery

1862: Battery F, 1st New York Artillery

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The following testimonial of appreciation by the privates and non-commissioned officers of Battery F. 1st New York (Light) Artillery (a. k. a. Morgan’s Light Artillery) was tendered to Assistant Surgeon Daniel [Dane] Pardee who served the battery for a couple of months in the fall of 1862.

Battery F, Capt. W. R. Wilson, was recruited at Oswego, Southport and Elmira and there mustered into the U. S. service on Sept. 14, 1861. In Oct., 1863, some of its members were transferred to the 2nd regiment of artillery. It was chiefly employed in garrison duty, being stationed at Washington during the winter of 1861-2, and the remainder of 1862 was with Franklin’s division, 1st corps, and the 1st division, 6th corps. It was at the White House in June, 1862, and at Yorktown, in the 4th corps, from July, 1862, to July, 1863. The remainder of its term it was stationed in the Department of Washington with the 22nd corps. It was mustered out under Capt. Wilson, June 17, 1865, at Elmira. It had no casualties in action, but lost during service 14 men who died of disease and other causes.

Transcription

Camp of Battery F, 1st New York Artillery
Yorktown, Va.
October 30th 1862

The undersigned non-commissioned officers and privates of the above command desire to express to Doctor Daniel Pardee their respect and regret for the necessity which takes him from them. Coming to the battery an entire stranger, the ready sympathy for, and skill with which he administered to them in a season of unusual sickness, have won for him their gratitude and lasting esteem: and they only regret their disability to offer a more worthy testimonial. Wishing you, Doctor, a pleasant journey home, and success in all the years before you, they have the honor to remain—

Pvt. William W. Bixby, Battery F. 1st New York Light Artillery

E. P. Newkirk, 1st Sergt.
Newell Leonard, QM Sgt.
Daniel Pierce, Sgt.
L. S. Fillmore
J. K. Weeks
Joseph W. Adle
Corp. G. W. Young
Corp. G. E. Ketchum
Corp. Wm. Young
etc.

123rd New York Infantry

1864: George Robinson to Elizabeth (Wright) Robinson

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Lt. George Robinson, 123rd NYV

The following letter was written by George Robinson (1829-1885) who enlisted at the age of 31 as a 1st Sergeant in Co. A, 123rd New York Infantry. He was promoted to a 2nd Lieutenant on 4 September 1862 and to a 1st Lieutenant on 18 July 1863. He mustered out of the regiment as Captain (by Brevet) of Company A on 13 March 1865.

George wrote the letter to his wife, Elizabeth (Wright) Robinson (1838-1912). The couple lived in Greenwich, Washington county, New York. After the war, George worked in the Coal industry.

Transcription

Headquarters
McMinnville RR Branch [Tennessee]
[March] 25th 1864

My Dear Wife,

I seat myself this evening to write a few lines to you to let you know that I am well as usual. I have not had a letter from you in a number of days. I received a letter with some postage stamps a few days ago but I don’t know but I told you about it in my last. I was to Tullahoma yesterday and came back this morning. I was there to draw rations for the detachment which is in my charge since Lieut. Warren left to go home.

There is nothing new here now and no prospect of any as I know of. The guerrillas have not disturbed us yet although they have been all around us more or less. This morning when we left Tullahoma, the pickets told us that that there were Rebels between there and the water tank about four or five miles out, so we kept a sharp lookout for them but we did not see any, so we got down without any disturbance. The prospect is that we shall not go to the front this spring and perhaps not this summer but will stay on some RR to guard. I think we will not stay where we are now but will have some other road for our division.

I have sent a letter to the village paper with a list of our absentees to be published to have them report at once to the company or send their excuse, showing by what authority they are away. There are quite a number of men that have been absent since the Chancellorsville and Gettysburg fights—some with slight wounds and others with severe ones, and they are having a nice time at some convalescent camp and are playing off, claiming their pay regular, and doing nothing in return while others are probably disabled and will never be back. I am determined to get the dead beats back if there is any such thing. If you hear anything about any of them anywhere laying off, let me know and I will take measures to bring them back. I have heard that Caleb Tefft was in New York and I don’t know what he is doing there and I would like to know for certain if he is there. If I knew your father was there now I would write to him and find out but I don’t know whether he is there or not. I wish you would write to your Father if he is there and find out about him and let me know.

Well, I must stop for this time hoping to hear from you soon and often. Give my love to all, and a big lot to yourself. Your loving husband, —George Robinson

Antebellum Mississippi

1851: William N. Peers to Judith F. Peers

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Like his dreams for Cuban statehood, William’s headstone lies shattered in Yazoo County, MS

The following letter was written by William N. Alexander Peers, the son of Thomas Peers Jr. and Elly Parsons, both of whom were also from Louisa, Virginia. He married Sarah Ann Sturdivant about 1838 in Mechanicsburg, Yazoo County, Mississippi. They had four children born to their marriage. Sarah Ann died at the birth of their last child, William Henry Peers, born about 1815, Louisa, Louisa, Virginia. William died on 20 November 1855, Yazoo, Mississippi. William was a planter in Yazoo county and of course owned many slaves.

In his letter, datelined from Yazoo county in August 1851, William informs his sister that “our country is under some excitement now about the great slave question but I hope it will be settled in a way which may add honor and strength to all. I am anxiously waiting for the time to roll around when we can make one more stripe out of Cuba and then I am bound for her shores, as a place where I should like to live & die.” Of course William is referring to the agitation of the slavery question brought on by the admission of more states into the Union which resulted in the Compromise of 1850, temporarily suspending threats of secession. Plantation owners were particularly optimistic and enchanted with the idea of acquiring Cuba from Spain and making it a new state in the Union. Hopes for wrestling Cuba from Spains’s control by the Lopez Expedition were soon dashed when Lopez was taken prisoner and garroted not long after this letter was penned.

Transcription

Yazoo County, Mississippi
9th August 1851

Dear Sister,

I have to ask pardon for not writing to you before this time. I have no reasonable excuse to make for so doing for I have spent many an hour which might have been used in doing what I now have resolved to do. But for the future I shall try to write you often and shall expect you to do the same. I have just received a letter from Mary dated 7th July which gave information of the ill health of Aunt Judeth. I hope ere this reaches you, she may be restored.

Our county has been extremely warm and very dry this year but until lately, unusual good health. Now we have sickness in every direction and many deaths. The bloody flux seems to be the great cause of disease and death. On last week I had an attack of fever, but by using the Lobelier tea freely—with other assistance of the steam [ ] and full reliance on my God, the fever fled and I am up and eat my three meals per day, and between times a small share of watermelons, figs, peaches, apples, &c. &c. My wife is just now up & about from a severe spell of sickness. Our summer season is getting to be our best time for health, and the fall and winter is getting to be very sick & is now more dreaded than summer ever was.

Many of our fashionable folks who have been in the habit of visiting the celebrated watering places during the summer months have made a sudden stop, and resort to our own watering places, and fishing shores for health and amusement. Upon the whole, in thinking about my old place of residence in Virginia in regard of health, I have come to the conclusion that Mississippi is far more preferable for health than Virginia. I should think I was risking a great deal if I were to undertake to live in Virginia one half year. The cotton crop in our country is not good owing to the great drought. Corn in only middling.

Our country is under some excitement now about the great slave question but I hope it will be settled in a way which may add honor and strength to all. I am anxiously waiting for the time to roll around when we can make one more stripe out of Cuba and then I am bound for her shores, as a place where I should like to live & die. I could write you a great deal about the changes of our people & country if you were acquainted but as you are not, it would not interest you.

James is in fine health. Melissa I have not heard a word from for 3 or 4 months or thereabouts. But I take it for granted they are all well or I should have been informed of the fact if otherwise. Write often and plenty of it. My love to all my old friends. Tell them to write to me. I should be pleased to see a line from one and all. Adieu my sister, — Wm. N. Peers

19th Connecticut Infantry, 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery

1862: Theodore Frelinghuysen Vaill to a Friend

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1st Lieutenant & Adjutant Theodore F. Vaill

In 1868, Theodore Frelinghuysen Vaill (1832-1875) published the regimental history of the 2nd Connecticut Volunteer Heavy Artillery which was originally organized as the 19th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. He served with the regiment as a private from 1862 to September 1863 when he was made a sergeant. He was promoted in March 1864 to 1st Lieutenant as Adjutant. He was mustered out of service on 18 August 1865 at Fort Ethan Allen in Washington D. C.

Theodore was the son of Rev. Herman Landon Vaill (1794-1870) and Flora Gold (1799-1883) of Litchfield, Connecticut. His siblings included Catharine Harriet Gold Vaill (1824-1898), Charles Benjamin Vaill (1826-1881), Elizabeth Sedgwick Vaill (1828-1909), Abbie Everest Vaill (1829-1897), George Lyman Vaill (1831-1833), Sarah Hopkins Vaill (1834-1862), Clarissa Champlin Vaill (b. 1836), Joseph Herman Vaill (1837-1915), Julia Maria Vaill (1839-1912), and Mary Woolsey Vaill (1842-1871).

Theodore was an 1858 graduate of Union College. He married Alice Mercy Dudley (1842-1920) after the war, published the afore-mentioned regimental history, and served as the editor of the Winsted Herald until his premature death in 1875 at the age of 43. He is buried in the Winsted Old Burying Ground in Winsted, Litchfield county, Connecticut.

Theodore was wounded in the fighting at Fort Fisher—a mere flesh wound in the left hip by a “cast iron ball from spherical case shot.”

“The map on the first page, please present with my regards to your sister [ ]. I have marked the position of our cap with a black dot.”

Transcription

Camp near Alexandria [Virginia]
Saturday evening, October 11th 1862

My dear friend William,

I received a letter from you some time ago but have failed to reply before this because I was expecting & hoping to see you down here very soon. But the Rev. Mr. Wainwright & Ed Sedgwick came without you and I have heard from them & in other ways that you were not well enough to come and probably would not be well enough to come in some time. I am sorry it is so, but still, if you are not perfectly well you ought by no means to come. Our company are all well and the regiment is so far a healthy regiment—no one having died. No one being discharged sick so far as I know.

Our camp is laid out very much like Camp Dutton, except that we have twice as many tents, with five men in each. The “Happy Family” is, of course, divided—Mason, Hinsdale, Buel, Jones & Hempstead occupying one tent, & Osborn, Stone, Adams & myself another. We saved a place for you until a day or two ago, when Robert Watt was put in with us. He is a very decent fellow, but if you should ever come he would have to go out.

We are doing picket & patrol duty in Alexandria at present. It takes about 400 of us each day—200 going in the morning and 200 at night. If you were here you would get some idea of the number of soldiers engaged in putting down rebellion. Nothing but tents, tents, tents for miles on every side of us. It is said that there are 100,000 Union soldiers within 12 miles & I presume it may be true.

As for war news, we do not know half about it as we did when we were at home. We can see the dome of the capitol from our camp & the head & heart of the Government are within cannon shot of us. But it is a great mistake to suppose that soldiers have as good means of being posted upon the condition of affairs as other people. The opinion of a soldier or even of an officer, upon the war, the [Emancipation] Proclamation, the management of the army, or any of these questions, isn’t worth half so much as your brother Charley’s opinion. They drill & scour their brass & clean their guns, but they are all prisoners & have as much difficulty in coming at a just conclusion in matters of public interest as the prisoners in Litchfield Jail would have.

Sunday, Oct. 12th The mosquitoes have eaten us almost up every night until last night when the weather changed, & today it is cool and raw—like October in Connecticut. We have a great deal to do & have less time to write letters than you imagine. I had a letter from Joe last night. He had reached his regiment & found Ed & Seth & the rest of them quite well. But our dear George he found not! He has fought his fight and his victory is forever won. If I were a school boy again and were speaking “Stand the ground” I should feel the meaning of those words. But oh! where can dust to dust be consigned so well, as where Heaven its dews shall shed, on the martyred Patriots bed, and the rocks shall raise their head of his deeds to tell!”

My dear sister Sarah, too, has gone to her rest. When I consider all she has suffered and how meekly she endured unto the end, and how she has gone through death into enduring life. I’m not sorry—except for myself. For “they shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more—for the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them and shall lead them unto living fountains of water and God shall wipe away tears from their eyes.”

Please write to me again soon & tell all recent news and I will reply, as soon as possible. I suppose the 19th will stay here for some time & probably stay near Harper’s Ferry for the present. Give my love to all the friends & believe me every your friend, — Theodore F. Vaill

P.S. “Good” sends his love & says don’t come till you are well. Wright sends love & all the boys ditto Our tents are of this shape, & we sleep in this way.(Sketch follows)

Mexican War

1847: Alfred Norman Proctor to Albert Edgel Proctor

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The following letter was written by 24 year-old Alfred Norman Proctor (1822-1901), the son of Nicholson Broughton Proctor (1788-1866) and Lucy Bond (1788-1837) of Essex county, Massachusetts. He wrote the letter to his brother Albert Edgel Proctor (b. 1824).

Alfred was working in the US Naval Yard in Charleston under the direction of the yard’s blacksmith in the Spring of 1847 when he embarked on a journey to Mexico to meet up with the Massachusetts regiment at Matamoras only to arrive there and discover that they had left for Monterey. He decided to follow after them but became seriously ill and so returned to the States. He returned to New Orleans and eventually took a job as a Civil Engineer at the Navy Yard in that city.

This interesting letter was written while Alfred was enroute to Mexico. He describes the processions honoring returning veterans of the War with Mexico which was rapidly drawing to a close—including a description of the funeral procession transporting the bodies of Col. William McKee and Lt. Col. Henry Clay, Jr. from the army to the steamer to be transported home. Both were killed in the Battle of Buena Vista almost four months earlier. The detailed descriptions of the uniforms of Col. Doniphan’s Missourians is priceless.

Alfred’s service record during the Civil War can be found on Find A Grave at Col. Alfred Norman Proctor.

Transcription

New Orleans, [Louisiana]
June 18, 1847

Dear Brother,

I suppose by this time that you have received my last and are anxiously looking for another. I left Pensacola on the 9th for a short pleasure trip, &c., and arrived here on the 11th in good health. I had a very hard ride for about 60 miles on the way—that is, from Pensacola to Mobile in the stage. The road was very rough indeed. I left Pensacola at half past 4 p.m. and arrived at Mobile at 11 on the next day, kinder tired out. I tried my best to get some sleep but could not. The way the coach jumped was a caution to Davy Crockett and it was a tight match to keep on my seat some of the time. The whole distance was through the woods.

But as to my visit here, I suppose you would like to know about it. I will not disguise it. I never did nor never will disguise except it be actually necessary. I think of visiting Mexico to see what the soil is made of and see how they look and so on. I expect to leave for the Brazos tomorrow or the day after. I don’t know how long I shall stop there, but probably but a few days. I wish you to write immediately on the receipt of this to Metamoras. I want you to direct. Don’t fill your letter up with humbug and soft soap, but write the news of the day about the Hancock, &c. It will do no good—only fill up the sheet. If I can get employment at that place for $80 or $90 per month, I shall stop. If not, go on. I shall keep you informed.

They are having great times here—processions, &c., &c. The day before I arrived here they had a great reception of the Mississippi Regiment. And the day after I arrived, there was a great procession in honor of the gallant Feud. I saw the coffins that contained the bodies of the Gallant Colonel’s [Henry] Clay [Jr.] & [William R.] McKee & three others. They were drawn on common carriages and were covered with beautiful velvet palls with silver fringe & characters. It was a mournful sight, I can assure you. Every face was downcast. The poor volunteers looked sorrowful enough. The remains were taken on board the boat and they—the living and the dead—left for their homes together. 1

I was on board of the Massachusetts steamer today. There are a number of sick on board of her too weak to be removed. They are from Vera Cruz. I would not go there for anything at the present time. i saw two that died last night & spoke with one that will die before night. I think they are all emaciated from diarrhea. I believe 5 or 6 have died since she arrived. They were laying on the deck with their clothes on with their faces covered with a jacket thrown over & the well men were running about. them as if they were alive. They laid as they died in different parts of the ship.

A Missouri Mounted Volunteer from Doniphan’s expedition

It is getting rather sickly here. 120 died last week but I thank God that I am well as yet & hope & pray that I may still be preserved. I saw among the wounded that arrived last week one poor Lieutenant of the Mississippi Regiment that lost his leg at Monterey; another, a Colonel of the same regiment, lost two of his fingers & was wounded in the hip. I could not help pitying them although they were in excellent good spirits. Col. [Alexander W.] Doniphan’s Regiment arrived yesterday. They are a fine looking set of men—strong and healthy. They have hard looking clothes. Some of them are made of buff leather entirely and without a stitch of thread or a button on them but made together by a twinning, so called, which are pieces of sinew. It is tied together so to look like a fringe at every seam. Others had on velvet pants lined on the inside with buff so that they would not wear against the saddle. Their hair hangs down almost to their waists. I saw a great many trophies which were taken from the Mexicans—cannons, blunderbusses—saddles—blankets, &c. &c. &c.

I met last Saturday with Charles Blodget from Boston. We met in the street—he knew me; I did not him. He has been through the Lakes & come down the [Mississippi] River last Friday. Both arrived on the same day. His health is much better. He thinks of stopping here somewhere in the South. He is fatted up considerably. He sends his respects. I have had a very bad cold for the last two weeks on my lungs but hope to get well soon. I have no more news at present. Your affectionate brother — Alfred N. Proctor

I left my trunk & $77.50 in care of a responsible man—Mr. James Wright at the Navy Yard. I have no thought of joining the regiment but go to fulfill my promises to them to meet them there. It makes me feel mad to think that I am so tied up by bloody relatives that I cannot do as I think best.

1 The Daily Picayune of Sunday, 13 June 1847 reported that “the remains of Col. McKee, Lieut. Col. Clay, Adjutant Vaughan, Capt. Willis and Private Trotter, of the 2d Kentucky Regiment, who fell at Buena Vista, were yesterday escorted by the Orleans Battalion of Artillery, the staff of the Legion, the commanders of the military corps and a large concourse of citizens, from the Arsenal to the steamer Ringgold. The funeral cortege moved from the Place d’Armes at 4 o’clock, and passed through Chartres Canal and St. Charles streets to Poydras street down which it marched to the Levee. All the vessels in the river carried their flags at half mast during the day, and minute guns were fired whilst the procession was in motion…The bodies were carried upon cannon carriages covered with black velvet and appropriate emblems of mourning…As the solemn pageant passed through our streets, many a sigh was heaved for the brave spirits whose mouldering dust is all that is left of them on earth, except the memories of their virtues and their gallant deeds—many a tear was shed for the hearths made desolate by the chances of war. The bodies were deposited in the Ringgold at 6 o’clock and at 7 she dropped down to the Place d’Arms where a salute was fired…”

7th Ohio Infantry, Battle of Chancellorsville, Battle of Fredericksburg

1863: Arthur Tappan Wilcox to Lucien Henry Wilcox

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The following two letters were written by Arthur (“Art”) Tappan Wilcox (1834-1902), the son of Capt. Franklin Wilcox (1797-1867) and Julia Ann Wilcox (1802-1859) of Lorain county, Ohio. He wrote the letter to his older brother, Lucien (“Lute”) Henry Wilcox (1830-1880).

Arthur Tappan Wilcox

Art was living in Sandusky, Ohio, at the time of the 1860 US Census. In 1861 he graduated from the law school at the University of Michigan and married Julia Morehouse soon after. That same year he enlisted into military service and was elected 2nd Lieutenant of the 7th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI), Co. E. He was promoted to Captain of Co. D for bravery and meritorious service. He participated in these battles: Cross Lanes, Virginia, where he was captured by the enemy and confined to various prisons; Dumfries, Virginia; Chancellorsville, Virginia; Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, Tennessee; and several battles in the state of Georgia. He mustered out of the 7th OVI on July 6, 1864. Soon, he reenlisted and became Colonel of the 177th OVI. On June 24, 1865, Colonel Wilcox was mustered out with regiment at Greensboro, North Carolina.

After the war was over, Wilcox resumed his work as a civil engineer. He worked on the construction of railroads, including the Union Pacific and the Canada Southern. A publication of the University of Michigan Alumni Association reports that Arthur Tappan Wilcox contracted yellow fever while working on bridges in Central America. He died of the disease at Port Limon, Costa Rica, on October 24, 1902. A biographical sketch of Arthur T. Wilcox which appeared in the book Itinerary of the Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, 1861-1864 closed with this statement about Colonel Wilcox: “He was a zealous officer and a brave man.” [Source: Sandusky History]

[Note: These letters are from the private collection of Brent Reidenbach and were transcribed and published on Spared & Shared by express consent.]

Letter 1

Camp Dumfries, Virginia
January 7th 1863

Dear Lute,

I have a little matter of business I wish you would attend to for me as I suppose you can do so easier than Mr. Wilbor. I wrote to him soon after sending my money to send $161.25 to Mr. Ralph Plumb of Oberlin for Capt. Shurtleff. Today I had a letter from Capt. Shurtleff saying that he had been advised by Mr. Samuel Plumb that the money had never been received. I ought to have directed the money sent to Samuel Plumb but still that should make no difference as all packages coming to Ralph Plumb are opened by him. They are brothers but Ralph is away in the army somewhere. Shurtleff’s solution is this—“The express agent at Oberlin is an old scamp & has probably stolen it.”

Mr. Wilbor has undoubtedly a receipt from the Express Co. & I wish you would get it and look into the matter. The sum is rather too large to lose—especially when it costs so much to live as it does here in the army. If necessary, go down to Oberlin & see Mr. Plumb and I will pay expenses.

We are still lying here quietly & I hope may remain so. The weather yesterday was decidedly rainy looking but has cleared off cold and we are feeling quite a touch of winter. Ed wrote to me sometime to try & get Gen. [Orlando B.] Willcox’s endorsement to a recommendation for his promotion. I wrote to Shurtleff & he says Gen. Willcox endorsed it without hesitation so you can tell him when you write to him.

Capt. Giles Waldo Shurtleff, Co. C, 7th OVI (OberlinCollege Archives)

Shurtleff thinks they had a warm time at Fredericksburg but says the horror of the fight was nothing compared to the suspense of lying with 50,000 men two days in Fredericksburg directly under the rebel guns, before recrossing, & he cannot conceive why the rebels allowed them to remain undisturbed.

We hear today that Rosecrans has gained a victory & taken Murfreesboro. Heaven grant it may be true. Also that our people are gaining ground at Vicksburg with every prospect of success. May that be true too. We need something to make amends for our want of success in Virginia.

Write to me, you and all the rest. So long as we are quiet you will hear from me quite often. There is a prospect of our staying here some time, unless the Confeds “come down on us” and make us “light out” which would be very uncivil on their part. But still, good as the prospect is of remaining, it don’t need more than half a dozen words from Headquarters to spoil all our great calculations.

I don’t reckon any of us will be sorry when the US brand wears out of our skins. It will be sort of pleasant to own one’s self again, if the property isn’t very valuable.

I must close up. Goodbye. Love to your wife and mine, Lottie and Father and the rest. Remember me to Capt. and Mrs. Parrish. Yours truly, — Art. T.

Letter 2

Camp near Aquia Landing, Virginia
Friday, May 15th 1863

Dear people at home,

George is writing to Clara, & I will put in a line to you though It can be nothing more, as it is already nearly meal time. I should have written again before this, but have been detailed on a Court of Inquiry nearly all the week, to examine into the conduct of a New York Officer charged with cowardice at Chancellorsville. It was a mixed up mess & we only got through last night.

We are all getting rested up & fel in good spirits, despite the non success of our movement south of the Rappahannock. I shouldn’t wonder if Gen. Joe [Hooker] is sorry he didn’t stay the other side of the river—especially since Stoneman’s report has come in. I can’t help thinking that we might have hung on a day or two longer & possibly given the story a better ending, though I will admit that individually, I felt more comfortable on the north side of the river. Our wounded have been mostly brought this side of the river. Our missing boys are not yet accounted for altogether. One of them, Sergt. Allen, we hear from some of the wounded who were paroled, was sent to Richmond as a prisoner, unhurt. The other, Brayton B. Williams, 1 I can hear nothing of.

Lee Raymond is in Ward I, Armory Square Hospital, Washington D. C. Please inform his mother. [Henry T.] Benton 2 is in some hospital there but I have not heard from him.

George says the money I sent got through safe. Write to me somebody. The mail is ready & I must stop. Love to all, — Art

1 Brayton B. Williams was taken prisoner at Chancellorsville on 3 May 1863 and returned to duty in mid November.

2 Henry T. Benton was wounded in the left knee at Chancellorsville on 3 May 1863 and discharged for disability on 7 March 1864.