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.
The following letter was written by Jared E. Gates (1832-1911) of Salem, Columbiana county, Ohio. In the 1860 US Census, 28 year-old Jared was the oldest of several siblings by that name living in the Salem household of 48 year-old Lydia Minsor. Ohio Marriage records inform us that Lydia Gates married, William Henry Minsor in 1845—presumably her second marriage. At that time, Jared was employed as a “confectioner.”
Jared was one of the first to join Co. C, 11th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI) and was mustered in on 1 July 1861. He mustered out three years later on 21 June 1864. Jared must have been home on furlough in January 1863 for it was on 9 January 1863 that he and Esther (“Hetty”) W. Hart (1834-1915) were married in Columbiana county. Jared lived his last thirty years in McKean county, Pennsylvania.
Transcription
Chattanooga Tennessee January 27th 1864
Mrs. E. W. Gates,
Dear Hetty, I am well and trust this may find you also well. Have had no letter from you [for] some days past but likely I may hear from you next mail. I have sent 2 letters a week for a while back. There is very fine weather here at present but news are scarce. Everything remains quiet at this post. The railroad to Knoxville is being pushed to an early completion. Deserters still continue to pour in. There is every prospect of an early and vigorous campaign in front of this line—that is, I mean the line of the Tennessee. It may be that the storm will burst forth at Knoxville. The Rebels are evidently about to make a desperate effort to retrieve their fortunes in this section of the country and Uncle Sam is making preparations to receive them in a style becoming their chivalry and prestige.
The weather is very warm—so warm today that a blouse feels uncomfortable. I am in hopes that before it gets very hot we shall be on our way north. Our time is said to be out April 20th. If so, we shall be just in time to escape the hot season. Will finish this tomorrow. In the meantime, there might arrive a letter (for the undersigned) with news from home.
Well the night has passed pleasantly away. The train from Nashville came in just after retreat but it brought no letter for J. E. G. There is no news. Some ladies (southward bound) were searched at the Provost Marshal’s the other day. Various contraband articles were brought to light among which were some 30 revolvers nicely concealed in a bed tick. These ladies were sent on their way to Dixie with a lighter load than they had intended to take. They were the hardest set of women I ever saw.
Well, I will have to close this important letter for want of something to say—that is, something that would interest you. The days are all alike here. What is done today, will be done every day this summer. But I must close hoping soon to hear from you. I remain your loving husband.
Respects to all, — J. E. Gates
Who it may concern and who still remember—J. E. Gates
Send some paper and envelopes by mail if you please and I oblige, Jared E. Gates, Co. C, 11th O. V. I., Chattanooga, Tennessee
1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 14th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland
Though unsigned, the following appears to be Col. Gilman Marston’s after action report chronicling the movements of the 2nd New Hampshire Regiment in the days leading up to and including the Battle of Second Manassas. The report also includes an appendix listing all of the known casualties of the regiment broken down by company and notes individual acts of courage.
For a good synopsis of the role played by the 2nd New Hampshire in the 2nd Battle of Manassas, readers are referred to the excellent article by William E. Welsh entitled “Grover’s Savage Attack at the Battle of Second Manassas” published on the Warfare History Network.
The image in the banner of this post is displayed on the Historical Marker placed at the location of Grover’s Bayonet Charge on 29 August 1862 which states: “Grover’s troops waited for the Rebels to fire, then charged up the ten-foot embankment. With no time to reload, Confederates were caught hugging the rear slope. The charging Federals stabbed with bayonets, crushed skulls with musket butts, and broke through the next line of defenders. Their success was almost suicidal; no one reinforced Grover’s advance. As Georgians and South Carolinians rushed to close the gap, the isolated Federals had to fall back over the ground they had won, back through a lethal crossfire. In twenty minutes General Grover’s Brigade lost 487 men—a third of his command.”
Transcription
On the morning of the 24th of August, ’62, I arrived at Alexandria with my regiment on the Steamer Commodore from Yorktown, disembarked, and went into camp two miles beyond the city. At dark on the evening of the 25th, took the cars for Warrenton Junction, arriving there at 3 o’clock the next morning and in the evening went into camp. The next morning at eight o’clock, leaving our camp equipage, we proceeded with the Division in light marching order towards Manassas Junction to engage the enemy who were reported in force in that direction.
About two o’clock P.M. the enemy were observed near Kettle Run, and were immediately attacked. For a while I occupied the right of the line of reserves and late in the afternoon moved to the right of the line in support of a battery. Soon after the enemy retired across Kettle Run, and agreeably to orders from Maj. General Hooker, Commanding the Division, I proceeded with my Regiment to examine the fords and the ground across the run and, finding the enemy in full retreat, notified the Commanding General who with the Division immediately crossed the stream and bivouacked at dark.
About midnight a large fire was observed in the direction of Manassas Junction.
At 2 o’clock p.m. the column was put in motion towards Manassas Junction. We passed at that point the remains of an immense freight train which the rebels had burned the night before and arriving at Bull Run, bivouacked there at sundown. About 4 o’clock the next morning (the 29th), we crossed Bull Run and at Centerville halted for a couple of hours at Centreville, and then marched in the direction of Groveton where the forces under Gen. Pope were engaging the enemy whose exploding shells were plainly visible above the intervening timber. Crossing Cub Run and Bull Run, we arrived on the battlefield about 10 o’clock a.m. and I was immediately ordered by Gen. Sigel to support with my regiment some batteries then sharply engaged on the left. The remaining regiments of the Brigade soon joined me in that position which we occupied until two o’clock p.m. when the brigade was ordered to charge on the enemy along the line of railroad in the woods to the front and right of our position. The line of battle was formed at the edge of the wood, the regiments in the following order from the right—1st Mass, 2nd N.H., 11th Mass, 16th Mass, and 26 Penn in reserve, but subsequently ordered into line on the left.
The Brigade advanced in this order through the wood and when within fifty yards of the railroad where the enemy lay concealed we received their fire. The order was immediately given to charge bayonets which was done and the rebel line quickly broke and those that remained alive scattered [&] fled to the rear. A second line of the enemy soon reached the field which, at not more than 70 yards distant, killed and wounded a large number, but the men were soon rallied and drove the enemy until the fire of a third line was received which compelled the brigade to retire. At this time the enemy opened fire with canister from a battery on our left. Falling back to the open ground, we reformed our line of battle, and, after holding our position for about one hour, retired under cover of our batteries occupying the high ground in rear of the wood through which we had charged.
The loss in killed wounded and missing was very severe. In my regiment 311 enlisted men and 21 commissioned officers went into the fight of whom 122 did not return. In this engagement the bayonet was freely used and with excellent effect pursuing without attempting to use the bayonet in defense.
I append to this report a detailed statement of the killed, wounded and missing. Most of the latter it is believed are either dead or severely wounded and in the hands of the enemy. I have also mentioned those men who distinguished themselves in the fight.
Wm A. Haywood—killed Gardner W. Turner—killed or is supposed wounded & left on the field Wm. Dunton—wounded in face, severely Elwin Young—wounded, shot through the body Albert G. Stone—wounded, thigh fractured Wm H. Preckle—wounded in leg Allen B. Heyward—wounded in thigh Geo. Stevens—wounded in shoulder Geo Ruffin—wounded in hand
Lieut. Converse fired 8 rounds. A.R. Walker took a prisoner. Geo. Ruffle took two prisoners & got wounded bringing them out. Prisoners got away. John H. Bronill brought out a prisoner. O. S. Adams and Gardner Turner each killed a man with the bayonet. Many of the 1st & 2nd line threw away their guns and ran.
Capt. Joshua F. Littlefield—wounded right thigh & arm. Died Sept. DeWitt C. Sanborn—killed Johnson N. Danforth—wounded; since died Geo. W. Ladd—wounded; since died James E. Edgerley—missing; supposed dead John C. Rand—missing; supposed dead Lieut. W. W. Ballard—wounded in head Lieut. John D. Cooper—wounded, shot through the body Sergt. Geo F Carter—wounded, thigh fractured Corp. Isaac W. Walton—wounded, in ankle severely Pvt. Hiram Cutter—wounded, in foot; brought out a prisoner Pvt. John Danforth—wounded in leg Pvt John H. Nichols—wounded in thigh Pvt. Charles H. Worth—wounded in arm, severely; bayonetted the rebel Pvt. Joseph E. Chapman—wounded through head Pvt. Asa Folsom—wounded in arm Pvt. John Hanson—wounded in neck
Wm Carlton brought out two prisoners; on Wednesday previous Algeron Chan had sun stroke and died.
1st Sergt F. O. Robinson—killed Pvt. Charles L. Tabor—wounded both legs Pvt. John B. Stevens—wounded hand severely Pvt. Wm. Sidney—wounded, shot through body Pvt. Charles McGauflin—wounded, shot through body Pvt. Geo W. McKennon—wounded, foot Pvt. Cornelius Hastings—wounded, leg Pvt. Charles R. Farnham—wounded, leg Pvt. Wm. Fitzgerald—wounded, head Pvt. John Fift—wounded, head Pvt. George Clement—wounded, arm Pvt. J. W. Bignold—wounded, leg Pvt. John Cushing—wounded, abdomen
Enemy fired canister down R.R. from left. All of this company went over the R R but those who got hit before reaching it. Hagen Davis, Jr. took & brought off a prisoner. J. W. Bignold killed a rebel with his bayonet. John Chase being attacked by two rebels, shot one & knocked the other down with his musket. Capt. Carr fired 5 rounds
Pvt. John Osborn—killed Pvt. Charles C. Saunders—killed without doubt, fell & left on the field Pvt. Mark D. Merrill—wounded, since died Pvt. Charles P. Roberts—wounded, wrist Lieut. Geo. W. Roberts—wounded, wrist Pvt. Eben LeGrow—wounded, neck and leg Pvt. Ezra C. Goodwin—wounded, hand Pvt. Geo H. Scranton—wounded, arm Pvt. Orwell J. Davis—wounded, side Pvt. Thos. J. Mahoney—wounded, wrist and thigh
This company took two prisoners—one of 35th Ga (he was in front line on R.R.); the other of 45th Va. in 2nd line. He complained that the 1st line boke & run through & broke the 2nd line. The Va. prisoners admitted there were 3 brigades of Ewell’s Div. Supported by Hill’s Div.
Co. E.—1 officer, 12 muskets
Sergt. Hirsen F. Durgin—killed Pvt. John B. Mussey—missing, supposed killed Pvt. Daniel G. Smith—wounded, on sick list on field, supposed dead Pvt. Henry M. Gordon—wounded, leg Pvt. William C. Bean—wounded, throat Pvt. Paul C. Morgan—wounded, elbow Pvt. George W. Phelps—wounded, hand Corp. Alcott Stover—wounded, in leg severely
Daniel F. Smith was running for a rebel when he was shot. John F. Dudley killed a rebel with his bayonet.
Lt. Norton R. Moore—killed Pvt. Charles E. Jewett—killed Pvt. Sylvester F. Bassett—missing, supposed dead Pvt. Wm. A. LeBosinty—wounded Corp. Henry A. Flint—wounded, leg Corp. Osco H. French—wounded, ankle Corp. Lorenzo S. Adley—wounded, leg Corp. John G. Ames—wounded, thigh and ankle Corp. Wm. H. Goldsmith—wounded, shoulder Pvt. Wm. E. Bancroft—wounded, shoulder Pvt. Brackett L. Carr—wounded, shoulder Pvt. Jos. G. Cerliss—wounded, leg Pvt. Veriate Colboten—wounded, foot Pvt. A. Follet—wounded, hip Pvt. J Semmes—wounded, head Pvt. Ira M. Wallace—wounded, lost right arm Pvt. Geo W. Morgan—wounded severely
Sergt. Hugh R. Richardson distinguished himself by brave conduct two bullet holes through his clothes, musket broke in his hand by shot from enemy. Pvt. James A Hagen was attacked by two rebels, ordered to surrender. He shot one dead & killed the other with his bayonet. Corp. Henry A. Flint knocked over a rebel with the butt of his musket.
Lieut. Sylvester Rogers—killed, shot through stomach Pvt. Charles P. Phillips—killed. shot through head Pvt. Harvey H. Winn—killed, shot through head Pvt. Charles O. Collister—killed, shot through head Pvt. A.S. Hutchinson—killed, shot twice, head and body, also in leg Pvt. Marcus J. Hall—wounded, since dead Pvt. Wm D. Coffin—supposed shot and killed Lieut. David Steel—wounded, right arm Corp. E. G. Sturkey—wounded, thigh fractured Pvt. Timothy N. Hutchinson—wounded, right arm Pvt. George D. Felt—wounded, in groin Pvt. Michael A. Dillon—wounded, through lungs Pvt. Thomas O’Brien—wounded, right arm Pvt. Charles Holt—wounded, face severely
Alex McRobie brought out a prisoner. John Hagen was attacked by two, shot one bayoneted the other. Asum attacked by one whom he bayoneted. Corp. Dascomb was the last to leave the woods. John B. Roule bayoneted one man & brought out a prisoner.
Pvt. John S. Rolf—missing, supposed killed Pvt. John B. Buntin—missing, supposed killed Lieut. John F. Holman—wounded, thigh fractured Lieut. H. D. F. Young—wounded, arm slightly Sergt. Andrew G. Bracy—wounded Corp. John B. Reed—wounded, knee Pvt. Lyman F. Parish, wounded, thigh Pvt. Charles H. Smith—wounded, neck Corp. John L. Davis—wounded, leg Pvt. Sam’l Poor—wounded, head Pvt. George Beny—wounded, ankle Pvt. Henry Bowman—wounded, head
Sergt. Silver had his gun shattered in his hand. Corp. Hanson had two guns shattered in his hands. Corp. Reed had his gun stock shattered. P. Sexton same. Pr. James H. Andrews shot a rebel who opposed him.
Pvt. Wm. O. Mortgage—killed Pvt. Wm. F. Wright—wounded, since dead Corp. Charles H. Smiley—missing, supposed dead Lieut. Geo. W. Gordon—wounded, in head Corp. James M. House—wounded, thigh Pvt. Eugene G. Haswell—wounded, neck Pvt. Lyman A. Dickey—wounded, hand severely Pvt. Allain R. Simmons—wounded, leg fractured Pvt. Rand—wounded, thigh fractured Pvt. Jos. H. Gleason—wounded, ear Pvt. Martin A. Haynes—wounded, face
Cor. John E. Ogden killed one with bayonet. All went over R.R. most of them twice. Enemy first seen by this co. at R.R. 1st line broken by our fire, 2nd by bayonet. Jas. Lanoy brought out two prisoners & Charles F. Pariot one. Corp. James M. House took two prisoners—one was shot at the same time with the corporal. Levi H. Sleeper Jr. was attacked by three rebels. He bayoneted one, knocked another down with his musket & was then forced to retire.
Pvt. Henry Walker—killed Pvt. Henry Wilson—killed Pvt. Jere Mahony—supposed killed Pvt. John Moore—wounded, in groin Pvt. James T. Gamman—wounded, both thighs fractured Pvt. Wm. H. Goodson—wounded, foot Pvt. Warren L Stebbins—wounded, in hand Pvt. Alex Steward—wounded, in head Pvt. Geo Johnston—wounded, in leg Pvt. Charles Robinson—wounded, in face
The whole company went over the Railroad. Mahoney and Al ab Manson were seen by Lt. Sides to use the bayonet. Lt. Sides thinks there were two lines of the enemy beyond the R.R. besides the skirmishers on the western side who were pretty thick. The 1st line broke and the fire of the 2nd line somewhat broke us. Our men were engaged with the 2nd line. Whitney Dunbar shot down the color bearer. Co. K took 4 or 5 prisoners. Thinks 25 prisoners were taken between the right & the colors. The enemy’s colors were 20 ft. in front of R.R.—a large splendid flag—and line of rebels on the R.R. & 3rd line on opposite side. The 1st line was a strong line of skirmishers. It was the 2nd line we broke with the bayonet.
DOCKET Casualties of 2nd Reg N.H. Vol. at Bull Run 29th & 30th Aug. 1862
The following letter was written by Washington Pinckney Shooter (1837-1864) of Marion county, South Carolina. “W. P.” commenced service in Marion District, August 1, 1861, as a 27 year old Lieutenant, in Co. K, “Meagher Guards” of Charleston, South Carolina 1st Infantry Volunteers. Later he was reorganized into Co. E, South Carolina 1st Infantry Regiment (McCreary’s), as Company Commander, Captain. He was present for all the major battlesof the regiment except Sharpsburg.
On January 4, 1864, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, Regimental Commanding Officer but was killed in action at The Bloody Angle, Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, waving his sword while leading a counterattack. When some of his Regiment stopped to assist him, he told them to go forward and leave him, saying “I know that I am a dead man; but I die with my eyes fixed on victory!”
In this letter, W. P. wrote a letter to the father of one of the members of his company, 18 year-old Charles Reaves, who was killed in the charge of Perrin’s South Carolina Brigade on the 1st Corps’ last position on Seminary Ridge in front of the Lutheran Theological Seminary. W. P. gives all the particulars of Charles’ death as well as his burial location.
[Note: This letter is from the personal collection of Richard Weiner and was transcribed and published on Spared & Shared by express consent. The painting appearing in the banner of this post is Dale Gallon’s artwork entitled “Day’s End—July 1st”]
Transcription
Bunker Hill, Virginia Thursday, 16 July 1863
My dear sir,
It is my painful duty to inform you of Charles’ death which occurred on 1st July. I will try to give you the particulars in a few words. On 30 June, our Division bivouacked on South Mountain. Early in the morning on 1 July, we resumed the march and had proceeded but four miles when we came up with the enemy strongly posted on line of hills. Heth’s Division formed the first line and our Division the second. Heth’s Division advanced and drove the enemy about half a mile when we were ordered to charge which we did, driving the enemy before us. When within about 200 yards of the enemy’s batteries, the brigades on our right and left gave way. It was for us a most critical moment but we continued the charge. When within about one hundred yards of the enemy’s works, Charley fell. He was hit just above the right hip by a rifle ball which, however, did not pass through the body. He bled but little externally. He died almost instantly and with but a single groan. He died where I have often heard him say—if it must needs be, he would write to me—on the field in a victorious charge. The last sound that ever fell upon his ears was the shout of victory of his comrades.
On the second (2nd) July, our Brigade was again engaged and we did not have an opportunity to bury him. On [the] 3rd, we found he had been buried by [the] Pioneer Corps. To be sure that it was his body, Lt. Z[ach B.] Smith & [Corp. William J.] Woodward dug down to the body and found it was his. He was buried where he fell, near the corner of a field and a park of [the] Gettysburg Female College. 1 His pocket book, &c. are in the possession of Lieut. Z. Smith who was badly wounded three days ago at Hagerstown and has been sent to the rear. 2
It is needless for me to try to express in words my grief at Charley’s death. It is equally needless for me to dwell upon his virtues or to praise him. I never saw a young man whom I more admired who was more worthy of admiration. A boy in years but in all else a man—a pure, noble, simple-hearted gentleman. In the graceful courtesies, tender humanities, and kindly charities of life, I never saw his superior. He did not talk but he lived [a] christian. He was beloved by everybody who knew him and was known by every officer and almost every man in the regiment. As a soldier, he had no superior. At all time and under all circumstances, he was ready to do his duty—always at his post and always cheerful and apparently happy and as brave as the bravest. We shall never cease to deplore his loss or fail to honor his memory. He had the mind and qualities to make a great and good man but his early promise has found a bloody grave. I beg you to remember in your sorrow that he died while fighting the battles of his country—and that for his youth, he never did a mean or dishonorable thing. I know the great loss you have sustained most heavily & I sympathize with you and yours. May God temper the afflictions of his family with recollections of his virtue and worth.
I am, my dear sir, most truly yours, — W. P. Shooter
P. S. I would have written much sooner but have been continuously on outpost duty since 1st July. This morning, I am so ill and feeble that I can scarcely stand up. The army got here last night—will resume the march, I expect, tomorrow. We have experienced a serious disaster but not a fatal one. The next victory will be ours.
1 Given A.P.’s description of the charge and when Charles was wounded, I have to believe that he meant the Lutheran Theological Seminary and not the “Gettysburg Female College.” There was a Young Ladies Seminary that operated in Gettysburg at the time of the battle, but it was located on the corner of High and Washington Streets.
2 Lt. Z. B. Smith of Co. E died of his wounds on 1 September 1863.
The following letters were written from Charles W. Reaves (1845-1863), the son of Robert Hodge Reaves (1813-1875) and Anna Louisa Grice (1825-1901) of Marion county, South Carolina. He wrote the letters to his younger brother, Robert Hodges Reaves (1846-1865) who later enlisted (March 1864) in Co. H, 21st South Carolina Infantry and was killed in action on 18 June 1864.
In August 1861, Charles enlisted in Co. E, 1st South Carolina Infantry (McCreary’s). Marion District. He was promoted to 4th Corporal between August 19, and December 31, 1861. The regiment completed its organization at Richmond, Virginia, in August, 1861. Most of the officers and men had served previously in the 1st South Carolina Volunteers, a six-month command, which was mustered out of service in late July. The men were from Charleston and Columbia, and the counties of Darlington, Marion, Horry, Edgefield (now Aiken), and Florence. Charles’ service record indicate he was with the regiment until the Battle of Gettysburg when he was killed in the first days action on Seminary Ridge. Charles made the charge in late afternoon with his regiment—and the rest of Abner Perrin’s South Carolina Brigade—on Union Cavalry Col. William Gamble’s cavalrymen who carried Sharps repeating rifles, making things hot for the foot soldiers in grey. Though Charles would not see the result, Perrin’s Brigade broke the 1st Corps Union line, regrouped, and then chased the Union soldiers into the streets of Gettysburg. The 1st South Carolina claimed to have been the first regiment to plant the Confederate flag on the town square.
[Note: These letters are from the private collection of Richard Weiner and were transcribed and published on Spared & Shared by express consent.]
Letter 1
Camp Jager Suffolk, Virginia October 12, 1861
Dear Brother,
I received yours of the 5th with much pleasure for I had concluded that you had given out writing to me. I received a letter from Sarah yesterday by which I learned that Cousin Joe had joined Capt. Stanley’s company, but I think that surely it must be a mistake for he has irrevocably committed himself to our company, for he even went so far as to send for transportation which Capt. [Washington P.] Shooter sent him. He may have joined Stanley’s company before he received an answer from me after he had applied for transportation, in which case he will have to explain to Capt. Stanley for the fact of Capt. Shooter having sent him transportation makes it impossible for him to back out, without forfeiting his bonds in the eyes of every man in this company for every man in it knows that transportation has been sent to him. Tell him what I have written you, and endeavor to explain to him in the best possible manner the consequences of his joining any company after he has received transportation to this company. Tell him also that I, believing that the fact of his joining our company was fixed, have made arrangements for him in my mess, for the mess being divided I have remained by myself in order to make a mess when he came that would suite him. I cannot believe that he has joined Capt. Stanley’s company, but if he has under the circumstances, it can he settled by his telling Capt. Stanley that after joining his company, he received transportation to Capt. Shooter’s company and therefore he is hound more closely to Shorter than he is to him.
You say you heard that we had been given flintlock muskets. In part that is true, for we have borrowed about fifty flintlocks from the state of Virginia, but these muskets are not for our arms. We only borrowed them to drill with until we could get the rifles which the Secretary of War himself promised to Capt. Shooter in person. As long as we are here where we are in no danger flintlocks are as good as any to drill with. But you need give yourself no uneasiness about our being armed with them, for the men would not have them, and if they would, Capt. Shooter would not lead them into action with them. But there is no danger of our getting into action before next spring for there is no probability of our moving away from here before that time. There are several of our men sick with the measles, and two men from the Horry [Rebels] company [Co. F] died a few days ago. These are the deaths we have had among the soldiers of our regiment. Our regiment has been increased to eleven companies by arrival of the Carolina light infantry [Co. L] from Charleston. It has been a fine company and contains eighty-six members.
Our band also arrived a few days ago which is quite an addition for we now have good music. Your affectionate brother, — Charles
I could write more, but my paper will not allow it, so I must close. You must answer this immediately. Give my love to Grandma.
Letter 2
Camp Gregg, Virginia March 30, 1863
Dear Brother,
I received your letter of the 25 inst. by Mr. Johnson and glad to hear from you. I wrote to Pa a day or two ago and sent the letter by Capt. Shorter who went home on a leave of absence of twenty days. I expect you will see Capt. Shorter and I hope that you and Pa will come back with him, or before that time. Times are as dull here in camp as ever. Mr. Johnson met with a serious accident on his way back to camp. He had his bag of provisions stolen from him at Richmond. He had a fine supply of rice, potatoes, hams, sausages, team and their loss was a great disappointment to his mess, as well as himself. The drum has beaten for dress parade and I must wait until it is over before I write any more.
Dress parade is over, and I resume my writing.
I expect to go fishing tomorrow. I have everything in readiness to start early in the morning. There is a millpond near here where I understand one can catch fish so I want to try my luck. I hope I will be successful. If you come to see me, I will take you over the battleground at Fredericksburg and show you the position we occupied, and many other things that will interest you. You will also get a chance to see the Yankees across the river. I found out a new substitute for tea a few days ago. I think it is better than any substitute that I have yet tried. It is nothing more than the leaves of the ordinary holly tree. It resembles the real China tea very much in taste, and I understand that it is a very wholesome beverage. I encourage you to try it at home and let me know how you like it. Write soon. Give my love to Ma and all the family and excuse the miserably written letter.
The following letters were written by Joseph “Freeman” Williams (1846-1908) of the 31st Mississippi Infantry. The regiment was organized in March 1862 and was initially part of the garrison at Vicksburg. They then fought at Baton Rouge and Jackson.
Letter 1
Tupelo Post, Mississippi June 12th 1862
Dear Father,
I will drop you a few lines to let you know that I am well. The health of the company is excellent. We are encamped on the Chesterville road half mile from the old Colbert place north. I know no news to write to you. I have heard that the enemy has been to Saltillo and had a fight. Also that they had been to Camp Creek Church. I think the army will station here. They are making every preparation to do so. We have drawed our full number of tents and cooking vessels. We have an elegant place to camp. I think we can get water from 12 to 15 feet deep.
If any of the men wants to come to see us, the best way is to come to Tupelo and out by [ ] Hill’s, out to Mrs. Walker’s. Take the right hand [road] at end of the lane [and] come up towards Parson More’s. You might come by Chesterville but the small pox I expect is there. Mr. Braley’s and Mr. Brandon’s family has it. The cases are getting better except one of Braley’s negro women, they think, will die. I have seen Mrs. Walker and Tom and Joe. They are all well.
I saw Tom Freeman. He invited me to come someday and take dinner with him. I will slide around someday when I get milk hungry. Fount is Provost Marshall in Tupelo. I saw a paper dated the 9th which stated that Stonewall Jackson had cut Fremont all to pieces. It is said that Jackson has the most able army that belongs to the South. Write soon to Freeman Williams
Letter 2
When this letter was penned in late July 1862, Freeman was with a handful of others from his regiment too sick to march so they were left behind at Camp Moore near Kentwood, Louisiana, and ordered to make their way to the hospital at Jackson, Mississippi. After finishing his letter, it appears that Freeman has written a short letter for his comrade Jasper Payne.
Hand carried Letter, addressed to Mr. J. F. Williams, Saltillo, Mississippi
Camp Moore, Louisiana July 30th 1862
I will write you a few lines to let you know how I am getting along. I am not very well at this time. We started from Vicksburg on the 27th and arrived here on the 29th and today the company taken up and march it is not known where to but it is supposed to go to Baton Rouge which is 50 or 60 miles from here.
There are several of our company on the [sick] list. I think what caused it is as soon as we landed here, it rained very hard and got us all wet. And all that was not able to go with the company was ordered to Jackson Hospital. If I had felt as well as I do now, I would have gone with the company. I think that it was only the wetting that made us feel so bad.
We will start to Jackson in the morning. We have a house to stay in tonight. Jasper Payne, Jim Wilson, and Tom Ward, John Parker, George [W.] Bishop, Judge Philips, L. Robbins and myself are all in the crowd. Lieut. [Willoughby] Bolen has got a furlough and will take this letter. None of us are dangerous. We are all able to walk about. You need not write to me only when Lieut. Bolens comes back. My jaw and teeth have got entirely well. The reason you need not write is we will not be stationed long at any place. I will write when we get stationed. It is the general supposition as will not stay here long. It is thought we will go to Tennessee.
— Freeman Williams
Dear Mother, I will say to you that I am not very well. I had a chill today but feel better now. We will start to Jackson in the morning. Jim and Marion was left at Vicksburg with the other sick. They are mending very fast when we left. Marion has been very bad off. We got a letter from you of 11th of this month. I think the reason of my having the chill was getting wet. Tell Jim if he don’t write to me he had better. Jasper Payne.
The following letter was written by William Turner Smith of Co. K (the Carolina Mountaineers”), 6th South Carolina Infantry. Its members were mostly recruited from the Pickens and Greenville Districts (counties) of South Carolina. I believe William was from the Greenville District. He may be the same “W. T. Smith” who later served in the 26th South Carolina Infantry which was formed from the consolidation of the the 3rd and the 9th regiments in 1862.
The 6th was engaged at Dranesville under J.E.B. Stuart, then was brigaded under Generals R.H. Anderson, M. Jenkins, and Bratton. The 6th fought with the army from Williamsburg to Fredericksburg, served with Longstreet at Suffolk, and later moved with D.H. Hill to North Carolina. Again with Longstreet, it did not arrive in time to take part in the Battle of Chickamauga but was engaged at Knoxville. Returning to Virginia, it participated in the conflicts at The Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Cold Harbor, endured the hardships of the Petersburg trenches, and saw action around Appomattox. The regiment reported 18 killed and 45 wounded at Dranesville and in April, 1862, contained 550 officers and men. It lost 27 at Williamsburg and fifty-two percent of the 521 at Seven Pines, then sustained 100 casualties at Gaines’ Mill and Frayser’s Farm, 115 at Second Manassas, 58 during the Maryland Campaign, and 16 at Wauhatchie. In 1864 the unit lost 9 killed and 85 wounded during Wilderness Campaign, and from June 13 to December 31, there were 26 killed, 176 wounded, and 16 missing. On Apirl 9, 1865, it surrendered 30 officers and 328 men. The field officers were Colonels John Bratton, John M. Steedman, and Charles S. Winder; Lieutenant Colonels Andrew J. Secrest and John M. White; and Majors James L. Coker, Edward C. McLure, and Thomas W. Woodward.
William wrote his letter on 8 July 1861 from Summerville, South Carolina. The regiment was ordered to proceed by rail to Richmond, Virginia, on 15 July 1861—just one week later. After they arrived there, they were stationed at Church Hill in Richmond.
Transcription
[Summerville, South Carolina] July the 8th day, 1861
Miss Betty Floyd,
I take my pen in hand to let you know that I am well at this time and hope when these few lines comes to hand, you will be enjoying the same health. I would like to hear from you all at this time. We are all in camp at this time at Summerville, 22 miles above Charleston. We are here and it is a sickly place. The mumps and the measles are here and I never had them. I went to Charleston on the 6th day last. I saw [ink smudged…]. I couldn’t see the town for the houses. I went down to the wharf to see the [ ] for the water there was the most for me to look at. I felt like a fool when I came back to the camp.
We have to wash and cook. I wish you would come and make up our bread. I have a fine mess—R[ansom] Foster, W[illiam] J. Foster, W. Co____, C[unningham] Pennington are all in together. I have not forgot the fun that we had together. You must write to me. You must tell Sarah Honely [?] and kiss for me and Nancy the same and all the girls the same. I have not much time to write at this time. Tell J. Frank to write and [ ] to write to me. I have not forgot them.
W[illiam] J. Foster is gone home. He has been sick a little but I hope I will have my health and return home. I have a bad chance to write to you at this time. You must look over my bad writing and spelling. We are all full of life and ready to go to Virginia where the Yankees is. We have dandy muskets, cartridge boxes, knapsacks, haversacks, and tin plates and tin cups and spoons and frying pans and tin cans and a bucket. You ought to see us cooking and a washing the dishes and washing our clothes. We have a hard time sure. We sing every night.
Nancy, you must ask me to your wedding and I will come if I can. You must not marry until I can come and if I live to come, I am coming down. We shall. have a fine [ ].
I must fetch my letter to a close. You must write to, William Turner Smith, Capt. S. D. Goodlett, Carolina Mountaineers [Co. K], 6th Regiment S. C., Summerville, S. C.
The following letters were written by 35 year-old Timothy M. Gillan (1827-1863), the son of Danial Gillan (b. 1805) and Sarah Reynolds (b. 1808) of Corning, Steuben county, New York. Timothy was the oldest of at least seven children born to Daniel and Sarah Gillan, a few of whom are mentioned in these letters. Sadly, Timothy’s father abandoned his family in 1858 and it fell upon the older children to provide for their mother’s support.
Timothy was one of the first to answer Lincoln’s call for volunteers to help put down the rebellion. He enlisted on 6 May 1861 at Elmira to serve as a private in Co. F, 23rd New York Infantry. By August 1861, he had been promoted to corporal. The first letter was penned from Upton’s Hill in March 1862; the second from Fredericksburg when they were part of Pope’s Army Of Virginia. Their biggest engagements were 2nd Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. Both letters were found in the Pension Files as evidence that Timothy continued to provide financial support to his mother, even while in the service. Timothy’s death is described in the file in a letter signed by William M. Dingeldry, Captain of Co. F (pictured below), who testified that on or about the 16th of May 1863, while the regiment was returning to Elmira, New York, to be discharged, and while at Washington D. C., Timothy was taken sick with Typhoid Fever” and sent to a hospital. He died on 29 May 1863.
Timothy refers to his younger brother “Frank” frequently in both letters. William Francis (“Frank”) Gillam (1845-1930) served 3 years and 8 months in Co. B, 1st New York Light Artillery.
Captain William W. Dingeldry of Co. F, 23rd New York Infantry Regiment and his servant with Sergeant Lucian W. Bingham of Co. K, 23rd New York Infantry Regiment in camp at Arlington, Virginia. From the Liljenquist Family Collection of Civil War Photographs, Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Letter 1
Upton’s Hill March 18th 1862
Dear Mother,
I now seat myself to address a few lines to you to let you know that I am well at present & hope you are all enjoying the same valuable blessing. We left camp last Monday or a week ago last Monday at 5 o’clock in the morning for Bulls Run but did not have to go all the way as the rebels had left. We had orders to go back to Alexandria & stayed all night in a piece of woods. It was a cold rain and rained all night. We were all wet and cold but came out all well enough after all.
We started next morning for Alexandria again. We had to wait till there was a bridge built over a creek. While we were waiting, an order came for us to go back to our old camp where we stayed Tuesday about 4 pm when [we] had an order to pack up and leave. We came out two miles and encamped & here we are now in the smoke and mud and we don’t know when we shall leave here. It may be in an hour.
I had commenced this sheet and had to lay it by to march. It is now the 21st [of March]. About that money, we have not got our money yet and I don’t know [how] long we shall have to wait. I suppose you could use it to good advantage now but I can’t hurry Uncle Sam one bit. I am begging my first stamp to send this. If you can read this, you will do well for the smoke is giving my eyes fits.
I don’t know where Frank is now. He may be within two miles but I can’t leave to look for him. I don’t know whether he will go with us or not & he may be gone but I suppose he has written to you. I suppose your old house wants to be shingled by this time. I have thought of it considerably lately but I can’t send the soap to do. it with so you must get someone to patch it up a little till you can shingle it & get along as well as you can. Frank sent home his money so close that I gave him two dollars. I suppose he is out long before this time unless they have had their pay. I guess he will save more this time. If I see him, I shall advise him to do so you must not look for anything of a letter. If you do, you. will surely be disappointed. So the best way will be to just read htis & then stick it in the stove.
The only letter I have had in some time was John’s of the 12th. I thought it might be that you thought I would not get them. You may send them right along just the same till I direct different. This may be in a few days and it may never be—I cannot tell any better how this will be than I can tell how the wind will blow next week.
Give my respects to Mr. & Mrs. Shoemaker and all the neighbors. The check or draft you will get will come to Gibson & you can draw soap anywhere. The smoke comes again so no more at present. From your affectionate son, — T. M. Gillan
It is with pleasure that I now seat myself to address a few lines to you to let you know that I am well. I have had a letter from Frank dated the 18th. He was well & says they have had a brush with the rebels at Fair Oaks. He says that it was pretty sharp work but the rebels used their legs as usual. I have sent his letter to Benjamin & requested him to send it to you when he has seen it
We have been back to Catlett’s Station & from there to Gainesville and we have been camping & moving camp this way till we have got back here & we have moved camp this forenoon. We are encamped in an open field about a mile and a half or two miles from the [Rappahannock] river. Our sick are in the city. James Smith was taken there last Sunday and yesterday he was well enough to come over to camp and went back again. He thought he would be able to come back to duty soon. Peter Calkins & Jackson Gorton is in the hospital also. Jackson is—to use James’ language—suffering considerable. Amos Beeman will soon come home, I suppose. At least I have heard that his papers were made out for his discharge.
We still have good news from the South. Though it has cost a great many lives, it is steadily gaining ground. I hope it may come to a close before long but it does not look as if it was going to close so that we shall be able to come home before fall, if we do then. We seem to be fixing our camp as if to stay here some time but we may leave here at any time & go to reinforce McClellan. But it seems to be the general opinion here that we may stay here some time. It is rather dull business to lay here in camp doing nothing. We shall not be worth a cent to work when our time is out if we lay round here in camp all the time. In the first place, we could not stand to do a day’s work now. And in the second place, we will [be] too shiftless.
I had like to have forgotten to mention that Jerome & John Gorton are well. I had a letter from Farmington. They were all well but Lide & she was getting better. They say they have had a letter from Jake’s folks. They were well & Jake had planted 8 acres of corn and was a going to plant half an acre of sugar cane & had a good garden. I should like to hear from all of the people in Buckwheat Square & vicinity. If we lay here in camp, I shall not be very likely to have much news for you. As it has been, I have nothing that seems new to me as we have not loaded our guns except we were on guard or went out foraging or something of that kind of duty.
Frank says that they did not have any loss of life in their Battery. There was one man shot in the neck & he was getting along first rate.
I am going to enclose fifteen dollars as before & hope you will get it as well as you did the last. This from your affectionate son, — T. M. Gillan
The following letter was written by George Washington Waterman (1841-1863) of Co. K, 39th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI). George was the third of eight children born to Sophronia Skeels (1816-1900) and Luther Waterman (1812-1852) of Athens county, Ohio. While researching this letter, having already transcribed it, I discovered that George’s letters had already been published by Melaine Mahaffey in 2019. Apparently there are 119 letters of George’s published in the book. I don’t know whether this letter was included in the book or not.
In this letter, George mentions that the regiment had left St. Louis, leaving Co. K to remain on detached service as barracks guards. Nine companies of the regiment left St. Louis for Medon on 6 September 1861; four of the regiments were assigned to guarding the Northern Missouri Railroad and five other companies marched to the relief of Lexington, Missouri.
Transcription
Camp Benton Sunday, September 15th 1861
Dear Uncle,
I expect you would like to hear from me how and where I am. I had intended to wrote to you before but somehow I never have got at it. We have just had the best kind of meeting & Sunday school this morning & the preacher said for us to go to our quarters and read our bibles or write letters to our friends so I thought I would write you a letter.
We are now about three miles back of St. Louis but how long we will be here I cannot tell. We may be here a month or two and we may have marching orders in less than an hour. It is just that uncertain. Our regiment has all left but this company. It had to stay to guard the barracks. A regiment left night before last and one artillery company left this morning and another is just going out now. There is something going to be did now before long. I have no idea how many soldiers there is in & about this camp. Go out in what direction you will & all you can see is camps for miles around. I wish that we was with our regiment wherever it is. I expect it is up in the northern part of the state somewhere.
We have the nicest place for a camp here that I ever saw. The barracks are 3/4’s of a mile long & there is three rows of them, They will hold a large family for Uncle Sam. They say that we will have to winter here. It is a nice country out here. The land is very rich and lays well. There is plenty of fruit out here.
I got a letter from Mother after she got home & she said that you would volunteer if it was so you could get in this company for this is a good company & we have good officers. We have the best kind of times & plenty to eat. Some would complain of anything but if we don’t see no harder times we have had, I will say we have had easy times. They have one of the nicest fairgrounds out that I ever saw. They are fixed up in style, you had [better] think.
I believe that this fuss will come to an end before long by the way the troops are pouring in. The North has got her Irish up now and when they once get at it, they will make the fur fly. We got the news this morning of a battle somewhere on the Potomac & the Union men took some fifty thousand prisoners. They are expecting a battle at Washington City all the time. It will be hot times there when they get at it.
Some two weeks ago a regiment came in to camp from Springfield. They got whipped out there & had everything they had taken from them & their wives and daughters’ clothes was taken from them. They came here & a madder set you never saw. I think there is where those soldiers are going to that left here.
I had no idea when I was at your house that I would go so soon although I thought of going. I hope this war won’t last long so that we all can return home again. I don’t expect there will be any chance to get to go home soon—not as long as we are here. I don’t think it will be over eight or ten months before we will all get to go home and stay there. I have wrote a letter every day for four days now & I have wrote. about all I can think of so I will close by stating that I am well at present & I hope these few lines will find you all the same & will bring an answer soon. Give my best respects to all. inquiring friends. Yours with respect, — George W. Waterman
[To] L. B. Skeels
Direct to Camp Benton, St. Louis, Mo., 39th Ohio Regiment, Care of Capt. Rhoades [Co. K]
P. S. You will see on the envelope how much different Jeff Davis looks when returning home than he did when he was going to war.
The following letter was written by Joseph (“Joe”) H. Prime of Strafford, New Hampshire. Joe enlisted when he was 21 years old as a corporal in Co. F, 13th New Hampshire Infantry, serving from August 1862 until October 1863 when he was discharged so that he could be commissioned as a Lieutenant in Co. G, 7th US Colored Troops (USCT). He was wounded on 29 September 1864 in the attack on Fort Gilmer, a bulwark on the Confederate defensive line six and a half miles from Richmond. Two months later, Joe was promoted to Captain of Co. F in November 1864.
Joseph H. Prime, 7th USCT
The 7th USCT was on duty at Camp Benedict, Maryland, until March 1864 when they were ordered to Portsmouth, Virginia, then to Hilton Head, S. C., and to Jacksonville, Florida. In August they returned to Virginia and participated in the siege operations against Petersburg & Richmond. “Fort Gilmer was yet another instance in which USCTs proved their mettle, getting farther with four companies than an entire division had been able to just hours earlier. Perhaps the best compliment came from a Confederate who was guarding the few men of Birney’s brigade who had been captured. When asked if blacks could fight, the Rebel replied: “By God! If you had been there you would have thought so. They marched up just as if they were on drill, not firing a shot.” After the war, another Confederate was willing to admit that on September 29th, “Richmond came nearer being captured, and that, too, by negro troops, than it ever did during the whole war.” [Source: Freedom By the Sword]
Transcription
U. S. General Hospital Point of Rocks, Virginia May 2nd, 1865 Tuesday
Dear Wife,
There is nothing going on here today, only the same daily routine of breakfast, dinner, and I suppose supper will come by and by as it is now in the afternoon. I have been playing a few games of cribbage today with Lieut. [Eugene] Judd of the 40th Massachusetts who is here wounded but is going to start for home tomorrow as he has a leave and has had it for three or four days but the doctor thought he was unable to start when he got it so he is going tomorrow. By the way, we played cribbage this forenoon until we had played two hundred and twenty six (226) games and then concluded we had played enough and went to reading Shakespeare.
By the way, I see by the papers that the body of Booth was sunk in the Potomac a few nights ago. By the way, I should like to know what David and Horatio thinks or says about the assassination of Lincoln. I am going to try tomorrow to get a pass to go to Norfolk to see if I can’t get my pay for the last month (April) and if I can, I will send you another hundred ($100) dollars out of that. I have not much hope, however, of being successful as I don’t know as Fowler has any authority to give passes to go down there.
I hear that the 13th New Hampshire Volunteers is going out to work on the Orange & Alexandria Railroad as they have concluded to have that railroad finished up soon so as to have connection between Richmond and Washington by rail. There is not more than a dozen officers in the hospital now as several went away this morning. There are only six to dinner and there is not more than six or seven that are here but can go to their meals. There is one man here in the hospital that has been here ever since I was here last fall. His name is Titcomb and I guess I have spoken about him once before. He has got the same disease that Lieut. [Charles A.] Hinckley of the 7th USCT was discharged for.
Well, I guess there is not quite so much chance for those Rebel leaders to get pardoned with Andrew Johnson for President as there was when Abraham Lincoln was alive. And I hope they will all be caught and hung—that is all the hurt I wish them.
Well, darling, I must close with a kiss for you from Joe.
Write soon, write soon, write soon, write soon.
[Included is a pass for Capt. Prime of the 7th USCT of the Officer’s Temporary Hospital at Point of Rocks to visit Fortress Monroe, dated 3 May 1865. The pass was signed by Hadley B. Fowler, Surgeon in charge.]
The following letters were written by Capt. Richard Watson Musgrove (1840-1914), the son of James Musgrove (1798-1878) and Ann Donker (1802-1879) of Bristol, New Hampshire.
Capt. Richard Watson Musgrove
Richard entered the service in August 1862 as a corporal in Co. D, 12th New Hampshire Infantry, was appointed sergeant, Mar. 17, ’63; first sergeant, Feb. 1, ’64; was at battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville (where he had one musket shattered and another knocked from his hands), at Gettysburg (where he carried the state colors on the third day’s fight), and at Wapping Heights. When the regiment was stationed at Point Lookout, he was detailed for duty at the camp for prisoners of war, where he had charge of 1,000 men, all a later was sergeant of the provost guard at Gen. Gilman Marston’s brigade headquarters; discharged, Apr. 23, ’64, to accept promotion, and Apr 24, ’64, was appointed first lieutenant of Co. D, 1st Regt. U. S. Vol. Inf., a regiment, organized by Gen. Butler, and composed of prisoners of war who had taken the oath of allegiance and enlisted into the service of the Union; appointed captain of Co. I, same regiment, Aug. 13, ’64, and mustered out, May 21, ’66, after a service of three years and nine months. While in this regiment, he served three months in Norfolk, Va., as provost guard, and the balance of the time on the northwest and western frontiers, being stationed one year at Fort Ridgely, Minn. In the fall of ’65, his company with three others opened what is now the Smoky Hill route of the Union Pacific railroad, from Atchison, Kan., to Denver, Col. In winter of ’65-6, he was stationed at what is now Fort Wallace, Kansas, over 300 miles from the nearest settlement on the east. (Source: History of Bristol, N. H., vol. I, p. 208.)
In his letter of 4 October 1864, Richard mentioned hearing of the death of his younger brother, Adam Clark (“Abbott”) Musgrove (1842-1864). Abbott enlisted as a Private serving the Union Army in Halfmoon, Saratoga, New York on 21 Jul 1862. On 20 August 1862 he enlisted in Co. H, New York 115th Infantry Regiment. Abbott was killed in action and mustered out of service as a Corporal on 16 Aug 1864 in Deep Bottom Run, Henrico, Virginia.
Richard wrote the letters to Abigail (“Abbie”) Blake (1844-1911). Abbie married Rodolphus M. Locke (1839-1883) in November 1870.
Readers are also referred to a blog post on “Our War” describing Musgrove’s experience at the Battle of Chancellorsville when he was a sergeant in Co. D, 12th New Hampshire Volunteers. See Our War, 6 May 2014.
Letter 1
Addressed to Miss Abbie M. Blake, Bristol, New Hampshire
Fort Ridgely, Minnesota October 4th 1864
Friend Abbie,
I presume you have concluded by this time that I have forgotten you, but such is not the case. I have thought of you often and wondered that you did not write. By the last mail, however, the mystery was explained by the arrival of your letter bearing date of July 3rd directed to Norfolk Va,
As I did not leave there till the middle of August, I do not see why I did not receive it before I left there but it was anxious to find me, and followed me to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Madison, then to St. Paul, Minnesota, to Fort Snelling and then here. I have been at all these places and am now stopping here, but how long I shall remain here I know not.
My 2nd Lieut. is now gone to Fort Wadsworth, Dakota Territory, with 40 men of my company as a guard for a train of supplies going to Fort Wadsworth. I expected to go myself with the whole company and remain there during the winter, but I am pleased at the prospect of remaining here. We are now 120 miles west of St. Paul. There is not but one or two houses within fifteen miles of here so I am far enough out of the world. But we should be worse off at Fort Wadsworth which is 180 miles west of here and not a habitation within 150 miles of there. Wild animals of all description—buffaloes, bears, wolves, and Indians are very numerous and troublesome, but I should not care for them. I do not like, however, to be so far from friends. Here we get a mail three times a week. There we should have one only once a week. I had just as leave go there next summer and expect we shall go further west then—probably on an expedition against the Indians.
Fort Ridgely, Watercolor by Alfred Sully
I suppose you was aware of the death of my brother long before I was, as I did not know that he was dead till about three weeks ago, but looked in each mail for a letter from him, little thinking that I had received my last from him. Of course I feel very badly about his early fall. I miss his letters, always cheerful and hopeful, and I shall miss him very much when I get home as I hope to some day. But I am proud to think that he died so noble a death in the service of his country and I have the fact to cheer me that he died a christian soldier and while I mourn his loss, I am cheered at the thought that he is at rest where war is unknown, and that if I am faithful to my God, I may one day meet him above, although I can never more see his face upon earth. It would be a pleasure in some respects to be at home at this time to mourn with those there, or I would esteem it a great privilege to hear his funeral sermon preached, but as this cannot be, I will try and bow submissively to this heavy affliction and may his death result in good to me and us all.
It has been so long since you wrote your last that I hardly know where to direct [your letter] but I guess I will direct this to Manchester as you said nothing about leaving there and I hope you will receive it. I thank you for the little gift enclosed in your letter. I will try and heed its warning voice, and if you fail to hear from me for a long time, you must not think that I have forgotten you but attribute it to some such cause as delayed me now, or maybe I shall not have an opportunity to write as I am very much of the time on the move. So if you do not get a prompt answer, just write again and I hope they will get round even if they are delayed three months.
Personally I am prospering very well since leaving Norfolk. Gen. Butler has had the kindness to send me an appointment as Captain so now I have the honor of wearing two bars instead of one. My work is no more, as I have had command of this company (I) since it was formed the first of June.
Since leaving Norfolk, I have rather lost track of some of the Bristol boys who are not at their regiment, Louis among the number, and I must hunt them up now that I have tome to write. But I must close. Write as soon as convenient and remember me as ever. Your true friend.
My address is R. W. Musgrove, Capt. Co. I, 1st USV. Fort Ridgely, Minnesota
Letter 2
Fort Ridgely, Minnesota December 7th 1864
Dear Friend,
Your letter of Nov. 6th was received about a week ago and I now hasten to answer it. I was glad to hear from you once more. I was fearful lest my letter would not reach you, but it seems that it did. I always like to hear from my friends at home. It makes this place and indeed any place, more cheerful to hear often from home, and those with whom I am acquainted. To say the best, this is a lonely, dreary, bleak, desolate place, and frequent letters do much to drive away the blues. The little world in which I move here is about fifteen rods square, and I seldom go outside of the fort unless it is on a pleasant day to take a horse back ride. This is about all the recreation I have, and as you may imagine, time passes off rather slowly and heavily. If it were not for books, I do not know what I should do. As it is, I read a good deal of the time and so turn my spare time to good account.
I had not heard from Jerome Hancock for a long time and have wondered what had become of him. I am glad, however, to hear so good account of him. If you see him or his mother, give them my respects.
I am very glad that so many of the boys came home from the army to vote. I suppose you passed a few pleasant hours with some of them. Lieut. Fullonton belongs to this regiment—as I suppose you know, but is on duty on Gen. [____ston’s] Staff. I think he is a tip top fellow and very smart too. I would like to spend a short time, or a long time rather, atBristol. I should enjoy it very much—especially now that William is at home. You know it seems so much better to have all at home together, but not all of our family will again assemble around the family board. The vacant place cannot be filled. I shall miss my brother Adam when I go home very much, more than I should any other brother because we were so near of an age that we were more intimate. How many times we have talked over our future plans. But he is gone now. He is now at rest and I would not call him back much as I feel his loss. Others too have passed away. I was sorry to hear of the death of Mary Woolson very. She will be missed very much at Brostol as she was a valuable member of society and of the church. But I have no doubt but what she too is at rest. Thus we are all passing away.
I do not know that Jack Smith had just a lady in New Hampton. I should think he was about old enough to die.
I also had a letter from Louis Rowe a few days ago. I am glad that he has got an easy chance as I think he should have, for he has had quite a hard time since he was wounded.
I suppose you will have a pleasant time at Manchester this winter. I would like to call in some evening and see you. I should enjoy it very much. But then such pleasures are not in store for me now, but I do not always expect to live in this out-of-the-world place. But before many years at least to return to the land of civilization. Then I shall know how to prize the blessings of society.
I have just been reading in the paper a beautiful piece of poetry which I copy lest you have not seen it. It goes as follows.
“De lord he lubs de nigger well, He knows de nigger by the smell; And whilst de pitch holds out to burn, De blackest nigger may return.
He knows dere wants and all of day, He feeds dere souls on possum fat; And when de nigger baby cry, De Lord he gibs ’em possum pie.
When in de Tabernacle met, Big nigger by a white gal set; And in de Beecher Chapel too, De nigger habs a good front pew.
De Lord determined not to keep. In different pews de cullerd sheep, But mix de various collors up, Like rum and lasses in a cup.”
Don’t you think those are beautiful lines? But I must close so goodbye for the present. Hoping soon to hear of your peace and prosperity, I remain as ever your true friend, — R. W. Musgrove
Spared & Shared 23 