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.
I could not find an image of Amaziah but here is one of George H. Bannister of Co. H, 13th New Hampshire Infantry (Ancestry)
The following letter was written by Amaziah Joshua Foss (1839-1863), the son of Woodbury Marden Foss (1804-1869) and Eliza Foss (1811-1887) of Strafford, New Hampshire. Amaziah and his younger brother Lemuel Perkins Foss (1841-1871) both served in Co. F, 13th New Hampshire Infantry during the Civil War.
Amaziah enlisted in August 1862 and was mustered into the regiment on 19 September 1862. He wrote this letter a few weeks later while at Aquia Creek, Virginia, less than a week before the Battle of Fredericksburg. He survived the attack on Marye’s Heights at Fredericksburg but a few months later he received a severe wound in the right leg while fighting at Providence Church Road (Suffolk) on 3 May 1863. His wound required amputation of the limb and he died from loss of blood on 7 May.
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This enveloped was addressed to Edwin F. Foss, Strafford, Strafford county, New Hampshire. Edwin was a younger brother.
Camp near Aquia Creek, Virginia December 8th 1862
Father,
I take my pencil in hand to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well and so is Lemuel. I suppose that you have been wondering why I have not written before but we have been on a march [since] last Monday. We are brought up for a support, so I heard. I suppose that there is agoing to [be an] advance on Fredericksburg as soon as they can get ready.
We had a good time to march until Friday when it began to snow and rain which made it muddy. Some of the boys went off and got a pig and brought into camp Friday night.
You want me to tell you if I got the money and postage stamps, I got them both but the box we did not get and I suppose we shall not get it at all now but still we may. They say that we are in camp where there was a Rebel cavalry encamped last winter but they have all gone now.
There is five brigades in camp here now I believe. The sick we left at Camp Casey but some of the them has gone to New York and three of them has come on after us and the rest is in the hospital—all there to Camp Casey.
I can’t stop to write anymore now so good[bye for] now. From your son, — A. J.
Capt. William G. Williamson of Co. F, 1st Regt. Confederate Engineers
The following letters were written by David Crockett Joyce (1822-1895) of Co. F, 1st Confederate Engineer Troops. David enlisted in September 1863 in Rockingham county, North Carolina. He was initially an artificer in the Courtney Artillery (“Henrico Artillery”) and by the spring of 1864 was in the Confederate Engineers. He was still with the Engineers at the time he was paroled at Appomattox in April 1865.
The 1st Engineers Regiment was organized at Richmond, Virginia, during the fall of 1863 with men from North Carolina and Virginia. In December about 250 of these men were repairing roads in the Richmond area. Later the unit served as prison guards, then repaired railroads and bridges. During the winter of 1864 – 1865 it built Bevill’s Bridge over the Appomattox River about twenty-five miles above Petersburg and sent a pontoon bridge to the Richmond and Danville Railroad Crossing of the Staunton River. In preparation for the spring campaign, it readied another pontoon bridge for use at the site of the roads from Richmond and Petersburg to the several crossings ot the Appomattox. The unit last 2 men killed and 28 wounded during the war, and when the
David wrote the letters to his wife, Harriet (Martin) Joyce (1831-1915) of Ayersville, Rockingham county, North Carolina. The couple had at least ten children, some of who are mentioned in these letters.
Letter 1
March 6, 1864
Dear wife,
I seat myself this Sabbath morning to answer your kind letter which come to hand last night. I got three letters from you which was the first word I have heard from you since I saw you at home or harvest. You don’t know how glad I was to hear them say, “A letter for David Joyce.” But oh! how sorry I was when I saw the black [border] although I was a look[ing] for such any moment. Oh my dear and great mother. I hope she is gone to that great and blessed sweet home where we will all meet again. So farewell, my dear mother, forever until we meet in Heaven.
Harriet, this leaves me & John Ree well. I think I have fatten[ed] about fifteen pounds since I saw you. Harriet, I feel first rate today in the way of health, thank God. I hope this will find you & my sweet little children all well. Harriet, you wrote to me about buying something over there. I can’t tell you what to do. If there is anything old that you want, do as you like about it. That is the way I do. If I was up there I could tell you something a what to do, so do as you can.
Harriet, I would have [ ] now to you than I have but I have been waiting for Ree & Joe to come home. But they ain’t got off yet. I reckon they will come next week if nothing happens. They would have come before now but the Yanks made a little raid a few days ago so I think it’s over for awhile. The General had us all out the other day to stand picket for to catch the Rebels but I didn’t see nery one. They have been fighting a little about Richmond, I understand, but no damage done. I understand they have had a brush down near Washington. Our men [have] taken and killed about five hundred and got about the same amount of stock and killed one general but I forgot his name.
Harriet I see some pieces in the papers that make me just [feel] like fighting forever. Harriet, I don’t think you feel like fighting but I hope I will fight enough for me and you too. I want you to send me word if they have catched any of them bushwhackers and tell Sam I want him to catch the last damn one of them if he can. Tell him if he wants help, get some for [ ] Douglas and David Joyce.
Letter 2
Henrico county Camp near Richmond, Va.
June 13, 1864
Dear Wife,
I seat myself this morning to answer your kind letter which came to hand last night but Harriet, you do not know how glad I was when they said, “A letter for D. Joyce.” Oh, it done me good to the heart to hear you all was as well as you was. Harriet, I am not so well yet but I am a heap better than I have been for the last week. If I had anything that I could eat, I think I would soon get well, but we have not had anything to eat but some rotten meat and rotten meal for five days, We sent our meat back today to Richmond to sell it if we could. We draw again today but I don’t know what sort we will get. But I told them if they didn’t get no better than they did, they need not fetch me any for I could not eat rotten meat.
We are here five miles below Richmond on the river with our boats. We come here to practice a lay down of our bridge boats. I don’t know how long we will stay here. Harriet, I wrote Abetha three days ago but I thought I would make up the lost time. I will write a letter every week if I can get the chance for I know how glad it makes me when I hear from you all. Harriet, you must write often as you can. I am glad to hear that you get milk enough for I know how good it is. Harriet, I wish I had some good butter milk. I think I could eat a half gallon if I had it. I ain’t eat a bit since I ate dinner at Henderson as I came on out here. You know that has been some time.
Harriet, I have no good news to write. I hear some cannons a shooting this morning. I hope they will have the big fight in a few days, let it go as it will. I hear that Old Morgan has given them a good whipping in Kentucky and captured a heap of property. We sent fifteen of our men down to the Bluff this morning to guard a bridge and there are a bridge here where we are too. It is two miles below here.
Harriet, I have studied so much about matters that I can’t think what to write. Harriet, I don’t sleep none atall hardly. Some nights I sit up after everyone is gone to bed a thinking so much about you all that there is no sleep in me atall and I get up the first one every morning for my bones ache so bad that I can’t lay [any longer]. There is nobody knows the trouble that I see about you and my poor little children but I hope to see you all again before long.
Harriet, if your hog is with pig, had better put it in the pasture with the cows before she pigs. And tell Sam to be sure and have the [ ] like he told me he would. Harriet, there is a heap of sickness here in our company. There ain’t much more than half of our men that is fit for duty. Johnson has been sick for two or three days but is some better this morning. Joseph Richardson is well as common. He is gone down to the boat bridge to stand guard. He has stood it well.
Harriet, I think I weigh 145 pounds. When I left our winter quarters I weighed 150 pounds. Harriet, I will send you a piece of cabamas [?] for the children. There is a patch right here. There is bushels of it here so I will send you a little. Tell little Mary that Pap ain’t got a bit of sugar and I am out of money nearly but I have no use for her money. We can’t buy a thing to eat atall. Harriet, I will send you some money as soon as I draw it.
…Harriet, you said that Dick had been over to settle. Tell him to wait till I come home—that I am the one to settle with and don’t you settle with him atall. And don’t you deal with him no more than you can help…I want you to tell Old Mr. Oakly and Aunt Sock that I send my best respects to them. If they can help you any way about something to eat that they shan’t loose a cent for if I live, I think I will come out of the kinks yet. Tell Mr. Oakly I wish I could see him and have a dram for me and him to drink. Harriet, I got me a good drink of peach brandy the other day in Richmond for two dollars. That is all I have bought since I got back. I ain’t got but two dollars now and I will send Nick and Dog one of them in this letter to encourage them to work. Boys, you must work good and make all you can. Send me word how your crop looks and plant all the taters slips you can get for I want some of them to eat next fall yet. I ain’t forgot you and I never will. When I draw some money, I will got to Richmond and get something that is fine if I can get it. Nick don’t work good…You must tend to the chickens and raise all you can for it is a going to be the hardest time that ever was next year.
The following letter was written by James Abell Dunbar (1816-1852). He was married in 1840 to Ann Elizabeth Eugenia Langley (1823-1879). James wrote the letter from New Orleans where he was temporarily domiciled and employed in the sale of Cooking Stoves under the name of Dunbar & Company with its office at No. 59 Tehoupitoulas Street.
James’s letter was written during the Panic of 1837 and is the reason that business was “dull” and resulting in numerous financial embarrassments to businessmen. Jackson’s veto of a National Bank was also the cause of differences in valuation of money which lead to speculators playing State banks against each other, as mentioned in the closing paragraph.
James wrote the letter to his father, George Towers Dunbar, Sr. (1774-1843), the son of Joseph Thomas Dunbar and Henrietta Carpenter of Baltimore county, Maryland.
Advertisement for cooking stoves sold by Dunbar & Co. in New Orleans
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New Orleans, [Louisiana] 1st May 1837
My dear father,
I received yesterday a letter from William saying that I must not draw, I have no occasion for I have not done it. There is absolutely nothing doing here & people are leaving pretty fast. I find it almost impossible to make collections but as I have no urgent demands, my only trouble is to find out what to do to keep the mill a going. I may possibly come on in July or August in order to get more consignments & to purchase stoves, &c. I must again visit the Yankee States & also several places in Missouri, &c. &c. If I could manage to collect I should be off somewhere in a short time. My expenses are small—rent $50 per month, board & lodging 41, clothes $15, pocket $10—say $120 per month. It has been a loss of profit of at least $300 by not having plenty of Rotarys [Rotary Cooking Stoves]. I have calls for them every week. I gave you a statement in my last of the state of my affairs & to William a similar one a few days ago. It stands about 6900 to pay $5700—whereas last summer it was minus $2500. If I had had a proper supply of stoves I could have made $1000 or more. I have done as much as could be done by a lame duck.
If the times were not in such a horrid state, I could make 1000 more before July but as they are, I shall not more than make expenses. William says “you must not deal in Mississippi notes.” The advice is needless as I have not enough cash to make it an object & further I am not so daring as to risk anything in the present state of affairs. I sent you by Mr. Sumner a neat snuff box & hope you will be pleased with it. George has just returned from the river Jordan where he and Mr. Ranny contemplate erecting a steam saw mill which promises to be very profitable. Uncle Sam knocked in the head for the present.
Ralph Smith is gone up the Red River to locate a railroad and will probably be married to Miss Leocarde Baham in the fall. 1
Love to all & do not let the bad times have an effect on your spirits. There’s no use in it.
Your son, — James
2nd. The dullness of business, George’s going away and the hardness of collections have made me quite melancholy today.
A young man of highly ([William C.] Reynolds) respectable connections who some time since murdered a man by the name of [Jules] Barré, yesterday shot himself in prison to avoid the fate he saw coming. George will relate the particulars. A man by the name of Cadiche was hung a few days ago for the murder of a Spaniard. Refer to George for particulars. A negro was hung about 10 days ago for attempting to kill several persons who seized him. I hope to hear of every murderer high or low, paying the forfeit.
May 3rd. Theodore Nicolet, merchant, shot himself today. Gen. Jackson or Van Buren will have to answer for it as it was caused by his being ruined by the derangement of business. Mr. Lemonier shot himself a few days ago a few minutes after he had heard of the death of his mother. These things are done & forgotten in one day or so.
The merchants, or rather some merchants, make money by drawing a few thousand specie at one bank & sell to another at 2.5 premium. $5000 at two operations a day make $250. 6 days 1500. 12 days 2010, &c. &c. Some one will get bit most abominably. I expect we shall see some Bank of Maryland sort of blown up before long.
1 Ralph S. Smith (1806-1883) of Chatham, Connecticut, was married in St. Tammany county to Leocardie Baham (1809-1848) on 5 August 1837.In 1850, Ralph resided in Alexandria, Louisiana, and owned 42 slaves.
This letter was written by James Nunn (1838-1864), the son of James Nunn (1802-1886) and Ursula Usey East (1800-1892) of Stokes county, North Carolina. James was married to Nancy Elizabeth Bingman (1845-1917) in May 1861 and fathered two children prior to his enlistment as a private in Co. H, 23rd North Carolina Infantry in October 1862.
According to his service record, James was killed at the Battle of New Market, Virginia, on 15 May 1864 when his regiment with others—including the young cadets of the Virginia Military Institute (VMI)—were ordered by Gen. Breckinridge to attack Gen. Franz Sigel’s army as they advanced up the Shenandoah Valley with the objective of destroying the railroad and canal complex at Lynchburg.
One artist’s depiction of the VMI cadet’s charge at New Market where James Nunn of the 23rd North Carolina lost his life.
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Greenbrier county, Va. March 2, 1864
Dear wife,
I seat myself to inform you that I am well at this time and I hope when these few lines comes to hand, they may find you and the baby enjoying the same good blessing. I received your kind letter this morning which gave me great satisfaction to hear from you and the baby to hear that you was well.
I have nothing to write of any importance at his time. Only bad weather here and hard times and no prospect for it to get any better as I see. You said they had took some prisoners in North Carolina and hung them. 1 They say there was sixteen left here the other night and went to the Yankees and they never catched them. Then they got one in the Droop Mountain fight and they shot him. Joe seen him shot before I got here. There was two [should] of been. One shot last Friday and he got away from them and cleared himself.
So I will bring my letter to a close to you. Write soon and give me all of the news from home. So I remain your husband until death.
The following letter was written by 18 year-old Henry Stokes Figures (1844-1864), the son of William Bibb Figures (1820-1872) and Harriet Stokes (1826-1900) of Huntsville, Madison county, Alabama. Henry’s father was a leading figure in Huntsville and served as editor/publisher of the Hunstville Southern Advocate.
Henry Stokes Figures (left) of the “Huntsville Guards” (Ancestry)
Henry first enlisted as a private in Co. F (the “Huntsville Guards”), 4th Alabama Infantry in July 1861, rising in rank to Orderly Sergeant. In July 1862 he claimed to have participated in the Battle of Manassas, Seven Pines, and Gaines’ Mill. Henry the following letter while serving in the 4th Alabama Infantry.
Sometime in May 1863 he was transferred into the 48th Alabama Infantry and commissioned 1st Lieutenant. He was made adjutant of the regiment soon afterwards. He was killed on 6 May 1864 in the Battle of the Wilderness while rallying the men in his regiment. His body was wrapped in his blanket roll in lieu of a coffin; a makeshift wooden cross marked the spot. His sister, Mattie, wrote later, “Kind hands carried him from the battlefield, and laid him to rest, in an orchard under an apple tree, in full bloom, which cast its rosy petals near his head.” Henry’s father went to Virginia two years after the War to retrieve the body. His remains are in the family plot at the city cemetery.
Henry also fought at Fredericksburg, Chicakamauga, and Gettysburg where he wrote his sister that his regiment (48th Alabama) charged up the mountain for two miles, when it became so steep that we could not go any farther. We then fell back and charged it four successive times but could not take the heights. The enemy were upon the top of the mountain – the steepest place I ever saw in my life. . .killed and wounded in our regiment…Captain Leftwich, Tom Lanier, Jim Duff…Tell Mr. Leftwich that I have his son’s sword and will send it to him as soon as I have an opportunity.”
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Camp near Culpeper Court House, Va. November 13th 1862
My Dear Ma,
I will try and write you a few lines by Mr. Winston who is going home this morning. He came out to see his son who was wounded in Maryland, but went home from Winchester. 1 I wrote to you by him. I received Pa’s letter & answered it about the 1st of November. I was very sorry to hear that you was sick & I am in hopes that you are now entirely well. Mr. Elyin & McCallaghan came out with Mr. Winston. The former told me that you were a great deal better. You don’t know how glad I was to hear it. Give my love to all at home & kiss the little ones for me. I was very much disappointed in not getting a letter from one of you by him.
I have not yet got my clothes from Henry Weeden for I think we will fall back to Gordonsville very soon. All our baggage that was at Gordonsville & other places has been sent to Lynchburg. We had a very good snow three days ago.
I seen an Advocate the other day that had my letter in it. What made Pa publish it, I can’t see. All the boys laid it on me, but I would not own it.
Col. [Pinckney Downie] Bowles sent up a petition to the Secretary of War the other day signed by all the officers of the regiment for our regiment to be transferred to Gen. Forney’s Brigade at Mobile. I don’t know how it will succeed but live in hopes. The 11th & 2nd Mississippi Regiments that were in our brigade are transferred to Gen. Joe Davis’s Brigade in Richmond. He is the President’s nephew. Two North Carolina regiments are in their place—the 54th and 57th. I must bring my letter to a close.
I remain your affectionate son, — Henry S. Figures
1 Edmund Martin Winston (1837-1928) was an unmarried 22 year old mechanic from Huntsvile, AL when he enlisted as Private on 26 April 1861 in Company F, 4th Alabama Infantry. He was present with his Company in engagements from First to Second Manassas, VA in 1862. He was severely wounded in action on 17 September 1862 at Sharpsburg, and “left in the hands of the enemy.” His arm was amputated, and he was discharged for wounds on 8 November 1862.
The following letter was written by Col. Frederick A. Schley (1789-1858), the son of John Jacob Schley (1751-1829) and Anna Maria Shellman (1754-1843) of Frederick, Maryland. Frederick’s first wife was Eliza Asbury McCannon (1794-1816) with whom he married in 1812. The “Mrs. McCannon” mentioned in the first paragraph would have been Frederick’s mother-in-law, Anna (1760-1838). Frederick had a long legal career in Frederick and was at one time the law partner of Roger Taney—the Supreme Court Chief Justice best remembered for handing down the Dred Scott decision.
Frederick wrote the letter to George Towers Dunbar, Sr. (1774-1843), the son of Joseph Thomas Dunbar (1818-18010 and Henrietta Carpenter (17xx-1801) of Baltimore county, Maryland. George was married to Frances McCannon (1788-1868), making Frederick and George brothers-in-law.
Frederick’s letter speaks of purchasing a young negro named “Dan” who “is a very smart, active boy, and with a Master who would occasionally trounce him with ‘the cat of nine tails’ would make an excellent servant.” Slavery would not be abolished in Maryland until the end of the Civil War.
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Addressed to Mr. George T. Dunbar, Howard Street, Baltimore [Maryland]
Frederick [Maryland] January 4, 1815
My dear Sir,
I have been anxiously waiting to hear from you whether Mr. Betts accepted my proposition or what he has said and done relative to it. Also whether Stewart called & paid you $125 as he promised me he would, And further whether you have succeeded yet in procuring house for Mrs. McCannon or whether you have any prospect of getting one this winter. The old lady is as you well know extremely anxious to settle herself and have her children with her. If you can’t get a house for her, I think she had better rent Doctor Colegate’s for one year during which time a desirable situation may probably offer and you can then purchase for her.
I understand sugar has fallen very much in price. If so, will you be so good as to purchase 150 or 200 lbs. and send me a Bill of it. I will then send by some waggoner for it and forward you the amount of “Saline” paper which I understand is 3 percent above par.
Mrs. Dunbar said something to me about purchasing a negro boy for you. If you want one, I have no doubt I could get one. I, however, think you would do well to purchase “Dan,” who has 15 years to serve from the estate. He is a very smart, active boy, and with a Master who would occasionally trounce him with “the cat of nine tails” would make an excellent servant. If I had not my Jacob who I will never sell, I would purchase him myself. He is worth 40 Henrys. Suppose you take him upon trial for a week or two. Isaac Shriver wants to buy him but I would rather sell him to you.
If my house is not sold and any person will give you $6800 for it, you can sell.
You have no doubt seen and read with the proud and gratifying feelings of an American the treaty dictated by the gallant Decatur to the cruel and lofty Dey of Algiers. There is a sample of Federal Policy for you. What think you? Is it not an improvement [over?] Jefferson’s treaty? The treaties made with [ ] face, Grey-eyes, and the Shooting Tiger excite little interest comparatively speaking. Our “red brethren” however seem to have been completely outmaneuvered by Jackson to the Southward, and to have got much less advantageous terms than the Kickapoos and other Northern tribes. Poor Devils. I wish they were all in a better world for I much fear we shall never be able to keep them quiet in this. 1
My love to Mrs. D. and believe me yours, sincerely, — Frederick A. Schley
1 This is a reference to Commodore Stephen Decatur’s Algerian Treaty which, once ratified, ended the Second Barbary War. The treaty was repudiated by Dey Omar Agha of Algeria, however, and it was several more years before a final treaty was ratified.Frederick contrasts that treaty against the treaties made between the US Government and the Native American Tribes. See Treaties of Portage des Sioux.
The following letter was written from Chicago in November 1850 by Daniel C. Nicholes (1817-1889), the orphaned son of Daniel Nicholes (1773-1847) and Diantha Holly (1785-1845). We learn from the letter that Daniel and his brother Ira James Nicholes (1819-1881) had a law practice in Chicago at the corner of Randolph and Clarke Streets, conveniently located opposite the Court House.
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Chicago [Illinois] November 10, 1850
Dear Sister,
We received a letter last week from Phebe containing a general history of the times and of all matters which she thought would interest us. I was also very happy to learn your whereabouts. It has been a long time since you have written to me or since I have heard from you. I wrote a letter to John some time since and directed it to Shuylerville, not knowing where his post office address was. I have received no answer and presume he did not receive it. I was very glad to hear that you were all enjoying good health and prospering in business. I have been in hopes that John would find it for his interest to visit the West and perhaps settle somewhere in this vicinity. Whether he could do better here than where he is, I am unable to say. The people here complain of hard times and I presume they do in most other places. We would be very glad to have you make us a long visit and if it would be for your interest to do so, to live near us. We have a home of our own such a one as it is and we think it is tolerably comfortable.
Out lot cost us about two hundred and fifty dollars. We have got a fine fence around it which cost us about thirty-five or forty dollars. I will give you a short description of our house. It consists of a dining room, kitchen, bedroom and vestry below, and two rooms and two closets above. The rooms are all small as our house is small. We have got it carpeted and papered below. We are getting fixed so we can begin to live comfortably. Our law business has increased so that if it continues as good as it is at present, we shall keep our heads above water we think.
Out house is on Edina Place Street and our office is at the corner of Randolph and Clark Streets opposite to the Court House. Chicago is improving rapidly and we think is destined to be one of the largest cities in the West. It contains a population now of about thirty thousand. The city is connected with the Mississippi river by the Michigan and Illinois Canal & will be connected probably within a year with the same river by railroad. We have railroads now commenced connecting Chicago with the Mississippi river at Galena, also with the Ohio river at Cairo, and with the Gulf of Mexico at Mobile and with the Atlantic at New York City, and with the Pacific at Sacramento. The Pacific Railroad we think will commence at Chicago and will be continued from Chicago to Galena, from Galena to Council Bluffs, to the South Pass, and from thence to the Pacific.
During the past season, gas works have been erected here and the city is lighted with gas. We have had a Marine Hospital erected here this summer by the United States Government. The Tremont House which is six stories high and a hundred and eight feet one way and a hundred and sixty the other, has been finished this summer. It is furnished in the most splendid style. Mr. [Ira] Couch, the proprietor, purchased fourteen thousand dollars worth of furniture at one house in Boston. The furniture in the Bride’s Room at the Tremont cost three thousand dollars. It is one of the finest hotels in the Union. 1
We have also a new theatre [Rice’s Theatre], 80 by 100 feet, erected this summer and a great many other fine and large buildings. But perhaps you have heard enough about the city.
Ira and I are in company in the practice of Law. We have a great many cases but rather a small income compared with the amount of business we do. If we received as large fees as we get in New York State, we should make money fast, We have had about four hundred cases in Justice Court within the last year and a half and upwards of sixty cases in Courts of Record in this county. The highest fees we have ever received is thirty-five dollars and in Courts of Record from ten to twenty-five though some receive as high as from fifty to sixty for a suit. The business here is of a far more trifling character than it generally is in the State of New York.
Amanda and I shall probably visit New York State another summer and if you remain where you are now, we shall make you a visit. I and my wife made Hawley a visit a few days ago. We found him well. He had sold his house and lot and had bought two quite large lots and was building him a new house. Tell Calista that I would be very glad to see her and would like to have her come to Chicago and spend the winter with us and go to school. We live close by a large three-story brick school house. The public schools in this city are all free. There was given to the city a square mile of land situated in the city for the use of schools, the proceeds of which build all the school houses and pay all the expenses of the schools. My wife sends her best respects to you all and we expect you will write to us soon after the receipt of this. Very truly your brother, &c., — Daniel C. Nichols
1 The Tremont House…is one of the chief ornaments of the City, and reflects great credit upon its proprietor, Mr. Ira Couch. The Tremont fronts 120 feet on Lake and 180 feet on Dearborn street. It is five and a half stories high. Its internal arrangements, finish, furniture and decorations are in the highest style of art, and of the class denominated princely…The cost of the building was about $75,000.
The following letter appears to have been dictated by, and signed by, Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter in answer to a letter received from Brig. Gen. Thomas Francis Meagher (1823-1867)—the famed former commander of the Irish Brigade. By this time of the war, Meagher was in command of the Provisional Division of the Army of the Tennessee and had recently joined forces with Sherman’s army in North Carolina.
The letter was datelined from the US Flagship Malvern anchored in the Cape Fear River following the Battle of Wilmington (Feb. 11-22, 1865) in which Rear Admiral Porter and Maj. Gen. Alfred Terry coordinated their naval and land forces to capture Fort Fisher.
Though I am not a handwriting expert, it is my impression that Porter’s signature appears genuine though the remainder of the letter seems to have been written with different ink and in a different hand.
The USS Malvern was an iron side-wheel gunboat and saw service as the flagship of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. She was present at the capture of Fort Fisher in 1865. Following the fall of Richmond in early April 1865, she transported Pres. Lincoln up the James river to visit the city.
Transcription
Map on the opposite side of the letter.
North Atlantic Squadron U.S. Flagship “Malvern“ Cape Fear River February 22nd 1865
Thomas Francis Meagher Brig. Gen. USA Commanding Prov. Div. Army of the Tenn.
General, your note of the 9th inst. has just been received. It would have given me great pleasure to have obliged you but the “Britannia” in which your young friend is serving is no longer under my command. I have ever made it a rule to examine officers when recommended and I should have taken great pleasure in doing this for the young man at any time should his commanding officer have desired it.
Most respectfully yours, — David D. Porter, Rear Admiral, Commanding North Atlantic Squadron
The following handwritten notes were found in an 1862 New Testament that was carried by Levi Lewis Jaquith (1829-1913) while serving as a sergeant in Co. B, 53rd Massachusetts Infantry.
Levi was the son of Seth Jaquith (1804-1866) and Ann Robbins (1805-1878) of Cheshire county, New Hampshire. Levi was first married in 1850 to Sarah Louisa Kingsbury (1833-1892) and later, in 1894 to Orvilla Wilson (1842-1918). At the time of the Civil War, Levi was living in Fitchburg, Worcester county, Massachusetts. Levi was 33 years old when he enlisted on 25 August 1862, giving his occupation as a “chair maker.”
After it was organized in the fall of 1862, the regiment was assigned to the expedition to go to Louisiana and once there, in January 1863, it was assigned to Gooding’s 3rd Brigade, Paine’s 3rd Division, 19th Army Corps. After participating on some expeditions into Louisiana, the 53rd found itself in May 1863 at Bayou Sara, bearing down on Port Hudson from the north. It was here that Levi began taking notes on the flyleaf of the New Testament, distributed by the American Bible Society.
In addition to preserving the New Testament that he carried with him in the service, Levi collected and kept a rather unusual relic of his sojourn into Dixie—a lash that he picked up from a Louisiana plantation. The braided leather lash measures approximately 21 inches in length and bears a contemporary tag, barely discernible, but appears to read, “Lyman Plantation, Laurel Hill, Lash,” and includes Levi’s signature. There was a village named Laurel Hill in West Feliciana Parish through which the troops passed, though I cannot find any mention of a plantation owned by the Lyman family.
Transcription
Arrived at St. Francisville
Handheld New Testamentdistributed by the American Bible Society
Saturday morn 23rd [May]. Midnight on Mississippi river. Moved from Alexandria to Simsport. Start May 22nd. March 75 miles. 3 days. Morning of 26th, go into city from river. Camp near Lyman Plantation in magnolia grove and cape jasmine. Cross in Laurel Hill [packet sidewheeler]. Change camp. Nearly all the troops gone up river towards Port Hudson. Embark on Laurel Hill. Don’t start up river.
Store houses on the river burned by Butler. Ammunition train. Stop at St. Francisville. No flour, cloth, meal, servants nearly starved. Fine court house and church (new). Most luxuriant country…
March three miles to enemy’s works through woods. In ravine, see the [ ] skirmishing. Heavy artillery open. Pioneers clear away—make road for artillery. 1 o’clock, abandon this road because of deep ravine. Change position to another a half mile away near forward. Corps of Pioneers build new road. Cross ravine 30 to 50 feet deep, cut trees &c. Camp down at dark. I work forming picket lines until 11 o’clock. Sleep with adjutant. Distant sound of horses in night. Rebels make a feint to retreat twice. Fearful volley in front and rear. A few fall back. They volley, take old position. Three or four wounded. One finger shot off (self shot) Capt. [George H.] Bailey. 1
Work until 11 deploying skirmishers. Return to headquarters with reserve. Co. I and F did from 12 to 3. Major waked me and we count on the whole line, examining the position. Adjutant struck with spent ball. One volley at daylight. Rebs retire. Two persons come in Tuesday noon. I retire to rear. [Gen.] Paine with them. Order of Col.—remain all quiet. Returned at 9 o’clock. Retire half a mile to cook and sleep. Remain all day resting. Negro regiments. 22 guns. Bouquet of magnolias.
No firing. A strange calm before the storm. Quiet walk in the evening alone. Sat down but no sleep. Restless, nervous, weary and sleepy. But no sleep. I feel the weight of our position. The awful solemnity. Col. came in at 11. I notify all commander that the grand attack will commence in the morning by the central force. Order that men have two day’s rations, breakfast eaten, blankets rolled, and left under guard, and start at 4:20.
Brig. General William Dwight
Move at 4:30 through the woods. Gen. [William] Dwight leads, having command of us infantry. In one to two hours the rebs are all driven through the woods to a clearing and the artillery comes up. Open a terrible fire. Rebs respond. An awful artilllery duel. 30 lb. fused shells strikes within 2 feet of our line [but] did not explode. Men did not move. The 30 lb. shells strike all about us. Several battery trains cut down. Tree cut entirely in two, falls upon a caisson and 6 horses, crushing them all. Men go by in crowds wounded—officers also. Lots of skedaddlers. “All cut up.”
Gen. Paine comes up and says our forces have taken two rifle pits but are badly cut to pieces. Needs us there. Had regiment [start] for the place he wants but we must support the battery and hold the hill. [ ] the 91st New York and 2nd Louisiana &c. welcomed with “bully for you” over and over. The men have driven the rebs out of a ravine for three-quarter mile. Our regiment sprang to the edge of a cliff and opened fire. The enemy are behind rifle pits 150 yards in front. From 10 till dark our men fire continuously. Reb’s big Columbiad……4 men wounded on our side.
On Thursday, 28th, firing with rifles stopped. We lay all day resting with a watch, ordered to cease firing. After noon the artillery opened and in a few moments dismounted the enemy guns. Flag of truce to bury dead till 7 evening.
1 Capt. Bailey was mortally wounded on May 25th and died on the 27th.
The standard uniform of the Oneida Independent Cavalry Company (Military Images, March 2017)
The following letter was written by Addison Gardner Bonney (1841-Aft1880), the orphaned son of Perez Harwood Bonney (1793-1851) and Sybil Covey (1807-1854) of Hamilton, Madison county, New York.
Addison wrote this letter while serving as a corporal in the Oneida Independent Cavalry Company. He mustered into the company on 4 September 1861 and mustered out as a sergeant in September 1864. This company was recruited mainly at Oneida, Salisbury, Stockbridge, Hamilton, Otisco, Eaton, Nelson Flatts, Vienna and Chittenango. It left the State in September, 1861, and served at the headquarters of the Army of the Potomac, performing escort and guard duty, and furnishing couriers, etc.
Addison wrote his letter from the Headquarters of the Army of the Potomac (AOP) at Frederick, Maryland, just days before the Battle of Gettysburg, and on the very day that Gen. Meade replaced Gen. Hooker as the commander of the AOP—though that information was not yet known to him. “Gen. Hooker is a good division general but is not fit to command the Army of the Potomac, and he is no favorite of the army,” confided Addison to his sister.
Transcription
Addressed to Miss Byron Powers, Knox Corners, Oneida county, New York
Headquarters Army of the Potomac Frederick, Maryland
June 28, 1863
Dear Sister,
We have traveled sixty miles in the last two days from Fairfax Court House to this place. We will probably remain here for two or three days.
I never knew less of what was going on in the army than at this time. Gen. Hooker is noted for still movements and quiet planning, but we will of course attack the enemy in Pennsylvania in the rear if a battle is fought then.
I have written before of the fine country about here, whereas harvest has commenced. I never saw such splendid fields of wheat before. I think they will yield forty bushels to the acre (without exaggeration).
Our entrance into Frederick yesterday was far from being what it was last year. No cheering ever meets the ear of our General. No handkerchiefs ever wave to welcome the approach of our General. No young ladies of surpassing beauty wait impatiently to salute him with a kiss. Gen. Hooker is a good division general but is not fit to command the Army of the Potomac, and he is no favorite of the army.
I become every day more and more convinced that this is a political war and is carried on by a set of politicians and speculators. And these are hardened and selfish and are totally blinded to the country’s interests and to everything but their own personal benefit.
I am well but am pretty tired from hard riding and little sleep.
Spared & Shared 23 