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 author of the following letter remains unidentified though I believe there are enough clues in it to figure it out with more time and effort. We know that the author was born in April 1843 and that she likely had a brother with the first name of “Smith” attending Amherst College. I thought at first he might be William Smith Clark who taught there and led the effort to raise a company of students at the college in 1861 and actually received a commission later that year, but I can’t find any evidence that he had a sister that young. [See: “Some of the sweetest Christians” The Wartime Education of Amherst’s Boys in Blue by Bruce Laurie]
The author wrote her letter from Canandaigua, New York. It isn’t clear if she lived there or was only temporarily residing there. It may be that she was actually from Rochester, New York. Various cousins are named but I could not make a connection. She wrote the letter to her cousin Kate who may have had two brothers, Austin and Lyman who were early enlistees in the war.
Her letter speaks of the danger that the City of Washington was in until troops were sent to bolster its defenses. She also speaks of the reality of war: “Now that we are convinced the rumor of war is not a mere transient gust of enthusiasm, but has become a stern, sober reality, is not the condition of our country awful? Only think of the horrors of a civil war. I think that there is great cause to fear that the prosperity of America has vanished. You know the old adage, ‘United we stand, divided we fall.'”
Transcription
Canandaigua [New York] Saturday eve, May 11, 1861
My dearest cousin Kate,
Many thanks for your dear kind letter for which I truly beg pardon for not answering before, [and] also for the paper you sent me yesterday which brought intelligence that was more soothing and tranquilizing to my feelings than anything I had before read. I either hear read, or read myself, the daily news and knew that [the City of] Washington was considered safe at present from any attack that could be made upon it. Yet it gave me great pleasure to realize for a certainty that one to whom neither my patriotism nor yours would be willing to have harm some felt himself safe and secure. But oh! how dreadful, how painful must have been the suspense before aid arrived, hemmed in as they were and surrounded on all sides by those Rebel secessionists and feeling every moment that they were liable to be attacked.
You were very kind and thoughtful to write to me about the death of little Zany Pound. How sad and beautiful he left this vale of tears for a home of perfect love and happiness in the arms of his savior. I should think that his death would establish a new bond of sympathy between darling Alice and cousin Almina. I can almost imagine the sweet spirits of dear little Eddie and Zany in that other and more glorious world where their souls may entwine the tendrils of their affections around pure spirits and live on forever in the presence and “bask in the smile of that Being who alone is Love.” It must have been a hard struggle for Cousin Alex and Almina to give their pet child up, but perhaps they have not forgotten the right use of adversity. Afflictions from Heaven are angels sent on embassies of love. They are commissioners to show us the insignificance of earthly greatness and “to wean our affections from transitory things, and elevate them to those realities which are ever blooming at the right hand of God.”
You must miss cousin Lyman and Austin very much. Do you never have any anxious thoughts about Washington and Austin’s safety? Now that we are convinced the rumor of war is not a mere transient gust of enthusiasm, but has become a stern, sober reality, is not the condition of our country awful? Only think of the horrors of a civil war. I think that there is great cause to fear that the prosperity of America has vanished. You know the old adage, “United we stand, divided we fall.”
Canandaigua has become quite a rendezvous for soldiers. Troops are constantly passing through on their way to Elmira. Col. Tyler’s Zouaves were in town Friday and Saturday. They left Saturday evening. A large number of ladies and gentlemen were at the depot to see them depart. Just before starting, a number of the zouaves mounted upon the top of the cars and sang the beautiful national anthem. It was the saddest sight I ever beheld—to see so many brave and loyal hearts on their way to almost certain destruction. When the signal was given for their departure, there was hardly a dry eye among them and one of their number remarked that they were too fine [of] fellows to perish upon the field of battle.
I read in the Rochester paper that Dr. Helmer was a going as assistant surgeon. Have any of my other acquaintances enlisted from Lockport? They have formed a large company of the students of Amherst College. Smith was very anxious to enlist and wrote home to that effect. The thought of his wishing to go made mother almost frantic. She wrote back that he must not think of such a thing. I think upon the whole that Mother’s health is much better this spring than in the winter and I sincerely hope and trust that in a few years she will be able to be about.
How is cousin Amy this spring? Give a good deal of love to her for Mother and I and tell her that I love her more and more every day if possible. I thank her very kindly for her kind invitation to visit her this summer and of course should be delighted to visit her, but I expect to go to Burlington in the fall and shall be quite busy getting ready. I shall remain there a year without coming home. I expect to be very lonesome and homesick as eight weeks is the longest time I ever spent from home and that at your house last summer.
I saw Charley Farlinghouse a few days ago. He said that they were all well at his house. Mrs. Farling talks of visiting you in the summer. A few weeks ago Tuesday was my eighteenth birthday and I received from Father a chased watch and chain. Do you not think it a nice present? Also from my anonymous friend a very pretty gold pencil.
David Cussoot was buried nearly three weeks ago. Hannah Smith, Aunt Lucy’s daughter, has been here since. She appeared quite cheerful. She says she thinks her Father and Mother enjoyed themselves most during the past six months of her Mother’s life than ever before and that his death was hastened by his continually grieving after her. As I wish this letter to go out this evening, I will not write anymore. Please give my love to Alice, cousin Lyman Walter Spalding and all, and hoping to hear from you
This Corporal from the 36th Illinois Volunteers wears the Army regulation dress hat, complete with: bugle, company letter, Jefferson Davis eagle, and ostrich plume, though the hat is pinned up incorrectly per regulations as was done by the 36th. He wears a flannel Federal Issue shirt underneath a state issued jacket, which featured a nine button front, epaulets, and two buttons on each sleeve cuff. His trousers feature a 1/2 inch stripe designating his rank as a Corporal. He wears standard Issue brogans. His accouterments; a bayonet and scabbard, cap pouch, and cartridge box, are all worn on his belt. He does not have a shoulder strap for his cartridge box, as these were at the time, omitted from issue at the St. Louis Depot. He wears full marching order, including a Federal Issue painted haversack and canteen with leather strap. He also carries a full double bag knapsack, with his blanket rolled on top. Inside his knapsack he carries extra socks, an extra shirt, a gum blanket folded in the middle, a fatigue blouse, forage cap, and any additional personal items he can fit. [Alton Jaeger Guards Website]
The following letters were written by James Betts Sifleet (1841-1863) who came to the United States with his parents from Kent, England, prior to the Civil War. The family settled in Verona, Grundy county, Illinois. His parents names were Robert Thomas Sifleet (1817-1893) and Sarah Betts (1819-1871). The Sifleet’s had two son’s that served in the Civil War—James, and his younger brother George Thomas Fleet (1842-1863. Neither son came home.
James enlisted in September 1861 as a private in Co. F, 36th Illinois Infantry—the “Fox River Regiment.” He died on 10 January 1863 in a Nashville Hospital from an infected wound received during the Battle of Stone Rivers [See The 36th Illinois Infantry at the Battle of Stones River]. His brother George served in Co. D, 127th Illinois Infantry and died of disease on 25 April 1863 at Youngs Point, Louisiana.
To read other letters by members of the 36th Illinois Infantry that I have transcribed and posted on Spared & Shared, see:
[Note: The image in the header is from the Alton Jaeger Guards, portraying the 36th Illinois Infantry. They began forming in early August 1861 at Camp Hammond near Aurora, Illinois. They would take part in action at Pea Ridge, Perryville, Stone’s River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, the Atlanta Campaign, Franklin, and Nashville.]
Letter 1
[Camp Hammond, Aurora, Illinois] September 18, 1861
Dear Friends,
I now take the pleasure of writing these few lines to you hoping to find you in good health as, thank God, it leaves us at present. This letter is to let you know that I arrived here safe yesterday morning. I cannot tell you how long we shall be here. It is hard to tell for some say we are a going Friday [and some] say we are a going to be here two or three weeks yet. The fact is, I don’t believe anyone on the ground knows. I should not be surprised if we went this week nor if we stayed two or three weeks. I shall not write but a few lines so as to let you know that I am well.
I think often of what you said when I was coming away. I think that you could not mean exactly what you said. I suppose you think that I am under great temptations. It is true that we are surrounded by evil but still there are good people here as there are anywhere.
I went to a prayer meeting last night in one of the tents. It was one pleasant meeting to me. We can have as good prayer meetings here as anywhere. We have our God here as well as there, so dear Mother, I hope you think different from what you did when I come away. And remember that it is a good cause for which I am fighting. I believe that God called me to fight and will put my trust in Him. And if I should fall in the battlefield, I hope to meet you in heaven where there is no more parting and where there will be no war, but peace and harmony and serving God. So let us live here in this world as true Christians. Pray for me that I may hold out as a true Christian until the end.
I am writing just as I feel. I feel happy in my tent. We have not got our uniforms yet. I shall write often if I do not write much. It is likely I shall not get letters that come from [you] as well as you can from me. I must now conclude with my love to you and all inquiring [friends].
Please give William Huggett 1 love to you all, to his grandmother, and tell her he was very glad to have a letter from [her] and was thankful for advice and he intends to take it [and] do the best he can. So no more from your affectionate son, — James Sifleet
Care of Capt. Olson, Fox River Regiment, Aurora, Illinois
You will have to write your directions pretty clear because they are large.
1 William Huggett enlisted in the same company at the same time as James. He was mortally wounded (like James) at the Battle of Stone River.
Letter 2
Camp Rolla, Missouri October 13, 1861
Dear father and mother, brother and sister,
I now take the pleasure of writing these few lines to you hoping to find you in good health as thank God this leaves me at present. I received your kind and welcome [letter] yesterday and I can tell you, I was very glad to get it although I was sorry to hear of the horse dying. I suppose likely you have had another letter by this time from me.
I am enjoying myself well living here and trying to serve God. This last week there has been prayer meetings every night but one and it rained and I expect they will continue by the help of God. But it is terrible to hear the cursing and swearing going on around us. I am surprised when I think about it, [especially] when they are expecting to go to battle and no knowing when they may be called away into eternity adn to stand before God to give an account for themselves before the Great High God.
I went to meeting this morning. It was a good meeting. Our first lieutenant [was there]. There was quite a congregation there. The meeting was out in the woods and most of us took along our blankets and sat down on the ground. There will be prayer meeting tonight. There was prayer meetings this morning before the other meeting.
You wrote in your letter about [how] you expected it was hard for me to write. To be sure, it is not so pleasant writing as it is to home, but I have time to write and so I shall write often. This is the 12th letter I have wrote since I have been here, 8 for myself and four for others. And I expect I shall write often and I will send you all the news here. I wish you would send me your papers as often as you can.
I don’t know what you hear about Camp Rolla. There was a report that we had give up this place to the secessionists but it is not true. When that is true, you may expect we have had a hard fight. For the last week we have been expecting to fight but I have about given it up now. We some expected General Price here with his large force. If he had come, we should have done the best we could. We have a good fight place here. One day this last [week] we heard a fight but where it was, we could not tell. It might have been 50 or 60 miles from here. We heard the canons along in the morning and they was heard right along until about midnight.
Our picket guards were drove in the other night but as soon as they come in, there was more went out. They go out 10 or 12 miles and sometimes 20. I went to [see] the Morris boys as soon as I got your letter. The [ ] boys had received a letter. Job nor any of the rest of the boys had not got any letter but they were very glad to hear from the folks to hear they were all well. The boys are all well. Vyrus Brayton has got a sore wrist. I expect it was sprained but it is getting better now.
I was glad to hear from Mrs. Thompson and the rest of the folks there. Please give my love to Mr. Day and tell him to pray for the soldiers for thy need his prayers. Give my love to all my friends and accept the same yourselves. So no more from your affectionate son, — James Sifleet
William Huggett sends his best respects to you and all inquiring friends. He has not heard from his folks yet.
Letter 3
Camp Rolla, Missouri October 21, 1861
Dear father and mother,
I now take the pleasure of writing a few more to you wishing to find you in good health as this leaves me at present. Being as the mail does not go till morrow, I thought I would write you a little more about a soldier’s life. Yesterday we had a good meeting. There was about 7 or 800 present. We sat down on our blankets on the ground and the rest sat on the stools that they made. Then we had a pleasant prayer meeting in the evening. It was a good one. There was plenty to lead in prayer and talking of the love of the blessed Savior. The longer I am here the more I find there is that are striving to serve God and last night I felt more fully resolved that I would strive to walk nearer to God than I have done. I find the opportunity far better than I expected to find it to meet with my Christian friends.
While I was writing in here Saturday night, I was aroused about 10 o’clock by the firing of a gun. There was a man that undertook to pass one of the guards of cavalry and the guard shot him—not dead, but so as to hurt him pretty bad. It’s rather poor business to undertake to pass the guards after night without the pass word, even if it was the Colonel. He cannot pass without giving the password.
On Sunday morning about 6 o’clock, two of the guards out of the 4th Iowa Regiment were running up to each other at charge bayonet and one of their guns went off and shot the other through the head and killed him dead on the spot. It will probably learn the guards not to be fooling with loaded guns. There is another man in the hospital that was wounded by a careless discharge of a musket and was shot so bad our chaplain said he cannot live more than two or three days. He does not belong to our regiment but he sent down to our prayer meeting last night to have us pray for him. There was some great prayers offered up in his behalf.
There is a good many people come here for protection—some of them that have laid in the bushes two or three days in fear of being killed by the enemy. There is some at the fort that are run away and have joined the home guards to fight for their country.
Civilian refugees take shelter in the Union camps in Rolla, Missouri (Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper, 1862)
Our company is on guard today. I went on at 9 o’clock and come off at 11 and I shall go on again at 3, then off at 5, and then go on at 9, off at 11, and then on again at 3 and off at 5. Now I will tell you something about our standing on guard in the night. If we see anyone coming near our beats, we say, “Who comes there?” If they answer, “A friend with the countersign,” we say, “Advance friend and give the countersign.” If a friend without, we halt him and call for the Corporal of the Guard. Then he comes and we find out who it is. If it is someone that will not halt, we directly cock our gun ready to shoot and if he does not stop, we shoot him. When we go on guard, we wear our belts with the cartridge boxes and cap boxes. On all our belts there is a large buckle with “U. S.” on it. If there is any gun shot off on the ground, there is soon plenty there because there is not a gun to be shot off within half a mile of the ground without it is done on duty. Every morning when the guards come off, they have to go and shoot their guns off.
Today we have got a large overcoat each. They are good and warm. They come down below our knees. I must now conclude for this time as this is a pretty good lot of news, so no more from your affectionate son, — James Siffert
Letter 4
Camp Rolla, Missouri October 28th 1861
Dear father and mother, brother and sister,
I now take the pleasure of answering your kind and welcome letter which I received yesterday wishing to find you in good health as I am thankful it leaves me at present. this is the third letter I have received from you. There is no trouble about getting letters here. My last letter got here on Friday night but the mail did not get here in the camp till after 9 o’clock and so I did not get it till yesterday as I went out about two miles on picket guard. There was six sent out. I volunteered to go out in another man’s place as I felt I would like the privilege of catching a secessionist but we did not see any.
Cotton boll plucked from the field
There is a great deal of difference between being picket guard and guarding round the tent. Out there in the night, we sit down and lay down in the brush and keep ourselves in readiness for to shoot. But we did not get any chance. I was glad I got a chance to go out to see a little of the country. I seen some small corn fields and a few log gouses. The people here are a pretty hard-looking set. While I was out, I got some cotton just as it grows. The hull that it grows in is just about like a hickory husk and about the [same] size. And in this letter you will find some cotton with the seeds in just as it grows. I forgot to tell you I received two papers from you as well as the letters and was very thankful to receive them and I hope you will continue to send them.
After I got home yesterday in the afternoon at three, I went to meeting and there was a good many there. The Colonel came round to us before meeting and said that if they did not come, they would be fetched at the point of the bayonet. Then after that meeting we had class meeting and after that in the evening, we had a prayer meeting and they was all good meetings. I rejoice that I ever started in that glorious cause and that I started to come to the war as I greatly think I am needed here although I am surrounded by sin. Yet God is giving me grace to hold out his servant. I am happy to say that we have such good meetings.
I have been up to the fort to work today. There was 40 from this regiment up there to work today besides about 80 or 90 secessionists to work there. We have about 100 secession prisoners here and if we can see any more, we will have more.
I will tell you something about the fort. 1 I was digging in the entrenchments today. The place where we was digging is about 14 feet wide on the top and about 7 feet deep where it is finished and the dirt is wheeled up so that the bank is about 18 feet from the bottom of the ditch. It would be pretty hard climbing up there but I don’t think we shall ever have to use the fort in this war.
You spoke about my money in your letter. I will with the greatest pleasure in the world send you my money when I can get it. So no more. From your son, — James Sifleet
1 James does not give the name of the fort but it seems certain he was referring to the same fort that was eventually dubbed Fort Wyman, named after Col. John B. Wyman of the 13th Illinois Regiment who worked on its construction after the 36th Illinois. See newspaper article below.According to Larry Wood, a freelance write specializing in the history of the Ozarks, “Two forts were constructed, one called Fort Detty on the north side of town on what is now the campus of the University of Missouri-Rolla and the other called Fort Wyman located just south of town along present-day US Highway 63. In addition, a network of earthworks and trenches surrounded the town, the courthouse was fortified with rifle pits, and a strong headquarters encampment was located west of town.” [See “Rolla During the Civil War”]
A 114 page diary written by Lyman Gibson Bennett (1832-1904), an enlisted soldier of the 36th Illinois Regiment, is now part of the Western Historical Manuscript. It is the source of this article.
View of Fort Wyman; the village of Rolla in the background.
Letter 5
Camp Rolla, Missouri November 4, 1861
Dear parents,
I now take the pleasure of writing these few lines to you wishing at the same time to find you in good health as thank God I am at present. I expect to receive a letter tonight as the train has just come in. It is over a week since I have received any letter. I like to get a letter as often as once a week if it is possible for you to send it. It is with a glad heart that I write this letter to you as I am enjoying myself in the work of God. Since I have been writing, I have received two letters—one from George Jellingham [?] and one from you.
Dear sister, I am glad I have got your likeness and George’s but yours does not look very natural, I don’t think. But George’s looks very natural. I was very glad you write so much and George getting home too. You wrote about the likeness. I should be very glad to receive all your likenesses. You did not say what you thought of my last likeness that I sent to you as I suppose Anne Rumney fetched over to you. Tell Mrs. Seamark that if she wants my likeness I will send it to her as soon as I can. I shall be very glad to receive a letter from any of you. I know that if you all knew how glad we are to receive letters, you would write often. I never was so anxious for letters as I have been since I have been here. I wrote a letter to Mrs. Rumney. I have not heard whether she got it or not. I hope to get a letter sometime soon. I received a letter from Anne Rumney and I intend to answer it as soon as I can.
I have been to work to the fort today. I do not know if I shall go tomorrow or not. Now I will tell you a little news about this place. Our Lieutenant Colonel left here last Wednesday with about 60 men, cavalry, and something turned up so that our Colonel left here Friday night about sundown with about 650 men—about 200 cavalry, and the rest infantry. [There were] about 400 men from our regiment and the rest from another regiment here. There is about 2,000 men yet left to fight here. We have been expecting to be attacked now. For the three last nights, we have not taken any clothes off and we have had our guns loaded and we have slept on them all night, ready at any time in case of necessity. And we are stil under the same orders although not supposed to be in much danger. I should have liked very much to have went with the boys but our company did not go. We do not know where they are a going.
Last night the messenger arrived here from them. He left them 50 miles from here yesterday morning [where] they traveled. We do not know if they will come back again or not. We somewhat expect to have to follow them. The boys are all well and in good spirits, ready to travel. The boys send their best respects to you and George Finch and the rest of the folks. I will write again in a day or two as I must send this letter now to get it to go with this mail. Please give my love to all the friends and accept the same yourself. From your affectionate, — James Sifleet
Letter 6
Camp Rolla, Missouri December 10th 1861
Dear Brother [George Sifleet],
You may think that I never intend to answer all the letters that I get. I hope these few lines will find you in good health as this leaves me at present.
I have had good health so far ever since I have been in the army. It is just three months today since I enlisted in the United States service and I like it better than I expected to for I expected to have pretty hard times. I did not enlist because I thought I would like it but because I thought mu country needed me. I do not think you would like soldiering very well. You would not get your meals just as you would like and you could not say and do just as you would like to all the time. And besides all that, this is a hard place for such a young man as you are. You said in your last letter that you wished you was a soldier. You may better wish that you are not. But I am getting to be a good soldier now [that] I know how to handle my gun.
There is about 20,000 soldiers here and ours is the best regiment and the best drilled regiment here. We are ready for a fight at any time. We have got plenty to load our guns with. Secesh should come now. We should like to have Old Price come along here with his army now. We have got a good fort here and a few pretty large guns besides a lot of flying artillery. I should like to hear them roar for awhile.
We have got the best weather here I ever saw this time of the year. Down in the hollows there is just as green grass as I ever saw. I judge you have not such weather in Vienna. I will send a paper and I want Ike Nelson to get the song on the first page and learn to sing it for I want him to sing it when I come home. I do not know when that will be. It may be soon and it may be a good while. It feels a little cooler tonight. I shall direct this letter to father so that you will get it. In with this you will find a piece wrote about camp life—the first time I ever tried to write any piece—and it is not composed very good. I hope you will not laugh at it. So no more. From your brother, — James Sifleet
To George Sifleet
Letter 7
Camp Rolla, Missouri December 27, 1861
Dear friends,
I now sit down to answer your kind and welcome letter which I received last night. I was glad to hear that you was all well. I am pretty well except I have a bad cold. The health of our regiment is much better than it was. I hope these few lines will find you all well. I do not know of much news to send this time. I will send this with what I have wrote in the last few evenings just for the fun of it.
You will see the last day I have not finished for the want of room but I will send you the rest some other time and I will send you two papers–oone for Mrs. Seamark and one for you. They are both the same date. You will see on the 3rd page a piece that our company had written. Our company took over 200 of these papers today. There is not but little news in them so it will not be much trouble to read them. They are about the right size for George to read. This is the best paper that Rolla can afford.
You may wonder why I have not said anything in my last two or three letters about the meetings. I am sorry to say they are all broke up. I fear there is not much Christian about our chaplain. I do not think he has acted so lately. It appears that all he cares about is to get big wages. He has [been] arrested for cheating Uncle Sam and I guess he will be put him right through. We had better be without a chaplain than such a one as he is. I suppose you have read his letter that he has wrote to the Northwestern Christian Advocate? His name is [George G.] Lyon. 1 I saw one paper that states there was several conversions every week. That was a lie. I [at]tended the meetings and I did not see but one conversion since I have been in a camp. I tell you this is a hard place for any young man that thinks of trying to serve the Lord. I feel glad that I have started to serve the Lord before I came here.
I suppose you have wondered how we spent Christmas. This you will see by the writing the account of the day. I hope we shall have as good a time on New Year’s day. I wish you all a happy new year. Last Sunday it snowed about all day and it was pretty cool in our tents although we can stand it much better than I expected we should. I suppose we don’t have it so cold here as it is there.
We have more signs of leaving now than we have had before. Our Colonel had orders to get the things ready that he needed so as he could march and the two gentlemen that came from Newark went and made a call on General [Franz] Sigel and he told them we should have something to do pretty soon but I do not think we shall leave for a good while. I do not see any more signs of fighting than I did when I was at home.
Job Whybrow is well and we send our best respects to you all. From your son, — James Sifleet
Camp Rolla, Mo., 36th Illinois Regiment, Co. F
1 George G. Lyon (b. 1824 in Fayette county, Pa.) was appointed the Chaplain of the 36th Illinois on 20 August 1861 and was mustered in on 23 September 1861. He mustered out of the regiment on 11 June 1862 at Washington D. C., to take effect on 1 April 1862. He gave his residence as Woodstock, McHenry county, Illinois.The Woodstock Sentinel of 26 February 1862, published a notice that “Rev. George G. Lyon of this place…has been acquitted of the charges preferred against him by an officer of the regiment.”
Letter 8
[Curtis’ Campaign] January 16, 1862
Dear father,
I now take the pleasure of writing these few lines wishing to find you in good health as I am thankful to say this leaves me at present. We left Camp Rolla about 2 o’clock Tuesday. The brass band came with us and played about two miles. Then they went back and we marched on about a mile and a half and then we commenced sweeping the ground and pitching our tents, building fires, and everyone was very busy. We cut some hazel brush to lay on. We went to bed pretty early. Our feathers was pretty hard that night.
In the morning about 2 o’clock the boys began to get up. Pretty soon we all got up and before daylight we had our tents and everything loaded, ready for start. But we had to stand and wait around until about 10 o’clock for the other regiments. Then we started and we walked quick time with our knapsacks and everything to carry.
Now I will tell you what we have to carry. I have got to carry my blanket that is 12 feet long and 4 feet wide, and a Indian rubber blanket 6 feet long and 3 feet wide, 1 pair of britches, two pair of socks, two shirts, a big overcoat, my gun cartridge box with 8 cartridges in it. This is about all. I forgot—there is [also] my haversack with my dinner in it and my canteen to carry water in. This makes a pretty heavy load for old Jim to travel with his lame foot, but I guess I will hobble along. We traveled about 10 miles, then we had a job to cross the Little Piney River. Some waded right through and the rest of us come across on logs. We had a great time when we got across. Then we set our tents for the night. Then went to work and cooked our suppers and at 6 o’clock I was detailed to go out on picket guard and stood guard until 12 o’clock. Then I came to camp and laid down till morning. But it was so cold that I did not sleep. Then we got up, got breakfast and struck tents, and then we commenced marching.
We marched 9 miles in three hours. Then we had to stop until we made a bridge over the Big Piney River with wagons. We had 15 wagons with boards reaching from one wagon to another. Then we crossed the street and camped where the secesh have camped before. We took 200 blankets and 12 hogs. These the boys stole and we eat them and the first team we can find, we will take it to carry our knapsacks.
I must close with my best respects to you all. Direct the same as before. From your affectionate son, — James Sifleet.
This will have to do for this time and I will write again in a few days.
Letter 9
Arkansas February 10, 1862
Dear Father & Mother,
I now sit down to write a few lines to let you know that I am alive and well after the dreadful battle [of Pea Ridge]. I suppose you will be very uneasy until you do hear from me. I shall not write anything about the battle now as I have not time to write but it was, I believe, the heaviest battle that has been fought. It lasted three days and then Price and his army was whipped.
You will see the full accounts in the paper so I will not write while the fight was some of the boys found letters that they had wrote so that we see that the secesh took our mail but before long we shall be able to bring the news more to you. So no more at present. From your son, — James Sifleet
Direct the same as before.
Letter 10
[Six miles into] Arkansas February 19th 1862
Dear parents,
As there is some talk of a chance to send a few lines to you, I thought I would send you a few lines just to let you know that I am well as I hope these few lines will find you. This is the first time we have stopped since we left Lebanon.
We are now about 205 miles from Rolla. We have seen some pretty tough times sure. We have drove Price out of Springfield. our advance guard had a fight with Price’s pickets just before we got to Springfield. None of our men was killed but there was a secesh killed. Then Price cleared out of Springfield that night and ever since we have been following him up and fighting with some of his men every day. We have killed a good many of their men but they did not kill any of ours until day before yesterday. Then there was 9 killed and 7 or 8 wounded and quite a lot of horses killed. But we killed about 100 of their men. We do not know certain the number. They came in yesterday with a flag of truce to bury their men. The infantry has not had any chance to fight yet but the cavalry and some of the artillery [have]. But the game is not played out yet. We expect to keep following him up. I guess he does not like to be followed up so close. We are now about six miles in Arkansas.
Now I must draw my letter to a close as I want to rest as much as possible. It may be a long while before you hear from me again but don’t be alarmed for the Lord is on our side. So give my best respects to all the friends and accept the same from yours on, — James Sifleet
Direct to Rolla as usual.
Letter 11
Camp Rienzi Tishomingo county, State of Mississippi June 16th [1862]
Dear Father and Mother, Sister and Brother,
I now sit down to answer your kind and welcome letter which I received yesterday. This leaves me enjoying good health and I hope it will find you all the same. I received two letters from you yesterday. One was posted 23rd April; the other 28th May. One had a letter from England in it. I do not know whether you have answered it yet or not. I will write a few lines in a day or two and send it to you so if you have not answered it, you can send it.
You told in your letter about Mrs. Whitton. I had heard of it before. That is a scandalous shame that she should go and leave him with them children and he a cripple. I was sorry to hear of the news of Mr. Weldon’s son but you spoke of the other son being here in front of Corinth expecting a fight every day. But little did you think then at the time you wrote that as well as Mr. Weldon’s having a brave son in the army expecting to be in the great battle in Corinth, that you had a brother there. But before this time you have found it out.
I have not seen the boys yet that you spoke of. I have not seen their regiment but since I have been here, I have seen quite a number boys that I know. You will see I am making a good many mistakes. You must excuse them for it rains and the boys are making such a noise I can’t help it. I am glad to see you write such a good letter. I tell you it is getting hot sure now. I have certainly got in the South now. I do not know anything about his long we shall stay here. Neither do I know whether any of the army are leaving or not. You can tell by the newspapers as soon as I can. I know we are here. There is no bounds [?] when we may have to fight. We have to be ready at any time so that if the rebels come, they will find us ready to give them the best we have in our cartridge boxes. We may never have to fight, but as long as we are in the service, we intend to be ready for them.
William Huggett is down at Hamburg Landing. He is pretty sick. He has been sick now for about a month. There is quite a good many sick. I fear a good many will be cut off by sickness. Three or four days ago one of the boys of this regiment died and last night another one died. I believe he will be sent home. I thank God I have had such good health. I have been through many hardships since I have been in the service but my Savior has been through with me and helped me through my troubles. But this is a hard place for a Christian. I hope that the time is not far when we shall be able to meet again and go to meeting together.
I must close wit mine and Job’s best respects to you all from your son, — James Sifleet, 36th Illinois Regt., Co. F, Hamburg Landing, Tennessee
Mother, pray for me.
Letter 12
Camp near Rienzi [Mississippi] August 19, 1862
Dear parents and sister,
I now take the pleasure of writing a few lines in answer to two letters which I have just received. I was very glad to receive them to know that you was all well as I am thankful to say this leaves me at present. One of the letters had eight postage stamps in it. I am glad to get them for I sent the last one away last night with a few lines to you.
We moved out here today and we have got pretty well fixed again so that we can live comfortable. We are about a mile and a half from our regiment. There is another company here from our regiment besides us. We are here to protect a battery of artillery and it is here to protect us so you see that we are both here for to do that. Then we are here to protect them that are in Rienzi. Then if the enemy is too strong for us we shall fall back to Rienzi and they will protect us. Then we will join together and each man protect himself.
I don’t know as I have ever told you that artillery is one of the best of supports for us yet. It can’t do anything without us infantry. It was with artillery that Sigel wiped the rebels at Pea Ridge with on the last day. Te artillery drove the rebels yet without the infantry, they could not have done anything scarcely. Now when we fight, there is always infantry lying by the side of the artillery so as to protect it from a charge by the enemy. A good share of our regiment laid under the fire of the cannon at the Battle of Pea Ridge.
Well, the time is coming fast when we shall have to commence to operate again. We do not know but what we may have to fight here before we are prepared to go forward. Every day or two we hear that enemy is advancing on us but they have not got along yet. About a week ago,m the battery and two companies that was and all the cavalry went out to attack a force of secesh said to be 3 or 4,000. They was about 15 miles from here getting things for their army. But they heard our men was after them andn they left. Our men got about a hundred horses and mules that they had to leave because they was in such a hurry to get away before our men got there and about a hundred head of fat cattle. That is not the first time they have been routed in that way for they have had to get up and skedaddle in the night and out at Ripley, they did not have time to dress themselves. When we hear of any such men within our reach, we send out men in the night after them. Now if there is any such thing going on, we shall be about the first men to go if there is any need of any besides cavalry.
Well, I shall have plenty of time to write now for we do not have so much guarding to do here so I shall need lots of postage stamps. We have not got our pay yet but we are expecting to get it every day. We have a good camping ground here in the shady timber. We can get all the fruit we want. You said you was glad to think we had some good things. I can tell you we have had first rate times since we have been here. We are well rested now and when it gets cool, we shall go to work in earnest. I hope the new troops will be in the field pretty soon.
August 20th. Last night was the first night we was here we had a prayer meeting. It makes my heart glad to think we can have meetings now. I have just received another letter from you with eight more postage stamps in it. There is a few lines from Miss McConnell. I want you to tell me if she has any relations around there. I will write again on Sunday. Then I will answer all that I received from you in this letter this morning. I must close for the present. From your son, — James Sifleet
Job is some better. He joins with me in sending best respects to you all.
Letter 13
Bowling Green [Kentucky] November 3rd 1862
Dear parents and sister,
I now take the pleasure of writing a few lines to you wishing to find you in good health as this leaves me at present. I received a letter from you this evening that was dated 26th October. I was glad to hear that you was well. Job is well. William Huggett returned yesterday from the hospital. He is well again. We was glad to see him come back again. He looks some whiter than he did when he left us and he does not look like we do—all tanned up. We have seen some hardships since we left Louisville. We have marched over 300 miles on short rations. We was just one month without our tents but we have them now and we have got a fire in it now and we are sitting around it enjoying ourselves. We have round tents now. They run to a peak and a hole in the top so we build a fire in the center of the tent.
I suppose you would like to know a little about the State of Kentucky. It is the best state we have been in since we have been in the service. It is a rich state. It has the best earth that I have seen in America. We have plenty good fat beef since we left Louisville. We arrived here at Bowling Green on Saturday. I expect we shall soon start for Nashville. We are drawing some clothing that we need. I shall draw a new overcoat so that father can take mine to wear or any other clothing that is to home belonging to me. I wish you could have my old clothes that I have to throw away but it is no use of wishing for that won’t get them home.
Elizabeth said in the letter that she was a going to send me a needle book but she did not say when nor how she was a going to send them. I have a diary book that I think I shall send home and a likeness I had taken some time ago but it will take a number of postage stamps and maybe I shall not send them soon.
Give my best respects to all inquiring friends and accept the same yourselves. From your son, — James Sifleet
36th Regt., Co. F, Louisville, Kentucky
Do not neglect writing as the letters will follow us.
Letter 14
Camp on Mill Creek near Nashville [TN] November 28, 1862
Dear Father and Mother and Sister,
I now take the opportunity of writing a few lines to you wising to find you in good health as this leaves me at present. I received your kind and welcome letter on Monday with eight postage stamps in it, dated November 16th. You wished for me to send you the date of our letters. It would be trouble for me to tell you some for I have received some without any date but I will try and tell you when you date them.
In my last letter I told you that I heard the secesh pickets stood but little ways from ours. Our pickets saw some of them. They would come up and look at our pickets and then go back. Yesterday morning at 3 o’clock we got up, eat breakfast, and at 5 o’clock we commenced marching with four other regiments—the 2nd and 15th Missouri, 44th and 88th Illinois. We marched outside of our pickets. The 2nd Missouri was on the lead. They deployed as skirmishers on each side of the road. When we got about a mile from our picket and we run on to the secesh pickets, then skirmishing commenced and it was kept up all along for three or four miles. Then we came in sight of their camp. Then we halted and formed a line of battle and fired some cannon and drove them from their camp. Then we advanced a little further and stayed there until noon and the secesh did not return. Then we came back to camp.
We heard some pretty heavy cannonading over on the left of us by some other division. The cars run clear through to Nashville now and I suppose as soon as we get a lot of provisions here we shall move forward. I do not now how many was killed and wounded. We took a few prisoners—one captain—all along the road yesterday when we was going forward. We found the houses deserted. Some of them left breakfast on the table. When we came back, we found most of the folks in their houses again.
I do not know of any more news to tell you at present. I will send a few lines in this letter for to go to England. I received a letter from George since he has been at Memphis. He was well. Job is well and sends his best respects to you all. From your son, — James Sifleet
I could not find an image of David but here is one of Corp. Daniel Tarbox who also served in the 11th Connecticut and was mortally wounded at Antietam. (Claudia & Al Niemiec Collection)
This letter was written by David M. Ford (1841-1862), the son of Benjamin Ford (1792-1868) and his 2nd wife, Ann P. Osborn (1808-1874) of Greenville Post Office, Norwich, Connecticut. Receiving 25 dollars bounty which he gave to his mother, David enlisted in Co. H, 11th Connecticut on 25 October 1861. He was promoted to a corporal in the summer of 1862 but was killed in action on 17 September 1862 during the Battle of Antietam.
We learn from the pension application filed by David’s mother that prior to his enlistment, David supported her with his earnings at the mill in Greenville and that when he went into the service, he continued to support her by sending money home until his death. David’s father, it seems was unable to work due to his “rheumatism” and was therefore indigent. I’m not certain that David’s parents actually lived together at the time of David’s death as both parents apparently tried independently to obtain a pension for David’s service.
The letter suggests, perhaps, that David may have picked up a few of the bad habits of his father. David also mentions John W. Wood, a comrade and hometown friend who served with him in Co. H. with whom he occasionally had “a good bum” (drinking spree).
Transcription
Addressed to Mr. William Menerly. Greenville, Norwich, Connecticut
In camp near Newbern, North Carolina May 14th 1862
Dear William,
I thought I would write you a few lines although I said I would not write until you answered mine. But Lon wanted to send a letter so I will write. We are expecting to go home every day according to the stories. We are going to be disbanded and sent home but I guess we won’t see it. It is hard going off to the city or anywhere for if we don’t get back by time the pass is out, into the guard house you go. They shoved me in two or three hours because I did not turn out the guard for the general as I was on guard in front of the guard house. I thought it was two aides. There was one aide with him. But that was made alright.
The Dutch Captain was officer of the day and he is strict as the devil. He might have known I wasn’t near enough to see his badge or buttons. A week or two ago John Wood and I went for the city. John had business to tend to so I sent him for the pass. The Lieutenant-Colonel told John if he had got business, he would sign the pass for him but must scratch off the friend as they was so many going on passes. We just went and called on our friend Reab from a place about six miles from Norwich. You lived up that way once, I believe. He just sat right down and wrote a pass for two hours more and for both of us. We started for the city and the bridge was down so we straddled the string piece and jumped ourselves across. We promised the boys we would bring back some whiskey but we got a bottle and had to pay one dollar and a half for it and we couldn’t see the point of it so we put it down and told the boys we couldn’t get any as they had put a stop to it. We bummed around in some gay places you can bet, came home, told the boys everything was dull, nothing going on, and we did not go anywhere. They believed it all.
We have been down once since on another good bum but I don’t calculate to bum often. I have been steady ever since I enlisted, more so than when I was at home. I would like to see you and the rest of the bloods. Lon says if he gets home, he will have a good bum with you, and if we stay here, he will send money when we get paid off for you to send a box of cigars and whiskey in.
There has a large number of cavalry and artillery landed lately from the Potomac Army. Give my love to all the ducks and to your Mother. Tell her the Sh____ky is all right. Lon says drink for him often. I wrote two letters not long ago—one to Jim, one to Mary Jane. Tell Jim to take courage. Keep up his spirits and spark the ducks for me.
The following letter was written by John Sterling Bird (1836-1900), the son of David Bird (1804-1863) and Eunice A. Phelps (1805-1882) of Winchester, Litchfield county, Connecticut. He wrote the letter while attending the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1862. He was still identified as being a member of the “medical class” in the session of 1863-64. It appears that he practiced medicine in Dutchess county, New York, in the 1870s and 1880s. He was married to Alice Emma Jones (1854-19180 in the early 1870s.
Bird wrote the letter to his friend “Herb” who remains otherwise unidentified but probably a childhood friend from Litchfield. We learn that Herb was serving in the Union army but his regiment is unknown. Herb may have been serving in an Indiana regiment such as the 14th, 19th, or 27th as he adds the statement, “If the Indiana men in Virginia do as well as in Tennessee, I think they will have their reputation made.” This comment makes little sense otherwise.
Bird’s letter refers to the recent Union victories in Tennessee and in North Carolina but also mentions the latest news from Hampton Roads announcing the destruction of two Union wooden-hulled ships (USS Congress and USS Cumberland) by the ironclad CSS Virginia (Merrimack) on 8 March 1862. On the very day that Bird wrote this letter—the 9th of March—the ironclad USS Monitor would duel with the CSS Virginia for three hours, neither vessel able to inflict any significant damage on the other.
The College of Physicians & Surgeons at the corner of 23rd Street and 4th Avenue in NYC
Transcription
New York City March 9th 1862
Friend “Herb,”
I received yours of Jan. in due time for which please accept my most hearty thanks. But perhaps you say that I had better have answered it at once, if I was so mighty thankful. Well, I suppose I had, but please recollect that civilians have to keep busy, as well as soldiers.
Just because few of these ‘risque” images survive today doesn’t mean they didn’t exist. Many were probably discarded into campfires along with playing cards as soldiers prepared to march into battle.
It seems that “sweethearts” are so scarce down your way that you are obliged to make the most of such pictures as you sent me in your letter. Well, in want of the genuine article, I suppose that you will be justified in exercising your imagination to a certain extent. But I should suppose that you might convert some of those Virginia misses from the error of their ways and in doing so, make love to them at the same time. Suppose you try the experiment. You know that a handsome young man like yourself—in uniform—can accomplish wonders with the fair sex.
Unless I should forget it, I will give you an article of news which I have at once. Leroy Wetmore is married to Fred Hills’s daughter (Lucy, I believe) of Torrington—first cousins I believe. Think they must have been rather hard up, don’t you? 1
So you see that most all our old friends have got into the entanglements of matrimony. If they are satisfied, I am. When you and I get ready, when you have immortalized your name by killing people, and I by curing them, then perhaps we’ll try it.
Since I wrote you last, there has been stirring times among the national armies. Victory upon victory has been achieved. You cannot have sent terror to rebel hearts, and joy unbounded to all loyal northern homes. I can’t believe that you can conceive of the thrill of joy which shot like lightning through all the North at the news of Henry, Donelson, and Roanoke. People fairly cried for joy. Army operations seem to be progressing well at this time and if this is kept up, something will be accomplished. But it is not to be all smooth sailing yet for as I write there is an extra out with news from Fortress Monroe that the Rebels have destroyed some of our ships and are shelling our camp at Newport News.
I suppose that you are in Virginia now and whether you will get this, I know not. I expect to stay in the city for some time yet. I don’t see as I can write much more this time. Keep you courage up. If the Indiana men in Virginia so as well as in Tennessee, I think they will have their reputation made.
Now answer this as soon as you can directing to College of Physicians and Surgeons, 23rd Street and 4th Avenue, New York.
This from your friend, — J. S. Bird
1 Leroy Whiting Wetmore (1836-1872), the son of Abel Samuel Wetmore (1802-1879) and Lucy Amira Hills (1810-1881), was married on 12 February 1862 at Torrington, Litchfield county, CT, to Lucy Ann Hills (1841-1871).
The following letter was written by George Washington Sevey (1832-1902), the son of George Sevey and Hannah Libby of LeRoy, Genesee county, New York. As mentioned in the letter, George joined a caravan of gold seekers on their way to California in 1849, signing on as a teamster. The caravan did not pass through Salt Lake City but George became deathly ill on the way west and he had to be taken there for medical treatment. As he regained his health he again hired himself out as a teamster locally in Utah where he began to convert to Mormanism and accepted the doctrine of plural marriage which he knew to be “a disgrace to the family” back East.
He married Phoebe Butler, daughter of John Lowe and Caroline Farozine Skeen Butler, on December 5, 1854, and they spend the next several years living on the Spanish Fork River. In 1861, George was called to help settle southern Utah, at Harmony, Washington County, being among the first to locate there. It was then called Ash Fort, and was near old Fort Harmony. They made the trip from Spanish Fork in a covered wagon drawn by oxen, with one extra ox and two cows. They spent the night with John D. Lee had built the fort. George and Phoebe were among the first settlers, and made camp near the Jim Payson family, also relatives by marriage. Their tent was soon replaced with a log cabin.
Though he does not mention her in this letter, George had already taken his second wife, Margaret Nebraska Imlay, daughter of James Haven and Hannah Eliza Coward Imlay. They were married in August 1868 when George was 36 and Margaret had just turned 15. In December 1877, George married his third wife Martha Ann Thomas of Pine Valley, Utah, a daughter of John Pledger and Mahala Matthews Thomas. Ancestry.com records indicate that George fathered as many as thirty children by his three wives. He died in 1902 in Colonia Juarez, Mexico, where George took his family in 1885 to avoid persecution for his polygamous marriages.
[Note: This letter is from the personal collection of Richard Weiner and was transcribed and published on Spared & Shared by express consent.]
Transcription
Harmony [Utah Territory] February 17, 1871
Dear Sister,
I take my pen in hand to answer your welcome letter—the first that I have heard from you for several years. Hannah wrote to me about ten years ago. I wrote to Livoy [Livona] several times. She did not want me to write anymore of my Mormanism for it was a disgrace to the family so I told Hannah to write to her and tell her if my religion disagreed [with] her, she shouldn’t hear from me any more. So I have not held no correspondence with her since.
It is some 21 years since I saw you. Twenty-one years ago I started for California [and] I stopped in Salt Lake. Here I found gold to my heart’s content—not that filthy lucre but the riches of eternity. It brings peace and joy to my heart here. The Lord revealed His will to me. The testimony that I received of the Earth [ ] of men could not be condemned although the world was arid again. It brought the Lord has set up His Kingdom on earth again in the last days, never to be thrown down. This is the Kingdom that Daniel saw that the gates of Hell should not prevail against. If you find the gospel that Jesus preaches by the sects of the day, I would like to know it. I have never heard the gospel preached only by a Mormon. I know you was once a Morman and probably understand the principle of the same to some extent but that light does not shine so clear to you as it once did. But if there is truth in your heart, you will be brought to the light. The Lord has set His hand again to gather the honest in from the four quarters of earth. I thank God I am here with the Saints where the Lord can reveal His will unto us from time to time. At present, the world judges the Saints but the day will come when the Saints are to judge the world.
Oh sister Emily, [ ] be a Saint. Come and try it for yourself. Call on the Lord in fervent prayer. We believe that God has ears and can hear and has and will speak unto men in the last days.
I have been married 16 years. My wife has had 10 children. We have lost three. We have four boys and three girls. The oldest is a girl 16 years old. Her name is Hannah. The next four are boys. Their names are George, John, James, Warren, Thomas. The next two girls is Georgiana, and Melinda. We believe in observing the First Commandment of God to multiply and replenish the earth.
Mother is still living with me. She is well and smart. Father died crossing the plains [Nebraska, August 1864]. John lives close to me. His folks is well. He has two children only living. He works at his trade carpentering. He is a finishing off a house for which he gets $500 dollars. I am a farmer myself. I have a sawmill [ ]….of mineral wealth in this country being developed. There is gold and silver being discovered every day. This territory will be far ahead of California in mineral wealth but it don’t excite Saints much for the earth and the fullness thereof is to be given to the Saints.
I have so far of my life had a plenty to eat, drink, and wear. Very few people come to this country rich but very poor and have got rich. We have but a very few poor. I don’t know of a beggar in the Territory. It is a good country to make a living. We don’t have much winter here. We are commencing to plow. York State is the poorest country I have seen since I left there. Iowa or Nebraska is a good country. Nebraska is the best for a poor man but Utah is the place for Saints.
I will have to draw my letter to a close. Write to me again and I will give you any information you wish as far as lies in my power. Direct your letters to Kane county, New Harmony, Harmony.
The following letter was written by Charles D. Brown, a Major in the Commissary & Subsistence department on the General Staff of Gen. Archibald Gracie, Jr.’s Brigade. Charles received his appointment by the Secretary of War in December 1862. In the fall of 1864, in front of Petersburg, Major Brown became ill and eventually went home to Mobile, Alabama, without leave in late September—not long after this letter was written. He asked to be relieved of duty in late December 1864.
Archibald Gracie, Jr. (1832 – 1864) was a New York native and an 1854 graduate of the United States Military Academy. Working in Mobile before the war, Gracie became involved in local militia and remained with his adoptive state after the attack on Fort Sumter. Gracie would eventually lead an Alabama cavalry brigade. He was killed near Petersburg.
The letter was sent to Captain Isaac Shelby, Jr., chief of commissary stores for the Confederate Department of Western Virginia and Eastern Tennessee.
Transcription
Petersburg, [Virginia] September 3rd 1864
Capt,
When I write you a few days ago, I was not aware that Capt. Kenneworth had received the amount due me from you. It has since come to hand all safe for which I am much obliged.
The vouchers you can take the receipt in your name inserting in my certificate that they are unpaid or I will send you the money by Express as you prefer.
I am still flat on my back so you must excuse my writing in pencil. Yours very truly, — Chas. D. Brown, Major CS
I could not find an image of George but here is one of Jonas Shattuck who also served in the 26th Massachusetts. (Cowan’s Auctions)
The following letters were written by George Varnum Hildreth (1837-1915), the son of Moses P. Hildreth (1800-1879) and Eliza Ann Murdock (1809-1892) of Chelmsford, Middlesex county, Massachusetts. George was married to Mary J. Wentworth (1840-1931) in June 1857 and had one daughter, Estella, age 3, when he enlisted in September 1861 to serve in Co. E, 26th Massachusetts Infantry. George served 1 year and 7 days before he was mustered out of the regiment with a discharge for disability at New Orleans. After he was discharged from the service, George took up residence in Nashua, New Hampshire, where he worked as a carpenter.
The first two letters were written from Ship Island which served as a staging area for Gen. Butler’s expedition against New Orleans in the spring of 1862. Shortly thereafter, the island became a prison camp for Union soldiers guilty of crimes in New Orleans and civilian detainees. Later in the war, the facility was expanded to accommodate Confederate prisoners of war captured in the Union attempt to take Mobile, and more than forty-two hundred Confederate prisoners were held there by the end of the war. Finally, the Union Navy built machine shops to repair and refit ships from the blockading fleet.
Twenty-seven Union infantry regiments, six batteries of light artillery, and a battalion of cavalry saw service on Ship Island during the Civil War. Union troop strength peaked in April 1862, when more than fifteen thousand men assembled for the final assault on New Orleans. After the city fell, the Union garrison on Ship Island was reduced to one regiment of infantry, the 13th Maine.
Scenes of Ship Island
Letter 1
Ship Island, Mississippi Sound January [should be February] 16, 1862
Dear Wife,
I take this chance to write you a few lines to inform you that the long looked for Constitution has at last arrived here with two regiments and a company of cavalry. 1 She came in on the 12th and landed the troops on 13th and 14th making our force here 4,000 strong. The first duty that the Maine 12th done was to form a funeral procession to bury two of their comrades on the evening of the 14th about half past 7, and the moon was shining brightly on the scene as the procession slowly took its way up the beach. It was hard to think of these poor men dying on that boat with no kind friends to attend to them.
They have used this last lot of troops shamefully on the passage out. They did not have proper treatment when they were sick. They brought out some men for our artillery and one of them was so sick when he came on shore that he died the next day and was buried on the 15th and one died on the 15th and will be buried today at 3 o’clock. He belongs to the Mounted Rangers. He was married—a wife and one child. He lived at No. 8, Lee Street, Lowell.
There is another almost dead that belongs to the 2nd Bay State. It is a wonder that the ship fever did not break out amongst them—they were so long on board of the boat—40 days.
I have received two letters. One from Lucy and one from you—a good nice long one. And you must keep on doing so well. Send me a paper once in awhile and write often.
There was quite a curiosity here the other day in the shape of a some white women—the first that has been seen on the island since the 7th of December. The married men think of home and “the girl I’ve left behind me.” The men that landed here this time were digging for bricks to build their fireplaces. They found lots of crockery ware nicely buried in sand—tumblers and jugs but no whiskey.
It has been wet here for these last four days. The health of our regiment has been good. Not but little sickness and only one death and that was on the 7th of January. He was a Frenchman and belonged to Co. A and lived in Lowell.
We have quite a large fleet of vessels laying [here]—nearly 20 of them. When we came here there was not but 3 or 4. And we have quite an addition in the shape of contrabands. Something like 20 or 25 in all that have come over since we have been here.
The steam frigate Niagara came in yesterday from the Southwest Pass with a small schooner that fired a shot at her when the Niagara sent her one that cut both masts off smooth.
Our island is about 7 miles long and a quarter wide. Up at the farther end is a small [cluster] of pines and scrub oak and half a mile from the camp up the island is the burying ground. Then just above the camp is a rifled cannon placed to throw shot up the island or across the channel. Then [at] the fort at the other end of the island, they have been putting some more guns in position and making this place very strong.
I must now close my letter by telling you that I am enjoying good health and a strong appetite. Can eat anything that is set before me and am strong and rugged. You must take good care of yourself these cold, wet, spring months and take care of the little one. Take especial care of yourself. Now my love, take my best wishes for your welfare and if anything goes wrong, let me know. My love to [my siblings] Lucy and Rufus and all my friends. From your sincerely, — George V. Hildreth
1 The SS Constitution was the same vessel that delivered the 9th Connecticut and 26th Massachusetts to Ship Island—the first of 27 Union infantry regiments to see service on Ship Island during the Civil War. When they were delivered to Ship Island on 2 December 1861 and caught their first glimpse of the desolate island, the boys of the 26th were not impressed. “What a hell of a place to send 2000 men 300 miles,” remarked their Quartermaster.
Letter 2
Ship Island, Mississippi April 7, 1862
To my woman at home,
I will now give you a few of the passing events on this Island. In the first place, on the afternoon of the 22nd of March, we were notified to hold ourselves in readiness to march on the next morning with four days rations in our haversacks. Well, morning came and we were ready but it seems that they were not and we were out on line four times that day and the next (our clothes were packed already). We waited that way four days expecting to, but not going, and here we are in the same position now as before.
But on the 2nd of April, the 9th Connecticut went over to Biloxi and staid there two days when they returned. 1 They had plenty of trophies in the shape of knives and guns and uniforms and quite a lot of letters out of some camp and they were amusing to read for the composition and spelling was bad. And our gunboats took a nice river steamer by the name of D. C. Walls loaded with turpentine. It is a nice boat and the boys are merry as can be. The boys are getting trophies and send them home but we shall probably be sent where we can get plenty of these things or they will get us.
Col. Edward Franc Jones, 26th Massachusetts Infantry (LOC)
Gen. Butler and Col. Jones have gone today off somewhere to see what they can do about moving us for we have not elbow room here now and more are coming. They will jam us into the sea if they keep on coming for two ships came in here the 4th. One was the Great Republic—the largest merchant ship in the merchant service.
Last Saturday there was five men drowned when in bathing. They have recovered four bodies and they were buried Sunday. The principal sickness here is typhoid fver, rheumatism, and colds. It is very warm here by spells. Saturday it was very warm and the thermometer stood at 102. That is about as warm as you generally find it at home in the summer.
Now for sights. The best sight was a white woman—wife [Eliza (Cushing) Fearing] of the Colonel [Hawkes Fearing, Jr.] of the 8th New Hampshire Regiment.
I did not intend to write till after we had made a move but Dutton was going home so that I thought it best to send by him. They are going to send home all that are unfit for duty. There is some 70 or 80 going out of this regiment and about 90 out of the 30th [Mass.].
Give my love to all and remember me ever the same and write often and take good care of yourself and to the little ones take good care. I remain sincerely yours, — G. V. Hildredth, Co. E, 26th Mass. Vol.
Your uncle Joel Coburn is here in the 8th New Hampshire Regt. He sends his love to you and Estelle and hopes that you will not forget him. H. Chapin sends his kind regards to you and hopes that you will try and enjoy life pleasantly till we return. Yours, — G. V. H.
1 Under a flag of truce, Gen. Butler had arranged to deliver a 4 year-old girl who had been rescued from a sinking schooner returned to New Orleans by way of Biloxi. Butler’s chief of staff delivered the girl to Biloxi without incident but in leaving Biloxi the small schooner stuck on a sandbar and in this vulnerable state, local southern-sympathizing rogue citizens fired on the Union men which enraged Gen. Butler when he learned of it after the schooner finally extricated itself and returned to Ship Island. To retaliate, Butler sent the 9th Connecticut over to Biloxi to teach them a lesson on 2 April 1862. They also went to the camp of the 3rd Mississippi at Pass Christian and skirmished. The details of this incident are beautifully written in a piece by Marty Brazil appearing in the Hancock County Historical Society Newsletter entitled, “Battle of Pass Christian—Bedsheet Surrender.”
Letter 3
Fort Saint Philip May 8, 1862
Dear Wife,
I write a few lines to let you know that I am well and that we have moved from Ship Island. we started the 15th of April on the steamer Mississippi. We went up the Mississippi river as far as the mortar fleet and saw the fight between the fleet and Fort Jackson and Fort St. Philip. After staying several days we went down the river and up the bay on the east side and landed at the quarantine station 5 miles above the forts the 28th of April. The forts surrendered on this day. A rebel ironclad gunboat laying there was fired at by our boats, The magazine was blown up [and] pieces of iron and timber are scattered in every direction.
The 30th of April, the 26th [Mass.] Regiment went into Forts St. Philip and Jackson. Fort Jackson is tore all to pieces inside. Fort St. Philip is not so badly damaged. There is plenty of work here for us to do and we get something to eat most of the time as good as can be expected by a soldier.
I received your letters and papers last Tuesday. The things you sent have come safe.
New Orleans has surrendered and the fleet has gone up the river to meet Commodore Foote. I think we shall stay here till we are sent home and have seen all the fighting we shall. The other regiments are up to New Orleans. Send Frank Leslie’s Harpers Weekly papers. Write often as you can. We expect to get home by the 4th of July and hope to anyway.
Direct to Co. E, 26th Reg. Mass. Volunteers, Fort St. Philip
This letter came to me for transcription unsigned but we learn from the content that he served in the 74th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI) which was organized at Xenia beginning in October 1861. Seven of the ten regiment’s ten companies were recruited from the vicinity of Xenia. Beyond that, however, I am unable to identify the name of the soldier.
The regiment was ordered to Camp Chase, four miles west of Columbus, Ohio, on 24 February 1862, and were on duty there until 20 April when they were ordered to Nashville, Tennessee, to join Dumont’s Independent Brigade in the Army of the Ohio. While at Camp Chase, their primary duty was to guard the civilian and Confederate prisoners who had begun to arrive there in large numbers following the surrender of Fort Donelson. Granville Moody (see image in banner), the colonel of the 74th OVI and who would later earn the sobriquet “the Fighting Preacher” for his gallantry at Stone River, was placed in charge of Camp Chase at the time of this letter and Major Ballard, also if the 74th, was appointed to supervise the police of the camp.
The letter was written to Mary Anot Halley (1836-1888), the daughter of John and Jessie (Spital) Halley of Markinch, Fifeshire, Scotland. John brought his family to America in 1847. Mary’s mother, however, died in Montreal, Canada, while enroute to Vermont where John Halley settled in Orange county. Mary is believed to have either been a teacher or student at the Xenia Female Seminary in 1862 and a member of the literary society there.
Transcription
Addressed to Miss M. A. Halley, Corresponding Secretary of Aesthetic Society, Xenia, OH “Soldiers Letter, G. Moody, Col., 74th Regt. Camp Chase, OH”
Camp Chase [Columbus, Ohio] March 20th 1862
Members of Aesthetic Society,
Through your kind Secretary, Miss Halley, I received the information that I had been chosen as your anything but local correspondent. While I feel highly grateful for the honor, I cannot help feeling myself in a great degree unworthy of the compliment, both because I do not feel myself capable of affording you much entertainment, and because I have heretofore proved myself to be such an unprofitable member to the Society.
Ever since my acceptance of a membership with you, I felt that I was a drawback rather than an advantage to you as you never knew when to depend upon my being present with you, and some time ago believing on account of our military restriction that I could serve you better with my pen than with my voice, I proposed to someone, half in fun, that I would become your camp correspondent, not knowing that the subject would ever be considered. But as you have thus kindly shown your remembrance of me, I accept with great pleasure the appointment and shall endeavor to prove myself worthy to the best of my humble resources.
Of course, not much will be expected of me while I remain in such a monotonous place as this, where although excitements frequently occurs, they are not generally of a kind that would interest a literary society.
The state of the Potomac (the name of a creek which runs through our camp) employs often our most particular attention. At present it is low and clear, presenting to view many old boots, hats and sundry other articles to the soldier, awakening our minds to sorrowful reflections of the terrible scenes of carnage and dissolution that at one day must have been enacted there. During the present stage of water, I think we need apprehend no attack.
Our next source of interest is the guarding of rebel prisoners, most of whom have settled down to a state of sullen resignation to their imprisonment. A little boy came with his father the other day to see them expecting a rebel to be some huge monster and upon going away, he greeted father with the uncomplimentary conclusion that “they weren’t hard at all and looked prettier than he or Uncle John.”
And if a rebel is to be recognized by a horrid and unattractive appearance, I think we of the 74th would suffer were we to meet an army of ladies in the field for we hardly received a glance from the fair (few, thank fortune) who visit camp—the great attraction appearing to be inside the prison. I have had conversations with a good many of the rebels who appear to be most able and intelligent men, causing one to wonder why they were ever so intellectually blinded as to take the part they did.
I am glad to hear from recent reports that the Shaker doctrine is not promulgated from the Aesthetic Society. I trust that the occurrence will not take any members from your society. I would advise that hereafter no officers of your society be one that contemplates matrimony for it is the death of any institution to be constantly changing officers. I wish the pair much happiness and hope that they wil not carry their love for your society so far as to introduce lectures *certain ones) and critiques into domestic life.
Wishing your meetings to continue in interest and profit, I close expecting to receive reports of your proceedings, and hoping to entertain you better when opportunities are better. I anticipate the pleasure of being once more with you when the present rebellion is crushed and Columbia once more sings her sweet song of Freedom over the Land.
These letters were written by William (“Willie”) Henry Payne (1840-1914), a native of Shelbyville, Kentucky. He was born on 2 March 1840 and came to Harrisonville, Cass county, Missouri, with his father, a cabinet maker named Winchester Payne, and family, when three years old. In 1850 the family moved to property on East Pearl Street in Harrisonville. Willie was married in September 1865 to Elizabeth Endres of Santa Fe, New Mexico. The couple returned to live in Harrisonville for a time but then relocated to Nebraska where Willie was engaged in the lumber business. He died there in 1914.
From these five letters (only two transcribed), we learn that Willie was working as a civilian in the Quartermaster’s Department at Fort Union in New Mexico Territory during the Civil War. Working in the same vicinity as a day laborer was his younger brother, George Winchester Payne (1841-1909). George’s obituary, published in the Selma Enterprise [Selma, California] on 30 October 1909, claims that he fought for the Confederacy throughout the entire Civil War under Old Pap Price who would call him “Sonny” but we know from these letters that by January 1864, George was working in New Mexico and seems to have been there for some time. It may be that both Willie and George went to New Mexico to avoid further service in the Civil War.
Cass County histories inform us that Winchester Payne was loyal to his southern heritage and supported the Confederacy. Local Union troops knew he was “secesh” an targeted his farm frequently when foraging. In the summer of 1862 alone it is reported that they took 28 hogs, 50 bushels of corn, and a ton of hay off his farm despite his having previously taken the Loyalty Oath. Things did not get any better in 1863 when General Ewing issued General Order No. 11 expelling Southern sympathizers from their homes in Cass county. It is reported that the Payne family moved temporarily to Boone county. These letters confirm that Winchester continued to look for alternative employment outside of the region despite his ailing health. They also suggest that several Cass county acquaintances had found employment at the military post or in Santa Fe while in exile from Missouri.
Willie’s letters were all written from Fort Union—a military post on the Santa Fe trail in New Mexico which was begun in 1851 to provide security along the trail as well as serving as a depot to other smaller forts. Work on the large Fort Union complex pictured below was started in August 1862, the structures constructed with adobe bricks set on stone foundations. They included officers quarters, enlisted men’s barracks, corrals, warehouses, a hospital, and other structures. Little of the complex remains today.
An artist’s rendering of how Fort Union looked in 1866 when it was the largest military base for 500 miles in any direction during the latter half of the 19th Century.
Letter 1
Addressed to Mr. Winchester Payne, Harrisonville county, Missouri
Fort Union, New Mexico January 31, 1864
My Dear Father,
Again I seat myself to write a few lines as it is time, for another week has passed, and I am desirous to keep up weekly correspondence with you, for I know how uneasy you are when you fall short of receiving your regular rations at the office.
I received two letters from your last mail—one, for myself, and one for brother [George]. They were both dated January 10th. I was very anxious to get them, for your letter the week previous was not satisfactory. You had just returned from your trip to Sedalia and I feared you was sick, which your last letter proved to me. I am in hopes you are not dangerously ill [and] that you will recover soon. I shall be uneasy about you though until I hear better. You are exposing yourself too much for a man of your age. You will soon be on the delinquent list if you do not take care of yourself. I had rather hear of your selling the cattle and depending upon brother and I for your support, than to see you work as hard for we are now plenty able to do so.
I am sorry to hear our old town is in such an unhealthy condition. I fear the worst is to come in warm weather for it is so filthy and unclean.
I received your letter some time ago respecting that trade which you see, to have some apprehension of my not receiving. I wrote to them today, three weeks ago, my first letter. Have not up to this time received anything from them. I wrote a short note to Mrs. Avery as Mr. B thought it best for she has the directing of all of his affairs. I wrote as if he was from home and solicited an answer from her as soon as possible to know if he was in the same notion he was some time since. I look for an answer this next Tuesday. If I cannot do anything without going there, I will, for I do not want to lose the chance to make every cent I can for you.
You say in your letter Ma & Lizzie will write next week, as both of these letters were from you, of course, they needed responses I will write to them next week.
I and brother will as soon as we can, make a contract for a ranch this summer. The man gives us everything. We give him half. It is situated six miles south of here, being the nearest to the pond and a good place for you to rest, for it is as good grazing as this country affords. The owner is in Santa Fe at present. Will be here next Tuesday. If they will give me $65 a month, I will remain here for I can then furnish brother two American hands with my wages. If not, I will go with him for I can make more there than I can here at $30. Mr. Moore & Krany promised to give him $45 for running day and half the night, but when they came to the scratch, they flew off. Brother will quit there pretty soon and go on the ranch.
You speak of a very severe winter in that part of the world. I am really sorry to hear it for I can sympathize with some poor families that are sure to be out in all of it. We have had a very nice fall—warm and pleasant weather up to Christmas evening [when] it commenced snowing and blowing. It lasted two days when it quit and remained on the ground about a week and went off. Now it is the first of February and as nice March weather as you ever saw. My hands and feet has not been cold this winter though I have six patients in hospital now—some with all toes, some with all fingers frozen off. They came out in the coldest weather. I only had 20 on sick report this morning.
Artist’s rendering of “Star Fort” not far from the Fort Union Complex. Only remnants exist today.
I must begin to close. Gus Yurley is here. Said ask you where his uncle was living. Mr. Bouta comes over here from the fort every time the mail comes in to hear from his family. Has not got anything from them since he come here. John Jackson has received several letters from his wife lately. He looks very well now.
Button Jack is still here. 1 He is well. Has written two or three letters home since he come here. Brother did not come up this Sunday. I will send your letter to him Tuesday. I must now close. Direct me in relation to sending that….as soon as you can and I will try and let you know a week before hand when I send it. Receive my love and letter, I am your son, — Wm. H. P.
1 I’m not positive but I think “Button Jack” may be “Col. William A. Jack” who served as the postmaster of Harrisonville in 1850 and was a merchant there before and during part of the Civil War.After the Civil War he ran a dry goods store in Pleasant Hill, Cass county, Missouri.
Letter 2
Quartermaster Hospital Fort Union March 6th 1864
My dear Father,
Time and circumstances have again afforded me the pleasure of writing you a few lines in answer to your kind favor of February 15th (16 days from your hand). I was very glad indeed to see something directly from you, for your sickness has caused me a great deal of trouble and restlessness, doubting your safety. I am happy you are convalescing for I knew not how to appreciate my parents when I was at home, but now that I am away from you (though doing well), I feel my weakness.
Brother has been in my room all day until a few moments ago when he returned to his quarters at the New Post. He is working here now at $65 per month as painter. His rancher seemed so fluctuating that he would not bear with him longer. He came to me to try to get him work at the best wages. I enquired after the best job I could find for him and succeeded in getting him in as a painter. He has got work that will last him all summer and fall if he suits his boss. He told me he would write to you this week but does not feel very well. Said he would next week. I send you a letter this week dated February 24th for him.
All hopes seem to be gone for me to do anything about that trade we were writing about. Mr. Allison has sold his train for $500 per wagon and team, and will start to the States pretty soon to buy an entire new outfit. I will let you know when he goes if I can anyway, so that you can see him there, for I am positive he will do nothing here. This other man I wrote about says he cannot do anything for his man has already given the contracts to have one made in St. Louis. I shall not stop at this. I will continue to enquire of persons only who I think would buy. I made enquiries about that arrangement you spoke about in your last letter. The agent says it can be sent by draft or in package. If you take it in a check, you will have to send it to New York to have it cashed, for you cannot get the money for it at Kansas City. He says they are just as responsible for it in package as by check. Said send it to the Express as at Kansas City and they would inform you by letter that it had arrived.
I have come to the conclusion to send it by package. I have a very large sheepskin “Port Montie” that I will send it in and mark your name on the inside of it. I will let you know by the return mail after you order it by letter. Just as soon as you think your letter will get here, and time for the next mail to return, you may be confident it has come for I am going to be very punctual about it. Joe Carter is here trying to get work but I do not think he will succeed. He has quit the printing office in Santa Fe to find a worse job, and I think he will not fail in his expectations. 1
Mr. Whiting is talking of returning home in the spring, so Joe [Carter] says, to remain. 2
Mr. Willett is working at a mill in Santa Fe. Says he has not spent but “six bits” since he has been there. He saves money, don’t he? 3
Mr. Banta started home last Wednesday (March 1st). Went in an ox cart outfit. Will be there in about thirty-five days. 4
George Farley wished me to ask you if you knew where his Uncle lived at. Please do so and inform me as soon as you can. I wrote to you in one of my subsequent letters what the Quartermaster said in relation to your working here. If you were here now with your family, you could get all the cabinet work you could do at $65 a month with a ration, and a house to live in. I would much rather you would come out here yourself first and see the prospects than to take my word for it, for you would be better satisfied.
Button Jack is staying with me in the hospital. He is a fine fellow adn has every quality of a gentleman—more than I can say of some that are my particular friends that have ruined themselves with the female natives.
I must now close. Accept mine and Button’s best wishes. With my love, letter and intelligence of our good health, and believe me ever your son, — Willie
1Joseph Henry Carter (1841-1913) was from Harrisonville, Missouri. He learned the printers trade at an early age and worked for a variety of newspapers throughout his life until finally settling on a ranch in Kansas.
2 Probably W. E. Whiting (b. 1836) who was working as a tailor in Harrisonville, Missouri at the time of the 1860 US Census.
3 Probably Roberts Willett (b. 1828 in Tennessee) who was a banker in Harrisonville, Missouri, at the time of the 1860 US Census.
4 Dewitt Clinton Banta (1829-1869), a native of Kentucky, and a resident of Harrisonville, Missouri, in 1860 where he was enumerated as a farmer with a wife and three children.
These letters were written by John S. Halley (1837-1913), the son of John and Jessie (Spital) Halley of Markinch, Fifeshire, Scotland. He wrote the letters to his sister, Mary Arnot Halley (1836-1888).
I could not find an image of John but here is a tintype of Pvt. William W. Heath who also served in Co. H, 4th Vermont Infantry. Health was killed on 5 May 1864 in the Wilderness. (Bruce Hermann Collection)
Their father, John Halley, came to America with his family in 1847, his wife dying enroute in Montreal before he settled in Vermont. John grew up in Orange county, Vermont, and was married there in 1861 to Eveline A. Richardson (1841-1924) before enlisting in late August 1861 as a private in Co. H, 4th Vermont Infantry. He was wounded on 14 September 1862 at Crampton’s Pass, South Mountain, but the wound was not disabling and he continued in the service until mustering out on 30 September 1864. His name appears variously in military records as Holley or Halley.
John’s enthusiasm for fighting flagged considerably by the summer of 1864, prompting him to confess to his sister, “I am willing to recognize the South. I have got tired and sick of seeing so man men killed and mangled every day…I have but little faith of getting out [alive] anyway. It will make but little difference with me anyway. I have got demoralized out here.”
After the war he relocated to Lincoln, Black Hawk county, Iowa, where he made his living as a farmer.
Letter 1
Camp Winfield Scott April 29, 1862
Dear Sister,
I received a letter from you day before yesterday. I was very glad to hear from you/ I should have answered it yesterday but lacked time so I will scratch a few lines today. You must not expect much of a letter more than to merely let you know that I am well. I was very much obliged to you for the stamps that you sent me as I was nearly out and was very saving of what I had left as I do not know when we shall get paid off. We have not got our pay for January and February yet. The boys are pretty short. I get along very well. All I need is stationery and I guess I shall get along till we are paid. I have saves some for some stamps.
My health is very good now—as good as it has ever been. I have written to no one but you and my wife for some time but I must write to Lizzie and Willy soon.
This place in front of us on the Peninsula is probably the strongest fortified place that the rebels have. How we shall succeed in taking it, time along will tell. I have not faith in us taking it although I hope we shall. You have ere this read in the paper about the skirmish that the Vermont Brigade had with the enemy. We got the most of it and had to retire. What the next move will be, I do not know. I do not know much about what is going on as I do not see many papers and what I do see is about a week old before I get them. I have no news to write nor nothing else. I suppose the most you care about is to know how I am getting along.
We had a lot of new recruits come in today. I pity them. I wished I was to home. But I also do not expect to get home till three years are out, if I live. I try to be as good as I can but I am in an awful place. I need your prayers. My letters you can [ ] as you have done. I will close hoping and praying for you, from your brother, — J. S. Holley
Letter 2
Addressed to Miss Mary A. Halley, Xenia, Ohio
Camp near Hagerstown, Maryland October 5, 1862
Sister Mary,
I received a letter from you the other day. the first that I have got from you for some time. I was very glad to hear that you was well. Did not know but that you was sick and I was glad to learn that you was back in Xenia. I feared that times were so hard that you would shut the school down.
Well, as I said, we have got into comfortable quarters for the present. It is rumored that we are going to move soon. How true it is, I cannot say. I hope not, however, as I want to stay here all winter. I like it here first rate. We are near what is called the White Springs, Maryland. We are near the town of Hagerstown. It is a place of about four thousand inhabitants.
There is nothing here now but our Brigade. I expect the whole Corps will be here soon. I have passed through the campaign of Maryland safe. At the Battle of Antietam, there was a piece of a shell struck me on the shoulder. It just bruised me a little making my arm a little lame for a day or two. If it had struck my shoulder two or three inches lower, it would have shattered my shoulder and probably I should never get better.
I am very thankful that I came off so easy. There is no news to write so I will close for this time. Yours respectfully and sincerely, — John S. Halley
Letter 3
Camp in the field Near Spottsylvania Court House May 21st 1864
Dear Sister Mary,
I write you a line and let a [ ] at the present. I suppose you will want to hear from e. I am well and am unhurt so far for we have had some terrible fighting and it is not over with [us] yet. It is as near a drawn battle as can be—at least that is the opinion of your humble servant.
We have lost fifty thousand in killed, wounded, and missing. Our reinforcements will keep our army as strong as when they crossed the Rapidan—that is, in point of numbers. Our regiment and brigade suffered terrible, losing more than half. It is awful. I can not give you particulars at this time. I am at the division hospital in the field. We keep one mile or two in the rear of the troops according to guard for the hospital. I have escaped unhurt so far.
My love to you, — John S. Halley
Letter 4
Camp in the field, Virginia June 24, 1864
Dear Sister,
I received your letter today dated June 16th. I was very glad to hear from you and learn that you was well. I was very glad to learn of your intended change. Hope it will be for the better. You have my best wishes with you.
I am truly sorry, however, for Willie. He is too young. He ought to have a little more experience before he takes that step. I shall say nothing to him. Let him act his own pleasure. I wish it was otherwise. It may be all for the best. I have not heard from him since he left home or rather since he went back home.
I had a letter from [my wife] Eveline. She was well. No news worth repeating. Everybody was well. There is no news to write from here—only we are not in Richmond yet and hardly think we shall get there in a hurry. I am willing to recognize the South. I have got tired and sick of seeing so man men killed and mangled every day. Yesterday they used up the rest of the 4th [Vermont] Regiment. 1 They were on the skirmish line one mile and a half from any support. They were flanked by the rebels and there is but fifty men with the colors now [though] some more may come in. The rest are either killed, wounded, or prisoners. Capt. Tracey was brought in dead today. They will probably put what is left of us in to some other regiment. If so, I shall have to carry a gun and if I do, my chances of getting through safe are not worth much.
I have but little faith of getting out anyway. It will make but little difference with me anyway. I have got demoralized out here and will not work and there will be no other way for me to live. I can never save enough to but a house.
Excuse this as I feel blue. Truly yours, — J. S. Halley
1 On June 23, 1864, the regiment “suffered the greatest loss of men by capture” it ever experienced. It was engaged with the brigade and the Sixth Corps in a movement against the Weldon Railroad, and was thrown out in front under command of Major Pratt, with a battalion of the eleventh. The enemy broke through the line with a strong force, and surrounded and captured seven officers and 137 men of the Fourth, as well as almost the entire battalion of the Eleventh. The colors of the Fourth were saved by the activity and coolness of the color guard. The officers so captured were Major Pratt, Captains Chapin and Boutin, and Lieutenants Carr, Fisher, Needham and Pierce. Among the killed was Captain William C. Tracy, of Co. G. His dead body was found on the field next day, stripped of arms, watch, money and boots, and surrounded by the muskets of his men, showing that he had rallied his company around him, and that they threw down their arms only when their gallant leader had fallen.”
Spared & Shared 23 