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.
This letter was written by Duncan O. Stowell (1844-1929) of Ellisburg, Jefferson county, New York, who enlisted at age 20 in September 1863 to serve one year in Co. L, 6th New York Heavy Artillery. He mustered out of the service on 28 June 1865 at Petersburg, Virginia.
Duncan was the son of George H. Stowell (1811-1883) and Francis Derry (1812-1873) of St. Lawrence county, New York. After the war, Duncan married Martha A. Kelsey (1841-1934) and moved to Woodbury County, Iowa where he was a farmer.
Transcription
Sunday, March 12, 1865
Dear Cousin,
I received a short letter from you when we were at Winchester and have frequently thought to answer it but for some reason or other I have postponed doing so until the present. I have to ask your pardon for being tardy this time and if you will grant it, I will be prompt in the future.
We here in the army labor under one great disadvantage in writing to friends—that is this: We can tell them no news. However, I am glad to tell you one thing—viz: that Charley and I are both well. I have served a little more than a half of the time for which I enlisted and have been favored with the best of health and good luck. For this and many other things I thank the Great Ruler ad if it be His will, I hope to meet you all once more in a peaceful country.
It may be of interest to you to know where we are and what we are doing. We are on the line between the James and Appomattox rivers and are doing picket and fatigue duty. We are on duty the most of the time. When on picket we are quite close to the Johnnies and can talk to them with ease. There are deserters coming into our lines every night. They tell us that they are kept on half rations—that the Confederacy will “go up” soon, &c. How true this last statement is remains to be seen. God grant that it may be be so and that we may again have a prosperous and united country. I think that never since this rebellion broke out have our prospects been so good as at the present.
There are many things that I might tell you about connected with the army but it would require too much space and perhaps would not interest you. I will tell you as near as I can though the way we live when in camp like this. We have shanties about 15 feet long, 10 wide and 6 high covered with our tent cloths. There are four of us in a shanty. We cook our own food which consists of pork, beans, fish, coffee and sugar, and hard tack. Sometimes we get bread in the place of hard tack. We have had better rations and more of them since we came here than before.
The weather is getting quite warm and pleasant except a cold rain once in awhile. I have not seen any snow to speak of since we left the Shenandoah Valley last December but presume you have had snow enough and sleigh riding to your heart’s content. Wouldn’t I like to jump into a cutter and have a good sleigh ride—all alone of course. I think of nothing more this time. Now Sarah, I don’t want you to do as I did but return good for evil and write me a good long letter as soon as convenient. Give my love to your people and oblige. Yours, — D. O. Stowell
Direct to me, Co. L, 6th New York Heavy Artillery, Washington D. C.
Private Heyward Glover Emmell of Co. K, 7th Regiment New Jersey Volunteers (Madison Historical Society, Morristown, N. J.)
These Civil War letters were written by Heyward Glover Emmell (1841-1917) who served in Co. K., 7th New Jersey Infantry. Heyward’s given name is spelled variously in military and civil records but I have used the name that appears on the family headstone in Morristown, New Jersey, and the way it is spelled in the 1909 Morristown City Directory where Heyward was enumerated among the city’s booksellers & stationers. Heyward was the son of Silas Brookfield Emmell (1800-1883)—a Morristown merchant—and Elmina Campbell (1808-1869).
In 2011, Jim Malcolm discovered Emmell’s Journal in the archives of the Madison (Morris County, New Jersey) Historical Society and published it under the title, “The Civil War Journal of Private Heyward Emmell, Ambulance & Infantry Corps, A Very Disagreeable War.” In the preface of the book, Malcolm remarks that the journal contained daily entries of surprisingly good penmanship with few words that were not readable. Not so with Heyward’s letters and as a consequence, though I have not personally examined the original journal, my hunch is that it was a post-war production written partially from memory and based principally on either letters sent home or pocket notes kept by Emmell in the field. I don’t say this to diminish the value of Malcolm’s book—only to reconcile the differences between the neatness of the journal and the sloppiness of Emmell’s handwritten and penciled letters. Besides, Emmell states in the letter sent home to his parents following the Battle of Williamsburg that he lost his knapsack containing everything he carried with him except for what was in his pockets. Surely if he had been keeping a journal from the date of his enlistment up to that point of time, he would have mentioned such a loss.
There are fifteen letters in this collection, most of them brief and what I would call, “Thank God I’m still alive!” letters that were written after each of the major engagements of the 7th New Jersey.
A book review published on-line by William R. Feeney makes the following observations about Emmell:
Jim Malcolm’s Book, published in 2011 & avaiiable on Amazon
Emmell’s service is distinctive not only because he fought in almost every major battle of the war but also because of his transfer to the Union army’s Ambulance Corps in September 1863. Having served as a stretcher-bearer for fourteen months, Private Emmell provides historians with a unique view of the difficulties in dealing with wounded soldiers. The information in Emmell’s journal is most helpful to the academic when viewed in its entirety rather than in smaller segments. The pages are littered with interesting anecdotes that raise numerous questions from the reader but are rarely insightful in themselves. However, when these stories are woven together, they compose a rich tapestry of material for the historian to analyze. At first glance, for instance, Emmell’s writing appears to comment on race as if he were a third-party reporter. Interactions with “contraband” or “darkys” occur around him, but he never directly takes part. However, Emmell’s feelings on race are evident when snippets of information are strung together. His terse observations on the rebel “darky sharpshooter,” the use of a large black bear to “chase down and squeeze” contraband because the bear was “down on darkys,” and the nightly minstrel shows in camp reveal Emmell’s prevailing views of African Americans, despite his reticence in giving a personal opinion (19, 27, 106).
Emmell’s insight into camp life is equally rich when contextualized broadly. His remarks on arsenic cake, soldier suicide, wedding ceremonies, barrel punishments, burning “sculls” to brew coffee, masquerade balls where men dressed as women, and even one instance of two Union soldiers dressed as rebels who snuck into Petersburg during the siege to attend a dance tell us much about how soldiers coped with the stress and boredom of camp (3, 42, 55, 88, 109, 106, 119). When viewed as a whole, Emmell’s diary is useful for a wide range of Civil War topics, such as race, fraternization, camp life, battles, military organization, medical services, and injury.
The Civil War Journal of Private Heyward Emmell, Ambulance and Infantry Corps: A Very Disagreeable War. Ed. Jim Malcolm. Madison: Fairleigh Dickenson University Press, 2011. ISBN 978-1-61147-040-6, 150 pp., cloth, $75.00.
The national flag of the 7th New Jersey bears the battle honors the regiment won during three years of hard campaigning with the Army of the Potomac. (New Jersey State Museum)
Letter 1
Camp near Williamsburg, Virginia Wednesday, May 7th 1862
My dear Mother,
I expect Mother has read in the Times by this time that the Jersey Brigade were badly cut up, as is the whole of Hooker’s Division. The Jersey Brigade was on the advance after a long march [when] near this place we found ourself near the enemy. We unslung knapsacks and went in action right away and fight five hours. We drove them back twice and then stood our ground when our ammunition give out & they came up and with the Stars & Stripes & said, “Don’t fire on your friends!” and at the same time asking what regiment we were. When told the 7th New Jersey, they said they were [a] Pennsylvania regiment & then fired volley after volley in our ranks so that we had to fall back.
Captain [James M.] Brown 1 & his company was the last to leave. I don’t believe the captain would [have] left until taken prisoner but got shot through the jaw and was carried a ways as we left. It seemed [as] if I was running through a shower of bullets but I was never touched by one. How thankful I do feel.
When we retreated, Sickles Brigade arrived and they and the New Hampshire & Massachusetts & the rest of our division fought until cut to pieces when just then arrived another division which fought & then arrived another division. At 7 o’clock it ceased.
The rebels left. Our troops went in pursuit of them. They were strongly fortified and they had the woods all fixed to suit so as to annoy us. Big trees laid crossways.
The Jersey Boys fought ten times their number after [a] long & tiresome march. The dead in our regiment is about 40, 100 wounded, and about that number missing. Our company [had] 8 or 9 wounded in the fighting & Joe Watkins 2 & Calvin Nix’s 3 [wounds] are the only dangerous ones. Our boys brought Joe off the field yesterday. The rebels took his revolver, watch, and money and called him a damn Yankee. Two other rebels came up to him and fixed a blanket under his head & gave him a drink. After that two others took hold of him & were carrying him across to their lines & were frightened & dropped him & run. None of our company were shot dead and these are the only dangerous ones. The rest are mostly flesh wounds. Three or 4 got balls through coats, hat or haversack without hurting them.
Lieut. Colonel [Ezra A. Carman] shot through the wrist, sword in hand. Major [Francis] Price is in command now. Most all the line officers wounded. Lieut. [Joseph H.] Johnson killed of Company H—he was pierced after dead. Lieut. [Thomas C.] Thompson of Co. A was taken prisoner. All of the division the same way.
I lost my knapsack of course. The rebels got them all & all my things but one handkerchief. Testament and my dear Mother’s picture & a comb & pocket knife. Merritt [Bruen], 4 I just telling that I was writing home, he is well. Of course he did not have to be in the battle. Bob Lambert is not hurt. I believe he was in it but not hurt. I have a blanket I picked up. I do not feel bad losing my knapsack but am thankful not my life. I am well [and] in good spirits. I have to write on anything I can get. I picked this paper dropped by some Con[federate] soldier likely.
I forgot to say that it rained all Monday while we were fighting & we laid flat and fired a good deal of the time. It is horrible to tell of the sights of things around here. 1,000 of dead bodies of ours and the enemy dead around. A good many have been buried. It was horrible to go past a surgeon’s place & see the piles of arms &c. and to see men with legs taken off by shells &c.
I must close. Love to all. Your affectionate son, — Heyward
1 Capt. James M. Brown survived and was later promoted to Major of the 15th New Jersey.
2 Corp. Joseph S. Watkins died at Chesapeake US Army General Hospital at Fortress Monroe, on 31 May 1862 of wounds received in the Battle of Williamsburg.
3 Calvin Nix survived his wounds and lived until 1928.
4 Sgt. Merritt Bruen later served as regimental quartermaster.
Letter 2
Near Williamsburg [Virginia] May 8, 1862
Dear Father,
I wrote a few lines to Mother yesterday. I thought that as I could get chance to write a few lines today and make sure of one of them reaching Morristown. It was last Sunday morning that we were ordered to go & work in number 1 mortar battery but we had just got there & what was to be seen but the Stars & Stripes floating over Yorktown. The rebels had evacuated from out of their stronghold. If they had only stayed until 2 o’clock Monday morning, McClellan would have commenced the battle. Our course we got orders to go back to our camp but soon got orders to march towards Williamsburg. We marched through Yorktown but had to move very slow for they had torpedoes fixed all over the road with wires. When anyone would step on a wire, it would explode [and] kill everyone near it. As there had been 100 hundred killed by them before, our division was very careful not to step on them. I saw a number of them.
About dark we reached the halfway house & so tired & thirsty we could hardly move. We unslung knapsack, got our canteens filled & slung knapsacks and marched until 11 o’clock at night when we rested until daylight and woke up and found it raining very hard. We started again mud knee deep passing muskets, wagons, &c. left by the enemy. About 8 o’clock, we arrived to where our artillery and the 2nd N. H. & 1st Mass. were engaged. We unslung our knapsacks and marched in line of battle, throwing 4 companies out as skirmishers.
Pretty soon, bang, bang, went the rebel’s sharpshooter rifles when Lieut. Colonel [Ezra A.] Carman give the order to drop & lay down. Then was when I first begin to see the horrors of war. Down fell one after another of the skirmishers of Company A who were a few yards before us. It was too hot. Our skirmishers had to come in. The whole regiment laid flat, firing when they could see anything, but the enemy were all hid behind the brush. Pretty soon the firing became general—we driving them back twice.
Well, it went on so until near 1 o’clock when they came out in sight with Stars & Stripes & saying they were our boys. [But] when they got near us, fell on their knees & fired, cutting our brigade badly, when we were driven back. Capt. [James M.] Brown was the last to leave & I do not believe he would have left until taken prisoner if not had got shot through the jaw. Joe Watkins is pretty bad. [Calvin] Nix & [John] Slingerland is pretty bad. I hope all will get well. We had 7 or 8 wounded was all in our company. In the regiment about 30 killed, and 80 wounded. I do not know how many missing. There must be about 2,000 killed & wounded in the whole fight, I should think.
The boys go to see Joe [Watkins] often & say he is better. He is in a house near here. It was the awfullest sight could be thought of to see the dying and wounded. Some in their struggles had handfuls of dirt in their hands, some were found ramming the balls in their guns. I could get lots of things but I could not take care of them such as secesh rifles & canteens. Some of our boys got the rebels’ pocketbooks but I could not do that. It was bad enough for me to see the dead let alone take the things out of their pants. I see a lot of rebel postage stamps. They were just like ours except Jeff Davis’s picture instead of Washington’s. They were not like those I saw at home.
Fort Magruder is about 200 yards from me, It was a strong, fortified place here & so was Yorktown forts upon forts. Some of our boys have been up to Williamsburg. It is a town like Morristown. The boys have boughten [ ] & went in a eating house & got dinner. Williamsburg is a mile and a half from here. I wrote again this morning so as to make sure of getting one letter home & let the home folks all know that I was well. I lost my knapsack and all my things. My paper envelopes & everything. I found what I am now writing on. I had my letters, testament, Mother’s picture, my knife, pocket book, and in my pocket is all I have left.
Lieut. [Thomas C.] Thompson was left at Williamsburg by the rebels wounded. They could not carry him in their hurry. We are still encamped on the battlefield. I do not think we will be put in action right away for most all the officers are wounded in the division. Heaps of love to Mother, sister & heaps to Father. Your affectionate son, — Heyward
Letter 3
The 7th New Jersey Monument near the Trostle Farm Barnsouth of Gettysburg
[Note: The writing on this letter is so faint that it is barely legible.]
Battlefield near Gettysburg, Penn. July 4th 1863
My Dear Father,
Having passed through another battle of which I have a great deal to be thankful I was not killed. The loss is awful in our [ ] company [ ] Capt. [William R.] Hillyer [ ] Lieut. John’s wounded but Lieut. Millen dangerous and of the boys killed and wounded I cannot say—only that we had about 16 in our company. Tom Campbell is at our Corps Hospital wounded. He sent for some of to come and see him. Merritt is going. I could not go or I would. Merritt had seen [ ] First Lieutenant of the Macon Co. & he says Blankie is out west—a signal officer—so Cl___ is not hurt….
Merritt will see Louis. Capt. Logan is killed. The rebels have fallen back a little. Gen. Meade is ….
I must close….I will write first opportunity again…I close, your affectionate son, — Heyward
An 1863 cdv of Heyward Emmell from the family photo album (Charles Joyce Collection)
Letter 4
On the Field May 7th 1864
Dear Father,
I write you a few lines to let you all at home know that I have come out safe so far, hoping everything will turn up right. We have had hard fighting now for 3 days. No more boys injured in our company. I have been helping get off our wounded.
Please give bushels of love to Mother & Sisters & I close & remain your ever affectionate son, — Heyward
Merritt wishes to be remembered to all at home
Letter 5
In the field May 15th 1864
Dear Mother,
I have written once & Merritt [Bruen] wrote once for me to let all at home know that I am not hurt & well, but I do not know as they have reached home. Neither do I know that this will, but there are doctors going to Fredericksburg with wounded every few days and I shall try to send this by of them.
We have been fighting since May 5th. The loss of life has been dreadful. It is estimated killed & wounded at 50,000 in the Army of the Potomac. Our Corps (the 2nd) made a charge a few days ago [and] took 8,000 prisoners and a great many cannon. The battlefield where the charge was made is just heaped with the dead of both parties. The dead bodies are just riddled like a paper box with shots. We stretcher carriers are busy all the time & I cannot write as I would if I were in the regiment.
Yesterday where our Corps were was quite still and we had to get those wounded rebs out that there was some possibility of living. We put them under shelter from the heavy showers [that] have fallen every hour or two for the past 5 days. This morning we left them & changed our front. The rebs followed us up pretty sharp & for a little while we thought we would likely go to Richmond as the roads were blockaded but after a little we got the wagons a moving & am now safe again behind our troops.
I have never witnessed such a scene in my life as in this battle [see The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House]. Gen. Sedgwick, 6th Corps, was killed. 1 There are some killed in Co. K but none from Morristown. Tell Carrie the Major [Frederick Cooper] of the 7th got wounded in two places. I helped carry him off.
I must now close for we are going to leave. Another shower will get this wet. Please do not worry. I am not exposed—nothing to what I would be in the regiment. I feel thankful that I got out safe so far & hope for the best & send bushels of love to Mother, Father, and Sisters. I close & remain your ever affectionate son, — Heyward
I head this “in the field” for I know not nor can I find out any name for this place. We moved from the extreme right of our line last night where our division was forming a strong picket line, to here which is on our left—that is the Johnnie’s right. I see some of the boys writing home so I thought I would do so to let all at home know that I am well.
Everything is very quiet today along the line. Merritt is well. Em’s just returned from Fredericksburg where he took a train loaded with wounded.
This battle is being very skillfully carried on. Gen. Lee & Gen. Grant are just like two persons playing chess & are a good match for each other. I hope & think we will be victorious in the end. I hope Gen. Butler will be able to take Richmond while Grant holds all Lee’s forces here and fights him. I hope for the best & will [ ] to close this short letter hoping it will get home and also the two I sent before & also one Merritt sent. The last letter I had from home was dated the 3rd of May.
Please accept overflowing measure of love from Heyward and give the same to Father, Sister Kate, & Carrie, and I close & remain your ever affectionate son, — Heyward G. Emmell
Letter 7
Camp 5 miles South of Pamunky [River] May 29th 1864
Dear Mother,
It has been most two weeks since I have had a chance to write home & now I have not much prospects of this getting off as there is no communication. This will let Mother know I am well. Needn’t be worried if I do not write in some time for I hardly have time to eat & lose my sleep most every night.
I now close. Accept bushels of love from your ever affectionate son, Heyward, and give the same to Father, Kate & Carrie.
I close.
P. S. I have had the ginger some time which Dempsey brought. It is very nice. Merritt is well.
Letter 8
Cold Harbor June 2, 1864
Dear Sister,
I seat myself on my rubber blanket, my only protection from the storm cold, &c. as it is all I carry except my haversack of hardtack which is not always got rations in it, I am sorry to say.
We are now again on the Peninsula about 11 or 12 miles of the long-looked for Rebel capitol. Part of Gen. Butler’s force are here. As I write this, I can hear the skirmishing & cannonading which has not been still for a month nearly now. We have just been in 3 hours from a tiresome march of 14 or 15 [miles] from the extreme right to the very left. I have had my coffee and feel a little refreshed & as it was most two weeks until I wrote on the 29th & I am afraid that letter did not reach home, do Iborrowed paper and made up my mind to write again & send it by the next chance to let all at home know that I am well.
We stretcher carriers are to the front and my knapsack is with the wagon so I had to borrow paper of course. I have a quantity in the knapsack in the ambulance.
No Morristown boys in Co. K killed. In the 15th Regt., Sergeant Vanhouten was killed and in the 8th Regt. Sergeant Evans—a son of a man that used to plow Auntie’s garden when I was very small.
Gen. Grant works on Gen. McClellan’s plan—fortifies every inch as he takes it. The base of supplies I believe is now the White House [Landing]. I received a letter of May 20th. Please give our dear mother bushels of love from Heyward and give the same to Father and Carrie & accept the same for yourself. Please excuse my dirty paper. It dropped in the creek & my hands being dirty helped to soil it.
I now close and remain your affectionate brother, — Heyward G. Emmell
Letter 9
Near Cold Harbor, Virginia June 10th 1864
Dear Mother,
I have received a letter from home every few days & hope mine go too through. We lay where we did when I wrote on the 7th. Our brigade is just in front of a mill pond with a fine breastwork in front. The John[nie]s shell us a little every day but do not do much injury. Our pickets are out front. The breastworks a couple hundred yards & in front of them lay the South Carolina sharpshooters who go to the same stream for water to fill their canteens & talk together, trade, &c.
One of our boys in the brigade got a Richmond paper of the same day as it was printed. They do not fore a shot at each other in our front until one or the other side advances, but one didn’t keep his word and killed an orderly to the Colonel of the 11th [New] Jersey tonight.
They is talk of us changing base to the James River & that we will move tonight so if we do, I will not have chance to write in a week or more likely. I received a letter from Father tonight. I would have written Father this but I had bit one envelope with me that is on my person & that was directed to Mother. It is my turn to write Father but I thought it made no difference as long as I write where it was directed.
Please excuse all mistakes & heaps of love to all at home including a large share to my dear Mother & I close & remain your affectionate son, — Heyward
Letter 10
Near Petersburg, Virginia June 20th 1864
Dear Father,
Michael Mullery (1842-1864) was originally in Co. K until promoted to Captain of Co. I. He was killed at Petersburg on 16 June 1864.
I will take a few moments to write Father and let all at home know that I am alive. It has been a very hot place since we come here across the James River. The men have been killed by hundreds. In our Co. K, there is 3 killed and about 10 wounded. [Jabez] Beers is killed. Allen [H.] Pierson mortally wounded. Capt. [Michael] Mullery [of Co. I] killed. [Francis E.] Kane is wounded, [Corp. Andrew C.] Halsey has his arm broke with a ball & will have to be amputated. I have no chance to hear about the boys after they go to the hospital so there is no use of wring me to find out for there is no time to do so now.
The first letter for Beers we received & he told me they thought him dead. The next one come I sent to Jim [ ] Beers being dead. I hear. I did not see him. There is no use in having letters directed in my care for they come no better.
[Hugh] Roden is well & says it is very queer that his Father gets no letter from him.
I must now close. Please give bushels of love to my dear Mother & Sisters. I fel very thankful that I have got through safely so far. Merritt is well. I must close & remain your affectionate son, — Heyward
Letter 11
Before Petersburg, Va. July 29, 1864
My Dear Mother,
I received sister Carrie’s letter of the 22nd a few days ago with much pleasure & was very glad to hear that all at home were well.
On the 26th, about 5 o’clock, our Corps started on a tramp, We marched all night and went over 20 miles. I was the nearest played out that I ever have been I think. The route we took was to Point of Rocks where we crossed the Appomattox and then after marching about ten miles further we reached the James River & crossed it the same way on pontoons. Here we found our monitors and gunboats and with the aid of them, we drove the John[nie]’s back who had been firing in transports that bring our provisions to us and captured 4 guns of them.
We crossed the James at Turkey Bend which is a few miles I believe from Malvern Hill. Last night after dark ew started for Petersburg & we are now [ ] along with the 18th Corps after a hard march all night.
I received the handkerchief the afternoon we left for the march & also the stamps, They must have been delayed somewhere.
Mother, I must now [ ] sleepy. Please excuse the shortness. I feel thankful that I have been preserved so far & hope for the best. Please give bushels of love to Father, Sisters Kate & Carrie, & accept overflowing [ ] for my dear Mother & I close & remain your affectionate son, — Heyward
Letter 12
Before Petersburg August 1st 1864
Dear Kate,
Your kind epistle arrived safely this morning & a package of papers. The letter was dated the 25th & I was very glad to hear that all at home were well. I saw Mr. Mills—the one we boys use to call Monkey Mills that use to be in Mr. Johnson’s store and was in our church choir. He is well. He wished to be remembered to Father…I received the handkerchiefs & stamps a few days ago.
About 5 p.m. July 26th we started on a march & marched to the Appomattox River and crossed it on pontoons at Point of Rocks & then marched to Turkey Bend—or some call it Deep Bottom—on the James River & crossed it also. Here we found the gunboats & all the monitors and a small force of the 19th Corps. on bank and it was now morning and we had marched about 22 miles, having marched all night long. Our force consisted of the 2nd Corps under Gen. Hancock and Sheridan’s Cavalry. Our line was formed & a charge was made into the Rebel works (he meantime our monitors hurled in shells from the river) and we captured four Parrott cannon. There was then a new line formed & there was nothing but sharpshooters firing. We lay all the next day also until night when we started back & marched until morning, reaching the right of Petersburg where our division halted until dark when it relieved the 18th Army Corps which were in rifle pits for 24 hours. It was a warm place. If you stuck your cap—whiz–whiz—would come over a ball at what they would think was your head.
The day we was there, all the batteries opened & it was a splendid sight to see from a good place and shells of ours explode in & around Petersburg. Most of our shells were thrown at Fort [ ]. A few struck in the city & it soon became full of smoke so that you could hardly see the spires of the churches. A few of the houses burnt up.
At the same time, in front of Burnside’s Corps, the niggers made a charge & were successful first but afterward were driven back & a great many of them were captured which the rebels are making build up the forts which we blew up or if they refuse, kill them. That is the report here. They use mortar for dropping shell in the trenches here now which are not very pleasant. They sound just like a locomotive coming & in the night you can see them come.
I wrote Mother on the 29th. Please give bushels of love to Mother & Father & Sisters Carrie & accept the same yourself from Heyward.
I must now go for my 4 months pay as the regiment is getting paid which I will enclose in this.
P. S. The chaplain has no checks but will have them in 3 days. I give him 50 dollars and will send the check next letter for 50. I received 58 today.
Letter 13
Near Deep Bottom on James August 17th 1864
My Dear Mother,
I will try and find a way to send this if possible. On the 12th we left Petersburg & marched to City Point & imboarded the sick of the 24th Corps. The troops marched there too but the ambulances went back after unloading to Point of Ricks & crossed the Appomattox River & parked 2 miles from here on the other side of the James. We stretcher carriers were ordered to leave the ambulances & go back to City Point which made it a tiresome march for us. We got on transports & sailed to Deep Bottom, just across the river from where we left the ambulance train.
There has been some hard fighting. Our regiment has not been engaged. I helped get some of the 8th New Jersey Volunteers out yesterday who were wounded. Gen. Birney with the 10th Corps & [ ] of our corps are on the [ ] & it is reported are near Malvern Hill. They brought a rebel General dead in yesterday. His name was Chamberlin [John Randolph Chambliss, Jr.], I believe, a cavalry general. 1
Our gunboats help very much where we are.
It has been some time since I have got a letter from home. The last was dated July 29th. I send bushels of love to Father & Sisters Kate & Carrie & overflowing measures to my dear Mother & hope for the best. And I will now close & remain your ever affectionate, — Heyward
P. S. I put in this one of my friend’s photographs for sister to keep for me. I sent a check on July [ ] for $50.
1 “Promoted to brigadier general, [John R.] Chambliss continued in command of the brigade, through the cavalry fighting from the Rapidan River to the James, gaining fresh laurels in the defeat of the Federals at Stony Creek. Finally, in a cavalry battle on the Charles City Road, on the north side of the James River, Chambliss was killed while leading his men. His body was buried with honor by the Federals, and soon afterward, On Wednesday the 17th of August 1864, a detachment of confederate soldiers came across the union lines under a flag of truce to retrieve Chambliss’s body. Thereafter, he was exhumed and delivered to his friends. It was buried in the family graveyard in Emporia, Virginia. Robert E. Lee wrote that “the loss sustained by the cavalry in the fall of General Chambliss will be felt throughout the army, in which, by his courage, energy and skill, he had won for himself an honorable name.” [Wikipedia]
Letter 14
In the entrenchments before Petersburg, Va. August 21, 1864
Dear Carrie,
Sister Kate’s letter of August 15th arrived on the 18th & I was very glad to hear from home once more & that the directions was right, for I will now receive them regularly. We left Deep Bottom—that is, the 3rd Division—on the night of the 18th and marched all night through the rain and got to Petersburg by noon the next day where our division relieved a division of niggers belonging to the 9th Corps in the entrenchments. Every morning about 3 o’clock the rebel batteries opened on us and we lay low in deep holes which we dig with piles of large logs front of us to screen ourselves from the flying missiles. We will be relieved from this position tomorrow. It is very filthy here. The ground is all littered with old meat &c.
I wrote at Deep Bottom to Mother. We went in a flag-of-truce when we were there with the rebel general Chamberlin’s [Chambliss’s] body & at the same time some of the stretcher carriers went in between the lines after some of the 8th New Jersey dead. They were mortified & it was very disagreeable even to have them carried near you. It was very disagreeable on board the transports. We expected to go to Washington but I was glad to get off so soon for we had hardly room to stand.
At dusk the whole 2nd Corps moved down the James river, bands a playing, to White House Point & laid at anchor & at 10 o’clock a tug boat come up with orders for the fleet to move to Deep Bottom. The going on transports & going down the river was of course just a blind for we could have marched it in half of the time it took to embark. I will not undertake to tell what we accomplished while there for you can read it in the papers before this, & all that I know would just be what took place just around our brigade.
The 5th Corps took 1100 prisoners yesterday and a train belonging to the Johnnies. I can now hear very heavy fighting on the left of us. We have had rain every day for the past 5 or 6 days.
I must now close. Please give bushels of love to my dear Mother & Father, Sister Kate, & accept heaps for yourself & I close & remain your ever affectionate brother, — Heyward G. Emmell
Letter 15
Before Petersburg, Virginia September 11th 1864
Dear Father,
I received sister Kate’s note of the 5th this morning with great pleasure but am sorry to hear that Carrie has so bad a cold. The 5th, 6th, and 8th Regiments have gone home. Next goes the 7th [New Jersey] who are to go between this and October 1st. The clerks are busy making out muster rolls.
We stretcher bearers have something to do again as we advanced a part of the line of pickets who were too close to our fort & it has occasioned picket firing again. Just think a few days ago their pickets & ours would play cards together & some of theirs & our officers were drinking & playing together & now shooting [at] each other—but so it is. We use to get Richmond papers every morning.
Stephen Bruen is now Quartermaster and Tim Burroughs is Quartermaster Sergeant. Merritt’s [Merritt Bruen] death was very sudden. He had a great many friends in the army.
I must now bringhis to a close but not before giving heaps of love to my dear Father, Mother, and Sisters & please remember me to the Aunties & I close & remain your ever affectionate son, — Heyward G. Emmell
The following photographs are in an album recently purchased by a friend of mine at the Gettysburg Show (June 2022). It is clear the album once belonged to Heyward G. Emmell.
Silas Brookfield EmmellSilas Brookfield EmmellSilsa Brookfield EmmellCatharine (“Kate”) C. EmmellCatharine (“Kate”) C. EmmellGeorge A. EmmellCaroline (“Carrie”) EmmellElmina (Campbell) EmmellElmina (Campbell) Emmell
This letter was written by Sarah Eliza (Wilson) Rice (1842-1928), the daughter of James William Wilson (1816-1904) and Nancy E. Justice (1821-1904) of Fremont, Sandusky county, Ohio. Sarah—who went by “Lizzie”—was only 19 years old when she married John Birchard Rice (1832-1893), an 1857 graduate of the medical department at the University of Michigan, in December 1861.
During the Civil War, Lizzie’s husband served on the medical staff as assistant surgeon of the Tenth and then as surgeon of the Seventy-second regiments of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was also surgeon in chief of a division in the Fifteenth Army Corps and of the District of Memphis. Following the Battle of Shiloh, Gen. W. T. Sherman went out of of his way to praise Rice in his after action brigade report: “I take the liberty to refer to the important services of Surgeon John B. Rice and the assistant surgeons of the 48th, 70th, and 72nd [Ohio] Regiments. They have labored at the landing among the wounded almost incessantly night and day, taking no sleep for two days and nights.”
In this letter, Lizzie shares home-front information with her husband including the excitement raised between Union loyalists and secession sympathizers who were derisively called “Butternuts” or “Copperheads.” Her youthful exuberance relating social activity and local courtships is on full display as her husband is about to embark on an expedition down the Mississippi from Memphis to Young’s Point, opposite Vicksburg.
More on Surgeon John B. Rice: Five of John’s Civil War letters are on-line, graciously made available to researchers at the Ohio History Connection where they are housed under the title, John Birchard Rice Civil War Letters. The Auburn University Digital Library also has a letter from Surgeon Rice to his wife dated 24 October 1864 on-line.
I wrote you a long letter day before yesterday, but having nothing in particular to do this evening will write you again. There is nothing going on worth writing about. It is as dull as can be here. Was out to an exhibition last evening which was as good as such exhibitions generally are. Saw Mr. Willard there and he inquired about you as he always does when he sees me.
Surgeon John B. Rice, 72nd OVI
There was a “Union Supper” over at Hocke’s Hotel 1 last evening. The way they come to have it there was this. One evening last week a number of these butternuts about town (Frinefrock 2, [Bruce] Lindsay, and others) went over there to hold one of their meetings. They abused Lincoln and the soldiers and talked “secesh” so strong that Hocke ordered them out of his house. They remonstrated, but he told them to go. They then told him that they would get their horses and go and that it would ruin him. He told the hostler to get their horses ready as soon as he could and let them go. Said there was something in his heart that told him he ought not to let them do so and he would not have it. The Union men were so pleased when they heard it that about one hundred of them went over there last night and got their supper. Do not know whether [Benjamin] Brundage & Owen were there the night they were ordered away or not.
Owen is very much taken with Live [Olivia] Bartlett. 3 Thinks she is perfection. He pays here a great deal of attention and would not be surprised if he cut out Oakley. 4 She would do a great deal better to take him, if he was not a butternut. That is the only thing I know against him. He is smarter than Oak and has a profession while Oak has no trade, profession, or anything else. The most he has ever done towards making a living is teaching school and clerking.
I received yours of the 14th day before yesterday. I cannot tell you how glad I was to hear that you had been promised a “leave of absence” when this expedition was ended. Hope it will not be very long. You had better take good care of your new clothes for I want you to present as fine an appearance as possible when you come home. I want folks to see that I have reason to be proud of you. I will not tell you how many compliments Mr. Glenn paid you, nor what they were for fear it would make you vain if I did. Amos Word has returned to his regiment. Charlie Norton has been promoted. Have almost forgotten what he is now but think it is Captain. You wrote that the weather was very pleasant. Do you have much rain? It rained here all this week until yesterday when it was very warm and pleasant. Tonight the ground is covered with snow.
Your brother Rob is expected home in a few days. He has got his “sheepskin.” Did I ever tell you that Lou Gessner 5 had gone back into the army? They are going to have a “Continental Tea Party” 6 out to Clyde next Thursday evening. Have heard a number of ladies say that they thought of going out. Ella Watson called here yesterday but I was not at home. She told me when I called on her that she was very anxious to see your picture. Said she had not seen you since you was a little fellow. That was the time I suppose when you was so much in love with her. I heard the other day that one of my schoolmates (a girl about my age) was married to a widower who had ten children. I think she is a goose to marry a man with children. She is now living in Springfield, Mass.
It is very late and will have to stop writing and go to bed. Suppose I have made about fifty mistakes in this letter. Have been talking and writing at the same time. Is Gen. [James William] Denver going down the river with you? Remember me to all friends. Suppose Owen has told you all the news that I have written, hasn’t he? He must have a special correspondent here at home who keeps him posted in regard to what is going on. But no more tonight. Did Gen. [Ralph Pomeroy] Buckland give you that kiss I sent by him?
Write often to your darling wife, — Lizzie S. Rice
All send love
Monday, March 30
Did not get this letter in the [Post] Office yesterday and it will not go out until tomorrow morning. I suppose you will get it as soon as if it had gone out this morning. Have no doubt but it will lay in the office at Cairo or perhaps travel around two or three weeks before you get it. Do not forget to write often. Affectionately your wife, — Lizzie
1 Christian F. Hocke, (1820-1863) a native of Germany, operated the hotel in Fremont, Ohio. I note that Christian died on 10 June 1863, just two and a half months after this letter was written. His 17 year-old son who was also named Christian, took over the operation of his father’s hotel and was identified as the proprietor in 1870.
2 Judge Thomas Peter Finefrock (1826-1909) practiced law in Sandusky county. He ws married to Emma Ellen Carter (1835-1910) at Fremont, Ohio.Finefrock was a life-long Democrat who took a very active role in leading the ultra-Democratic Party in an anti-Administration campaign.
3 Olivia Jane Bartlett (1842-1879) was the 21 year-old daughter of Brice J. Bartlett—a lawyer and former mayor in Fremont, Ohio.Olivia married Israel Oakley Totten on 29 March 1864. When he died two years later, she married Capt. John George Nuhfer.
4 Israel “Oakley” Totten (1841-1866) enlisted in August 1861 in Co. F, 49th OVI. He was wounded in the Battle of Stones River and discharged in August 1863. His father, William Oakley Totten, was a shipbuilder in Fremont.
5 Dr. Louis S. J. Gessner was an Asst. Surgeon on the 37th OVI. He later served briefly as the surgeon at Camp Chase, Confederate POW Camp in Columbus, and then was sent to Nashville where he was Chief Surgeon at Hospital No. 11, Army of the Cumberland, 1863-65.
6 A “Continental Tea Party” seems to have been an event designed to inspire patriotism during the war, conjuring up images of the Spirit of ’76. Some newspaper accounts of such events indicate attendees may have worn continental clothing.
These letters were written by James Liggett, Jr. (1838-1916) and Cyrus Spink Liggett (1834-1908), both sons of James Liggett (1797-1891) and Maria Quick (1803-1883) of Washington township, Holmes county, Ohio. During the summer of 1864, James & Cyrus signed up together to serve 100 days in the 166th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI)—recruited to garrison the forts of Washington D. C. while the old garrisons were sent an infantrymen to the battlefront with Grant’s army.
Mentioned in one of the letters is their younger brother “Tip”—William Henry Harrison Liggett (1840-1863)—who enlisted in the spring of 1861 to serve in Co. H, 23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI). Tip’s letters may be found published on Spared & Shared at 1861-62: William Henry Harrison Liggett to his Family.
The 166th OVI left for Washington on 15 May 1864 and were assigned to garrison duty at Fort Richardson, Fort Barnard, Fort Reynolds, Fort Ward, and Fort Worth (with regimental headquarters at Fort Richardson), defenses of Washington south of the Potomac River, until September. They participated in the repulse of Early’s attack on Washington July 11–12. Both brothers mustered out on 9 September 1864.
Letter 1
Fort Worth May 21, 1864
Respected Parents & Sister,
This morning finds me seated in a very comfortable place to write you a history of our journey to the land of Dixie. We left camp Camp Cleveland last Sunday evening, marched to the depot, got in the cars and stayed in them till about four o’clock in the morning. Then started for Pittsburg. Arrived there about nine o’clock in the evening. Was marched to the City Hall & had a very nice supper prepared by the people of Pittsburg, then went back to the cars. Left for Harrisburg about 11 o’clock, arrived opposite the city the next day about 3 o’clock but did not change cars or go into the city. Left it to the left and went to Baltimore. Arrived there about 11 o’clock the next day. Marched to the Soldier’s Rest, got dinner, and supper, then left for the city of Washington. Arrived here about two o’clock in the morning after being on the road four days and three night.
Marched to the Soldier’s Home Boarding House and got something to eat and then to quarters & slept till morning very well. Then went to breakfast. After that the Colonel ordered the captains to march the men up to the Capitol by companies so you may bet that this order was obeyed promptly by the boys. By the bye generally, this child in particular. There we saw the images of several of the things of note such as the image of George Washington and the Indian Chief Tecumseh & Col. Johnson in the death struggle, & the dying Blackhawk—the very bullet hole in his head. Then there is a great many other things that I cannot describe.
The Senate chamber is a very nice place though I cannot give you a description of it. The Capitol is a very magnificent building though the city is a very inferior place to be—the metropolis of this great Nation. Tip used to give us descriptions of this place so that I wasn’t disappointed in not finding any greater show of things than I did.
The White House and the Smithsonian Institute that he used to talk so much about I did not get to visit though intend to visit them when we are returning home, let be the consequence what it may. The City of Baltimore is far the nicest city of the two with the exceptions of the public buildings.
From Washington we marched to Fort Richardson.
Letter 2
Fort Richardson May 29, 1864
Girt, respected sister,
I seat myself this morning to let you know how we are getting along in this God forsaken land. This is Sunday and it appears more like hell on earth than anything I can think of. Now do you think that I have got the blues when I talk this way for I might as well tell the truth as a lie. I do not believe the government can or will ever prosper while there is so much unnecessary wickedness going on. I will tell you this—it’s no place for a young boy to be nor an old one neither if he respects his family.
I don’t want to make a public talk of it, but when I get out this time I will stay out if it takes my last dollar. The army is getting along. I suppose you get more correct news than we do. They say that Grant is within 8 miles of Richmond but you can’t believe one word you hear here.
I wish you could be here and see this country. We are on Old General Lee’s property now and I have not [seen] one rail fence since we have been here. There is hundreds of acres laying here to the commons and no kind of grain being raised scarcely, but all kinds of fruits. We can see Washington every day from here. Oh! how I [wish] you could see the Capitol House and the nice yard and the pool of water with those yellow fish in it. I’ll bet Father would like to see them. Tell him and mother to take the world easy for what they work for, some person will spend in the future.
Well Girt, have written three letters home since I have been here and have not received one. I want you to sit right down as soon as you get this and write me an answer and tell me how they get along, how the children is, and so on. It is probably they did not direct them right.
The boys are all well but myself and I feel some better than I did yesterday. I have got my old disease or rather the camp diarrhea. I will tell you the truth about it. We are starved sick here, out in day after day on two hard tack and a little colored water, cold coffee without sugar or cream. Still the government is not to blame for it but the Quartermaster and the Orderly is to blame for it. I have seen my dogs and your dogs eat more and better than we get sometimes–that is the truth of it. I care not what the rest of the boys says.
Well, I must close for the want of time. You may show this to Martha and [ ]. If I had time I could write you another sheet. When you write, direct to Fort Richardson, Virginia, 166th Regiment OVI, Co. K in care of Capt., Kirnerer
Your brother, C. S. Liggett
Letter 3
Fort Ward June 12, 1864
Sister Gert,
Your letter of the sixth came to hand in due time and found us in the best of health. I was glad to hear that you were all getting along so well. This is Sunday but it don’t seem very much like Sunday, notwithstanding we was to hear a sermon. It seemed more like going to a political meeting than to church. The preacher’s name is Whiteman—I believe a Congregationalist—and not very much of a preacher.
You said you was sorry to hear of our suffering for the want of something to eat. We have plenty of soft bread, pork, beans, potatoes, rice, sugar, coffee, tea and sometimes dried apples and twice a week, fresh beef. I think this is a plenty for any person. To be sure, it is not got up in as good style as it would be at home, but we can stand it for one hundred days. There was a few days that we did not have very much to eat but that was because we was moving and carelessness of the officers but we have plenty & more than we want to eat.
You wanted me to give you a description of the place & fort that we are at now. This fort is not finised yet. It stands on a very high place commanding the country for miles around. The timber is all destroyed & grown up with young sprouts so that the face of the country is perfectly green. When this fort is finished, it will take a very superior force to take it. The number of guns that will be mounted I can’t tell. There is about twenty now and several mortars. I cannot give you a satisfactory description today for I don’t feel in a writing humor.
You wanted to know what I sent home. I sent one pair of boots [and] one pair of shoes. Cy had some things in the carpet sack. They were all packed in that caret sack that had Tom’s name on & packed in a box and sent to Cleveland & was to be sent home from there. I want you to get Father to enquire of some of the enrolling officers whether we will be subject to the draft and write immediately and let us know how it is for we get different reports respecting the draft.
The five dollars that you sent come safe. Mother can keep that money for I don’t want it at present. If her & Father would come down here they would be repaid for the money that it would take to bring them. I suppose that Lawrences are at home by this time so you can all read this and answer it together.
Gert, your Rilla is here. He is, I think, one of the easiest frustrated fellows that ever I saw though I guess pretty fine fellow other ways. Well, I can’t write today worth a cent. When you write, tell me whether Jake Quick has paid Father and how does my [ ] nag look by this time, &c. Tell Father he had better not pitch in too hard. He had better buy some kind of stalk that will make beef in the fall or let them eat the grass. Cows sell here from [ ] & ffty dollars a head.
Panter was here. He has one hundred & fifty cattle on the way for Washington City. You must excuse this letter for I was on picket last night and don’t feel very much like writing. Write soon. Direct to Fort Richardson as before. All well. — James Liggett
The flag under which the 6th & 7th Arkansas fought during the Atlanta Campaign. It was captured on 1 September 1864 at the Battle of Jonesboro.
These letters were written by Asahel W. Thompson (1838-1864), the son of Asahel Washington Thompson (1800-1872) and Nancy Horton (1809-1899) of Chesterfield county, South Carolina.
According to military records, Asahel enlisted on 19 September 1861 at Pitman’s Ferry, Arkansas. He was wounded at the Battle of Chickamauga in September 1863 and convalesced in a hospital at Columbia, South Carolina, until 9 February 1864 when he returned to his regiment.
Due to dwindling numbers, the Sixth and Seventh Arkansas were consolidated for the Atlanta Campaign which started in May. On September 1, the entire unit was captured at the Battle of Jonesboro but were later exchanged in time to fight at the Battle of Franklin, Tennessee, and the Battle of Nashville, Tennessee. Private Thompson was not among those taken prisoner, however. He was wounded in the left arm, just above the elbow, on 22 July and he died on 25 August, 1864, at a hospital in Griffin, Georgia. He was buried in the Stonewall Confederate Cemetery at Griffin. Thompson was actually a member of Co. G, 6th Arkansas, though when the 6th was consolidated with the 7th companies C and G of the 6th were consolidated and became Co. E of the 6th-7th Arkansas. So Thompson was a member of Co. E, 6th-7th Arkansas in the Atlanta Campaign.
The first six letters posted here are from my client’s collection and were written while serving in Daniel C. Govan’s Brigade, Patrick Cleburne’s Division, which has often been called “the best fighting division in the Army of the Tennessee” and the “hardest hitting division in the Confederate army.” [see No Better Officer…, by Daniel E. Sutherland] The other letters were found transcribed and posted on the Heritage Auctions website where they were recently sold.
Letter 1
Addressed to A. R. Thompson, Jefferson P. O. Chesterfield District, South Carolina
Dalton, Georgia April 22, 1864
Father & Mother,
This short epistle leaves me well hoping it may reach you the same. This [is the] second letter I have written you since I left home. I have nothing of interest to correspond to you. Sherman are concentrating his forces in front of our army and a battle is expected soon. It is thought if Sherman does not advance on Johnston, that Johnston will advance soon.
Father, I must say something in regard to my transfer and there is not an officer from my Colonel up to General Johnston that will approve of it. Father, I think I can get a transfer from Congress or the Secretary of War as Congress meets the first of next month. I would be glad [if] you could go to see Witherspoon 1—that is, if he is not gone to Richmond. If you can get to see him and state the case to him, I think he would give me a transfer or tell you how I could get it. You would have to give him the company number of Regiment, Brigade and Division as my officer will not transfer me. I am going to try as long as I think there is any chance as I am not satisfied in my present company.
Answer in haste. Fail not. Give me the initials of Witherspoon’s name.
Address [to] Dalton, Georgia, Company C, 6th Arkansas Regt., [Daniel] Govan’s Brigade, [Patrick] Cleburne’s Division, The Army of Tennessee
— A. W. Thompson
1 Probably James Hervey Witherspoon (1810-1865) who served as a member of the CSA Congress representing South Carolina.
Letter 2
Camp 6th Arkansas Regiment May 27th 1864
Dear Mother,
I assume my seat this afternoon to correspond to you the following. This leaves me well.
We are in line of battle in sight of the Yankees. Some heavy fighting going on on some part of the line. Some few killed and wounded in my Brigade today. One man mortally wounded in my company today. I have heard the roaring cannon & the clash of musketry for twenty days.
I am very tired. I must close as time will not admit of writing anymore. We are in thirty miles of Atlanta. Write soon. Fail not.
Address: Dalton, Georgia, Company C, 6th Arkansas Regt., [Daniel] Govan’s Brigade, [Patrick] Cleburne’s Division, Army of Tennessee
Wrote in haste. Listen at the cannon and the musketry.
Letter 3
Line of Battle, 6th Arkansas June 2, 1864
Dear Sister,
Yours of the 20th of May is at hand & its contents. I received it in due time & read it with great pleasure. This leaves me well but very tired. We have had some hard fighting to do for the last week. Two men killed dead in my regiment yesterday. Our cases have been very small to that of the enemy’s as we fought them mostly behind breastworks. Seven is the most we have had killed & wounded a day in my regiment.
We have been fighting twenty-four days. It is supposed we have killed and wounded forty thousand Yankees since the fight commenced. Our case has been very small. The hardest struggle we have had since the fight commenced was on the 27th of May [when] the enemy charged my Brigade [Gowan’s] & Gen. [Hiram B.] Granbury’s Brigade with six lines of battle which was successfully repulsed with a loss of one thousand killed on the field & five thousand wounded & several prisoners. 1 Such a slaughter of Yankees I have never witnessed before. You could stand in one place & count fifty dead Yankees. We had them to bury putting over one hundred in a hole together. Such a sight I have never witnessed before.
The front line hoisted a white flag three different times but they had so many lines we did not let them surrender. Oh! that this cruel war would stop. Our line of battle is forty miles from Atlanta. Gen. Johnston fell back from Dalton to draw them from their base. Fighting is got to be very common of night. I was in a hot fire night before last. The enemy fired volley after volley of cannon in our ranks but did not do much execution.
I must close as time will not admit of writing anymore. You must not expose my bad written letter. The cannon are roaring up and down our lines & my mind are wandering. Answer in hate. Fail not. Give me all of the news. — A. W. Thompson
to L. E. Hancock
1 The Battle of Pickett’s Mill was fought on 27 May 1864. In the battle, Sherman sent Brigadier General Thomas J. Wood’s division, supported by other formations, to turn Johnston’s right flank, but the Federals were repulsed with heavy casualties when they ran into tenacious Confederate opposition. Author Ambrose Bierce, an eyewitness, later wrote an account of the battle titled The Crime at Pickett’s Mill.Cleburne’s division reported sustaining 448 casualties, mostly in Granbury’s brigade. The Union soldiers suffered a loss of 1,600 killed, wounded, and missing. The American Battlefield Trust estimated losses at 500 Confederate and 1,600 Union. Normally, the killed-to-wounded ratio in Civil War battles was one-to-five. In this battle, the number of killed in Wood’s division was extraordinarily high, probably because many of the dead were shot repeatedly. The Confederates found one corpse with 47 bullet holes. Hazen’s brigade lost 467 casualties, Gibson’s brigade lost 681, and Knefler’s brigade lost 250, mainly prisoners. Scribner’s brigade lost 125 of which 102 were from the 37th Indiana and 78th Pennsylvania. About 70 wounded and 140 unwounded Union soldiers were captured by the Confederates. Georgia State Parks credited Union forces with 14,000 troops and Confederate forces with 10,000 soldiers.[See Battle of Pickett’s Mill]
This print of the Battle of Pickett’s Mill depicts the first volley from Granbury’s Texas Brigade into the advancing troops of Gen. William B. Hazen. Hundreds of union soldiers were cut down from less than 20 paces away. One half of Hazen’s brigade became casualties in less than 30 minutes of fighting. (Rick Reeves Studio) See HistoryNet’s article, Simply Criminal.
Letter 4
Camp line of Battle, 6th Arkansas Reg. June 8th 1864
Dear Sister,
I assume my seat this afternoon to correspond to you the following. Yours of the 28th is at hand & its contents which I received on the 4th inst. Before I could get through reading your letter, I was called upon to go to the front as skirmishers to meet the advancing invader. Though I read your letter with great pleasure, it was filled with news to me. This short epistle leaves me well. I have nothing of definite importance to communicate to you. We are still in line of battle, some skirmishing going on every day and night on some part of our line. The enemy is still maneuvering for advantage of position but so far he has been promptly met. They are still throwing troops on our right but they do not find Gen. Johnston napping. They are trying to flank Johnston but met at ever point and successfully defeated.
Dear sister, we have been one month fighting and marching, changing our position to right, to left & right, to center, & left to center. The most of the time, day and night, we was marching or fighting. Some nights do not sleep any atall though the troops are in good spirits and confident of victory wherever they meet the invader.
I have just written a letter to Gilly Ann. Also one to Mr. Files of Hamburg. The letters will leave this evening by hand. Mr. Files is acquainted with Bro. J. Q. Files is Clerk of the Court of Ashley. I wrote to him for an answer. I am in hopes that Father’s finger will soon get well. Willy, I am glad to hear that you can feed Matchless. You must ride her to church when she gets large enough. Give Charley my address. Tell him to write to me. Also J. P. D. McLaurin is in this army. I saw him the other day. He thought that Bro. William carried his family to Texas and he did not know it to be so. Yours as ever, — A. W. Thompson
to H. F. Thompson
Letter 5
Line of Battle. 6th Arkansas Regt., Govan Brig. June 16th 1864
Dear Sister,
Yours of the 3rd inst. is at hand which was read with pleasure. This short epistle leaves me well is the best news that I can communicate to you. I was sorry to hear that Father was sick. I am hopes that this will reach him enjoying health & pleasure. Dear sister, we are in line of battle and the enemy are in a half miles of our line of battle. Skirmishing are going on all the time, day and night. While I am writing the cannon are belching forth its war whoop from the invader in front of our lines.
We are waiting for the Yankees to advance on us which we expect them to do soon. It is thought they will advance today. They are maneuvering from the way they throw their shells.
I am sorry to inform you that Lt. General [Leonidas] Polk that commanded a Corps in this army was killed dead on the field yesterday. His left shoulder was torn off with a shell. He was killed on the right of my Division [at Pine Mountain].
I was sorry to hear the death of little Mary Watts but God giveth & God taketh away. He blessed us & five us a brave & noble general but he taketh him away and we are willing to give him up. They are so many old fields and roads I could not understand by your letter where Mary Watts was buried & I am not acquainted with Miley Sowell.
Our rations are not very plenty but we can make out on them. We get nothing but bread & meat. You must answer in haste. Give me all the news. Give Charley & J. P. my address & tell them to write to me. Give me the latest news from the 8th & 6th & 26th Regiments. If you do not get a letter every week from me, it is on account of the mail as it is not regular from here to the railroad. We are on the extreme left of our line of battle & that throws us fives miles from the railroad. Answered in haste. Fail not. — A. W. Thompson
The postage for the buttons was very high but buttons are very high & money is not worth much. Mother, you can give Aunt Wineford some of the buttons if she has any use for them as she is always making new pants. Farewell for awhile.
Address A. W. Thompson, Co. C, 6th Arkansas Reg., Govan’s Brigade, Cleburne’s Division, Army of the Tennessee, Marietta P. O., Georgia
Letter 6
Line of Battle, 6th Arkansas Reg. June 23rd 1864
Dear Father & Mother,
Your kind letter of the 10th is at hand. I received it in due time. This leaves me well but wearied nearly out. We have been fighting very hard for the last two days. We are in full view of the enemy. They are in four hundred yards of our lines. Father, while I am writing, the balls are whistling all around me. The skirmishers are a few yards of our line of battle fighting. We are in our ditches & we have to stay in them day and night. My company have been skirmishing very hard for the last two days. The loss in my company for the last two days are one killed, four wounded, and one lost his right arm & several others struck with balls. I run some very narrow escapes but I thank God that I am one amongst the living yet.
You will see enclosed the Yankees account of their repulse on the 27th May [at Pickett’s Mill] but they was mistaken about the number of men we had engaged. Govan & Granbury Brig. was all that repulsed them. We had several wounded in the regiment & some few killed.
We are waiting for the Yankees to advance on our lines & when they do, we are confident of victory. It has been nearly two months since we left Dalton & we have been fighting & moving around from right to left, & falling back most the time, day and night. He have heavy rains every day and we have to take it as it comes.
Father, I cannot interest you as times is very hot around me with balls. You should be satisfied to hear that I am living. You must not expose my letters as I had to write in great haste & my mind are wandering. I get very little sleep at night. You must write in haste. Fail not. Give me all the news. Address as before. Yours as ever, — A. W. Thompson
Letter 7
Line of Battle Ten Miles from Atlanta July 7th 1864
Father & Mother
This short epistle will inform you that I received yours of the 25th in due time & was read with great pleasure. My health is very good except a bad cold & cough. My leg has been a great deal of pain to me for the last week.
Father, we are [with]in ten miles of Atlanta. The two armies are close fronting each other. I have had some fighting to do since the date of my last letter. I spent the fourth of July on the skirmishing line and the Yankees advanced ]with]in seventy-five feet of our line when they received a brisk fire from our lines which made them skedaddle back. I ran a very narrow escape. We was behind very inferior works of old rails & some dirt thrown on them when a ball passed through them with full force, passing so near my head that I did not know which side it went.
Father, I was struck the other day side of my head right in my left ear but being a spent ball, it did not hurt me very bad. Had one ball shot threw my oil-cloth, wounding me, [and then] wounding a member of my company in the leg. Father I feel that GOD is with me. If not, I could not be able to pen out this letter to you knowing what I went through since I left Dalton.
The casualties of my company since we left Dalton is three killed, six wounded, one lost his right arm. Mother, I often think of your table. Our rations are bacon & cornbread. We have to fry it in our plates. I have got so I cannot eat it fried any longer. I boil some in my cup and eat but I am getting very puny as I cannot change my diet, the soldiers are using pea vines, parsley, kernels of wheat, briar leaves & many other weeds for salad. My company uses the above named for salad. The boys are nearly starved out for vegetables but they are like me, cannot help themselves. Answer in haste. Give me all the news from JP & CS. Let them hear from me. I have not time to write to them as there is fighting all the time on our front. — A. W. Thompson
Addressed to Miss Nancy F. Thompson, Jefferson P. O., Chesterfield District, South Carolina
Letter 8
Line of Battle in Front of Atlanta July 15th, 1864
Dear Sister,
I received your benevolent and favorable letter of the 1st & the 2nd in due time. It was received with great pleasure. I have no news to communicate to you that will interest you—only that I am well. Hoping you may receive this short epistle enjoying health and pleasure.
We are [with]in four miles of Atlanta. The Yankees are fronting our line of battle but have not advanced any for several days. They know that General Johnston will not retreat any further & they are come to a halt. When they try to advance on Atlanta the bloodiest battle of the war will take place. Most of the citizens have left the city. The soldiers are in good spirits & we all think that Johnston will hold Atlanta. Gen. Bragg arrived here yesterday from Richmond.
You spoke something about the apples getting ripe. It would be a great pleasure to me if I could spend one week at home to get some fruit and vegetables though I would be satisfied if I could get a few onions to eat with my bacon, but alas I will have to do the best I can during the war. I should be satisfied that I am living. I am in hopes that Charles Norton’s wound is slight when you get the correct news, for I would be very sorry to hear of his death. Let me hear from John and Henry Knight also from the 6th, 8th, & the 26 Regiments.
I got a mess of Irish potatoes the other day which pleased me, the best of anything I have met up with in several days. Onions are selling at one dollar a pound and they are very scarce. It is the most impossible to get any vegetables about the army. I must close, answer in haste, fail not, give me all the news as all you write to me interests me. — A. W. Thompson
Letter 9
On August 11, 1864, Thompson’s father was sent a two page letter from Griffin, Georgia, from a volunteer Army missionary imparting grave news regarding the condition of his son.
Griffin, Georgia Aug 11 1864
Dear Sir:
I drop you these lines to inform you of the condition of your son, A. W. Thompson, Co. C, 6th Ark. Regiment. He was wounded on the 22nd July in the left arm. It was broken just above the elbow and is now at the S. P. Moore Hospital in this place. He is very anxious to see you. He begged me to write to you which I do with pleasure. To be candid I cannot think from what the Dr. told me that your son will survive unless a change in his present condition. He was thought to be doing well till yesterday but since then he is growing weaker. I will write you in a day or so again & will telegraph you tomorrow or next day how your son is doing.
In the meantime I hope you will be submissive to the will of Providence—whatever that may be. We are doing all for him that can be done & the ladies are untiring in their attentions to the soldier’s wants. I remain respectfully yours, — Wm. H. Pearson, Missionary to the Army
These letters were written by Alonzo Adams Vanderford (1834-1864), the son of Charles Frederick Vanderford (1785-1845) and Eliza Duett (1815-1870) of Cheraw, Chesterfield county, South Carolina. He was married to Cynthia T. Moore and residing in Cheraw, South Carolina, earning his living as a merchant at the time of the 1860 US Census.
In December 1861, Alonzo enlisted in Co. D, 21st South Carolina as a sergeant. He was promoted to 2nd Sergeant in May 1862. His military record indicates he was wounded on 11 July 1863 in the First Battle of Fort Wagner and didn’t return to his regiment until the end of the year. He was wounded on 24 June 1864 during the siege of Petersburg and had his leg amputated in a hospital at Petersburg. He died on 28 July 1864.
Letter 1
Fort Johnson September 4th 1863
My Dear Wife,
This morning I write you a few lines to let you know that I am not very well at this time but I hope this will find you well. I have not done any duty for nearly a week and don’t expect to do any for a few days to come. I received your letter of the 1st of this month yesterday and I was glad to hear from you and to hear that you were as well as you are. After you receive this, don’t write anymore to me at this place until you hear from me for I think I will go to the City in a day or two and if I do, I may go to Columbia or to some other place and then I will write to you. Don’t be uneasy. I will take care of myself—or try to do so.
There is nothing new to write about—only I don’t think that our regiment will go back to [Fort] Wagner in some time. The health of the regiment is bad this time, Only about 200 men [are fit] for duty on account of getting wet for three days and nights and keeping on their wet clothes and there are two new Brigades here now and they are now taking their turn at [Fort] Wagner. The old place holds out yet and is still strong enough to keep the Yanks back and we all now think Charleston safe from the water side and enough of men to keep them off from the sand side. But as my house is for sale, I had better not put too good a face on it. I don’t think that they can ever take the place. They may throw shells into and burn some of the houses, but that will not be taking it.
General P. G. T. Beauregard—“the troops all have strong confidence in him.”
General Beauregard was over here the other day and seems to be very sanguine of the result but he don’t try much—just looks and thinks. I never saw him before. He is a good man, I think, and the troops all have strong confidence in him. Times look brighter now all round this place. The enemy have spent a great deal of money and lost a great many men since they come here and they have to use their guns at such long range that they don’t last long.
The Eutaw [25th S. C.] Regiment—the one that [R.] Kendrick Liles belongs to—went over to [Fort] Wagner a night or two ago and I reckon by this time he has seen something that he never saw before. I hope that they will all have good luck and none be killed. I can’t think what the reason could have been of Capt. York’s keeping the letter so long. I hope that by this time he has sent you the $210 and the salt that I think will be both enough to last you nearly a year or two. Use it first and the Liverpool salt keep it last. The suit will look very well if it is made up right. I would like to have my measure taken and a cut to suit if I can only get the right kind of buttons to put on it.
Kiss Sallie for me and tell her to be a good little girl and papa will come home again some time and see her. Tell Ma that chickens are worth $3 here now. Tell her to make all the money she can and get rich while the money is going. Tell your Pa that the insurance on the house will have to be transferred if he sells it and I will transfer to anyone for the sum amount I paid. Write as soon as hear from me again.
Your loving husband, — A. A. Vanderford
Letter 2
Image taken of the inside of Fort Sumter in 1864 when occupied by Confederates
Fort Sumpter [Sumter] March 13, 1864
My Dear Cynthia,
I am now in Fort Sumpter. We are all well and getting along very well. Duty is very heavy but we will do it cheerfully. The old fort is badly torn up but I don’t think it will come up to Wagner yet. Captain Torsh and myself are all that are here with the company. We have fifty men with us and all in good spirits. All seem to be willing to do their duty cheerfully.
The Yanks have thrown three shells into the City up to this time today, now 4 p.m. on Sunday evening. When you write again, write to me in this way: Lt. Vanderford, care of Capt. [Milford G.] Tarrh, Fort Sumpter, and write as soon as you get this for the one written on Saturday will not reach me in several days to come.
I have no news to tell you—only I wish that our time was nearly out so that I could go home again. We have a plenty to eat here now but I have to cook it myself. Will get a cook on tomorrow. Our cook started with us but did not get on the boat at Fort Johnson.
This is a torn up place, I tell you, but I have seen worse I think. You must keep cheerful. I will write to you everyday while we remain here and I will advise you of all. I will have to quit writing very soon and go in the bomb proof and take a nap [to] get ready for tonight. Some say that we will have to stay here 12 days. Some say 20 days and others say 24 days.
Some company from our regiment will relieve us and I think in 12 days—that is long enough for anyone to stay here, I think. But others have the thinking to do. I will miss getting my crops cut now until I get out of this place.
Kiss little Sallie for me and write to me as soon as you get this letter and direct to me in care of Capt. Tarrh, Co. D, 21st South Carolina Volunteers, Fort Sumpter, Charleston, and then I will get it the next morning after you write it.
I am well. Nothing more at this time. Love to all at home.
Your loving husband, — A. A. Vanderford
Interior of Fort Sumter in 1864 when occupied by Confederates
This letter was written by Daniel W. Tuttle (1837-11913), the son of Owen Tuttle (1807-1864) and Permelia Cooper (1811-1897) of Galion, Crawford county, Illinois.
Daniel enlisted on 20 August 1861 to serve as a private in the 16th Ohio Light Artillery. He mustered out of the regiment on 5 September 1864 after three years service. Daniel’s brother enlisted with him in September but was discharged for disability in January 1862 and died in 1868.
David’s letter includes a discussion of the soldier voting in the Ohio Gubernatorial Election in the fall of 1863. He also mentions the manufacture of water barrels for the anticipated march into Texas.
I could not find an image of David and his brother Samuel but here are two brothers—James and Pomeroy Mitchell—who served in the 16th Independent Battery, Ohio Light Artillery. The image was too good not to use. (Ohio History Connection)
Transcription
Addressed to Mr. Owen Tuttle, Galion, Crawford county, Ohio
New Orleans [Louisiana] October 30th 1863
Remembered Parents,
I find myself seated once more for the purpose of addressing a few lines to you. We have not had any mail for so long that I have pretty near quit writing too. I have not had any letters from you since the 17th of September but I suppose some of our mails have been burnt on some of the boats that met with the firey element.
There is no news here that would be of any interest to you that you do not hear. We have had the privilege of voting on the 13th. There was 61 votes polled in our company for [John] Brough but the poor traitor Val[andigham] could get nary a one. If I had known the names of the candidates for the county offices, I could have voted for them. We have not heard how the election went in the state. The news is ten days old when it arrives at this place but we know how the soldiers vote is cast and from that we an guess who is Chief of Ohio for the next two years.
I believe that our Division is still near Brashear City. General [Francis J.] Herron’s Division and the 3rd has been put together. Herron lost two of his regiments while on a scout up Red River—the 19th Iowa and the 26th Indiana. I suppose George Johnson is a prisoner but 20 of the regiment escaped. They also lost a section of one of their batteries. Their Division and ours has seven batteries and now as the think has been consolidated, there will not be use for more than four of them so that part of us will stay here this winter or be sent to some other command. The reason that we do not go to our Division is on account of getting fresh water for the horses. There has been several thousand barrels made here for the purpose of hauling water for to drink and cook with. There is quite a long march to make that is destitute of fresh water except in the cisterns and that would not go very far towards supplying even drinking [water]. I have not much of a desire to make a march where water has to be dealt out as a ration.
The weather here is quite war and pleasant with very little rain but the mosquitoes the like of them never was in other place except this. We can only get about four hours peace out of 24. It is almost out of the question to do this scribbling. I must close. Until we join our division, direct in this way: New Orleans, 16th Ohio Battery, Care of Capt. R[ussell[ P[eter] Twist 1
These letters were written by James Archibald Johnson (1841-1864), the son of Handy William Johnson (1816-1914) and Francis Matilda McKneeley (1824-1898) of Griffin, Spalding county, Georgia. During the Civil War, Alfred’s father—advanced in years—served in the 2nd Georgia Reserves but offered up his four oldest sons to serve in the Confederate army.
Alfred Homer Johnson (1842-1866) the son of Handy William Johnson (1816-1914) and Francis Matilda McKneeley (1824-1898) of Griffin, Spalding county, Georgia. During the Civil War, Alfred’s father—advanced in years—served in the 2nd Georgia Reserves but offered up his four oldest sons to serve in the Confederate army.
According to Confederate military records, James enlisted for one year in Co. C, 39th Georgia Infantry, on 25 September 1861. By May 1862, James had reenlisted for the duration of the war as a private in Co. F, 30th Georgia Infantry. James was wounded in the fighting at Jackson, Mississippi, on 16 July 1863 after the surrender of Vicksburg. He died of his wounds over a year later, on 7 September 1864.
James served with three younger brothers in the 30th Georgia Infantry. Alfred Homer Johnson (1842-1866) was wounded in the fighting at Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia, on or about 27 June 1864, survived, but died of his wounds a couple years later. William Gilben (“Gip” or “Dill”) Johnson (1845-1920) received a foot wound in the fighting before Atlanta but survived the war. O. Sidney Johnson (1847-1864) enlisted with his older brothers in May 1864 but died of illness in a hospital in Atlanta on 30 June 1864.
A post-war image of William G. Johnson and his family. William was the only one of four brothers to serve in the 30th Georgia Infantry to survive the war and live to an old age.
[Note: These letters are from the private collection of Josh Branham and are published on Spared & Shared by express consent.]
Letter 1
Camp Barto May 1, 1862
Dear Father, mother, brothers and sisters,
I seat myself to drop you a few lines which leave me well at this time, hoping when these few lines come to hand they may find you all well and enjoying the good blessing of life. Mother, I don’t want you to be uneasy about me. I am a coming home as soon as I can get off. I don’t know how [long] it will be before I can get off. We all have reenlisted for a year longer. We will draw money again tomorrow if nothing happens.
Pa, I want you to take care of my colt for me. I want you to make her fat for me if you can. I want you to tell children that I want to see them mighty bad. It looks like it has been a year since I have been at home. Tell the children not to forget me for I will get to come home some time or other if nothing happens to me. I have nothing more at present more than you all must write often and every chance.
Direct your letters to the 39th Regiment Georgia Volunteers, Savannah, Box No. 800
To all of you, — James A. Johnson
Letter 2
[partial letter, probably sometime in July 1864]
Camp 30th Georgia Reserves, Camp Smith, near Atlanta
…the trouble that I am seeing is more than I can stand. It seems like that I would not care how soon my time may come and after all of the rest. I heard that Alfred and Dill—both of them—was wounded seriously. I want to know whether there was any of you with Sidney [when he died] or not. I would be glad to hear some more than I have learned. It is very effecting to hear anything and not know the particulars about it. I only know that he is dead and Alfred ad Dill was wounded. It seems like to me that I hant got a friend in the world. I am here by myself. I hant heard from home since Pa left here. I don’t want you all to forget me. I hope you will all write every chance that you have.
….and heard that William was at home. I hope that may be so and I want him to stay there as long as he can. Mother, I want you to let trouble never pester you. If we all get killed and die, let us go. I don’t want you [to] study anything about the troubles of this world for you can’t stand up under everything.
Sis, I want you to write to me. I would be glad to hear from you. I am well at this time. — James A. Johnson
These letters were written by Alfred Homer Johnson (1842-1866) the son of Handy William Johnson (1816-1914) and Francis Matilda McKneeley (1824-1898) of Griffin, Spalding county, Georgia. During the Civil War, Alfred’s father—advanced in years—served in the 2nd Georgia Reserves but offered up his four oldest sons to serve in the Confederate army.
I could not find an image of Alfred but here is one of an unidentified Georgia infantryman (LOC)
According to Confederate military records, Alfred enlisted for one year in Co. C, 39th Georgia Infantry, on 25 September 1861 and was elected 2nd Corporal. By May 1862, Alfred had reenlisted for the duration of the war as a private in Co. F, 30th Georgia Infantry. That summer and fall he was detailed as an ambulance driver. There are no other details in Alfred’s records until he is identified as being one of the wounded in the fighting at Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia, on or about 27 June 1864.
Alfred served in the 30th Georgia with two brothers, both of whom are mentioned in these letters. His older brother, James Archibald Johnson (1841-1864), was wounded in the fighting at Jackson, Mississippi, on 16 July 1863 after the surrender of Vicksburg. He died of his wounds over a year later, on 7 September 1864. His younger brother William Gilben (“Gip” or “Dill”) Johnson (1845-1920) survived the war. Though Alfred survived the war, he may have died prematurely in 1866 as a result of his wounds received in front of Atlanta.
In the fourth letter, Alfred mentions the death of his younger brother, O. Sidney Johnson who had entered the 3rd Regiment Georgia Reserves as a private in Co. K. in April 1864. His age was not given in his military record but he was enumerated in the June 1860 US Census as a 12 year-old in his father’s household so he was probably only 16 in April 1864. A month later, in late May 1864, perhaps just having turned 17, Sidney enlisted in Co. F, 30th Georgia, to serve with his older brothers. His descriptive list described him as standing 5′ 9″ tall, with light hair, a fair complexion, and blue eyes. Sidney died the 30th of June 1864 in an Atlanta hospital.
Descriptive List for O. S. (“Sidney”) Johnson. 17 year-old Sidney could not sign his name; only make his mark.
[Note: These letters are from the private collection of Josh Branham and are published on Spared & Shared by express consent.]
Letter 1
Johnson wrote his letter on 8 April 1863, the day after “The Great Fight at Charleston” of 7 April 1863 waged by nine ironclads under the command of Admiral Dupont and the Rebel forts in Charleston Harbor.
Camp Near Charleston [South Carolina] April 8, 1863
Dear Father and Mother,
I seat myself to drop you all a few lines to let you know how we are getting along. We are well. I hant got any news to write—only we are here waiting for a fight. We are expecting to be ordered to the battlefield every hour. The Yankees has 9 ironclads inside of the bar now and 40 standing just below the bar now and 75 transports down in the river. That is the news we get out here. I don’t know how true it may be.
We left Gip at Savannah. He is well. We will go back to Savannah just as soon as the excitement is over here at Charleston. We are here beside the big road without our tents or anything to cook in. The only one good thing—we have nice weather, and I don’t mind it as long as we have fair weather.
Pap, Jim says to tell you to [paper creased] horse and raise him a colt. Pap, write how you are getting along with your crop and how all of the things are gettin along. I will close. I hant got anything to write. You all must write as soon as you get this letter and let me hear all the news of our home. Mother, direct your letter to Charleston, South Carolina and write as soon as you get this. I don’t know how long we will stay here. Nothing more. — A. H. Johnson
To you all at home.
Letter 2
A scene depicting the Battle of Jackson that took place on 13 May 1863
Camp Vaughan Station, Mississippi May 23, 1863
Dear Father and Mother,
I take my pen in hand to drop you all a few lines to let you know we are all well at this time and I sincerely hope these few lines will come to hand and find you all well and doing well. I hant got anything to write that will interest you—only there has been a fight at Jackson. We was there in time of the fight. I can’t say that we was in it although all of the boys think we was in it. It is true we was on the battlefield. I only shot three times and if they had come in sight of me, I would have shot more but I wanted to see them. The [ ] and balls fell very thick around us. I was not scared a bit—more than if it had a been hail. James was not there in the time of the fight, nor Gip. I sent him off in the rear. The Yankees would have taken every one of us if we’ens hadn’t got away just as we did. General Johnston did not intend to fight there. Our force commenced retreating in the night before the fight came next morning. We was left there to hold them in check so our force could get away.
We lost everything we had at Jackson—our clothes, knapsacks, and blankets. We hant got anything, only what we have got on. We lie on the ground every night by the fire. I done about as well with[out] blankets as I done with them. We will get some clothes and blankets I reckon before long. We have been marching every day since we have been here through the mud and it has been raining a great deal. The water is bad and hard to get.
The Yankees got three of our company—William Johnson 1 and William Willis 2 and Arch Head. 3 It is some spoken that Head let the Yankees take him on purpose. I can’t say whether he did or not. Mother, we passed [with]in ten miles of Uncle Alfred’s house, Gip stands the trip very well. He pressed a mule and rode four days.
I hant got anything to write that will interest you all. Look over [my] bad writing and spelling. I have a bad way to write and this paper is so bad that I can’t write on it. Mother, you must write all the news you have. Let us know how all the things are getting at home. You mustn’t be uneasy about us all that we are faring bad—not as bad as some has, I reckon—but this is bad. Worse than I like. I don’t feel under any dread whatever.
I will close for this time. Tell all of the children I want to see them all. Write as soon as this you get.
Direct your letter to Canton, Mississippi, the 30th Regt. Georgia Volunteers, in the care of Capt. R. J. Andrews, Co. F, Col. T[homas] W[oodward] Mangham, General Walker’s Brigade
— A. H. Johnson
Alfred H. Johnson
1 William Johnson of Co. F, 30th Ga. Infantry, was taken prisoner at Jackson, Mississippi, on 14 May 1863. His name appears on the list of exchanged men from Demopolis since 17 August 1863 to Gen. Joseph E. Johnston’s Headquarters.
2 William Daniel Willis of Talbot county, Georgia, served in Co. F, 30th Ga. Infantry. He was admitted into the 1st Mississippi CSA Hospital at Jackson, Mississippi, on 14 May 1863 suffering from acute diarrhea. He was returned to duty on 27 May 1863.He was among the remaining members of the regiment who surrendered at Greensboro, North Carolina, on 26 April 1865.
3 Archie T. Head did not enlist in Co. F, 30th Georgia Infantry until September 1862. He was captured at Jackson on 14 May 1863 and his name appears among the paroled prisoners in camp at Demopolis, Alabama, on 5 June 1863. Archie returned to his regiment and was killed at the Battle of Chickamauga later that year.
Letter 3
Camp near Morton August 18, 1863
Dear Father and Mother,
I take my pen in hand to drop you all a few lines to let you know we are well and Dill is well. Mother, we got the letter that you [sent] by George McElhenney. We was glad to hear from you all but was sorry to hear that some of the children was and had been sick. But I do sincerely hope these few lines will come to hand and find you all well. I hant got anything of importance to write. Times are very peaceful here.
I hear this morning that there was a little fight at Canton yesterday but never heard the result of the fight yet. The loss is not much on either side, I don’t reckon. We have been stationed here ever since the fight at Jackson. I hope that we won’t have to do much more marching this year.
Mother, I want you to write and let me know how much wheat you made and whether you think that you will make enough corn to do you next year or not and I want [you] to let me know [how] the horses look and oxen and cows ad the sheep and hogs and whether you think that you wil have hogs enough to make your meat next year. Be sure and let me know how my colt looks and how he is getting on. Let me know how all the stock looks.
James said to tend to his filly as well as your colt. I will stop that subject and tell you how I want to be at home to get peaches and watermelons to eat. I would give most anything in the world to be at home to get some milk and butter. Mother, I know you would cook me something good to eat if I was at home. Mother, I want to be at [home] to get something good to eat worse than anybody in the world, I reckon.
Mother, I will tell you what we have to pay for peaches—one dollar and a half, pies two dollars, watermelons from two to ten dollars, and peaches one and a half dollars, apples two a dozen. Dill received a letter 3 or 4 days ago. Mother, I send my love to you all. Tell the children I want to see them all mighty bad. Mother, I will close for what I have wrote won’t interest you. Write as soon as you get this letter. Direct to the 30th Ga. Regiment, Wilson’s Brigade, Walker’s Division. Goodbye to you all, — Alfred H. Johnson
To you all. write soon.
Letter 4
Hospital, LaGrange, Georgia July 14, 1864
Dear and beloved Mother and Father,
I seat myself to drop a few lines which will inform you of my troubles that is inflicted on me. The solemn and sad news that has come to my ear is this—that I have lost one of my brothers. I heard today that Sidney is passed from time to eternity. Oh! that the poor boy is better off than he was before. He departed from this life to another world. I was impressed that the poor boy could not stand a camp life. I hope the poor boy is better off. I hope he is where there is no war and trouble to be with him.
— Alfred H. Johnson
Not something you see everyday. Among the Johnson papers there remains a Surgeon’s slip issued from the Hospital at LaGrange, Georgia, dated 24 July 1864, testifying an examination of James A. Johnson (Co. F, 30th Georgia) by Asst. Surgeon Edward Milhous Vasser. The surgeon was checking the small pox scar of Johnson’s arm to make certain that it was “perfect” and didn’t require additional vaccination.
Letter 5
Mr. Johnson,
I will send you a word about your boys. I brought a letter from Lieut. J. M. Wise last night. Dilly are wounded in the foot very bad—left foot. Alfred in the face. Sidney are dead. He died on the 30th of June in Atlanta. — L. J. Foster
Grim news sent to father of the boys, undated cryptic note.
I could not find an image of George but here is one of Lewis Campbell of Co. H, 134th New York Infantry. (Photo Sleuth)
This letter was written by Orderly Sergt. George R. Payne (1841-1864), Co. E, 134th Regt. New York Volunteers. George was a resident of Richmondville, Schoharie county, New York, when he mustered into service on 22 September 1862 at the age of 22. He was killed in action at the Battle of Rocky Face Ridge, Georgia, on 8 May 1864.
The entry for George in the New York Town Clerk’s Registers of Men Who Served in the Civil War states that George was “taken prisoner at Gettysburg & recaptured a few days after. Afterwards shot dead.” One source says he was a Lieutenant when he was killed but I see no evidence of a commission.
George was the son of William Payne (1799-1863) and Gertrude (“Gitty”) Crapser (1802-1885) of Schoharie county, New York.
Transcription
Lookout Valley, Tennessee February 1, 1864
Friend Buck,
You must imagine the satisfaction it gave me to receive a letter from you. I have been anxious to hear from you, but was in rather a worse fix than you were, as I had no idea where to address you; and I want you to continue directing letters by guess to me, if they all come through in time like the one in hand. I have often thought of you and the pleasant, though short, association we had together. Although our acquaintance was short, I believe our friendship is as permanent and lasting as life itself, which I would wish, if possible, to enjoy in a more personal manner than with a pen.
I am sorry that you had to stop in Washington. I was in hopes to hear from you in California or the West: at least I was in hopes you would go to Philadelphia., Newark, or some other northern city. I believe if you were in either of the above-named places you would enjoy yourself and be contented. As for me, I am better satisfied and contented than I was at the hospital. And more healthy also. You would hardly know me I have fleshed up so.
When I reached here (17 Dec.) I did not find the regiment. They with the Corps were gone up to relieve Burnside of Longstreet, but they returned the same night and you can bet we were glad to see each other. I did hardly else for a couple of days but talk over matters and events that transpired since I left them. They had been gone since the Lookout Mountain and Chattanooga fights, which was about four weeks, during which time, as they left their knapsacks behind, they had no shelter or blankets and marched 240 miles. They were barefooted, ragged, and lousy, and that in December during some of the coldest weather we have had. Some of the boys marched over a hundred miles barefooted. They drew no rations and what they had was picked up along the rout. The whole army were on short rations from the time they came in here (that is, when Rosecrans took Chattanooga) until the cars came through from Bridgeport to Chattanooga, about two weeks ago. Previous, all our supplies were fetched up on boats which were insufficient to supply the whole army. Since I have been here, we were two days without a ration. Before Hooker opened the way from Bridgeport to Chattanooga, Rosecrans’ army was on the point of starvation for the rebs had possession of this valley and wold fire on the boats and wagon trains on the other side of the river and nearly stopped transportation.
The Western Army were glad to see them come, and were surprised that they came through right under the guns on Lookout and the Valley, which also has minor mountains on which were reb’s breastworks and infantry. Our boys say it is nothing but fun to fight Bragg’s Army; they do not fight like Lee’s. The western troops highly applauded our boys for taking the Valley and Lookout. There were only fourteen wounded in my regiment; none killed.
Today is like spring and has been so for three or four weeks—sometimes too warm for comfort. I do not know what it will be in the summer. On the other hand we had a week of very cold weather and it snowed about half an inch. It is probable that we will have rain soon, but we are prepared for it, having first rate stockade tents and good fireplaces. We built these soon after I came back and have enjoyed ourselves first rate since.
We are right in view of Lookout Mountain and three miles from Chattanooga and presume we will remain along this railroad this summer, as the western generals think Old Joe has won laurels enough. This is a very mountainous country and it is surprising how we drove the rebs off from them. Lookout is a second Gibraltar. I have been up on it and is only accessible on this side by the assistance of ladders; on the other side, a road leads up by tacking along the mountain. On the opposite side of the Valley is Raccoon Mountain. I was on this also the other day hunting. I only shot a rabbit and came very near getting a shot at a deer. Four other fellows that were hunting also shot at it but did not kill it. There is once in a while a bear and wild hog shot. There is hundreds of acres of woods on these mountains and plenty of the latter.
The next morning after I got here, the Captain saw the Colonel and appointed me orderly of my company. When it was read off on dress parade, it said, “promoted for meritorious conduct.” Is not that a compliment? I have it very easy now as the company is small and we have a commissary sergeant. Our regiment numbers only about 200 at present and the Colonel and Major are trying to get it filled up but I am afraid they will not succeed. There are a great many enlisting in the counties in which our regiment was raised but cannot get them as we have no recruiting officer there, although the Colonel has tried to send some.
We had a pretty tedious time coming from Washington and were two weeks weeks on the road. We went to Camp Chase, Ohio, where we expected to stay awhile but remained only one day and started for Cincinnati where we stopped two days, giving us a chance to look around the pork metropolis, which is rightly named from the quantity I saw there. From there we took a boat down the Ohio River 150 miles to Louisville, Kentucky, remaining there one day. Then our course lay directly south across the states of Kentucky and Tennessee, passing through Nashville, to Bridgeport. Alabama, from which place we came afoot—a distance of thirty miles. Ohio is a fine state and well cultivated but Kentucky and Tennessee, being equally fine, need Yankee enterprise to make it the finest country in the world. They are about half covered with heavy timber and I hardly saw a frame house and the log houses were miserable things—not as good as our tents. They do not appreciate good buildings or have the ingenuity to build them. And if the ladies I saw are specimens of “southern chivalry,” where else no real beauty and symmetry is found. I think the sooner they are got rid of the better for as the boys say, they will all firk. One of the “chivalry” said, “we’ens think it no harm down here, as you’ens do.”
I would like to give you a more minute description of my journey here but have already wearied your patience and think I hear you say enough, enough. So I forbear and suffice it to say, I felt well repaid for the tiresome side of sixteen hundred miles.
I am glad to hear and see so many old regiments reenlisting for the war or three years. It is a severe blow at the rebellion, discouraging to them and greatly encourages us. I hope this administration will be [successful] getting out the 800,000 new recruits; then I think we can walk through anywhere. I hope Congress will repeal the commutation clause and allow no money substitutes, but it seems they are doing nothing. I hope to hear from you again soon and believe me as ever, your sincere friend, — G. R. Payne
Direct to Sergt. G. R. Payne, Co. E, 134th Regt. N. Y. Vol., 11th Corps, Nashville, Tenn.
Spared & Shared 23 