My passion is studying American history leading up to & including the Civil War. I particularly enjoy reading, transcribing & researching primary sources such as letters and diaries.
The following letter was written by Newell Dyer (1835-1899), the son of Bela Dyer (1802-1878) and Ruth Ranney (1806-1863) of Plainfield, Hampshire county, Massachusetts. Newell enlisted in Co. C, 31st Massachusetts Infantry on 12 October 1861 and served five months, mustering out on 21 March 1862, discharged for disability.
[Note: This letter is from the personal collection of Greg Herr and was offered for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by express consent.]
A painting of Newell Dyer made by AI from a poor quality post-war photograph of Dyer on Ancestry.com
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
Seabrook Landing near Port Royal, South Carolina March 6, 1862
Dear Brother,
My health is about the same. Some cough yet but well enough to drill. The doctor says it will soon be gone. He says take no medicine now. It is warm days here and cold nights. Peach and orange trees are in full bloom here. There is beautiful palms here and palmetto trees. The beautiful scenery I ever saw. The captain of the militia has been arrested by General Butler as a traitor and took down to Port Royal to be tried for a traitor. It will go hard with him. He and the first mate were both born in North Carolina. You will see the particulars of our voyage in my first letter.
There is 100 niggers on this plantation. They peddle hoecakes for a cent apiece. They are pretty good. They say they like the Yanks. They are [ ]. Gen. Butler has gone to Ship Island to the main body of his troops. Captain B. says we may stay here a month yet. I want you to write to me as soon as you receive this letter. Direct to 31st Regiment Massachusetts. Company C, Seabrook Landing near Port Royal.
Write all the news if it takes two sheets of paper. We heard that the story had got to Massachusetts that we were all lost. It sprang from finding some of the cargo. We threw out some 3,000 dollars worth. Some of the boxes being picked up by other vessels with the [steamer] Mississippi‘s name on them. 1
One of the Pennsylvania boys was shot through the arm while in a boat two miles above here by a rebel in ambush a day or two ago. Tell all the boys to write to me and I will answer them. One man died on the passage. He was from Maine with an ulcer in his throat that was all that was lost. I will call goodbye, — Newell Dyer
1 At Boston the 31st Mass., 1,000 strong, and five companies of the 13th Me. embarked on the new transport Mississippi, bound for the Crescent City. In addition to the troops, the vessel carried a heavy cargo of military stores and 1,300 tons of coal…At Fortress Monroe, where we arrived in a brisk gale, Gen. Butler, his wife and maid, and his staff joined us. The voyage was resumed Feb. 25. When near Cape Hatteras we were tempest-tossed. The Captain in bed, locked in his room, was aroused with difficulty, and informed that disaster was imminent. He headed the ship east, standing in that direction until morning. The ice-house, in which was packed quarters of beef, gave way. Beef, barrels of pork, potatoes, rice and other provisions mingled with ammunition muskets and equipments, broken bunks and mangled humanity, rolled and smashed fore and aft’. Hatches were battened down, and Egyptian darkness prevailed, the roar of the storm neutralizing all other sounds. No brush can pain, o pen can describe, the horrors of that tempestuous night. At sunrise of the 27th the ship quivered. We were stranded on Frying Pan Shoals, five miles from shore, and in full view of Fort Macon. Casting the “gipsy,” we found 14 feet of water. The normal draft of the ship was eighteen feet. We were told that but one vessel in like predicament had ever been saved. The anchor was cast, and the ship forged against it, crushing a five inch hole in the side, through which water poured with resistless force. Fortunately, there were water-tight compartments. The men began to murmur, accusing the Captain of being a “Baltimore Secessionist.” For protection he was placed in the charge of the best drilled company on board, commanded by Capt. Fisk, who later became a General...While on the way from Cape Fear to Port Royal Gen. Butler emulated the old lady who tried to mop up the ocean. All the pumps in the steamer were started, and lines of men formed with buckets, trying to bail the water out of the fore compartment. As the hole in the vessel was the size of a large anchor fluke, of course the water in the vessel kept level with that outside, in spite of all that could be done. Sometimes the men on the steamer would move towards the stern, so that the bow would rise, and then the officers would cry, “Go it boys, you are gaining on it!” In a few minutes they would perhaps move the other way, causing the bow to sink and the water to rise in the compartment; then the cry would be, “For God’s sake, hurry, boys, the water is rising!” And that useless labor was continued night and day till March 2, when the steamer reached Port Royal. The next day the Mississippi was taken to Seabrook Landing, about five miles from Hilton Head. The troops were disembarked, the stores unloaded, and the steamer repaired sufficiently to risk finishing the voyage. March 13, the stores having been reloaded on the Mississippi, the 31st Mass. re-embarked, the battalion of the 13th me., taking the steamer Matanzas, and a new start was made for Ship Island. Before leaving the harbor, however, the Mississippi ran aground again on a bank of oyster shells. After taking off the troops, the steamer was pulled off by tugs, the troops put on board again, and (the Captain being removed and a new one appointed) she at last left the harbor. After this nothing occurred worthy of special mention, and both steamers in due time reached Ship Island in safety.” E.B. Lufkin, Co. E, 13th Me., Weld, Me. [National Tribune, March 12, 1885]
I was unable to find an image of either William or Thomas but here is one of Corp. James Needham Alexander (1833-1918) of Mecklenburg county who also served in Co. A, 11th North Carolina Infantry.
This letter was written by two members of Co. A, 11th North Carolina Infantry (the “Bethel Regiment”). Company A named themselves the “Edgcombe Guards.” Most of its members came from Mecklenburg and Gaston counties in the southwestern Piedmont region of North Carolina. The first part was penned by Lt. William B. Taylor. The second part by Sergt. Thomas W. Neely.
21 year-old William Barnette Taylor (1840-1928) of Charlotte, Mecklenburg county appears to have joined the 11th North Carolina in June of 1862 and was elected 3rd Lieutenant of his company. He continued in that capacity well into 1864 though he often signed the muster rolls as being in command of Co. A. In the May/June 1864 muster rolls he was reported “absent wounded” (a gunshot wound) and he remained in a hospital until September 1864 when he returned to the regiment, having been promoted to 2nd Lieutenant. In January & February 1865, he was reported “On furlough of indulgence” from their encampment at Petersburg. His final muster record shows him to have been paroled at Appomattox in April 1865.
Thomas W. Neely (1843-1910) of Charlotte, Mecklenburg county, appears to have accepted a $50 bounty and volunteered to serve in the 11th North Carolina at an earlier date than William Taylor—February 1862. He was elected the 5th Sergeant of Co. A in June 1862 and promoted to 4th Sergeant in June 1863. He was wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg and the July/August 1863 muster roll carried him as “Wounded. At home with leave.” He did not return to the regiment until 17 December 1863, just two weeks before this letter was written. The May and June Muster report reported Thomas “At home on wounded furlough” for a second time (a gunshot wound to the left thigh), and this time it looks like he did not return to the regiment but was detached and assigned duty in Richmond. Like Taylo, he was also paroled at Appomattox in April 1865.
I’m not confident I have accurately transcribed either of these letters or properly interpreted the meaning of their words. Both letters contain sexual innuendoes that I think might imply the risk of contracting venereal disease.
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
Camp 11th North Carolina January 2, 1864
Well Sam, I received your letter bearing date of the 28th December. I was beginning to[to] think you had not received mine of the 17th. We have no news here at present—only that we are putting up winter quarters and they are granting furloughs again. I sent up 8 the other day for the company but none for myself. I wish I could send up one for my humble self but my day will come someday before long. Elias Grier Todd L Roberts have got furloughs already and when they come back, look out for Squalls for this shild is going to try. But Sam, I have nothing worth writing.
I will send you the other $1000 in a few days. I don’t think it is safe to send it by letters. You will remember me to Miss Ellen and the other Ladies of your acquaintance. Tom Neely says look out or you will get squashed like him. He said the greasy thing but it would not do.
I remain yours, that is plain, until death cuts us in twain. — W. B. Taylor
[in another hand]
Camp 11th North Carolina January 3, 1863 [should be 1864]
Friend Sam, I now attempt to write you a few lines. I have nothing to write that would prove interesting to you in the least. Sam, I recon you are a having a good time at home with the girls but take a fool’s advice and be very careful how you stick the greasy word to them. If you don’t, you will come out like I did. I put the greasy word to one while at home but I think I received an answer that was greasier than my question so you can guess I have played out (so most it be).
I recon you and Ellen are all ok on the goose. Sam, I advise you to take unto yourself a wife if you can make the riffle. Old Carlow has gone into the business but I think it doubtful about him making a raise.
Sam, you ought to be here to see Leck and his aide fly. Even Leck knows more about an orderly’s business than any man that I have seen lately. His aide is here but not for duty. He has a sore hand.
Sam, if you get [conflumed?], please let me hear from you for I have an idea how a man feels for it has not been long since I had the pain to endure myself. I will close. Write soon to your friend, — T. W. Neely
Lt. Joseph Wight of Co. E, 5th Maine Infantry (McDonald Collection, Digital Maine Repository)
The following letter was written by Joseph Wight (1822-1911), the son of Jonathan Wight (1783-1869) and Mercy Harmon (1788-1861) of Cumberland county, Maine. In 1860, Joseph was enumerated in Windham, Cumberland county, Maine, earning his living as a grocer. He was married to Elizabeth Irish of Sebago.
Muster records inform us that Joseph enlisted in June 1861 to serve as a 2nd Lieutenant in Co. E. In June 1863 he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant of Co. A. He mustered out of the regiment on 27 July 1864.
Joseph’s final paragraph tells us much about his personal beliefs: “I am fully satisfied about the question of slavery. I have seen enough to disgust anybody of its evil effect, both with regard to society or wealth. A man may make money by slaves but his farm grows poor and his children ignorant and degraded. But this war has nothing to do with slavery that I know of.”
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
Camp Franklin, Va. January 1, 1862
Mary,
I take the liberty of writing you a few lines and also of presenting you with a view of the City of Washington from the dome of the Capitol. We are encamped about six miles from Washington and three miles from Alexandria on the Virginia side of the Potomac River. I have been in one battle only—that was the Battle of Bull Run, July 21 last past, and I hope this national difficulty will be settled without more bloodshed.
Mary, I hardly know why I should write to you, and certainly, I know of no reason why I should not write to you. I don’t know where you are but I should like to hear from you and how you and Amanda and Mercy prosper temporally & spiritually. And how does your Father and Mother get along? and those little brothers too? though Edward is not very little. And ow is your Grandfather Wight? I have not heard from any of the folks in your neighborhood for a long time and I thought you might take the trouble to write your uncle Joseph one letter. Have you finished your studies? or how are you spending your time? Perhaps you think me inquisitive but you know that I am a Wight and so have a right. Tell your Father and Mother that if they have the time and disposition, I should be glad to hear from them too.
Perhaps you would like to know how soldiers live. Well we have one cook to a company who boils the beef and pork, bakes the beans and fresh beef. makes the tea and coffee, &c. &c. We have little tents just big enough for four men where we sleep and spend the most of our time—especially in stormy weather. Also a little stove or fire place in each tent so we get along very well. We [have] trainings or musters every week day—that is, [in] fair weather, and sometimes very great gatherings at one time. It is said there were 70,000 men, all soldiers and officers, beside many thousands of spectators.
I have seen much since I last saw you and my motto is, to see is to learn. And I am studying philosophy, geography, and phrenology ll at the same time and all by actual observation about the soil and climate in old Virginia. We have not had any cold weather yet and I may say that on the whole, the climate is delightful and the soil is fertile and fruit grows in abundance and berries of all kind too.
The inhabitants have almost all left this part of the state and where they have gone is more than I can tell but I am fully satisfied about the question of slavery. I have seen enough to disgust anybody of its evil effect, both with regard to society or wealth. A man may make money by slaves but his farm grows poor and his children ignorant and degraded. But this war has nothing to do with slavery that I know of. But the drums now beat and I must close by wishing you a happy New Year. Give my respects to enquiring friends and if I survive this national struggle, I hope to meet you all once more in peace. Yours with respects, – Joseph Wight
The following letter was written by Lydia Harris (1810-1836), the daughter of Dr. Stephen Harris (1786-1858) and Lydia Greene (1791-1820) of Providence, Rhode Island. Lydia was married to Henry H. Pease (1804-1840). From the letter we know that Lydia was residing in Yazoo county, Mississippi, during the winter of 1836-37. though she apparently spent the hot summers in Rhode Island with her relatives. The letter is datelined from “Woodland” which I assume was the name of the plantation owned by her husband. It seems to have been a few miles outside of Manchester (later renamed Yazoo City) where Henry also had a home.
Though her letter suggests she was suffering from chronic illness, still it was surprising to learn that Lydia died some ten days after this letter was written. Her husband did not live much longer. His obituary reads: “Melancholy Accident.—A letters received in this city, dated Yazoo City, Mississippi, September 15 [1840], states that Mr. Henry H. Pease, formerly of New York, was accidentally killed near the former place, on the previous day. It appears that he was riding with a friend in a barouche; the horses took fright at some cows, ran over one of them, and darted off at full speed. After they had advanced about fifty yards, they brought the carriage in contact with a large stump with so much violence that the vehicle was broken to pieces, and the two gentlemen who were in it were thrown a distance of 36 feet. Mr. Pease fell upon his back and neck and was killed almost instantly. His companion, Mr. George B. Dixon, escaped with some slight bruises and internal hurts. Mr. Pease was 36 years of age, and the son of John B[enjamin] Pease, Esq., [1774-1866] of Utica. His body was interred at Yazoo on the day succeeding th accident, with military honors.”
Lydia wrote the letter to her sister-in-law, Abigail (“Abby”) Spaulding (1816-1888), the wife of Cyrus Harris (1812-1887), and the daughter of Lovewell Spaulding (1780-1853) and Susannah Greene (1788-1869) of Rhode Island.
Land Deed in Yazoo County, Mississippi. Approximately 40 acres purchased by Henry H. Pease in 1835.
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
Addressed to Mrs. Cyrus Harris, Centreville, Rhode Island, Via Providence
Woodland November 21, 1836
Dear sister,
I began to think you had quite forgotten me, Abby, or did not intend to [ ] and had determined the day I received your letter to write you a very scolding one. You very fortunately escaped this time, however, for which you may thank your lucky stars.
Well Abby, how do you like housekeeping? I presume you are comfortably settled at Greenville [Rhode Island] ere this. I almost envy you your nice warm house. A house like yours would be very valuable in this country. I hope you have succeeded in getting a good servant. I should advise you to take little George. You will find him very useful. We at the South have the advantage over you in regard to servants. We can obtain good ones any time by paying for them. They are worth from one thousand to fifteen hundred dollars.
How does Stephen behave? Do you have to scold him every day? I intend taking him home with me another winter. I dream every night of being at home. I expect I shall feel as unpleasantly at leaving home next summer as I did this. I am much better contented now than when I first came. Could I be at my own home in Manchester [Mississippi], I should be quite happy. I find it very pleasant here but rather lonesome. Brother John has been from home this past week. Took his friend D. Pomery with him. Dr. Nesbit is at Vicksburg so that I am quite alone during the day, Henry comes home every evening and returns in the morning. Rides 25 miles on horseback every day to see me. Do you not think him a very affectionate husband? I will not say anything more about him for fear he should read this letter. I might raise his vanity to too high a pitch.
James has not arrived yet. We are expecting him daily. I cannot be lonesome when he is here. What does Eliza Anthony say about him? Have you forgotten “False one I love thee still.”
I expect you have cold weather now. Last year at this time it was very cold at the North. We had snow in November. It is very pleasant here; not much colder than when we came. The thermometer stands at 62 degrees above zero today in the shade. February and March are warm months here. With you they are the coldest and most unpleasant of the year.
They commenced planting their gardens in February. The woods are covered with strawberry vines. I anticipate a great deal of pleasure eating strawberries in the spring. I shall go and gather them if I am not too much afraid of snakes. I have been out but very seldom since I came here.
I intend going to Manchester on Thursday to attend a Ball. I received a note from the managers two weeks since. There are fourteen managers. They send invitations to all the ladies and let them get to the Ball the best way they can. It is all the invitations they have. I wish you was here to go with me. I know we should be amused. I have a great curiosity to see the Yazoo Ladies at a Ball. They are five or six years behind the fashion in dress and everything else. I know I shall laugh. I have heard a description of their dancing. Stephen could dance very well with them. I wish he was here. He would enjoy it so much. They use their head and arm quite as much as their feet and make as much noise with them as possible. Tell Pa and Cyrus not to scold because I am going to the Ball. I am going as a mere spectator and shall dress very warm. I shall wear a long-sleeved dress and shawl around my neck. It will be exposing my health too much to wear a party dress. I shall give you a description of the Ball in my next. We are anticipating a gay time here during the Christmas Holy days. The negroes all dance and enjoy themselves vastly.
Tell Pa I think my cough a little better than when I wrote last, but it is very stubborn. I have had a sufficient number of doctors [to see] if they can cure me. No less than four have prescribed for me. I am in hopes it will wear off after a while in this mild climate. I have no doubt I should have been quite sick had I stayed North this winter. The cold air affects me very sensibly. I get low-spirited and almost discouraged at time. I cough some. I have a very good appetite and do not lose any strength. I eat mush and milk every night for supper (what we call Hasty Pudding)/ They cook it much better here than at the North. Does Ma visit you often? Or is she as domestic as ever? Little Eliza will want to come every day. I want to see her so much. She is the best child I ever saw—so affectionate.
I saw the death of John K. Tiffany in the Providence paper. Is it Amey’s brother? Now, my dear Abby, write me very soon and tell e everything that has transpired. Give my love to all. Henry would send his love and probably add a postscript were he here. He speaks often of writing to Cyrus but has not found time yet. Tell Stephen I am expecting a letter from him. Adieu. Yours truly, — Lydia
What has become of Lucy Anna? I cannot hear a word from her. I intend writing Susan very soon. Does Cyrus visit his uncle often?
[In a different hand]
I have just returned from Court & Lydia desires me to add a P. S. to this letter and here it is. I have read this letter. I make my wife let me read all the letters she writes. Your husband probably does the same by you. I hope Cyrus is not as much troubled and vexed with his—he would say perhaps better half—but I will say lttle torment, as I am with my big torment. Little and big only refers to size. My big one has the impudence to wish me to ride from Benton 1 here 12 miles every night to see her and I am fool enough to gratify her. Do you think it right?
Our Boy Reuben has just said that “Supper is ready.” If I feel like writing more I will do it after eating. “The ancients eat before writing.” Lydia will tell you what the quotation means. I was grieved to hear that Cyrus was unwell in New York. I hope by this time he is better. Say to Cyrus that the cotton crop in this country will not be larger than last year. That cotton will be worth 25 cents by 1st June next. Tell him to mark that & remember that I predict it. I hope you make a better house keeper than Lydia. She does nothing but scold the negroes from morning until night. I have a great mind to send back to Rhode Island “a scolding wife, &c.” THe rest you know. Your brother affectionately, — Henry
Lydia says that in her next letter she will contradict what I say.
1 Benton was the county seat of Yazoo County from 1829 until 1850 when it was moved to Yazoo City (formerly named Manchester).
The following letter was written by 34 year-old Samuel Hoppenstedt who enlisted at Gardiner in August 1862 to serve three years in Co. A, 156 New York Infantry. He mustered into the regiment in November 1862 and mustered out on 23 October 1865 at Augusta, Georgia. He mentions one comrade in the letter, Abram Fuller, who was wounded in action later in 1864 at Winchester, Virginia.
Samuel wrote the letter to his friend, Abraham (“Abram”) Selah Schoonmaker (1819-1879) of Gardiner, Ulster county, New York. Abraham was married to Cornelia DuBois (1826-1886).
Note: This letter is from the personal collection of Kyle A. Williams and was offered for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by express consent.
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
Baton Rouge, Louisiana February 20, 1864
Friend Abram,
I sit down to take the opportunity to write you a few lines to inform you that I am well and I hope these few lines may find you and the rest of your family enjoying the same blessing. I have wrote you two letters and han’t had no answer from you. You could not [have] got mine or I have not got yours. It is one or the other. So I thought I would write to you for I felt inquisitive to know how you all got along. I heard that the children had all been sick with the scarlet fever and I would like to know how they are getting along. Abram Fuller got a letter from William the other day stating that they was all sick.
The weather has been very nice for a spell back till yesterday and today it has been cold. Yesterday it snowed. It is bad on the peach blossom and plum blossoms. The trees was white of blossoms. They are plowing and planting potatoes here and making gardens.
Abram, the 22nd of the month this state [will] elect a governor. Then there will be a big time here. These citizens in this place was one year ago strong secesh. Now they are strong Union. They have turned their coat wrong side out this spring. Now they hide their gray sots [?] and put on the blue. It is a good thing for them, I think. By next fall they will all put on the blue and hang up the old stars and stripes for Old Jeff is getting tired of riding the milk steer on Old Abe. The mule helping out the mule is too long winded for the milk steer for the steer is most give out.
I hear that Johnson has left the Gilford and gone to New Jersey and Dewitt is coming in his place. When I heard that, it was big news for me for I thought [he] was pleased. Fuller is well and full of fun. He is in the cook house again.
We are in the rear of Baton Rouge yet. It begins to look like home. I will have to stop for this time for my paper is most full. So I will close my letter by sending my love to you all. Write soon. Tell Carly and the children to write. This is from your friend, — Samuel Hoppen Stedt to his friend, Abram S. Schoonmaker
The following letter was written by W. H. Len, the son of Charles Edura Len and Mary Murdock Casey (1824-1905) of Philadelphia. He wrote the letter in May 1861 to his uncle James Seaman Casey (1833-1899) who was a member of the 7th New York Militia in April 1861, just after the outbreak of the Civil War, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant of the 5th Infantry Regiment in August of the same year. He was promoted to captain in December 1863, and became Commissary of Musters of the Army of the Potomac. He was brevetted major in March 1865 for his actions in the Battle of Fort Stedman.
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
Addressed to James D. Casey, Esqr., Care of Quartermaster, New York 7th Regiment, Washington D. C.
Philadelphia, Pa. May 13th 1861
Dear Uncle,
We have not heard from you for what I would call a long time. Do tell me when you think the grand skirmish will come off. I often think of you rainy nights how uncomfortable you must feel. You must have a pretty hard time of it. The latest news this afternoon is that there has been another terrible riot at St. Louis [See the Camp Jackson Affair]. I heard something said about your going to Alexandria. Is it so? Please give my respects to your sergeant. What has become of your cat since your absence? Do try and get a little more meat on your bones and I will also try to practice what I preach.
I was down to Suffolk Park [Racecourse] on Saturday to see the Ohio Volunteers 1 who are encamped there. If you live like them, I do most sincerely pity you. Try to get time to write to me. Excuse the writing and believe me to be yours respectfully, — W. H. Len
The following letter makes a good read but unfortunately the soldier who wrote it only signed his name “John” and there are too few clues within the letter to lead me conclusively to his identity or even the regiment he was in. He does indicate that they were under the overall command of Gen. Henry W. Benham who was responsible for the engineering activities near Petersburg so I’m going to assume this soldier was in either the 15th or 50th New York Engineers. Early in the letter he speaks of constructing the hospitals at the “Point” which would have been City Point. This activity seems consistent with the engineers.
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
Camp near Petersburg [Monday] December 12th 1864
Dear Brother,
We have made quite a move since I wrote you last. I don’t owe you a letter but since I have the time to spare, I thought I would give you a little sketch of our march to this place.
Friday [9 December] was an awful cold day. We went down to the Point [City Point] to work on the hospitals as usual, It was rather hard work to keep warm. Friday night it commenced raining [and] in the morning [10 December] there was an inch and a half of snow on the ground. We went down to work. It grew warmer and made it too muddy to work so we came back to camp at noon. They told us we might get us up some wood for ourselves to last over Sunday [so] we started with a wheelbarrow and got two loads chopped and wheeled up into our shanty. We had to go three quarters of a mile for wood is getting about played out in this section.
When we got the wood up, it was after three. We drawed some raw potatoes at noon for supper. We was thinking what a nice meal we would have for we had not drawed any before. We got them all ready to cook but too late for at four o’clock we received marching orders, to be ready to march at 6 that night. We had to fly around, strike our tents and pack our knapsacks, but worst of all, leave our shanty. We had it fixed up warm for we had got lots of boards down to the hospitals & nails. We had just got us a table and chairs adn everything nice
At six we was all in the ranks with four days rations, knapsack with two blankets, shirts and other dry goods which a soldier needs & one piece of tent, cartridge box with 40 rounds of ammunition, belt and saber and gun—not much of a load, I thank you. No, I guess not. Bound for someplace whither we knew not. Nice time to march for the mud and snow was knee deep. The army never moves without it is muddy, by Josh.
We marched down to the railroad one quarter of a mile. There was all of our regiment awaiting for the train and some more that Gen. [Henry Washington] Benham had command of. There was said to be two thousand troops. We waited two hours before the train to come right in the mud. The band played, “The Gal we left behind me” and several other popular airs suited for the occasion. There was two trains, The first one was a wood train. Half of them got onto it. Our company got on to the second train on top. There was an inch of snow—nice and cool. We rode seven miles, got off at Meade Station. We got off and formed into line and was ordered to stack arms and unsling knapsacks and make ourselves miserable until night. I thought so too for the mud & snow was as bad as a barn yard, but sleep we had got to have. We spread down our rubber blanket and laid down. My feet was so cold, I took off my boots & warmed them up as well as I could. I never turned in quite as cold as I did that night but I went right to sleep., two of us together.
We was called up at two o’clock. It rained like shot. My blanket was wet and my feet too. We got ready in a short time and marched two hours. We halted and stacked our arms. There was a house nearby and some outbuilding (some General’s headquarters). We had got to have some wood (there was a guard around the buildings). There was no wood near so they commenced pulling down the barn and hog pen. They stripped them pretty quick. There was 50 or 60 fires started in a short time. They hadn’t got fairly to going before the order came to put them all out. If we didn’t, the shells would be a flying around us. I thought we must be amongst them for we heard the picket firing plain when daylight came. We could see our line of works plain.
We ate our breakfast, stayed there until eleven, and then we fell in and marched to where we are now. I tell you, our knapsacks was pretty heavy before we got [here]. Some of the boys threw away one of their blankets, they was so wet and heavy, but I got through with mine and stood it first rate. We got here about noon. There was winter huts built that some soldiers vacated but all mud and snow—pretty shabby for they was built in a hurry. We put our tent cloth on [one] and cleaned them out as well as we could. We had to be pretty thick for their wasn’t huts enough. There was twelve of us together—just as thick as we could stand up. I never felt thecold so much as I did that night. It seemed as though we should freeze. The wind blew hard and froze hard as a rock. It don’t look much like the Sunny South they tel about, and our old tent you could throw your hat through it anywhere.
We are within one mile of Petersburg and in the rear of Fort Petersburg. We can see the steeples at Petersburg and the buildings that they have got our prisoners in. John, you ought to see the guns that they have got mounted on this fort. They look huge, I tell you. They say they could throw a shell into Petersburg with them. I don’t doubt it for they look as though they was capable of doing. The pickets are a firing all the while at each other. I could hear them plain enough when I was at the Point and most too plain here. I would rather [ ] to the rear if they would let me,
John. I must stop for we have had orders to clean up our guns for inspection. I will tell you the rest I have done in another sheet. — George
The following letter was written by Jacob Howard Asher (1840-1917) who was twenty-one years old when he enrolled at Hudson to serve three years in Co. C, 128th New York Infantry. He was mustered in as a sergeant and was promoted to first sergeant in November 1863, and commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in January 1865. He mustered out of the regiment on 12 July 1865 at Savannah, Georgia.
“Howard” was the son of Jacob Asher (1802-1860) and Ellen Ostrom (1809-1879) of Rhinebeck, Dutchess county, New York. He was working as a teamster prior to his enlistment, at which time he was described as standing 5′ 10″ tall, with dark gray eyes and black hair. After the war, when he returned to Dutchess county, he resumed his career as a teamster.
In his letter, Howard describes the journey from Camp Millington near Baltimore, Maryland, to Fortress Monroe aboard the US Mail steamer Arago in early November 1862. He appears to have been informed that the regiment was to be included in an expedition to New Orleans to join Gen. Nathaniel Banks’ Department of the Gulf. The regimental history informs us that sickness and disease infested the ranks while aboard the Arago though Howard does not acknowledge it. He does mention seeing and describing the USS ironclad Monitor, however, which was reported by others in the regiment.
Steamship Arago near Fortress Monroe Monday, November 10, 1862
Dear Cousin George,
Your very kind letter of the 26th October came duly to hand and I was very glad to hear from you and the rest of the folks. We marched from Camp Millington [in Baltimore, Md.] last Thursday afternoon to the city where we went onboard of a small steamboat that laid aside of the dock which carried us out to the U. S. M[ail] Steamship Arago that we are now on board of. We laid there until Sunday morning and then started and this morning when we got up the ship was anchored about a half mile from Fortress Monroe.
Last evening about five o’clock we passed the Potomac River. The steamship Ericsson came along with us down with a part of the 144th Regiment on [it]. Three companies of the 114th Regiment is on with us. The Monitor went steaming down past here at a great rate this morning. I can’t describe her no more than you have heard. She lays about one foot out of the water by what I could see.
It looks considerably like war around here. There is a gunboat and man-of-war a laying close by us. I must now close. I am well and in good health and hope these few lines will find you the same. I had a letter from William Norris last week. He has been in several battles, he says. And one also from Brother John. Himself and Mary is well and in good spirits.
I suppose we will stay here until all of the expedition gets here. you wanted to know how I liked my office. I like it very well—about as well as can be expected. I am now acting Orderly Sergeant while our Orderly is acting as Lieutenant. Both of our lieutenants are sick. You must excuse my bad writing for I am in somewhat of a hurry. You must write soon as you receive this. Direct as before. Yours truly, — Cousin Howard
The following letter was written by Nelson W. Shephard (1844-1864), the son of Orrin W. Whephard (1818-1888) and Sarah Ann Demming (1820-1897) of Croton, Newaygo county, Michigan. Nelson was born in 1844 near Grass Lake, and had moved to Newaygo County with his parents, Orrin and Sarah. Before heading off to war, Nelson served some time in Jackson State Prison for burglary before heading off to war in August 1862 when he enlisted in Co. C. 26th Michigan Infantry. Although a poor speller, Shephard provided many details about his experiences in the 26th Michigan in letters home to his parents.
Nelson’s wartime experiences would likely have remained unknown were it not for Nancy Crambit, who discovered his letters among her late husband’s possessions, acquired years earlier at a yard sale. Unwilling to retain them, she surmised that someone in Newaygo County might find them meaningful, prompting her to send them to the local post office. For further details, refer to Smithsonian’s website and their magazine article, Mystery Solved: A Michigan Woman Says She Mailed Civil War Letters to the Post Office.
Nelson was taken prisoner at Ream’s Station, Virginia, on 25 August 1864 and was supposedly listed in Belle Isle Prison at Richmond, Virginia on October 4, 1864. He died in the Confederate Prison at Salisbury, North Carolina on December 18, 1864, where he had been joined by other members of the regiment.
Nelson’s lengthy letter presented here captures his regiment’s movements from Fort Richmond on Staten Island to Brandy Station in November 1863 until early January 1864—particularly the Mine Run Campaign. More of his letters can be found here: 1862-64: Nelson W. Shephard to his Parents on Spared & Shared 22.
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
Addressed to Mr. Orin W. Shephard, Croton, Newaygo County, Michigan
Camp near Brandy Station January 1864
Dear Parents,
I thought as I had nothing today I would write you a good long letter and let you know just where we have been since we left the Island, I have kept everything in my diary waiting for a stop and a good chance to write. Now I have got it. You must not think I am getting polite if I do use a great many highflown [highfalutin] words. I shall do my best to give you as good an account of our marching as possible. So I will begin with my diary.
Fort Richmond, Staten Island. Marching orders and we are all packing up bidding our friends goodbye. I am sitting under the old Maple shade trying to make Elenor believe that I will come back again when this cruel war is over but she will not believe it (not I neither). It is about 3 o’clock and away we start for the wharf. After we got all snugged away nicely on board the boat, someone on the dock called for Shep. I went to see who it was and what do you think, there stood Elenor with her eyes full of—–15 inch shells. Who would ever think I would create such love in the heart of a young damsel. She had a basket for me with provisions enough to set up a young bake shop, the bottles of wine, two of brandy—the best kind, and a box of the best cigars which you may bet did not come amiss going down the Bay. She is a good bargain for someone. She is rich. Her Father is a retired merchant from New York City. But we will let that drop and get out of Long Island Sound into Raritan Bay.
As soon as it became dark, it commenced raining and it rained all night. The morning came out clear and pleasant. Our boat had just landed when we were off up the pier for the railroad. We got aboard and started for the Confederacy. We arrived at a place called Red Bank. Here we changed cars and now we off with our caps and [gave] three rousing cheers for the ladies of Red Bank. Now we are off for the Quaker City (Philadelphia) for the third time. That is the place for a soldier to get a warm meal and come in out of the wet. The ladies of the Cooper Shop were made aware of our coming before we left Red Bank and had spent the night in happy preparation to meet us. And when we entered Otsego Street on the morning of the 16th, just three months from the date of our last visit there, hot coffee, sandwiches, and other favors were already awaiting us. In this same cozy, comfortable, inviting retreat the noble women of Philadelphia have fed 500,000 Union soldiers. None ever pass the City without resting here long enough to test the quality of its hospitaliy. Brace and heroic women are here all the long silent nights of the year and while the great City is wrapped in slumber, are nursing cheer for the hearts of us soldiers.
A heavy rainstorm set in as is the uniform custom when we are on the move. We made a [ ] to Baltimore, arriving here at sunset. We were marched through a drenching rain to the Washington depot where we stacked arms and were invited to a warm supper at the Soldier’s Retreat. Here as in Philadelphia, the wandering soldier is fed by the bounty of good, loyal citizens. Goodbye Baltimore for the train is waiting that is to convey us to Washington and we are all excitement with the prospects of a battle at Bull Run and we may have something to do.
Midnight found us at the Capitol and after the usual eight days rations were supplied, we ran down to Alexandria and remained in the cars until daylight when finding that it would be impossible to leave before noon, we scattered about among our old friends and the familiar places of other days to spend the chill hours of the morning. I went to one of my old friends. They got me up a first rate dinner of roast chicken, ham and eggs and other table stuff so that it seemed quite home like. There has been little change in this place since we left it in April last for Suffolk. It is only a step from the broad Potomac and its cty of pleasure and plenty to the bald, shapeless fields of barrenness and desolation. An hour after dinner we were on our way.
Here we are at Fairfax Station. You have probably heard a great deal about this place. I will describe it to you. There is a farm house and two barns, a warehouse and a Nigger (negro) Church. The house—if it might be so called—is riddled like a sieve. Bullets of all sizes from a Minié ball up to a 32-pounder cannon just so with the rest. We get off the cars and file to the left. A few minutes march brings us to the camp of the 3rd and 5th Michigan Regiments and we are encamped with the Veterans of the Potomac Army. Familiar faces are here and familiar voices greet us from the old Battalions of the Peninsula and Rappahannock. It is a capitol place and we will stop here tonight.
The sun rises clear this morning and with it comes marching orders to report to the Second Corps at Centreville. We have eight days rations on our backs. It is our first marching since we left the Peninsula in July. It tries the endurance of the boys but we are bound not to make a two days march of it to Centreville and at sundown we are in the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps. This brigade is commanded by Colonel Miles—a fighting corps and a fighting brigade, so we never mind. The march is a hard one over the hills this warm, sunny day, but we shall find brave, warm hearts to welcome us, I tell you, there was nothing too good for us. The soldiers that was here even went so far as to take our knapsacks off for us and cook our supper just because we were Michigan boys. They said they were not afraid to fight anything with a Michigan regiment at their side. I tell you, my dear parents, it looks hard to see some of the regiments here that come here with from 900 to 1,000 fighting men now dwindled down to from 30 to 60 and 100 men. Still they are just as eager for fight as they were the first day they enlisted.
Now about Centreville, you have undoubtedly heard of that. There was once a Centreville, the home of wealth and pride. But now there is 5 old dilapidated houses, a couple of old barns all shot to pieces, some poor widows with a lot of fatherless little brats that bawls out, “Go to Hell!” or “Damned Yankees!” every time we go by. There they are tonight to do it.
It is Monday morning and raining like the devil. It is not the pleasantest stimulus to one’s patriotism to pack up and march through the mud and slime of this region in rainy weather, but marching orders, when they may be met cheerfully, are obeyed mechanically and at 9 o’clock a.m. we are over the pontoons that span Bull Run and are marching amid the wrack and ruin of the first and second battles of the same name. This favorite battle ground of the Rebels looks lonely enough in a rainy morning like this. There is so much in all these rude graves—whitened and exposed skeletons of men and animals, broken gun carriages, fragments of shells and muskets scattered around through the tall weeds that have spring up everywhere as if to make the desolation more complete that we are quite ready for another battle to see if we could not make up for what we have lost in these two heavy battles. But we shall not have a chance for General Lee left here this very morning. His campfires are still burning bright. He made up his mind that it would not pay him to fight father Meade.
There is prospects of a fight before night. All the sick are ordered to the rear. We keep in steadily without rest until noon when we halt at Manassas Junction and get us some dinner. Then we start for Bristoe Station—the scene of the late brilliant fight—and encamp for the afternoon and night. Lee still keeps falling back as we advance and we spend a quiet night here in preparation for an advance in the morning.
The sun roses bright and clear. Hardly a cloud to be seen as we strike our tents on Tuesday and amuse ourselves in the chilly morning by fording Broad Run. Into the water waist deep with a furious current the boys plunge with the good humor only known to army life and tramp with wet feet and wet pants and warm hearts for three miles. Then another plunge through the same stream, only deeper than before. Then three miles more marching and to the right and left until to our astonishment, we are suddenly standing face to face with the inevitable Broad Run which here and everywhere else is much broader than we care about finding it.
You can talk about your high life, and having a good table to sit down to, but first in rank of the delicacies and luxuries of a soldier’s life, I will place the pleasure of fording on a frosty morning the small rivers of Virginia called Runs. Such is our agreeable introduction to the Army of the Potomac. All the way up from Fairfax, there is enough of rural charm to make a royal old land of this but the miserable culture of the land, bald ignorance of the people and rude ways of building in this region is a sorrowful exposition of Virginia civilization. It wants a change from the long-haired cadaverous, rickety, blatant high-born chivalry, which the war is dispelling as fast as possible. Send some of our Northern farmers down here, some Northern schools, and free labor with a little Yankee enterprise and his country would come to something. It is just as handsome land as I ever saw in my life but it is not tilled. They do not plough more than three inches deep and the land is running out. They can hardly get a living off of it. They plant one kernel of corn in a hill and that will not hardly raise enough to keep the Niggers.
But let that go for her we are at Warrenton—-a beautiful little town. Well, here we are in camp. I have just been out after some persimmons, a kind of apple that grows wild here. They are very sweet and nice. I wish I could send you some. They are so good. Tonight the brass band is playing. It sounds delightful. They are playing Home Sweet Home. I wish I could see it night after night. The strains of the band from Division headquarters have charmed us to sleep, making us forgetful of the rainy days and weary marches. How fast the time goes while we are in camp. We pass the days and weeks in every way peculiar to camp life and if it was not for a new month or pay day or marching orders, we wonder at the unconscious flight of time.
November 7th finds us at the end of rest and pleasure on the march to the Rappahannock. The Rebs have steadily fallen back before the advance of our army until now he disputes the passage of the river with long lines of entrenchments on both sides, thought sure we [would] not try him there, but he got caught asleep. Gens. Sedgwick and Sykes and French carried their works by the bayonet and took 2,000 prisoners and six cannons. Tonight we are in a beautiful place to rest from the fatigue of the days march. It was the hardest march I ever had in my life.
Sunday we cross the river and push on after the Rebs. Our cavalry fought them until after they crossed the Rapidan River while we bring upon the pleasant slopes of Mountain Run. The Rebels have sought refuge behind his breastworks on the Rapidan. Today’s rain and bottomless roads make further progress impossible and we rest among the pines of Mountain Run until Thanksgiving when we are off for the Rapidan and cross at Germania Ford without opposition. The scenery at this point is beautiful beyond anything I have seen in Virginia. French’s Corps was less fortunate than ours, made a most desperate fight before they could gain a safe position on the other side. Custer’s Cavalry done some tall fighting that day. We were all over by night.
Friday and Gen. Lee has fell back to a strong position at Mine Run. Early in the morning we are after them, drive in their pickets up to within a mile of their main line and the day is spent in brisk skirmishing. We are camping at Locust Grove tonight. We have stayed here two days and now we are off for the left. Every few minutes a shell will go screeching over our heads and burst with as loud of a report as the cannon itself. They are shooting railroad iron and chunks of everything that is heavy enough to shoot. Shelling, sharpshooting and skirmishing and reconnoitering are the order until Sunday morning the 29th [when we] dropped down to the left of the line at White Hall Church.
Our Brigade is thrown in the advance and forming into a strong skirmish line. We advance under Col. Miles. We drive the enemy pickets clear up to the breastworks when we are ordered to halt in full view of their line of battle. We had to charge on them. They held a piece of woods on the right of their forts. There was almost double our number. I felt kind of ticklish you can bet but I would not back to charge across the open field for 80 rods exposed to a raking fire of musketry from the woods and shell from the batteries is not a very enviable job—not for me anyway. We are in rifle range of their forts. This charge cost us some noble blood and dear human life. The Rebels that were here were no marksmen or there would have been hundreds more of us killed.
Now we are back here in winter quarters taking all the comfort imaginable. I will give you a list of what we have to eat. Hard bread, soft bread, coffee, tea, sugar, pork, beef, rice, beans, sauerkraut, dried apples, molasses, and lots of other little notion. Oh dear, I am getting so tired. I shall have to stop. From your Nelson Shephard
This letter was only signed “Father” but the content reveals that he was most likely a member of Co. H, 1st Vermont Heavy Artillery. This company was at Fort Slocum till March, 1864, then at Fort Bunker Hill till May, 1864 when they were ordered to the Virginia battlefront to be used as infantrymen in Grant’s Overland Campaign. The regiment joined the 6th Army Corps at Spottsylvania Court House on 15 May 1864—little more than a week after Grant launched his campaign.
In his letter, he refers to Uncles Levi & Lyman who appear to be serving with him. Likewise he refers to an Aunt Minerva. Since the letter was written to his children, Ada and Walton, these aunts and uncles were most likely the author’s siblings or in-laws. The letter was written on stationery printed with the words to the tune by Alice Hawthorne entitled, “Yes, I would the war were over.” It is annotated in the margin, “Ambrotype for Grandmother, Photograph for Aunt Emeline. — Father.” These are articles that were presumably sent to Aunt Minerva in the box he mentions in the letter.
By posting this information on Spared & Shared Facebook, an astute subscriber named Amanda Champagne McCarty was able to locate a Vermont family that satisfied all of these relationships and I feel certain that the letter can now be attributed to Benjamin F. Strong (1825-1864) of Woodstock who was a 36 year-old mechanic when he entered the service in August 1862 with Levi F. Barnaby (1826-1873) and Lyman Aldrich. Levi was married to Minerva Strong (1836-1912), Benjamin’s sister. Lyman was married to Ellen Blaisdell, sister of Benjamin’s 1st wife Elvira Blaisdell (1833-1860). Benjamin’s and Elvira’s children were Ada Strong (1851-1919) and Frank Walton Strong (1855-1942). After Elvira died in February 1860, Benjamin took Esther D. deCamp (1840-1862) as his second wife and they had a child named Fanny but both mother and daughter died while Benjamin was in the service.
What is most chilling about this discovery, however, is that Benjamin was killed by an enemy sharpshooter on 9 June 1864—just two days after having written to his children: “I am not alarmed about being shot for I believe I shan’t die until my time comes, let me be where I will….I expect there will be a terrible fight here pretty soon, but let it come. I am ready for it. I believe I shall live to go home when my time is out. But if I don’t, it will make but a little difference to me. If I don’t, be good children & believe I died in a good cause.” No wonder the letter was cherished and the words on the song sheet all the more poignant:
Dead upon the field of battle, Husbands, sons and brothers lie: Friends are waiting—wives and mothers, Looking for them, bye and bye. Far away from home for ever, Many a noble boy lies slain; Look not for thy child fond mother, Thou shalt see him not again. Chorus—Yes, I would the war were over.
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
Camp in the field near Cold Harbor, Virginia June 7th 1864
My dear children
As I have a little spare time this morning, I will write a few lines to let you know that I am yet alive & what is more, am well. Uncles Levi & Lyman are well. Uncle Lyman had a letter from home this morn. I received a letter from you a few days ago but I have not had time to write before. There has not been a very good chance to send letters out since we have been here, but now we have a chance to send every morning.
We left [Fort] Bunker Hill on the 12th day of May & since that time we have done some pretty tall marching & have been in two pretty tight places—once near Spottsylvania Court House and once here on our present campground which took place on the 1st day of June just at night. We had marched all day and came up with the main part of the Corps just in time to form and make a charge on the rebs. A part of our regiment, Cos. F, L. K, & H [the 1st Battalion], advanced to the very front to within a hundred yards of the rebel entrenchments & they poured the grape and canister into us like hail. But we were behind a small rise of ground & by laying flat down, we most of us escaped being killed or wounded. There were about 84 lost in our four companies—one man killed and 10 wounded in Co. H. One corporal lost a leg and one sergeant an arm. All have been sent to the General Hospital in Washington. In this last affray, our loss was pretty severe. They think more so than the rebs but we hold our position & are getting very well entrenched.
We have a large amount of artillery & the most of the fighting has been done by it. When the rebs commence firing on us, they send a few shells into their camp & they soon dry up. There is not many hours but what there are bullets passing each way. Some take effect and some do not. Occasionally there is a man killed or wounded. I like this kind of life much better than I thought I should but I would rather be in Vermont. I am not alarmed about being shot for I believe I shan’t die until my time comes, let me be where I will. I don’t feel a bit nervous when advancing on the rebs & the first time we were under fire & lay on the ground with shot and shell flying through the air, I went to sleep as I was very tired as we had marched all night.
I expect there will be a terrible fight here pretty soon, but let it come. I am ready for it. I believe I shall live to go home when my time is out. But if I don’t, it will make but a little difference to me. If I don’t, be good children & believe I died in a good cause. There is a box of things at Aunt Minerva’s for you. Take care of the things that they may some time do you some good.
I must close. Write often. Direct as usual. Give my love to all the folks and take a good share to yourselves. Don’t worry about me but be good children & so life if we meet not again on earth, we may meet in Heaven where there is no war.
Spared & Shared 23 