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 Samuel Norcross but which one? There were several soldiers by that name. Based on the location and date, I think it likely to be either Samuel Norcross of Co. G, 22nd New York Infantry, or Samuel Norcross of Co. E, 5th Vermont. The 22nd New York was encamped near Upton’s Hill at the time and the 5th Vermont was encamped near McLean, Virginia (Camp Griffin), some five miles further northwest. Balloon ascensions were being conducted regularly from Upton’s Hill to Vienna at the time. The camp of the 22nd New York was some five miles closer to Freestone Point where the firing on Union Vessels described occurred on 8 December 1861.
I note that the letter was addressed to his “father and mother” and since the soldier from Vermont lost his mother a couple years before the war, I’m going to attribute this letter to the soldier from the 22nd New York but without a high degree of confidence.
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
December 9, 1861
Dear father and mother,
I take my pen in hand to let you know that I am well at present and I hope that these few lines may find you the same.
We are in sight of the rebels and our fellows took a battery last night. How the cannon did roar and they throwed bombs at our vessel but it didn’t do any damage. 1 I wish I had a finger in the pie too.
I send my love to you all and would be glad to see you all again but I don’t want you to grieve after me. I have got a Indian Rubber Blanket and tell Uncle Ry I don’t forget him yet and I send my love to him and I hope that I may see him again. I don’t want you to send the blanket nor the box till I write again. I am a going in the battlefield with a good heart and I hope that I may come out with a good heart.
I just received a letter from William and he has been in a fight and I han’t received a letter for three weeks and I have to pay for the letters that I get now. And there is a boy comes in from Washington with them and he says that he can’t afford to come for nothing. Don’t write but once a week.
PROFESSOR LOWE MAKING A BALLOON ASCENSION ON A RECONNOITERING EXPEDITION TO VIENNA. Harper’s weekly, 14 December 1861
I saw the bombs burst in the air last night and we have got a balloon here and it goes up every day and the Rebels fire at it but don’t hit it. We are on one side and they are on the other and they have their own fun to waste theirselves, and after a bit they [rest of letter missing]
So goodbye, — Samuel Norcross
1 The Confederate firing on Union vessels may have been from Freestone Point, the northern most point of the Confederate blockade on the Potomac river. On December 8, 1861, The USS Anacostia and the USS Jacob Bell fired on Confederate troops near Freestone Point and they may have returned fire.
The following letter was written by Edmond Quincy Marion Leach (1847-1917) of Plympton, Plymouth county, Massachusetts who served in Co. A, 3rd Massachusetts Heavy Artillery. He began his service in December 1862 as a private and mustered out as a sergeant in January 1863. After he returned home to Plympton, Edmond remained very active in the GAR.
Edmond was the son of Erastus & Maria B. Leach. He was married in 1876 to Sarah Elizabeth Weston (1848-1923). He died in 1917 and was buried in Vine Hills Cemetery.
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
Fort Berry, Va. August 22nd 1864
Dear Friend Ella,
I received your kind letter on the 20th and was glad to hear from you. There’s not much to write about anyway. It has been raining all day. I think that it will continue to [rain] for some days.
The Hundred Day Men’s time is out today—that is, the Ohio men. The 166th Reg. Ohio went home today. We have been on picket duty with them a good many times. They are a good set of men and we shall miss them a good deal. When they went through here this morning, they stopped and bid us goodbye and I almost wished that I was going home too but not yet a while for me. But never mind. There is a good time a coming yet.
Samuel Cole Wright (1842-1906) of Co. E, 29th Massachusetts Infantry. At the Battle of the Crater, a bullet destroyed his right eye and lodged in the back of his skull.
You spoke of Samuel [Cole] Wright 1 being wounded. [His older brother] William came over here before he went back [to Plymouth] and saw all of us boys. I was very glad to see him. He said then that he thought that Samuel would recover. He showed me the ball that they took out of his head. It was an ugly looking thing. It is a wonder that it did not kill him.
I suppose that Melvin’s time is about out. Perhaps that he will get his furlough extended. I should think that he might if he tried. I suppose that he is having a pretty good time at home. I suppose that it is dull as ever around there although you seem to have pretty good times when it don’t rain and that is every time that you want to go anywhere. You spoke about Crokestown. I believe that I went through there once and that was enough for me. I wonder if the boy has got the stewed buns ready yet? I suppose so. They are pretty prompt in any such thing.
We don’t hear any more about going home. I don’t think that we shall go home before winter. We may then but not before. There is not enough troops around here now after the Hundred Days Men all go home.
George Briggs and myself go over to Washington often and visit the public buildings and look around just to wear away time. I was to a Nigger meeting last night. You ought to have been there. Every time that they would sing, they would read the two first lines of the hymn and then sing it. And all the hollering that you ever heard! That beat all. The minister that they had was a colored gentleman 2 that was at the massacre at Ft. Pillow [April 1864] and he was pretty smart too for a Nigger. He did lay down the case well to them. I don’t know when I laughed so much in my life before. But I am making a short letter long.
Hoping to hear from you soon, I will close. Your friend, — E. M. Leach
You spoke about enlisting in the Hundred Days Men. I think you would make a good soldier. You had better enlist in my company. It is not quite full. Don’t take too big a bounty. Just let us know when you come, will you?
1 According to a great article by my friend, Ron Coddington, entitled, “Samuel Cole Wright: The Talisman,” Samuel Wright of Plympton, Plymouth county, Massachusetts, had a combat record that left one with the impression that he was indestructible. “He refused to leave his comrades after a shell fragment struck him in the head during the Battle of White Oak Swamp, part of the Peninsula Campaign, in June 1862. A few months later at Antietam, he led a force of 75 men to pull down a fence at the Bloody Lane under heavy fire and suffered gunshot wounds through both legs at the end of the successful mission. A six-mule team trampled over him during the autumn of 1863, and the wagon to which the animals were tethered narrowly missed killing him.5 A musket ball ripped into his left arm at the Battle of Cold Harbor on June 3, 1864. The following month at the Battle of the Crater, he suffered his fifth and final wound of the war when a bullet destroyed his right eye and lodged in the back of his skull. Medical personnel dug the 1.25 ounce lead slug out and upon examination determined it to be from a Belgian-made gun.” Samuel had the bullet encased in gold and carried with him as a remembrance of his service. In February 1865 he received a disability discharge and returned to Massachusetts.Samuel’s letters can be found here: Letters Home.
2 There were churches for Black congregations in the District of Columbia prior to 1864 but White pastors had always been appointed to lead them. It wasn’t until 1864 that the first Black pastor was appointed at the Mt. Zion Church in Washington D. C.
The following letters were written by Thomas Eli Allison Daniels (1830-1918), a native of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, who came to Leavenworth county, Kansas in 1852—even before it was a territory—making him one of the first white settlers in the area. He arrived on 10 May 1852 at Kickapoo Island and set himself up as a ferry operator on the Missouri river between Kickapoo Island and Weston, Missouri. He later established a small brick plant with sufficient production to supply settlers with enough bricks to build a chimney. His principal livelihood was his farm of 700 acres in Kickapoo Township where he raised wheat and various subsistence crops. Thomas was married to Catherine Esther Swarts [or Schwartz] (1839-1931) in 1856.
From these letters we learn that Thomas enrolled himself in Co. B of the 19th Kansas Militia which was called into service on 9 October 1864 to defend Kansas against Price’s Raid. The regiment saw action at Byram’s Ford, Big Blue on 22 October and again at Westport on 23 October 1864. They were disbanded on 29 October 1864.
Note: Though he appears to have signed his surname “Daniel,” civil records and his headstone spell his name as “Daniels” so that is how I’ve recorded it here.
These letters are from the private collection of Rob Morgan and were made available for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by express consent.
Letter 1
[On Big Blue River] October 21, [1864]
Dear Catherine,
I am well. A bad cold. The rest of the boys are tolerably well. I have been to Independence, Missouri. We are lying on the Blue River, 8 miles this side of Independence. I cannot tell when I can get home. We have not seen nary rebel, but we can hear flying reports every hour in the day.
I heard that Braley and others was taking all of the horses off. I want grandpa to see to this and get a receipt for everything that is taken off the place.
It snowed yesterday here. We are fortifying on the Blue River. We heard that Price was at Lexington yesterday. You can see by these letters that we will all need some soap and water when we get home.
Our company is company B, 19th regiment Kansas Militia. Send me one undershirt, one pair of drawers, one pair of gloves by Mrs. Bishop, one pair of yarn socks. Tell grandpa to keep the account of the wood that Em hauls to Washburn. I could write to you all day but I must close.
I remain your affectionate, — Thomas E. A. Daniel
The Battle of Big Blue, October 22, 1864
Letter 2
Wyandotte, Kansas Sunday 24th [23 October 1864]
Dear Catherine,
I and a few of our company are left in camp to cook while the rest of the men has gone out to fight Price. Bishop had not been gone more than one hour till we was ordered to the mouth of the Blue River to keep the rebels from crossing. We laid there one night. Then we was ordered to Kansas City.
We are now encamped at the Wyandotte Bridge. I heard the cannons roar yesterday below Independence. Our regiment has not received a fire from Price yet unless the boys find him today. I bought myself a woolen shirt. We received a great many reinforcements from Leavenworth this morning.
Jo. Buchanan stayed with our boys last night. We have a great number of men here at the present time. I lent Mulford $2 and John $1 and Ellie Smith 25 cts.
We hear flying reports all day. I heard that our men were fighting Price and our regiment was supporting a battery in fight yesterday. Price went around below and pitched on Jennison and drove him back and Price encamped [with]in two miles of Westport and that is where they are fighting today. It don’t look like Sunday here today.
Good news! Price is whipped and retreating. 4 o’clock in the evening. –Thomas E.A. Daniel.
This letter was written by Abram Coursen (1843-1864) of Candor, Tioga county, New York, who enlisted in Co. H, 137th New York Infantry on 21 August 1862. He did not survive the war. He was mortally wounded in the Battle of Peach Tree Creek on 20 July 1864 and died six days later at Vining’s Station, Cobb county, Georgia.
Abram was the son of John Marvin Coursen (1808-1891) and Margaret Ann Van Leuven (1818-1887) of Tioga county, New York.
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
Addressed to Miss Emeline Coursen, Candor, Tioga county, New York
Camp of the 137th New York Vols. Stevenson, Alabama March 6th 1863
Dear Sister Em,
I thought I would write a few lines today and let you know how we get along in Dixie. We are all well and hope this will reach you the same. It is very pleasant here today. We have church in camp at four o’clock, Chaplain Roberts preaches, I believe.
I had my likeness taken this forenoon. My clothes didn’t take natural. They took too light. Otherwise, it’s very natural. I will send it and see what you think about it.
Our box come yesterday morning all right. Everything saved nice. I am very much obliged. Tell Margaret [thanks] for the handkerchief.
There is not much news here at present as I know of. We are to work building forts here. Everything is quiet up to Chattanooga. That is what they say that come from there. I have no more at present. Excuse poor writing and blunders. Write soon and all the particulars of home. This from your brother, — Abram Coursen
Edward Williams of Co. H wearing the Zouave uniform of the 10th Rhode Island Infantry(LOC).
This letter was written by William Frederick (“Fred”) Atwood (1845-1862), a corporal serving in his company. Fred was the 17 year-old son of William and Emeline Atwood, a recent graduate of the Providence high school. Fred was described by his comrades as having a “genial temperament and generous disposition, which drew around him a circle of personal friends” who mourned his loss when he died on 29 June 1862 at the Soldier Retreat in Washington D. C.
The 10th Rhode Island regiment was mustered into Federal service for three months in the summer of 1862. It was sworn in at Providence on May 26, 1862 and then moved to Washington, D. C. from May 27 to 29 where it was attached to Sturgis’ Command as part of the Military District of Washington. It saw duty at Camp Frieze, Tennallytown until June 26. With Sturgis, the regiment marched across the Potomac into Virginia, but returned to Washington when Jackson’s threat to the city subsided.
After a few days, on Monday morning, June 30, the 10th was detached from Sturgis’ troops and ordered to relieve the 59th New York in the seven forts and three batteries it had been occupying. These defenses of Washington were north and west of the city.
Company A was sent to Fort Franklin. This position guarded the Baltimore and Ohio Canal, the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and the Washington Aqueduct—the new water supply for the city. the U. S. Army Engineers had designed Fort Franklin to protect the city’s receiving reservoir (as conveyed by the Aqueduct) as well as the Potomac river shoreline.
I suppose you may think I am dead or sick because I have not written before but I am here alive and well, and should have written much sooner but for 1 thing. We did not get our full uniform when we left the City of Providence. I came off looking more like an Irishman than anything else. We expected to get it all when we arrived in Washington, and every day since it has been promised to us. It was that I was waiting for so I send you my picture. I have waited so long that I thought I would write to you and I will send you my likeness when I can get it.
I like soldiering as well as I expected. The greatest evil is dirt. I keep as clean as possible but camp life is a dirty life. I suppose you of course received my letter the day before we started. I wrote it in a very great hurry as we had orders to start that night. I should have liked very much indeed to have seen you but I do not suppose it was possible I could.
We started from Providence about 5 o’clock Tuesday p.m., arrived in Groton t 10 p.m., received rations which consisted of salt junk [salted beef] and hard bread. Took the Plymouth Rock for New York, arrived there about 5 a.m. I saw the Great Eastern [steamship] while there. We travelled all that day and night and arrived in Philadelphia about 3 p.m. Thursday. We stopped there till 9 and then started for Baltimore where we arrived about 5 o’clock a.m. Friday. We started at 3 p.m. for Washington, stayed there one night, and next day marched to this place, distant about 7 miles. The march out here was very warm. The dust was so heavy it was difficult to breathe. Two hours rain made mud ankle deep.
I went into Washington the other day to see the sights. I wish you and I could stop there a week and go around as much as we liked. The Capitol is the largest and most splendid building I ever had any idea of. I went about all over it the other day. The Senate and House of Representatives was is session. I went into both [chambers]. The Senate is the most splendid room I ever saw. I also went into the Patent Office, Among the millions of things, the most interesting to me was the articles which belonged to [General] Washington of which there were a great many. I saw a coat vest and knee breeches which he wore when he resigned his commission at Annapolis. His iron Treasure box, sword, hall lantern, chairs, tent poles, and a great many other things were there. I was very much disappointed in the machines I saw there. The models of some (a great many too) I should not think would be put there—they were made so cheap and common. But there was enough of interest in te room to interest me a month if I could only get there. I went into the reception room of the White House. It is furnished splendidly. There are some of the handsomest buildings in Washington I ever saw.
Many other collections soon found their way to the Model Hall in the Patent Office. The somewhat random assortment of objects included “Historical Relics,” such as the original Declaration of Independence, Benjamin Franklin’s printing press, and George Washington’s uniform. The display was simultaneously insular and expansionist, dedicated to national history while expressing global aspirations.
We have but very little sickness out here. There is but one man at present in the hospital from my company. I am in as good heath as I ever was. I have had but one attack of dysentery but I got over it in a day. I guess about every man in the company has been touched with it. The water they say brings it on. While we were in Washington, we were fed on bread, coffee strong without milk, and junk so salty you could hardly keep it in your mouth. The junk made me dry and I drank considerable of the spring water there. It went through me like Croton oil but I was not troubled but once.
We were sworn into service last Monday for three months from the 26th of May (three weeks tomorrow). How are things with you in Taunton and Berkley. I want you to write me a good long letter when you get this and let me know all the news, &c. We will have to give up the good times we were going to have for the present, but if I get back at the end of the three months, we will make up for the lost time. I asked Mr. Eddy if there would be any doubt about my getting my place again. He told me not to be uneasy about that for he would not lose me for anything. He had a letter from Mr. Armington a day or two before I came away in which Mr. A. said he was very glad I was going to stay and if I wanted to go to a trade when he got back, he would do all in his power to get me a good place. I expect Mr. Armington will get home in a week or so, I guess he will be rather surprised to find me off as he will not get any news of it till hr gets here. Everybody has come out of Providence so I guess it is very lonesome there. One fellow in camp here had a letter from a fellow in Providence in which he said it was Sunday there every day. He said he never saw it so dull.
When you write to me, direct your letters to Co. A, 10th Regiment R. I. Vols., Washington D. C.,
Goodbye Aunt Sarah. Write me a long letter soon. Your affectionate nephew, — W. F. Atwood
I could not find an image of Peter but here is David L. McLain who also served in the same company.
This letter was written by Peter Miller who enlisted at the age of 25 as a private in Co. H, 7th Illinois Cavalry at Shelbyville, Illinois, on 7 September 1861. When he mustered in, Peter identified himself as a single farmer and gave his residence as Vandalia, Illinois. The regiment was organized at Camp Butler near Springfield. Four of the companies (A, C, G, and I) were sent to Bird’s Point, Missouri, on 30 October 1861, but Co. H remained in Springfield until late December 1861.
Peter survived the war, mustering out at Nashville, Tennessee, in November 1865. He married Mary Ann Lear (1846-1925) in 1866 and lived out his days in Fayetteville county, Illinois.
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
Peter’s letter was written on patriotic stationery featuring an image of Winfield Scott.
[Camp Butler near Springfield, Illinois] November 1, 1861
Dear Miss,
It is with the greatest of pleasure that I take my pen in my hand to let you know that I am well at preset and I hope that these few lines that I may sent you may find you enjoying the same blessing. I received your letter this morning. I was glad to hear from you once more. I was in Springfield on last Friday afternoon. On Monday last we was in Springfield—seven regiments of us in a string. It made a long string. The town was crowded. There was a great many other people from the country.
I don’t know when we shall leave here. It is not known to the officers yet. I wish that you would come here. There is plenty to live on here while it lasts. I can’t say much this time. Isent my carpet sack with Pipher. He lives near Sitner’s. He was to leave the carpet sack at John Rice’s. George sent his with him. He is to bring it to Vandalia. The key is in the sack tied to a string. The string is tied to the handle.
Come as soon as you can. You can find out by Keller’s folks in Vandalia. My best respects to you and all enquiring friends. From Peter Miller
To Miss Amelia Miller. Direct your letters the same as the other. T get by, I sent my likeness with Marthy Hendrix to you.
William’s headstone in Livingston county, Illinois
The following letter was written by William H. Morris (1840-1862) while serving as a private in Co. F, 33rd Illinois Infantry. William was from Anconia, Livingston county, Illinois. He enlisted on August 1861, was mustered into the service on 6 September 1861 at Camp Butler, and he died of typhoid fever at Benton Barracks, Missouri, on 26 November 1862. It should be noted that his grave marker in Illinois states that he died in Ironton, Missouri, however.
William was the son of Henry Morris (1803-1843) and Mary (“Polly”) Reynolds (1811-1875). Serving with him in the same company was his older brother, Andrew Morris (1833-1872).
The 33rd Illinois Infantry was originally formed from many college students on the campus of the Illinois State Normal School and became known as the “Teacher’s Regiment.” In one company there were 13 college graduates and all were privates. The soldiers were so well educated that the standard joke was that men discharged for mental incapacity would have made officers in other regiments. [Wikipedia]. As evident by William’s letter, he was not so well educated, however. He and his brother Andrew were both farmers who lost their father when they were young men.
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
William’s letter was written on patriotic stationery with a great image of Parson Brownlow.
[Ironton, Iron county, Missouri] Tuesday, October 1st [1861]
My friends,
I am still on the mend. I feel pretty well today & I hope that these lines will find you all well & in good circumstances. Andrew is quite unwell today and I am afraid that he is taking the measles but he thinks that it is nothing but a severe cold he has taken but he coughed very much like I did when I was taken them. He says for me to tell you that if he does not take the measles that if he can get a furlough, he will be at home between now and the fifteenth of this month. But he has been exposed to the measles & he does not want to come until he knows whether he is going to take them or not, and if he does not come for you, to do as you please about thrashing out his wheat, If you get ready to thrash and it is worth anything, to let it go for what it will fetch. But he wants to come home if he can, and I want him to go home if he can for I don’t know as I will come home until some time in the winter. I can’t tell anything about it yet.
You may do my thrashing if you have not yet just when it suits you best or you msay wait until Andrew comes home if you like and have it done at once. As for my corn, you do as you think best until you hear from me again. I want you to write and tell me all of the particulars and how Mother is getting along and if Mr. Murry is there with her yet and if John Lucas bought Fancy [and?] Chester, if you think it will not be too much trouble to take care of them, and if you can get a trade with Mother for her year old horse for them notes of mine, let them go if she will trade. Give her up both notes. Tell me if Earp has paid you that dollar yet and if he has not, ask him for it for it is due now.
When we left Camp Butler we all sent our clothes home or started them but Levi Lauderback got a letter from Liberty today and he said that they had not come yet. Me and Andrew put our clothes in our valise together and gave Liberty Lauderback the key. Andy had two coats and a hat and one pair of pants and some shirts, and I had a hat, pair of pants, one pair or two of socks, and one new pair of shoes that I drawed and I sent them to you. If they come, you will pay our share of the freight and we will make it all right with you when one of us comes home.
I suppose that Mahaly Springer is married. Tell them I wish them a long life and a merry one. Tell them to take care of their country.
Some of our boys is got the measles now. Thomas Lauderback & Dilman Hester and two others of our boys is at the hospital now with them. Tom is pretty sick. I think both of the boys will have them pretty bad.
Dear brother, I could write more [but] my paper is getting almost wrote over. I want you to give my best respects to Mother and all of the friends and don’t forget to accept a good share of it for yourself and family. If we stay here, I will write again in a few days. Now you must write without fail for I am anxious to hear from you and from home. Direct your letter to Ironton, Iron county, Missouri in care of Capt. Roberts. Company F, 33rd Regiment [Illinois Infantry].
So no more at present. Yours truly, — W. H. Morris
The following letter was written by Christian W. Winnie (1839-1909) while serving in Co. D of the 20th Regiment, New York State Militia—a 100 days unit mustered in on 11 May and mustered out on 2 August 1861. I believe Christian was the son of Cornelius and Eva Winne of Ulster county, New York.
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
Headquarters 20th Regiment Patterson’s Park July 11, 1861
Dear friend,
After a long delay I take the present opportunity of writing a few lines. You must excuse me for not writing before for we have been moving around so much I could not get time to write. My last was headed Patterson’s Park, I believe, but owing to some anticipated trouble in the city, we were stationed in the Custom House in about the middle of the city. We were there about one week & yesterday we were removed to this old place. I am glad of it for I did not like it there although it was a very fine place quartered in a house worth 200,000 dollars but it was unhealthy.
The weather has been very warm for a few days. The mercury arose to 93o but what added to the unpleasantness of the place was the confinement. We were not allowed to go out without a pass which was very hard to get but I did get out once & made my way up to a monument erected to the memory of the Father of our Country. It is very nice & is 180 feet high & as you enter you will see a statue standing near the door and another placed on the pinnacle of the monument. After ascending a winding stairs, we arrived at the top where a most beautiful sight presents itself. The sun was just setting & as the last pale rays fell on the city (for we had a full view of the whole of it), it presented a sublime spectacle.
After conversing a short time, we retraced our steps, I wondering in my own mind how the people of Baltimore could try to destroy the flag that Washington raised & sealed by the blood of the patriots of the Revolution. And it is a lamentable fact that where the sacred relics of our Nation’s glory might be seen, waves an unnatural flag. The flag of our Union has been trodden under foot. But we trust in providence that He will protect the right; that He will not suffer the flag that has floated over [our] Nation for 25 years to be demoralized by a band of disappointed politicians & traitors. Shall we not fight to protect a Nation’s rights? Yes!
The Fourth [of July] passed without anything happening & it was the only day that seemed like Sunday since we started from home. Sunday is not regarded in the camp which I am sorry to say. No more at present. Direct to Baltimore &c. Goodbye, — C. W. Winnie
This letter was written by Alfred N. Smith, born in Ohio in 1836, I believe, who was living with relatives in Batavia, Branch county, Michigan in 1860. In 1858, he was listed in the Vincennes (IN) City Directory working as a plasterer and boarding in Mrs. Harriet Burrows’ boarding house on the north side of Water Street between Main and Busseron. It was to Mrs. Burrows that he addressed his letter, written from Fort Lyon near Alexandria, Virginia, while serving in Co. C, 2nd Michigan Infantry.
Harriet was the daughter of Hiram Soden and his wife Sarah Beedle. She was married twice and had eight children by her two husbands but only three survived infancy. Her first husband was James Burrows whom she married on 13 Sep 1846 in Knox County, Indiana. James died in 1859 or 1860 as his youngest child was born in November 1859 and Harriet was a widow at the time of the 1860 census. She then remarried to William Wolfe in February 1865. They had one daughter and moved to Missouri where William died. Harriet and her remaining family moved to Los Angeles, California sometime before 1900.
The 2nd Michigan Volunteer. Infantry was recruited to serve for three months, but before they could be mustered in, orders came from the War Department that enlistments were to be extended to three years. Those who did not want to serve the three years were allowed to withdraw and the Second Michigan Infantry was mustered in as a three year regiment on May 25, 1861.
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
Fort Lyon, Va. November [1861]
Friend Hatt
Your kind letter of the 22nd is received. It affords me the greatest of pleasure to have the privilege of answering it. I am very sorry to hear of Frankie’s continued illness but hope he will be better soon. 1 I suppose Sallie and Maggie are very much delighted with the idea of going to the “Golden State.” I suppose that Mother Doak is a going too. They would not leave her. I am exceedingly glad to hear your health has so improved and that you are a getting along fair. You were speaking about having a boarder by the name of “Smith.” It is a wonder that you would ever think of taking another of that name after being pestered with one for so long a time before. But, however, I wish you had another Smith boarder for a few weeks—one that is soldiering in a Michigan Regt. at Fort Lyons—for I think he could spend a few weeks with his friends to a very good advantage just now, couldn’t he?
I have almost forgotten to tell you about our moving and where we went to. Well we moved from Arlington Heights on the 16th of October and are now in camp at Fort Lyons, Va., which is one and a half [miles] south of Alexandria where we have been ever since we left Arlington Heights.
Fort Lyons is a very high and sightly place commanding a delightful view of the country for miles in ever direction besides the City of Alexandria, City of Washington, and the ancient City of Georgetown which joins Washington on the northwest. Fort Lyons surrounds 15 acres of land and mounts 129 guns, most of them 64-pounders, but it is only one of the many [forts] that circle the City of Washington so you can have some idea how well we are fortified here and how we could deal death to any approaching foe.
The weather has not been very pleasant here this fall. We have had several very cold rains. The wind [blows] very hard all the time. On the 29th October it blowed a complete hurricane. The tent that I and 14 other boys live in blowed clear away while a half dozen of us were a trying to hold it and I expect the plagued thing is a going yet unless the secesh have captured it which I presume is most likely for they haven’t any and the last I saw of it, it was soaring off in that direction. But we did not care much for it left us in a cold drenching rain and that offered us a good excuse for leave of absence to go to Alexandria to stay overnight which was granted us. For the first time since last May, I had the privilege of getting into a nice clean bed which I tell you looked tremendous good. After supper I retired but could not sleep. Did not know what was the reason but supposed it was because things [were] so nice and clean. So I took off the sheets and pillow cases and folded them up and stowed them under the bed and turned in again but it was no use. I could not sleep. Dreamed the secesh took no prisoner and consigned me to the dark walls of the prison. Waked in the morning and found myself 10 feet away from the bed with my head comfortably located in the spittoon. So you can see going to the city has a bad effect on me, but I have never tried it since.
Our quartermaster made us all feel glad the other day by furnishing us new tents and nice clean bed ticks filled with feathers that grew on a last year’s oat field. We have been very busy since we came here. We have two drills a day; battalion in the morning and bigade drill in the afternoon. Then there is guard duty which takes 140 men per day, one half of which goes seven miles southwest of camp as picket guard. The balance of our time is taken up with shovel and pick ax or drill on Fort Lyons.
“Enclosed within please find a twig of English Holly which I took from Mount Vernon near the tomb of Washington.”
We have been out reconnoitering twice since we came here. The first time on the 18th October. We marched to Occoquan Creek some ten miles southwest of here. We drove in the secesh pickets, found out something near their number and position. This being all we marched for, we returned to camp. The next time on the 13th November we went in force 16,000 infantry, two batteries, 6 companies of cavalry. We marched in three columns, one by way of Mount Vernon. The Brigade I was with went by Pohick Church. Another Brigade four miles north of us. We drove the secesh back to their batteries. They killed three of our cavalry that were scouting ahead of us. We drove all that Gen. McClellan ordered and came back bringing one prisoner. The 20th [November] our Brigade went to the Grand Review at Bailey’s Crossroads. The newspapers have said so much about it, it is not worth while for me to say anything about it. No more room to write. Your friend, — A. N. Smith
Enclosed within please find a twig of English Holly which I took from Mount Vernon near the tomb of Washington.
1 Frank (“Frankie”) Burrows was the youngest of the seven children of James Burrows and his wife, Harriet Soden. Frank was in Missouri for the 1870 and 1880 census but had moved to Los Angeles, California before 1900. He never married and was a painter by trade. He died from a fractured skull as the result of a fall from a scaffold.
The following letters were written by Luther Hurd (1842-1881) who first served in Co. H of the 16th Maine Infantry from August 1862 until shortly after he was wounded at the Battle of Fredericksburg, after which he returned to his home in Sanford, Maine. He wrote these letters during the 100 days service he signed up for with the 5th Massachusetts Volunteer Militia in the summer of 1864. The regiment left the state for Baltimore on 28 July 1864 and were assigned to garrison Forts McHenry, Marshall, Carroll, and other points in and around the Baltimore Harbor. They mustered out in early November 1864.
Luther was the son of Deacon James Hurd (1796-1876) and Abigail Wadilla (1798-1848) of Sanford, York county, Maine. He wrote the letter to his older sister, Adeline (“Addie”) M. Hurd (1834-1911) who married Samuel C. Marshall (1818-1903) and had a 3 year-old daughter named Emma L. Marshall (“Little Emma”) mentioned in this letter. He does not mention him but Luther also had a brother named Bradford A. Hurd (1832-1863) who served in Co. B, 4th New Hampshire Infantry. Bradford was mortally wounded by an enemy shell on Folly Island in June 1863. See 1861: Bradford A. Hurd to Luther Hurd.
Letter 1
Fort Marshall, Baltimore, Maryland August 29, 1864
From this southern clime my thoughts wend their way to my dear New England home where fancy pictures to my mind the many dear & kind friends whom I have left far, far behind me. Many is the time that I turn my weary eye to you eastern sky where the loved ones are, and my mind wanders over hill and dale to your pleasant home. Then it seems to me that I am nearer to you than at any other time. I love to think on the past as I bring to my mind the many happy hours I have spent with my brothers and sisters, now dearer to me than ever. The days of my soldiering will quickly pass away. Already one month has slipped by. A little more than two months more & you will see me wending my way back again to the North.
I do not wish to go home until them for we are so pleasantly situated here that it would be silly to even think of such a thing. We are still in the same place that we were when I last wrote you. I will give you a description of this place as I cannot think of anything else to write, which will be of interest to you.
Fort Marshall is situated on a high elevation of ground one mile from & overlooking the City of Baltimore. The city lies to the west of us, while to the north and east are seen beautiful farms and farm houses. Little white cottages rise up in the distance. The landscape is intersected here and there with beautiful trees. To the south, no less beautiful, runs the Patapsco River at the mouth of which stands Fort McHenry, plain to view. The whole scenery around is very beautiful.
The fort is built of dirt thrown up very high. On the parapets are mounted some 35 large guns which will sweep the country for miles around. The place is very strong. It would take a very large force to capture it. It was built by the 7th Maine Regiment some two years since. For that reason, it seems dearer to me. I feel proud of the old Pine Tree State. Her sons have fought gallantly during this rebellion. Within the fort are two long, two-story buildings, The first is used by us as barracks to sleep in. The upper story is occupied by the two companies that came here with us while the lower part of the building is occupied by our company & three cook rooms. The bunks that we sleep in are placed up against the wall like the berths in the cabin of a steamboat. They are very nice. I tell you, it seems homelike to have a good house to live in. Much better than those tents.
We get up at 5 o’clock in the morning at roll call, breakfast at 6, drill on those heavy guns one and a half hours, dinner at 12, company drill two hours from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., Dress Parade at 6, supper at 6:30, roll call at 9, Taps & lights extinguished at 9:15. Then we go to bed. Orders are to keep quiet but occasionally a laugh or a joke breaks the silence. There is a piazza running the whole length of the front side of the building under which we have arranged seats where we can sit at our leisure.
Our rations consist of government soft bread, beans, rice, fresh & salt meat, coffee, &c. We get what meat we want but not enough bread. We have to buy a small amount of that. My friend—who sleeps with me—and myself put our money together and buy molasses to eat on our bread. We also have milk to put in our coffee. When we have drawn our food, we take it out under the piazza & here we take comfort in eating it. I will tell you what we had for supper the other night. The cooks sold their soup grease & with the money bought flour. They then got some [ ], stirred up a batter and made some flippers. I assure you that they were good—that is, we considered them so here. A little tough though. Had to hammer mine out to cut them. I think if we have any more that I shall use them for popping my shoes. Think they would wear a long time, don’t you? Well I must not make fun of those cakes.
Oh! Addie, I saw some splendid toast this morning. How I did long for some. Some of the fellows here spend a great deal of money. They buy everything that comes along. But I can’t afford to. I only spend my money for things that I really need. You probably have heard that the government rations have been reduced since the soldiers pay was raised to $16 per month. That is not hardly fair. We don’t draw one third as much as we did when I was out before. So you see we have to buy some things. Yesterday we had baked beans for dinner. They were nice.
By the way, Addie, can you or Laura lend me $2 until we get paid off? I have only ten cents now. When I enlisted I did not take but a little money with me. The man I worked for gave me his note & further told me if I would call and see him in a few days that he would have it & pay me but we were ordered away & thus I came away without much. I am getting $36 per month with clothes all found. I did not get any bounty. Please send me the money in green backs as soon as you can and I will make it all right with you when I return home. Goodbye. Tell little Emma that I would like to see her very much. When I go home, I will bring her a pretty doll. From your brother, — Luther
Direct to Luther Hurd, Co. B, 5th Regt. Massachusetts Vol. Militia, Fort Marshall, Baltimore, MD
Letter 2
Fort Marshall, Baltimore, Maryland September 6th 1864
My dear Sister,
I received your kind letter yesterday afternoon; also the money that you sent me. Was very thankful that you sent it. I was entirely out of money. You could not have sent it in a better time. The officers say that we shall be paid off by the 15th of this month. I guess the boys will be glad of their pay, for a great many of them have not a cent. The most part of our boys in the company have parents who are wealthy and they have always had a good supply of spending money, and I tell you it comes rather hard on them to go around with minus gold in their pockets. But when I get any money, I generally am pretty saving of it and don’t purchase anything unless I really need it.
We are still in the same old fort. Nothing of any great importance has transpired since I last wrote you. Things remain the same as day after day rolls away. We are getting a little tired and lonesome here with no excitement going on. A few weeks have passed away very pleasantly because the place was new to us; but now it has got to be an old story. Still it is a good place for us—we are so comfortably situated and we would prefer to remain here unless the officers could place us in a fort where there are accommodations as good as these.
I told you that the scenery around is beautiful. Well it is. From the fort we can see the green fields and pleasant farm houses. We see the lofty trees, the distant hills and vales; but we are not allowed to go outside the fortifications because there is a guard to prevent us. If this was not the case, our curiosities would be likely to lead us out into the open fields and we should spend many pleasant hours traversing the country around. But you know there are some who if they once got this liberty would go around to the different farm yards and rob hen roosts and anything else that they might chance to lay their hands on. So you see that they have to be strict with us.
We occasionally go down to the river to bathe a short distance off and on our way pass through the village of Canton—a place noted for its hogs, dirty women and children. There I have seen some of the dirtiest, filthiest looking women that I ever saw. In passing along, every now and then, you will run against a hog. You will find a plenty of them running in the streets and other public places. What would you say to see women, barefooted and ragged, sitting down on the door steps with their feet as black as the stove? Would you not be tempted to throw a pail of water on them? People here are very different from the New Englanders. I have not seen a pretty girl since I have been out here, so you need not be afraid of my bring[ing] home a Southern bride. I think I should prefer one from the North.
“The village of Canton—a place noted for its hogs, dirty women and children. In passing along, every now and then, you will run against a hog. You will find a plenty of them running in the streets and other public places. What would you say to see women, barefooted and ragged, sitting down on the door steps with their feet as black as the stove?”
We had a little excitement in the fort a few nights since. When the rebels are coming, they immediately give the alarm to the different forts around by throwing up sky rockets. This night in particular I was on guard when we saw quite a number of these. These were succeeded by the firing of guns. Then the soldiers all gathered up on the parapets to watch for the rebs whom they thought were coming. A squad of soldiers were sent out to ascertain what was in the wind. They soon returned stating that the firing proceeded from a drunken row down in Canton. I did not feel any alarm for I had seen too much to get scared at such a little thing as that.
Well, Addie, I congratulate you with your little treasure (your little son). Hope the frail bud will be free from sickness. I presume you feel very proud of him. I like the name you have given him very much. I think it is very pretty. Have you given him a middle name? If not, I would like to give him one. No doubt Emma is very proud of her little baby brother. Yesterday it was cloudy all day. At night, it set in dark and stormy, wind blowing a gale from northeast. It rained hard all night. The boys were very thankful that we were in such good quarters. We all slept warm and comfortable except those who were on guard. They did not fare very well. Got some wet. Thank Providence it was not my lot to be on guard on such a rainy night. Today we do not have any drill so we, or rather the rest of the boys, are fixing up the barracks. Some panes of glass have gone out of the windows and they are repairing them. Others are looking after stoves to place in the room. It is a gloomy day without, and a little lonely inside. I would like to be in your city sitting room today and have a nice dinner of meat, potatoes, and a good apple pudding. But I must close. Please send me a paper now and then. I want to hear the news. Your respected brother, — Luther
Spared & Shared 23 