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.
A Union trooper most likely from the 5th or 6th Michigan Cavalry holding his saber and 7-shot Spencer Rifle,
The following unsigned or partial letter was written by Samuel Sherburne of Co. D, 6th Michigan Cavalry. The troopers referenced in the letter include 18-year-old George Hopkins, 21-year-old John T. Van Dyke, 34-year-old William H. Rust, and 29-year-old George W. Botsford. All four soldiers hailed from Burns, Shiawassee County, Michigan. He addressed the letter to his brother.
The 6th Michigan Cavalry mustered into service in October 1862 and saw duty in the defenses of Washington until June 1863. Their first action came in the Gettysburg campaign. While in Washington during the winter of 62-63, they served as body guard and escort to General Casey, as stated in the letter.
Charge of the 6th Michigan cavalry over the rebel earthworks near Falling Waters
Transcription
Washington January 4, 1863
Dear Brother,
I take the opportunity of addressing you with a few lines to let you know that I am well and I hope these few lines will find you the same. It is very nice weather here now at the present time. I am in hopes we will be home by spring and this war will be done with. That would suit me well as anything I can think of. I am getting sick of this war. It’s not a very nice thing.
January 5th. Dear brother, I just received your letter tonight and was very glad to hear from you and that you was well. We have just come in from drilling a horse back. We drill in the forenoon from ten to eleven dismounted with sabers, then in the afternoon mounted with sabers. We have only three guards a night and my turn don’t come very often so that is not much. I have allotted 8 dollars of a month pay to mother for I knew it would be safe then. We have not got any pay yet and there is no signs of it.
I went up to the 5th Regiment [on] New Years and I seen Ed James. He was well. I did not see Dan. He was down in the City. We have singing every night and we make it go first rate.
January 6. Having a little spare time, I thought I would improve it in writing a few more lines. Our boys are all in very good health. George Hopkins went and seen Reuben yesterday over across the river to the paroled prisoners barracks camp about 4 miles from here. He has been taken prisoner.
January 7, Wednesday. It is quite cold here today. We drilled a little this forenoon with our saber and it was cold work. This afternoon we did not drill and I thought I would write a little more. Reuben Hopkins 1 is here this afternoon to see us. He looks pretty rough. He is not very tough. He got hurt with a stick of timber.
I have got that watch yet and I mean to keep it till I get home. It keeps good time yet. Tell Judson I wish he would change and give me United States money for that is the best to keep.
You better believe I have seen some of the greatest sights ever saw before. The Capitol is a great sight to see. We have got the position of body guard over General Casey and we have good times. They is lots of niggers where we are camped now. You cannot look in the street without seeing a nigger or two. John [T.] Van Dyke is well at present. They is three of our boys gone to Fairfax but what for I don’t know but I s’pose for guards over some general or else to carry dispatches from one camp to another.
We have good bread to eat and very good beef but it is not like home. Our boys are all in very good health except bad colds. William [H.] Rust is to the hospital sick. He has quit bugling and is a private. George Botsford has got to be Corporal & Abner Letts was here this afternoon to see me. He is not with the regiment now. He has been sick… [unsigned or partial letter]
Bennajah Roswell Butler (1820-1888) of Cascade, Kent county, Michigan served in Co. M, 6th Michigan Cavalry.
1 Reuben Hopkins (1824-1901) served in Co. F, 10th Michigan Cavalry. He was discharged for disability on 19 October 1865.
The following letter was written by 27 year-old Mary (“Mollie’) Elizabeth Kramer (1835-1920), the daughter of James William Kramer (1806-1855) and Salina Engle (1815-1860), both deceased at the time of this letter. She wrote the letter from her home in Middlebourne, Tyler county—a county that borders the Ohio river in what is now West Virginia, where she wrote in October 1862, “We have great excitement with guerrillas, rebels, and so on. We have our hands full to keep our lives, property, or anything else.”
Mollie mentions all three of her younger sisters in the letter: Nancy Eliza Kramer (1840-1914), Margaret C. Kramer (1846-1910), and Frances S. Kramer (1849-1933). Nancy was married to Albert Gallatin Nicholson Swam (1834-1918) in August 1860 and the birth of their first child, Charles McClellan “Tip” Swan (1862-1944), on 22 September 1862, is mentioned as well.
Mollie was married in 1871 to Maj. Granville L. Lowther (1834-1908) and had two children.
The Tyler County Courthouse in Middlebourne, built in 1854. This image probably dates to the late 1800s.
Transcription
Middlebourne, Tyler county, Virginia 1st October [1862]
Dear Cousin Annie,
I address you a few lines this evening according to Nancy’s request. She received the papers you sent and wishes me to say to you she would write if her eyes were not so weak that she cannot see to write. She has another baby two weeks old. It is a real pretty baby. It has brown hair, blue eyes, and very delicate features. Bert named it the day after it was born. He calls it McClellan.
We were very much surprised to hear of Uncle Christian’s marriage. When you write, please tell us if it was John Keener’s widow that he married and if Tilla and Mina are both at home yet.
We have great excitement with guerrillas, rebels, and so on. We have our hands full to keep our lives, property, or anything else. There is to be a wedding party in town tomorrow. Dr. Woodburn is to bring his bride home tomorrow evening.
One of my friends and a correspondent was killed in the late battle before Washington. His name was Will Guthrie. 1 I have his picture. Oh, Annie, how many hearts the rebels have caused to bleed and how many mourners they have made.
Marg has just returned from West Union and Frank is going to New Martinsville to Aunt Anne’s this week to stay awhile. I think she will be safer there than at home if the rebels come in so strong that we will have to fly from our homes and everyone here thinks we will have to leave sooner or later.
As it is quite late, I will have to close for the present promising ot write more at length next time. Nancy is nursing the baby. [Sister Frances] “Frank” is in bed asleep and [sister] Marg[aret] is hurrying me to go to bed. Please give our love to all the friends. Write soon and believe me to be as ever your affectionate cousin, — Mollie Kramer
When you write, please tell us where Kramer is and what his company and regiment is.
1 Most likely William H. Guthrie (1841-1862), the son of Rev. Frank Guthrie and Elizabeth Hughes of Gallipolis, Ohio. He served in Congress. A, West Virginia Cavalry. He was killed in action on August 29, 1862 at 2nd Bull Run.
This unsigned or partial was written by a soldier who most likely served in the 37th Illinois, the 9th Missouri Infantry 9changed to 59th Illinois), the 5th Iowa Infantry, or 1st Kansas Infantry as they were brigaded together in late September 1861 at Boonville, Missouri, under the command of J. C. Kelton.
Transcription
Syracuse, Missouri December 5th 1861
Friend Thompson,
Yours of the 1st inst. was received with pleasure. Was happy to hear that you was well but very anxious about Robert & so am I. I have done all that was in my power to ascertain the truth in regard to his destiny. You have as much information about him as I for all that I know about him is what I learnt from the Sergeant. Our sergeant has used his utmost endeavors to find out about him but cannot learn anything definite.
He was (as you have been informed) left at Humansville 1 on the 2nd of last month. He was very bad if I can judge. He had been unwell ever since we landed at Boonville with a diarrhea but not very bad. He was able to be about but was not able to do duty & I am sorry to say that he would not listen to my advice until he was very bad & then he would not take my advice.
I wanted him to stop at Smith City but he would not, but he got along very [well] until we left Warsaw & then I done all that I could to have him stay at the hospital & the Doctor wanted him to stay but he was too ambitious for his own good and another thing that he would say that he did not like to stay with strangers, But my advice was that if he was a good boy, he would find friends. But the time come that he got so bad that he could not ride & we was ordered on a forced march. He and all that was not able to go & carry their guns and blankets and go on a quick march all day was left behind with all the knapsacks & other baggage.
He was spitting blood & blood was pooping from his bowels & you may know that he was bad. I could not do enough for him & he was always afraid that he was a burden to me & the last words that he spoke to me was that I was going to fight & he would lose all the glory. Poor fellow. He seems like a brother to me & all that I have to regret [is] that I could not do more for him that I did. And when we came back from Springfield, we did not come back the same way but I offered to go back by Humansville to learn as to what had become of him but things was in such a situation that I could not go.
One of our boys said that he saw a man that he said from the description that he gave of a man that was buried there that it must have been him. The Sergeant that you speak of was here the other day. He said that he saw you in St. Louis . He was making inquiries about Robert but we had not learned anything further.
And as to Price’s forces, there are all sorts of rumors but the half are not true. The word came to camp one day last week that Price was at Sedalia entrenching but when it was investigated, there was nothing of it. But the joke of it is that the whole brigade was ordered to march out there and when we got half way there, our scouts came in and reported all false & consequently we had to return without a chance at Price. And it is a fact that it is hard to find him for his army are so arranged that she he is about to be caught, they will scatter & turn up in some other way. [unsigned or partial]
1 In the regimental history of the 59th Illinois Infantry, Humansville was described as a “small town in Hickory County, Mo., and is the only place where any demonstrations were made, in honor of the stars and stripes, between Boonville and Springfield. Here the soldiers of the Union were welcomed by the waiving of flags and the smiles of the women, and the kindly greetings of the citizens generally. A portion of Price’s army had passed through this place, some three weeks before, and had carried off all the goods belonging to the merchants, and had mistreated the inhabitants of the town and vicinity to such a degree, that they were heartily tired of their presence, and were rejoiced at the approach of the Federal troops….The sick of the regiment, had been increasing for the last ten days, to such an extent, that now there was no means of conveying them any farther. Thus far, they had been transported in wagons, but it was now necessary to select such as could not, in a measure, provide for themselves, and leave them behind. The Surgeon, therefore, fitted up the Meeting-house in town, in the best possible manner, and removed the sick to it. A cook, some nurses, and several days rations, were left with them. Poor fellows! they all nearly starved to death before they could get away, and three did die from the effects of disease and want of proper nourishment. After the army left, the patriotism of the ladies and gentlemen of the town, oozed out at their fingers ends, and our sick boys could get nothing from them. One man, John Clemens, of Co. H, who was very sick when taken there, died on the 4th of November. Bromwell Kitchen, of Co. F, soon followed, and Nathaniel B. Westbrook, of Co. A, died on the 20th. The others eventually found their way to the regiment.”
The following letter was written by James Drury (1837-1919), a native of Limerick, Ireland. In 1860, James was enumerated in the household of 42 year-old Albert Baldwin in Chester, Windsor county, Vermont, where he worked as a farm hand. Living in the same household was his 62 year-old mother, Mary Drury.
It was on 21 September 1861 when James mustered into Co. C, 4th Vermont Infantry as a private. A month later he was promoted to corporal and eventually rose to the rank of sergeant. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery in action at The First Battle of Weldon Railroad, Virginia on June 23, 1864. His citation reads “He saved the colors of his regiment when it was surrounded by a much larger force of the enemy, and after the greater part of the regiment had been killed or captured.”
A description of the event was recorded in Deeds of Valor, page 368:
Drury replied: “They will have to kill this Irishman before they get it.”
The officer pointed to a road which seemed to offer some chance as an avenue of escape.
“Go that way and perhaps you may succeed in escaping the rebels,” the officer observed. Drury lost no time in following the advice. Wrapping the flag around the staff, he said to his command: ” Boys, I’m going to save this flag or die in the attempt.”
Privates Brown and Wilson called out: “We’ll be with you, Sergeant.” And then the three started across the open fields. They had not progressed far, however, when the rebels shouted to them: ” Halt, you damned Yankees ! ” but the Yankees did not halt. A shower of bullets was sent after them. Poor Brown fell. To their regret they had to leave the brave fellow behind. Sergeant Drury and his remaining companion, Private Wilson, ran as fast as they could and safely reached the timber. By this time darkness had set in and the fugitives were able to conceal themselves in the woods till daybreak, when they found the Federal pickets, and thus saved the flag from falling into the enemy’s hands.
I’m speculating on the recipient of this letter but presume it was Albert Baldwin for whom he labored and with whom he and his mother lived prior to the James’ enlistment.
The “Picture Gallery” at Camp Griffin where the Vermont Brigade spent the Winter of 1861-62. Langley, Virginia. (LOC)
Transcription
Camp Griffin November 28, 1861
Dear sir,
I received your letter last evening and was [glad] to hear that you all are in good health as I am now. I got the box last evening and your letter. Believe me, I was glad of it. I sent ten dollars to Bellow’s Falls Bank so that you can draw it with this receipt and I want you to pay yourself out of it and give the rest to mother. But want you should pay yourself for your trouble.
Sir, I haven’t much news to write. We have not made an advance yet. The story is now that we are going to Florida. We went to a Great Review last week ten miles from here and a greater sight I never seen. There was seventy thousand men and among them was President Lincoln and his staff and you better believe that we cheered him and next day we went out to find some rebels but didn’t find many of them. There did 100 teams go with us and they all came back loaded with corn and hay.
I presume you think that we don’t work very hard. I should like to have seen your home guard come out and try it. We have to drill three times a day and do our own washing and that goes rather hard with me. There [are] about one third of our regiment sick at the present time. I should like to step in and have some supper with you. A year ago today I had Thanksgiving supper with you. Suppose now I’ll have to take my tin plate and go and draw my rations and sit down in the mud and go into it. I am a going to have you draw my state pay and take care of it but I want mother wants to be supplied. I like my boots well and the other things…
Silas and Brook is well. I will see that they will have their share of it. Dansen is well now. He is just got over the measles. Let me know how the folks is. Write soon. I hope you will excuse my writing. We have to sit down in the mud to write. Let me know if [ ] got that new house built yet. No more at present but remain, — James Drury
The following letter was written by George F. Lanphear (1836-1863), the son of Reuben Lanphear (1806-1888) and Catherine Remington (1806-1847) of Hartland, Windsor county, Vermont. In the 1860 US Census, George was living in Rich Valley, McLeod county, Minnesota with his father and his step-mother, Amelia P. Messenger (b. 1811).
On 11 September 1861, George enlisted as a private in Co. K, 2nd Minnesota Infantry at Glencoe, Minnesota. He served with the regiment until 25 November 1863 when he was killed in the Battle of Missionary Ridge near Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was buried in Grave No. 383 at the National Cemetery at Chattanooga. He was buried under the name Lamphear.
George wrote the letter to his sister Eliza Jane (Lanphear_ Shattuck (1831-1914), the wife of Eliphalet Shattuck (1825-1881) of Hartland, Windsor county, Vermont.
Unfortunately I cannot find the full article of this clipping that appeared on Find-A-Grave.
Transcription
Camp near Nashville, Tennessee March 9th 1862
Dear Sister Eliza,
I received your kind letter of the 16th last night. Although it was a short one, I was very glad to get it. I like to hear from you often and all letters from you will be happily received by me whether they are long or short. It is a great comfort to me since I have been in the army to get letters from my brother, sisters, and friends at home. I would like to get one every day if I could. I wrote a letter to you day before yesterday but after I received yours last night I thought it wouldn’t be any more than fair to sit down and write a few lines more to let you know that I had received your letter.
It is Sunday today and there is no drilling or anything a going on to pass away the time. As I am sitting around here with nothing to do, only to think of home and its pleasures. It’s nothing to be wondered at, if I get a little homesick at times and wish that I was really at home. In order to pass away those thoughts or feelings, I take my pen and paper and sit down to write a letter to some of my friends which sets me all right again. It’s not a very funny thing to be a soldier nor did I enlist with the idea that there was fun in it. A fellow has to go through a great many hardships and sometimes don’t get enough to eat, but I can’t say yet that I am any ways sorry that I enlisted. I mean to stay in the service now until the stars and stripes shall float over every town and hamlet in the Southern Confederacy, and the last rebel that wants to destroy the best Government that ever existed driven into the Gulf of Mexico or some other sea port town, as the saying is.
I hear there was a skirmish fight took place between our pickets and the rebels this morning about eight miles from here but haven’t learnt the particulars about it yet. There was a citizen came in to our camp this morning with whiskey to see to the soldiers but he wasn’t here long before he was arrested and two or three guard sent to escort him to jail.
I haven’t heard from [sister] Mary since I enlisted. I wrote a letter to her some time ago but forgot to tell her how to direct to me. I suppose that is the reason she don’t write. She don’t know where to direct to. If you write to her soon, I wish that you would give her my address & tell her I would be very glad to hear from her. I should think she would come up to Hartland and stay with you now. Frank has gone to the war. Tell Net to write to me often. I believe that he owes me two letters now. I will send you a Glencoe Register with this letter. Also one to [brother Reuben] Nelson. Eliza, if I could call in to your house this afternoon and take supper with you, it would be one of the best treats that I could ask for. But seeing that I can’t, I shall have to eat my regular hard bread and coffee and be contented with it.
I have no more to write this time so goodbye. Write soon and accept this from your brother, — George F. Lanphear
These letters were written by Daniel Markham (1837-1910), the son of Uriah Markham (1803-1848) and Elizabeth Adams (1803-18xx) of Brown county, Ohio. Daniel and his brother, Archibald (“Archie”) H. Markham (1835-1911), both served in Co. H, 2nd Illinois Cavalry.
Daniel wrote all of these letters to his cousin, Sarah Annette Markham (b. 1840), the daughter of Horace Marcum (b. 1791) of Knox county, Illinois.
Transcription
Patriotic Letterhead on stationery used by Markham
Hickman , Kentucky June 6, 1862
Highly Esteemed Friend,
I received your letter today and was truly glad to hear from you and [you have] my word for it, all letters received from you will be read by me with pleasure. My health is very good here and the boys are all in good spirits, anxious to engage the enemy in the battlefield. We are under marching orders at present. I have not been able to learn where we will go to yet. We will go out in Tennessee I expect. I was very sorry to hear of the death of George Chappel. But such is the fortune of many.
I have nothing of interest to write. Hickman is a very pleasant place to camp at. There is a great deal of fruit in this country. The peaches are as large as walnuts and very plenty. The people are mostly tinctured with seceshism. I am sorry to say that some of the citizens have left their homes to bushwhack our soldiers. One of our men went out in the country to hunt a stolen horse. When he had gone some six miles from town, he was shot dead by a man in the brush. But they have gained nothing for we got several heads for the one.
Tomorrow is Sunday and I must go to church. Johnson has not been well since he came back. He is better now than he has been for some time. I have told you all the news. I would like to come home and see you all but that is impossible as long as I am well. Write often and give me all the news. Farewell, — D. Markham
I could not find an image of Willard but here is one of Quartermaster Sergeant Erastus Holmes of the 5th Indiana Cavalry who also spent months in Andersonville Prison (John Sickle’s Collection)
These letters (some partial and unsigned) were written by Pvt. Willard J. Smith (1835-1868) of Co. I, 5th Indiana Cavalry. Willard enlisted in the regiment on 9 August 1862 and he mustered out of the regiment on 23 June 1865.
Willard wrote the letters to younger brother James Hall Smith (1839-1909), the son of John W. Smith (1808-1877) and Electa A. Jackson (1810-1864) of Boone township, Porter county, Indiana.
From Willard’s letter of May 22, 1865, we learn that he spent the winter of 1864/65 in Andersonville Prison with a number of other members of the 5th Indiana Cavalry—several of whom died there. Willard himself was reported to have died at Andersonville on August 15, 1864, but inconsistently also reports him to have been mustered out of the regiment on 15 June 1865. Most of the 5th Indiana Cavalry regiment was captured during Stoneman’s Raid at Sunshine Church, Hillsboro, between July 30-31, 1864.
Though Willard survived the ordeal of Andersonville Prison, his health must have been irreparably broken as he died on 14 October 1868 at the age of 33. His gravestone in Fleming Cemetery does not even recognize his military service, let alone his confinement at Andersonville.
Letter 1
November the 23, 1862
Well Jim, this is Sunday morning & I hain’t anything to do only to write to you. The first thing I have to tell you is that I am well & hope that these few lines will find you all the same. We are going to have an election this afternoon to elect another captain. Our captain [Ephraim N. Banks] has been promoted to regimental surgeon. He is going to the 54th [Indiana] Regiment. He will leave us tonight. I have to have him leave the worst way because he is the right kind of a man. We are going to put Dock Macon [John T. McKean] in his place and the orderly in [Arthur M.] Buell’s place. I think Mr. Buell will be shoved clear out of the company. I hope so at any rate. ¹
Tell John that I got his letter just about five minutes ago. John wrote that there was 600 and 40 bushels of corn off that big field. I think that turned out pretty well. John wrote that he saw Joe Frenchman and Frank Farmer go by there. They will have to march around two or three weeks with “deserter” pinned on their backs. I should like to go home first rate but not bad enough to run away to get there. There is one company that 30 took French furlough and went home. There was 5 left out of our company last night.
I don’t know anything about when we will have to leave here. Well, I can’t think of anything more to write this time. Be [good] and write all the news, old Jim. I want you to write & not wait for John to do it all.
Tell Wat ² to write and if you see Uncle Henry, just tell him to answer that letter that I wrote to him. No more this time.
From Willard Smith
to James Smith
Tell Uncle Wat’s folks that high is well.
¹ Arthur M. Buell resigned his 1st Lieutenant’s commission on 1 December 1862. Apparently he was roundly disliked by the men. He was replaced by Edgar L. Morse of Lowell, Indiana, and eventually became captain.
² Waterman J. Smith (1832-1901) was Willard’s older brother. “Wat” served in Co. D, 23rd Indiana Infantry.
Letter 2
December the 18, 1862
Started from camp Carington to go south. Went to Lawrenceburg on the Ohio River the first night, stayed there all night. The next night we encamped about 9 miles from Lawrenceburg on the Ohio River. Went through a little town called Aurora. The next day went to Rising Sun. Encamped about two [miles] north of that place.
January 4, 1863, we are camped two miles west of Rising Sun. This camp is called Camp Williams. It is warm & rainy weather. I saw one plowing yesterday. We started from Rising Sun February the 24, 1863 & went down to Louisville. Went on the steamer Princess. Encamped about two miles from Louisville on the Lexington turnpike.
Left Louisville March the 4, 1863 to go to Glasgow. Glasgow is 100 & 20 miles from Louisville. Stayed one night in Mumfordsville. Camped about a mile south of Glasgow. This camp is called Camp Boyle. It is the nicest place that we have camped yet.
March 25, 1863, I went out on a scout. Went to a little town 18 miles from camp called Edmington & from there to Tompkinsville 25 miles distant. Tompkinsville is the County Seat of Monroe County.
Went out on a scout. Started April the 19, 1863. Started Friday about noon. Travelled all the afternoon and all night & got to the Cumberland about 4 o’clock & shelled the town of Celina, drove the rebels out & set the town on fire. There was part of our regiment & some of the 14th Illinois Cavalry & some of the 14 Illinois Infantry [and] the 5th Illinois Battery. We had about 1200 men. Old Hamilton and Johnson had 2,000. They all run. Celina is about 50 miles from camp.
Well, John, this a small sketch that I had set down in my book. John, we have just got orders to have 3 days rations cooked & to be ready to march at a moment’s warning. I haven’t any idea at all where we are going to and don’t care where I go. I have stayed here long enough.
I sent 26 dollars to Father. The Chaplain [Amos D. Cunningham] of our regiment put the money in the express office at Indianapolis. I want you to write whether it comes through all right or not. If some of you don’t write, I won’t write anymore. I hain’t had only 2 letters in pretty near 2 months—one from you and one from Jim. Wat don’t pretend to write at all. It makes a fellow feel a little rantankerous to see all the rest of the boys getting letters and not get any myself.
I am well and thick as a bear. Weigh 178 and enough for anything. I want you to write as soon as you get this. Write all about everything and everybody. There is a good many of the boys sick. John Huffman and George Mckinsey just came to camp this morning from the hospital. I saw 2 niggers & a nigger wench sold at public auction. The wench went for 155 dollars & 10 cents. One of the niggers went for 300 hundred and the other for 400 dollars. They said before this war broke out they would have fetched $1500 dollars.
Letter 3
February 18, 1863
Well Jim, I got a letter from you last night & one from Tom. I was glad to hear from you both. You must be having a good time this winter. I should like to be to home awhile to go to some of your meetings and spelling schools, but I am here & shall have to stay for the next two years and a half, I expect. But I live in hopes that there is a better time a coming. I am sorry to hear that Father and Mother are so much under the weather. Tell Mother that she mustn’t fret about me for I will come around all right in the course of time if the Lord is willing.
Well Jim, I was on picket guard last night for the first time. They sent out some of the boys yesterday & fetched in a couple of soldiers that have been laying around Rising Sun for the last month. They pretended to be back on furlough. The Provost Marshal came down from Indianapolis & had them fetched in to camp & last night one of them got away. They had about a dozen of us stationed all along the bank of the river but he gave us all the slip and got over into Kentucky. His folks live in Kentucky. They sent the other to Indiana this morning.
It has been nice warm weather for the last 3 or 4 days. Some of the folks are plowing. It is raining today so that I don’t have to drill. When it is good weather, we have to drill twice a day.
Letter 4
Camp Chase, Ohio May the 22, 1865
Mr. John,
It has been over a year since I have took a pen to try to write. I thought I wouldn’t write at all but I wanted to hear from home so bad that I couldn’t wait any longer, so I thought I would write. I don’t know whether they will discharge me here or give me a furlough. I may not have to stay here more than a week and I may have to stay three months. This military is rather uncertain business.
I landed here Saturday the 20th and who should I find but Jim Marsh and Frank Parmer. You can’t think how much good it done me to them and to hear from home. They say you all thought I had done up the spout. But thank the Lord, I am in the land of the living and able to eat my rations yet.
I was paroled and got through to our lines the 28th of April. Come into our lines at Jacksonville, Florida. That was the happiest day of my life. I staid in Andersonville, Georgia, last winter. Was sent to Jacksonville, to Annapolis, Maryland, and there I drew 9 months ration money—the hardest earned money that ever I got in my life. I drew 67 dollars and a half, the first money that I have had in a year. Jim Marsh says that [my brothers] Wat 1 and Jim have both enlisted and gone soldiering. I hope they may never have the misfortune to fall into the rebels hands. If they ever do, I hope they will fare better than I did.
Well John, it has been so long since I wrote that I can’t write. Write as soon as you get this and write all about everybody and everything. Write what regiment they belong to and how Uncle Henry’s folks get along and all about it.
From Willard Smith
to Brother John & all the rest of the folks.
1Waterman J. Smith (1832-1901) was Willard’s older brother. “Wat” served in Co. D, 23rd Indiana Infantry.
I could not find an image of Benjamin but here is Luther H. Worden who served in Congress. E, 8th NY Heavy Artillery (Photo Sleuth)
The following letter was written by Benjamin Joseph Rose (1819-1864) of Lewiston, Niagara County, New York, who enlisted in late July 1862 to serve three years in Co. B, 8th New York Heavy Artillery. Except for the brief excursion described in this letter, the unit garrisoned the forts in Baltimore harbor until May 1864 when they were ordered to participate as infantrymen in Grant’s Overland Campaign. Write to a friend back home, Benjamin stated emphatically, “I am quite certain I shall never fall in battle. My impression is that I will come home as good as I went.” But it was not to be. He was killed on the battlefield at Cold Harbor on 3 June 1864.
Benjamin was married to Louisa Minerva Bull (1819-1880) in April 1845 and when he died, he had three dependent children besides his wife.
[Note: This letter is from the personal collection of Greg Herr and was offered for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by express consent.]
Transcription
Fort McHenry [Baltimore, Maryland] February 25, 1864
Dear Brother Orton,
I sit down this morning to write a few lines to you in reply to your letter which was received in due time. I am well as usual, thank the good Lord. I would have written before but a few days after I received your letter, our regiment was ordered to Virginia, and being in camp most of the time, and very uncomfortable quarters, and extreme cold weather, and all the confusion—I found it very difficult to write. Our little expedition—what I saw and heard, will be the main subject of this communication.
Engine House (in foreground) at Harper’s Ferry where John Brown was captured.
We were ordered on the first day of the month to get ready for Harpers Ferry, and about nine on the evening were in the cars and on our way. I saw none of the country between Baltimore and the Ferry either way as it was night both times we went over the road, but we made slow time, as it was sunrise when we were at the Ferry—a distance of 84 miles. John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry you have not forgotten. The place gives unmistakable signs of hard times. Many fine buildings are in ruins. Any quantity of gun barrels and other implements of war that are ruined are still to be seen. I saw where Brown was captured and where he was confined until he went to Charlestown for trial and execution. I must pass over a considerable that might be interesting to you. Harpers Ferry is strongly fortified now. Two regiments of men I think could effectually prevent any army from coming down the Shenandoah Valley.
We soon learned that our destination was beyond this place. We soon reached Martinsburg. All the railroad property here was destroyed. The buildings covered a large area of ground, all in ruins. The Village is quite pleasant and the country around is good for farming. I noticed a great deal of good wheat on the ground, sheep and cattle in the fields, but strange enough, not a barn worthy of the name is to be seen. The winters are so mild that cattle run out in the fields all winter. But the country changes as we go up the river. It soon became very mountainous. In some places the scenery is most grand. Mountains piled on mountains, with the Potomac winding its serpentine course between them. The railroad is equally crooked. In many places the locomotive can be seen for a mile at a time, in many places small streams make down between the mountains, making a huge chasm a thousand feet deep where it is possible a road runs into the country.
Nothing of importance occurred until we got within about twenty miles of Cumberland when we heard that the rebs had made a dash on the railroad and had burned a bridge that day. From here on we went very cautiously. At length we arrived at Patterson’s Creek. Here was the scene of the raid. A few cavalry had made a dash through an open country and had surprised and captured an entire company of the 54th Pennsylvania Regiment that was stationed there to guard the bridge over the creek at that place. One man was killed. The poor fellows paid dear for their carelessness. They had no pickets whatever. They did not see them until they were within a few rods of them. The rebs set fire to the bridge and all the railroad property at the place. They burned a house that belonged to a man that worked for the Co., and burned the quarters of the soldiers they had taken. When we got there, everything was mostly consumed. 1
We then fell back to the South Green Spring Run. The next Friday we were ordered to journey a distance of 18 miles. We performed the journey in 7 hours carrying heavy knapsacks and three days rations besides 40 rounds of cartridges, I never was so completely exhausted in my life. Romney’s the county seat of Hampshire County, Western Virginia. It has been held alternately by both armies. Although beautifully located and well laid out and adorned with many fine buildings, it is in ruins a great deal of it. The jail is a mass of ruins. The court house—a fine building—has been used as a stable for cavalry horses. Also a fine church. I shall always regret that I did not pay it a visit and obtain some old relic. There are bushels of documents (so the boys say) on the floor in one room. Some of them date back to the time of George the Second—over two hundred years old.
The Court House in Romney (at left) earlier in the war.
The next day we fell back to Springfield, a village halfway from the “Run” to Romney. We were quartered for the night in a small brick church. Springfield is about like Pekin but much older, has had two churches and a schoolhouse, but the hand of war has been laid heavily upon it. One church was used for a guard house. The prisoners set it on fire. Everything was burned but the orchestra. The walls were not injured. The church in which we were quartered never had been occupied by soldiers. It was a plain, neat little building. Directly in front of the church was an old burying ground. The whole had been surrounded by a fence but it has disappeared. The burying ground is a common now. The tombstones are common mountain stone. The inscriptions, I think, are home made. I saw one that dated back to 1793 but whether the dead were Christian or infidels, dare not appear. There was nothing on the tombstones about their religious faith. All public houses in both places are closed. Some of the boys did not like it very much. They could not get nary drop of the critter. No, not a meal of victuals. It was a hard living up here.
Sunday morning we fell back to Green Spring Run where we remained until the 19th when we returned to Fort McHenry without even seeing a rebel or effecting anything that we know of. We had some very cold weather and suffered some. Still we were all glad that we went. We saw some of the country and that was a satisfaction. I cannot help thinking God was in it all for after we had left the fort a few hours, a government transport anchored out in the bay with an order for one regiment to go to New Orleans but fortunately (I think) we were on our way for Virginia.
Our regiment is now a full Artillery Regiment. I think we are destined to leave here in the spring. We may, however, stay here and garrison the three forts as we are just about strong enough. But the Lord only knows what disposition will be made of us. But I am quite certain I shall never fall in battle. My impression is that I will come home as good as I went. Our time is now half out. 18 months looks like a long time. Still it will soon roll around.
I long for the Society that I left behind. I feel a great want of your Monday evening prayer meetings. They were the most spiritual meeting I ever attended. I shall rejoice when I can meet with the Church of Pekin again. We have three meetings in the week here but there is but little spirituality among the worshippers. A lifeless form is the order here to a great extent. There are some that love God truly. Brother McRernin and Rowan and two or three others have the power as well as the form of Godliness. Sometimes indeed our meetings are quite spiritual but somehow the spirit is stayed in many instances. There is not that freedom here as at home—at least I do not have it. It may be the fault is in me. Perhaps it is. Still I feel that God upholds me and sometimes gives me large measure of grace. I praise God that I am upheld by HIs spirit. I am still trying to serve Go and get to heaven. I expect, I believe, that God will take me there in His own good time. I want you to pray for me. Remember me to all the Church—especially Mother Van Slyke. I often think of her. Remember me to Brother Austin. I should like to hear from him. Remember me to Mr. Daybush and family. I would write to them but I suppose Emery Wilcox writes frequently to John about everything that transpires worth writing about. The weather was very mild in February except a few days. There was not an hour’s rain in the whole month. But this morning, March the 1st, it is snowing but not cold.
Well, my paper is dirty enough. I hardly [know] how it got spotted up so unless there was some dirt on the desk. But soldiers are dirty fellows anyway. Excuse any errors in this and believe me I remain your Brother in Christ and well wisher. May God bless you all is the prayer of, — B. J. Rose
1 “On February 2, 1864, I was stationed at Cumberland, Md. On that day Co. F, Capt. John W. Hibler, 54th Pennsylvania Volunteers, with 57 men of my brigade, was stationed at Patterson’s Creek bridge, Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and a detachment of the company at the North Branch bridge as pickets. I had warned Captain Hibler to be on the alert and to keep scouts well out, but it seems that General Rosser (rebel), with from 400 to 500 cavalry, succeeded in penetrating to Patterson’s Creek bridge on the 2d of February. His advance guard were dressed in Federal uniforms, and succeeded in getting up to Captain Hibler’s by representing themselves as part of the Ringgold Cavalry (Union), and thus successively captured all the pickets on the Patterson’s Creek road, and then rapidly dashed into camp while the men were at dinner. A slight skirmish ensued, in which we had 1 man killed, 1 mortally and 3 slightly wounded. The rebels captured 1 captain and 36 men, with all the camp and garrison equipage of the company, 40 Enfield rifles, and 4,000 rounds of rifle cartridges. They then set fire to the Patterson’s Creek bridge, Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and thence went to the North Branch bridge, Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and fired it, the guard at the latter bridge making their escape. I may here say that as there was known to be a large Union force some 18 miles south and west of Patterson’s Creek, and part of the Ringgold Cavalry there, taken in connection with the fact that the rebels wore our uniform and claimed to be Union cavalry, may, in a measure, account for the pickets being deceived. Neither the Patterson’s Creek bridge nor the North Branch bridge were protected by block-houses, and the only protection for them was the company of infantry which the rebels captured.” — Col. J. M. Campbell, Commanding 1st Brigade
I could not find an image of George but here is John S. Ford of Co. C, 10th Vermont Infantry (Photo Sleuth)
Despite the 9th New Hampshire Regiment stationery, this letter was written by George Pliney Risdon (1844-1871) of Co. H, 10th VermontInfantry. George was the son of Alvah C. Risdon (1798-1877) and Diana Buxton (1800-1865) of Danby, Rutland, Vermont. George enlisted in the regiment on 1 September 1862 and was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps on 1 October 1864. He mustered out of the service on 4 July 1865.
George was married on 6 April 1871 to Adelaide E. Johnson (1847-1916) and died later that same year on 26 November in Manchester, Bennington county, Vermont.
Transcription
Camp near Seneca Creek Montgomery county, Maryland October 27, 1862
Dear Father & Mother,
I now seat myself once more to write in answer to your letter which I received the 23rd and was glad to hear that you are all well. It is evening now and I am in our tent. George A. has just come in with a big Johnny cake that he has just made and is now eating it. It is first rate. George is well and so is myself. I was on guard yesterday and last night and it rained all the time like suds. I had a gay old time, don’t you think I did. The money and those stamps came through all right and I was very glad to see them both. I have not much news to write. What war news there is, you get first.
We shall know where we are a going to stay through the winter and then George A. and I will want you and his folks to send a box. You can put the things in one and the same box. Croff is a going to send for a box but I don’t want any of my things to come with his. I would like that cap to sleep in tonight.
Dan Woods thinks he will get his discharge and come home soon. He is as well as usual. He fell and hurt him[self] at Brattleboro [Vermont] and will get his discharge on that account. This war will probably be finished up so that we can come home next summer some time.
Tell Mother I wish she would make me a pair of mittens with one finger in this style—one finger and thumb so that I can handle my gun. I worked hard on the old thing today to get it clean and bright again. I could not keep it dry last night. I have put on my drawers today. They are somewhat warmer. You will make me some, a pair of grey shirts, woolen with pockets in the side, and good, long flaps for winter.
I can’t think of much more to write. Write soon. Do not send anything till I send after them. No more. You must excise this short letter for it is very cold. So goodbye. This from your ever grateful son, — George P. Risdon
I will [send] some of my old letters home. They are too heavy to carry. Be sure and save them for me for I shall want them when I get home to read—George P. Risdon, now in the 10th Regt. Vermont Vols. Company H on the left wing of the battalion.
The following letter was written in mid-June 1865 by Richard Welling Burt (1823-1911) of Peoria, Illinois. He was the son of Foght Burt (1799-1886) and Eliabeth Welling (1803-1877). He wrote the letter to his first wife, Mahola Evans (1826-1873) while serving as Captain of Co. H, 76th Ohio Infantry.
Capt., Richard W. Burt, 76th Ohio
“The following biographical sketch came from a county history: Richard W. Burt, United States storekeeper, resides 816 Sanford street, was born in Warwick, Orange county, N. Y., in 1823. His parents, Foght and Elizabeth Burt, were natives of same county. In 1834 they removed to Coshocton county, Ohio. When the war with Mexico began, Mr. Burt enlisted in Co. B, 3rd Ohio, June 4, 1846, and remained in the service a year. He married Malona Evans, a native of Ohio, in January, 1848, and settled in Coshocton county. In 1853, he established the Progressive Age, a weekly Republican newspaper; was one of the first to advocate the principles embraced by the party, and was one of its founders. At the end of three years Burt sold the paper and embarked in the coal trade at Newark, Ohio, continuing till he went into the army, in December, 1861, as a member of Co. G, 76th Infantry, which he helped to recruit, and went out as its 2d Lieutenant. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant of Co. I, after the Battle of Arkansas Post, and when the regiment veteranized in April, 1864, became Captain of Co. H. At the Battle of Resaca, Ga., he received a gunshot wound in the mouth, losing most of his teeth; participated in thirty battles and skirmishes, and traveled with the regiment 10,000 miles. He was the weekly correspondent of the Newark North American during the war. Soon after his discharge, in July, 1865, was breveted Major for gallant conduct. He came to Peoria in 1865; engaged nine years in the grocery and feed business; was appointed to present position over four years ago. Mrs. Burt, by whom he had four children, three living, died in January, 1873. Mr. Burt married Betsey M. Cotton nee Barnum, a native of New York, in 1876. He is a member of A. F. & A. M., G. A. R., and Mexican War Veteran Association, and he and wife are members of M. E. Church.”
Transcription
Louisville, Kentucky June 13, 1865
Dear Wife,
I have just returned from the Paymaster, and before I left I put $1000 in the Express Office directed to Mrs. Capt. Richard W. Burt, Peoria, Illinois, which I wish to deposit with you for a few months for safe keeping. I don’t know but you had as well invest it in 7.30 bonds if you can do so to advantage. Advise with Isaac on the subject. It would be as well perhaps to keep it yourself about how much money you have for various reasons that I need not mention here.
There is some talk now that we are going to St. Louis before long, that Gen. Sherman will have his Headquarters there and take the 15th Corps with him. If we go there, it will be but a short trip for me to come and see you, or you and the children to come and see me, so I hope we may come there.
I got a new tent last night and will soon be a little better fixed than I have been since we came here. I got more pay than I expected as officers get higher pay since the 1st of March. It is about $150 per month now which is more than I could be making at home perhaps. The camp is full of all kinds of peddlers this afternoon, and of course the boys are distributing their money pretty freely buying pies and cakes, pocketbooks, suspenders, photographs, and every kind of invention to get money.
15th Army Corp Badge
On this letter sheet and envelope you will see our 15th Corps Badge. I weat just such a looking one on my hat, made of silver. As soon as I can get a box, I will express those things home that I spoke of in my last letter.
The weather is very warm and sultry and it makes me sweat to write. Excuse me for not writing a full sheet this time. Enclosed I send you a picture of Jeff in petticoats. I have composed a new song on the subject which I think of getting printed. 1
Your affectionate husband, — R. W. Burt
1 Capt. Richard Welling Burt published his songs in 1906 under the title of “War Songs, Poems, and Odes” which he dedicated to his comrades of the Mexican and Civil War.The song he composed just prior to the date of this letter appears in the book on page 19 which he called, “Jeff Davis in Petticoats.” (see Below)
Spared & Shared 23 