The following letter was written by George Baird Caldwell (1840-1916), the son of Alfred Caldwell and Martha Baird of Washington, Pennsylvania. A graduate of Washington College, he was studying law in the office of the firm of eminent lawyers, Acheson & Wilson, at Washington, Pennsylvania, when the war broke out. When the first call was made for what was known as the “three months men,” George “left his law studies and took the field as a member of the 12th Pennsylvania Regiment, being appointed a corporal in his company, and although small in size, he did his full duty during this term of enlistment.

Upon returning home, his regiment having been discharged, George immediately reenlisted at Washington in Co. A of the 100th Pennsylvania Regiment, known as “The Round Head Regiment.” With this regiment he went under Gen. Benham to South Carolina and took part in an abortive attempt by that general to storm the Confederate works in and about the city of Charleston. By request of the loyal governor of Virginia, Mr. Caldwell, after a service of eighteen months in the ranks, was honorably discharged from the Pennsylvania troops by proper authority, for the purpose of receiving a commission in a loyal Virginia regiment being organized, and which was afterwards known as the 12 West Virginia (Union) Infantry. He was commissioned first lieutenant and adjutant of this new regiment, and served with it until practically the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged from the service on account of a reduction of the army, and entered upon the practice of his profession as an attorney-at-law in the city of Wheeling, serving, in all, nearly four years as a soldier.”

“While with his commanders, Gen. Thoburn and Col. Curtis of his own regiment, making reconnaissance, just before the battle of Fisher’s Hill, (called Mount Hope by the Confederates), a Confederate battery of field artillery, securing the range to where this clump of Union officers was gathered on an eminence, threw a shell into their midst, which carried off one leg of the horse upon which Adjutant Caldwell was riding. The next day he went into action on foot. As he was near one end of the Union line, which had pushed forward and covered ground faster than the rest of the assailants, he was one of the earliest to scale the Confederate works, and found himself almost alone when he jumped down amid the enemy. While shouting his commands to the Confederates, who were throwing down their arms and surrendering, to get over the works in the direction from which he had come, and behind the Union lines, a private soldier, who had scaled the works long after he had done so, stooped down, right at the adjutant’s feet, and picked up a Confederate flag or stand of colors, encased in a black oil-cloth case, which had been for some minutes lying at the officer’s feet, unobserved by him. A sergeant of his regiment called to him and asked him to take the colors from this soldier who had picked them up, saying that they rightfully belonged to the adjutant, whose foot was almost on them, and who, as stated, had been in the works long before the man who picked the flag up. He refused to take the captured colors from the enlisted man who had picked them up, because, as he always said, he would not have it charged to him that he had exercised his power as an officer over an enlisted man in such a case, however much justification he might have for it.” [Source: Caldwell Family Records]

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

Kalorama Heights [D C.]
September 9 [1861]

Dear Aunt,

We are encamped on the hill styled as above, northwest of the Capitol dome about a mile and a half. And truly it has been beautiful as its name would imply. Shaded all over by the dark and symmetrical cedar pine, and abounding in cool springs, it was just the place for a camp, tho’ it seemed most desecration to devote it so. From the tents you may look over all Washington. The snowy habitations of our comrades over the river, and creation generally all round. It’s a pity, but a necessity, that this beauty of a woods must go. Already we have eaten into a half mile square or so. Such is war. Of course we had the usual amount of delay and fatigue in getting here. That is forgotten in a very comfortable present.

We started Monday week from Pittsburgh, got to Harrisburg in 17 hrs., baked in sun 7 hours, and ran here in l6 hrs coming thro’ Baltimore by night march. In Washington, piled into the “Soldiers Rest” and refreshed. This is a large barn-like edifice, water—lots of it—for the weary troops to refresh in. We had a government dinner, pork, bread and coffee, and a good rinsing therein. Then slung knapsacks and 3 miles walked to here.

At 9 p.m. we got blankets from quartermaster and tents, but did not need them, having found beds by kindness of the N. Y. 79th—the Highlanders—with them. My host I think a very clever Scot, [even] if he did mutiny, ¹ showed me a shot thro’ his haversack got at Bull Run. It went in, struck a black tin platter in the side, went thro’, raked a furrow in bottom, and out the other side clear and clean. Said he did not know it till after the fight was all over.

Tents and blanket are all we have gotten yet from the government but I hear rumors of uniforms coming today perhaps—but who cares. Our rations are now of the best. Everything is systematic now, and the plundering I think quite stopped. He who complains now is an unreasonable grumbler. We have potatoes, mess pork, corned beef, and fresh, crushed hominy, coffee, sugar, bean soup, Gumbo soup, a plate, knife, fork, spoon, tin cup, and nigger cooks; quite a variety of diet. Discipline is strict. The rabble of 3 months memory is metamorphosed into a grand, order-loving, well-supplied army. Hourly we wait to hear the thunder of battle cannon from the other side the river. All think a battle pending.

A calm, confident, determination is the spirit of the soldiers—no bluffing, but just the right mood. To give you some idea of the change in affairs, I may mention that our company, composed of certainly worse material than the old one, now does better on marching than it ever did—no exaggeration. We are comfortable, contented, and learning. I was assigned to the sergeants’ mess, one corporal being required to go there. It contains Ed Bausman, [John] Cook and [James W.] Montford of Middletown, Jim Kennedy—old Peter’s son, and self. John Koontz is doing well. Tell Uncle Dave. I believe uncle has always been his friend. No whiskey is come-at-able. Old Ship is as hearty as ever too, and everybody well.

I was over to Alex Wishart’s Co. and stayed all night. Saw them all. Alex. Hart says old Peter Kennedy is no account, and the rest say same. Gets drunk &c. You know what they said of him superseding Alex. All balderdash. Alex is undoubtedly one of the most self-denying, hard-working efficient captains in the service.

I have gotten no letters from Wheeling or Washington yet, but as I hope you are nearly well again will hear as soon as you can let me. I tell you it would do me good to hear how you all are. Remember me to Uncle Dave. Love to Jennie, G’Ma and all the rest, with much to yourself. We stay here probably 3 or 4 weeks for instruction. Write care of Capt. Jas. Armstrong, Col. Leasure’s Regiment, Washington D.C.

Affectionally your Nephew, George B. C.

¹ The 79th New York (“Highlanders”) Infantry suffered severe losses at Bull Run, including the death of their Colonel, James Cameron (brother of Secy. of War Simon Cameron). When they did not get a chance to return to New York to recruit and select their own replacement Colonel, they revolted and refused to obey orders or perform fatigue duty in building defenses around Washington D. C.

This account of the Battle of Port Royal was written by Private James (“Jimmy”) A. Parker (1839-1862) who enlisted in Co. E, 100th Pennsylvania Infantry (a.k.a. the “Roundheads”) on 31 August 1861 for three years. 

The regiment was part of the Dupont-Sherman grand “Naval Expedition” of some 15 regiments that were transported from Fortress Monroe to Port Royal, South Carolina, on 75 steamers through a hurricane in late October-early November 1861, culminating in the bombardment and occupation of Forts Walker and Beauregard at Port Royal on 7-8 November 1861. The rebels vacated the forts following the Naval bombardment with little loss—8 killed and 23 wounded on the Union side.

The 100th Pennsylvania were mere observers in the action and soon after were sent to Beaufort on Port Royal Island where they remained for several months. They would not see their first action until the Battle of Secessionville on 16 June 1862, where they attacked a confederate battery (Battery Lamar) that was a threat to Union-secured fortifications on the coast. The assault was suicidal in strategy according to the Brigade Commander, Colonel Leasure, but was ordered by higher command. Battery Lamar was situated on a hill on a peninsula-like piece of land between swamps. Attempts at flanking the battery were thwarted because of difficult mobility through the swamp. The Roundheads had no choice but to make a frontal attack. The battle took its toll on the Roundheads with 13 killed and mortally wounded. This battle essentially ended the Roundheads service on the south coast and they were off to Virginia in July of 1862.

It was in the assault on Battery Lamar that Jimmy Parker lost his life. We know this because his comrade, Eddie Miles, wrote the following to his father on 24 June 1862: 

“And Jimmy Parker is dead [too]. I haven’t [heard] anything about him since the fight. I miss him as much as I would a brother. We have drilled together for a year now. He was as good [a] soldier as ever was. When we was going out that morning to fight, he was as merry as anybody & said we didn’t know who would come back again. We double quicked a mile & a half up to the fort right in front of six cannons & I don’t know how many infantry & they let loose on us with grape shot & canister & log chains & bottles & pikes, nails, & everything they could get into the cannons. It just mowed our men down like a shot gun would a flock of pigeons. Jimmy Parker’s leg was shot off with a grape shot by the thigh & he was left on the field when we had to retreat [where] the Rebels would get him. Some of the boys saw him when we was on the retreat & he was almost dead. He shook hands with them & told them to shift for themselves to keep the Rebels from getting them. There was 4 of our company killed & 9 wounded but some of them was very slightly hurt.” [See 1862: Edward Riddle Miles to William Miles on Spared & Shared 19]

James’ muster roll tells us he was born in Trumbull county (Ohio) but residing in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania when he enlisted in 1861. The 1860 US Census enumerates him in Plain Grove of Lawrence county, living in the household of 51 year-old Andrew Christy (1809-1880) and 52 year-old Abigail (Parker) Christy (1809-1889)—his uncle and aunt, and also 82 year-old Abigail (Hart) Parker—his grandmother and the widow of Joel Parker (1768-1845). James was one of at least eleven children born to Moses Atwater Parker (1802-1889) and Catherine C. Christy (1808-1879) who were farming in Kinsman, Trumbull county, Ohio at the time James went to war.

[See also: 1861: James A. Parker to Andrew Christy on Spared & Shared 22.]

Transcription

Hilton Head, South Carolina
18 November 1861

Remembered Friend,

I received a note from you some time ago. Was glad to hear from you but have neglected answering it till now. There is no use for me to apologize for negligence but I will try and do better the next time. We left Annapolis October 17th on the Ocean Queen. Was on the water twenty days. There was a big storm the 31st and there was one vessel lost called the Governor. There was twenty soldiers lost with her. The rest was taken prisoner. I believe we landed on Hilton Head November 8th safe and right side up with care. I must tell you, the boys was about all sea sick but Riddle and myself. You know the water won’t affect us. I had better tell you how we are now. G. Marbell has been sick with a fever but is getting better. D. Emery is sick. I don’t know what ails him. The rest that hasn’t the measles are all well but me and I am able to eat my rations and act the fool as much as ever.

The greatest trouble is there any girls here for us to bother. E. R. is sitting here writing. The old man came along said, “Riddle, I am afraid you ain’t spending the Sabbath as you ought.” He says, “Do you think, I was out with my gun a while ago.” That is enough about that.

The Rebels was pretty well fortified here but they had to leave. The fight commenced the 7th about ten o’clock and lasted about five hours. The Rebels run and left everything behind them. They left dead and wounded. I don’t know how many there was killed on their side. There was but eight killed on our side and some few wounded.

Hilton Head is a rich place. There is sweet potatoes, cotton and oranges and lots more things too numerous to mention. Riddle received a letter from you yesterday. You said Mary Christy had gone to her mother’s. I don’t know how you will get along without her. I must quit for it is about time for dress parade.

Please write soon and I will try and answer the next sooner. Nothing more but remain your friend as ever. My respects to all inquiring friends, — J. A. Parker

to H. R. Mills

N. B. Direct [to] J. A. Parker, Co. E, Round Head Regiment, 2nd Brigade, Sherman’s Division in care of Col. Tompkins, A. Q. M. via N. Y. City

Please give Uncle Woolly the address and oblige your friend. Joseph Woolly, he wrote to his father and told him to direct as before but the mail carries by New York. He wanted to know if I was writing to any of you to send him the address.