The following letter was written by Sergeant Freeman Hawkins Bowron (1839-1910) of Champlain who enlisted at the age of 22 in Co. H, 11th New York Cavalry in March 1862. The 11th New York Cavalry was nicknamed “Scott’s Nine Hundred” or “First United States Cavalry.” He worked his way up in rank to 1st Sergeant before accepting a commission as 2nd Lieutenant. After the war he married Clara A. Earle (1849-1923) and settled in Geneva, Kane county, Illinois.

Freeman was the son of Joseph and Jane Bowron of Champlain, New York.

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

Muddy Branch, Maryland
January 18, 1864

Dear Brother,

I now take my pen in hand to write a few lines to you in answer to yours of the 12th which I received in due course of mail. I was happy to hear that you were well as this leaves me at present. There is nothing going on here at present. It has rained most of the day but I have been playing Euchre most of the day so I have not been troubled much with the rain. We generally pass off the lonely days playing the game.

Ben, I cannot enlist until the 5th of March. By that time you will have concluded what you are going to do. Get on a store of goods if possible and we will show John that he is not Almighty. Ben, I do not see how you can take so much from him as you do. I could not. But you may be in the right of it. It was a damn mean trick in him but never mind. Get started and I will be there to help you I think. Then we will see how much he has made by acting as he has done. According to the present prospect, I do not think that I shall reenlist when my two years are up. It depends altogether on what kind of a chance is offered.

When I entered the service, there was no large bounty offered as an inducement to volunteers. So I think that if I reenlist, it will be at the time that there is the largest bounty being paid and not leave a blot upon my patriotism by doing so. At present, those of this regiment who reenlist get only the government bounty which is $400. We get no state bounty as we are U. S. Volunteers and on the same ground as Regulars. New York nor any other state having men in this regiment cannot count them on their quota. I do not say that I shall not reenlist at the expiration of my term, for at that time or even before there may be such inducements offered as would make it best for me to do so. But I think very favorable of what you propose doing and unless there is something extraordinary happens, I will be with you and glad of the chance.

I hear from Sy Moor every week. He was well when he last wrote. Ben, have you seen that Soldiers Memorial that I sent to Father? If so, what do you think of it? What has been done with my colt? This paper is as greasy as hell.

Well, Ben, I have not got any more to say as the Boy said when he got up in the morning and found the sheets rather moist. So I will draw to a close by hoping to hear from you very soon. From your loving brother, — F. H. Bowron, 1st Sergt., Co. H, Scotts 900.

The following letter was written by 1st Sergeant Daniel H. Schriver (1836-1864) of Co. I, 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry. He enlisted in September 1861 and was promoted from 1st Sergeant to 2nd Lieutenant on 8 November 1863. He was killed in a brisk skirmish at Flat Creek Bridge, Virginia, on 14 May 1864. At the time of his enlistment, Daniel was described as a 25 year-old, 5′ 4″ tall, black-haired saddler.

Schriver’s letter informs his brother of the evacuation from White House Landing, McClellan’s Supply Depot on the Pamunkey river in June 1862 when J. E. B. Stuart conducted his raid. He referred to him as Jackson but it was actually Stuart.

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

Williamsburg, Va.
July 1st 1862

Dear Brother,

I will improve the few leisure moments at present to write to you again. You will see by the head of this letter that we have moved our quarters again. In consequence of the weak condition of our military post at White House Station, we were compelled to evacuate it on the approach of Gen. Jackson & Lee with a large force in the rear of McClellan’s Headquarters which was not properly guarded by a sufficient force to make a stand. There were not more than 1,000 men at White House Landing altogether and all on duty day and night for a week previous which was too hard for the men to stand it lone anymore. So it was intended to evacuate it as soon as we could move all the hospital and all the quartermaster’s stores.

We had hardly moved all before the Secesh Jackson with a large force made his appearance about 6 miles off at Garlick’s Station where our 2nd Lieutenant Chas. W. Butts was stationed on picket whereupon he burnt a large mill & some houses and then came in. Most of the boats and schooners left the night before; others were ready to leave in a moment’s notice. All the stores and ammunition that was not taken away was destroyed, locomotives and cars were backed into river. ¹ White House was destroyed. Our tents was burnt. And then we all went out about two miles to guard the place until the teams with what necessary things we could not dispense with got a good start, and as soon as it got dark, we started and got here about 11 o’clock a.m. next day—a distance of 45 miles the way we came around, only stopping two r three hours towards daylight to rest a little.

The supposition was that the rebels would follow us in force but they did not further than New Kent Court House, 8 miles from White House. The inhabitants are all secesh here in this place. When they heard that Jackson was coming, the women all went to work and had an awful time in baking and cooking a dinner for him but I guess it will all get moldy before he will eat it.

I do not think we will stay here long but where we will go to next I cannot say. But I hope not to a place where there are too few troops and so much duty to do. There sounds the bugle for sick call. I must go and see if anybody is sick enough to go to the Doctor’s 9in order to shirk duty). Excuse this scratching. I have to do it all on my knee under two India rubber blankets for tents. Yours expecting a letter soon from you, I remain your devoted brother, — Dan’l H. Schriver, 1st Sergt. Co. I

The surest way to direct your letters since we have no permanent encampment is to Camp Hamilton, Fort Monroe, Va., or to Washington D. C. and the other preliminaries and it will follow.

P. S. Enclosed you will find part of a Magnolia flower that grows wild here on pretty large trees.

¹ J. E. B. Stuart’s cavalry raided Garlick’s Landing on the Pamunkey River above the railroad bridge and captured 14 wagons and some sutler’s stores, and burnt two schooners laden with forage and then headed toward Tunstall’s Station.

War Correspondent George Alfred Townsend was heading back to White House at the time of Stuart’s raid and described what he saw at Garlick’s Landing and White House when he arrived: “I remained a full hour under cover; but as no fresh approaches added to my mystery and fear, I sallied forth, and kept the route to Putney’s, with ears erect and expectant pulses. I had gone but a quarter of a mile, when I discerned, through the gathering gloom, a black, misshapen object, standing in the middle of the road. As it seemed motionless, I ventured closer, when the thing resolved to a sutler’s wagon, charred and broken, and still smoking from the incendiaries’ torch. Further on, more or these burned wagons littered the way, and in one place two slain horses marked the roadside. When I emerged upon the Hanover road, sounds of shrieks and shot issued from the landing a “Garlic,” and, in a moment, flames rose from the woody shores and reddened the evening. I knew by the gliding blaze that vessels had been fired and set adrift, and from my place could see the devouring element climbing rope and shroud. In a twinkling, a second light appeared behind the woods to my right, and the intelligence dawned upon me that the cars and houses at Tunstall’s Station had been burned. By the fitful illumination, I rode tremulously to the old head-quarters at Black Creek, and as I conjectured, the depot and train were luridly consuming. The vicinity was marked by wrecked sutler’s stores, the embers of wagons, and toppled steeds. Below Black Creek the ruin did not extend: but when I came to White House the greatest confusion existed. Sutlers were taking down their booths, transports were slipping their cables, steamers moving down the stream. Stuart had made the circuit of the Grand Army to show Lee where the infantry could follow.”

Joel Cook described what he heard about the attack on the train passing through Tunstall’s Station and the reaction at White House Landing: “There were numerous passengers on the cars, mostly laborers, civilians, and sick and wounded soldiers, and a general effort was made to jump off, and, if possible, elude the enemy’s fire. Several succeeded, and hid themselves in the wood; but the quickly increasing speed of the train prevented the majority from following their example. The cars, however, were soon out of reach of the Rebels, and the engineer, fearful of pursuit or of meeting more enemies, increased the pressure of steam so that the train almost flew over the distance between Tunstall’s Station and White House. There the news of what had occurred spread like lightning, and there was the utmost consternation among the sutlers, civilians, clerks, laborers, and negroes who inhabited the canvas town which had sprung up on the Pamunky. Lieutenant-colonel Ingalls, of the quartermaster’s department, was the officer in command, and, under fear of impending danger, he mustered the few soldiers who were at the place, and armed the civilians and laborers. He also placed all the money, records, mails, and other valuable property of the United States upon a steamboat in the river. The panic among the sutlers was beyond all description: each one expected utter ruin, and awaited, with an anxious heart, the approach of the enemy. They did not come, however, and White House, though it was so soon to be destroyed, had a short respite.” [Source: White House Landing Sustaining the Army of the Potomac during the Peninsula Campaign.]

This partial letter is missing the signature page so I wasn’t certain of the identity of the author initially though it was clear he was a sergeant in Co. I, 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry. This regiment was organized at Philadelphia as an independent Regiment, “Harlan’s Light Cavalry,” under authority of the Secretary of War, August to October, 1861. Its name was changed officially to the 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry in November 1861.

The content suggested the sergeant was from Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, though he may have been from a neighboring county. When first published, my hunch was that the author was Daniel W. Balmer (1839-1914), the son of Daniel & Harriet (Fisher) Balmer. In 1860 he was a carpenter living with his family in Elizabethtown, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. I subsequently transcribed a letter by Daniel H. Schriver, the 1st Sergeant of Co. I, 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry, and I feel confident that his handwriting matches this letter.

Transcription

Camp Hamilton near Fort Monroe, Virginia
December 29th 1861

My Dear Brother,

I received your now most kind and considerate letter the day before Christmas (and one previous to that saying that you received my last, &c.) and one Christmas afternoon. A[bram] E. Garrett and I received that most welcome and ever memorable box which so agreeably surprised us upon opening it. It was truly a treat worthy of the greatest of patriots. May the glorious light of day never darken the National Emblem that now waves of the heads of the donors of this token of respect toward our unworthy.

A. E. Garrett said it was a treat to both of us (that is the turkey, &c.) and therefore insisted upon me partaking of it until it was finished. That was yesterday so you may be assured that there has been no want of appetite with us lately. Please remember me kindly to the donors of these articles and particularly to the Ladies Department of it. Tell them if I ever get down to Texas that I will bring them a Mexican poney along to ride up and down those Sherpherdstown hills, &c. That butter is very nice and sweet. The orderly sends his warmest respects to you as it was on his acount that I sent for it.

All the articles are just the thing except the boots which are a size too large for me. The legs are just right and also the instep part of them but the shoe part is too long and wide. My feet slips back and forward in them. Otherwise they are just right. I am sorry as they are a very good boot. However, there is no loss as I have sold them to our Lieutenant Wm. I[ndependence] Reisinger for $5.50. I could sell a dozen pair here without any trouble. There is government boots came here now for the men but the men do not like them as they are not very good and are very short in the legs. I got my old ones fixed up again. I do not want you to go to any extra trouble but if you can conveniently stop at George Otstot’s the next time you go to Mechanicsburg and tell him about it, and if he will send me another pair by express for $5 at his own expense just like the others only smaller in the foot, when he can do so and I will send you the money as soon as they arrive and you can pay him or I will give him $5.50 if he makes the fore top that is the front part of the legs longer than the hind part and rounded off at the top (and leave the front all the same kind of leather—no red or black sheepskin—and the boots to be the same kind of leather as the others were). If he will send them for that, well and good. If not, why don’t send them as I am not very hard up for them now.

I spent quite a pleasant Christmas. The Lieutenant and myself were down to the Fort on a kind of k—-y in the morning and in the afternoon the boys in general got happy.

Last week some of the boys had a chance for a scout. Some of the rebels made themselves pretty obnoxious about 1 mile or 2 out here so Gen. Wool (who is commanding general here at this post) gave orders for several companies of infantry and one of cavalry to go out on a kind of scout. So we each company got orders to send one sergeant and three of the best horsemen and soldiers to Headquarters for that purpose. The Lieutenant asked me to go and pick myself three of the best men in the company and report ourselves to the Colonel. I did so. We all left the next morning well armed with the full expectation of having a brush with the enemy that day but did not succeed. We at first took a northern direction for 6 or 7 miles, then we changed to southwestern toward Newport News 8 or ten miles southwest from here. We were within sight of it when we returned to camp. We seen but one rebel battalion that was out on drill. We were about going to make a charge on them when we were suddenly halted at a burnt bridge so that the infantry could not cross…[rest of letter is missing]

The following letter was written by Brooklyn born 18 year-old Zebulon P. Ryder (1841-1909) who enlisted in April 1861 as a private in Co. I of the 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry. He was the son of Christopher and Adeline Ryder. Zeb’s father worked as a Butcher in Brooklyn. Zeb must have lied about his age when he enlisted as he claimed to be 20 but census records tell us he was born in 1844-45. His younger brother Frank was born in 1848-49. Zeb survived the war and mustered out of the service on 16 May 1865.

Zeb’s letter was written from Suffolk, Virginia, in September 1862. He informs his mother that they were preparing for an attack at any time by a force with superior numbers but boasts that their Gray Horse Company—Company I—was dreaded so much by the Confederates that he didn’t think they’d come.

See also—1864: Zebulon Pike Ryder to Delia (Powell) Ryder on Spared & Shared 20.

Transcription

Suffolk [Virginia]
September 21, 1862

I received two letters from you last night—the first I received in a good while—and I was very glad to hear that you were well. You said you sent me letters before but I never got them and I suppose thy must be in the post office yet, The letters I got last night had 8.3 cent and 2.5 cents postage stamps in them and they came very handy. I got the box last Tuesday night and everything was all right—especially the bologna as I soon finished them. You said that you was glad that you thought it was hard for me to stay out here when all the boys went home but you thought wrong as there is nothing that suits me better than soldiering. And as for starving to death, you need not be alarmed about that as there is enough thrown away to keep two more companies besides ourself.

You said you would like to see me but not more than I would like to see you and all the rest of the family but there is a good time a coming yet so you must not worry about me. It would not do any good and it only makes you sick. And if I was home, you would not want me to stay home when I could do my country any good so take my advice and try and not worry about me. You say it always makes you feel so much better when you. hear from me. If I could write to you every day I would, but we don’t have much time to write now and if you should not hear from me for a week, you must not think strange as we are expecting to have a fight every day and they are a sending up troops from Washington by the thousands and we are ordered to hold the place at all hazards.

The infantry is busy cutting down the trees as they are a trying to clear a road through Dismal Swamp so as to let the artillery play on the Rebels if they try to out flank us as there is four roads for them to come on us. But if they know what is good for them, they will stay back as we will soon cut them to pieces. But we have got 15 thousand men and they have got about 30 thousand, but they are still coming up in the cars and we will soon have force enough to hold out against any number of men they can send against us.

They crossed the Black Water last night and was going to march down and make an attack on us and we was sent out to scout around the country and caught two of their pickets and when they heard that the Grey Horse Company was a coming, they turned back and went across the river again as they are in dread of our company because when we were over on the Peninsula, the farmers used to tell us that they heard them say they would never come down as long as the Grays was around and it must be so for 8 of us chased 25 of them over there and ran them down a steep hill and 4 of them fell into a hole that had been dug for a grave and it broke their necks and killed their horses.

But I must stop as I want to write to my grandmother ¹ and Father so I must bid you goodbye. From your son, — Zebulon

Suffolk, September 21st 1862

Dear Brother Frank, I received your letter with my mothers and I was glad to hear that you was a getting along so well and that you was a going to school and I hope you will not play truant and that you will try and learn.

I got that knife and I thank you for sending it to me and I will send you a secesh button so as you can see the Virginia coat of arms. And I have got a dagger that I took from a man I caught when I was out on picket and I will send it to you when I get a chance. Write to me as soon as you can. From your brother, — Zebulon P. Ryder

¹ The letter that Zebulon Ryder sent to his Grandmother on 21 September 1862 can be found in the digital archives of the Pamplin Historical Park. See 2015.002.081a.