12th New Jersey Infantry | Spared & Shared 23

*I could not find an image of Edward but here is one of John C. Jackson of Co. F, 12th New Jersey Infantry (Chris N Julie Maldonado Collection)*

The following letters were written by Edward L. Brick (1845-1892), the son of John Hartley Brick (1806-1879) and Patience M. Crim (1820-1901) of Camden county, New Jersey. Edward enlisted in Co. G, 12th New Jersey Infantry in August 1862. An obituary notice informs us that “While in the service he was taken down with typhoid fever and sent to the hospital in Newark, New Jersey, and after regaining his health he again joined his regiment. He was in the battle of Gettysburg and was one of the men detailed from the 12th New Jersey to charge the Bliss barn and dislodge the rebel sharpshooters who were concealed in the barn and dealing out certain death with almost every gun fired. At the Battle of Cold Harbor, he was wounded in the neck and sent to the hospital at Camp Parole, Annapolis, Maryland, where he remained until well when he again joined his regiment. He was honorably discharged on June 4, 1865.”

Letter 1

Camp near Falmouth, Va.
December 23, 1862

Dear Lizzie,

Your kind letter came to me in due time but I forgot what date, but I think it was on the 13th. I was glad to hear from you again, and to hear that you was still alive and well.

Friend Lizzie, we have seen another battle since I wrote to you last. When your letter came to me, our regiment was laying in a line of battle about a quarter of a mile from the enemy and they was awaiting every moment to have to fight. But they got off without much of it to do but, dear Lib, it was a dreary night for they had been fighting all day and the dead and wounded lay all about over the field.

Friend Lib, if I could tell. you one half of the news, I would be satisfied. But Lib, it is no use for me to tell you anything about the war for you know a great deal more about it at home than we do out here. If I could see you so that I could have a good old talk with you, I could tell you all about the battle, but as it is, I will not try to tell you anything about it.

Dear Lizzie, the 19th Regiment has moved down here and Edie has been over here to see Jake and I, and I tell you that I was glad to see him. But the best of all was when he took your likeness out of his pocket and showed it to us. Ha! it looked like the same old Lizzie—the same old girl. And I tell you, I had a great mind to put it in my pocket and keep it. But I took a good look at it and give it back to him. But I expect to have a look at it every time I see him.

There has been several of the boys over here to see us. Tom Wick and Dave Eldridge, Hiram Cramer, and George Woodrow and a great many more of the Boys.

Bill Carr was wounded in our last battle. He was wounded in the shoulder and has been sent to Washington, and Tom Wick came very near having a wound also. I seen him yesterday and he said while the Rebs was pouring the grape and balls into them, that a ball or something struck him on the head and knocked a hole through the top of his cap and cut a small hole in his head—but not a very large one. Dear Lib, they do knock the Hurffville Boys clear out of this boxes somehow another. If I get safe, I shall think myself a lucky boy and think that I am not to be killed.

Dear Lizzie, I would like to sit here and write all day to you but I have almost [ ] my mind and now it is about 4 o’clock and almost time for dress parade and I shall have to. stop till it is over and then I will finish tonight. So goodbye.

Friend Lib, our dress parade is over and I have had my good old supper as we always have. But I am not like Mollie Hurff. The last letter that I got from her, she told me that she had been eating buckwheat cakes for her breakfast and she said that she had eat so many that they hurt her and she asked me if I did not wish that I had half of what she eat. But I have not answered her letter yet, but when I do, I will give her Jessie about the buckwheat.

Dear Lib, don’t you let Mell see this or she will kill me for maybe I have got more in here than what she see’s. But I am glad that she does eat some for me and I hope that you will do the same.

Letter 2

*Addressed to Miss Lizzie Brick, Hurffville, Camden county, New Jersey*

Camp near Falmouth
January 15th 1863

To my cousin,

It is with pleasure that I take my pen in hand to inform you that I am well and in good health, hoping these few lines will find you the same. Well, cousin, I don’t now hardly know what to write to you but I will let you know I like it. I can’t complain a bit—only the food and that we are getting more of it and better. Our brigade quartermaster he sold our potatoes and them is things that I begin to like which I wouldn’t eat at home, nor fat pork and you would be surprised to see me eat it. Now you wouldn’t. Now we [ ] if I would sit down to your table although I have been sick for two days and you used to think I was a harry of a boy. If I should ever get home, you wouldn’t know what to do with me. But I expect you would soon get me to be a good boy for you know I would do just as you say if I was to go and see the girls, and how I would like to be at home with some of the Bunker Hill girls. You know I would hug their heads for them. I often think of the happy times I have had up there and could have. That was where the laugh comes in. This is what beats me…

Now Lizzie, I can tell you this. Infantry is the hardest of any kind of a soldier’s life, cavalry is a great deal easier than any. And if I should ever enlist again, it will be on board of a ship. That is the way I will go.

The boys send their best respects to you. Give my love to Uncle Jessie and to Aunty, to Willie, and Jessie’s family. My love to you and a sweet kiss somewhere in this letter for you. Lizzie, I want you to send me some paper for I can’t get any here and them postage you sent me are all gone. I lost them. — Edward Brick

to L. Brick

The following letter was written by Samuel Tyler Miller (1826-1905), the son of John B. Miller (1797-1858) and Elizabeth A. Tyler (1800-1889) of Paulsboro, Gloucester county, New Jersey. Samuel attended the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and was practicing allopathic medicine in Paulsboro, Gloucester county, New Jersey at the time of the 1860 US Census. In August 1862, he left his wife Fannie M. Price (1834-1879) of five years to accept a commission as an Assistant Surgeon, Field and Staff, 12th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry. He remained in that capacity until he resigned due to disability 8 November 1864.

Samuel wrote the letter to “Steward Knapp” who was otherwise unidentified in the letter but an internet search yielded the following information on Knapp: “The Edgar Knapp Letters span the years 1862-1864 and are comprised of 40 letters received by Edgar Knapp while he was working as a hospital steward at the U.S. military hospital in Annapolis, Maryland.” These letters were purchased by Special Collections at Virginia Tech in April 2002 with the following biographical note. “Lieutenant Edgar R. Knapp (ca. 1836-?) of Adrian, Lenawee County, Michigan, was a steward at the United States military hospital in Annapolis, Maryland from 1862-1864. His brother H. Knapp was probably Henry Knapp (1813-1893), who is listed in the 1860 census as a doctor in Adrian, Lenawee County, Michigan. Randolph Knapp, whose death is the subject of some of the correspondence, was born in 1840 in Michigan and died at the Battle of Gettysburg.”

Transcription

The Depot Field Hospital near City Point, Virginia

Hospital 2nd Division, 2nd Army Corps
City Point, Virginia
July 9th 1864

Steward Knapp,

Sir, when last I saw you, who would have thought that so long a time would have elapsed before one or the other of us would have written. For my own part, there is the best excuse in the world, having been on the most active campaign that has taken place during the war, with a good disposition, but no facilities but a lead pencil & my knee for a writing desk.

There is no use in me in relating any incidents that have taken place during this time. Suffice it to say that my regiment is reduced from 420 muskets to about 100. Have run clear myself so far (only having been struck once upon the spur) but do not intend to have them in so close proximity again if I know myself. About two weeks since I detailed to this place and have virtually been running the machine. Mrs. Price ¹ is with me as one of my female nurses. I have three more, one of which is rather an interesting young lady—“Nuff Ced.”

I have met the Lieutenant who accompanied us to the Depot the night I went home in April and if I may judge from his statement, I think the service would be doing you a favor in removing you to some other place where attractions are not so liberally displayed and inducements not constantly staring you in the face. A word of caution may not be out of place. Young man, be cautious and hold a tight rein.

That you have not written to me, I must acknowledge that I am somewhat ashamed of you, surrounded as you are with all the facilities for writing and neglecting a friend who would volunteer advice as the above. I forget the Lieutenant’s name but you doubtless recollect him. He is a patient in the 9th Corps Hospital about 100 yards from here and over which Dr. Wheeler presides.

I might say during this campaign, many friends have fallen & more disabled I fear for life. May God hasten the time when this unholy warfare shall cease.

Yesterday I made a trip to Fort Monroe and back with wounded men. The distance from here is about 90 miles, the first time that I ever passed up or down the James River. We made the trip almost entirely during the daylight so I had a good time. Think I shall go to Washington in a few days on the same errand. I frequently see Dr. Gibson. He is with Dr. [Thomas Andrew] McParlin. I think he is acting the part of Medical Inspector. He was always a special favorite of Dr. McParlin’s.

This City Point is and has been a great “Depot Hospital” for the army. The other day we had some 10,000 patients at one time. I am just broken off to admit 43 sick men from the front. Wonder if I shall make as much excitement about it as Vandergrift does when he receives a cargo. Well I have just returned from admitting them and without the assistance of 10 doctors, 1 officer of the day, 8 stewards, 15 clerks, and 3 orderlies. Having done this without such assistance and got along too very quietly (“without disturbing the Army of the Potomac”) I do console myself with the fact I have improved much since leaving Annapolis and now am fully gratified to take charge of a “One Horse Hospital.”

I got a letter from Fannie today & she is much concerned for Fred, not having heard from him for a month or so.

The change from the front is a very pleasant one. There one has to put up with anything he can get to eat. Here we have full and plenty of everything. We rise in the morning at six, take breakfast at 7, lunch on cat fish and coffee, or something else at 12 and take dinner at five. Lunch again in the evening, then again we have ice cream almost every day. So you will readily perceive that we are not suffering for the want of that which is calculated to promote a person’s comfort, nor do we wish for, without getting it, anything like malt liquors to prolong one’s life.

Believe me to be very respectfully your obedient servant, — Samuel T. Miller, Hospital Surgeon, 12th New Jersey Volunteers

P. S. Should you desire to write to me anytime soon, please direct as follows:

Samuel T. Miller
Asst. Surgeon
12th N. J. Vols,
2nd Corps Hospital
City Point, Va.

¹ Mrs. Rebecca Lane (Pennypacker) Price (1837-1919) was a native of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. She married Edwin Price in 1853 and volunteered as a nurse during the Civil War. She came to City Point after working at White House Landing with Mr. Ritz and Miss Sayles. “While at City Point, she was often seen helping with the organization of the wounded onto the hospital steamers using a state agent’s pass that Governor Curtin has issued her.” Rebecca came from the prominent Pennypacker family of eastern Pennsylvania. First cousin Galusha Pennypacker was a Civil War brigadier general by the time he was 20 years old and was awarded a Medal of Honor for his bravery at the Second Battle of Fort Fisher, North Carolina, in January 1865. She was second cousin to Samuel Whitaker Pennypacker, governor of Pennsylvania from 1903 to 1907, and her mother, Elizabeth, ran a Union Army hospital in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Source: The Women of City Point, Virginia” by Jeanne Marie Christie, pp.183-4.