209th Pennsylvania Infantry | Spared & Shared 23

The following letter was written by Jacob E. Travelpiece (1844-1908), the son of Jacob Dreibelbis (1799-1874) and Mary Magdalena Everett (1804-1867) of Orangeville, Columbia county, Pennsylvania. Jacob wrote the letter while serving in Co. E, 209th Pennsylvania Infantry. According to the 1890 Veteran Schedules, Jacob enlisted in September 1864 and mustered out in late May 1865 after 9 months service. After the war he married Celestia Stiner (1847-1931).

Transcription

Addressed to Miss Sallie France [?], Orangeville, Columbia county, Pa.

Camp at Meds Station, Va.
December 10th, 1864

Friend Sallie,

I sit down this morning to pleasure task of answering your kind letter which came to hand last night. Your letter has been miscarried by some means or other. It is dated November 15th and it never came to hand till last evening. It found me well with the exception of a shake of the ague & a little fever that came on just after dinner yesterday. I hope these few lines will find you enjoying good health.

The regiment started out on a march last evening at sundown & just as they started, it began to storm the worst kind of a way & it was so cold that the ice froze on the boys clothing. The ground was covered with hail and after marching about four miles, they stopped to rest for the night but I think it’s but little rest they had for men to lay down on snow & ice and storming at the same time & worse than all, freezing cold is enough to cause their death. For my part, I wasn’t so unfortunate as to be with them. I was excused by my captain.

A man came in from the regiment this morning and he gave a history of the scene. He said after they halted to rest, some laid down & some stood up against trees. Some were singing and others swearing & no doubt some were praying. A person that never was a soldier could not imagine how hard a soldier’s life is. Yes, many are the hardships they have to undergo.

The report is now that General Butler has had a fight with the enemy. The result is not known but if the report is true, I hope he has been successful. It is said that there will be another draft. If so, I am glad that I am here for I don’t like to be drafted & have to go & get no bounty. Such business don’t pay at all. I’d rather go without being drafted and then if anything happens, I’ve no one to blame but myself.

Now I must tell you what kind of a supper I had last evening. I believe it was the best supper I ever ate & that was [ ] cabbage and some turnips. One of my tent mates brought them to me and told me if I’d cook them I might have a share with him. I cooked at the ——- best of my knowledge & then we ate our supper & washed the dishes and swept out the shanty, &c. I guess I’ll have to close for the present as the news will afford but little interest to you. Yours with great esteem. More anon. — J. T.

Address Company E, 209th Penn. , Washington D. C. in care of Capt. A[ndrew] C. Mensch

P. S. Today is my birthday—21.

The following letter was written by Pvt. Jacob Hair who enlisted in Co. I, 209th Pennsylvania Infantry on 29 August 1864 and was discharged from the service on 11 July 1865. His name was sometimes recorded as Harr on the muster rolls. While at Bermuda Hundred, the regiment was attached to the Ninth Army Corps, 1st Brigade, Third Division.

[Note: Images of this letter were provided to me for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by Jeff Hilsmeier who owns the original.]

Transcription

Bermuda Hundred, Va.
October 4, 1864

Dear Brother,

I seat myself to inform you that I am well at present hoping that you enjoy the same blessing. I will now inform you that I am away down in Virginia in the army playing soldier. The place that I am is called Bermuda Hundred. It is only about three miles from Petersburg and about eight miles from Richmond and our army had a heavy fight towards Richmond. We could see them fighting from our camp but what the result is, we don’t know. ¹ They also fought towards Petersburg but we have not heard from there yet [either].

Last Friday I was out on picket. I could see that the rebs retreated back toward Richmond. I was out on picket twice and took it well. We are well fortified here. We are only about 25 steps from our rifle pits and the rebs’ fortifications are only about half a mile from ours. Our pickets and the rebs’ pickets are only about 30 steps apart. We still invite the over. There are a great many that comes over every night—some nights as high as 6 to 8, and there would be a great deal more come if they darst but they are watched too close. I hope that the time will soon come that they would all come over into the Union.

On last Saturday night when I was out on picket, I heard a reb say that he believes that the damned Yankees would whip them out before a month was around.

I have not heard from home since I left home. I am looking for a letter every day. I want you to give my love to all my friends and tell them to write to me. I am your affectionate brother, — Jacob Hair

Write as soon as you get this letter. Direct to Mr. Jacob Hair, Co. I, 209th Regt. Penn. Vols. in care of Capt. [John] Klugh ²

¹ The battle Jacob refers to was the Battle of Chaffin’s Farm fought on 29-30 September 1864 in which Butler’s Army of the James successfully assaulted and captured Fort Harrison which they later renamed Fort Burnham. The loss of this fort caused the Confederates to have to withdraw their lines of defense between Richmond and Petersburg.

² Capt. John Klugh was wounded at Fort Steadman, Virginia, on 25 March 1865 and was discharged from the service on 10 May 1865.