The following brief letter was written by Oliver Paul Gooding (1835-1909) of Greenfield, Hancock county, Indiana. At 18, he entered West Point and graduated in 1858. After various assignments to military posts, he entered the Civil War as an officer in the 31st Massachusetts (converted to 6th Massachusetts Cavalry), and then was promoted to command the 3rd Brigade of the 3rd Division, 19th Army Corps. On the Red River Campaign, in 1864, he commanded the Fifth Brigade, Cavalry Division, Department of the Gulf, and at the end of that campaign was assigned to the command of the division. In command of the Union Troops at Campti, on the north bank of Red River, the 4th day of April, 1864, General Gooding, in a hotly contested cavalry action, defeated the enemy under General Siddell. At the Battle of Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, in command of his brigade, the 9th day of April, 1864, General Gooding gallantly fought and held the enemy in check till the Union Army came into position, his hat being shot off his head, the bullet grazing his scalp.

Note: This letter and image is from the personal collection of Kyle A. Williams and was made available for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by express consent.

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

Headquarters 5th Brigade, Cavalry Division [Dept. of the Gulf]
Morganza, Louisiana
May 26th, 1864

Officers & Soldiers of the 2nd N. Y. Veteran Cavalry,

It is with extreme regret that I part with you. Though not of a personal nature, still there are few associations in life more dear than that between a commander and his command, formed during a campaign in a common cause. Such has been our association. For the gallant fighting you have done under my command, accept the grateful thanks of a soldier. And wherever the fortunes of war may lead you, rest assured that my heart will follow you, my comrades of the 2nd New York—farewell.

— Oliver P. Gooding, Col. Commanding

The following two letters pertain to the death of 18 year-old Pvt. Daniel H. Williams (1845-1863) of Co. M, 2nd New York Veteran Cavalry. Daniel died of typhoid fever on 23 July 1863 at the General Hospital in New Orleans. His remains were laid to final rest in the Chalmette National Cemetery in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, Section 52, Plot 4086. Daniel H. Williams was son of John and Sarah (“Sally”) Williams of Newburgh, Orange County, New York. Pension records indicate that Sally was dependent on her son’s wages, however, as her husband abandoned her in 1858. Sarah applied for and received a pension in 1868 for her son’s service that terminated with her death in 1895.

One of the letters was written by Thomas Crosby who was drafted into Co. M and who also died at the US Army General Hospital in New Orleans. His death occurred on 22 September 1864. The other letter was written by someone named “M. L. Shipman” who was not in the same regiment; in fact, he may not have even been in the military service. He may have been a civilian volunteer in the hospital. I have transcribed both letters as written without corrections to spelling or grammar. This is not my custom as it makes searching for key words less successful on the internet but there is little in these letters that lend themselves to searches.

According to pension records, Daniel enlisted in the 2nd Veteran Cavalry Regiment (nicknamed the “Empire Light Cavalry”) at New York City on 1 December 1863. It was stationed at Washington during the ensuing winter, whence it embarked for New Orleans, and there joined the Department of the Gulf. Its entire term New York Regiments 203 of service was spent in the South, where it formed part of Arnold’s cavalry division, 19th corps. Assigned to the 5th cavalry brigade, it took part in Banks’ Red River campaign, in which it was 18 times in action. It was assigned to the 4th cavalry brigade on its return and through June, July and August was engaged in a number of raids and scouting expeditions, meeting with some losses.

Letter 1

U. S. Barracks
General Hospital
Neworleans, La
July 24th 1864

Mrs. Williams,

Madam, I take this opertunity to perform a duty witch as regards the human family we ow one a nother but it is a sad duty for me to inform you of the sickness of your son he came here the 18th of this month verry sick with the Typhoid Fevor and all though he had as good care as a soaldier can bestow he did not have that care that he should have for one of his age (A Mothers care) and last night 15 minutes before 11 o’clock he breathed his last to day he wil be burried with all the honors of a soaldier during his ilness here he was most of the time sense less therefore I cannot tel you what his last words were that is all that I have to say if there is eny thing that you wish to find out concerning your son, you wil have to write to the chaplain of this hospital and he wil inform you he is the best man for sutch buisness that I ever saw.

yours truly. — M. L. Shipman, Chief Nurce of Ward 29, Barracks US Hosptl, Neworleans, La

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Letter 2

U. S. A. Hospital
July 24th

Mrs. Williams,

I am sorry to state to you that your sun Daniel H. Williams one that belongs to Mi Company was taken very sick with the Tyfoid Fever and died last nite it is a hard job fore me to rite such bad news to you I came with your sun to the Hospital sick altho I dun all I cold for you poor sick boy But He hast gone to a better World then this Before we left the Regment your sun sent you 80 dolrs by Adams Express Co. I will send the receipt His discharge was maid out but he was to sick to come.

Yours with respets, — Thomas Crosby

U.S.A. Hospital, New orleans, La.

These letters were written by George H. VanDusen (1845-1905), the son of Carmi VanDusen (1815-1901) and Delia Ann Williams (1819-1887) of Warren county, New York. George wrote the letters to his wife, Emma C. Adams (1848-1923). The couple were quite young when they married in 1863.

George wrote the letters while serving as a private in Co. K, 2nd New York Veteran Cavalry (nicknamed the “Empre Light Cavalry”). He was mustered into the regiment on 10 November 1863 and mustered out 8 November 1865 at Talladega, Alabama.

The regiment was mustered into the U. S. service at Saratoga from Aug. 15 to Dec. 30, 1863, for three years, and left the state by detachments from August to December. It was stationed at Washington during the ensuing winter, whence it embarked for New Orleans, and there joined the Department of the Gulf. Its entire term New York Regiments 203 of service was spent in the South, where it formed part of Arnold’s cavalry division, 19th corps. Assigned to the 5th cavalry brigade, it took part in Banks’ Red River campaign, in which it was 18 times in action and suffered a loss of TJ killed, wounded and missing. It was assigned to the 4th cavalry brigade on its return and through June, July and August was engaged in a number of raids and scouting expeditions, meeting with some losses. In the fall, attached to the 1st cavalry brigade, it was active at St. Francisville, Bayou Sara and Fausse river. La., and in November, attached to the separate brigade, cavalry reserve, it skirmished at Clinton, Liberty creek and Pascagoula, Miss., at state line, and at McLeod’s mills. La., where it lost 11 killed and wounded. Its last active service was with the 1st brigade, cavalry division, in March and April, 1865, at College Hill, Pine Barren creek, Cotton creek and Bluff Springs, Fla.; Pollard, Fort Blakely, Mt. Pleasant and Whistler’s station, Ala. 

Letter 1

[Note: This first letter was transcribed by Excelsior Brigade & listed for sale on their webpage.]

U.S. Marine Hospital
New Orleans, LA
April 14, 1864

Dear Wife Emma,

I now take this present opportunity to let you know how I am getting along. I am not well yet. But I think I am gaining slowly so that I feel quite encouraged. If I continue to improve I think I shall be fit for duty in two or three weeks at the longest. I hope these few lines will find you all enjoying good health and spirits. I suppose Father is making sugar by this time. How I should like some maple molasses just now. It seems as if it would taste good but a soldier must not think of dainties. I suppose you will save me a large piece and eat it for me too. It would do me some good to know that you was having something good to eat if I can’t. But oh dear Emma, how I do want to hear how you are getting along and whether the baby lived or not. Oh, how I hope that it is alive to comfort you while I am in the Army. I have dreamed of seeing you with a baby for two or three nights. Last night I dreamed that I went home and found you in bed with
a little might of a baby. I thought that its head wasn’t as big as my fist and I asked you if it was a boy or girl and you told me that you didn’t know which for it was so small that you couldn’t tell. You must write all the particulars and all the news.

How do you get along with our folks? Do they use you well or not? How did you get used while you were sick? Did they take good care of you dearest? I hope so, for I would if I had been there with you. I shall feel uneasy until I hear all about it. Oh Emma, do you think that we shall take as much comfort ever again as we used too. I hope so and may the good Lord in his great mercy grant that we may live together again and that this rebellion be put down and this cruel war comes to an end so that the soldiers can return to their families. Emma don’t fail to pray for me and that we may soon be united, never to part again on earth until we part to meet in heaven. It seems as though your prayers would be answered. I pray for you every time. Oh how I should like to clasp you to my breast. It would be the most joyful moment in my life but we must wait and pray. But I must close my letter for this time. I will write again very soon if nothing happens in the mean time. Take courage and hope for the best. Write soon and often. Give my love to Father and Mother and all of the children and I will remain your truly affectionate husband,

George H.. Vandusen

Goodbye and may God bless you all. Direct:
2nd Veteran Cav, Co. K

N. Y. S. V.
U. S. Marine Hospital, Ward S
New Orleans, LA

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Letter 2

Warrington, Florida
March 1865

Dear wife,

I now take this opportunity to write a few lines to you. I received your kind and affectionate letter of February 22 and was very glad to hear from you,It found me well and in Florida. We left Naval Cove yesterday morning and got here at night. We are encamped about a mile from the harbor. As we came into harbor there was Fort Pickens on the right, Fort Brancas on the left, and Fort McRoy in front. We are about 40 miles in the rear of Mobile. They are fighting about there now. Yesterday our loss was 500 killed and wounded. We are not far from where there is plenty of rebs. A reb captain came in t’other day and his whole company and gave themselves up.

The morning that we left Naval Cove, the fleet left for Mobile so you may hear from there soon. We expect to start before long. The sooner the better. The water here is good. We have plenty to eat and the weather is none too warm to suit me. The woods is mostly pine with oak shrubs that I have seen yet. The soil is sandy. All the news we get is good lately. Flour is 400 dollars per barrel and beef 4 dollars a pound in Mobile and other things according. They will have to give up soon or starve.

There is somewheres near 6,000 troops at this place. There is about 80 men in my company so we can make quite a fight although the weather is terrible hot in the summer time. It has been none too hot for comfort this winter to say nothing about the mud and rain.

There is a chance for more fighting here than I like the prospect of. I hope that they will make up their minds to give up without fighting. I hope that this war will end before long so I can come home and see you again but I hain’t got much longer to stay—a year and a half. I don’t call that long for time goes off fast to me.

Write often and all the particulars and I will try to do the same. The boys are all well. If you hear from Zina, let me know how he is getting along and where he is. Keep up good courage and pray for me. Give my love to all and trust in God and I will remain your affectionate husband, — George H. Vandusen