35th Massachusetts Infantry | Spared & Shared 23

*1st Lt. William Washburn, 35th Mass. Volunteer. Infantry*

The following letter was written by William (“Will”) Washburn, Jr. (1840-1922), who first enlisted in Co. A, 1st Massachusetts Infantry on May 3, 1861. He was discharged for promotion on Aug. 17, 1862, and commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in Co. G., 35th Regiment Massachusetts Infantry during which time this letter was written. He was promoted to 1st Lt. and commissioned into Field and Staff of the 35th Massachusetts on Oct. 7, 1863. He was wounded and taken prisoner at the Battle of the Crater at Petersburg, Va. on July 30, 1864, and was afterward confined at Macon, Ga., and Columbia, S. C. He was promoted to Captain on Sept. 6, 1864.

Though William had been in the service since May 1861, the 35th Massachusetts was a “green” regiment when they arrived on the field at Antietam, having been in the service only a few weeks. Under Major Sumner Carruth, they crossed the Burnside Bridge, advanced toward Sharpsburg, and held a crucial position of the Union left until caught in a heavy crossfire where they suffered heavy casualties and had to retire, some of the men skedaddling their way back across Antietam Creek. Just days before they had been assigned to Reno’s Second Brigade of the Second Division (General Sturgis’s) of the Ninth Army Corps (General Burnside’s). Their regiment was brigaded with the 21st Massachusetts, 51st New York and 51st Pennsylvania, three regiments that had served in North Carolina and in General Pope’s battles in Virginia, with great distinction and with heavy losses. After the Battle of Antietam, to replenish the ranks, the 11th New Hampshire joined the Brigade.

See also—1862: William Washburn, Jr. to Friend “Lou” on Spared & Shared 20.

[Note: This letter is from the personal collection of Greg Herr and was offered for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by express consent.]

Union army wagons assemble in Berlin, Maryland, a few miles downstream from Harpers Ferry, in October 1862 in preparation for crossing the Potomac River to Virginia. Pontoon bridges were assembled next to the ruins of a stone bridge in order to move Union troops, wagons, and supplies across the river. (LOC)

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

Camp Massachusetts 35th Regiment
Near Loversville [Lovettsville], Virginia
October 28th [1862)

Dear Father,

We struck tents last Monday [Oct. 27th] morning, broke up camp, and with two days rations in our haversacks started. Many were the surmises and guesses at our destination. For a wonder, no clue could be had, and as far as we were concerned it was a plunge in the dark. LeavingPleasant Valley and taking the road for Harper’s Ferry, all were confident of going into Virginia. But when after three miles travel, instead of keeping up to the right, the column suddenly took a left hand roadm thus taking us directly away from Harper’s Ferry. The opinion of all was suddenly changed and “we were only going down to Knoxville to guard the railroad.” Knoxville was finally reached and very soon after, when it became evident that the column was not going to stop there, conjecture took another turn, and “we were going to the Relay House to recruit.”

Thus we passed down the river edge between that and the canal by the tow path for about nine miles when Berlin, or Point of Rocks, was reached. Berlin by the way is quite a pretty place, and in the summer time, it seems to me would be a very pleasant town. Way before the rebellion, a bridge spanned the Potomac. It was burned by the Rebels soon after hostilities commenced. In its stead, a pontoon bridge has recently been constructed and over this, the weary soldiers “marched along.” The Brigade finally went into camp about three miles this side of Point of Rocks in “Old Virginia.” There were many disappointed ones in our regiment, particularly among the skedaddlers, and we have quite a number of that class of individuals in this regiment. Their wish was that we might be sent somewhere to do guard duty out of all danger.

The place we halted at is near Loversville [Lovettsville]. The Blue Ridge is within plain sight just beyond which is Winchester. A very large body of troops is now here thought today regiments are leaving instantly for nobody knows where. We are expecting marching orders and without doubt tomorrow night will find us far away from here. I know no more of our destination than you do. A movement is being made of the whole army, and I trust and believe that the final battle of the war will be fought in a very few days. I shall keep you posted as far as I’m able about the movement of this portion of the army. You will have to trust the papers for the rest.

Last Sunday it rained all day and many thought that the rainy season had set in in earnest. Monday, however, it cleared up and it has been fine ever since. The roads in some places are quite bad. Another storm will make them utterly impassable.

No mail has arrived for three days. Write either yourself or “by proxy” often. I’m very well indeed and eager to have this thing settled. Remember me as usual. In haste, your affectionate son, — Will

This letter was written by 44 year-old Fisher A. Cleaveland (1819-1899) from East Freetown, Bristol County, Massuchusetts while he was serving with the 35th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, Co. I. Fisher was married to Jane Rounsevell (1825-1914) and the couple had three children—a boy and two girls. He wrote this letter to his 14 year-old son Henry (1849-1876).

*I could not find an image of Fisher but here is one of William J. Wallace who served in the same company of the 35th Massachusetts, (Paul Butters Collection)*

According to muster records, Fisher was a mechanic when he enlisted in the 35th Massachusetts on 16 August 1862 and was wounded in the fighting at Sharpsburg a month later. He recovered, however, and returned to his regiment to serve out his term of duty, mustering out on 9 June 1865. The 1890 Veteran’s Schedule informs us that Fisher lost his right index finger but does not tell us if it was the wound in received at the Battle of Antietam.

A large number of Cleaveland’s letters may be found at Duke University Libraries and made available on-line through the North Carolina Digital Heritage Center. The detailed letters describe work assignments, fortifications, the regiment’s locations, and troop movements. Cleaveland was located at various places during the time period covered by the letters, including Washington D.C., Virginia, and Maryland, 1862-1863; Vicksburg, Miss., summer 1863; Kentucky, fall 1863; Tennessee, (1863, Nov.-1864, March); Petersburg, Va., (1864, June-1865, Feb.); and Alexandria, Va., (1865, Apr.) He was part of the forces participating in the Battle of Antietam, the Vicksburg campaign, and the siege of Petersburg. The collection includes a tintype but it is of a much younger man than Fisher.

Other letters published on Spared & Shared by member of the 35th Massachusetts include:

Andrew Henry Frame, Co. A, 35th Massachusetts (1 Letter)
George W. Creasey, Co. B, 35th Massachusetts (1 Letter)
John Williams Hudson, Co. D, 35th Massachusetts (1 Letter)
William Washburn, Jr., Co. G, 35th Massachusetts (1 Letter)
Alfred R. Ellis, Co. I, 35th Massachusetts (1 Letter)
Christopher K. Call, Co. K, 35th Massachusetts (1 Letter)

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

Camp of the 2nd Brigade
35th [Mass.] Regiment near London, Kentucky
October 6, 1863

To Henry,

Dear son, I thought that I would write a few lines to let you know that I was well hoping that I should get an answer from you when you receive this.

We started from Crab Orchard on our march October 2nd at 7.30 a.m. Stopped at Convalescent Camp one mile from town one hour for the convalescents to get ready. 150 of them went with us. Marched 11 miles and then encamped one mile from Mt. Vernon. Arrived at camp at 3 p.m. The road was very muddy and some pretty hard hills to climb. About 25 of the 35th of the provost guard acted as advance guard. The rest and the 51st provost as rear guard to pick up the stragglers. The advance guard was ordered to keep some 8 or 10 rods in advance and to let no one pass them.

The next day we acted as rear guard and so keep changing from [front] to rear every other day. The advance guard is commanded by a sergeant, the rear by a Lieutenant who commands the whole provost when in camp. We all expected to be sent back to our regiment when we were ordered to march but like this way better. Our teams did not get up until 8 the next morning and only those that carried the baggage. We struck tents and marched. Some 20 of us of the rear guard were ordered to town [Mount Vernon, KY] and a guard was stationed at every house and store and ordered not to let any soldier pass in. I was stationed at a store. Our brigade passed through at 9.30 a.m. We then marched in the rear. We marched 5 miles today and then encamped 3.5 miles from Mt. Vernon. Part of the road was about as bad as I ever saw for half a mile. As we went down the mountain, it was about as rocky as any road I ever saw. The ledge ran across the road and the wheels would have to drop [ ] feet perpendicular where there was no large rock, the road full of loose stones so that [if] you were not very careful how you stepped, you would fall and almost as steep as Pine Hill.

There was a large spring near our camp. The water was very cool and good as any that I ever saw. It came out under a rock in a stream some 10 inches in diameter. There was a cave [Pine Hill Cave] close by the springs. Some of the soldiers went 20 [ ] rods into it. I went into the mouth. The first part was as large on the floor as our house and about 12 feet high to the top, There were two holes some 5 feet in diameter about 5 feet from the floor. After you had passed in, they were high enough to stand up in some 8 rods but you had to have a candle to see, I did not go in as I had no light. The rest of our teams came up here.

We struck our tents Sunday at 7.30 a.m. Marched 11 miles and encamped near Rock Castle Creek. The road for 6 miles was very good for this country. We then crossed Wildcat Creek. We then had to climb the mountains. It was then up hill and down, the last 4 miles as bad a road for a team as I ever saw. We started the next morning at 7.30 a.m., crossed Rock Castle Creek, and then had to climb a mountain for half an hour mile. It was as steep as Pine Hill. The regiment had to halt before they got to the top as we were all out of wind.

After we had got to the top, there was some tall marching. We were two hours and 40 minutes from camp to camp, 8 miles, and stopping but once. After we got up the mountain in 7.5 miles each man carrying some 55 pounds weight and pretty hilly at that, the rear guard was some 15 minutes longer as we had to stop for stragglers. We may stop here another day as we expect to have to stop until the batteries come up. The 11th New Hampshire is encamped here three miles from London. We expect they will go on with us. The houses on average between the towns are some half a mile apart. We have not received any mail since the 1st of October but expect one tonight.

I suppose that you are a setting traps now for rabbits and partridges. The last are very plenty out here. So are quails, pigeons, and grey squirrels and god many coons and deer. Almost all the land is covered with wood back from the road. I went some 4 miles in them yesterday after chestnuts and walnuts but did not find any as the squrrels and hogs had eat them up. I saw white oaks four feet in diameter without a limb for 75 feet or more. There are several kinds of white and black oak, chestnut, maple, basswood, sycamore, elm, black walnut, and butternuts in the woods and on the tops the mountain, two kinds oof hard pine. One that looks like ours at home. The other the needles or leaves are not more than one third as long. There is also some four hemlocks. I found Sunday on the side of the mountain Noble Liverwort a growing and as plenty as at home. Also checkerberries—the first that I have seen since I left Virginia.

Almost all the houses are built of logs, hewed on the outside and inside. The spaces filled with clay. The corners locked together. The chimney built of stone and on the outside. Some have two, one at each end. Most of the houses have but 2 rooms. I suppose that you go to school now. I want you should try to learn all that you can and not contract any bad habits such as drinking beer or cider, smoking or chewing tobacco, or using bad language. And try to speak and write correctly as all of these will be of use to you in after life. If you could see the drinking, chewing, smoking and swearing in the army, you would be so disgusted that you would wish to do either. I wish that you would try to save your Mother all [the] labor that you can. As I wrote a long letter, I must now close so goodbye for the present from your father, — Fisher A. Cleaveland