4th Massachusetts Infantry | Spared & Shared 23

I could not find a photograph of Henry but here’s an Ambrotype of Pvt. William Wadsworth (1839- 1863) of Duxbury served in the 4th Massachusetts Infantry. He was wounded during the Second Assault on Port Hudson and died shortly after in a Baton Rouge hospital. Circa 1860.

These letters were written by Henry Humble (1836-1908), the son of Marshall Humble (1807-1896) and Emily Reed (1808-1899) of Abington, Plymouth county, Massachusetts.

Henry was a 24-year-old shoemaker when he enlisted at Abington on 16 April 1861 and was mustered six days later as a Sergeant in Co. E of the 4th Massachusetts. This 90-day regiment was the first from the Bay State to answer President Lincoln’s call and were deployed to garrison Fortress Monroe in Hampton, Virginia, and Camp Butler at Newport News. Half the regiment was engaged in the battle of Big Bethel on Jun. 10th. The regiment returned to Boston on July 22nd and was mustered out of service.

Henry was commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant in Co. E, when the 4th Massachusetts was mustered for a second service of 9-months duration on 26 September 1862. His regiment left the State on Dec. 27th and, after a brief stop in New York City was sent to Louisiana, arriving on 13 February 1863. The regiment assisted in Admiral Farragut’s running of the fleet past Port Hudson, was involved in the assault on Fort Brisland in April and the siege and assault on Port Hudson, which culminated in that city’s surrender on 8 July 1863. On June 23rd Henry was one of a large number from the 4th Massachusetts who were captured and taken prisoner, but paroled after two days. The regiment was mustered out of service on 9 August 1864.

Henry, who never married, worked in shoe and boot factories following his military service and was a member of the David A. Russell G.A.R. Post 78 in Whitman. He was 72 when he died of heart disease.

Letter 1

*Addressed to Mr. Marshall Humble, South Abington, Massachusetts*

Fort Monroe
April 28, 1861

Mr. Humble,

Dear Father, we are in Fort Monroe and all well. I am better than I ever was before. It is healthy here. We are in good spirit, have a good living and clothing and twenty-seven dollars month. Do not want to come home yet. Want you to write as soon as you can and tell me how you all get along. Want to know if you are well and how business is.

We have beef, pork all we want. Have captured one prize armed with artillery. We are at work mounting guns as fast as we can. There is 1500 to man the guns. It will take 50,000 to take this fort from us. Feel safe.

When you write, address Fort Monroe, Virginia. Write soon. Want to hear from home. Want all to write. From your son, — Henry

Letter 2

Camp Butler
Sunday, June2, 1861

Dear Father,

Since I left home, have been in all kinds of business—the business that I like. Our living has not [been] so good as it might be but it will do well enough. Our living consists of beef, pork, beans, peas, sweet potatoes, and hard bread, a little coffee, but we have to drink it without sweetening. Don’t find any fault with it. We do not get any soft bread, butter, tea, but our time has expired.

Since we went from the fort, have been at work throwing up entrenchments. We are now at the place called Newport News, twelve miles above the fort on the banks of the James river. Splendid place for our camp. The climate is healthy but it is rather warm sometimes. We have heard that our regiment—the 4th—have had a battle at Sewell’s Point. We have never been there and I think we shall not go any farther.

The Vermont regiment is here and a Dutch regiment making in all over 2500 men. With our fortifications, we can hold out against ten thousand troops. Have to work harder here than at the fort. Yesterday I was Sergeant of the Guard. In the afternoon when I was at supper, one of my guard shot two of his fingers off while he was capping his gun.

Have not had any rainy weather to speak of since we left home until today. We had a heavy shower that lasted some four hours. I never was as healthy in my life as I now am. Do not want to go home until we have some kind of a brush today, We had green peas for dinner. Wish you would write as soon as can. The boat is going and I must stop now.

From your obedient son, — Henry

Have to write on the ground or hold paper in my hand.

Letter 3

*Addressed to Lieut. Henry Humble, Co. E, 4th Regt. Mass. Vol. Militia, Banks Expedition, New Orleans, La.*

South Abington [Mass.]
March 30th [1863]

Dear Henry,

I received your letter the 25th. I was very glad to hear from you that you were well and enjoying yourself so well. I felt very anxious, it were so long since I heard from you. You wrote that you have not been paid off yet. How do you get along? If you want any money, you can have it any time you want it if you let us know. I should rather not be paid off till I get home if I could get along without; it will be so much trouble to take care of it and keep it safe.

How do you get your washing and mending done. Take good care of your health. I don’t know where you be now. Perhaps you are called to battle before now. Some think you are going to take Port Hudson. We heard that there was a goo many of your regiment sick. You must be careful what you eat in that warm climate. The sick soldiers are coming home almost every day. Frank wrote to you about Alve Gurney being brought home sick. I have not seen any of them since but I shall go and see them soon. Salmon Reed is in the hospital in New Orleans sick. He belongs to the 42nd [Mass.] Regiment. I hope you will not have to go into battle. If you do, go not in your own strength but in the strength of the Lord as David did when he went out to meet Goliath and the same God will protect you.

Have you received my letter the 4th instant? We are all well as common. The cannons are going as fast as they can. I don’t know what is come to Boston. We all want you to come home. Don’t forget your mother, — E. H.