4th Wisconsin Infantry | Spared & Shared 23

The following letter was written by Arthur W. Mason of Co. E, 11th Wisconsin Infantry. He enlisted on 29 May 1861 and died of disease on 8 April 1862. The 4th Wisconsin Infantry first saw service in Maryland guarding the railroad but were sent to the Gulf of Mexico to join Butler’s Expedition to capture New Orleans. The regiment was converted to mounted infantry later in the year but Arthur would never see that happen. The comrades Arthur mentions were from Clinton, Wisconsin so that is probably also where Arthur enlisted.

*Camp of the 4th Wisconsin at Relay House in 1861*

[Note: This letter is from the private collection of Greg Herr 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

Relay House, Maryland
August 19, 1861

Dear Friends,

Your letters of the 11th were received Saturday. A few days after I wrote you, Co. E was ordered to join the regiment at the Relay House and so I was obliged to give up my high position as commander of a post and return to the ranks again—rather reluctantly I must confess for we were luxuriating on blackberries and milk and had nice times generally. An Indiana regiment took our place on the road and that night one of their squads was attacked by about 40 secessionists.

On the way here we marched through Baltimore by gaslight. The streets were lined with people cheering very enthusiastically for the Union. “Secesh” don’t show itself when soldiers are about.

The Relay House is at the Washington Junction of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, 9 miles from Baltimore, and 31 from Washington. The regiment is stationed here to guard the road and search trains for deserters and contraband articles. Our camp is on a hill in a cool and shady place.

When not on guard, we drill about five hours in battalion movements and firing blank cartridges. This is rather tough in the hot sun but the men stand it well. I have gained about ten pounds since leaving Harrisburg and my eyes are much better. You can judge how camp life agrees with me.

I have been on guard part of the time at a toll bridge where market wagons loaded with peaches, apples, melons, &c. were continually passing. We were required to search for arms, &c. Peaches are not usually considered “contraband of war,” but the secessionists claim that the damned, thieving Yankees always take toll.

This part of Maryland is quite hilly and woody, and is considered a good farming country. Great quantities of fruit and vegetables are raised for the Baltimore market.

Negroes are plenty here and strut about as large as life and twice as natural. Slaves are said to be well treated here and better fed and clothed than the free blacks who are too lazy and indolent to work. Lumbering wagons drawn by four and six horses or mules, the drivers riding the rear near wheel horse, drag their slow lengths along.

We are furnished with baker’s [bread], or hard tack. The rest of the rations we cook ourselves. Some of the messes to save trouble, hire colored “gemmies” to do it. Cooking, cleaning my gun and blacking my shoes are the greatest troubles I find in soldiering. By paying four shillings a month, I get rid of the first, and by and by when I get to be a “commish,” I’ll throw aside my musket and have a little darkey to black my shoes.

Our life certainly has some advantages over civilized customs. When dinner is ready, pull your tin plate and [ ] out of your haversack and wade in, and rest contented with the thought that Uncle Sam is good for the next meal. No grumbling landlord to dun you for a board bill or ask you to get a new boarding place. At night, roll up in your blanket in a tent or under a tree if it happens so, with a cartridge box or knapsack for a pillow and sleep as soundly as on the softest bed. Take a coffee sack, stuff in a dirty short, pack of cards, and a few other traps, and you have a very good realization of a soldier’s pillow. Likewise the contents of his kit.

This is an important place. Troops and supplies are moving to Washington all the time but the papers are silent. We hear of Johnson’s advance towards the Potomac. Probably a few days will change the nature of things. — Mason

[Charles D.] Wooster goes to Washington today with deserters.

Capt. [Webster P.] Moore sends his compliments. He is Officer of the Day today. He carries his student habits with him in a measure, and is as well posted in the tactics as any Captain in the regiment.

[Walter H.] Smith & [Peter] Bush [of Clinton, Wisconsin] are well.

The following letter was written by William H. Morrison (b. 1836), a native of Prince Edward Island, residing in Oconto, Wisconsin, in May 1861 when he enlisted as a private in Co. H, 4th Wisconsin Infantry.

*I could not find an image of William but here is one of George Hill who served in Co. I, 4th Wisconsin Infantry. (Photo Sleuth)*

Originally the Fourth Wisconsin was organized as an infantry unit at Camp Utley, Racine, WI. On July 2nd, 1861 it was mustered into service. Service areas for 1861 included Baltimore, MD, and Relay House, MD. In 1862 the regiment went to Newport News, VA where it left to join the “Army of the Gulf” in New Orleans LA. Disease took a terrible toll on the members during the trip, with several dying enroute. Traveling up the Mississippi River, the regiment saw action at Vicksburg and Baton Rouge, LA. The last service of the Fourth as an infantry unit was a “sanguinary” siege at Port Hudson, LA from May 21 to July 8, 1863. The regiment was then converted to the 4th Wisconsin Cavalry.

In early September 1863, William was discharged from the regiment as a corporal to accept a commission as Captain of Co. B, 99th U. S. Colored Troops. He was absent from his regiment late in 1864 and early 1865 suffering from chronic diarrhea and was able to obtain a certificate of disability and was discharged on 22 February 1865.

William wrote the letter to his friend, Thomas Millidge (1827-1895), a dry goods merchant in Oconto, Wisconsin.

William’s letter makes a reference to the recent Battle of Fort Henry on the Tennessee river wherein Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and Flag Officer Andrew H. Foote simultaneously attacked the Confederate fort and forced its surrender on 6 February 1862.

Transcription

Headquarters 4th Wisconsin Regt. Camp
Baltimore, Maryland
February 8, 1862

Dear friend Millidge,

Our day of judgement has come at last. Tonight about nine o’clock we received our marching orders to someplace to us unknown. There is no one knows as to where our place of destination is. All that I know about it is that we are going to leave here by water tomorrow morning precisely at nine o’clock so I am not able to write you but a few lines this time.

I suppose you have heard of the great victory gained lately and I learn that they are bound to keep the thing agoing and that is the way to do it. They have been fooling with those durn rebels long enough. But now they are doing the thing up brown. That is the way to put down this rebellion.

Thomas, I wish that I was able to write you a long letter but the want of time prevents me from doing it so I shall have to bring this to a close and allow me to sign myself your sincere friend and well wisher, — William H. Morrison

to Thomas Millidge

P. S. Remember me to all the inquiring friends and write as soon as you get this. I guess the letter will follow the regiment. Yours, — Bill