Category Archives: 7th New Hampshire Infantry

7th New Hampshire Infantry, Battle of Olustee

1864: Charles Austin Lawrence to Mary (Patterson) Lawrence

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Charles Austin Lawrence (1828-1894) was 33 years old, a husband and the father of three children, when he left his home in Nashua, New Hampshire to enlist as a sergeant in Co. B, 7th New Hampshire Infantry in late September 1861. In July 1863, following the Battle of Fort Wagner where he was wounded, he was transferred to Co. D and commissioned a Lieutenant. He was wounded twice more—on June 18, 1864 at Bermuda Hundred, Virginia and on September 15, 1864 at Petersburg, Virginia—before mustering out with his regiment at Goldsboro, North Carolina in 20 July 1865.

Charles was the son of Nicholas Lawrence (1802-1877) and Olive Moors (1809-1861) of Hillsborough, New Hampshire. He was married in 1852 to Mary Farwell Patterson (1834-1914) and his children included, Marietta (“Etta”) Perkins Lawrence (1853-1924), Charles Edward Lawrence (1857-1930) and Clara Belle Lawrence (b. 1860). Prior to the Civil War, Charles worked as a “bedstead maker.” After the war he worked as “Photographic Artist” in Nashua.

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print

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

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

Addressed to Mrs. Charles A. Lawrence, Nashua, New Hampshire

Camp near Jacksonville, Florida
Wednesday, March 30th 1864

My dear Mary,

I am sitting this evening in my tent without any other employment and therefore idle and so I thought that I would write you a few lines or at the least that I would begin a letter to you for you know that Satan finds some mischief still for idle hands to do. I do not like to have my hands get into any of that sort of stuff. But what shall I write about. I do not know. Everything has a sameness that I do not like to write. But then here goes.

To begin with, you say that Mrs. Cobb does not get any letters from him. He told me today that he had written three or four to her since the fight at Olustee and that was the 20th day of February and one of them has his miniature in it.

Now as to that watch that was sent by Mr. Griffin to Gordon, at that time that you first mentioned it, it was in my trunk and I was away in the wilds of the most swampy, dry, barren, rich, flowery and any amount of contraiettes of states from the most loveliest flowers to the most dismal of swamps that ever were seen. And I have not heard a word from him yet. And so as soon as I got to my trunk, I just put it in the mail and sent it to him in care of my friend, Lewis Kimbal, taking Capt. Chase for a witness that I did out it in the office as I thought that the best thing that I could do with it.

But it is time for me to go to bed and so I will say goodnight.

Thursday evening. Well, Mary, this is the last day of the month, one month and ten days since the disastrous affair at Olustee. But why let that take such a prominent place in my thoughts? Simply because it is a day to be remembered by all of us who were there. And many a New England home has reason to remember that day and to look at it as one of the landmarks in their family. And let what will happen, my children can look back to that day and say with pride, my father was there with the 7th New Hampshire and they never need to blush that it was so.

Today has been a very busy day for me. Very early this morning, Colonel Abbott sent for me to appear at his quarters. Of course I reported there at once and he then ordered me to move my company tents up onto the right of the regimental line which we have been doing today. The weather has been very fine today and therefore very much in our favor. My present ground is very good—far better than where we moved from as it is dry whereas the other was very damp and very close to a frog pond so that we were put to sleep every night, especially the warm nights, by their continual croaking.

And so brother and sister Shepard are going to Boston to live you say. But you did not tell me what he was intending to do there. Has he got a place so that he can make money fast, or has the main chance at last made its appearance and so he takes the tide? I suppose so. Well, I wish him prosperity in all of his undertaking. I hope for your sake that Wallace and Carrie will move to Vermont for if they do, you can visit them better than at Philadelphia.

I should like to see you very much this evening and have a good talk with you for I have many things to say and I know that you have the same and a long chat would be the consequence. Well, three years will soon pass and then we shall meet if God is willing. But if it is His will that it should be otherwise, let us try and say truly thy will be done, not mine. But as it is rather late, I must say good night.

Monday, April 4th. Well, Mary, I think that I will just write you a few lines at this time. I have but very little to add that will be news to you. The government transport, Maple Leaf, was sunk Saturday morning by a torpedo in the river about twelve miles from here on her way to Pilatka. She was loaded with camp & garrison equipage for the troops at that place; also the officer’s private baggage. There was two women on board and a child—the wife of one of the officers and child and a number of officers, none of whom were lost that I can hear of which was very fortunate as the boat sunk at once. 1

Wreck of Transport Steamers “Maple leaf” and “Genl. Hunter”. St. Johns river. Florida, Sunk by torpedoes. Alfred Waud, artist, LOC.

That same afternoon, General Ames took a small force and went out to reconnoiter the enemy’s position at camp Finnegan and he had a brisk skirmish with the rebels. Our loss as far as I can learn was four or five wounded, some say seven. The firing lasted some 30 minutes in all.

I was disappointed last evening when the mail arrived and i did not get a letter from home or a paper. But I hope for better luck next time. I am in command of the company and have been for the last month as Capt. Chase is judge advocate of the court martial here in our division. The 3rd New York Vols. have arrived here. They disembarked this morning. I have not had the opportunity of visiting them as yet but shall do so at the earliest opportunity. Give my respects to all of my friends, Mrs. Cummings, and Sarah & tell A. O. Miles that he had better answer my letter soon. Give my regards to Kimball and wife, Rev. Eaton and Lady, Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin and anyone else that enquires for me. Kiss my Etta & Charley and do not forget Belle. How I should like to see them, you can easily imagine. God grant that we may all meet again in peace is the prayer of your husband, — Charles A. Lawrence, Lt. Commanding, Co. D, 7th N. H. Vols.

1 The Maple Leaf sank quickly in twenty feet of water. Fifty eight passengers and the crew climbed into three lifeboats with only the clothes on their backs and rowed off to Jacksonville, fifteen miles away. Four African-American crewmen were killed in the forecastle by the explosion, and four Confederate prisoners were left behind, perched on the hurricane deck which was above water, because there was not room for them in their life boats. The captain and some of the ship’s officers returned to the wreck later that day on a Navy gunboat to survey the damage and retrieve what little they could of their belongings. The crew of the gunboat removed the prisoners from the wreck. The next day the Rebel soldiers who had mined the river boarded the Maple Leaf and set fire to the part of it that was above water.

7th New Hampshire Infantry, New Hampshire Homefront

1864: Delia Annah Henderson to Alvina Cordelia Neal

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Delia Annah Henderson

The following letters were written by 21 year-old Delia Annah Henderson (1843-1914) in the days following the notice of her older half-brother’s death at the Battle of Deep Bottom on the 16th of August 1864. Delia’s brother was Lt. Colonel Thomas Albert Henderson (1833-1864) of the 7th New Hampshire Infantry. Prior to his enlistment, Thomas had graduated from Bowdoin College in 1855, the Harvard Law School in 1861, and was admitted to the Suffolk Bar in Boston.

Delia and Thomas were two of several children born to Samuel Hoyt Henderson (1798-1867) of Dover, Strafford county, New Hampshire. Thomas was borne by Samuel’s first wife, Delia Paul (1804-1837) and Delia was borne by Samuel 2nd wife, Sarah Ann Guppy (1812-1900).

Delia wrote the letters to Alvina (“Allie”) Cordelia Neal (1840-1905) who would become her sister-in-law in a few years. In August 1868, Delia and George (“Georgie”) William Neal (1844-1884) of Kittery, Maine, were married. The cdv’s on this page were attached to these two letters and since both back marks indicate they were taken by the artist E. T. Brigham in his Dover, N. H. studio, I feel confident they are of Delia A. Henderson.

Letter 1

Dover [New Hampshire]
August 23rd 1864

Darling Allie,

I just wrote you a line this morning to inform you of the death of my dear brother Thomas. He was killed on last Tuesday. We received the news Saturday night. His body has been embalmed and we are expecting it anytime. Our grief seems greater than we can bear. I can hardly keep about, having passed three sleepless nights and two such long, sad days. I fear I cannot bear up under the greatest affliction I ever had. The pride, the pet, the loved one of our circle is gone. Oh, my God, give us that strength & consolation which seems to cause everyone to mourn as his. I send you a paper containing a notice of his death. It has been in a number of papers but we could not obtain many except of these.

Poor dear John—away from all his friends, has to bear his shock alone. I fear we shall not have him many years. I shall have more friends in heaven that upon earth soon. Oh! how I wish I could join them now. But no, I must suffer on. We mourn and mourn deeply, but we try and not murmur. But everything seems so dark and gloomy to us. Our deep mourning garments but faintly express the blackness of all around us.

Oh Allie, I wish you were with me today. T’would be a comfort, I know. We have had so many of his friends here, but I have seen none. Mother had to see them. It seems as though his associates here could not bear it. But He who sent this affliction upon us will give us strength to bear it. It has never been so hard for me to say, “All’s for the best.” I am almost worn out with grief. But I trust I shall be able to go through the trying scenes which are yet to come. I thank you most heartily for your kind note. Tell [your brother] Georgie his letter was a source of consolation. I will write him when I am calmer. Do write soon. Pray that I may not murmur at our affliction but that God in his mercy will give me strength to bear it. Yours in the deepest sorrow and affliction, — Delia A. H.

I did not receive your letter till Saturday night.

Letter 2

Delia Annah Henderson

Dover [New Hampshire]
August 28th 1864

Dearest Allie,

I feel too sad to read, too sad to speak, and too sad to write to anyone but you. Oh such a long, sad week as this has been. But today seems sadder and longer than any of the past week because I have been so busy and we have had so many things to see to, that it has taken up my attention some. But today, everything seems so quiet and death-like. We are all too full of sorrow to speak except with tears.

The body of our dear brother has not yet arrived and you can perhaps imagine what waring anxiety & surprise we have passed through when every train we expected him. He may come at any time. The chaplain was only waiting for a leave of absence, before starting with his body. It has been embalmed, and if it was properly done, we will look as natural as when he died. What a consolation it is to us to know that he never fell into the Rebels hands, and that we can have his body to bury, and know where he is laid.

We received a letter from the Colonel yesterday saying he was wounded by a rifle ball in his thigh. He was hit at 12 and died at three o’clock, Tuesday the 16th. The Colonel spoke to him about two minutes before but had to go to the General for orders. When returning, he met a soldier carrying an officer wrapped in a blanket on his shoulders and was told ’twas Col. Henderson. He was immediately put in an ambulance in an ambulance and carried to the hospital where he had every attention but the Surgeon at once knew ’twas a mortal wound. He lingered three hours. Oh! what hours of anguish those must have been away from ever loved friend.

Thomas Albert Henderson of the 7th New Hampshire Infantry when he was a lieutenant

The chaplain was with him all the time and when he arrives we shall know many things we wish so much to know. Oh, Allie! You know not what grief our is. You can perhaps imagine how you would feel in like circumstances but when the sad reality is forced upon you, you find it ’tis very different. He was such a good, kind and thoughtful brother that it seems so hard to give him up. As everyone here says, he has not left one stain upon his name. He was too noble and brave to meet such a death, and it does not seem right that so much talent as he had should so soon be cut off. I don’t know how I can ever bear to have him buried. Then ’tis doubly hard, for he is to be buried under military & masonic orders from the church. It would be hard enough to bury him in a quiet way, but this will almost kill us. We would not consent for a long time, but as everyone most wants to attend the funeral, we had to sacrifice our feelings for others.

The past week has done the work of a year upon me. I have slept but very little and food I don’t care for, Oh! can I bear this dreadful shock. Why was the blow permitted to fall upon the idolized one. You know, Allie, he was worthy to be proud of and loved and no death has occurred in this place which this world cannot give. If convenient, please inform our friends of his death. Do write me soon.

Your friend in the deepest sorrow. — Delia A. H.

7th New Hampshire Infantry

1863: Calvin Shedd to his Wife

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An unidentified 2nd Lieutenant from New Hampshire (Dave Morin Collection)

This letter was written by 37 year-old 2Lt. Calvin Shedd who enlisted in September 1861 as a sergeant in Co. C, 7th New Hampshire Infantry. He was promoted to 1st Sergeant on the 4th of July 1862 and accepted a commission as 2nd Lieutenant of Co. A two weeks later.

There are 44 letters that were written by Calvin Shedd between 1862-64 that are housed in the South Carolina Library under the title, Calvin Shedd Papers, 1862-1864. Connected with that collection comes the following biographical sketch:

Calvin Shedd was born in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, in 1826. A devoted husband and father, Shedd enlisted as a private in Company C, Seventh Regiment, New Hampshire Volunteers, on 6 November 1861, at the age of thirty-five. He was appointed sergeant on 15 November 1861, and achieved the rank of first sergeant on 4 July 1862. Shedd was promoted to second lieutenant, Company A, on 23 July 1862, and discharged with a disability on 31 December 1863. Shedd returned to New England and then travelled to Illinois and Indiana to support his family in the years after the Civil War. He eventually returned to New England and died in Tewksbury on 11 June 1891 at the age of sixty-five. Much of Shedd’s life remains a mystery. For two brief periods, however, from 1861 to 1863 and 1865 to 1869, a series of letters and documents illuminates his life. Many questions remain: What of Shedd’s life prior to 1861? What did he do between his discharge from the Union Army in 1863 and his travels in Indiana and Illinois? How did Shedd spend the final twenty years of his life?

The Dartmouth College Library collection includes an interesting group of letters written by Shedd to his wife and children in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. A brief note penned in 1859 is followed by a letter of introduction, signed on Shedd’s behalf by several citizens of Enfield. The letter attests to Shedd’s military training in the Massachusetts militia and, coupled with Shedd’s abilities, likely played a role in his early appointment to sergeant. Letters from 1861 and 1862 find Shedd relating his Union Army training experiences at Camp Hale in New Hampshire and shortly thereafter in New York City.[1] Ironically, this portion of Shedd’s military service was among his most difficult and dangerous, as severe overcrowding, poor diet and quarters, and abysmal sanitary and health conditions created a deadly environment that travelled with Shedd and the Seventh Regiment from New York by boat to Key West, Florida. The Dartmouth letters then resume after Shedd’s Civil War service, and document his efforts to receive back pay (1863 to 1865) and his travels to Indiana and Illinois, where he sought work and wages to support his family (1865, 1867, 1869). This essay reproduces only selected documents relating to Shedd’s military discharge and salary matters. As with his Civil War letters, Shedd’s missives from the Midwest offer thoughtful, descriptive observations on his life and activities, as well as heartfelt advice and yearnings for his dear wife and family.

This letter is from the private collection of Jim Doncaster and is published by express consent.

Transcription

General Hospital
Hilton Head, South Carolina
October 10th 1863

Dear Wife,

The mail does not go today but will in the morning. I am feeling stronger and better. If I can get rid of the pain and soreness in my bowels & stop their bleeding, I think I shall soon be fit for duty. [Lt. Col. Joseph C.] Abbott went North yesterday in the Continental. The Arago will go tomorrow. I hear nothing of my leave yet. If it don’t get around soon, I shall go to the regiment as soon as I am any way fit for duty. As badly as I wish to see you all, I can stay away till my time is out if I live so long. I want to see you extremely—now that is a fact, but I have made up my mind not to be disappointed if I don’t get home providing I get better.

I have not been paid yet. I hear that the paymaster is up to Morris [Island] and shall expect to be paid when he returns.

I don’t think of anything to write. There is one thing if Abbott don’t get about 200 conscripts, he can’t be mustered as Colonel. That will be a “grain” of comfort if he stops my promotion.

Yours anyway, — C. Shedd