Category Archives: 97th Pennsylvania Infantry

1862: Benjamin Linton to Emily C. Wilson

January 29, 2026 Griff Leave a comment

The following letter was written by Benjamin Linton (1841-1903), the son Hezekiah Linton (1789-1858) and Elizabeth Hibbard Davis (1805-1886) of West Fallowfield, Chester county, Pennsylvania. Benjamin was working as a school teacher in Cochranville, Pennsylvania, where, at age 20, he enlisted in Co. B, 97th Pennsylvania Infantry. He reenlisted as a veteran at Fernandina, Florida on Mar. 15, 1864, to date Jan 1, 1864 and was wounded in the left hip during the action at Petersburg Mine (Battle of the Crater) on July 30, 1864. He was absent at muster out on account of wounds while in the U. S. Hospital at Hampton, Virginia, and was discharged at the hospital to date August 28, 1865.

He was working as a clerk in Philadelphia when he died of Brights disease in 1903. His widow was Rebecca (Roberts) Linton (1842-1933).

To read other letters by member of the 97th Pennsylvania Infantry, see: John L. Hosmer, F&S, 97th Pennsylvania (1 Letter)
Harvey Kauffman, Co. C, 97th Pennsylvania (1 Letter)
Isaac Smedley, Co. C, 97th Pennsylvania (1 Letter)

*This image showing Union troops marching down Second Street in Fernandina, was published on March 4, 1862.*

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

Jacksonville, Florida
April 7th 1862

Friend Emily,

I received thy welcome and interesting letter some time ago and want of time and dislike for writing I will have to offer as an excuse. I have just finished eating supper of which we had a little extra this evening. It was not such as Uncle Sam provides for his labors, but it was bought by us Soger Boys who have not forgotten what is good. It consisted of fish the size of which thee can judge when I tell thee that two of them was sufficient for 85 men. We had with them buckwheat cakes which were baked by myself and I think I can do it just right. These with butter and molasses and plenty of good coffee formed the supper which to us really tasted good. But to change the subject I will give the same account of where we have been since I wrote before.

I believe we were then on Hilton Head Island. We left there the 21st of January and got on the Steamer Boston where we remained until the 3rd of February, and then owing to our being so crowded, three companies of us, B, C, &F, got onto the Belvedere where we remained until the 10th of February. We then landed on Warsaw Island off the Georgia [coast]. This we found to be the most desolate place we had been. There was not the least vestige of habitation upon it. In fact, none could endure it. We remained here nine days until the 19th. We then got on the Belvedere again where we remained until the 6th ultimo. We then landed in Fernandina on the Amelia Island, so we were on the water most of the time for six weeks and at the end of that time find ourselves within aboyut two hundred miles of the starting point, which journey might have been accomplished in one day. But I guess they want to make sailors as well as soldiers of us.

Amelia Island is separated from the mainland by the St. Mary’s River. Fermandina is a beautiful town. The houses are all frame but well finished and nearly new, as it is only about seven years [since] the construction of the town commenced and it has now (or had before we came) a population of about three thousand inhabitants. But most of them fled before we got there. By the time we got well enough acquainted with the place to begin to feel like home, we were ordered to move for it is not the soldier’s destiny to remain long in one place. So on the 24th ultimo, we again got on the Steamer. This time we were put aboard the Cosmopolitan. We ran out the St. Mary’s River into the great Atlantic. We then took a southern course to the mouth of the St. John’s River. Here we turned in and ran up to Jacksonville. Her we landed about 5 o’clock the same evening—the first time we had been on the mainland for about four months.

Jacksonville is situated on the left bank of the St. John’s River. It is a fine town—about three times as large as Fernandina. We have taken up quarters in the houses vacated by the Secesh. Our company is in a large brick house at the corner of Bay and Laura Streets. It was formerly used as a store under the firm of Bisbee & Canove, but they with many other citizens fled before we came. All who remained now profess to be Unionists. The man is still here who first raised the Secesh flag in this town. He now proclaims as loudly as any for the Stars & Stripes and the Constitution. As I have nothing more to write of our journeying and I can think of nothing more that will be interesting, I will have to conclude. Give my respects to all the folks and all inquiring friends.

Don’t forget to write soon for thee cannot imagine the desire of a soldier to receive letters from his friends and acquaintances from whom he is so far ermoved without the expectation of seeing them for some time. And we do not know that we shall be allowed the privilege of ever returning home to see those we have left behind. We can but hope and pray for the best. And if we are not permitted to meet again on earth, let us meet in heaven where we shall never part again. From your friend, — Benjamin Linton

Camp 97th Reg. P. V. Col. H[enry] R. Guss

P. S. Give my best respects to Abbie and tell her I wish her much happiness in the new position of life in which I understand she has taken upon herself. — Benjamin Linton

N. B. Mr. Nelson Boyer sends his best respects.

97th Pennsylvania Infantry, North Edisto Island

1862: John L. Hosmer to Friend Susie

October 8, 2025 Griff Leave a comment

The following letter was written by John L. Hosmer (1837-1895) from North Edisto Island, South Carolina, in May 1862 while serving in the 97th Pennsylvania Infantry. He entered the war on 10 October 1861 at West Chester, Pennsylvania, as a private in Co. H but was later made a musician in the regimental band. He was discharged from the regiment on 31 August 1862, having served only 10.5 months, when the War Department ordered the discharge of all Regimental Bands.

In May 1862, Union forces on the island came from 13 units: First Massachusetts Cavalry, Third Rhode Island Infantry, Captain Hamilton’s Battery of Artillery, Third New Hampshire Infantry, 45th Pennsylvania Infantry, 55th Pennsylvania Infantry, 76th Pennsylvania Infantry, 97th Pennsylvania Infantry, 6th Connecticut Infantry, 7th Connecticut Infantry, 46th New York Infantry, 47th New York Infantry, and Colonel Small’s Engineers. The 55th Pennsylvania was the only regiment to remain when the troops disembarked on June 2 on Hunter’s campaign to attack Charleston which failed when the Confederate won a victory in the Battle of Secessionville on nearby James Island on June 16.

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

97th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers
Camp North Edisto, [South Carolina]
May 4, 1862

Dear Susie,

Your most welcome letter was received last night and I hasten to answer it. I am glad to hear that you are well, and I hope you may enjoy the same blessing for a long time to come. I am very well at present and I stand the hardships of a soldier’s life better than I expected to. We live first rate since we have been here on this island. There are plenty of blackberries, clams, oysters, and sweet potatoes. I have blackberry sauce every meal. You ought to see us, each one with his tin cup a stewing his own cup of berries and we make very good sauce too, if we only had a little more sugar to put in it.

It is very warm down here in the middle of the days, but it is right pleasant in the morning and evening. I do not know how we will stand it through the summer for it will get very hot about July and August, but we will have to worry through somehow or other.

There is one of the prettiest places here that I ever saw. I wish you were here to wander with me through the splendid garden and handsome grove of the Seabrook mansion. The garden is filled with the most beautiful flowers of all kinds. Enclosed you will find one of the small roses which I pulled from a bush in the garden. Susie, wish I could send you a bouquet from this beautiful garden. The man that owns it is in the Rebel army. What a pity it is to have to leave such a place. That is the fruits of being a rebel.

Union troops occupying the grounds of John Seabrook’s plantation on Edisto Island.

Susie, you spoke of me leaving your likeness in the deep blue sea. If it had been the original that fell in, I would have went to the bottom with you.

We have not had any fighting to do yet, but I do not [know] how soon we may have some to do. Pickets were fired on last night but no one was hurt. Hillary is well at present and sends his love to you.

Well I must cut this short as it is time to play Tattoo. Give my best respects to all. Susie, I received a letter [from] Hannum Baldwin about two weeks ago, and one from Morris about four weeks ago. Now Susie, please write to me again soon and oblige yours ever, — J. L. Hosmer

97th Pennsylvania Infantry, Fernandina, Florida

1862: Isaac Smedley to a Friend

November 22, 2023 Griff Leave a comment

The following letter was written by Isaac Smedley (1838-1867), the eldest son of Jeffrey Smedley (1810-1861) and Catherine W. Denny (1802-1877) of Willistown, Chester county, Pennsylvania. Isaac was 23 years-old when he was mustered into Co. C, 97th Pennsylvania Infantry on 11 September 1861. He was quickly appointed 1st Sergeant of his company and was commissioned at 2nd Lieutenant on 19 February 1862. He was discharged for disability on 9 March 1863, at Seabrook Island, South Carolina. Unmarried, he sadly died of consumption (tuberculosis) on 12 February 1867 at the young age of 28 and was buried in Willistown Friends Cemetery, Chester, Delaware Co.

In his letter, Isaac describes the expedition led by Flag Officer Samuel Du Pont to take Fernandina, Florida—a railroad connected port city of some importance near the border with Georgia. With limited resources at hand in early 1862, the Confederates strengthened Savannah and Charleston and all but abandoned the lesser ports like Fernandina which was guarded by Fort Clinch. When an escaped slave informed DuPont that Fernandina was only lightly defended, he took the city with little or no resistance. The 97th Pennsylvania was part of that expedition and remained in Fernandina from March 5th until March 24th, when they moved to Jacksonville. Isaac suggests that the few rebels that guarded Fernandina were duped into not firing on the Union fleet because they approached the city under French colors but I have not been able to verify this under any other account.

See Sibling Saturday–Five Smedley Brothers of Pennsylvania.

Transcription

This image showing Union troops marching down Second Street in Fernandina, was published on March 4, 1862. On March 3, the Union fleet had arrived and exchanged fire with the Confederates, who were abandoning Fort Clinch.

Fernandina, [Florida]
March 14, 1862

Dear Ed,

Your letter dated February 2nd did not reach me direct as it should or I would have answered ere this but you do not know how a letter is appreciated when received by friends so near home. It is the only way we can hear from that source and I am ever ready and on hand to answer promptly as possible. You no doubt think I am negligent but it is not the case. I have now several letters to go and a mail may not leave here for a week or perhaps two.

The 21st of January, we left Hilton Head for a few days only we thought. Near two months have elapsed since that time and we have seen many changes and some little hardships. We have lost four men since I last wrote to you, but am happy to say that I only had five men to report at the Doctor’s this morning, so you see the health of the company is good. As for me, I am in excellent health, having completely recovered of the measles sufficient to attend to my business which is no trifling task, but have a little of the work taken from me by taking the letters O. S. [Orderly Sergeant] from the rear of my name and affixing Lieut. to the front. I expect a commission from Gov. Curtin by the next mail. Your friend Harry and myself have a marque to ourselves, and I tell you we live like fighting cocks. He is at this present time mixing some cakes to cook for supper. He says that you are two or three letters in his debt and would like them to be forthcoming.

In your last letter you ask if there is anything between that young lady of West Chester and myself. I would just simply say and answer fairly that you are perfectly willing, if she is, welcome to give her your attention, but expect you to surrender on my return from the army.

I cannot say how long we are to stay at this place but think we will not move soon unless we are compelled to by the Rebels and they do not seem to fancy our warlike appearance or they would not have forsaken this town without shedding blood. I was told their force here was six thousand while ours was not more than one half the number. Had they have been armed as well as we are, they could have stopped twenty thousand from entering the town. One mile north of the town is the entrance from the ocean by a channel not more than two hundred yards wide. At the mouth of this channel is a fort of no little strength, built of brick, and mounts near fifty guns of the heaviest caliber, besides smaller ones. They had great advantages at this place, as our gun boats had to go so close before doing any execution, and besides the channel was so narrow that no two boats could get in at once. But the real fact is they will not stand fire. It would have done you good to have seen us coming down the stream.

When we got in sight of a few houses, the boys were all on deck watching and looking for something to do. We did not know at this time whether there would be any resistance or not. We kind of drawed the wool over their eyes at one time by showing false colors. It appears—from what the niggers say here—that the Rebels have been looking for a month back the arrival of a French vessel to ship some cotton to that country and by arrangements of Commodore DuPont, all vessels kept in the rear, except the one he was on, and that one ventured in under French colors. This the Rebels thought was bully for them, so they sent a Colonel and a few men in a small boat to meet the Commodore. He then stopped his boat, allowed them to get aboard, and after telling them they were prisoners, deposited them below for safe keeping and immediately hoisted the flag of our Union. This I consider was a pretty nice affair, but we had one great disadvantage to contend with, which was the low tide of waters, the channel being so narrow that the large vessels which carried the transports could not get in which gave the Rebels time enough to leave the town and take everything with them of any value. The only capture we made of any importance was a pleasure boat. It would have made its escape had it not have been for a shell fired after it, warning it of the danger of attempting to pass one of those Kill Devils, as the Rebels call them and dread so much.

I have just come in from drill and will attempt to finish this letter before dress parade. Lieut. Griffith has been unwell ever since we came here, which throws the company in my charge. I have had no time to go into town since I came here, only a few minutes at a time. I want to as soon as Lieut. Griffith is able to command the company, to take a good look over it and see a little over the country. It has been a splendid place and from the style of the houses, there must have been an aristocratic set of inhabitants therein. The town is about the size of West Chester. Our place of encampment is south of it about a hundred yards alongside of a park.

The papers you speak of we get a goodly number of them from you and peruse them with interest. Accept my sincere thanks for paper, pen, and ink which Harry shared with me and will try to remunerate you in some future time. Hoping to hear from you soon, and if this letter has not tired you, please answer.

I am truly your friend, — Isaac Smedley, O.S., Co. C, 97th Regt. P. V.

Address Port Royal