Baltimore, Maryland | Spared & Shared 23

These letters were written by Erastus Gregory (1833-1863), the son of Levi Gregory (1799-1878) and Clarissa Evans (1810-18xx) of Guilford, Chenango county, New York. Erastus was married in 1854 to Maria Amelia (“Meel”) Place (1835-1911) and had four young children born prior to 1863. Their names were Virgil Carruth Gregory (1852-1947), Merritt Charles Gregory (1855-1920), Mary M. Gregory (1856-1920), and Hattie Jennie Gregory (1861-1954). A fifth child, Henry Gregory was born in 1863.

Erastus enlisted as a private on 24 July 1862 in Co. C, 114th New York Infantry. His letters—20 in number—begin with his description of the journey from Norwich, where the regiment was organized, to Binghamton by canal boats, and proceeding thence to Baltimore. In November, the regiment sailed for New Orleans as part of Banks’ expedition, and on its arrival there was assigned to Weitzel’s (2nd) brigade, Augur’s (1st) division, 19th corps. It was stationed for a time at Brashear City and neighboring points, and was first engaged at Fort Bisland, where it had 11 men wounded, 3 mortally. It did not participate in the Bayou Teche campaign, but joined its corps before Port Hudson, May 30, 1863, where it was actively engaged for 40 days in the siege and suffered severely in the grand assault of June 14, 1863, where Erastus was killed.

Letter 1

Baltimore
September 10th 1862

Dear Friends,

I take this opportunity to write to you to let you know that I am well at present and hope this letter will find you the same. I started from Norwich about Sunday and rode all night and till noon the next day and arrived at Binghamton. We stayed there until the next day at 11 o’clock on Monday. Then we were marched on board the cars and was not off five minutes to time until we got to Baltimore, three hundred miles. We had some fears of the rebels on our way. They tried to meet us at the junction but they was a little behind the time. We got there first. They was one and a half miles from there when we went through. Our train was drove by two engines adn we flew now, you may believe.

It seems droll here to see everything guarded. Our tables, water, springs, wells, and everything we eat and drink is under guard. I shall write again in a few days. I expect to stay here but do not know. Tell Amelia I am well. Tell the children to be good till I come home. You may think I am homesick but I am not. I have the same determined revenge on the rebels as ever. I shall write again soon. I have not got time now to write all I want. Give my love to all enquiring friends. Yours, — Erastus Gregory

Letter 2

Baltimore
September 12th 1862

Dear Friends,

You will not expect to hear from me again so soon but I have an opportunity to write and I will improve it with pleasure. When I wrote before, I was too tired to write. I had just got off from the cars and had slept in the engine house all night on the hard floor and a good night’s rest it was for me too after riding on the canal and railroad three days and nights without sleep and without only two meals of victuals and one of them after I got to Baltimore. We had a few crackers to eat but we were not allowed to get off the cars to get anything to eat and we are not allowed to buy any extra victuals here unless we do it at the risk of or lives for there is a great many gets poisoned by eating things that they buy that has been poisoned by secesh. Over one half of the city of Baltimore is secesh today and just out of the city is 13 heavy government guns loaded with shells and are pointed towards the city so that the first move that they—the secesh—make to help the rebels will be rewarded by having their city, their houses, and their property destroyed by fire in less time than it takes to write it.

We are surrounded by revels on all sides. There us an army of them got up as far as Harrisburg within two hundred miles of Binghamton but they are after them and they will have them too before they get where they intend to go. But they have made their brags that they were going to New York and was going to destroy all the property that they could get their hands on. But I guess McClellan will foil them before they accomplish their purpose.

You folks that life in Old Guilford know very little of what is going on here. They say that they have got every secessionist in the Southern army but this is not so, for there is thousands in the City of Baltimore alone that would fight against the Union if they dared to do it. And I almost believe that we have got to turn out almost to a man and have an awful battle between freedom, slavery or secession, and I believe that we shall have to have ten hundred thousand men from the Northern states yet before we can surround and take them.

Our regiment is in first rate health and spirits and we are all ready for a fight. And we shall have one here very soon in all probability. Read this letter to Amelia and tell her that I have not forgotten her and the children. Tell the children to be good and tell Hanky [?] and Augusty that I send my best respects to them. Tell Bill and Fideel that I have got down South and I send my best respects to them and tell Bill to come down some day and see me, Tell him he will have to get his horse the night before if he gets back the same day.

I shall have to take the 2nd sheet to finish my letter. Give my love to all enquiring friends. Tell Alva’s folks that I send my best respects to them and wish them well. Tell Bill to take my splints and make Bill gun [?] one bushel and one half bushel basket and make Uncle Azor one bushel basket and then if he can afford to give anymore, let Meel have it and he may have the rest. Tell him to give Israel Townsend a bushel basket. I like to forgot him. And send Homer up to Azariah Albour’s and get my sythe and snoth and whetstone and take it home and I will pay him for it. And Azariah owes me 3 shillings and I want you to tell Wash Chambers to make him pay it any way and then you can give it to Amelia.

Perhaps you will want to know about the weather here. It is a little warmer here than it is there. There has not been any frost here yet although in some parts of Pennsylvania when we came through I noticed that they had had a harder frost than you had there. But the trees are as green here as they are there the 1st of July. There are peaches here in great abundance. They are brought into the City by the wagon load after load.

We have had some good news here today. If it is true, I am glad. But I fear it is not so. We heard that Stonewall Jackson had been taken with 30,000 prisoners. It is a good thing if it is and will be a good blow towards crushing out this rebellion and we shall soon see better times and be permitted to return to our homes in peace.

I wish that you could all see the City of Baltimore and Harrisburg. The City of Baltimore is seven miles long and five miles wide and there is scarcely a house in it but that is made of brick. The streets are all laid with cobble stone and a wagon makes more noise than the cars do. There is two forts near the city, one on one side and the other on the other side so that it is impossible for the rebels to enter the city without a fight. There is not one minute in 24 hours but what there is a train of cars running through the city and five hundred wagons a going all the time and it makes quite a noise, you may as well think, and negroes by the wholesale. More than half [are] negroes, both white and black. There are negroe wenches here that are lighter skinned than a great many women up there who pretend to be white.

I do not think of much more to write and if I did, I have not got room. Tell Meel to be a good girl and be good to the children and I shall be back as soon as I can. Tell her that my health is good so far and I guess this climate will agree with me first rate. You must write to me as soon as you get this and write for Meel and write all the news for I do not know how long we shall stay here. — Erastus George

The following letters were written by James E. Weir who mustered in as a private in Co. C, 5th New York Infantry on 9 May 1861 to serve two years. He mustered out with company on 14 May 1863, at New York city. The regiment—also known as Duryée’s Zouaves—were moved to the Virginia Peninsula with two weeks of their mustering into service and encamped near Fortress Monroe, and then at Newport News before leading the force at Big Bethel in mid-June 1861. Following that they were sent to Baltimore to protect the railroads and the city. They garrisoned an earthen fort at the summit of Federal Hill.

*Duryea Zouaves, Adjutant General Regimental Mess, Fort Schuyler, May 18, 1861. Metropolitan Museum of Art*

Letter 1

Camp Hamilton
June 26, 1861

Dear Father & Mother,

I write you these few lines to let you know that I am in good health as I hope you are at present. We are very busy here at present digging trenches and building batteries. We are building four batteries about a mile apart. We work at night time so they cannot see us working. Last Sunday we went over to Hampton—40 of us—and got a flag pole, the first one that ever had a secession flag on. We dug it up and brought it over here to camp and we expect to raise it on the Fourth of July and have a good time over it. I send you a piece of the pole as a relic. It is the same pole that we took the secession flag from that was sent down to the city last week.

We have got two pieces of artillery—one a Howitzer, and the other is a rifled cannon and we expect some in the course of a week or so.

The sergeant that got shot last week is getting along very well. I just came in from picket guard. We have ben away for two days. We have to march 10 miles before we get to the place where the guard stops. It is very hot out here. There is not a man out here but is sun burnt and the skin is pealing off their face. I forgot to tell you that every regiment takes turns once a week. We all get along very well here—only for the sun.

Robert Williams is a disgrace to his company and the regiment. I suppose that he will get drummed out of the regiment so if he comes home, you will know the reason. On Monday when we were on drill, there was a pair of pantaloons hanging up in one of Company A’s tents and there was some letters and money in them and when the man came after them, he swore he did not see them and he had them on him at the same time and he was the first one to open his knapsack and let them search it. He lost his own and that [was] the reason he took them, because he thought that he was going home so let all the boys know it. He is inn the guard house now waiting to be court martialed.

I sent a letter to James White but did not get an answer yet. There was one of Company A men died yesterday and was taken to the City. Give my best respects to all my friends and all the boys and girls. Send word how the children is. I hope they are getting better again. Remember me to William Henry. So no more at present. From your affectionate son, – James E. Weir

I wish you would send me a couple of envelopes. I have only a few. Goodbye. Write soon as I am anxious to know how you are all. Tell John Bolen to write soon.

Letter 2

Camp Federal Hill
July 30th 1861

Dear Father & Mother,

I write these few lines to let you know that I am in good health as I hope you are at present.

On Thursday we got orders to strike tents and get three days rations ready for a march to Fox Hill and then from there to Yorktown. But the order was countermanded and then the orders was to march on to Washington. So we started about 10 o’clock the next night and embarked on board the steamer Adelaide for Baltimore, then to Washington, but instead of going to Washington we encamped on Federal Hill, Baltimore, near Fort McHenry. It is a splendid place. We have a splendid view of the City of Baltimore. It looks more like being home.

Last night we had a long roll and every man was in line in less time than could be thought of. Then there was four companies picked out for to go to President Street Railroad Station to quell a riot. But when we got there, it was all over so they had no fun as they call it. We had crowds of visitors every day coming to see us. I sent you a Secession envelope which I got in the City of Baltimore.

Robert Williams ¹ received his sentence last night. His sentence was to have his head shaved and receive no pay and a board hanging around his neck with the word “Thief” printed on it and be drummed out of the regiment for stealing a pair of pants from Private Wams [?] of Company I. Also stealing a sash from Private [Charles E.] Ellis in the same tent with himself, and third stealing a pistol from Private [William] Potts, also in the same tent with him. There is not a man in the company sorry for him but they pity his father and mother as I do myself. Some of the boys says he run the guard. I have not seen him since last night so I cannot tell.

We expect to go to Washington as soon as some regiment relieves us as we had to relieve the 18th Pennsylvania Regiment. But not until then.

Give my best respects to all my friends and all the boys and girls, Remember me to the children and to William Henry. Tell Albert Buschman he must excuse me for not writing as we have been very busy ever since I received his, but I will write as soon as I get time. Sergeants [George E.] Hager and [Galbreath] Mathews send their best respects to you. When you write, direct your letter to Camp Federal Hill, Baltimore, instead of Camp Hamilton. No more at present. From your affectionate son, — James E. Weir

Write soon. Goodbye.

¹ Robert H. Williams was 19 years old when he enlisted in April 1861 at New York City to serve as a private in Co. C, 5th New York Infantry. He deserted on 31 July 1861 at Baltimore, Maryland.

Letter 3

Camp Federal Hill
November 3rd 1861

Dear Father,

I received your letter of the 1st inst. and was glad to find you well as I am very well myself. We have got done working on our battery and have 36 guns mounted on it. We also raised a large flag pole about 150 feet hight and hoisted the Stars & Stripes on it last week. The flag is 36 x 20 feet wide—one that was presented to us by the people of Baltimore, Maryland.

*An unknown soldier in the 5th New York Infantry (LOC)*

We drill about twice a week on the guns. I wrote to James White and have not received any answer yet and a couple from Albert Buschman. I am glad that you had such a good time on hallow eve. I wrote to Johnny McGrayan about 3 weeks ago and have not got any answer. Tell him I would like to hear from him very much. I heard that all the boys and girls has moved away from around there.

I would like very much if you would send me the Weekly instead of the Ledger for there is a man in our tent that gets it. Then we could have two papers instead of one.

Sergeant [Norman H.] Camp has got a commission in a New Jersey Regiment as 2nd Lieutenant. ¹ The men is very sorry for him leaving us.

I send you a piece of stone that came from a battery of six guns which sunk the English fleet when they were bombarding Fort McHenry in Baltimore. There was a large swivel gun mounted on this stone of which this is a piece of.

I suppose that it is very cold in New York now. It is very nice weather here. There was talk of building barracks next week for winter quarters.

Give my best respects to Henry and give my best respects to the boys and girls. No more at present. From your son, — James E. Weir

Write soon. I received the papers you sent.

¹ Norman H. Camp was promoted sergeant in Co. C on 28 October 1861. He was discharged on 29 October 1861 to accept a commission and 2d Lieutenant of Co. K, 4th New Jersey Volunteers.

Letter 4

Harewood Hospital
October 8, 1862

Dear Father,

I received your letter of the 5th and was glad to find you all in good health. I still continue the same way. I am sorry that I did not see Mrs. Gibson. There is a great many ladies comes here to the hospital to give any little nourishment that the sick like to have. I got a letter from Johnny McGray on the next day after I received yours. He says that Jim is in business in King Street, Alexandria. He wrote about the marriage and said they had a good time of it.

It would be a great deal better for Robert Gibson to get home if he could for he is hardly able to stand it. But he has stuck it out pretty good since he has been in the army. There is no such thing as getting a furlough to go home. Those that is home has skedaddled from the regiments when the fighting was going on and got home.

I have been expecting a letter from one of the boys in the regiment but I believe they have not got any mail yet. But they expect it every day [or] so one of the boys that has left the regiment lately says.

I wish you would tell John Hamilton to write a little oftener. Do not be so long in answering my letters for I feel very bad when I do not hear from home. You might try and see if you could not get me a furlough. If it is any trouble to get it, you need not trouble yourself about it for I am not very anxious to get home for it would be just as bad leaving again as it was when I first left. I will try and see if I cannot get out and see Anthony for I would like to see him very much.

Those men that has deserted ought to be sent somewhere and made [to] work all the time they were away from their regiments.If they cannot stay long enough from home until they serve their time out [that] they swore in for, they ought not join the army but stay home and go and starve. If they do not think enough of the country, they ought to leave it.

Give my respects to all the boys and girls. Also remember me to William, Henry, and the children. No more. From your affectionate son, — James E. Weir

Write soon.