“Broke Up Jeff Davis’ Ball”

The following letter was written by Peter Baggerly (1841-1925) of Savannah, Wayne county, New York, who enlisted as a recruit in March 1864 to serve in Co. G, 9th New York Heavy Artillery. He was described at that time as a 5 foot 10 inch tall, brown-haired farmer. He was wounded on 15 March 1865 before Petersburg and was transferred on 27 June 1865 to the 2d N. Y. H. A.

Peter was the son of Hezekiah Owen Baggerly (1814-1891) and Olive Dewey (1817-1902). After the war he married Margaret Sibley (1846-1930) and lived out his days in Clyde, Wayne county, New York.

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

*Peter’s letter was written on stationery with the poem titled. “How the Veterans Broke Up Jeff Davis’ Ball.” It celebrates the defeat of Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia at Gettysburg.*

Fort Foot
Sunday, April 10th 1864

Dear Friend,

As I had a spare time, I thought I would let you know where I am stationed. I suppose you have heard that I was in the army. Well I am well as usual and hope you are ditto. We are fourteen miles south of Washington on the Potomac river on a bluff about 100 feet above the river. It is a very nice place and have nice times. There is only five companies here. We have good victuals and good clean barracks and good straw beds to sleep on.

I have seen some of the boys from around Clifton. I saw Mike and George Kipp and some others from around your community. But enough of that.

How does Olin get along married? I suppose by this time he has been down to our town but I was not there to wait on him. I would like to have been home. I would had some fun with him. I will bet he got lost before he got home. You must take care of him till he can take care of himself. But enough of him.

Now if you will think this worth answering, I should be happy to hear from you and more than that, I want your photograph and when I get some, you can have one if you wish. You must excuse my writing this sheet wrong side up as I did not see it till it was too late to prevent it. Answer soon. So goodbye for now. From your friend, — Peter Baggerly

To Isabel Spangle

P. S. Don’t you let Uncle Harrison’s folks know that I wrote to you before I wrote to them or Robert’s folks.

Direct to Mr. Peter Baggerly. Co. G, 9th Artillery, N. Y. V., Washington D. C.