Category Archives: Camp Griffin

49th Pennsylvania Infantry, Camp Griffin

1861: Hiram Greenland to William Greenland

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I could not find an image of Hiram but here is one of Jacob Wagner who served in Co. I of the 49th Pennsylvania Infantry (Photo Sleuth)

The following letter was written by Hiram Greenland (1839-1873), the son of Nathan Greenland (1805-1880) and Matilda Ramsey (1810-1865) of Calvin, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania. Hiram was 21 years old, a single farmer living with his parents when he enlisted in September 1861 at Harrisburg in the 49th Pennsylvania Infantry. He was mustered into the service on 24 October 1861 at Camp Griffin in Virginia (near Lewinsville) where he wrote this letter to his cousin three weeks later. Muster records indicate that Hiram was in Co. D when he began his service but was later transferred to Co. B and then eventually deserted and was dishonorably discharged in November 1864. After the war he settled in Chester county and died in 1873. There is a soldier’s marker on his grave in Cassville, Pa.

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

Patriotic stationery (with Poem to the 49th Penna. Regiment) used in Hiram’s letter.

Headquarters 49th Penna. Regiment
Co. [D]
Camp Griffin, Va.
December 17, 1861

Cousin,

I resume my pen today in order to answer a letter which I received a good spell back and I am almost ashamed to write now any more but, however, there has not been anything going on or any importance since I received yours and I have a great many more to write to than I can tend to so that I forget who I have wrote to and who I have to but don’t think that I have wrote to you lately.

Now I must inform you that Alfred Swope, Amos B[ ] and myself has had the measles and is just getting so that we can be up and move around a little yet but I feel very weak yet and I don’t think that I will be fit for duty before New Years if all goes right and I don’t get a backset now. The health of the 49th is very poor for there is as many as 175 on the sick list but yet there has been but three died yet and the typhoid fever is one of the main diseases. Yet our surgeons is master of it and has not lost a case of fever.

Now you stated in your letter something which I have not saw in any letter yet but yours which was that I ought to be up there—that I was needed for a teacher. In return I would just say that let the scholars take care of themselves and let the teachers, which are needed worse here than there, take up arms and fight to maintain their rights and liberties and there is the time when all is peace to return to the school room.

When I enlisted in this great conquest, I did not think of anything but that it was my duty to do so and I think that it is the duty of every young man that was brought up under the Stars & Stripes and that lived in peace under them should now rally round the flag and see that it is not insulted.

Now you stated that you was down to see my gal. When you was up at our place, I spect you didn’t stay.

Our regiment was out on a scout on December 6th with several others but the 49th went 12 miles farther than any of the rest and drove the rebel pickets in and chased them all to Centreville. So says a contraband that was brought in a few days after. Now I feel so bad that I will close for the present. No more but remain your affectionate friend, — H. Greenland

[to] William Greenland

Answer and address to Washington D. C., 49th Regt. P. V. in care of Capt. J[ames] D. Campbell

49th New York Infantry, Camp Griffin

1862: Clark Benjamin Ely to Cornelia (Mattocks) Ely

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A post war image of Clark B. Ely (ancestry.com)

This letter was written by 24 year-old Clark Benjamin Ely (1837-1926) who enlisted, August 26, 1861, at Jamestown, to serve three years in Co. K, 49th New York Infantry. He mustered into the service on September 18, 1861; was wounded in action, September 17,1862, at the Battle of Antietam; and was discharged for his wounds, November 13, 1862, at a hospital in New York City. Records from later in life reveal that Clark received gunshot wounds to the right hip and right ankle.

Clark was the son of Samuel Ely (1786-1886) and Artless Clark (1808-1903) of Chautauqua county, New York. His younger brother, mentioned in the letter, Samuel Ely, Jr. (1839-1923) also served in the same company of the 49th New York. Clark was married in 1859 to Cornelia Adele Mattocks (1837-1912) and was residing in Poland, New York, at the time of the 1860 US Census and employed as a “farm laborer.”

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

Camp Griffin [Langley, Virginia]
January 12, 1862

Dear Cornelia,

I seat myself to write to you again and I hope you are well and happy and the rest of your folks are the same. I am well as usual with the exception of the toothache and I had an old time yesterday having it pulled out and then did not get it. The Doctor tried it and broke the top off and then hitched onto it again and pulled and pulled and broke another piece off and twisted my jaw out of place and I guess he split it. I can’t open my mouth hardly any and can’t chew one bit. Oh Cornelia, I never was in such misery in all my life. The Doctor gave me morphine and laudanum but nothing could affect me one bit. I just raved and tore for two hours and he commenced to give me liquor and that eased it. I took two chunks of opium as big as the end of your thumb but could not sleep one bit until this morning and am so nervous today I can hardly write. I guess you will know it without my telling you of it.

George is well. He and I went and got our pictures taken yesterday morning and are going to send them today. They’re in one case and if Sarah don’t want it in the case, she can take it out. The case is mine and is a good one and you can get yours taken and put it in where his is and beside of me. That box has not come yet. Sam [Ely] is a getting better and is quite smart. I have not got any letter from you since the one with that receipt in. I sent you twenty dollars. It is at the Chautauqua County Bank.

The Boys all say my picture is a good one but I think it is some cross for my tooth ached dreadful hard and as soon as I came back, I let the Doctor at it and he gave me fits and [still] did not get the tooth out. The roots are all in [yet].

Sam [Ely] 1 was put in Corporal at New York but night before last he and one other corporal got reduced to the ranks and it was old tough for them for the Boys hooted them so. Sam was at the hospital and he did not hear any of it. It was read on Dress Parade before the whole regiment. It was because they were unfaithful to their duty when on guard and on picket. Oh Cornelia, I wouldn’t been in his place for the whole world hardly as I would rather been shot almost than to had it happened to me if I was Corporal.

Give my love to your folks and goodbye my own dear wife. And write often. I must stop for this sheet is full and if you. can read it, you will do well. But you will excuse all bad writing and spelling, won’t you? My love to you forever and ever, and think of your own true and loving husband, — Clark

But if it is the Lord’s will, we will meet again and I hope before long, don’t you?

1 Samuel Ely, Jr.—Age, 22 years. Enlisted, August 26,1861, at Jamestown, to serve three years; mustered in as corporal, Co. K, September 18, 1861; returned to ranks, January 10, 1862; promoted corporal, January 14, 1863; re-enlisted as a veteran, December 14, 1863; promoted sergeant, September 1, 1864; transferred to Co. D , September 17, 1S64; mustered out with company, June 27, 1S65, at Washington, D . C.

6th Vermont Infantry, Camp Griffin

1862: Manly N. Hoyt to “Kind Friends”

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The following letter was written by Pvt. Manly N. Hoyt (1831-1862) of Co. G, 6th Vermont Infantry. Manley was born in Bolton, Vermont. He enlisted in October 1861 and died of chronic diarrhea on 18 July 1862.

The 6th Regiment, recruited from the state at large, was mustered into the U. S. service for three years at Montpelier, Oct. 15, 1861, and immediately ordered to Washington, where it arrived on the 22nd. It proceeded at once to Camp Griffin, where it was attached to the Vermont Brigade. The command remained at this post during the winter and broke camp on March 10, 1862, for the Peninsula Campaign. On April 6, 1862, at Warwick creek, Va., the regiment was first in action, fortunately without loss. The brigade was first a part of the 4th and later of the 6th Corps, with which it was generally known. In the battle of Golding’s farm the 6th won complimentary mention from Gen. Hancock. The loss at Savage Station was severe.

Transcription

Patriotic Stationery used by Manly Hoyt

Camp Griffin
Fairfax county, Virginia
February 13, 1862

Kind friends,

I embrace this opportunity to drop you a few lines to let you know that I am well and wish those few lines will find you all the same.

9 February, the rebels come in sight of our pickets. Our cavalry give chase [and ] captured 15 of them.

The 12th, 26 negro slaves come into camp. It would have done you good to seen those animal kept people free [?] We have not been out on any scout lately.

It is warm here today as June. Our marching tents come today. They are made small. Just large enough for two. It divides into [two halves] and each man carries his part of the tent. The gons gos [?] for the straining sticks so we can take out tents and march and stop under cover. If it rains, we shall be under cover.

The uproar last night was the news came in that of several victories and that we shall advance on the enemy.

February 14. It rains here now though it is quite warm. We shot at a mark 50 rods. The man that hit the bullseye is excused from duty two weeks. Captain [William Henry Harrison] Hall has a furlough. He starts today or tomorrow.

I am just informed that 6 batteries come into camp last night (36 pieces). Capt. has started. He come to every tent and shake hands with everyone of us and bid us all goodbye for a few days. We was very sorry to part with him but I hope he will return before we are called into action. Some of our soldiers even shed tears. You may think this foolish but if you go into battle, you would like to know who led you—one that you can put full trust in lest they might be led right in front of a battery where the whole company would be cut to pieces in a minute.

Tell Eddy that I was very glad to get a letter from him. Hope he will be a good boy. Those pictures I sent home in my last cost me 10 cents only. The Presidents I send to Eddy. They are all through daguerreotype. Tell him to see if he can keep them nice till I return from the war.

The picture of the Presidents may have been one like this CDV that sold recently on Fleischer’s Auctions for $850

Those rings are some I whittled out when I han’t nothing to do. So I thought I would send them to you. It has stopped raining. Write often. Don’t be discouraged. write how times is and all the news you can.

Yours truly, — Manly M. Hoyt