This unsigned 1865 letter is believed to have been written by Francis LeJau Frost (1837-1912), a Confederate surgeon in A. P. Hill’s Third Corps, Army of Northern Virginia. Francis was the son of Judge Edward Frost and Harriet Vanderhorst Horry. Following the war he took up planting, and was one of the organizers of the fertilizer business in South Carolina, and for eighteen years was head of a large industry of that kind in Charleston.
Everything within the letter seems to corroborate his identity, but there are discrepancies regarding his marriage date. According to genealogical and newspaper records, he didn’t marry until 11 December 1866. The bride was Rebecca Brewton Pringle (1839-1905), the daughter of William Bull Pringle (1800-1881), who is identified as “Mr. Pringle” in the letter. William Pringle was a substantial landowner, with four rice plantations and over 300 slaves. However, the records do not mention Frost’s daughters, Editha and Virginia, either, leading to further doubt.
Despite the absence of confirmation regarding the author’s identity, the decision was made to publish the content due to its high quality, with the hope that someone may step forward with a positive identification. This letter originates from Greg Herr’s personal collection and was transcribed and published on Spared & Shared with his explicit consent.
Transcription
Field Hospital [near Petersburg, Virginia] Saturday Evening, February 4th 1865
My darling wife,
The arrival of two of your letters since my last have afforded me great pleasure. I received that of the 25th the day before yesterday & that of the 28th yesterday. It was very pleasant to be thrown into company with my dear little family and to read good tidings of them. How much greater would the enjoyment be could I enjoy the privilege of being amongst them in proper persona! Editha “full moon” face would be my admiration and the Mamma & her little leech my delight. I dare say that the improvement in the perusal of Miss Virginia would be sufficiently striking to elicit some admiration too—all that I can gather from your letters is that she is a very “nice little baby” & I take it that you are as much wrapped up in your eldest. It has been said that she resembles you—that you can find little or nothing more than “nice little baby” to express “your opinion about the youngest (who it is said resembles me). I will have to come home to point out her beautiful points.
I have been trying for some time to procure some good vaccine share sent to the Surgeon General’s Office for it but have not succeeded yet in getting any. I should be very particular in knowing when it came here for some time ago a very malignant virus got spread through the army in several instances causing the loss of an arm to those who had been inoculated with it. There has been very little small pox here this season & I have heard of no vaccination going on.
Today has been one of the loveliest, most balmy days I have ever experienced and until now, no shelling. They have just started & are making night hideous with their noise. I sat or walked about the premises to enjoy the delightful sunshine all morning and now it is so pleasant that I am writing with my “door” open, enjoying the moonlight playing over the white tents.
The “Peace Commission” have not been heard from yet. The excitement seems to have quieted down and I think the troops have given up the hope of anything of good resulting from their visit. Citizens still talk hopefully. For my single self, I can’t understand why at this hour, when the Yankees seem to occupy a better position for themselves than ever, that they should exhibit any symptoms of “letting down” unless there is something behind the scenes that we do not yet know of. I dare say that Stevens, Hunter & Co. are having a good time of it in Washington, whatever the result of their visit be. I think it will have the effect of uniting our people and crush the delusive phantom of hope for the next campaign at any rate, and cause us to set about working out a peace in the old fashioned way—hard blows & a determined energy.
The last accounts from the South are that Sherman is winding his way towards Branchville. I hope that he really has no intention of trying Augusta at the same time. I think that the column advancing in the direction of Blackville is intended to unite with the other column and attack Branchville from two quarters. But then why should they put the Edisto [river] between them? You may be sure that I look anxiously every day for news from that quarter.
I am sorry to hear that the non-combatants have been ordered from Augusta. I thought that in case of necessity you could run there. You will no doubt be much annoyed by constant demands for lodging & food from stragglers. I wish that you wre further away from the scene of action but any move will cause you a great deal of inconvenience and you could scarcely be as comfortable anywhere else as with your Father and Mother. I am glad that Mr. Pringle has been able to make the arrangement for moving his negroes further from the coast. Their former position was very much exposed, for should the enemy succeed in their attack on Branchville, they will be very apt to spread themselves over that portion of country, but I can’t believe that he will succeed.
Tomorrow is the Holy Sabbath and as it is Communion Sunday, I will go into Petersburg to church. I have not been for several Sundays. In all probability I will dine with Joe Dunn 1 or some of my other acquaintances there. I had a visit from [Dr. John Walker Powell,] the Medical Director yesterday. Among other things, he asked me if it would be convenient for me to act in his stead during his expected visit home. It will be a big jump for modest me, won’t it? Even for a short time. Medical Director, 3rd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia. As I am not ambitious, though flattered, and would prefer his remaining.
You must not have any such dreams about my bald pate. I have just as fine a head of hair as ever. I think there is an improvement. Cold bathing and Castile soap every morning has done the work.
Those everlasting Yankees are making a big noise with cannon. The moon is shining brightly and as usual on such nights they are blustering & bombing furiously. They see a ghost in every shadow and away goes a shell at it. I hope they will cease by the time I am ready for bed.
General Lee has been confirmed by the Senate General in Chief. I hope we may soon see good results. I should now like to see Gen. Jos. E. Johnston reinstated. I wonder if Hood’s army will not be sent to South Carolina. I hear that Thomas has been divided and sent to Grant & Sherman. I should suppose that Hood would be moving somewhere too.
I am quite well but miss the sugar & coffee very much. I have a little of the latter left & tried it without sweetening but could not go it. I am afraid that we are destined to feel the effects of the fall of Fort Fisher in more essential matters before the end of the year. Do no blockade runners enter at Charleston now? What becomes of the calicoes, &c. I am glad to hear that you have received a batch of my letters. I turned out 30 pounds of beautiful soap yesterday. My hens lay a fine parcel of fresh eggs daily. I had to kill one of my cows because she went dry. Fine beef though. That’s all the news!! Won’t you come and keep house for us? Kiss my little precious’s and get them to kiss you many, many times. Love to all.
Good night darling. I am as ever your devoted husband.
1 Joseph Bragg Dunn was born in Petersburg in February 1829 and was educated at the Petersburg Classical & Mathematical Institute and Amelia Academy. In 1861 he was president of the Mechanics’ Cotton Factory at Swift Creek, Chesterfield county. After the war he was superintendent of the Petersburg Iron Works. He died in 1891 and was buried in Blandford Cemetery in Petersburg.
The following letters, written in pencil from the breastworks before Petersburg in the summer of 1864, were composed by 38 year-old David Hopkins of Buffalo who mustered in as a sergeant in December 1862 to serve in the 27th New York Battery. He was discharged in early February 1865 to accept a commission as 2nd Lieutenant of Co. C, the 13th Heavy Artillery Colored Troops, joining the regiment at its post in Smithland, Kentucky.
David’s letter informs us that the 27th Battery, New York Light Artillery was in Burnside’s IX Corps, Ledlie’s 1st Division, and joined by two other batteries—the 2nd Maine Light Artillery and the 14th Massachusetts Light Artillery. The 1st Division black troops were the 56th, 57th, and 59th Massachusetts Regiments.
These two letters, in combination, make interesting reading. One was written roughly a month before the Battle of the Crater and the other a few days after that “big fizzle” as he termed it. The contrast in attitudes toward the Black soldiers is evident and unfortunate as they the USCT were made the scapegoats for the poorly executed battle plan of the Union leadership.
US Colored Troops at Petersburg (1864)
Letter 1
Addressed to Mrs. W. W. Hopkins, West Andover, Ashtabula County, Ohio
In the field June 23rd 1864
Dear Sister,
I am now lying in the breastworks of our front lines, beside of my gun & occasionally firing a shot at the enemy & keeping my head out of sight as much as possible when not necessary to otherways. The sharp shooters are busy on both sides and make it very unpleasant, to say the least about it, for one dare not stir outside of the breast works.
We came into the present position at two o’clock this morning. How long we shall have to lay here is hard to tell. Our breastworks are within about three hundred yards of the Petersburg & City Point Railroad which constitutes our skirmish line. The rebel works are about the same distance beyond the railroad. Consequently we are firing over our own skirmish line. This is the second time we have been in the front line. The night of the 16th inst., we were in a warm place about two miles in rear of this place & lost three men wounded—one of whom has since died. Two more have been slightly grazed since we came here—all by sharp shooters. It is rumored that there is to be a charge made tonight & an attempt made to drive the enemy from his present position in front of us. If we are successful, it will leave us in the rear once more where we can hold up our heads.
“The knowing ones say that the colored troops are to make the charge. All former prejudice against the colored man has given way to words of praise. Every man is now willing that the negro should be a man & enjoy the rights of man with themselves.”
David Hopkins, 27th N. Y. Battery, 23 June 1864
The knowing ones say that the colored troops are to make the charge. All former prejudice against the colored man has given way to words of praise. Every man is now willing that the negro should be a man & enjoy the rights of man with themselves.
I trust you will excuse anything wrong in writing or composition in this sheet, for to be honest, I am not any cooler than I ought to be to sight a gun properly, for whilst I am writing, some of our own guns are firing which shakes the ground so that I can feel it very sensibly, and then a Mass. Battery which lays on our left & a little in the rear of us is sending her compliments to the enemy in the shape of rifled shell which scream like mad as they pass over our heads.
But I must close as the company clerk is around gathering up the letters of the men for mail. Please write often. Remember me in your prayers. I feel that I have great need of help from above at this time more than ever before. Much love to all the family. I have not time to write all separately. They must take will for the deed & consider this a family letter and all answer it. A little tin, if you can afford it, of black pepper in each letter or paper will be very thankfully received as I can’t get such things here in such quantities as are needed. Tea I cant get at all at any price.
Address 27th New York Battery, 1st Division, 9th Corps. There is a band playing national airs at the present time about one mile in the rear but we can hear it very distinctly & no doubt the Rebs can too, which must be anything but pleasing to them. But I don’t suppose that Grant intends to do anything to please them if can avoid it. But I must close. Goodby & may God bless you all, — David Hopkins
Letter 2
Monday, August 1, 1864
Dear brother Charley,
Yours of the 26th came to hand in due season. Also the fourth paper containing tobacco which many thanks. Also for the postage stamps which were just on time.
You have no doubt ere this read an account of the big fizzle which came off here the 30th ult. & whilst I think of it I wish you would send me a full account of the affair as you can obtain, for although we were within long range of a good deal of the fighting, we know nothing about [it] and never shall unless we can get it from home. My private opinion is that the whole affair was very badly planned and worse executed. One thing is entirely certain, the execution was disgraceful & would have been so considered if nothing but schoolboys had been engaged in it. I sincerely hope for the sake of the cause that General Grant can find some hole to get out of for it would not do to have him fail.
We never left our park. We were ordered to turn out at 2 o’clock a.m. & hitch up and pack ourselves in readiness to march at a moment’s notice, & that was just as near as we came to moving. In the afternoon we unharnessed again and pitched our tents. The story has got around amongst the soldiers that the colored troops were the cause of the whole disaster. I hope this will not prove true. There’s plenty of white officers, however, who will leave nary stone unturned to make it so appear. If this rumor should go uncontradicted through the army, it will injure the Union cause more than a dozen such defeats produced in any other way. Men who were naturally prejudiced against the colored man & who had just begun to come to respect him, are now more bitter than ever. The Copperheads have got a new hold & mercy knows when they will cease to howl.
But enough of this. Just send me the best accounts of the affair you get. I will try & make good use of them.
Speaking of my letters not being directed in my own hand requires that I ought to have mentioned the cause. I have not always had ink & I have asked the officers to direct and mail my letters for me. As a general rule I shall direct my own but in any event, try and give yourself as little uneasiness as may be about. Be sure I shall not expose myself needlessly & if I fall to rise no more here, I hope to live in that other & better world wherewars will not trouble me.
My health is still poor & I am only half able to do duty & in fact, don’t pretend to do anything. I have not even energy enough left to wash my own shirts. And unless some important change takes place, I shall not write many letters for some days to come. But don’t you stop.
I wrote to Brother W. W. yesterday at West Andover. He may be gone before it reaches there but no matter. I shall slaim one ahead all the same. Goodbye, — David
The following letters were written by John Walter Dewese (1844-1876), the son of William Alfred Dewese (1821-1873) and Martha Black McAulay (1824-1900) of Mecklenburg county, North Carolina.
The first two letters were written in 1864 while John was working as a civilian at the Mecklenburg Salt Company whose works were located at Mt. Pleasant near Charleston, South Carolina. The operation was managed by Professor Washington Caruthers Kerr, a native of Guilford county, N. C., a chemistry professor at Davidson College, who took a leave of absence to attend to the works—salt being a crucial resource of the Confederacy. He managed the works until April 1864 and then we learn that it was taken over by a Capt. Loftin.
John enlisted at the age of 20 as a private in Co. C, 37th North Carolina Infantry on 11 January 1865 and was present for duty with his company until he was taken prisoner on 4 April 1865 at Petersburg. He was released one week later. At the time of his release at Point Lookout, Maryland, he was described as standing 6’1″ tall, with “light yellow” hair and hazel eyes.
Note: Some time ago I transcribed a letter by another worker at the Mecklenburg Salt Works near Charleston, South Carolina, at about the same time as John W. Dewese. They were, in fact, first cousins. See 1864: Ephraim Alexander McAulay published on S&S 14.
Letter 1
December 1863 Map of Charleston Harbor showing Mt. Pleasant at top center.
Mecklenburg Salt Works near Charleston, S. C. [Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina] March 20, 1864
Dear Cousin,
I now seat myself to answer your very kind letter which I received about an hour ago. I was glad to hear from you once more. I have no news of importance to write at this time. I am well and doing as well as you might expect and hope when these few lines reaches you, [they] may find you enjoying the same great blessing from God.
There is no news here of any consequence. No fighting going on at present. There was a man killed himself on yesterday. He was a soldier. Some of our hands were down at the boat landing last night and saw him put on the bat taking him over to Charleston. What made him do it, I know not.
Well, Mag, I don’t want you and James to get married without letting me know it as I want to be one in the midst. I think James needs me to take him down a link or two. I can’t tell you what to do with him. You will have to do the best you can with him till the boys gets home. So I will quit my nonsense and draw this short and uninteresting letter to a close as I know you will think it is no letter at all.
If you see Miss Hetty Tye, give her my best respects. Tell her I am all right. Excuse this short letter for this time. [I’ll] try to do better next [time]. Write soon. Remaining yours truly, — J. M. Dewese
to M. C. Dewese at home.
Letter 2
Mecklenburg Salt Works near Charleston, S. C. [Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina] April 1st 1864
Dear Cousin [George B. Dewese],
I now seat myself to drop you a few lines in answer to your kind letter which I received on the 28th of March. I was glad to hear from you one more time. I am well at this time and hope when these few lines reaches you, may find you enjoying the same great blessing from God.
Well, George, I have no news of importance to write at this time but I will give you what I have. I am boiling salt at this time. I work 12 hours and rest 12, I like the business very well. The Works does not belong to Mr. Kerr now. He has sold them to a man by the name of Loftin. He is captain of a company which camped near here. He is a very fine man. He had 25 men when we were detailed [at] Richmond but we have come down to 12 only now.
A man that does not want to work need not be at the Salt Works. I had a great notion when at home last to go to the army or Mr. Kerr had sold the works to other men but no one would persuade me to go.
I received a letter from home last night which stated that they had took Ben Dewese & Bob Montieth and put them in jail t keep them there till Silas & Jonathan comes up, let it be long or short.
I do wish this cruel war would end so we all could get home to enjoy peace and harmony as we once have done. But I see no sign of the end yet—no more than I did a year ago. They have been more calm here at Charleston for the last month than they have been since the 9th of last July. Sometimes they let off steam from Morris Island like they were going to tear things all to smash, but they don’t get much done. A month back they did shell the city continually but they have most quit that now. I was in the city too when they were showering the bombs in there which made me feel sorter stricked.
We can see the flag on Morris Island from here. The soldiers say there is nothing to hinder them from taking Sullivan’s Island if they would just try. There’s not more than 1500 men on the island. I look for them to make a big break some of these days.
Write to me, George, when you think you will get home. I want to try and go there myself. The girls have all forsaken me. As it is getting late, I will close. Give J. H. Johnson my best respects. Tell him I am all right. Excuse bad writing and spelling & short letter. Try and do better next time. So goodbye. — J. W. Dewese
to G. B. Dewese
Write soon.
Letter 3
John’s letter informs us that deserting was becoming a nightly occurrence in front of Petersburg in 1865. Desertion among Tar Heel soldiers during the war was slightly over 23%.
Camp near Petersburg, Va. February 21, 1865
Miss M. C. Dewese,
Dear cousin, I now seat myself to write you a few lines in answer to your kind letter which I received on yesterday. I was glad to hear from you one more time in the troublesome time. This leaves me well. I hope it may find you all well.
I will now give you some items of the war. There is great confusion in this Army of Virginia at the present time. There is some goes to the Yankees every night. A good many has gone out of the regiment. There was four went away last night out of Co. E of this regiment. And night before last in the 33rd Regiment there was one whole company went off to the Yankees.
I was on picket last night. I had nothing to eat from yesterday morning till this morning but a little piece of cold cornbread. I stand picket [with]in about 200 yards of where [your] poor [brother] George was killed. I think of him every time I go to that place. The Yankees run their trains right along in sight of us [on the Weldon Railroad]. We can just see them flying. So I will stop that subject.
Uncle D[aniel] N[eal] McAulay [of our company] is not expected to live over this night. He has not been well since he had the measles. They have lost all hopes of him ever being up again. That is the way a many a poor fellow goes in this cruel war. I hope it will not be my misfortune but I am as liable as anyone.
You told me to your respects to all the pretty boys. J[ohn] D. Barnett told me to ask you if you called him one of them. If you did, let me know in the next letter. John D. is a first rate fellow. I hear that J. S. Barnett is at Sasseman’s every two weeks. I suppose all is right on that line.
Well cousin, I will draw to a close for this time. I want you to write and give me all the news. Give my respects to Miss H[arriet] C[ornelia] Tye and all enquiring friends. Tell Aunt Mary Loudy for me. Tell her I hope to get home to another quilting. So I will quit. Goodbye for this time. I hope to hear from you soon. Not only that, I hope to see you soon, But if I never see you again, I hope to meet you in heaven. Remains your affectionate cousin till death. — John W. Dewese
These poignant letters were written in the camp of the 38th North Carolina by 29 year-old Confederate soldier Elijah Whicker (1835-1865) of Co. D. The 38th North Carolina was attached to BG Alfred M. Scales’ Brigade in MG Cadmus M. Wilcox’s Division of LTG A.P. Hill’s Third Corps. At the time that Elijah wrote these letters he was with his regiment in the defenses of Petersburg. He died on 13 January 1865— just two months after writing his family, “I would like the best of all things to be with you all and be a free man….I would rather be anywhere else that I have ever been or ever will be on earth than to be in this army…I often dream of home. Sometimes everything seems so plain that I believe I am at my home till I wake up to find myself in camp sadly disappointed.” No details of his death could be found.
Elijah Whicker was a farmer from Deep River District in Forsyth County, North Carolina. He was married to Frances J. Thomas in 1859 and together they had a son named Moses Newton Whicker (1860-1940).
Letter 1
Camp near Petersburg, Virginia Tuesday evening, September 6th 1864
Dear Father, Mother & Sisters,
I am in tolerable good health and hope this will find you all [in] enjoyment of good health. I am better this evening than I have been for some time. I am on picket today and expect to remain till about nine o’clock tomorrow. Last night we had a heavy rain. I did not get wet today. It rains sometimes. I have T. L. Campbell’s blanket with me. He is not on picket today. We drew some coffee and two spoonfuls of sugar the other day.
I looked for a letter from you all today but if it came, I was not there at camp to receive it. I have received but one since I left home. J. Newton Campbell wrote to T. L. the other day that he had heard from you all the day before and you was well. The weather is damp and chilly today. Fodder here is not ready for gathering. Crops, I think, are light.
Yesterday morning just before daybreak our Brigade had orders to be ready to march. We all gathered up and stood ready till about noon. We were told to go back in our tents.
Atlanta has gone “up the spout” is all the news I hear. The Confederate men say that Atlanta is of no importance now. I would like the best of all things to be with you all and be a free man. I have nothing good to write. I want very much to hear from you. I want you to write long letters and often. We are a great ways apart but not separated in heart. I am as ever yours truly, — E. Whicker
Camp near Petersburg, Va. Tuesday evening, September 6, 1864
My dear wife,
I am able to be on duty this evening. I hope this will find you and Newton both well. I am on picket this evening. It is a rainy, chilly time. Nothing new around here as I know of. The heaviest cannonading I ever heard was the other night. It was on our left. Some of it was shelling Petersburg.
Jane, I cannot tell the joy it would give me to be with you and Newton this evening, and enjoy a comfortable fireside and warm supper. T. L. Campbell is well. I often dream of home. Sometimes everything seems so plain that I believe I am at my home till I wake up to find myself in camp sadly disappointed.
I mailed a letter yesterday morning and if I can get this mailed in the morning, I hope it wil reach you next Saturday. I have written several and I hope you have received most of them ere now. Letters come from High Point here in two days. Write long letters pretty often and I will, if I get them, be thankful for each line, yes word. Tell Newton to be Par’s good boy. Tell him I love him and would gladly embrace him. I want you all to the the very best you can. Eat some good peaches and think how well I would like to be there and help you. Hoping to get a letter from you all very soon, I remain your affectionate husband, — E. Whicker
Letter 2
[Letter 2 was transcribed back in 2014 and published in Spared & Shared 4. It bears the date 12 November 1864. The link to that letter is 1864: Elijah Whicker to family.]
Letter 3
Camp near Petersburg, Va. Friday evening, November 25, 1864
Affectionate Father, Mother, & Sisters,
I am in common health, and hope this will find you all in the enjoyment of good health. My eyes are not any better now. Many of the soldiers are suffering from the smoke in their eyes. We burn pine wood. Altogether it makes a bad smoke and affects all our eyes more or less.
I received your kind and very interesting missive under date of 19th inst., and 23rd. It gives me the most exquisite pleasure to hear from you such a short time ago, and hear that you were all well. I am pleased to know that Mr. Crutchfield is at home doing so well. Write the first opportunity where you are sowing wheat this year. 36 barrels corn is a very good crop for the season you had.
You have the particulars of the men who started west not long since, more explicit than I have. There has been many reports about who of them were killed and who went through, Mrs. W. M. Freeman seems determined to do her share towards populating the Confederacy. Jonathan Freeman is at the hospital nearly all the time. To hear him tell it, he never was a war horse. I see no chance of a furlough soon. Put up the iron vise and use it if you need it. Do as you think best about drawing anything for Jane as a soldier’s wife. The authorities have forced me into it and I don’t see as it would make it any more binding upon me any manner. We are fixing a sort of a shanty for 8 of us to quarter in. We are yet working on the breastworks. I worked on them 4 hours today. Won’t have to work till Monday.
I would like the best in the world to be at home with you all at Christmas, just a month off from now, but do not anticipate that I shall enjoy that pleasure so soon. Much is said at present about Georgia leaving off from the Confederacy. J. E. Clayton and H. Preston & others are, I am glad to know, getting their finger in. I have nothing to write that would interest at presemt. Receive my love for each of you and believe me as ever truly yours, — E. Whicker
Elizabeth, dear Sister, I am pleased to receive and read every word any of you write. Every word comes from our home speaks of home and seems yet a connecting link. A letter is indeed a tongue that speaks for those who absent dwell. Yours, — E. W.
Camp near Petersburg, Va. Friday evening, November 25, 1864
My dear wife,
I am in common health and hope you and Newton are both well. I gladly received your kind letter of 19th inst. The weather is very cool and we have to carry our pine limbs near a half mile. My linsey shirts you sent me receive the praise of all. They are a good thing. I wear a cotton shirt under. That is the way most of them are worn. My coat is the one I drew at Raleigh. It is not a very good one. I expect to draw a short tail sometime. Do not make yourself uneasy about my clothes now. I have not seen any snow here. I don’t think it best for you to try to send a box by Express. It costs too much. Tell Newton I love him yet and I want to see him.
We draw corn meal now. I have much to say if I could see you. I am as ever yours truly, — E. Whicker
The following was written by Eberle Benton Underwood (1839-1925), the son of Willin Underwood (1800-1872) and Lovisa Rawson (1819-1844) of New Baltimore, Stark county, Ohio. Before and after the war, Eberle worked as a painter but during the Civil War he served as a private in Co. B, 6th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry (OVC).
I could not find an image of Eberle but here is one of Solomon Large who was a bugler in Co. H, 6th Ohio Cavalry (Ancestry)
After spending the winter of 63-64 fighting Mosby’s guerrillas, in the spring of 1864 the 6th OVC joined Ulysses S. Grant’s movement on Richmond, participating in several battles while serving in the Cavalry Corps, under Gen. Philip H. Sheridan. It was involved in the Union cavalry operations during the Overland Campaign and the Siege of Petersburg, as well as taking part in the Battle of Trevillian Station. In 1865, the regiment was in the Battle of Five Forks, and during the Appomattox Campaign, in the Battle of Sayler’s Creek. The 6th Ohio Cavalry marched in the Grand Review of the Armies in May 1865, and then exited service at Petersburg, Virginia, on August 7, 1865. During its term of service, the 6th Ohio Cavalry lost 5 officers and 52 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded, and 4 officers and 177 enlisted men by disease, for a total of 238 fatalities. More than 1700 men served in the ranks at various times, however, the field strength of the regiment rarely exceeded 500 men at any given time.
Eberle wrote the letter to his sister Nellie Louise (Underwood) Stanford (1842-1921), the widow of Vactor (“Van”) B. Stanford (1837-1864 who died on 5 June 1864 at Chattanooga, Tennessee. Van served in Battery A, 1st Ohio Light Artillery. After reenlisting for three more years, and marrying Nellie while at home on Veteran’s furlough in February 1864, Van was with Sherman’s army in the march on Resaca, Georgia, when he was severely wounded by a premature discharge of his cannon. He lingered for three weeks before he died.
Transcription
Addressed to Mrs. Nellie Stanford, M____, Stark county, Ohio
Camp south of Petersburg Tuesday, January 30, 1865
Dear Sister,
Good evening. How is it with you and the rest of the family? Your good letter came to hand 1st inst. & where do you think I was that day—New Years? I know, on picket, watching for the Johnnies to approach. But all was quiet along the line. It was dreadful cold while on my post. New Years morning I had to dismount to keep my feet from freezing. We suffered very much with the cold. Who would of thought it was so cold in the Sunny South? Not I.
We are on picket three days and off nine. In that time we do other duty so we are busy about all the time. I do not feel like writing tonight but for fear of some duty tomorrow, will do the best I can. Have been broke of my rest three nights & now feel like having a little sleep. Hamilton sits in front of me writing to his folks. We have got a kettle of beans cooking for tomorrow. Have to look out for our inward parts as well as outward.
I was almost afraid to read your letter for fear of bad news but after reading it gave a sigh of relief & am glad Lovisa is getting better. Hope she will soon be well. Poor father, I hear he has had the asthma but it does not seem right for me to be away from home in his old age. He needs my help but I am now where I will have to stay until my time is up, if not sooner discharged or killed.
“I fear after next summer’s fighting there will not be a great many of the Sixth Ohio left—barely enough to bury the dead. We will have harder fighting than ever. We have got them in their holes & will have to make the advance in order to get them out…it will be a great slaughter of men.”
Nellie, I fear after next summer’s fighting there will not be a great many of the Sixth Ohio left—barely enough to bury the dead. We will have harder fighting than ever. We have got them in their holes & will have to make the advance in order to get them out & what charging & fighting it will take then will be a great slaughter of men. I do hope it will be settled ere that time comes. What lives would be saved to return home to dear ones.
Nellie, I want peace. We all want it. If you knew the hardships of a soldier you would not blame us. I am afraid we will have to fight it out. Wicked war! Why should we kill & be killed?
Well, Nellie, I did not finish this last night. Fell to sleep. This morning the ground is covered with snow but it will not stay on long for the sun is shining warm & bright which will soon deprive the earth of the white cold covering. Wish you would find out if [Col. William] Stedman has tried to get this regiment home. Some thinks he has and some think not. I would like to know. Wish it would go home. We would have a nice time.
Nellie dear, I want you to try and be cheerful and not let your mind rest too much on the loss of that noble soldier—your husband—who died for his country. But think it’s for the best. I was God’s will & let us live in such a way that when He calls us from this earth, we may meet Him in a better [world]. Do not be afraid of your brother leading into bad habits for that will not be. I will return to my home the same, if not better than when I left.
I will close with my love to all. Tell Lovisa I will write to her soon as she can read it. Will son write to Father. Write soon. Goodbye. My love to Nellie. Remember me to friends. Hamilton & I are going to do some work on our shanty today so I will quit.
Adj. John Stearns Smith, 6th N. H. Vols. (New Hampshire Historical Society)
The following letter was written by John Stearns Smith (1837-1916) of Peterborough, New Hampshire who enlisted at the age of 23 on 4 October 1861 as a private in Co. E, 6th New Hampshire Infantry. He was wounded on 29 August 1862 at the battle of the 2nd Bull Run and again on 30 July 1864 (Battle of the Crater) at Petersburg. He was promoted up the ranks to 1st Sergeant by 1 July 1862 and commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant on 1 November 1862. He made 1st Lieutenant on 20 March 1863 and was also assigned duty as the regiment adjutant on Field & Staff at the same time.
In this letter, written from the trenches before Petersburg, the 6th New Hampshire had just settled in for a siege of the city after a failed early attempt to capture the city a week earlier.
John was born at Waltham, Massachusetts, on 27 November 1837—the son of John Smith and Susan Stearns.
Transcription
Headquarters 6th Regt N. H. Veteran Vols. Near Petersburg, Virginia June 24, 1864
My dear cousin,
I have just received your letter and take the earliest opportunity to thank you for your punctuality in writing. That was a magnanimous resolution of yours to write to some soldier acquaintance every two weeks. I venture to hope that you will not find the duty a laborious or disagreeable one, if I am to be the fortunate recipient of your communications. I think you can do as much good with your pen as you can rolling bandages. For my own part, I had rather tear up my blouse for my wounds than forego the pleasure of my letters.
We are on the front line today. Our skirmishers are within 50 yards of a long, threatening line of rebel breast works and we only need to show our heads above the pits to receive salutes from a dozen minié rifles. But no matter how near the enemy we are, or how heavy a fire we are under, the mail is always distributed, and I assure you the missives from the rear are more agreeable than the missiles from the front.
The weather is exceedingly hot and dry. Imagine us marching some of these days in the burning, scorching sun, plodding through dust, eating dust, and seeing nothing but dust. Or charging rifle pits or skirmishing through almost impenetrable woods & under brush, or as now, lying under this tropical sun in little holes in the dirt with shells and minié balls flying in unpleasant proximity to my head, and you will have an idea of the life I lead.
Sometimes while lying in our torrid pits I cannot help thinking of the refreshing shades of Elm Hall, the delightful coolness of the water in the well, the delicious cider in the cellar, the luxury of clean clothes, the privilege of taking off sword, belt, pistol, boots, &c., where one goes to bed with the assurance of a night’s rest uninterrupted by the rattle of musketry on the picket line & cannonading in the rear. And of the salutary effects of breathing pure air, uninfected by the decaying debris of two vast armies. Do not infer from this that I am discouraged or down-spirited. I grow more insensible to danger and hardship every day and every day I see more reason to be thankful that life and health are still spared to me.
The Sanitary Commission are doing a noble work. Their praises are in everybody’s mouth. They have saved hundreds of lives and relieved an untold amount of suffering since the campaign commenced.
I am sorry my photographs are no better. I felt unwell the morning I sat for them and had no great expectations in them.
I have written to [ ] to retain them till I called for them. Tell him if you please not to circulate them. I will mail you a photograpg of the house when they are finished. Give my love to the family. I presume you have seen cousin Katie in Boston. I understand she has been visiting there. Remember e with kind wishes to Miss [ ]. I have not the least doubt you and I could play a successful game of bowls against her…
I could not find an image of John but here is a one of a young Georgian thought to be Thomas Blount Bowen but is unconfirmed (David Vaughn Collection)
The following letter was written by 19 year-old Pvt. John Mornington Raines (1845-1899) of Milledgeville, Baldwin county, Georgia, who enlisted in October 1863 in Co. G, 45th Georgia Infantry. He was taken prisoner on 25 March 1865 at Petersburg, Virginia, and released in June 1865 at Point Lookout, Maryland. John had a brother who served with him in the same company—Thomas Turner Raines (1838-1865)—who was probably the individual he referred to as “Bud” in this letter. I believe there was another brother names James Cadwallader Raines (b. 1840) who may have served the Confederacy in a different regiment.
John’s military records indicate that he had brown hair, blue eyes, and that he stood 5 feet 7.5 inches tall. His parents were Robert Cadwallader Raines, Jr. (1808-1860) and Matilda Caroline (“Carry”) Young (1810-1883) who were married in 1832. Cadwallader Raines died in September 1860, leaving 50 year-old Carrie with seven children and a plantation to run.
Three months after this letter was written, when the left wing of Sherman’s army marched through Milledgeville in late November 1864 on its way to Savannah, “Mrs. Cadwallader Raines, a widow and the mother of three Confederate soldiers,” found herself in the center of the Federal encampment. “She had been bedridden for several months and was attended only by two young daughters [Ellen and Mary]. Her plantation suffered complete devastation, having been depleted of all fences, livestock, and food.” A neighbor named Terrell Barksdale later wrote that, “They did not leave a living animal on her plantation…they have nothing except what the neighbors give them and they have but few of them that have anything to spare.” [“Sherman at Milledgeville in 1864” by James C. Bonner, published in The Journal of Southern History, Vol. 22, No. 3, August 1956, page 280]
I can’t be certain of the date of this letter as it is illegible on the letter itself. There were several attempts to capture the Weldon Railroad before it was finally accomplished in mid-August 1864.
Transcription
In Line of Battle near Petersburg August [ ] 1864
Dear Mother,
I now take my seat this morning to answer your kind letter that I received a few days ago, and would answer it before now, but I was looking for a letter from sister. I wrote to her about a month ago and also Sis. I just rec’d the one that she wrote to Bud.
I was sorry to hear that the Yankees has been so close there and was sorry also that they taken the neighbor’s mule, and sorry to hear that the rebels got Sam. If he had to be taken, I am glad the rebels got him before the Yankees. You must make Green take good care of the one that they left in his place. If you get him fat, you must keep him in the Spring lot, for if you let him run out in the pasture, there may come along some more Yankees and take him. I am in hopes that our men will keep them back from that part of the country, for they will destroy things as they go. I hope that Gen. Hood will whip them clear out from Georgia.
There was a fight here yesterday on the Petersburg and Weldon Railroad. Our men whipped them back and taken a good many prisoners. We have a fight every day on some part of the line. The Yankees is tame in front of me. We are are close enough to talk to each other when I am out on [the] skirmish [line].
I went over to the hospital this morning to see Bud. He is getting along finely. He will be able for duty in a few days. This leaves me in good health at this time, and hoping this will find you up and about and also the rest of the family. This is the 5th letter I have wrote to you since I been at this place. I only received one. I have wrote to Puss and Sister and Sis and have not got any answer from them. You must tell them to write. I will close. I will send this letter by hand with the yarn. I remain your son, — John M. Raines
I could not find an image of Clinton but here is one of Sgt. Newton Goodbar of Co. C, 60th OVI
The following letters were written by Clinton Emory Sharp (1846-1927), the son of Stephen Alfred Sharp (1807-1886) and Hester Ann Oldham (1819-1894) of Westerville, Franklin county, Ohio.
When he was 19 years old, Clinton enlisted on 20 February 1864 in Co. A, 60th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI). He took a gunshot wound in the left arm on 17 June 1864 in the first assault on Petersburg but eventually returned to his regiment and was with them until he mustered out as a sergeant on 28 July 1865.
Readers should be aware that there were two regiments called the 60th OVI. The first regiment was organized at Gallipolis in February 1862 for a one year enlistment. The second regiment by that name was organized at Cleveland and Columbus in the spring of 1864 and sent to Virginia where they fought at Spotsylvania, Wilderness and Cold Harbor before spending eight months of trench warfare in the Siege of Petersburg. After the war, one member of the regiment by the name of George Koontz in Co. I, wrote, “As our regiment was in the entrenchments nearest to Petersburg, we were the first to enter the “blockade city,” which was done early in the morning of the 3d inst. The 1st Michigan sharpshooters led the way, and the 60th Ohio followed. We found the city on fire in several places, caused by the rebels burning public stores, bridges and tobacco warehouses. The city was soon alive with Uncle Sam’s “blue birds,” and I certainly never seen troops, under similar circumstances behave themselves better. Private property, what little was left, was respected; and you could see on all hands the Union soldiers giving their rations to this half-starved chivalry, who four years ago were so defiant, proud and haughty. Not only the “white trash” were reduced to taking hard tack from our boys, but dainty-fingered ladies—real bonafide ladies—condescended to nibble them in order to keep soul and body together.” [The Gallipolis Journal, 4 May 1865]
After the war, in 1868, Clinton married Martha A. Hutches and made his living as a farmer in Delaware county, Ohio.
Letter 1
Addressed to Mrs. Hesterann Sharp, Westerville, Franklin county, Ohio
Camp of the 60th Ohio Volunteer Infantry In front of Petersburg, Virginia February 22nd 1865
I received your letter about a week ago but as I had just written to Father, I delayed on yours till now. I am well and get along fine. Pearl is well and in fine spirits. You wanted to know how we keep warm this cold weather. It is not cold here. We run around in our shirt sleeves it is so warm here.
Hensel says he lost my watch but says he will pay me for it payday.
I got a letter from Andrew about two weeks ago. He sent it to Seminary Hospital. It was sent here to me but I guess there was nothing new to you in it. I had written to him before I got Father’s letter.
Things goes on about the same as when I wrote to you last. There was some shelling here this forenoon. They throwed twenty-five a minute.
Pearl’s box has not come through yet. How much did Uncle Lewis get for his farm?
We heard this morning that Charleston was taken by Sherman. We have got about thirty men in Company A of the old boys and seventeen recruits. Captain [Elitha D.] House is not with us. He is in Columbus. One of the boys got a letter from him the other day. He thinks that he will never be able to come back again. 1
As I sit here writing to you, I can hear the Johnnies’ band playing over in Petersburg.
When you direct a letter, direct it in large, plain letters and it will come through in two or three days sooner like the one is in here. I don’t know as I have any more to write.
From your affectionate son, — C. E. Sharp
Write soon and all the news.
1 Captain Elisha D. House was wounded on 27 October 1864 in action near Petersburg and discharged on 2 March 1865 on Surgeon’s certificate of disability. He was replaced by Samuel S. Blackford who had been the 1st Lieutenant.
Letter 2
Camp of the 60th O. V. I. 15 miles from Petersburg Guarding the railroad that runs to Lynchburg April 8, 1865
Dear Mother,
It is after another great victory of the Union Army of Virginia that I take the opportunity of writing you a few lines. All of the boys from Westerville came in to Petersburg all right except Lewis Swickard. He got wounded in the right arm near the elbow in a charge on last Sunday. 1
Our brigade was the first in the town. We entered the town a little after day [break] on Monday the 3rd of April. There was not much in the town but tobacco which was plenty. When we first entered the town there was not very many white persons to be seen, but the Negroes was plenty.
We were provost guards in town for a couple of days and taken prisoners to City Point which came in by the thousands are still fetching them in and coming in of their own accord of which there is many. They seem to have hid around in the woods so as to get into our lines and get out of the clutches of Davis (which is not very long).
I must bring my letter to a close for it is beginning to rain. Write soon. From your dutiful son, — C. E. Sharp
P. S. I wish some of you would send me a paper with this battle in.
1 Sgt. Lewis Swickard entered the service in February 1864 and was discharged on surgeon’s certificate on 3 June 1865.
The 1st New York Engineers at work on Morris Island earlier in the war when they were used extensively for building earthworks. By 1864 and 1865, they spent their time built corduroy roads, dredged the Dutch Gap Canal, and built pontoon bridges.
This 1865 diary was kept by Merritt L. Pierce (1842-1869), the son of Proctor Pierce (1811-1874) and Huldah Ann Reed (1816-1872) of Morrisonville, Schuyler Falls, Clinton county, New York. Merritt was 22 years old when he enlisted on 31 August 1864 at Troy as a private in Co. L, 1st New York Engineers. His decision to join the Engineers was clearly a last minute decision. Just days earlier he intended to enlist in the Navy but found the lines too long to wait in. Less than a year later, he mustered out of the regiment as an artificer on 30 June 1865 at Richmond, Virginia.
Merritt died of consumption (tuberculosis) in 1869 at the age of 28 but not before marrying Mary S. Mead (1845-1922).
[Note: The following diary is from the personal collection of Carolyn Cockrell. Merritt Pierce was her maternal 2nd great-grandfather. The diary images were made available for publication by express consent. The transcription of the diary was done by Chuck Cockrell.]
January 1865
January, Sunday, 1. 1865—Camp near Jones Landing. Clear & cold, wind west. Dutch Gap was blown out today. I remained in camp with the company. Ed[gar Reed] went to Co. E with their mail.
Monday, 2—Clear & cold in morning. Quite pleasant in p.m. I remained in camp for I had a painful boil.
Tuesday, 3—Cold & cloudy in morning. Snowed in p.m. about one inch. I am still obliged to remain in camp.
January, Wednesday, 4. 1865—Cloudy & cold. I am still in camp but am getting better quite fast. Think I shall be able to go on duty tomorrow.
Thursday, 5—Cold but pleasant. Did not feel quite well enough to go on duty. Will [Beckwith] is at work getting out timber for bridge.
Friday, 6—Cloudy & quite warm. Looked like rain. Went on detail cutting timber for the bridge. Did not work very hard.
January, Saturday, 7. 1865—Warm & pleasant. I am on detail cutting railing for bridge. Will is on the same detail.
Sunday, 8—Cold but pleasant. We are not on detail today, except those that missed roll call during the week.
Monday, 9—It has rained all day quite hard. Did not do any duty. Received a letter from Safford Taylor.
January, Tuesday, 10. 1865—It is very unpleasant. Rained most of the day. No work.
Wednesday, 11—Clear & pleasant. Am on detail cutting railing for bridge.
Thursday, 12—Warm, clear & pleasant. Had the day to ourselves. Wrote a letter home & played gentleman the rest of the day.
January, Friday, 13. 1865—Very warm & pleasant. I had a detail of Niggs & teams to get out posts & braces for bridge.
Saturday, 14—Wind south. Looks like rain. Am on the same detail.
Sunday, 15—Very warm & pleasant. We remained in camp all day. In the evening some twenty of us went to meeting. The meeting was held by the Christian Commission about a half a mile from camp.
January, Monday, 16. 1865—Clear & pleasant. I was detailed to work on the bridge. Did not work much. Will & myself helped to row a small boat across the river three times & back for our day’s work.
Tuesday, 17—Cloudy & cold in the morning but quite pleasant most of the day. Will & I got a pass & went to City Point. Had a first-rate time. We saw Frank Ketchum 1 & got our pictures taken.
1Franklin Soules Ketchum, son of Henry Ketchum and Mary Ann Soules (see town register of soldiers), brother of Hiram Henry Ketchum and Sylvia L. Ketchum who married Israel Stickle who was in the 1st New York Volunteer Engineers. He was a Sergeant Major in the 16th New York Volunteer Infantry with his brother who subsequently reenlisted into the 1st New York Volunteer Engineers. Frank Ketchum was discharged due to disability in fall of 1862.
Wednesday, 18—Wind northeast. Cloudy & quite cold. Am on detail rafting timber for bridge. I received this diary from home. I am very much obliged to them.
January, Thursday, 19. 1865—Cold & cloudy, wind north. Am not on duty today. Wrote a letter home & sent them my picture. [James] Cummings & myself carried dinner to the detail at work on the bridge. We took a boat ride.
Friday, 20—Clear & pleasant, wind east. Am on detail cutting timber for bridge. Did not work much. Saw Versal Spalding. It is ration day. We have a fresh supply of good grub, sure.
Saturday, 21—It has stormed hard all day, wind northeast. Went to commissary & bought 4 loaves of bread & 5 pounds flour in company with Will. Cost 55 cents. The boys in our tent have got their boxes. We did not get our mail today. Don’t like it much.
January, Sunday, 22. 1865—Unpleasant, quite foggy, rained some in a.m. Remained in camp in forenoon. Worked about 2 hours in p.m. getting out stringers. Had a good sing with Whitney, Thomas & Johnson. Have enjoyed myself pretty well.
Monday, 23—Rainy & unpleasant. Deep mud. Worked on bridge in forenoon. Remained in camp in afternoon. Some picket firing last night. The boys are raising cane tonight throwing boots & hard tack at each other.
Tuesday, 24—Clear & pleasant, wind west. We were ordered out of camp at five in the morning with our arms & equipment on. Went to Jones Landing. Were ordered on board several barges & be ready to sink them. Heavy cannonading all night & part of forenoon. Were ordered into camp at 3 o’clock p.m.
January, Wednesday, 25. 1865—Clear & rather cold, wind west. Heavy firing of gunboats all night at Reb ram sunk yesterday. I have been at work cutting spiles. Ed has gone to City Point. Will is not well. Had short cake for supper.
Thursday, 26—Clear & rather cold, wind west. Was on detail cutting spiles in forenoon. Remained in camp in p.m. & did my washing. There is but little firing today from gunboats. Received a letter from home last night.
Friday, 27—Clear & cold, wind west. Worked on bridge all day. Saw a monitor pass up the river. Received a paper from home.
January, Saturday, 28. 1865—Clear & very cold, wing northwest. Were sent to work on bridge but it was too cold & the lieutenant ordered us back to camp. Will & I bought 4 loaves [of] bread, 10 pounds potatoes, 37 ½ cents. Doctor here today.
Sunday, 29—Clear & very cold, heavy northwest wind. Worked on bridge in a.m. & part of p.m. Cut two spiles in afternoon. The roads are very good. Dust flies all day. Drew bread today.
A work party placing mortars at the Crows’s Nest (visible above tree at right center) overlooking the James River opposite Dutch Gap.
Monday, 30—Clear & pleasant, wind northwest. Was detailed to work on bridge but got excused & went to Crows Nest Battery in company with Corporal Whitney. Received a letter from home with one dollar 50 enclosed.
January, Tuesday, 31. 1865—Clear, warm & pleasant. Worked on the draw of the bridge. There was crossing on the new bridge today & large number troops crossed on it. I have got some cold & sore throat.
February 1865
February, Wednesday, 1–Warm & pleasant, wind north. Worked on bridge today. Received a letter from George [Pierce]. Also, one from Mark. Answered a letter.
Thursday, 2—Pleasant in morning but cloudy & chilly most of the day, wind north. Most of the company worked on the bridge. I did not go on duty. Had sore throat. They are going to put in the draw to the bridge tonight.
February, Friday, 3. 1865—Cloudy & unpleasant. The company worked on bridge. I remained in camp. Feel much better than I did yesterday. Received a call from John Kelly. Will remained in camp, did not feel well.
Saturday, 4—Warm, clear & pleasant, wind west. Have been on detail grinding axes. The company working on bridge. Heavy firing toward Petersburg. Received a paper from home & one from Will S[cribner]. Very still in out tent tonight.
Sunday, 5—Clear & rather cold, wind northwest. Remained in camp. Went to Jones Landing. Saw eleven hundred of our prisoners from Richmond. They look very bad.
Lt. William Henry Baldwin (Dave Morin Collection)
February, Monday, 6. 1865—Clear & rather cold in forenoon, pleasant in afternoon, wind north. Worked on the bridge. Put on railing. Two recruits for our company. Lieutenant [William H.] Baldwin came back. Three cheers for him.
Tuesday, 7—Cold & heavy storm from northeast. Remained in camp. It’s a dreary day to me.
Wednesday, 8—Cloudy & unpleasant, wind west. Worked at the bridge. Lieutenant Baldwin took command of Co. L. Received a paper from home.
February, Thursday, 9. 1865—Clear & rather cold, wind northwest. Worked at the bridge. Received a letter from home. Went to meeting in evening. Heard a good sermon.
Friday, 10—Clear & pleasant, wind southwest. I was left in camp to drill. Had a good time of it. Wrote a letter home. It is quite still in the barracks tonight. Drew bread & candles today. Received 25 cents in a letter.
Saturday, 11—Clear, warm, still, & pleasant. Worked on bridge in forenoon. Finished the bridge today. Had a game at ball in afternoon & wrote a letter for Almon Emery. We expect [ ] tomorrow. Received clothing.
February, Sunday, 12. 1865—Clear & cold with a heavy northwest wind. Went down to meeting but no preaching so we came back & spent the day as best we could reading & singing. It is the coldest night we have had this year.
Monday, 13—Clear & very cold in forenoon but quite pleasant in afternoon, wind north. The company drilled today. Mr. [John] Hunter, Mr. [Peter F.] Burdick, Will, & myself built a fire in the woods to keep warm.
Tuesday, 14—Clear & quite pleasant. We were on drill (the company) a.m. & p.m. Lieutenant [John] Archer took command of Co. L. I went to meeting in the evening in company with Mr. Hunt.
February, Wednesday, 15. 1865—Raining & unpleasant all day. Inspection ordered but did not appear on inspection on account of rain. Had a good sing with Whitney, Johnson, & company. Went to commissaries. I weighed 160 pounds.
Thursday, 16—Clear & pleasant. No details today. The company on inspection. Have orders to march at 7 tomorrow morning.
Friday, 17—Cloudy & unpleasant, rained some in afternoon. Started for headquarters early in morning. Arrived there about 10 o’clock a.m. Formed our shanty in very bad conditions. Fixed it so we slept comfortably.
February, Saturday, 18. 1865—Clear, still warm & pleasant. Worked all day fixing up our tent. Have things quite comfortable tonight.
Sunday, 19—Clear & pleasant, wind north. No details today. Have enjoyed myself first rate. Had a sing with Whitney, Johnson, & company. Received a paper from home.
Monday, 20—Clear, warm & pleasant. Most of company on detail. Will & I on wood detail. We hung two axes & ground them in a.m. I did my washing. Will & I helped to load 4 loads of wood in p.m. Received a letter from home.
February, Tuesday, 21. 1865—Clear, warm & pleasant, wind north. Chopped wood for camp. Wrote letter home.
Wednesday 22—Clear & pleasant. Worked quite hard chopping wood. Washington’s birthday. Salute of 41 guns fired. Turned over my gun to Frank Regan.
Thursday, 23—Raining & unpleasant all day. Worked loading wood in forenoon. Inspection in afternoon did not amount to much.
February, Friday, 24. 1865—Clear & pleasant, wind north. Worked all day loading wood. The 2 teams drew 20 loads. Frank R. is sick. Had a sing in evening. Some clouds at night. Looks like rain.
Saturday, 25—Cloudy & unpleasant all day. I did not work in woods. Will & I ground our axes & cut some firewood for ourselves then played gentlemen. Received a paper from home.
Sunday, 26—Clear & very warm. On inspection in forenoon. Dress parade in afternoon. Had a good sing with Whitney, Frank Regan. Does not get any better.
February, Monday. 27. 1865—Clear & pleasant, quite warm. Chopped wood for camp. Mr. Hunter on our detail. Received a letter from home. Folks all well.
Tuesday, 28—Cloudy & unpleasant, rained some in a.m. The regiment mustered for pay in a.m. Inspection in p.m. Uncle Sam owes me 129 dollars. Wrote letter home. Frank very sick.
March 1865
March, Wednesday, 1—Cloudy & unpleasant, wind east. Cut wood in forenoon. Went for a load of cedar in p.m. with Corporal [William] Claude [Company M]. Frank went to hospital. Wrote a letter home last night. We feel quite lonesome.
March, Thursday, 2. 1865—Rained quite hard all day. No details. 27 recruits for our regiment. Frank Regan no better.
Friday, 3—Cloudy & unpleasant. Co. L marched to Point of Rocks to take charge of pontoon bridge. Stayed in tool house first night.
Saturday, 4—Heavy southwest wind, rained some in forenoon, rather pleasant in p.m. I stopped in lieutenant’s tent at night. Did not do much at quarters. Had a nail inspection.
March, Sunday, 5. 1865—Clear & cold in morning, pleasant in p.m., wind north. Whitney, Thomas, Reed & myself built a tent together. Was on guard. [Michael] Glennan & [Charles] Berry * under arrest.
* Charles Berry is also known as Charles Krensser or Creusere (1845-1922) born in Paris; immigrated to Brooklyn in 1854; became a citizen after the war; married Mary Mahoney then Evelyn Burt and died in Detroit. Ancestry info seems pretty good. There is a photo of him in old age.
Monday, 6—Clear & pleasant, wind north. Worked on tent. Built chimney, etc. Most of our quarters built today. Have got things quite comfortable tonight.
Tuesday, 7—Clear, warm, & pleasant. Did not drill today. Ed went to Bermuda for mail. I received a letter from home. Will & I went for a load of wood.
March, Wednesday, 8. 1865—Cloudy & unpleasant, rained some, wind south. Was on drill a short time in morning. It rained some & we stopped work. I wrote a letter home.
Thursday, 9—Cloudy & unpleasant in forenoon, quite pleasant in p.m. The company on drill in p.m. All took a good boat ride. Whitney & Thomas arrested for missing roll call.
Friday, 10—Raining & unpleasant in forepart of the day, cleared off in afternoon. We took boat ride in afternoon. Lieutenant [Charles D.] Otis * takes command of Co. L. Wrote a letter for Almon Emery.
* Lt. Charles Otis (1832-1905) is also know as Charles Cowdrey; born in Plymouth, New Hampshire; married Eleanora Sanburn; died in Queens.
March, Saturday, 11. 1865—Clear & rather cold, wind north in a.m., south in p.m. On drill about 5 hours. Thomas on guard. Whitney on wood detail. Reed went after the mail as usual. Had sing in evening.
Sunday, 12—Clear & pleasant, wind southwest. Inspection in a.m. & p.m. Received a letter from home. Wrote a letter to Julia Moore. Went to meeting in a.m. Walked out with Whitney & Thomas in p.m.
Monday, 13—Clear & very pleasant, wind southwest. We laid a pontoon bridge for first time. Did first rate too. Captain Lion present. Whitney on guard. Thomas wrote to his [ ].
March, Tuesday, 14. 1865—Clear & very warm, wind south. Laid bridge in forenoon. Loaded pontoon wagons in p.m. Worked very hard. Washed some clothes in afternoon.
Wednesday, 15—Wind southwest, cloudy & looks some like rain. Worked on pontoon wagon train in a.m. Took up pontoon bridge in p.m. Received a letter & paper from home.
Thursday, 16—Heavy south wind quite warm. Signed payroll & got my pay, 64 dollars. Went on drill in p.m. Wrote a letter home. Drew 2 loaves of bread. [Alfred] Hewitt paid me 3.50. Ed went for mail in afternoon.
March, Friday, 17. 1865—Clear & rather pleasant, wind west. We built one bridge in forenoon & took it up. Also one in p.m. Wrote a letter for Almon Emery. Went to church in evening.
Saturday, 18—Clear & pleasant, wind west. On detail fixing wagons for inspection in a.m. Laid bridge & took it up in p.m. Ed & C. Tomas went to City Point. No mail today.
Sunday, 19—Clear & very pleasant. Inspection in a.m. & p.m. Went to church in a.m. & evening. Saw Charlie Ford at the hospital. Wrote a letter home. The text in evening was this—the wages of sin is death.
March, Monday, 20. 1865—Clear & very warm. On drill in forenoon & p.m. Went to Sanitary Commission. Got some paper & thread. Fixed up a box to send home. Bought a blanket, gave 2.00.
Tuesday, 21—Cloudy & unpleasant, rained in p.m. I was on drill in a.m. On detail in p.m. laying fence. Ed went to City Point. Took a box of clothing to send home. Wrote a letter to M.
Wednesday, 22—Clear & quite cold in morning, heavy west wind. Took up bridge & loaded it on wagons in a.m. Helped to drive across bridge a drove of mules. Ed on detail. Got marching orders. Went to meeting in evening. Text 39th [ ].
March, Thursday, 23. 1865—Clear with a heavy west wind. Am on detail loading chess & putting boats together. [Patrick] Donnelly & [Charles] Berry got back from furlough. Let Almon have 2 dollars. Went to meeting in evening. Heard good sermon.
Friday, 24—Clear & rather cold, heavy west wind. Got marching orders in morning. Started for somewhere with pontoon train in p.m. Went as far as Deep Bottom & stopped for the night. Very cold night.
Saturday, 25—Cloudy & looks some like rain. Got up at ½ past 2 in morning. Started at daylight. Arrived at Chickahominy River at 2 o’clock p.m. Built a bridge across. Fixed a tent & stopped for the night.
March, Sunday, 26. 1865—Clear & rather cold, wind north. Took up the bridge in morning & started back. Halted just above Deep Bottom. Lost one of our Engineers Officers & one sharpshooter. Stopped at James River for night.
Monday, 27—Clear & very pleasant. Started for Broadway Landing early in morning. Arrived at Broadway in p.m. one o’clock. Worked the rest of p.m. loading boats on barge. Part of Co. L going to North Carolina, the rest to Hatcher’s Run.
Tuesday, 28—Clear & pleasant. Started on. March[ed] twenty-five miles. Arrived at Weldon Railroad at dark. Sheridan’s Cavalry with us. Also, Potomac Army. Went into camp about 8 o’clock at night.
March, Wednesday, 29. 1865—Clear, warm, & pleasant, wind south. Started in good season. Arrived within one mile of Hatcher’s Run about noon. Stopped there for the night. Looks like rain. Southside Railroad taken.
Thursday, 30—Wind south, rained hard all day. Remained in camp all day. Some fighting in afternoon. Saw a great many wounded men. Also, some Reb prisoners.
Friday, 31—Rainy in morning but quite pleasant most of the day. Went to front to build a bridge across Hatcher’s Run. Fighting all day. Did not get back until one o’clock morning.
April 1865
April, Saturday, 1. 1865—Clear, heavy west wind. Remained in camp. Fixed up quarters. Heavy firing all day. Our lines are advanced. A good many Johnnies taken prisoners. Received a letter from home. Wrote home.
Sunday, 2—Clear, warm & pleasant. Two inspections in a.m. Struck tents at noon & marched to signal station. Heavy cannonading all night. Petersburg captured this morning. Stopped near signal station for the night.
Monday, 3—Warm & pleasant. Richmond captured. We are on the road to Lynchburg. Saw Grant & Meade. Stopped for night. Some 2 miles on Southside Road. Looks as if the Rebs left here in a great hurry.
April, Tuesday, 4. 1865—Cloudy & quite cold in morning, pleasant most of the day. Started forward at 9 o’clock morning. Came 22 miles on Southside Road. Boys caught some sheep, hens, etc. I am on guard.
Wednesday, 5—Some cloudy in morning but warm & pleasant through the day. Started in good season. Marched all day. Arrived at Nottaway Station in evening. Stopped 2 hours. Then marched until morning.
Thursday, 6—Cloudy & some raining in morning, pleasant the rest of the day. Stopped a short time to rest & eat, then went on. Arrived at Burkeville at noon. Stopped there overnight. We hear good news all the time.
April, Friday, 7. 1865—Lousy & unpleasant most of the day. Cleared off just at night. Start off in good season. Marched all day & laid a bridge across the Appomattox at Farmville. Got through 12 o’clock [at] night.
Saturday, 8—Clear, warm & pleasant. Took up bridge & started on after the army. Stopped for the night some 12 miles from Farmville. It is reported we have captured 40,000 prisoners. I feel very tired tonight.
Sunday, 9—Clear, warm & pleasant. On our way toward Lynchburg in good season. Went into park at 3 o’clock. Lee has surrendered his army to Grant but many doubt it. But however it is so, we are living high.
April, Monday, 10. 1865—Rainy & unpleasant most of the day. Started out in afternoon & marched [un]til night toward Appomattox Court House. Passed a battlefield on our way. Saw several citizens today, all well.
Tuesday, 11—Unpleasant, foggy all day, quite muddy. Started off quite early on our way back to Petersburg. Marched until 4 o’clock p.m. & stopped at Davis Hill [?]. Several Reb parole cavalry passed us at night. Ed & I on picket.
Wednesday, 12—Cloudy & still in forenoon, heavy southwest wind in p.m. Started on our way in good season. Arrived at Prospect Station at 12 o’clock. [ ] teams. Ate dinner. Went on. Did not go far. Bad roads. Stopped for night, 12 miles from Farmville.
April, Thursday, 13. 1865—Clear & pleasant, wind west. Broke camp & travelled nearly to Farmville & camped for the teams are most played out. I had a good supper at a farmhouse. Did not get back until 10.
Friday, 14—Very clear, warm & pleasant. Broke camp at 9 o’clock. Arrived at Farmville at noon. Stopped for the night three miles beyond Farmville. Built a bridge across Bush River. The roads are very poor.
Saturday, 15—Unpleasant, it has rained most of the day. We have come 6 miles today. Very bad roads. Went into camp quite early. I killed a beef & we are faring first rate. The country does not look very fine here abouts.
April, Sunday, 16. 1865—Clear & pleasant, wind west. Broke camp at 7 o’clock. Arrived at Burkeville at tow o’clock pm. & went into park. Ate dinner, then unloaded train. Camped for the night. Reported Lincoln, Seward shot.
Monday, 17—Clear, warm & pleasant. Remained in camp [un]til night when we took the cars but did not make more than 10 rods for the reason that the cars ran off the track. There is a great many Johnnies waiting for transportation.
Tuesday, 18—Clear, warm & pleasant, wind southwest. Started for Peterburg at 8 a.m. Arrived at Peterburg at 5 p.m. It is quite a large town. Had warm bread & cheese for supper. Ed & myself are on guard.
April, Wednesday, 19. 1865—Clear, warm, pleasant. Took cars for Richmond at 9 o’clock. Arrived there at 12 o’clock. Went to where the rest of our company was & stopped for the night. Received a letter from George & one from home.
Thursday, 20—Warm & pleasant, some cloudy & rained a little in afternoon. Wrote a letter home in a.m. Moved camp to south side river in p.m. Ed & I fixed up a tent together. Camp is pleasant.
Friday, 21—Clear, warm & pleasant, wind south. Remained in camp in forenoon. Cleaned my gun. Wrote a letter for Almon. Fixed my tent. Worked on bridge in p.m. Ed is quite sick. Received a letter from home.
April, Saturday, 22. 1865—Cloudy, wind southwest. Worked on bridge all day & finished it.
Sunday, 23—Cloudy & quite cool, wind blows quite hard from the west. Inspection in forenoon. Wrote a letter home, also to Julia. Wrote a letter for Almon Emery. Some of the boys are quite blue tonight.
Monday, 24—Clear & pleasant. I remained in camp in forenoon. Was on detail to unload a boat of lumber boards. Ed is sick. 30 recruits for Co. L. Abner Baker one of them.
April, Tuesday, 25. 1865—Clear, very warm & pleasant. On drill in forenoon. Remained in camp in p.m. Received a letter from home. Ed is some better. A squad of men away on detail.
Wednesday, 26—Clear, warm & pleasant, wind south. I am on guard. Ed is better, is doing duty in office. I wrote a letter for Almon.
Thursday, 27—Clear & pleasant. I remained in camp in a.m. Went all through Richmond in company with Mr. [John H.] Hatton. It is a beautiful city. Visited Castle Thunder, Libby Prison, the Capitol, Jeff’s house & many curiosities.
April, Friday, 28. 1865—Clear & pleasant most of the day, a slight squall in p.m. Worked on bridge all day & quite hard too. Reported surrender of Johnson. Booth shot dead.
Saturday, 29—Cloudy, wind south, rained some just at night. Worked on bridge below here. Took part of it down & put it on barge & took it to Richmond. Worked pretty hard.
Sunday, 30—Clear & pleasant but looks like [rain] tonight. Inspection at 8 morning. Mustered in afternoon. Wrote a letter home, also one for Emery.
May 1865
May, Monday, 1, 1865—Cloudy & quite cold. Remained in camp all day. Wrote a letter to Miss Mary [S. Mead]. Borrowed 19 dollars of Abner Baker. Ed at work in office.
Tuesday, 2—Some cloudy, quite cool, wind northwest. On detail to get a stick of timber from shipyard in a.m. Remained in camp in p.m.
Wednesday, 3—Clear & pleasant, wind northwest. On detail loading timber. Moved into a tent with Whitney.
May, Thursday, 4, 1865—Clear, warm & pleasant, wind west. I am on guard. Received a letter from Elder [C. C.] Hart. 5th Corps came here today. Mr. Goodridge came to our camp at night.
Friday, 5—Clear & very warm. Remained in camp in forenoon. Eddy Stickles came here to camp. Went to 91st Regiment in p.m. Saw Mr. [Cyrus W.] Gavin, Charles Pascal, [Gilbert] Jesse.’
Saturday, 6—Clear & very warm, wind southwest. 3rd Corps passes through Richmond on their way to Washington. I am on detail all day. Worked on the bridge 1 in a.m. Unloaded barge in p.m.
1 This is the first entry Merritt makes in his diary of working on “the bridge.” He is referring to Mayo’s Bridge over the James River at Richmond which was destroyed by fire except for the stone piers. The Richmond Whig announced on 4 May 1865 that the bridge was going to be rebuilt. The Engineers worked quickly. By 13 June 1865, the Richmond Whig announced that the bridge would be completed by the end of the week. A week later they announced it was open to foot traffic and that it would soon be ready for vehicles. By the end of June 1865, the bridge was completed and the two pontoon bridges were taken up.
Ruins of Mayo’s Bridge over James River at Richmond, 1865
May, Sunday, 7, 1865—Clear & pleasant. Inspection of quarters in a.m. Went to church in company with Abner Baker. Heard a good [ ] sermon. Wrote a letter for A. Emery.
Monday, 8—Clear, heavy south wind. Worked on bridge. Received two papers from home. Did not do much. Will on guard. Ed still remains in camp.
Tuesday, 9—Cloudy & rained some in course of day. Worked on bridge. Got one stringer across the canal. Received a letter from how. Lost my pocketbook & found it. [Ransome C.] Alford is looking on.
May, Wednesday, 10, 1865—Clear, pleasant, wind south. Worked on bridge. Sherman’s troops crossing river today. Sent box [of] clothes home. Wrote letter home. Ed is getting quite smart. Two men under arrest.
Thursday, 11—Clear & warm, wind south, looks like rain at night. Sherman’s troops passing all day. Worked on bridge. Had whiskey for supper. Whitney is a little unwell.
Friday, 12—Cloudy & cold in morning but pleasant most of the day, had a severe thunderstorm last night. Am on guard today. Wrote a letter for A. Emery. Took a boat ride at night.
May, Saturday, 13, 1865—Clear & very warm. Smith & I went to 118th. Saw [William] Bidwell & Ed[ward K.] Stickle. It is reported the 24th Corps is to leave next Tuesday. We took a sail in the evening.
Sunday, 14—Clear & pleasant, slight wind from south. Went to Baptist church in forenoon. Received a letter from home & answered it. Whitney & Will are sick.
Monday, 15—Clear & pleasant. At work unloading timber at the bridge. Took a boat ride at night. Hewitt left camp to work in sawmill. Will is some better, also Whitney. Ed not on detail.
May, Tuesday, 16, 1865—Clear, warm & pleasant, wind southeast. I am not on detail. Half of company is off detail now every day. Received a letter from Miss M. & answered it. Took a boat ride.
Wednesday, 17—Clear, warm & pleasant, wind south. Worked on bridge. Worked quite hard for me. Drew on pair of pants, one pair of shoes, one blouse. Will on sick list. Whitney, too.
Thursday, 18—Very warm, wind southwest & some cloudy. Took a boat ride in forenoon. Went to Richmond in p.m. with [Christopher] Soulia. Had a glass [of] beer. Will & Co___ still in camp. Co. H and M are here to camp.
May, Friday, 19, 1865—Clear & pleasant, wind south, clouded up & rained some at night. Worked on bridge. Boys got back last night from Fredericksburg.
Saturday, 20—Cloudy & showers, wind southeast. Remained in camp all day. Took a boat ride in afternoon. Received a letter from home.
Sunday, 21—Clear & pleasant most of the day. Rained some, just at night. Went to Episcopal church in forenoon. Remained in camp in p.m. & wrote a letter home. Will is sick.
May, Monday, 22. 1865—Clear most of the day & very warm. Remained in camp in a.m. Worked on bridge in p.m. Tom Clary came here today.
Tuesday, 23—Clear, cool & pleasant, wind west. Remained in camp in forenoon. Worked on bridge in p.m. Tom Clary here. Will B. is sick, also Smith, Thomas. Whitney on detail for first time in a week.
Wednesday, 24—Clear, pleasant, slight wind from west. Worked on bridge in forenoon. Remained in camp in afternoon. Tom Clary here, gave me a cutlass. Will is still on sick list. Thomas has news, we expect to leave soon.
May, Thursday, 25, 1865—Clear & pleasant. Worked on bridge. Wrote letter to Saff[ord Taylor]. Received a letter from Julia. I am not very well. Thomas is sick. 4 of Co. E boys fell from bridge, were badly hurt.
Friday, 26—Rained all day, heavy northeast wind. Remained in camp all day. Wrote a letter to Julia Moore. [Smith] Thomas promoted to Sergeant, also [Henry S.] Reed & [James] Douglas.
Saturday, 27—Cloudy & rained most of the day. Detail went out in forenoon. I did not go out. Very lonesome day. Did not receive any mail.
May, Sunday 28, 1865—Clear & pleasant. Inspection in morning. Went to Baptist church in Manchester in company with Whitney & Burdick. Heard good sermon. Webber starts for New York.
Monday, 29—Clear most of the day, quite pleasant. Am on trusses detail. Worked a short time in morning. Remained in camp all day. Ed received a letter from home. Kirby Smith, same.
Tuesday, 30—Clear, warm & pleasant. Remained in camp in forenoon. Worked on bridge in p.m. Received a letter from home.
May, Wednesday, 31, 1865—Clear & very warm. Remained in camp in forenoon. Wrote a letter home. Worked on bridge in p.m. I helped to put in three braces. Ed & I went in swimming.
June 1865
June, Thursday, 1—Very warm & pleasant, wind west. No details today (fast day). Went to first Baptist Church in morning. Whitney got singing book (Carmen). We had a good sing.
Friday, 2—Warm, clear & pleasant. Worked on bridge. Went to Richmond with Smith. Got a bottle of ink. Received a letter from home.
June, Saturday, 3, 1865—Clear & very warm, slight wind from west. Wrote part of a letter home. Will & I went to a farmhouse & got all the cherries we wanted. Worked on bridge in afternoon.
Sunday, 4—Clear & very warm. Inspection in forenoon. General Hall inspected us. I wrote a letter home in p.m. Received a letter from Miss Mead. Am not very well.
Monday, 5—Clear & very warm in forenoon. Cloudy in p.m. & had quite a hard shower. Ed is ordered to the regiment with some 30 others from Co. L. I went with them. Received a letter from George [Pierce], all well.
June, Tuesday, 6, 1865—Cloudy & quite cool, wind north. I am on guard. Ed is in the adjutant’s office at work. Colonel Hall says we are going home & no humbug. I stayed in guardhouse at night.
Wednesday, 7—Some cloudy in morning but clear & pleasant most of the day. Went down to Co. L in forenoon. Got a gun. Review of a part of the 24th Corps in p.m. Wrote a letter to M.
Thursday, 8—Clear & very warm. Went to Co. B to stop for a while. Am on detail in p.m. Ed also. I feel quite unwell today. Received a letter from Saff Taylor.
June, Friday, 9, 1865—Clear & pleasant, wind south. Went to doctor in morning a.m. On light duty. Did not do any. Ed & I lay under a shade tree most of the day. Went to camp Co. L in p.m. Received a letter from home.
Saturday, 10—Cloudy, wind west. Went to doctor. Am on light duty. Remained in camp all day. Ed went to Co. L in p.m. I feel much better today.
Sunday, 11—Some cloudy, wind west, very pleasant. Started for camp Co. L early in morning to remain there. Moved in with Whitney. Went to church in a.m. Heard good sermon. Wrote letter home. Walked out with Will.
June, Monday, 12, 1865—Some cloudy, very pleasant. Went to Richmond with Will B. in a.m. Worked on bridge in afternoon. Began to plank the bridge today. Muster roll here.
Tuesday, 13—Clear & warm in a.m., showery in p.m. Am on guard today. Went fishing in a.m. & swimming in p.m. Did not do much on bridge for want of timber. Ed received letter.
Wednesday, 14—Very warm, some cloudy in p.m. Went blackberrying. Did not get many. Wrote letter for Emery. [Joseph Schliter] & [Charles] Berry have been fighting today.
June, Thursday, 15, 1865—Cloudy & lowery part of the day. Will, Ed & myself sent home a box I carried to Richmond. Whitney & I on bridge but work under Captain King. Had a good supper.
Friday, 16—Cloudy, warm & muggy. Whitney, Will & I worked on bridge, finished fixing braces on north side bridge. Whitney & myself went to Richmond in p.m. Had some ripe apples.
Saturday, 17—Clear in a.m., showers in p.m. Remained in camp in a.m. George Farnsworth came to camp. I got pass & went to City Point with him.
June, Sunday, 18, 1865—Clear & pleasant. Started for Manchester 8 a.m. Arrived at Petersburg 9 a.m., at Manchester, 11 a.m. Versal Spalding came with us. Received paper from home, George letter.
Monday, 19—Clear in forenoon, rained in p.m. Am on guard today. Went to Richmond with Will in a.m. Thomas on bridge detail. Ed is working on muster rolls.
Tuesday, 20—Clear in a.m., cloudy in p.m., heavy shower at night. Am off duty today. Went to Richmond to carry box for Ed. George Farnsworth came to camp. Will went to City Point. Received a letter from home.
June, Wednesday, 21. 1865—Cloudy in a.m., very warm in p.m. Remained in camp & wrote a letter home in a.m. Worked on bridge in afternoon. The boys had an Irish wake at night.
Thursday, 22—Clear & very warm, rained some at night. Remained in camp in forenoon. Worked on bridge in p.m. Worked pretty hard. Received a letter from home. All well.
Friday, 23—Clear & very warm. Went to Richmond in forenoon after gun. Did not get any. Worked on bridge in p.m. & I worked very hard. Ed found me a gun.
June, Saturday, 24, 1865—Clear & very hot. Remained in camp in forenoon. Worked on bridge in p.m. I worked very hard. General Hall says we will be mustered out Wednesday.
Sunday, 25—Some cloudy & very warm. Inspection in forenoon. Officers very particular. George Farnsworth came to camp. Will & I went to Manchester with him.
Monday, 26—Clear & very warm. Went to Richmond in forenoon with Ed. Had a good dinner. Worked on bridge in pm. Teams passed on the bridge today. Major King crossed first.
June, Tuesday, 27, 1865—Clear & pleasant. All the company on detail in a.m. We finished Mayo Bridge in forenoon. Abner Baker & myself went to Richmond. Got some papers & a book.
Wednesday, 28—Clear, warm & pleasant, wind south. Drilled a short time in forenoon with guns. Remained in camp in p.m. Captain [Richard W.] Coe came to Co. L. Expect to be mustered out tomorrow.
Thursday, 29—Clear & warm, wind southwest. Went to headquarters & was mustered out of U.S. service in forenoon. Remained in camp in p.m. Expect to leave for home Saturday.
June, Friday, 30, 1865—Clear most of the day & very warm, wind southwest. Remained in camp all day. Struck tents in forenoon. Slept in cars overnight. Expect to leave in morning.
July 1865
July, Saturday, 1—Clear & very warm in a.m., heavy showers in p.m. The regiment takes transportation for Baltimore. Started from Richmond ½ past 9 o’clock a.m. On guard today.
Sunday, 2—Cloudy & cool most of the day. Sailed all day. Arrived in Baltimore at 5 pm. Went to soldiers home. Took supper (poor one too). Took cars at 8 in eve for Philadelphia. [ ] all night.
July, Monday, 3. 1865—Clear & pleasant. Arrived in Philadelphia 6 a.m. Went to Volunteer’s Restaurant & took breakfast (good one too). Took cars for Amboy, 9 o’clock a.m. Arrived in Amboy ½ 3 p.m. Took boat arrived in New York at 5.
Tuesday, 4—Clear & pleasant, wind west. We have the day to ourselves. Whitney & myself took walk in morning. Great fire works in evening. Will & myself went to City Hall. Got back a little past 9.
Wednesday, 5—Clear & pleasant. Remained at the Armory. Expect to [get] paid tomorrow. Went to Billina & took my gun. A good share of boys drunk. Went about the city where I chose.
July, Thursday, 6. 1865—Clear & pleasant. I am still in the city & not much signs of getting paid up. The regiment assembled & marched to Mechanics Hall. Heard speach.
Friday, 7—Clear & quite warm. Ed & I called on Billina in forenoon. Mr. Herrick in p.m. Borrowed 10 dollars of Mr. Herrick. Took supper at the 8th Armory. Will, Ed, I went to Erie [Hotel].
Saturday, 8—Clear & pleasant. I feel first rate today. Had a god night’s rest. Went to 8th Armory in morning. Found out that we should be paid off Tuesday next. Will received a letter from home.
July, Sunday, 9. 1865—Clear & pleasant. We are still at the Erie Hotel. Went to Episcopal church in morning. Remained at the Erie the rest of the day.
Monday, 10—Clear & pleasant. Went up to 8th Armory in morning. The company got paid. We are still waiting patiently for pay. I feel pretty well tonight.
Tuesday, 11—Rainy in forenoon, pleasant in p.m. Went to 8th Armory in morning. General Hall said we were to be paid on Thursday. Went up on Broadway in p.m. Ate supper at the Armory.
July, Wednesday, 12. 1865—Cloudy but rather pleasant. Took breakfast at the Continental Hotel. Rambled about the city in a.m. Visited Barnum’s Museum in p.m. Saw sights. Don’t get paid.
Thursday, 13—Some cloudy, wind southwest. Went to Amory at 10 a.m. to get paid but are put off another day. Barnum’s museum took fire & burned up.
Friday, 14—Clear & pleasant. Reported at 8 a.m. Signed payroll & was paid 2 p.m. Bought suit clothes, 40. Took steamer for Troy at 6 p.m. Am happy to know that I am free man.
July, Saturday, 15. 1865—Some cloudy but pleasant. Arrived in Troy 8 a.m. Took breakfast at Troy House. Called on Fred Bullis. Called on E. Beckwith. Went to Albany. Saw Harvey Dodge.
Sunday, 16—Rainy & unpleasant. Went to church in forenoon in company with Mrs. Beckwith. Remained at Mr. Beckwith’s in p.m. Had a good sing. Enjoyed myself well.
Monday, 17—Rainy & unpleasant in forenoon. Pleasant in p.m. Took cars for Whitehall 7 a.m. Arrived in Whitehall at 10 o’clock. Took boat & arrived in Plattsburgh at 6 p.m. Got home, just dark.
July, Tuesday, 18. 1865—Clear & pleasant, wind west. Went to Grandpa’s in forenoon. Called on Mrs. Beckwith’s people in p.m. Went to Morrison at night.
Wednesday, 19—Cloudy & looks like rain. Went to west lot in forenoon. Killed a woodchuck. Went to mill in p.m. Rains some at night.
Thursday, 20—Cloudy, wind west, quite pleasant. Went to Falls with some rolls[?]. Aunt Mag went with me. Went fishing up Henry Brook. Caught 25 trout.
July, Friday, 21. 1865—Cloudy & looked like rain in a.m., quite pleasant in p.m. Remained at home in forenoon. Went to Morrisonville in p.m.
Saturday, 22—Clear, warm & pleasant. Went to Grandpa’s in a.m. Settled with Ed & Will for boxes. Went to Plattsburgh in p.m. Got two teeth filled & check cashed.
Sunday, 23—Clear & pleasant. Went to church in a.m. & p.m. Heard two excellent sermons. Took Sib & Mary Mead home. Had a pleasant time.
July, Monday, 24. 1865—Clear & quite warm, wind southeast. Went to west lot & cut a load of hay. William Weaver came her at night. Let him 150 dollars.
Tuesday, 25—Clear in forenoon, rainy in pm. George & I cut a load of hay & got it in. [unreadable] helped mow.
Wednesday, 26—Cloudy, heavy west wind. Finished mowing up to west lot. Came home at night. Had garden peas for dinner.
July, Thursday, 27. 1865—Cloudy in forenoon, pleasant in p.m. George & I finished haying to west lot. Worked until 9 o’clock. Mr. Mead, Mary, & [Charlotte] Lot Dodge called at George’s.
Friday, 28—Clear & very warm. Dred [?] a load of oats & corn to Mr. Howe. There was 1797 lbs oats, 498 lbs corn. Price corn 1.00 70 pounds, oats, 55 cts. 92 lbs.
Saturday, 29—Cloudy, wind west. Went to upper wood lot. Made bargain to sell a part of it. Went to Morrisonville in evening to sing. Did not sing much.
July, Sunday, 30. 1865—Clear & very pleasant. Went to church in forenoon & afternoon. Heard a very good sermon from Elder Brown. His subject was the society in heave. Had very good singing.
Monday, 31—Clear & pleasant, wind south. Went to west lot in forenoon. Drew some rails for fence. Remained at home in pm. Baker is cutting hay for us. Frank went to [George’s?].
August 1865
August, Tuesday, 1—Clear, warm & a fine hay day. Finished cutting grass.[ ] I helped Beach. Sold Mrs. O’Brien 25 acres of wood lot. She let us have a cow & a two-year-old heifer towards it.
August, Wednesday, 2. 1865—Clear & warm. Worked for Beach in forenoon. Finished haying. George & I went to Plattsburgh in p.m. Will B. & I went to Mr. [Silas]Taylor’s. Saw Safford.
Thursday, 3—Clear & very warm. Got some stone for George’s cistern & put them in. George is quite sick today. Will & I went to Morrisonville at night.
Friday, 4—Some cloudy but very warm. Went to [ ] got some plank for George’s [ ] shed floor in a.m. Helped him to lay it in p.m. & cut the grass in lane & got it in barn.
August, Saturday, 5. 1865—Clear & pleasant. Went to see Eddy in forenoon. Went to covenant meeting in p.m. Will Beckwith & myself went to Smith Mead’s in eve.
Sunday, 6—Clear in forenoon, cloudy & looks like rain in p.m. Went to church. Attended a concert at the Methodist house. Took Sib & Mary M. home.
Monday, 7—Cloudy with heavy west wind. Took grist to mill. Wet to west lot. Helped George fix cistern. Alfred Parrott came here.
August, Tuesday, 8. 1865—Clear, heavy west wind. Worked to lot cutting rye. Did not do much.
Wednesday, 9—Clear, warm & pleasant. Worked for James Henry. Drew three loads of wheat from Plattsburgh. Received a letter from Whitney. Miss Fuller & Jule to George’s.
Thursday, 10. —Clear & pleasant, wind south. Took Miss Fuller & Jule home. Went to mill in p.m. to get two pigs of Mr. Henry. It looks like rain.
There is insufficient personal detail in the following letter to attribute it to any particular regiment, let alone any particular soldier. Numerous Union regiments were dug in near Petersburg where the city had been under siege for more than half a year by this point in late February 1865. The letter was written by a Union soldier named Edd (Edward) to his lady friend Mary who had the initials “M. E. M.” Edd speaks of the Union troops firing a salute on 24 February 1865 to celebrate the fall of Wilmington, North Carolina—the last remaining supply port for the Confederacy. In response, the Rebels in Petersburg unleashed a barrage of shells into the Union lines “quite hard.” Edd also speaks of deserters and a Peace Commission in Richmond.
Bomb-proof quarters in Fort Sedgewick in front of Petersburg (LOC)
Transcription
Before Petersburg, Virginia February 25th 1865
My dear Mary,
The times still passes off slowly yet but is on account of its being so unpleasant for it has rained nearly all the time since I got back.
We fired a salute last night for the capture of Wilmington and its surroundings. Oh, there is another peace Commission gone to Richmond but for what purpose, we have not yet heard. I hope they will do something so as to settle the war for I don’t think I should cry if it should end—not bad at any rate. The Rebs after we fired the salute last night opened on us quite hard but we would not reply to them. But I guess we didn’t get ourselves under cover anywhere. I reckon I did not for I got to the magazine and stayed until it was over. I’ll bet I didn’t wish myself at home any, Oh no!, where I was the week before. Although we all enjoyed the shelling very much, they done but little damage. Some of the shells went through some of the bomb proofs and some striking the ground and bursted which reminded me of the track we made the time we got out of the road coming home from Jane’s.
There is no news except a lot of the Rebs are deserting every night when it is dark. There was 560 came in night before last on the lines. As there is nothing more, I will close by sending my best wishes to all.
My truest love and a kiss to you. I remain your kind, true friend, — Edd
Spared & Shared 23 