An unidentified member of the 46th Ohio (Carl Fogarty Collection)
The following letter was written by William E. Joshua (1833-1869), who came to the United States from Wales with his parents, Joseph Joshua (1810-1878) and Sarah Lewis (1813-1887) in the 1850s and resided in Newport, Campbell county, Kentucky. William enlisted as a private in Co. D, 46th Ohio Infantry on 10 September 1861. He died of disease at the City Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, on 28 January 1863.
This letter was written just a week before the Battle of Shiloh. For a great article on the 46th Ohio and the role they played in that two-day engagement, see “Crank” Worthington’s Boys at Shiloh, published in Dan Masters’ Civil War Chronicles in 2020.
Transcription
Addressed to Mr. Samuel Moon, for Mr. Joseph Joshua, Newport, Kentucky
Pittsburg, Tennessee Camp Shiloe [Shiloh] Company D, 46th Regiment Ohio Volunteers March 30, 1862
Dear Father & Mother & Sisters & Brother,
With pleasure I write to you these few lines in hopes that you are all in good health as this leaves me at present. I do have good health & that is great comfort to my mind. We ought to be very thankful to our Crestor for his kindness towards us. There was two young men died in our regiment. They was buried last night. There disease was typhoid fever—smart young men. Death with its arrows took them away to the land where there is no shot nor shell. Our band played very mournfully the Dead March. It was very striking. It’s a hard thing for a young man to die in a strange country without any parents, without relative or friends. I hope it will never come to my lot to be numbered with the dead in this country. But I hope that I shall return home safe and sound again.
Today is Sunday—the Lord’s Day. It’s a very fine day. How brightly the sun shines today. We are encamped in the wild woods of Tennessee. Our soldiers does burn the woods for miles. It looks very pretty at night. It gives a good sign that the Union brave boys are approaching. They are in camp about 18 miles from here. The name of the place is Corinth, Mississippi.
There was two young men deserted from their camp. One of them is from Cincinnati. He is a very smart young man. His name is Rice. They pressed him at New Orleans. The came in last night. They are very glad that they have come to us. They told us that the Rebels had 80 thousand men there. They said they had not much to eat. There is two railways at Corinth & we are a going to attack them some of these first days. We are waiting for General Buell’s Army to come. As soon as they come. we are going to take the junction & cut all communication from east and west so we intend to starve them out. They say after this fight the war will be at an end. I say may it be so.
We have got a very large force here—enough to sweep Secesh out of the land. We do not get much news here. Everything is kept so quiet here because there is so much Rebels around.
Give my respect to all our friends & to Mr. & Mrs. Rogers & to Wm. James. I hope you received 20 dollars I sent to you in care of Mr. Howell Powell. Give my respect to him & all the family. We do expect to get paid soon again & then I will send you more money. When you write directing letters to Paducah because I am more sure to get them. Directions: In care of Captain H[arding] C. Geary, for William E. Joshua, Paducah, Headquarters, Pittsburg, Tennessee, Company D, 46th Regiment, Ohio Volunteers. If I will be live & well, I will write to you again soon. Please to write soon. I would be glad to get a letter. It would cheer me up a little. Goodbye for the present.
These letters were written by Corporal Albert H. Carter (1844-1864) of Leominster, Massachusetts, who enlisted as a private Company A, 36th Massachusetts Infantry in August 1862. A few days after they were mustered into service at Worcester, they were sent to Alexandria, Virginia, and then ordered at once to join the Army of the Potomac. They reached Sharpsburg on 17th September, 1862, too late to participate in the Battle of Antietam. Here they were officially attached to Welsh’s 3rd Brigade, Wilcox’s 1st Division, 9th Army Corps.
Albert was promoted to corporal on 1 January 1864 and was “shot dead near Spottsylvania in the Battle of the Wilderness, May 6, 1864” according to the book, Leominster, Massachusetts, Historical and Picturesque, by William Andrew Emerson. His body was originally buried at Wilderness Battlefield, Spotsylvania but later reinterred in Grave 3741 at the Fredericksburg National Cemetery.
It is believed Albert was the son of Nathaniel and Lodema Carter of Lynnfield, Essex County, Massachusetts. See also 1864: Albert H. Carter to Clara E. Carter on Spared & Shared 7. Seven more of Albert’s letters are published on “Private Voices.”
Letter 1
Addressed to Miss Clara E. Carter, North Leominster, Massachusetts
Antietam October 3, 1862
Folks at home,
I am well. So is Windsor and the rest except Arnold. He had a kind of cramp in his stomach yesterday. Is better today, I believe.
We had a review by President Lincoln this forenoon. Burnside and McClellan were with him and Lincoln’s body guard of good-looking cavalry. The whole division gave three cheers and the artillery fired twenty-two guns. We can hear guns as he passes along round his army looking it over to see if it would do to whip the Southerners pretty soon if it comes handy, as I hope it will, but don’t know as will right off. They don’t seem to move much now.
We had some good fresh meat fried for dinner—the first the whole company has had since we left Worcester and it went well with some hard tack as the old soldiers call the hard crackers.
It is very warm here day times and cold nights. There is not much wind—most all from the east. There is a great lot of wheat that is not threshed. It is in large stacks. The corn is about all ripe that has been let alone until it could ripen. The took most all of it.
What are the nine-month’s men doing now and where are they?
Pickles go pretty well for spice and if those cluster cucumbers [are] not all gone, I wish you would put up some in good strong vinegar that will go well on beans, if we have any next winter.
I shall want some good gloves or mittens with four fingers to them for Battalion Drill.
Saturday morning the fourth, thirty-five of Co. A will go on picket today and we shall come off tomorrow, I guess. We are going to have soup for breakfast this morning and fresh meat to carry with us and fry it ourselves.
Gen. Wilcox came down in front of us last night at Dress Parade. He looked as if he was a farmer with a young fellow with him taking a walk. I can’t [write] any longer so goodbye. — A. H. Carter
Letter 2
Crab Orchard (Kentucky) September 9th 1863
Friends at home,
I am well and doing duty in the ranks. I was in the cooking department ten days a while ago. Arnold is not very smart. There was a lot left back at Nicholsville when we marched from there that had the chills &c., but they have most of them got up now. There is talk about our going on to B. Side [Burnside] but I have not gone yet. I don’t know whether they are going to send home for conscripts or not. I was one that was picked out to go and the Lieut. said my name was sent to B. Side as one to go. The Seventy Ninth New York (was ) sent a week ago or so. That is in our Brigade—Eighth Michigan, Forty Fifth N.Y. and Thirty Sixth, Mass are all in the same Brigade.
The ague has got hold of a great many of the boys, but it hasn’t got me yet and I hope it won’t. It shakes the flesh right off of some. Two of our company died back at N. Ville [Nashville] since we came from there. There was a sergeant from Fitchburg and a Corporal of Leominster, Eugene Sullivan, North Village.
That sugar bag don’t come. I should like one very much. I don’t know as you got the letter though. I should like one made of oiled silk such as they put in fur hat linings that would hold about two pounds.
How is war business in other parts of the U. S.? We don’t get the papers here very regular. Once in a while there is a lot comes along. I have not heard the girls say whether they had bin here long enough or not and I don’t know whether to get them conveyed to Nashville or not. Mr. A. J. Phillips and wife came from Kansas to see me. They started for L. [Louisville] some time ago. They were calculating to visit Sarah Boyden first. I guess they will come and visit you too. She was enjoying herself very much in her own little house. She said Allie is growing fast. She thought I did not calculate on her growing so much when I made the ring I sent her, but she could wear it on her little finger.
I have got one from Henry Boyden that I have not answered. I don’t get much to write about just now. Yours truly, — A. H. Carter
The following letter was penned by William Henry Burns of J. H. Walter’s Company, South Carolina Light Artillery (Washington Artillery). William entered the service early in the war as a private and was later promoted to corporal. He was transferred in March 1864 to Co. C, 17th South Carolina Infantry.
At the time William wrote this letter in July 1863, his battery was in Fort Sumter, besieged by Union batteries less than a mile away. They fired over seven million pounds of metal at the fort during a 587-day bombardment, reducing its brick walls to rubble. Despite this, the fort became stronger as the rubble formed a massive earthwork. The Union’s attempt to land troops on the island fort was repulsed.
The letter served effectually as his last will and testament as he feared he would be killed in the impending bombardment.
Union soldiers at Battery Stevens bombarding Fort Sumpter in 1863. (LOC)
Transcription
Fort Sumter July 19th 1863
W. P. Price Esq.,
I snatch a leisure moment under a flag of truce now pending to communicate a request as I am now in a garrison that is likely to be closely besieged & as I am satisfied it will be defended to the last, it is not improper for me to make some arrangements for the disposition of my worldly effects.
1st—It is my desire you administer upon my effects to assume the guardianship of my little Boy.
2nd—Out of the amount of my legacy from Miss N. Brooks estate, I desire you to purchase a small place in Newberry village for Mrs. Burns, the title to remain in your hands for the benefit of my son at his mother’s death, or when he becomes of age. In no case is the place to be disposed of unless in your judgment, my son’s interest is to be advanced by it.
3rd—I desire you to be governed by your own good judgment in the further disposition & investment of any means you may find me possessed of for the interest of my wife & son.
In the event you are not full willing to act as above requested, I trust you will at least see that their interest does not suffer for the want of a friend in the settlement of Miss N. Brooks Estate. By complying with the above, you will greatly oblige your ever true friend, — W. H. Burns
The following letter was written by Charles Milton Woodbury (1843-1865) of South Danvers who enlisted at age 18 in May 1861 to served as a private in Co. B, 17th Massachusetts Infantry. He made corporal in February 1864 but died of disease on 8 June 1865 at Fort Schuyler, New York, at war’s end.
Charles was the son of Benjamin Franklin Woodbury and Emily Jane Flower. He mentions his older brother in the letter, Benjamin Franklin (“Frank”) Woodbury (1832-1899).
The 17th Massachusetts spent the winter of 1861-62 near Baltimore, with the exception of an expedition into Virginia, and in the spring of 1862 was ordered to New Berne, N. C. It took part in an expedition to Goldsboro and met the Confederates at Kinston, Whitehall and Goldsboro. From Dec. 22, 1862, to July 25, 1863, the headquarters were at New Berne, with several minor expeditions. On July 25 it embarked in support of a cavalry raid on Weldon, but returned to duty again at or near New Berne. In Feb., 1864, a detail of the regiment had a sharp brush with the enemy at Batchelder’s creek, and in April another detachment was sent to the relief of Little Washington. The battalion spent the winter of 1864-65 near Beaufort, moved to Goldsboro in March, encountering the enemy along the route, and closed its term of service in July, 1865.
Transcription
Newbern, North Carolina May 5th 1863
Dear Mother,
I received your letter last night and was much pleased to hear from home. You said that you have written three times to me and that I have not answered them. I have answered every letter that I have got. You say that Frank wants me to write to him. I have written three or four letters to him and have never got an answer from him. I don’t think that I shall write till I get an answer from the ones that I have wrote. I am willing to write as often as I get letters. I like to write as well as anyone but I don’t like to write when I don’t get any letters.
You wanted to know how we got along on the expedition. We got along pretty well. We don’t stay to home more than three or four days at a time before we have to go on another. We got back from one day before yesterday. We don’t know when we shall have to start again.
Tell Frank to answer to answer them letters that I sent him and I will answer him right away as soon as I get his. I have written three letters to you within a fortnight and have sent you $20 by Fisk. You go and get it if you have not got it. From your son, — C. M. Woodbury, Newbern, N. C.
Dear Sister, I got your letter in mother’s and was much pleased to hear from you. Tell Frank in your next letter that I had forgotten that I [had] such a brother. I am glad that he thought enough of me to let me know I had such a brother. Tell Comey [?] that I don’t hear anything from him now. Josiah is down to Morehead City. I seen him the other day and he looked [as] well as I ever seen him look in his life. All of the other boys are looking well. Some of them are sick. There is about 24 sick in our company. I never was so well in my life as I am now. I have had the shakes twice since I have been in Newbern, N. C.
F. G. Latham’s Service Record in Co. M, Palmetto Sharpshooters (Fold 3)
The following letter was penned by Frederick Graham Latham (1823-1903) who came to Spartanburg, South Carolina, from Moneydie, Scotland some time in the 1850s. During the Civil War, he was elected Captain in the Palmetto Sharpshooters, Co. M (the “Pacolet Guards”). The letter was penned in December 1863 and requests a leave of absence to visit his dying mother in Scotland. It can be found in the Civil War Service Records of the National Archives.
Fred’s great-great granddaughter, Shelly Aliene DeStaffino-Hunter, asked me to transcribe the letter. She informs me that Fred had 5 children out of wedlock with her great-great-grandmother, Rebecca Eleanor Ramsey (1848-1929). Family oral history has it that Fred did not want to marry Rebecca for some reason so she later married an Italian named Joe DeStaffino.
I respectfully ask for a leave of absence of such as extent as would enable me to pass sixty (60) days in Scotland, my native country. In my last letter from there an aged mother hopelessly sick urges me to visit her once more in which my father, a very old man, also joins. I entered the service in April 61 and been with my regiment in every action (except one). I have been absent about 50 days in my thirty-two months service. I wish to return to my command before hostilities are renewed in the Spring months.
Hoping to have the Lieut. General’s favorable consideration, I have the honor to be Colonel, your most obedient servant, — F. G. Latham, A.A.A.G.
William Spencer Pike (1821-1875), partnered with Samuel Hart as agents of the Baton Rouge Penitentiary (from Bergeron Collection)
The following letter was penned by Benjamin “Webster” Clark (1832-1885) who enlisted as a private in Co. F, 4th Louisiana Infantry and was promoted to Color Sergeant in late May 1861, and to 1st Lieutenant/Adjutant of the Regiment in May 1862. In the spring of 1864 he became the Lieut.-Colonel of the 1st Cavalry Battalion, Louisiana State Guards, and eventually made Colonel of the 8th Louisiana Cavalry Regiment. He was paroled at Natchitoches, La., on 6 June 1865.
Webster was the son of Samuel M. D. Clark (1800-1854) and Maria Glover (1814-18xx) of West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. He was married after the war to Bessie Williams (1849-1894).
Webster wrote the letter to Roy Mason Hooe of King George county, Virginia who entered the Confederate service as a Lieutenant/Adjutant to Gen. Daniel Ruggles and was promoted to Captain in late December 1861. He later served in Chalmer’s Cavalry Division. He returned as a Major on Gen. Ruggle’s staff in 1865. Prior to the Civil War, Roy served as a Midshipman, 4th Class in the US Navy.
Sir, I have the following important communication to make. Dr. Lyle of this parish, a perfectly reliable gentleman, and conspicuous for his loyalty, has just returned from opposite Baton Rouge. Provost Marshal Kilbourne 1 has been in communication this day with Messrs. Pike & Hart. 2 He (Kilbourne) informed them that a dispatch had just been received from Gen. Butler, ordering an immediate evacuation of Baton Rouge & countermanding the order for burning the town. The transports are now anchored in the middle of the river with steam up, having taken on board all their stores. The men only are yet to be embarked. The Essex was lying in close to the shore shelling the woods.
The USS Essex at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 1862 (Library of Congress)
This Kilbourne also offered to deliver up to Messers. Pike & Hart, as agents of the State, the Penitentiary, provided they (they enemy) be permitted to remove a certain number of the prisoners & what machinery they wish—that is, the machinery which would prevent the manufacture of goods for the Southern army. This was told to Dr. Lyle by Messrs. [W. S.] Pike & [S. M.] Hart themselves who said also that they had refused to accept the offer. Kilbourne told them that they intended to leave all the negroes now in their possession in the town and your own judgement will suggest the necessity of immediately occupying the place with a body of troops. Kilbourne told Messrs. Pike & Hart that he had received a dispatch confirming the capture of Pope’s Army (23,000 men) by “Stonewall” Jackson. If I hear or obtain any reliable information tomorrow, I shall send you word at once.
Respectfully, &c. — B. W. Clark, Adjt. 4th Louisiana
1 Possibly James G. Kilbourne, Asst. Quartermaster, 4th Louisiana Infantry Native Guard (Union).
2 Samuel M. (“Major”) Hart and William Spencer Pike were lessees of the Louisiana Penitentiary from 1857 to 1862. After the expiration of their lease, they continued for a time to administer the affairs of the institution as agents. Hart & Pike utilized convict labor to manufacture textile goods and paid the State half of their profits.The factory was completely destroyed during the Civil War, however.
The following letters were written by Charles Carroll Morey (1840-1865) of Royalton, Vermont, who entered the service on 20 June 1861 as a corporal in Co. E, 2nd Vermont Infantry, was promoted to sergeant in February 1862, and was commissioned the Captain of Co. C on 11 July 1864. He was wounded on 21 August 1864 at Charles Town, West Virginia, but was with his company on 2 April 1865 when he was killed in the final battle at Petersburg on 2 April 1865.
Charles was the son of Reuben Morey, Jr. (1809-1868) and Mary Louise Blasdel (1813-1847). After Reuben’s first wife died in 1847, he married Rosetta Morse Brown (1817-1877). Reuben was a merchant in Royalton, Windsor county, Vermont.
Letter 1
2nd Vermont Infantry Letterhead of Morey’s Letter dated 14 April 1864
April 14th 1864
Dear Mother,
Your kind and welcome letter of the 7th inst., came to hand when due and was read with much interest for in it I found what trials and difficulties you encountered in getting a stopping place. I cannot understand why the old gentleman you speak of was so unwilling to have the house vacated after he had sold it so fairly but I suppose he had some motive in view, I do not think I know precisely where you have bought now. Would like to have you in your next lead me along the street from Mr. Kendricks’ to your house which is on Seminary Hill, I think.
When I got to the bottom of the first page, the team drove up with a load of wood and I was called out to divide it out to the company. The I chopped up a small log for myself, after doing which I came in, sat down, and enjoyed a little smoke. Now I take my pen again to finish this.
Have been in command of the company for three days. Day before yesterday the brigade was reviewed by Gen’l Getty, our division commander. He remarked that it reminded him of the time when he had command of regular troops. Should you not consider this a compliment? Yesterday we had a brigade drill and today we went out to have a little target practice and it is expected that Lieut. Gen. Grant will review the corps tomorrow and inspect our camps. I wish you could see the corps paraded all ready for review. It is such a grand sight then to see them break into column and march around all having the same step and keeping just company distance which duty devolves upon the right guide which is the 1st Sergeant.
We are having fine weather now but the winds are cold. Yet far the mountains are covered with snow and the streams are high. For three days we had no mail in consequence of the bridges across the Bull Run and Rappahannock rivers but there are rebuilt now and the mail comes regularly which I hope it will continue to do so long as we stay in camp.
Did you receive my receipt for my town bounty? And also my order or receipt for the $125 State commutation money and if so, have you received the money? You say you will write soon and answer all my questions. Please do not fail to do so and let me [know] all the turns you are obliged to make, and please tell father he need not hesitate to use my money in his business for I intend to make that my business if I ever return to the quiet life I have left at my country’s call. Please do not keep me in suspense long in regard to my town bounty and state commutation money.
But I think I had better close this uninteresting letter and ask you to excuse me for troubling you this much. How do you like your new home and house? Please write me a long letter telling e all about it. Please remember me kindly to Uncle James. Tell him I should like to hear from him. Remember me kindly to all the family and all enquiring friends. Please write me soon and accept a great deal of love from your son in the army. — C. C. Morey
Letter 2
2nd Vermont Infantry Letterhead of Morey’s Letter dated 4 February 1865
Near Petersburg, Va. February 4th 1865
My dear Sister Mamie,
Now that I am relieved from Brigade guard, will try and answer your part of the family letter and one received since. I was very much pleased at receiving such a letter from home as you may suppose but it did not take me a very long time to ascertain the contents of so well filled envelope full of valuable letters from y dearly beloved parents, sisters, and uncle. By the way, please tell Uncle James that I intend to answer his kind letter before many days shall have passed.
I have had a great deal of duty to perform of late and can scarcely get time to write letters; have been on duty every other day for twelve days before yesterday and the day before then to cap the whole was on detail those two days in succession. Don’t you think I have done my duty pretty well considering?
The last letter I hacve received was yours of the 25th ult. Do not know why I have received no more. I suppose, however, that it is because they have not been sent. As you say, it takes our letters a very long time to go from here to Washington. This letterwill probably leave our camp tonight and City Point tomorrow morning will be on the boat from 30 to 35 hours. The will remain in the post office at Washington D. C. at least 24 hours more before it is mailed. This will account for the delay, I think.
Doubtless ere this you have (some of you) received letters from me saying something about orders to march. if so, rest easy for the prospect of a move has all passed and we are now as quiet as ever. What caused the order is that two rebel divisions were seen marching toward our left and we wished to be in readiness to meet them in case they should make a demonstration but they have been seen to return to their old encampments so there is no prospect of an attack at present on either side.
The weather is today very spring like and we are sitting in our tent with the door open. The photograph enclosed with my last letter was one that Lieut. Prouty gave me and i intend to ask you to put it with the others I have at home and I have some more to send which I wish you would place with the others until I come home or give you some further instructions in regard to them. I have received but one letter from Williamsburg friends since my last visit there. Cannot imagine the reason why they do not write. Have written to them two or three times. Hope they are all well and enjoying life as well as usual. I suppose they are anticipating much when the spring comes and they leave the city for our quiet little home in the little town of West Lebanon in the little state of New Hampshire.
Shurb Adams, a sergeant in Co. E, has just received a furlough for twenty days and will visit you before he returns. I have also sent by him a large book which perhaps you may [be] interested. Please keep it for me until I return home. I suppose you are still enjoying life as well as ever and attending those sociables and singing schools and all such pleasant gatherings. Would like to just step into our house just after dark and then go with you to some gathering in the village. Wouldn’t some folks stare and ask, “Who is that soldier that came with Misses Morey?”
We have no news in particular to write except that it has become a settled fact that commissioners from Richmond, Va., have gone to Washington to confer with the President on the subject of that great question Peace or No Peace. Hope they may conclude that we had better have peace instead of prolonged war.
I think of nothing more to write at present; therefore, will close. Please remember me kindly to all the family and our friends in West Lebanon and write as often as convenient. I have not solved the enigmas you sent me yet. Accept much love from your brother in the Army of the Potomac. Please direct all letters to Co. C, 2nd Regiment Vermont Vols.
— Charles C. Morey, 1st Lieutenant
To Muss Mary E. Morey, west Lebanon, New Hampshire
I could not find an image of Andrew but here is one of James A Redd of Co. F, 78th Ohio Voluntary Infantry (OVI)
The following letter was written by Andrew Hamilton Wallace (1839-1864), the son of Joseph and Mary (Logan) Wallace of Blue Rock, Muskingum county, Ohio. Andrew enlisted as a corporal in Co. D, 78th Ohio Infantry. This company was raised in Muskingum and Morgan Counties, and organized December 21st, 1861, in Camp Gilbert, Zanesville, Ohio. E. Hillis Talley was commissioned Captain; Benjamin A. Blandy, First Lieutenant; William S. Harlan, Second Lieutenant. Captain Talley was taken sick while the regiment was at Crump’s Landing. He was immediately removed to the hospital at Savannah, Tenn., where he died April 1st, 1862. He was the first officer of the regiment to fall a sacrifice to his country; being a young man of much promise, the only son of his parents, and loved and esteemed by all who knew him, caused his death to be deeply felt and regretted. About this time Lieutenant Blandy resigned and Lieutenant Harlan was promoted to Captain.
Andrew was killed in action before Atlanta in the Battle of Bald Hill on 22 July 1864.
Transcription
Crump’s Landing, Harden county, Tennessee Sunday eve, March 30th 1862
Dear Friend Sallie,
Your kind and welcome letter was received this morning. I was very glad to hear from you that you were well and enjoying yourselves at home and I hope these few lines may find you still the same. Your letter finds me well and enjoying myself very well at present.
Well, Sallie, it is with sorrow and regret that I inform you of the death of our friends Andrew Dixon and William Kenney. Andrew died on Tuesday the 25th at the hospital at Savannah which is about four miles below this place. And Kenney died on the 28th at the same place. There is a great deal of sickness here. It has been caused by the change of climate but there has not many died of this regiment yet. There has not more than ten or twelve died yet.
Well, Sallie, the rest of the boys are well at present and can just go for the crackers and beans and you ought to be here to help us to go for them some day. Well, Sallie, we are encamped on the Tennessee River four miles above Savannah. It is a very nice place here and the weather is very warm here now. It is as warm here now as it generally is in June up in Ohio. I am sitting before my tent on the wood pile in my shirt sleeves and one of our boys—maybe you know him—Wils Fox, is holding the candle while I write. But I expect it will be the last one that I will ever write here for we are a going to move tomorrow but I can’t tell where we will go to from here but I think it is to Corinth.
Well, Sallie, I wish you could of been here to of seen Wils and I baking bread to day. We got some of the nicest cakes baked that you ever saw. They are regular biscuits or big meeting cakes one but I can’t tell which.
Well, Sallie, I wish that I could been at home to of went to the distracted [protracted] meeting. I think that if I had been there, I could of raised an excitement for them and I would like to of been there to of seen the girls and to see if they look anything like they did when we left them. Sallie, I must tell you about the Southerner I saw the other day. It was a live woman. It was, I believe, the biggest one that I ever saw since I left home and it was a white one that was the beauty of the animal.
Well, Sallie, tell all the girls that I send my best respects to them and that I want them to write to me and that I will answer them and tell them that if they will come over some Saturday evening, that they can have my company if they desire it. No more at present but remain your friend, — A. H. Wallace.
N. B. A[lbert] Dempster says to tell you that he is all right and I guess he is. Write soon or a little sooner if you can. I send my love to all of you girls. Goodbye Sallie.
The following two letters were written by 2nd Lt. William M. Sentell (1834-1863) of Co. B, 28th Louisiana (Gray’s). This regiment was organized during the early spring of 1862 at Camp Monroe. The Marks Guards from Bossier Parish were mustered in as Co. B on the 14th May and other companies were added upon their arrival. When 10 companies were assembled, they were organized into the 28th Louisiana Infantry, with Henry Gray as colonel, William Walker as lieutenant colonel and Thomas Pool as major. The regiment numbered 902 men.
Pvt. Michael Thomas Bryan of Gray’s 28th Louisiana
Following the unit’s organization in Monroe, it was ordered to a training camp approximately five miles north of Vienna where it would spend the next two months. They subsequently assigned to General Shoup’s Brigade in the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana. They were active at Chickasaw Bayou and also participated in the fighting that occurred around Camp Bisland on the Teche and the battle around Brasher City. William is believed to have been killed in the fighting in May 1863 and was probably buried on the field of battle in an unknown grave. [Lt. Wm. Sentell is mentioned frequently in No Pardons to Ask, nor Apologies to Make: The Journal of William Henry King, Gray’s 28th Louisiana Infantry Regiment, edited by Gary D. Joiner, Marilyn S. Joiner, and Clifton D. Cardin, in 2006.
William was the son of War of 1812 Veteran John Sentell (1793-1858) and Sarah Gardner (1800-1882) of Marshall county, Mississippi. He wrote the letter to an older brother named George Washington Sentell (1823-1895) who lived in Collinsburg, Bossier Parish, Louisiana, where he and another brother, Nathaniel Wesley Sentell, were partners in a mercantile store. In the 1860s, George resided in New Orleans though he owned cotton plantations in Arkansas and Louisiana. In 1861, William was serving as the postmaster in Collinsburg, Bossier Parish, Louisiana.
Another brother, James M. Sentell (1839-1862), also served in the Confederate army as a member of Co. D, 9th Louisiana Infantry. He was killed at Sharpsburg on 17 September 1862, having previously passed through the fighting on the Peninsula and the 2nd Battle of Manassas.
Letter 1
Camp Monroe May 22, 1862
Brother Washington,
I wrote to you some days since per Mr. Franks for some things I wished you to send. I hope you have received the letter ere this and send articles as per instruction. I wish now to make another request of you and wish this more particularly attended than anything else. That is to get my best cloth coat from my ward robe [and] have it thoroughly cleaned. I wish this coat for a uniform coat. I will have the stripes and buttons put on here. I expect I will have to cut the buttons from my grey coat I have here. I must have this soon. I am here without a sword and need one very badly. Most everyone else have them. I cannot get one here. I think and feel satisfied you can get one there. Write down to Shreveport immediately for one to some friend that will take an interest in getting one. Try and see if you cannot get Frank Haglus [?] if he brought it back with him so many officers are coming back it would appear to be an easy matter to get one. Please take this matter in hand and try to get one as soon as you can. I find it impossible to get one here.
I expect a good sword will cost me some 40 or 50 dollars. I have not received a line from you as yet. Am now expecting a letter every day. We are now in the regiment. Have everything very well arranged. I have been a little unwell a day or two from cold but have been on my feet all the while. I would like very much to receive the articles I ordered per Mr. Frank. My cloth coat and sword—do not forget them whatever you do.
I cannot tell you when we will leave this place. A number of reports are in circulation. I give them no credit. Some of our boys have been sick but all on the mend. Most diarrhea. J. H. Parker is quite sick but do not think him dangerous. I hope he will be up in a few days. The regiment have just commenced getting under [ ] properly. We are drilling every day by company. I have no news to write you. Any one inquiring after their friends you can say to them they are well. My love to sister Mildred and children. I saw the Lieut. Governor yesterday. He said he had the power from Governor Moore to establish a Camp of Instruction here and thought he would have all conscripts here in 30 days. Your brother, — W. M. Sentell
Think of my coat & sword.
Letter 2
Camp Monroe, La. June 2, 1862
Br. Washington,
The Adjutant says we will move tomorrow or next day 6 miles north of Vienna. You need not write anymore now per mail until I write you again. Col. Gray has gone to Richmond to receive orders and get money for the regiment. He will be gone some 3 or 4 weeks I reckon. We will remain [ ] until Col. Gray returns. As for knowing our destination, I know nothing about. Some few sick in our company. Some their minds are affecting them more than the sickness. A young man by the name of Mager is dangerously ill from pneumonia. Mr. Harper of our company died of quinsy last week. His body was carried home. Mr. Mager is at a private house well attended. I think he (Dick) will be well in a few days. Mr. Harper was sent for this morning by a lady 6 miles below Monroe. A man detailed to wait on him. He will be well attended. James Byrd and Strong and Davis got sick furloughs. Getting use to camp is the hard [ ].
I wish you to keep all of our Bank bills. Hold them as same as Gold, for the present Confederate money is going down fast. Bank Bills (La.) is almost as [ ] as gold. I wish you to hold all the La. Bank Bills for the present or unless times change materially. I have nothing more to write for the present. Your brother, — W. M. Sentell
The following letter was written by 26 year-old George S. Campbell (1838-1931), the son of John Campbell (1811-18xx) of Boston. George was employed as a machinist when he enlisted as a private in Co. C., 1st Massachusetts Volunteers. His muster rolls informs us that he was wounded on 5 May 1862 in the Battle of Williamsburg and was absent from his regiment for a time but returned in time to participate in the Battle of Chancellorsville a year later. He mustered out of the regiment after three years and 9 days.
I could not find an image of George but here is one of George F. Whall who was a 42 year-old cabinet maker when he enlisted in the 1st Massachusetts Infantry in 1861 (Dan Binder Collection)
Transcription
Camp near Brandy Station, Va. February 15th 1864
My dear cousin Alice,
I received a letter from you a short time ago but have neglected to answer until now for reasons that I have not had the materials to do it with, and besides, I have had no postage stamps to put on them to send them by. So I hope you will excuse me, won’t you. I will be more prompt in future if you favor me with your correspondence.
I am well and enjoying excellent health and hope this will find you and your folks enjoying the same blessing. I should like dearly to see that charming little brother of yours for I do so love little boy babies. I like the girls when they get larger.
So you are glad to bet back to Saugus again, are you? Well I should think you would. I wouldn’t mind if I was there myself just at present. I think it would be quite agreeable to me, don’t you? Are there many girls down there for I shall want you to introduce me to all of them when I visit you which will be in the course of three months or more. Won’t we have a grand time climbing up that hill you spoke about? You better believe I remember it—when you were so small that your Mother and I had to carry you up. But I suppose that the place has changed considerable since then, ain’t it?
How is that black-eyed Parker girl getting along—the one I sang for at your house one night at Chelsea? Have you been a skating much this winter? Has your Mother attempted to make a spread eagle of herself on skates? Tell her for me that our doctor has got a female horse out here and they call him Nancy, and he—excuse me, I mean she—can’t be beat. Will go her mile inside of 240.
We are having a snow storm today. It commenced about an hour ago. We had a Grand Review also today to please the women that are out here visiting their husbands at Corps Headquarters. So you see what we have to undergo to please the softer sex—march five miles with knapsack, haversack and canteen. I wish they would stay at home. This is no place for them. We have enough to do without their making more work for us, don’t you think so?
We came near having a fight the other day but missed it. Quite lucky for once. Since I left Boston last, I have been in three pitch battles and one skirmish—Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, One Mile Run [Mine Run], and the skirmish at Wapping Heights [Manassas Gap], Virginia, and so far have not received a scratch except a slight wound in my knapsack which tore a hole in my shirt and that was all. Lucky, ain’t I? But I don’t care about seeing anymore fighting. I have had my fill. Patriotism is below par with me. I want to go home and see Pa.
There is a rumor and I expect is true that the regiment is to come home on 16th of March. I am afraid if they keep us until the 27th of May, we will have some fighting but I hope they won’t.
I think it is real mean no one hasn’t sent me any Valentine this year. Have you had any yet? By the way, have you got a beau yet? What is his name? Tell me. I won’t tell anyone. Is he as handsome as me?
There, I have just finished my supper. I had toasted bread, butter & molasses. I had for dinner beaf a la mode yesterday. We had bake beans for dinner. I tell you we live like lords out here but I should like to get a hold of some of your mother’s mince pies tonight just to top off with for I feel as though I could do justice to one of them just now.
There, I guess I have wrote nonsense enough so I will draw to a close. Give my love to your Father and Mother and also to Grandmother and kiss the baby for me. Give my love to all the pretty girls. Send them all a kiss. So hoping you will answer this, I will now bid you goodbye until you hear from me again. So with lots of love and a kiss, I remain your cousin, — George S. Campbell
“A solger in the Army of the P-o-t-o-m-a-c”
The rose is red, the violet blue Is pretty and so are you. Your valentine.
Spared & Shared 23 