I could not find an image of Isaac but here is one of William Gallagher who served in Co. F, 30th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (Matt Cranford Collection)
The following letter was written by Isaac W. Wiggins (1832-1864), the son of Thomas Wiggins (1805-1881) and Sarah Eleanor Lutz (1808-1853) of Jefferson county, Ohio. Isaac was married in May 1852 to Anna Maria Smith (1830-1904).
In August 1861, Isaac enlisted in Co. G, 30th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI). He was wounded on 13 May 1864 in the Battle of Resaca, Georgia, and died in a field hospital on the 25th of May, leaving a wife and four children.
Isaac wrote the letter to his brother-in-law, James G. Smith (1843-1912), the son of Jeremiah Smith (1804-1877) and Hanna A. Haines (1814-1889) of Phillipsburg, Jefferson county, Ohio.
Transcription
Camp Union Fayetteville, Fayette county, Va March 29, 1862
My dear brother,
It is with pleasure I take my pen in hand to let you know that I am well at present and I do hope that these few lines may find you all enjoying that great blessing which but God alone can bestow.
Well, dear brother, I received your kind letter today and I was happy to hear from you and that you was all well and hearty. And I also received a letter from home today. Both wrote the 18th of March. I am well pleased to hear that Anna got my likeness and I am happy to hear that Ann Maria and the children are all well.
Well, James, I sent a package home with Charles Young to leave at your house and I hope he has left it there. I want you, if you please, to take it up to Anna and give it to her. I am happy to hear from Noah and Jabez that they are both well and I want you when you write to them to give them my best respects and love. I hope that they will all live to return home in peace and love. I’d like to see you all in it.
Well, tonight we have to drill damn near all day and I can’t get time to say my prayers. All the writing I do is from supper till tattoo. That is at 8 o’clock and 30 minutes, then all is quiet and all the lights put out.
I was on guard last night and it rained and snowed all night but this morning the sun rose beautiful and the songs of the bluebirds and the meadowlark made me think of bygone days and of loving friends at home.
“We have the best company in the 30th Regiment. We have 95 men, well drilled, and full of fight, We have been in some damn hot places since we have been out here.”
— Isaac W. Wiggins, Co. G, 30th OVI, 29 March 1862
Well, dear brother, we brought in fifteen bushwhackers tonight. They will be sent to Columbus tomorrow. We have been looking for a fight here for some time. There is reported to be fifty thousand out at Newbern Depot—that is about 85 miles from where we are camped—but there is a good many secesh within a short distance of here. But we are ready to receive them at any time. We have the best company in the 30th Regiment. We have 95 men, well drilled, and full of fight. We have been in some damn hot places since we have been out here. Twenty-two of us run into one hundred of the devils one morning about daybreak and we fought for over half an hour. We killed and wounded some 8 or 10 and run them like the devil. They shot two of our boys but they got well again.
Well, my dear brother, I want you to correspond with me and let me know how you are all getting along and the news. Go and see Anna Maria when you can for I expect she gets lonesome. James, be a good boy and stay at home. Never think of going a soldiering. There is no pleasure in it. Write soon and let me know if Charles Young left that package at your house. No more at present but remain your brother until death.
— Isaac Wiggins
to James G. Smith
Give my love to your mother and all the children. This is a beautiful morning. All the boys is well in our company at present. When you write to father and the boys give them my best love and respects.
The following letter was written by Joshua A. Armstrong (1831-1862), the son of Aquilla Armstrong (1803-1854) and Margaret Elizabeth Harris (1802-1848) of Lima, Allen county, Ohio. When he was 24, Joshua married Lucretia Matilda (“Tilly”) Morse (1837-1918) in 1855. The couple had three children—Isaac Morse (1858-1926), Alice (1859-1944) and Amasa (1861-1932)—by the time he enlisted as a sergeant in Co. F, 23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI) in June 1861.
The 23rd OVI had the distinction of being led and staffed by some prominent men, not the least of which was its first colonel, William Rosecrans, who was ably followed by Rutherford B. Hayes. Also serving in the regiment was quartermaster sergeant William McKinley. The regiment saw its first action at Carnifex Ferry in present-day West Virginia, in September 1861. The regiment then spent most of the winter of 1861-62 at Fayetteville, Virginia. By mid-March, 1862, the regiment had relocated to Raleigh, Virginia, some 25 miles further south. Here, under the command of Lt. Col. Rutherford B. Hayes, the de facto colonel wrote his wife, “For the first time in months we are all together; ranks very full. Oh! it was a beautiful sight; we had plenty of cheering, music, and our best marching. The men were never in finer condition. You would enjoy seeing the 23rd now; well-dressed, bravely looking, and soldier-like.” 1
The regiment’s next encounter with the enemy was in the Battle of South Mountain on 14 September 1862 and the Battle of Antietam on 17 September 1862. After suffering severe losses in the former, the regiment pursued Lee’s army to Sharpsburg where they were in the thick of the fighting in the latter. Their casualties at Antietam? Eight killed, 58 men wounded, two missing.
Regrettably, one of those eight men killed was 31 year-old Sergt. Joshua Armstrong, husband and father to three children. In the book, Ohio at Antietam, there is a story of Joshua’s death, taking a “bullet to the heart” on the slope above Antietam creek while carrying the colors of the regiment and falling, “wrapped in the folds of the banner he had loved and borne so well; it was literally dyed with his blood.” This makes a good story but it may not be 100% accurate for in the Widow’s Pension application that Lucretia filed on 29 December 1862, she wrote that her husband died on or about the 20th day of September, at or near Sharpsburg, and in consequence of a wound received in the line of his duty in the Battle of Sharpsburg three days before his death.”
Lucretia remarried in November 1863 to Joshua W. Pillars and had at least six more children; the three children by her first marriage appear to have been adopted and raised by someone named William Hall who served as their legal guardian.
[Note: This letter was made available for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by the express consent of Jim Powell who is the 3rd great-grandson of Sergt. Armstrong.]
The flag and color guard of the 23rd Ohio Infantry (Ohio Memory)
Transcription
Camp Hays Raleigh, Virginia April 1st 1862
Dear wife,
I received your letter yesterday and was glad to hear that you and the children was well again and now I hope that you will all keep well. Tilly, my health is good. I cannot complain of anything—only that I am away from my family. Otherwise I enjoy myself well. Daniel is in good health and would like to see the children but he must wait sometime yet.
Tilly, I do not get more than two letters per month and sometimes not so many. I can’t tell why it is but it is so from some cause or other. Tilly, I drew my pay the 1st day of April and was glad of it for your own sake and the children also. And now Tilly I will send $100 dollars 2 off to you and you must use it as you think best for both of us. If Pa wants what you don’t want for yourself and children, you may let him have it and if he don’t want it, let Charles Hover have it and you keep enough so that you will not get out of money before I send you more and I can’t tell when that will be.
I will not add any more at this time. Yours truly, J. A. Armstrong
to wife and children
Isaac, Pa will send you a nice little gold dollar and you must be a good boy and mind what Ma tells you. And Alice, Pa will send you one also and you must be a good girl and mind Ma. You must look to the Express Office for the money and as quick as you get it you must let me know as I shall feel very anxious about it.
I will only send one hundred dollars now. Use it at your pleasure but [not] to waste any. — J. A. Armstrong
to wife and children
1 Rutherford B. Hayes to his wife, 13 March 1862.
2 $100 was a lot of money for a non-commissioned officer. This sum represented more than a half-year’s pay so the regiment either hadn’t been paid for a long time or it included a delayed bonus for enlistment.
The author of this letter has not been identified. His signature appears to read, “Wes Land” but I can find no one by that name, or similar name, in New Burlington, Indiana. Regardless of his identity, Wes provides his friend in the Iron Brigade some interesting news about the attempt to set up the draft in Indiana during the summer of 1863 and the resistance of the Copperheads.
Wes wrote the letter to his friend, William Harrison Campbell, a 23 year-old school teacher from Selma, Liberty Township, Delaware county, Indiana. Will enlisted in Co. K, 19th Indiana Infantry on 29 July 1861 as a first sergeant and was promoted to 2nd, then 1st Lieutenant during the war. The 19th Indiana was, of course, part of the famed Iron Brigade or “Black Hat” Brigade. He was discharged for medical disability in October 1863 on account of the wound he received at Gettysburg in his right hand.
Transcription
Addressed to Will H. Campbell. Co. K, 19th Indiana Vols., Washington D. C.
New Burlington, Indiana June 18th 1863
Friend Will,
I will have to beg pardon in the start for tardiness. I would have written sooner but I have been away from home for the last two weeks on a fishing excursion and had no opportunity of writing while away. But I take the first chance on returning. The fact is, Will, my list of correspondents has been mournfully small since living in this place; in fact, it has been so long since I attempted to write a letter that I have almost forgotten how. And you know how hard it is for a fellow to begin writing after “forgetting how.” However, I know that I am writing to a friend and not to a critic and will risk it.
The all engrossing topic at present is the draft and the action of the “Butternuts” on it. This State is now being enrolled and in some sections the enrolling officers have been mobbed and some have been killed. In Fillmore—a little town in Putnam county—the house of the enrolling officer was surrounded by an armed mob of Butternuts who fired on the house killing one man who was visiting the family and doing some other damage to a considerable extent. I have not seen any notice of any of the party being arrested yet. And that was within thirty miles of Indianapolis on the railroad where they can run troops in an hour. In fact, under the very noses of the authorities, and if they are thus bold there, what may we expect from the rural districts such as Blackford and Jay counties?
I hope to God that the State Authorities will go to work in real earnest and hang every devil of them that attempts to resist the draft. The only trouble would be that their putrid carcasses might breed contagion and it might not be so well for the living.
What do you think of the way the Government used Vallandigham? Don’t you think it would have been better to have shot him? And what do you think of the “Copperheads” of Ohio nominating him for Governor? “Heavy,” isn’t it?
I can give you no news from Selma but Smithfield is about the same as ever—very little change. I am still studying H___ at this place and intend continuing here until the draft goes off and then I think you may look for me in the ranks of the Old 19th. Will you take me in? Hoping to hear from you soon, I remain your friend, — Wes Land
I could not find an image of Jabez but here is one of William L. S. Johnson of Co. I, 1st Ohio Vol. Infantry (William Griffing Collection)
The following letter was written by Jabez B. Smith who enlisted at the age of 18 on 7 October 1861 to serve as a private in Co. H, 1st Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI). He was promoted to corporal in 1863 and wounded in action and taken prisoner in the Battle of Chickamauga on 19 September 1863. He was taken to Andersonville Prison where he died of disease on 29 July 1864.
Jabez was the son of Jeremiah Smith (1804-1877) and Hanna A. Haines (1814-1889) of Phillipsburg, Jefferson county, Ohio. He enlisted in the 1st OVI with his older brother, Pvt. Noah H. Smith (1840-1864) who served in the same company. Unlike his brother Jabez, he was not wounded in the Battle of Chickamauga, but he was taken a prisoner there and also transported to Andersonville Prison in Georgia. He died of disease there too, on 2 July 1864, less than a month before his brother.
A descendant claims that Noah and Jabez were first taken to Belle Isle, then to Libby Prison for a few months, then to Danville, and finally to Andersonville.
Jabez wrote the letter to his brother, James G. Smith (1843-1912).
Letter 1
Addressed to Mr. James G. Smith, Phillipsburg, Jefferson county, Ohio
Camp Shiloh, Tennessee April 23, 1862
Dear Brother,
It is with great pleasure that I now sit down to let you know that we are both well at present and hoping that these few lines may find you all enjoying the same blessing. I received your kind letter on the 20th of this month and was glad to hear from you and that you was all well.
The 64th [Ohio] is camped about two miles from our camp. We have both see father. He is well and hearty and sends his love to you all. The 1st Ohio Cavalry is here too. We have seen Jonathan. He is well and send his love to you all. He says that he thinks very hard of you that you do not write to him.
I suppose that you have heard of the great and glorious Battle of Pittsburg Landing. We were both in the fight and came out safe. Seven of our company was wounded, two of them dangerously. The other five are back to the company again. We went out on picket day before yesterday but before we went on post, our brigade made a reconnaissance for our own safety. We went about five or six miles when we came in sight of the rebel’s pickets when they took their old way of doing business—they ran like they always do, I did not get to shoot at this this time but our skirmishers did. the rebel’s cavalry fired on the 15th Regulars but did not hurt any of them. We didn’t follow them very far for it was raining and we turned about and came back to the picket line where we were posted to watch the rebels but they did not come near to bother us.
I must bring my letter to a close by asking you to write as soon as this comes to hand. Nothing more at present but remain your affectionate brother until death, — Jabez B. Smith
to James G. Smith
Direct to Pittsburg Landing, Hardin county, Tennessee in care of Capt. B. F. Prentiss
Do not fail to write as soon as this comes to hand. Goodbye.
The following letter was written by John Bogart (1836-1920), the son of John Henry Bogart (1809-1901) and Eliza Hermans (1810-1889) of Albany, New York. John received in B. A. from Rutgers College in 1853 and took a position in the engineering corps of New York City working on the state canals of New York State. During the Civil War, he worked as a civilian engineer at Ft. Monroe and other points. After the war, he held a variety of position as an engineer in public and privates works in the US and abroad. He was married in 1870 at West Chester, Pennsylvania, to Emma Cherington Jefferis (1846-1926), to whom he addressed this letter.
The author drops the names of several officers at Fortress Monroe but I can only confirm the identify of Col. Henry Brewerton who was an engineer in charge of fortifications and the author may have been an engineer as well serving on the staff of the old colonel. We learn from the letter that the author has been living with the Eaton family and the names of Mr. & Mrs. Eaton’s three daughters are given as Mary, Emily, and Buddie—in chronological order, oldest to youngest—but I have not confirmed that family’s identity as yet.
I should also note that the two letter segments, identified as “1” and “2” do not seem to go together as the dates are inconsistent with one another. In fact, the handwriting even appears to be different but the phraseology convinces me they were written by the same person and probably sent to the same woman.
John Bogart had a younger brother names James Henry Bogart (1839-1863) who served as 1st Lieutenant and Adjutant of the 43rd New York Infantry. Lt. Bogart was killed on 14 June 1863 in the Battle of Port Hudson.
John B. and Emma (Jefferis) Bogart, in early 1900s
Transcription
Fort Monroe, Virginia December 6th 1863
Dear Miss Emma,
Your letter arrived on the 1st. I see that it was written on Thanksgiving Day. I am glad you thought of me on that day. I don’t know as it made any difference to you but on Holy days when I am free from ordinary business cares, I am apt to think of those who are dear to me. This is a Sunday evening. There is no service in the chapel. I was there this morning and played the organ. This afternoon I sat with Mortimer and then we went into the Fort and saw the parade. This evening I am alone and writing to you. This is probably my last Sunday evening at Mrs. Eaton’s.
You suggest in your letter that I will be lonely in my bachelor’s hall and that I had better go to the cottage for company. I think I have done better than that for I propose to have your Uncle Mortimer come to my house and live with me. I think it will be more comfortable than Flea Cottage and I hope he will enjoy the change. We will probably move this week. He appears to be in some doubt as to whether he will be able to be in West Chester Christmas and I fear that it will not be possible for me to be there then. If I can, I will. I thank you for the invitation.
I have a cousin who is to be married on the 12th of January. She is very anxious that I should be there at Staten Island and it would be too long a leave to ask for from Christmas till the middle of January. But if I do not come to West Chester [for] Christmas, I will on my way either to or from New York. I would of course much rather visit West Chester when Mortimer is there, but I intend to visit it at all events—of course to see—the village. You will not fail to inform me if you intend leaving there after Christmas, and when, and whither you go, for though I want to see the village, it is quite probable that I would postpone my visit if you were not there.
On the day before Thanksgiving, Mortimer and I went to Norfolk with some friends—officers of the Navy—and spent the evening there, sleeping at the Naval Hospital at Portsmouth. We went to the theatre at Norfolk and was the poorest, most ridiculous acting imaginable. We were not very wise in going as we might have known it would be poor—but we learn as we grow old. Mort and I ought to be somewhat wise by this time. We spent the greater part of Thanksgiving day at the Naval Hospital and on board the Cambridge Man-of-War, returning to Old Point in the evening. I like many of the Navy officers. Their morale is higher than that of the Army officers—at least such is my experience. The gentleman to whom my cousin Mary is to be married on the 12th of January is a surgeon in the Navy.
You have probably by this time seen Capt. and Mrs. James who left here Saturday. They will tell you all the Old Point news.
Miss Mary Eaton left here a week ago to spend the winter in New York, so that there will be no one at their house but Mr. and Mrs. Eaton and Buddie. Of course we are all sorry to have Miss Mary leave the Point but I probably would not have seen much of her had she remained. She and I do not agree very well. In fact, for the last six or seven months she and I have lived in a state of armed neutrality which has broken out in open hospitalities quite frequently and Mrs. Eaton has sometimes found it necessary to intervene to restore at least the appearance of peace. Miss Mary does not like me and I reciprocate the sentiment. You recall what I said about a letter to her. I will read it this evening or tomorrow. I assure you, I would not object now to your seeing it. I do not think there can be anything very tender in it. It was written when she was in New York, I think more than a year ago, before I knew her as well as I have since and when I admired her more than I do now. I confess I did somewhat admire her at one time for she is pretty and has fine musical ability and I used to like to hear her sing. But it did not last. I think much more of her sister Emily whom you did not see. She is not so apt to attract attention as Mary, but she is a girl one would want as a friend after becoming really acquainted with her. Buddie, the youngest, is much like Mary, but she is getting to be precociously wise.
[These two letter fragment do not appear to go together.]
Tuesday, the 27th.
I was so busy yesterday with the plan of a large fort that I did not finish my letter. I have read over what I wrote and it seems like a sermon. But never mind. I do not intend to “take back” what I wrote. I have nobody else, and never had, to whom I can write without a bit of restraint. So you will, unless you tell me not, continue to be sermonized if I am in a sermonizing mood. It is “perfectly splendid” to be able to write just what I think—just according to the present state of mind, without the feeling of there being a necessity to consult the peculiarities of my correspondent. I am terribly frank and I am afraid that you will say that I do not show much regard for my correspondent in writing so entirely selfishly or of myself. But that would be an error. It is the result and the proof of perfect regard. And a proof too that that correspondent is never long absent from my thoughts.
I have been looking at your letter again. You do not believe in sentences begun and not ended. If I should do so again, don’t imagine anything very horrid for the termination.
What a strange piece of experience you must have had at your friend’s house. It is strange what fascination there is in drink. I have an acquaintance who is ordinarily a temperate man, but who occasionally does not seem to know when to stop and consequently runs to horrible extremes. And he too has a wife and children.
We have had a strange affair here. I do not remember whether I mentioned it in my last. A general officer of volunteers has been staying at the Point some time—not on duty—with a family of wife and daughter, and after boarding several months without paying, it was discovered that he had been borrowing money from everybody that would lend and repaying nobody. However, under the fear of exposure he has gone forth to make an effort to get money enough to make a settlement. I hope he will do so. His daughter is a very pleasing girl and seems much grieved at her father’s delinquency.
Col. James was here a few days ago. We see little of him however now. I saw Mrs. Jefferis after her return. My sister and I are going to call there today or tomorrow. We started to do so while Mrs. Jefferis was away not knowing of her absence.
This letter was all written with the same pen (quill).
I could not find an image of Samuel but here is one of Marcus Satterlee wearing the uniform of the 3rd Michigan Infantry. (Michigan Digital Collection)
The following letters were written by Pvt. Samuel Dowell (1838-1862) of Co. G, 3rd Michigan Infantry (1st Organization). This regiment was mustered into service on 21 May 1861 and served in McDowell’s Army of Northeastern Virginia until August 1861 and then was attached to Richardson’s Brigade, Heintzelman’s Division, Army of the Potomac.
Samuel was the son of Charles Dowell (1799-1871) and Elizabeth Pool (1797-1860) of Windsor, Eaton county, Michigan. Samuel was killed at the Battle of Seven Pines on 31 May 1862.
Samuel wrote the letters to a dear friend whose name was Amelia Scofield.
Letter 1
Washington June 23, 1861
My dear friend,
I now sit down here under this shade tree to inform you where I am at this present time. I am in the District of Columbia about four miles south of the City of Washington camped on the Potomac River where he enemy is agoin’ to try to cross the river. But the bridge [is] fixed [such] that one hundred men will keep a whole regiment back.
We had some good times coming from Grand Rapids out as we passed through Ohio. When we would stop to a station, the girls would come to the cars to shake hands with soldiers and bid them goodbye.
I received your letter when I was in Grand Rapids. I was in the hospital sick with the measles when Till give it to me but I am well now and hoping that these few lines will find you in the same state of health at this time and enjoying yourself, well and happy and merry and that you may have good times there. I would like to see you very well but now I am twelve hundred miles from you. I oft times think of you since I kissed your rosey cheeks. I am so sleepy that I [can’t] think of anything to write now for I was on guard yesterday.
Last night we heard that since we came here that we was all but seventeen of us when we came through Baltimore but there wasn’t a gun fired when we passed through last Sunday morning and arrived at this place in the afternoon. There is sixty thousand troops camped within eight miles of us.
No more at present but I remain your friend forever and I will write to you as often as I can. I send my best respects to you and all of your folks and to all enquiring friends. Please excuse my poor writing. Yours truly, — Samuel Dowell
to Amelia Scofield
Letter 2
Fort Richardson Northeast Virginia September 25, 1861
Dear friend,
I take this present time to write a few lines to you to let you know that I am well at this present time and hoping that these few lines will find you in the same state of health at this time and are enjoying yourself well.
I received your letter and was glad to hear from you once more. We are having good times here now and lots of fun and not much fighting. We have lots of music here. They are having a good time a dancing tonight. I am sorry that I did offend you in the last letter that I wrote to you. But you must excuse me for I was so sick that I did not know what I did [write] in the letter at that time.
No more at present. I send my best respects to you and to all enquiring friends and neighbors, — S. Dowell
The Young Soldier Dream Amelia don’t secede
Kiss me Amelia ere I go Armed and drilled to meet the foe; Gun in hand and on my back A sixteen pounder haversack. I go, my country calls—adieu To battle, my darling girl, be true And come success comes scathe and need Amelia, Amelia, don’t secede
When on the tented field perhaps With rations short and shorter naps With wheel present, advance, retreat Thou’lt have O heavens at thy feet Some are persuadingly present Himself and an establishment Amelia, no such trifler heed Though the glitter’t secede
Cling unto thy mother dear Let no home guards come a near Dancing [ ] for the eyes Making light of household ties Prating of thy woman’s rights Gallanting thee about o’night Lest the rose should prove a weed Basely crimsoned don’t secede
Goodbye Amelia, no regrets If from balls and bayonets From trials and battles Far deadlier is the soup tureen When badly seasoned than the bare Of the loudest cannon that can roar Safe delivery swiftly Back to ease and the will fly United then in word and deed Amelia, dear, we’ll both secede
— S. Dowell
Prayer of the Young Soldier
[ ] of mercy, hear my prayers Preserve my husband’s life Cast o’er him thy protecting shield In this unhallowed strife Oh guard him in the battlefield Unscathed through wars alarms Restore him to his happy home And his fond parents’ arms.
But if it be thy will, oh God To take the life that gave Then let him die where the stars and stripes O’er his head shall ever wave. If it be thy will in his country’s cause My husband should lose his life If fatherless he his only child Widowed his wretched wife
Then let his name on history’s page Be enrolled with the free and the brave Let him nobly die a hero’s death And rest in a hero’s grave.
The following letter was written by Samuel Anderson (1836-1865) who enlisted on 22 October 1861 to serve in Co. K, 6th New York Cavalry for three years. He was promoted from private to corporal in February 1862 and later to sergeant though no date is given for that promotion in the muster rolls. Samuel reenlisted in mid-December 1863 and was captured at Perryville, Virginia, on 4 September 1864 and died in confinement at Salisbury, North Carolina, on 4 January 1865.
I could not find an image of Samuel but here is one of an unidentified trooper believed to have been in the 5th or 6th New York Cavalry (Megan Kemble Collection)
Samuel was the son of Irish emigrants John Anderson (1814-1869) and Mary Ford (1815-1885) of Argyle, Washington county, New York. One of their daughters, Sarah M. Anderson (1838-1889) was married to James H. Killmer (1826-1889) and they are the “Sarah and James” mentioned in the letter below. Their daughter Emma married John T. Martin and this couple built a two-story farmhouse in Acadia Parish, Louisiana, in 1893. It was in a King Edwards cigar box in the corner of a closet on the second floor of this farmhouse that Samuel’s letter was discovered when the house was being cleaned out some years ago. This letter and a few other more recent vintage letters are now in the possession of Danny Martin, the g-g-grandnephew of Samuel Anderson.
This letter was written in Warrenton, Virginia, a month before the battle of Fredericksburg. We learn that Samuel was detailed to General John Curtis Caldwell’s Headquarters and had been since the Battle of Antietam. This duty would have entailed providing an escort for the general or his immediate staff as well as serving as a courier.
[Note: This letter is from the personal collection of Danny Martin who made it available for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by express consent.]
Transcription
Camp near Warrenton, Virginia November 11th 1862
Dear Father & Mother,
I now take up my pen to address a few lines to you to let you know that I am well & hope that you are the same. We are now advancing on the enemy & we expect a big fight every day. We have not been paid since I wrote to you but I think it will come soon. I have not much time to write so I will not say much. I hope you are suited with your move & let me know all about it & what you can do.
I have not seen John since the Battle of Antietam but I hear that he is well. I have heard [from] Joe 1 two or three times & he is well. John told me that he would send you money every payday. Let me know how James & Sarah is getting along.
There is no use of my telling you what we are a doing for you can see it in the papers better than I can tell you. I am on Gen’l Caldwell’s staff now & have been for a month & I expect to stay with him for some time yet so that I have a good time of it.
Gen’l McClellan bid farewell to the Army yesterday & Gen’l Burnside took the command. I hope the change is for the better. We can hear Gen’l Hooker’s cannon playing on the rebels while I am writing & I expect to march right away.
The weather is quite cool and we have had one snowstorm last Thursday. It snowed hard all day. I cannot write any more at present. Write soon & give me all the in and out of your home.
Goodbye, — Samuel Anderson
Direct your letter to Corporal Anderson, 6th N. Y. Vol. Cavalry, Gen’l Caldwell’s Headquarters, Hancock’s Division, 2nd [Army] Corps.
Write soon.
1 Samuel’s younger brother, Joseph J. Anderson (1846-1904) enlisted in March 1862 in the 11th New York Cavalry. He served until 21 March 1865.
I could not find an image of Henry but here is one of Lt. George B. Johnson who also served in the 8th New Hampshire Infantry (Dave Moran Collection)
The following letter was written by Henry Newman Chapman (1843-1917), the son of Jeremiah Chapman (1817-1854) and Sarah Newman (1810-1894) of Washington, Sullivan county, New Hampshire. Henry was born in Sanbornton, Belknap county, New Hampshire. He was a painter by profession.
Henry was 18 years old when he enlisted on 14 September 1861 as a private in Co. A, 8th New Hampshire Infantry. He was wounded on 27 May 1863 at Port Hudson and after recuperating in Baton Rouge, we learn that he was placed on duty as a hospital steward in the Theatre Hospital. He re-enlisted in 1864 and mustered out in January 1865.
I have not been able to find any information about the Theatre Hospital in Baton Rouge except for notices of certain Union soldiers dying there. Presumably the theatre stopped productions for a time in Baton Rouge due to the Union occupation and was converted into a hospital.
Transcription
Mrs. Sarah Chapman, Washington, New Hampshire
Theatre Hospital Baton Rouge July 29th, 1863
Dear Mother,
I will write you a few lines to let you know how and where I am. My health is first rate. It never was better. I am in the above hospital acting both as clerk and Steward. I have learned enough of medicine so I can give it to patients. Anyone would take me for a regular doctor to see me here. I also have the hospital registrar to keep which takes me about half of the forenoon.
I can say as Hillis Wilson died when he was at Carrollton that we should hardly know there was any war. We hear more war news here from the North than we do from this part of the country at present. I always thought it would come to that if the draft was enforced. It is not at all unexpected to me. I read in the New York Herald this morning that there had been a riot in Portsmouth. I think these riots will prolong this war one year at least, and I find this is the general opinion here. But one thing I know—that is that they cannot keep me but a little over a year and that is some satisfaction, I tell you. The 9-month’s men of this Department are very anxious to get home.
I suppose the 16th New Hampshire is at Port Hudson yet as I hear none of the 9-month’s troops have gone home yet. When I was at New Orleans a few weeks ago, Lieut. Wilkins they said was there but I did not see him. I should like to see him and the rest of the boys before they go home—especially Lucius Wilson.
The most of the troops have been paid since Port Hudson was taken but our Paymaster I believe has not come up yet. I wish he would for I begin to want some money as I have been out for some time. They owe us 9-month’s pay the last of this month. The 8th is still at Port Hudson and the tents and baggage have gone up too so I think the regiment is going to stay there this summer.
But I must close as I have got to go to work soon. I shall have to send this without a stamp but I will send you one as soon as I get some. Please write as soon as you get this for I have not received but one since I came down here the 30th of May.
This from your affectionate son, — Henry N. Chapman, Co. A, 8th Regt. N. V. V., Baton Rouge, La.
The following letter was written by Henry N. Allen (1841-1931), the son of Albert W. Allyn (1817-1889) and Mary P. Rice (1816-1889) of Shopiere, Rock county, Wisconsin.
Henry wrote the letter from Fort Cass in Arlington Heights in December 1861 while serving in Co. K, Wisconsin Volunteers, 2nd Wisconsin Infantry. The only Allen appearing on the roster of this company was “Henry E. Allen” who enlisted on 1 May 1861 and was transferred on 8 December 1861 to Battery A, 1st Wisconsin Heavy Artillery (H.A.). This may explain why Henry asked that the “2nd Regiment” be dropped from his address. He may not yet have realized they were to be known as Battery A, 1st Wisconsin H. A.
Battery A of the 1st Wisconsin H. A. was created entirely out of Co. K of the 2nd Wisconsin Infantry and were assigned at various times to Fort Cass, Fort Buffalo, Fort Ellsworth, Fort Worth, Fort Rodgers, and Fort Willard. They were mustered out of the service on 18 August 1865. According to muster rolls, Henry served his entire tour of duty with this unit and mustered out with the battery in 1865 as a corporal.
A pension record informs us that he died on 30 January 1931 at a Soldiers Home in California.
Transcription
Camp Wisconsin Arlington Heights, Fort Cass December 23rd 1861
Dear Friend,
I take the pleasure of writing…to let you know how I am getting along. I am well and enjoy good health. I was on guard last night in the fort. It rained most all night and all day. I crawled in the magazine and they could not find me till morning but then it was all right. The Lieutenant said I did just the right thing to get out of the rain. Our Captain [Andrew] Langworthy has arrived today with some new recruits for the company. 1
I received those pictures last night. You look very natural. It made me homesick as soon as I saw them. I got a letter from Carrie last night. I am a going to send you and Nellie a New Year’s present. I can’t get around so to send it Christmas.
Joseph Small comes to me to see your likeness three or [four] times in a day. I should like to be there again on New Years and have another surprise party. I suppose those are played out, I think, this winter. Joseph Small has lost his speech [his voice] and very likely he will go home very soon and I am a going to send lots of things by him.
I don’t know as I can think of any more at present.
From your affectionate friend, — Henry N. Allen, Co. K, Wisconsin Volunteers Independent
Tell the folks to direct their letter to Co. K, Wisconsin Volunteers Independent, Fort Cass, Washington D. C. Leave the 2nd Regt. off.
1 Andrew Langworthy was wounded in the fighting at First Bull Run. He resigned his commission in February 1863.
The following letter was written by Adam Oscar Branstetter (1834-1865), the son of Adam Grundy Branstetter (1784-1868) and Rachel E. Snavely (1788-1839) of Wellsville, Montgomery county, Missouri. Adam was married to Caroline (“Carrie”) M. Little (1829-1902) in April 1862. He managed to remain out of the war until September 1864 when he was enrolled as a private in Co. B, 49th Missouri (Union) Regiment. At the time of his enlistment he was described as a six foot tall, black-haired, 30 year-old farmer.
Unfortunately, Adam did not survive the war. He died on 3 June 1865 at Montgomery, Alabama, suffering from chronic diarrhea.
Transcription
Dauphin Island, Alabama March 17th 1865
Carrie Branstetter Wellsville, Missouri
Dear wife, I answer your letter daed March 2nd. I have been sick for four weeks but am well at this time. I look as gaunt as a race horse. You would not know me. I had the chronic diarrhea. It gives me fits.
I am sorry to hear that the baby is sick and father is blind. It grieves me to hear such news.
We have done some hard marching since we left Missouri. We lay on the Lake for three days in a storm. We have plenty of fresh oysters here by gathering them. This island is about twelve miles long and one wide and covered with soldiers. I saw William Mosby from Louisiana. He belongs to the 33rd Missouri Regiment and several others that I know. I expect we will start to Mobile in a few days where we will have some fighting to do.
Map of Mobile Bay. Dauphin Island can be seen at lower left with Ft. Gaines at the eastern end of it.
I see something new every day. After we left New Orleans, we crossed The Lake Pontchartrain and Mobile Bay. We saw the rebel’s gunboats on picket and we passed Fort Powell. This island is covered with pine. It is a beautiful place and very healthy.
There is not a woman on this island. We are only 28 miles from Mobile. We can hear the cannon every day. It sounds beautiful.
I sent a blanket and overcoat and one pair of drawers and some other little things. I would like to know whether you got them or not and all the general news and if the militia has been called out. I never hear a word about Hiram Louis’ family.
You must be saving of your money for I don’t expect to get anymore till my time is up. That is a long time. I do not know what you will do for money. Nelson is well. So is Peyton, Ben and Tom is well also, and all the balance of the boys. Give my love to Hiram’s family and brother Andrew’s family. My love to Father and Mother and sister Polly. Tell Molly and Bud to be good children and kiss that sweet little babe for me. Tell the babe to kiss its Mother for me. You must excuse this bad writing for I am so weak I can’t hardly write.
I must close. I remain your true and affectionate husband till death, — A. O. Branstetter
Direct your letters to Co. B, 49th Regiment Infantry Missouri Volunteers, 10th Army Corps, 3rd Division, 2nd Brigade.
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