The following letter was written by David Gardner (b. 1842) who enlisted on 8 April 1863 at New York City to serve three years in Co. I, 5th New York Cavalry. He was taken prisoner on 17 June 1864 at Ely’s Ford on the Rapidan river in Virginia and taken to Andersonville. Unlike most of his fellow prisoners, David survived the confinement and was paroled in January 1865.
I could not find an image of David Gardner but here is an ambrotype of a cavalryman from the collection of my friend, Megan Kemble, who thinks he was in either the 5th or 6th New York Cavalry.
The letter is addressed to “Dear Sir” and my assumption is that it was sent to James Emslie, the father of William H. Emslie (1842-1864) who enlisted on 12 August 1861 at the age of 18 in Co. G, 2nd New York Cavalry. William was captured at Ellis Ford on 17 January 1864 and died of chronic diarrhea at Andersonville Prison on 25 June 1864. William’s parents were James and Jane (Weston) Emslie of Cornwall, Orange county, New York. We learn from the letter that David and William were tent mates at Andersonville. William was buried at Andersonville.
Also mentioned in the letter are two other names. The first is Henry J. Brewer (1841-1864) who served with William in Co. G, 2nd New York Cavalry. Henry was taken prisoner on 22 August 1863 at U. S. Ford on the Rappahannock River in Virginia and was also sent to Andersonville. He died there on 31 October 1864. This letter informs us that he was suffering from scurvy.
The other soldier mentioned was Frank Wood (1842-1864) who served in Co. I, 5th New York Cavalry with David Gardner. He was taken prisoner on 1 March 1864 near Richmond and died at Andersonville Prison on 19 July 1864.
A burial trench outside Andersonville Prison
Transcription
Winchester, Virginia February 10th 1865
Dear Sir,
I received a letter from you last night requesting me to let you know any particulars about your son, Wm. Emslie. He tented with me at Andersonville. He got the chronic diarrhea. I took him to the hospital and I heard in a few days after that he was dead. Frank Wood died of the same disease shortly after. The last I saw of Henry J. Brewer was at Andersonville and he was alive then. He had the scurvy very bad—had to walk with a cane. I did not see him at parole camp so I can’t say any further for him. I am sorry I did not see them friends of yours in New York. If I had, I could have told them all about it.
Wm. Emslie was taken sick soon after he was captured and was sick all the time until he died at Andersonville. He was so weak when we carried him to the hospital that he could not stand up without help. Frank Wood was the same. He told me before he died that he knew he could not live and gave up all hopes of ever getting well again. I have no more to say at present.
The following letter was written by a member of Co. B, 4th Georgia State Militia (GaSM) with the initials “J. W. G.” and addressed to his father, “W. W. G.” It was datelined from Savannah, Georgia, in mid-December 1864 where the regiment had fallen back, having spent the previous weeks attempting to hold back Sherman’s relentless march to the sea.
According to campaign records, the 4th GaSM was indeed in the 2nd Brigade, commanded by Brig. Gen. Pleasant J. Phillips. The 4th GaSM was commanded by Col. James Mann. The 4th GaSM served from 1 March 1864 through 26 April 1865.
There is a chance that each side of the sheet was written by a different member of the regiment who served from the same community. Unfortunately I could not find a roster for Co. B of this regiment to enable me to determine the author’s identity.
Our regiment has got to go on picket tonight. The pickets is almost 2 hundred yards apart. Pa, Joe is writing and he says tell all of his folks he is well and wants to hear from them. He is well and fat. Pa, Sherman’s army has cut the Charleston railroad and the Central Railroad and the Gulf Railroad. Pa, when you write, write to me how George Walker is getting along with his wound. Pa, when we left Macon, we come to Albany on the train and then we had to [march to] Thomasville 60 miles in 2 days and a half and get on the train and come to Savannah. Pa, I came [with]in 17 miles of Aunt Emily [ ] and heard they was all well. Sis, tell Aunt Jenny that I am [with]in 8 miles of Alf’s house but didn’t hear nothing from them. Pa, tell all enquiring friends I am well and to write to me. Nothing more, — J. W. G.
To W. W. G.
[On reverse side of sheet]
Savannah, Georgia December 14 [1864]
Dear Father and Mother,
I seat myself this evening to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well and [I want] to know how you all are a getting along. I haven’t heard anything since Pa came to see me at Lovejoy. I would like to hear how the Yankees treated you when they came through. Pa, we left Lovejoy one week after you left there and we have been traveling ever since. We come to [ ] in two days and nights and there we got on the train and [ ] and then to Griswoldville and [remainder illegible]
The following letter was written by Springstead B. Owen (1838-1912) of Newburgh, Orange county, New York, who enlisted on 14 July 1861 at the age of 22 to serve three years in Co. A, 56th New York Infantry. Springstead survived the war and mustered out on 16 August 1864. (On the company roster, his surname was recorded as “Owens.”) The 56th New York consisted of eleven companies of infantry, two light batteries, and two troops of cavalry, the whole being known as the “10th Legion.”
I could not find an image of Springstead but here is an unidentified member of the 56th New York readily identifiable by the “10th (roman numeral X) Legion” crest on his New York jacket.
Like so many other letters written home by soldiers in the Civil War, Springstead conveys the sad details of a comrade’s death to the deceased loved ones at home. In this case, Springstead describes the final days of Cornbury Merritt (1839-1862) who died of typhoid fever on 30 May 1862 near Bottom’s Bridge, Virginia. Cornbury’s younger brother, Seneca Merritt, was also in the same company but asked Springstead to write the “particulars” of Cornbury’s death since he was with him the entire time of his sickness. Most of these types of letters are eerily similar in content and expressions. It was customary to comfort the grieving family with news that their loved one died peacefully and with the hope of eternal salvation.
Cornbury Merritt was the son of Gilbert Merritt (1808-1873) and Fanny Eighmey (Amey) of Blooming Grove, Orange county, New York.
At the time that Springstead wrote this letter the regiment was assigned to the 1st Brigade, Casey’s Division, and deeply engaged in the Peninsula Campaign. Mention is made of an impending battle which would most likely have been the Battle of Fair Oaks (Seven Pines) which was fought on May 31-June 1, 1862.
Transcription
Addressed to Mr. Gilbert F. Merritt, Blooming Grove, Orange county, New York
Camp 56th Regt. N. Y. S. V. June 4, 1862
Bro. Merritt,
At the request of your brother Seneca I attempt to write you a few lines to give you the painful news of the sickness and death of our Brother Cornbury. As I was with him from the commencement of the sickness until his death, I may be better able to give you the particulars of the same than Seneca who was unable to be with him, and who has already sent you the sad news.
A week ago last Friday our regiment moved from where it had been encamped for a few days and as Cornbury and me did not feel very strong, we got permission to remain a day or two thinking we would soon be better able to march, We did so, proceeded on toward our regiment, but had not gone far before we met one of our officers who informed us that all that were not able to do duty had to go back as they were expecting a battle. So we started for our old camp again but did not get there before Cornbury gave out so we stopped at a home which was being used as a hospital. But that was so full that we had to occupy an out building and stayed until next morning when I see Cornbury had strong symptoms of Typhoid fever.
I procured some medicine from a doctor but the fever continued to rage and get worse so that he was not in his right mind scarcely any of the time. I did all in my power to make him as comfortable as possible under the circumstances but the good Master relieved him of his suffering and took him to Himself at one o’clock p.m. Friday, May 30th.
I made him a box and with some assistance buried him as decent as I could under the circumstances, marked the grave so should you wish to remove the remain you could easily find it, and left the silent sleeper to see him no more on earth. I could hardly realize the solemn fact that our brother was dead and truly he is not dead but sleepeth. Although his proper reason was dethroned, yet he bore his affliction with great patience and fortitude and in his last moments appeared to have great peace and passed away very easily with a smile on his countenance which I never shall forget. And though his funeral was not attended by the preaching of the word & the funeral knell, yet we all know from his life & conversation that he needed no preacher to convey his spirit to its home in glory.
Seneca and myself are at this time in good health and with the hope this will find you all the same, I remain yours truly, — S. B. Owen
This letter was written in the spring of 1863 by 30 year-old Sarah Plummer (Young) Merwin (1833-1920), the wife of Samuel Hubble Merwin (1826-1898) of Sacramento, California. Sarah was born and raised in Gray, Cumberland county, Maine. Her parents were Nathaniel Young (1788-1863) and Hannah Plummer (1802-1872). Sarah wrote the letter to her sister Francis (“Frank”) H. (Young) Merrill, the wife of John Tappan Merrill (1822-1910), a house carpenter in Gray, Maine.
We learn from the letter that Sarah and Samuel were residing with Samuel’s older sister, Orpha (Merwin) Massol (1815-1905), and her husband, Florian Augustus Massol (1810-1890) just outside of Sacramento where her husband and her brother-in-law were partners in the Massol, Merwin & Co. (pack train business). We know that Samuel had another sister living in California also named Sarah (Merwin) Barkley (1828-1885) who was the wife of John Henry Barkley (1825-1892). This couple apparently resided in Dutch Flat in 1863 for Sarah describes the journey to visit them just prior to this letter.
Though Sarah’s narration of the journey to Dutch Flat and return was itself captivating, the most interesting part of the letter comes when Sarah picks up her pen to resume her writing on May 11th and describes the celebration in Sacramento on 9 May 1863 upon receiving the news (though false) that Richmond had fallen to Union troops. Doubts of the validity of this news must have crept into everyone’s mind by the time the Sacramento Daily Union published their morning paper on 12 May 1863 which begged to know, “Has Richmond been taken by General Keyes? That’s the question of the hour.”
Transcription
Sacramento, [California] April 28, 1863
Dear Sister Frank,
I received your letter dates February 8th in due time, with a great deal of pleasure as I do all letter from home but have been very negligent in answering it as will know by this time. I will here say I am very well but rather tired having done a very large wash for me for the first time since last September. We are boarding with Samuel’s sister, Mrs. Massol and are very pleasantly situated with 7 in the family—Mr. and Mrs. Massol and little son 4 years old in October, and Henry Merwin & Samuel and myself and the hired girl (which they pay 30 dollars per month). She is a first rate Irish girl. Been here three years. She does my washing with the rest of the family’s. In fact, I’ve never done up but one shirt for my husband as yet, and that was when we were in the mountains.
I will give you a short account of our trip in the mountains. Three weeks last Thursday at half past 6 o’clock, we left here in the cars and went about 30 miles to Auburn Station. Then took the stage for Dutch Flat and rode 45 miles over the roughest road I ever traveled. Suffice it to say that the roughest road I ever traveled in the States was smooth compared with the best road here. We arrived there at 6 o’clock in the afternoon, and went over one piece of road 3 miles long where it was built on the side of a mountain which was 300 feet high and so steep that one could not walk up it, and this road was one hundred feet from the top and only just wide enough for the stage. It seemed to me that every time the wheels went round we should surely go down the bank next. When we came home, we had to cross that road about 2 o’clock in the morning and so dark we could not see the bank beside the road. Tell John I breathed about twice and then with a groan, but I have come to the conclusion that anyone might as well make up their mind to travel anyway if it is to take wings and fly if they come to California. 1
We got well paid for going, however, for we just enjoyed every moment for three weeks with Samuel’s sister, Sarah Barkley, and her family consisting of her husband and 3 children and cousin George Merwin and wife. George lives on a small ranch. He sells hay for 60 dollars per ton, butter 75 cents per lb., milk $1 per gallon, eggs 50 and 75 cents per dozen, hens at 75 cents to $1 apiece. They had 1.25 chickens hatch out while we was there. They had 3 snow storms. The snow was from 2 to 6 inches deep. The vegetables were up in the garden and fruit trees—peach, apple, and pear—were in bloom so you see we have all the good things at once in California.
May 11th. You will see that it has been almost two weeks since I began this letter but I guess I will finish it. Now I must tell you the good news we received last Saturday eve. We (that is, Samuel and myself) retired about 10 o’clock and at half past eleven we were awakened by the firing of cannons and we got up and looked out of the window and the whole city seemed to be in flames. The church bells and engine bells and steam boat bells were ringing and I never saw so much confusion. The first thought that occurred to me was that the secesh had taken full possession as there has been strong talk of it. Perhaps you can imagine my feelings a little. But Orpha (Mrs. Massol) said she guessed it was good news. Samuel went down town to see and he soon came back and said Richmond is taken. I was on the piazza and I just hallowed to Mr. Pike and told him and he said it was too good to be true but he just stretched himself out of the window as far as he could and gave three rousing cheers for the Union. Then he hurried on his clothes and he and Johnnie went down town with all the rest of the men in the neighborhood while the women, 15 or 20 in number, went to work and built bonfires in the street. Mrs. Joseph Bailey from Saccarappa, Maine, set the example (she is a cousin to Martha Stevens, Henry Merrill’s girl). We worked as hard as we could until 3 o’clock when Orpha treated us with nice cake & then Pa, Susan, & the children, Samuel and I, and Mrs. Bailey went over in town and I tell you we had a good time generally and about 4 o’clock in the morning we retired to quiet rest again. But with all the wild excitement, we did not forget that God ruled it all and often we would hear some lady say, “Glory to God,” with tears rolling down her cheeks.
My husband is a strong Union man, I assure you. By the way, he sends his respects to you all. Will send you our pictures soon. Tell Mother he looks at her picture almost every day and wishes she was out here. I wish so too. I think the change would do her good and I know she would be contented. Susan says she thinks she would never ask for anything else if she could have Mother spend the rest of her days with her. She would wait upon her by inches, and do everything she could to make her happy.
Oh Frank, I tell you, we do not know how to appreciate our friends until they are taken from us. I cannot tell you how much we miss Father, but it is such a great consolation to feel that he was fully prepared to die and I spend so many happy hours thinking of him and feeling that he is watching over us. I hope you will all pray for us that we may be prepared to meet him in heaven. Oh dear sister, I really feel the need of it. Susan has just come in. She sends her love to you all. Mrs. Boothly has just gone from there. She enquired for you and sends her love. She has changed her mind about coming here. She is going to Washeo instead. She is going to have 100 dollars per month with her board and traveling expenses paid besides. She has done well since she has been here.
Tell Ella I am very glad to hear such a good report from Aunt Martha about her. I hope she will continue to be a good girl so everyone can love her (also little Jennie). Uncle Samuel says he is going to bring Ella back with us when we go home. I tell him I am afraid her mother would not consent to that. I want you to let both the children write in your next letter. I am glad that Jennie think enough of Aunt Sarah to send her a kiss. Tell John to write to me. Give my love to Father and Mother Merrill. Tell them they are remembered by us all. Tell her I received a letter from her a short time ago and will answer soon. Tell Charlotte Megguier I have written and sent her a long letter but received no answer. Also Henry Morse and John also. You must all remember that I have a great deal of writing to do and you must [tell] all the other members of the family to read or hear read your letters for when I write to one, I write to you all. Susan, Jennie, and I read each other all our letters. Give my love to Mother, Martha & Calvin. Don’t let Mother get low-spirited this summer if you can help it. I will send you a piece of some dresses I have got. I have just got them made.
Give my love to all enquiring friends and keeo a good lot yourself and John. From your sister, — Sarah P. Merwin
Direct your letter to Sarah P. Merwin, care of S. H. Merwin or Massol, Merwin & Co.
1 Unbeknownst to Sarah at the time, this route between Auburn and Dutch Flat, as rough as it was, turned out to be the best route over the Sierra Mountains that was selected for the Central Pacific Railroad. It became known as the “Auburn and Illinoistown, Dutch Flat and Donner Pass” route.
George Henry Hildt, 30th OVI (photo courtesy of Vicki Hildt Marjerrison)
The following letter was written by George Henry Hildt (1835-1914), the son of John Hildt (1807-1885) and Maria Elizabeth Gloninger (1812-1892) of Dover, Tuscarawas county, Ohio. George briefly homesteaded in Kansas in 1857 (see diary extract) and worked in St. Louis, but returned to Ohio in 1859.
He served in the 3-month 16th Ohio Infantry, enlisting as Private in Co. F and being promoted 2nd Lieutenant on 6 June. He mustered out with the company on 18 August. He then helped recruit another Company of volunteers which became Co. I of the new 30th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI). He mustered in as Captain on 22 August 22, 1861. He was promoted to Major of the regiment on 28 January 1862.
George took command of his regiment during the Battle of Antietam as the senior officer after Lieut. Colonel Jones was captured. Colonel Ewing had previously been promoted to brigade command. After Antietam, the regiment headed south and west in the later part of 1862 and early ’63, seeing service in Kentucky, Arkansas, and three month stretch in Louisiana to March 1863. He was appointed Lieutenant Colonel on 18 April 1863 at Walnut Hills, Mississippi, then in operations around and in the siege of Vicksburg. He was wounded in the left hip there on 22 May 1863. The regiment was at Chattanooga and Knoxville in early 1864, and on the Atlanta Campaign May to September. He resigned on 22 September 1864.
After the war, George returned to Canal Dover (now Dover), OH and was a pension agent, once clerk in the office of Secretary of State of Ohio, and active in the Loyal Legion and Army of the Tennessee veteran’s groups. He also held the position of Commander of the Ricksecker Post (No. 469) of the Grand Army of the Republic. [Source: Antietam on the Web]
George wrote the letter to his cousin Alida Braucher (1843-1897), the daughter of Joseph Braucher (1810-1884) and Juliana Antoinette Hawley (1822-1895) of Canal Dover, Tuscarawas county, Ohio.
Transcription
Addressed to Miss Alida Braucher, Canal Dover, Tuscarawas County, Ohio
Camp Sutton September 30, 1861
Cousin Lide,
After a long weary march of seventy-five miles over mountains and through much mud, we arrived at this point just one week from the time we started from home. It is the county seat of Braxton County, Virginia and boasts a Court House and Jail of tolerable dimensions but the town is no place at all; only one street and that a short one, with mud knee deep everywhere. And with the exception of four or five families entirely deserted. 1
We have just been visited by a tremendous flood. Elk river turned out of its banks and visited Sutton, overflowing the whole place damaging our military stores, and forcing the few families left out at 10 o’clock at night. 2 A part of them took refuge in camp & we gave them the officer’s quarters—the best we could do. My tent at one time contained seventeen of all ages, sexes and colors. Three of them were young ladies—the belles of Sutton—who had waded the muddy street in fright (for young ladies get scared once in awhile you know) and made their way to camp. Their manners were very easy and notwithstanding the disagreeable situation in which they were placed, took things as they found them and were contented.
They were wishing we would allow them to come to camp before now but did not expect they should come under such circumstances. They do not live in town when at home, but came here from the country when Col. Smith had command, & remained some time. When they wishes to go home, Rosecrans was here and he had them retained because they knew too much of our forces to go. Since then, Lt. Col. Jones of the 30th Regt. (our man) has command and he holds them for the same reason, & when they will be allowed to go home, I do not know.
We have now in prison three ladies who have been guilty of aiding the enemy. We had more but on examination released them. I pity them. They appear so irritable and troublesome, but withal they defiantly refuse to take the oath and of course are not loyal.
To this time, I have not heard from home nor seen a newspaper & feel really as if I was out of this world. We expect a mail tonight and I live in hopes that I may receive something in the news line & know something about what is going on in the United States. I suppose your camp is flourishing & I know it must be a novelty to the rest of you to see military duty performed in a peaceful country, but here in active service it is different and necessary. Camp life in the school, active service the reality.
Yours truly, — George H. Hildt
Direct to Co. I, 30th Regt., Sutton, Virginia
1 This description of Sutton as it appeared in September 1861 certainly leaves us with the impression that aside from the court house and jail, there was very little “town” to speak of. Much is made of the burning of the town on 29 December 1861 by rebel guerrillas and the commissary stores that were there. See “Burning of Sutton.”
2 A History of Braxton County by John Davison Sutton reports that the flood of 1861 was one of the worst in county history. The water “ran down the main street of the town and was “belly-deep to a horse.”
These letters were written by Nathaniel “Gano” Dunn (1844-1892), the son of Nathaniel Dunn (1800-1889) and Judith Elizabeth Rogers (1805-1869). He wrote the letters to his mother and his sister Charlotte (“Lottie”) who were residents in New York City during the Civil War. In 1850, when Gano was only six, his older brother Andrew was five, and his sister Lottie was 8, the family resided in New York City’s 18th Ward where his father was employed as a teacher. We learn from an obituary that Gano’s father was a friend and classmate of H. W. Longfellow (the poet) at Bowdoin College in 1825. His special area of interest was chemistry.
Gano first enlisted on 29 May 1862 as a corporal in Co. K, 8th New York National Guard (the “Washington Greys”) and mustered out on 10 September 1862. He reenlisted again later during the summer of 1863 for 30 days as a sergeant in the same company. All three of Gano’s letters featured here while serving in the Washington Greys were datelined from Yorktown, Virginia, in August 1862—just prior to his being mustered out of the regiment.
After the war Gano attended Columbia College and obtained a law license. He practiced law in New York City for many years. He married Amelia Sillick (b. 1841) in 1867 and the couple had at least three children born between 1870 and 1878. By 1880 the family had moved to Denver, Colorado, where Gano committed suicide in 1892 (see newspaper clipping in endnotes).
Letter 1
Camp Dix Yorktown, Va. July 18, 1862
Dear Lottie,
It being a rainy day and I having nothing to do, I thought I would write you a few lines. I received a letter from Edward yesterday and answered it the same day. It was short and sweet. He said he was a going to send me a box, which will be very acceptable as i have to live on pretty hard fare. You try and get a metallic inkstand and fill it full of ink as I have to go the “Dead Beat” for all kinds of stationery. I wish I could have some sent to me. Also one of my neckties, and be sure to send plenty of matches and tobacco. Please don’t forget these last articles as they are necessary to my comfort, more so than eatables.
Sad news. I have just heard of the death of one of my company. He has just died, poor fellow. That makes two who have closed their eyes for the last time in Virginia.
What was the reason of you wanting to know about my leaving Mary Giles? You never wrote me. Please answer in next letter.
Ask Father to write ,e and if possible to send me some money. I am in great need of it. Send it in gold if he can. If not, in one dollar bills of city moey. Tell him I shall pay him on my return.
Dear sister, what is the reason that I do not get more letters from home? I ought to get at least two a week from either you or Mother. I write very often myself but remember I have not the advantages for writing that you have. This is the last letter I shall write to ask you to write me often. I never (even if I never get a letter) shall ask you again.
Yesterday I was again promoted from 2nd Corporal to 1st Corporal, and the next promotion I am entitled to is a Sergeancy which entitles me to wear a sword. I don’t know whether I am a better soldier than anybody else but I have the name of being the best non-commissioned officer in the company. I study my tactics very hard.
I forgot to state above to send me a plenty of brown sugar and no white. Sugar is 25 cents per pound out here. And also send me some pepper in a box. I suppose I am asking for too many things and if you cannot send all, do the best you can—only hurry up the box. Remember me to all my lady friends. Give my love to all. My messmates join in their respects to you, Mother and Father. All write soon.
Your affectionate brother, — Corp. N. Gano Dunn
Letter 2
Camp Dix Yorktown, Virginia August 1, 1862
Dear Mother,
I received your letter last night and hasten to answer. I also received the Sunday Mercury from Isabella for which I wish to thank her kindly for me, and give my respects to all the Manson’s.
Thank goodness I have but one month more today and then, and then for home, a dear Mother, and a loving sister, and kind friends to greet me on every side.
We had a kind of a skirmish here yesterday. We went over to Gloucester and drove the Rebels away with a few shots and then burnt the town. We burnt half of it about two weeks ago and we finished the job yesterday.
The day before yesterday I borrowed a cavalry horse and went out on a tramp. I had a friend with me. We also prepared for a tug as I had a large six band revolver, but however, we did not see any rebels. I rode about 20 miles. I got as many peaches as I could very well carry and a very sore back for I had a Mexican saddle and not being used to that, kind of chafed me considerable. I had a splendid horse. It could not stay on a walk. He must be on the go. My young friend was rather unfortunate as he could not manage his spurs very well. His horse took a start and away he went with his rider more dead than alive, but finally he came to a halt.
I will give you the plan of our encampment thinking that you might want to have a view of our life in tents.
Please write soon. Your affectionate son, N. Gano Dunn
In my letter to Lottie I forgot to make the likeness of our Orderly so I enclose it now. Excuse blunders and writing.
Letter 3
Camp Dix Yorktown, Virginia August 10, 1862
My dear Sister,
I received your short letter yesterday and intended to have answered it before but I wrote Edward and Father a letter and by so doing, I had not time to answer yours with greater dispatch.
It is raining and storming here very hard. The tent I am in trembles like an Aspen leaf under the terrible blasts of wind. The lightning is terrific so I can hardly see as it blinds my eyes. I am quite sick from imbibing too man peaches and stewed apples. Dr. Smith has given me some medicine which I hope will bring me about in a few days.
Dear Lottie, I think I shall join McClellan’s army for three years or the war. I have written Father on the subject and if he gives his consent, why I shall enlist. What do you think of it? It is no more than right that I should help our glorious “Union” as well as anybody else. If I do join, I shall join a cavalry regiment as I will have a horse to ride instead of walking.
I have enjoyed myself here first rate. I have a horse to ride nearly every day. I have scouted all around here for a distance of ten or fifteen miles. Of course, I did not walk.
We expect to leave here about the 29th of this month but the general impression here is that we will have a “good battle before we leave.” God grant that I may live to return and embrace you and all again. But remember, dear Lottie, if I die, it is in a good cause and you will never be ashamed to say that “my brother died in the defense of his country, and that he was not a coward.”
Give my love to dear Aunt Catharine, Gum, and Kneeland and if Mr. and Mrs. Pullen is there, remember me to them. Please ask Aunt Catharine and Gus & Kneeland to write me. You can give the address to them and be sure to write me a good long letter as soon as convenient.
Also, please remember me to Tillie and the rest of the Kirby’s, and don’t forget to give my best respects to Miss Emma Jarvis.
With this letter you have the love of your affectionate brother, Corp. N. Gano Dunn, Yorktown, Va.
If you write home, tell them that I had rather have some money than a box. — N. G. D.
Letter 4
Camp Dix Yorktown, Virginia August 12th 1862
My dear Mother,
I have time to spare so I thought I would write you a letter, though this letter will be written in a hurry and will hardly be legible.
I have just left a fire where I have been trying out some fat to use as butter.
I have been on the sick list now for two days but Dr. Smith (my chum) is bringing me around so in a few days I will again be able to “Soldier a Musket.”
Oh! how hot is it here. The thermometer stood to 135 degrees. I nearly die with the heat. It is sickening hundreds of our men and I think before we leave here some will be (to use a vulgar term among us soldiers) planted six feet under ground in the Sacred Soil of Virginia. There are now seven files (fourteen men) sick in my company, two files (four men) who are dangerously sick.
We have to drill two hours in the hot burning sun every day and nearly every day some poor unfortunate creature falls from the ranks. But I have never been sick since I left New York and it shows what a strong constitution Providence has endowed me with. The sickness I have now is only an opening of my bowels from imbibing too strongly in peaches and apples, pears, plums, &c.
I wrote a letter to Dear Lottie and directed it at New Castle. I also received a letter from brother Andrew which I answered accordingly.
How does the Chamberlains take this drafting? I think that either Henry or John will have to go. I hope not for they would never be able to stand the hardships incident to camp life. Gilman of course is exempt. Please write me upon this subject.
If you have not sent my box you need not. Only send me some money as I need some very much.
How does the Manson’s get along? Give my respects to all and especially to Isabella and also to the Arthur and Lile Brown ad dear little Allie. How is the baby?
Please remember your affectionate son, — Corp. N. Gano Dunn
Co. K, 8th Regiment N. Y. S. M., Yorktown
Letter 5
Camp Dix, Yorktown August 24, 1862
Dear Mother,
I received your last favor in due season and would have answered before if health would permit.
I have not written you about my illness before as I did not wish to worry you. Dear mother, your son Gano has been very near death, all through the negligence of our regimental quack doctor. I was troubled a little with the bowel complaint and went to the doctor to get something to check it. He gave me two large opium pills of 5 grains which he told me to take, which I did (enough to kill a horse). This was about 6 o’clock in the morning. As soon as I took them I began to feel sleepy and have an odd feeling about me, so I sent for the doctor. When he came, he (the doctor) looked worried and said that I had taken an overdose of opium and that I must not by any means go asleep as I might never wake up. I had no control over myself and would go to sleep, the Captain got me up, and he and one of our Sergeants walked me for six hours till I got raving crazy, which I was for three days and three nights. I am so weak yet that I cannot walk much. I have now been sick about 13 days. Now I have got the yellow jaunders [jaundice] and am quite sick, but am all out of danger so don’t be worried.
You would laugh if you could see me now. I am as yellow as a piece of yellow paper. I have to take the most awful medicine that infernal man ever invented. Oh! I wish I was well again.
I expect to be home before long—that is, if they don’t keep us longer as they might. I had rather not have either you or Lottie waiting for me on Broadway for two reasons. First, if it is said that we will be in New York at 10 o’clock in the morning, it will probably be 10 o’clock at night so you will be tired out. Second, because it will probably be night before we can leave the armory and you will faint from fatigue awaiting for me. I cannot write any more tonight so I will bid you goodbye. Your affectionate son, — Corp. N. Gano Dunn, Yorktown, Va.
Letter 6
Stationery Heading
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania June 19, 1863
Dear Mother,
We have been traveling ever since I left home & have just arrived to this place. I am well and in good spirits. Just before I left Mr. Wakeman, Mr. McGown & r. Zalniskie gave me $18.00 to get a pistol. I got it and it was a beauty—a Colt’s revolver. But alas, I had it either stolen or lost it out of my pocket. But I went and got another one because I thought if they made me a present of one to take and I did not like any, they would think that I did not appreciate their kindness so I bought another one but not as nice a one as the one they gave me.
I was very glad to see Lottie before I left and also Mary Butts.
Edward has not come with us but he says that he will join us soon. I left very illy prepared as I brought no plate nor knife or fork but I left word with Ed to bring me one and he said he would.
I went to No. 3 New Chambers Street to a Photograph Gallery and got two large size photographs and eight carte-de-visites, all paid for, I want you to give to Willie and Travis (when he comes to our house). 1 carte for Mr. Brown, 1 for McGown, 1 for Mr. Wakeman, 1 for Mr. Zabriskie, and keep the rest till I come home.
We are the advance guard right amidst the Rebels. We have 4 spies that the cavalry captured. Give my regards to Isabella & thank her for her kindness towards me. Love to all Bogarts, &c. Your affectionate son, — N. Gano Dunn
Direct to Sergt. N. Gao Dunn, Co. K, 8th NYSNG. Harrisburg, Pa.
I could not find an image of William but here is one of Robert R. Russell of Co. H, 160th New York Infantry (Missing Letters File)
The following letter was written by William C. Guest (1839-1875) who enlisted as a private at Sodus, New York, on 9 September 1864 to serve in Co. C, 160th New York Infantry. He survived the war and was discharged on 1 June 1865 in Washington D. C.
Regrettably there is no family tree information on this branch of the Guest family that I could find on-line. The letter was addressed to “Dear Father” but the envelope was addressed to James A. Guest who was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, in 1831 so he would be too young to be the author’s father. My hunch is that James was an older brother who had previously served in the Civil War in the 26th New York Battery and was, by May 1865, working as an express agent in Belle Plaine, Iowa, where he was enumerated in the 1870 census. Sometimes letters and envelopes get mixed up, or sometimes a letter from one child gets forwarded to another. James’ military records indicate that his parents were Henry Guest and Rachel Beadle of Seneca county, New York.
The 160th New York Infantry was organized and later recruited from the counties of Cayuga, Seneca, Wayne, Ontario, Allegany, Erie and Wyoming. By the time William enlisted (or was drafted) into the regiment, they had seen action in the Department of the Gulf, the fall of Port Hudson, and the Red River Expedition. By the fall of 1864 when William joined them, they had returned to the East and specifically to the Shenandoah Valley where they fought with Gen. Sheridan against Gen. Early’s men. They sustained many casualties in the battles of Opequan and Cedar Creek.
William’s letter tells us about the trip to Washington D. C. to participate in the Grand Review in May and, while enroute, witnessing the Lincoln Funeral Train not long after it had left Washington on its way north to Baltimore on 21 April 1861. He also refers to the remains of John Wilkes Booth being on the gunboat Montauk at the Navy Yard.
[Note: This previously unpublished letter was graciously made available for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared expressly by the Sic Parvis Magna, Gratias Lesu Collection.]
Transcription
Addressed to Mr. James A. Guest. Belle Plaine, [Benton County] Iowa
Camp Stoneman Near Washington D. C.
May 1, 1865
Dear Father,
Your kind letter was received some time ago by Jimmie while we laid at Summit. The 4th of April we broke camp at Summit Point and went up the Valley above Winchester where the whole division assembled in a line of encampments. We remained there for four day and all of this time the cavalry was up in the Valley ahead of us scouring the Valley. They went up as far as Mount Jackson and only met with a few guerrillas and captured six of them which I had the chance of seeing as they passed along the pike, And at this time I had the chance of seeing the largest force of cavalry I ever witnessed including the 22nd New York and seeing some of the Lyons boys as they passed along in the column. I should think the column would extend in distance from one end to the other four miles distance including the whole line of them.
After remaining up there the four days, we was all ordered back to Summit Point and remained there 4 or 5 days and then was ordered to report to Washington. We all came by railroad stored and packed in the cars for 24 hours. Jimmie and myself and a number of others rode on top of the cars and slept there all night, and the weather rainy and misty. We had the pleasure of seeing the funeral train of our lamented President Lincoln. It passed us as our train stopped to wood and water between the Relay House and Washington, the road being double tracked.
Day before yesterday Jimmie procured a pass and visited Washington. He with John Layton who is there at the Campbell Hospital visit the places of interest and curiosity of Washington.
We are doing very heavy picket duty on this side of Washington. Orders are no persons are allowed to pass out or in with a pass [unless] signed by Gen. [Christopher C.] Augur or Secretary [Edwin] Stanton. It seems that Booth, the murder[er] is captured and his remains lie in state on board of a monitor [USS Montauk] in the Navy Yard at Washington. 1
Everyone seems to have the impression that the war is over and that we will see our homes [in] less than three months. Good feeling manifested here at the news of the surrendering of Johnston. It makes the boys in the regiment still talk more stronger about going home. Jimmie received a letter from Marier Jones. She said all was well and that John [was] there and his leg was very fast improving but some lame yet. Also last night Jim received a letter from Mrs. Lyman. All [were] well but Mr. Lyman. He had the rheumatism very bad. Also that Neu__ Vanderbilt was living with his wife in [the same] house with his mother and worked her farm this summer and also that Sanford works their farm again this season and that Mrs. Brown’s girls were living with her this summer. Also that Mr. Brown had been there to visit them. And also that Charley Rozell was clerking it for Owen Klink somewhere in the army for an army sutler.
Jimmie is still Orderly of this company and is well. He is today busy making out his pay rolls of this company. We now have four months pay due us to to today—the first of May.
With my love and best wishes, I remain your son, — William C. Guest
Co. C., 160th New York State Vols., 1st Division, 3rd Brigade, 19th Army Corps, Washington D. C.
Our regiment is very small. It only contains 250 men and it left Auburn with 840 men. We have a full view of Washington from this camp.
1 Readers are referred to another letter I transcribed in 2021 that was penned by Henry Washington Landes who served as a guard aboard the USS Montauk describes witnessing the autopsy of Booth performed onboard. See Henry Washington Landes Letters & Diaries.
This letter was written by Assistant Surgeon Edwin Ruthven Brush (1836-1908), the son of Dr. Salmon Mortimer Brush (1804-1887) and Seviah Lovegroove (1817-1890) of Cambridge, Lamoille county, Vermont. Edwin married Amy R. Fletcher in 1860 and had 3 children.
Edwin R. Brush was drafted and entered the service on 17 July 1863 as a Private in Co. H, 2nd Vermont. An 1858 graduate of the University of Vermont and a practicing physician prior to his service, Dr. Brush was elevated to Asst. Surgeon in his company on 15 October 1863. He was mustered out on 15 July 1865 at Washington, D. C.
In this letter, Edwin provides his wife with some details of the Second Battle of Rappahannock Station during the Bristoe Campaign—a glorious Union victory. On November 7, the Union army forced passage of the Rappahannock River at two places. A dusk attack overran the Confederate bridgehead at Rappahannock Station, capturing more than 1,600 men of Jubal Early’s Division. Fighting at Kelly’s Ford was less severe with about 430 casualties, but the Confederates retreated allowing the Federals across in force. On the verge of going into winter quarters around Culpeper, Lee’s army retired instead into Orange County south of the Rapidan River. The Army of the Potomac occupied the vicinity of Brandy Station and Culpeper County.
For a great description of this battle, published in 2013, see Edward Alexander’s post entitled, “The Federal Charge at Rappahannock Station, 150 Years Ago.” Edward’s article explains more fully what Edwin meant when he wrote in his letter, “The manner in which our men commenced the attack was about as cool as anything as I ever heard of.”
An artist’s rendering of the Second Battle of Rappahannock Station published in Harper’s Weekly on 28 November 1863
A number of Edwin’s letters have come to me for transcription from multiple sources, his letters to Amy having been sold off separately to different buyers in the last couple of years. Previously I have transcribed five of his letters which may be found here: Edwin R. Brush, Co. H, 2nd Vermont (3 Letters) Edwin R. Brush, Co. H, 2nd Vermont (2 Letters)
[Note: This previously unpublished letter was graciously made available for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared expressly by the Sic Parvis Magna, Gratias Lesu Collection.]
Transcription
Camp at Brandy Station November 9, 1863
Dear wife,
I received yours of November 3rd yesterday while we were on the march to this place. It made me feel very happy to get it. We left Warrenton on the morning of the 7th and arrived at Rappahannock Station at noon when we found ourselves near the Rebels and gave them fight which resulted in their total defeat. Our regiment was in the reserve and did not have any fighting to do but we were in range of the Rebs artillery a few minutes but no one was hurt although one fellow had a narrow escape, a shell having struck the ground right under his feet which knocked him down. We did not stay in that place a great while but moved up the road and got under cover of an embankment where they could not get at us but the shells flew over our heads, striking on a knoll beyond. They were twenty-pound shells.
We took from the rebels about 1,800 prisoners, 7 pieces of artillery, and their pontoon bridges. The 6th Maine, which numbers about six hundred men took 1,600 men at one battle and there were about 200 taken afterwards. Our loss was about 300 in all. How many rebels were killed, I do not know. The same day the 3rd Corps had a fight at Kelly’s Ford where they took quite a lot of prisoners. The manner in which our men commenced the attack was about as cool as anything as I ever heard of. We stopped in an open field in sight of the rebel sharpshooters, we built up some fires, got our dinner just as though we were in camp. After dinner, we started in line of battle with our skirmish line in front. Our line of skirmishers marched up within a short distance of the rebs when they were fired upon by the rebs and they returned the fire along the whole line when the Johnnies run. Our men then went up to the top of a knoll when the artillery opened upon them but the shot did not do much harm. We soon got our artillery in position and played upon them pretty smartly for awhile. They kept up the firing until about dark when the boys made the charge on the fortifications which the rebs had thrown up and took the prisoners which I spoke of. 2
When they made the charge, they were ordered to uncap their gun and go in which they did in good shape. In coming over the field, I saw in one place where the battery was taken, eleven rebels laying side by side dead. It looked rather rough I can tell you. I did not care to look after any more dead rebs although there were more near there and they were burying them. In one corner there was a place that was pretty bloody and our men took seven stand of colors which was the cause of it. There was one fellow that had a bayonet wound through him, another one—a lieutenant—was killed by a blow with a musket. One of the Maine boys did it after ordering him to surrender which he refused to do saying that he would die first. Upon that, the other fellow hit him with the breach of his gun, breaking his skull in.
That night our regiment were out on picket and I slept on the ground without any tent over me. Two of us slept together with a half tent and a rubber blanket under us and two blankets over us, it being a pretty cold night and as we could not have any fire, I did not sleep any too warm. Last night we did a little better. We cut down a tree and built up a good fire which lassted till morning but after all, it was not like being with you to make up a good feather bed for me to sleep in. But after all, I cannot say that I am dissatisfied with the service. I am so much better off than some poor, sick fellows that I know.
I wish you would send me a piece of buckskin gloves. I do not want a very heavy pair. I want them so that I can drive in them and not have them bungling. I am sorry I wrote what I did about your [not] writing as I got a letter from you the same day that I mailed mine and another yesterday, but hope you will not feel bad about it.
About those shirts, the surgeons wear fancy colors a good deal. I do not care if you make mine the same. I was glad to hear that you had got some fine [things] because I think you deserve them, and Amy, you know I want you should have everything you wish for. Amy, I shall try and not get any bad habits in the army and hope you can trust me. When I think of you, how can I get any bad habits after all of your kindness to me when I know how bad it will make you feel. Amy, how I do miss your company. It seems as though I could not wait for the time to come when I shall see you.
Give my love to all and kiss our little darling for me. This from your dearest, — Edwin
1 “The Sixth Maine’s cheer sounded like a ‘terrible panther-like yell’ according to its adjutant. ‘So small a number of men never before made such an uproar… Men were seized with the wildest transports of rage and frenzy. We seemed to be marching against a blind, inscrutable force, which defied all of our efforts to reach it or grapple with it. The only relief seemed our continuous yell, which every man kept up until the fortifications in front of us were reached.’ Once the Union soldiers reached the works, Anderson recalled that now ‘the air was filled with a medley of shouts, shrieks and groans, calls to surrender, yells of defiance, imprecations and curses and through and above all other sounds the increasing crash of musketry.’…”A normally pious and reserved officer in the Sixth Maine known as the ‘praying sergeant’ entered the earthworks ‘with an infuriated yell, and with profanity which was fierce and appalling, he aided with bayonet and clubbed musket in speedily dispersing the enemy around us.’ So ferocious was the fighting that William J. Seymour of Hays’ Brigade believed the Union soldiers were “stimulated by the free use of whiskey,” a claim that reveals a mindset of the defenders but one that is not supported by evidence. ‘The enemy poured in yelling like so many demons, many of them being in a state of beastly drunkeness.’ A Confederate prisoner later told his captors: ‘We all allowed that the whole Army of the Potomac were coming, you’uns kept up such a wicked yelling.’” [Source: “The Federal Charge at Rappahannock Station, 150 Years Ago.”]
2 In all, 1,670 Confederates were killed, wounded, or captured in the brief struggle, more than eighty percent of those engaged. Union casualty figures, by contrast, were small: 419 in all. For the North the battle had been “a complete and glorious victory,” an engagement “as short as it was decisive,” reflecting “infinite credit upon all concerned.” Maj. Gen. Horatio G. Wright noted that it was the first instance in which Union troops had carried a strongly entrenched Confederate position in the first assault. Brig. Gen. Harry Hays claimed to have been attacked by no less than 20,000 to 25,000 Union soldiers—a figure ten times the actual number. The battle had been as humiliating for the South as it had been glorious for the North. Two of the Confederacy’s finest brigades, sheltered behind entrenchments and well supported by artillery, had been routed and captured by an enemy force of equal size. Col. Walter H. Taylor of Lee’s staff called it, “the saddest chapter in the history of this army,” the result of “miserable, miserable management.” An enlisted soldier put it more plainly. “I don’t know much about it,” he said, “but it seems to be that our army was surprised.”
I could not find an image of Beneville but here is one of Pvt. James A. Morrison of Co. D, 34th Pennsylvania Infantry
The following letter was written by Beneville Schock (1824-1863), the son of John Shock (1784-1866) and Elizabeth Mary Faust (1789-1884) of Petersburg, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania. He probably wrote the letter to his older sister Sarah (Schock) Fisher (1823-1882) and her husband Jacob Fisher (1818-1882) who lived in the same vicinity as his parents. Though Beneville spelled his last name “Shock” in this letter, the spelling on the family headstones is “Schock” so I have spelled it that way here.
Beneville was recruited into Co. I, 5th Pennsylvania Reserve Corps (34th Pennsylvania Volunteers) on 24 August 1862, only a few weeks prior to writing this letter. He joined the seasoned veterans of his regiment after the Second Battle of Bull Run so the battle scenes he describes in this letter at South Mountain and Antietam are the first he ever witnessed, prompting him to conclude, “War is a dreadful and horrible thing. May it soon be over.”
Beneville died on 4 February 1863 at Windmill Point, Virginia—the location of a large Union field hospital. His cause of death is not known but it was probably due to disease.
To read letters from other members of the 34th Pennsylvania Infantry that I have transcribed and published on Spared & Shared previously, see: George Mickle Brown, Co. A, 34th Pennsylvania (1 Letter) Albert Rake, Co. B, 34th Pennsylvania (1 Letter) Alfred M. Smith, Co. C, 34th Pennsylvania (1 Letter)
[Note: This previously unpublished letter was graciously made available for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared expressly by the Sic Parvis Magna, Gratias Lesu Collection.]
Transcription
Camp near Sharpsburg, Maryland September 30th 1862
Dear brother-in-law and sister,
I take the present opportunity to inform you that I am well at this time and hope that these few lines may find you in the same state of health.
I arrived at Washington City on the 6th of September and marched across the Long Bridge into Virginia 9 miles and back the same night. The next day early we started from Washington to Frederick and marched all that week. On the 14th we arrived at South Mountain or Hagerstown Heights about the middle of the afternoon when our Brigade was marched to the right with the Old Bucktails Regiment in advance when very soon the muskets began to crack in our advance. The rebels had taken a position on a high ridge or mountain very steep and rocky but our army drove them from it with great loss. We fought till it was so dark that we could not see anymore. They left that night and we followed them till the 16th in the evening when they made another stand near Sharpsburg. 1
When our Brigade was marched in advance, the Bucktails again took the lead. The rebels had a battery in our advance. They gave us a pretty good shelling that evening till it was dark when our regiment was put on picket duty and as it was quite dark, we marched within a few steps of the rebels when they fired into our regiment, but as it was quite dark, they did not much injury. Our regiment returned the fire when they ceased for a little while. When they fired again, our regiment returned the fire again when they ceased till break of day when they commenced again.
Our Brigade was drawn in line of battle and advanced toward them. We had a pretty sharp time for about an hour when fresh troops were brought up and we were withdrawn from the field and did no more fighting that day. We only lost a few men in our regiment. The battle continued all day without intermission. 2 The rebels fought bravely but could not stand the Yankees. In the night and the next day they got away as fast as they could and got over into Virginia again.
“War is a dreadful and horrible thing. May it soon be over.”
On the 19th we marched over the battleground. It was a horrible sight. The dead were not yet buried. The fields and woods were laying full of them, their faces all swollen and black. War is a dreadful and horrible thing. May it soon be over. We have been encamped near Sharpsburg for the last ten or twelve days. We don’t know when we will leave this but I don’t think it will be long before we leave this. We live pretty well here, has plenty of good water which we don’t have all the time. I have got to like soldiering pretty well.
Now I want you to write me a long letter and let me know what is going on in Shavers Creek Valley and the Warrior’s RIdge. I have not heard anything from home since I left them. I have wrote three letters home but got no answer. No more for the present.
Yours truly, — Benaville Shock
Co. I, 5th Regiment P. R. C. Washington D. C. in care of Col. [Joseph W.] Fisher
1 “The Bucktail regiment commanded by Colonel McNeil, was deployed as skirmishers in front of the division, and was closely followed by the whole line of battle; the enemy’s outposts were rapidly driven in, forced from the hills, and routed from the ravines, until suddenly the regiments of the First Brigade arrived at a cornfield, ‘full of rebels,’ protected by a stone wall at the foot of the abrupt mountain side; the Bucktails received a terrific volley of musketry, which brought them to a halt; General Seymour, who was on the ground with his men, seeing that this was the critical moment, called out to Colonel Roberts, commanding the First Regiment, to charge up the mountain, and at the same instant, turning to Colonel Fisher, of the Fifth Regiment, whose men were coming up in well dressed lines, he exclaimed: ‘Colonel, put your regiment into that cornfield and hurt somebody.’ ‘I will, General, and I’ll catch one alive for you’ was the cool reply of Colonel Fisher. The Second regiment, commanded by Captain Byrnes, and the Sixth, Colonel Sinclair, were ordered forward at the same time. The men of the Fifth leaped the stone wall, immediately captured eleven prisoners, and sent them back to the General.” The regiment steadily ascended the rugged side of the mountain under a heavy fire of artillery and musketry, and after a severe struggle, lasting five hours, carried the heights with the triumphant division and planted its standard upon the summit. It entered the engagement with three hundred and fifty-seven men. Its loss was one killed and nineteen wounded. [PA-Roots]
2 “On the 16th, [the regiment] crossed Antietam Creek, and moving to the right, engaged the enemy at four P. M., and was engaged at intervals during the night. The battle was renewed at daylight on the following morning, and raged with unabated fury on that part of the line where the Reserves were posted during the early part of the day, the Fifth not being relieved until one P. M.”[same source as previous footnote]
I could not find an image of Henry but here is a tintype of Cpl. Richard K. Woodruff of Co. I, 15th Connecticut Infantry (Jeffrey Kraus Collection)
This letter was written by Cpl. Henry D. Lewis (1841-1937) of Co. H, 15th Connecticut Infantry. Henry was the son of Lucien Franklin Lewis (1804-1882) and Susan Hitchcock (1814-1875) of Naugatuck, New Haven county, Connecticut. Henry served from August 1862 until June 1865.
Henry wrote the letter to his cousin, Charles Dwight Lewis (1841-18xx), the son of Asahel H. Lewis (1807-1895) and Harriet Newell Horton (1818-1907) of Naugatuck, New Haven county, Connecticut.
Mentioned in the letter is another cousin, Rufus W. Lewis (1836-1909) — the son of Lawrence Sterne Lewis (1804-1884) and Nancy L. Hull (1810-1881) of Naugatuck. Rufus also served in Co. H, 15th Connecticut Infantry until his disability caused his reassignment to Co. E, 18th Veteran Reserve Corps in 1863.
Addressed to Mr. Charles D. Lewis, Naugatuck, Connecticut
Suffolk, Virginia Monday, March 16, 1863
My dear cousin Charlie,
When I wrote you last, I forgot where I was, but if I don’t have my letters very well connected, you will consider that we are subject to many changes, and it is unnecessary for me to make excuses. In your letter which you last wrote, you mentioned riding on the cars & I think that you must have heard about it from Sam. Speaking about Sam puts one in mind that he is a pretty fast boy. Florence says that he beats his brother entirely going to see the girls, and its my opinion that if he is worse than me, he must be pretty well up in the world. Sam it seems thought that there was danger of your becoming entangled in the meshes of love & I hope if such is the casae, that he has been kind enough to do his best to help you out—that is, if you needed any help.
You asked in your letter if there were any such hills in Virginia as in Old Connecticut. I reckon there are some & there were some in the rear of the City of Fredericksburg which none were able to climb—at least none of the Union soldiers. We had a fine place for encampment at Newport News & it really seemed much like home because I had such a view of the water. I sometimes fancied when looking across the James river that I was looking across Long Island Sound & that Long Island was in the distance for the river is from six to seven miles wide.
During our stay in Newport News, I had a pass one day to visit Fortress Monroe. I went on the boat free of charge and returned having quite an interesting time. I could not get in the fort but I saw the famous guns—the Lincoln and Floyd. I tel you, they were monsters. One weighed 52,005 pounds and the other 49,097, if I remember rightly. The heaviest one carries a shot which weighs 500 lb. and has carried a shot to Sewall’s Point, a distance of upwards of five miles. The heaviest one is a rifled gun and the ball is part of iron and part of lead. The lead is expanded by the powder when fired and fills the grooves. The heaviest shot are of this shape [sketch] and the slug shot this [sketch]. These latter are considered the most effective for the demolishing of iron clads & weigh 450 lbs. These shot are about two feet long and 15 inches in diameter. Shell are also used of the same shape. The size of the gun I can not very well describe. I should think it was at least twenty feet long and the diameter at the breach is as good as five feet. I should like first rate to have you see them. I should hate to be on the Merrimac or any ironclad & have such a shot fired at the vessel. The fort is built for nine hundred guns but there are only about 850 mounted now, yet the work is going on.
The “Lincoln Gun” at Fortress Monroe was actually a 15-inch Rodman Columbiad LOC)
We left Newport News last Friday on board of a boat and arrived at Norfolk in about three hours and spent the night there. The next morning we went on a train of cars & after riding through a wilderness, or through Dismal Swamp as it is put down in Geography, we find ourselves in the town of Suffolk surrounded by a wilderness. For seven or eight miles we rode through a part of the Great Dismal Swamp and I think it dismal too. It is the most dismal place that I have been in, that is certain. It is a real saucy looking hole. We are surrounded by swamps and forests & there is nothing to be seen after we get away from the trenches and fortifications which surround us. The Dismal Swamp is southwest from us and we are on low, level, and damp ground—just the place for fevers. We are distant from Norfolk 23 miles & from Norfolk to Fort Monroe is 18 miles, and we are only seven or eight miles from North Carolina.
I am quite well and in pretty good spirits considering the dismal country which surrounds us. I have weighed once within two or three weeks 148 lbs. and under, if you can beat that. Write soon. Give my best respects to all the friends, Uncles, Aunts, and cousins.
Spared & Shared 23 