This letter was written by Harry Miller (b. 1844) who enlisted in late July 1862 to served as a private in Co. A, 131st Pennsylvania Volunteers—a 9-month’s regiment that served from August 1862 to 23 May 1863 and participated in Burnside’s Mud March and the Chancellorsville Campaign.
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Addressed to Mr. J. T. Miller, Laurelton, Union county, Pennsylvania
Camp near Alexandria [Virginia] August 28, [1862]
Dear Brother,
Once more I am permitted through the goodness of God to drop you a few lines in good health, hoping that you are the same. Last evening the 27th of August, we got orders to leave in one hours time. We left Camp Chase at dusk, had a march of 6 miles which we made till 9 o’clock, though we did not know where we were going until we pitched our tents which we did this morning. We are now about 1 mile from Alexandria on a beautiful sod and along the Potomac and at the side of the railroad.
Some of the boys got sick when the orders came to leave for fear they were going to be put in a battle. Our whole brigade had nothing to defend ourselves [with] but the bayonet.
Our boys are all well but [Sergt.] Foster Halfpenny got sick last night. Day before he was out of camp all day and got as drunk as a hog, and then on the march, he had nothing to drink and he got sick. Don’t tell any of the folks how he got sick.
Further, this is the 29th of August before breakfast. I have seated myself to finish my letter. Last evening Samuel Betz was in our tent. He just came from Manassas day before. There were attacked by a heavy force of rebels and they skedaddled. The lost their tents and 6 cannons but the cannons were retaken. There were only one thousand and some of them are not accounted for.
Taner, I was out to Alexandria last evening and I heard that the regiment that my brother was in was laying one mile from our camp. This made me leap and holler for joy and this morning I am going up to see him. But it is against the rules for any man to leave camp but I think I have got a plan that will take me through.
I must now close by asking you to give my best wishes to all my friends. Direct to Co. A, 131st Regt. Pennsylvania Volunteers, Washington D. C. in care of Capt. J[acob] M. Moyer, Col. [Peter H.] Allabach, Commander
This letter was written by Pvt. Benjamin F. Wright (1836-1917) of Co. K, 42nd Illinois Infantry. Benjamin—a native of Fairfield Township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania—was living in DeKalb, Illinois, in the fall of 1861 when he enlisted on 4 August. He was with the regiment until 20 September 1863 when he received a gunshot wound to the spine during the Battle of Chickamauga. He was hospitalized at Springfield, Illinois, until he mustered out on 28 September 1864.
Following his discharge, he returned to Pennsylvania for a time but then relocated to Indiana and then to Kansas in 1876 where he homesteaded in Reno county.
Benjamin’s letter describes the expedition in October 1861 in which Union troops under the command of General John C. Fremont, perceiving Warsaw, Missouri, to be a “treasonous” city, fairly devastated the town, taking over its supplies and homes for their own needs. During the following month, as Union Army stragglers followed Fremont’s troops, they burned much of what had not already been destroyed.
Image of Co. H, 42nd Illinois Infantry taken in Nashville 1863. Image belonged to James Reese of the company. (Ronn Palm Collection)
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Tipton, [Missouri] December 1st 1861
Dear Brother,
I received your letter and was glad to hear that you was well. I am well as usual and hope these few lines will find you the same. It is very cold here today but we have not had any snow at Tipton. I do not know how long we will stay here. I expect we will get our pay tomorrow. That is the talk. We have got a new pair of pants and a new cap.
We left St. Louis the ninth of October and went to Jefferson City about one hundred and fifty [miles] up the river and from there we went to Warsaw on the Osage River about 100 miles from Jefferson City. Then we was ordered on a forced march to Springfield eighty-five miles. From Warsaw we started about ten o’clock on Friday night and on Monday night we was in Springfield. We had to live on hard bread and meat and had the ground to lay on and the sky for covering.
Artist’s Sketch of Fremont’s army marching to the Osage River in Missouri, 1861
We would of had a fight with Price if it had not been for General McKinstry. He was acting the traitor and communicating with Price and letting him know our movements. He is now in prison at St. Louis. 1
I expect we will go to St. Louis the next time we march and so on down into Kentucky. Write and let me know how my folks are and how you are getting along. Send me the news about the war in the East for we cannot hear much news here. If we was in some city where we could get the papers, we might know more about the war. I have not got homesick yet. I like it very well.
As my paper is getting most full, I will bring my letter to a close. You must write as soon as you get this and direct your letters to the same place you did before. So goodbye from your brother, — Benjamin Wright
1 While it is true that Justus McKinstry was arrested on 11 November 1861, his biographical sketch on Wikipedia does not imply that he was being charged as a traitor. He was eventually convicted of graft, corruption and fraud in the quartermaster’s office at St. Louis.
This letter was written by 23 year-old bootmaker, Joshua H. Tower of Hopkinton Massachusetts. Joshua enlisted on 4 August 1862 as a private in Co. F, 1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery. This regiment began its service as the 14th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry and garrisoned Fort DeKalb (later renamed Fort Strong) on Arlington Heights from August 1862 to June 1863.
I could not find an image of Joshua but here is one of William Full who served in Co. G of the 1st Mass. H. A. (Michael Gordon Collection)
Co. F remained on duty at forts in the Washington D. C. area until May 15-16 1864, when the regiment was ordered to Belle Plain, Virginia. From there they fought as infantrymen at Spotsylvania Court House, North Anna, Totopotomoy, Cold Harbor and Before Petersburg and Siege of Petersburg, beginning on Jun 16 1864, where Tower was taken prisoner.
Tower did not survive the war. He died of disease as a prisoner of war on 10 October 1864 at Savannah, Georgia. He had been taken prisoner on 22 June 1864 at Petersburg.
Joshua’s wife, Philena M. (Knowlton) Tower (1835-1908), filed for a pension (Certificate 62,413) but it was annotated that her surname was “now Nichols”—she having married Roswell Nichols sometime prior to 1870. Her parents were Marshall Knowlton and Mary Holmes.
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Fort DeKalb 1 December 13, 1862,
To my sister Kate,
I received a letter from you and was very glad to learn that you were all getting along so well in point of health. I too am in good health and weigh one hundred and sixty pounds which is about my usual weight when at home. I got a letter from wife last night and she writes me that she had a sore throat, but it is getting better of it now and is going to Tom’s as soon as she can. I expect that you are having a taste of winter at home but it is warm and pleasant here now. We had it cold enough the fore part of the week. The Potomac is frozen over above the aqueduct bridge, which don’t happen every winter. It snowed here a week ago last Friday, but it is all gone now. I think the weather is a great deal warmer here than at home, but it is as hard to bear as winter in Massachusetts. The changes are as great which makes it seem colder than it really is.
Monday the 15th. It is warm and pleasant as summer today, and we sit in our tents with the doors open. Quite different from the weather a week ago last Saturday. At the convalescent camp near Alexandria, six soldiers froze to death. They have got no fire nor means of getting any. Sam Bicknell 2 was there and came up to our fort and stayed a week. Said he should have died if he had stayed much longer. He went back yesterday. People may talk about the sufferings of the soldiers of the Revolution and one of these days they will tell about the soldiers of 1862.
“The Union forces under Gen. Burnside have got possession of Fredericksburg and are driving the rebels out of their fortifications but it will cost seas of blood to do it…”
— Joshua H. Tower, 1st Mass. Heavy Artillery, 15 December 1862
There is a battle being fought at Fredericksburg about sixty miles from here and about half way between here and Richmond. The papers say it will be the bloodiest battle of the century. Already there are five thousand sick and wounded in the hospitals from that fight. The Union forces under Gen. Burnside have got possession of Fredericksburg and are driving the rebels out of their fortifications but it will cost seas of blood to do it and then they will retreat into other fortifications to be still driven, unless some fortunate circumstance shall give us Richmond while Burnside is engaging the rebels at Fredericksburg.
17th. Since writing the above, news has arrived that Gen. Burnside has retreated across the Chickahominy [Rappahannock] and abandoned the fight after losing ten thousand men killed, wounded and missing. Burnside, in his dispatch to the general government, says he felt that the enemy’s works could not be carried and that a repulse would be disastrous to his army. Finally, I can’t tell anything about it when the war will end or which will come off victorious, but hope we shall come [out] top of the heap.
Give my love to all and write often and not wait for me to write every time you do. This from your affectionate brother , — J.
1 Fort DeKalb was constructed at the northern end of Arlington Heights for the purpose of guarding the roads and approaches to the canal aquaduct bridge (near present-day Key Bridge). The fort was three-quarters of a mile west of Fort Corcaran. It was a lunette with stockaded gorges. Rifle pits were dug outside the fort. It was later named Fort Strong.
2 Samuel Barrett Bicknell was a corporal in Co. B, 16th Massachusetts Infantry.He was a carpenter from Hopkinton, Middlesex, Massachusetts.
This letter was written by Isaac S. Starbird (1840-1911) of Freeman, Franklin county, Maine. When he was 21, Isaac enlisted in the fall of 1861 in Co. L, 1st Maine Cavalry. He was mustered in as a private and mustered out three years later as a corporal on 1 November 1864. He was wounded at Charles City, Virginia on 28 July 1864 where he received a gunshot wound to the right knee but not so disabled that he could not return to his occupation as a sawyer in Lewiston, Maine.
An unidentified Trooper (Rob Morgan Collection)
The 1st Maine Cavalry had high standards for its recruits and the quality of its mounts. Recruiters were to enlist “none but sound, able-bodied men in all respects, between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five years of correct morals and temperate habits, active, intelligent, vigorous, and hardy, weighing not less than one hundred and twenty-five or more than one hundred and sixty pounds” While the average United States Infantryman was 26 and 5′ 8.25″ tall and 155 pounds, the average United States Cavalryman was the same age but slightly shorter at 5′ 7″ and lighter at 145 pounds). It encamped at Augusta at the State Fairground, renamed Camp Penobscot, where recruits initially learned military discipline and drill. Horses would arrive in December. It is unclear whether the 1st Maine received either the 1854 cavalry shell jacket or 1857 sack coat or both. The army did issue all ranks the same standard sky-blue double-breasted winter overcoat with attached cape and a rubberized poncho for rainwear. They also received the special sky-blue wool cavalry trousers with the reinforcing double layer in the seat and inside leg due to the expected extended time in the saddle.
Isaac was married to Mary Elizabeth Clark (1848-1917) in November 1866.
[Note: This letter is from the private collection of Molly MacDufus and was transcribed and published in Spared & Shared by express consent.]
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Augusta [Maine] October 13, 1861
Friend Amanda,
It is now Sabbath morn and I will seat myself for a few moments to inform you of my good health and likewise my camp life. We arrived here one week ago yesterday in good spirits and health. We have pitched our tents of which I will give you a description. Our tents are large enough for twelve to sleep in by stowing close together. Our tents are round with center pole in the center. We all lay our heads to the outside of the tent with our feet to the center pole. We lay as close as a passel of pigs and bear a slight resemblance of them.
Our living is good enough although a little different from what I have [been] accustomed to eating. Why I gave you the description of our fare—I supposed you would have a curiosity to know how a soldier fared.
We only have to drill three or four hours a day at present and we have the rest of the time to ourselves. We can have any kind of curiosity that we wish here. Twenty of us bought a fiddle and we have dancing any time that we like to. I tell you, we have some high times here.
There is about 800 men on the ground now at the present time. We shall stay here four or five weeks, I expect, and then we expect to go to Washington instead of New York. We expect to go on horseback there all the way. If we do, we shall have a tall time on the road. We have not got our uniforms yet. We expect them soon.
I have no news to write so I will close by wishing good health and prosperity, Write soon. This is from your friend and best wisher, — Isaac S. Starbird
The following letters were written by J. M. Wilson, a volunteer in the 12th New York National Guard (or State Militia)—nicknamed “the Independence Guard.” This unit was sent for immediate service to Washington D. C. in April 1861 to guard the Nation’s Capitol. While in Washington they were encamped and drilled at Camp Anderson.
The 12th New York State Militia at Camp Anderson in June 1861
The regiment remained in Washington until the 7th of July, when, ordered to join the army of the Shenandoah, it proceeded by railroad to Baltimore, and thence to Harrisburg and Hagerstown, arriving at the latter place on the evening of the 8th. Left Hagerstown on the 9th, marched to Williamsport, forded the Potomac and marched all night; arriving at Martinsburg, Va., early on the morning of the 10th, having accomplished 80 miles without a pause. Colonel Butterfield, there reported to Major-General Patterson, and was immediately appointed an acting Brigadier-General, his brigade consisting of the Fifth and Twelfth N. Y. S. Militia, and the Nineteenth and Twenty-eighth N. Y. S. volunteers.
Wilson wrote the letters to his friend, an insurance agent for whom he probably worked in New York City named Henry Thayer Drowne (1822-1897).
[Note: These letters are from the private collection of Greg Herr and were transcribed and published on Spared & Shared by express consent.]
Letter 1
Camp Anderson Once More Washington June 4th 1861
Dear Sir,
Your letters of the 2nd and 3rd inst. were received this morning and gave me great pleasure to hear from you. The regiment is once more in Washington after an absence of a week and two days. I wrote to you in the last that we were under marching orders and that I would be unable to call and see Mr. Arnold. We were reviewed by Secretary Seward the same evening of the day I wrote you. The regiment looked fine. We were dressed in full uniform with white gloves. After the review we were drilled in loading and firing which was splendidly executed by the whole regiment.
After the dress parade was over, our captain gave us orders to take off our dress suit and to put on our fatigue dress ready for a march. About nine o’clock we had orders to fill our canteens and pack up our knapsacks and at 10 o’clock we got our rations of bread and preserved meat for one day. Soon after we went to bed and about 12 o’clock when we were all to sleep, we were aroused out of our shanties and ordered to fall in with out knapsacks and belts on and with our muskets and in about ten minutes time we were on our march to the Sacred Soil of Virginia. The moon shone bright and the air was cool and bracing. It was a night long to be remembered by all the regiment and those that witnessed our departure.
We marched from our camp down Fourteenth Street past Willard’s Hotel, across the canal when we halted and the Colonel gave us orders to load at will which looked very much like hot work. We then took up our line of march (past the Michigan Regiment) to the Long Bridge which we crossed about 1 o’clock and took up our march along an even road (expecting to be attacked every minute) till we got near Alexandria when we countermarched (passed the Michigan Regiment again), took another road, and marched quite a distance when we halted and rested for the rest of the day. We dined on crackers and preserved meat.
Awoke the next morning about 4 o’clock, commenced to rain about 8 o’clock, when we marched to the Mill for shelter (which was occupied by Company H before we got there) where we stayed till we returned to Washington. We had a pleasant trip, I can assure you. I went a fishing and bathing nearly every day. We were practiced in the skirmish drill several hours each day. We laid on our arms every night expecting an attack. On Friday morning about 5 o’clock, the long roll beat and before 10 minutes we were in line of battle ready for action. The cause of the alarm was the constant firing of guns in the vicinity of Alexandria. I laid out every night in the open air except when it rained. The Mills where we were quartered belong to a Mr. Roach—a secessionist. It was stated that there were 300 rebels there but when they heard we were coming, the took up traps and left.
We left Virginia unexpectedly (as we left Washington) not knowing anything of it till the night before and then we all thought we were going to march further into Virginia. About four o’clock Sunday morning the 1st Connecticut Volunteers marched into the Mill grounds and relieved us. We then took up our march (about 9 o’clock) for Washington. We halted after a march of about four miles when the articles of war were read to us by Rev. [ ] Hale Smith after which we had a short sermon. We then took up our line of march (past the New York 25th, the 69th, & 8th but I did not see Thorne Weyman. I looked for him but could not see him, and arrived in Washington about 3 o’clock. It was one of the hottest [days] we have had here and the men were completely tired out when they arrived.
We had a dress parade the same night. I wish you could witness some of our parades. There are about fifteen hundred persons witness our parade every evening. The 12th stands as high as any in Washington. I called yesterday to see Mr. Thornes’ son and had quite a stay with him. I intend to call on Mr. Arnold when I can get time. They are in encampment, I believe, and I will endeavor to find out where.
We were under marching orders last night and none of us thought we would be in Washington today. From all that I could see while I was in Virginia, there are more Union men than people are led to believe. The carte-de-visite I will get and send them to you as soon as possible. I was out yesterday and it will be impossible for me to get out for several days yet and then I will get them taken and send them on. If you would, you can send me on five dollars. The rest of the balance of my salary I wish you would retain it till I can get back to New York.
No more at present as my time is limited. Give my respects to Mr. Thorne and all in the office and my kind regards to Mrs. Drowne and your boy.
Truly yours, — J. M. Wilson
Enclosed find a sketch of the Mill that we occupied in Virginia. When I get to New York, I will make out a better one for you.
Letter 2
Hagerstown, Maryland July 9th 1861
Dear Sir,
I now take the opportunity of writing you a few lines to let you know how I am getting along. The last time I wrote you I was in Washington but last Saturday night we received marching orders and everything was got in readiness for to march. Our dress uniforms we packed up and directed with our names on to it to our residences in New York which looked as if we had bid farewell to Washington during our term in this war.
We started from our camp in Washington Sunday afternoon [7 July] about 2 o’clock, marched down 14th street, up Pennsylvania Avenue to the Baltimore & Ohio Rail Road Depot where we took the train and got underway about 4 o’clock. Passed Annapolis Junction where we stopped for a quarter of an hour. Got on our way again, stopped a few minutes at the Relay House, passed on and arrived in Baltimore about 8 o’clock, formed in line, marched up Eutaw Street to the Northern Central RR Depot.
The streets were crowded and we met with a hearty reception. We took the train on the Northern Central RR and got underway about 1 o’clock at night. We passed through Glenbrock, stopped at little York for a few minutes, passed on and stopped at Bridgeport opposite Harrisburg where we got dinner, which was provided for the regiment by the government. Rested ourselves about half an hour where we were joined by the 5th (NYSM) regiment.
We soon got underway and switched off on the Cumberland Valley Railroad. The train was composed of about sixty cars drawn by three engines. Our journey from Bridgeport to Hagerstown was one continuous ovation through the towns we came through—especially so at Mechanicsburg and Greencastle where wagonloads of provisions were provided for us by the ladies of the towns who heard we were coming. We arrived at Hagerstown about 9 o’clock where we slept for the night and are now staying.
[Maj.] Gen. Sandford is with us. We start this afternoon to join Gen’l. Patterson’s Brigade near Martinsburg some 16 miles which we will have to march. There is no doubt but that we will have a brush with the rebels in a few days but I must close as my time in limited. Did the carte-de-visites I sent you meet with your approval? Those that have seen them say they are taken well. I will write you again in a few days. Give my regards to Mr. Thorne, Mr. Craig, and all in the office, to Mrs. Drowne and the boy.
Yours Truly— J. M. Wilson
To HT Drown, Esq.
We have two contrabands with us (runaway slaves)—one in Co. F and one in Co. G.
Direct your answer to J. M. W., Camp Anderson, Washington D. C. or elsewhere.
The following letter was sold to a client of mine stating that it was penned by a Union soldier named “Frank Prior” to his father, “Capt. Samuel Prior, Jr.” but I am unable to see a signature and I cannot identify the Prior family correspondents. It’s possible this information was simply made up but on the outside chance it’s true, I pass on the “provenance.”
The letter describes an August 1864 incident pertaining to the Major Reybold, a steamer operating on the Delaware River, in which a number of Confederate prisoners were transported by her from Philadelphia to Fort Delaware. After dropping off the prisoners, it was discovered they were one short which triggered the whole fiasco.
The Major Rebold was built in 1853 in Wilmington, Delaware. She was the first iron vessel to see service on the Delaware, plying between Salem, New Jersey, and Philadelphia until 1906. During the Civil War she was retained on the river on account of Fort Delaware and was for a long time the only steamboat running below Wilmington, carrying thousands of troops and prisoners to the fort.
The Major Reybold, ca. 1908. She remained in regular service until 1906.
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Steamer Major Reybold August 15, 1864
Dear Pa,
Your very welcome letter was received Friday evening. I was glad to hear you had found the boat so soon. By what Captain Loomis (who was on board of us Friday in Philadelphia) said, I was afraid you would have trouble finding her.
We were fired into by a gunboat from the Fort on Friday evening. The way of it was this. We landed some forty-five prisoners there that evening and after we had left, they found out that there was one short. They fired two musket shots to attract our attention but there being a very stiff breeze from the eastward, we did not hear them. They then ordered their gunboat which lay at the East wharf after us. It was high water and we were running directly across and by the time the gunboat got under weigh, we were pretty well over.
She fired a blank shot at us as she left the wharf but it was not heard on board by us owing, I suppose, to the wind and the noise of the machinery. They then fired three more shots—the last one, which was a shell, exploded about twenty-five yards from our stern and was the only one which was heard or seen by anyone on board.
The Daily State Gazette, 22 August 1864
Captain and I were in the office and did not know anything about the firing until some of the passengers who saw the shell explode came and told us. Captain came out immediately and ordered the boat to turn around and go back. We were then in “Hinchman’s reach,” We went about and run back. When we got to mouth of creek, we were met by a small boat from off the gunboat with an officer in charge who ordered us to proceed to Ft. Delaware at once, which we did. When we got there, we were informed that the man had got away in Philadelphia and that they were very sorry they had caused us so much trouble. It seems that when they found out that there was one man short, they did not even wait to ask the officer in charge where he was but sent the boat immediately after us. After she left, they found out where the man escaped and tried to recall her but could not for the same reason I suppose that prevented us from hearing.
The idea of the boat shooting at us with the intention of hitting us as the Lieutenant in charge of her says he did, is preposterous and should be reported from his actions. When he boarded us, I should say he was drunk and that may have been a reason for his firing at us. If the shell had struck us in the saloon, it would have caused a great loss of life in there at the time.
Thomas Bond has a claim against you of $32 for hay. Shall I settle it? We told John Mulford about it and John told me.
The following brief letter was written by Col. A. G. Rice of South Carolina who served as one of several aide-de-camps on the personal staff of General P. G. T. Beauregard. At the time of this letter, Beauregard was in command of the Dept. of South Carolina and Georgia which was created in 1861 to guard the coastal areas in those states as well as Florida. Most of the 23,000 men in this department were deployed in defending Charleston and Savannah.
The letter was addressed to Francis Wilkinson Pickens (1805-1869) who was the Governor of South Carolina and running for reelection but would be defeated by Gen. Milledge Luke Bonham on 17 December 1862.
The letter pertains to John Dunovant, Colonel of the 1st South Carolina, who was accused of drunkenness while on duty in late 1862. It led to a trial but the charges were eventually dismissed when it was concluded that the allegations had been exaggerated. President Davis reinstated Dunovant in July 1863 and he was made Colonel of the 5th South Carolina Cavalry at that time. He commanded the cavalry brigade during the Overland Campaign and and the early part of the Siege of Petersburg but was killed at the Battle of Vaughan Road on 1 October 1864.
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Headquarters Dept. of South Carolina & Georgia Charleston, [South Carolina] December 13, 1862
My dear Governor,
John Dunovant is anxious to get a letter from you to the Secretary of War. If you have no objection, I will be glad if you will forward his wishes. He begs me to say that Dr. Furman of the Senate will give you any information in reference to his affairs.
The impression in Charleston is that you have the track. May God speed. You have few more ardent followers in this contest that General Beauregard though he is extremely apprehensive of his military influence.
I could not find an image of Christian but here is a cdv of David B. Prosser who served with him in Co. D, 104th P. V. (Photo Sleuth)
The following letter was written by Christian B. Grossman (1838-1913), the son of a pottery maker of Rockhill, Bucks county, Pennsylvania named Christena Grossman and his wife Catharine.
According to muster records, Christian Grossman enlisted on 17 September 1861 in Co. D, 104th Pennsylvania Infantry and he was promoted to Hospital Steward on 15 October 1864. He was discharged from the service on 25 August 1865 at Portsmouth, Virginia.
After the war he married and moved to Philadelphia where he initially also worked as a potter like his father. Then, by 1880, he entered the restaurant business.
Christian’s letter includes a description of the Battle of Trent’s Reach which took place between 23-25 January 1865 on the James River. In that battle a powerful flotilla of Confederate warships attempted to break the blockade on the James River and attack Grant’s supply base at City Point, but they were foiled and withdrew back up the river to Richmond.
[Note: I have only transcribed approximately two-thirds of the letter as the ink has faded and it is difficult to make it out.]
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Bermuda Front January 28, 1865
Dear Friend,
Having waited for a letter from you in answer to my last written in the Valley and not getting any, I thought I would try again. It may surprise you to see such a long but as I have nothing much to do, I thought I might as well pass my time away with writing as anything else.
In the first place, I will admit a mistake I made in my last to you. I wrote that we had a snow 8 feet deep. I intended to say 8 inches deep for that is all it was but that was deep for that part of the country.
Since that letter was written we have made a change in our residence. We now reside at Bermuda Front on the James River within 9 miles of Richmond in what used to be Butler’s Department & in close proximity with the Johnnies. We are so near that on picket, we can see each other & talk together. There is a sort of contract entered into by our men, or our pickets and the Reb pickets, not to fire on each other while on picket so they stand out and talk to each other for quite a spell at a time.
For a week or two back, we heard their bands play & drums beat but now it seems to be quiet. It’s generally thought that they have taken some of their force away from here to work on the Danville Railroad that was damaged so much from the last heavy rain but whether they took their force away or not, I take notice they tried to show themselves. Last Sunday and Monday night they made an attack on our picket line from the James River down till the point of our camp which is but a few thousand yards from the picket line. They made several charges but every time bravely met by our pickets and sent back in a hurry feebler than they came. I have since heard that they were short in wood and tried to advance their line to take a strip of woods. Our pickets held but they could not [ ]….
It is a most awful hard thing when a man must stand out all night at them breastworks to keep watch to see that the enemy does not surprise & the nights so dark that you cannot see any distance ahead of you & then so cold that you almost freeze & every once in awhile a ball going over you with its song, “zip, zip.” I do not need to take a gun nor do I need to fight. My business is in the rear of the fight, to help to dress the wounded. Last time when the Rebs made the attack, the regiment was out to the breastworks all night. I lay in a tent by the fire sleeping & have made up my mind to take it easy & stick to the boys by the breastworks for there is as much or more danger going to the rear as there is staying here.
It is now bed time. The drums are beating all around so I will finish it tomorrow. My man just put pork on to cook for breakfast so I thought I would write awhile while it is cooking. I have now been writing a half of an hour. It is a rather slow process to write this way. A have a small book on my bunk on which I have to pull the paper along to keep it on the book so to make it easier to write. But a good night to you all and hoping I may sleep as well as you and not be molested by the rebs.
Sunday, 29th, one o’clock pm. I will now resume my writing again. I can not bid you a good morning for its too late so I will bid you a good afternoon. In the first place, I must say I had a good nights sleep. The Johnnies did not try anything. They behaved themselves well. I hope they will continue to do so in the future.
I have just been down to the Point of Rocks Hospital about two miles from here to see about some things by one of our men that was sent to that hospital last week some time. He was a sergeant in Co. D. His name was Jonas Marton. 1 The Point of Rocks is situated on the Appomattox River and contains two or three houses and a lot of barracks. It derives its name from a Peak of Rocks by the river.
It would be quite a sight for some of our Bucks countyans to see the long lines of entrenchments we have thrown up here. It would take over a days walking to come to the end of it. It’s 40 miles long. Runs from within 5 miles of Richmond to the other side of Petersburg. Besides the long line of entrenchments, every half mile or so, or in some places four and five, in ever half mile is a fort with large Bull dogs made of iron and brass called cannon. There is two forts by our camp that done a good deal of barking last Monday night. We lay right in [ ] the James & Appomattox River midway between the two.
But to come back to my first subject, I told you of the attack we had the very night that I was laying in my tent by the fire while our boys were out at the breastworks. I fell asleep & did not find out much about the fight till daylight when I woke up….
…I was standing along side of one of our guns–a 30-pound Parrott gun that was shelling the other two Rams….but not doing them much harm for the iron coat on them was too much for it. The shell would splinter to pieces on her just as though they were pumpkins. The rams…both got off and started back to Richmond…..that ended the fight. There was four or five wounded on our side and quite an artillery loss to the enemy. I was telling you that I found our men or regt. gone from the camp. I found they had gone up to the James River to meet the rebs…When they come, they seen the boat go up and also seen a man go up in the smoke. I heard it when it went up and seen the smoke and afterwards the wreck. I got some papers off of it that blowed over where I was standing. There is a report that they are going to try us again soon brought in by a deserter from their army who came in last night. We have had quite a lot of them come in. Sometime back over 30 came in. They are fine looking young men.
If the Johnnies want to try us again, they are welcome to come. They take the daytime for it. I think we will show them a modus operandi. They little think of our men in line every morning at 5 o’clock ready…Our regiment drawed new guns last week and turned in the old ones. They now have the latest, improved rifles called the Springfield Rifle made in ’61.
You will please excuse me if this incompetent writing don’t seem to meet your approbation. I will now chance the subject again.
What do the people in Old Bucks county seem to think of the Blair Peace Initiative? Do they seem to think Old Davis’s Administration will be willing to make peace? I want peace as much as anyone. I don’t think there is anyone longing for it more than the soldiers, but they started the thing and disgraced one of the best colors on the face of the globe and ruined one of the best and most prosperous governments. They never were [ ] and did not seem to know when they did have it good. It was their proud, chivalric spirit that provoked them to start that fuss in Jackson’s time. It was then they started the spirit of discontent…I am opposed to peace till we have totally exterminated or subjugated that race. Then we may be a place that will be lasting. I think they have found out to their sorrow that the North’s resources to carry on the war was not as limited as they thought and that the fire of ’76 still burns in their breasts, except the Cops [copperheads]…to dumb to know what was at stake…But enough of this for this time.
Oh yes, I came near forgetting to tell you we just got through building a house…of logs and plastered with mud. It is 8 by 11 feet and 7 feet high, tile all around, and I have a little warm stove in it. The chimney is made of logs and plastered inside with a [ ] on the top. The roof of my house is canvass. Today we made a table. Our bunk is made of staves also split out of pine logs. We live gay for to be so close to the Johnnies…I can say with safety better than any other Nation on the globe for there never was any better.
But I must come to a close hoping this may find you well. Just excuse poor writing and blunders that I could not avoid….Give my love love to all my enquiring friends and yourself and Fannie. Your most sincere friend.
—C. B. Grossman
Address: C. B. Grossman, Hospital Steward, 104th regt. Penn. Volunteers, Bermuda Front, Va.
1 Sergt. Jonas Martin died at the Point of Rocks Hospital on 24 January 1865. He was buried in the National Cemetery at City Point, Section F, Division 1, Grave 138.
The letters of South Carolina Cavalryman James Michael Barr to his wife Rebecca offer an excellent example. Barr enlisted as a private in the 5th S.C. Cavalry Regiment in January 1863, just as the fortunes of war began to turn against the South. After serving more than a year in its native state—away from the great battles farther north—the 5th S.C. Cavalry was called to the killing fields of Virginia.Published in 2001
The following letters were written by J. B. Williams of Co. K, 5th South Carolina Infantry. The 5th (also known as Ferguson’s) Regiment S. C. Cavalry was formed by the consolidation of the 14th and 17th Battalions S. C. Cavalry and Captain Harlan’s and Whilden’s Independent Companies in January 1863. Williams had enlisted in Capt. Harlan’s company in March 1863 at Pocotaligo. Although officially designated a regiment, the companies remained dispersed at various locations along the South Carolina coast.
In January 1865, the 5th SC Cavalry was reassigned to Wheeler’s Cavalry Corps, Army of Tennessee, CSA, and returned to Columbia, South Carolina, under Lieutenant General Wade Hampton to check the advance of Major General William T. Sherman’s troops from Georgia. Thereafter, it was involved in continuous skirmishing with numerically superior Federal forces as they moved inexorably north from Columbia, then across northeastern South Carolina, and finally into central North Carolina. The 5th SC Cavalry participated in the final battle of the Carolinas Campaign at Bentonville, North Carolina, and provided the escort for General Joseph E. Johnston when he met to discuss surrender terms with General Sherman at the William Bennett House near Durham Station, North Carolina, on 17 April 1865. The regiment was included in the surrender of cavalry troops at Hillsboro, North Carolina, on 27 April 1865, and its remnants were officially disbanded at Greensboro on 2–3 May 1865.
Letter 1
[Editor’s Note: It’s clear that Josh was a young slave of J. B. Williams brought along to perform camp duties and tend to his master’s horse. ]
Kenansville, North Carolina September 22, 1863
My dear Sister,
I received your kind letter by Dr. Walker in due time and was truly glad to hear from you and that all was well at home. There is nothing new has transpired in camp of any importance. All seem anxious to get marching orders to go to Charleston and leave this place as none of our boys can get along with the North Carolinians. They just hate us like rattlesnakes. I don’t know the reason why unless they think we are above them.
I received the things you sent by Walker and was glad to get them. I got my whiskey in the right time for Josh. I have been giving about 12 dollars a quarter and mean whiskey at that. Josh has got typhoid fever now as I said in one of my letters. I think he will be up in 4 or 5 days. He is much better now than when I wrote. But when anybody has this fever, they require a good deal of attention for there is no telling when they will get well or worse. I have got a good room for him which is much better than a tent. I have a good notion to send Josh home when he gets well as he cannot tend to my horse the way I would like for him to do and then he is almost too small.
Old Major Jackson says we shan’t have any furlough nor be paid off until we pay for the sheep. He wants the whole camp to pay for them officers and Old Gen. [William H. C.] Whiting says the same thing. I had nothing to do with the sheep and I will not pay for it. The other day I lent Jim Miller my horse to take him up to Magnolia to get his feet [hooves] cut off. They were too long that he could not walk good. I had to tend to Josh and could not go. He went up there and I suppose he got a little tight and let the train run against my horse and broke his tailbone which I would not have had it done for three hundred dollars. He cannot raise his tail anymore. It has ruined him. I don’t expect he will ever be able for service anymore. I believe I will trade or sell him. Whichever I can make the most at I will do.
You spoke of the flannel shirt that I sent home. I don’t believe I want it as I would not have but one and when I would take it off, I would catch cold.
Dan Moore got a furlough but he got his from Gen. Whiting. He never could get it from Jackson if it had been left to him. The way he got it was that he had business with Col. Miller and he was at home at that time. I must now close by begging you to write soon. Give my love to all and remember me to be your affectionate brother, — J. B. Williams
Letter 2
Camp near Ream’s Station July 18, 1864
My dear Father,
I received your kind letter of 26th on yesterday and was very glad to hear from you and that you was well. There is nothing new in camp worth writing to you all. [It] is quiet at this point. We are stationed here about 3 miles from Reams Station. The mounted men are about the same distance from here. They keep on a running about. I think our party will be the most numerous. Our horses back in the rear fare worse than those in front so far as something to eat for them.
I received the money you sent to me and was very glad to get it for I was needing it very much. I will write to Sam Melton today to look after [my slave] Jeff. I expect Jeff has hired himself out to someone in Richmond. The last I can hear from him is that he and nine sick negroes were at the Gisk [?] River Depot sick with measles. Some of our boys seen him there but did not have sense to take him away.
I wrote to you a few days ago in which I stated I thought my horse would die but after getting another, I don’t know whether I will ask you to get me another one or not. If I could get in some artillery [unit], I would like it much better. I would like to get in [John T.] Kanapaux’s Battery 1 but I don’t suppose that they would transfer anyone from Virginia to South Carolina. I must [illegible due to paper crease].
Write soon. Give my love to all and remember me to be your affectionate son, — J. B. Williams
1 The Lafayette Light artillery was formed late in 1861 with about 60 officers and men. It was first stationed at Fort Pickens (stono), then was assigned to the Dept. of SC, GA, and Fl, & was active in the Charleston area and in various locations in SC. During February, 1865, it totaled 81 effectives and in April was attached to C.L. Stevenson’s Division, Army of TN. Captain John T. Kanapaux was in command.
Letter 3
Columbia, South Carolina February 10, 1865
My dear father,
I arrived safely in camp on yesterday and found our Brigade encamped about a mile beyond the bridge. It is rumored in camp that we will leave here tomorrow and go down and try our hand with Mr. Sherman. Refugees are passing every hour from the lower part of this state and it is reported the enemy are in Orangeburg District but I do not know how true it may be as we can hear most anything in camp that we want to hear.
The trip has not hurt my horse any. He looks as well as the day that he started. Tell William I will try & get him a pipe but they are so strict that anyone can hardly get one. They have just sent out a Provost Guard to arrest the men over in the city.
I must close by begging you to write soon. Give my love to all and remember me to be your affectionate son, — J. B. Williams
This letter was written by Aaron Frederick (“Fred”) Gilbert who was working as a clerk in Peoria, Illinois, prior to his enlistment as a corporal at the age of 20 in Co. A, 17th Illinois Infantry on 25 May 1861. At that time he was described as standing over 5′ 9″ tall and have brown hair and blue eyes. He rose in rank to Orderly of his company before mustering out on 4 June 1864 at Springfield. Though Fred’s letter requests he be discharged so that he might accept a commission in the 3rd Arkansas Cavalry, I can find no evidence that this was arranged.
Fred was the son of Henry William Gilbert (1809-1849) and Margaret Ann Fash (1820-1902) of Peoria.
After the war, Fred returned to Peoria where he kept a flour store. He was married to Mary Evelyn Speers (1842-1924) in October 1865.
Transcription
Addressed to Maj. Frank F. Peats, 17th Illinois Infantry, Rockford, Ills.
Galesburg, Illinois March 4, 1864
Maj. Frank F. Peats 17th Illinois Infantry Dear Major,
I returned from Springfield yesterday morning where I went (as I before informed you I was going) on the evening of the 2nd inst.
While in that city, I finally succeeded in getting your accounts for December correct when they were approved by Col. Oakes. The disbursing officer, however, being minus in the way of funds, I did not collect anything on them. They are all right though, and all that is necessary is to catch the disbursing officer in funds, when they will be immediately paid.
I think I will now have no trouble in making out the account for January and February and he said it would do to have but one set of papers for the time from the first of the year to the time of closing the office. I assure you, I was much obliged for the information. I have not yet commenced to make out the papers more than to prepare the blanks, but shall do so at once and will have them completed by Wednesday of next week.
In the meantime I wish you would write to Col. Oakes and request him to relieve me of duty on recruiting service immediately as I wish to leave this place by the day last above mentioned and to start south by the Monday following.
Abraham H. Ryan of Peoria, Illinois
My reason for this is Ryan (Abraham H. ) 1 has written to me and has offered me a commission in his regiment and wants me to come along as soon as possible. So you see the necessity of me being relieved of duty here and of starting south at the earliest possible moment. I will consider it a great favor if you will attend t this at once, upon the receipt of my letter, and also request Col. Oakes to order me to report to someone at Little Rock if he can do so. Whether he can order me there or not, it will at least do no harm to try. Maj. Norton is in the office there and if you should write him about it, he may be of some assistance.
You may rely upon my having your accounts in order by Wednesday the 9th.
While in Springfield, I saw Capt. Robson and party and also Lieutenants Stockdale and Mitchell of Company K. The captain and party have all been detailed for duty in Springfield, himself and Glass reporting to Gen. White and Dickinson and Goodwin as clerks in Oakes’ office. This was done at their own request as they did not wish to return south because their term is so near out.
Stockdale was down with four recruits. He has enlisted forty-two altogether—about one half for our regiment. I did not have any conversation with him, but merely had time to shake hands with him as he came into the dining hall at the hotel. Lt. Mitchell was sent North to take charge of recruits. He is reporting to Gen. White and does not expect to return to the regiment.
There is nothing of special interest to write about in Galesburg or vicinity. Hoping you will write to Col. Oakes without fail or delay, I remain with best respects to yourself and Mrs. Peats, yours truly &c., — A. Fred. Gilbert
1 Abraham H, Ryan of Peoria, Illinois, was mustered into Company A, 17th Illinois Infantry as a first lieutenant in May 1861. Promoted to captain, Ryan mustered out of the 17th Illinois on February 10, 1864, having fought at Forts Henry and Donelson, Shiloh, and through the Vicksburg campaign. On the day he mustered out of the 17th Illinois, Ryan enlisted in the 3rd Arkansas Cavalry at Little Rock, assuming command as the regiment’s colonel. He was mustered out of the 3rd Arkansas on June 30, 1865.
