The following letter was written by William Brittin Durie (1840-1916), the eldest child of Samuel (Duryea) Durie (1814-1901) and Nancy Maxwell (1817-1891) of New Providence, New Jersey. William initially enlisted in Co. B, 13th New Jersey, serving from 12 April 1863 to 27 June 1863. He wrote this letter while serving in Co. C, 39th New Jersey Volunteers which he joined on 8 October 1864. He mustered out of the service on 17 June 1865.
By the 1880 US Census, William was married to Frances E. Clark (1849-1930, with two children, and working as a school teacher in Rahway, New Jersey. William wrote the letter to his sister, Mary Emma Durie (1846-1927) who married William C. Johnson (1829-1892) in 1870.
[Note: This letter is from the personal collection of Greg Herr and was transcribed and published on Spared & Shared by express consent.]
Transcription
Addressed to Miss Mary E. Durie, New Providence, New Jersey
Steamboat Guide, James River Between Fortress Monroe & City Point October 16, 1864
Dear Sister,
I take this opportunity to write you a few lines that you may know how I am getting along & where I am, &c. We left Newark Friday morning, stayed at Philadelphia Friday night in the cars. Yesterday we went to Baltimore by rail & took passage from there upon the Guide. We left 6 o’clock p.m. down the Chesapeake Bay & arrived at Fortress Monroe about 11 o’clock where we stopped about an hour, we are now plying for the James [river] & expect to land at City Point tomorrow morning.
My health is first rate and has been all the time. We are having a fine time of it—much better than marching. I am now seated upon the deck of the steamboat with a friend of mine, Mr. Jacob Lewis Pierson. 1 He is writing a letter too. We write about two lines & then rest to look at the scenery or talk or listen to [each] other.
Half past five p.m., I have just been downstairs to a prayer meeting for three-quarters of an hour. It is now nearly sundown. We shall not have much more time to write. We have it very nice upon board. We—that is, our company—occupy the Ladies Cabin. We have nice berths to sleep in. I should like to stay on the boat all the time. This letter can not be mailed until we get to City Point. That will be tomorrow. I believe I shall have to close for tonight for it will soon be dark. I want to get my supper. I will write to you again as soon as I get to camp.
Your brother, — W. B. Durie
October 16, 7 a.m.
We are almost to City Point. The boat was anchored all night, otherwise we would have been there last night. You can write as soon as you get this & direct to Co. C, 39th New Jersey Volunteers., City Point, Va. Tell Father that Mr. E. Austin has $105 for him which I left for him if he has not already gone down & got it. Austin thinks that Father had better take those bonds of mine and invest them for me. Tell Father he may get them when he goes down. I will write as soon as I get settled in camp.
This letter was written by William Fuller (1837-1877), the son of Richard and Maria (Parrott) Fuller of Vermont. He wrote the letter to his friend (later wife) Mary Ellen Leavenworth (1846-1930). After the couple were married in 1863, they resided in West Haven, Connecticut, where William worked as a carriage maker. He died young on 28 June 1877 and was buried in the town of Roxbury, Litchfield county, Connecticut.
Twenty-four year-old William Fuller enlisted in the 5th Connecticut Infantry on 22 July 1861 and was made first sergeant of Co. D. He served under Captain David F. Lane of Hartford. According to a history of the regiment by E. E. Marvin (1889), William was taken prisoner on 25 May 1862 at Winchester. A family biography states that he spent four months in Libby Prison. He was exchanged on 15 September 1862 and discharged for disability in mid-February 1863.
In this letter, William mentions the “bad managed affair” at Ball’s Bluff and Edward’s Ferry on 21-22 October 1862 and reassures his friend that, “They will soon receive a blow from us that they will long remember and will make them feel the power of [our] noble Union army. I think the war will be short and decisive.”
[Note: This letter is from the private collection of Greg Herr and was transcribed and published on Spared & Shared by express consent.]
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Addressed to Miss Mary E. Leavenworth, West Haven, State of Connecticut
Camp near Muddy Branch November 12th 1861
Dear Friend,
Yes, I am fully convinced that you are a friend to me in every respect and you can be well assured that I am the same to you. I remember a few lines that a friend of mine wrote in the back part of my writing book that made a lasting impression on my mind. they were as follows:
“A constant friend is harder to find and if you find one that is true, change not an old one for a new.”
I received your last on the 18th. The reason of my letters being so long getting to you is our mails do not go regular. If it storms very much, they are delayed. The storm you spoke of reached us here. It raged for 24 hours most terrifically blowing and raining without ceasing. It makes it very unpleasant for the soldiers. We have to be out nearly as much in stormy weather as in pleasant.
There is no mistake that our troops suffered very much at the affair of Edward Ferry. It was a very bad managed affair. Our men were led to a complete trap and scattered like cattle without a chance for their lives. I am very glad our regiment was not there. They will soon receive a blow from us that they will long remember and will make them feel the power of [our] noble Union army. I think the war will be short and decisive.
This is a very pleasant morning for this season of the year. I ave just come in from usual morning work and take these few leisure moments to write to you thinking that I cannot put them to a better purpose. My duties are not quite as arduous as they were when I was in Hartford although I am busy most of the time. I have a good deal of care on my mind which keeps me busy thinking and writing when I am not otherwise engaged.
It is impossible for me to express my pleasure in receiving your letter—they are balm carried to many a wounded heart and joy to many a downcast spirit. Yes, through the silent medium of the pen, your letters are of more value to me than silver or gold. It is a great consolation to me to know that I have sympathizing friends at home. It reminds [me] that I have something to work for. I didn’t come here through selfish motives but i came to help to sustain that government that our fore fathers fought and bled to establish that we might live under the protections and enjoy its liberties.
If you could see the works of the secession soldier, it would make you weep. They ravish the country where ere they go. They pay no regards to the most sacred rights of the homes and firesides of private citizens. They rob the widow of her sole dependence—her sons, and impress them into their infamous armies and grossly insult and even murder the aged parent and innocent maiden. These are the kinds of beasts we are contending against. God grant that they may never set their unhallowed feet one inch farther north than they now do to pollute the sacred soil of our noble, loyal states. I feel confident that they never will. I could relate many incidents of their barbarity to hard for my part to describe. It is the other way with us. we place guards over houses that are likely to be intruded upon by any ill disposed one.
I received letters from two of my sisters since I write to you. My mother is as well as usual. I don’t know how long we will stay in this place. I think it will not be long. You need—or I hope you will not—let your mind be so uneasy. Let fond hope cheer your lonely hours. Let us both look forward to the time when we shall meet again and when we [will] be blessed with peace in our land.
Yes, Mary, I know just what kind of a set you are surrounded by. Keep yourself, or keep them to a respectable distance. They would lead you astray. It gives me great pleasure to hear that you look upon them in the light you do. I am happy to hear that you are well. Cling to your health. Preserve it as you do the memory of a dear friend. I am well and hope these few lines will find you the same. My folks send love to you through me.
I send my undivided and never failing love to you. From William. Write soon. Direct as usual.
This letter was written by Calvin Waldo Marsh (1825-1873), the son of Henry Marsh (1797-1852) and Sarah Whitney (1796-1883) of Berkshire county, Massachusetts. Calvin’s father, Henry, died of cholera at LaSalle, Illinois in 1852 when he was 55 years old. Calvin graduated from Williams College in 1844) and later worked as a commission merchant in St. Louis, Missouri, and served as a Union officer in the Civil War.
Transcription
Addressed to Mrs. Henry Marsh, Sandusky City, Ohio
Buffalo [New York] August 29, 1847
Dear Mother,
I take a few moments this evening to write you a few lines although it is Sabbath evening. I was quite disappointed when I arrived here not to find Father. But next morning I received a letter from him dated Pittsfield, August 25th, being last Thursday. He writes me he should be in Albany tomorrow and next day to attend to his wool and that he should be here on Thursday of this week so you will not expect him till the very last of this week. He will undoubtedly write you from here when he will be at home.
A graphic description of my journey will no doubt interest you. We had a charming moonlight evening after we left Sandusky and Mary, Mrs. Mills, Whitney & myself enjoyed it much. The clerk of the Buffalo would not take any fare of me but made me take a fare ticket as we had so good a load, we did not make but an hour’s stay at Cleveland whereas the boats generally lay there till next morning at 8 o’clock, 7 hours. When we got up we were far down the Lake and got into Erie [Pennsylvania] just about eleven. I hired a carriage & Mary, Mrs. Mills, Whitney & myself rode up town and all about and all agreed that Erie was a very pretty & pleasant place and that the road from the Landing to the top of the hill was “‘orrid”) We had some fine plums and after dinner about 2 o’clock we were off for Buffalo.
The Sidewheel Steamer Niagara (ca. 1847)
Soon after we got out of the harbor at Erie, we saw asteern a little column of black smoke apparently rising out of the lake. Gradually & slowly a speck appeared and after awhile we could clearly distinguish the hull and upper works of a steamer, just off Dunkirk—the “Niagara“—truly the “pride” of the Lakes, slowly & steadily passed us, and as twilight faded with it, the Niagara vanished far in advance. Mr. Parmelee, not satisfied with giving me a free ticket, in the afternoon gave me a large bowl of delicious peaches—between three & four dozen.
We got in here about 7 o’clock in the evening and after waiting awhile we came up to the “Mansion” 1 and we found the House so full it was doubtful for some time whether we should get a room but at last Mr. [Philip] Dorsheimer, the proprietor, gave Mary his daughter’s room & Whitney and myself took a parlor with a couple of cots put in it for the occasion. At 9:30 Whitney and Mary took the cars for Rochester. When we got down to the depot, found some St. Louis gentlemen who told him that Judge Carr & Dabney were in the depot somewhere. We looked all around but could not find him. Just as the cars started, Whitney found that he had walked out on the track a little ways to see the cars pass. As the cars passed, Whitney put his head out of the window and the Judge recognized him and bowed. After the cars left, I walked out and introduced myself to him at Whitney’s request. He gave me a very cordial reception and said that he was going to the [Niagara] Falls in the afternoon train and urged me when I told him I had thought of going down to accompany him and Dabney.
Tourists in top hats standing on the American side of the Niagara Falls, early 1850s (LOC)
After dinner I wrote a letter to Father, one to Henry, and one to one of our captains. I just finished my business in time to run to the cars at 4:30. We reached the Falls about 6 o’clock and we went down to the cataract. Judge Carr at first sight was very much disappointed in the falls. Next morning we went down the bank in the cars which take down and bring up passengers by water power at an angle of about 45 degrees. 2 Went across the small boat and visited the battleground of Lundy’s Lane, Table Rock, British Museum, Camera Obscura, &c. 3 I stopped at the cataract & Judge Carr insisted upon paying everything except my bill at the hotel and what trinkets I bought which I did not give him an opportunity to do. He went on in the cars & is going by way of Montreal and Boston to enter Dabney at Yale College.
I went to Mr. Ware’s house and saw Aunt and the rest of the family. Aunt is not as broken down by her age as I expected and looked perfectly natural. Her health is pretty good for her age as she is now over eighty. She seemed glad to see me & thought I had altered very much. She desired her love to be sent and all of the rest of the family. Charles gave me a very pretty cane. I saw Moses Miller & Chester White of Racine the first evening I got here. They left Racine last Monday in the Niagara and said Harry was well and Mr. Canfield’s family also.
Last evening after the cars came in, who should come in but Mr. John Boalt & I soon made”wacks” for the Ladies Drawing room. Miss “Pill” & “Nan” appeared very glad to see me and after they got some tea, we had a very pleasant chat. “Pill” had a bad headache and retired about 9:30. I ate breakfast with them this morning and soon after they took a cab and went down to the house of some of their cousins. They got up Tuesday morning and I shall send a small package by them which I wish you would open & ask Clara to deliver the one to Kate & Martha. With much love to [all]. From your affectionate son, — Waldo
Kind regards to all enquiring friends.
The Mansion on the corner of Main & Exchange Streets in Buffalo, New York
1 The Mansion House was built on land purchase by Philip Dorsheimer sometime after the British burned buffalo in 1813. The location was formerly the site of the Crow’s Tavern. Philip built his five story structure and then added another floor which was styled a modern hotel in 1829. It stood on the sire for over 100 years. It was torn down in 1932 to make way for building utilized by the New York Central Railroad.
2 An 1847 visitor to Niagara Falls wrote of this conveyance to the base of the falls in an article published in the New York Commercial Advertiser on 4 August. Among the most recent improvements he observed at the falls, he stated, was “the stairs and inclined plane on the American side, constructed [in 1845 and operated by water power] by the Messrs Porter, the proprietors of the land adjacent to the falls. They afford an easy ascent and descent to the ferry across the river, where thousands annually cross and recross within full view of the mighty cataract, but still there seemed something wanting to enable visitors to obtain a closer view of the falls from below, and this want has been supplied by the construction of a steam boat appropriately called the Maid of the Mist, which now safely conveys passengers from the lower landing on the American side to the very verge of the falls themselves—passing the American falls and nearly approaching the Horse shoe falls, where three-fourths of the waters of the Niagara plunge over a precipice of about 160 feet. This steamboat excursion, which occupies about forty minutes, has become very popular, and will no doubt well repay the enterprising proprietors. The Maid of the Mist is commanded by Captain H. Filkins, whose obliging manners have made himself and boat deservedly popular.”
3 It has been said that “tackiness is a cherished tradition at Niagara Falls.” Tourist attractions have abounded at the falls saince at least the mid 1920s. An 1847 visitor reported: “Now the neighborhood of the great wonder is overrun with every species of abominable fungus—the growth of rank bad taste, with equal luxuriance on the English and American sides—Chinese pagoda, menagerie, camera obscura, museum, watchtower, wooden monument, tea-gardens and old curiosity shops.” The “Camera Obscura was “Robinson’s Canadian Pagoda which was built in 1847. It stood 70 feet talland had three observations platforms for viewing the Horseshoe Falls. It was torn down in 1860.
This letter was written by William Harrison, Jr. (1780-1827), the son of William Harrison (1740-1819) and Margaret Jordan (1747-1831) of Williamsburg, Virginia. He wrote the letter to his brother, Samuel Jordan Harrison (1785-1842).
Type of uniform the Lynchburg artillerists might have worn in 1813
In his letter, datelined from Lynchburg, Virginia, in late March 1813, William informed his brother of rumors of a British invasion into Virginia and of the recent departure of an artillery company from Lynchburg to Richmond where troops were being amassed to confront them should they advance up the James River. The artillery company was led by Capt. James Dunnington who served under Col. John H. Cocke from 22 March to 22 August 1813 at Camp Holly (or Camp Holly Springs) which was located northwest of Malvern Hills near the junction of Newmarket Road and Long Branch Road.
In the spring of 1813, the British were preoccupied with fighting Napoleon’s army in Europe so they had limited resources available to devote to fighting the Americans. At this point in the War of 1812, the British Navy’s primary objective was to blockade American ports and interrupt trade, hoping to impact the American economy and diminish public support of “Mr. Madison’s War.” In February 1813, the British Navy began patrolling the entrance to Chesapeake Bay, intercepting merchant ships entering or leaving the bay, and conducting land raids which entailed burning and looting.
British Raid On Chesapeake Bay in War Of 1812 Painting from Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland of the U.S. Navy.
Transcription
Lynchburg, [Virginia] 3 Mo. 24. 1813
Dear Brother,
Not having written to thee for some time, I fear thou mayest have thought that something has been the matter amongst us. This, however, has not been the case for we have all been favored with health and to inform thee that we are still well is the first object of this letter.
Our little town has been all bustle and anxiety for several days past inconsequence of having to part with a considerable number of our relations and most intimate friends. Capt. [James] Dunnington’s Company of Artillery consisting of between fifty and sixty of the flower of the young men of Lynchburg march on the day before yesterday under orders to rendezvous at Richmond. They were escorted a distance from town by the militia company and a vast concourse of people, and followed by the benedictions of all, and prayers, for their travels and safe return to the bosom of their friends. I have no doubt but they will give a good account of themselves should the occasion occur that brings them to the field of action. I was one of this company but being unfit for service in consequence of my misfortune in losing in a great degree the use of my left hand and arm, I was not expected, nor required, to march. I did, however, voluntarily fill up my place with a very clever fellow who is fully to be relied upon in every respect.
A report has just reached us that the British have landed a humber of men on Hog Island and there are at present various conjectures afloat among us respecting their object. Some believe they intend to attempt coming to Richmond, whilst perhaps the greater numbers think they only mean to supply themselves with water & fresh provisions and to draw out for awhile the troops of Norfolk from their station that they may the more readily get possession of that place. I hardly know what I think, though believe I should subscribe to the latter opinion. Be it as it may, I trust everything will be in readiness to give them a warm reception.
I was in hopes from the news received by last mail of the offer of Russia to settle our differences & of the Russian Secretary of legation having passed through Richmond on his way to the fleet in Hampton Roads that an armistice & cessation of hostilities would take place. and that a peace might be the final result. This may still be the case and the menacing attitude assumed by the enemy may be intended to affect, as they think a reconciliation more easily. But I confess I do not know what opinion to form. I hope for the best and trust you will all be in no danger, let things go on as they may, as there will shortly no doubt be a force collected by the state, vastly more than sufficient to oppose any that can be brought against us at present. I hope you have secured souls of your borough so as to make it safe. Should he war continue to wax warm in your quarter for some time, you may be in some danger. But I trust this will not be the case. We are waiting the arrival of the mail with anxiety. I shall expect to hear from you all as often as convenient.
Make every allowance for this service as I have written in great haste. Give my best love to all as usual and believe me always thy loving brother, — W. Harrison
This historically significant letter was written by 27 year-old William Dalrymple (1781-1811), the eldest son of James Dalrymple (1758-1847) and Azubah Parmenter (1764-1850) of Framingham, Middlesex county, Massachusetts. According to family history, William moved to Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 1809 and visited distant parts of Quebec, dying during one of those trips. William’s father was a drummer in Capt. Jonathan W. Edes’ 4th Company, Col. Thomas Craft’s Artillery Regiment in the Revolutionary War. He served from 1 August 1776 to 1 November 1776, 3 months.
William’s letter to his parents describes his 5-day passage from Boston to New York City aboard the sloop Ten Sisters on what appears to have been a business venture. His landing in New York City just happened to coincide with the “Grand Procession to the Tomb of the Martyr’s” on the morning following his arrival. The “Martyrs” were the roughly 11-12,000 American patriot prisoners who died during the American Revolution onboard the British Prison Ship Jersey (and other lesser vessels) that was anchored in Wallabout Bay on the East River. William shares some of his observations from the procession that day that began in Manhattan, crossed the East River to Brooklyn (by boats), and then proceeded to Wallabout Bay.
Transcription
Addressed to Mr. James Dalrymple. Framingham, near Boston [Mass.] Postmarked New York [City]
New York [City, New York] May 26, 1808
Dear Parents,
The Sloop Ten Sisters plied the New England coast carrying freight or passengers
I take my pen to inform you of my safe arrival in this place after a pleasant passage of about five days. Perhaps you will expect a sort of journal & as I have little to write, I will give you some account of our passage. After being politely favored by Mr. Grew with letters [of introduction] to Mr. Holliday 1 of this place, I went on board the sloop Ten Sisters, Capt. [Benjamin] Hallet, and at 9 o’clock on Thursday evening, got under way having on board an agreeable company of passengers. We had four ladies on board, among whom were two young ladies—daughters of a merchant in this place, and a daughter of Mr. B. Russell of Boston. At 11, o’clock, passed lighthouse. On Friday morning, find ourselves off Cape Cod. This morning have an opportunity of conversing with the company & find the ladies very polite & indeed all the passengers were quite agreeable.
On Saturday, wind ahead. 6 o’clock passed Nantucket Light. Half past ten came to anchor off Barnstable. Went on shore in the boat to see the young ladies after whom our sloop was named together with a younger sister. We spend the afternoon in sporting. After tea we formed a party and walked till evening. Find people high in their demands. Sunday morning went on board & got under way (having taken another lady passenger on board). At 11 o’clock, wind ahead. At night, anchored in a cove.
Monday morning 6 o’clock got under weigh. Wind still ahead with a very rough sea. At 4 o’clock find ourselves near Newport. Tuesday, 6 o’clock a.m., storm comes on. Wednesday 10 o’clock pass through Hell Gate. 2 12 o’clock arrive at New York [City] and go on shore where I have taken lodgings for a few days but expect no business. 4 o’clock called on Mr. Holliday whom I found very polite. Having taken a glass of wine and passed an hour at his house, he promised me his good offices in forwarding my views in this place & politely offers me letters to his friends in Philadelphia & Baltimore. I now retire to my lodgings after having received an invitation to dine at 2 o’clock on Thursday.
An idyllic scene of Hell Gate, about 1820. From an engraving by John Hill of a painting by Joshua Shaw. The view is from Ward’s Island looking south across Hell Gate. The blockhouse is apparently the one at Mill Rock. Note the tidal movement of the water, depicted in striations in the foreground. (Image courtesy of NYPL.)
Thursday morning I was awakened by the tolling of all the bells in this city, it being the day fixed to perform the grand funeral ceremony over the bones of the unfortunate Americans who died on board the old Jersey Prison Ship. 3 They had collected the entire skeletons of 11,500 persons which were put into 13 coffins. All the troops in the city paraded to do them military honors. The different societies formed in the procession & the sailors dressed in white dimety trousers & waistcoats & blue jackets likewise formed—the whole in mourning. I have no time nor room to give a description of the procession as it deserves but shall mention only a few particulars.
The Prison Ship Jersey anchored in Wallabout Bay in the East River
Between the military corps and the societies [was] a grand figure representing a monument such as might be raised over the dead. It was placed on wheels which were unseen. On one side of this was inscribed, “Youth of my Country, Martyrdom prefer to Slavery.” On the other sides were inscribed, “Tyrants dread the gathering storm while we these obsequies perform—Sires of Columbia, transmit to posterity the cruelty of Britain—Columbia remember Britain.” On this was erected the American standard, the golden Eagle in deep mourning. The flag [was] supported by a tall figure representing he genius of Columbia—her head dressed with feathers & her body robed in an elegant manner.
After the procession formed, I was obliged to pay attention to my engagement and found Mr. Holliday, Mr. Frears, &c., who were very free in conversation. This made time pass agreeably as it drew my attention from the gloomy prospects of poverty which too often renders me unhappy. We now walk in the park to take a view of the Transparent representation of the British evacuating New York. Over the city hovered the Goddess of Liberty—the Genius of History, Fame, &c.
I now retire to my lodgings to write this, where poverty again disturbs me, as I pay 6 dollars for my board, beside what wine spirit, &c. I make use of. I cannot tell where you may direct your letters as in all probability I shall leave New York in a few days. Philadelphia will be my next resting place after which I shall proceed to Baltimore. I shall now close this by subscribing myself your dutiful son, — William Dalrymple
1 I could find only two men named Holliday in the New York City Directory in 1809. These were Thomas Holliday, grocer, 48 Henry Street; and William Holliday, 25 Mulberry (no occupation given).
2 Hell Gate was a narrow, dangerous tidal straight in the East River near New York City that required the full attention of mariners.
The first monument to the American Patriots who died aboard the Prison Ship Jersey in the American Revolution
3 During the American Revolution, the British resorted to confining American prisoners in the hold of old ships, the most famous of which was the HMS Jersey—an old converted 64-gun man-of-war that was stripped of all its fittings except for the flagstaff and anchored in Wallabout Bay in the East River. “Conditions on board were despicable. Meager rations of maggoty bread and rotted meat left the prisoners sick, weak and emaciated.” There were no toilets. By 1780, prisoners were dying aboard the Jersey at a rate of roughly ten each day, their bodies either buried in shallow graves on the shoreline or simply thrown overboard. More than 1,000 men were kept aboard the Jersey at one time. Even after the British surrender at Yorktown in late 1781, prisoners were kept aboard the Jersey and other ships until the war formally ended in 1783. Only 1,400 Americans survived captivity onboard the Jersey. At least 11,000 men and boys died—more Americans than in all the Revolutionary Battles combined. In the years that followed, the skeletons—whole or partial—that were collected from the bay or from the shoreline were gathered by citizens until 1808 when a crypt was constructed for their burial. One hundred years later, in 1908, a more proper monument was erected on the hilltop overlooking the bay. Today, almost no ones visit the spot to honor these patriots.I may have to make the journey there before I die. One of my ancestors, Capt. Peter Griffing (1742-1781), who led a company of volunteers at New Haven and fell prisoner to the British when they burned the city in July 1779, was placed on board the Jersey where he died in 1781. Peter’s brother, Capt. Moses Griffing (1745-1804), the captain of a merchant vessel, was likewise taken prisoner at sea and placed aboard the Jersey, but survived the ordeal when his wife called at the camp of Washington who gave her an English captain prisoner to exchange for her husband.
This incredible letter was written by Darius Henry Starbuck (1818-1887), the son of Reuben Starbuck (1787-1880) and Mary Beeson (1789-1840) who raised him in a Quaker family in Guilford county, North Carolina. Darius was a graduate of New Garden College and was one of the earliest lawyers in Winston and helped in the formation of Forsyth county and the building of the first courthouse in 1849. He took up residence in the town of Salem in 1849 when this letter was penned.
Darius H. Starbuck, ca. 1880
He was a delegate to the North Carolina state constitutional conventions of 1861 and 1865. In December 1865, he was appointed to his position as US Attorney for the North Carolina federal district court by President Andrew Johnson. In 1870 he was reappointed to this same seat by President Ulysses S. Grant.
Darius was married in 1856 to Ellen Blickenderfer (1834-1920), a native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, who came to love in Salem, North Carolina, when she was 10 years old. Darius and Ellen were members of the Moravian Church.
Starbuck’s letter was addressed to Gerrit Smith, the well-known abolitionist, social reformer, and philanthropist. The letter explains the circumstances of Starbuck’s having become the owners of seven slaves formerly the property of his friend Thomas Adams of Stokes county and having incurred a debt while settling Adams’ estate. He then asks Gerrit Smith if he would be willing to pay the debt so that he might honor his friend’s wish that the slaves be liberated.
Gerrit Smith
Incredible details of this transaction are provided in Wikipedia although Starbuck’s letter makes it clear that Syphax and Letty were siblings, not husband and wife as was presumed. That segment of Starbuck’s biography follows:
On February 24, 1840, Darius Starbuck was written into the will of his “friend” Thomas Adams of Stokes County; Starbuck was also named executor of this will. This was witnessed by Thomas J. Wilson. In the will, Starbuck was named heir to an enslaved family owned by Adams upon the death of his wife Lucy, on the condition that Starbuck would emancipate them “as soon as the law will allow.” They were named Syphax, Letty, and their children Syphax L., Mary Addine (Mary Magdeline), and Sarah Jane (Sally). The will was notarized on 15 July 1843. On June 22, 1844, however, Starbuck purchased the family for $85.20. Mr. and Mrs. Adams were to continue using Syphax and his family for labor until both of their deaths. Under the new terms Starbuck was to instead free the family after they had “worked out the consideration money and interest”. This mandated that the family work as Indentured servants for Starbuck until the price Starbuck had paid for them—with interest—was returned to him either through labor or by payment. This bill of sale also mentions two more children, Emeline (Nancy Adeline) and Lewis. At the time of purchase in 1844 Syphax was aged about 26 and his wife Letty was about 30. This deed of sale was witnessed by John Hasten, who had to confirm this in court in April 1845.[9] The estate files of Thomas Adams were probated in 1848.
According to the Slave Schedule of 1850, Darius owned one male slave who was reported to census takers as being 37 years old. This may have been Syphax Adams who appears by his fluctuating age in written records to have not known his exact age. As Starbuck’s home in Winston was built in 1851, it is possible that Syphax’s labor may have been used during the brick mansion’s construction. On March 15, 1857, Syphax’s daughter, Nancy Adaline Adams, requested to become a member of the Salem African Moravian Church, a month later she began receiving instruction, and by October 11 she was baptized by the church. The church register in October 1857 listed her as, “Nancy Adelia, a single woman, property of Darius Starbuck.”
By the time of the 1860 Census, before the abolition of slavery, Syphax and his family were living as freed citizens of the Broadbay Township in Forsyth County. By the time of Starbuck’s death in 1887 he owned 322 acres—an area referred to in his will as the “Bouer Place”—in the Broadbay township; it is unknown whether the Adams’ ever lived or worked on this property during their residence in Broadbay. On April 14, 1861, Syphax’s daughter, Mary Magdalene Adams (single), was baptized into the Moravian Church on the same day as Lewis Hege (also single). At this time Mary was employed by Traugott Frederick Crist, and Lewis was a servant of George Hege. Lewis also served as an elder of the African Moravian Church in Salem. At some point before 1862 Mary and Lewis were married. As there is no surviving record of the marriage in the church register, it is possible that the couple jumped the broom. On July 17, 1862, Lewis and Mary had a child named Arabella Hege who was baptized on November 30, 1862. On February 14, 1864, however, Mary died of typhoid fever. At the time of her death she was described as “a quasi free woman of color.” Lewis later remarried to Dinah Ann (Malone). Jane, a servant of Louisa Shober Crossland, died on June 26, 1864, at the age of 19; this may have been Syphax’s daughter Sarah Jane “Sally” Adams. On October 23, 1864, Nathan, “a boy in care of D. H. Starbuck,” was baptized by the Salem African Church. A girl by the name of Lucinda, who was a servant of Julius Edward Mickey, was also baptized this day.This Lucinda could be Syphax’s younger daughter Lucy Adams.
On August 29, 1887, Lewis Hege, widower of Mary Magdalene Adams, was named in the land divisions of Starbuck’s estate. A Daniel Hege also owed the estate a personal loan debt of $200 at the time of Starbucks death. The loan was originally lent on July 26, 1859.
Whether Gerrit Smith ever responded to Starbuck’s solicitation is unknown. A search of Smith’s correspondence among his papers housed at Syracuse University does not include any letters to or from Starbuck. Given that the slaves remained in Forsyth county for years to come suggests to me that Gerrit never provided the requested funds but it appears that the temptation to sell the family to pay off the debts incurred in settling Adams’ estate was resisted and that Starbuck partially recovered his costs by their continued labor to him as indentured servants until he eventually freed them.
The hiring of Slaves for twelve months from the estate of Thomas Adams. Document found in the Adams’ Probate Records, dated 12 March 1849
Transcription
Addressed to Gerrit Smith, Esq., Petersborough, New York Postmarked Salem, [Forsyth county] North Carolina
Salem, North Carolina September 29th 1849
Sir,
I trust you will excuse a stranger for calling your attention to a matter calculated to enlist the sympathy of every feeling heart. It is the freedom of eight slaves.
About six years past an elderly gentleman by the name of Thomas Adams willed to me his slaves (which were his only property) expressing a desire that I should emancipate them. At that time he was much involved in debt. Many of his creditors brought suit & pressed payment. His negroes being his only property were about to be sold to make payment. After applying to neighbor after neighbor to assist him & to no avail, he then applied to me & begged me to intercede in his behalf to prevent the negroes from being sold, promising me a bill of sale for them. I accordingly paid off most of the claims & he made me a bill of sale for the slaves, I not being able to lose the money paid out.
He died nearly two years ago and after a series of continued litigation from that time to the present with his heirs who were nephews and nieces living in Alabama and Mississippi, I succeeded in establishing my title to the negroes. In consequence of this litigation, the costs, together with the demands at present against the estate, with those I have paid off, amount to near a thousand dollars.
From the fact that the freedom of the slaves was a matter which Mr. Adams had very much at heart, I am desirous to get them free if I can have that amount refunded me. The negroes would bring at this moment more than ($3,000.) three thousand dollars if I would sell them but this is something I wish to avoid if possible. But I am not able to lose this amount of money. Hence I shall be under the necessity of continuing them in slavery, or selling part of them to refund me in order to free the balance. Their being all of one family would make this a painful duty to separate them. In order to avoid either of these unpleasant dilemmas, & from your character of unbounded munificence & exalted philanthropy, I have been induced to solicit your aid in their behalf.
If you should feel disposed to aid these slaves in obtaining their freedom, they will doubtless long cherish you as their benefactor, besides being willing to pay you by their labor or other means if thy should ever get able, and I will make you a bill of sale of them or pursue any other course you may suggest for the purpose of freeing them.
If you should desire to correspond with others on this subject, or for the purpose of reference as to myself, I will give you the names of Thomas J. Wilson, Esq., of this place, John A. Gilmer, 1 Esq., Greensboro, Dougan Clark sen. of New Garden—a minister of the gospel in Friends Church, or Thomas Hunt, superintendent of Friends Boarding School at New Garden, N. C. I hope to hear from you soon on this subject.
Yours truly, — D. H. Starbuck
[to] Gerrit Smith, Esq., Petersboro, New York
P. S. Perhaps a more minute description of these slaves may interest you. The two oldest, Syphax & Letty are brother & sister. Syphax is about 35 years old & a free woman of color for a wife who has three children by him. Letty is about 32 years old, has a slave husband and six children, the oldest of whom is about 15 years of age. — D. H. S.
1 Darius read law with John A. Gilmer, Sr. of Greensboro prior to being admitted to the bar in 1841.
This letter was written by 2nd Lt James Place Gay (1837-1916) who first entered the service as a private on 6 July 1861 in Co. H, 33rd Pennsylvania Infantry (4th Pennsylvania Reserves). He was commissioned an officer on 1 December 1862 and was still a 2nd Lieutenant when he mustered out of the service on 17 June 1864, just days after this letter was written. Oddly, Gay says nothing of his impending departure from the military.
James was the son of Ansel Gay (1809-1882) and Elizabeth Bunnell (1812-1864) of Auburn, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania. James wrote the letter to his brother Calvin Sterling Gay (1839-1916)—one of his 15 siblings.
Gay’s letter describes the taking of Lexington, Virginia, by the Army of West Virginia in June 1864. Confederate General John McCausland’s cavalry brigade of some 1,000 troopers were no match for the roughly 18,000 Union troops under George Crook and David Hunter who combined forces to descend on the town. Delay tactics only forestalled the inevitable. When Hunter’s men entered Lexington on June 12th—the day this letter was written—they looted almost every house, business and institution in the town but they only burned the barracks at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) and the former home of Virginia Governor John Letcher. McCausland, a VMI graduate, would have his revenge a little over a month later when he put over 500 structures to the torch in Chambersburg, Virginia. [Source: Lexington and the Burning of the Virginia Military Institute]
Five of the Gay family letters were acquired by the Special Collection & University Archives, Virginia Tech in 1988.
[Note: This letter is from the private collection of Greg Herr and was transcribed and published on Spared & Shared by express consent.]
Transcription
Addressed to Mr. C. S. Gay, South Auburn, Susquehanna county, Penn.
Camp near Lexington, West Virginia June 12th 1864
Brother Cal,
I take this opportunity of dropping you a few lines to let you know that we are all well and hope these few lines may find you the same.
Lexington, Virginia (Ruins of VMI in background) Digital Collection, VMI Archives
We are now encamped about one mile from Lexington in sight of the town. This is a very nice little town and a very nice country around it. Brig. General [George] Crook captured Lexington the 10th with the loss of only five or six men killed. On the 9th of June we marched out from Staunton and our company was called out as skirmishers and we soon got underway and formed the skirmishers in the front of a woods and commenced to advance till we got through the woods and came out into a cornfield and got about halfway across the [when] the rebs opened up on us from behind their fortifications made out of rails. But lucky for us, they could not reach us with their guns. If they could, we would [have] met with a warm reception but most of the men in the company went to the left and got in the woods and slipped around on the flank of the Johnny Rebs and soon made them ge up and dust. They didn’t hurt a man in the company.
We don’t get any mail now. I will have to close this time for the mail is about to go out of camp. Write soon.
The following Prisoner of War (POW) Letter was written by Pvt. John W. Brett of Co. I, 5th Battalion Florida Cavalry. He enlisted on 9 January 1864 in Henry county, Alabama, and was taken prisoner on 23 September 1864 at Eucheeanna, Florida by Federal troops under command of Brig. General Asboth. After capture, he was forwarded to New Orleans, then to Ship Island, then to New York City, and finally to the prison at Elmira, New York, arriving there on 19 November 1864. Ten days later, he wrote the following letter.
At the time he took the Oath of Allegiance and was released from Elmira Prison on 19 June 1865, he gave his place of residence as Woodville, Alabama, and was described as standing 5′ 9″ tall, with a florid complexion, light hair and grey eyes.
Brett wrote the letter to William Gibbs Porter (1799-1877), a well-to-do business man of Philadelphia whose company had strong financial and personal ties to Apalachicola and the Florida panhandle that went back to the 1830s. Porter spent much of his time in Florida until his marriage in 1843 when he made Philadelphia his permanent residence. [See Historical Notes & Documents: Philadelphia Foundations of the Wm. G. Porter Company of Apalachicola, by Judith Y. Robertson, Florida Historical Quarterly, Vo. 83, No. 3]
An 1864 view of the Elmira Prison Camp (Rob Morgan Collection)
Transcription
Addressed to Wm. G. Porter, Esq., No. 1630 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Penn.
Military Prison Ward No. 31 Elmira, New York November 29th 1864
Wm. G. Porter, Esq., Dear Sir,
I am here a prisoner of war and in a very destitute condition. I write to ask of you the favor of sending me—say twenty (20) dollars in money care of Maj. Colt, commanding prisoners. The amount shall be promptly refunded as soon as circumstances will admit—and oblige your obedient servant, — Jno. W. Brett
Roswell A. Pool, photographed by J. Coss, Springfield, OH (courtesy of Isabella O’Madden)
The following letters were written by Roswell Asbury Pool (1843-1873), the son of Robert A. Pool (1817-1853) and Mary M. Martin (1820-1884). He had two siblings, Hetty Ann Pool (1840-1915) and Sarah Sabina Pool (1845-1922). All three children were born in Iowa. After Roswell’s father died in 1853, his mother married George Edward Albin (1790-1872) and gave birth to several half siblings, including several children of George’s by former marriages with the surname Albin. They all lived in the same household in Mad River, Clark county, Ohio, at the time of the 1860 US Census.
According to military records, Roswell enlisted as a private in Co. A, 94th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI) on 11 August 1862 when he was 18 years of age. He remained in the regiment until mustering out at Washington D. C. on 5 June 1865. Though he survived the war, he did not live long. He died in 1873 and never married.
Roswell wrote the letters to his older sister, Hetty Ann (Pool) Long, the wife of John Edwin Long (1838-1913). The couple were married on 14 January 1864 in Clark county, Ohio. They settled in Corry, Erie county, Pennsylvania where John worked as a carpenter.
Letter 1
Addressed to John Long, Corry, Erie county, Pennsylvania
Camp at Tyner’s Station, 1 Tennessee March 10th, 1864
Dear Sister,
I take my pen in hand to inform you that I am well at present and that I received your kind letter of the 4th of March and I was very glad to hear that you were all well. We have a very pleasant camp now and fine weather. I am sitting in a room at the residence of a Mr. Robinson writing this. He is a very wealthy planter. He owns over five thousand acres of land and I carry the keys to his house in my pocket (pretty cool, isn’t it sister).
Well, sister, Captain [Amaziah] Winger just came in the room where I am writing and informed me that I am detailed a mounted orderly at Brigade Headquarters on Gen. [William] Carlin’s escort so you see I will have an easy time. I will have a nice horse to ride, a nigger to do my cooking & washing, & my knapsack will be hauled when we march. I say Bully for Ross.
Well, sister, I would like to know where you are going to live & what your husband Mr. Long’s trade is.
Well, sister, I have just been over to see Gen. [William] Carlin about being detailed as mounted orderly and I can’t tell whether I will be detailed or not. I was sorry to hear of the death of Daniel Hertzler. He & I used to be great cronies. Well, our time is going down hill. Tomorrow I will be in nineteen months. You said you would like to have one of my pictures. Well you can have one of those I sent home since I have been in the service.
You ought to see the young ladies here. They all chew tobacco and their teeth are as black as can be—even little children not more than 4 years old chew & smoke like old topers.
Well, I must close for this time for it is getting late & it looks like rain. From your affectionate brother, — Roswell A. Pool, Co. A, 94th O. V. I.
1st Brigade, 1st Division, 14th Army Corp
to his sister H. A. Long—how odd it sounds. My best wishes to all.
1 Tyner’s Station is about eight miles east of Chattanooga on the East Tennessee & Georgia Railroad.
Letter 2
In bivouac 9 miles from Atlanta, Georgia July 6th, 1864
Dear Brother and Sister,
I take the present opportunity of penning you a few lines to inform you that I am still in the land of the living and am well. I received your letter of the 27th of June on the 4th of July which was the best treat I had for my 4th as we were fortifying on that day. I was very glad to hear from you and to hear that you were well. I was a little surprised to hear of Sarah getting married. I thought she had intended to wait until the Blue-Coats came home. I should have liked to have been at home to attend both weddings but I was afraid Uncle Sam would not give me a furlough so I did not ask him for one.
We have very warm weather down here in the Bogus Confederacy. At present, we are in sight of the great city of Atlanta and we have fought Joe Johnston’s army three hard battles and about a dozen skirmishes on this campaign and whipped him every time. He has now made a stand at this place but it was [only] because he had to. He is hurrying his baggage across the Chattahoochee River as fast as he can. We captured about half of his train yesterday, and we have taken a great many prisoners. Deserters are coming in everyday by the dozen and they tell the old tale—that the Rebels won’t fight. They are discouraged.
We marched through Marietta on the 3rd. It has been a very pretty place before the war broke out but it is mostly destroyed now. Today is the fifty-ninth day of the campaign, and there has not been a single day in that time but what I have heard cannonading more or less and I think it has been a great deal more some days for one day I was on the skirmish line and there was two of our batteries and two of the Reb’s opened out on each other and fired right over our heads. And it kept a Yankee my size pretty busy dodging the limbs and tree tops that were cut off by the shot and shell. But I escaped with “nary a scratch.”
Hoping this will find you in good health, I shall close for the present. From your affectionate brother, — Roswell A. Pool.
I could not find an image of Horace but here is James N. Crawford of Co. H, 2nd Iowa Infantry who was about the same age. James did not reenlist either. (Mike Huston Collection)
The following letters were written by 27 year-old Horace Nichols Beadle (1836-1918), the son of John Fish Beadle (1803-1874) and Mary Waite (1802-1885) of Easton, Washington county, New York. All of the letters were addressed to Horace’s younger sister, Olive Beadle (1843-1927). Horace had two older brothers who died during the Civil War and his brother Marcus also served but survived being captivity after he was taken prisoner at Gettysburg.
It isn’t clear how Horace came to be in Iowa prior to the start of the Civil War but when he enlisted as a private on 4 May 1861, have gave Keokuk as his residence. Horace signed on to serve three years in Co. A, 2nd Iowa Infantry. In early 1864, he resisted the temptation to “veteranize” or reenlist with others of his regiment and therefore mustered out on 27 May 1864.
Letter 1
LaGrange, Tennessee September 24, 1863
Dear Sister,
Your kind letter of the 19th came to hand today & I assure you it was most welcome. I have written to Father since I wrote to you & enclosed the same amount of money. I will enclose but $20 in this as the signs of the times indicate that we may be on the wing before a great while & the probability is that we will not be paid again for some time. There is various rumors afloat about Old Rosey [Rosecran’s] Battle in northern Georgia [see Battle of Chickamauga] which has been progressing these last few days but we have no fears in regard to the result for we know that he has some troops that will fight & we also know that he is a fighting man for we have been under him in battle.
I should think that it was almost time for the Army of the Potomac to have another round. I see by the papers that it is all quiet on the Rappahannock. I was sorry to hear that Marcus 1 was taken prisoner. You very probably will hear from him by the bye. they are not exchanging prisoners at present
Tell Uncle Elijah 2 that he may expect to see me next summer sometime for we are only eight months men now & then we will let some of the new ones go in for awhile. I saw several names on the list that you sent of persons that I knew & there are other names that I could mention that I would like to have seen in place of some that were on it. I cannot think of anything more to write so I will draw this to a close. Give my respects to all enquiring friends.
From your brother, — H. Beadle
N. B. Write as soon as you receive this.
1 Marcus Beadle (1834-1913) served as 1st Lieutenant in the 123rd New York Infantry. He was taken wounded at Chancellorsville on 1 May 1863 but not so badly that he couldn’t be on duty at Gettysburg on 2 July 1863 where he was taken a prisoner. He escaped captivity at Winnsboro, South Carolina, on 14 February 1865 and mustered out of the service on 8 June 1865. 123rd New York Infantry.
2 Horace’s bachelor uncle Elijah Beadle (1795-1866) was a farmer in Washington county, New York. In the 1855 State Census, Horace was enumerated in Elijah’s household.
Letter 2
Addressed to Miss Olive Beadle, South Easton, Washington county, New York
Pulaski, Tennessee December 27, 1863
Dear Sister,
Your kind favor of December 13th was duly received & I now seat myself to write a few lines in reply. We are having very wet, disagreeable weather in this vicinity. There is nothing but mud. There has been about 175 of our regiment reenlisted & gone to Iowa on furloughs. I made up my mind that I would wait awhile. I want to see them draft a few of those Copperheads up North first.
We had a very nice dinner Christmas. It was sent to us by the Ladies of Keokuk & you had better believe that we enjoyed it much. I received that letter of yours that had the picture in about one week ago. It looks first rate.
I had a letter from Lewis Phelps a few days ago. He was well. There is nothing of any importance transpiring so I will draw this to a close. Give my love to all inquiring friends. Hoping to hear from you soon again, I remain as ever your brother, — Horace Beadle
Co. A, 2nd Iowa Infantry Pulaski, Tennessee
Letter 3
Pulaski, Tennessee January 29th 1864
Dear Sister,
Your kind letter of the 17th has this moment come to hand. I was much pleased to hear from you but was sorry to hear that Mother was unwell.
I am enjoying good health as is the whole command. The surgeons have but very little to do at present as there is not many left here now. As all the Vets have gone home on furloughs, we have a great deal of duty to do. Besides, guerrillas are taking advantage of our weakness & trying to bother us all they can. They attacked a couple of wagons yesterday and captured 8 men & killed one. Our train was only about 1 mile behind. They could not get up in time to assist them though they did not have time to destroy the wagons.
I do not think that I shall reenlist for awhile at least. I had a letter from Lewis Phelps a few days ago. He was well. There is a good many Rebel deserters coming inside of our lines now & taking the Oath of Allegiance.
Well, Olive, there is so much noise here tonight that I can’t write. Give my love to all. Hoping to hear from you again, I remain as ever your brother, — Horace Beadle
Spared & Shared 23 