11th New York Fire Zouaves, 16th New York Infantry

1861: Leonard Barnes Perkins to Wealthia Perkins

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I could not find an image of Leonard but here is one of Wesley T. Hull of Co. C, 16th New York Infantry.

The following letter was written by Leonard Barnes Perkins (1840-1914) who was 21 years old when he enlisted on 27 April 1861 at Potsdam to serve two years in Co. B, 16th New York Infantry. He mustered out with his company at Albany on 22 May 1863. This letter was written in the days leading up to the Battle of Bull Run in which the regiment was lightly engaged.

Leonard was the son of Cyrus Perkins (1812-1880) and Martha Angeline Barnes (1812-18xx) of Parishville, Saint Lawrence county, New York. He wrote the letter to his sister Wealthia (“Welthy”) Perkins (1837-1907).

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

Leonard wrote his letter on rare stationery featuring a lithograph of the United States Capitol, East Front).

Alexandria, Virginia
July 12th 1861

Dear sister Wealthia,

Yours at hand, July 10th. I was glad to hear from you and hear you was all well. I am well and as tough as a knot. We left Washington yesterday and marched two miles which was down to the lower end of the City and went aboard of a steamer and sailed down the river to Alexandria and then marched from this city two miles out into the country and are now in camp here. But we don’t expect to stay here long.

We marched in sight of [the Marshall House] where Colonel Ellsworth was shot. We are in camp within half mile of that regiment [11th New York Fire Zouaves] that was Colonel Ellsworth’s. They are a hard set of looking boys, I think, and they look so that they might fight smart. We are in a brigade now and our colonel [Thomas A. Davies] has been promoted to colonel of the brigade.

Wealthia, we are right among the enemy now. They are all around us and as soon as the rest of our brigade arrives here, we shall march on and expect to fight. And we shall make a clean sweep amongst them, you can bet safe on that.

Wealthia, we had got rid of our old Captain [James M. Pomeroy] at last and you can bet we are glad too. We have got a nice fellow for our Captain now. He does look after us and sees we have our rights. His name is Frederick [C.] Tapley. He is about 32 years of age. He has been through one campaign. He served two years in th Mexican War and he knows what belongs to us and he is the best drilled captain in our regiment and we all like him very much.

I tent with Warsh. He is well and sends his best respects to you and Ed does too. And he says [to] tell you that he stands it very well. The boys that came from Parishville is all well but there is a great many in our regiment that is sick with the summer complaint. I have not had it yet but I am very careful what I eat. Wesley Ray was in camp with us at Camp Morgan in the 28th Regiment at Albany. I seen him every day then and he left there one day before we did for Washington and I seen him twice in Washington after we got there, but the regiment marched from Washington four or five days before we did. They marched to Arlington Heights and I have not heard from him since. But he was well then and was very tough for him—so he said.

Wealthia, it is very pleasant here today but it is very warm. Our Adjutant made every private a present of a rubber blanket in our regiment. The money that Parishville folks sent to us for that purpose, Dr. [S.] Marsh has got and says if there is any of us boys that want anything and needs it, to let him know and he will get it for us if it does not cost more than our share of the money.

Wealthia, you are blaming me for not writing to you but I have answered every letter I have got from you and will. But I have not had a letter from you before this last for most three weeks and I thought you did not care about hearing from me. If you did, you would write.

On th 4th of July we marched down through the City of Washington and saw thePresident and Wm. H. Seward. General Scott, 1 and then we returned to our camp and our Colonel treated all of us to one gill of whiskey and I think this was a hell of a celebration, don’t you?

Tell Mr. Wakefield I send him my best respects and tell Lucy Howe I send her my best respects. Uncle James and wife, I send my best respects to them, and I will write to him. And give my best respects to all inquiring friends. I will not write anymore this time. So goodbye.

Direct your letter to Leonard B. Perkins, Co. B, 16th Regiment New York Volunteers. You must not put on no place and it will follow me then. I sent home 5 books to father. When you write, please let me know if he has got them. This is from your affectionate brother, — Leonard

1 For one hour and forty minutes from a pavilion in front of the Excutive Mansion, President Lincoln, with General Scott and cabinet, reviewed more than 20,000 men of the 23 New York Regiments.

5th North Carolina Infantry, Battle of Williamsburg, Norfolk, Virginia

1862: Thomas Norfleet Jordan to his Father

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Captain Thomas Norfleet Jordan, Co. F, 5th North Carolina Infantry

The following letter was written by Thomas Norfleet Jordan (1842-1903) who entered the Confederate service as a private in Co. B, 5th North Carolina Infantry in mid June 1861 at Weldon. He was described in muster rolls at the time as a 19 year-old, 5 foot 10 inch, blue-eyed, dark-haired clerk from Gates county, North Carolina. He was soon promoted to corporal and then to sergeant prior to the evacuation of Yorktown. In September 1862, he was commissioned 1st Lieutenant of Co. F. He was taken prisoner at Plymouth, North Carolina, in December 1862 and then paroled. Early in 1863, he was promoted to Captain of Co. F. He was still the captain of his company on 12 May 1864 when he was wounded in the right arm so severely that it required amputation to save is life. After recuperating in a hospital at Gordonsville, he returned to service in Petrie’s Invalid Corps in January 1865.

Thomas N. Jordan, whose beautiful penmanship gained him a position as a clerk before the Civil War, had to learn to write with his left hand following the amputation of his right arm in mid-May 1864. Here is his signature on a document from later in the war.

Thomas was the son of Thomas A. and Nancy (Norfleet) Jordan of Gates county, North Carolina—some 40 or 50 miles from Norfolk, Virginia and 20 south of Suffolk. One source on Ancestry.com gives “Desdemonia” as the plantation name of the house owned by Thomas and Nancy (Norfleet) Jordan, pictured below.

North Carolina home of Thomas’s parents.

Note: This letter is from the private collection of Chase Rhodes and was made available for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by express consent.

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

In the woods near Richmond, Va.
May 25th 1862

My dear Father,

Onceagain another glorious privilege has presented itself to me of writing you & one indeed which I can by no means slide & let pass unnoticed. Yeas, a privilege which I thought would never, at least for some time present itself. But I am proud that such an opportunity should present itself. Mr. Hays’ (William) heard of the sickness of his son Tom and came up to Richmond to see him. I learn he leaves tomorrow. There is nothing that I hear of interesting about here. All of our troops are concentrated here and around here. Everything seems favorable for a fight very soon. The enemy, I hear, are close at hand.

Oh Pa! how it pained me to hear of the evacuation of Norfolk. I suppose all that part of the country is now overrun with Yankees destroying everything as they go. All kinds of depredations will no doubt be resorted to, and not one hand of resistance can be raised. But I am fully of the opinion that there is a brighter day not far in the future when those vile hoods will have to pay for all their meanness. What a low, contemptible, mean piece of business in them—a people boasting of possessing principles of humanity, to stoop to such acts as have been resorted to by the Yankees. Burning and destroying personal property, not even allowing you to retain a small quantity upon which to subsist. I suppose they destroyed barn, warehouse and stables. All of your corn & fodder too? Oh Pa, it is a species of warfare that I thought a people, civilized as they are, and possessing such principles as they boast of, could ever resort to. But I am convinced that that they will resort to anything to subjugate us.

Lincoln declares himself that he will arm the Negroes if no other method will do. What an idea! Arm the Blacks to fight the Whites! Oh! ain’t that sufficient to make any man desperate? I fear that this war will not be the [ ] that was fought.

And Rios 1 left you? That surprised me still more. Strange indeed why he should have acted so. But if he’s rather be there than with you, let him go. We are independent without him. I am sure he will repent it yet. I suppose Jack Fairless [?] has command of that portion of the country. He leads them on in their career of destruction. What did he say he had against you so particular? One who has been a friend to him. I wish I could cross him once more. Pa, did Rios leave with those fellows that burned the barn? Go off before your face? What did he say to you when he left, or before he left? I hope none others have followed his example. If I thought there was, I would like to have him with me.

Well, Pa, I guess we shall see each other no more soon—if ever. All communication is cut off and oh! how it grieves me. I don’t think it would be prudent for you to come to see me now. [Even] if you could get here, you might not get back. That would be the difficulty. If you could, how glad I would be. How bad I want to see you, as all the rest.

We have received orders to cook three days rations. Something is going to be done soon, I expect. I am anxious for it to come. I hail the deciding day. I am becoming very tired of this business. The retreat from Yorktown here liked to used me up, as they say. I never was so tired of walking in my life and the exposure to which we are subject to. We never get a tent. If we see one a week, we are doing well. I wish I had a boy with me. I have become tired of so much cooking myself, & washing too. But if I can’t get one, I shall do the best I can.

I wrote Cousin Sal a letter some time go by Ben Knite of Cal. I wonder if she received it? In it I told her of the Battle of Williamsburg which I was in. And through a Divine Providence, I came out safe, though my gun was struck by a ball which very much injured the stock of her but which saved my life, no doubt. I feel quite proud of it, but very thankful that I escaped so fortuitously.

Well, dear Pa, I must close. Farewell. Pray earnestly for my protection. I feel that God will protect me through all evils to return to the bosom of my friends again. Give my best love to all the family at Uncle’s—Uncle Walton, Cousin Daniels, Uncle Seth’s and everyone, yourself not excepted. Kiss the dear little boys for me. Tell them I hope I shall see them again soon. Now goodbye dear Pa, and may a brighter day soon dawn upon, when we may all meet in triumph in peace, to enjoy the fruits of our labors. And may the God of Battles protect us and keep us safe from all dangers and protect us to meet again soon is the earnest prayer of your devoted son, — Tommie

I wrote Brother [John B. Jordan] yesterday, directed it to Kinston. I hope he will get it. Col. [Duncan Kirkland] McRae’s official report of the fight is out in which you will see that we made a most heroic display of bravery. The gallant charge of the 5th North Carolina 2 is in the mouth of everybody most. We have immortalized ourself. Tha Yankees give us the praise. Say it was the most brilliant charge ever made. We are praised by everyone who meet us. We can hear the people talking of us wherever we go—that is, the 5th North Carolina who fought so desperately in that last battle. And so we did. Never did men fight with more courage and bravery than we did.

Goodbye Pa. Your true son, — Tommie

T. N. Jordan

P. S. I am very well. My health was never better. It has been nearly all the time. I have not time to read my letter so excuse all mistakes.

1 Rios was probably the name of a family slave belonging to the Jordans. Once Union troops began to infiltrate inland from Norfolk, a number of slaves were enticed to run away from their masters, seeking the protection of Federal army.

2 The 5th North Carolina was commanded by Colonel D.R. McRae. It was ordered to Williamsburg and marched to the Campus of the College of William and Mary in a light rain. Moved around 3 p.m. to the left flank of Longstreet’s line. Moved into the open into heavty artillery fire and attacked Hancock’s Union brigade along with the 24th Virginia. The attack came within 20 yards of the Federal line before it was forced to withdraw due to heavy casualties. Lieutenant Colonel Badham was killed, Major Sinclair was wounded and Captains Thomas Garrett and John W. Lea were wounded and captured.

22nd New York Infantry, Lowe's Observation Balloon

1861: Samuel Norcross to his Parents

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The following letter was written by Samuel Norcross but which one? There were several soldiers by that name. Based on the location and date, I think it likely to be either Samuel Norcross of Co. G, 22nd New York Infantry, or Samuel Norcross of Co. E, 5th Vermont. The 22nd New York was encamped near Upton’s Hill at the time and the 5th Vermont was encamped near McLean, Virginia (Camp Griffin), some five miles further northwest. Balloon ascensions were being conducted regularly from Upton’s Hill to Vienna at the time. The camp of the 22nd New York was some five miles closer to Freestone Point where the firing on Union Vessels described occurred on 8 December 1861.

I note that the letter was addressed to his “father and mother” and since the soldier from Vermont lost his mother a couple years before the war, I’m going to attribute this letter to the soldier from the 22nd New York but without a high degree of confidence.

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

December 9, 1861

Dear father and mother,

I take my pen in hand to let you know that I am well at present and I hope that these few lines may find you the same.

We are in sight of the rebels and our fellows took a battery last night. How the cannon did roar and they throwed bombs at our vessel but it didn’t do any damage. 1 I wish I had a finger in the pie too.

I send my love to you all and would be glad to see you all again but I don’t want you to grieve after me. I have got a Indian Rubber Blanket and tell Uncle Ry I don’t forget him yet and I send my love to him and I hope that I may see him again. I don’t want you to send the blanket nor the box till I write again. I am a going in the battlefield with a good heart and I hope that I may come out with a good heart.

I just received a letter from William and he has been in a fight and I han’t received a letter for three weeks and I have to pay for the letters that I get now. And there is a boy comes in from Washington with them and he says that he can’t afford to come for nothing. Don’t write but once a week.

PROFESSOR LOWE MAKING A BALLOON ASCENSION ON A RECONNOITERING EXPEDITION TO VIENNA. Harper’s weekly, 14 December 1861

I saw the bombs burst in the air last night and we have got a balloon here and it goes up every day and the Rebels fire at it but don’t hit it. We are on one side and they are on the other and they have their own fun to waste theirselves, and after a bit they [rest of letter missing]

So goodbye, — Samuel Norcross

1 The Confederate firing on Union vessels may have been from Freestone Point, the northern most point of the Confederate blockade on the Potomac river. On December 8, 1861, The USS Anacostia and the USS Jacob Bell fired on Confederate troops near Freestone Point and they may have returned fire.

166th Ohio Infantry, 3rd Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, Fort Berry, Virginia

1864: Edmond Quincy Marion Leach to friend Ella

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The following letter was written by Edmond Quincy Marion Leach (1847-1917) of Plympton, Plymouth county, Massachusetts who served in Co. A, 3rd Massachusetts Heavy Artillery. He began his service in December 1862 as a private and mustered out as a sergeant in January 1863. After he returned home to Plympton, Edmond remained very active in the GAR.

Edmond was the son of Erastus & Maria B. Leach. He was married in 1876 to Sarah Elizabeth Weston (1848-1923). He died in 1917 and was buried in Vine Hills Cemetery.

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

Fort Berry, Va.
August 22nd 1864

Dear Friend Ella,

I received your kind letter on the 20th and was glad to hear from you. There’s not much to write about anyway. It has been raining all day. I think that it will continue to [rain] for some days.

The Hundred Day Men’s time is out today—that is, the Ohio men. The 166th Reg. Ohio went home today. We have been on picket duty with them a good many times. They are a good set of men and we shall miss them a good deal. When they went through here this morning, they stopped and bid us goodbye and I almost wished that I was going home too but not yet a while for me. But never mind. There is a good time a coming yet.

Samuel Cole Wright (1842-1906) of Co. E, 29th Massachusetts Infantry. At the Battle of the Crater, a bullet destroyed his right eye and lodged in the back of his skull.

You spoke of Samuel [Cole] Wright 1 being wounded. [His older brother] William came over here before he went back [to Plymouth] and saw all of us boys. I was very glad to see him. He said then that he thought that Samuel would recover. He showed me the ball that they took out of his head. It was an ugly looking thing. It is a wonder that it did not kill him.

I suppose that Melvin’s time is about out. Perhaps that he will get his furlough extended. I should think that he might if he tried. I suppose that he is having a pretty good time at home. I suppose that it is dull as ever around there although you seem to have pretty good times when it don’t rain and that is every time that you want to go anywhere. You spoke about Crokestown. I believe that I went through there once and that was enough for me. I wonder if the boy has got the stewed buns ready yet? I suppose so. They are pretty prompt in any such thing.

We don’t hear any more about going home. I don’t think that we shall go home before winter. We may then but not before. There is not enough troops around here now after the Hundred Days Men all go home.

George Briggs and myself go over to Washington often and visit the public buildings and look around just to wear away time. I was to a Nigger meeting last night. You ought to have been there. Every time that they would sing, they would read the two first lines of the hymn and then sing it. And all the hollering that you ever heard! That beat all. The minister that they had was a colored gentleman 2 that was at the massacre at Ft. Pillow [April 1864] and he was pretty smart too for a Nigger. He did lay down the case well to them. I don’t know when I laughed so much in my life before. But I am making a short letter long.

Hoping to hear from you soon, I will close. Your friend, — E. M. Leach

You spoke about enlisting in the Hundred Days Men. I think you would make a good soldier. You had better enlist in my company. It is not quite full. Don’t take too big a bounty. Just let us know when you come, will you?

1 According to a great article by my friend, Ron Coddington, entitled, “Samuel Cole Wright: The Talisman,” Samuel Wright of Plympton, Plymouth county, Massachusetts, had a combat record that left one with the impression that he was indestructible. “He refused to leave his comrades after a shell fragment struck him in the head during the Battle of White Oak Swamp, part of the Peninsula Campaign, in June 1862. A few months later at Antietam, he led a force of 75 men to pull down a fence at the Bloody Lane under heavy fire and suffered gunshot wounds through both legs at the end of the successful mission. A six-mule team trampled over him during the autumn of 1863, and the wagon to which the animals were tethered narrowly missed killing him.5 A musket ball ripped into his left arm at the Battle of Cold Harbor on June 3, 1864. The following month at the Battle of the Crater, he suffered his fifth and final wound of the war when a bullet destroyed his right eye and lodged in the back of his skull. Medical personnel dug the 1.25 ounce lead slug out and upon examination determined it to be from a Belgian-made gun.” Samuel had the bullet encased in gold and carried with him as a remembrance of his service. In February 1865 he received a disability discharge and returned to Massachusetts. Samuel’s letters can be found here: Letters Home.

2 There were churches for Black congregations in the District of Columbia prior to 1864 but White pastors had always been appointed to lead them. It wasn’t until 1864 that the first Black pastor was appointed at the Mt. Zion Church in Washington D. C.

19th Kansas Militia, Battle of Westport

1864: Thomas Eli Allison Daniels to Catherine (Swartz) Daniels

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The following letters were written by Thomas Eli Allison Daniels (1830-1918), a native of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, who came to Leavenworth county, Kansas in 1852—even before it was a territory—making him one of the first white settlers in the area. He arrived on 10 May 1852 at Kickapoo Island and set himself up as a ferry operator on the Missouri river between Kickapoo Island and Weston, Missouri. He later established a small brick plant with sufficient production to supply settlers with enough bricks to build a chimney. His principal livelihood was his farm of 700 acres in Kickapoo Township where he raised wheat and various subsistence crops. Thomas was married to Catherine Esther Swarts [or Schwartz] (1839-1931) in 1856.

From these letters we learn that Thomas enrolled himself in Co. B of the 19th Kansas Militia which was called into service on 9 October 1864 to defend Kansas against Price’s Raid. The regiment saw action at Byram’s Ford, Big Blue on 22 October and again at Westport on 23 October 1864. They were disbanded on 29 October 1864.

Note: Though he appears to have signed his surname “Daniel,” civil records and his headstone spell his name as “Daniels” so that is how I’ve recorded it here.

These letters are from the private collection of Rob Morgan and were made available for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by express consent.

Letter 1

[On Big Blue River]
October 21, [1864]

Dear Catherine,

I am well. A bad cold. The rest of the boys are tolerably well. I have been to Independence, Missouri. We are lying on the Blue River, 8 miles this side of Independence. I cannot tell when I can get home. We have not seen nary rebel, but we can hear flying reports every hour in the day.

I heard that Braley and others was taking all of the horses off. I want grandpa to see to this and get a receipt for everything that is taken off the place.

It snowed yesterday here. We are fortifying on the Blue River. We heard that Price was at Lexington yesterday. You can see by these letters that we will all need some soap and water when we get home.

Our company is company B, 19th regiment Kansas Militia. Send me one undershirt, one pair of drawers, one pair of gloves by Mrs. Bishop, one pair of yarn socks. Tell grandpa to keep the account of the wood that Em hauls to Washburn. I could write to you all day but I must close.

I remain your affectionate, — Thomas E. A. Daniel

The Battle of Big Blue, October 22, 1864

Letter 2

Wyandotte, Kansas
Sunday 24th [23 October 1864]

Dear Catherine,

I and a few of our company are left in camp to cook while the rest of the men has gone out to fight Price. Bishop had not been gone more than one hour till we was ordered to the mouth of the Blue River to keep the rebels from crossing. We laid there one night. Then we was ordered to Kansas City.

We are now encamped at the Wyandotte Bridge. I heard the cannons roar yesterday below Independence. Our regiment has not received a fire from Price yet unless the boys find him today. I bought myself a woolen shirt. We received a great many reinforcements from Leavenworth this morning.

Jo. Buchanan stayed with our boys last night. We have a great number of men here at the present time. I lent Mulford $2 and John $1 and Ellie Smith 25 cts.

We hear flying reports all day. I heard that our men were fighting Price and our regiment was supporting a battery in fight yesterday. Price went around below and pitched on Jennison and drove him back and Price encamped [with]in two miles of Westport and that is where they are fighting today. It don’t look like Sunday here today.

Good news! Price is whipped and retreating. 4 o’clock in the evening. –Thomas E.A. Daniel.

We are ordered packing and follow the command.

137th New York Infantry

1853: Abram Coursen to Emeline Coursen

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This letter was written by Abram Coursen (1843-1864) of Candor, Tioga county, New York, who enlisted in Co. H, 137th New York Infantry on 21 August 1862. He did not survive the war. He was mortally wounded in the Battle of Peach Tree Creek on 20 July 1864 and died six days later at Vining’s Station, Cobb county, Georgia.

Abram was the son of John Marvin Coursen (1808-1891) and Margaret Ann Van Leuven (1818-1887) of Tioga county, New York.

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

Addressed to Miss Emeline Coursen, Candor, Tioga county, New York

Camp of the 137th New York Vols.
Stevenson, Alabama
March 6th 1863

Dear Sister Em,

I thought I would write a few lines today and let you know how we get along in Dixie. We are all well and hope this will reach you the same. It is very pleasant here today. We have church in camp at four o’clock, Chaplain Roberts preaches, I believe.

I had my likeness taken this forenoon. My clothes didn’t take natural. They took too light. Otherwise, it’s very natural. I will send it and see what you think about it.

Our box come yesterday morning all right. Everything saved nice. I am very much obliged. Tell Margaret [thanks] for the handkerchief.

There is not much news here at present as I know of. We are to work building forts here. Everything is quiet up to Chattanooga. That is what they say that come from there. I have no more at present. Excuse poor writing and blunders. Write soon and all the particulars of home. This from your brother, — Abram Coursen

10th Rhode Island Infantry, Patent Office Curiosities, U. S. Capitol

1862: William Frederick Atwood to his Aunt Sarah

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Edward Williams of Co. H wearing the Zouave uniform of the 10th Rhode Island Infantry (LOC).

This letter was written by William Frederick (“Fred”) Atwood (1845-1862), a corporal serving in his company. Fred was the 17 year-old son of William and Emeline Atwood, a recent graduate of the Providence high school. Fred was described by his comrades as having a “genial temperament and generous disposition, which drew around him a circle of personal friends” who mourned his loss when he died on 29 June 1862 at the Soldier Retreat in Washington D. C.

The 10th Rhode Island regiment was mustered into Federal service for three months in the summer of 1862. It was sworn in at Providence on May 26, 1862 and then moved to Washington, D. C. from May 27 to 29 where it was attached to Sturgis’ Command as part of the Military District of Washington. It saw duty at Camp Frieze, Tennallytown until June 26. With Sturgis, the regiment marched across the Potomac into Virginia, but returned to Washington when Jackson’s threat to the city subsided.

After a few days, on Monday morning, June 30, the 10th was detached from Sturgis’ troops and ordered to relieve the 59th New York in the seven forts and three batteries it had been occupying. These defenses of Washington were north and west of the city.

Company A was sent to Fort Franklin. This position guarded the Baltimore and Ohio Canal, the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and the Washington Aqueduct—the new water supply for the city. the U. S. Army Engineers had designed Fort Franklin to protect the city’s receiving reservoir (as conveyed by the Aqueduct) as well as the Potomac river shoreline. 

Fred’s death and burial was described by Lt. Joseph L. Bennett in a letter he wrote to Fred’s father on 2 July 1862. See—1862: Joseph Langford Bennett to William Atwood.

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

Tenleytown
June 15th 1862

I suppose you may think I am dead or sick because I have not written before but I am here alive and well, and should have written much sooner but for 1 thing. We did not get our full uniform when we left the City of Providence. I came off looking more like an Irishman than anything else. We expected to get it all when we arrived in Washington, and every day since it has been promised to us. It was that I was waiting for so I send you my picture. I have waited so long that I thought I would write to you and I will send you my likeness when I can get it.

I like soldiering as well as I expected. The greatest evil is dirt. I keep as clean as possible but camp life is a dirty life. I suppose you of course received my letter the day before we started. I wrote it in a very great hurry as we had orders to start that night. I should have liked very much indeed to have seen you but I do not suppose it was possible I could.

We started from Providence about 5 o’clock Tuesday p.m., arrived in Groton t 10 p.m., received rations which consisted of salt junk [salted beef] and hard bread. Took the Plymouth Rock for New York, arrived there about 5 a.m. I saw the Great Eastern [steamship] while there. We travelled all that day and night and arrived in Philadelphia about 3 p.m. Thursday. We stopped there till 9 and then started for Baltimore where we arrived about 5 o’clock a.m. Friday. We started at 3 p.m. for Washington, stayed there one night, and next day marched to this place, distant about 7 miles. The march out here was very warm. The dust was so heavy it was difficult to breathe. Two hours rain made mud ankle deep.

I went into Washington the other day to see the sights. I wish you and I could stop there a week and go around as much as we liked. The Capitol is the largest and most splendid building I ever had any idea of. I went about all over it the other day. The Senate and House of Representatives was is session. I went into both [chambers]. The Senate is the most splendid room I ever saw. I also went into the Patent Office, Among the millions of things, the most interesting to me was the articles which belonged to [General] Washington of which there were a great many. I saw a coat vest and knee breeches which he wore when he resigned his commission at Annapolis. His iron Treasure box, sword, hall lantern, chairs, tent poles, and a great many other things were there. I was very much disappointed in the machines I saw there. The models of some (a great many too) I should not think would be put there—they were made so cheap and common. But there was enough of interest in te room to interest me a month if I could only get there. I went into the reception room of the White House. It is furnished splendidly. There are some of the handsomest buildings in Washington I ever saw.

Many other collections soon found their way to the Model Hall in the Patent Office. The somewhat random assortment of objects included “Historical Relics,” such as the original Declaration of Independence, Benjamin Franklin’s printing press, and George Washington’s uniform. The display was simultaneously insular and expansionist, dedicated to national history while expressing global aspirations.

We have but very little sickness out here. There is but one man at present in the hospital from my company. I am in as good heath as I ever was. I have had but one attack of dysentery but I got over it in a day. I guess about every man in the company has been touched with it. The water they say brings it on. While we were in Washington, we were fed on bread, coffee strong without milk, and junk so salty you could hardly keep it in your mouth. The junk made me dry and I drank considerable of the spring water there. It went through me like Croton oil but I was not troubled but once.

We were sworn into service last Monday for three months from the 26th of May (three weeks tomorrow). How are things with you in Taunton and Berkley. I want you to write me a good long letter when you get this and let me know all the news, &c. We will have to give up the good times we were going to have for the present, but if I get back at the end of the three months, we will make up for the lost time. I asked Mr. Eddy if there would be any doubt about my getting my place again. He told me not to be uneasy about that for he would not lose me for anything. He had a letter from Mr. Armington a day or two before I came away in which Mr. A. said he was very glad I was going to stay and if I wanted to go to a trade when he got back, he would do all in his power to get me a good place. I expect Mr. Armington will get home in a week or so, I guess he will be rather surprised to find me off as he will not get any news of it till hr gets here. Everybody has come out of Providence so I guess it is very lonesome there. One fellow in camp here had a letter from a fellow in Providence in which he said it was Sunday there every day. He said he never saw it so dull.

When you write to me, direct your letters to Co. A, 10th Regiment R. I. Vols., Washington D. C.,

Goodbye Aunt Sarah. Write me a long letter soon. Your affectionate nephew, — W. F. Atwood

7th Illinois Cavalry, Springfield, IL

1861: Peter Miller to Amelia Miller

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I could not find an image of Peter but here is David L. McLain who also served in the same company.

This letter was written by Peter Miller who enlisted at the age of 25 as a private in Co. H, 7th Illinois Cavalry at Shelbyville, Illinois, on 7 September 1861. When he mustered in, Peter identified himself as a single farmer and gave his residence as Vandalia, Illinois. The regiment was organized at Camp Butler near Springfield. Four of the companies (A, C, G, and I) were sent to Bird’s Point, Missouri, on 30 October 1861, but Co. H remained in Springfield until late December 1861.

Peter survived the war, mustering out at Nashville, Tennessee, in November 1865. He married Mary Ann Lear (1846-1925) in 1866 and lived out his days in Fayetteville county, Illinois.

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

Peter’s letter was written on patriotic stationery featuring an image of Winfield Scott.

[Camp Butler near Springfield, Illinois]
November 1, 1861

Dear Miss,

It is with the greatest of pleasure that I take my pen in my hand to let you know that I am well at preset and I hope that these few lines that I may sent you may find you enjoying the same blessing. I received your letter this morning. I was glad to hear from you once more. I was in Springfield on last Friday afternoon. On Monday last we was in Springfield—seven regiments of us in a string. It made a long string. The town was crowded. There was a great many other people from the country.

I don’t know when we shall leave here. It is not known to the officers yet. I wish that you would come here. There is plenty to live on here while it lasts. I can’t say much this time. Isent my carpet sack with Pipher. He lives near Sitner’s. He was to leave the carpet sack at John Rice’s. George sent his with him. He is to bring it to Vandalia. The key is in the sack tied to a string. The string is tied to the handle.

Come as soon as you can. You can find out by Keller’s folks in Vandalia. My best respects to you and all enquiring friends. From Peter Miller

To Miss Amelia Miller. Direct your letters the same as the other. T get by, I sent my likeness with Marthy Hendrix to you.

33rd Illinois Infantry, Ironton, Missouri

1861: William H. Morris to his Brother

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William’s headstone in Livingston county, Illinois

The following letter was written by William H. Morris (1840-1862) while serving as a private in Co. F, 33rd Illinois Infantry. William was from Anconia, Livingston county, Illinois. He enlisted on August 1861, was mustered into the service on 6 September 1861 at Camp Butler, and he died of typhoid fever at Benton Barracks, Missouri, on 26 November 1862. It should be noted that his grave marker in Illinois states that he died in Ironton, Missouri, however.

William was the son of Henry Morris (1803-1843) and Mary (“Polly”) Reynolds (1811-1875). Serving with him in the same company was his older brother, Andrew Morris (1833-1872).

The 33rd Illinois Infantry was originally formed from many college students on the campus of the Illinois State Normal School and became known as the “Teacher’s Regiment.” In one company there were 13 college graduates and all were privates. The soldiers were so well educated that the standard joke was that men discharged for mental incapacity would have made officers in other regiments. [Wikipedia]. As evident by William’s letter, he was not so well educated, however. He and his brother Andrew were both farmers who lost their father when they were young men.

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

William’s letter was written on patriotic stationery with a great image of Parson Brownlow.

[Ironton, Iron county, Missouri]
Tuesday, October 1st [1861]

My friends,

I am still on the mend. I feel pretty well today & I hope that these lines will find you all well & in good circumstances. Andrew is quite unwell today and I am afraid that he is taking the measles but he thinks that it is nothing but a severe cold he has taken but he coughed very much like I did when I was taken them. He says for me to tell you that if he does not take the measles that if he can get a furlough, he will be at home between now and the fifteenth of this month. But he has been exposed to the measles & he does not want to come until he knows whether he is going to take them or not, and if he does not come for you, to do as you please about thrashing out his wheat, If you get ready to thrash and it is worth anything, to let it go for what it will fetch. But he wants to come home if he can, and I want him to go home if he can for I don’t know as I will come home until some time in the winter. I can’t tell anything about it yet.

You may do my thrashing if you have not yet just when it suits you best or you msay wait until Andrew comes home if you like and have it done at once. As for my corn, you do as you think best until you hear from me again. I want you to write and tell me all of the particulars and how Mother is getting along and if Mr. Murry is there with her yet and if John Lucas bought Fancy [and?] Chester, if you think it will not be too much trouble to take care of them, and if you can get a trade with Mother for her year old horse for them notes of mine, let them go if she will trade. Give her up both notes. Tell me if Earp has paid you that dollar yet and if he has not, ask him for it for it is due now.

When we left Camp Butler we all sent our clothes home or started them but Levi Lauderback got a letter from Liberty today and he said that they had not come yet. Me and Andrew put our clothes in our valise together and gave Liberty Lauderback the key. Andy had two coats and a hat and one pair of pants and some shirts, and I had a hat, pair of pants, one pair or two of socks, and one new pair of shoes that I drawed and I sent them to you. If they come, you will pay our share of the freight and we will make it all right with you when one of us comes home.

I suppose that Mahaly Springer is married. Tell them I wish them a long life and a merry one. Tell them to take care of their country.

Some of our boys is got the measles now. Thomas Lauderback & Dilman Hester and two others of our boys is at the hospital now with them. Tom is pretty sick. I think both of the boys will have them pretty bad.

Dear brother, I could write more [but] my paper is getting almost wrote over. I want you to give my best respects to Mother and all of the friends and don’t forget to accept a good share of it for yourself and family. If we stay here, I will write again in a few days. Now you must write without fail for I am anxious to hear from you and from home. Direct your letter to Ironton, Iron county, Missouri in care of Capt. Roberts. Company F, 33rd Regiment [Illinois Infantry].

So no more at present. Yours truly, — W. H. Morris

Yours in haste.

20th New York State Militia, Washington Monument, Baltimore, MD

1861: Christian Willard Winnie to a dear Friend

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The following letter was written by Christian W. Winnie (1839-1909) while serving in Co. D of the 20th Regiment, New York State Militia—a 100 days unit mustered in on 11 May and mustered out on 2 August 1861. I believe Christian was the son of Cornelius and Eva Winne of Ulster county, New York.

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

Headquarters 20th Regiment
Patterson’s Park
July 11, 1861

Dear friend,

After a long delay I take the present opportunity of writing a few lines. You must excuse me for not writing before for we have been moving around so much I could not get time to write. My last was headed Patterson’s Park, I believe, but owing to some anticipated trouble in the city, we were stationed in the Custom House in about the middle of the city. We were there about one week & yesterday we were removed to this old place. I am glad of it for I did not like it there although it was a very fine place quartered in a house worth 200,000 dollars but it was unhealthy.

The weather has been very warm for a few days. The mercury arose to 93o but what added to the unpleasantness of the place was the confinement. We were not allowed to go out without a pass which was very hard to get but I did get out once & made my way up to a monument erected to the memory of the Father of our Country. It is very nice & is 180 feet high & as you enter you will see a statue standing near the door and another placed on the pinnacle of the monument. After ascending a winding stairs, we arrived at the top where a most beautiful sight presents itself. The sun was just setting & as the last pale rays fell on the city (for we had a full view of the whole of it), it presented a sublime spectacle.

After conversing a short time, we retraced our steps, I wondering in my own mind how the people of Baltimore could try to destroy the flag that Washington raised & sealed by the blood of the patriots of the Revolution. And it is a lamentable fact that where the sacred relics of our Nation’s glory might be seen, waves an unnatural flag. The flag of our Union has been trodden under foot. But we trust in providence that He will protect the right; that He will not suffer the flag that has floated over [our] Nation for 25 years to be demoralized by a band of disappointed politicians & traitors. Shall we not fight to protect a Nation’s rights? Yes!

The Fourth [of July] passed without anything happening & it was the only day that seemed like Sunday since we started from home. Sunday is not regarded in the camp which I am sorry to say. No more at present. Direct to Baltimore &c. Goodbye, — C. W. Winnie