13th Ohio Cavalry, 27th USCT, Battle of the Crater

1864: Wilbert Granger to his Mother

May 31, 2025 Griff Leave a comment

*Daniel Kester, 13th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry*, *see Footnote 2.*

The following letter was written by Wilbert Granger (1845-1904), the son of Dr. George Granger of Westfield, Morrow county, Ohio. Wilbert enlisted initially in Co. B, Fifth Independent Battalion, Ohio Volunteer. Cavalry (OVC) and then reenlisted 5 May 1864 in Co. B of the 13th OVC when the 4th and 5th Cavalry Battalions were consolidated. The regiment left Ohio for Annapolis, Md., in May and then moved to White House Landing, Va. where they soon joined Grant’s Overland Campaign. According to his obituary, Wilbert “participated in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged. In one battle he received an injury which resulted in partial deafness and at the Battle of Dinwiddie Court House he received a wound in his left shoulder” that troubled him the remainder of his life. He was married in 1867 to Mary A. Olds and lived out his days in Olathe, Kansas.

Gilbert wrote this letter on 29 July 1864, the day before the mine explosion that initiated the Battle of the Crater in which the 13th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry were only partially involved. See footnote 2.

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

Near Petersburg, Va.
July 29th [1864]

Dear mother,

I once more take my pen in hand to answer your kind and much welcome letter that I received yesterday which found me in good health as usual. I have got the diarrhea for the last two days. I hope that when these few lines find you, they may find you in good health and the rest of the family well.

We are in the rifle pits yet and God only knows when we will get relieved. We are in the same pits as we have been and all the rest of our regiment but two companies—B and H—was left here to guard a couple of forts here. We are laying between them. It keeps my head aching all the time.

There has been eighteen or twenty been wounded out of our regiment and three killed. There is three out of our company. One of them was wounded yesterday by the name of William Wolf. Bill Ward is back to the company.

Well, there is not much fighting a going on here now but I have been visiting [George] Washington Doty from Ashley. He is a [1st] Lieutenant in [Co. G of] the 27th Ohio Negro Regiment and is back in the woods. ¹ I expect that they will blow up a Rebel fort or try it in the course of a couple of days for they are most ready. They have got done digging. They are putting in the powder to blow it up. Then I expect that there will be a charge made then.

The rest of our boys are on the front line. I don’t know how long it will be till our company will have to go it and as dangerous as it is, I have forgot it is a very close place here. Well I now close for this time. Write soon. From Wilbert Granger

To Adah Granger

Near Petersburg, Virginia,
July 28th, 1864

Dear cousin, I once more take the present opportunity to answer your kind letter that I got yesterday. It fond me enjoying good health as usual but low spirits for I have to work so hard. We are on fatigue duty for five days and nights in a week at some hard work. Well, I will have to quit now for I am on duty. Write soon. — W. G.

Excuse my short letter but I have to go on duty. Goodbye.

¹ The 27th USCT was the second black regiment organized in Ohio. The state government of Ohio was slow to organize black regiments and the first African Americans from the state to join the Union army from Ohio were those who enlisted in the 54th Massachusetts in the early months of 1863. The 27th was not organized until January of 1864. It participated in the Overland Campaign guard supply trains and did not experience its first real combat until the Battle of the Crater. Because it was one of the last Black regiments to enter the battle, it did not suffer as many casualties as the other Black regiments.

2 The 13th OVC and the Battle of the Crater: “Through July 29, 1864 the men of the 13th Ohio would be engaged in direct, position to position line fire. Most of the wounds received would be to men who were unlucky enough to break their cover, and a good number of the dead were the result of disease. The harshness of the campaign would take a visible toll on the men, their appearance from when they first moved out on the march until now differs substantially. They are now dirty, their clothes are ragged and torn, hair is a mess, and to make matters worse most of the food was bad. Their hardtack was infested with bugs, a problem that was solved simply by dipping it in hot coffee, forcing the bugs out. Their meat had turned rancid and the water used for drinking and cooking was gathered from contaminated sources from the battling raging around them, yet the men would still report that they were generally a jolly set of men. Most of the men had not washed their shirts in over a month at this point.

Sometime during July 29, 1864, the men received orders to leave their positions and return to the rear. A chance would finally be granted for them to clean up, and they received word that The Christian Commision had sent them a large shipment of canned fruit, red herring, tobacco and bandages. Around 2 a.m., on Saturday July 30,1864, the men would hear the troops that they thought were coming to relieve them approaching. When the men of the 13th Ohio could see them, to their surprise, they were equipped with bayonets fixed on their rifles. The boys of the 13th Ohio asked, “What’s up?” And they were met with the reply of “Don’t know, but guess we’re going to make a charge. The 13th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry Regiment poured out of their breast works, formed a column, and moved to a depression in the bluff towards an open space that sloped and ran up to the breast works. Here in the predawn darkness, the boys could see a large body of troops from other Union units, they now knew for sure they were to make an assault.

During the time the boy of the 13th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry Regiment manned their positions across from Elliots Sailent, Colonel Pleassants and of his men (the 48th Pennsylvania Regiment, composed mostly of men who had worked in the coal mines), had done what they knew best. They dug a tunnel that reached all the way under the confederates position, they excavated two or three rooms at the end of the tunnel and rolled barrels, totaling approximately 8,000 pounds of black powder, into said rooms and ran a fuse back to the mouth of the makeshift mine. Colonel Pleassants would light the fuse at approximately 3:15 a.m. but due to a malfunction at the fuse splice approximately halfway through the tunnel, he would have to crawl back in and relight it from that point. It would finally go off right after sunrise, the ground could be felt rumbling as dirt, dust, smoke and a 200 foot fireball could be seen coming from Elliott’s Salient.

Leslie’s First Division was to spearhead the attack. Meanwhile Potter’s Second Division (on the right side), and Willcox’s 13th Ohio (on the left side) followed directly behind. The men watched as the explosion blew Confederate soldiers into the air, and in some cases to pieces. Due to a last minute change of personnel, prior the attack, it was approximately a full ten minutes before the assault commenced, but the surrounding forts opened up every gun aimed at the Rebel positions immediately. The 13th Ohio Boys watched as cannon balls and other heavy ammunition bounced off the ground and through the enemy. During this the Union men receive the order to move forward over their breast works. They fought through all of the carnage going on in the air until they were forced to lay down in a covered position approximately halfway between their original positions to the “crater”.

After the firing let up just a little bit the Union men were able to advance on the crater. What they found were horrors they could not imagine. The bodies of horses, wreckage of gun carriages and half bodied rebels, some still alive and begging for help, littered the ground. The crater, which was no more than the result of the black powder explosion the Union Army let off, was a hole approximately 150 feet long, 60 feet wide and 30 to 40 feet deep.

As it took more time than originally thought, by the time the assault force of The Union Army reached the lip of the crater, the surviving Confederates soldiers had a few minutes to compose themselves and line up along their top ridge of the crater. As the Union soldiers (approximately 2,000) entered the crater, the Rebels had a turkey shoot, picking off the men who were piled up in the confusion inside of the hole, as well as directing artillery directly into the crater. A large group of approximately 300 Union Army troops stood at the base of the edge, staring up at the Rebels, and firing to hopefully help defend their comrades towards the opposite end of the crater.

Some small groups that were able to escape the crater and flank to the right engaged the Rebels directly at their lines. Engaging in very close hand to hand fighting, the Union troops drove the Rebels back for several hours until another group of rebels reinforced their men and drove the Union Soldiers back to the East for good.

The battle would rage on until approximately 3 p.m. on August 1, 1864, when the men reached a ceasefire. It would be a technical Confederate win, resulting in 3,798 Union Casualties. 1,413 were missing or captured, 1,881 would be wounded and 504 would be killed. Sometime during this carnage of “The Battle of The Crater”, Daniel Kester would receive a bullet wound to his left shoulder in which he would later succumb to, most likely due to blood loss. Many of the men of the 13th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry Regiment could be identified only by their distinctive cavalry jackets.

It is not known with 100% certainty where the mortal remains of Daniel Kester are buried. Due to the lack of a publicly recorded grave site, it is believed that he is buried in the Civil War Unknowns Memorial, located in Arlington National Cemetery, along remains of over 2,100 other soldiers who were not able to be identified after the hostilities of The Civil War ended.” [Source: Mid Ohio Military Collection: A Traveling Museum Exhibit’s Post]

122nd New York Infantry

1862: Philo E. Ruggles to his Parents

May 30, 2025 Griff Leave a comment

These letters were written by Philo E. Ruggles (1843-1863), the son of Noble O. Ruggles (1807-1892) and Sarah Shoens (1824-1890) of Syracuse, Onondaga county, New York.. Philo and his younger brother William Eugene Ruggles (1844-1907) served in Co. B, 122nd New York Infantry. Philo was a sergeant and William was a private. In the Battle of Rappahannock Station, on 7 November 1863, Sgt. Philo Ruggles was killed instantly by a shell fragment that hit him in the head when it exploded in the ranks.

*Philo’s letter was written on stationery with a song published by James D. Gay entitled, “When This Cruel War is Over.”*

Letter 1

Camp on Picket near Warrington, Va.
August 28, 1862

Dear Father and Mother,

We received your letter yesterday morning and it found us all well and in good cheer. We have been on picket six days now. I do not know how long we shall stay here. I had rather be here on picket than in camp and if we were in camp we would have to drill this warm weather. Now we do not have to drill—only stand guard nights and keep watch for guerrillas and if we can catch them, bring them into headquarters. We are driving them out the way pretty fast. We send out a patrol guard everyday for to pick them up. We have bread and milk most every meal. We have [to] pay twenty-five cents a canteen full of two quarts. It is pretty dear but we have it when we can get it. We draw rations of soft bread two or three times a week, dried apples, beans, rice, molasses, black tea, once in a while. I must close. I cannot think of any more to write about this time so I shall have to close. With my love and best respects to all inquiring friends. From Sergt. Philo E. Ruggles.

Dear Father & Mother,

I now take my pencil in hand to write too. We are all well and kicking. We have fun halting the big officers. We make them show their passes all the time they go through our lines. It is 3 o’clock, The drums is beating for church. I am growing so fast that you won’t hardly know me. Tell the folks to write to me. I don’t hear half of the news. Tell Tom Shoens to write and John Shoens to write. Give my love to all. — William E. Ruggles

Letter 2

Camp near Williamsport
October 8, 1862

Dear Father and Mother,

I received your letter yesterday just after we had go through drilling. It found us all well and tough as a knot and fat as a hog. We are learning fast in drilling. There is a Major from one of the old regiments learning us. He understands his business. He is a smart fellow. I wish that I understood drill as well as him. We had a fine drill this forenoon. He was learning us how to form into line of battle. I was acting as First Sergeant of my company, the Orderly being sick and not fit for duty. The 2nd and 3rd Sergeant did not know the Orderly’s duty so the Orderly called on me to act in his place so I did. The Orderly hinted to me that there is a ggoing to be a change of officers in our company [and] he thought that I stood a chance to raise a step or two.

Just after I had got through drilling, I had some washing to do so I went to the place where all the men go to wash their clothes. If you had been here you would laugh yourself almost to death to see them washing. I should think there was about 50 men washing their clothes. Such a time I never see. There is a stream of water that runs from a large spring which the boys were washing in. They took hold of it so awkward that it was fun to see them—one making fun of another to see them wash. The boys keep their clothes pretty clean. They wash their clothes once a week. I have my week’s washing done and out a drying on my tent. I can beat any lady washing without a wash board. My clothes look as clean and white as snow. Will has been washing too. He has got his drying too.

Wil is a writing a letter to Aunt Mary I. Raynor. I have received a letter from Luther Merrick. I was glad to hear from him.

I don’t want you to let anybody know what I am a going to tell you for maybe that the friend that I am a going to write about would not like it and it may make his folks feel bad. Well, here it comes. Judson Webb was seriously wounded yesterday morning by an accident of his own carelessness. He had been acting as Officer of the Guard the day before and just came on duty. He sat and went to work to clean his revolver. While he was cleaning it, he discharged one of the barrels and one of the balls went through the calf of his right leg. It was a glancing shot so it did not hit the bone. It is only a flesh wound. It will probably lay him up about six weeks before he will be fit for duty. He is the same old six pence. The wound does not make him feel down. He is full of fun. I went to see him after he was wounded and the first thing he said [was], “Oh Ruggles, wouldn’t you like to have someone carry you and have someone to wait on you?”

You wanted I should write and let you know what we had to eat and if we had any poor meat. Well, I will tell you last week on Wednesday we went on picket for 24 hours [and] while we were on picket, there was some fresh beef brought for our company. There was no one that would attend to it and so it got fly blood and when we came off [picket] the meat was given out and when they come to look at it, it was alive and running away, it being too hot here that fresh meat, unless it is taken care of right after being killed, it will spoil. We have salt pork, corned beef, beans, rice, pilot bread, coffee and tea and sugar of the best kind or none at all. If we have anything that does not suit us, all we have to do is to go to the commissary sergeant of the regiment and tell him of it and then he will take it away and bring us [something] that is good. My love to all, — Philo E. Ruggles

52nd Virginia Infantry, Battle of 2nd Bull Run, Battle of Antietam

1862: John W. Lewis to his Father

May 30, 2025 Griff Leave a comment

*An unidentified 1st Lieutenant in Confederate Uniform (Rees, Richmond, LOC)*

John W. Lewis was born October 8, 1837, in Virginia. Following graduation from Virginia Military Institute in 1859, he was hired as drill master and professor of mathematics at St. Johns’ College, Little Rock, Ark. When the school closed after the outbreak of war, Lewis returned to Virginia to enlist in the army.

On August 19, 1861, Lewis was commissioned as an officer in the 52nd Virginia Infantry. Promoted to 1st lieutenant on December 2, 1861, he was wounded at the Battle of Port Republic, Virginia, June 9, 1862. In October 1862, he was promoted to captain and ordered to report to Major General T. H. Holmes, commander of the Trans-Mississippi Department at Little Rock.

From the fall of 1862 until the end of the war, Lewis served as assistant adjutant general with various commanders in Arkansas, including Major General T. C. Hindman, Brigadier General D. M. Frost, Major General Sterling Price, and Major General J. B. Magruder. He was at the headquarters of the District of Arkansas in Camden when this letter was written. By the end of the war, he had been promoted to major.

Lewis remained in Arkansas following the end of the war, and on January 18, 1866, he married Laura Crease, one of seven daughters of John H. and Jane Crease of the Collegeville area near Little Rock and sister of Mrs. Cara Peyton. The couple had two daughters and was living in Miller County, where John kept a grocery store, at the time of his death in February 1882. He and Laura, who died in 1889, are buried at Mount Holly Cemetery in Little Rock.

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

Camp near Bunker Hill
October 25th 1862

Dear Father,

I have been expecting to get off every day for the last month or I would have written to you immediately after the Battle of Sharpsburg, but it seems I am doomed to be disappointed as my orders have never come. I was in all the last battles—at Manassas for five days, at Harpers Ferry, and at Sharpsburg. But thank God, I escaped without a scratch. We had some terrific fighting I think at this place where we fought. We fought and whipped at least four to one. I never saw such a slaughter. We did not stand and fire at all—advanced on them all the time and charged them three times. We also made a charge on them at Manassas and drove them from behind a railroad bank. From what I can hear we met with a reverse at Shiloh [Corinth] but gained a decided victory at Perryville, Kentucky. I hope this is about the winding up of the war. The Yankees seem slow to advance up this way.

We were down near Harpers Ferry all this week tearing up and destroying the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. We destroyed about twenty-five or thirty miles. They did not molest us in the least. I have no idea what will be the next move. It may be going on now but I don’t know anything of it. I heard today that Gen. Longstreet was moving through Winchester towards Front Royal.

I have just received a letter from Uncle Jim Crawford saying he had sent you my letter. I have thought it very strange that I did not hear from home. I have not heard a word from anyone of the family since I left Gordonsville. Tell the girls they must write to me. Someone told me that they saw Jasper in Staunton a short time since.

**John Brown Baldwin** (11 January 1820–30 September 1873), attorney, member of the Convention of 1861, member of the Confederate House of Representatives, and Speaker of the House of Delegates, was born in Augusta County, the eldest of three sons and third of six children of Briscoe Gerard Baldwin and Martha Steele Brown Baldwin. To the dismay of many old Democrats and advocates of secession, Governor John Letcher appointed Baldwin inspector general of volunteers. On 19 August 1861 Baldwin became colonel of the 52d Virginia Infantry. He served briefly in the mountains of western Virginia but suffered a physical breakdown and resigned on 1 May 1862. Thereafter he was colonel of the Augusta County militia, and although he was called into the field several times, he saw no further action. While still recuperating, Baldwin was elected to the Confederate House of Representatives on 6 November 1861. He defeated Letcher in May 1863 to win reelection and served in Congress for the duration of the war.

Col. [John Brown] Baldwin wrote to me last month saying I have been promoted and assigned to duty on some General’s staff in Arkansas and would get my orders from the Secretary of War soon. I have been anxiously waiting for them. When they come, if at all, I will take time to pay you all a visit before I go to Arkansas. I sent my horse up to Uncle Linus’ and have been taking it afoot ever since.

I don’t even know where to direct my letter. First I heard you were living at Green Valley but I seen William Burger here last week and he told me you were not but thought you were at the Warm Springs. I hope you will make arrangements to get what salt you need while the works are open. If I could have gotten things home from Manassas & from Maryland, I could have gotten a great many things that would have been very useful.

Father, as horses are now very high—as is everything else—I think it advisable that you should sell any you may have to spare and pay all your debts. There is my horse, Red Wing, will bring $1000 or maybe $750, and there must be many things there of little value to you that would bring a good price. I should like to see you clear of debts. It is my opinion that when the war ends, the man who is out of debt is the best off. In case anything should happen to me, you will place all my land certificates in the hands of Mr. William Woodruff of Little Rock, Arkansas. And I have some two or three hundred dollars deposited with Uncle Ben [?], all of which with what I have elsewhere I want Jasper and the girls to have if anything should happen to me, which I hope and pray will not.

Give my best love to the girls. Tell Mat & Sallie I will soon want socks. With that exception, I am very well off for clothing. Tell them all to write to me. If you have any leather suitable for making boots, I wish you would save me enough to make me a pair when I get home. I did intend writing to you some time ago to send apples to Albert Fossett and get him to make me about five gallons of brandy but suppose it is now too late. Apples are selling here for 75 cents per dozen.

My love to Jasper when you write to him. Tell Kate to save and sell everything she can. Soap is commanding a fine price. My love to all. May God shield, protect, and bless you all is the prayer of your devoted son, — John W. Lewis

87th Pennsylvania Infantry, Grand Review of 6th Corps, Jefferson Davis

1865: William D. Chamberlin to Margaret A. Carpenter

May 30, 2025 Griff Leave a comment

The following letter was written by William D. Chamberlin (1842-1881), the son of John Chamberlin (1818-1883) and Martha J. Biggs (1819-1883) of Cashtown, Adams county, Pennsylvania. He wrote the letter to Margaret (“Maggie”) A. Carpenter (1845-1880) with whom he married in October 1869. Co. K, 87th Pennsylvania Volunteers. His grave markers gives his surname as Chamberlin though he was carried on the muster rolls of the regiment as Chamberlain.

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

*William’s letter was written on stationery printed with poem, “Old Jeff as Miss Dixie” by R. B. Nicol.*

Camp near Bailey’s Cross Roads, Virginia
June 9th 1865

Good evening Maggie,

I am reasonably well, thank you. How are you prospering? Your favor of the 23rd ult. came to hand a few days ago, and met a welcome reception. I was very busy today. I am now engaged as clerk at Regimental Headquarters and have a considerable amount of work on hand just now. But as it is now 9 o’clock, I have taken the liberty to put the other papers to a side and devote a few moments to the agreeable task of answering your letter. I received the note you sent me just about the time we wrestled starting on the march from Richmond to this place. I knew you would certainly receive my letter—hence I didn’t answer the note. I am inclined to think you were not in a very good humor when you wrote it. Well, I can’t censure you for it after having waited so long for an answer, but I presume you have already forgiven me. You know full well that it is almost impossible for a soldier to be punctual with his correspondents at all times—especially it he has a goodly number. He has a great many other duties to perform and they demand his attention first.

Your thoughts concerning the “Locust trees” are very good. It calls to my mind scenes around my home that I often looked upon with delight about this time of the year.

*William’s letter included a cdv of Jeff Davis in ladies clothes being taken captive by Union Cavalry. Two black infantrymen look on in the background.* *There were numerous variations on this theme but this is the only one I have seen of this view.*

I should like to hear your sermon on the flight of Jeff Davis. I have been thinking you would probably make an appointment in the neighborhood for that purpose. Hence I have selected a piece of music with appropriate lines for an occasion of that kind which i will place at your disposal. What do you think of it? Pretty good, eh?

I understand you had quite an assemblage of people at the meeting in the grove on the 1st of June. It would have been very gratifying to me to have met with the rest of you. Such, however, could not be the case.

Well the Grand Review of the 6th Corps is over. No doubt the idle curiosity of a great many people has been gratified, but it cost the lives of quite a number of good soldiers—some no doubt who have served faithfully for three years. There was scarcely any air stirring in the streets of Washington and som of the streets were clouded with dust. The day was very warm and there was hundreds to be seen through the city on the sidewalks who were overcome with the heat and had fallen—some to rise no more. I was along but had no gun or accoutrements to carry. Sometimes I thought I would fall too. Our Corps, I noticed, receives great praise in the papers. ¹

This evening when our regiment was on “Dress Parade,” the Colonel complimented the boys for their good behavior and fine marching in the City yesterday. Our camp is about fives miles from Washington on the Virginia side of the Potomac. The troops are being sent home as rapidly as possible. As yet, there has been no orders to muster out troops who entered the army last spring but I presume there will be such orders issued as soon as they get those mustered out who come under the first order from the fact that they are mustering out all of our sick men.

I will not get angry at you for threatening to box my ears. Talk about it as much as you have a mind to, but I would like to see you carry it into execution. If you would attempt it, I’ll bet I would have a k–s. Oh! I almost forgot myself. Well, as you say, you often think on paper so I will come in with that idea too. If you would or could see me now, you would see as much of a dash on my face as there is between those two letters up there. After all, I can’t see any harm in the expression, “Worse half.”

You say “A candid confession as good for the soul.” Now tell me why you were angry when you came to that part of my letter when I said, “Who will have me?” You ask why I don’t correct faults that I may notice in you. The fact is I have not noticed any of which to accuse you or correct in you. Will that do? As you are getting weary of this scribbling. I will close and go to my bed such as it is on the ground. Let me hear from you soon again. I have the honor to remain very respectfully your friend, — Wm. D. C., Co. K, 87th P. V., 1st Brig., 3d Division, 6th Corps, Washington D. C.

P. S. Please remember me to all of your folks, — Wm. D. C.

¹ There was a separate review of the 6th Corps on 8 June 1865. THE CLOSING PAGEANT OF THE WAR.; Grand Review of the Sixth Corps by the President and Gen. Meade. The War-Worn Veterans Make a Splendid Appearance. They are Greeted Everywhere with the Greatest Enthusiasm. Reconstruction in Alabama A Rather Startling Demand. Military Re-union of the 14th and 20th Corps. Speeches by Gens. Howard. Slocum and Others. REVIEW OF THE SIXTH CORPS.
WASHINGTON, Thursday, June 8.
Published: June 9, 1865
The dusty veterans of the Sixth have a proud record. The colors are for too small for the inscription of the names of all their battles, and there are hundreds of officers and men who have been under fire a round hundred times. The corps was first brought into existence by MCCLELLAN, at Cumberland Landing, on the Pamunky River, in May, 1862, when it was styled the Sixth Provisional Army Corps, and Maj.-Gen, W.B. FRANKLIN assigned to the command. The corps has graduated some splendid soldiers, foremost among whom stand the lamented SEDGWICK, the indomitable HANCOCK, who was present today, and again looked upon the fragments of the brigade that he so vigorously disciplined at Camp Griffin, in the Winter of 1861-2; “Baldy” SMITH, whose features were once so inseparable with the corps, and DAVIDSON, whose Trans-Mississippi cavalry campaigns have been so successful; and BROOKS, now out of the service, but once a pet of the Vermonters and a gallant officer: young VINTON, badly wounded at Fredericksburg; BURNHAM, the valiant son of Maine, who fell at Fort Harrison; RUSSELL, killed in the very hour of victory, at Cedar Creek, in the valley; BIDWELL, giving up his life just after receiving his hard-earned star; and many others gone, now forever, whose memory is renewed most vividly as the veterans of the Sixth pass by. The term “SHERIDAN’S heavy cavalry” was applied to the Sixth Corps by some one who had a singularly correct idea of its significance, for the must brilliant victories of the valley were those in which the “heavy cavalry” came vigorously to the support of the “light cavalry,” and which, on the 19th of October, under the inspiring presence of SHERIDAN himself, wrested victory from the very jaws of defeat, and which again, in the final rout of LEE, overhauled, defeated and captured the rear guard of EWELL, and sent to the rear ten thousand prisoners, innumerable flags and cannon, and half a score of Major-Generals. So, if the Sixth Corps marched to-day with a vigorous step and proud spirit, they were entitled to do so by all that goes to make valiant and victorious soldiers. http://www.nytimes.com/1865/06/09/n…sident-gen-meade-war-worn.html?pagewanted=all

10th New York Heavy Artillery, Fort Richmond, Staten Island

1863: Francis M. Presley to his Friend

May 30, 2025 Griff Leave a comment

The following letter was written by Francis M. Pressley who mustered into Co. E, 10th New York Heavy Artillery in early August 1862 at Henderson, New York. Soon after he was transferred into Co. A.

His muster records inform us that he was born at Sandy Creek, New York, and that he was an 18 year-old laborer when he enlisted. He was described then as standing 5′ 7″ tall, with blue eyes and light hair. He mustered out of the regiment at Petersburg on 23 June 1865.

Francis’ letter was written on stationery entitled “The Soldier’s Rest” which had two poems—-“The Campfires are burning” and “The soldiers are sleeping.”

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

Fort Richmond [Staten Island, New York]
March 6, 1863

Dear Friend,

It is a willing hand that sits down to answer your ever welcome letter that I received the 24th of last month. I was glad to hear from you. Your ever welcome letter came to hand in due time.

I think you must have enjoyed yourself very well the day that you and Francis went a visiting. I should like to have been there to went with you. I think that I could enjoyed myself well, don’t you? But I han’t been very lonesome yet for I think that if noise will prevent it, that we shan’t.

L. C. [Lieut. Col.] Joseph Spratt is our Colonel now. He is just the man for this place. He is very strict and he don’t favor anyone more than he does another. He has shut down the officers pretty snug. He won’t give them but one pass in a day out of each company a day. He says that we are the best drilled of any company that he had seen for as short a time that we have drilled.

L. C. [John Bradbury] Frothingham and our Colonel inspected us on knapsack inspection and then they inspected us at the cannons. He come along to our company where we were drilling and wanted to know if this was Co. A and they told him it was. He said that he remembered Co. A & he said that we was the best drilled company that he had seen in the Battalion.

Mary Mot has gone to live with some folks a little ways from here. Tell Charley that I am afraid that he will lose his dear little Mary but I neglected to write before. I don’t want you to wait as long as I have.

I heard that Olive Bishop was dead. I tell you that Lon felt bad and so did I for it was sad news and it was unexpected news to me and I guess that it was to all. But we must be on the guard and be prepared for another world. I must close for this time. The Boys are all well. Roll is getting well. He is on duty. Give my love to all. Write soon. From your best friend, — F. M. Presley

To Berl.

"Broke Up Jeff Davis' Ball", 9th New York Heavy Artillery

1864: Peter Baggerly to Isabelle Spangle

May 30, 2025 Griff Leave a comment

The following letter was written by Peter Baggerly (1841-1925) of Savannah, Wayne county, New York, who enlisted as a recruit in March 1864 to serve in Co. G, 9th New York Heavy Artillery. He was described at that time as a 5 foot 10 inch tall, brown-haired farmer. He was wounded on 15 March 1865 before Petersburg and was transferred on 27 June 1865 to the 2d N. Y. H. A.

Peter was the son of Hezekiah Owen Baggerly (1814-1891) and Olive Dewey (1817-1902). After the war he married Margaret Sibley (1846-1930) and lived out his days in Clyde, Wayne county, New York.

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

*Peter’s letter was written on stationery with the poem titled. “How the Veterans Broke Up Jeff Davis’ Ball.” It celebrates the defeat of Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia at Gettysburg.*

Fort Foot
Sunday, April 10th 1864

Dear Friend,

As I had a spare time, I thought I would let you know where I am stationed. I suppose you have heard that I was in the army. Well I am well as usual and hope you are ditto. We are fourteen miles south of Washington on the Potomac river on a bluff about 100 feet above the river. It is a very nice place and have nice times. There is only five companies here. We have good victuals and good clean barracks and good straw beds to sleep on.

I have seen some of the boys from around Clifton. I saw Mike and George Kipp and some others from around your community. But enough of that.

How does Olin get along married? I suppose by this time he has been down to our town but I was not there to wait on him. I would like to have been home. I would had some fun with him. I will bet he got lost before he got home. You must take care of him till he can take care of himself. But enough of him.

Now if you will think this worth answering, I should be happy to hear from you and more than that, I want your photograph and when I get some, you can have one if you wish. You must excuse my writing this sheet wrong side up as I did not see it till it was too late to prevent it. Answer soon. So goodbye for now. From your friend, — Peter Baggerly

To Isabel Spangle

P. S. Don’t you let Uncle Harrison’s folks know that I wrote to you before I wrote to them or Robert’s folks.

Direct to Mr. Peter Baggerly. Co. G, 9th Artillery, N. Y. V., Washington D. C.

11th Pennsylvania Cavalry

1862: Daniel H. Schriver to his Brother

May 30, 2025 Griff Leave a comment

*I could not find an image of Daniel but here is one of William W. Harding of Co. G, 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry (Union Drummer Boy)*

The following letter was written by 1st Sergeant Daniel H. Schriver (1836-1864) of Co. I, 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry. He enlisted in September 1861 and was promoted from 1st Sergeant to 2nd Lieutenant on 8 November 1863. He was killed in a brisk skirmish at Flat Creek Bridge, Virginia, on 14 May 1864. At the time of his enlistment, Daniel was described as a 25 year-old, 5′ 4″ tall, black-haired saddler.

Schriver’s letter informs his brother of the evacuation from White House Landing, McClellan’s Supply Depot on the Pamunkey river in June 1862 when J. E. B. Stuart conducted his raid. He referred to him as Jackson but it was actually Stuart.

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

Williamsburg, Va.
July 1st 1862

Dear Brother,

I will improve the few leisure moments at present to write to you again. You will see by the head of this letter that we have moved our quarters again. In consequence of the weak condition of our military post at White House Station, we were compelled to evacuate it on the approach of Gen. Jackson & Lee with a large force in the rear of McClellan’s Headquarters which was not properly guarded by a sufficient force to make a stand. There were not more than 1,000 men at White House Landing altogether and all on duty day and night for a week previous which was too hard for the men to stand it lone anymore. So it was intended to evacuate it as soon as we could move all the hospital and all the quartermaster’s stores.

We had hardly moved all before the Secesh Jackson with a large force made his appearance about 6 miles off at Garlick’s Station where our 2nd Lieutenant Chas. W. Butts was stationed on picket whereupon he burnt a large mill & some houses and then came in. Most of the boats and schooners left the night before; others were ready to leave in a moment’s notice. All the stores and ammunition that was not taken away was destroyed, locomotives and cars were backed into river. ¹ White House was destroyed. Our tents was burnt. And then we all went out about two miles to guard the place until the teams with what necessary things we could not dispense with got a good start, and as soon as it got dark, we started and got here about 11 o’clock a.m. next day—a distance of 45 miles the way we came around, only stopping two r three hours towards daylight to rest a little.

“Burning of the White House- the Federal troops, by command of General McClellan, abandoning their position at the White House, and breaking up the commisariat depot on the Pamunkey River- departure of the Union flortilla for the James River, June 26th, 1862. The Confederate raid of Stuart’s cavalry at Garlick’s Landing and Tunstall’s Station had struck the occupants of the White House Landing with a deep sense of insecurity; and, consequently, when they received orders on Wednesday, June 25th, to prepare for the hasty removal of all the government stores, they set to work with great activity, and by Thursday the greater portion of the heavy stores were embarked on board the numerous transports lying in the river. Unfortunately, through some accident the White house took fire, and the house of Washington’s wife was soon destroyed.” — Frank Leslie, 1896

The supposition was that the rebels would follow us in force but they did not further than New Kent Court House, 8 miles from White House. The inhabitants are all secesh here in this place. When they heard that Jackson was coming, the women all went to work and had an awful time in baking and cooking a dinner for him but I guess it will all get moldy before he will eat it.

I do not think we will stay here long but where we will go to next I cannot say. But I hope not to a place where there are too few troops and so much duty to do. There sounds the bugle for sick call. I must go and see if anybody is sick enough to go to the Doctor’s 9in order to shirk duty). Excuse this scratching. I have to do it all on my knee under two India rubber blankets for tents. Yours expecting a letter soon from you, I remain your devoted brother, — Dan’l H. Schriver, 1st Sergt. Co. I

The surest way to direct your letters since we have no permanent encampment is to Camp Hamilton, Fort Monroe, Va., or to Washington D. C. and the other preliminaries and it will follow.

P. S. Enclosed you will find part of a Magnolia flower that grows wild here on pretty large trees.

¹ J. E. B. Stuart’s cavalry raided Garlick’s Landing on the Pamunkey River above the railroad bridge and captured 14 wagons and some sutler’s stores, and burnt two schooners laden with forage and then headed toward Tunstall’s Station.

War Correspondent George Alfred Townsend was heading back to White House at the time of Stuart’s raid and described what he saw at Garlick’s Landing and White House when he arrived: “I remained a full hour under cover; but as no fresh approaches added to my mystery and fear, I sallied forth, and kept the route to Putney’s, with ears erect and expectant pulses. I had gone but a quarter of a mile, when I discerned, through the gathering gloom, a black, misshapen object, standing in the middle of the road. As it seemed motionless, I ventured closer, when the thing resolved to a sutler’s wagon, charred and broken, and still smoking from the incendiaries’ torch. Further on, more or these burned wagons littered the way, and in one place two slain horses marked the roadside. When I emerged upon the Hanover road, sounds of shrieks and shot issued from the landing a “Garlic,” and, in a moment, flames rose from the woody shores and reddened the evening. I knew by the gliding blaze that vessels had been fired and set adrift, and from my place could see the devouring element climbing rope and shroud. In a twinkling, a second light appeared behind the woods to my right, and the intelligence dawned upon me that the cars and houses at Tunstall’s Station had been burned. By the fitful illumination, I rode tremulously to the old head-quarters at Black Creek, and as I conjectured, the depot and train were luridly consuming. The vicinity was marked by wrecked sutler’s stores, the embers of wagons, and toppled steeds. Below Black Creek the ruin did not extend: but when I came to White House the greatest confusion existed. Sutlers were taking down their booths, transports were slipping their cables, steamers moving down the stream. Stuart had made the circuit of the Grand Army to show Lee where the infantry could follow.”

Joel Cook described what he heard about the attack on the train passing through Tunstall’s Station and the reaction at White House Landing: “There were numerous passengers on the cars, mostly laborers, civilians, and sick and wounded soldiers, and a general effort was made to jump off, and, if possible, elude the enemy’s fire. Several succeeded, and hid themselves in the wood; but the quickly increasing speed of the train prevented the majority from following their example. The cars, however, were soon out of reach of the Rebels, and the engineer, fearful of pursuit or of meeting more enemies, increased the pressure of steam so that the train almost flew over the distance between Tunstall’s Station and White House. There the news of what had occurred spread like lightning, and there was the utmost consternation among the sutlers, civilians, clerks, laborers, and negroes who inhabited the canvas town which had sprung up on the Pamunky. Lieutenant-colonel Ingalls, of the quartermaster’s department, was the officer in command, and, under fear of impending danger, he mustered the few soldiers who were at the place, and armed the civilians and laborers. He also placed all the money, records, mails, and other valuable property of the United States upon a steamboat in the river. The panic among the sutlers was beyond all description: each one expected utter ruin, and awaited, with an anxious heart, the approach of the enemy. They did not come, however, and White House, though it was so soon to be destroyed, had a short respite.” [Source: White House Landing Sustaining the Army of the Potomac during the Peninsula Campaign.]

197th Pennsylvania Infantry

1864: William Evans to Ralph Buckley

May 29, 2025 Griff Leave a comment

*A young Maine soldier returned home in his “long home” (casket).*

This letter was written by William Evans of Media, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, the father of Thomas Evans (1844-1864) who was a private in Co. E, 197th Pennsylvania Infantry. Thomas died from “inflammation of the stomach and bowels” on 5 September 1864 at the Garrison Hospital at Rock Island, Illinois.

In his letter, William thanks Capt. Ralph Buckley of the 197th Pennsylvania for sending his son’s body home and asks him to explain the cut in his son’s neck under his right ear. This cut was presumably made by the caretaker who severed Thomas’s carotid artery to drain the blood as part of the embalming process.

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

Rose valley, Media [Pennsylvania]
[September] 20th, 1864

Capt. R. Buckley—dear sir,

I return you my sincere thanks for the kindness you and your company have done to my dear son Thomas Evans and may God reward you and your company of men for their kindness to my son and me. I received his corpse on the 10th, Saturday, at 5 p.m. at the Adams Express, 4th and Chestnut. I brought him home to Media and buried him the next day. I opened his coffin and found my dear son. No tongue can tell how I felt when I saw my child. There was a cut on his neck under his right ear and it was sowed and I am much grieved about it too. What was the cause of it? Please Captain, if you know, to send me word and you will do me a great kindness.

I had my son’s death put in the papers and I have sent one to you, Captain, and some to the boys of Co. I and to the officers of Co. E, and I hope you will get them. I was talking to your mistress yesterday. She and the family are well. I got the bill of expense that you were at on account of sending my son home. I have it and may God do to you and your men as you have done to me. All I can do us to pray for you and I will do that with the help of God. Dear Captain, you can tell me if I will get his pay for the time he served?

Dear Captain, please answer this letter and you will do me a great kindness as I will be happy to hear from you and the boys. I will bring my letter to a close by sending you and the boys my kind love and may God send you safe home. — William Evans

My directions is Media Post Office, Delaware county, Pa., care of Antrim O’Horne

9th South Carolina Infantry, Fort Sumter

1861: James Hopkins to William Hopkins

May 28, 2025 Griff Leave a comment

The following letters were written by James Hopkins (1839-1904), the son of William Hopkins (1805-1863) and Emma Goodwyn Hopkins (1808-1868) of Richland county, South Carolina. James attended the University of Virginia and during the Civil War served in the States Rights Guards, Co. B ¹ of the 9th South Carolina Infantry and Co. K of the 4th South Carolina Cavalry. He was wounded on Oct. 22, 1862, at the Second Battle of Pocotaligo and was captured at the Battle of Matadequin Creek, Va., on May 30, 1864. He was held as a prisoner of war at Point Lookout, Md., until he was exchanged in March 1865.

Mentioned in several of the letters was English Hopkins (1842-1918), a younger brother of James. English also attended the University of Virginia and served in the same regiments as his brother, though he was not an officer.

¹ Co. B—the States Rights Guards (aka the Fork Troop)—was one of the three companies of the original 2nd SC Regiment (SCV) that refused to serve in Virginia during April of 1861. The men were from the lower part of Richland District, and having remained in Charleston, SC it also helped to form the nucleus of the 9th SC Regiment (SCV). While at Ridgeville, SC in Colleton District (Dorchester County today) on June 27, 1861 the men mustered into Confederate service for twelve months, effective April 8, 1861. Duncan William Ray, MD was elected Captain in State service on April 8, 1861, and was then elected Lt. Colonel of the 9th SC Regiment (SCV) on July 12, 1861. 1st Lieutenant Robert Adams was promoted to succeed him as Captain of Company B on that same date. When the 9th SC Regiment (SCV) was disbanded in April of 1862, some of the men enlisted in Company C and 2nd Company H of the 6th SC Regiment (SCV), and two (2) men joined 2nd Company A of the 5th SC Regiment (SCV).

[Note: The following letters are from a private collection ^(RM) and were offered for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by express consent.]

Letter 1

Mississippi, Madison county
June the 29th 1860

Dear Sir,

Yours dated the 11th inst. was received on Saturday last. I regret very much to say to you that Betsy’s child died yesterday morning. It seemed to have been doing pretty well until last Sunday evening. It taken bowel complaint and we could not with all exertions check them up. But I think its disease was an incurable one. It had ulcers broken out on it as large as a five cent piece. I took the prescription you wrote me and showed it to Doctor [William Alston] Cheek ¹ and tried to get him to make up some for me to give the child but he wouldn’t agree to give it to it. I told him I would much rather he would give it. He said he would take the responsibility on himself if the child died. You must blame it on him. All of the rest is well except Old Woman Chany. She has been complaining some this week.

We have passed off another dry week. On Tuesday evening it clouded up and rained a little shower enough to run in the yard a little. It continued cloudy and threatened to rain until last night [when] it all passed off and never rained any to do any good. It will be ten weeks next Monday since we have had a full season. My cotton crop is not doing well by no means. I never in all my life saw half as many lice has been here on our cotton for the last week. I will make a finish of hauling in my oats tomorrow. I will get twelve or fifteen wagon loads. I have got all of my wheat wined over one time but I expect to clean it over again. I received the book you sent me. Yours truly, — J Hopkins

I am very much obliged to you for them.

¹ Dr. William Alston Cheek (1825-1897) was born in North Carolina. In was enumerated in Beat 4, Madison county, Mississippi in the 1860 US Census. He died in Canton, MS, in 1897.

Letter 2

Mississippi, Madison county
January 4, 1861

Dear Sir,

Yours dated the 24th of last month was received on last Monday. We have had a severe spell of bad weather here which has lasted nearly fifteen days. It commenced snowing here on Saturday night last and snowed until Sunday evening. In consequence of the weather being so bad, I have not done much out door work. I think in my last letter I wrote you I had received the draft you sent me. I also [think] I wrote you that the corn you ordered was shipped. I have been hauling it home this week. I have about 250 bushels home.

I see from your letter and the Columbia papers that you are all now independent—an independent state. I hope Mississippi will be out in a few days. I was down in Canton yesterday. I was told that there was a telegraph dispatch [received] there before that Mr. Buchanan was going to send an army there to whip you all back into the Union but the people of Canton don’t believe a word of it. But they say if it is true and he does what he says he will, they will come to South Carolina and help to fight. All are well. Yours truly, — J. Hopkins

N. B. I settled up for the Brown land the other day but never got the title until a few days past. All of the Legatees signed it.

Letter 3

Morris Island
April 12, 1861
Five minutes to Seven a.m.

Dear Father,

Regional view of Charleston Harbor showing the city of Charleston on the Ashley and Cooper rivers, Castle Pinckney on Shute’s Folly Island, Pleasantville and Mt. Pleasant Battery, Mechanicsville and batteries on Sullivan’s Island, and the Morris and James island batteries, and their distances from Fort Sumter.

I am now encamped with the States Rights Guards on Morris Island. The batteries from Fort Moultrie have opened upon Fort Sumter. The batteries on our Island for a shot now and then. The firing was commenced about daybreak this morning and still continues. They are only firing shells. Some say that Anderson have not returned fire as yet. Others say that he has. He has not fired often for I have been looking at Fort Sumter. I do not think that Anderson can be hurt much with shells. I am quite comfortably fixed, but am afraid that I will have to move. We understood last night that Fort Sumter was to be fired upon at eight and consequently to sleep upon our arms, but the firing was delayed until this morning. Anderson can do a great deal of damage but he seems to treat our firing with silent contempt—at least so far. I have to stop now. I am called to arms. Direct to me at Morris Island, States Rights Guards. — J. Hopkins (wrong direction, you will see the right directions at the end of the letter)

April 13th 1861, 9:30 a.m. o’clock. Our batteries have fired Fort Sumter. It still burns. ¹ There is some talk of storming it but I do not know whether it will be attempted or not. I stood guard last night from seven until nine, was in all of the hard rain, was relieved at nine and went back at two and was relieved at four. I slept on the ground on two boards for about a half an hour before daybreak (in the open air). I only slept a half an hour during the whole night and that was just before daybreak. I slept with my head on the breach of my musket. I got very wet. Never was so tired in all my life but I have on dry clothes this morning and none the worse—only I am very sleepy.

We have been under arms ever since we arrived expecting the landing of forces from the ships in the harbor. An attempt was made but our men were too much on the alert for the Black Republicans. We will sleep on our arms tonight. Although Fort Sumter is on fire, Anderson still has his flag up.

I lost my large valise. I think it is on the Island but have not received it and do not expect to. I have not received my uniform as yet. I cannot tell you whether I will be allowed to have a boy or not. Do not send him till I write for him. Anderson is still firing. One of his balls fell about fifty yards from us yesterday. Not a man has been killed by Anderson. A mortar bursted and kill[ed] twenty men, so says rumor.

Direct to James Hopkins, Capt. [Duncan William] Ray’s Company, ² S. C. Volunteers, Charleston

Your affectionate son, — James Hopkins

Give my love to all. Remember me to Cousin Kizzy. I am well. — J. Hopkins

¹ Most reports of the bombardment claim that a dense volume of smoke was seen suddenly to arise from Fort Sumter following at explosion around 9 o’clock a.m. of April 13th 1861.

² Duncan William Ray, MD, (1812-1868), of Richland District, was Captain of the States Rights Guards in the original 2nd SC Regiment (SCV) that refused to march to Virginia. This Company became Company B—the Fork Troop—in this, the 9th SC Regiment (SCV). During the second election of Field Officers on July 12, 1861, he was elected Lt. Colonel of the 9th SC Regiment (SCV) in lieu of Dixon Barnes (above) who had been elected on July 5th. Dr. Duncan William Ray graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and was a well-known physician and planter in Lower Richland County, South Carolina.

Letter 4

Mississippi, Mad[ison] County
May the 3rd, 1861

Dear Sir,

I have had no letter from you this week but hope to get one in the morning when I send to the office. I have been hard down all this week with my men force trying to get the old trees cut and rolled up. I have got all the timber that was blown down on my cotton land rolled up this week. I had to just cut up such trees as I could carry and pile up. Large trees I cannot do anything with them but cut up the tops for it would have been impossible to rolled them over the cotton. I wrote you last Sunday that I would cut and burn them but when I commenced working at them I found it never would do, so I just rolled them on piles and plough around them the best I could. It will take me another week with my men to get the timber piled so I can do anything with them. There is some places in the land that I cleared last winter that I cannot do anything with in consequence of so much timber being on it.

We have had more heavy rain here this year tham I ever witnessed in the spring. On Monday evening last it commenced raining and continued all night as hard as ever you heard it I recon. Yesterday we had another wet day. Our swamp has been flooded up this week so that I could do nothing but roll up logs this week. I see my cotton has not come up as well as I would like but that is very easy accounted for nothing like corn or cotton could come up with the rain that has fallen here for the last four weeks. I don’t see how I am to save my wheat & oats and take care of my corn and cotton, losing so much time now. [It] will throw me late in getting my crop worked over. But rest assured, I will do all I can to save both. I see my wheat has got the rust in it. But I only noticed it on the blades. I don’t see any on the stalk yet. I have been searching my oats to see if it had attacked them but didn’t discover any. There is a good deal of complaint in the country of the oats and wheat having the rust. I have ploughed around 160 acres of corn this week. I couldn’t get [ ] tomorrow but will finish on Monday.

I see that Old Abe has declared war and nothing else will do him but it. There was 1200 Louisiana troops passed through Canton last Tuesday for Virginia. All are well.

Yours truly, — J. Hopkins

Letter 5

[Editor’s Note: From September 14-20, 1861, the 9th SC Regiment (SCV) performed picket duty, which included light picket firing. Circa September 25th, the Regiment was again on picket duty for three (3) days near Lewinsville, then again October 5-9 at Wells Cross Roads, both in Virginia. On October 16th, the Regiment left Germantown for McLean’s Ford, VA and was engaged in picket firing the next day near the Makeley House, where it mistakenly fired on a Georgia regiment. The 9th SC Regiment (SCV) took one or two (1 or 2) prisoners only to discover they were Georgians.]

Camp near Germantown [Fairfax county, Va.]
September 24th 1861

Dear Father,

We returned from picket duty last Friday night, being out ever since the Saturday before [Sept. 14-20]. The Lancaster Greys [Co. A], the rifle company on the right of our regiment, killed six or seven Yankees. One was killed in six or eight steps of one of their (Lancaster Greys) posts. Capt. Whitworth’s Company [Co. C] took one prisoner. They shot at him twice but did not hit him. He threw down his arms and ran up to them and said, “I Suderner, you Suderner.” He was a Hungarian. He wanted to make out he was a “suderner” but they took him and sent him a prisoner to Headquarters. The one that was killed so near the post of the Lancaster Greys was a Vermonter. He lived about two hours after he was shot, the bullet going through him, breaking his backbone. He said his name was W. A. Snow ¹ from Vermont. Some of our men dug a grave and buried him without a coffin.

I got two shots with English’s rifle but did no harm. I crawled about a hundred and fifty yards in advance of my post and shot from the top of a hill at a fellow in a yard about two hundred and fifty yards distant. He was walking at the time. I had the sights of the rifle raised to 400 yards. Consequently, I shot over his head but he ran as if the old fellow was behind him. The second time I was on post. English saw a fellow about 400 yards off. English was terribly excited. He fired at him with a musket although I ordered him not to do it. I was fixing up the rifle at the time, it having got wet the day before. After English shot, the fellow hardly moved but raised his gun and fired at my post (I had five men at my post besides myself). Then I took a crack at him with the rifle but it snapped before it fired and I did not touch the fellow. He dodged very low as if he heard the ball above him. He fired two more shots at out post. We could hear the bullets whizzing above us plain. We could not get another shot at him on account of thick bushes between him and us.

Orders were read out on dress parade yesterday evening to the effect that we should not fire at the enemy’s pickets—only in self defense. While we were on picket, we lived mostly on roast corn and Irish potatoes without salt, and slept under the blue canopy of heaven for our shelter. The place where we were on duty is thirteen or fourteen miles from this camp. You may be certain that all were tired and a great many had sore feet. We rested about half an hour after our arrival and then the five companies on the right were ordered to go on picket, our company being the second on the right was, consequently, in for it. We came back Friday night, foot sore, wearied, and hungry sure! I could scarcely walk when I got here. English stood it very well indeed! We were very glad when we got back to camp.

I forgot to mention that Nathan Roberts, one of our company, received a slight wound on the cheek. He is about fifteen years old—a meddlesome, impudent little fellow. The ball just grazed his cheek. He bellowed and ran like a clever fellow. It was his own fault. He would not obey the sergeant in command of his post. He said he was dying, said he was shot in the heart. Everybody had laughed at him and were rather glad than sorry that he was wounded slightly. He proved himself a coward. Before he was a great brag and bother to the whole company. He behaves himself now and keeps as quiet as a mouse. You cannot see a sign of his wound now.

I am sorry to say I have not received my box. Mr. House has lost it if you sent it by him; he brought the others safe but lost mine. Send by Adams Express next time. Tell Mother just to send the rest of the shirts and socks & not to make up for those Mr. House lost. Send us some preserves and other good things. English is complaining a little about his same disease. I am quite well. Hasgow is sick with jaundice. He is better today. Send to Lee’s Pills. Our company is improving fast. All from our neighborhood are improving fast. John Coon and Jim McCrea are quite sick, the only sick cases in the company. Write soon. Remember me to all. English says he will write today. Your affectionate son, — J. Hopkins

¹ James remembered his name as “W. A. Snow” but it was surely William E. Snow (1841-1861) of Co. H, 2nd Vermont Infantry. Only the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Vermont regiments had been formed and deployed to Virginia by September 1861 and William was the only private in any of these three regiments whose first name started with a “W.” His military records indicate he was “wounded” while on picket and taken POW. He was officially removed from the muster rolls on 30 September 1861. William was the son of Lewis and Hannah (Shaw) Snow of Milton, Chittenden county, Vermont.

Letter 6

Camp of CSA
June 15, 1863

Dear Mother,

Your letter was received last week. I hope sister is not seriously ill. I will excuse her for not writing to me but hope to hear from her soon. I wrote to Father yesterday and to Sallie today.

Jack Bates came to camp Friday last and returned yesterday. He was looking very bad indeed. He intends to put in a substitute. I think he is perfectly right for he is not able to stand the service. If he continues in service another year, I believe it will kill him. He did not bring the wine. He will bring it this week. He expects to bring his substitute down tomorrow or next day.

Please send me a small box with some ginger and pound cakes, a loaf of light bread, a can of butter, and about a peck of flour. We have lard. Also send a few cucumbers and squashes. Put the things in as small a box as possible. If no one at home eats the fig preserves, you had better send them to me. Please make me a bottle or two of cherry bonnce [?] and send me—that is, if you have the cherries. I left the pad that goes behind my saddle to keep my blanket off the horse’s back. Please send it to me. Have as small a box as possible. Bob has written home for two or three hams and other things. Bob has changed a great deal in his ways. I like him better than I ever did. He is very much liked by the whole company. Bob, Joel, and myself mess together. you could not find any three men who agree together more harmoniously than we do. I do not find camp life anything like as unpleasant and disagreeable as I did before I went home.

Dr. Gregorie has examined me. He says I can do camp guard and drill but I must not go on picket. I am feeling very well indeed. My wound is getting better. I believe in a few days it will be entirely healed up. Our company went on picket Saturday and returned to camp yesterday. I did not go on picket. I concluded to run the blockade and go to Savannah which I suceeded in doing safely. I got back Sunday morning nine o’clock.

We have rain nearly every day. It is very cloudy now. It will rain in few hours. I eat dinner at Mr. Gregorie’s yesterday. It is the second time I have been to see him since my return. Mrs. Gregorie sends her respects to you. Mr. Gregorie says he has not heard from father for some time and seems very anxious to hear from him. I have heard that Father has sent for his negroes. Is it so? Write soon as you can and let e know all the news. Please send the box by Express as soon as you can. Remember me to all at home and to Cousin Kizzie. I remain as ever, your affectionate son, — James Hopkins

Mississippi Home Front

1861: Georgia Ann Magruder to Martha Baldwin Magruder

May 26, 2025 Griff Leave a comment

The following letter was written by Georgia Ann Magruder (1840-1909), the daughter of Maj. John Archibald Magruder (1805-1887) and Mary Ann Wilder (1819-1895) of Sharon, Madison county, Mississippi. Georgia mentions her sister “Joe” in the first sentence of her letter. Joe was Josaphine America Magruder (1838-1885). She mentions her brother Henry in the second paragraph. He was Henry Archibald Magruder (1841-1896). The sister that she must have written this letter to would have been Martha Baldwin Magruder (1843-1898) who married James Hopkins (1839-1904), the son of William Hopkins (1805-1863) and Emma Goodwyn Hopkins (1808-1868) of Richland county, South Carolina. James Hopkins attended the University of Virginia and served in Co. B of the 9th South Carolina Infantry and Co. K of the 4th South Carolina Cavalry. He was wounded on Oct. 22, 1862, at the Second Battle of Pocotaligo and was captured at the Battle of Matadequin Creek, Va., on May 30, 1864. He was held as a prisoner of war at Point Lookout, Md., until he was exchanged in March 1865.

Georgia Ann Magruder was married to Dr. Isaac Asbury Shelby (1833-1909) in 1866 and had at least four children. She was born in Taliaferro county, Georgia, but lived most of her life in Madison county, Mississippi. Georgia’s letter was datelined “Oakland” which I believe must have been the name of her father’s plantation in Madison county. We learn from her letter that Georgia was employed as a private tutor and had as many as 12 scholars in 1861.

Georgia’s letter refers to a Confederate soldier known as “Kit,” a prevalent diminutive for Christopher, who appears to have originated from Madison County. This soldier faced disciplinary action for the act of scalping a Union soldier, supposedly as a war trophy intended for a female acquaintance. The identity of this soldier remains unclear.

[Note: This letter is from a private collection ^(RM) and was offered for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by express consent.]

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

Oakland
September 23, 1861

My dear sister,

Sister Joe received your short letter last week and we are glad to know that you are still enjoying good health. I spent last week in Leake county [Mississippi] and found all our relations well except Grandma who had had chills, but had succeeded in breaking them. Uncle [Henry] Hill was married about two weeks ago to the Widow [Nancy] McCulloch of Conway. I did not approve of the match. In the first place, she has two children and is only twenty-six years old and I do not think her capable of taking charge of the children. Cousins Eubulous, Clay, and Tom [Hill] are all in the Army. ¹ Their company is at Brookhaven [Mississippi] but I heard last Saturday that they were ordered to go to Kentucky in a week or two. Cam Leflore ² is out on a visit but will leave in a few days to join a company in Arkansas. Joe will remain with her relatives.

Aunt Martha [Magruder Baldwin] sent to Canton today for Cousin Will [Owen Baldwin (1839-1911)]. He was discharged on account of his ill health. I and Mit will go to see him tomorrow night. Celeste Hayes came home last week. I have not seen her but I heard that she had grown quite tall. You will come in December. Then all the family will be at home but brother Henry.

Aunt Sarah [Magruder] Scott [wife of Elias Scott] will bring Winkey and Missie down next week to school. I think I will have my hands full when I get my twelve little scholars. Pomp is sitting by me studying Geography and says I must not forget to tell you that he made this ink. He is always experimenting on something. He and Bud Solomon are knitting comforters for the soldiers. They are learning as fast as any little boys can. Mit is studying music but declares she will never learn it, or at least she is afraid she will not.

We received a letter from Uncle Drane today stating that Virg ³, Mr. Staples, and Shaw are in the Army. Cotton crops were very promising until we had a wet spell and since then the farmers do not think they will average more than half a crop. Beck will be down soon to spend some time. I would not be surprised if she and George Thompson marry before next year although his wife has not been dead but four months.

Pompey Scott went to Leesburg to join Hill’s company and lost all his money before he reached the place.

Every lady on the county are sewing or knitting for the soldiers.

I have bad news to tell you about Kit. He was scalping a Yankee and was put on double duty for it. He said he promised to send a young lady a Yankee’s scalp and that was the cause of the punishment he had. Tell me in your next if you are the lady that Kit was working for.

Pa does not think it necessary that you and Cartagenia [Scott] remain in Salem longer than this year for he has concluded to bring you home and sending you to me two years. You will do to quit school. Mr. [William] Stigler has joined the Army, so Pa is his own overseer.

I intend putting Willie in reading next week. He is very smart. He says he wants to see sissie Morphy. Beulah and Fannie are the prettiest and smartest children in Madison county. Esq. Ried came home with me from Carthage. I do not think there is another school besides mine in the county. I am certain there is none unless they are in the lower part of the county.

Pomp had a chill yesterday but says I must tell you he is well and hardy. Mother says what has become of that gentleman you got acquainted with in Thompson.

I have written all I can think of so I will close by asking you to write soon. Yours affectionate sister, — Georgia

¹ Eubulius, Henry Clay, and Thomas Hill were the three eldest sons of Henry Hill (1811-1884) who came to Landes county, Mississippi, from Warren county, Georgia. He was the son of Fielding Hill (1791-1845) and Isabella Gibson (1794-1834). Henry was married 1st to Sarah J. [unknown], and second to Nancy Elizabeth Phillips McCullough of Conway.

² Lewis Campbell (“Cam”) Leflore (1836-1876) was the son of Benjamin L. Leflore and Mary DE Juzan. He was married to Josephine (“Joe”) B. Carrington (b. 1834) and lived in Leake county, Mississippi.

3 I believe this was Virgil Leigh Drane (1832-1903) was the son of James Drane (1808-1869). James was married first to Matilda Blanche Shaw (1813-1859) in 1840. He married second to Amelia S. Edwards in 1862.