73rd Ohio Infantry

1862: Edwin Miller Furry to Margaret Jane (Rowe) Furry

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I could not find an image of Edwin but here is a pre-war image of George F. Lint who served in Co. E, 73rd OVI.

These letters were written by Edwin Miller Furry (1833-1862) who enlisted at the age of 28 to serve in Co. G, 73rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI). He was appointed 1st Sergeant on 8 March 1862 and died on 23 September 1862 from wounds received at the Second Battle of Bull Run on 30 August 1862.

Edwin was the son of David Montgomery Furry (1809-1875) and Ruth McVay (1812-1893) of Staunton, Fayette county, Ohio. Edwin’s parents eventually moved to Hamilton county, Indiana. Edwain was married in September 1858 to Margaret Jane Rowe (1839-1912) and they had one son, William (“Willie”) A. Furry (1859-1946) before Edwin went into the service.

The 73rd Ohio was organized in the fall of 1861 and had shipped out to fight from Chillicothe on 24 January 1862.  From their initial deployment at Camp Fetterman in Grafton, Virginia (now West Virginia) they began a campaign through the rugged mountains of Virginia where Edwin penned these letters to his wife in March 1862.

Letter 1

Clarksburg, Harrison county, Va.
Headquarters 73rd Regiment OV
March 2, 1862

Well Margy Jane, one more Sabbath has rolled around and I am seated in my tent to write you a few lines. Yesterday was a very fine day, the 1st of March. The General Inspector was here. We all passed through on inspection of arms & knapsacks. This morning it is raining and sleeting & very disagreeable. We are all housed in our tents while it rains.

We received our pay last Wednesday. We was paid up to the first of January, I had to buy a pair of boots which cost me $5. I will not send any of it home unless you need it. If you do, tell me in your next letter & I will send it to you & how much you want. I have went hungry several days since we left Camp Logan because I have not had the money to spare & I went to town yesterday & to get nicknacks for Sunday. All we could get was some molasses & some eggs. We had eggs, molasses & bread this morning for breakfast. This is something new to us here. It is thought that we would be at home by April or May.

We are receiving joyful news every day. There is no doubt but the rebellion will close in a short time. Margy Jane, I have not received but one letter from you since I have been here. The other boys get two or three letters a week & I have not got but two wince we left Tuterman. Margy Jane, I wish you would write oftener. If you write three times a week it [ ] at least. If you have not time in the day time, the nights are long. Write as often as you can. Margy Jane, it is a great satisfaction to get letters from home.

We are all doing the best we can, living on hard crackers and beef. I thought I would give a quarter for as many good light cakes as I could eat. I want to bring a lot of these crackers home to pave our yard. They will be as good as stone for their purpose.

We have not been received into any brigade yet. We had been in Rosecrans’ Division but from some cause, we are not in now. We are here now to guard this point. The 5th Virginia is here but leaves tomorrow. We will stay here some time probably and may come home from here if the rebels run as they have been for some time past. I have no idea that we will ever see any more fighting. We may be kept out some time to guard these points. There is several hundred horses here and wagons. This is headquarters of Rosecrans’ Division.

We have now been to dinner. We had buckwheat cakes, molasses and bread. One of the boys went out yesterday and got them buckwheat flour. Some of us gave him five cents for three cakes. This made a fine dinner for Sunday.

I will have my picture taken this week. Dwire [?] is going to resign on account of health. S. Fellers will take his place. D. L. Griner his place. You would be glad to know who will get Griner’s place. Well, I will tell you. Captain told me the other day that he was going to confer the favor on me. You may think it strange that I can be promoted in the service of the U. S. It is those that perform thir duty that are favored with promotions. This office will bring me $20 per month.

Give my respects to John S___ & Steep. Tell Steep that I have saw a rebel fall at the fire of our arms. You ought to see them turn up their heels before the Buckeye Boys.

This sheet you must keep to yourself. I write this to let you know the situation of our regiment. We have the measles among us. There is about 200 of our men have them at this time. There is as many that have got over them so as to be about but not so as to be on duty. There is but a small squad of us on dress parade to what there was at Camp Logan. Norman Hire has them. He is not bad at all. Mose and Joe went out and got some roots & made him some tea & the measles are out on him as thick as hail.

The rest of us Staunton boys—for this is the name we go by—are all as fat as a bear. Joe is as fat as Old Willis almost. We are all in good heart but think we would like to be at home a short time at least. Say a month. I think sometimes I would like to be at home making rails or boards, picking brush, or something of that kind. But the time will come after a while. Then we can be proud that we have turned out in defense of our lovely homes. We ought to ever be thankful that the sunny soil of Ohio has never been made a battlefield.

I will try to give you some idea of the way the citizens of Virginia have to live. In parts where there is no army station[ed], the Union men have to leave their homes. Them that do not have to lay out of doors at night to keep the rebels from taking them prisoners. There is no woman nor man can go to town with a little marketing without a pass. Just suppose you wanted to go to Staunton & you had to have a pass signed by the Colonel & you would pass along, say about VanPelt’s, and there there would be a guard. He would halt you & you would have to show your pass. That is the reason why there is so little produce brought to town. There is no rebel army near here but there is now and then are secesh [pass] through the country, ready to burn bridges or tear up the railroads or fire some Union man’s house or barn. This is the reason why there have to be guards all through the country.

A post-war picture of Margaret Jane & Willie Furry

We have been to supper. Had coffee & had crackers. I shall have to have a new set of teeth or the old ones filled up for they are getting very dull. I think I can appreciate cornbread when I get home. It is dark. I must light a candle.

Did you ever get my overcoat & carpet sack that I sent from Camp Logan? You must not be uneasy when [you] see how many of our boys are sick. You know I have had the measles. You know there is no other disease in the regiment. I have understood since I commenced writing that we wil stay here till the first of April at least. If we do, we will in all probability come home from here. I hear the church bell ringing. It sounds very much like Old Staunton.

I hope this may find you all in good health as it leaves me. I must close. Let no one see how many sick there is in the regiment. It will make uneasiness when there need not be. All the Saunton boys are well. May the Lord bless you and Willey & [take] care of you until I get home.

Give my regards to all enquiring friends, if any such there be. Write soon. Write soon, Margy Jane. I still remain your affectionate husband until death.

Letter 2

Camp at Weston
Lewis County, Virginia
73rd Regiment Ohio Volunteers
March 21, 1862

Well, Marg. Jane, I received your kind letter of the 17th & was glad to hear from you all, but sorry to hear that your Mother had the sore throat. I hope she is well by this time.

It is almost too dark to write. I will have to light a candle soon. I received your letter today at 4 o’clock. It is time for roll call [and] I will have to stop awhile. I have lit a candle & am writing on a little box. It has been raining almost all day.

We Left Clarksburg on Tuesday & got here on Thursday. We started from camp about ten o’clock with knapsacks & blankets on our backs & our guns & cartridge boxes making a load of about 45 lbs. besides our haversacks & canteens. We traveled 10 miles & halted at night in a meadow, tore down two stacks of hay & made beds of it, tore down a fence & built our fires, made some coffee, eat our super, lay down & slept well till morning when we resumed our march. We traveled until three o’clock when we arrived in town. Col. Smith came on & picked our camp ground. As soon as we got on the ground, we net to work, pitched our tents, floored them, had them ready by night to stay in. This is the best town we have been in in Virginia. It is the county seat of Lewis County. It is situated in a small valley on the west fork of the Monongahela River. The town is surrounded by mountains.

The citizens are very clever. This is the first town I have saw in Virginia that there was not vacant houses. There is several fine churches here. There is a few slaves here but not near as many niggers as there is in Washington. There was twenty-five wagons come with us & did not bring all of our things then. Col. [Jacob] Hyer stayed back to have them brought on. We look for them tomorrow. Col. Hyer is one of the best men in the world, I think.

We left 28 of our men at Clarksburg sick & there was about as many left out of other companies as ours. Henry [M.] Marks was going to start home the next day after we left. I did not get to see him the day that we started. He stayed in town on Monday night. I went to town to see him but was in a hurry & could not find him. Captain [Silas] Irion has gone to town to stay all night. He leaves the company in my care as D[avid] L. Griner is at Clarksburg. S. Fellers has gone to Ohio recruiting for the regiment. The Orderly Sergeant’s position is a very honorable position but a very hard one. There is a great deal of work to do.

You said you would look for my picture. I will send it to you as soon as I can have it taken to look like anything. There is no place in this country that they can take pictures. There is some little one horse artists that will charge one three prices. I would have had it taken before this but thought you would not want it unless it looked like something.

More glorious news for us today. The Burnside Expedition has drove the rebels again in North Carolina. They are fleeing before our troops at every point. It is thought by all of the knowing men that the war will all be over by the middle of April. God speed the time that it may be over with. Soldiering is honorable but hard work. But I am thankful that I have had good health so far. The winter is pretty well over & I think I am going to get home well & hearty. I have not slept in a bed since you was in Chillicothe. I have eat four meals at a table—three I paid for & one I got for nothing.

I have taken my shirts & drawers out to a woman to have them washed. I have so much to do know that I have not time to do any washing myself. The Staunton boys are well… it is now time to blow out the lights. I will finish tomorrow. This is Saturday evening & it has been snowing & raining all day. The camp is all mud. I have just received a letter from you that you wrote the 17th. This was the last one that you wrote that day.

Well, Marg Jane, we have marching orders again to start on morning to go to Beverly, 45 miles distance from here. Then we will go to Cheat Mountain. From there to Staunton, Virginia. This is the supposition of us. There is some 30,000 troops ordered all on the same road. It is about 115 miles from here. It will take us about 4 weeks to get there. I will write again from Beverly & let you know all of the particulars of our travels.

You said you wanted me to be a good boy. I intend to do the best that I can, but it is hard for one to do right in the army. You see & hear all kinds of wickedness. Card playing is carried on all the time. I am thankful that I have never played any yet & never will while I live. You wanted to know if there was any disease in the regiment except the measles. There is none but the measles & mumps. I have had good health ever since I Left home. If I can have my health, it is all that I ask. I[saac J.] Sperry & myself stand it about the best of any of our company. Captain [Silas] Irion has gone to town again tonight. I think the captain will before we get to Cheat Mountain. I will get to see Syl. Davis when we get there. Captain Honeson is there. I saw his nigger the day before we left Clay on his way to Washington Ohio.

You wanted me to tell you when I would be at home. This I cannot tell. But the way things look & the way the rebels & are running, the war will be over this spring I think. By the first of May we will be at home. Keep in good heart Margy Jane. I will be at home e’re long & then. thank God, I can say that I left my home to fight for the flag of our country & our lovely homes. I will tell you what I. Sperry & J had for supper. We had eggs & light bread, molasses & beef. We thought it was bully.

This is Sunday morning. I had not time to finish my letter last night. It is now 9 o’clock. I suppose you are doing up the wash about now. Mose & Bill [Rowe] & Joseph Horseman are in the tent talking about our march, I think Bill would rather be at home. Moses [Rowe] is writing a letter home. I suppose Henry Mark is at home by this time. Margy Jane, I guess now had better direct your letter to Clarksburg as they will follow us. Direct them there then. Make some garden, Margaret, so we will have some when I get home. I have wrote all that I can think of now, I believe. Write soon, Give my respects to all.

Have you drawed any more money? Take no trouble about that letter that you wrote to me about my money. I hope ‘ere long I will see you. You will certainly not think I would get made at you for anything if you know how I feel towards you. When I get home, I intend to do my best to live comfortable the balance of our lives if hard work will do it. I know we can live in our little home. Ohio I want to live and die in. We know nothing of hard times there is you could see the way people live in Virginia.

I must close by saying I ever & ever remain your most sincere & affectionate husband until death. Kiss Willy for me. Bless his life. I would be so glad to see him. Take good care of him, Margy Jane. From E. M. Furry

To M. J. Furry, John & Mother. Write soon. Goodbye for this time. Give my respects to Nancy and everybody else & Jessie Rowe, John Levers.

I hear the church bell ringing. It sounds like Old Staunton. But it is not.

37th Indiana Infantry, Battle of Stones River

1863: Lewis Morton Hunter to Hattie E. Hunter

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I could not find an image of Lewis but here is one of Robert Whittaker who served with him in Co. H, 37th Indiana Infantry

The following letter was written by Lewis Morton Hunter, the son of Lewis M. Hunter (1806-1859) and Maria Martin (1836-1914) of Jackson, Decatur county, Indiana. Lewis wrote the letter to his younger sister, Harriet (Hannah”) Elizabeth Hunter (1845-1920).

Lewis enlisted on 18 October 1861 as a private in Co. H, 37th Indiana Infantry. He survived the war and mustered out three years later on 27 October 1864. In his letter he refers to his brother Sgt. Joseph Hunter (1834-1880) who served in Co. E, 82nd Indiana Infantry.

In his letter, Lewis provides a brief sketch of the Battle of Stones River in which his regiment played a part, being in Negley’s Division of Rosecrans’ Army of the Cumberland. The 37th was up early in line of battle on the frosty morning of December 31st 1862, when “scarcely clear daylight…the awful roar of cannon, and the sharp rattle of thousands of rifles told us plainly that the battle had begun” on its right. In Dan Master’s recently published book, “Hell by the Acre,” (page 361): “Negley’s men spent the first few hours of the battle as spectators to the disaster on the right. As the roar of the battle ‘drew louder and louder, evidently directing itself somewhat at our rear. we began to choke in the throat, to think of home, and wondering if our turn would come soon,; recalled Henry Haynie of the 19th Illinois. ‘The right was not so far off and we could see the enemy doubling up the boys in blue. We could hear the hoarse shriek of the shell, the swift rattle of musketry, the sound of buzzing bullets. the impact of solid shot, the chug when human forms were hit, the yells of pain, cries of agony, the fearful groans and encouraging words and the death gasps of which told of those who had reported to the God of Battles.'”

It wasn’t long before the boys of the 37th saw a “great crowd of demoralized soldiers running to the rear” and they were ordered to pile knapsacks and form a line in a cedar thicket about one mile to the right of the Nashville Pike and ordered “to check, and hold in check the advancing enemy.” But the regiment “had scarcely got into position when the Confederates, flushed with their success on our right, assailed the 37th with all the pride and determination of the Southern soldiers. The conflict was fierce, close, and bloody.” After repulsing the enemy three times, the 37th fell back, “passing over the ground that had been fought over by troops in its rear, unknown to the regiment.” [Source: Regimental History by George H. Puntenney, 1896]

From the jacket cover of Dan Master’s book, “Hell by the Acre” published by Savas Beatie in 2024.

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Camp near Murfreesboro
January 25, 1863

Dear Sister,

I take this opportunity this Sabbath morning to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well and I sincerely hope that this will find you in the enjoyment of good health. It is raining today. It rains most of the time this winter. We have had very little snow this winter and very little cold weather.

The 82nd [Indiana Infantry] is camped close to us. I get to see Jos. often. He is well and looks well in soldier clothes. Captain Kendrick died yesterday with the fever. He was a brave and gallant man. I have remailed John’s letters to him and wrote to him but got no answer since the first letter that I got from him. He was then in the Convalescent Camp in Nashville.

January 26th. Joseph and Dan Baker come over and I stopped writing till today. Dan was just come from Nashville. He saw John in town. His health is some better. He has left the Convalescent Camp and I don’t know where he is now. If you write to him, direct to Nashville P. O., Tennessee. But perhaps he has written to you and that you know where he is.

But another subject. I will send my likeness to you as soon as I can get it taken but that may be a long time and military life is very uncertain. I will sed you money sometime for you to send me your likeness. I am glad that you got them rings that I sent to you. I made them. The red one I made in Alabama. I heard from John’s letter that you had gone out to Ripley to Mother’s so I will send this letter to Elrod’s. When you write, write a long letter and tell me how much you learned this winter at school and how you get along and all the news. You don’t know how bad I want to see you, my sister Hattie, but as a soldier, I must be contented with a soldier’s lot to be always at my post in defense of our glorious country.

You have heard of our fighting and of the great Battle of Stones River and how we whipped Braxton Bragg and the rebels and his retreat in the night and of our brave men that fell. The 37th [Indiana Infantry] fought on the last day of the old year and the second of the new. The last day that we fought, we charged on the rebels whipping them and drove them from the field with great slaughter. They was on both sides of the river. The Federals crossed the river on double quick, charged into the woods and captured the rebel battery. The day was ours. We whipped them badly. Our first day’s fight we come near being all captured. We was nearly surrounded. We passed over rebel dead to get out. I was in the hottest of the fight and the air was full of bullets but I did not get a scratch or a mark on me.

Farewell for this time. From L. M. Hunter

To his sister Hattie E. Hunter

30th Indiana Infantry, Draft

1864: William Henry Lockwood to his Parents

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Underlining the prevalence of draft resistance, and its echoes in broader American culture, the draftee in this cartoon says, “Doctor I’m weak in the back,” to which the examining surgeon replies, “Yes, I see it – can’t go – too delicate.”
Courtesy Library Company of Philadelphia.

The following letter was only signed “Henry” and though he gave his regiment as the 30th Indiana Infantry, the regimental roster does not include any late war draftees in it. The reorganized 30th Infantry, however, does and I was able to find him in Co. C of that reorganized regiment. He was William Henry Lockwood, born 1835, married in 1863, the son of Wesley Lockwood (1808-1881) and Mary Ann Philo (1809-1901) of Quincy, Branch county, Michigan.

It isn’t clear where Henry and his wife were living at the time of the 1864 draft but it’s presumed someplace in Indiana as he was subject to the draft there and he speaks of his wife “coming to Michigan” for a visit. According to the roster of the reorganized 30th Indiana, Henry was mustered into the service on 29 September 1864 and he was mustered out on 13 July 1865.

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Pulaski, Tennessee
November 17th 1864

Dear Parents, Brother & Sisters,

It is with pleasure that I improve the present time in penciling a few lines to let you know where I am. I am with the 30th Indiana Regiment which is at Pulaski now. How long we will stay here, I do not know. We are not assigned to any company yet so when you send me any letters, direct to Pulaski, Tennessee, 30th Regiment Indiana Volunteers, care of Captain Boydson, and they will come all right.

I am well at present except a bad cold. I had the diarrhea when I started from Indianapolis and it continued until I got here, but I am better now. The soldier’s life is no life for me. I used to think that I had hard times at home. I longed to be of age so that I could have liberty and do as I pleased, but I did not know what enjoyment was. Now I can see when I spent my happiest days. It was when I was young and had not a care on my mind, when I had kind parents to look at my welfare and take care of me when sick, to guard me from danger and give their advice in regard to my best interest. But how changed is the scene. I am in the army and surrounded by the evil influences that generally prevail in a camp life, and also exposed to the murderous fire of the enemy’s guns. In looking into the future all is dark in respect to things earthly. It is my prayer to God that I may be permitted to survive the dangers that the soldier is exposed [to] and meet with my friends on earth again. I spend a great many hours in thinking of home.

I did come with a willing mind. I hated [to] leave home and friends most dear and take a my life in my hand for the purpose of fighting to sustain this cruel war. [But] I could not get anyone to go in my place so I had to go, and I must make the best of it I can. If I fall in battle or by disease, it is my prayer that I may fall with the armor of Christ, my Redeemer, on. Pray for me.

When I think of my father and mother, brother and sisters and also my dear wife, tears will unbidden start in my eyes and I have to go out by myself and give vent to my feelings. Father, tell Libbeous not to be over anxious to get into the army [for] if once he gets in, he will wish himself out again. He is the best off to stay at home as long as he can. Jennie talked of coming to Michigan on a visit. Make her as contented and happy as you can. She had rather I would have let the last cent and last bed go for a substitute than had me go to the army, but that could not be done as substitutes were from 700 to 1,000 dollars and I could not raise that sum. The best way I could fix it, consequently, [was] I had to go myself. I hope that I will live to get home again.

The rebels are no where near us now. The weather is warm here now. There has not been frost enough to kill the blackberry leaves yet. The crickets are singing as merry as in June in Michigan. There are lots of grasshoppers and spiders running as lively as in summer up there. The country is desolate and dreary. Everything appears to be on a standstill. It is all high hills, deep gullies, and rocks. If what I have seen is an index of the Sunny South, it not worth half the money that has been spent to carry on this war—[to] say nothing about the lives lost and families broken up. I had no idea of the destruction of property until I came here and have not begun to see all yet. The railroad has been burned to the ground, fences used for firewood, and the whole country presents one almost unbroken commons. I will be glad for one when the end comes. When that will be, I do not know.

Direct your letters to Pulaski, Tennessee, 30th Regiment Indiana Volunteers, in care of Capt. Boydson and they will come all right. I want some of you to write as soon as you get this. I want to hear from home. I have [not] heard one word from any of my friends since I left. Do not delay 24 hours. One letter from home will do me a great deal of good. So write immediately. From your son, — Henry

Remember me to the throne of Grace. Best respects to all. Tell Horace to write. I have only one sheet.

143rd New York Infantry

1864: Gilbert Keene to Sophie Adorah Wheeler

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I could not find an image of Gilbert but here is one of Aldebert A. Carrier of Co. H, 143rd New York Infantry (Tenn. State Library & Archives)

The following letter was written by Gilbert (“Gib”) Keene (1841-1888), the son of Joseph Keene (1815-1894) and Hannah Gray (1824-1899) of Rockland, Sullivan county, New York. Gilbert’s military records informs us that he enlisted on 15 August 1862 as a private in Co. A, 143rd New York Infantry. He served nearly three years, mustering out on 6 July 1865. Following his discharge he married Emma L. Rose (1844-1922) and the couple had at least five children before his death in 1888.

The 143rd New York served in the Eastern Theater of the Civil War until the fall of 1863 when they were transported to the Western Theater to serve in the Army of the Cumberland. They participated on Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign and the March to the Sea but Gilbert was apparently on detached duty at Moccasin Point, Tennessee, serving on the cracker line in the quartermaster’s office.

Gibert wrote the letter to Sophie Adorah Wheeler (1847-1887), the daughter of Leroy Moore Wheeler (1806-1880) and Martha Reed (1817-1887) of Rockland.

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Addressed to Miss Sophia Wheeler, Rockland P. O., Sullivan County, New York

Moccasin Point [Tennessee]
October 9th [1864]

Esteemed Friend,

Finding myself unemployed this morning & thinking that I will have to write again if I ever get a letter from you, I seat myself to write or at least to try the second time. There was a paper came to hand yesterday which I am very much (I am) indebted to you for. It brought me the news of the town with the Union State Ticket, & with all of the rest it said don’t vote for Little Mac which you may be sure I will not (no, not I). Old Abe is the man for me with the Governor of this State [Andy Johnson] to assist him. But by the way, I think I had better let politics go as I have a good mens questing [?] (as the Rev. Mr. Davies says) to ask & to compliment you on minding me so good when you hung out your sign for Lott. Oh, I can hear from you if you won’t write yourself, but Gib is not as well now as he was when he wrote before although he is better than he has been. I am sure he should not grumble much for he does just as he has a mind but coming home, & if he had his Descriptive Roll, you would see him. But perhaps you do not know who Gib is so I will have to tell you. He is my best friend & with all the rest, he has a way of resting the lamb.

Said I to him one day, “Gib, do you think Miss W. intends to send her photograph in return for yours?” Said I, “How should I know. I am sure I should dun her if it was me.” Said He, “I will do it if I live.” But by the by, you will see a Chattanooga paper up there which I think you should like to have—not for the news but for the keepsake that will be in it. And I think there will be some flower seed in it called Prince’s Feather. They are very nice. I do not know as I ever saw any up there though they may be.

People is having fine luck up there getting married I hear but I do not know as they can go ahead of folks here. There is no end to the weddings here. The Tennessee girls is mighty fond of the Yankees (as they say). But I must tell you of the dance I was at the other evening that beat me where an old woman one hundred and eleven years old beat them all. What do you think of that? But Soph, Oh, I meant Miss Wheeler, I think it is time I closed for fear I will not get an answer to this. You will please write as soon as received. Give my regards to Lott & Mrs. Choeran, your Father & Mother my best wishes, & as for Soph, tell her I remain — G. Keene

Direct to Gilbert Keene, Chattanooga, Tenn. In care of Capt. Kirk, A. Q. M.

175th New York Infantry

1865: Garret Alonzo Empie to Emma (Pool) Empie

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The following letter was written by Garret Alonzo Empie (1832-1906), the son of John Isaac Empie (1807-1878) and Magdalena Becker (1804-1840) of Schoharie county, New York. Garret was married in 1853 to Emma Pool (1829-1880) and they had at least two children prior to 1860.

According to his military records, Garret enlisted on 27 September 1864 at Albany, New York, to serve one year in Co. E, 175th New York Infantry. He was 32 years old and employed as a laborer at the time of his enlistment. He stood 5 feet 9 inches tall, had grey eyes and brown hair. He gave his birthplace as Sharon, New York. He mustered out of the service with his company at Savannah, Georgia, on 30 June 1865. In the 1872 Schoharie County Gazetteer, he was listed as a farmer in Argusville.

Garret was killed in a street car accident en route to his home near Dayton, Ohio, in 1906.

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Addressed to Emma Empie, Argusville, Schoharie County, New York

Camp Sherman
Blairs Landing, South Carolina 1
March 23, 1865

Dear Emma,

How do you and the children do today? I am well and hope that when this reaches you that you are all well. We are at the Camp Distribution yet but I wish that I was to my regiment. I would feel more at home with my own boys. The reason that they call this Camp Sherman is that he camped on this ground two days and two nights with his army a few days before he took Charleston and Fort Sumter—that is 60 miles from here by water. I don’t [know] how far it is by land. We came by Fort Sumter and Charleston when we came here. It is quite a place but it ain’t as nice as Fort Monroe. That is a nice place and so is Hilton Head a nice place, but this place ain’t much. At the landing is the only house that is here. On the plantation, they was a lot of nigger huts but them are all tore down. The man that did own this mansion and this plantation is in the rebel army. He is the General Beauford. He owns four large plantations but now our folks has confiscated it and they will sell it so I think that he won’t make much by it.

Oh Emma, what do you think? I have quit chewing tobacco! I can’t afford it. It cost $2.50 and 3.00 per pound. That is to much for me. But it goes tuff. But I will try to tuff it out.

Now about the weather, it has been very nice and warm since we have been here but yesterday afternoon—then it rained quite hard, but today it is nice and clear—not quite as hot at it was before the rain. I don’t know when we shall leave here but they say we will go in a few days. I want to get there for I want to hear from home. There must be some letters there for me by this time. But I suppose that I will have it harder there than here for here we have nothing to do—only cook, eat, sleep, read. We have no guns so we can’t stand guard nor picket nor drill so we ain’t got to be out nights.

Some say that our brigade has left Savannah and gone to North Carolina to do provost duty at Morehead City. How it is, I don’t know. Some says that they are at Savannah yet. We hear so many camp stories, we don’t know which to believe, but it don’t make no difference about your writing. Direct to Washington to Co. E, 175 New York Vols. Regiment, 19th Army Corps, 2nd Division, 3rd Brigade. From pa pa G. A. Empie

Tell George to eat maple sugar for me.

1 A couple weeks earlier than Empie’s letter, B. Van Raalte of Holland, Michigan wrote that he was at Blair’s Landing. He said that he had arrived there by taking a tugboat up the Broad River about 25 miles to the landing. He said the convalescent camp was called Camp Blair’s Landing because “Blair landed here first with his troops.” At that time there were about six to seven thousand men there—all convalescents for Sherman only.

11th Massachusetts Light Artillery, Fort Howard near Weldon Railroad

1864: Unidentified William to Adeline Augusta Fifield

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This letter was written by a member of the 11th Massachusetts Independent Light Artillery who signed his name “William” but left us with few other clues to his identity. He mentions a number of Charlestown, Massachusetts friends and an “Uncle Child” but little else. Some time ago I transcribed a couple of letters by a member of the regiment named William Hazen Flanders (1841-1905) and there is an outside chance that he authored this one as well but the handwriting varies too widely for me to safely conclude it was his. Thinking his correspondent might have been a future wife, I learned that Adeline (“Addie”) Augusta Fifield (1840-1909) was the daughter of Daniel Fifield (1809-1896) and Elizabeth Russell Locke (1816-1902) and that she lived with her parents in Charlestown, Massachusetts, where her father worked in the furniture business and she worked as a seamstress. But she never married and died in 1909.

The battery was reorganized during December 1863 to serve a new term of three years. Reenlisted members of the 11th Massachusetts Battery formed the core of the new iteration. They were joined by new recruits to fill out the ranks. Capt. Edward Jones again served as commanding officer. The members of the battery were mustered in on January 2, 1864, trained at Camp Meigs, and departed Massachusetts on February 5. Reaching Washington, the battery was attached to the Second Division (commanded by Major General Robert B. Potter) of the IX Corps, assigned to the Army of the Potomac. The battery took part in the major battles of the Overland Campaign, though they were not heavily engaged until moved to the front lines on June 19 during the start of the Siege of Petersburg. On August 21 and 22, the battery took part in the Battle of Weldon Railroad while temporarily attached to the II Corps. The battery was in action at various points on the siege line at Petersburg during the fall and winter. On March 25, 1865, the battery played an important role during the Battle of Fort Stedman. As Confederate troops overtook Fort Stedman and temporarily broke through Union siege lines, the 11th Massachusetts Battery, posted in nearby Fort Friend, rendered key service in pushing back the assault. When the Confederates abandoned Petersburg and retreated towards Appomattox Court House, the 11th Massachusetts Battery joined other elements of the Army of the Potomac in pursuit. They were present for the surrender at Appomattox and were detailed with other artillery units to take charge of surrendered Confederate cannons.

Transcription

Addressed to Miss Addie A. Fifield, No. 26 Allston Street, Charlestown, Mass.

Fort Howard
Near Weldon Railroad
September 25, 1864

Augusta,

You long looked for and most welcome letter reached me yesterday morning. I thought it very strange that you did not write. Both your letters, written in April and June were received and answered, the last immediately after its receipt. I directed it as usual and it is strange that it did not reach you. I came to the conclusion that you had lost all interest in the army and those composing it. Indeed, I began to feel grieved at the seeming neglect of all the Charlestown folks to whom I had written, and had almost made up my mind to trouble them no more. I thought if friends were to be judged by their promptness in answering letters, I certainly had not many about Charlestown. I wrote to you, to John, to Sarah Jane, to Eliza Morse, and to Uncle Child, all about the first of July. All have answered at last except Mrs. Sherbourne. Now if I thought I was more sensitive on this point than other soldiers are, I should not make any complaint but I know that I am not. Not a mail arrives but that I hear complains from some of my comrades at not receiving expected letters. You mention receiving the photograph I sent, but do not allude to the one you were to send me, and which I have been anxiously expecting.

I should have answered your letter yesterday but the most of the day was taken up with an inspection of the battery by the Chief of Artillery. It was the first general or mounted inspection we have had since leaving Camp Barry. The whole battery, caissons and all, were reviewed and put through a course of drill. When we are in position of battle, the caissons (which are the carriages carrying the ammunition chests) are kept in park about half a mile in the rear so that the company have been divided all summer nearly and seem almost like two companies. I have been with the guns all the time and intend to continue with them if possible. Nearly every man in our detachment has changed his post except myself. I have a good easy one and am bound to stick to it if possible. It is not the safest post on the gun, however, as it is at the ammunition chest containing fifty rounds of powder and shell. If a spark of fire should happen to light in it or the enemy’s shell burst near it while open, up she’d go and me along with it. One of the batteries in our Corps—the 14th Massachusetts—had a chest exploded by one of the enemy’s shell and three or four men killed and wounded.

I had a very narrow escape just before I received your letter in June an account of which I wrote in the letter that you did not get. A shell struck the top of the breastworks close to my head and bounding up, burst nearly over me, the pieces flying in every direction. You had better believe we were glad enough to get away from our position there which we held forty-five days under a constant fire of pickets, and mortar shelling. But we had wonderful good fortune and lost but two killed and seven wounded. Compare our losses with some of the infantry regiments and see how much cause we have to be thankful for our preservation of life and limb.

The 56th, 56th, 58th, and 59th [Massachusetts] Regiments entered the campaign with us with nearly 1,000 men apiece. They cannot muster 150 men now. The 58th which is in our [Potter’s] division has only 125 for duty. They have many in the hospital sick, however, and so have we. Six of our men have died of disease, one deserted, two enlisted men and one Lieutenant have been discharged for disability, and we have a dozen or fifteen sick in the hospital so that in all we have lost thirty or thirty-five, many of whom will probably come back.

We had divine service this forenoon. We were addressed by the Rev. Mr. Stark, Chaplain of the 58th Regiment. We have had Sunday services but three or four times since we left Camp Barry. I wish I had some news to write but as I have written twice to John within as many weeks, and as you have probably seen both letters, I can think of nothing that will interest you. It is said there is a fight going on up on the right and heavy cannonading has been heard all day & some of the infantry are preparing to march, and in anticipation of orders I must bid you goodbye and close my letter. Please write soon. Your friend as ever, — William

8th New York Heavy Artillery, Fort Federal Hill

1863: Thomas C. Edwards to Mrs. Hattie Brown

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Though it is only signed Thomas, I feel confident this letter was written by Thomas C. Edwards (b. 1835) who served in Co. B, 8th New York Heavy Artillery. The regiment was organized at Lockport, New York as the 129th New York Volunteer Infantry and mustered on August 22, 1862, for three years service under the command of Colonel Peter Augustus Porter. Because heavy artillery regiments were needed for the defenses of Baltimore, the regiment was converted from infantry on October 3, 1862, and became the 8th New York Heavy Artillery on December 19, 1862. Companies L and M joined the regiment at Baltimore in February 1864.

Thomas C. Edwards—Age, 25 years. Enlisted, July 29, 1862, at Lockport; mustered in as corporal, Co. B, 129th Infantry, July 29, 1862 (which became the Eighth Heavy Artillery, December 19, 1862), to serve three years; promoted sergeant, April 25, 1863; quartermaster-sergeant, February 1, 1865; mustered out with company, June 5, 1865, at Munsons Hill, Va., as Thomas C. Edwards.

I have transcribed a large number of Thomas’s letters and posted them at:

Thomas Edwards, 8th New York H. A. (3 Letters)
Thomas Edwards, 8th New York H. A. (38 Letters)

Fort Federal Hill and the commanding view of the Bay and the City of Baltimore

Transcription

Addressed to Mrs. Hattie Brown, Niagara Falls, New York

Company B, 8th New York [Heavy] Artillery
Fort Federal Hill
Baltimore, February 23rd 1863

Friend Hattie,

I have looked for your letter for some time. Still it has not come & thinking this morning it will never reach me, I have seated myself at one of our pleasant east windows to write again that you may soon have another debt to pay, such as writing a letter to a soldier. By the way, are such debts very hard to pay? I hope you do not consider them so.

How do you do this beautiful morning? I hope you are well. Also all the friends at the Falls. Are you very busy now? I think Amanda wrote me you were washing dishes & doing housework now days, or were when she wrote. Wouldn’t you like a little help occasionally? If so, I would like to be there to help you—especially to wash dishes for I think I have made a great proficiency in that branch of housework of late. Did Amanda ever tell you how we do that work here? I think all of us soldier boys would make great housekeepers if we stay in the army our three years.

Yesterday was a very snowy cold day. The snow commenced falling very early in the morning & it continued falling until almost night & the air was so cold we were glad to keep in doors all day. The snow is six or eight inches deep this morning but the sun is shining so brightly today I think it will soon leave us. I wish you could be here a little while this morning. Do you wish so too? Well may by your work for a little time & just imagine yourself here. Our seat is just wide enough for two. My friend Charlie is sitting by my side just now but he is a very accommodating boy & will willingly give you his seat. There, he has gone already & I didn’t say a word to him. Isn’t he very good to vacate the seat for you? After all that isn’t why he left but because Sergeant Burns says he with out er boys must go out and shovel snow—that’s the reason he is so accommodating just now.

Isn’t this a pleasant place? From this window you can see the bay and hundreds of vessels & boats sailing upon its waters. Some of them more sluggishly along just as though they had plenty of time & never meant to be in a hurry, while others go shooting and puffing as though the life of someone depended upon their great speed. Now and then a little tug comes up the bay making the water all foam & wave, and it looks more as though it were flying than anything else. From here we can see Fort McHenry and away and beyond it several miles away Fort Carroll. This is not finished yet, but will be a very strong fort when it is done. It’s built out in the bay nearly equidistant from either shore. Across the bay from Fort McHenry some three miles from here we see Fort Marshall & that little long row of buildings you see just outside the fort are barracks, a portion of which were Co. B’s quarters while we were there. It is not as pleasant there as here and we hope we may not have to go back there again.

We can see nearly half of the city from here. How funny so many chimneys look peeping up above the snow covered roofs don’t they? Most of them spitting out smoke, not fire & smoke like a volcano—smoke only. The fire is beneath that snow-covered roof, warming the fingers of—do you believe it”’some secesh lady. Not all those fires are, still too many of the wreath of smoke, we see curling up so disdainfully, come from the dwelling of one who would gladly see this Union severed. Yes more, would willing help destroy it if he dare. Father of our Country, where is thy spirit on this great day of rejoicing. Ah! methinks thou wouldst harshly rebuke some of those who are now trying to sever the union thou so nobly fought for in days gone by were thou here today. I think it strange that anyone should ever think of trying to destroy such a government as this. I don’t wonder the smoke from those chimneys is glad to get out of sight so quickly. I almost wonder it doesn’t put out the eyes of any who dare call themselves secesh.

Something like a week ago, our company took some Rebel prisoners from the depot to Fort McHenry & while we were marching them through the streets of the city, we heard many words of sympathy from the brave females here. How they pitied the poor prisoners. One lady gave a hurrah for Jeff Davis & I never wanted to shoot anyone so much in my life. Would it have been wicked if I had? I don’t believe it would have been. But I must tell you how some of our boys chuckled over the kindness of these friends. Several boxes of cigars were given to one of our sergeants to distribute among the prisoners & he thinking our boys knew how to smoke as well as they, distributed most of them among us, & for several days our boys would testify to the excellency of these cigars. I might have had some too had I wished but as I don’t smoke, I don’t know how good they were so the boys tell me.

I haven’t told you the most neautiful sight here yet. It is beautiful & I wish you could see this if nothing more. It is the stars & stripes so proudly waving in the breeze which we can see all over the bay and city. Hundreds and hundreds of flags are in sight. On every boat, big or little, one may be seen, even those little row boats not large enough to carry more than half a dozen persons have the “Star Spangled Banner” proudly waving over them. Then, most of the Unionists have a flag waving over their dwelling. I hope your letter will reach me next time & that you will write soon. With much love, I am your true friend, — Thomas

As this day is kept in remembrance of Washington’s birthday, we can often on a pleasant day see many flags from this window, but never before have I seen so many as now. It is a beautiful sight to anyone who loves our “dear old flag.” Don’t you think this is a pleasant window? And do you wonder that I love to sit here? This morning each fort here fired a salute of 34 guns & I understand as many are to be fired this noon, also at night. Mr. Keef from Lockport (Augustus) was here last week. We were glad to see him as were all the friends from home. Amanda’s letter was received yesterday. Also one from Ann.

85th New York Infantry

1861: Unidentified to Friend “Ed”

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The following partial letter is unsigned and though I can’t be certain of his identify, I suspect he was a member of the 85th New York Infantry, possibly from Rushford, Allegany county, New York. The 85th New York was known to be camped at Fort Warren in December 1861 and Charley Merrill of the 64th New York Infantry (mentioned in the letter) was from Rushford so he would have been known locally to the correspondents.

Transcription

Camp Warren [Meridian Hill]
Washington D. C.
December 21, 1861

Dear Friend Ed,

I am happy to say that I received your letter last night and was very glad to hear that you are quite well and I hope that you had a good time with the girls but I am sorry to say that I don’t have much chance to have any fun with the girls here for I can’t get out. I had a pass last Monday for two days but Hank Merrill was out here with Otis Kingsbury and he had to go back on Sunday but I got them to stay till Monday and then I went back with them. They are about 12 miles from Washington at Upton’s Hill, two miles from Fall’s Church so we started off on Monday about 10 o’clock and walked to the Capitol and went and looked around that but could not stay kone but it is a very nice place. So we took the ferry across the Potomac and walked to the barracks up there. They are very comfortable there. They are in the woods, have lots of shooting. They can go and practice any time they want. They have got Enfield Rifles and shoot right to the mark. We went out and shot for a little while. I shot 22 rounds at a slab of 15 rods and hit every time and I made some good shots at the mark.

Alson Durgey is in the hospital at Fall’s Church but he is getting all right. He is coming over to the 64th Regiment—that is the regiment that John Merrill is in and they are at Camp Shephard. I would have liked it if you could have been with us. It was quite a sight to see the soldiers and the rifle pits and batteries. You can see them in every direction but they all belong to our men. They have slashed thousands of acres of timber land. It is small scrubby stuff recent growth of pine and cedar and but very little hard wood among it. They have torn [down]and burnt almost every building round that part of the country but that is good for trade but I must tell you how I served the guards. They search almost every rock that crosses the river for whiskey but I had a pint along with me so I put it in my overcoat pocket and put my gloves on top and then when I came up to the guard, we had to show our pass and I left my overcoat blouse open so he just looked at me and let me pass and the other boys so we was all right. But we had to show our pass to the patrols. There was a squad of cavalry about 20 and they have to stop people and see their pass.

A soldier can’t go about Washington without a pass and so you see that we have not got much chance to run around but after we got by them, we met a regiment of cavalry that was returning from a foraging party. They have been out to Fairfax Court House and had found one man there and he was drunk and very easy and they took him out and shot him but they brought mack 27 baggage wagons full of corn and hay and some cattle but my pass was dated from the 16th to the 17th but I wanted to stay longer so I turned the 7 into a 9 and that made it the 19th so I had a good stay and the guards could not tell the difference and Captain did not say anything so I had it all right.

Now Ed, about Zib Wheeler, I don’t think that it will pay to see him for I have not got any chance to go to town to do anything so you can tell him to kiss your ass for me. [rest of letter missing]

1st New Jersey Light Artillery, Executions, Presidential Election of 1864

1864: Erskine Herbert Dickey to Edward A. Warner

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The following letter was written by Erskine Herbert Dickey (1841-1910) who served in Co. B, 1st New Jersey Light Artillery. His obituary notice informs us that he was born in Acworth, New Hampshire, but served in the 1st New Jersey Light Artillery during the war, taking part in “14 battles besides many other engagements.” In this letter to his friend, Erskine writes of Lincoln’s reelection, the hanging of Union deserters, and the prospects for war ending soon.

After the war he settled in Brooklyn and became a dentist.

Some of the veterans of Co. B, New Jersey Light Artillery at the regiment’s Gettysburg Monument.

Transcription

Addressed to Mr. Edward A. Warner, Acworth, New Hampshire

Winter Quarters [near Petersburg, Va.]
December 23, [1864]

Friend Edward,

I received your letter of November 4th and ought to have answered it before but kept putting it off from time to time until I am almost ashamed to write. I am well and feel first rate, weight more than I ever did before 169 lbs. I never had as good an appetite. The way I can stow away hard tack and salt pork (raw) is a caution to poor folks.

Well, Ed, old Uncle Abe did get a healthy old majority didn’t he? And old Uncle Jeff is getting some pretty hard pills from Thomas & Sherman. And I think the old devil will die before he can digest them. And I think before spring you will either hear of the old gentleman’s death or of his leaving for a safer country.

The deserters from our army are getting just what they deserve. There was three hung last Friday which I see—the gallows stands within 20 rods of our camp. Four of them were from the 5th New Hampshire, two from the 7th New York. There is to be 21 more to be hanged at the same place. There will be three hung every Friday noon until the whole lot is finished and it serves them just right. When I see something worth sending, I will send it to you with pleasure.

Where is Ward now? I sent a letter to Frank sometime ago. This is about all the news. Write soon. From your friend, — E. H. Dickey

Battery B, 1st New Jersey (Artillery Brigade), 2nd Corps, Washington D. C.

December 27th. I was over to the 5th New Hampshire today. I saw Ben Howe. He was well. He received a letter from you last night. He is expecting a commission soon. He is going to write to you soon. Please write the directions you put on a letter that you send to Marden. — E. H. D.

49th Ohio Infantry, Battle of Stones River

1863: John Ingerson to Tirsa A. (Palmer) Ingerson

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The following letter was written by John Ingerson (1837-1913), the son of Alvin C. Ingerson (1815-1857) and Tirza A. Palmer (1816-1895) of Sycamore, Wyandot county, Ohio. John’s obituary, published in the Marion Star on 2 July 1913, states that he was a “veteran of the Civil War who was wounded and disfigured for life in the battle of Gettysburg…when a shell hit him in the face, cutting his upper lip and terribly disfiguring him.” He served three years and eight months; was with Sherman on his march to the sea. After the war, he followed the occupation of a farmer in Sycamore. John served in Co. G though his grave marker says “Co. C.”

In this letter, John describes the Battle of Stones River to his mother, giving the names of killed and wounded. Readers are referred to Dan Master’s article entitled, “Yelling like fiends incarnate”—the opening moments of Stones River published on 3 May 2020.

I could not find an image of John but here is a tintype of Winfield “Scott” Stevens (left) and Samuel Oscar Chamberlain (right) who were cousins and served together in Co. E, 49th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI). Scott was wounded in the Battle of Stones River on 31 December 1862 and be discharged in May 1863. Samuel served out his entire term and reenlisted as a veteran.

Transcription

In camp four miles south of Murfreesboro, [Tennessee]
Monday morning, January 12th 1863

Well, Mother, I thought I would try and write you a few lines to let you know that I am still alive yet but I tell you, it was close work on the 31st of last month for we was surprised by the Rebels and they shot so fast that he balls felt like hail on us and we had to fall back about three miles and by the time we had done that, we was pretty badly scattered. Our colonel was taken prisoner but he got away. R. L. Hudson and J[ames] R. Ingerson and [Amos E.] Kitchen and our 2nd Lieutenant [Isaac H. White] and several of the other boys that you don’t know were taken prisoners and now is supposed are a Chattanooga.

Now I will try and [tell] you was killed. Our Lieutenant-Colonel [Levi Drake] and J[oseph] J. Basom and two of our color guards and Post Wate, a feller that worked for John Lofton. In all that was killed made twenty-one in our regiment. I helped to bury nineteen of them. There was thirty-six wounded in our regiment but the doctor thinks that they all will get well. I hope so.

The fight lasted five days. Now, Mother, I hope this will wind it up. You wrote to me and wanted to know if you should express those things of mine. I say no, but I will tell you what to do the first time you get a chance. Send them by anyone, then send them to me. Now I must close for this time. Write soon and direct your letters in care of Capt. [Luther M.] Strong, Company G, 49th Regiment Ohio Volunteers, USA, by the way of Louisville, Tennessee. Now do write soon and give me all of the news that is on Sycamore and tell me where Ambrose is. I want you to tell to A. Coughey to write me a letter. This from John Ingerson to Tirsa A. Ingerson. So goodbye for this time.