The following letter was written by Elias Prather Musgrave (1844-1864)m the son of Jacob Eli Musgrave (1805-1857) and Elizabeth Flake (1813-1899) of Martinsville, Morgan county, Indiana. Elias and Mattie Evans were married in May 1863. Elias wrote the letter to his mother and siblings but primarily to his cousin George W. Flake (b. 1840) who lived in Martinsville too.
A relative, Walton Musgrave (1828-1874), is mentioned in the letter. In 1860, Walton was a farmer in Warren township, Marion county, Indiana. He was married to Olive Smith (b. 1841) in 1856.
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Indianapolis [Indiana] January 23, 1862
Dear cousin, Mother, sister, and brothers,
This is to inform you that I am well and I might say I believe I enjoy the best health now that I ever enjoyed and my wish to is that when these lines come to you, that they may find you all in good health which is one of God’s great blessings. Health is good in the city; there has been a few cases of sickness but most of them have [not] proved fatal.
One of Walton Musgrave’s little twin girls has gone to the spirit land. Its remains were deposited in the graveyard last Lord’s day. All of the rest of the folks are well as far as I know.
The small pox has made its appearance just one square from where I live; the subject is a girl of 18 or 20 years of age. It has been some 5 or 6 days since the pox came out and I suppose she will be well in a few days.
I have not written this to give you uneasiness. I just merely thought I would tell you for there are several houses closer than the one in which I stay and it is certain that if it should spread enough to come to where I am, people would think it could not be checked. But this is not so. It is very easy checked and it is not considered as destructive as the measles. I would say there is no danger and you must not give yourselves any uneasiness for it is certain if I stay away from this disease and let it alone, it will let me alone.
I am better pleased this term than I have been since I entered college. The reason of this is I am out from under the teacher in the preparatory department. He is a good teacher but he cannot make the show as a teacher like those who are employed in the regular class of college teachers those to whom I recite this term have been teachers from five to forty years and their experience of course helps them to a considerable degree.
My happy days as a student are just beginning to dawn and if such pleasures as these are just the dawn of student’s life, who could describe scenes that would decorate his life near the close of his college course. If any life will give one joy and pleasure, it is the life spent in college.
George, many thing would I write had I the time but hope these few will serve for the present. But one thing more—that is I do hope that you and I will be permitted to live out our days in college life so far it goes for I do say with some experience there are more beauties in one year in college than in a dozen on the farm, or if you will let e use a figurative expression, the life of a student is as much more pleasant as a nice garden, all covered with flowers is more beautiful that a field covered with briars.
Time is precious. I must come to a close by asking one favor of you and that is this. Ask Michael if he has forgotten to write and if he has, just remind him of his duty. Yours truly, — E. P. Musgrave
The following letter was written by William H. Carr who served in Co. D, 24th New Jersey Infantry—a nine months’ regiment. On Sept. 28, 1862, the regiment was equipped with Belgian rifles and other necessary accouterments for service, and on Tuesday, the 30th, broke camp and departed for Washington, going by steamer to Philadelphia and thence by rail. It was brigaded with the 28th N. J. and 128th Pa. regiments, under the colonel of the former, acting Brig.-Gen. Abercrombie having command of the division, which occupied the extreme right of the brigade on the Leesburg road. It was afterward permanently brigaded with the 4th and 8th Ohio, 14th Ind., 7th Va., and 28th N. J. regiments under the charge of Brig.-Gen. Kimball, in French’s division, Couch’s corps. It participated in the fighting at Fredericksburg, and the loss of the regiment, which behaved admirably throughout, was severe, amounting in all to 160.
According to regimental records, William survived the war. He was mustered out of the service at Beverly, New Jersey, on 29 June 1863. William wrote the letter to Lizzie Brick (1845-1919) who married John C. Thompson (1838-1911) in 1864 and resided in Hurffville, Gloucester county, New Jersey.
View from heights above the Chain Bridge, showing the ruins of a brick chimney (courtesy of Library of Congress). The remnants of the brick industrial building are visible below, to the right of the Chain Bridge.
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Addressed to Miss Lizzie Brick, Hurffville. Camden county, New Jersey
Camp Oldon near Chain Bridge October 21st 1862
Miss Lizzie,
I am enjoying good health at this present time and hoping you are the same. I received my Father’s loving and kind letter and was glad to hear from home and to hear that you are all well. Mr. Watson wrote on his letter that you wanted me to write you a letter and I thought I would write you one this very day. I have been thinking about writing to you a long time.
We are all well in our company except five or six. For my part, I am well and have been in the army and I am as happy as a bee. We have meetings in the regiment and I think before two months the whole regiment will have religion. It it is so, it will be the greatest regiment that ever was known since the war has broke out.
Lizzie, I like a soldier’s life. I get plenty to eat. We get beef, pork, ham, rice, beans, molasses, coffee, sugar, soft bread. So you see that i get enough to eat. Today the tent is very busy a writing home to their folks to let them know how they are getting along. I have wrote a letter and sent it to Anney Hairtage and she has not sent me an answer. When I don’t get any letters, I shall stop writing. Give my love to Sally and your mother and Jack and tell Jack he must write to me. I must stop writing for the present. I remain your friend. Goodbye. — William H. Carr
Direct your letter to William H. Carr in care of Capt. Ward, Co. D, 24th Regt. N. J. Vols., Washington D. C. Write soon
The following letter was written by a soldier in Co. A, 7th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI). Unfortunately he did not sign his letter or there was, at one time, a second sheet. He wrote the letter to his sister but does not give her name. We only know that she (and probably he) lived in East Cleveland, Ohio.
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Camp Lookout [West Va.] August 19, 1861
Dear sister mine,
You must excuse me for not answering your letter sooner as I have had so much else to do that I did not know what to do first but as the old saying is better late than never, I take his opportunity to pen you a few lines to let you know that I am well and hope that this may find you and all the inhabitants of East Cleveland in the same good health. I am here and have been ever since I arrived and shall be until I leave.
We expect a fight in the course of time if not before. There is a body of troops under Gov. Wise some twenty miles from here and we have them surrounded on every side and they have got to fight their way out or surrender. And we are the weakest force, it is probable that they will attack us if they do and over power us. We will retreat and fall back and join Cox where the rebels will meet their reward. I hope they will attack us for we are getting tired staying here and not have the fun of one good fight that we may show them what the 7th Regiment is made of.
Capt. Orrin J. Crane, Co. A, 7th OVI
Our company has had three or four skirmishes with the secessionists and killed ten or twelve and took a hundred prisoners at different times. Capt. [Orrin Johnson] Crane returned from a scout this morning and fetched four rebels and two horses with him. We are having fine times here. It [seems] about two weeks to me since we left Camp Dennison but it is nearly two months.
I am keeping a journal of all the doings of the 7th in Virginia which I shall fetch home with me when I come. I would send it if it was not for its getting lost on the road. We can send letters now without paying the postage on them but you will have to pay it when you take them out of the office. Write whether you got the verses that I sent you or not. I shall send you the Star Spangled Banner in this.
Write all the news and how the folks are all getting along. It rains every other day here. It is not very warm here but muddy as it can be. If we are attacked here, we may stay a month. We can’t tell when we are a going to march an hour beforehand,, not where we are going. Col. [E. B.] Tyler says that we will be sent home by Christmas but I don’t care when we are nor when we ain’t. [no signature]
This letter was written by 16 year-old Milo Bailey (b. 1845) who enlisted as a private on 7 October 1861 At Wattsburg, Erie county, Pa. to serve in Co. K, 83rd Pennsylvania Infantry. Milo was wounded at the Battle of Gaines Mill on 27 June 1861 during the Peninsula Campaign and was discharged for wounds on 6 February 1863. He later reenlisted in February 1864 and was promoted to corporal of Co. B in March 1865. He mustered out of the regiment in late June 1865 as a veteran.
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Camp Leslie November 16th 1861
Dear Sister,
I now seat myself for the purpose of writing you a few lines to let you know that I am am well at present and hope that these few lines will find you and the rest of the folks well. I received your letter last night and was glad to hear that you was all well at home. you say you heard that I had been sick. Well I was for four weeks and I laid in the hospital three weeks but thank my lucky stars, I am well again and as for the small pox, there has been one man that has had it and he did not die with it.
And you say that you heard that Capt. [Thomas M.] Austin was dead. He has been very sick but is gaining fast now. He has got so that he walks out around now. And you say that you heard that McClain was missing but that is a mistake for he is here. As for my coming home, you need not expect me until the regiment comes which will not be long. We expect to stay in this camp this winter.
You say that we are agoing to have some new relation. I am glad of that. When they come, give my love to them. I would like to be to home and see mother and father and all of the rest of the folks. Tell mother she need not knit me any socks for I have got four pair now. We have got plenty of clothes to wear and we are agoing to have another suit before long—or that is the talk. Have you heard from Sherman since you was out there or not? I have heard from there once and am looking for a letter every day from there.
We have nice weather down here. It is about as warm as it is up there in the summer, only once and a while we have a cold rain. You say that Mariel is agoing to be married. If she really is, I am glad of it for I thought that she was agoing to be an old maid. I would like to be there and see her with her bloomers on and I would also like to see Kate Dowling and all of the rest of the girls. There ain’t any news to write that I know of. I want to know what is the matter with Minnie that you would not give my love to her. You can do as you are a mind to for I don’t care. The next time you see Butler, tell him to write to me for letters is a soldier’s comfort. How does Leroy get along? Is he married? Tell him to write to me for I like to hear from the folks at home…
All of the boys is all well and full of fun as ever. I hain’t heard from David yet. Why don’t Henry write to me? He don’t write nor say anything. I saw Mel Bemis the other day. He was over to our camp and Philander is in Washington in the cavalry. Well, this is a poor place to write and so I guess it is time to stop. You must [write] often for I like to hear from home better than any other place. Tell all of the folks to write—that is, if they see fit to. Give my love to all of the folks and tell mother not to worry about me for as long as I have good health, I will get along. Well not more this time!
The following letter was written by George G. Hussey (1839-1910) who enlisted on 1 September 1861 as a sergeant in Co. D, 1st Wisconsin Cavalry. He reenlisted as a veteran and mustered out of the regiment on 19 July 1865 at Edgefield, Tennessee. George was from Springvale, Wisconsin.
I received your kind letter and read it with pleasure. I have got what an old woman would call the blues on account of stopping in this detested place so long. When I read the glorious news of our victorious Army in the South, I almost envy the boys (not the glory but their chance of winning it). When I joined this regiment, I expected to be having a lively time myself by this time.
Ross Pride, Byron and Lewis James came into camp this p.m. I think they are foolish boys. If they wanted to have any fun, they should have gone to the seat of war direct. I believe I would if I was rid of this.
You said that you was going to a Ball. I would like to go to one more in that place this winter but it is impossible. But I would not care if we could leave this place. I am going to a Ball Friday night but I do not expect to enjoy myself. There will be but few that I know.
We are drilling about five hours & the rest of the time we are in idleness. You cannot imagine how I feel laying here so long doing nothing. There is no news to write in this letter more than I have wrote.
Our Colonel is in Washington and has been for six weeks. We are expecting him daily and then I hope we will start for the South. You must excuse me if I have not wrote a very cheerful letter this time for I do not feel cheerful. I must draw to a close.
Give my respects to your parents & all friends and keep a large share for yourselves. From your affectionate friend, — G. G. H.
With more time I could probably identify these female correspondents but they most certainly lived in Mississippi and their “men folk” were in the Confederate service.
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Pleasant Valley [Mississippi] January 2nd, 1864
Dear Emily,
Your letter of the 9th of January was heartily welcomed yesterday, but it got a good airing and a sulphuric smoking before it was read as the smallpox is at the Post Office whence it came. I shall send this to a different Post Office to be mailed. Direct your next letters to Lt. Stephens. I thank you most heartily for the money, but you ought not to have sent it as you may need it more yourself. My horse and saddle brought me $425. I gave $250 to your brother John, which was all he would take, and he had to pay John Scott $100 which he had borrowed from him in order to keep for him as he was gambling all his money away and lost it. Mr. Haile told us some very amusing episodes in cousin John’s military career. He is a very independent soldier. His gun is always so rusty that it is utterly impossible for it to be discharged. However, John goes into the fight and looks on.
I wonder if I wrote to you how much trouble Mr. Haile had in rejoining his regiment. He was arrested as a horse thief about 50 miles from here and sent to the guard house at Enterprise where he remained four days among 50 of the lowest wretches in Christendom, and with the smoke enough to put his eyes out and with no covering (whereby he caught such a cold that he was for a few days unable to travel) for the man who arrested him took his horse, baggage, and blankets, mentioning in his letter of arrest that he was a suspicious character, having a fine horse and two fine blankets. What has the Confederacy come to when the possession of a fine horse and blankets shall denote the possessor a thief.
He was taken from Enterprise to Meridian and put in the guard house where he heard of Gen. French as being at Brandon. He got permission to go to him under guard and in five minutes was released. He got a letter from Gen. Forney to regain his property and got back to Camp Pony the 28th of December. He called upon Mrs. Pinckney Smith at Jackson and had a very pleasant time. Yesterday, I got a letter from him dated the 4th of January—one month ago—giving another paragraph in the chapter of misfortunes, which is far worse than all.
Directly upon arriving at camp, feeling tired, he lay down in Sgt. Wolf’s shanty and 20 minutes after heard a crash and down came the whole edifice upon his right side. The next thing he knew he was laying in the Captain’s tent and the men around him trying their best to bring him to. He suffered with intense pain across the chest and back and with a great difficult in breathing. After a week had passed, he was removed in an ambulance to Mr. Hill’s—one of his mess mates not far from Jackson—where he is most comfortably situated and most kindly treated by the family occupying the house. He wrote that I must not be uneasy about him as he was getting better, and that if he was not well in a week or two, he should apply for a sick furlough, and if he got one should bring Henry with him to help him in and out of the cars. He must be badly crippled to need Henry’s assistance but he must be either well or unable to get a furlough as he has not come yet and that is a month ago. His letter only reached me yesterday. I shall telegraph to him tomorrow. The house that fell on him was built of heavy oak rails and covered on the top with dirt. In the center, supporting the roof, was a very heavy oak heart rail. This broke and precipitated the whole upon him. It took twenty men to raise the mass so that he could be got out. It was most certainly a special providence that he was not crushed to death.
I quote from your brother’s letter – “Large members of negroes are making raids through Washington County. They burned Judge [William] Yerger‘s house. Captain Blackburn 1 was taken prisoner in his own house. I sent word to brother to come and see me but the message got there too late—he had gone to Washington Co. I am afraid that mother is in trouble.”
Do you ever hear from Mother now? I do not excepting indirectly. I am very heartily glad to hear of the Doctor’s good fortune and hope it may long be continued. Have you yet come to my decision that the Doctor is in more danger in the army than acting as a practicing country physician? You know we used to have some disputes upon that subject.
Did you get my letter enclosing some letting [?] for your baby? I received the fifty dollars, and acknowledged it in due time. Nannie often talks about her “sweet little Cassie” and sends her kisses. I am sure that they will love one another and I hope that they may meet someday not far distant. I would like so much to see your boy. Have you yet named him? Ducky is a good and merry child and is getting better looking than formerly. Her little ways often remind me of your little Nannie. She is very backward and does not talk, though her face expresses most anything she wishes understood. She says four or five words and does not walk alone though she tries hard but seems not strong enough. Mrs. Starling and I get along splendidly. I have never ceased to congratulate myself that I did not go to Deer Creek—especially since the negroes are acting in so unaccountable a manner. I give out the meal, teach Anna (who is an apt and willing pupil) and do other friendly offices as opportunity offers. I shall send this letter to Dayton to be posted so you need not be afraid of contagion. Yours with much love, — Amanda
1 Possibly George T. Blackburn (1825-1870). He married Mary Bell Johnson in 1859 in Washington county, Mississippi. He served in Co. O in the 28th Cavalry. Buried in Lexington, Fayette county, Mississippi.
The following letter was unsigned and the envelope has long been separated from the letter so it is not possible to say with certainty who wrote it based on the limited clues within it. The description of troop movements and his reference to his company as the “Bunker Hill” boys initially lead me to conclude that he was a member of the 11th Massachusetts Infantry, Co. I being known as the Bunker Hill Company. The letter was written on 5 September 1862, a few days after the Battle of 2nd Bull Run when the regiment was bivouacked at Fort Lyon, just south of Alexandria, Virginia. All of these clues led me to the 11th Massachusetts until I read an account of the battle by their captain who claimed they were paid off in late July 1862 and the author of this letter claims they were yet owed four months pay.
In the 2nd Battle of Bull Run, the 11th Massachusetts fought in Grover’s Brigade and were part of the force making a bayonet charge against the Confederate position along an unfinished railroad bed. They managed to break through the Confederate line at this point but were ultimately repulsed with heavy loses. The 11th Massachusetts suffered 40% casualties in less than 20 minutes.
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Camp near Alexandria September 5, 1862
Dear Sister,
I now take my pen to write you a few lines to let you know that I am safe and well. I have received 2 letters from you but could not answer them before we left Harrison’s Landing the 15th of last month and have been on the march ever since. We have had another fight at Bull Run and I tell you, it was a hard one. Our company went into the fight with 28 men and had 13 killed and wounded so we have only got 15 men in the company now. You can see that the Bunker Hill boys are almost cleaned out.
We are camped in sight of Washington but I don’t know how long we shall stay here. We have just had orders to cook three days rations so I guess we shall start before long. I have not got my box yet and don’t know when I shall get it. We have not been paid off for four months and I don’t know when we shall.
Give my love to all the folks. Tell Hattie I got her letter and will answer it as soon as I get time. Tell her to be a good girl. I don’t know where we are going but I will write you all the news if I get a chance. Give my love to grandmother. I don’t know of any more to write now so I will bid you goodbye. From your brother with love
The following fifteen letters were written by Joseph Martin Reed (1845-1927), the son of Joseph W. Reed (1821-1898) and Mehitable C. Wyman of Charlestown, Massachusetts. Joseph enlisted as a private on 29 December 1863 to serve in the 11th Massachusetts Battery. He survived the war and mustered out on 16 June 1865 at Camp Meigs, Readville, Massachusetts.
Joseph’s obituary states that he was born in Woburn and that he enlisted before he was 18 years old. After he was discharged, he returned to Massachusetts and was employed as a conductor on the Eastern Railroad, running from Boston to Rockport. He married Ellen Eames, daughter of Ezra Eames, a well-known granite magnate of his time, and made his home in Rockport. Joseph’s father worked as a teamster in Charlestown for most of his life. Joseph’s parents home at 20 Essex Street in Cambridge still stands, built in the 1850s.
Jones’s 11th Massachusetts Battery before Petersburg, 1864. Mathew Brady.
Letter 1
Addressed to Mrs. M. C. Reed. No. 20 Essex Street, Charlestown, Massachusetts
Camp Barry March 20th, 1864
Dear Parents,
I received my box last Tuesday the 15th and since then I have received a letter from you. The eatables that you sent me are all demolished. They went very good. I gave a pie to the Captain. He thanked me very kindly for it. He said it was very nice and can back it up. They were nice—too nice to last. The other things suit me well. I have got a solid 12 lb. shot to send home as soon as I get some money. Also a piece of a spherical case shot.
We are situated on ground where the rebels have been and probably these were fired by them. Every thing that I got in the Box was very good except the tobacco—that is very poor. I wish father would get me some plug tobacco. That was what I wanted before; only it was cut up fine. If I was paid off, I would not ask you to get it, but I am not, and I don’t know when I shall. We have not got our Battery yet and they say we shall not get it until July. If we don’t, we will have to stay here a good while. We all want to go to the front as soon as possible where we shall live in tents and be more healthy. I was unwell for a few days, but nothing serious. I’m well now and a growing fat. I have got [ac]climated now and can guard myself from disease. I don’t want you to think I am not on good terms with George for we are just as fast as we ever were and are going to be. Don’t you feel alarmed about us. We are all right; both of us are well.
You wanted to know if I hadn’t rather sleep on a good soft feather bed than a soft pine board. A good feather bed would go good, that is a fact, but when you know you can’t have it, you must not think of it. I have got so I sleep just as sound on a board as I did when I was at home. I had rather be here than at home. It is much pleasanter. We have good times all the time. I would not give a cent to be in Charlestown. It is such a lonesome, dead place—only to see my folks and friends. I am not homesick at all. [I] like [it] first rate. Tell Abby I would like to write to her separately but I have so many letters to write, I can’t half write what I want to. I have got 8 letters to answer now. I must close. Love to all. From your son, –J. M. Reed
Letter 2
Battlefield ten miles from Ellson Green and fifteen from Richmond. We are beyond the Green. 1 May 31st. 1864
Amidst the flying of shells and the whizzing of bullets, I seat myself under a tree to write to you. Mother, I should really like to be at home tonight to supper—to get some hot biscuits and butter, and a cup of tea. Mother, how would you like to be a soldier without hardly anything to eat as I am? All I had yesterday was one “Hard-tack,” one spoonful of coffee, and one of sugar. Today I have neither. For a fortnight we have been drawing quarter rations but now we don’t get that. The reason is we are so far from our base of supply. Tomorrow the supply train will reach here I hope. We are agoing to draw whiskey rations—a gill a day. It makes the men hold out longer for we are so hard up. We are in good spirits. I have thought myself—although I never use the stuff—that a little whiskey would do me good, when we have been marching all day and night, no water to drink. I tell you, it makes a fellow think of home.
We have got so that we live cheap. I find no fault as long as we are so near Richmond and gaining ground every day. Last night our folks found the Rebs building breastworks. They waited till they had got it most finished and were putting their men behind them, when our boys charged on them and took it and hold it now. What an aggravation it must be for Rebs to work so hard for Feds.
We haven’t lost a man in our Battery but have had a few horses killed. One shell killed two. Tell Abby to tell Charley Blanchard that his brother was well the last time I saw him which was on the twelfth. Frank Knowles is safe and well—so be I.
Mother, you must not be discouraged if you do not get a letter for some time. I think it a blessing to get a chance to write. I would write every day if the mail could be sent but it is once in a great while that we get a mail or are allowed to send one. It makes me feel very bad to have you write [and ask] why I don’t let you know where I am and why I don’t write. I do the best I can to get you a letter. You must write me two letters a week certain and send lot of papers—daily papers preferred—and when the campaign is over and we get to camp, I will send for a box of eatables and see if I can’t have something to eat once, something in the shape of pies and cake, fried pies and doughnuts. I want you to have a lot of preserves made up this season so that I can have some when I send for it. I received that box all right. I bought me a rubber coat in Washington before we left.
Now Mother, write real often and let me know how the babies are getting along. Write often. Tell my friends to write. I shall write as often as I can. We are going to take Richmond. We expect to be at home next spring. Direct to J. N. Reed, 11th Massachusetts Battery, 2nd Division, 9th Corps. Washington D. C.
1 I have not been able to pinpoint this position but assume it was at or near Totopotomy Creek in which the 11th Massachusetts Battery played a part in the battle there on 29-31 May 1864.
Letter 3
At the siege of Petersburg July 9, 1864
Dear parents,
I received a letter from you last night dated the 3rd stating that you were glad that I was in the rear. For my part, I had rather be up front. I feel more at home. But as it is not my place to be there, I shall do my duty as well as I can at the rear where I am doing duty as driver. Why don’t you keep drumming me about my money. What will come next. I don’t know. But every letter I get worrying about something. It makes me feel discouraged. I had as just as leave throw my life away here at the front than to be so discomforted. You cannot imagine one quarter wat a soldier has to suffer during a campaign—especially one like this. The privations, the hard marching, and the danger of his life is nought to make one feel down sometimes without having anything discouraging from home. You ought to cheer up the spirit of a soldier. I have never pitied anyone so much as I have the soldier.
Mr. Briggs, if he has been in the army, he has not seen any more of it than I have. I have seen very little gambling since I have been intimate that I have gambled my money away. It [rest of letter missing]
P. S. You can send me a dollar or two if you feel like it. — J. M. Reed
Letter 4
In front of Petersburg July 22, 1864
Dear Parents,
I received two letters from you last night with money, ginger, and mustard in them. They are all right. The rhubarb has not come yet. What is the reason? Did you put it in a letter or in the papers? I should like it very much. Mr. Stone of Charlestown, the policeman there, he is after his son who is very sick. This letter I send by him. Also my watch and a piece of clay which came from under a “Reb” fort that our folks are undermining. It is a very peculiar kind of clay. I want you to be very careful of it. Embedded in the clay is a silver badge which I had made at Camp Barry. My watch I want you to keep running and in running order all of the time, but not to be carried. That money came in play very well just now. I bought a pound of butter which cost 75 cts. to eat on my soft bread, and a part of the balance I spent for lemons. Through the kindness of Mr. Stone I send all of these things home to you to take care off. All curiosities that I send home, you know how to take [care] of.
Yesterday I took one of my horses and went over to the right of the line. On one of the old fortifications I could see plainly five church steeples, a foundry chimney, and a flag staff and a number of houses. It was very smoky. But for that, I could have seen more of the city [of Petersburg]. It is as large as the city of Charlestown. I have just one postage stamp left, so you see that I cannot send you but one letter more until you send some more. When I get paid off, I will not send home for anything. I shall send my money all home for you to take care of. Have it put to interest if you can. I kept my money the last time I was paid off and most of the boys sent theirs home but were sorry for it, for they have needed it. But now I am going to send mine home and the most of the boys are going to keep theirs for themselves. I shall keep a little by me to get stuff that I cannot do without out. I am well. So are the rest of the boys. I cannot write anymore now so goodbye. From your son, — J. M. Reed
You will find a piece from our Battery in Sunday Herald of the 17th of July.
P. S. We have excellent water here to drink—the clearest I think I ever drank, cool and nice. Also all we want to eat. — J. M. R.
Letter 5
Near Petersburg July 24, 1864
Dear Parents,
I received the paper with the rhubarb in it, but it was too late. I am all well of the jaundice and partly of the diarrhea. However, it will come in play sometime.
Mr. Stone is on his way home with [his] son. I wish I was in his place, don’t you? Only I should not like to be as sick as he has been. I have sent home my watch by him. Do you know a Mrs. Prescott in Charlestown whose husband is bugler in this Battery? Mr Prescott says his wife is acquainted with you.
The weather is not so hot as it is at home, I don’t believe. It is very comfortable here now. I take one of my horses and go to ride almost every day. I went over to the 10th Mass Battery yesterday to see George Deveraux, son of Mr. John Deveraux, the sail maker, who lives on Main Street. The Warren Phalanx is near us. That company is in the 36th Mass. Regiment. George Bradford and Edward Blanchard are in the Phalanx. They are old chums of mine. I have picked up a good many old friends since I have come into the army—some that I knew in New Hampshire. One fellow that is—or was—in this Battery was wounded at the Spottsylvania fight and has gone home to his folks. They live in West Lebanon, N. H. His name is Gilman. Write and tell Aunt Cynthia that he is at home and if she wants to hear anything about the engagements we have been in, he will tell her. I presume, if he is able, he can tell them about the marches we have had until he was wounded. Since then he cannot tell anything about the Battery.
I want you to send me a pack of cards in some papers. Pack half a pack in one bundle of papers and half in another. Don’t think I want them to gamble with. I want them to pass the time away, for we have nothing to do. We stay here in the same old spot. I suppose you think that the army is not doing anything. I think we are doing well. Petersburg is quite a large city and the key to “Richmond.” It takes some work and a good deal of time to siege a place like this. Our miners are at work night and day undermining the Rebel forts and earthworks. We have got one fort most ready. They have got most 16 tons of powder under it. Think of the noise it will make, say nothing of the other works and the roar of our artillery and muskets.
Oh, I tell you, you must not feel so blue at home. Everything is going on all right. Wait until Mr. Stone gets home and he will tell you what he thinks about it. He said here that if the folks at the North knew what the army was doing, they would not complain about Grant and the army laying still.
As I came down from the front last night, I stopped to see a fellow soldier buried. He was brought to the edge of the hole on a stretcher and on removing the blanket from his face, I saw that he was shot in the head. And when he was removed from the stretcher, it was covered with blood and a part of his brains. They took a ring off of his finger and laid him in the grave. He was rolled up in a blanket and laid in the grave. Just think—that ring placed on his finger, probably by his mother or well wishers or some loved one at home, is sent back to them as it was taken from his dead body. I wish you would send me some lamp wicking to put in a slush lamp as it takes the place of candles. I cannot write anymore at present so good bye from your son. — J. M. Reed
P. S. Write as often as you can. Love to all, tell somebody to write. I am going to write uncle Frank in a day or two. Yours in haste — J. M. Reed
This is our Corps Badge. I wish you would get a lot of these envelopes and have then stamped like this one.
The Battle of the Crater took place just a week or so after Joseph wrote the last letter. He does not have an account of the battle but another member of his Battery named William Hazen Flanders described it in a letter to his friend, Millie E. Stevens of Boston. The letter was posted on The Siege of Petersburg website. It was then (2014) in the possession of Gary Skinner. The relevant portion reads:
“….You remember I have written you from time to time of the mining operations part of the ninth corps under a large rebel fort. Last week the mining operations were finished, the powder was carried in (6 tons) on Thursday and Friday, and Saturday morning was fixed upon for an attack by our corps.
At 4:00 AM Saturday morning the fort was blown up, killing a large number of rebels, mostly South Carolina soldiers and dismantling their guns, throwing the dirt in all directions. I was up to the front and I will never forget what a noise the explosion made, this was the signal for artillery to open, and immediately our batteries on the line, and others “some 200 guns” opened a terrific fire on the rebels and kept up our fire about 4 hours. In the meantime our infantry charged on the rebel works and took the 1st line, then charged on the 2nd . When the 4th division of our corps (colored) were brought into position, everything indicated success for us, the rebels were leaving their guns and works, but when they saw the colored troops they charged on them, driving them in disorder back to our works, and they rushing back so it tended to confuse our white soldiers, and no commanding officers to be found to rally them for the simple reason that they were in the rear drunk, incapable of doing anything. That our gallant boys were defeated with great loss in killed and wounded, besides losing several stands of colors, and we are now in the same position we were before the attack. It was an unfortunate affair, it being the first defeat we have experienced in the Army of the Potomac since the campaign opened. It was not the fault of our brave soldiers by no means, but can be summed up in 3 letters “rum was the cause of it.”
On Monday a flag of truce was sent out to bring off the wounded and bury the dead. I went out onto the late battlefield and truly it was a sad sight to view—one I shall never forget. Our wounded had been laying between the two lines for 48 hours in the hot sun, only 21 (one) alive for brought off the field and their wounds were alive with maggots. You could not distinguish a white man from a colored one, all turned black, &c.
I saw the rebel general Hill and other officers. Hill is a splendid looking man. It seemed odd to see our man and the Johnnies trading when only a short time before they were trying to kill each other. I conversed was several of them and they all said if the colored troops had been kept out of the fight, we would have gained the day, but when they saw them they were determined not to surrender to them, but if some of the Generals commanding certain divisions had been in their right mind as they should have been, no such disaster would have occurred to us. Our boys felt disheartened at first, but are ready to try again and I think we will not be so unlucky. I suppose the matter will be kept quiet as to the cause, but it will work out sooner or later by letters sent north from the soldiers. I trust the officers who are guilty will be punished as they deserve and receive the just merit due them for the conduct unbecoming in an officer and a gentleman.
General Burnside feels mortified at our defeat and I hear from good authority that several officers in the corps will be court martialed. I am happy to say although our batteries were under a severe fire from the rebel artillery and musketry, none of our boys were killed or wounded. Since I wrote to you though, we have had a 3 men wounded severely. Probably one of them will lose the use of his left arm. The battery is still in position on the skirmish line of having been there since July 5th….”
Letter 6
Jones House near Petersburg October 1, 1864
I have received two letters from you lately and one with a receipt for the box. The box has not got along yet but expect it as soon as the battle is over. We are having a big battle [see Battle of Vaughan Road]. I think that the Rebs have lost all this time. We are on the move again. There is a big battle going on now. Sheridan and Sherman are cooperating with this army. We have nearly surrounded Lee. Sherman is at Lynchburg and Sheridan is within two miles of Richmond. His pickets [are] within one mile and a half from the city. These are all rumors and we believe it.
Siege of Petersburg, Andrew McCallum
Our pieces are in position in Fort Howard on the front line and our caissons were ordered to the rear about three miles and as I am a driver on one of them, I have to be at the rear. We were ordered to have four days rarions in our knapsacks but we did not get but about two and today is the third day and I feel a little kind of hungry and wish I had my box. Why didn’t you send a list of the articles that you sent in the box. I do not expect the box until this battle is over.
We have whipped them so far this battle which has been going on two days. I cannot write any more now.
I want another box about Thanksgiving time with a lot of good eatables—turkey, pies, cake, preserves. What did you send this time? I am well. — J. M. Reed
Don’t feel worried about me. I am all right.
Letter 7
Peeble’s House, Va. Oct. 25, 1864
Dear Mother,
I will now take my pen in hand—or pencil rather—to answer your last kind letter. I shall only be able to write you a few words. I will be as brief as possible. What I wish to say is that there is another move on foot. It is now 10 o’clock at night and I hardly know whether to turn in or not. We are expecting orders every minute to harness up and strike tents. Hark! I hear the tramp of a horse in front of Headquarters. It is an orderly with a furlough for one of the boys. Thank the Lord it is not an order to harness up. We have got orders to be ready at a moments notice and so we expect it every moment. We are going to push our lines to the Appomattox River across the Southside Railroad.
I am nearer danger now that I was a short time ago. I am now driver on the piece—the pole team. Before this I was driver on the caisson in the rear. If a shell strikes the limber chest and explodes, up goes the chest and down goes horses and riders. I shall write at the earliest possible date, so don’t worry—that is, if nothing happens. We are having a gay time. It is rather cold here excepting in the middle of the day. I want a pair of buckskin gloves [with] gauntlets sent out to take care of my horses with. Also [ ] right away, but don’t send anymore McClellan papers out to me. I got that secesh paper—the Post. Don’t send any more. I looked at the first page and that was enough to condemn it. I applied the torch to destroy it. Burn ye traitor’s editorial.
There is going to be a heavy battle fought in a few days and I hope I shall come out safe as I expect to have a hand at it. Some of the boys have got furloughs for not over 15 days. I shall not apply for one until winter, say about February, so to be at home on my birthday when I shall be of age. I shall want some preparations made to receive me and my friends if I do come. I don’t wish to come home yet awhile—not because I don’t want to see you all because I do. But it is because I am contented where [ ]. — J. M. R.
Letter 8
Peeble’s House, Va. Oct. 28th 1864
Dear Parents,
I received your last letter on Thursday last. We were all packed up ready to move then and were waiting for the fight to commence. We lay outdoors all night long, our tents being packed on our horses. Oh, I tell you it was cold and cloudy—looked like rain. The next day the fight commenced. It lasted all day long and that night. Our loss was very small. We took a good many prisoners. We advanced our line about three miles. Our Battery was not engaged in this raid. One section (2 guns) of our Battery forms part of the garrison of Fort Sampson and the other two sections (4 guns) is the entire garrison of Fort Cummings. These forts are on the front line.
We were all ready to move out of our old camp by we didn’t have to move. What we have gained in this movement, I am not able to say as I have not learned the particulars. The heaviest fighting was way down on the right where Butler is and this move on the left was merely a feint to draw the Rebs from the right—to give Butler a chance to do something. I think that is what this move was for, for we heard heavy guns and [could] see the flashes of the guns in the night. 1
The line of works that we are on is about 30 miles long. Butler is on the right and we on the left, so you can imagine what a distance cannonading can be heard and see how far apart we are, and what a force of troops we have got to take Richmond with.
I want you to send me out a new portfolio, a lead pencil, and a pair of gloves—buckskin ones. It is very cold here nights. I wish I were at home just for Thanksgiving time, but I cannot come. I want you to send me a Thanksgiving box. Start it about the 10th of November and I shall get it by Thanksgiving; from the 10th to the 15th. I guess you didn’t send me much sugar. What you did send was soaked with candle grease. Send me a plug of navy tobacco such as you sent before by mail right away. Now don’t delay. I shall expect this and the gloves and lead pencil this week for I need them. Also send tobacco in the box—a lot of it. One plug don’t last a great while. I must have a pipe in my mouth. It is food and comfort. Kills time and drowns sorrow. Goodbye. — J. M. Reed
The National Park Service offers this crude sketch of the various forts in the Union line near Petersburg in 1864-65. Forts Sampson and Cummings, where the 11th Massachusetts Battery had its guns planted can be seen at the lower left.
1 The Union offensive described in this letter refers to Grant’s Sixth Offensive which was an effort to capture the South Side Railroad, cutting off a major supply line to the besieged cities of Petersburg and Richmond. If successful, it would have been a major Union victory prior to the Presidential election of 1864. A two pronged attack was launched, with Butler’s troops attacking the Richmond defenses north of the James River while elements of the 2nd, 5th, and 9th Corps skirted the rebel defenses southwest of Petersburg to get at the South Side Railroad. Fort Cummings, where 4 guns of the 11th Massachusetts Battery were planted, was the point in the Union defensive line from which the 5th and 9th Corps launched their marches. Joseph’s interpretation of events was incorrect; the attack on the right by Butler was intended to hold Confederate troops between Richmond and Petersburg into position while the main objective was to capture the South Ride Railroad on the left.
Letter 9
Peeble’s House, Virginia November 1, 1864
Dear Mother,
I don’t know if you can read this note. This is the best I can do.
Nov. 6th. I could not finish my letter on the first for this reason. On the morning of the first of the month, as I was going in from behind my horses to feed them, one of them kicked me in the hand, shattering the forefinger of my right hand very badly. The bone of the forefinger is fractured. They are both getting along nicely. I am just able to write now with my thumb and little finger. You see by the writing of the first part of the letter that it is written very badly. It was written with the left hand. The doctor says if I catch cold in my fingers, I may have to have them cut off. I hope I shant.
Everything looks lovely and pleasant here. We got orders the day I got hurt to go into Winter Quarters and today I have got a good log hut about 5 feet wide and 8 feet long with a bunk for two in it, a fireplace, mantle piece, bench and table. Everything’s gay. We are right in a pine grove under a hill. Oh, it is a pleasant place. My hut was not all of my own building. All that I could do was to do all that I could do with one hand, such as lugging logs on my shoulder and helping. My tent mates did the rest. It is a log cabin built of logs and plastered with mud outside and in. And to make it more pleasant, I want you to send me out a nice box just as quick as you can for Thanksgiving. You cannot start it any too quickly. If you send it as soon as you get this letter, I shant get it by thanksgiving time. I supposed you would have started one before now. Send a lot of tobacco and a lot of stuff to eat. Also 2 lb. of board nails to build with, a pair of suspenders, a lot of candles because we have to use slush lamps 1 when we don’t get candles. I will tell you what a slush lamp is as you have often asked what they were. They are this—an old can that is little, filled with pork fat and a piece of my tent for a wick which is cotton, soak it in the fat, and light it. This is a slush lamp. Send me a candle stick. Send the box right away. Also something to read these long winter evenings. So goodbye. Write soon. — J. M. Reece, 11th Massachusetts Battery
I have had a letter from Uncle Levi this week. I can get a furlough next month if I only had some important business for an excuse. Money matters or something. There are 5 of our boys home on furlough now. We shall all get them now.
A closeup map of Fort Samson (bottom center) where Joseph’s Section (2-guns) of the 11th Massachusetts Battery was positioned. To the right of it on this map can be seen the “Peeble’s House”—Headquarters of the 9th Corps.
1 “Slush lamps” were made from cooking grease and a cloth wick when candles were scarce.
Letter 10
Peebles Farm, Virginia November 12th 1864
Dear Mother,
It is Saturday and I am on guard tonight so I thought I would write to you. You needn’t feel at all alarmed about my position for as long as our pieces stay in position, I shall be in the rear with my horses. I have got a better position than I had before. My finger is getting along nicely. It is very stiff but does not hinder me from writing now.
I have received two letters and four papers this week from you. I am going to send you a sample of the stuff that we have to eat in the army at the present time. It is Hard-tack—very good for the kind. It is between good and bad. Just break it, if you can. This and salt pork and fresh meat and m___ and then a few potatoes and coffee is all that we poor fellows have to eat. Taste of the hard-tack. I am well and fat. I wish I was at home. I look so well and fat. Write often do.
—J. M. Reed
P.S. I expect a furlough soon. Goodbye, J.M.R.
Send the Box as quickly as you can.
Letter 11
Winter Quarters, Peebles Farm, Va. November 20, 1864
Dear Mother,
I received your last letter with recipe of box therein. Also a list of costs. I would like to know if the articles—pies, h___, molasses, salt, cranberry sauce, apples—I hope you bought on purpose to send me. If so, I will pay for them. If you didn’t, I don’t see why I should pay for them. But if you say I shall pay for them, I will do so. I shall get the box this week—just in time for Thanksgiving. I am very sorry you did not send me more tobacco. That will go but very little way. However, when I get paid off, I shall send home $5 to be spent for tobacco—all of it. That clay pipe you sent out to me I have smoked so much in it that it is as black as a coal.
Now there is an article that I want right away. I want it now. It is my watch. I want father to take it over to the Waltham Watch C0. on Washington St. and inquire for Charles Fuller, bookkeeper, a friend of mine, and tell him I want my watch put in good running order, perhaps cleaned, and a good key, and as pretty a steel chain as can be got. I guess Abby can get the chain. I don’t want one with a snap on the end to hook on to the watch, but a screw loop. I want it packed very nicely in cotton batten and put into a little paste board box and sent by Adams Express Co. Abby, I want you to get me a fancy steel chain with a bar on one end to put in the button hole of my vest and screw loop on the other end. Don’t get a big link chain.
Now send the watch as quick as you can, and I will pay all damages when I get paid off. Also send my suspenders and a small rubber course pocket comb and a wallet by mail at different times. Now don’t forget these things, will you. I am all out of money at the present time. But for my tent mate, or my “old woman” wife as I call him, I should go hungry. He has got some money and as it is natural to soldiers not to go hungry when they can get anything to eat, we buy potatoes of the sutler at 10 cents a pound, and a whole liver at a time of the Brigade butcher. Now tomorrow morning, if you will call into my cabin, No. 14 Jones Row, at four o’clock, you will see my old woman in front of the fireplace cooking breakfast. We shall have fried liver and potatoes and soft bread. We are hard up for butter so you will have to bring some with you. We have an excellent hut to live in this winter if we don’t happen to move. I want you to send me out a lot of kerosine oil wicks [and] I don’t mean one wick when I say a lot. Don’t do the same as you did with the tobacco when I sent for a lot [and] I only got 90 cents worth.
I am well and my finger is getting along nicely although I cannot bend it. The doctor says I have got to keep it done up all winter. If I don’t and it froze, I shall lose my finger and perhaps my right arm. We have a doctor with our Battery now. I cannot write more now. Send that watch right away now as it is getting time to have a watch about me so when I go away, I shall know when to get back [and] to be on hand when the bugle blows. We are in camp now, you know, and have to have bugle calls. I will name some of them. Viz: reveille, stable call, feed call, water call, retreat—this retreat means police call, tattoo—when the sun’s down, retiring to rest, recalls from stable, taps in the far west, supper call.
Write soon, — J. M. Reed
Send the watch and pay the express on it. Be sure and have the value put down. Value $40 as that is what it is worth. It’s worth over 50 to me.
Letter 12
Popular Grove Church Va. November 28th, 1864
Dear parents,
I have received two letters from you and have hesitated to answer them until now. I have received my box all right. Everything was in perfect order and I should like another one for Christmas. I got this box on the 22nd of the month. I want you to send that watch and don’t wait to have me send for it again as I need it very much.
I had a very good time Thanksgiving. Beans for breakfast, turkey for dinner, pie & cake, bread, butter, sauce for supper. Massachusetts soldiers did not get much of the stuff she sent out for Thanksgiving. I will tell you what her troops in this noble 11th Battery got. Viz: one lb. turkey, 2 apples, and half of a common size seed-cake to each man, and this the next day after Thanksgiving. The Old Bay State did well to send us the stuff. But the stuff was consumed mostly by officers, only giving the privates a very small share. Never mind; in two years more I hope to be out of this army. I am very well and living high all the time. I wish you could see me when I am eating my frugal meal. Ill bet you would laugh.
I am on guard tonight so I cannot write any more tonight. So I must bid you good bye hoping that you are all well. How are the babies? I will write more next time. So goodbye. — J. M. Reed
Letter 13
Breakers Ahead Before Petersburg, Virginia Near Birneys Station December 4th 1864
Dear Pazents,
I received your kind letter last Thursday night. I am very sorry to say that we have left our good quarters on the extreme left and have marched below the city of Petersburg near Bermuda Hundred. We are right in sight of the city. It is a gay looking place. Oh, I tell you, they do throw the shells into our forts fearfully. I don’t know how soon I shall have to write you [of] the death of one of our numbers for we are in a very bad place. We are in Fort McGilvery on the extreme right of the Army of the Potomac. We have built us very comfortable quarters out of logs. We are not exactly in winter quarters [but] we were ordered to make ourselves as comfortable as possible, so we call it winter quarters. We are more comfortable than we were before. We are now 20 miles from where we were the left—where I wrote you last.
The National Park Service offers this crude sketch of the various forts in the Union line near Petersburg in 1864-65. Fort McCilvery can be seen in the upper right hand portion of the map, due East of Petersburg and very near. According to Joseph, the 11th Massachusetts Battery was relocated to this position in early December, 1864.
When I wrote you before, I sent for my watch and I never send and I never send for a thing without I want it. Now I want you to send that watch as soon as you get this letter. I don’t care if there is another campaign or not, I want the watch. Now you send it! If You don’t I shant write again. What do you suppose I sent for it for if I didn’t want it. I want you to send the watch as I directed you to and then I want you to send me out a Box for Christmas. And send me out two pairs under shirts and drawers and two pairs outside woolen shirts of the handsomest figure you can find in the market. Don’t make up any plain stuff now. Remember I want you to write me what they cost and I will send you the money as soon as I get paid off. Get some stout, fancy flannel—not very thick as the weather is moderate and I shall not need them thick. Also, send me the stuff I have sent for in previous letters. Read my letters more carefully and see what I write. Read them a second time if you cannot understand them the first. Don’t let me ask you to send my watch again, but send it this time and not delay. If you don’t I shall not write until you do send it. I want a comb and wallet and suspenders. Send box Christmas & New Years. 1
Write often, — Joseph M. Reed
P. S. My box came through all right. Not a thing was spoilt. Where is that box of books that somebody was going to send me? I wish the would send them now. Sed box of tobacco in my boxes.
1 It’s not often I feel compelled to share a personal observation, but I can’t help saying that this paragraph is perhaps the most rudely worded one among the thousands of soldier’s letters I’ve ever transcribed.
Letter 14
In front of Petersburg, [Va.] December 14th 1864
Dear Mother,
I recieved about 10 days ago a splendid library from No 13 Cornhill, Boston, containing 26 very choice cloth bound books. They are all pious books. I tell you, it makes my cabin look gay. I have made a bookcase for them. There are 4 of us in the hut together. Our hut is built larger than the one we had up on the left. It is 12 x 8 feet, I think, with a splendid brick fireplace.
I will tell you what we had for supper tonight. It was fried liver, soft bread and butter, and coffee. Tomorrow evening we shall have hot biscuit and butter for tea. Please make a call in the afternoon and stop to supper. Bring you knitting work so to spend the evening by an old fashioned fireside. You would think you were in grandmother’s kitchen if you were in our hut. But don’t let me tantalize you with my story. I think I had rather sit by Grandmothers fireplace than this one. I will write more next time. I hope you have sent my watch. Love to all.
— J. M. R.
Letter 15
Near Fort Lyons Alexandria, Virginia May 26th 1865
Dear Mother,
I received your letter of the 24th inst. together with the pictures. The pictures were not taken very well. Do you think they were? How big and fleshy they were, I should not known them had I got home before she died.
How is times at home? The two dollars you said you sent me has not reached me yet. I wish you would send me 5 or 6 dollars for I need it very much and the army is not going to be paid off until mustered out of service. I don’t expect to get out of it for two or three months yet. What I want money for is to buy soft bread and butter. Butter is 50 cents a pound and bread, four loaves for a quarter. We do not live so well as we did at the front. I suppose rations are running short. What is butter worth at home? If I knew that the butter wouldn’t melt coming, I would have you send me 5 or 6 pounds. And another thing, I am out of postage stamps. I put the last one onto this letter. Please send me a few.
Bill Daily was here to see me yesterday. He has a cousin in this Battery. It was the first time I had seen him since he left Burlington. He is in Co. B, 19th Massachusetts Regt, 2nd Army Corps.
I was up to Mount Vernon, the home of Washington, last week. It is a splendid place. I saw a great may curiosities there and brought away some. I got some flowers out of Washington’s garden and some pebbles out of his tomb. I shall send the flower in this letter. Take care and preserve it.
The boys are getting money from home and are buying stuff to eat. It makes me down in the mouth to see them eating all they want and I not half what I want. It does seem strange, as near as we are to supplies, that we don’t get enough to eat. George Bradford, Ed Blanchard, and a few more of my old schoolmates will be at home soon. They are in the 36th Regiment. Please send a greenback as soon as you get this. In haste. I am well. — J. M. Reed
The following letter was written by James Orrin Benson (1838-1900), the son of Jotham Benson (1810-1885) and Elizabeth B. Wakefield (1810-1891) of Biddleford, Maine, who served as an artificer with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Co. B, during the American Civil War. James enlisted on 26 November 1861 and was discharged from the service on 25 November 1864.
Yorktown, Va., vicinity. Gen. George B. McClellan’s tent, Camp Winfield Scott (LOC)
Transcription
Camp Winfield Scott April 30th 1862
Dear Sister,
I received your kind letter the 28th and hasten to inform you that I am well and I hope this will find you the same. Since we left Washington, I have gone through many different scenes. We had a very pleasant trip down the Chesapeake to Fort Monroe. The bay was as smooth as glass and as we neared the fort, the water was black with ducks and old squaws.
We landed at Hampton and stopped one week. There is only the chimneys standing. We encamped in a beautiful garden. The peach and plum trees was in bloom and some of the flowers also, and the grass was five or six inches high. We left Hampton for Camp McClellan. The first day was very pleasant and at night we encamped at Big Bethel. In the morning we started again on our march and about eight o’clock in the evening, we encamped at Camp McClellan. The second day our teams got stuck in the mud and we had no tents so I rolled myself up in my blanket and laid down by the fire and sleeped sound until morning.
At three in the afternoon, we started for Shipping Point where we arrived at nine when I rolled myself up in my blanket and sleeped by the camp fire in the open air. The next morning we moved into some rebel houses where we was quite well situated but we was in the water the most of the time landing forage and provision. The rebels had quite a village there. The houses was built of logs, the seams was plastered with mud, and the roofs was covered with split cedar slats. Some of them was white washed. Everything looked clean and neat. In one place was a rebel grave. It was fenced in with picks. They had a church and our troops took it for a hospital. The rebels had streets running through the village and on some of the squares they left the trees standing. They had earthworks thrown up along the river for a mile.
We staid there one week and then we started for Camp McClellan where we stopped one night and then we started for our present encampment. And since we came here, we have worked hard until within three days. I did not think that men could get so used to death as to laugh it in the face, but I have seen men do it, and I have [to] do it myself. One of our batteries has opened fire on the rebels today. We have ten batteries all ready. They are all connected with rifle pits.
You spoke about Hannah and Frank. Tell her to wait so I can come to the wedding. I have not seen Billie’s letter yet. I want to know how he gets along with heifer and [if] Dime bites him any now. I liked to forgot to say that I saw Stand Dearing the other day. I send you some cotton sees. I cannot think of anything more now. Write me again soon. Give my love to all. From your brother, — James O. Benson
Though unsigned due to its being a partial letter, I can confirm that it was written by Moses Thompson (b. 1835) of Co. E, 35th Ohio Volunteers (OVI). Moses entered the service as a private and mustered out as a sergeant. He was married to Mary Jane Morrison (1839-1865), the sister of Elijah M. Morrison (1836-1863), to whom the letter was addressed. Moses and Mary Jane were married in Preble county, Ohio in 1859.
The 35th Ohio Infantry was nicknamed the Persimmon Regiment. It was organized in Hamilton, Butler county, Ohio, and mustered in for three years on 20 September 1861 under the command of Col. Ferdinand Van Derveer. On September 26, 1861, the 35th departed Hamilton for Covington, Kentucky, arriving the same day. That evening, General O.M. Mitchel ordered the 35th onto a train on the Kentucky Central Railroad, placing detachments from the regiment at railroad bridges along the route in Harrison and Bourbon Counties, with the regiment headquarters being located at Cynthiana, Kentucky. The members of the 35th successfully protected the bridges from Confederate attacks. Upon completing this duty, the regiment moved to Paris, Kentucky, where the 35th remained until early December 1861, when it advanced to Somerset, Kentucky.
Transcription
Addressed to Mr. Elijah M. Morrison, Brinley’s Station. Preble county, Ohio
Paris, Bourbon County, [Kentucky] October 27th 1861 Capt. D[avid] M. Gans 35th [Ohio] Regiment
Respected Brother,
It is with the greatest of pleasure that I have seated myself this beautiful Sunday morning to the purpose of answering your most welcome letter. I am in tolerably good health at present as I have had the chills again but I have got over them again. We had a very good dinner gave by the ladies of Old Bourbon but they cannot come up with the ladies of Old Butler for it did not shine with the good things like the table did at Old Hamilton. It passed off tolerably well. There was one man shot his hand with a pistol and there was one fell down last night while going around on guard and his gun went off and shot another man in the foot. This is the third or fourth accident of this kind has happened. I think that we have some of the most careless people in the regiment that anybody ever seen.
We had one of our companies to go to take the 2nd Ohio Regiment provisions a few days ago and they have not returned yet. They took one prisoner as they passed through town and they took him on with them for to see if he was a good traveler.
This is a much nicer place than we was camped before for there is two Union men to where there was one down there and the country is much nicer and the fairground that we are camped in is one of nicest grounds that I ever seen for they have the nicest buildings that I ever seen. 1 As to where wee will go to from here, I do not know, nor when we will move.
William Morrison and William Mikesell is out in town to see the women. There is some very nice looking girls here that come in to see us. William was, I think, deceived in his Captain or else he don’t know what it takes to make a man, for there is not a half a dozen in the company that thinks a great deal of him. You need not write anything about it back The boys is a playing cards as usual and then they will go to Meeting and come back and sit down and play cards for a change. Just in from dinner, and it would make you laugh to see us go into…. [rest of letter is missing]
1 “Camp Bourbon is located at the Fair Grounds of the county of that name, within the vicinity of Paris, the county seat. It is a beautiful location for a camp, the ground being high and rolling and thickly sodded with blue grass. The buildings in the fair grounds are ample and of the most approved style for the purposes they were erected, far surpassing those of a like kind in our own Ohio.“ [Letter by member of the 35th OVI from Camp Bourbon on 2 November 1861]
Spared & Shared 23 