This letter was written by John M. Tures although he was carried on the Roster of the 70th New York Infantry as John M. Touris, Tours, or Turse. John enlisted on 24 April 1861, at Paterson, N. J., when he was 21 years old to serve three years in Co. I. He mustered in as private, and was later promoted to corporal. He was captured in action on 2 May 1863, at Chancellorsville and paroled five months later. He was seriously wounded in the battle of Spottsylvania Court House on 14 May 1864 and was mustered out on 1 July 1864, at New York city.
John wrote the letter to William Oland Bourne (1819-1901), editor of The Soldier’s Friend, who sponsored a contest in 1865-1866 in which Union soldiers and sailors who lost their right arms by disability or amputation during the Civil War were invited to submit samples of their penmanship using their left hands. The contest, which awarded a total of $1,000 in prizes for the winning entries, was followed in 1867 by a second contest, which awarded $500 in prizes. A very large number of letters were submitted to Bourne which are now housed in the Library of Congress along with some photographs on the contestants. Most likely the following letter was a personal copy (or first draft) of the letter that John submitted. It’s also possible that John never sent the letter or missed the deadline for submission. See Wm. Oland Bourne Papers. Readers hoping to learn more about “The Left Armed Corps” can listen to Episode 1932 of Civil War Talk Radio wherein Allison M. Johnson is interviewed by Gerry Prokopowicz regarding her book on the subject.
[Note: This letter is from the personal collection of Greg Herr and was offered for transcribed and publication on Spared & shared by express consent.]
Transcription
Waterbury [Connecticut] December 26, 1865
Friend Oland Bourne,
I see a chance for the “maimed” as some wish to call us. I are one whom has lost the right arm in the war. I lost my arm at Spottsylvania Court House, Va., the 12th day of May 1864 during Lieut. Gen. Grant’s Campaign on to Richmond. I participated in the following battles. The Battle of Williamsburg, Va. 1862; the Battle of Fair Oaks, Va., 1862; and the Seven Days Battle from Richmond to Harrison’s Landing, and a warm time too, you can bet. Malvern Hill the second under Fighting Joe Hooker as some calls him. The next at Bristoe, Va., fighting Stonewall Jackson & his grey backs; Battle of Second Bull Run—we got cut to pieces there so they left our trooops to protect Washington while the rest of the army was fighting the Battle of Antietam. The next was the Battle of Fredericksburg where I was engaged. Well, the next was I suppose you heard about Burnside stuck in the mud. I don’t suppose you will call that a battle. Well I don’t. I called it one time stuck in the mud.
The next was the Battle of Chancellorsville, Va. 1863 where I was taken prisoner by the grey backs. I was sent to Richmond. I was a prisoner five months & four days. I was sent to my regiment the time Maj. General Meade retreated from Culpeper & a nice march for a lean soldier to make from Culpeper to Centreville. I was in some skirmishes between the Rappahannock & Centreville. I was in the Battle of Locust Grove—I think that is the name, when Gen. Meade crossed the Rapidan in 1863 November.
We crossed the Rapidan the fourth or fifth of May in 1864 and then came that awful Battle in the Wilderness where many a good soldier but the dust. From there to Spottsylvania, fighting every day up to the 12th of May where I lost my right arm & that was the end of my soldiering. This is correct as nigh as I can think. I enlisted the 26th of April 1861 in the Excelsior Brigade, 1st Regiment, Co. I. Our regiment was numbered in the New York State Troops, 70th Regiment.
The rebels thought they had us when the war first begun When we had the misfortune at the battle of Bull’s Run; But they soon found out they had no earthly sight For we beat them two to one in a fair, field fight.
Chorus:
Hoist up the Flag and long may it wave Over the Union, boys, so noble and so brave; Hoist up the Flag and long may it wave Over he Union boys so noble and so brave.
Our troops on the march they were mighty lucky, They licked the enemy, two to one in Old Kentucky; Our troops on the march were of the right stamp They beat the enemy off the ground, and took all their camp
Our troops at Richmond 1 were under good training They were under the command of Gen. McClellan (but I don’t see it) The troops at Richmond 1 were anxious for a fight But the rebels they were cowardly and kept out of sight.
The little Iron Monitor went to Norfolk, well packed, She fought seven hours along side the Merrimac When she opened fire she made the Merrimac sound She crippled her with a ball weighing 480 pounds.
I did not see your reward until about a month ago so I have not had much practice and practice makes perfect. I was a corporal in the 7-th New York Vols., Co. I
My address is John M. Tures, Mianus Post Office, Connecticut
1 I think John must have meant Washington here, not Richmond.This poem appears to be original. I can’t find any evidence that it was copied from published sources.
The following letters were written by John Arndt Gundrum (1838-1894), the son of Jacob Gundrum (1812-1876) and Susanna Arndt (1812-1870) of North Annville, Lebanon county, Pennsylvania. John wrote the letters while serving as a private in Co. H, 3rd Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery. Before and after his enlistment, he was employed as a carpenter/joiner. His term of enlistment was from 23 September 1862 to 19 March 1863 which was 5 months, 23 days.
Letter 1
Camp Ruff, Battery H Camden, New Jersey November 29th 1862
Dear wife,
As I have nothing to do this evening, I thought I would take the opportunity to address you with a few lines to let you know how I am getting along at present, and further I will let you know that I expected a letter this evening but I was disappointed by not receiving one. So I thought it my duty to write to you again. I will let you know that I am well at time of writing this to you and further we are all contented. As far as it is with our clothing and eatables, we have plenty of that to make us comfortable altogether. It will be that they should give us money and stoves. We have no stoves yet and we need them badly as it is very cold here. Today we had rain sand snow.
The man that they caught at [ ], they took him to Fort Delaware today so the report is going amongst our men. I will further let you know that I will again be a guard tomorrow—our whole company. I will come to a close for this evening and will wait until tomorrow morning when I hope to give you some more news….
Dear wife, I will let you know that we just came from breakfast and now we are cleaning up our clothes and polishing our buttons and blacking our boots to make a fine appearance at guard mount as we will come on guards at 8 o’clock. It is very cold this morning and a clear sky and tat we are very fond of as we like fine weather to be on guard. Some of our men were put in the guard house last night. I will now again close for this morning and will wait until this evening when I hope to give you more news…
Dear wife,
Sunday evening, November 30th 1862. I will let you know that we just came in from dress parade and there was an immense crowd of citizens present to take a view at our parade. At the least calculation two thousand citizens were present at the dress parade this evening. I will further let you know that one man of our company was court martialed in Philadelphia. His name is James Steven, an Irishman, for running through the guard without a pass and he will be sent to Fort Delaware where he will be put to hard labor. For how long a time, I did not hear….
From your dear husband, — J. Gundrum
Letter 2
This envelope is mismatched with the letter that follows.
Camp Ruff, Battery H Camden, New Jersey December 6th 1862
Dear Wife,
Yours of the 3rd and 4th came in my hand this dinner and I was again very glad to hear from you and I read its contents with pleasure and lastly, I was glad to hear that you are all well. I will let you know I am well too at the time of writing this to you. And further I will let you know that we have very disagreeable weather here. Yesterday at dinner time it commenced raining and snowing and at about 1 o’clocxk it commenced snowing as fast as I ever saw it snowing—flakes nearly as big as a goose, that is if the goose is small enough. And it snowed until between 10 and 12 o’clock last night when it again cleared up. This morning there are prospects for a very fine day. But we were greatly disappointed for a 10 o’clock the sky was again overspread with clouds and then a regular snowstorm commenced to rage its fury over us and it lasted about half an hour and the worst of it was I was in it as I am on guard today again.
I came on guard at 10 o’clock and off at 12 o’clock, and now I will come on this evening at 4 o’clock and of at 12 o’clock, and then my last tour will be from 4 to 6 o’clock tomorrow morning when I will be clear again for one week. I will further let you know that it is very cold here and we have no stoves in our room yet.
You had in your letter that you want to know why I take my superior officers for rascals. That I can tell you with ease and a free and sound conscience. It is because they do not get stoves. All the other companies have got stoves in their rooms and live like gentlemen in nice furnished parlors, and we like a drove of hogs in our cold room. And to tell the full truth, we are kept a little worse than hogs. The hogs have straw to lie on which we Boys have not. And another thing, our officers did not keep their promises by half and so that is reason enough to call them not honest. But enough of this for this time.
You also want me to come home on Christmas but I guess that wish I cannot gratify for you as there are too many of our men that want to go home at that time, and another thing is we cannot do as we please here. We have to do as our officers tell us. But that much I will let you know that I will come home as soon as I can. I will now come to a close until this evening when I hope to give you some more news. Good day, my wife. From your husband, — John Gundrum
Saturday evening, December 6th, 1862
Dear wife, to come up to my promise, I will again sit down to drop a few lines to you to let you know how we are getting along this evening. I came off guard at 6 o’clock this evening and then I took supper and after supper I thought it proper to write to you some news again. For the first, I will let you know that it is very cold tonight and a high wind. And next I will let you know this evening I heard the first jingling of bells. The [rest of letter missing]
Letter 3
Camp Ruff, Battery H Camden, New Jersey Monday evening, December 8th 1862
Dear wife,
I will sit myself down to write a few lines to you again to let you. know that I am well at the time of writing this to you and to let you know how we get along today. We found out who had lice this morning. Two of our men had them and they had to go out in Copper’s Creek to wash and clean themselves. We made improvements in our room today. We made a partition around the stairs to keep the cold out of our room and now we live likeKings in their palaces in our room now. It is not as cold this evening as it was this morning. The sky is again overspread with clouds and I am coming to the conclusion that it will again snow before tomorrow morning. I will now come to a close for this evening as it is near bed time and I hope to write more in the morning. Good night ,y dear wife. From your true husband, — John Gundrum
Camp Ruff, Battery H Tuesday morning, December 9th, 1862
Dear wife,
I will again write a few words to you this morning as I have nothing else to do to pass away time. We did not do anything yet since last Friday. We have no drills on account of the snow that is on the ground. All we have to do is to go out on Dress every evening. On last Sunday morning we were inspected in our room. By all appearance, we will have a fair day today. It is not as cold and more as for a few days back. As I have no more to write this morning, I will come to a close until this evening when I will again give you the news of today. Good morning, my dear wife. From your true and affectionate husband, — John Gundrum
Camp Ruff, Battery H, 152nd Reg. P. V. Tuesday evening, December 9th 1862
Dear wife,
I will again commence writing to you this evening and let you know that I am well. We had a fair day today. Today we had again our regular drills. This evening at Dress Parade another sword presentation took place. It was presented to Captain Blake of Company F by his men. There is again something wrong in the Quartermaster’s Department. They again do not give us the allotment that is allowed to us. As I have to go on provost duty tonight, I must close for this evening and I hope by tomorrow morning I can give you some more news. Goodnight. From your true and affectionate husband, — John Gundrum
Camp Ruff, Camden, N. J. Wednesday morning, December 10th 1862
Dear wife,
I will again take my pen in hand this morning to let you know that I am well and I hope these lines will find you all in the possession of the same blessing. I was on provost guard last night in Camden City at the Market Street Ferry. We were out from 7 o’clock until 12 o’clock, under the command of Sergeant Glass. It again looks for a fair day. I will further let you know that you can look for a letter every Tuesday and Friday. I will now come to a close as the mail is soon going out. Good morning my dear wife. From your husband, — John Dundrum
Letter 4
Camp Ruff, Battery H 3rd Heavy Artillery, 152nd P. V. Camden, New Jersey Friday evening, December 12th 1862
Dear Wife,
Your kind and affectionate letter came to hand this evening and I was very glad to hear from you and more so to hear that you are all well. I am also very glad to hear that you have enough to eat too. I seen in your letter that you got coal. I want you to let me know what you have to pay for coal up there. Everything is dear and scarce in our part of the country. Fresh butter sells at 50 cents per pound, eggs sells at 22 and 25 cents per dozen, and so is everything that we look at.
The weather is very fine here. It is as fine as in the month of May, but how long it will keep on so, I cannot tell. This evening I sent a letter to Grandmother Arnett. I wonder what is the matter with your brother John that he does not write to me anymore. As I have no more to write to you this evening, I will come to a close until tomorrow morning when I hope to give you some more news. Good night my dear wife. From your dear ands loving husband, — John Gundrum
Saturday morning, December 13th, 1862
Dear wife, I will again take pen in hand this morning to let you know that I am well and I slept good last night. It is a very fine morning and middling warm. This morning we are polishing up our boots and our shoes and getting everything in a clean order for Regimental Inspection this afternoon or sometime tomorrow. We are all as busy and gay as larks this morning. Some of the Boys are singing since they are out of bed. I will now agin come to a close for this morning and I hope by this evening I can give you more news. We are all well except Moses Umberger. He has got the ague, and Lieutenant John A. Light—he is sick too. Good morning my dear wife. Your husband, — John Gundrum
Saturday, December 13th, evening. Dear wife, I again sit down to write a few lines to you this evening to let you know how we got along today. We had no drill until this afternoon when we had review and knapsack drill which was very hard work as it was very muddy. The mud is about 5 inches deep at some places. The cause of it is the snow melts so fast. We have not much snow here any more. If the weather keeps so warm a few days yet, the snow will all be gone.
While I am writing this to you, Kochenberger is playing the fiddle and some of the Boys are dancing for him to pass away the time. One of our sergeants, Uriah J. Bumberger, is very sick. He is in the hospital. His complaint is sore throat or Diphtheria—a bad complaint. I will now again come to a close for this evening and I hope by tomorrow morning I can give you some more news. Good night my dear wife.
Sunday morning, December 14th, 1862. Dear wife, this morning I sit myself down with a sorrowful heart to write to you a few lines. The messenger of death paid a visit to our company last night and took one of our men. It is one of our sergeants. His name is Uriah J. Bomberger.
Letter 5
Patriotic envelope used by Pvt. Gundrum, addressed to Mrs. Eve Gundrum, Annville, Lebanon county, Pennsylvania
Camp Ruff, Battery H 3rd Heavy Artillery 152nd Regt. P. V. Camden, New Jersey Wednesday morning, December 17, 1862
Dear wife,
As I came off guard at 8 o’clock and I now have nothing to do this forenoon, I thought it proper to set me down and take my pen in hand to let you know how I am getting along this morning. I will let you know that it rained on Monday night and yesterday forenoon, and at dinner it cleared off again with a high wind, and it became very cold, and it was very cold last night and this morning. But by all appearance we will have a pleasant warm day again.
Last night I again guarded the prisoners to keep them from breaking out. The man I had a fight with yesterday afternoon in the guard house was thrown out of camp by the Colonel last night. We could not keep him quiet. He was cursing and swearing all the time that he was under arrest. He is an Irishman by the name of Murphy and he was drummed out of camp a few weeks ago and he came back again.
I will also let you know that I slept about four hours last night on a wood pile. That is [not] a very soft bed to sleep on, but we are used to such things as them a good deal. I will further let you know that papers say this morning that our troops were driven with a great loss at Fredericksburg, but I do not believe it yet. I will further let you know that I am well and I hope you are the same.
As I have no more to write to you this morning, I will come to a close by hoping to give you more news this evening. Good morning my dear wife. From your dear husband, — John Gundrum
To Eve Gundrum and to Ellen Gundrum
Camp Ruff, Wednesday evening, December 17, 1862
Dear wife,
Yours of the 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th came to hand tonight and I was glad to hear from you as I was anxious to hear from you before. And I read its contents with pleasure and I was sad to hear that you had a sore throat, but as I read further on in your letter I have seen that you are better which again made me feel more glad. I will let you know that I am well and as hearty as a doe. I am glad to hear that your neighbors do not forget you. I will also let you know that we again have very disagreeable weather here in our part of the country. This morning I thought we would have a fine day but we were disappointed by not having it as the sky commenced to get cloudy this dinner and it snowed a little all afternoon and this evening it commenced snowing in full, hard and fast, and so we again have winter here.
You also had in your letter that I should write you the truth. Do you think I would be dishonest to you and not tell you the truth? If you are of that mind, you are greatly mistaken. If I would not write you the truth, I would not write to you at all. And you also had in your letter that I wrote to you that I like soldiering well, and, that I would not come home if I could, and you want to know whether I would not like it better at home to be with you and Ellen. That, for a truth, I must say to you that I would sooner be at home than in the Army, but you know I have no other way. I must like it better in the Army than at home—especially in the circumstances I am in now. I love you as much as I ever did, but I love my country and my Fatherland too, and as soon as the war is over, and have my “honorable” discharge, I will then come home in a hurry.
Letter 6
Camp Ruff, Battery H 3rd Heavy Artillery or 152nd P. V., Camden, New Jersey January 26th 1863
My loving and dear wife,
I will again avail some of my time this evening in writing to you to let you know that I am well, and also some other particulars. This morning at 9 o’clock we left camp for Philadelphia to be mustered in, but when we came to the mustering office, Colonel Ruff was not ready to muster us in on account that some of his men neglected the business. The mustering office is in Girard Street, No. 1102. Colonel Ruff is the name our camp goes, is the mustering officer of Philadelphia. When we could not be mustered in, we had then a street parade through 3rd Street to Green Street up to 6th Street and through 6th Street to Vine Street, and down Vine Street to the ferry and back to camp where we arrived at 1 o’clock, very hungry and tired. Now we have to go over to the city next Wednesday again at 9 o’clock to be mustered in.
This afternoon we were called in ranks three times by the Colonel to get our muster rolls right. There is a great deal of trouble with the drafted men and the substitutes on account that they did not get the 50 dollars City bounty of Philadelphia. I will also let you know that a private in our regiment died last night at 12 o’clock. He belonged to Battery. He died in the hospital, Drinking too much liquor was the cause of his death. I did not find out what his name was. We have the largest and best company in camp. We have 120 men present for duty. This is all I know for this evening except the weather—it is cloudy all day and warm. The streets of Philadelphia are very muddy. Good night. Your husband, — John A. Gundrum
Camp Ruff January 27, 1863
Dear wife,
As I came off guard around 12 o’clock and just had my dinner, and now nothing to do until 4 o’clock when I have to go on guard again, so I thought it proper to acknowledge the receipt of your letter which came in my possession today of which I was very glad as I did not receive any since the forefront of last week and I was glad to see that you are all well. I will let you know that I am well too with the exception of a slight cold and sore throat. I will also let you know that it is raining again since last night but it is warm. But I again have the good luck to have my post that I have to guard in the dry. I again have to guard the prisoners in the guard house so I am again not exposed to the rain. I will also let you know that we got a cannon this morning to practice on. Our company fetched it in the country. They got it from a farmer. It is five feet long and throws a four-inch ball. It is a great curiosity to us as it is the first cannon that we saw since we are in camp. I will now close by leaving you a husband’s respect and I also advise you to give my best respects to all enquiring friends and by hoping in conclusion this letter will find you in the enjoyment of good health and in the best of blessings, and I will ever remain your true and kind husband, — John A. Gundrum
Letter 7
Fort Delaware February 3rd 1863
Dear wife,
I will again avail some of my time this evening in writing to you to let you know that I am well. I am again over my old spell that I had yesterday. Last night and today it was the coldest that we had yet this winter and it is very cold yet this evening. The sky is cloudy all day. We did not do anything yet since we have been here. I do not know of any more particulars to write this evening so I will come to a close. Your husband, — John A. Gundrum
Fort Delaware February 4, 1863
Loving wife,
I will again spend part of my time this evening to write a few lines to let you know that I do not feel very well this evening. I got the cold and sore throat. I got it last night. It was too cold for a dog to be out of doors. It was the coldest night that we had this winter and so it was today too cold to be outside. The water froze to ice three feet from the red hot stove.
I was on guard last night four hours from 7 o’clock to 11 o’clock before midnight and from 3 o’clock till 5 o’clock after midnight and it is so cold that we hardly could stand it. It was a high and sharp wind all day yesterday and all last night, and so also today. This evening the wind is not so high and it is also not as cold as it was today.
There was a rumor this morning we will be taken to Fortress Monroe yet this week, but I will sooner see it than believe. We did not do anything yet since we are here except guard duty. Your husband, — John A. Gundrum
Fort Delaware February 5th 1863
Affectionate wife,
I will again write a few lines to you this evening to let you know that I am not very well. I have a sore throat. I did not eat much since yesterday My throat pains me so. But I hope it will again be [better] by tomorrow. This morning it was again as cold as it easily could be. Indeed, it was nearly too cold to poke out the nose. But this afternoon the cold again abated and commenced snowing at about 1 o’clock and it is snowing all the time. I will also let you know that I received a letter from your brother John and also one from cousin Elizabeth Bowman. She sent me her likeness. As I do not know any more particulars to write, I will come to a close for this time. From your husband, — John A. Gundrum
Fort Delaware February 6th 1863
Dear wife,
Enclose you will find 10 dollars which I will send with Lieutenant Nelson to Philadelphia to send it by mail from there. — John A. Gundrum
Letter 8
Fort Delaware February 19, 1863
Dear wife,
I will again set myself down this evening to let you know that we are yet at Fort Delaware and I do not know when we are to leave this place. Some say tonight and some say tomorrow and others again say on Saturday. It rained nearly all day and it is very muddy. I will also let you know that I still have got a bad cold and cough and a sore throat, and if it will not be better until tomorrow, I will go to the doctor.
I do not know what is the reason that I do not get letters from you anymore. It is two weeks now that I received the last letter from you and I was expecting a letter from you last week already to find out whether you got them ten dollars that I sent to you as I am very much troubled about that money.
I will let you know that we got our rifles and accoutrements. We got English Enfield rifles. They were captured from the Rebels as they were coming in from England to break the blockade. They are all brand new and carry a ball one thousand yards.
As I do not know any more to write this evening, I will come to a close and bid you my dear wife a good night, and will ever remain your true and loving husband, — John A. Gundrum
February 19th 1863
After roll call this evening. I will write another few lines to let you know that the rumor is now that we are to leave this place at 10 o’clock tomorrow morning. Your true husband, — John A. Gundrum
Letter 9
[This letter is from the private collection of Greg Herr and was offered for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by express consent.]
Fort McHenry March 9, 1863
Dear Wife,
I will again avail myself of the opportunity in writing a few lines to you this evening to let you know that I am well, and I hope this letter may also find you in the enjoyment of the same blessing. Last night it rained heavily all night, but today the weather was fair. I will also let you know that I am on guard today. No more this time, and I will remain your true husband, – John A. Gundrum
March 10th, 1863
Dear and loving wife,
I will again write a few lines to you this evening to let you know that I am well by hoping that you enjoy the same blessing. The weather was again very disagreeable today. It snowed a little all day and [was] very cold, and by the time of writing this to you, it again raining. I will also let you know that I received a letter from cousin Henry Bow___ last night and one from Stephen Boltz this evening. I do not know how it is that I receive more letters and more regular [mail] from Virginia than I do from home. I get every week three and four letters from Virginia and from home it is good if I get one and two. But I guess they do not care much about me at home. If I would know that, I wouyld write very little home. I was again expecting a letter from home since last week and every time that I looked for a letter, my looks were vain. I do not find out whether some of you are dead or alive but my hopes are that you are all living, if I do not get any letters to find it out by them. I am not so far from home that the letters can go astray on their road coming here and there is also no enemy near to capture the mail. I will now close my writing for this evening by remaining your true husband, — John A. Gundrum
March 11th 1863
Dear wife,
I will take my pen in hand to let you know that I received your kind and ever welcome letter this evening and I was very much gratified in perusing its contents and it made me feel the most happy to see that you are getting well again. I am now greatly lightened of my troubles, and sorows again. This morning we had about two inches snow again, but the day was fair so the snow was again until this evening. I also received a letter from your brother John this evening. I am well and I hope you are the same.
March 12, 1863
Dear wife, I will write yet a few lines before closing up this letter to let you know that I had the toothache very bad all last night, and have it yet at the time of writing this to you. This morning is pleasant. I have to go on guard today. No more. Address correct. Mr. John A. Gundrum, Battery H, 1st Penn. Artillery, Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Maryland, In care of Capt. W. D. Rank
Answer this soon.
Letter 10
Fort McHenry Baltimore, Maryland March 14, 1863
Dear Wife,
I will again write a few lines to you this evening to let you know that I am well with the exception that my rupture mortifies me. I have an intention to go to the Doctor tomorrow morning to get me excused from duty. We are happy around our warm stove talking about the [war] and other things. The weather is still cold and the sky cloudy nearly all day. It looks like snow. I will now close for this evening by hoping you will sleep good tonight. your true husband, — J. A. Gundrum
March 15, 1863
Dear and loving wife,
I will again write a few lines to you this evening to let you know that I am well with the exception that I had the colic this afternoon. This morning I was up by the doctor to get me excused from doing duty but he did not put me off duty. Today was my day to go on guard but I did not do it. The werather is very disagreeable and cold. It is snowing and raining and storming all afternoon, and there is also thundering heard and lightning seen at a great distance from here towards the west.
There is also a great excitement here since last night among some of the Boys as there are heavy cannon reports heard at a great distance and that is the reason that some of them are so much excited. They are afraid that this place will be attacked but it is no danger for that. I guess we will see more excitement of it should happen that the rebels would come up this way. I will also let you know that I received a letter from Cousin John Mark today. He is well and hearty. I will also let you know that I do not know what is wrong with me. I am getting too lazy sometimes to fetch my grub. As I am writing this to you, I have a little cat sitting aside of me which we have here for a tent pet.
As there has not transpired much today, I will come to a close for this evening by remaining your true husband, — John A. Gundrum
We expect money this week.
Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Md. March 16, 1863
Dear wife,
I will again write a few lines to let you know that I am well and I will also let you know that we had snow all last night and today. And I will let you know that the rumor is that we will get our discharges tomorrow. I will now close for this evening. From your dear husband, — John A. Gundrum
These letters were written by James H. Smith who served in the 4th Indiana Battery during the Civil War. The battery was organized at Indianapolis, Indiana and mustered in for a three-year enlistment on September 30, 1861. It was mustered in under the command of Captain Asahel Kidder Bush. They were ordered to Louisville, Kentucky, October 4. Then assigned duty at New Haven and Munfordville, Kentucky, until February 1862. For a story of the 4th Indiana Battery’s fight along the Wilkinson Pike in the Battle of Stone’s River, see Dan Master’s Civil War Chronicles of 12 March 2024. Capt. Bush’s battery consisted of two six pounders, two 12 pounders, and two James rifled guns.
Letter 1
[Camp George Wood, Kentucky] December the 27, 1861
Well, Dick, I sit down to let you know that I am well and doing well. We are now at Camp George Wood right where they had their fight last week. Me and George was down and saw the place where our men was buried. There was ten of our men killed and about 75 of the rebels killed.
I don’t know how long we will stay here. It is good weather here. There ain’t any snow here. I would like to know what in hell is the reason that you don’t write to me. I hain’t had a letter for a month. I have wrote two letters to Wat, three to you. Now I want you to write and let me know all the news and what you are all a doing and where you went Christmas and I want Wat to write to me. I want you to tell Pa to take my things and do anything that he is a mind to with them.
Now you can write or not just as you are a mind to [but] I shan’t write any more till you do. — J. Smith to Willard Smith
Direct your letter in the care of Captain A. K. Bush, Michigan City Artillery, Camp George Wood
Letter 2
[Ten miles from Corinth, Mississippi] May the 12, 1862
Well Dick, I thought I would write a few lines and let you know what I am a doing. I ain’t a doing anything now. I hain’t never been well since I was first taken sick. We are in the State of Mississippi about ten miles from Corinth.
I hain’t had but one letter from you since I left Nashville. The officers won’t let us send letters only about once a month. I send this letter by one of our lieutenants. He is a going right to Michigan City.
Dick, I expect that you think I ought to send some money home to help pay my debts and I would if I was well. I was left once and didn’t have a cent and I know how it goes. I went two days and nights without a mouthful to eat.
I want you to write and let me know just how you are a getting along and tell what to write and write all the news. Henry Hall and Sam Folsom are are here in the 7th Iowa Regiment. I don’t believe that they will be any fight here at all. George is well and tough. I am a getting better. I will be fit for duty in a week or two. Write and tell me whether cane has took that note or not and whether you can get along without my sending any money. I can’t think of anything more to write—only that I would be glad to see you all. Goodbye, — J. Smith
To Willard Smith.
Dick, I send a five cent rebel bill in this letter to John. Direct your letters to Pittsburg Landing, A. K. Bush’s Battery in the care of Col. Barnett, commanding Artillery Reserve.
Samuel H. Huntington (1765-1817) served as the 3rd Governor of Ohio from 1808-1810.
This letter was written by Samuel H. Huntington (1765-1817), son of Rev. Joseph Huntington and Hannah Devotion of Coventry, Connecticut. Orphaned young, he was adopted by his uncle, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. He graduated from Yale in 1785 and, after studying law, was admitted to the bar in 1793. Huntington practiced law in Connecticut until 1800, then moved to the Northwest Territory in 1801, briefly living in Youngstown before resettling in Cleveland. Samuel dated this letter from Youngstown in October 1801.
Samuel was later appointed by Territorial Governor Arthur St. Clair as Lieutenant Colonel of state militia troops in the Western Reserve, which became northeast Ohio. He also served as Justice of the Peace and was a delegate at the Ohio State Constitutional Convention in 1802. When Ohio became a state in 1803, he was elected to the State Senate and became Speaker for a few months before being appointed an Associate Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court in April 1803. He became Chief Justice in 1804 upon Return J. Meigs, Jr. resigning and was elected as Ohio’s 3rd Governor in 1808. His administration dealt with issues like war with Great Britain and Ohio’s “Blue Laws.” Not seeking reelection in 1810, he ran unsuccessfully for the United States Senate against Thomas Worthington, then purchased a grist mill in Newburgh and later helped found Fairport in 1812. In 1813, General William Henry Harrison appointed him as a Paymaster and Colonel in the Army. Huntington also presided as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ohio. He was killed in 1817 while supervising road construction to his estate in Painesville, Ohio.
Transcription
Youngstown [Northwest Territory] 8 October 1801
Dear Sir,
Yours by Mr. Devotion came safe to hand & though nothing new has taken place here worthy of notice, I cannot omit the opportunity of sending by Mr. D. When I wrote by Mr. Gardner I expected to have moved to Cleveland before he (Mr. Coit) set away, but he being a little [ ] a little later than was expected. We both set out for our respective home on the same day. In my last, everything respecting my proceedings here was mentioned. I have only to add that I have been to Cleveland since Gardner went away, erected a home 1 & got so much land cleared that I shall have about 10 acres of wheat in this fall, & ten acres ready for grass & corn next spring. Gardner went away not very well satisfied with the country. He expected somebody & indeed anybody would give him one or two hundred acres of land to encourage him to settle in the country. In this he was disappointed, so fat from land being a [ ], he found he could not buy now about two dollars per acre or on average. In addition to this, he got sick; as soon as he was taken, he set out to come home & this threw him into a fever from which he recovered in about a fortnight & went away disheartened, reporting no very favorable account of the country.
Mr. Crit [Crittenden??] will give you as impartial an account of the country (of which he has seen a great part) as any man & his representation may be relied on.
Our family continues to preserve a great share of health. George has had a litle sickness but is now well again. I expect Mr. Simon Perkins will bring out what monies may be collected for me before next spring. If you would have any such, I should be glad to receive it by him or any other safe opportunity. I think our account was not adjusted before I came away owing to the hurry and multiplicity of other business then on hand. I wish if convenient you would draw it off & send it by Mr. Perkins. I suppose it was not far from even. I should be glad to have it balanced as I know of none against me now in Norwich except that, and a little one Seth Minor has for a couple of [ ] head stalls which I [ ] of him after we had harnessed the horses, there being a couple I had of him missing. Spalding writes me he has called on him & charges me six dollars for them. Ten dollars is the extent of their value. They were old and come almost to pieces before we completed our journey. I did not pay him at the time because I had a note against him for which I wished them discounted.
With esteem & respect, I am yours, – Samuel Huntington
A. Huntington, Esq.
1 According to Whittlesey’s The Early History of Cleveland, Samuel Huntington removed with his family to Youngstown early in the summer of 1801. He soon determined to establish himself at Cleveland, and contracted with Amos Spafford to superintend the erection of a well built block house, of considerable pretensions near the bluff south of Superior street, in rear of the site of the American House. Huntington was then about thirty-five years of age. He was the protégé and adopted heir of his uncle and name-sake, Governor Samuel Huntington, of Connecticut. His education was very complete for those times. It would appear from his correspondence with Frenchmen, his knowledge of the French language, and the polish of his manners. that he had spent some time in France. His family consisted of his wife, Miss Margaret Cobb, a companion and governess; and two sons, Julius C. and Colbert, who still survive. Huntington belonged to the more moderate republicans, and does not appear to have lost the confidence of the Federalists.
The letters presented herein were composed by William B. Ireland (1848-1911), the son of John Ireland (1801-1899) and Catherine Jeffery (1802-1882) of Monmouth County, New Jersey. William participated in two distinct regiments during the American Civil War. He initially enlisted at the tender age of 15 in Company H, 24th New Jersey Infantry, a nine-month unit, in September 1862, and mustered out in late June 1863 after engaging in the Battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. Subsequently, he enlisted in Company F, 38th New Jersey Infantry, in mid-September 1864 and mustered out at City Point at the conclusion of June 1865. During his service with the 38th New Jersey, at the time these letters were written, William was assigned to garrison duty at Fort Pocahontas, formerly known as Wilson’s Landing, situated on the James River in Virginia.
I was unable to locate a biographical sketch for William B. Ireland; however, an obituary clearly indicates that he upheld his religious convictions throughout his life, conducting religious meetings in his residence. He was affiliated with the Masons and served as the principal of public schools in Tenlytown, near Washington D.C., in the early 1900s, where he died unmarried in 1911. He had been engaged in teaching at primary schools in Long Branch, New Jersey, at least as early as 1882. His remains were returned to Monmouth County, New Jersey, for burial alongside his family. His Find-A-Grave biography notes that he “was the principal of the Asbury Park high school 25 years ago” (as written in 1912), and that he was born in Oakhurst and was a graduate of Eatontown Seminary. [Note: His headstone gives his DOB as January 1847 but the 1900 Census gives it at January 1848. Either way, he was under age when he first enlisted in 1862.]
William Ireland later in life.
Letter 1
Wilson’s Landing December 1st 1864
Hello Belick,
How are you. Do you mean to write to me or don’t you. Henett has written to me twice and told you were going to write but I have [not] seen anything in the shape of a letter from you yet. You must write to me soon and relieve my anxiety. How do I know but what you have went a fishing and caught a whale and he has swallowed you?
I am well and I hope you are the same. If you “ain’t, you on to be.” But enough of this foolishness. Now I will tell you some news.
Accounts of the bravery of Private William Ireland—the courageous manner in which he defended his country in the recent battle of Fort Pocahontas on the James, Wednesday November 30, 1864.
At about 12 o’clock yesterday as I was eating my dinner, I was startled by hearing someone say the Fort is attacked by the Johnnies. I seized my gun and equipments and hastened out of my tent. The bugle sounded the call to arms and the drums beat the long roll. Orders were given for us to fall in immediately. We all fell in and were marched out to the parade ground and drawn up in line if battle. After the column was formed, the Major said one company must stay inside the fort for a reserve. The Adjutant General said we were the best company in the regiment so we were ordered to stack arms and wait until we were sent for. The remainder of the battalion marched out to reinforce the pickets. We laid on our arms until about 7 o’clock in the evening when the other companies returned from the scene of conflict with the same number they departed with less two. Our loss was 1 man and 1 horse killed and the same number. It seems when the rebels saw our men coming, they were firing at our pickets, but they retreated before we got to them, Our men pushed them for about six miles through the woods but could not bring them to any engagement. We do not know whether we killed any of them or not. If we did, they carried them with them.
Everything is now quiet in camp. I do not think they will be likely to attack us again. Give my love to Henett and the children. With love to you. Courageous coward, — Will Ireland
Write soon.
Letter 2
[Partial letter written to his sibling; The date is uncertain but I suspect it was in the spring of 1865. Appears to have been an expedition led by Major Tantum of the 38th New Jersey to root out guerrillas that were harassing the pickets at Fort Pocahontas, which was located at Wilson’s Landing on the north bank of the James river in Charles City County, Virginia.]
…We then started again and marched about 2 miles and we came to a river and caught 7 rebels a fishing. We got on them before they saw us. Then we went on and searched another house and got another Johnny Reb. Then we marched about 7 miles to a place where a rebel captain lived. It was about 8 o’clock when we got there. We surrounded the house—that is, we formed a line around it, one man in a place about 8 yards apart. We all got ready and the bugle sounded and we all charged on the house but when we got there, we found nobody but some women. We asked one woman if her husband was at home. She said there was no one there but rebel ladies. The Major [William H. Tantum] asked where her husband was. She said he had gone to kill some more Yankees. We searched the house and barn but could not find anyone so we fell back from the house and formed a line around it again. We left the road open which went into the house so as to let the captain go in and then as soon as he went in we were going to close in on him. We lay flat on our bellies in the woods with our guns in our hands till light the next morning. It was very cold and rained some and we had no blankets with us. Jim Gardiner and me lay in one place together. When it got day, we charged on the house again and searched it again but found nobody. The captain did not come home that night.
The first time we charged on the house in the night, some of the boys found a hive of bees. They turned it up and in it they went with their hands. I was not with the ones that got the honey but I was so close by that I could hear them blow the bees off the honey. They got stung a dozen times. [ ] went to eat and the bee stung him in the mouth. Some had bees in their hair and down their backs.
The next morning after we searched the house the last time, we started on the march again. We got 8 horses, 60 cows, and 100 sheep but the sheep and twenty of the cattle got away from us in the woods. They was so wild that we could not get them. We have plenty of good fresh beef now. We met two darkies with mules with loads of wood. They were slaves. They wanted to go with us and be free, they said, so we told them to throw off their wood and the next place we came to we stopped and shot some calves, sheep, turkeys and chickens and loaded the wagons with them and took them to camp with us. The property we took is estimated at three thousand dollars. The Major told us to take anything we wanted but we had enough to do to carry ourselves. Some threw away their boots and overcoats, they were so tired, but I stuck to mine. I never was so tired in my life. My feet were blistered, the bottoms of them all over, and my toes and ankles were all raw. I don’t think I could have went a mile further but I had to keep up with the rest or get catched by the rebs for the woods is full of them. But I am rested now and feel first rate.
We marched 60 miles in less than two days without resting an hour. The first rebel we shot will die, I think, for the bullet is in his side yet. We saw his girl to a house we stopped at and she came out and cheered him up. She told him to keep a good heart for he would get well and kill Yankees yet, and as soon as he killed twenty, his captain would give him a commission. But I think if he gets well, [he] will not kill any more Yankees for we have got him fast. The reason we went after them is because they come around at night and fire at us when we are on picket. They shot one of our pickets last week. They shot 7 holes right through him. It made the Major mad and so he said he would give them one rip and he has, whereon we went [and] we destroyed all we come to. We saw barns full of corn and wheat but we had no way to bring it. We are going again soon with wagons to get it and to see if we can’t catch that rebel captain.
I guess I will close my letter for I was tired of writing and I suppose you are getting tired of reading adn it is almost bed time now. Don’t never say I have not written you one long letter. Give my love to Billy, Tell him to answer my letter or I will break his head. Give my love to Mary, Lib, and the children. Write soon to your loving brother, — Will
It has been like summer until but it has set in very cold and looks like snow. But wood is plenty and when we are in our tents, we can keep warm enough. But it is very cold on picket. There is no danger but I will get things if they choose to send them…. — Will Ireland, the great lady killer
Letter 3
Fort Pocahontas May 6th 1865
Dear Mother,
I received two letters from you on Thursday last but I have not ha time to answer them until now for I got them Thursday night and I went on picket Friday morning and came off this morning. It is evening now. I have been cleaning up for inspection tomorrow morning.
The weather is very warm here today. It is the hottest day we have had this spring. The sun is hot enough to almost waste anyone. I am well. My health never was better than it is now and I hope through the blessing of God that it will keep good while I stay down here.
We had a pretty hard shower while I was on picket yesterday but it did not last long. My eyes does not hurt me any except when it lightens and they seem to be as strong as ever. The prospect of our getting home soon seems very good and I think we will be getting along before a great while longer.
I feel the love of God very precious to my soul tonight and I fel that I have great reason to praise and bless His hold name for His many mercies to me. For every day of my life he adds some new blessing to the many He is continually giving me. I feel myself to be unworthy of His many blessings ad I know I am not as thankful as I should be. But I try to do that which is right and well pleasing in His sight, and to depend entirely upon Him fr strength….
Your loving son, — Will Ireland, Co. F, 38th New Jersey
Letter 4
Fort Pocahontas Sabbath afternoon, May 7th 1865
Dear Sister,
Your kind and ever welcome letter came duly to hand last night and I was much gratified to learn that you was well. I am well and I sincerely hope these lines may find you the same….
You asked me my opinion [on the President’s assassination] and if it is anything which I do not wish to be found out, I need not sign my name to it. Well, I will tell you my opinion and I will put my name at the bottom of it for I am not afraid for anyone to know what I think of it. I think it was the most malignant and wicked crime that has ever been committed in America, and a crime at which all good and just persons must shudder at, and must entertain the utmost contempt and loathing for the perpetrator of such a crime, and for any person who would sanction the commission of such a deed. Although I did not favor the politics of President Lincoln, still to have him removed in such a manner is awful to think of and I should much rather he would have continued in the Presidential chair for 20 years. [rest of letter missing]
This partial letter was written by a member of Co. D, 72nd Illinois Infantry—the “First Chicago Board of Trade Regiment.” Raised in Cook county. The letter was addressed to his friend Rocelia Lucretia Hemingway (1808-1886), the daughter of Allen Hemingway (1808-1886) and Marietta Linsley (1808-1842) of Leydon, Cook county, Illinois. Mentioned in the letter are Rocelia’s two brothers, Rodney A. Hemingway (1835-1863) and (her half-brother) Anson Tyler Hemingway (1844-1926) who also served in Co. D. Rocelia was married to George Andrew Stoughton (1834-1914) in March 1855.
The letter pertains to the scouting expedition made by four companies in the 72 Illinois Infantry (240 men) from Columbus, Kentucky, to Covington, Durhamville, & Fort Radolph, Tennessee to rout out rebel guerrillas. For a full description of the orders and actions taken on this scout, see September 18, 1862-October 5, 1862, Anti-guerrillas expedition.
Harbridge & McMurray, two members of Co. D, 72nd Illinois (Al & Claudia Niemiec Collection)
Transcription
Columbus [Kentucky] Wednesday, October 9, 1862
Rocelia, dear friend,
You must excuse me for not writing to you sooner but if you would only stop to think of the conveniences that soldiers have to write, you would wait patiently for one to come if not oftener than twice a year. When we sit down to write we are sometimes called away three or four times before we get it wrote. But I suppose you won’t believe that I am writing the truth. But never mind. If you was a soldier you would find it out.
It is raining now almost as fast as it did the night that we was at your house when [your husband] George was home and there is a little river running through our tent. If it keeps on, we may make a small boat to keep us from getting drowned.
I have been down to Tennessee with a scouting party. Four companies of our regiment started down the river September 27th. When we got to Island No. 10, we took on 20 [from Co. L, 2nd Illinois] cavalry. Then we went to New Madras. There we took on 60 more [from Co. D, 2nd Illinois] cavalry & two pieces of artillery [from Capt. De Golyer’s Batter]. Then we went to Fort Pillow. We landed Monday morning [29 September]. Then we was joined by four companies of the 52nd Indiana Regiment. In the afternoon we started out in the country. We marched until 10 o’clock at night. Then we halted for the night in the road. 1 As soon as we stacked arms, we went to foraging. We took everything we could lay our hands on. We killed hogs turkeys, geese, ducks, & chickens and cooked them on a stick. We got sweet potatoes. Them we roasted in the ashes. I went through the house in the morning and everything that could be eat and things cooked were taken away. Someone even took the bucket that they drew water out of the well with. I did not touch anything in the house.
We took one prisoner. One of the boys went under the house to look for chickens and found a two legged chicken hid there. We brought him home with us. We took two mules, one barrel of sugar, and one barrel of molasses just so we done all along our journey.
We started on in the morning. As we went along, we could see where the rebel cavalry had been feeding their horses and had heard us coming and left. We got to a place called Covington about 11 o’clock. We marched on through the town and about two miles beyond there we stopped for dinner. When we had eat our dinner, the colonel ordered us to march. We went a little ways, then we met a man that told us that Jackson was only about 8 miles ahead of us. Then the colonel ordered a countermarch and we started for Fort Pillow. We stopped at night about 30 miles from the fort. This time we foraged just the same as we did the night before. Some of the boys broke a piano and sewing machine all to pieces.
We started for the fort in the morning. I was detailed for one of the rear guard to fetch up all those that fell back that was tired and worn out. We had to force them on and them that couldn’t walk put on the wagons for the rebels followed to pick up all the stragglers. We got to the Fort 10 o’clock at night. As soon as the regiment at the fort heard that we were coming, they sent out wagons to meet us & get the sick. When we got to the fort, we was all pretty tired. I stood the march as well as anyone in the regiment. We took on the march 42 mules and horses, 5 wagons, 4 or 5 barrels of sugar and molasses, two wagon loads of cotton, and about 12 prisoners, 1 rebel captain and one we shot dead. I had a pretty mule but it was so wild I could not ride him so I let him go. We slept 8 nights in the open air with half of our blanket under and half over us. We didn’t take our knapsack or dress coat or overcoat with us; just our blouse and blanket. Anson and Rodney [Hemingway] did not go with us for they were sick. [unsigned]
1 The party bivouacked for the night at the plantation of a notorious and avowed secessionist named Overall.
An unidentified soldier in Co. K, 127th New York Infantry (Facebook)
The following letter was written by Orlando S. Edward (1844-1863) who enlisted on 25 August 1862 in Co. K, 127th New York Infantry—a regiment known as the National Volunteers or Monitors that was raised on Long Island and in New York city. He was transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps, November 28, 1863 and died on 27 December 1863 at the age of 19. His parents were Abraham Edwards (1795-1858) and Lucy A. Downs (1819-1878).
Transcription
Addressed to Wm. C. Hemongway, McLean, Tompkins county, New York
Camp Bliss [Upton’s Hill, Virginia] November 13th 1862
Dear Friends,
I received a letter from you Tuesday night which was received as all others are, with a rush who has got a letter? I have got a letter! Until I get one, they may go to thunder with their letters. This is the way the soldiers are excited when the mail comes (I tell you they are God senders). There is not much excitement in camp at present. There was a death in the 127th [New York] last Tuesday. I attended the burial. It was a still time amongst the brigade, it being the first death that has been in. They took him to Falls Church and buried him about one mile west. There is a number of New York boys buried here that died last winter from this hill.
We fixed up our tents yesterday and you would have laughed to have seen us perform. In the first place, we went to the woods (Ha! I lied there for there hain’t any woods in sight). It was merely an old clearing and there we found some chestnut sticks. We found them that were about afoot through and split them in two and then flattened the other side and we had what we called a plank. We backed twelve of these to camp and staked out our ground which was 14 foot long and 8 wide and set our planks up edge ways, three on a side, and staked them to their place. We then put up two crotches in the center and put a ridge pole across and spread our canvas and then down to the sides. We then took some Virginia soil and made some mortar (which by the way is most grand on the account of its sticking qualities) and plastered up the holes and our shanty was finished and a nice one it was—the best one on the ground. Don’t we feel proud over it. We slept like pigs in the clover last night.
We are drilling pretty thorough about this time. We drill in company drill about two hours in the forenoon and two hours battalion drill in the p.m. We have brigade drill twice a week—four regiments drill together then. We had a severe snow storm here last week which lasted two days. The snow fell five inches deep. This is a splendid warm country.
If you are a mind to, you may send a pair of woolen stockings and a good pair of good buckskin gloves lined for it is most thundering cold down in Dixie. I must go to roost for it is 9 o’clock and the lights have been ordered out. So goodbye, — Orlando
Bully for the dry camp. We had election in our company. It went 22 majority Wadworth.
The following letter was written by a Union soldier named “Bob” who indicated that he had recently participated in the Battle of Fredericksburg. He also suggested that he was a part of “King’s Division” but of course King had resigned his commission in October 1862 and elements of his command were reassigned, some placed under the command of John Gibbon and some under Abner Doubleday—both of whom fought at Fredericksburg in William B. Franklin’s Left Grand Division.
James Newton served in the 105th New York Infantry and was wounded at Fredericksburg on 13 December 1863 (Robert May Collection)
Since the author asked about the 130th Regiment, he must have known soldiers who served in that regiment. But was it the 130th Pennsylvania or the 130th New York Infantry? I was able to rule out the 130th Pennsylvania Infantry because none of the few Pennsylvania regiment in either Doubleday’s or Gibbon’s Divisions were raised in Cumberland and York counties where the 130th Pennsylvania was raised. So where was the 130th New York Infantry raised? Most of the members were recruited in Wyoming county, a relatively low populated region in western, upstate New York. I could find only one other regiment raised in this region which was the 105th New York Infantry—a regiment that figured prominently at Fredericksburg in Gibbons Division of Gen. Reynolds 1st Corps. Here the 105th New York lost 78 killed, wounded and missing. After assailing the Confederate right at the point of bayonet and overrunning the Confederates position, when they were not reinforced, they were counterattacked and grappled in hand-to-hand combat before yielding the hard-earned ground. The “gallant old 105th New York was annihilated,” according to their commander Isaac S. Tichenor. “Captain Abraham Moore [Co. F] tried to rally the surviving members of the regiment. He failed. One soldier explained, “The 105th New York Volunteers was literally killed in action.” [See “The Fredericksburg Campaign: Winter War on the Rappahannock” by Francis A. O’Reilly, page 241] A great number of the surviving members of the 105th New York were taken prisoner.
One possibly is that the letter was written by Robert Lutze (1844-1907) who had a sister named Elizabeth (b. 1850). Robert served in Co. K, 105th New York Infantry, mustering in at LeRoy, New York. He was transferred to the 94th New York when the 105th was disbanded after Fredericksburg. I am unwilling to attribute this letter to him without reservation, however.
Transcription
December 26th 1862
My dear sister,
I received your welcome letter today and I was very glad to hear that you all keep well. Yes, Beckie, we were in [the fight] of course. They do not know how to fight without King’s Division to hold the flank. We came out alright. I wish you would in your next letter let me know what Brigade, Division and Corps the 130th Regiment is in—that is, if you know.
Well, we have 170 men in our regiment. When the regiment came out, it numbered 870 men. Well, Beckie, I spent my Christmas on picket and had for dinner hard tack and coffee. Today I had some hoecake for dinner and for supper I boiled some mush. I bought the corn meal from a darkey.
I shall not write anything about the battle as I wrote to Father a few days ago and told him enough about it. The next time you see Abe and Cal, give them my best wishes for their future happiness. I think writing is about played out for this time. So is the northern army if I know anything about it. When they put Mac [McClellan] out, then they ought to have sent the army home and saved those 20,000 men that Burnside killed.
We are both well and send our love. Your affectionate brother, — Bob
This letter was written to Henry White Gorham (1838-1876) who enlisted in April 1861 to serve three months in Co. F, 13th Regiment, New York State Militia. They were placed on railroad guard duty till June at Annapolis, Maryland, and then at Baltimore until August 1861. They mustered out on 6 August 1861. It was penned by his sister, datelined from Williamsburgh, Kings county, New York.
Transcription
Addressed to Mr. H. W. Gorham, 13th Regiment Company F, N. Y. V. M., Annapolis, Maryland; “Give them a little more grape boys. Let that be our Compromise.” Postmarked Williamsburgh, N. Y.
Williamsburgh [New York] June 29, 1861
Dear Brother Henry,
Patriotic Letterhead
It is two weeks today since I got a letter from you. I had written & I suppose you got one from me the same day. I mailed another one week ago yesterday & have been looking & hoping to get one from you every day this week but have been disappointed. I have thought you might be in an engagement but the papers have not given any account of one. Then I thought you might be out of paper, so I thought I would not wait longer but write you again.
We are all as well as usual but feeling rather stale as yesterday was our excursion. We had a very pleasant day, a good company, and a nice grove. Everything so far as I know went off pleasantly. Mr. McGonor went with us. He sang the pieces he used to sing at the hall last winter, besides others. It is a treat to hear him sing, you know. The girls were in there & I suppose wished you were there too. I for one did. I thought of you many times during the day. John & Isaiah are very lame today from running, chasing one another & the girls. They were playing war. I believe the girls thought they were so tired they could not go to the temple in the evening, but did go as we got home early enough for them to rest some first.
Yesterday while we were gone, Mr. Wilber came in with a man from your regiment that had come home sick. He said he knew you & I was in hopes he would have been in today so I could have asked him about you. Mr. Wilber said he would come with him but perhaps he is not able to come. John & Isaiah have both gone over to see Oli Briggs this afternoon. Allen was home Saturday. Went away again Monday, I believe. He is doing very well. Chrit is peddling paper, envelopes and segars I guess—a Yankee notion pedlar. He told Oli he was agoing to Albany today. Last Tuesday, Johnnie, Isiah, and myself went over to Maria’s & spent the day. Went to the Elysian Fields [in Hoboken, New Jersey]. It is very pleasant there now. Isaiah and I went to Flushing last week to the hot house. 1 Saw some of the handsomest plants I ever saw in my life. It does not seem possible such plants grow but nature is much more beautiful than anything man can make. I expect if you are spared to come home, Isiah will want you to go with him to see them. He wants to get some to put in your garden. It looks very pretty. He had a bouquet from it yesterday. The girls said they did not believe it came from his garden so he called on me to vouch for it.
The [Brooklyn] Industrial School held a fair Wednesday evening—or Strawberry Festival as they call it. Cherries are getting plenty. Wish you were here to have some. Expect you will be here before they are gone. We had some yesterday from Annie Cook’s garden. Perhaps she will save some for you. I dare say you will get some if you come before they are all gone. You say my pies will suffer when you get home. I shall be only too happy to see you eat them. You shall have as much as you want of everything I can cook for you. I always think of you when we have anything that I know you love.
13th Regiment, New York State Militia
There is a great deal said in the papers of the way the 13th [Regiment] are treated & of their clothes and their fare. We do not know how much of it to believe. Now I want you to write in your next if you are treated as the papers say, and tell us if there is anything we can do for your comfort we are willing and desire to do if we knew what you need. It is hard for the soldiers if they have all it is possible, for them to have for their comfort. I think the people at home ought to sacrifice some of the luxuries for their sake if they cannot be made comfortable without. If they are treated as the papers state, it is ridiculous, but we do not know what to believe.
Williard has not gone yet but he thinks they are going soon. John Dean is in and out as usual. He is not able to work, he says. He thinks his lungs are affected. He is spleeny still, I think. He is not long lived. He will probably go as Frank did. He seems some as he used to. I had a letter from [ ] the other day. She says she is not agoing to take no for an answer to come there this summer. I must, it is so lonesome. I do not know as I shall go. I think I will wait until you come. I suppose you will want to go east on a visit. What do you think? I know I have written all the news I know so will stop writing. Hope I shall get one from you soon. A good long one. Your sister, — Sarah
1 Possibly the Linnaean Botanic Garden or Prince’s Nursery in Flushing, Queens, New York. It was started in the mid-18th Century.
Letterhead of stationery used by Dibble with engraving of Williston Seminary
The following letter was written by Fitzhugh Ithamar Dibble (1840-1918), the son of George Dibble (1805-1881) and Betsy Whittlesey Underhill (1807-1902) of Old Saybrook, Middlesex county, Connecticut. Fitzhugh wrote the letter in May 1861 while attending Williston Seminary. He later attended and graduated (1863) with a law degree from Yale College. Fitzhugh had two older brothers who served in the Civil War. George Eugene Dibble (1830-1863) in Co. F, 12th Connecticut Infantry and died on a Mississippi transport on 24 May 1863. Also serving was Augustus Llewelyn Dibble (1831-1878) in Co. G, 14th Connecticut Infantry, who was wounded at Antietam and shot in the foot in a later engagement but recovered.
Curiously, census records in 1850 and 1860 reveal that Fitzhugh was born in 1839 or 1840; yet subsequent census records report his having been born in 1845 or even 1846, leading one to question whether he misreported his age in order to avoid the draft.
Fitzhugh wrote the letter to his older sister, Juline Josephine (“Jose”) Dibble (1834-1924) who was employed as a school teacher in the common schools of Old Saybrook. In 1867, she married Henry H. Buell (1837-1927).
Transcription
Addressed to Miss J. Josephine Dibble, Old Saybrook, Connecticut
Puckertown Heights May 19th 1861
Dear Sister Jose,
Yours of May 12th was received four days after date & of course read with extreme pleasure as all long anticipated epistles are. I nearly began to think that you had likely forgotten me or that in the fire of your patriotic ardor, had concluded that all minor objects must give way before that. Previous to receiving your letter I had not received one for a whole week & a half. Now only imagine to yourself the distress & anxiety I must have been in & methinks I see the sympathetic tears suffusing your eyes & a firm resolve entering your mind never to indulge in such delay again.
I am gratified to hear that you are all well at home & I can say that I fully approve the plan which you girls have adopted of planting “each one a hill of corn” & hope it will prove a successful crop & the beginning of a mighty harvest of heroic deeds performed by the Angels of America. I am glad to learn that S. & W. [Saybrook & Westbrook] are so enthusiastic in this war with the rebels & hope to hear that they have united and raised a company of volunteers. I am also extremely pleased to hear that Mr. [Salmon] McCall 1 came out with a Union sermon & had the pluck not to be bullied an inch from his position. It has considerably changed my opinion of him, for I had begun to think that he was a regular “dishwater concern”—not daring to say his soul was his own or the Bible the book of God. I hope you will send me a copy of it (i. e., his sermon) if published.
I have not delivered that oration yet as I got a substitute in my place for I found upon copying & arranging it that it covered more than 21 pages of foolscap & took me an hour to read it through in my room at a quick rate. But I have one to deliver this week Friday eve which I have not yet written. As to Flunks Fizzles, &c. they are about as frequent as ever & also about effectual. We have been obliged to give up our military drill as we could obtain no arms from the government unless we placed ourselves at its disposal & there were not enough in school who would enroll in a regular company in this way. This was a great disappointment to us. The Amherst students were disappointed in th same way—but it cannot be remedied.
The weather is very beautiful here now & nature is arranging herself in her best “bib & tucker” 2 —preparing to send out a rich harvest from red bosoms [?]. I am happy to hear that Evelyn’s health has improved enough to ensure his return home & hope his wife may derive all the satisfaction possible from all the stories she sees fit to fabricate & report—but I really don’t think they will do any serious injury only to those who frame them & moreover I don’t think that they or their [ ] are worth noticing. Let the jealous & [ ] rage and vent their discontentment, but they will never seriously injure those who are innocent of any misdemeanor.
Now I trust I shall not be compelled to wait so long again for an answer to this as before, but that you will write soon & also Adell & the rest, keeping me informed of all the news at home. Please remember me to all friends & all the family at home & God bless & protect you all. Very sincerely, your affectionate brother, — F. I. Dibble
Williston Seminary, East Hampton, Massachusetts
1 Salmon McCall was the pastor of the First Church of Christ in Saybrook from 1853 to 1871. He was 27 years old when he first occupied the pulpit in Saybrook. He was described as “a studious and learned man.”He was an 1851 graduate of Yale College.
2 “bib and tucker” used to mean the most lavish attire a gentleman possessed.
Spared & Shared 23 