The following letter was written by someone named “Andrew” who I believe served aboard the USS Maratanza. I was unable to identify him, however. Perhaps someone else can devote more time to discovering his identity.

Transcription

Baltimore, Maryland
August 10th [1862]

Dear Sister,

I received your kind letter last week and was much pleased to hear from you once more. Can you realize that brother Bree is dead! I cannot. It seems to me that when I go home again, I shall find him there. Still I know it cannot be and that we shall never see him again. I am glad to hear that the Boys have volunteered from our place, for we are greatly in need of men. They have saved themselves from being branded as cowards. If the men do not come forward now, all those that have died, have died in vain. This is a terrible war and things look dark at the present time. Nevertheless we are bound to conquer in the end.

I never wished to be in a place so much as I wished to be on the James River the other day when we heard that the 2nd Merrimac had come down. I am glad that she has not come down yet because I want to have a brush with her. I would willingly see the old Maratanza ¹ go down as she went with us. We are taking on board some more guns and then we shall have as heavy a battery as any vessel on the river. We are going to keep the 100 pound rifles forward. Have a 19 inch gun aft in the place of the 9-inch [ ] 2 9-inch broadside guns forward and 4 brass 24-pounders aft which will make a very heavy battery. I think we shall leave here the last of this week. I suppose we shall go back to the James River I hope so at any rate so direct your next letter there.

Write me what regiment the Iwanville Boys go in and what company so if they join the Army of the Potomac I can find them out. I was very much surprised to hear that Alf and Pad were married but I think they done the wise thing. If every young man would get married before he left home it would be better for them. Tell Lor that I have won my bet and ask her if she has been to glory lately.

You wanted me to get them things that were sent to Fortress Monroe at what place would I be likely to find them, and in whose name would they be sent. Brothers, I suppose. I was ashore at the fort a good deal before we came here and went and saw Aunt Sally. She wants father to come back there. I did not see Bill Downer but am in hopes to when we go back there. Give my love to Mother and the children and write soon. From your brother, — Andrew

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¹ USS Maratanza, a 786-ton double-ender, wooden steamer, was built at Boston Navy Yard in 1861, then launched 26 November and commissioned on April 12, 1862. USS Marblehead was an Unadilla-class gunboat launched by G. W. Jackman, Newburyport, Massachusetts on October 16, 1861.