Civil War Era Letters Collection
SEAN DAVIS
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https://www.nps.gov/anti/learn/education/upload/Letters%20and%20Diaries%20of%20Soldiers%20and%20Civilians.pdf
1. 4th N.C. Volunteers September 30th, 1862 Camp near Bunker Hill
1. 4th N.C. Volunteers September 30th, 1862 Camp near Bunker Hill
Dear Father, Mother and Sisters,
It has been some time since I wrote to you all. I have heard from you two or three times. I have been in Maryland since I wrote to you and have been in two very hard battles in Maryland and came out unhurt. I see a great deal and could tell you more than I write if I could see you.
Our regiment did not have many wounded nor killed but a good many taken prisoners. Frank Shepherd and John Fennster we suppose are taken. We have not heard from them since the fight. They were not in the fight; were left at the camp. The Yankees took them. On their escape they took a good many of our negroes. That was a great victory at Harper's Ferry. I would like to have been in that. Our men did not fire a gun. They burn the Yankees to death and they give up everything and raised a white flag and attack their army. The men say that they saw it and was the best thing they ever saw. The seventh regiment N.C. was there and saw it all. E. Morrison Scroggs was telling me about how they done. He saw it all. I would like to have been there.
Our regiment used everything we had. I have no blanket nor any clothes but what I have got. I have got the suit on that you sent me. They came in a good time. I like them very well. If I had a good pair of shoes I would be the best clothed man in the regiment.
Pa, I want you to have me a pair of boots made. Those shoes you had made for me ripped all to pieces. Our regiment used everything we had. I have no blanket nor any clothes but what I have got. I have got the suit on that you sent me. They came in a good time. I like them very well. If I had a good pair of shoes I would be the best clothed man in the regiment.
Cousin Dr. Hill is wounded in the knee very bad. I have nothing more for my paper is scarce. Write soon to your only son.
It has been some time since I wrote to you all. I have heard from you two or three times. I have been in Maryland since I wrote to you and have been in two very hard battles in Maryland and came out unhurt. I see a great deal and could tell you more than I write if I could see you.
Our regiment did not have many wounded nor killed but a good many taken prisoners. Frank Shepherd and John Fennster we suppose are taken. We have not heard from them since the fight. They were not in the fight; were left at the camp. The Yankees took them. On their escape they took a good many of our negroes. That was a great victory at Harper's Ferry. I would like to have been in that. Our men did not fire a gun. They burn the Yankees to death and they give up everything and raised a white flag and attack their army. The men say that they saw it and was the best thing they ever saw. The seventh regiment N.C. was there and saw it all. E. Morrison Scroggs was telling me about how they done. He saw it all. I would like to have been there.
Our regiment used everything we had. I have no blanket nor any clothes but what I have got. I have got the suit on that you sent me. They came in a good time. I like them very well. If I had a good pair of shoes I would be the best clothed man in the regiment.
Pa, I want you to have me a pair of boots made. Those shoes you had made for me ripped all to pieces. Our regiment used everything we had. I have no blanket nor any clothes but what I have got. I have got the suit on that you sent me. They came in a good time. I like them very well. If I had a good pair of shoes I would be the best clothed man in the regiment.
Cousin Dr. Hill is wounded in the knee very bad. I have nothing more for my paper is scarce. Write soon to your only son.
W. Adams
This letter is written by a soldier W. Adams to his family back home on September 30th, 1862. He writes of the war and the battles he's fought in including the missing friends and relatives due to the war.
2. Sunday Sept. 21, 1862
Dear Folks,
This letter is written by a soldier Alexander Hunter his "folks" back home on September 21, 1862. He writes of the common and horrible issues he and the other soldiers are dealing with in the war including illness and violence of the war.
3. William Child, Major and Surgeon with the 5th Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers
September 22, 1862 (Battlefield Hospital near Sharpsburg)
My Dear Wife;
This letter is written by a soldier W. Adams to his family back home on September 30th, 1862. He writes of the war and the battles he's fought in including the missing friends and relatives due to the war.
2. Sunday Sept. 21, 1862
Dear Folks,
On the 8th we struck up the refrain of "Maryland, My Maryland!" and camped in an apple orchard. We
went hungry, for six days not a morsel of bread or meat had gone in our stomachs - and our menu
consisted of apple; and corn. We toasted, we burned, we stewed, we boiled, we roasted these two
together, and singly, until there was not a man whose form had not caved in, and who had not a bad
attack of diarrhea. Our under-clothes were foul and hanging in strips, our socks worn out, and half of the
men were bare-footed, many were lame and were sent to the rear; others, of sterner stuff, hobbled along
and managed to keep up, while gangs from every company went off in the surrounding country looking
for food. . . Many became ill from exposure and starvation, and were left on the road. The ambulances
were full, and the whole route was marked with a sick, lame, limping lot, that straggled to the farm-
houses that lined the way, and who, in all cases, succored and cared for them. . .
In an hour after the passage of the Potomac the command continued the march through the rich fields of Maryland. The country people lined the roads, gazing in open-eyed wonder upon the long lines of infantry . . .and as far as the eye could reach, was the glitter of the swaying points of the bayonets. It was the Ursi ragged Rebels they had ever seen, and though they did not act either as friends or foes, still they gave liberally, and every haversack was full that day at least. No houses were entered - no damage was done, and the farmers in the vicinity must have drawn a long breath as they saw how safe their property was in the very midst of the army.
Alexander Hunter
In an hour after the passage of the Potomac the command continued the march through the rich fields of Maryland. The country people lined the roads, gazing in open-eyed wonder upon the long lines of infantry . . .and as far as the eye could reach, was the glitter of the swaying points of the bayonets. It was the Ursi ragged Rebels they had ever seen, and though they did not act either as friends or foes, still they gave liberally, and every haversack was full that day at least. No houses were entered - no damage was done, and the farmers in the vicinity must have drawn a long breath as they saw how safe their property was in the very midst of the army.
Alexander Hunter
This letter is written by a soldier Alexander Hunter his "folks" back home on September 21, 1862. He writes of the common and horrible issues he and the other soldiers are dealing with in the war including illness and violence of the war.
3. William Child, Major and Surgeon with the 5th Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers
September 22, 1862 (Battlefield Hospital near Sharpsburg)
My Dear Wife;
Day before yesterday I dressed the wounds of 64 different men - some having two or three each.
Yesterday I was at work from daylight till dark - today I am completely exhausted - but stall soon be
able to go at it again.
The days after the battle are a thousand times worse than the day of the battle – and the physical pain is not the greatest pain suffered. How awful it is - you have not can have until you see it any idea of affairs after a battle. The dead appear sickening but they suffer no pain. But the poor wounded mutilated soldiers that yet have life and sensation make a most horrid picture. I pray God may stop such infernal work - through perhaps he has sent it upon us for our sins. Great indeed must have been our sins if such is our punishment.
Our Reg. Started this morning for Harpers Ferry - 14 miles. I am detailed with others to remain here until the wounded are removed - then join the Reg. With my nurses. I expect there will be another great fight at Harpers Ferry.
Carrie I dreamed of home night before last. I love to dream of home it seems so much like really being there. I dreamed that I was passing Hibbards house and saw you and Lud. in the window. After then I saw you in some place I cannot really know where -you kissed me - and told me you loved me - though you did not the first time you saw me. Was not that quite a soldier dream? That night had been away to a hospital to see some wounded men - returned late. I fastened my horse to a peach tree - fed him with wheat and hay from a barn near by - then I slept and dreamed of my loved ones away in N.H.
Write soon as you can. Tell me all you can about my business affairs and prospects for the future in Bath. Will Dr. Boynton be likely to get a strong hold there. One thing sure Cad, I shall return to Bath - if I live - and spend my days there. I feel so in that way now. Give me all news you can. Tell Parker and John and the girls to write although I can not answer them all. Tell Parker I will answer his as soon as I can.
In this letter I send you a bit of gold lace such as the rebel officers have. This I cut from a rebel officers coat on the battlefield. He was a Lieut.
I have made the acquaintance of two rebel officers - prisoners in our hands. One is a physician - both are masons - both very intelligent, gentlemanly men. Each is wounded in the leg. They are great favorites with our officers. One of them was brought off the field in hottest of the fight by our 5th N.H. officers - he giving them evidence of his being a mason.
Now do write soon. Kisses to you Clint & Kate. Love to all. Yours as ever
W.C.
This letter is written by a William Child to his wife on September 22nd, 1862. William writes about his life as medic in this war constantly attending the wounded in the war.
4. 11th Connecticut (Fought at Burnside Bridge)
Sunday Sept. 21, 1862 Sharpsburg, MD
Dear Wife,
Give me love to all our friends.
Very Truly yours George
This Letter is written by George to his wife on September 21st 1862 after fighting at the Burnside Bridge. He writes of the battle and how language would fail him to describe what he saw, he also mentions having his possessions being stolen during the fight including packages of medicine, tooth comb, and his most valued possession a needle book containing a locket of his wife hair.
5. 8th Conn. Volunteers September 19, 1862
This message is written by Henry to "People" back home on September 19, 1862. He talks of the difficulty of writing these messages and mentions he will probably go to Virginia now. Something interesting is that one never really knows where exactly they are going to fight or when or if they will be coming home.
INFORMATIVE SIGN:
This collection of letters in 1862 during the Civil War includes the work of five different writers. In all the letters, the soldiers write of their loss from the war and its horrors. These letters are all written in 1862 showing it was the same point in the war when they are all writing their different experiences back home to there wife or families. These letters illustrate the soldiers' contact and participation in the war. How do these letters relate to what people write home nowadays when they are stationed out overseas fighting wars in the 21st century?
The days after the battle are a thousand times worse than the day of the battle – and the physical pain is not the greatest pain suffered. How awful it is - you have not can have until you see it any idea of affairs after a battle. The dead appear sickening but they suffer no pain. But the poor wounded mutilated soldiers that yet have life and sensation make a most horrid picture. I pray God may stop such infernal work - through perhaps he has sent it upon us for our sins. Great indeed must have been our sins if such is our punishment.
Our Reg. Started this morning for Harpers Ferry - 14 miles. I am detailed with others to remain here until the wounded are removed - then join the Reg. With my nurses. I expect there will be another great fight at Harpers Ferry.
Carrie I dreamed of home night before last. I love to dream of home it seems so much like really being there. I dreamed that I was passing Hibbards house and saw you and Lud. in the window. After then I saw you in some place I cannot really know where -you kissed me - and told me you loved me - though you did not the first time you saw me. Was not that quite a soldier dream? That night had been away to a hospital to see some wounded men - returned late. I fastened my horse to a peach tree - fed him with wheat and hay from a barn near by - then I slept and dreamed of my loved ones away in N.H.
Write soon as you can. Tell me all you can about my business affairs and prospects for the future in Bath. Will Dr. Boynton be likely to get a strong hold there. One thing sure Cad, I shall return to Bath - if I live - and spend my days there. I feel so in that way now. Give me all news you can. Tell Parker and John and the girls to write although I can not answer them all. Tell Parker I will answer his as soon as I can.
In this letter I send you a bit of gold lace such as the rebel officers have. This I cut from a rebel officers coat on the battlefield. He was a Lieut.
I have made the acquaintance of two rebel officers - prisoners in our hands. One is a physician - both are masons - both very intelligent, gentlemanly men. Each is wounded in the leg. They are great favorites with our officers. One of them was brought off the field in hottest of the fight by our 5th N.H. officers - he giving them evidence of his being a mason.
Now do write soon. Kisses to you Clint & Kate. Love to all. Yours as ever
W.C.
This letter is written by a William Child to his wife on September 22nd, 1862. William writes about his life as medic in this war constantly attending the wounded in the war.
4. 11th Connecticut (Fought at Burnside Bridge)
Sunday Sept. 21, 1862 Sharpsburg, MD
Dear Wife,
Your letters 3 in number reached me 1st evening, and it gave me much pleasure to hear from you. I
should have written you before, but did not know for a certainty where to direct. You will doubtless
have learned the details of this great battle before this reaches you. The loss of the 11th is dreadful.
I followed in the rear of the Regt. Until it reached the fatal bridge that crosses the creek, this bridge is composed of 3 stone arches and the stream is about the size of that one just west of Berlin. The enemies sharpshooters commenced the action being posted in trees and under cover of a wall on the high ground on the other side of the creek, the order was for the 11th to take and hold the bridge until the division of Genl. Rodman passed.
The action soon became general all along the lines, language would fail me to describe the scene. I was in company with the surgeons and we laid ourselves down between the hills of corn and in a lot west of the bridge being a corn field. I had a bag of bandages and some few other things in hand, we lay low I can assure you and the way the bullets whistled around us is better imagined than described. The shells also bursting over our heads and on the ground around us. The attack was perfectly successful, we fell back to a brick house Vi a mile in the rear and established a hospital.
I took off my coat to dress wounds and met with a great loss. Some villain riffled my pockets of several packages of medicine, my fine tooth comb and what I valued most my needle book containing the little lock of hair you put in. No money would have bought it. It was not the value that I cared for, but the giver. Can you replace it. I should be pleased with your photograph which you spoke of. I think that it will be so that I can get a little box by express soon. I am still in the hospital near the battle ground the Regt. having moved about 3 miles. I will tell you where to send the box soon. You need not put Co. K on my letters in future, but simply Dr G. Bronson 11 Regt. C Burnside division with name of place (Washington) for the present.
I followed in the rear of the Regt. Until it reached the fatal bridge that crosses the creek, this bridge is composed of 3 stone arches and the stream is about the size of that one just west of Berlin. The enemies sharpshooters commenced the action being posted in trees and under cover of a wall on the high ground on the other side of the creek, the order was for the 11th to take and hold the bridge until the division of Genl. Rodman passed.
The action soon became general all along the lines, language would fail me to describe the scene. I was in company with the surgeons and we laid ourselves down between the hills of corn and in a lot west of the bridge being a corn field. I had a bag of bandages and some few other things in hand, we lay low I can assure you and the way the bullets whistled around us is better imagined than described. The shells also bursting over our heads and on the ground around us. The attack was perfectly successful, we fell back to a brick house Vi a mile in the rear and established a hospital.
I took off my coat to dress wounds and met with a great loss. Some villain riffled my pockets of several packages of medicine, my fine tooth comb and what I valued most my needle book containing the little lock of hair you put in. No money would have bought it. It was not the value that I cared for, but the giver. Can you replace it. I should be pleased with your photograph which you spoke of. I think that it will be so that I can get a little box by express soon. I am still in the hospital near the battle ground the Regt. having moved about 3 miles. I will tell you where to send the box soon. You need not put Co. K on my letters in future, but simply Dr G. Bronson 11 Regt. C Burnside division with name of place (Washington) for the present.
This Letter is written by George to his wife on September 21st 1862 after fighting at the Burnside Bridge. He writes of the battle and how language would fail him to describe what he saw, he also mentions having his possessions being stolen during the fight including packages of medicine, tooth comb, and his most valued possession a needle book containing a locket of his wife hair.
5. 8th Conn. Volunteers September 19, 1862
Dear People,
One moment of time before the mail leaves. I am well and in good spirits. We have just had a big battle
day before yesterday. The baggage wagons are in sight and we will all not fit. We have not sent any mail
for about a fortnight and I would have written more had I known we could have sent it. Will write more
the first opportunity I have.
We are on the move and are going into Virginia probably now. We have served in the last two battles.
Give my respects to all friends and others Yours truly,
Henry
We are on the move and are going into Virginia probably now. We have served in the last two battles.
Give my respects to all friends and others Yours truly,
Henry
This message is written by Henry to "People" back home on September 19, 1862. He talks of the difficulty of writing these messages and mentions he will probably go to Virginia now. Something interesting is that one never really knows where exactly they are going to fight or when or if they will be coming home.
INFORMATIVE SIGN:
This collection of letters in 1862 during the Civil War includes the work of five different writers. In all the letters, the soldiers write of their loss from the war and its horrors. These letters are all written in 1862 showing it was the same point in the war when they are all writing their different experiences back home to there wife or families. These letters illustrate the soldiers' contact and participation in the war. How do these letters relate to what people write home nowadays when they are stationed out overseas fighting wars in the 21st century?
Hi Sean - a nice collection - just needs some editing and correcting in the informative sign:
ReplyDeleteThis collection of letters in 1862 during the Civil War are written by five different soldiers who have all fought and survived. (Because "this collection" is singular, you need the correct verb - is, rather than are. But that might create an awkward sentence. It would be better to say, "This collection . . . . includes the work of five different writers.") In all the letters, the soldiers write of there loss from the war and its horrors. ("there" should be "their") These letters are all written in 1862 showing it was the same point in the war when they are all writing there (THEIR) different experiences back home to there wife or families. (These letters illustrate the soldier's (soldiers') contact and participation in there (should be "the" or "their" war. )How do these letters relate to what people write home modern day (nowadays) when they are stationed out over seas (overseas) fighting wars in the 21st century?