This letter was written by a soldier named Thomas who was most likely a member of the 8th New York Heavy Artillery, the regiment that garrisoned both Fort Federal Hill and Fort McHenry in Baltimore at the time the letter was penned. Thomas’s letter conveys his reaction to the sad news of Hooker’s defeat in the Battle of Chancellorsville but expresses his hopefulness that “God will save us by and by if we only come humbly to Him for help & acknowledge His right to rule over His people. I believe He will save us & make us a free, better, & more powerful nation than we ever have been.”
His letter also describes a trip to convey Union army deserters from Baltimore to the Distribution Camp in Virginia, affording him to witness for himself the “ravages of war” in the vicinity around Arlington where he states that we saw only one “noble mansion which was once General Lee’s.”
Thomas wrote the letter to Emeline (“Emma”) M. Woodford who was enumerated in the 1860 US Census as a 25 year-old servant in the household of 38 year-old William B. Ayers, a liquor merchant in Buffalo’s 9th Ward. That same census identifies Emma as a native of Ohio.
[Note: The featured image is a view of Fort Federal Hill near Baltimore, Maryland]
Transcription
Fort Federal Hill
Baltimore [Maryland]
May 9th 1863
After several days waiting, I have found time to again write to you & will improve that little time for we soldiers have learned we have no time we can call our own & have learned also to improve every spare moment. Your kind letter was received last Sabbath & it should have been answered before but I had not time to do so.
I am still well and enjoying myself as well as a soldier could expect to. The weather has been quite cold & stormy for nearly a week past until today which is warmer & the sun is shining warm and pleasantly making us look and feel more cheerful & pleasant.
We have heard considerable news from the Army of the Potomac of late & hoped General Hooker would destroy or capture the whole Rebel army there but it seems he has not & has recrossed the [Rappahannock] river again. We hope all is for the best but we can but feel sad to hear this news. Hooker & his brave men have done nobly thus far & we hope & pray when they do move again, they will be able to hold all they have gained.
Last Thursday evening, 1500 rebel prisoners came to the City from Washington & we (four companies) had to go out and guard them most of the night. They finally were put aboard another train of cars & left for Fort Delaware. We returned to the fort just before daylight. Have been called out to guard the prisoners who have been brought here several times. Several thousand of them have passed here of late. I wish Hooker could have sent us more of them. We will take care of them for him.
“…though we may be very severely scourged for our national sins, God will save us by and by if we only come humbly to Him for help & acknowledge His right to rule over His people. I believe He will save us & make us a free, better, & more powerful nation than we ever have been.”
We talked with some of these men and most of them seemed confident we would never subdue them. Said they thought the war would last for years—at least the South would and could fight any length of time we wished to. We only thought time would tell. The war may last one or perhaps two years longer but we fail to see how the rebs can stand it any longer if as long as that time. Our forces are gaining on them slowly. They are getting weaker while we are getting stronger. They supplies are becoming more and more scarce while ours are almost inexhaustible & more than this, we believe we are in the right. And though we may be very severely scourged for our national sins, God will save us by and by if we only come humbly to Him for help & acknowledge His right to rule over His people. I believe He will save us & make us a free, better, & more powerful nation than we ever have been. May that happy day of peace soon come.
The 151st [New York Infantry] left the City nearly two weeks ago & of late, I have heard nothing of them. Think they are in Western Virginia.
Last Monday morning sixteen of us with our captain took 62 deserters to the Distribution Camp, Virginia, about six miles from Washington. [We] crossed the Long Bridge on foot & marched to the camp over hills, through valleys, past many forts & entrenchments. The country might have been beautiful once, but now was a desolate looking country—nothing but stumps were left to remind us there were once beautiful forests and pleasant groves there. No fences or houses or orchards scarcely were to be seen. We did see one house—a noble mansion which was once General Lee’s. Saw two or three neglected orchards which were in blossom presenting quite a contrast with the desolation around. It truly seemed as has been remarked, “A God forsaken country,” and we could but think how dreadful are the ravages of war.
We remained in Washington the next day visiting the places of interest & enjoyed it much. I could not tell you one half I saw. Only wish you might have been there to have enjoyed it with me. It was a day long to be remembered. Hope your health is better now. I had no trouble in reading your letter. Please write again as soon as convenient & believe me your true friend, — Thomas
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