These letters were written by Lafayette Lunan Bennett (1840-1865) of Girard, Erie county, Pennsylvania, who enlisted on 31 August 1864 in Battery B, 5th Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery (204th Volunteers). The 5th Heavy Artillery unit was recruited primarily in southwestern PA during the late summer of 1864. After garrison duty and a few minor engagements, the regiment was mustered out of service on June 30, 1865. During the spring of 1865, the regiment was sent out to Manassas where burying parties were for some time employed in interring the dead of the Second Bull Run battle whose bodies had laid uncared for since the date of the battle (August 1862). Nearly two thousand were buried, and monuments erected over their graves.
Lafayette was the son of Caleb Bennett (1795-1875) and Sophia Hinds (1797-1893). An 1863 graduate of Alleghany College, Lafayette then married Caroline (“Carrie”) Cooper (1837-1915) on 28 November 1863 and had one child named Martha C. Bennett (b. 26 February 1865).
There are two letters presented here, one written shortly after joining the regiment, and one written within about six weeks of mustering out of it. Surprisingly, he died on 7 August 1865, just weeks after writing the last letter. When his wife filed for a “Widow’s Pension,” she claimed that her husband had been healthy until “about five weeks before he was discharged” suffering from “congestive form of typhoid fever.”
Lafayette mentions receiving a letter from his older brother Charles David Bennett (1836-1921) who served in Co. G, 102nd Pennsylvania Infantry.
Letter 1
[Note: Appreciation is extended to Ann Melichar who prepared the first draft transcription of this letter.]
Pittsburgh [Pennsylvania]
Sunday, September 11, 1864
Dear Parents,
I am sitting in a window with a book for my table so don’t look for very good penmanship. We arrived here on Friday night and have been kept in quarters ever since. Today I am writing in the midst of noise, talking, bad music, &c. on every side. My ink bottle sets open in my pocket and stretching myself across the window and bracing my feet I find tolerable accommodations. Our food is course but good and does not go nearly so hard as one would suppose. Good bread, coffee and beef or bacon and one has more than he can eat after he has been here a short time.
We expect to go to camp tomorrow. Work of soldiering will not be all ease and pleasure & I did not expect to find it so. So I am not very much disappointed. How soon we will leave Pittsburg no one can tell and where we shall go next we cannot ascertain. But we conjecture Harrisburg will be the next place of stopping. We shall be pretty well used so long as we keep the right side of our officers. But here of course no one in particular pays any attention to us only for the moment. Camp is some 12 miles from town and we have the promise of going out tomorrow. It has rained every day since we have been here and it is raining now.
Almost every man here is very profane and inclined to carry on. But one soon becomes so disgusted with the depravity and wickedness displayed that he has not the slightest desire to join them. I never felt so little desire to swear &c. as now. But as a general thing, I find our new recruits are more depraved than those who have served three years. Old soldiers are more of gentlemen. We find all sorts of men here, but very few Christians. One needs to keep a double guard over his mind, heart and tongue. But I do not see the need of becoming wicked and depraved simply because you are in the army. Money is plenty among these men and they spend it as freely. Articles are brought into the quarters and sold for a dollar which can be bought across the street for half the money. Pies, 40 cents a piece. Eggs boiled, 3 for 10 cents, &c. &c.
This is the queerest Sabbath I have ever spent. The hum of voices come sometimes and sometimes low on every side from many mouths. But I do not anticipate hard fare yet. Have not found anything yet which I cannot bear. Have the soft upper side of the floor to rest our bones upon at night and our satchels for a pillow, but I always rest well and do not feel sore over it either. Somehow I come right into it quite naturally, but can’t speak for the future. But as my position is uncomfortable, you must excuse me for not writing more. I write to Carli also now. Always pray for me, Your Own Son—L. L. Bennett
I cannot tell you where to direct a letter yet.
Letter 2
[Note: Appreciation is extended to Annaliese Vonheeringen who prepared the first draft transcription of this letter.]
[Annandale, Virginia]
Monday, May 22nd 1865
Dear parents,
I don’t get any reply to my last [letter] yet. However, I will venture to write again giving you a short letter and hoping you will reply as soon as you find it convenient.
We are still at Annandale five miles from Fairfax C. H. The armies of Meade and Sherman are gathering around Washington. You have very little idea of the number of men in our armies. You hear of fifty or a hundred thousand men but when you come to see them, when you look at the immense wagon trains which accompany them, you will begin to realize the immensity of the thing. Sherman’s and Meade’s armies have passed right by our camp on their northward march to Washington—that is, a large part of them have. All around Alexandria and Washington the troops are gathering as thick as bees. Camps are seen everywhere and men are moving in every direction.
There is to be a Grand Review of all the troops of Sherman’s army and also that of the Potomac tomorrow and next day (Tuesday and Wednesday). They will pass through the main street of Washington and past the White House and War Department and so pass out.
We are having a nice pleasant time but cannot tell how long we may remain here. We expect orders every day and again we don’t look for them for some time yet. I received a letter from [brother] Charley a few days ago. He was then in Danville, North Carolina. He had marched 100 miles in four days & four hours. He said it was rather tough but they did it. Army grub seems to agree with him for he said he was getting fat. The war is over and neither of us will ever be drawn into the great battle. Our terms of service will expire and peace will again govern all our land.
The trial of the assassins goes on daily at Washington and is drawing out great interest here. The capture of Jeff Davis puts the finishing strokes to rebellion and the Southern Confederacy. I want to see them get Breckinridge, Wade Hampton, and a few others before they give it up.
Enclosed I send you $5.00. Please send me word at once of its safe arrival. You can use it for any purpose you may think best. The weather is pretty warm down here just now and crops are forward. I like this Virginia country pretty well. You must excuse a short letter as my head aches and the sun is shining very hot. My trust is in God. Don’t forget to write soon. Your Soldier Boy—L. L. Bennett
Address 1st Provision Co. 5th Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, Washington D. C., Via Fairfax Court House
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