This letter was written by Waldo Merriam (1839-1864), the son of Charles Merriam (1803-1865) and Caroline Ware (1808-1891) of Boston, Massachusetts. He wrote the letter to his older brother, Charles Merriam (1832-1906).
Waldo enlisted in the 16th Massachusetts Infantry where he served as adjutant. He was wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg and eventually promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of his regiment. He commanded the regiment at Spotsylvania Court House where he was mortally wounded in May 1864
“May 12 was a memorable day to the Army of the Potomac and to the country. Before daylight the 2nd Army Corps was formed in line of battle and advanced, taking the enemy by surprise, and was in their camps while the rebels were yet sleeping. The result of the day’s action in captures of guns and prisoners is well known. After the aforesaid line was captured, the enemy rallied and were reinforced. Soon after the almost bloodless victory of the morning was turned into a severe battle. At 12 M., the 16th [Mass.] was ordered to the right, along the crest of hill, where the enemy had regained a few rods of the works lost in the morning. Along the entire line this seemed to be the contested spot. Our determination was that the enemy should capture no more of the works, and that a steady fire should be kept up, so that no reinforcements could reach those already there. The musketry fire was terrific. It was at this point that a tree, some fourteen inches in diameter, was actually cut down with bullets. In this action our loss was heavy, including Lt. Colonel Waldo Merriam, commanding the regiment, who was killed. From May 10 to May 23, it was under fire each day, within one mile of Spotsylvania battlefield.” Extracted from Watertown Military History.
Lt. Col. Waldo Merriam’s Grave in Mount Auburn Cemetery
Transcription
January 30, 1864
Dear Charlie,
Yours of the 18th and 25th have been received. I returned last evening from a three day trip to Washington which I enjoyed exceedingly. Coming back we had the usual luck and ran off the track but fortunately no one was injured save a horse. The ball was good. Fine music, girls, etc.
The night before we had a grand ball in the army. Seventy-five ladies, fifty or sixty pieces of music, elegant supper from Washington, dancing kept up till 3 a. m. Really it’s not so bad to be a soldier after all. I believe I wrote you there are four ladies in my camp and one more coming and every fine day you meet cavalcades of ladies and attendant cavaliers giving quite a brilliant appearance to the otherwise desolate looking country strewn with dead horses and their attendants—the crows, which latter are more numerous than any blackberries you ever saw.
I have not seen the account of Parkman’s capture. Please let me know as I am curious to know how the poor fellow fell into their clutches.
My new house is elegant. I wish you could take a look at me as I sit now with a cozy fire place, window with white cotton curtain tied up with red tape, mantel shelf of hewn logs, nice looking walls of the same, all cut with an axe but fitted together very smoothly. I gave a musical soiree last Sunday night and props a card party for tonight. Altogether I think that I have got as much satisfaction out of its construction as you did over the building of yours.
An ugly order made its appearance last night calling for the number of sick unable to move, but as nothing more has been done today, and the weather is lowery, I hope to gracious the thing has been abandoned. The resemblance of last January’s mud campaign is still fresh in my mind and I have a wholesome horror of any repetition of those uncomfortable days and nights.
Helen L. Gilson—a “Florence Nightingale and in addition to her angelic nature and noble mind, is personally very pretty.” (LOC)
Gran Johnson and Charlie Horton have gone out to the Department of Ohio with General Heintzelman who has been assigned there.
I am dickering away in horse flesh again but have not found one to suit me yet. Give my regards to our mutual friends. I had a splendid long letter from the “fair one” yesterday and intend devoting tomorrow to answering that and other correspondents to whom I am indebted.
I came down from Washington with Miss [Helen L.] Gilson of Chelsea who is a Florence Nightingale and in addition to her angelic nature and noble mind, is personally very pretty. She has been with this division a long while and has soothed many a poor fellows dying agonies.
I could not find an image of Charles but here’s a tintype of Sgt. Sewell L. Hodgdon who also served in the 16th Massachusetts Infantry. Sewell was in Co. H and was wounded in the Battle of Chancellorsville.
The following letters were written by Charles Leland Fales (1843-1902) of Sherborn, Massachusetts, who enlisted at Cambridge in July 1861 to serve in Co. B, 16th Massachusetts Infantry. His muster records indicate that he stood 5 feet 8.25 inches tall, had dark eyes, light hair, and had worked previous to his enlistment as a clerk. When he reenlisted as a veteran he was placed in Co. E, 11th Massachusetts.
Charles was with his regiment in the fight at 2nd Bull Run where he was taken prisoner on 29 August and held in captivity until mid December 1862. He returned to his regiment where he served until sometime late in 1863 when he was detached on Provost Guard duty at the Headquarters of the 2nd Division, 3rd Army Corps. He reenlisted as a veteran in January 1864 while at Brandy Station, Virginia, and went home on veteran’s furlough not long after writing this letter in March. On 12 April 1864, he was relieved from duty as Provost Guard and returned to his regiment for the remainder of his service.
Charles was the son of John Smith Fales (1800-1861) and Charlotte Leland (1807-1850)—both deceased before Charles enlisted. After the war, Charles returned to Sherborn where he married Abbie Caroline Fales (1844-1934).
Letter 1
Headquarters 2nd Division 3rd Corps, Army of the Potomac Campground near Brandy Station, VA
March 20th ’64
Dear Sister,
I was very happy to receive a letter from you last evening and as I am not on duty today I will improve the time in writing you a few lines. It is a beautiful Sabbath morning and everything is quiet in and around camp. We are having very fine weather and if it continues long, we shall be on the move I am afraid.
Day before yesterday the camp was thrown into a state of excitement occasioned by the rebels trying to come over the Rapidan River. The Division was ordered under arms but the order to move was countermanded at dark and everything has been quiet since. The rebels only wanted to know whether we were here or not and they soon found out. Those that went home on furlough last from our Regt., their time will be out this week and so you can look for me next week for I am only waiting for them to come back.
I feel bad about [brother] John 1 and I have not heard a word from him—only what you and George wrote. I have wrote him several letters lately but I directed them to his battery and so I suppose he did not get them. I would willingly wait another month for my furlough if I could see him when at home.
Tell George I received his letter and answered it some days ago and I suppose he has got it before now. Also, I wrote one to you which you had not received when you wrote your last. I hope you have it by this time. I guess I can get you some flowers to bring home. The spring daffys are all in blossom here now. I took a walk towards Pony Mountain the other day and just at the foot of the mountain there is the ruins of a once splendid mansion. It was burnt some time ago but the garden is laid out in walks and the flowers are springing up amid the grass and weeds. I think I can get some rose bushes there though I did not take particular notice at the time. But if you intend to have a garden of flowers this summer I should be happy to get some roots or anything you want to put in it.
I will not write a long letter this time as I expect to see you soon. Give my love to George and all your family and believe me as ever, your affectionate brother, — Charles L. Fales
Excuse this writing as my paper is not ruled.
1John Fales (1841-1918) enlisted on Apr. 17, 1861. Regular Army 3rd LA Batty, Co. E Light Artillery Battery. Mustered out on Apr. 17, 1864 at Hilton Head, SC. Enlisted on Jul. 16, 1864. Co. E, MA 60th Infantry Regiment. Mustered in July 23, 1864. Mustered out on Nov. 30, 1864 at Indianapolis, IN. Enlisted on Jan.11, 1865. Regular Army 3rd LA Batty Co.K Light Artillery Battery. Promoted to Full Corporal on Mar. 1, 1867. Mustered out on Jan. 13, 1868 at Fort Warren, MA.
Letter 2
Camp of the 11th Massachusetts Vols. near Petersburg, Va. November 21st 1864
Dear Sister Ada,
Your most kind and welcome letter was received last night dated November 15th. Was pleased to learn that you and yours are all well. I hope that your family may always be blessed with good health. As for me, I am as ever in the best of health though I had just been relieved from picket when I received your letter and such picket duty as would kill a common soldier. It rained incessantly the whole twenty-four hours that I was out. We had no shelter and besides, we had to be on the alert for the rebels are within a stones throw of us and we expected they were going to attack us for we could plainly see them moving to the right, and the night being dark and rainy, we could not be too vigilant.
I was placed on a post with four men and had orders not to allow any man to sleep. Of course I could not close my eyes for if I went to sleep, the rest would soon follow suit so we kept firing at the rebels all night till daylight. Then such a [sorry] looking set of men you never saw. The powder together with the rain had begrimed us up so that we were blacker than Old Prin Green ever thought of being, wet through to the hide with no fire. And to crown the whole, it was Sunday morning.
Well, thinks I, I wonder what folks would think of me at home if they should meet me going to meeting. It would give them a little idea of what we have to go through out here. But when I got back to my tent at night after I was relieved, Charlie D. had a good fire and a hot cup of coffee for me and some fried hard tack. This I soon devoured and lay down to rest. Soon the mail came and with it a letter from home. All hardships were forgotten till it was read. The money was all right. It came just in time for I had borrowed some paper and envelopes of Charlie to write on for awhile but now I am alright till pay day. Charlie Daniels wanted a copy of the verses of James and so I let him copy them. I will copy them off and return the paper as you wished.
I should think that George could get a good place to learn a trade now. Hope he will try. I was much surprised to hear of Mr. Hunt’s death. I can hardly believe that it is really so. Mrs. Hunt must feel bad. Andrew and Thomas, I suppose, are at home and will carry on the place. I presume that John is at home now. Wish I could be there about the time this letter reaches you. But never mind, I will be there some time if my life is spared and I shall enjoy it all the more after being separated so long from all the enjoyments and comforts of home. I yet believe that this war will end within the coming year.
It is this firm believe which makes me put up with the trials and hardships of camp life. So you may count on my spending Thanksgiving Day in 1865 at home if I am alive. And it will truly be a day of thanksgiving to me if the war is over. Yes, it will be the happiest day of my life when I return home at the close of this fearful war. So trusting to Providence, I go forth determined to do my duty in this just cause of right and freedom, hoping that all will be well.
But it rains so hard that the water is coming through my tent and I must close, hoping that you will write often. I will do the same. My love to all and believe me as ever your affectionate brother, — Corporal C. L. Fales, 11th Battalion Mass. Veteran Volunteers, Co. E, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 2nd Corps, Washington D. C.
P. S. Please omit Capt. Nutting’s name on my letter as he has gone home discharged. — Charlie
These letters were written by Corporal Eben F. Lawrence(1842-1863) of Company C, 16th Massachusetts Infantry. Eben was the son of Edmund Lawrence (1805-1880) and Emma Ann Bailey (1817-18xx) of Pepperell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Prior to enlistment, Eben earned a living as a shoe maker.
In the letter of 16 April 1863 to his cousin, Eben anticipates that the Army of the Potomac’s newly appointed commander, “Fighting Joe” Hooker will soon lead them into “one of the bloodiest battles that has yet been fought.” Indeed, only two weeks later Hooker’s army would tangle with Lee’s near the crossroads hamlet known as Chancellorsville in the Wilderness of Virginia. Sadly, Corporal Lawrence would be one of many casualties in the 16th Massachusetts on 3 May 1863—severely wounded in the right leg. From his captain’s letters we know that Eben and another soldier in Co. C named George Lynch were left on the field where they were gathered up by the Confederates. In a letter to his wife dated 17 May 1863, Capt. Leander King wrote that Lawrence and Lynch “were brought in from the Confederate side on Friday [13 May]. They were both wounded in the leg—below the knee. They are not serious. They suffered a good bit when prisoners, as they were not properly cared for. But now they are receiving good attention.” Unfortunately, Eben’s delayed treatment could not save him. He died in a hospital at Aquia Creek on 10 June 1863.
There are also two letters (No. 10 & 11) presented here written by Lt. Henry S Nutting of Co. C, 16th Massachusetts. Henry was a friend of Eben’s, was himself wounded at Chancellorsville and with him at the hospital at Aquia Creek where he died. Both of these letters were written in early August of 1863. The first is to Eben’s sister Isabella (“Bell”) and the second to Eben’s mother. Both deal with Eben’s last days, his effects, etc. and both speak of Gettysburg and the loss of other Co. C members including Capt. [Leander G.] King there. Capt. King is mentioned in Eben’s letter here incidentally. Apparently Henry’s leg wound was not so serious as to prevent him from rejoining his regiment after Eben’s death and before Gettysburg. Fortunately he managed to go through Gettysburg unscathed despite the toll it took on others in the regiment.
[Note: All but the 8th letter below are from the collection of Jim Doncaster and were published by express consent.]
Letter 1
Fortress Monroe [Camp Hamilton] October 18, 1861
Dear Mother,
A CDV of Chaplain Arthur B. Fuller, 16th Massachusetts. He had resigned and was about to return home when he went into the fight at Fredericksburg and was killed.(LOC)
As it is a most beautiful morning, will write you a few lines to inform you that I am well and enjoying good health and as fat as a hog. I am one inch higher and three inches larger round. My feet have grown so large that I have to wear number 9 shoes. I like it down here very much although it is very warm in Dixie Land. There is about ten thousand troops here and more coming every day. We received our new coats yesterday.
Our chaplain [Arthur B. Fuller] has gone to Massachusetts. Will return this week. We all like him very much. We don’t have to work very hard—only 4 hours drill a day. I think that I feel as contented here as at home. The climate suits me very well. Have not been sick since we left Massachusetts.
There is heavy firing at Sewall’s Point today.
Albert Hartwell deserted last Wednesday. Left his post when on picket guard. He is the fellow that stole the horse from Brigham. Scott knows him. 1
What is father doing? How did his corn turn out this fall? Suppose it is cooler up in Massachusetts than down here. We have got good floors to our [Sibley] tents. Went to Hampton and got boards enough to board them over. Fifteen of us sleep in a tent—all good boys.
A map showing the picket line across the peninsula north of Fortress Monroe. The Fox Hill Residence is at upper left. The “chain of sentinels” is marked at intervals across the center of map, one posted at the junction with “East Fox Hill Road.”
General Mansfield has command over these quarters. Gen. Wool has gone to Washington. We expected an attack last Thursday eve. We remained under arms all night but they did not come. Our pickets extend about three miles to Hampton. From our camp it takes fifty men from every regiment to go as guards. Our station is at Fox Hill Road. We are stationed about quarter of a mile apart. We have to keep our eyes open these dark nights, you better believe. Once and awhile we get a sesech. We like to take then in for we have a good place for them at the Rip Rap.
Cannot think of any more to write this time. Yours respectfully, from your son, – Eben
Write soon. Be sure and direct your letter to Eben F. Lawrence, Fortress Monroe, Va., 16th Regt, Company A, M. V., caste of Captain King
1 Albert Lawton Hartwell (b. 30 Nov. 1841) was the son of David Hartwell and Phebe Lawton of Shirley, Middlesex county, Massachusetts. Albert’s father was recorded as “Deaf & Dumb” in the 1850 US Census. In the 1860 US Census, Albert was enumerated as an inmate of the State Prison at Charlestown, Massachusetts where he was identified as an 18 year-old upholsterer, convicted of larceny.
Letter 2
Camp Hamilton Fort Monroe December 23, 1861
Dear Sister,
I received your letter of the 18th which found me well as usual. It is quite rainy this morning & therefore will take the pleasure of writing to you as we have no drill. Yesterday we had dedication. We dedicated the chapel tent. There were quite a number of ladies present. Wish you had been here to attend the meeting. Well, Christmas is coming in a few days. Think I should like to be [crease of letter makes writing illegible]. We hope you will have a good time & even all. I wrote to Sarah yesterday. Who does Aunt Sylvia have to take care of her things this winter as you said that you were going to school this week. Give my best respects to all the scholars & a Merry Christmas also. Does Almira Shedd attend school this winter?
The 20th [New York] Regiment had a skirmish with the Secesh last evening. They advanced (the secesh) within 5 miles of our camp. The 20th is camped beside us. They were out on a scout & the rebels attacked them. They were negroes—two companies of infantry and three companies of white cavalry. They took two of our men prisoners and wounded three. Don’t know how many we killed of them. We are going to clean them out before long. 1
How is Fannie & Grover? Give my best respects to them & I wish them a Merry [Christmas]. Tell Jennie Chanse to come & kiss us all. How is the baby & what is his name. Think it is rathe strange that it is not now my brother’s name. You wanted me to get my miniature taken and send it to [you but] I cannot get it taken. There is no one here that takes…
[remainder of letter is missing]
1 This skirmish was fought at New Market Bridge near Newport News on 22 December. The regiment lost 1 officer and 6 enlisted men were wounded.An article published in the New York Times described the skirmish as a “slight affair” involving two companies of the 20th New York Infantry. It reports that they started from Newport New at 9 o’clock in the morning in search of a man who had been lost in the woods the day before. When near the New Market Bridge, they found themselves surrounded by rebel cavalry and infantry numbering “seven hundred men” and had to cut their way out. “It is reported that a whole company of negroes was engaged” and two of the six men wounded were shot by them. One of the dead rebel officers wore buttons lettered “A.M.M.” which was assumed to be “Alabama Minute Men.”For a more comprehensive account of the skirmish see Skirmish at New Market Bridge, December 1861.
Some remnants of art & correspondence from Eben Lawrence Camp Hamilton, Virginia February 1862
Letter 3
Camp Hamilton Fortress Monroe April 27th 1862
Dear Mother,
I received your kind letter dated the 16th inst. and was happy to hear from you [and that you] was well. You said that you heard I was sick. It is a false report. I have not been even one hour [sick] since I left the Old Bay State. I have been able to perform my duty every day so far and have credit for the same.
Today the weather is quite rainy and is very unpleasant getting around when it rains here. I never saw rain fall so as it does here.
We are busily engaged setting out trees and flowers around our tents. We have the best and neatest-looking camp in the field. We have about twenty peacocks and hens in camp. We caught them in the woods. There is any quantity of wild game around here.
Will you please write me where Scott is? I should like to hear from him. There is nothing going on now-a-days. All quiet along the lines. I cannot think of anything more to write this time. Will close by saying my love to all. Please accept this from your son, — E. F. Lawrence
Write soon.
Letter 4
Harrison’s Landing, Virginia Camp near James River July 31st 1862
Father, dear sir,
Bell’s letter dated the 25th came to hand yesterday informing me that you wished me to inform you of the particulars of the late battles. I will endeavor to as far back as I can recollect correctly.
June 29th (Sunday) about daybreak the whole army was in motion. Our regiment was ordered to the front to guard there until the artillery got fully underway. It being about sunrise when we was ordered to march in retreat which we did in great haste. As we passed the rear camp grounds, there laid strewed in every direction thousands of dollars worth of government property such as clothing, ammunition, and forage which of course you and all other hard working men will have to help pay for out of your hard earnings so you see that that is the way this war is going on. Everyday more or less government property. Here, but a short time since—this week I think it was, the rebels came down to City Point and stole 500 head of cattle which will give the rebels a good feast. So you see that we have got some good generals. They are in once sense feeding the secesh army. It is not my intention to write discouraging letters but sir, I think if there is not something done within a month, instead of the rebel capitol falling, some of the Union cities will be in the hands of the rebels.
I suppose you are anxious to here something about the late battles. I will endeavor to tell you what I recollect about them. The first days fight—June 29th—was at Savage Station which lasted about 6 hours. Our regiment was not engaged. I understand that it was a hard fight. There were a great many killed. The next days fight was at White Oak Swamp [Glendale]. That lasted about 8 hours. Such an roaring of artillery and musketry I never [heard] such ungodly noise before. Our post was behind a Virginia fence which was some cover for us. the bullets whistled and so did the grape and canister shot over our heads every second. Fum, fum would go a bullet, now a whizz would go a canister shot. The right wing of our regiment suffered very badly. Our colonel [Powell Tremlett Wyman] was killed at this battle. We loved him—everyone of us—as we loved our life and it was a sad blow for this regiment. The battle was kept up until eight o’clock P. M. We took quite a number of prisoners. We laid behind the Virginia fence until about 3 o’clock Thursday morning. During the night we could hear the wounded screeching and groaning, Secesh and Union.
[Remainder of letter missing]
Letter 5
Eben’s account of the Battle of Fredericksburg follows. Readers should be aware that the 16th Massachusetts did not cross the Rappahannock until Sunday, December 14th 1862. Up until that time, their role was to guard the pontoon bridges and the troops as they crossed the river. The Union assaults on the entrenched Confederate position on the heights above the town took place on Friday and Saturday (Dec 12-13) so the role of the 16th Massachusetts was limited to maintaining a battle line so as to prevent a counterattack. Accounts by other Union soldiers state that Sunday, 14 December, seemed to be “a suspension of hostilities—perhaps out of respect for the Sabbath—though there has been considerable cannonading on our part, and a good deal of picket firing in progress.” This same soldier, writing a letter on Sunday afternoon, described the flag of truce that was sent over about 4 p.m. as follows:
“While a conference was going on about the flag of truce all picket firing ceased, and many soldiers of both armies took advantage of the peaceful period to have a chat with one another. Civilities were exchanged in the shape of tobacco and hard tack, the rebels giving the former for the latter, they being supplied bountifully with the ‘weed,’ and our ‘boys’ having an abundance of crackers. We have been told that there was considerable trafficking in the commodities of whisky and coffee, the rebs having plenty of the ‘ardent.’
“A colonel of one of our regiments conversed with a Georgia captain, who remarked that our men fought well yesterday in their charge upon the Confederates; but they were too few in numbers to achieve what they set out to. This captain expressed a desire for peace, and this is the earnest wish on both sides, for which audible expression is given more strongly every day.”
“After the flag of truce had been withdrawn the pickets began firing at each other immediately. What is stranger than human nature? One minute men are engaged in mutual conversation, every way peaceable and agreeable, exchanging gifts, etc., and the next minute engaged in shooting at each other, intent on the destruction of human life.”[George Breck, Battery L, 1st New York Light Artillery]
Headquarters 16th Regt. M. V. Camp near Falmouth, Va. December 18th 1862
Dear Father,
As I have a few spare moments, I thought that I would write you a few lines informing you of my soldiering the last seven days which have been very hard indeed—the hardest that I have yet seen. The 10th [of December] orders came to get ready and prepare for battle. At 4 o’clock everything was arranged. No sooner than had we got ready when the signal gun bawled a loud roar for the battle to commence. Directly after the signal gun’s load report died away, they commenced and such a roaring of artillery was never heard before. Our division was ordered about two miles from near a piece of woods where we remained all day and night waiting for orders to move elsewhere.
Orders soon came and we marched near Burnside’s Headquarters, formed in line of battle, and remained there until night, and then were ordered to the river about 3 miles below Fredericksburg. We remained by the river side until Sunday morning [14 December] when we crossed. Then we marched up to the front and formed line of battle and laid down on the wet ground so the Rebs could not see us. In a few moments orders came for two companies to go and hold the line of advance. Companies A & K were the first to go. Co. A had 6 men wounded. Co. K had 7 wounded, 2 killed. The companies that then had to go were Co’s I & E. E had 1 wounded and none killed. Co. I had one wounded.
About 4 o’clock (Sunday) the rebels hoisted a flag of truce when the firing stopped on both sides, laid down their guns and met each other half way and [had] quite a little chat. They wanted to exchange tobacco for coffee. Quite a number of us let them have our portions of coffee for tobacco. They say that they want this war could be settled without fighting. I tell you what—it is not very friendly to meet them rebels or even to have them meet us. We would meet them half way from the outer lines, shake hands and chat a spell, bid each other goodbye, and then run back and get our guns and fire to each other.
At night our company and Co. D went on guard and laid down on our bellies on the cold wet ground within 100 yards of the rebels. About every 10 or 15 minutes—whiz, a ball would come and strike in a few feet of us. Laid 7 and a half hours at night—Sunday night—flat on the ground, watching for the rebels.
Monday night we had to go on the advance lines again and it was sad to see our dead lay scattered all over the ground in such large numbers. I laid [with]in a few feet of many a brother soldier. I could stretch out my foot and touch some of the dead, they were so near me. What a night that was. Dear father, a man cannot find words to express the horrors of war. It is dreadful. But alas! such is the voice of many.
Monday about 12 o’clock at night we recrossed the river and now remain in our old camping ground. You can plainly see about where we lay by looking at the map of Virginia. We lay about 2 miles below the city of Fredericksburg on the west side of the Rappahannock River. We never can take the town of Fredericksburg and hold it. The rebels [remainder of letter is missing]
Letter 6
Camp near Falmouth, Va. January 25th 1863
Kind Mother,
Your letter dated the 6th was received with much gratefulness and I was very happy to hear that you were well and enjoying good health. Hope this letter will find you and all the rest well.
Today the weather is quite clear & cool and the birds merry notes fills the air with sweet music. It seems more like summer than it does like winter. And I hope that it will continue so the remainder of the winter for I do not like bad weather in this state. The soil is so slippery and muddy that it is very tiresome to march. We are still living in cloth houses—a soldier knows no other. I have not stepped into a house for eight months. Think it would seem some like home to go and sit down by a good fire these cold nights. When this war is over—if it ever does come to an end—I shall feel more happy than at the present time. I have seen so much hardship since I enlisted that I do not care for nothing nor anybody hardly.
Has Mr. Davis arrived at Pepperell yet? I sent some things by him to Bell and you and a note. Have you received them or not? Please write and let me know. How is Davis getting along? Tell him to write me if he is at home. Tell him that we remain in the same old place that we did when he left.
I have not time to write much more. Have got to work so I will. close by bidding you good morning. — Eben F. Lawrence
Letter 7
Camp near Falmouth, Va. February 16, 1863
My Dear Mother,
After a tour of three days picket duty which was rather hard, the soil being so muddy that is fatigued us very much indeed & after being on guard three days and nights in succession, rather tired and sleepy, and think that I shall be obliged to send you a short letter this time which I know will be acceptable as [illegible].
You spoke about my friend’s picture. You said that she looked as if she had a mind of her own. I agree with you there. She has a mind of her own and is a well principled girl. I will tell you where and howI became acquainted with her. As I was walking out one evening when at Camp Cameron, Mass., I saw [her] standing out in the front yard gazing on a beautiful flowerbed and I says, “Miss, will you be kind enough to present me with one of those flowers?” “Oh yes, to be sure. I like to give flowers to soldiers.”
After a short conversation, I left and returned to camp. she giving me her card, and after two or three [days] had elapsed, she brought me some beautiful [ ] and [ ]. She visited me quite often and the day that the regiment left Camp Cameron she accompanied me to the cars. Of course you do not want to read love stories and I will drop the subject and I will now tell you that I am well and enjoying good health at the present time.
Please to tell me the reason [remainder of letter missing]
Please to number your letters and then I can tell whether I receive them all or not and I will do the same. This I will call No. 1.
Letter 8
Camp Near Falmouth, Virginia April 16, 1863
Dear Cousin,
I received your kind letter dated March 22nd. It found me well and enjoying good health. Today the weather is very warm and pleasant. I should like to be in “Old Pep” today and attend church but I am not and I think it will be a long day before I see my native town.
I tell you, cousin, that this war is not going to be crushed out this year. Folks at the North does not know how the war is working. If they did, we soldiers would see a great difference. You cannot tell anything by papers. I see the Boston, Baltimore, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington papers every day and I see by them that the press smoothes everything over to blind folks at home.
To turn the subject. look at our fleet of iron-clad gun boats of Charleston. What did we accomplish there? The loss of six million dollars — that is all. Some very strange and even startling juxtapositions are occasionally found in the record of the Rebellion, but in order to crush this rebellion we have got to have different men to lead us on to battle. I think, cousin, in a few days you will hear of one of the bloodiest battles that has yet been fought. The Army of the Potomac is about to make a move with its noble and brave commander at the head who fears no danger. If he gets the Rebs started, they will have to suffer.
Cousin, will you tell me what Davis says about the war? You ask him how many battles he has been in, then write me. Do not say anything so it will get to him for he has not done me any injury. I suppose he will tell you folks that he has been in half a dozen battles. To tell the truth, he has not fired a gun since he has been in the service.
As there is not much news, I will close by bidding you good day. My regards to your wife. Please excuse and accept this from your cousin, — E. F. Lawrence
Write soon.
Letter 9
Camp near Falmouth, Virginia [Date illegible—probably late April 1863]
Dear Mother,
Your kind letter dated the 5th came to hand Saturday eve. It found me on picket and well as usual. The weather is quite warm and pleasant. We have had very pleasant weather indeed for the last two or three weeks. I have not had time to write you only a few lines today. We are under marching orders and are in a hurry to get our things ready for marching. Gen. Hooker is I think a going to try the stronghold of the Rebs. I think that there will be some tall fighting before you get this letter in the vicinity of Culpeper. We have eight days rations in our haversacks. 1 Yours in haste. From your son, — E. F. Lawrence
Tell Joseph Lane that I received his letter.
1 Hooker issued his orders to launch the Chancellorsville Campaign on 25 April. The army was directed to carry knapsacks and fill their haversacks with eight days rations and be ready to move on the 28th.
Letter 10
The following two letters were written by Henry Stewart Nutting (1834-1898) of Groton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. He was the son of William Stewart Nutting (1806-1859) and Ruhamah H. Felch (1808-1888). He was married to Sylvia Gordon (1825-1892) in 1856.] Just before the war, Henry worked as a machinist in Boston. When he first enlisted in the 16th Massachusetts, he was a sergeant in Co. C. He was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant on 16 February 1863, and in October 1864 he was promoted to Captain of Co. B. After the war he settled in Norfolk, Virginia, where he was gain employed as a machinist.
Camp of the 16th Massachusetts Volunteers Near Beverly Ford, Va. August 4th 1863
Miss Isabella Lawrence,
It is a long time since I received your letter and you must excuse me for not writing to you before but since I received it I have been on the march with the army most of the time. I intended to have got home when I was wounded but as luck would have it, I did not. I left in Washington the things I had belonging to Eben with with my cousin Fred Nutting, he promising to send them to you. I lately had a letter from him saying he had sent them to you. Will you please write to me and tell me if you have received them and what you received for I wish to know that you got everything correct.
This day I sent to the Adjt. Gen’l of the U. S. Army at Washington D. C. the final statements of Eben F. Lawrence and by going to him, you can get the balance due for you—I mean the balance due Eben of course. It is for you or your Father or Mother. The doctor’s name that had charge of the ward that Eben died in was Bantrum—belongs to the 115th Penn. Infantry Regt. There were several nurses in the ward. I only knew the name of one and he belongs to Company A of this regiment. His name is Gibby. Don’t know what his first name was. He is now away from the regiment.
Eben was buried in the burial ground at Aquia Creek Hospital. That place is now in the hands of the rebels or in their lines. Please answer this as soon as convenient and oblige.
My wound has got well or nearly well and I don’t know how soon before I may catch another junk of lead. I hope I shall not but must my risk with the rest. Sure, I suppose you have heard that Capt. [Leander G.] King was killed at Gettysburg, Penn. 1 Poor fellow was shot through the neck, killing him instantly and also the Orderly Sergeant of this company died from wounds received there. His name was Jerome S. Parker—belonged to the Junction. So they pass away one after another.
I will close and wait an answer from you. It’s raining quite hard as I am writing this letter.
Very respectfully yours, — Henry S. Nutting, 2d Lieut. Commanding Co. C. 16th Regt. Mass Volunteers
To Miss Isabella J. Lawrence, East Pepperell, Mass.
Leander, his wife & daughter
1 Another letter by Lt. Nutting is posted on line in which he conveys his sympathy to Mrs. Leander Gage King. [See Letter: Nutting to King dated 2 August 1863] In the letter, Nutting informs Mrs. King that the regiment was driven by the enemy from the spot where King was killed on July 2 near Plum Run and when the ground was regained, King’s sword, belt and pistol, money & wallet had been taken from him. Only his diary and shoulder straps were preserved and sent home.For another article about King published in the Columbian, see “In death, Gettysburg officer found his way home.”See too: Photo of King and his gravesite.King’s letters have been transcribed and posted at Digital Library.
Letter 11
Camp of the 16th Mass. Vols. Camp of the 16th near Brandy Ford, Va. August 16th 1863
Mrs. Lawrence,
This morning I received your letter. Was very glad to hear from you but since you wrote your letter I have written to Isabella telling her about all you required to know in your letter. Eben died in the night. I was not by his side when he drawed his last for I was wounded myself and could not get around very ell. He gave me his money two or three days before he died and told me to send or give it to Isabella. He was out of his head occasionally the day before he died. He did not say much about his folks—did not seem to worry much about anything in particular.
The last day of his life he suffered considerable. I think he was decently buried in a good, fine coffin with a head board of his name, company and regiment he belonged to put up at the head of his grave. Everything was done that could be done under the circumstances for his welfare. It would not be any use for you to call for any information of the doctor. I will tell you why—it’s because he had so many to look after. Nine cases of ten, if you should ask anything about Eben—if you even found him to remember the person—for they have so many cases in so large hospital that they can’t remember any particular circumstances as a general thing.
I was acquainted with the doctors and of course I had influence being an officer myself and I had all done that could be done for Eben because what I told the doctors ought to be done was always attended to by my request. I am well as usual. My wound is pretty much well and have been in one severe fight since I came back to my regiment at Gettysburg, Penn, but came out safe without a scratch. Lucky for me.
I would be happy to have you call on my wife if you should go to Groton Junction. My mother lives there also. Give them a call. Ask Mr. Lawrence and Isabella to do the same.
I will close and remain your true friend, — Henry S. Nutting
Spared & Shared 22 