1861: Leroy M. Dodge to Samuel Green

I could not find an image of Leroy but here’s a CDV of Robert Hendershot, the drummer boy of Co. B, 8th Michigan Infantry.

This letter was written by Leroy M. Dodge (1839-1862) who enlisted at St. John’s, Michigan, on 12 August 1861 to serve in Co. B, 8th Michigan Infantry. Leroy was killed in the Battle of Secessionville on 16 June 1862 but not before seeing action at the Battle of Port Royal—as described in this letter, as well as other skirmishes. Leroy’s body was never recovered by the Union forces after the battle of Secessionville. He was likely buried with 45 others in a mass grave at Fort Lamar on James Island.

Leroy was the son of Stephen A. Dodge (1818-1902) and Rhoda A. Casper (1817-1894) of Greenbush, Clinton county, Michigan. Leroy’s older brother was Capt. James Porter Dodge (1838-1879) who also served inn ythe same company and regiment as Leroy.

The Battle of Port Royal

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Hilton Head, South Carolina
December 2, 1861

Mr. Green
Dear Sir,

It is with pleasure that I sit down to pen a few lines to in answer to what you wrote to me in M. B. Face’s letter. I was very glad to hear from you and I was glad to hear that you was well. I am well and I hope that you are the same. We have first rate times here only it is very warm. I am in my tent and the sweat stands out on my hands and face as bad as it would in Michigan in June.

I suppose that you have heard of our victory over the Rebels in South Carolina. The Stars & Stripes again float over the first state that tore it down and trampled it in the dust. The Rebels will remember the 7th of November as long as there is one on the face of the earth.

I will try and give you a short detail of the battle. It commenced at 9 o’clock A. M. [when] our fleet commenced to move up the Bay headed by the flagship Wabash. It moved around in circles, first pouring a broadside into Ft. Seward (formerly Beauregard), then coming around and giving Ft. Walker a broadside. We poured the shot and shell into [it] like rain for 3 hours when they abandoned the forts with great loss while our loss was very small. The Rebels have left the island and we are left here in quiet.

We are all very healthy here and are in good spirits. I wish you could see some of our Rebel blankets that we got after the rebels left. They are very handsome. You can see one at Porter Jewett’s for my brother James sent one to his wife. She is living at Mr. Jewett’s. It is a good specimen of the blankets that we have got.

You must give my love to all of the friends and tell them that I would like to see them. We will drive the Rebels clear across the continent if our officers will give us the chance. You must write to me often for I like to get letters from friends at home. No more at present. Goodbye from your friend and well wisher. From, — L. M. Dodge

To Samuel Green & Benjamin Green

I would write more but I am one of the cooks and I must get supper. P. S. James Travis has got a discharge on the account of sickness.

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1861: Marcus B. Finch to Benjamin F. Green

This letter was written by Marcus B. Finch (1839-1862) of Liberty, Michigan, who enlisted on 9 September 1861 in Co. K, 8th Michigan Infantry. Marcus was killed in the Battle of Chantilly on 1 September 1862.

Marcus was the son of Rev. Isaac Seeley Finch (1804-1890) and Sally Ann Hait (1807-1888).

“At the organization of the 8th Michigan Infantry, it was ordered to rendezvous at Grand Rapids; but, was afterwards transferred to Fort Wayne in Detroit, where it was mustered into the service of the United States on the 23rd of September, 1861. It left Detroit, Sept. 27, 1861, arriving at Washington the 30th, with an enrollment of 915 officers and men. The Regiment was assigned to the “Expeditionary Corp”, under General T. W. Sherman, seeing service along the coast at Hilton Head, Beaufort, S. C., Coosaw River and Tybee Island, Ga. In April, 1862, the Regiment had a severe engagement with Confederate forces on Wilmington Island, where it lost heavily in killed and wounded. At Secessionville on James Island the Regiment distinguished itself by a bayonet charge upon the Confederate works. Though their ranks were swept by the rebel artillery, not a gun by the Regiment was fired until the parapet was reached. Here the Confederate fire was so great and destructive that it was impossible to enter the works causing the assaulting party to be obliged to withdraw with a loss of 13 killed, 98 wounded, 35 prisoners and 36 missing.  In July the regiment left James Island. After a series of embarkations and marches, reached Manassas, Va.,” where it was engaged in the Second Battle of Manassas on Aug. 29th and 30th, and on 1 September at the Battle of Chantilly, as part of the First Brigade, First Division, Ninth Army Corp. 

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Addressed to Benjamin F. Green, St. John, Clinton County, Michigan

Washington [D. C.]
Sunday. October 6, 1861

God morning friend Benjamin,

This is a pleasant morning damn well and I hope these few words will find you the same and all the rest of your folks. All the boys feel first rate. We can hear the cannon roar very distinct. We don’t know when we shall be ordered onto the field of battle. We are within two miles of the city. We had [a gay] old time coming to Washington.

I must close my letter for you will get tired of reading it. I hope you can read part of it. Tell [your brother] Samuel that I wish him much joy. May God bless him and his companion through life. Write to me soon if you please and tell me all about the young folks. You must go and see the girls for me.

Direct your letter to Marcus B. Finch, 8 Regiment Michigan.

— Marcus B. Ford

to Benjamin F. Green

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