These letters were written by 38 year-old George Washington Mechlin (1826-1896), an 1853 graduate of Jefferson College and an Old School Presbyterian Clergyman. George was pastor and principal of the Glade Run Academy before, during, and after the Civil War. A humble man, “Dr. Mechlin lived quietly & unostentatiously, but the influence he has exerted in the country & world was great.”
From these letters we learn that during the Civil War, George volunteered as a “delegate” in the U. S. Christian Commission, encouraging the sick, distributing religious tracts, praying for those who were wounded, and providing whatever aid and comfort could be found. He was assigned to serve the regiments under the command of Gen. R. B. Ayres in Warren’s 5th Corps. Mechlin’s letter conclude with the Battle of Hatchers Run.
George wrote these letters to his wife, Eliza Dickson (Baird) Mechlin (1826-1912).
Letter 1
Park Station, 14 miles from City Point, Virginia
January 24, 1865
My Dearly Beloved Wife,
I feel it a pleasure to pen a line again to you. I came to this station this morning. Yesterday afternoon about 4 o’clock, we left City Point in a freight car and pretty dirty. We got up about dusk or before it. We stayed at Warren’s Station all night. The music to which we slept was the booming of cannon at Dutch Gap 15 miles away—almost constant, the rattling of cars, the music of drums, and clatter of cars on a rough railroad. We were in no danger but I hardly felt it last night.
Today Colonel [John] Ewing and Major [John A.] Cline of the 155th [Pennsylvania Infantry] said they had a dispatch that one of the Rebel ironclads were sunk and two driven aground, and the commanders of our fleet was only waiting for heavier metal to knock them to pieces.
I saw William Caldwell and Samuel Ewing, Findley and others of the 11th Pennsylvania [Infantry], Porter Marshall [Company K, 155th Pennsylvania Infantry] and all I was acquainted with in the 155th. All in the 155th are well. William Caldwell has had some dysentery. He is now over it but weak. Samuel is not stout but is able for duty. I ate dinner with them. I enjoyed it more than any meal I have ate since I left home. I have not fared badly, but much that we get is not well cooked and the tin pans and cups we use, the darky cooks do not wash very clean. But as long as I keep my health I will get along. I am as well as I was at home. But I would rather be there if duty seemed there. I am hardly yet into the harness. I assisted in the services in the chapel at City Point and addressed a Sabbath School of black children and last night an interesting prayer meeting. Several asked for prayer and some expressed home in Christ.
I am trying to give you a kind of history of my trip, but we are so much crowded and have but a poor chance to write, so I may leave out some items or repeat some items. But if we live to meet and converse as we have done I can perhaps fill up gaps or explain obscure [events]. I would indeed love to have a letter from home but I cannot look for one at least for near a week. More tomorrow.
Wednesday, January 25
I felt very tired after going around the whole 2nd Division of the 5th Army Corps to which I have been assigned for the present.
Last night was very cold. Ground froze very hard much like it does at home when there is a sudden change. Today is clear and cold. Wind blew a good deal last night and some today. Our home is a house raised some four feet with logs laid one on another, spliced together at the corners, and covered with a piece of tent cloth not without a number of holes large and small. A little chimney in one corner or side, and loose boards for a floor. There are eight of us to eat, sleep, write and receive soldiers in it. Eight of us slept in 9 feet in width.
I would be glad of a line even once a week, but twice a week would be far better. I have now been two weeks almost without seeing my name on a book or paper. It seems a long time.
Tell me all about how you all get along, and all the neighbors and the beasts do. Better not let the corn fodder get too low. Give Mr. Irwin notice in time to cut before you get out.
May the Lord in mercy bless and keep us all to meet again. I will write if well by Saturday or Monday. Direct to U.S.C.C. [United States Christian Commission], City Point, Virginia. Your husband – G. W. Mechlin
Letter 2
Park Station “Grant’s Railroad”
12 miles from City Point
5 miles south of Petersburg near Weldon Railroad
Saturday, January 28th 1865
My Dear Wife,
The long heading will tell you my location as near as I can fix it on the map. I am as well as usual at home. I would be glad to hear that you and our dear pets are so too. I would like to see you all but we must be patient. I would like to see some other human beings than uniformed men. A woman and a baby would here be a show. I would like to see Vester as well as any of you.
The weather here since Tuesday is as cold as we see at home with very few exceptions. Ground is hard frozen and the wind blows the dry sand much like snow at home. We had a little snow last night—enough to see it this morning.
Yesterday evening one of our mess foolishly piled the fire place up full of wood & set our wooden chimney on fire & left us in a bad fix for the night. We only pretend to keep one side warm at a time at any rate. It is pretty rough living. We have enough to eat but it is roughly got up. I am getting used to our negro’s cooking but you need not fear tht he will supplant your preparation of our food in my affections. Our wood is all green pine—very full of pitch, so that you cannot touch it without having your hands all stained. It burns very poorly.
We are a good deal crowded. From 7 to 10 in our little quarters, among boxes, barrels, tables, &c. &c. We have received papers by the 2 or 3 large store box full daily. They are distributed to the regiments. They (the papers) lie all around on tables, boxes, &c.
My charge is composed of nine regiments—Gen. Romeyn Beck] Ayres‘ Division of Warren’s [5th] Corps. I will not attempt to describe it now. I daily visit one or more regiment, distribute papers, &c.
Dear wife. Sabbath evening. I took a pill last night. It made me some sick this forenoon. I stayed in the office handing out reading matter to soldiers & chaplains. At half past two I preached in the chapel. I had some liberty in preaching ot about 100 men from Grieve not the Holy Spirit, &c. Strange to preach with cannon booming in the distance, drums beating, hoofs clattering all around, and people called by a bugle to the church.
Today a lady called—a Mrs. Hall from Philadelphia. A little girl and boy were in too. It has not looked so much like society at home before. There are a number dying here. Poor fellows. I pity them. May God preserve their souls from death. Oh that this awful war was over.
Sabbath evening, January 29th. Oh how pleasant to spend this calm, clear, cold Sabbath evening with you and our dear pets. But we must wait for this privilege & hope that God will spare us so to meet again. We do not have the Sabbath here as I would wish. Our tent has been full nearly all day of soldiers and others calling for papers. Some of the delegates were out on their rounds today as usual. Chaplains were in to get reading for their regiments &c. &c.
We give out no stores today except in cases of great necessity. But we are annoyed in being asked often for them.
I hope in a day or two to have a letter from you. But it may not be for some days yet. Delegates find great difficulty in getting here on account of the ice in the Potomac river & Chesapeake Bay. The mails as a consequence are very irregular. Ours are sent up here from the Point by a messenger and I fear they are not as regular as they might be about their work. It is now too dark to write more without light.
Monday afternoon, January 30. This day is clear and calmer and warmer than several past. I do not feel as vigorous as I have done but I hope to tomorrow perhaps. I feel just like I do at home often.
I saw Bro. Marshall on Saturday evening. He is well but tired walking. I have not so much to do as he has. I could not so what he does.
In my charge there is 14 regiments. Five of them have chaplains with whom we cooperate by supplying them with papers, &c. The others I visit about a regiment a day, carrying a haversack full of newspapers, writing paper, envelopes, pencils, combs, testaments, tracts, primers for black boys to learn to read, thread, &c.
Thus laden, I walk about a mile and a half on an average & then go from tent to tent leaving a newspaper in each. Often I go in and sit down and talk to the boys, not forgetting to tell them something about the way of life and salvation. To visit a regiment takes about half a day. Sometimes I visit two. The the day remaining is taken up in chopping wood, attending to the the hundred and one duties that devolve on delegates in the hospitals & tent of U. S. C. C.
We could give out more than ten times what we do if we had it but we must use some discretion. Some would spend their money at the sutlers for what they do not eed and then come to us for clothes.
Just now there was a man in here to get help to take the body of his brother home. Our agent G. S. Chase is giving him lumber to make a box to carry the remains. He is out of money. This is one instance but of many that is performed for soldiers & their friends. Today and yesterday we have pleasanter weather than before. Roads dry and dusty. The ground is so sandy that it hold no water even when frozen so it does not seem to thaw or get muddy when it does.
We have had a lady & two little children, a boy and a girl, in our tent yesterday and today. How soon we get accustomed to lose sight of old habits. I do not look to see a woman at preaching. We have large audiences sometimes and all men.
I have no letter yet from home nor do I really expect one for some days yet as the mail comes but Oh I would like to see one with your name to it. Times hastens. We are now in the 2d third of our time. Unless i give you word, you need not write to me later than February 18th or 20th.
Your husband in love, — G. W. Mechlin
Letter 3
City Point, Virginia
Near Park R. R. Station
February 1, 1865
My dear wife and children,
This is an exciting time here. There is a strong appearance of a bloody movement or a great feint. May God prepare the dying for death. Should I never get back, may God preserve you and my dear children for great usefulness and happiness. I gave Porter Marshall five dollars. Geo. Cleves two. John Russell two. W. D. Porter and Thos. Marlin two. I gave William W. Caldwell five, but I owe them two and a half. I also left one hundred with John Culbertson in Presbyterian book rooms in Pittsburg & two ten dollar checks. He gave me a receipt for them. That is one hundred & twenty dollars. I intended to write this before but I forgot it. It is now night but our mail has not yet come. I hope it will bring me a letter. Caldwells have letters of January 23rd.
I cannot attempt to describe things here. I do not feel anxious. I feel that I can commit myself to God & you too with a more than usual confidence. I see the benefits of religion here. I saw Wm. Caldwell in his tent, eat dinner & prayed with him. Saw also Porter Marshall & others of 155th P. V. and gave them some papers, &c, and advised them to trust in God.
I feel pretty well. My feet are a little sore. I walked five or six miles today. The work I like pretty well, but I would rather be at home with you and my—our—dear sons and daughters. I feel that one great object of my living is for you and them.
Perhaps I had better mail this so that you may get it rather I get out of the confusion here. Be not uneasy. We will no doubt as usual remove to the rear out of danger before the battle begins, but these are at least as many chances for none as for one. I will write again as soon as matters come to a head. Tomorrow may be as calm as any day for a long time. Mr. Marshall I have not seen since Saturday evening. I would have no doubt heard of it if he had been unwell. For the present I close. As the mail does not close for an hour or two I may write more.
Your husband & father, in love & affection, in life and death. Pray for me while I love abroad or at home. — G. W. Mechlin
Letter 4
City Point, Virginia
February 5, 1865
My Dear Wife,
Yours of the 28th reached me last night. I was indeed glad to hear from you again that you are all well. I desire scarcely any better news. It makes my stay away much more pleasantly. I am quite well too. The last letter I wrote I closed on Friday night to give a couple of black boys who came in and asked me to show them. I gave them a lesson in letters and also in religion. I asked one who was the Savior and he answered “the devil I suppose.” He seems sincere yet a smart boy in many respects. Before I let them go I had taught them several verses of scripture and the prayer “now I lay me down to sleep.”
Yesterday four of us busied ourselves hard all day to get up an outfit for what we call a picket station. That is a tent pitched out among the men or brigades distant from our headquarters. We got out about 3 o’clock but only to be ordered back because this corps was to move this morning. It did so, and so we are here and the men gone. It has been a very quiet Sabbath here. It is strange here to have worship amid the clattering of hooves going at full speed, the rattling of drums and band music, the crack of the picket musket, the booming of cannon, the rattle of cars, ringing of their bells and screaming of whistles, sometimes you may hear the voice of cursing and screaming. Still it does not distract attention as much as you would suppose. God meets with us in our plain rude structure called a chapel, which is a stockade, i.e. sticks set in the ground 4 or 5 feet wide and a canvas stretched over it for a roof and windows, logs for seats mostly, and a sheet iron stove with green pine wood which is harder to burn than green gum or black oak at home. Still here we keep pretty comfortable generally. The weather today is much like our April weather at home and has been for several days. Yet it is considered a hard winter here. I would like to live in such a climate if healthy and if [I] had you and our good people around us at home.
I imagine I see you often sitting about the fire at night with a big fire, Silvester and May waking up once in a while to annoy you. These things seem settled but here we do not know where we will be tomorrow. Where the 5th Corps has gone no one here knows. 1 They will probably be back in a few days. The reports or rumors are numerous but that the Rebels are building some new works from which they to drive them. Another is the Rebs are deserting Petersburg and [General George Gordon] Meade wants to catch them. Another that it is a mere reconnaissance. Now you know as much as we do. They left camps in order as if they expected to be back before long. If we hear of a battle we will perhaps go out to assist the wounded. We have no stores scarcely because of the ice in the Chesapeake Bay.
May God promote the good of our cause. I mourn over this Sabbath move. But here we must stay. I have had much pleasure in reading the Sermon on the Mount in Greek. I am very glad to hear of your writing every mail. Continue it if possible for 2 or 3 weeks. May God spare for usefulness and to meet again.
Your husband in love of old – G. W. Mecklin
Tent
February 5, 1865. Evening.
Dear Wife,
There has been a big fight for the South Side Railroad [see Battle of Hatcher’s Run]. It is not yet over. What its result may be God knows, I do not. The wounded are coming in. I have a coffee pot on the fire to make coffee for two who have walked in 12 miles with broken arms. Most of our company of delegates have gone out to assist the wounded with coffee so as they put them into the cars for City Point.
A good may prisoners have been sent in here. I do not feel as you would suppose. They seem so cheerful amidst all that is here I cannot write. It does appear that we are in any danger in this place. We may have to pack up tomorrow but I think not. The arrangement is for me to keep the tent tomorrow. I am pretty well but I am not able to walk much more than at home. I feel that God is my friend and protector and He can preserve me here as well as at home, and you where you are. But pray for me still that we may all meet again in our happy home and I think if I reach it again it will seem even pleasanter than ever before.
I know nothing of my acquaintances since late morning. Harvey said they’re going to the field. God keep them.
Your loving husband – G. W. Mecklin
1 The 5th Corps was extending the Union lines around Pittsburg further to the left in an attempt to cut off Lee’s supply trains. The impending fight was called the Battle of Hatcher’s Run.
Letter 5
Park Station
February 8, 1865
My dear Wife,
This is a pleasant clear, cold morning. Yesterday was a dreadful day. The rain fell heavily and froze as it fell. The wind blew strong too. The ground was covered with ice & is yet. But the sun is now bright. Oh! how I have felt for our soldiers who have been out since Sabbath morning almost without shelters & fighting [near Hatcher’s Run]. I have been praying constantly almost for the wounded.
There was a fight on Monday in which we gained some ground but lost it in the evening. Yesterday about 5 o’clock they retook it. We could hear the firing very plainly with the musketry and cannon’s shells. We have no estimate of the killed and wounded. I feel very anxious to hear from Caldwell’s & 155th [Pennsylvania]. But here I must stay. Some of our company of delegates went out Monday night to help the wounded & others of them yesterday morning. I am left to keep charge of the tent. They will certainly some of them be in I think today. It is between 8 and 9 o’clock A.M. now.
Since I wrote the above, D. P. Marshall came in. He says they were all well on Monday after the fight. Bro. J. H. Marshall, he says, is gone front. The news is that we hold the Southside Railroad. It think it is true but amidst all the rumors here, it is impossible to arrive at the truth. D. P. Marshall’s voice failed him. The loss on Monday may reach near a 1,000 killed and wounded & may not exceed 700. I write just as I get time to scratch a line. I think I will hear from Caldwell’s today. I feel anxious about them.
Evening. I have heard that S. S. Cadwell is well but William is missing, but from the circumstances I think only lost. Last night just after the battle, he went out with another to get some water when his division was suddenly ordered to fall back & was replaced by another & the report was that it had come back to its camp some 7 or 9 miles to the rear. He may have stayed with them who took his place until morning and then started for camp & not been able to get back by noon up to the time Harvey saw Samuel. I hope to hear soon that he is all right.
Our men have advanced some miles & are holding their grove but have not struck the Southside Railroad. The movement is a success but it has cost us 700 or 800 good men killed and wounded. We have several hundred prisoners. We can only estimate the numbers yet.
Oh! that war was all over. The people at home know nothing about it. I am glad to good to the soldier & yet I almost wish myself at home sometimes. I would like to know what is being done to meet the draft at home. I would a good deal rather not be drafted. I could not stand what men have to here long. But we are all in the hands of a good & gracious God. I hoped some for a letter today but I must wait at least another one. The weather is again clear and dry and ground hard frozen. I have no reason to complain of my health. At home I would say I am well. May the God of mercy and peace keep you and all our dear pets in the hollow of his hand & me also until we meet again.
Your husband, — G. W. Mechlin
Yesterday we made a little excursion, partly to carry supplies across the Appomattox ¹ to regiments guarding Butler’s works, but if the truth were told, a great-deal-much-more-partly to see the sights and go up in a signal station. If you will look at “Frank Leslie’s” or “Harper’s Weekly” for July 16, you will see a picture of the station. ² From its top we had a magnificent view. From it we could see both Richmond and Petersburg; the roofs of the houses of the latter. About a mile from us were the Rebel pickets and behind them were their line of earthworks. We could see these distinctly and through the glass we could watch these “Johnnies” here and there on their works and behind them. Behind all this the headquarters of Gen. Beauregard were pointed out to us, while behind us were those of Gen. Butler. On the whole, the panorama was far ahead of anything I ever saw and well repaid our climbing up the giddy height.
Spared & Shared 22 