Civil War Letters

July 23, 1862

By July 23rd 2012

Headquarters Third Brigade, P. R. C.,

Harrison’s Landing, July 23, 1862 

Dear Father and Mother:-

                Since I last wrote you nothing has occurred here worthy of note.
                The army remains about in statu quo, as we are receiving no reinforcements now. One Division, [Brigadier General Isaac I.] Steven’s [Stevens],  I think, of [Major General David] Hunter’s command, is now at Fortress Monroe. [1]They are within supporting distance as they can be brought here in twelve hours if needed. Burnside is also said to be within striking distance but I do not know where he is.
                About 500 of our wounded came down from Richmond a day or two since in a flag-of-truce boat. Many who had been reported dead were among the number. It is astonishing to see some of our wounded who had been shot fair through the breast and whose wounds all the surgeons had pronounced mortal still living and speedily recovering. A Captain of the 10th [Levi Bird Duff] was shot clear through the right lung, the rifle ball coming out near the spinal column.  He came down on the boat and is doing well. He thinks he will be able to join the regiment in a month or so.
                None of the wounded can tell much about the fortifications of Richmond as they were taken there during the night and brought away in the night. Some of them who were at Savage’s Station and who saw the enemy as they were retreating back to Richmond after their total defeat on Tuesday at Malvern Hills say that the rebs were perfectly panic-stricken. Colonels were in one place and the fragments of their regiments were in another without any kind of order. They were completely demoralized and are compared to a drove of sheep frightened by pursuing wolves. Officers who were wounded and prisoners assert that 20,000 fresh troops could easily have taken Richmond on Wednesday. What a pity we hadn’t them!
                General Seymour is still in command of the Reserve Corps.
                Col. Sinclair of the 6th Regiment commands the First Brigade, formerly commanded by General Reynolds, now a prisoner.
                Col. Magilton of the 4th Regiment commands the Second Brigade, formerly commanded by General Meade, now wounded and at home in Philadelphia.
                Col. [Conrad F.] Jackson of the 9th is in command of the Third Brigade. He has been nominated as a Brigadier General by the Secretary of War and was confirmed by the Senate last Friday. If Col. McCalmont had been here, he would have been Brigadier General. He would have made a much better one than Col. J., as the latter has no military education except what he has picked up himself. He is a jolly, good-hearted man, belongs in Pittsburgh and was formerly a conductor on the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago R.R.  He came to Camp Wright as Captain of a company, was there elected as Colonel of the 9th Regiment and has served in the Third Brigade until now. I do not know to what Brigade he will be assigned when his commission comes on, but do not think it will be the Third. He has certainly risen very fast. The Chaplain of the 10th, Rev. McGuire, has resigned and gone home on account of his health.
               All the Rockland boys in the10th are well as usual except Alex Solinger who is under medical treatment for Calculus, I believe. [2] He is able to be about, however. I have not seen a single man who is perfectly well, all are complaining of disentary. I think it must be occasioned by the excessive heat, bad water and poisonous miasm which is constantly coming off the swamps which surround the camps. The tide comes up and overflows the swamps and marshes here along the river and this contributes to the unhealthiness of the location.
               I suppose you have seen [Major General [John] Pope’s proclamation. [3] You cannot help but like it. He talks as though he meant business.
               We heard last night that some more of those who had been reported dead were still alive, wounded, in the hands of the enemy at Richmond.
               To-day the sun shines out excessively hot—it is really oppressive. There are an almost infinite number of flies, beetles, bugs, wood-ticks, lizards, etc., here. In fact, I guess every family of insect and reptile which Noah took into the ark has its representative here. The most annoying, however, of all these vermin are lice,— the real genuine body lice. They are no respecters of persons, subsisting upon the bodies of Generals as well as private soldiers. I suppose they are very few in the army who have not been troubled with them at some time or other. Camphor is the only preventative. I was unfortunate enough to get a half a dozen of these “Body guard” on me last Spring before I was aware that there were such things. I had to throw away my clothes to get rid of them. Since then I have slept by myself and have been very careful to avoid contact with those I suspected of having the vermin. You will pardon this narrative—such things form part of a soldier’s adventures during a campaign in the army.
                Young Halderman  and Kepler, from near Layton’s, are in Richmond, wounded and prisoners. All that Butler County company were taken prisoners. 
                I see by the papers that E. W. Davis is commissioned to raise a regiment. Do you know where he lives now?
                I will expect to hear from the boys by next mail as well as from you.
                I can give you the exact number of the loss of the Reserve Corps in the late battles. It is 3085, of which 240 were killed, the rest are wounded or missing.
                Remember me to the little children. I am

                               Affectionately yours,         J. D. Chadwick 

Next posting:  July 31, 2012

Jonathan E. Helmreich
College Historian
Allegheny College
Meadville, PA 16335 

[1] Fortress Monroe was located at the tip of the Virginia Peninsula on the north bank of the James River as it enters Chesapeake Bay.

[2] Kidney or bladder stones.

[3] On July 14, 1862, Pope, who had been summoned from the West to take command of the Army of Virginia following the failure of the Peninsula campaign gave a stirring address to his new command. His comments implied that in the West the Union soldiers carried forward a true offense, while in the East the army had become preoccupied with defensive positions and lines of retreat. He promised to take the offensive, and his aggressive words were accompanied by orders authorizing seize of Confederate property without compensation and the shooting of captured guerilla fighters who had actually fired on Union troops.
          Others took a different view of Pope’s braggadocio than did Chadwick. Many Union officers at the time took exception to what historian James M. McPherson has described as a “snide denigration of eastern troops” and a “singularly inept” address.—James M. McPherson, Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era (New York: Oxford University Press, 1988) 524.

July 15, 1862

By July 15th 2012

 Harrison’s Landing, July 15, 1862

Dear Father:-

             Your welcome letter commenced on the 4th and finished on the9th was received last evening. Your addressing me on the first page as “now at Richmond” was a little premature, for as you now know, we are farther from that City than we were when we first joined the Army of McClellan here. But we all think that it is for the best.
             When Horace, the heathen Poet, heard of the victory of Augustus at Actium, he exclaimed “Now is the time for drinking and dancing, and now let the temples of the gods be decked with festoons,” but although the confederates claim a great victory, they certainly can not feel  like rejoicing in reality for all they got they paid for and at a dear rate, too.
              After the excitement has passed off and the movement we were ordered to make has become understood by the troops, there has a general spirit of satisfaction taken the place of feelings of doubt and despondency. I must confess I had many misgivings and fears as to the result of the engagements which were occurring. I, like all the rest, could not see the utility of falling back from the position we held at Mechanicsville while it was such an advantageous one to us. We were well-entrenched and protected by rifle pits and abbatis. Then why fall back? At least until forced to do so. We did not take into consideration the twenty miles of railroad which was exposed to the raids of the enemy, and the length of our lines which stretched along the swamps of the Chickahominy for ten or fifteen miles.
Then on the days of the several battles all that was required of us was to “hold our position,” merely to “repulse the enemy”, and not to follow them up but to fall back when night came. This had a tendency to discourage the men. The confidence of the faint-hearted was much shaken and you could see by the silent thoughtful expression that rested upon the countenance of almost every man that there were misgivings as to the result.
              But now, you have no idea of the unity of feeling of confidence which the army has in its Commander. A disparaging word of McClellan, spoken either by the citizens at home or by the political press, is considered as an insult to the whole army here.
              In the late engagements we lost about 25 pieces of Field Artillery of these about twelve belonged to our Division. This is considered a small loss and has already been replaced. The guns were of no use to the enemy for they have no ammunition to fit them, as they themselves admit.
July 17.—Nothing of importance has occurred this week as yet. I was down at the Landing last night and saw a large barge loaded with mortars. This means something. The Monitor lies at anchor off the wharf; she is decidedly the most insignificant-looking craft I ever saw. I appreciate the rebel description of her—“a cheesebox on a raft.”
              The enemy still continue to annoy our shipping on the James River by their sharpshooters and artillery. They can not do us much damage as gunboats are cruising up and down the river all the time.
             I do not know how you could construe my words so to make me say that I am in the 105th regt. I said nothing of that kind at all.
             Porter’s Corps d’Armee consists of the Divisions of McCall, [Brigadier General George W.] Morell and [Brigadier General] George Sykes. The loss in our Division in the recent battles was 3083 in killed, wounded and missing. I think that 225 will cover all the killed.
              We are said to be in the hottest part of Virginia; I see by an extract from the Richmond papers that the inhabitants think this “The hottest locality this side of Tophet.”
              Very many of the Officers of the 10th Regt. have handed in their resignations within the last week or so. I guess some of them came into service for the pay and not for pure patriotism and when they find that they have a position of danger to occupy they would like to get out of it. Some of them get their discharges with very little trouble as the powers that be are glad to get rid of them, but a man who has been a good, effective officer finds difficulty in getting out of the service. Sion Smith has resigned and gone home, poor fellow. [1]
              Enclosed is another little note for Mary. I wish I could see her and the rest of the children.

Yours affectionately,    J. D. Chadwick

Next posting: July 23, 1862

Jonathan E. Helmreich
College Historian
Allegheny College
Meadville, PA 16335

[1] Smith, promoted to major the previous May, returned not to Tennessee but to Andover, Ohio, about twenty-five miles west of Meadville. It is assumed that he stayed at the home of his brother James, then in the service but later a successful attorney. Ill with typhoid fever contracted while camped by the swamps of the Chicahominy, Sion Smith died August 5, 1862. When James and his wife had a son in December 1865, they named him Sion B. Smith; he would graduate from Allegheny College with the class of 1866.

July 3, 1862

By July 3rd 2012

              In what has become known as the Seven Days’ campaign that began on June 25, Lee attempted to drive the Union forces down the Peninsula. Though the Confederates got the worst in several of the battles fought in this period, they won out strategically, as McClellan (incorrectly) thought he was opposed by vastly superior forces and withdrew.

                                                                                                                                               Thursday, July 3rd, 1862

 James River, near City Point 

Dear Parents:-

                I have seated myself to write once more, but under painful circumstances. Since last Thursday, the 26th, we have been fighting almost all the time and falling back from the position we occupied on the Chickahominy. I will give you a short account of the affair, though it must of necessity be only a short synopsis of the doings of the armies here.
                McCall’s Division, on the right of the army, was attacked by the enemy in force at 3:00 P. M. on the 26th. It held its position, being in rifle pits, against 40,000 of the enemy. Our loss was small that night. The cannonading kept up until 10 at night. We were ordered to fallback by General McClellan and did so the next day, forming another line of battle near Gaines’ Mill, north of the Chickahominy. Here the contest was the hottest. The Reserves were cut to pieces. The 10th, which had 910 men for duty, can not must[er] to-day 400. And just so of the other regiments. The 11th Reserves were all killed or taken prisoner except 118 men!!! My company, Co. I, lost ten killed on the field, besides some missing and many wounded. I will give you some of the names of the killed and wounded which Miles may know, also some of Co. C—Grays. [1]
                Company I—killed: Sergt. Kile, Hildebrand, Wycoff [Wikoff], Trace, King, Sam White, Unthank, Boal and others I can’t recall. Re[prted killed: Bill Winkleman, Sam Leslie (a relative of Ellen Jolly’s,) and Dave Lovell. Robert Bell wounded, perhaps mortally and a prisoner. Matthew McDonald wounded, not mortally. Valentine Phipps wounded. Ed Henderson, Prof. Williams’ son, Octave, and Pyre [Pier] wounded not mortally. All the rest of the Rockland boys are safe as far as I know. Harvey Jolly, Everill Chadwick, James Gilson, Young Criswell, John Say and Bill Crawford all well, and Joe and Tom Ross.
                Alex Solinger just told me that Dave Lovell is dead and that Robert Bell is reported dead. General McCall is reported killed since Monday. General Reynolds, 1st Brigade, P. R. C., wounded and a prisoner. General [George lG.] Mead wounded seriously. General Seymour had two horses shot under him and bullet holes through his clothes but is now in command of the Reserve Corps. Col. Sam Black, Col. McLean [McLane] (Erie Regt.), and Col. Simmons, 5th Reserves, killed. Most of these were killed on Friday.
                The battle lasted until after night when our forces quietly withdrew from the field, moved on at night and crossed the Chickahominy blowing up the bridge after us, marched Saturday—not much fighting except the rear guard. Sunday evening the enemy attacked us and the two armies lay face to face til morning when the battle commenced in all its fury. Here the Reserves lost heavily but we repulsed the enemy and at night moved on. Tuesday nothing but firing by artillery at our rear guard. Wednesday came to this position—rained all day, skirmishing in the rear.  This morning the enemy have been firing into our camp but the firing has ceased now. Our forces are drawn up in line of battle. This place is defensible.
                During the fight on Monday, the Naugatuck and another gunboat fired many shots, but with what effect I cannot tell. I think they fell short of the enemy.
                Reinforcements have come. Shields has arrived. More are expected.
                I cannot give you an estimate of the loss on both sides, but think our killed and mortally wounded will reach over 2,500 or 3,000; wounded and missing—10,000—this I do not think an overestimate. I average other Divisions with McCall’s. All our wounded and dead were left in the enemy’s  hands, except such of the wounded as could get away themselves.
                Baker Shannon’s brother-in-law, Milton Singleton, had his arm shot off about the elbow.*********I cannot attempt to give you an account of the AWFUL, AWFUL sights I have seen during the past week. * * * * God grant I may never see the like again. I never want to. I would be sick under other circumstances, but I cannot complain. I am, dear parents, Affectionately, your son, James. 

Next posting: July 15, 2012

Jonathan E. Helmreich
College Historian
Allegheny College
Meadville, PA 16335

[1] According the records presented by Bates in his History of Pennsylvania Volunteers nine members of Company I died at Gaines’ Mill on June 27; some seventeen were wounded but survived. The Union there lost close to 900 killed, while nearly 1,500 Confederates died in the battle.

June 21, 1862

By June 21st 2012

                                                                                                                                    Headquarters Third Brigade, P. R. C.

 Camp in sight of spires of Richmond,

 June 21, 1862

Dear Father and Mother:-

                The last letter I wrote you was from Fredericksburg and in it I told you that our Division was on its way to Richmond and promised an account of my trip which I will endeavor to give now. I had not heard from you for two weeks until last night when I received yours of May 21st and of June 10th and one also from Frank.
                Owing to unavoidable delays I did not embark until Friday afternoon, June 13th, about 2:00 P. M.  We dropped down the river a short distance and anchored until morning of June 14th when we started at sunrise and got four miles below Tappahannock when we grounded and lay all night. June 15th, the tide carried us off the shoals and after going about ten miles further grounded again and had to wait four hours until high tide. Finally got adrift again and steamed down to a little bay at Windmill Point at the mouth of the Rappahannock where we anchored, staying all night and until noon the next day on account of the rough sea out on the bay. June 16th, started at noon and steamed down the bay and up the York River to Yorktown where we lay at anchor all night. June 17th, we coaled and started up the river for White House where we landed at 4 P.M. June 18th, started to join the rest of the Division which occupies the extreme right of the army before Richmond. Marched to Gaines’ Mill and encamped for the night. June 19th, joined the Division near Mechanicsville and are now within five miles of Richmond. We can see the rebels in numbers and hear the music of their bands, even now I hear their drums beating as if for dress parade. We are not across the Chicahominy but our piquets are on one side and the rebels on the other. At Meadow Bridge ours stands on one end and the rebel piquets on the other end. They have made an agreement not to shoot at one another but woe betide the officer who shows himself for he is sure to be shot at. There has been but little firing to-day, but yesterday the artillery kept up a constant roar. There was one shell, an eight-inch one, thrown which came directly over the headquarters and fell about 150 feet from us, exploding and shattering the limbs of the trees in a terrific way.  It was thrown from a large gun about a mile and a half from us. They shelled the Second Brigade yesterday and they had to move further back to get out of the way of the rebel gunners. The music which a shell eight or ten inches in diameter makes in flying through the air is not very enchanting you may be sure. I picked up a piece of the one thrown so near us yesterday. It was thrown from a sixty-four pounder.
                There are three or four balloons with this army which go up daily and make observations.  They can see down into the streets of Richmond and all the army of the enemy, their positions, etc. I can give you no idea of when we will have a general engagement.
                I saw Everill Chadwich [Chadwick] yesterday but Sylvanus is with that part of the “Bucktails” who are with Shields or Ord. Everill saw Cousin (?) Ingram, who is now Captain of the company in the 84th which Merrick Housler had. The last Everill heard of Penrose, he was at the General Hospital in Philadelphia, shot through the ankle or leg.
                The 4th Cavalry will be with us in a day or so. It is now dark and I will close for the night and finish to-morrow or the next day.

                                                                                      Sabbath afternoon, June 22, 1862

                This morning at daybreak we were aroused by the call “to arms” as it was expected the rebels were to attack us, but up to this hour all is quiet. However, General McClellan has ordered us to have arms stacked in line of battle and be ready to fall in at a moment’s warning. I saw General McClellan, the two French princes and the rest of his staff yesterday. He is always busied riding along the lines and superintending the trenches and earthworks.
                This army is stretched along the Chicahominy about ten or twelve miles. There is just enough excitement here now to make it interesting—everyone is on the qui vive.
                I am still employed in the office of the Assistant Auditor General. I have heard nothing of Harvey Jolly, but suppose Gilson is with his regiment, the 105th, as also Steadman. We are now in the same Corps d’Armee, the 5th, commanded by Brigadier General Fitz John Porter. If I get time I will go and hunt them up. I will write to Frank this week. All the Venango boys are well as far as I know.
                I have written a note to Mary which you will please hand to her. I do not know if she can read it, but I presume Shippen can. [1]  I will endeavor to keep you posted as well as I can. I think you may look for an engagement before long. I received the three papers sent.
                Borton’s Sharpsooters are encamped within a short distance of us. I am afraid George Junkin colors his statements somewhat. His regiment is not allowed any more privileges than the rest. He has not killed as many rebels as he says he has, I guess.
                I will close, remaining,                                                                                                         Your affectionate son,        James

Next posting:  July 3, 2012

Jonathan E. Helmreich
College Historian
Allegheny College
Meadville, PA 16335           

[1] Mary was James’s youngest sibling, five years of age at the time of his enlistment. Shippen was his youngest brother, eight years old at the time James joined the army.

June 11, 1862

By June 11th 2012

                The Union advance on Richmond resumed and at the end of May the Confederates under Brigadier General Joseph E. Johnson desperately endeavored to stem their advance. Johnson was wounded at the Battle of Fair Oaks and replaced by General Robert E. Lee.

                                                               Landing 5 Miles below Fredericksburg, Va.,

                                                                                                                          June 11, 1862

Dear Father:-

                One year ago to-day I went aboard of a canal packet, leaving Meadville for the war; to-day I go aboard of a steamer for Richmond.
                Some three days since General McCall’s Division received orders to join the army of McClellan before the rebel capital. Transports have come up the river; the 1st and 2nd Brigades have embarked, and ours will probably go aboard in two or three hours.
                I did not expect to be able to write to you before leaving but we have been detained longer than I expected. What is reserved for us in the future no one knows but doubtless we shall see more of the realities of war than heretofore. We will be there in time to participate in the great struggle which is coming soon.
                I see by the papers many of the 105th Penna. Volunteers were killed and wounded at the recent fight before Richmond a few days ago. Capt. Duff, a classmate of mine, was “seriously wounded in the breast.” [1] I have not seen the names of any of the Richland boys but fear that some of them are among the numbers.
                I will give you an account of our trip in my next. Being limited for time at the present, I will close. I received a letter from Frank dated at Harrisville. I have seen William Seaton who is well. I am,

                                Affectionately,    Your son,          James

(a rose enclosed)               

Next posting:  June 21, 2012

Jonathan E. Helmreich
College Historian
Allegheny College
Meadville, PA 16335 

[1] The phrase was that used by Pittsburgh newspapers in reporting the casualty. Regarding Duff’s wounding at the Battle of Fair Oaks (or Seven Pines), May 31, 1862, and miraculous recovery, see Levi B. Duff, To Petersburg with the Army of the Potomac: The Civil War Letters of Levi Bird Duff, 105th Pennsylvania Volunteers, 60-64. Though Duff was of the class of 1857 and Chadwick of 1861, they could have spent at least a couple of years on the campus together if James, like his brother Miles later did, attended the Allegheny Preparatory School prior to college matriculation.

May 28, 1862

By May 28th 2012

              As McClellan gathered his forces to approach Richmond in May of 1862, Confederate Major General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson provided relief for that city by attacking up the Shenandoah Valley. His troops’ swift and concealed movements enabled him to surprise Union forces that had been reduced by dispatch of troops to the Richmond front. Jackson seized Front Royal  and Winchester from outnumbered Union soldiers. Lincoln promptly ordered a pincers movement from other Union divisions that should have cut off Jackson’s avenue of retreat and subjected him to flank attacks. But the Union generals and troops moved too slowly and Jackson’s men were able to move to the south end of the Shenandoah Valley, where the Confederates successfully defended themselves at the battles of Cross Keys and Port Republic.

Falmouth, Va., May 28, 1862

Dear Father:-

                I received a letter from you last week but none this week as yet, although I expect there is one somewhere floating around after us. My letters have heretofore been addressed to “Ord’s Brigade.” Since he has left us I suppose some are missent and go to his headquarters. These will not be lost, however, as some of his aides will send them on to me.
                We have had quite a stir here for a few days past owing to the report concerning the retreat of Banks. The circumstances are these as near as I can understand:
                Banks was near Strasburg as was also Shields. When the bridge here at Fredericksburg was about finished, a Division was formed for Ord of detached regiments which had been about Washington and Alexandria. I think some thirteen in all. We then had three Divisions, McCall’s, King’s, and Ord’s, as I wrote you before. About five days ago Shields’ Division arrived, having left Banks at Strasburg. They marched across from the mountains, there being no railroad or water communication from that place to here. As soon as the enemy found that Shields had left they attacked Banks and have driven him back to Harpers Ferry. We were already to move over the river when this news came. Ord has now gone to Harpers Ferry, via Washington—taken the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad—to assist Banks, while Shields has cut across via Warrenton Junction to get in the rear of the enemy. The whole affair is thought to be a grand strategic movement just to catch old “Stonewall” Jackson in a trap. If he has not got out of the way by this time he certainly will be caught with all his army. Banks seems to have made little or no resistance.
                The enemy have fallen back from our front about four days since. Our advance has been out about ten miles beyond Fredericksburg.
                I was unwell when Shields’ Division was here and did not get to see Merrick Housler or hear about Penrose. I suppose Sylvanus will know something about them. I will see him in a day or two.
                I had a short illness from remittent fever—had one chill—was quite sick one day—was in the hospital two days—took blue mass—quinine—neutral mixture, etc., etc. I feel quite well now only somewhat weak. There is much sickness here now, fever and chills, though no serious illness that I know of. The days are very warm while the nights are uncomfortably cold. This is the cause of so much sickness the doctors say.
                There is going to be an abundance of fruit here this season. Every fruit-tree, and they seem to grow spontaneously, is loaded with fruit.
                The 4th Cavalry is now encamped with our Brigade. All the Rocklanders are well, both in it and in the 10th Regiment.
                I had a letter from Domer yesterday and he gave me an account of his visit to Rockland and gave me more news of interest to me than I have received in a long time. Tell Bing and Mother to write soon, and Frank, too.  Miles has written but once since he went to Meadville. Hoping to have good long letters from you all soon, I will close for the present.

                                Affectionately,    Your son,   James

The fact of my having written this upon a board laid across my knees accounts for the poor penmanship.

 Next posting: June 11, 2012

Jonathan E. Helmreich
College Historian
Allegheny College
Meadville, PA 16335

 

May 21, 1862

By May 21st 2012

                                                                                                                                                                                                   Headquarters Third Brigade, P. R. C.

                                                                                                                                May 21, 1862

Dear Father:-

                I write again. We are still at Falmouth but will cross the river soon, in a day or two, perhaps, as the bridge is now finished and the cars ran over to Fredericksburg last night.
                There has been a change in the Third Brigade within the past week. General Ord has been ordered to take command of a division in this corps, composed of Generals Rickett’s, [Brigadier General George L.] Hartsuff’s and Bayard’s Brigades. He left us last Sunday. Every man in the Brigade felt that they were losing an Officer and a friend. He called the regiments up in line and bade them a formal “good-bye.”
                General Truman Seymour has been assigned  to the command of this Brigade. He is a good officer, graduated at West Point, is 37 years old, was an officer of artillery in the regular army and was one of the “70” who fought within the walls of Sumpter  last spring. He is very much of a gentleman and I think we will like him, though not better than Ord.
                When General Ord left he gave me a very flattering recommendation to General Seymour. I can continue in the office as long as I wish. It is just nine months since I entered this department to-day. I think I have gained much from being here as I have acquired something of a knowledge of business transactions. I am almost a necessity, having got the run of the papers and other affairs pertaining to the office.
                Thomas Ross is driving the headquarters wagon for the General.
                Joe Ross, Jesse Pryor, Dave Lovell,  Brad Wilson and the rest of the boys are in the company and all are well. I saw Hen Hughes, John Maitland and others of the 4th Cavalry boys—they are all well.
                Our Corps consists of three Divisions now—Ord’s, King’s, and McCall’s. [Brigadier General James]  Shields’ will soon be with us also. The 84th Penna. Regt. is in his Division in which Merrick Housler and Penrose Chadwick are. I am glad they are coming down so I will get to see them.
                I expect we will have a fight when we cross the river as the enemy are said to be in force only a few miles from us. When Shields gets with us, we will have an effective force of nearly  50,000 men. The enemy can send reinforcements in a short time, however, from Richmond. Nous verrons. [Fr.:  We will see.]|                Hoping to hear from you all, I will close. In great haste,

                                Yours affectionately            James

I send a fig leaf to mother. Strawberries are commencing to ripen.

Next posting: May 28, 2012

Jonathan E. Helmreich
College Historian
Allegheny College
Meadville, PA 16335

May 7, 1862

By May 7th 2012

                                                                       Headquarters Third Brigade, P. R. Co.,

                                                                           Falmouth Heights, Va., May 7, 1862

Dear Parents:-

                Although I have not heard from Rockland (except for Mary Stanton) for two weeks, I as usual seat myself to let you know where I am. 
                You see by the heading of this that we have left Catlett’s Station and I will give you a synopsis of our journey to this place.
                On the 1st, Friday, we received orders to march to Falmouth and started the next morning at 6:00 A. M. Traveled till 3:00 P. M. over roads almost impassable and camped for the night at Tillis’ Mill—distance eleven miles.  The next morning at 5:00 we started again and marched to Hartwood—distance 12 miles. The day was pleasant and in company with Norris, (a classmate, you recollect him) I went ahead of the troops for the purpose of leisurely viewing the country, talking to the people and gaining information from “contrabands” who flocked out to see the “Yankees.” [1]
                We stopped at the house of Isaac Botts, nephew of John Minor Botts, and got some corn-bread in the shape of “hoe-cake” from servants who had been left behind to take care of the property, Botts being in the rebel army and his wife in Richmond. [2] A middle-aged mulatto woman was in charge of the house and told us much of interest. She was quite intelligent; had raised her master from his infancy and been a mother to him. At the retreat of the rebel army from Manassas he sold her husband and daughter to a man from Richmond. Two children, her brother’s, about six years of age, had been left with  her from running North, as her mistress said.
                A little further on, we came to the plantation of a Mr. Paine. We stopped to look at the door-yard around his house which was filled with shrubbery and flowers. While there saw his wife and entered into conversation with her. She was very intellegent and lady-like woman. She said she had a son who was a student at the University of Virginia at the commencement of the war—a drafting officer came to the institution and took him into the army. She seemed much affected while talking and maternal grief and solicitude for the welfare of her son exhibited itself in her falling tears. She said, “If you ever come across Roy, treat him well for he is a generous-hearted boy and you will have a mother’s blessing for it.” In my own mind I could not help thinking of the feelings of my mother if the tide of war were the other way—a hostile army passing my home and I in the place of Roy Paine. But this is only one of the many evils and miseries of war.
                Sabbath, the 4th, at 5:00 A. M. we left Hartwood and arrived at Falmouth on the bank of the Rappahannock at 11:00 A. M., a distance of eight miles. Falmouth is an old place but not larger than Emlenton; the river separates it from Fredericksburg which is a beautiful town from here, not unlike Meadville. I have not been over but I believe we have one regiment there as piquets.
                There is quite a force of rebels within six or eight miles, so say contrabands and spies; their camps are visible from the bluff a mile or two below us. We are likely to have a fight near here as they are said to be concentrating forces as fast as they can by railroad from Richmond.
                As Franklin’s Division is with McClellan, our force is not over 25,000 at present—we might get whipped.
                There is a pontoon bridge over the river upon which teams cross daily. Timber is being taken out to repair the railroad bridge which the enemy burned when they vacated this place.
                All the Rockland boys are well. Penrose Chadwick was wounded at Winchester but I do not know how badly. I saw Sylvanus yesterday.
                General Ord has been promoted and confirmed by the Senate a Major General of Volunteers. Whether he will supersede McCall, as rumored, I do not know.
                I will close for the present.      Your son                 James 

Next posting: Mary 21, 2012

Jonathan E. Helmreich
College Historian
Allegheny College
Meadville, PA 16335

[1] Slaves who had fled to the Union armies were declared “contrabands of war” and allowed to stay with the troops doing all kinds of manual labor. The name “contraband” came to be used for all such escaped slaves.

[2] John Minor Botts was a lawyer and congressman who led a chequered career and at one time was mooted as a possible presidential candidate for the American party. He was a consistent backer of Henry Clay and turned from friend to enemy of John Tyler over political allegiance issues. Botts claimed to be a Southern Unionist. He was distrusted by the North and disliked by the South, the authorities of which imprisoned him for several months.

April 23, 1862

By April 23rd 2012

                                                                                          Headquarters Ord’s Brigade,

                                                         Catlett’s Station, 10 miles south of Manassas

                                                                                                                      April 23, 1862

Dear Father:-

                Again I seat myself to write the accustomed weekly letter, though I have not yet received yours of last week.  I suppose it is on the way and that I shall receive it to-night or to-morrow. The railroad bridge over Bull Run has been swept off by the flood of the past few days which delays our mail as well  as our supplies, etc.
                We left Manassas last Friday and reached our present location in the evening. It has been so stormy and the roads so bad that we could not move for a few days, but it has cleared up this morning and has the appearance of being settled weather so I think we will move to-morrow or the next day for Fredericksburg. Our advance is there now.
                This is a beautiful country, the meadows look quite green, the buds are bursting and the peach trees are in full bloom. The country shows the marks of the rebel army as it passed through, however. They have burnt every bridge along the railroad and have torn up the track in many places. The “Yankee Lincolnites” soon mended the bridges and replaced ties, rails, etc., and have the road in good repair to the Rappahannock.
                Our Cavalry had a skirmish near Fredericksburg a day or two since in which they lost a dozen or so killed. There is no enemy near us in force, only scouting parties. We have piquets thrown out a mile from camp so we cannot be taken by surprise as [Brigadier] General [Benjamin M.] Prentice [Prentiss] was at Pittsburgh Landing. [1]
                We are all anxious to hear from Yorktown and of the success of our army there. I think it can not fail of success, yet from all accounts the enemy are concentrating an immense army there.
                I saw Everill and Sylvanus yesterday—both are well. I wrote to Uncle Jeremiah a day or two ago.
                Our fare is very plain indeed—we have not much except crackers and coffee, meat sometimes on the “rusty” order. I weigh 150 pounds which is more than I ever did before.  I have had excellent health with the exception of a touch of rheumatism when the weather is stormy. We are altogether without tents—nothing to protect from the storm except our India rubber blankets. These the men fasten together and make a quite good shelter. I have fared better than I would if I had been with the regiment as I, with the clerk of the Quarter Master, have slept in the office tent.
                I am,             Your Affectionate son,          James

Next posting: May 7, 1862

Jonathan E. Helmreich
College Historian
Allegheny College
Meadville, PA 16335                                                         

[1] The Battle of Shiloh, April 6-7, 1862.

April 9, 1862

By April 9th 2012

                                                                                        Near Alexandria, April 9th, 1862 

Dear Father:-

                Your letter dated the 2nd ultimo was received yesterday and I will respond to-day as I may not have an opportunity of sending it to the postoffice for a day or two afterwards. As I wrote you last week the destination of the 1st Corps d’Armee has been changed. I think I also told you that all of Corps except McCall’s Division had been ordered beyond Manassas and that we were expecting orders soon. They have at last come—one Brigade moved to Manassas to-day and the others will go to-morrow. The infantry go by rail and the Artillery, Cavalry and Baggage Train go via Fairfax Courthouse and Centerville, I gave you the list of regiments composing McCall’s Division and the different Brigades several months since but we number more now than then. I will give you a synopsis of King’s Division – – – –

                King’s Division—

                                [Brigadier]General [Christopher C.] Auger’s Brigade—                                         

                                                24th Regt. Brooklyn;

                                                30th N. Y. Volunteers;

                                                22nd    “            “

                                                24th     “            “

                                                  2nd Regt. Borden’s Sharpshooters.

                                [Brigadier] General [Marsena R.] Patrick’s Brigade—

                                                21st Regt. N Y. Volunteers

                                                23rd   “        “              “

                                                35th   “        “              “

                                                20th   “        “               “ 

                                Col.  – – – – – – – -‘s Brigade—

                                                  2nd Regt. Wisconsin Volunteers

                                                  6th    “              “                   “

                                                  7th    “              “                   “

                                                19th    “       Indiana              “

                                Third Regt. N Y. Cavalry;

                                     “       “     N. J. Cavalry;

                                Five Batteries of Artillery.

                So you see his Division numbers not far from 15,000. I do not know the strength of Franklin’s Division exactly, but it is between 15,000 and 20,000. I intend to find out if I can and will then give you the regiments composing his command. Such news as I can write to you would of course be contraband in the newspapers.
                It is now quite clear that we are to move on toward Richmond while McClellan with the rest of the Army of the Potomac will operate on Norfolk and vicinity and meet us in the rebel capital. En passant, General McClellan remarked to General McDowell’s lady the day of our last grand review that “the next review we have will be in Richmond.” It is not improbable.
                You asked a week or two since about paying a visit to the army here in Washington. I forgot to give you an answer on that subject. I will say now that it would have paid you well if you could have been here before the move. I would be very glad indeed to see you now, but you would doubtless have a great deal of trouble in following us up as there is no knowing where we will be in a week from now.  I think it would not be time or money foolishly spent, however, in paying a visit to Washington, especially during the sitting of Congress. You would find much to admire, and perhaps much to condemn, also, in the “City of the Magnificent Distances.”
                It has snowed and sleeted for the past thirty-six hours (8:P.M.) and there is now three inches of snow on the ground, more than at any time last winter, but to-morrow will be a fair day and the roads will soon be as dry and dusty as they were a few days ago.
                I suppose you have received those pictures of some of our Generals which I sent last mail to the children.
                I see by the Philadelphia Inquirer of to-day that the Investigating Committees in the Pennsylvania Legislature are bring[ing] to light a number of instances of bribery and corruption in regard to the repeal of [words missing]. . . . is now going down into obscurity. Save me from being suddenly elevated to a position of honor and renoun, but let me work my way up, step by step, and never get above my true level.
                You need not fear that your letters will not reach me for they will all be forwarded from Washington.
                You will have heard of McClellan’s attack on Yorktown and will know the result a day or two after it is known here.  We have heard nothing from them since yesterday when they had laid siege to that city where Washington captured Lord Cornwallis. [Confederate Major General John B.] Magruder will find it as untenable as Cornwallis did, I think.
                I have several acquaintances in that engagement, Steadman and the Richland boys are there and also John Compton who is in [Colonel John W.] McLean’s [McLane](Erie) Regiment, [Brigadier General Daniel] Butterfield’s Brigade, [Brigadier General Fitz-John] Porter’s Division. [1]
                I can think of nothing more that would interest you. I suppose by to-morrow evening we will be encamped on the plains of Manassas.
                News just received that the most bloody fight that has yet been fought  has just terminated at Corinth—not far from No. 10. [2] For the present,    Good-bye,                         James.

 Next posting:  April 23, 2012

Jonathan E. Helmreich
College Historian
Allegheny College
Meadville, PA 16335 

[1] Col. McLane was killed at the Battle of Gaines’ Mill, June 27, 1862. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of brigadier general by the General Assembly of the Pennsylvania legislature on April 4, 1961.

[2] This reference is a bit confusing. Chadwick may be referring to the Battle of Shiloh (April 6-7, 1862) or the much less bloody Union taking of Island 10 in the Mississippi River on April 7. The Confederates abandoned Corinth at the end of May.