[Page
1]
Fort Monroe, Virginia, April 28, 1861
Dear Sir:
As some of our
boys promised to write you, and none of them have yet fulfilled their
pledges, I thought I would spend a few moments in doing so. We all
of us have so many correspondents that our letters are necessarily
short and hurried and if critically examined would show many imperfections.
The Spalding
landed us (the 3rd Regt.) at this fort about 11 o'clock a.m. Saturday
the 20th, the 4th Regt. having been here 5 or 6 hours before we arrived.
Our passage Friday being pretty rough, most of the men were suffering
from the effects of sea sickness, but at about 6 o'clock p.m. we were
marched aboard the Pawnee for a pleasure excursion to Norfolk Navy
Yard. The Commodore of the Pawnee (Paulding) wished to take the 4th
Regiment aboard as they had been ashore the longest and had had three
rations served to them since landing, but Col. Packard objected saying
his men were too tired. Hearing this Col. Wardrop exclaimed, "My
G_d, my men can go!" and in reply to Com. Paulding's enquiry
as to how much time was needed for preparation, he replied, "fifteen
minutes." The [Page 2] result of our going you have doubtless
seen in the papers long since. The Navy Yard was completely ruined,
the ships and their houses completely destroyed, their magnificent
dry dock, costing millions of dollars, blown up, and an immense quantity
of guns, pistols, cutlasses, powder, shells, etc., put where it can
never be of any use. It was a good streak of luck for Government,
as it would have all been seized the very next day by the Succession
Army, if we had not used it up so completely, and the very guns we
spiked and the ammunition we spoiled would have been directed against
Fort Monroe. Our Regiment was favored by not being attacked, for so
many of us were nearly dead from the fatigues from a sea voyage that
we could have made little resistance, and huddled as we were, nearly
400 of us volunteers, we should have been decidedly worse than nothing,
as we would have stood in the way of the Marines who manned the vessel.
The Rebels appear
to be busy making preparations to attack us, but nearly everybody
in the Fort doubts their making any demonstration. We have command
of the river by having the Man-of-War Cumberland stationed here. She
is one of the vessels we took up in Norfolk and towed down and has
already proved very serviceable to us. Last Thursday she fired into
a tug which was towing out toward Norfolk a schooner, and the [Page
3] shot taking effect upon her wheelhouse she was brought to, and
we made prizes of the tug and schooner both. On bringing the schooner
to the wharf she was found to be commanded by a sailor who only a
short time since deserted from the Cumberland, and it is said he was
hung by the Marines. The craft was completely loaded with all the
munitions of war including guns, gun carriages, ammunition, provisions,
etc., and proved to be quite a prize – the little tug has been
pressed into Uncle Sam's service, and very useful she proves.
This Fort answers
very well the description given of it in the Boston Post about the
time we sailed. It is a beautiful place and the transition from the
barren and snow-clad hills of New England to the luxuriance of spring
as seen here is well worth a trip to see. Our parade ground is covered
with green grass and the trees which border the walks are just leafing
out. There is a capital Brass Band in the Fort and they give us every
morning some of the best music I ever heard. So beautiful is the scene,
that we can hardly realize that it is possible that all this loveliness
may soon be a barren waste. One cannot truly imagine the change which
the horrors of an actual war may cause to pass over the face of everything
here. I hope we may not witness the sight, but I do believe that if
compelled to fight, the 3rd will [Page 4] give a good account of herself.
I suppose there
is an intense feeling in the North. Our Company have not had many
letters, so all the news we get is from Baltimore papers, but even
those represent a decision of purpose on the part of the North, and
North West to stand by our "Father Abraham." We expect soon
to have northern papers regularly, and they will seem nearly as good
as a letter. I long to see some of the Boston dailies.
You must excuse
the style, etc., of this letter as I don't have time to be very particular
and to have to write just as it comes into my head. I would be pleased
to hear from you, at any time, and trusting you will overlook all
errors.
Remain,
Very respectfully yours,
H. W. Poole
[To:] Cyrus Thompson,
Esq.
Boston
Mass
Address: H. W.
Poole
Care Capt. Harlen
Co. A 3rd Reg.
Fort Monroe,
Virginia
*
* *
Letter of Samuel
Wolcott to father, October 23, 1861.
October
23rd, 1861
On board Steamer Illinois
My
Dear Father,
We
are now lying at anchor near the walls of Fortress Monroe. We have
been on our way here since Monday morning. We sailed all day Thursday
and at eve anchored off the mouth of the Potomac. Weighing anchor
again yesterday morning, we started again and continued on our course
until between three and four in the afternoon. It had been raining
all day and the fog was so dense at that time that the officers thought
it was not safe to continue on their course ay longer, so we lay to
last night again. And at daylight this morn we set sail and arrived
here about ten o'clock. There is the largest fleet laying here that
I have ever seen. I think there are between 75 to 100 large steamer
vessels. Some of them are used as transports for carrying men and
provisions and others are gunboats, of these there are a large number
of large one. There are two men of war laying near our bow, each mounting
forty-four guns. I think there are transports here sufficient for
carrying fifty thousand men, beside what the gunboats will carry.
I do not know whether we are to land here or not, but things do not
appear as if we were, our Colonel has now gone to the Flagship of
the Squadron. Perhaps you may know more that is going on here than
I do. You certainly know more of what is passing elsewhere. I only
know what I see. There are a great many rumours here in regards to
our own destination as well as to what is transpiring around us, but
those who circulate them know as little of their truth as do the newspaper
editors who have been publishing like rumours for facts during the
last six months. When this fleet moves, I do not think anyone save
those in high authority will know. The fort here is a very large thing,
mounting a great many guns. The walls are not as high as I supposed
they were. They are built of stone and the top is covered with turf.
I should think that the stone part might be from fifteen to twenty
feet high and the turf from three to five feet high more on top. Small
boats are continuously moving between the large steamers and communicating
with them. I do not know if I can write any thing else that will interest
you now. I would like to write often. I have not heard anything from
you since I left. Anything from home will interst me. Let me know
how you get along with work and what you do with those notes. You
need not answer all my letters separately but write to me as you find
time. I choose to occupy a large portion of my spare time writing.
I do not get a very great variety of reading, and I have not attempted
to scribe any yet, indeed on board this crowded ship there is no very
quiet place. If I sit down to write, someone is continuously laughing
and jesting within hearing and nearly every moment someone jars my
arm or seat so that I do not make my letters look very well, but if
you can read them that is the great consideration. Direct you letter
same as before to Washington.
Give
my love to all at home, and to my friends who may inquire after me.
Your
affectionate son,
Samuel B. Wolcott
(7th
Conn. Inf.)
PVT John Snyder, Cape Hatress, NC, to a friend, February 4, 1862
Cape Hatress, North Carolina
February 4, 1862
Dear Friend, I received your letter on the 1st of February
and was glad to hear from you and I will answer your letter with the
greatest of pleasure and am glad that you are well and hope this may
find you still in good health. You know that I have no friend in this
part of the world. I always ___ pray we receive a letter from someone
I am acquainted with. Dear friend, you stated in your letter that it
was lonesome since I left but I expect to come back again in a few months
for I don't think the war will last long. How do you think that I feel
alone here with all strange to me and I in a strange land. I often,
often think of home but I cannot come till the war is over then I expect
that ___ ____ shall be the first place. The splendid band that I hear
here don't please me as well as your singing I would love to spend one
night with the young folks up there, who have all kind of fun but that
who have all kind of fun but that may soon take ___ for we are going
in to a battle tomorrow and we expect to see somehow frightening but
I hope that we shall be victorious in the end we are going to Roanoke
Island and some other batteries along the same river we are bound to
take them at the peril of our lives. I am well at this time. That is
about all the news at this time but after the battle I will tell you
more about it. Excuse my writing with a pencil. We have been now twenty
nine days on the sea and it is not convenient to write for the ship
is always rocking. Dear Friend, I must now bring my letter to a close.
No more but still remain your affectionate friend. John Snyder
I here write a few line to Miss Mary Poorman. I understand
that you want to know where William Robinson is. He is here in the same
Company that I am and me and him and his brother sleep together. Wm
was glad to hear the letter read that I received from you. I have seen
him kiss her likeness that he got from her. Wm sent her a letter about
two weeks ago and he has told her all about it. I see that you are both
single yet and I want you to stay so till I come home again so that
I can have the chance to make your furniture. I will both of the Robinsons
with me when I come home then who will have some fun?
Give my best respect to all inquiring friends. No more
but still remain your affectionate friend.
John Snyder
I want you both to write soon for I will be glad to
hear from both. Good bye
Direct your letters to Private John Snyder, Co. C,
51st Regiment. PV 2nd Brigade, Coast Division, Fortress Monroe, VA.
* * *
John M. Amshire's
letter to his wife from Norfolk, VA, May 15, 1862
Norfolk, VA
1862, May the 15
Dear Wife, I take the opportunity to inform you that
I am well and enjoy good health. We have heard or had marching orders
for a week or more. I believe I said something about it in my other
letter and yesterday we were ordered to march to Norfolk. We packed
and left Newport News about three o'clock and arrived at Norfolk about
five evening. We hadn't been there not over half an hour before I received
your letter with a lock of Emes hair and it gave me much pleasure, but
you must tell Eme Jan that I kisst her hair but Pa would like to see
her blue eyes and all that hair and kiss the little [Page 2] mouth.
Tell her to be a good little girl till Pa comes home.
We took up our quarters in the United States Marine Hospital last night
and it is one of the largest buildings I have ever been in. It goes
about 200 feet front all around and leaves a square of a hundred feet
one way and about 100 feet the other. The building is four stories and
is balcony or stoop on both sides of each story and each room has a
window. There is no doors, the windows answer for doors. There is a
nice garden and three sides of it with all kinds of flowers and fruit
trees. I have seen the lemon and orange tree and fig and others I cannot
mention. I have seen nice places but none that comes up with this. As
for Norfolk I have not enough to say anything about and Portsmouth on
the opposite side of the River I can't say anything about. [I sent you
a leaf from the garden where we stayed last night. I don't know the
name of it [written upside down on the top of this page]
[Page 3] There are nice looking places the Rebels have not destroyed
and one reason they had not [ink blots word] it is about as strong a
place as any I have seen except Fortress Monroe. There are plenty of
Sucesh here yet and still believe that Jeff Davis is coming with a hundred
and fifty thousand men and that they had defeated MacGladden, and so
on. I said that we were at Norfolk. We did not land there but a little
north and on the West side of the River and about a mile north of Portsmouth.
I can't tell you where we are going but it is not far. I will tell you
more some other time. I want you to take good care of yourself and the
little ones. Try and do the best you can. Tell the boys to write and
tell me what they want to now. I will stop writing for we were ordered
to march and being on duty I put away my paper and started. We __ through
Portsmouth and we camped on the Navy Yard. There were a [Page 4] good
many stars and stripes shook at us as we passed through the city, and
we were glad to leave our last nights quarters for we found a barrel
of powder and a good many shells there this morning all ready for explosion.
Some of our fool boys were playing with them when found. I was saying
that the Sucesh had not destroyed anything but I was mistaken for I
never saw such destruction of property as there is here at the Navy
Yard and all the machinery is burned. There were some of the largest
and nicest brick buildings I ever saw. Uncle Sams property is burnt.
Most of the private property is saved, most all the folks are here yet.
There is still some fire here yet. There were 4 Sucesh soldiers came
in here this morning and gave themselves up. They took ___ the other
they let go. [missing a word or two] They were very thankful for their
liberty.
It has been raining very hard all day and it is ten o'clock at night
and I have to bid you good night.
[Written upside down at top of page] Nothing more at present. Yours
forever. God bless and protect you while you sleep. Kiss Eme Jan for
me. Send me some postage stamps for I can't get any here.
* * *
John M. Amshire's
letter to his wife from Gosport Navy Yard, May 22, 1862
VA
Gosport Navy Yard
May the 22nd, 1862
Dear Wife, as I have nothing to do at present, to let you know that
I am well and enjoy good health. I received your letter yesterday and
was glad to hear that you were all well. As I was saying I had nothing
to do.
I washed two shirts this morning before going out on drill from seven
till after eight and from half after four till six makes three hours
a day but this afternoon it is raining and we have nothing to do. The
weather is very warm here at present, from [Page 2] ten to three it
is very warm and I have been trying to rest, then I would get sleep,
then I would try to sleep, then the flies would trouble me, so that
I would write. You wrote some time ago that I did not write as often
that I might but I think that I am ahead of you. Now there is three
letters that you have not answered yet, and I think that is you that
are forgetting now. Oh yes, you did write me that the mop handle is
broke, and the back door was off its hinges, and you wanted me to tell
you what I had to eat. As to the first I can't say anything about, the
eating part I can tell you this morning we had coffee, pork and crackers,
for dinner we had beans and bean soup and corned beef and pork and crackers.
Tonight we will have fresh beef and crackers. [Page 3] Sometimes we
have pea soup, sometimes we have cornmeal pudding and molasses and then
we have rice and sugar, and sometimes we have cracked corn but that
don't go off very fast here. You need not look so wishful at our dinners
and supers for you won't get any of them. I must tell you the prices
of things here. Pork from 37 to 40 cents. Coffee, one dollar. Tea, 3.50
dollars and a half. Flower, 12 dollars a barrel. Cheese, 1.00 a pound.
Sugar from 40 to 80 cents per pound. Eggs 40 cents a dozen. Fresh fish
that would weigh 6 pounds, 1.00 dollar. Strawberries, 20 cents a quart,
the nicest I ever saw. I had a good mess of them yesterday. I priced
some ____ yesterday and they wanted 63 cents a yard. Everything is dear
here and I can't see how the poor people live here. Everything is ____
here except flowers and wherever you look eyes can see nothing except
flowers and them of the most beautiful quality they have the nicest.
[Page 4] I have read a great deal about the South and its beauty but
I thought it was all a romance, but I find it all so. I like old Virginia
and its scenery better than its inhabitants.
I am surprised you are acquainted with the War news. What a splendid
victory we had in taking Norfolk and Portsmouth __ . Abe Lincoln was
along at the time and I saw him here and spoke to him. Secretary Stanton
was along with him, they looked over the ruins and I understand that
he is going to commence building again. We received the President's
thanks last night for our good behavior in taking Norfolk and Portsmouth.
Now I have told you a little of everything and I must close my letter
by telling you to tell the girls to write me some long letters. The
say Richmond is taken. So good night, Mariette, and sweet dreams. Kiss
Eme for me. ___ yours forever. John. M. Amshire to Mariette Amshire
and Hatty, Sarah and Eme Jan.
* * *
Discharge Certificate for Volunteer
Certificate
To be given to volunteers at the time of their discharge
To enable them to receive their pay.
I certify, on honor
that Oscar Pennovsky, a ___ of Captain J. Hoefflings Company K of the
Twenty Regiment NY Infantry Volunteers [abbreviated] of the state of
New York, born in Kernitchau (spelling in question), State of Saxony,
aged 26 years, 5 feet 7 inches high, fair complexion, blue eyes, light
hair, and by occupation a weaver, having joined the Company on its original
organization at Williamsburg, and enrolled in it at the muster into
the service of the United States at New York on the sixth day of May
1861, for the term of two years, and having served honestly and faithfully
with his Company in Virginia to the present State, is now entitled to
a discharge by reason of hernia inguinalis.
The said Oscar
Pennovsky was last paid by Paymaster Major McLyon to include the 30th
April 1862, and has pay due him authorized to volunteer soldiers, or
militia so discharged.
Ocsar Pennovsky
has received an clothing from the U. S. Government amounting to 31 dollars
and 69/100.
Given in duplicate
at Camp Gosport Navy Yard this 23 May 1862.
Captain Joseph
Hoeffling
Commanding Company
Duplicate
*
* *
Letter of Dr. Solomon Sharp to Commodore Livingston, Norfolk Navy Yard, Norfolk, January 24, 1863
U S Naval Hospital
Portsmouth, VA, January 24, 1863
Sir:
I have given the bearer George Miller permssion to come and see you relative to a Telegraph Dispatch he has received.
I am Sir
Very Respectfully
Your Obdt Servt
Solomon Sharp
Surgeon
To Commodore
P N Livingston
___ U S Naval Station
Norfolk, VA
[footnote ____]
* * *
Isaiah Hanscom's letter to Joseph Frost, November 18, 1864
Navy
Yard, Norfolk, Va.
18th Nov. 1864
My Dear Sir:
I have promised
myself to write you every day for weeks gone, but every day brought
its duties and cares, taxing my powers and occupying the time. Your
favor was gladly received - Sarah has been very sick for ten days past,
but it is now more comfortable and we hope may continue so for some
time yet although liable to pass away at any time - Her sufferings are
so excruciating and painful to witness, but she bears them with a murmur
and remarkable patience, believing it is alright and intended for her
good - We have been anxiously looking for John and family, fearing that
the last struggle might come, ere she could see them - We expect them
next Tuesday and hope we shall not be again disappointed - The weather
is delightful here, today being like summer - The work is on the increase,
our Pay Roll for this month will amount to 65,000 dollars for labor
- We have sent North for Machinists, Boiler Makers, Plumbers, Ship Carpenters,
and other classes of mechanics, to help keep the work along - Since
the 1st day of July, we have repaired and sent to sea 140 steamers and
have about 20 at the Yard now repairing - I am busy from morn till night,
and then do all I can to ease Sarah's pain - Avoline tends her through
the day - We have a very fine house and very well furnished; everything
around pleasant but Sarah's sick room - My official associates in the
Yard are pleasant and agreeable, and although we change Com. Livingston
for Com. Berrien on Monday, we anticipate an agreeable Comdt.
The war is still
raging, but Gen. Butler seems to have started a new idea, which may
be the right move in the right way - The celebrated Steamer "Florida"
is at Old Point, and I am ordered to measure her and report to the Department
which I intend to do tomorrow -
Sarah and Avolyne
send love to you and all our family
Very truly yours,
I. Hanscom
Joseph Frost, Ensign
Eliot, Maine
*
* *
Letter to Edward Cavently from Treasury Department, April 28, 1870.
April 28, 1870
Treasury Department
Fourth Auditor's Office
Sir:
In
reply to your letter of the 13th instant, I state that it appears from
information received from the Navy Department in relation to your case,
that the Sea Service credited to you under your present appointment
was performed in the volunteer Navy during the late rebellion.
As
a considerable period elapsed between the date of your discharge as
an Acting Officer and subsequent appointment as a Boatswain, you cannot
be considered as transferred to the regular Navy, within the meaning
of the 3rd Section of the Act of March 2, 1867, and consequently the
Sea Service performed in the volunteer Navy does not give you a legal
claim to an increase of pay under your present appointment.
Very
respectfully,
Your obt Svt.
S. J. W. TaborAuditor
Boatswain
Edward Cavently, U. S. N.
U. S. Navy Yard
Norfolk
Virginia
RK
* * *
