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Calvin Rollen of the 84th Pennsylvania Infantry writes to his girlfriend.
Camp 84th Regiment Penn Vol’s,
Petersburg, VA.
June 29th, 1864,
…Smoking is a practice that most every soldier participates in and I am sorry to say that I ben among the many that use tobacco in that way. Although I don’t use it to a great extent I find it affords me a great deal of pleasure…
I never in my life drank any intoxicating liquors, only when used in medicine…Sometimes I see officers going into battle very drunk cursing them bad…you folks can’t be aware of the wickedness in the army. Sometimes I am afraid of God sending some plague down on our army for its wickedness…
General Grant object to cuts off all communication with the Gulf States before he attempts to take Richmond. We have cut off all the roads but are and no doubt will accomplish the distruction of it before long. Gen Grant is a very obstinate man and will preserve till the end…
The 84th Pennsylvania Infantry saw action in some of the war’s most pivotal battles including Chancellorsville, Wilderness, Spotsylvania Courthouse and Petersburg.
8th New York Heavy Artillery, Co. B,
Fort Federal Hill,
Baltimore, Md.
12 April 1863,
…our Chaplain, De La Matyr is liked down here…If any one says to you that he ain’t much at Baltimore you just tell them for me that it is false…yes I know there are those in this regiment who do not like him, but they are composed of men who do not like any minister…
I have not much patience to talk with those who stay at home, aloof from all dangers and trials incident to a soldier’s life, and criticize the actions of those who have left home and friends to serve their country…I received a letter to day from my brother…his regiment is in Va on picket duty. They have had several skirmishes with the Rebs. I heard one man killed one badly wounded.
We still remain in this fort, or 8 companies of no. Co. C. We have gone to Fort McHenry…two miles from here…
Benjamin B. Hamilton, Chaplain of the 61st Illinois Infantry.
Camp of 61st Ills Vols Bolivar Tenn
Feb 23 1863,
Maj Ohi showed me a Green County Loyalist today in which honorable mention is made…of the services of Capt Manning and Chaplain Hamilton in our late battle with Forests Brigade on the morning of the 19th December last…I felt resigned to my fate in allowing it to be known in Green County that I had been in a battle with the rebels. Some of my brother Chaplains think I ought not to have [been] there while on my part the only regret I experienced was that I did not carry a gun…I think Captain Manning…is at home now but I am afraid he will sup sorrow on account of his rash trip…I am afraid he has [got] himself into a bad scrape…The doings of the Illinois Copperheads have had a very unhappy influence upon the minds of some men in this Regiment. I think they are justly chargeable with the larger proportion of the Desertions which are taking place. There will be a bitter day of reckoning before long…Those men have no idea of the intense hatred entertained for them by four fifths of the army. And the day of vengeance is much nearer than any of them dream…
Benjamin B. Hamilton was commissioned into service on 1 November 1862 and resigned on 3 March 1865. At Shiloh, the regiment lost 80 men killed, wounded and missing. The regiment also saw action at Clarendon on the White River, and at Overall’s Creek just outside of Murfreesboro.
Charles S. Ramsay of the 44th Ohio Infantry Band.
Camp Piatt Nov 3rd, 1861,
How I should like to be at home with you today and attend church…I have attended the meetings in camp but I do not like our chaplain. he cannot preach…
There are nine of us sitting in this tent some reading others writing. some…signing, others talking…
The Rebels opened fire on our men at Gauley Bridge day before yesterday. nothing but cannon were used…near every one of their shots fell short. several of our shells exploded right at their cannons. they had nothing but round shot to fire. Yesterday they were fighting in close quarters…
The 44th Ohio Infantry served primarily in Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia. The regiment contributed to a rout of Confederate forces at Dutton’s Hill, Kentucky. Charles S. Ramsay mustered into service on 8 October 1861 and mustered out on 8 October 1862 at Covington, Kentucky.
KIA Sergeant Benjamin Frank O’Bryon of the 140th Pennsylvania Infantry.
White Hall Station
Nov 30th 1862,
…this is Sunday the sun is shining and everything seem to be bright…We have preaching…by our Worthy Chaplain who by the way is a United Presbyterian and I would just about as soon hear a dog bark as to set and listen to him…
Luden Powers…is here now on his road home he has been discharged for a wound that he received at Bull Run…In regard to buying coffee from the soldiers there is a poor chance but I intend to try the company for some and think I can buy some of this ground coffee for we don’t get any green coffee here…
…would to God that you was able to stand the expenses of coming out here though I do not approve of a lady staying around where soldiers is. The majority of them lose all self respect for themselves when they get out here. N.C.
Diffenderfer shot himself through the hand with a pistol which he says pans him very much now…burnsides is a going to bring the war to a close pretty soon, though I think there is a poor chance for us to see any active service as they are now pushing the new troops forward as fast as possible and we are still left behind…
O’Bryon mustered into Company E on 22 August 1862 and was killed in action at Totopotomoy Creek on 31 May 1864. Before his death, the regiment saw action at Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness and Spotsylvania.
Delaware, Ohio,
Sept. 9th, 1862,
from “Calvin”, to his mother, Mrs. Mary N. Mateer, at London, Mercer County, Pa.
It is, I think, a great neglect of duty on the part of the officers that a chaplain has not been chosen. It is no wonder – the chaplains are a disgrace. The trickery and electioneering that a man must resort to get a chaplaincy forbid a good man from trying. You need not flatter yourself that preachers will get clear of a draft in this State, however they may in Penna. It is said the draft will take place this day week, and if I should be drafted, I will have to go. Of course, I do not expect to find a substitute, unless indeed Willie should gratify his desire to go by going for me. I am not certain that there will be a draft in Delaware, but I think it is likely…Of course, you know best about Willie going to war. I judged very much as an outsider. I should be very sorry indeed to see him go and then get sick almost immediately. I can appreciate, at least in some degree, the difficulties you feel in the way of his going. I know they are serious.
What is coming, I know not. The tempest is blacker now than ever. We have clearly been out-generaled. I fear greatly our President lacks firmness and decision. He does not seem able to throw off the crowd of advisors that beset him, and act out himself. He is afraid of his generals, or at least he is too tender hearted to dismiss the worthless ones. It is a critical time. A few months more of disaster and indecision, and all is lost. A despotism will be the only hope. The people are able and willing to crush out the rebellion, if they only had good leaders.
I know not how to express my contempt for McClelland and Buell and McDowell, and I fear Halleck is but another of the same. Providence must surely have some great purpose to work out by our signal defeat. Surely this great nation has not yet wrought out its destiny. Surely this great Republic has not yet accomplished all God had for it to do. I have in the Republic as I have faith in God. But ‘the end is not yet’….
The writer of this letter is CALVIN W. MATEER, (1836-1908), a graduate of Western Theological Seminary at Pittsburgh, Pa., and at this time, a Presbyterian Minister at Delaware, Ohio. Mateer was a pioneer Presbyterian missionary in Shandong Province, China. Arrived in Tenghchow, China in 1864; Founded the first Christian College in China (1898), finally known as Shantung Christian College; Translated the Bible into Mandarin (1907); Author of “Mandarin Lessons” (1892), and other textbooks.
Home Camp near Murfreesboro, Tenn. May 14th, 1863
[Excerpt]
Of course I am pretty wild now but it is out of the power of the possibilities to remain as steady here as you could at home. Anyway, you will say the army is no place for one to improve their morals. Well, I agree with you there perfectly for I know of a minister who went down to Huntsville with our army and stole a horse and sold it down there and then stole another and run away home and that minister was our chaplain. I guess you will say “I am a pretty good boy” and so I will drop the subject.
Frank M Phelps, 10th Wisconsin
Snyders Bluff, Miss
Saturday Evening, July 4th, 1863
Dear Brother & Sister Burnham,
Vicksburg is ours at last, thank God. The Rebs defended it bravely but we forced them to hoist the white flag at 9 o’clock this morning in order to save themselves from the storm of hellfire brimstone iron & lead that we were agoing to hurl at them today. I was within easy musket shot of one of them forts when it was run up. The feeling of our men was not easily described, I assure you. The prisoners were estimated at 20,000. We have not had time to acertain.
The 9th NH Regt. is camped about 10 miles in the rear. They marched at noon today toward the Black Water River. All of our troops are on the move tonight in that direction. They will give Jo Johnson hell unless he skedaddles. Samuel & Henry’s health is good and they seem in good spirits. We have visited several times in the course of the last fortnight. Samuel sent me a letter tonight signed (Neice?) Flora Bell, East Weare (NH). I presume it is one of my relations, but I must confess I’m ignorant of who it is. But never mind. She says that Aunt Mary’s health is better and the baby is fat as a pig. Well now, it looks as if you’ve been recuiting for the army, I hope. But never mind. I learn that the Rebel Adj General reported 25,000 Rebels for duty this morning and 8,000 sick and wounded in the hospital. If that statement is correct we have Glory enough for one Fourth of July. They say that they have lost 3,000 during the seige. The stench arising from the dead horses and mules killed in the forts was insufferable. I have no tent and the wind has nearly destroyed my candle, so I must close. I would be pleased to hear from you.
My kindest regards to all, J. B. Hoit
NH soldier – JB Hoit, probably John B Hoit who enlisted in Manchester, April 1862
Author of letter: John A. Hines 15th Iowa Volunteers Pittsburgh Landing
Corinth Mississippi June 3rd 1862
Dear Cousin
I improve the present opportunity of writing you a few lines in reply to your Welcome Letter Received Sometime since it was written in Aprile, But was mislaid on the way I think as the mail arrangements have been very poor here But are a good deal better now. Since I wrote you last I have seen some considerable of Dixie and must say I am not very favorably impressed with it our regiment arrived in time for the fight on the 6 & 7th of April at Pittsburgh Landing and suffered some considerable loss having 156 killed wounded and missing, the loss in our company was 13 in all 1 Killed dead Nine wounded and three missing some of our wounded have since died. I received no injuries except having the Scabbard of my Sword damaged by a musket ball I can assure you it was pretty warm work for a while on Sunday. On Sunday afternoon at one time I thought the day was lost and so it was if the Rebels had been aware of the fact. We have seen some pretty hard times since we have been in Tenn & Miss Corinth has at last been evacuated. I visited the town the morning after the Rebels left it was pleasantly situated and contains a number of fine buildings for this country it contained previous to the breaking out of this war about 12 to 1500 inhabitants now but 2 families remain or at least that was all I could see. The rebels left a considerable amount of commissary stores here and destroyed a considerable quantity. I think the Death Blow has been given to secessionism as I do not think they can ever concentrate so large a force together again. At least I hope so we are now encamped about a mile from Corinth the country through here is very Heavily Timbered and But thinly populated but very small amount of grain is produced here or Cotton either the Staple Product is Niggers (over)
I have met with Uncle Peter’s oldest son John Varnest he is in the 15th Ind. The last I heard from him he was dangerously sick the Surgeon intended to send him away that was about 2 weeks ago. I have not heard since. If you can hear anything from him please let me know it. I like his appearance very much. I have received a number of letters from Home lately they were all well the last one I got the mail facilities are very poor it takes laetters I send Home from 20 to 30 days to get through and some do not get through at all there has been new arrangements made and I hope hereafter there will not be so much trouble. Well I must bring my letter to a close give my Respects to Uncle Aunt and all my Cousins and also your wife. Hopeing to hear from you soon I remain as every you Affectionate cousing John A Hines.
Please write soon and let me know how Grandfather and Mother are getting along.
Direct Pittsburgh Landing Tenn Co E 16th Regiment Iowa vol
You must excuse the poor writing as I am in a good deal of a hurry this morning we are busily engaged in making out our Pay Rolls as the Pay Master is here with money to pay us I have been in the service 9 months and never received a cent.
Jonesboro [Tennessee]
June 11th 1864
Dear Mother
This being the first opportunity I have had to write you since I left you in N.C. Will try to give you the news as best I can since my arrival. We reached home safely Tuesday after I left you but learned after our arrival that we were pursued by thirty one bushwhackers from Mount Laurel to Paint Rock finding they couldn’t overtake us which I don’t suppose they were very anxious to do they retraced their steps stopping a Mrs. Garretts and again robbing her which makes the fourth time. Poor old Lady I don’t suppose she has much left. There is desperate state of feeling exists between the Southern + Union parties in E Tenn at this time worse than I ever knew. The Southerns have been stripped of everything while the Union people are living sumptuously and are allowed to have as many fine Horses as they wish. But this state of things will not always exist. The evening I reached home there was a Yankee raid passed through taking with it — all the negroes + horses they could find. Osborne at the time was in Green County dealing death among the Bushwhackers. The raid passed through without paying us a visit. Last Monday week Col Fry came into Greenville with about four hundred men, surprised Arnold and captured twelve or fifteen of his men. I talked with several citizens as I came up and they say that he positively shot several men after they surrendered. Gen Arnold says he saw two shot after they gave up. Sergt Hanshaw with whom Father is acquainted threw down his arms told Fry he was his prisoner he cursed him told him it was too late to surrender and shot him through three times. They then moved down to Cany Branch and remained there until Wednesday morning. Capt. Osborne had heard that Anderson Walker intended to establish a Provost Marshals Office at Newport on that week so as to get the Genl in trap. Osborne left our house Tuesday morning went to Parrottsville and from there to Warrensburg, he advised Dr Rhea + myself to get out for a few days, that he would be back in a few days. So we started came as far as Parrottsville with Osborne. We were coming up here to pay them a visit not dreaming that there was a Yankee force above us, but our course was suddenly changed, when we got within about three hundred yards of Cany Branch some one called us to a halt and before we could answer there was a volley of bullets sent at us. We wheeled our horses, run about three hundred yards, came to a halt and finding we were not followed rode leisurely on to Mrs. Maloys and put up for the night – left next morning about an hour before the Yankees came. It was Genl Wallsen with a guard of 90 men paying his wife a visit and getting all the information he could before he established his office at Newport. He moved down to our house, staid all night, pastured down the meadow, fed about thirty bushels corn, stole nearly a hundred pounds bacon, aside from half a beef we had killed a few days, shot five hogs, tried to kill the sheep but they were too smart for them took the woods. Next morning they mounted and started taking with poor old Mashburn the Peters’ mare + an old rig that Dr Rhea had bought for sister. They then went their way rejoicing. Sister told them take the horses she didn’t care but that she would own horses as long as Union men – Col Fry told in Newport that he intended to have me shot whenever I was captured, said that I fired on his picket at C Branch, also that I had been fighting him for eight months. They left our house in the morning and we went home that evening, you may know from that we were not far off. It is reported Bradford’s Regt is to move down in a few days, if that be true, I will go back home, if it is a mistake and there is not any force going down I will be with you in a few weeks. Wish I had time to write more but the gentleman is waiting to take this to Bristol there being no mail here. Kirk passes through Greenville Tuesday night with a hundred + ten men going on to Knoxville. Osborne left here yesterday morning for Newport. There is no Yankee force this side of Strawbury Plains. This is written in such a hurry I know there are a number of mistakes but I haven’t time to correct them. Dr. Rhea’s family send love to all.
In haste
Yr Afft Son
(signed)J M Smith
P.S. I direct this to Asheville care of Col Pullium think you will be more liable to get it.
