Letter from an unidentified Union soldier,

Camp on the NWRR,
Tenn. Jan. 13th, 1864,

Mother…I am far away…For the last two years I have been trying to make up my mind what it is my duty to follow for a means of subsistence…if a man came here on earth to live, die and pass away without leaving some example behind that would be salutary, to come far below the requirements of the great Giver of all things. This in my mind, you must know that I am searching for something for my mind to work upon that would be congenial with my nature.

There are many professions that lead to the improvement of our race, and thus to the evangelization of the earth which seems after all the only true and lasting blessing that man can enjoy. But I think he that works only in the future has not the whole of the will of the Creator in his mind, not to say that those that follow the teachings of the scriptures alone are not doing their duty…I know full well that you have hoped in my early childhood that I might be one of ‘the speaking disciples of God, and for a loving mother’s desire, it would please me much to follow that course. However…that is not my calling…

Your affec. Son

Charles W. Gooch of the 27th Maine Infantry, Company I.

Camp Seward Vir
Nov 20th 1862,

…One month ago today since we left Portland and it has been a very good month. Indeed, we have had nothing to molest or make us afraid. How long before the monotony of things will change, I can not tell. If I could have my way, I would stay here till the time come for us to go home…Yours of yesterday was very affecting indeed. You think God is everywhere and so he is and willing to have mercy and save all them that call upon his name. But I do not believe a man could lead a Christian life and be into war all the time. But I feel in hopes God will protect me and let me return safe home again and then I can speak and act myself. Last Monday, there was an order come for six companies of our regiment to take a day’s rations and strike our tents and embark at Alexandria. They took 6 companies off from the left and we did not have to go. It rained a little, they got their tents loaded and started off about one half a mile and was ordered back again to wait for orders. And they are here yet, this is uncertain kind of business…

Charles Gooch mustered into Company I on 30 September 1862 and mustered out on 17 July 1863 at Portland, Maine. The 27th Maine stood firm during Lee’s second invasion of the North which won the Medal of Honor for all 864 men in the regiment

Letter from an unidentified Union soldier after Antietam.

Pleasant Valley, MD.,
Sunday, Oct. 19th, 1862,

…it does seem as though this fall & winter would finish the fighting and when that part of the work is done, it will not be a great way to the end of the war…

There is a vast army now in the field…it is said there must be 170 or 200,000 troops (men) but when we move I do not know…

it is said the plan laid is to make one grand and mighty sweep, taking the whole rebel force & planting them ‘away down South in Dixie,’ and I hope the majority of them beneath the clods of the valley. It is also reported that we should now be making our onward movement if circumstances allowed. By this I would mean that the streams are very low & the upper Potomac can be forded at almost any point for 200 miles, and in connection with the taking of Richmond, they want sufficient water in the James River to enable our Gun boats go up & help take the doomed City.

I do hope that our army will move before it is so muddy going that we can’t. We are all as ready now as we ever shall be as far as our own feelings are concerned and now I say strike the deadly blows. I want to see this infernal rebellion forever crushed. There is one thing I think is going to help to finish this war and that is the President’s Proclamation. May God speed the right and with this thought we will try to take courage.

letter composed in the aftermath of the Maryland Campaign, as McClellan stalled, refusing to move his troops across the Potomac in pursuit of Lee.

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.