Tuesday, November 13, 2007

The Purpose.

This is a personal project suggested to me by my stepfather. When my Grandfather died, we found a small cedar chest, about the size of a shoe box, mixed in with his belongings. Inside was a collection of 12 letters written by a northern soldier during the Civil War. In subsequent postings, you will see some very well known names. I also want to say that there will be several grammatical errors in these postings. They are in no way an assessment of the author's intelligence, or mine for that matter. They are simply the words of a young, uneducated soldier from small-town Pennsylvania, fighting to preserve his country. There will also be parts that are omitted. This is in no way a form of censorship. A century and a half of sitting in a wooden box has deteriorated some of the words to the extent they can not be read, but I will try very hard to get the necessary parts, and correct my postings as time goes on. I think these letters truly present a different history than what we have all been taught, and I feel it is very important to get this information out before the letters fall apart. Thanks, and enjoy :)

Aug 7th (no year)

Dear Parent

It is with a degree of pleasure that I sit down to inform you that wee are about to take up our line of march this afternoon we received order to bee ready to go aboard a Vesel and report to Gen Burnside which we are truly hapy to doo three will not but four guns go the others will stay here to wate for there frend who is on (illegible) (illegible) the box that I sent for you will not send if you have not for it will bee some bother for me to get it but if you have sent it I shall get it some way I'll write as soon as we get to our destination my health is very good which I am very thank full for and which is one of the greatest natural blessings that is confered on human beings. what we shall need I canot tell but my trust in God is staying. It is late and I must Close hoping soon to hear from you and wishing to remain your sincere Son

Sylvester

Give my love and respects to all inquiring friends

The home of a soldier in a hickory grave, 1861

(illegible) (illegible) after i received your leter and was glad to here from you. we ar all well and enjoy ourselves first but (illegible) (illegible) and he died night before last with the typhoid fever we ar about 8 miles from washington city we came here yesterday al we ar to have for breakfast this morning is crackers and cofe- dont you wish you could have some thing as good as that. wee ar right in the land of rebels but we do not fear them half as much now as we did when we wer at home. I supose you think that we dred to gow into a batel that is not sow. I have lost all fear of the rebels or of gowing into a batel. I tried to get out of camp and and get my likness taken to send home but I could not. Mr Case is a gowing to start for home this morning. I would like to cum with him so I could see youur litel sister if you get time cum down some after noon and make (two illegible words and letter is physically cut off)
last night we had to sleap on the ground with a blanket around us. per haps you think that you think that we wer cold but we was not I had a great deal. rather sleep out dores than in a house. i would like to gow in to your (illegible) and help keepe the py and sweat cake from spoiling. I cannot think (illegible) to right while wee pin down (illegible) (illegible) (illegible). I will stay by wishing you a long and (the rest of the letter is completely illegible, sorry)

THE WAR FOR THE UNION

Camp Jackson
Williamsfort
Dec the 17th/ 61

My afectionate Father

this day in good health and with a (illegible) mind I seat my self to let you know that I am yet living and have not forgoten you yet. We left Hancock last Thursday morning and came part way here and stayed over night and came here Friday noon, but we do not expect to stay here long. to day it is very warm here and it has been for the last two weeks. there is considerable excitment here about England helping the south. there for the last two weeks there has ben skirmishes all along the river from (illegible city name) 4 miles below here as far up as Cumberland. the opinion of the soldiers here is that General Banks will cross the River here soon with the whole division. we have herd from (illegible) 3 times this fall. we here that (illegible) is at home. we would like to come home on a visit but as things ar I do not expect we can come this Winter. thare is not much news at present of (illegible) (illegible) whilst we wer at (illegible) 1 Captain and 6 privets of the (illegible) boys wer taken Prisoners below here they crossed the river and the Rebel (illegible) cut off they retreat and with some fiting they wer taken. this from your son


M. L. French

Bunkerhill Berkley, Va., Sunday March the 9th/ 62

Dear Father

I am glad that I have the privelege of once more writing to you I am well to day we received a leter from you today and we wer very glad to here from you. you spoke about what I wanted you to do with that plase I hardley know what to tell you but is things have taken such a change and I am here and likley to bee for a while I want you should get rid of it some way if you can and if no other way let it go back into gelatts' hands. you say you have had plenty of snow this winter last sabbath it snowed here a very litle but to day there is not a (might?) os snow to bee seen to day. we ar in 12 miles of Winchester and we expect to march against it in a few days but we do not know for certain we hear that the best work around Winchester ar Barells filled with sand and dirt piled up on the outside and a (stick?) of timber on the top. We have 148 pieces of Artillery within 10 or 15 miles of Winchester and more on the way here. Some say the (illegible) is to starve the Rebels out of Winchester. Others say we ar to march on in a fiew days and take it! So you see we do not know one minute what wee ar to doo the next we have expected to have a battle so many times and wer disapointed that we do not expect to (illegible) bee in a battle

M L French

direct your letters to Williamsport

Warrenton junction V.a., Apr. the 19th 1862

Afectionate parents

I am well and enjoying life first but I receievd a letter from you some some time ago I could not get time to answer it for we have been on the road nearly evry day (illegible) yesterday we had a litle fight at the rappohanock River we opend fire to a rebel fort acros the River with 6 guns the second shot taking afect in the Magazin so consiquently a (illegible) took plase and who wer not killed left on double quick about this time three Masked Batterys opened on us filling the ir with shot and sell and in 15 minutes 2 of them wer silens and the shot from the others did not rech us so the Colonel orderd us to ceas firing and we returned to Camp with one wounded in the foot and 2 Caisons slightly damaged 1 of them being mine it was hit by a six lb. ball on the amunition box but glanest of. the 6th Pa Regiment is 1 1/2 mile from us I am a going to see the (illegible) this after noon. we have not seen them synce last October if you know whare Sylvester is pleas let me know for wee have not herd from him synce he left Binghampton (NY) if you can I wish you would tak 1 dolar of my money and get some postag stamps and send me

-M. L. French

(P.S.) you nead not send the stamps for the Captain says he will get us some

Direct to Washington D. C.

Fort Mahan May 21/ 62

Dear Parent

This morning finds mee well and enjoying my self very well it is quite (illegible) here there is considerable excitement in the city an (illegible) of Gen Banks beeing driven backe but I have information direct anough in that it can bee relied on that it is a (contrived?) plan but dont know how it will turn out we got our pay day before yesterday and I will send 15 dollars in this leter do as you see fit with it for it is yours there is not much to write and i am in a hury so I will close by wishing you good bye write soon

S L French