The Civil War Letters of Alfred Edward Waldo (1844-1864) of Stoughton, Mass.

Many thanks to Col. "Chuck" Hanselmann for supplying transcriptions in 2006 from his collection.

[Note: All letters were transcribed by Col. Hanselmann with the original misspellings and language for a true transcription. The letters reveal Waldo, who may, or may not have been a hero, does not smoke or drink, to be, nevertheless, a flawed human being. Alfred’s father was known to be a virulent racist and the son appears to share some of his father’s views. One of many things to consider as one reads these letters is whether or not his two and one half years at war changes him, or makes him any more sympathetic to African-Americans. Some of his observations and language are racially offensive to modern readers. Please note that for the sake of the reader some words have been omitted in their full spellings for this reason].

ALFRED EDWARD WALDO, (Corporal - Co. E. 35th Reg., Mass. Inf. Vol.) was born at Stoughton, Massachusetts March 13, 1844; died at Armory Square Hospital, Washington, D. C. June 7, 1864, due to “from wounds received in battle [Spotsylvania Court House]”. He was buried at the Arlington National Cemetery [Section 27 - Grave # 786]. He enlisted Aug. 11, 1862 at the age of 18 years.  He was the son of William P. Waldo (1810-1895) and Mary (Talbot) Waldo (1821-1903).  Alfred's father William was born at Royalston, Vermont May 19, 1810; died at Stoughton July 26, 1895 , age 85 yrs. 2 mos. 7 dys., due to old age and heart disease.  Alfred’s mother Mary was born in Stoughton June 14, 1821; died there April 14, 1903 , age 81 yrs. 9 mos., due to old age.

There is a memorial stone for Alfred at the Pearl Street Cemetery in Stoughton.  The following are the transcriptions for the gravestones in the lot.

In memory of the sons of / W^m P. & Mary Waldo, / ALFRED EDWARD / Born Mar 13, 1844 / Passed to Spirit life; / June 7, 1864 from Armory / Hospital Washington, D.C. / Buried at Arlington Heights / SAMUEL AUSTIN / Born June 7, 1848 / Passed from earth life / July 8, 1868.

Alfred's memorial stone at Pearl Street Cemetery in Stoughton (at Left), and actual gravestone at Arlington National Cemetery (at right).

[If you interested in a higher resolution color image please email me]

The War Diaries of Alfred E. Waldo are in the possession of the Stoughton Historical Society and are being transcribed verbatim.

- 1862 -

Camp Stanton , Lynnfield Aug. 18 (1862)

Father & Mother,

I arrived here in season Tuesday. I found our company had changed their Quarters to where the 33d Regment formerly were which left for the seat of war. Thursday our Regt. is full. Part of the companys have been mustered in and ours will be this after noon . We expect to go South the last of this week or the first of next.

We have been expecting to come home on a furlough all of us and the captain said he would get one for us but the orders came this morning to grant no more furloughss for a longer period of 4 hours which would do us no good as we could not come home. The capt will do all he can for us. We have got some first rate officers. The Stoughton boys presented Capt. Niles with a handsome sword Sunday morning. The presentation speach was made by M.B. Hany. Sunday we had meeting here in the fornoon by the chaplain of the regiment. There was many persons here yesterday. the Stoughton boys all slept in one tent. There is 24 in ---- last night. You had better believe we have some pretty nice times here. You would think it was pretty hard to live as we live but you can not find one but what likes it. For breakfast we have bread & coffee for dinner bread & meat for supper bread & coffee. I am on guard to day. I went on this morning and shall be on 2 hours and off 4 till tomorrow morning. I got me a book to carry my letter paper & etc in.I must go on guard now.

So good bye,

Edward

Uncle Samuel Capen is here I shall send this by him

Camp Stanton Aug. 20th 1862

Mother,

I want you to get some blue flannel and make me 1 pair of flannel shirts. I want a collar large enough to turn over. I want a pocket on the right hand side and a button on it so that I can button it up. I want them made good & long. Where you button up the bossom I want as many as 5 buttons put on. I want you to get them done so that you can send them in by Satuday morning. Send them by express if you cannot send them any other way. If you get one of them done and have a chance to send it here by any one send it for this one is getting dirty. I can have some from the government but they are not very good ones. You can get help enough to do them up quick. If you send them by express Direct to A.E. Waldo

35th Regt. Camp Stanton Care of Capt. Niles.

The 32 Regt. went to day. Ours is the next one. They will try to get it off tomorrow but I don't think they will get it off this week. You must get help enough to make them up quick if you have to get a dozen to help for they will get us off as soon as they can.

Edward Waldo

P.S. If you want to come here you can come in the first train from Stoughton and get here at 10 oclock and start from here at 3 and get back at night.

Munson Hill Va Aug 25th,1862

Father & Mother,

We left camp Stanton on the 22nd and came to Boston by the way of Salem . We marched through the principal streets with our packs on our backs & 3 days rations. We have many in our company that have been in the service before and they say that they never had a harder march before. About 5 o'clock we started from Boston in the Fall River cars and arrived there about 10 o'clock & then we took the steam boat for New York . We had a first rate ride. It is about 200 miles. I went to sleep pretty soon after we got aboard and did not wake up till morning. There was some of them seas sick. We got to Jersey City which is oposite New York about 9 o'clock . We then started for Philadelphia where we arived about 5 o'clock at night. We then went and had some supper and then started for Baltimore and arrived there the next morning which was Sunday. We then marched through Baltimore where the 6th Mass was mobed. We went to the Soldier's home and had breakfast and then we started for Washington which is 40 miles from Baltimore . We arrived there at 2 o'clock and took dinner in a building which was made to feed Soldiers in. We then went around the city. I went to the capitol. It is a very large building. It is more than 10 times as large as the State House at Boston . George Gill and I was going around Washington . We met an officer that wanted us to show our passes. We told him who we were and he let us go but it will not do for persons with uniforms to go around the City. After we got rested we were ordered to get ready for a march and at 5 o'clock we started and marched 9 miles. There was a great many out of the regiment that fell out on the side of the road but there was not many from our company. I am as tough and hearty as can be. We are across the Potomac and in the enemy's country. We have orders not to go out with out our side arms. You need not answer this because I expect we shall go to Alexandria .

Edward

Hunters Chapel, Fairfax County , VA.

Aug. 27, 1862

Mother,

I have just received your letter that you wrote before I left Camp Stanton . We arrived on Munson Hill Sunday night after dark. We did not pitch any tents that night but slept on the ground all of us. Yesterday we moved a little father south and pitched our tents. M.B. Hanse said if any body wrote home to tell them that he had earnt his bounty. There shot from the camp next to ours yesterday morning by the rebels. There is but a few here but there is some of them here as spies. The water here is not so cool as it is in Stoughton but we have some here that is not very bad. When we are on the march I fill up my canteen and drink out of it till it is warm and then put in some pepper and it get about as warm as boiling water and tastes some like Cayanne tea. Alexandria is about 3 miles from here. Gen. McClelland's army is there. We expect orders to march from here. We do no know where we shall go. Send me a paper once in a while. I want to know some of the news. Aunt Lucy Porter said she would write to me if she knew where I was. If any body wants to write to me Direct: Co. E. 35th Reg Mass. Vol. Care of Capt. Niles, Washington D.C. and it will be sent to me where ever I am. So they need not wait for me to write. I sent my Carpet bag home by a man and he left it to George's. I guess the people of Virginia wish they had not left the union. I have not seen a fence since I came across the Potomac as far as the eye can reach which is many miles you can see nothing but encampments. We have not had our meals very regular for the last few days but now we shall have enough and a plenty of it. We went and got Green corn and some potatoes yesterday morning out of a field near here and it tasted rather good. There is any quanity of peach orchards here. Before we got to Philadelphia we saw the persons harvesting their corn. I guess that the corn that is here now is the 2nd crop. I send some Southern money.

Edward

I like out here first rate. lt is pretty warm days & cold nights.

Leesboro , Md.

Sept. 8th 1862

Mother & Father,

I received your letter the other day. I have seen the 12th Regt. Gen. Bates stopped with us last night. We have been on the march since Saturday. The whole army is on the move. I can not tell any news as my letter will not go if I do. I left my napsack with my extra shirt and pants & hat and things in it in Virginia . We all left them. We have our over coats & blankets with us. I have my cayenne pepper with me. Nathan Foster was wounded in the last battle. There is but 800 men in the 12 Regt.

The rebels are but 2 miles from us they say. I may not write for some time but you can write to me just the same. They will not probably send them letters from here for a short time. Tell Mrs. Pennyman that I do not know what I should do if it was not for her needle book. I have been on picket guard some. We have all we can eat by just cooking it. We can get any thing we can find - pigs, hens, peaches. You may send that flannel sometime but not at present.

I am in a hurry now.

Edward Waldo

Top of the Blue Ridge Mountains

Sept. 14th 1862

Mother,

Since I last wrote to you we have travelled a great many miles. Last Friday we marched the fartherest that we had any day. We went about 20 miles since then. We have been with in a few miles of Jackson 's men driving them towards the Potomac . Thursday night our corps drove the enemy from the city of Frederick and that night we entered the city and the next day we took up our march towards the Blue Ridge the rebel army retreating before us. They have the advantage of us in one respect, they being on the mountain and firing down upon the federal army but we have drove them over the mountain towards Harpers Ferry and if we have got an army on the other side of them I think that we have got him but I can not tell. Burnside commands this corps. Before we left Virginia we all threw our knapsacks away and the other day I threw my woolen blanket away. Now all I have to carry is my rubber blanket and over coat. I can manage as well as any of them now. We have no tents but have to lay on the ground. We have not had but a few rainy days. It rained but one night since we started from Virginia .

I want you to send me 2 oil silk bags to carry my Sugar & Coffee in when you send that flannel. I want them to hold about a pint a piece and fixed some way so I can tie them strong and send me 3 or 4 postage stamps. I do not want more than 4 because they will get all sweaty and stick together I can not get them here tell Lucy that I will answer her letter as soon as I at a time. I must stop now for we have orders to march. The Artillery are fighting now,

so good bye.

I am as smart as can be and like first rate.

Edward

Pleasant Valley Washington C. Md.

Oct 23, 1862

Father & Mother,

I received a letter from you night before last and another one last night with 2 dollars and 35 cents in it. I also a short time ago received one with them bags in it. they are Just what I wanted. I had nothing but paper and that was not very good to keep sugar in and it is pretty scary around here.

You wanted to know who marched next to me in one of your letters and I forgot to tell you at the time. Capt. Niles marched at the head of the company the orderly Sergt. next to him then came the front ranks of the Company in which was L. J. Madden who was 1st Cpl. Cpl. Chas. Cook. Cpl. Bartlet and I. ln the 2nd ranks was Isiac Hunt. David Beals and 2 men from Easton . David Beals was wounded slightly in the elbow and heel & P. Hunt was wounded also Sunday night. They were both side of me when we were in line of battle in the Wednesday fight. The Capt. and orderly, Cpl Cook, Cpl. Bartlet were all wounded and Cpl Madden went to the hospital. He said he was slightly wounded so it picked them off all around me. Cpl Madden is detailed to stay in the hospital as 2nd Steward. Lieut Palmer is dead. When we marched over the mountains to this valley we had a pretty hard march. We got on the top of the mountains and I thought that this was pleasant enough but since we have been here it has been pretty cold. There was I week that I wore over coats all the time. We always put them on nights. If we should come home I think we should get into bed with our clothes on, it will be so long since we have taken them off.

Sunday I drew me a wollen blanket & haversack & Canteen in place of those I lost in battle. My boots are about ready to be taped. lf I could get them fixed they would last all winter but we can't get any such thing done here. I left the best pair of stockings in my knapsack. I have worn one pair out and just drawn a pair from the Gov. I should like to have you get Grandmother or some one to knit me a pair and a pair of mittens with a thumb and fore finger on them and then if you send out a box of stuff after we get into winter quarters you can send them. That cayanne pepper was good. Capt. Niles used to take a drink of cayanne out of my canteen once in a while. He said it made him feel stronger when he was on the march. Chas. Upham has sent Gus a box. lt is on the way now. He put in a box of cayanne pepper in it. I have got some made into tea sitting side of me now. When I am dry, I take a swallow. I received a Courier and 3 Journals from father this week. You wanted to know what papers I wanted. Any kind that you happen to have. They are all good here if they are a month old. You wanted to know if we marched in the streets. I guess you would think they were Streets. I cannot describe them. You would think it was impossible for a team to go in them. They do not keep them in repair here. I guess they were not made in the first place.

Frederick is the best looking place I have seen since I left Baltimore . lt is first rate farming land here. I should like to own one here but I should want n[---]s enough to work it. There will not be so many abolutionists when this war is ended as there is now.

Edward

--dont know the name of this place, Virginia

Oct 29th 1862

Father & Mother,

We are in Virginia once more. Last Sunday morning our company went on guard about half a mile from Camp. lt was a cold rainy day. We were then in Pleasant Valley (the name pleasant than the valley). We had the worst cold night that we ever had on guard there, rainy sleet and the wind blew very hard. We have just had orders to march in half an hour and must leave now and pack up my duds.

Oct 31

We have marched about 10 miles further on. After we left Pleasant Valley we marched about 10 miles through Knoxville to Berlin where we crossed the Potomac on a pontoon which was put up in place of a large stone. One that the Rebels tore down when they left Maryland . We marched a little ways and then stopped for the night. We built a large fire and all laid around it the same as I have seen pictures of Indians with their feet towards the fire. You wanted to know if l kept a Journal. I do some of the time. Our company was on guard yesterday and last night 2 companys went out on picket. Genl Burnside is in our camp most every day. he is a first rate fellow. Any one would know he was by the looks of him. Ferrero our Brigadier is not so pleasant looking. He is one that is in his elements if he can only get into a fight. At Antietam he took the guns away from some of his soldiers and fired them himself.

You said that you send me something to eat when it got a little cooler. I shall not be sorry to see it coming. Yesterday l saw for the first time since I left Mass a pie. lt was one that was sent from Weymouth and l would have given almost any thing to have had a piece of it. Gus has got a box on the way and l guess we shall live a spell it. ls one that Chas Upham sent and it will contain some pretty nice. The pies that they make around here are made of Apples and they have no sugar or molasses in them. The bread here is 25 cents a loaf. They make brown bread. Milk is 10 cents per qt. and you can not get any at that. I have had none but once and that was 2 or 3 nights ago.

Gus & I went off and came to a house. We went in and asked for some milk and she gave us 3 pints of skim milk and a piece of bread and we went into it. I had some cider the other day it yesterday. I bought a half of a cow's liver and had a good supper off of it and I shall get a number of meals from it. I had to pay 25 cents for it. I have not been to camp since yesterday. lt is about 9 o'clock now A.M. I have not been to breakfast yet. We are oblidged to walk our beat all time but we do not mind that after dark. There is a log---- here about 20 feet long and 2 feet through at the large end. lt lays along side of my beat. I had a good fire here all night and sat on the end of it.

I do not know when you will get this for as the Army of the Potomac is on the move. They may not send the soldier's letters very often. You can write just the same and I will write just as often as I can. I should send home for a pair of boots if I knew where I was a going to be but we are likely to move any time night or day. We can't tell one minute where we shall be the next. l will not send at present.

Edward

Sulpher Springs. Va. Nov 14th, 1862

Father & Mother,

I have not received a letter since Oct. 27th. I suppose that there is some on the way but we have not had a mail lately and I do not know when we shall get one. The story is that we have had 70 teams of this Division cut off by the Rebels and if they have the mail may possibly be in one of them. We have had nothing but coffee and meat for 3 days. No Sugar, Salt or hard tack. We have had plenty of meat. We have drawn some from the Government and we have been out and killed hogs and cattle so we have plenty but it would come handy to have a little salt and stuff to go with it. The people that live here have to pay 1 dollar a pound for coffee & 75 cents for salt. We have been as far as Jefferson and stopped there two days. We were pretty near the Rebs then the first day that we were there. We had to strike tents and pack our bundles in one pile and leave a man from each company to guard them and we then were drawn up in line of battle and the prospect was that there was going to be a battle. There was heavy cannonadeing heard in all directions but after we had stood for an hour or 2 we were ordered to pitch tents and make ourselves comfortable. We stopped till yesterday morning when we were called up about 10 o'clock and ordered to get ready to start and we marched back 3 or 4 miles from Warrington Junction where there is a rail road and we may possibly draw our regular rations again.

This is a very handsome place. There was a battle here last month which you, I suppose, have heard of. There is one establishment here that is capable of accommodating 4000 persons. One of the buildings is all tore to pieces. They are stone. There is a bathing house that is fixed up in good shape. The sulpher spring is in a building a purpose for it and it has got a large Marble statue that must have cost a large sum but since yesterday morning the soldiers have knocked it all to pieces. I drank some water out of the spring yesterday it tasted as brimstrong as could be. They say that it is good for persons to drink but I should rather be sick than to drink it. This morning since I have been writing some of our teams have come in with provisions and a mail has also come. there is a two bushel bag full for this regiment so I expect some letters as soon as they have been sorted out. I wrote a letter to Lucy the other day and I had ought to have wrote to Aunt Lucy Porter and Helen before. If you see them tell them that I will write soon and I expect to get before a great length time where I can write more regulary as the army cannot move as soon as the rainy season commences. I have just got a letter from home with 1 dollar in it and I guess it will come handy. I expect to have some to send home some time. We were mustered for pay more than a fortnight ago but have not got it yet and may not for a month. I also received the papers that you sent. Mother wanted to know if I had been sick. All the sick I have been has been caused buy the fresh meat which has given the whole regt. the Dia— I dont know how to spell the rest of it. Gus had a box come the other day. We had to march and carry the things. Gus wanted you to tell his folks that he was smart. I will write as soon as I can.

Edward

Near Fredericksburg , Va.

Nov 25th 1862

Father & Mother,

I received your letter last Friday also the letter that had the mittens in it which I was very glad of. The Journals came and the Courier so I had quite a mail. I wish I could have as large one every time.

When I last wrote to you I was in Sulpher Springs. Since then we have marched about 50 miles. We have been on the march 4 weeks since we left Pleasant Valley . I suppose you have heard that our Lieut Col. and Adjutant were taken prisoner. They were taken the next day after I wrote to you before. The Rebel cavalry 2 or 3 regiments of them made a dash and drove our pickets and took them. That day we were sent out on picket. The next day we laid in camp and the next we were ordered to move and the infantry had gone and the rebels planted 3 cannons and commenced shelling our baggage trains and the 35th was ordered back as a rear guard and our batterys commenced shelling them. We marched back to Sulpher Springs. The rebel shells were falling all around us and got to the rear of the wagons and marched behind them till we got them out the way. There was but one man in our Company that was wounded that was Sergt. Beals. He was wounded in the leg slightly. Lieut. Baldwin who was wounded at Antietam is Capt. of this Company. He is now at home. Lieut. Hudson has been in command of this company now is 1st Lt. and 2nd Lt. Ingalls is now at home. M.B. Howens orderly Sergt. untill yesterday.

We have been in camp on a hill on this side of the Rappahannock . Fredericksburg , Virginia which is quite a city lies the other side of the river and is in the possession of the Rebels. Our pickets are on side of the river and theirs on the other. They talk to each other. The rebels ask our pickets how we like bull run and our men ask them how they liked Antietam & L. Mountain . Yesterday morning we moved about 1 mile further back. They say that we are going into winter quarters here but I do not know whether we shall or not.

I should like to have 2 shirts made and them good lend ones and have double backs in them and you can send them when you send the box. I should rather you would not send the box till I write for you to send it. I want a pair of sewed boots, good long legs to then. I guess that 11's will not be any to large. I want them pretty bad. There was one man in this company that had a pair of boots come by mail for 62 cents.

I am growing fat as can be. I eat all I can get form the Gov. and some some besides. There was one day that we had a bull, cow, calf, & hog, besides what meat we drew from the Gov. in this company and we devoured it all before it spoilt. lt is thanksgiving day after tomorrow. I suppose we shall have all the Hardtack & Salt & Horse we can eat that day.

I here that there is some of the 9 months men that have gone into winter quarter to home have they? I wrote in the first part of this letter the names of the officers but wrote them wrong. The officers themselves expected to come into this company until this forenoon. They have just been promoted Capt. Preston, 1st Lt. Stickney who is now acting Adjutant. Ingalls will be 2nd Lt. if he ever comes back. You wanted to know if my side troubled me where I fell in front of White store. lt does not. I am well in all respects only I am a little lazy. Gus has not been in the hospital after the battle of Antietam . He was not very well but will weigh as much as a good size hog. lt would make you laugh to see us eat. lf we were to home we could not even eat after our own folks but now we can eat after anyone in the regt. lf one has a little soup in an old black dish that he does not want all he has got to do is to let the rest know and they will dig into it like a mess of hens. I have got the letter that had the needle book in it.

There will be more democrats home if the army ever come than ever went from Mass. They alter their minds pretty fast. You need not say much about it but there is the largest part of the army that think it will never be settled by fighting.

Ed

Camp near Fredericksburg Va

29^th Nov, 1862

Father & Mother,

Last night I received a letter from you with 5 10 cent Gov stamp in it also one from S A and Helen. I should like to have 3 or 4 letters every night. I got the Courier every week. There is a number in the company that read it. They think considerable of it. I do not know what they are going to do with the army this winter. The papers say that we are going on to Richmond but they will have to go faster than they are going now. I thought that I had seen a good many soldiers before but I have never seen any side of what can be seen around here now. I did not know there was so many people in the world. There has been some rain and such mud. You never see as there is if it rains 2 or 3 days you can not move. lt has been good weather now for a week. I did not know it was so late. I must stop now for I am to go on guard. I will write tomorrow.

Sunday Nov 30th

It is very pleasant today. We are getting more rations than common now. Aqua Creek landing is 7 miles from here and there is a train of cars running from here to there and as long as we stay here we shall get enough to eat in a short time. I do not see how in the world they get as much as they do. I guess it would make your eyes stick out to see the number of troops that is here. We are great thieves here but not so large ones as the old Regiments. Last night 2 or 3 of us went to the Quartermasters and when the guards back was turned took a box of hard tack which weighs 50 Ibs and carried it to our quarters. We don't mean to starve as long as there is anything to eat. Thanksgiving day was as pleasant as any day ever was but I have had food more pleasant on that occasion. We had hard tack and coffee without sweetning for breakfast and the same for supper with a little sugar. For dinner we had hardtack and pork and I want you to have a good fat turkey and plum pudding for next thanksgiving day and I will be there for my share of it and more too.

We are all agoing to fight South. Til then if they want us to and then we shall commence to fight the N. l am having a pretty good time here. Get up in the morning about 6 o'clock and eat all I can get for an hour or 2 and then lay around and drill a little read and write do the chores etc. til dinner time then put on my afternoon clothes and go a visiting and look around til night. Then come home to supper and go into the woods and get some wood and make up a good smart fire in front of our tent and lay down and take some comfort of our lives. We always sleep down stairs in the winter but shall move up again in the spring. The 11th N.H. regt. in our brigade has not been in a single fight. lt has come out since we came and it has lost a number of men by death. lt has burried one most every day lately. I do not know of a single one that has died in our regt. unless he was wounded. The 16th Regt. Mass Vol is right side of us also the 11th. The 16th John Turner was in. He I suppose is dead now. Mark Morse is in the 11th. He was here yesterday. I did not hardly know him. He was as fat as a goose. lt was the first time that I ever saw him but what he was drunk. This is a first rate place for them that drink and use tobacco for they can not get either. Thanksgiving day Geo. Tower was here. He is in the 20th. I see some one that I know most everyday. I like them mittens first rate. They came in handy last night handeling the cold gun.

Edward

Near Fredericksburg

Dec 21th 1862

Father & Mother,

It has been rather more than a week since I wrote you much of a letter but I have been pretty busy for a short time past for a week after I last wrote to you I was on picket on the banks of the Rappahannock. We got the water that we used out of the river. On the opposite bank the Rebel picket is stationed. They were about as far off as Mr Uphams house. There is no picket firing. They are just as good friends as the Union soldiers are. After we had been there a week we were paid off up to the 31st of Oct. so they owe us most 2 months pay now. They paid us off at night and the next morning we had to pack up to go into battle. They commenced shelling the city. We started with all of our money with us in all probabily there was about $15000 with us. They shelled the city all day and we did not go across the river that day and May or Fay of Chelsea came to get the pay of the Chelsea boys and I put mine in an envelope and he said he would put it in the office at Washington . There was 20 dollars you must write if you get it. That night we went back to camp and started again the next morning and crossed the river. We remained that day on the bank of the river also that night. We got plenty of flour and molasses in the city. The Rebels threw in a few shells but did not hurt any body. There is hardly a house in the city but what has a cannon ball or more in it. The next morning the battle infantry commenced and a hard one it was too. They shoved in brigade after brigade but they were mowed down by the hundreds. This battle took place just the other side of the city. They have it very strongly fortified and their grape shot makes sad work with our men. Gus was killed. He lay up side of a board fence and a cannon ball came through the fence killing him and 2 others. It took his left leg right off up next to his body so it only hung by a piece of skin it was bound up but he lived but a few minutes. We did not drive the rebs an inch that day. The battle field had more dead and wounded than any that I have seen yet. The next day they carried our wounded across the river all day and that night. A soldier by the name of Wright and I went into one of the houses and slept. We got up in the morning and went down where we left the Regt. and it was gone and the pontoon bridges were taken up and the city had been evacuated by our forces during the night and there amongst the Rebels. We did not know what to do, whether to try to get across the river or stop and get taken prisoners but we decided to go across and get a boat and put her for our lines. Wednesday there was men detailed from all Divisions that were in the battle to go over and bury the dead under a flag of truce. I was detailed for our company. I went over & buried Augustus and marked the grave so that if there is a chance and his folk wish to they can get his body. I should like to have you send me 1 of my shirts by mail and a pair of stockings. They charge an awful price to the center. if you could find a chance to send them to Randolph you could send them for most nothing. Let them toll them up. Geo. Hawes had a shirt, Gloves, & a pair of stockings come for only 7 cents and there has 3 or 4 pairs of boots come for 64 cents a pair in the company. If you send them by express they may not get here for a month or so. I threw my shirt away and have none.

Edward

- 1863 -

Near Fredericksburg Jan. 4th [1863]

Father & Mother,

I received a letter from you Thursday and my shirt came boots came and a letter from Martha & you with a 50 cent stamp in it.I was very glad to receive them. Our regiment has been on picket a number of times lately and the last time I thought I would get an excuse and I went to the acting Col. which is Capt. Andrews and and unbuttoned by coat and showed him that I had not got any shirt and my boots were all worn out and told me to go to Surgeon Lincoln and get a shirt. I went there and and he gave me a blue one and it will be just the thing for an under shirt now I like this shirt first rate. My boots had to go around the whole company and be examined and they passed. They all said that the one that made them knew how to make boots. You have no Idea how different my feet feel now. You spoke about sending me some soap. The company have got as much as a dozen bars that they would give away if anyone wanted them and salt any quantity of it. We draw such things when we are in camp any time to speak of.

We had for dinner to day stewed beans. I have got a pint dipper that I have to eat out of. I had it full for dinner and I have got an other one that I am going to warm up for supper. We do not draw but one dipper full but I am on pretty good terms with the cook and when that was gone he slapped in an other dish full. For supper the company are going to have rice and they will get some molasses on it. When I was home I used to like rice but out here I do not eat any. I shall draw my molasses and eat it on hard tack.

I found a lead pencil in my shirt (the one I am now writing with) and a box of pepper. The pencil that I had is most used up and this one came handy and the pepper also for Gus had his in his haversac and I had rather be woth out most anything else than pepper. All my vitules that I use pepper with it and before I go to bed I very often have a good drink of cayanne tea which I was always fond of.

You wanted to know what became of Augustus things. His money he sent home at the same time that I did.

He enlisted before I did therefore he got more pay. We were all paid up to the 31st of Oct. He received I believe 24 dollars & some odd cents and I think he sent home 24 dollars to Chas. Upham. He had a 50 cent stamp left. We all sent home most all of it for we were all drawn up in line of battle in front of the city over 500 hundred guns minute firing into the city. You can not imagine the noise that they made, one continual rpar all the time and we expected every moment to be into the hot work ourselves so we got rid of the greenbacks as fast as we could for if we did not we thought the Grey Backs might get them that night. We went to our camp again and started the next morning for the city and Saturday we had a pull at the cards. Sergt. Hawes is orderly and it was his business to take charge of the property of those that are killed. He took the 50 cents and what few little things that could be got that night and I suppose will send them to his folks. You wanted to know if we had to carry off the things of them that were killed. The rebels saved us the trouble. there was not but a very few men that had a thing on their bodies. Not a thread of any kind. Gus had on all of his clothes but a shoe.

Edward

Near Fredericksburg Va Jan. 11th  [1863]

Father & Mother,

I received a letter from you last friday morning I got one from William Capen yesterday. I wish I could get one from some one every morning. I have not received one from James Albert or Frank yet. Do you know what regt. James Albert is in? What regt. is Alphonso Burrell in? I have not seen him but Luther Bryant told me that he had seen him once.

We are in camp at the same place that we were before the battle. We have nothing but shelter tents yet. We have been under marching orders for over a month now. When we shall get off I know not. Gen. Sturges Commanding this Division is in command of the Department of Washington and they say that we shall go there to do guard duty. I hope we shall for if we do we shall be likely to have good comfortable quarters but we can not tell much by what we here.

The 11th N.H. regt. is in this brigade it is a new regt. The Battle of Fredericksburg was the first one that they was ever in. Robert Fisher, Ed Fisher's son, belongs to them. I don't know as I ever wrote that he was here before. He was wounded in the last battle. I saw him on the battlefield wounded through the calf of the leg.

There was a barrel of dried apples that came to the Co. from Randolph day before yesterday. I tell you we can make sauce out of them that will make the hard tack go down a little better. We drew a ration of onions yesterday. We got 5 a piece. It is the first ones that we have drawn. I had a good plate full of fried ones for breakfast. It rained pretty hard last night when I went to sleep I could feel it spatter through the tent a little.

Last Wednesday we went on picket down to Falmouth . We go about once a week. It was pretty cold that night. (I think it is to bad to have so many men stand out on picket. They might make some arrangements with the Rebels and let them stand one night and we the next and not have us both together). Gen Ferrers and Staff are now at home on a furlough (at New York ). Do Augustus folks ever say anything about sending for his body? I heard that Charles Upham was coming out after it. Has James Osgood got home yet?

We have to bring all of our wood two or 3 miles and water is pretty handy now for they have dug another spring but I have been after water for the cook sometimes and have to wait two hours. I am going to get a pass someday and go and find the 12th regt. I have not seen them since the night before we went into battle. That night they stoped side of us and Gus & I went over to see them. They were all smart then and Capt. Ripley looked fat and healthy but he was wounded and I have since heard that he was dead. Lieut. Whitman stopped here one night since the battle. He had just come out to join his Regt. and was looking after it and found this one.

Edward

Near Fredericksburg

Jan 18th 1863

Father & Mother,

I received a letter from you Friday morning. As usual the courier comes every week and it gets pretty well worn before it gets through the whole company. We had orders Friday to have 3 days rations cooked and be ready to march yesterday morning but we did not march yesterday and today being Sunday I think we shall not go before tomorrow. lt is very cold here today and was yesterday. The water froze in the camp kittles side of the cook fire.

You wanted to know where I tented now. I stay in the cook tent for the present. I am assistant cook. We have got a tent with the sides boarded about 2 feet high with cracker box boards and our tents put on the top of that and a fire place made of logs in one corner so it is quite comfortable and now we have got to move and leave it.

I hope we shall not move a great ways in this weather for we shall have to lay out nights. The ground being froze, we can not drive any tent pins. We drew some dried apples from the Gov. the other day and I have some apple sauce to wash down my hardtack. I do not have any duty to do now only to help the cook and we cooks have enough to eat such as it is.

Phinney Burrell came over here to see me the other day. He looks just the same as he always did only a little darker complexion same as the rest of us. The other day one of our company died an he was buried with the honors due to a soldier. The brigade band and the whole regt. turned out and there was a squad of men detailed out of ther company under the charge of Cpl. Thayer to fire a volley over his grave.

The officers had a regular drunk here last night chaplain and all. They kept us awake all night. They sang till about 12 o'clock then they turned in and a fight they have not had one before since New years night. Capt. Preston the commander of this company is a very nice man. I like him full as well as I did Capt Niles and I thought that he was as good as any one could be. Lieut. Stickney is our first Lieut. He has been acting adjutant of the regt. He is a nice little fellow.

You wanted to know if Sergt. Hawes gave me any thing out of his boxes. I will tell you. Gus you know had a box come and George Hawes had all of his molasses and Sergt. Hawes had some of his things but he never gave Augustus or I any of his things or any of the rest of the company. If you know his father you can know what he is as far as money is concerned. I like him. He will do as much for me as he will for any one but he will not give any thing that costs money.

George Hawes had a box come the other day that was as large as a boot box. lt cost 4 dollars to get it here there was 20 mince pies in it and some other stuff. You can keep this to yourself.

Ed

Near Fredericksburg , Va. Jan. 25, [1863]

Father & Mother,

I recieved your letter yesterday morning. It came one day later than usual. If it bad not been for the bad weather that we have had for the last few days you would ere this have heard of another great battle at Fredericksburg. Who could have come off victor? I do not know. It have been a tough battle and if we got whipped there again, I think that it would have done as much towards settling this war as it would if they got whipped.

The whole Army of the Potomac marched by our camp last Tuesday amongst the rest was the 12th regt. which is in Franklin 's Grand Division. George Bates was eating a piece of nice cake which he had come in his box. I saw E. Clark, Isaac Burnham, Leonard Holmes. That night it rained and the next day the whole army was stuck in the mud and have been marching back ever since. The 35th did not have to move because we are near the city and could march there and there in season to fight the same day but the next day it rained all day and night and our regt. had to go on picket and they had a pretty hard time of it.

There was one man in company B was drowned in the river. it was very dark and he fell down the bank and they did not get his body till to day. The Government lost a great many horses & cannon. It takes 16 mules to draw as much as 4 would draw in good weather.

The Rebels have got stack up on the other side of the river on a large board printed in large letters, "Burnside stuck in the mud".

Arabella you said wanted to know about the money that Gus carried out with him. He did not have 2 dollars when he got to Washington and I owed him 75 cents and I paid him at Camp Whipple and he was all out of money then. He got one hundred and fifty dollars, 30 dollars of that he paid towards getting a grave stone for his mother and he went to Livingston to see that girl up there and that cost him 25 or 30 dollars and he owed some and put it all together he did not have much when he got out here and it is lucky that he spent it and had the good of it.

I think we shall remain here for the present now and if you want send out a box you can. If you do, send one I want you to put in 1 pair of stocking, 1 pair of suspenders, a little cheese & molasses & sugar tea, one cake of chocolate, some corn starch, butter and if that does not fill it up put in what you have a mind to. I don't want you to send another shirt. I have been so long with but one I should not know what to do with an extra one as I have no knapsack to carry any thing in. I have got a new pair of pants, a cap, and handkerchief hung up in my tent. They have been there a fortnight. I am saving them to go into battle with. If we had moved this week I should have put them on but as we did not I shall wait til we have orders to move again. If you send a box put in a comb & towel. I never smarter in my life.

Ed

You write Lois & Everlyn on that letter and give it to them.

Now I have got my new boots I don't care if the mud comes knee deep. I guess I can out of it.

Near Fredericksburg

Feb. 1st 1863

Father & Mother,

I received a letter from you Thursday night containing a 50 cent stamp. It is very pleasant today but rather muddy. lt storms about 2 or 3 days a week and it keeps muddy all the time.

Last Tuesday our regt. went down on picket. lt rained all day and night till about 4 o'clock the next morning. Then it began to snow and the men came in Wednesday morning most froze up being out all night. And Thursday morning the snow was six or eight inches deep and some of the men were all covered up in their little shelter tents. That little painter, John Gill, that worked for Samuel Capen is in this Company. He is a Cpl. and his father in law is in the Weymout Company which is the next Company to ours.

The first 3 or 4 days of this week I made all of my meals out of raw pork and vinegar & hardtack but yesterday and day before I have had slapjacks & sugar & potatoes & steak. I suppose old fighting Joe Hooker is in command of the army now and they will give him a good chance to get whipped then he will resign and after they have all resigned I dont know what they will do then. Gen. Sumner is in command of the right Grand Division of the army of the Potomac (the one that this Brig, is in) and Gen. Franklin is the commander of the Left Grand Division. They say have resigned and gone with Burnside but I dont know how true it is.

The Government owes this regt. just three months pay today. I do not know when they will pay us off. We were mustered for pay the 1st of Jan. and shall be again the 1st of March.

We are in camp at the same place that we have been since we evacuated the city and I don't see but we shall stop here for a long time to come but I can't tell. We have to bring our wood 2 or 3 miles. lt is mostly pine. This regt. keeps 10 or 12 six mule teams carting all the time. We have got a good fire place in this tent it being the cook's tent. We have all the wood we want to keep warm. There is an old man that lives close to this camp that owns the land around here. He owns 700 acres. lt was all fenced with rails (there is no stone here to make fences of) and well wooded.(He) had a good drove of cattle mules & horses and a lot of slaves and a good house and all he has got left now is his house and 1 cow and his land. There is not a stick of wood on it or a fence or nothing to make one of. That is only one case. lt is so over the whole of Virginia . The people will have to wait a good many years before they can go to farming here again.

I am going to have some hard tack and molasses for supper and I wish I had some of those mince pies that you wrote of to top off with. lf you get this before you send the box put in something to make bread rise.

Edward Waldo

Camp Near Fredericksburg Va.

Feb 8th 1863

Father & Mother,

I received a letter stating that you had sent a box and last Friday. l received one with a twenty five cent stamp in it the same day I received one from James Albert & James Osgood and Saturday one from Grandmother. James Albert is about 20 miles from Memphis . He has been in the service about 16 months.

James Osgood is in the hospital at Chester , Penn. The surgeon has found the ball but does not dare to remove it. lt is in so bad a place. He says he had suffered a great sight with his wound. He said sometimes he would rather have died than not. The Dr says he will get his discharge.

I suppose before you get this we shall be on the move way down south in the land of cotton. Thursday night we had orders to pack up and be ready to march but it began to rain and they were afraid that they would get stuck in the mud so we are waiting for it to dry up a little. The men will not have to march far this time. The depot is but 1 mile from here that is where we shall take the cars for Aqua Creek and there is transports there waiting to take us to Fortress Monroe and from there we shall have a ride to Newbern North Carolina or New Orleans or some of them places I don't care where they go with us. Any where to see some of the world. They have took us all over Vairginia 2 or 3 times all ready. That part of it that the Rebs would let them.

The order came the other day that 2 men out of every hundred men fit for duty could have a furlough and go home. There was 7 going out of this Regt. and we all drew lots and it fell on our cook and he got all ready to go and I was to be head cook while he was gone but as we had orders to move the order was countermanded in this brigade, but in all probability there will be some of the Stoughton boys home from the 12th or some other regt.

Last Thursday Lieut. Ingalls, our great Lieut. as we used to call him came back. He is promoted to 1st Lieut in Company. P. He is the largest man we have in the regt. and Lieut Palmer (who died at Antietam ) was very small. That is why we used call Lieut. Ingalls our great Lieut. and Lieut. Palmer our Little Lieut. Sergt. Wales also came back. They found it rather hard to stop in our quarters after being to home 4 or 5 months. lt rained very hard at the time that they came. Friday we drew a loaf of soft bread a piece weighting 22 oz. I eat mine for supper with some molasses and some coffee and could have eat a good slice out of another one if I could have got it. We had got a brigade bake house a building out of logs and the oven had come and in a few days we expected to have soft bread instead of hard but yesterday we tore it down and burnt it to cook with as we are going off. I suppose Old Burnside is going to command this corps. lt is his old one. They call this the fighting corps.

Edward

Direct your letters as before till I write to direct different.

Newport News , Va

Feb 14th 1863

Father & Mother,

I have had quite a little ride since I last wrote to you last. Monday morning we started from Falmouth Station in the cars from Aqua Creek. The regt. went early in the morning and I went 2 or 3 hours later with the baggage. When we got to the creek, the regt. had gone aboard the steamer Lousina and had gone out in the stream. We were taken out to her with the baggage about dark. She was pretty well crowded. The officers occupied the state rooms and the berths were all full of the privates. The cook and I spread our blankets in the lower cabin under one of the tables and we had a bully place onboard of her 2 nights and one day. We came at anchor off Fortress Monroe early Wednesday morning and about sunrise we started for Newport News which is about 7 miles from the Fortress which can be seen away off in the distance. When I came off of the wharf the first man that I saw was Dan Tolman. He is keeping a kind of store here. Things can be bought here quite reasonable instead of what they could near Fredericksburg . Butter that we used to pay 60 cents per pound can be bought here for 30 and cheese for 20 that used to cost 40 and 50 and apples that used to cost 5 for a quarter can be bought 15 for the same price. The soldiers if they had been paid off I guess would live. We draw soft bread now. We drawed some dried apple and I have soft bread and apple sauce now.

The most of the old Cumberland which was sunk by the Merrimac last year justs sticks above the water and the Congress that was burnt at the same time to the waters edge is still visible and this stick which I put in here is a piece of her. The Moniter lays off to the mouth of the James River and a number of gunboats and war ships. They are expecting the Merrimac No. 2 down the river every night. if she is coming I should like to have her come while we are here so we could see some fighting and not be in it. I do not know how long we shall stay here but I hope we shall stop here a spell. lt is a first rate place. lt is not so muddy as it was where we came from. I went about 2 miles the other day and got some oysters. This is where they get all of their oysters. There is any quanity of boats out in the stream raking them.

My box has not come yet. There was 40 that came for this regt. night before last and 50 more last night but mine was not with them. I expect it is down to the Port and it will be along in a day or two. I got a letter with a comb in it. lt is a first rate one to comb the lice out with. And I got another one also with a 25 cent stamp in it and this morning the cook put 25 more with it and we got a skilet and we can fry slapjacks in good shape now. We used to fry them on an old plate. I should not wonder If both boxes came to once. I had a piece of pie and some doughnuts out of Sergt. Saul Thayer's and a piece of pie out of Sergt Houl's and the man that I tend with (the cook) is and old warrior. He was in the Regular army when the war broke out in Mexico and was there 2 years and when the rebellion broke out he went out as one of the 3 months men and now he is out as one of the 3 years men and he thinks if he gets home now he shall stop there and go to war no more. You must direct my letters to Fortress Monroe and they will come through sooner than to go by Washington .

Ed

I dont know as you can read this but when I get to writing I do it in a hurry

Newport News . VA

Feb. 21st 1863

Father & Mother,

Night before last I received a letter from you and L. A. I have also had one from Grandmother & Lucy. Last Wednesday night both of the boxes came and there was not a thing that was spoiled or jammed at all. And I am living pretty high now, for a private. I am still cooking.

The other day Phinny Burrell came over here. He is in camp about a mile from here. This whole Brigade have got A tents. There is 5 in each tent. The cook & I have a tent by ourselves. There is a boat that runs to the Fort and to Norfolk and all the places of notority and the men can get a furlough and go to any of these places free of expense. We draw a loaf of soft bread per. man every day weighting 22. oz. I generally eat 1 for supper and one for breakfast and about a half one for dinner. That would be about 55 oz per. day of bread besides the rest of the stuff. I am as fat as a hog. I don't believe you would know me if I should walk into the house some night.

I don't know what the Abolitionists are a going to do with us now. I do not care much I should like to stop here my 3 years. lt is a nice place. lt would be like going down to Nantasket and spending the summer. Some say part of this corps is going to Norfolk and part to the Fortress and we stay here to do Garrison duty and some say the whole corps is going to Newbern and others down on the Penisula. I think that they might as well let us stay here as any where. I think that we shall do as much good here as any where.

You can not find 5 men in the regt. but what are death on the Administration. They say that they never will fire another gun at the Rebs. They were willing to fight till they had got to fight to free the n[----]r and when it come to that they think it is time to stop. it is not only so in this regt. but in all of them.

There is about 3 or 4 hundred thousand 2-years men going home between now and June and I can't see how the goverment are a going to get men to take their place. As for taking the n[----]s to help them, they will be rather poor if they are all like those that I have seen when the shells have been flying around thier heads. They would run and yell and fly around as if they were half killed. I should like to see a n[----]r brigade go into battle once. I don't want any of them to get hurt but I should like to see them run a little.

I get the Courier regular every week and it tells the story about as it is the whole company have to read it. I like my suspenders first rate. I have got on a new suit and feel as big as can be but it is a darned good place to get lousy out here. I have to go and take off all of my clothes and pick all over everyday. lf I did not they would crawl over me all night and I could not sleep. I was the first one that had them. lt was Sergt. Hawes, the officers and all have them. I have got so I could not do without them.

If they keep us here we shall have a good time and if they send us to Newbern we shall have a good ride so let them go it

Newport News . Va.

March 1st, 1863

Father & Mother,

I received your letter Thursday night with one dollar and twenty cents in it.

There is no chance here at present to get my picture taken but there may be sometime. lf we stop here some time I may go down to the Fortress or to Norfolk and I can get one taken there. I dont believe you would know me. I never was so fleshy in my life. I have not been weighed lately but I guess I weigh about 200 Ibs. We draw onions and potatoes and soft bread an dried apple, molasses once a week and we are living like princes. I received a letter from Mr Chase night before last. I shall answer in a few days. If you have a chance to send word to Joe & Frank tell them to write to me.

I believe I wrote to them last our Lt. Col. Caruth and Adjutant Nath. Wales who were taken prisoner at Sulpher Springs have got back and Adjutant Wales is Major now. We all like Col. Caruth first rate and always did but the men do not care if Col. Wild never does come back. We have to black our boots every day and clean up and look slick as we can.

Col. Walter Harriman of the 11th N.H. which is the next regt. to ours in this brigade is nominated for Gov. of N.H. I believe, I hope, he will get elected. He is a nice man. He does not feel above the privates as some officers do. If I should go and speak to him he would take just as much notice of me and more to than he would if a commissioned officer spoke to him.

Our Chaplain preached his farwell sermon today. He has got his Discharge and starts for home tomorrow. His health is not very good. I hear that Lt. J. Madden has got his discharge and gone home. He has been in the hospital in Washington for some time past. I have not heard from Henry Munk since you wrote that he had started to join his regiment.

We have not a very large company at the present time. We have about 19 men for duty. There is some difference between that and 101 the number that we started from home with. We draw rations for 38 making about 19 that are home sick and one thing and another.

One night since we have been here we had a great snow storm. lt snowed most all night and toward morning it began to rain. We did not get up very early and after it had got to be pretty light I turned over and went into a pond of water all over. The snow had stopped the ditches all up and the water came into our tent six or eight inches deep. lt took all the next day to get things dried up but we came out all right in the end.

What do the think of the conscription act in Stoughton ? So the wide awakes all coming out to render help fight a little Loranus said he hoped Elijah & Sanford would have to go and get their ears used. I should like to see a good company more come from Stoughton . I should like to have them put in this brigade if they were the right ones.

Ed

Newport News Va.

March 8, 1863

Father & Mother,

I received your letter as usual last Thursday evening. We are still at the old camp enjoying ourselves as well as we can. We have all sorts of weather here in the course of the day. Some days it will rain like June 2 or 3 times and such rain you never see in Mass. We had a very hard thunder shower this morning but it has cleared off and is very pleasant now.

Out on the left of our brigade we have a large market place where 50 or 60 teams come every day from Hampton loaded with all kinds of stuff which they sell or swap off to the soldiers for rations of coffee and the like that they have left over their rations. I suppose that the Gov. has to pay 35 or 40 cents per. pound for coffee now.

I received a town report last night also a letter from Frank. He is still at Fairfax station. lt is very muddy there. He has been sick with a slow fever about 3 weeks but did not go into the Hospital. William is to work in the commissary department so I suppose he can live like a king. Frank says Joe is as tough as a little cuss. I should like to have you send me a school report when they get them out. I like to read all such things as them.

My razors I could not tell where they are. They may be in that little closet in Lucys porch or up stairs in that closet or on the shelf over Grammie's butten door next to the stairs, but I could not tell for certain if he find them he must take good care of them.

The apples and potatoes in the box were not froze a bit. I should like to have about a barrell of such apples set up in one corner of my tent. I think I would eat a few of them.

There is a number of minors in this Company and their folks draw a dollar a week from the town where they enlisted and their folks are not dependant on them for support either. These is Edgar Hawes and Geo. P. Gill both of North Stoughton . Williamson Gill is the father of Geo Gill and every body knows that he is not dependant on any of his children for support and the town-of Stoughton are paying him a dollar a week for his son. I don't see why they are not obliged to pay you the same for me, if they refuse to pay it at first they will of course try them again

I have been in the service now 7 months and it would amount $28.

Edward

Newport News , Va.

March 13th, (1863)

Father & Mother,

I received your letter last Wednesday with my birthday present in it. lt is my birthday today and as I had spare time I thought I would write so you will get this earlier than common. I expect to send home some money before this month is out but I may not get paid off. We were mustered for pay the first of this month. The first of this month, they now owe me fifty two dollars up to March 1st.

They had a fight down to Suffolk yesterday and rather got the best of our troops and today the 3rd Division of this corps went down to reinforce them. lt is about 50 miles from here. The troops in the fight yesterday were under the command of Cocoran. The 3rd Division were in wooden barricks and the talk is that we shall go into the place where they came out.

The other night a rebel boat came in sight and when we got up the next morning the old frigate Minnisota which is one of the blockading fleet and has been stationed in Hampton roads was down in front of us and has remained there ever since.

I do not see Daniel Tolman very often. I do not go out of our brigade much. I have not seen D.A.B. yet. It is rather cool here all time being so near to the water.

Sergt. Samuel Thayer of this Company started home on a furlough last Tuesday to be gone 10 days. We have to cook for about forty men at present.

I am going to send home a short piece that I see in the papers about the way that they use the n[----]s in the army. There has been many a warm day when soldiers were sick to my knowledge and tried to get into an Ambulance and it would be full of great fat lazy n[----]s that were able to walk out here. lf a fellow has a black face he can go any where without a pass. Alphonso Burrell was not cooking at all the last that I heard from him. He had rather do duty in the ranks. He may have gone at it again by this time though for I have not seen him for quite a while. I have not received any letter from Charles Upham yet but I have the town report about the box. I have got a new knapsack and can carry some things now when I am on the march and I should like to have my other shirt and it will cost more to send it by mail than it will to send a box and if Chas. Upham wants to put in some things you can send one if you have a mind to and put in my shirt and old double brested vest if you can find it. I can not tell where it is. A little salt fish or 2. piece of roast pork would not taste very bad. If you send it get it off as soon as you can conveniently so that I can get rid of it before we have orders to march from here. We may not get from here this summer and we may go before tomorrow night, we can't tell. The whole of the 2nd N.H. regt. they say have gone home on a furlough. They were camped side of us at Falmouth .

Edward

Newport News , Va.

March 22nd, 1863

Father & Mother,

I received your letter Thursday eve. We are still here having a first rate time. I received a letter from Chas. Upham also one from Joe the same night that I got yours. The 29th regt., the one that Phinney is in, started form here yesterday. The rest of his Division went a day or two before. About a fortnight ago, Genl. (Edward) Ferrero our brigadier general was appointed commander of this post and the 21st Mass. , 51st Penn ,and 51st N.Y. regiments all went into wooden barricks and the 11th N.H. and this regt. expected to go every day. And the prospect was that we should stop here quite a while but the prospect has altered some now and I expect before you get this that we shall be on the move again. They say we are agoing Tenn. and I rather think we are. I may get out there and see James Albert yet. I dont care how much they send us around if they only let us ride. Sergt. Samuel Thayer of this Company was to home on a furlough of 10 days. He got back today. He lives in Milton near Blue Hill tavern. He saw a man there that inquired after me. He had black whiskers and wore a black hat. I thought it was Scott and he described the man with him and I thought it answered the description of Ben Atherton.

It snowed here one night and day and yesterday the water was running a stream by our tent and last night if I waked up in the night you could hear it roar like a river.

They captured an infernal machine from the rebels the other day on the James River . lt is long and looks like the mast of a ship. They opened a hole in it and took out 14 Rebels. lt lays out in the water in front of here now.

The remainder of our knapsacks came the other day but mine did not come. lf it did somebody smarter than I was got it. Augustus's came and there was a receipt in it from Dr Gifford that I will put in this and you can give it to his folks. I also forgot to send that piece about the n[----]r and I will put that in this also. We play cards here all night some nights and in the day time to sometimes. We drew new shelter tents yesterday officers and all. They have got to carry their tent on their back as well as a private. There have been two cases of scurvy in this Company. One of them a man from Randolph died and the other Cpl. Young from East Stoughton . The last we heard from him he was in the hospital at Washington .

They can't tuck any of their sicknesses on to me. I am as tough as a door nail and likely to be till I get home. I ain't got but about 2 years and 4 months to stop now. Joe will be a lucky fellow if he get off without hearing some of them blue pills (that the darned Rebels fire) whistle. He will be pretty likely to have a chance this spring.

I saw Dan Tolman the other day. He is as fat as can be and dresses up too.

Edward

Paris, Kentucky

April 2nd, 1863

Father & Mother,

I received a letter from you the last time the day before we left Newport News . We left there one week ago today and have been one the move night and day ever since. We went aboard the Gov. transport John Brooks about five o'clock last Thursday and arrived at Baltimore about Friday noon . We remained on board till night when we marched through the city and took the cars for Pittsburg , Penn. We kept on our way all night only when the engine stopped to take on wood and water. The next morning it began to snow and snowed all day. We passed through a number of cities amongst them was Harrisburg the capitol of Penn. and towards night we arrived at Miflin where we had a dish of coffee furnished by the citizens of that place about 9 Oclock we came to the city of Altoona where we were treated to another dish of coffee and Sunday morning about 9 o'clock we came to Pittsburg which is the last place of any account in Penn. There we were taken to the city hall where we were furnished by the people of that place with a good dinner of soft bread and dried beef apples and coffee. After dinner we took the cars for Cincinnati , Ohio where we arrived Monday night. We were treated to coffee twice along the route and when we got to Cincinnati we were taken to the Market and had a first rate supper of bread and beef, ham, pork, boiled eggs, apples, coffee, onions, lemon pies. When we got through eating and got ready to start again on our Journey about 3 o'clock . We then took the ferry and went across the Ohio River to the city of Covington which is in Kentucky (it is a very large city). lt was near 4 o'clock then. Some of the boys spread there blankets on the side walk and others built up good camp fires in the street and passed the time away til day light. lt began to snow a little and it did by spells all day. At night our Lt Col commanding the regt. got us into a hall and we had good quarters for the night.

Wednesday morning we started on the Kentucky central R.R. and arrived here about 7 o' clock. We were ordered to stop in the cars, but some of us went out and got into houses that were empty and barns etc. Sergt. Hawes, Wright, Faunce & I found an empty building that was just built. The floor was boarded all over with the exception of a small piece at one end and in that place we built up a good fire and had some coffee and a good nights rest till morning. This morning we put up our tents near the city and here we are at the present time. Lexington is about 10 miles from here. Some say we are going there. We are sent here to protect the union folks from the Guerrillas (I guess that is the way to spell it) that travel around the country here. The 29th is doing Provost duty in this town they say but I have not seen Phinny Burrell since we left Newport News .

If we had not left the day that we did from Newport News I think I should have got my box and should have got it on with the baggage. lt will come some time I expect. You may direct your letters for the present 35th reg. 2nd Brigade 2nd Div. 9th A.C. via Cincinnati , Ohio ,and I guess it will come to me

Edward

Winchester , Ky.

April 19th, 1863

Father & Mother,

I have received 3 letters from you since I last wrote. I got 2 of them last night and Friday. We have not got but 2 mails since we left Paris , (the place that I last wrote to you from) which we did the next day after I wrote. The day we left we marched 23 miles to Mount Sterling . We made a forced march of it because we had to go through a Rebel country and we did not want to stop till we got to our destination. There was but six men that came up with the Company and some of them had to have their knapsacks carried on the teams. I went through with mine on my back. When I leave my knapsack I shall leave myself with it. I left my blankets at So. Mountain when we were agoing into the battle and I never got another for about 2 months and the one that l have got now I mean to hold onto or less I shall stop with it. I think I can stand a march about as well as any of them. You thought when I came out here I would be sick on account of the hot weather and hard marches but I ain't dead yet.

I have not cooked any since we left Newport News . While we were on the move to Kentucky we had no need of a cook and since we came to Mt Sterling we have had nothing to cook that we drew from the Gov. so I have done duty as a private. We have not drawn for the last 13 days 3 full days rations but are getting enough now but I have not suffered for the want of food much nor I never mean to while we are in such a country as this. It ain't like old Virginia is one of the handsomest parts of the country I have ever seen. I have been on picket duty about every other day since I came here and the mutton and fresh pork had to take it. The hogs out here and in all parts of South and West they don't keep in Styes but they run in the road or any where have a mind to. We would go out about 10 o'clock and get a hog killed and skinned (for we have no hot water to take off the bristles so we skin them) and all dressed off about 11 and take turns and go to some house and get dinner up and save the pig to carry into camp. We get all of our meals in the same way for the 24 hours that we are on picket. The last time that I was on l ate supper at a Rebel woman's house and she was one of the greatest I ever saw she and her mother both her mother was about as old and looked just like grandmother. I got there at 5 o'clock and stopped til after 9. It was a very nice house and they had things in great style, n[----]r waiters, etc. I stopped in the parlor til supper was ready and then we went into the dining room and took supper. We had silver forks and the cups & plates were china and other things to corresponde to eat. We had fried ham, warm biscuits and butter, slapjacks, tea & white sugar, sweet milk and buttermilk. lt is always the fashion to have butter milk on the table here. When I came off (I told her l was agoing to write home that I ate supper with one of the hardest rebel women) I ever saw She sent her respects to you and told me to tell you that she tried to plague me a little. Friday morning we came to this place which is about 20 miles from Mt. Sterling . We were paid off yesterday up to the 1st of March. I have sent home 48 dollars. lt was put into a bank here and a draft taken on a New York bank on the 1st and it will be sent from N. Y. to the Mass state treasurer and he will send it by express to you.

Ed

Isaac Newton Lemfield [Linfield] spent a few days with us while we were at Winchester. I was not very well while he was there. I had a Diareah.

Edward

Edward

Edward

May 24th, (1863)

Edward

Stanford Ky.

May 31st, 1863

Father & Mother,

I received your letter yesterday morning with the cloves in it. We marched to this place last monday night. We started from Crab Orchard about 1/2 past 7 and arrived here about 12 o'clock at night. We were pretty well used up when we got here. The 11th N.H. regt. led us off and they had their napsacks carried and the 35th kept up to them and had theirs on their back. I don't know how long we shall stop here. We expect to move every day. There was a pontoon train went past here day before yesterday. lt was going to the Cumberland river so I suppose that our troop are a going to make a movement across there. There is a large flour mill near here so we get some flour. They grind 150 bushels of wheat every day. We have to pay 3 1/2 cents per pound or about $6 per barrell. There is also one of the finest springs of water here that you ever saw. lt is in a cave of solid stone that is about 40 feet square.

Lieut. Col. Carruth who has been in command of this regt. ever since Col. Wild was wounded at So. Mountain has received his commission as Col. He is making the officers tread around pretty lively. The officers that were promoted before he got his commission as Col. went through Col. Wilds hands and he says that there has been a good deal of wire pulling to get folks into office and now he says he shall have the handling of it and if he cannot find any Sergants that are fit to hold commissions he shall take them out of the ranks.

Night before last a Sergant of one of our companys who was a going to have a commission was reduced to the ranks and I guess he will make them step around pretty lively. The strawberries and green peas are pretty thick here now. Peas are 25 cents a peck.

You wanted to know who took Sergt. Hawes' place. lt was Sergt. Thayer. He is a first rate fellow. The Company all like him. He was out in the 12th reg. about a year and was taken prisoner and got his discharge and was to home about 2 weeks and came out with us.

I have not got this book of mine wrote through yet but it is getting pretty well worn out and if you will send me out one like it and some wafers I will send it home. I am on guard today at the commissary that is where Lt. Hawes stops.

Edward

I am going to have some slapjacks for supper my tent mate and myself. My tent mate is Corporal Wright.  

Camp in rear of Vicksburg 

June 18, 1863

Father & Mother,

We have received no mail since we left Ky but expect one every day. Last Friday we left Memphis for Vicksburg near which place we arrived Sunday morning. We landed at Shermans Landing and remained till Monday morning when we we sent across the bend that the Mississippi makes in front of Vicksburg on the Louisiana shore where we crossed the Mississippi and went on to Grant's left but he did not want us so we came back and stopped over night and the next day we went up the Yahoo to Haynes Bluff and we are now in the rear of the city between there and the big block river where Johnson is reported to be. I think that Grant has got the rebels cooped up there where they will have to surrender. Our sharpshooters are within 150 yards of the city and they can't work their guns in the day time because we pick them off as fast as they show their heads. Our big guns and morters are at work all the time firing on the city so there is considerable noise here all the time.

There was 3 men that went into the Yazoo river the other day and one of them was bit into in the middle of his body and one of them had his arm bit so it had to be amputated and the other one has not been heard from since. This was done by an aligator .

It is very warm down here now. We can not get any water but river water and the Surgeon says that is better for us but I should like to have you send me a little piece of ice and I will send you back some blackberries. There is large quantities of them here. I have just got in from picking them. I got 2 qts in all. I wanted to eat and was not gone but a little while. I put a little sugar on them and they go pretty well on hard tack.

I suppose that James Albert is around here somewhere but have not seen him yet but expect to every day.

When we were marching to this place the western troops all along the road asked what troops we were and we told them 35th Mass. and they say "what you doing way down here." I suppose that the 9 months men are coming home most every week now. I saw the place where Gen. Butler dug the canal across the bed in front of Vicksburg there was a Mass. regt. at work there diging that.

I suppose that Phinney is here somewhere but I do not know where.

Edward

Jackson Miss. 

July 18th, 1863

Father & Mother,  

I have received two letters from you since we came to this place. One of them I received last Satuday forenoon on the battlefield while we were supporting the 1st Brigade who were out skirmishing with the Rebels. The other one I received last night. I believe I wrote to you last 4 of July we were then in the rear of Vicksburg . The night of the 4th we started for Old Johnson who had been hovering in our rear ever since the seige of Vicksburg had been commenced. We over took him the next day at the Big Black River and since then we have been fighting him every day and night until yesterday when the 35th who were in the front went into the city and planted our Flag up on the breast works the first one and then went double quick and placed them on the capital.

We have lost but 1 man killed and but a few wounded in our regiment. We took about 500 prisoners. We have had a pretty hard time since the 4th. lt has been very warm and we have had to be up night and day. We have been in the front 5 days since we got to Jackson and three out of the five we have had to stand behind trees and stumps night and day within 1/4 of a mile of their fortifications and if we stuck our head out in sight in the day time they would send by our heads something that would make us draw it back pretty quick. And their siege guns would rattle their grape and cannister with a solid shot and shell that has the trunks of trees off by the cord— but they did not drive us off. lf he had stopped one day longer we would have had all of them prisoners but they took to their legs and old Grant is after them and old Johnson is putting for Mobile as fast as his legs will carry him and 10 to one if Grant don't catch him before he gets there.

I think that we shall start for Vicksburg where we shall take the boats for Ky tomorrow but do not know. Lieut M. B. Hawes was instantly killed about 2 miles from the Big Black river by the falling of a tree while he was riding at the head of his supply train. He was going to report to his company the next day our old Quartermaster having got back.

There is but three from Stoughton left in the Company now and one of them Edgar Hawes of No. Stoughton but Henry Monk and I stick by yet.

Rear of Vicksburg , Miss.  

July 29th, 1863

Father & Mother,

We have got back again to our old camp ground in the rear of Vicksburg . We arrived here about noon last Thursday and now are awaiting transportation for Cincinnati . All of the transports that were here have gone to Mobile with Genl. Grant's army. We started from Jackson the 11 of July and we had a pretty hard time coming back. We were on half rations and it was very warm and water was very scarce. There was a good many of this corps that dropped down dead in the ranks owing to the heat. Although we drew but half rations I lived pretty well. I did not draw any rations on the march. I got my living out of the Secesh on the road. We had peaches, figs, hoe cake & molasses, honey and such stuff. We would go along til we came to a good looking house and go in and tell them what we wanted and they would set their n[----]s to work and cook it up. We went to one place and they had about 10 or 12 hives of bees. One of my tent mates and myself thought we should like a little to help a hard tack down so we asked the man of the house which hive was the best one and he said that he guessed that there was not much in any of them but we were not going to give it up. So we went and got a good pile of cotton (there is pleanty of cotton in this state) and set it a fire and got it to smoking then went and picked out a good hive and smoked the bees out and we had a nice mess of honey.

I did not have a very heavy load when I came into camp last thursday. Everything I had was my pants, shirt and cap, Gun & equipments. I lost everything else and my boots I had to throw away. They were all worn out and hurt my feet pretty bad. I came all the way from Jackson bare footed (about 60 miles). (I drew some shoes from the gov yesterday).

I suppose that before this they have drafted in Stoughton Henry Monk. Had a letter Sunday and it stated that there was to be 144 drafted from there. Warren Monk and John Guild of Stoughton have been drafted from Boston . I should like to have you send me a list of the drafted men of Stoughton . I suppose that they had a pretty hard fight at Gettysburg , Penn. I hear that the 12th Mass. suffered considerable. The Sergt. Major told that they were going to fill up the old regiments with the drafted men. lf so, I suppose that some of the Stoughton boys will come to this one. I am glad that I am out here now and not have to be drafted. I can have the fun of seeing some of them drill out here in this warm weather. I should like to have you send me a book the name of which is "School of the Guides". lt is a Military book and will be found in Boston, where they keep D. Van Nostrands Military Publications. I should think that they would be likely to keep it these time at any book store.

Edward

J D. Van Nostrands Military Publications

School of the Guides

Covington Ky.  

Aug 16th 1863