Civil War Letter 1862
Letter
Zoom This! The great American Civil War was an incredibly horrible event in the history of the United States of America. This period of time would have been somewhat misunderstood if it was not for the firsthand stories from the soldiers themselves that really described the truly terrifying conditions that the soldiers faced. Many of these stories are found in letters that soldiers sent home to their families. One of these letters that helped explain some of what the soldiers faced was written by Sergt. Stephen Richardson from the 108th Regiment NYSV. He was a good friend of my great-grandmother’s great-uncle. His name is Seth Wells and he served alongside Stephen Richardson, but he was shot in the leg at the Battle of Gettysburg. Richardson mentioned Seth briefly in his letter. His letter was sent to my great-great-great-great grandmother Louis Wells Rulifson who was Seth’s sister. In his letter, he describes the tales of his march in great detail. He states many times in his letter the amount of travel they did in a day, which varied from 9 to 17 miles. His regiment was marching from Boliver to Fredricksburg, where there was to be a battle. They stayed at Warrenton, a town in Virginia, for 7 days. When they were on their way out of the town, they ran into a group of wounded rebels who served as their guides because they could not put up a fight. They were wounded from the Battle of Sharpsburgh and after leading the regiment to meet the rest of the army, they left the severely wounded with them and left. The march took a toll on Seth Wells, who was not yet wounded, as it did on every last man. Stephen notes that he graciously provided Seth with his extra set of army boots and they set off. Also noted in the letter is of the actual battle at Fredricksburg. The letter states that the regiment was in a sharp fight around 3 o’clock. They drove the rebels back and took a battery of 3 guns. Lastly, the letter states of the terrible Chaplin that was assigned to them. He states that not once did the preacher preach or do any of his duties. He only states that all he did was spend his time around back and eat all the preserves that were sent to the soldiers. This letter has great meaning and helps give insight to life of an average soldier, who suffers just like any other person in the war during that time period.
Transcription:
Camp near Fredricksburg
18th Nov 1862
Friend Rulifson
I received your letter a few days since at Warrenton
We had left Boliver & started upon another march and we had got
as far as Warrenton the day before I received your letter.
We lay at Warrenton 7 days and started on the march again last Saturday morning for the
above named place. We marched about 13 miles on Saturday passing through
Warrenton in the morning we saw a number of Rebel prisoners that was wounded at the Battle of Sharpsburgh in Maryland the rebels took them to this place & on approach of our army up this Valley the rebels retreated leaving their wounded in our hands. Sunday Morning we marched again at daylight making 17 miles it was a heavy march with knapsacks on a great many of the men fell our not able to keep up with the columns but the most of them came up at night Seth suffered a good deal with his legs & feet he was very stiff and sore but they would not give him a pass to fall our Monday morning ordered to march at 7am I had a pair of new army shoes Seth thought he could march better in them so I gave them to him& he got along very well. We marched about 9 miles arrived at this place about2pm 3 miles from Fredricksburgh where we camped for the night there was a sharp little fight about 3 o’clock after we pitched our tents but we was not in it our men drove the rebels & took a battery from them of 3 guns we expect to have a brush with them in a day or two now if they will risk a battle with us I think our army is much larger than it was at Antietam & we have got a new commander in chief but we cannot tell what he will do only we know one thing that if he cannot kill us by fighting he will by marching their was one man died on the road on Sunday they marched him until he fell dead he was one of the 14th Reg Cont Vols and we have a doctor worse then useless I mean Doctor Witbeck a man may lay & die in the tent he won’t come to see him & the chaplin is a worthless notorius villain cheating the country out of 140 dollars per month he has never preached a sermon to us yet & the preserves & jelleys that has been sent to the regiment for the sick by the ladies of Rochester & the country all around he has monopolized it for his own belly & the sick left to their own shift. I was very thankful to receive the money& I sent a letter to my wife telling her that I got 5 dollars from you I am satisfied with the price of the heffer. Some parts of Virginnia through which we have passed is a beautiful country good land but this last 3 days as been through pine land I think it is not worth much their appears to be no inhabitants left they have been taken to swell the rebel ranks. Seth is well and sends his best respects to you all. I must now conclude with my respects to you. I remain yours
V Stephen Richardson
Direct
Sergt Stephen Richardson
108th Regiment NYSV
Company C
Washington DC
Tags: 1800s, Civil War, Documents, War