1862 Civil War Letter - 56th York Sergeant John Connell - Peninsula Campaign
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| Reference Number: Avaluer:142313 |
An interesting letter written by John Connell of the 56th New York. The letter is dated March 17 without a year given, but based on the content it must be 1862 just prior to the Peninsula Campaign. Connell, a Sergeant at this time, wrote to his uncle about preparations for the upcoming movement—”We are told there is Sixty thousand of us going.” It reads:
Carver BarracksWashington DCMarch 17th
Dear Uncle I suppose you will wonder what makes me be so delitery in writing. This... time the reason of it is I did not get an answer to my last which I sent some two weeks ago but perhaps it has not reached your hands. However you told me not to wait for your answer but write immediately if we were going to move from here. Well the old saying prove a true one long training comes at last. The Army has made a forward move. They are now pushing forward to Richmond and it is the opinion of many it will fall a prey to our arms before many weeks is past. Dear Uncle, I hope it won’t embarrass your mind when I let you know we are now under marching orders but our destination I cannot let you know. We are all ready to march. We don’t know the day or the hour we move. It is believed by all that we are going on an expedition. All the troops here are under marching orders. We are told there is Sixty thousand of us going. I would like to hear from you before I leave if you can possibly write do and perhaps it might get here before we start. If not it will be sent where ever we may be. Perhaps I may have a chance to write again before we start. If not I dare say it will be some time before you may get a letter from me again but I assure you if ever we make a Safe Landing it will be my work first accomplished except we are forced to face the enemy as soon as we do land. If that may be the case we must only trust to the Almighty and hope for the best and if any thing happens to me I place the confidence in you that you will do honor to my Parents in a foreign land and send them all of my money you can recover. I trust it may not be the case but of coarse we can’t tell what may happen. Dear Uncle, don’t think I am afraid to face the enemy again. No, my Spirits never was better than at present and we are all eager and willing to move forward and crush out this Rebellion and return to our friends and home after this Rebellion is crushed and put down for ever and not till then. I will close by requesting you to write as soon as you get this as there is no fear but it will be forwarded to the Regiment and if you write soon perhaps we might be here. Excuse this as I am in a hurry. I send my kindest regard to Elizabeth and the family also to Aunt Jane and girls and Believe me as ever yours till Death.John Connell
The letter was written on four pages of a 5 1/4” x 7 3/4” stationery sheet. It shows minor toning and foxing, with creases where it was originally folded
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Carver BarracksWashington DCMarch 17th
Dear Uncle I suppose you will wonder what makes me be so delitery in writing. This... time the reason of it is I did not get an answer to my last which I sent some two weeks ago but perhaps it has not reached your hands. However you told me not to wait for your answer but write immediately if we were going to move from here. Well the old saying prove a true one long training comes at last. The Army has made a forward move. They are now pushing forward to Richmond and it is the opinion of many it will fall a prey to our arms before many weeks is past. Dear Uncle, I hope it won’t embarrass your mind when I let you know we are now under marching orders but our destination I cannot let you know. We are all ready to march. We don’t know the day or the hour we move. It is believed by all that we are going on an expedition. All the troops here are under marching orders. We are told there is Sixty thousand of us going. I would like to hear from you before I leave if you can possibly write do and perhaps it might get here before we start. If not it will be sent where ever we may be. Perhaps I may have a chance to write again before we start. If not I dare say it will be some time before you may get a letter from me again but I assure you if ever we make a Safe Landing it will be my work first accomplished except we are forced to face the enemy as soon as we do land. If that may be the case we must only trust to the Almighty and hope for the best and if any thing happens to me I place the confidence in you that you will do honor to my Parents in a foreign land and send them all of my money you can recover. I trust it may not be the case but of coarse we can’t tell what may happen. Dear Uncle, don’t think I am afraid to face the enemy again. No, my Spirits never was better than at present and we are all eager and willing to move forward and crush out this Rebellion and return to our friends and home after this Rebellion is crushed and put down for ever and not till then. I will close by requesting you to write as soon as you get this as there is no fear but it will be forwarded to the Regiment and if you write soon perhaps we might be here. Excuse this as I am in a hurry. I send my kindest regard to Elizabeth and the family also to Aunt Jane and girls and Believe me as ever yours till Death.John Connell
The letter was written on four pages of a 5 1/4” x 7 3/4” stationery sheet. It shows minor toning and foxing, with creases where it was originally folded
Please see my other items for more interesting Civil War letters, documents, and images. I'm happy to combine shipping on multiple purchases.
Foreign shipping is provided through eBay's global shipping program.
