1862 CIVIL WAR SOLDIER LETTER - PLEASANT VALLEY MD - 35th MASS - LT. WM WASHBURN
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:16289674 | Featured Refinements: Civil War Letter |
Civil War soldier's letter, 4 pgs., approx. 5" x 8", datelined "Camp 35th Mass. Vols., Oct. 9th"(1862), from William Washburn, (signed "Will"), to "Lou"
The writer of this letter was William Washburn, who was a 21 year old Boston architect when he enlisted in Co. A, 1st Mass. Infantry on May 3, 1861; He was discharged for promotion on Aug. 17, 1862, and commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in Co. G. 35th Regiment Mass. Infantry. Was promoted to 1st Lt. and commissioned into Fie...ld and Staff of the 35th Mass.on Oct. 7, 1863; Wounded and taken prisoner at the Battle of the Crater at Petersburg, Va. on July 30, 1864, and was confined at Macon, Ga., and Columbia, S.C.; Promoted to Capt. on Sept. 6, 1864.
Great content, written from Pleasant Valley, Maryland - camped with his Regiment and the rest of Burnside's army in this Valley near South Mountain and Antietam, less than a month after the Battle of Antietam. The Valley served as a bivouac for rest and recuperation for the army following that bloody battle. He writes of being near Knoxville and Sandy Hook (both in Md. on the Potomac), and five miles from Harpers Ferry. Although there is no year date in the dateline, it can be dated 1862, as he writes of being a relative stranger to the men in his Company - he had been commissioned a 2nd Lt. in the 35th Mass. on Aug. 17, 1862, fought with his men exactly a month later at Antietam, and is now in nearby Pleasant Valley.
He writes of his company being down to 23 men, with the rest killed and wounded, or in hospitals in Washington, and that there are just 8 commissioned officers in the entire regiment - and that he can hardly believe that just 6 weeks before, the regiment numbered 1100 men - the result of the hard fighting the regiment went through the month before.
The letter reads:
"Dear Lou,
We are most beautifully located in what is very appropriately named 'Pleasant Valley', about five miles from Harper's Ferry, and three from Knoxville and Sandy Hook. The scenery in this valley very much resembles that of some of the most mountainous regions of New Hampshire, and from the hilltops, or rather mountain peaks, which are on all sides of us, the view is superb. The whole of Burnside's army is here encamped, numbering about fifty thousand men, and from the appearance of things, I think that we shall remain here for some time, if not actually winter here. Certainly I could desire no pleasanter spot for such a purpose, if it is finally decided to winter this portion of the army in Maryland. I do not like the idea of stopping here, however, for any length of time, for that carries with it the certainty almost of the postponement of active operations until next Spring, and consequently another Summer campaign. We are in hopes that a forward movement will take place soon, but I'm afraid it is a vain hope.
Everybody here is anxious to have the war closed as early as possible, to give them an opportunity to return home. As far as I'm concerned, I'm heartily sick of it, and yet I'm content to remain and do my share towards crushing out this rebellion, which has desolated so many homes, and placed the country in such a critical condition. I don't expect to see home again for many months, and the thought at times makes me fairly homesick. The fact of my being comparatively a stranger here, and the faint suspicion that those around me regard me as an interloper, tend to aggravate that feeling of loneliness. Still, notwithstanding the drawbacks, I'm getting along as well, if not better than I could reasonably expect.
My Company, though small now, is composed of the very best materials, and I've nothing to complain of as far as their respect for me is concerned. There are but twenty three men in the company, the remainder having been killed and wounded, or sick in the hospitals at Washington. But eight commissioned officers remain in the Regiment. I can hardly realize that this small regiment, six weeks ago numbered eleven hundred men. We are in the brigade with the 21st Mass, which shows thinner ranks, if possible, than the 35th.
My journey to Harper's Ferry was marked by no incidents of special interest, with the exception of meeting at Baltimore Capt. Jones with his command. He wished to be remembered to you and others of his acquaintances. I had a very pleasant chat with him in the depot. He said he would speak of me in his letter, and perhaps he may mention some of the conversation. I couldn't but notice how particular he was to speak very admiringly of you. You can probably guess his object.
Now, my dear sister, you must write me as soon as possible, and as often. Don't wait for letters from me, though I shall write as often as I'm permitted to. My regards to your mother and father and brothers and sisters.
Brother Will"
Very Fine.
COMBINED SHIPPING FOR MULTIPLE ITEMS.
[M/U #24]
The writer of this letter was William Washburn, who was a 21 year old Boston architect when he enlisted in Co. A, 1st Mass. Infantry on May 3, 1861; He was discharged for promotion on Aug. 17, 1862, and commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in Co. G. 35th Regiment Mass. Infantry. Was promoted to 1st Lt. and commissioned into Fie...ld and Staff of the 35th Mass.on Oct. 7, 1863; Wounded and taken prisoner at the Battle of the Crater at Petersburg, Va. on July 30, 1864, and was confined at Macon, Ga., and Columbia, S.C.; Promoted to Capt. on Sept. 6, 1864.
Great content, written from Pleasant Valley, Maryland - camped with his Regiment and the rest of Burnside's army in this Valley near South Mountain and Antietam, less than a month after the Battle of Antietam. The Valley served as a bivouac for rest and recuperation for the army following that bloody battle. He writes of being near Knoxville and Sandy Hook (both in Md. on the Potomac), and five miles from Harpers Ferry. Although there is no year date in the dateline, it can be dated 1862, as he writes of being a relative stranger to the men in his Company - he had been commissioned a 2nd Lt. in the 35th Mass. on Aug. 17, 1862, fought with his men exactly a month later at Antietam, and is now in nearby Pleasant Valley.
He writes of his company being down to 23 men, with the rest killed and wounded, or in hospitals in Washington, and that there are just 8 commissioned officers in the entire regiment - and that he can hardly believe that just 6 weeks before, the regiment numbered 1100 men - the result of the hard fighting the regiment went through the month before.
The letter reads:
"Dear Lou,
We are most beautifully located in what is very appropriately named 'Pleasant Valley', about five miles from Harper's Ferry, and three from Knoxville and Sandy Hook. The scenery in this valley very much resembles that of some of the most mountainous regions of New Hampshire, and from the hilltops, or rather mountain peaks, which are on all sides of us, the view is superb. The whole of Burnside's army is here encamped, numbering about fifty thousand men, and from the appearance of things, I think that we shall remain here for some time, if not actually winter here. Certainly I could desire no pleasanter spot for such a purpose, if it is finally decided to winter this portion of the army in Maryland. I do not like the idea of stopping here, however, for any length of time, for that carries with it the certainty almost of the postponement of active operations until next Spring, and consequently another Summer campaign. We are in hopes that a forward movement will take place soon, but I'm afraid it is a vain hope.
Everybody here is anxious to have the war closed as early as possible, to give them an opportunity to return home. As far as I'm concerned, I'm heartily sick of it, and yet I'm content to remain and do my share towards crushing out this rebellion, which has desolated so many homes, and placed the country in such a critical condition. I don't expect to see home again for many months, and the thought at times makes me fairly homesick. The fact of my being comparatively a stranger here, and the faint suspicion that those around me regard me as an interloper, tend to aggravate that feeling of loneliness. Still, notwithstanding the drawbacks, I'm getting along as well, if not better than I could reasonably expect.
My Company, though small now, is composed of the very best materials, and I've nothing to complain of as far as their respect for me is concerned. There are but twenty three men in the company, the remainder having been killed and wounded, or sick in the hospitals at Washington. But eight commissioned officers remain in the Regiment. I can hardly realize that this small regiment, six weeks ago numbered eleven hundred men. We are in the brigade with the 21st Mass, which shows thinner ranks, if possible, than the 35th.
My journey to Harper's Ferry was marked by no incidents of special interest, with the exception of meeting at Baltimore Capt. Jones with his command. He wished to be remembered to you and others of his acquaintances. I had a very pleasant chat with him in the depot. He said he would speak of me in his letter, and perhaps he may mention some of the conversation. I couldn't but notice how particular he was to speak very admiringly of you. You can probably guess his object.
Now, my dear sister, you must write me as soon as possible, and as often. Don't wait for letters from me, though I shall write as often as I'm permitted to. My regards to your mother and father and brothers and sisters.
Brother Will"
Very Fine.
COMBINED SHIPPING FOR MULTIPLE ITEMS.
[M/U #24]
