91st York Infantry CIVIL WAR LETTER - Regiment Heading To War In The Morning
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:95883 |
CIVIL WAR LETTER
This Civil War letter was written by William (“Will”)Kennedy (1840-1909), the son of Scottish emigrants, Alexander J. Kennedy(1796-1868), and Agnes Finney (1804-1881), of Jefferson, Schoharie county, NewYork. The letters were all addressed to his future wife, Olive DeEtte Dayton(1848-1928), the daughter of Russell and Sally Ann (Owens) Dayton of Stamford, New York.Will did not enlist as a private until September 1864, going with some twenty other young men from ...Jefferson, New York. Whenrecruited, he did not know to what regiment he would be assigned but afterpassing his examination and being declared fit for duty, he became a memberof Co, B, 91st New York Infantry—a regiment thatby late 1864 was somewhat broken up with companies at various posts. While withCo, B, Will would spend most of his one year enlistment in Baltimore as part ofthe garrison at Ft. McHenry. It was not until the last couple of months thatWill’s regiment was reassembled and sent to Petersburg, Virginia, toparticipate in the final days of the siege and fighting that ejected Lee’s armyout of its defenses and on to the surrender at Appomattox.The majority of the letters might be more properlycharacterized as “love letters” sent from a lovesick and lonely soldier whosedays were spent on detached duty as a clerk in the headquarters of the postcommander at Ft. McHenry, only rarely visiting his company who performedfatigue and picket duty without him. But to his credit, Will rejected offers toremain out of the field when his regiment was sent to Virginia; he wished totest his mettle under fire. His honor wouldn’t allow him to remain behind.Will broke the news to DeEtte that he had enlisted and shewrote, “Sunday 28th day of August. Will has told me this afternoon that heintended to enlist. I could hardly believe my ears when I heard him say it. OhI shall be so lonely. How can I live a year without seeing him, I feel very sadand lonely tonight. He gave me a very nice coral ring this afternoon.” Justthree days later she wrote, “The 31st day of August 1864. This has been a verysad & eventful day to me. Tonight I have parted with my best friend and Oh!what a sad parting it was. His last words were “Be true to me.” and I will betrue to him. Before he went away he asked my parents consent to our union whichwas given. If he ever returns good and true, i shall be his wife…I don’t knowhow I shall live without him, but I expect i shall live some way. I hope hewill think of me as much as I do og him and come back at the end of his yearstill loving me & no one else. Then, if I live, I think I shall be happy.”Will and DeEtte were married on 5 September 1865 not longafter he returned from the war. Together they had at least three children, CoraMaria (b. 1867), Roy Dayton (b. 1876) and Nellie DeEtte (b. 1878).A post-war cabinet card of Will & DeEtte KennedyTRANSCRIPTIONHarts Island
Sunday afternoon
September 11, 1864My Dear DeEtte, I have finally found a quiet place by myself and I will improve it in what will be my greatest pleasure—writing to you.Eight o’clock, I was disturbed this afternoon to answer to the roll call. I have just returned from the Distributing Office where 100 of us were called to sign the payroll. Tomorrow we will receive out one third of the government bounty and will be immediately shipped. Our regiment was at Fort McHenry but it is reported that it has moved to the front. Wherever it is, we will start for it tomorrow.The names of those from our town that signed the payroll tonight are D. L. Bailey, George W. Beard, Newton Hubbard, Peter Deyo, Peter Dykeman, and Will. Milo Lines is here but his name was not called. We hear that Ezra Beard and some others of the Jefferson boys are on the way. We are all well. As this is a very healthful location, we could not be otherwise.DeEtte, I wish you could see me now while writing. I am leaning on a bunk in the barracks surrounded by 470 men all jabbering like a lot of geese so you must excuse this short letter but I cannot refrain from writing though my letter is short and confused.There was a grand turnout last night after all were snoozing in their bunk. Every member of the 91st was ordered to “fall in” to sign the payroll so we all start together this morning—that is, all that are here that belong to that regiment. There are about 5, 000 soldiers on the island that are to start for different parts of the army.My love to all. Tell Stephen to write with you a few lines. You will soon know where I am stationed. In haste from your true lover, — WillTERMS$3.00 postage in the United States. We accept Paypal. Postage combined for multiple purchases. Please wait for me to send the invoice, otherwise will pay a much higher postage rate!For International buyers: We are now using eBay's Global Shipping Program. We had too many packages sent via the post office go missing. So we believe this program will be safer for us - and for you.We're members of the American Philatelic Society, the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society, the Confederate Stamp Alliance and the Illinois Postal History Society.We only sell genuine, original letters (no copies or reproductions). Some of our letters have been transcribed and nicely presented for future genealogists and history buffs on the Spared & Shared blog. We've been selling on eBay since 2001. BID WITH CONFIDENCE.
00096
This Civil War letter was written by William (“Will”)Kennedy (1840-1909), the son of Scottish emigrants, Alexander J. Kennedy(1796-1868), and Agnes Finney (1804-1881), of Jefferson, Schoharie county, NewYork. The letters were all addressed to his future wife, Olive DeEtte Dayton(1848-1928), the daughter of Russell and Sally Ann (Owens) Dayton of Stamford, New York.Will did not enlist as a private until September 1864, going with some twenty other young men from ...Jefferson, New York. Whenrecruited, he did not know to what regiment he would be assigned but afterpassing his examination and being declared fit for duty, he became a memberof Co, B, 91st New York Infantry—a regiment thatby late 1864 was somewhat broken up with companies at various posts. While withCo, B, Will would spend most of his one year enlistment in Baltimore as part ofthe garrison at Ft. McHenry. It was not until the last couple of months thatWill’s regiment was reassembled and sent to Petersburg, Virginia, toparticipate in the final days of the siege and fighting that ejected Lee’s armyout of its defenses and on to the surrender at Appomattox.The majority of the letters might be more properlycharacterized as “love letters” sent from a lovesick and lonely soldier whosedays were spent on detached duty as a clerk in the headquarters of the postcommander at Ft. McHenry, only rarely visiting his company who performedfatigue and picket duty without him. But to his credit, Will rejected offers toremain out of the field when his regiment was sent to Virginia; he wished totest his mettle under fire. His honor wouldn’t allow him to remain behind.Will broke the news to DeEtte that he had enlisted and shewrote, “Sunday 28th day of August. Will has told me this afternoon that heintended to enlist. I could hardly believe my ears when I heard him say it. OhI shall be so lonely. How can I live a year without seeing him, I feel very sadand lonely tonight. He gave me a very nice coral ring this afternoon.” Justthree days later she wrote, “The 31st day of August 1864. This has been a verysad & eventful day to me. Tonight I have parted with my best friend and Oh!what a sad parting it was. His last words were “Be true to me.” and I will betrue to him. Before he went away he asked my parents consent to our union whichwas given. If he ever returns good and true, i shall be his wife…I don’t knowhow I shall live without him, but I expect i shall live some way. I hope hewill think of me as much as I do og him and come back at the end of his yearstill loving me & no one else. Then, if I live, I think I shall be happy.”Will and DeEtte were married on 5 September 1865 not longafter he returned from the war. Together they had at least three children, CoraMaria (b. 1867), Roy Dayton (b. 1876) and Nellie DeEtte (b. 1878).A post-war cabinet card of Will & DeEtte KennedyTRANSCRIPTIONHarts Island
Sunday afternoon
September 11, 1864My Dear DeEtte, I have finally found a quiet place by myself and I will improve it in what will be my greatest pleasure—writing to you.Eight o’clock, I was disturbed this afternoon to answer to the roll call. I have just returned from the Distributing Office where 100 of us were called to sign the payroll. Tomorrow we will receive out one third of the government bounty and will be immediately shipped. Our regiment was at Fort McHenry but it is reported that it has moved to the front. Wherever it is, we will start for it tomorrow.The names of those from our town that signed the payroll tonight are D. L. Bailey, George W. Beard, Newton Hubbard, Peter Deyo, Peter Dykeman, and Will. Milo Lines is here but his name was not called. We hear that Ezra Beard and some others of the Jefferson boys are on the way. We are all well. As this is a very healthful location, we could not be otherwise.DeEtte, I wish you could see me now while writing. I am leaning on a bunk in the barracks surrounded by 470 men all jabbering like a lot of geese so you must excuse this short letter but I cannot refrain from writing though my letter is short and confused.There was a grand turnout last night after all were snoozing in their bunk. Every member of the 91st was ordered to “fall in” to sign the payroll so we all start together this morning—that is, all that are here that belong to that regiment. There are about 5, 000 soldiers on the island that are to start for different parts of the army.My love to all. Tell Stephen to write with you a few lines. You will soon know where I am stationed. In haste from your true lover, — WillTERMS$3.00 postage in the United States. We accept Paypal. Postage combined for multiple purchases. Please wait for me to send the invoice, otherwise will pay a much higher postage rate!For International buyers: We are now using eBay's Global Shipping Program. We had too many packages sent via the post office go missing. So we believe this program will be safer for us - and for you.We're members of the American Philatelic Society, the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society, the Confederate Stamp Alliance and the Illinois Postal History Society.We only sell genuine, original letters (no copies or reproductions). Some of our letters have been transcribed and nicely presented for future genealogists and history buffs on the Spared & Shared blog. We've been selling on eBay since 2001. BID WITH CONFIDENCE.
00096
