6th Pennsylvania Cavalry CIVIL WAR LETTER - Content Yorktown, Virginia
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:98738 |
CIVIL WAR LETTER
This Civil War letter was written by Oswald Jackson (1838-1891) who entered the service as a 1st Lieutenant in Co. F, 17th Pennsylvania Infantry but transferred to Co. I, 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry [“Rush’s Regiment of Lancers”] where he was promoted to captain in August 1862. While serving in this capacity, he was detailed as an aide-de-camp to Major Gen. Erasmus D. Keyes with whom he served until August 1863 when he resigned his commission as a major. Keyes co...mmanded the Fourth Army Corps headquartered at Yorktown.Oswald (or “Ossie”) was the son of Isaac Rand Jackson (1806-1842) and Louisa Catherine Carroll (1809-1869) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Ossie wrote the letter to Ella Moore Willing (1838-1923) whom he later married.An obituary notice for Oswald Jackson, published on 9 December 1891 in the New York Tribune, states that he “was the head of the firm of Oswald Jackson & Brother, wine importers of No. 21 South William Street” and that he was “lost overboard from the North German Lloyd steamship Fulda on November 30 [1891].” Oswald’s education began in Brussels where his father “was at one time Unites States Minister to Brussels. He subsequently was graduated from Burlington University, Burlington, Iowa. On his mother’s side he was descended from the Carroll family of Maryland. In the Civil War, Mr. Jackson was aide-de-camp on the staff of General Keyes and rose to the rank of major. He began business first in Philadelphia but of late the headquarters of his firm have been in this city [New York]. Mr. Jackson was well known in yachting circles and had owned the Mistral, Iola, and Fenela. He leaves a widow and two children.” A day earlier, the Herald reported that it was assumed Jackson was swept overboard during inclement weather on board ship.TRANSCRIPTIONYorktown, Va.
April 30th 1863Back at Old Yorktown, darling, and seated at the same old table, writing home once more; but not as I used to write, for I am happier than ever before in all my life, except when I was with you, my love.Everything I look upon glows in the colour de rose that my happy anticipations shed upon it and I catch myself judging all by the standard, “How will Ella like this?” [or] “I wonder if my darling will be please with it?”I do hope she will and that when she comes to brighten my house & all my life with her sweet presence, I shall be able to make her comfortable and very happy too.I have too much to tell you, dearest, that I hardly know where to begin, but it must be on commencement for my little note from Baltimore—that shabby looking little one—whose speedy arrival only could apologize for its appearance, told you nothing but that I was there.Well, I searched the train there, but no Chetwood was to be found anywhere, so I subsided into a seat by a stout party whose smiling countenance prepossessed me in his favor, and I found him a most pleasant companion. You know my luck in always meeting some one I know, or who knows some of my friends in these journeys, and this was no exception to my custom for the stout party proved to be a Mr. Wright—a large “iron man” and I found that Capt. Biddle, formerly on McClellan’s staff, was connected in business with him. He was an old school mate of mine and I found my companion had been much at Harrisburg at the commencement of the war & knew all about our regiment and the Old “Grays” and many of my friends. And so the time passed quite pleasantly until we reached Baltimore when we parted at Barnum’s mutually (I think) pleased with each other.I like to make these chance acquaintances. One seldom fails to derive some benefit from a man who is at all worth talking to & very often they prove useful afterwards.We reached Baltimore early & I had time to get a little dinner at Barnum’s and found Col. Taylor of Gen’l Dix’s staff going down on the same boat. He came up with me, you may remember, and also a surgeon who was going down there to relieve Dr. Huntingdon, one of Charlie Lee’s friends.I was desperately sleepy after our late hours at home and lay down about eight o’clock intending to take a little nap and then go down to rejoin my friends below, but Morpheus held me too firmly in his embrace and I slept soundly in perfect oblivion of friend or foe until just before the boat touched the wharf at Fort Monroe.Taylor invited us to breakfast with him at his quarters, after which I strolled about, paid a visit to the Paymaster whom I found in funds, and mulcted for my April accounts and managed to pass the time until the Yorktown boat was ready to start.I did not write to you from Voorhees as usual, my darling, because they were busy in the counting room, and I didn’t want to distract them, so you will forgive the day that will pass with no letter for you, and not the postman, won’t you?They all seemed very glad to see me back here—especially “Old Getty” who I feared would leave before I saw him again. He said he was very sorry he should not be the expected inmate of my new house, and I told him of his picture that was framed & well known at home. Whitehead has been pushing the work along as fast as the rain would allow, and the roof is all in and many of the logs ready.This evening we went off together and received a quantity of furniture, etc., and windows enough and glass doors too! to answer for the whole building. Isn’t that jolly? We have hearty laughs ourselves over the odd way in which my house is being brought together, and the discussion of the details of its plan is a matter of unfailing interest & delight which will only reach its climax when you, my darling, come to inhabit it.The General [Keyes] was very cordial & polite in his welcome and Whitehead says he thinks he has nominated me for the majority, which Chetwood’s promotion to the Assistant Adj. Gen. a fait accompli, has left vacant. It may be so. I hope it is, but I have learnt to put not my faith in princes, and it may not be true. At all events, I decline to receive congratulations until I am officially informed.The ladies are all well and blooming as the rose, and extended their most bewitching smiles but I have only as yet obtained a mere glance at their fair faces for I meant to spend his evening with you, dearest, and couldn’t possibly give any of it to them. I longed, darling, to ask you to send that “B_____” back to Miss Whitehead, will you please do it for me?Don’t forget in making your preparations to arrange about the servants and to let me know whether you will bring both the cook & Hannah for if I have to find a cook here I ought to have time enough to look out for a good one. I will let you know when the mansion is sufficiently advanced for their reception and then everything which can be sent down such as the curtains—I’ll let you know the size of the windows, the table clothes, and whatever you would like sent in advance of your coming to give an aspect of home to our humble cot. Charlie will lend me some of his pictures to adorn our walls and whatever you send before (do not let it be too much). Will save so much trouble in bringing when we come ourselves.I’m going to look out for a house for you, dearest, and mean to get one. A lamb for docility, a rocking chair for comfort, which two traits I hope to invite in some one fortunate beast & then reward him by allowing him to carry you. Goodnight , y darling. How I wish I could say it as I did night before last. With my dearest love. Ever your own, — OssiePlease send this enclose note to Charlie.TERMS$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.
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This Civil War letter was written by Oswald Jackson (1838-1891) who entered the service as a 1st Lieutenant in Co. F, 17th Pennsylvania Infantry but transferred to Co. I, 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry [“Rush’s Regiment of Lancers”] where he was promoted to captain in August 1862. While serving in this capacity, he was detailed as an aide-de-camp to Major Gen. Erasmus D. Keyes with whom he served until August 1863 when he resigned his commission as a major. Keyes co...mmanded the Fourth Army Corps headquartered at Yorktown.Oswald (or “Ossie”) was the son of Isaac Rand Jackson (1806-1842) and Louisa Catherine Carroll (1809-1869) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Ossie wrote the letter to Ella Moore Willing (1838-1923) whom he later married.An obituary notice for Oswald Jackson, published on 9 December 1891 in the New York Tribune, states that he “was the head of the firm of Oswald Jackson & Brother, wine importers of No. 21 South William Street” and that he was “lost overboard from the North German Lloyd steamship Fulda on November 30 [1891].” Oswald’s education began in Brussels where his father “was at one time Unites States Minister to Brussels. He subsequently was graduated from Burlington University, Burlington, Iowa. On his mother’s side he was descended from the Carroll family of Maryland. In the Civil War, Mr. Jackson was aide-de-camp on the staff of General Keyes and rose to the rank of major. He began business first in Philadelphia but of late the headquarters of his firm have been in this city [New York]. Mr. Jackson was well known in yachting circles and had owned the Mistral, Iola, and Fenela. He leaves a widow and two children.” A day earlier, the Herald reported that it was assumed Jackson was swept overboard during inclement weather on board ship.TRANSCRIPTIONYorktown, Va.
April 30th 1863Back at Old Yorktown, darling, and seated at the same old table, writing home once more; but not as I used to write, for I am happier than ever before in all my life, except when I was with you, my love.Everything I look upon glows in the colour de rose that my happy anticipations shed upon it and I catch myself judging all by the standard, “How will Ella like this?” [or] “I wonder if my darling will be please with it?”I do hope she will and that when she comes to brighten my house & all my life with her sweet presence, I shall be able to make her comfortable and very happy too.I have too much to tell you, dearest, that I hardly know where to begin, but it must be on commencement for my little note from Baltimore—that shabby looking little one—whose speedy arrival only could apologize for its appearance, told you nothing but that I was there.Well, I searched the train there, but no Chetwood was to be found anywhere, so I subsided into a seat by a stout party whose smiling countenance prepossessed me in his favor, and I found him a most pleasant companion. You know my luck in always meeting some one I know, or who knows some of my friends in these journeys, and this was no exception to my custom for the stout party proved to be a Mr. Wright—a large “iron man” and I found that Capt. Biddle, formerly on McClellan’s staff, was connected in business with him. He was an old school mate of mine and I found my companion had been much at Harrisburg at the commencement of the war & knew all about our regiment and the Old “Grays” and many of my friends. And so the time passed quite pleasantly until we reached Baltimore when we parted at Barnum’s mutually (I think) pleased with each other.I like to make these chance acquaintances. One seldom fails to derive some benefit from a man who is at all worth talking to & very often they prove useful afterwards.We reached Baltimore early & I had time to get a little dinner at Barnum’s and found Col. Taylor of Gen’l Dix’s staff going down on the same boat. He came up with me, you may remember, and also a surgeon who was going down there to relieve Dr. Huntingdon, one of Charlie Lee’s friends.I was desperately sleepy after our late hours at home and lay down about eight o’clock intending to take a little nap and then go down to rejoin my friends below, but Morpheus held me too firmly in his embrace and I slept soundly in perfect oblivion of friend or foe until just before the boat touched the wharf at Fort Monroe.Taylor invited us to breakfast with him at his quarters, after which I strolled about, paid a visit to the Paymaster whom I found in funds, and mulcted for my April accounts and managed to pass the time until the Yorktown boat was ready to start.I did not write to you from Voorhees as usual, my darling, because they were busy in the counting room, and I didn’t want to distract them, so you will forgive the day that will pass with no letter for you, and not the postman, won’t you?They all seemed very glad to see me back here—especially “Old Getty” who I feared would leave before I saw him again. He said he was very sorry he should not be the expected inmate of my new house, and I told him of his picture that was framed & well known at home. Whitehead has been pushing the work along as fast as the rain would allow, and the roof is all in and many of the logs ready.This evening we went off together and received a quantity of furniture, etc., and windows enough and glass doors too! to answer for the whole building. Isn’t that jolly? We have hearty laughs ourselves over the odd way in which my house is being brought together, and the discussion of the details of its plan is a matter of unfailing interest & delight which will only reach its climax when you, my darling, come to inhabit it.The General [Keyes] was very cordial & polite in his welcome and Whitehead says he thinks he has nominated me for the majority, which Chetwood’s promotion to the Assistant Adj. Gen. a fait accompli, has left vacant. It may be so. I hope it is, but I have learnt to put not my faith in princes, and it may not be true. At all events, I decline to receive congratulations until I am officially informed.The ladies are all well and blooming as the rose, and extended their most bewitching smiles but I have only as yet obtained a mere glance at their fair faces for I meant to spend his evening with you, dearest, and couldn’t possibly give any of it to them. I longed, darling, to ask you to send that “B_____” back to Miss Whitehead, will you please do it for me?Don’t forget in making your preparations to arrange about the servants and to let me know whether you will bring both the cook & Hannah for if I have to find a cook here I ought to have time enough to look out for a good one. I will let you know when the mansion is sufficiently advanced for their reception and then everything which can be sent down such as the curtains—I’ll let you know the size of the windows, the table clothes, and whatever you would like sent in advance of your coming to give an aspect of home to our humble cot. Charlie will lend me some of his pictures to adorn our walls and whatever you send before (do not let it be too much). Will save so much trouble in bringing when we come ourselves.I’m going to look out for a house for you, dearest, and mean to get one. A lamb for docility, a rocking chair for comfort, which two traits I hope to invite in some one fortunate beast & then reward him by allowing him to carry you. Goodnight , y darling. How I wish I could say it as I did night before last. With my dearest love. Ever your own, — OssiePlease send this enclose note to Charlie.TERMS$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.
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