Get your own
Free Home PageBristol June 26 / 64
Dear Child
yours of the 14th is at hand found us well Geo is gaining quite fast Sot is comfortable Harvy & Warner Fowler just left here all well just rec'd a line from Chili Philandrs wife has been verry sick is better now the rest as usual Erastus has an other daughter rec'd a line from John he is at Washington in the hospital quite stiff older than his Father I have been a U. S. Grand Juror the past week Ansel Wilcox was buryed yesterday Solomon Case had a school here this after noon about 25 schollars sold my wool for 75 cts W. Reed plowed your hill piece of of wheat the other looks midling & tight much it has been verry hot the last week getting dry 27th thunder shower last night Oscar is at Wilsons Warf on the James with Gen Butler write often & we will whether you get it or not will send a few stamps & envelopes every time
S Goodale
cant think of any thing to write
RETURN TO MILITARY HISTORY PAGE
Aug. 28 / 1864
Dear Father & Mother
I arrived here in due time & it seamed dreary enough too.. the hospitalble is filled with the wounded from the fight of the 16th & when they dress their wounds their cryes are dreadful to hear it is enough to make any one feel blue yesterday after I got here I sat on my bunk looking at my nose & towardark d dark I was taken sick with a disease that is not considered dangerous but verry disagreeable & nothing but the sight of a certain house a little west of Baptist Hill would cure me, in short I was home sick real home sick the first symptoms I ever had & it is worse than the Fever but I went to bed & got to sleep after a while & this morning I felt better to day I was marked for duty and shall got to the front verry soon I expect, they have not asked me a question concerning my health since I have been here I told Dr. Smith about my arm & he said nothing neither looked at it if you answere me at this place please do it at once for I may not be here long. Alonzo Ferrin is in this Pavilion he said he left the Regt 10 days ago & he said they were fighting this side of the river when he left he is pretty sick now but is getting better, as to the streat rail road that we differed about I was right I can stand on the top of a streat car & with a 10 foot pole hit the spars of more than 20 Vessels & I know it, in leaving the pier you need not walk more than 6 steps to get on to the car thats is so well I must close, good bye Write soon and oblige your loveing Son C. S. Goodale
RETURN TO MILITARY HISTORY PAGE
Page Camp near the weldon R. R. Sept 10th
Dear Father & Mother
I arrived at Davids Island 2 weeks ago today & penned you a few lines that day I have red re.c no answers to day I have time to day I thought I would write again I suppose my letters will be forward,ed on to me,, the next Monday after I arrived at Davids Island I was sent to Bedloes I,s & said one week & one day then took the Transport for City Point & we had rough sea you can "bet high" you said you liked to see Old Ocean tumble y if you had been along you would have seen enough of it the waves rolled as high (?) even higher than your hou-r house were we were ordered below & & it tossed us about in no agreeable manner I . can tell you we were storred in thicker than hogs in a car for the boat was full deck & all (?) when we was
2
all below it was all a jam & about 1/2 was heaving up their boot straps Oh Dear what a night of suffering lots of them fainted way & when the boat would rock we would we would roll up 3 or four double & in the morning the floor was about 1/2 inch deep in water & Speutim & such nasty a set you never saw but we had a pleasant ride up the James past Fortress Manroe New Port News... point of rocks.. Wilcox landing.. Harrisons landing... etc up to City Point there we were garded by Cavelry to our several Corps Head Quarters & yesterday I joined my Regt found Co H drawing rations for only 31 men they have been badly cut up since I left & they are in the extreme front now they give us a murdurs shelling not 1/2 hour after I left the arrived at the Co I hugged the old breast works
3 Sunday Sept 11th /64
All is quiet along the lines to day it is a beautiful morning & all the boys are brushing up for inspection I have not got my gun yet dont know when I shall get it Oscar Gilbert is the only boy in the Co from Bristol
4
the most of them are taken prisoners they were taken the 25th of last month among them were Rufus Travis. Wm Chapman there was 40 killed wounded & taken prisoners out of our Co & it leaves is with only 30 men out of 204 I have got over being home sick & I feel first rate I eat
5
like a man morning I am a mighty poor hand to play off I never could be sick play sick or lame for I should forgit what I was about & kick the thing all over Jim Gay has got a soft thing he is on Bedloes Island N Y Harbor doing gard duty he has not been payed off yet but I got his note for the amount he owed me & he says he sais he will send it to me when he is paid Capt Brown it was on Bedloes I's I expect he is at home now I dont think he will join the Co again he has got enough of it
6
If a fellow gets out of the army it learns him a lesson it set a mans head on a boys shoulders he can apreciate in a measure the regard his Parents has for him & a good home & the comfort of it for home is home if it is ever so homely I have wished a 100 times that I had stayed at home more when I was on forlough but I could not I had so many places to go & so many I wanted to see but I hope I may live to come home for good some day & I hope I will know enough to know when I am well off
RETURN TO MILITARY HISTORY PAGE
Sept 14 / 64
Dear Father & Mother Camp near Peters the Weldon R. R.
your verry welcome letter was re.c to day it found me well as usual with an apetite that cleans things I have just been over to the 3rd Brigade to see Barritt he is the only one left in his Co except 10 men that was detailed last spring for Provo gard george Smith is in on that I have seen him Sunday Burt Smith came to see me he is in the 1st Mounted Rifle I rec a letter from Oscar day before yesterday & have answered it he says that he thinks he can get a pass & come see me Sept 15
I commenced this yesterday & had to fall in & go out in a fatigue squad & when I got that done & eat supper had to go out & support the pickets was gone all night we had to lay low there is a good deal of picket fighting now with the exception of that all is quiet along the lines there has been 3 men shot in the Regt since I come back 2 of them while at work & one in camp I tell you we have got strong works the rebs can never drive us out of them & if we try to drive them out of theirs & guess we will have dusty times Burt Smith has been lucky this summer he says he has not seen a reb except prisoners I wish I could say so you had ought to see the rail road that runs along the lines from petersburg City Point it runs up hill & down they layed it all in one day they did not grade it at all but they run pretty slow on it I cant tell Alonzo Ferrin to write to libby for he is at Davids Island if she wants him told she must tell him herself for she is nearer him than I be if she wants to write to him she can direct as you did to me he was in the same pervillion & if he is removed it will be forrowed to him I tent with Oscar Gilbert & an fellow by the name of Nott we live tip top have potatoes onions beans pork good beaf Coffee & sugar & first rate good soft bread & have a plenty of all I dont see how any body can complain at that unless they did not have much at home to eat they might find fault As to your taking seymours Baby to bring up you will do as you choose of course but I dont think much of the notion of your being kept awake nights with a squalling baby & tuging it around & evry thing else that attends such a job you know you took one little girl to bring up & you know the reason why you sent her away & I think some one else will think they must have their say about aabout this one (I mean Mrs Olin) If seymour wants to pay any body for taking care of it let him pay her for she has got Mrs Mead to help her & you know Father is subject to the Palsy & you dont know what minute he may need all the attention you have got to spair etc I guess you will laugh to think how much regard I have got for my Parents feelings you will think I might have practiced a little more what I mow write when I was at home abou keeping you awake nights etc but you wanted to know what I thought of it & I have told you & you spoke of its costing something besides the care of it that is nothing to me after any one earns mony that they want to use it as they please at least I do & another thing if Olin leaves any thing behind him I suppose the baby will have a part of it & I think that ought to take care of it instead of your doing it out of for nothing I guess my advise to People 50 years old is at an end dont you think I would make quite a Lawyer give my love to Liby and Len but save a good shair for your self what is Seymour a going to do in Mich did Joel give 12.50 for the old horse or 72.50 I could not tell is singing school progressing finely I wish I could be there to attend tell Len not to sing Bass to much or to loud he will spoil his voice I did mine I cant sing Bass as well as I could at his age tell him not to enlist but be a good boy & stay at home it is the best thing he can do
letter ends here unsigned]
RETURN TO MILITARY HISTORY PAGE
Sept the 17th 1864
Wilsons Wharf James River Va.
Friend Solomon & Carrie I Received your kind letters last night and was very glad to hear from both of you & now I take the first opertunity to answer it I though I would Sit down and comense it before Brekfast the rest of the Boyse are down to the fire stewing sum Apples for brekfast and I am alone in my tent well I know that is not very tuff I have seen a great many tuffer dayse then I am seeing now although I am able to do my duty every time and all over the garrison but dont feele as well as I did before this da_b feaver and Ague caught hold of me.. I had a letter from Chas about 2 weeks ago. And have not hurd from him sence by mail thare was one of our boyse came from the Hospital from ny. City and he said that thare was a fellow on the boat was inquiring after me and when I came to discribe the felow it was Chas.. I Shall try and git a pass to go up and see him to morrow dont know wether I will make it work or not but thare is nothing like trying I find well I am glad that the Watch came through safe well Mr. Goodale I have written to you this makes 4 times that I have written to you Sence the first letter I received from you Stating that you had received the 85 Dol. It pleased me to hear how well you dun with it it is better then I could have dun my self you will have no doubt got a letter before this stating that I had received yourse the Photographs came safe to hand when you write again just let me know what they cost you I had Scarcly got them out of the letter when the Boyse Rushed up and wanted to see them I got one of them back and the other I could not the Sergt of our Co got one of them and he said I never would git that againe & I believe him Carrie the next time you write let me know what Co and Regt Orville is in so I can Scratch him a few line Carrie you said that you would send me one of Orv Photographs if I had non I wish you would for I have not got one and I should like one very much. Well I thought I could finish this so as to send it in the morning maile but I see I cant and write all I want to well we had Eight Recruits cum for our Co last Tuesday night Oh how I wished that Orv had been in the lot I dont see why he did not cum in this Co if he has A choice of Regt.. I dont know as he had well Mr Goodale.. I was Sorry to hear that you feet wir so bad hope they will git well soon or before I have a chance of getting home for I Should be lonesom to go to canandaigua with out you to help me to Eat Oysters I think if I have the good luck that I have had once we may have a good time againe well I shall have to Close and try and git it in this mail I think I shall have time before the Boat leavs this from your friend & Brother
O. Rogers...
Direct as before and write soon
RETURN TO MILITARY HISTORY PAGE
On picket on the Apomattox
Oct 26 / 64
Dear Father & Mother
Yours of the 23rd was rec yesterday also another stated directed to Leiut Edmanson or my self the day before yesterday was glad to hear from you again I guess I have got all the letters you have written for I have got one about evry week & was verry glad to get them too I am now on picket about 6 miles from City Point we on one bank & the Rebs on the other they ar verry quiet however & so are we for it would be nothing but cold murdur to fire now for we have no works of defence can see them evry time we are a mind to look at them & they can do the same it is just across a little stream they are verry friendly there are pleanty of boats along the shore Lieut just came up along the lines in one he came laughing & grinning along with an old fence board for a paddle he can "paddle his own canoe" pretty well if you was allowed to shoot & had your double barrel gun you could get lots of do game such as geese ducks grouse & lots of crain blue herrin & many other large birds that I dont know the name lots of musk Rats coon & Oposson etc one Oposson cought last night but a few rods from my post they squeal like a hog John Buckley came to the Regt a few says since he was here a day or two before I saw him when I did it was a cold fogy rainy morning & of all the blue home sick expressions that ever sat on any Mans Countenance sat on his his face was a long as your arm & his under lip" you could have tied a knott in it. I went shivering along up to him my feet about froze off & says I good morning John the Regt is having Bucky times now no firieing along the lines plenty hard tack & Coffee to eat & a good quantity of fever & ague he shook hands verry formally made a bow stood a minute & said, Well I do-not know what you think about it but I think it rather disagreeable sit-ting up all night I thought so too but dident tell him so when the tird tide is in the water settles back over our posts & keeps us all in the mud it so level around River John looks verry bad th he will not stand it long at the front he dont look near as well as he did when I was at home I rec the $5.00 you sent have you sold my wheat yet when you do send me an account of what & owe for harvesting it money borrowed etc & I will settle it if I was at home a day or two I would jerk out those beans & help pick the apples & husk the corn I would be glad of the chance to get a few apples to eat if you had evry single apple here that is in you Orchard except the rottons you could get 5 cts a piece for them & more too for you cant buy any kind of an apple shore of 5 cts if half rotten & large ones sell for 2 for a quarter has Seymour gone to mich yet how is friend Silvester getting along how does Baptist hill flourish since Wm Hunt lift this is my last paper & I sent you my last envilope some time ago heave sent for more to day & well I must close for want of more space write soon as convenient your loving son
C. S. Goodale
RETURN TO MILITARY HISTORY PAGE
Camp 4th N. Y Arty Oct Nov 4th
Dear Father & Mother 1
Yours of the 30th came to hand in good time I was glad to hear from you & hear you was well we have left the picket line & tis a wonder I we expected we would have to stay all winter we are near Hancock Station now we came here day before yesterday it has rained all the time since we have been here we we marched about 5 mi from the Appomattox here it was a pretty warm day John did not keep up after we had been in camp.. Nov 5th about a hour he came poking along with a great big Satchel & his arms full of dry goods he kept beging my things until I had nothing to lay on or under that night the next day he
2 layed around all day when I got my Coffee made he wanted a little of it & when he drank that up wanted a little more if I had it to spare & he came 3rd time & I asked him why he dident make his own he drew as much rations as I did Wall he said the water was off a good wase & he did not want to black his Cup that day Oc Gilbert & I worked all day as hard as we could to make a stockade & bunk we backed logs about 1/4 of a Mi in the rain & when night come I was a tired as I would like to be & wet through to the skin but we had a bully little log house with our tents for a roof & we built up a good fire in front of it & dryed our cloths & had a good bunk about 3 feet from the ground & the first thing I see was
3
John fetching his things along & was going to put up for the night in our house without consulting he Land lord at all, but he soon found that played for there was room for only 3 of us & there was 3 thad that had a hand in building it he said he did not know what to do the ground was all mud & it was raining a good smart jog. I can asshure you things did not look verry inviting I felt sorry for him & no mistake but not quite sorry enough to give him my bed after working all day in the rain & he sitting around all day in different tents I asked him whey he did not put up a tent that day he had one. & he said he reckoned he could go in with me seeing I was making a pretty good big bunk it rained all night & was cold too I looked out once in the night & sat saw him setting
4 on his Satchel fanning a little fire with his plate I felt sorry for him & no mistake but I thought he has got to learn to look out for himself some time orother & he might as well commence that night as any time for if a man d dont look out for himself down here it is my canded opininion they wont any body look out for him
Nov 7th..
Before I could finish my letter we had to pack up I had just pulled off my shoes & was sitting Tailor fashion on the bunk writing I tell you I hated to leave our little house it was as nice & warm as could be but we had to dig out & in 5 mi was in line with my house bedding household furnature rub blanket bun gun & belts provisions Canteen etc on my back marching down to the right of our lines to support the lines or strengthed for it was rumored that the Rebs was massing troops
5
there we stood all night & it did seem as though & should freeze to death & shivered so that it just about shook my teeth loose & the next day was verry cold & windy it was Sunday & layed down on my rubber & put my woolen blanket over me & took a good sleep when I woke up an old Methodist exotor stood on an old a hard tack box preaching away as hard as he could he said that when a good man stole hard tack or pork he was sorry if he was caught at it he was sorry - sorry because he had stole it, but a bad man, if he stole he was s sorry not because he stole but because he got caught at it I layed & heard myself full of that old fellows preaching & went to sleep & slept until the day was nearly gone got up drawed rations cooked a good supper & went to bed slept pretty well last got up this morning & lo it was raining
6
has rained all day pretty hard have got up a tent on a rather shiffless scale put it up on our guns but it keeps the rain out & that is the main point have got the rubbers down on the ground & the woolen blankets on tip of them & I have got my shoes off & sit as coosy as can be a pretty good position for any one that is supposed to be standing in line of battle all the time but I have got over keeping my things all packed up for fear we would move & freeze if they start if I dont have time to pack up I am the nice little man that will take time & if they march to fast & far I can just fall out in the woods & cook my Coffee & live at home I never will march as I did last summer again .. I suppose tomorrow desides who has the $25000 & house rent per year I rec the Votes you sent me but did not vote I did not hardly want to vote for old Abe & I would not vote for Mclellan according to what little I reed & what I hear he has got a pretty Seedy set connected with him he joined himself w with them for the sake of a few votes & upst his dish & lost all the votes
7
he did have that is my opinion I dont suppose it is worth much & I dont ask much for it I dont want any of you to vo worry yourselves about my not enjoying Religious Privilages for the Old fellow that preached las Sunday.. "Yesterday".. belongs to Co, F. & he is preaching the best past of the time he is a private but he can beat the Chaplain all ot nothing & they cant any body beat him praying he says the this army cant be prosperous & be conducted in such a wicked manner & so much sursing & stealing & wickedness among the men & I believe he is about right if I have had 4 different guns since I come back I am not the chap to loose $26 by not having a gun on inspection or one so durty that it will be condemned day before yesterday Gen Hancock reviewed his Corps we wa all out on a field of about 2 or 3 100 acres & as level as a floor & we marched round in Platoons of about 1/2 mi in length & we all charged across that field in 4 lines of battle Gen Hancock & staff all in it I guess if it had have been a genuine Change they would not have made
8
themselves quite so conspicuous & the ... Officers would not have been quite so brave at the heads of their respective commands but it was a grand sight I wish you could have been here to see it it was better than any show that was ever seen around your parts I must close by penning a few lines to Carrie I shall not have time to write to her as I would like for rations are here & will soon be dealt out I have had more time to day than I have had in some time before & I ought to clean my gun to day but shant for it most night write soon as convenient x x x Dear Carrie I rec a few lines from you in our fathers letter dated Oct 30th & am glad to hear from you at any time you may be pleased to write & say Orv a few days since he is well & has been in a small fight a piece of shell hit a man close to him & his brains flew all over his over coat cape he lost his napsack f but if he did loose some of his dry goods if the fight he come out with more brains than we went in with Nov 8th x x x this moring about 4 oclock we had orders to pack up & we marched towards
9
the lines about 1/4 of a mi then we formed in line of battle & the Staff Officers was thick as could been then we got the Order. Forward Guide. Center. March & we all thought that we was going to try the Rebs lines & there was some pail faces I can tell you I & I felt rather quear all through me & no mistake this charging is dusty business & besides it dont suit me for so many gets sore heads well we marched up to the picket line & halted in line until just break of day then we went back to where we started from & have pitched a tent & got things pretty comefortable but I dont like to stay here for we are to near
10
Petersburg I would not be surprised if we tryed their works at any time & if we do it will be a dreadfull time for the attacking party for they are strongly fortifyed & have fo Artilary in pasishion I can rake the space between the line evry inch of it with Geape Grape & canester Well Carrie as you are getting so many dry goods & having so much sewing done that you have to hire a woman to help you I suppose you are expecting to - ware them of course & not freeze to death when cold weather comes whe we was on picket down on the appomattox the Rebs used to sing a good deal & they have got some splended singers too they used to sing their nation song the Bonny Blue flag I will write you the Corus on a little piece of paper write soon yours ever GSG
RETURN TO MILITARY HISTORY PAGE
Camp 4th N.Y Hvy Arty Nov 18th
Dear Father & Mother Near Petersburg
Yours of the 13th was rec last night & was glad to hear from home again & hear you was well but sorry to hear that Ben was had a sore hand & corn not husked I believe if I was at home I could soon finsh it I wish I was there to try it at any rate for a spell for it has been bitter cold wether for a week or two past it is warmer now it is a beautifull day to day nice & warm now it has been so cold that water would freeze almost solled in a canteen & ice would hold up a gun on little ponds of water such nights are not so comfortable as might be but I stand it first rate sometimes I roll out of bed & get out of the tent & my hair gets all full & stiff with frost but if I should freeze to death I dont believe I should wake up we have to get up at 4 oclock & go up & stand in the breast works in front of Petersburg till day light I must go and drill - have got done with the drill & now will try & get done with my letter we have had orders to draw 4 extra rations making 8 in all I guess there is something ahead for us & I will bet a - it is for no good we are now at Mead Station about 12 Mi from City Point in a pleasant Camping ground I wish we could stay here all winter but cuss the one years men there is too many of them in the Regt for us to get a soft thing Government dont pay them $1.00 a month to lay in camp, "Oh No" you wanted to P Know how I was situated & where I was I am in the 1st Div 1st Berg 2nd Corps Gen Hancock in Command of the Corps Gen Miles in Commands of the Div & Col Wilson in command of the Brig Capt Vanderwheel in Comand of the Reg & Lieut Edmanson in Com of the Co H & is Officer of the day to day Sard Sargt Lincoln is Orderly Well one word & I am done that John is a John & no mistake the Officers have been giving him a pleanty of their lip on account of his gun being durty yesterday we had a Brigade inspection & his gun would not pass after inspection Lieut E told him if he did not clean his gun he would punish him it was as rusty as an old plow & he wanted to hire me to help clean it about a $3 job & I went to work as hard as I could all the after noon I reckoned I would get a penny for he had money when I got done he he offered me a piece of cod fish for pay & there was any quantity of it around Camp I had 1 or 2 that I would give away x x x Nov 18th it is a rainy day to day & I will finish my letter it is just old disagreeable rooting around here in the mud but Gilbert is a staving good tent mate when I got up this morning he had a big fire in front of the tent & it is as dry & coosy inside here as you please I have got my shoes off & our blankets are dry we carry 3 pieces of tent one to button on the end that the wind & storm comes from have a big fire at the other end carry 3 woolen blank 3 rubbers 2 good over coats 2 dry coats 2 blouses & pleanty of good under cloths dont worry about my not having cloths enough for my comfort I have got more cloths now than I can carry 5 mi & they did not cost me a cent wither I had an idea that I could find some of the cloths I throwed away last spring there was some of Burnsides troops passed us by here last night to the right of our lines one Div of Nigs well I Dad you must be a good boy & husk the corn husking is good buisness but soldering is better I hear that Charley Francis is married well that is better yet I must close & burn a little pork & have a good dinner we have got a coffee pot & spider & pleanty to put in them Gilbert is fast asleep no more room
C S Goodale
John thinks it is disagreeable yet. My love to Carrie & every body else
Get your own
Free Home Page