Civil War Archive of Nine 58th Pennsylvania Soldier Letters, 1862-1864
This small archive of nine letters, dated between July 1863 and March 1864, concerns the goings-on in the 58th Pennsylvania as they operated in coastal North Carolina. The letters were all written to Lieutenant William W.
Wells by two other members of Company F, Sergeants Christopher J. While one letter discusses a fiasco of a raid on an enemy picket post, most of the letters have to do with the jockeying going on among officers and NCOs for commissions, both in the 58th Pennsylvania and in the 2nd North Carolina Union Volunteers, which was then taking form around New Bern.
The letters vary in condition from good to excellent, most with the expected light toning and foxing. Two letters include postal covers, while a third has a remnant of a cover. Letters measure from 5 x 8 to 7 3/4 x 9 3/4. First in the group is a short July 1, 1863 letter from Sergeant Hadley to Lieutenant Wells. Writing from New Bern, Hadley requests that Wells deliver photographs to ladies at home.
He then turns to personal matters, wishing he had visited Wells and the little witch who has made such a fool of me, before stating that the there is any quantity of pretty girls in Washington N. , but they chew snuff and some of them swear like troopers. The next letter is perhaps the most interesting of the group.
Writing to Wells on July 8, 1863, Sergeant Hadley discusses the result of a scouting expedition which came off last night. Redmond of Company D had sent over to Hadleys company for volunteers to assist him in capturing a rebel picket post he had discovered. The men moved out an at about midnight a scout reported that it was our own men on post and not the rebs as the Capt.
Redmond, not believing the scout, ordered his men to fire, at the same time discharging the chambers of his revolving pistol at the supposed enemy. Hadley reported that the men, believing the scout, fired far above their heads and done no harm to them. The incident earned Redmond a poor reputation. The third letter, written from Sergeant Tubbs to Lieutenant Wells on July 28, 1863, discusses the pay owed to several members of the company.
Tubbs regrets not getting a furlough, noting that Colonel Carlton B. Curtis tore it up, saying it was worthless. The next letter was written to Wells on August 31, 1863, by Sergeant Tubbs. It discusses the discontent in Company F.There is some talk that Lieut. Collins will be cashiered and that Captain Henry Roberts will be put under an arrest for his swearing on that court of inquiry. Tubbs writes that Captain Roberts gives the men more liberty than he does me and he keeps them like dogs.
He states that I wish you were here, but the boys dont want you to come until we get rid of some orderlies. Fifth in the group is this October 6, 1863 letter from Sergeant Tubbs, who at this time is the quartermaster sergeant for the 58th. He informs Wells that the regiment is about to be paid off, and inviting Wells to come up to Washington to draw his pay. He passes along the news that Company F men, Privates Gibson and Peasby, had recently died. In the sixth letter, written to Wells in January 1864, Sergeant Hadley discusses his difficulty finding recruits to fill out a new company for the 2nd North Carolina Union Volunteers, citing Colonel Montgomery, who refused to let me go, and Sergeant William M.
Moore of Company E, who was also gathering recruits for a company of his own. Moore, however, had the edge. He is in the Provost office and of course can get nearly every man before I know their being in town. Hadley closes with an incident where he enlisted a man from the jail, but Moore made out the reports himself. Moore would win out when he would be commissioned captain of Co.
Next is a February 16, 1864 letter from Sergeant Hadley, requesting to be initiated into the Free Masons. He also describes having learned from Sergt. Ware of the disgraceful surrender of thousands of loyal Carolinians. Its not clear what action Hadley refers to, but it increased his concern about raising a company for the 2nd North Carolina. The eighth letter was written in February [presumably 1864] by Sergeant Tubbs.In it he discusses a plan for Tubbs, Wells, and Sergeant James Arnold to be the officers of the company. Its not clear if Tubbs refers to the 58th Pennsylvania or one of the new regiments being formed, but he recommends that Wells get an appointment from Gen.
Butler with an order to have your name dropped from our rolls the way Lieut. Adams of Company B had been discharged from the 58th when he was made an officer in the 35th US Colored Troops. Last in the group is this March 1864 letter from Sergeant Tubbs, in which he again discusses the jockeying for commissions, arguing that Wells should do something pretty quick or else the road will be blocked for the whole of us.
Tubbs believes the best way is for you to be promoted to Captain even if you do not come back to the Company, which would put Tubbs in as second lieutenant. Wells, Yours is at hand. I have seen all of the boys but [Private William] A. I will see him after dinner.I suppose you would like to have what I owe you but the Pay Master would not pay me because I did not have my Furlough; and Col. Curtis tore it up, saying it was worthless. Now I have got to write to him (before I can get my pay) and get my certificate that there was no endorsements on it. So I will have to wait until the next pay before I can get any. If you cant get along without it, I will try and borrow it from some of the boys, so let me know immediately.
We are all in usual good health. Hewitt, & [Private Thomas] Brown are in the hospital. Give my love to Chally. But will write before long. I will send the three for Wm. North and get it when I see him. It is all I can get today. New Berne July 1st 1863. Dear Sir, Will you be so kind as to give the enclosed pictures to my Susan and Lovina Taylor. They were sent by the Mrs. Elizabeth Taylor who married the fellow in Co. There is any quantity of pretty girls in Washington, but they chew snuff and some of them swear like troopers.Having an opportunity of writing and feeling like telling you of the result of a scouting expedition which came off last nightI improve the present in giving you some idea of its magnitude. A short time ago Capt.
Moses was captured while passing from one picket post to another and report said there was a large force of rebels not far from town. Everything was put in fighting trim. Redmond sent to our Co.For volunteers to assist him in capturing a rebel picket post which he said he had discovered during the day. None of our men would volunteer so nine of our boys were detailed to help the plucky little wig. Well about twelve midnight the boys came to a picket post and the indomitable Capt. Sent [Private Timothy] Daily to reconnoiter. Would not believe, but advancing a few rods ordered his men to fire, at the same time discharging the chambers of his revolving pistol at the supposed enemy.
Most of the men who were with him, believing the post to be manned by our men, fired far above their heads and done no harm to them. After the fire no doubts were entertained by any with regard to his character. It was our own pickets and Capt. Redmond has now won so unenviable a name that I presume he would not now notice the hero of Gum Swamp or the conqueror of Tyre. I have heard by the by that you was Major of the 132 Reg.
God knows I wish every word of the report might be true but I fear it is not true. If you see Evaline speak kindly to for me.
Yours of the 26th is at hand. Mick Webber was up here last Tuesday and he told me you was sick, but Capt. Would not let me come to see you for he went to New Berne Tuesday on the Boat.I have tried twice and failed both times. The next time I shall succeed if it is possible and that will be next Friday.
Collins will be cashiered and the Capt. Will be put under an arrest for his swearing on that court of inquiry. He gives the men more liberty than he does me and he keeps them like dogs. He will believe a Citizen before he will the men of the Co. Cambell, him he worships for he will starve the Co. To save a cent for the Capt. I wish you were here but the boys dont want you to come until we get rid of some orderlies. All quiet along the lines. I have written to C. Yours is at hand and I have but a few minutes to reply in. I have been issuing clothing today. The appointment is made all right.Tomorrow we get our pay. If you will come up I will pay you up.
It is risky to send it in a letter and I cannot come down. Rogers leaves today on furlough. There is no prospect of leaving, getting filled up or coming together.
My health is good, some of the boys are pretty sick. Gibson is dead, [Private] James Peasby also. Come up if you can this week and bring me some chevrons (silk).Lieut, I have written once before and receiving no reply. I thought best to write again. I have tried again and again to go to New Berne but Col. [Montgomery] Martin told me plainly I could not go.
He knows about my enlisting for the 2nd N. And talked to me about the matter, and when I told him plainly he refused to let me go. Mahoney will keep us on the postat leastso he said even if the Reg.
A few days ago a Lieut. Came here to help Moore recruit and Moore told me yesterday that after he got his number of men he would help me. Now the case is just like this. Moore does not intend to let me have half the men sent down from this post. He is in the Provost office and of course can get nearly every man before I know of their being in town. Martin keeps me in the Ord.And I have but little time to get out. I went to the jail and enlisted a man and Moore made out the papers and filled them enlisted by Sergt. Now I will do all I can and furnish two hundred dollars to help recruitpay one hundred down to you and the rest two months after our Regimental muster. This is the best I can do under the most favorable circumstances.
Enclosed please find twenty dollars, which you will use at your discretion. Can you not make for me an application to join the Free Masons and when I come down to New Berne be initiated.
I earnestly hope you may be able so to do. I have learned from Sergt.
What effect will that have on your prospects of promotion and mine also? How many more men must we get before I can get my appointment? Has not been paid yet and my funds are quite low.
I received a letter from Mr. Belvadier today in reference to the Ward farm.I do not know how much he asks for it. Belvadier has to write to Mr. In order to find out the price.
What has become of Eveline? Did the cowardly villains trouble her if sowell I wont say what. I have had a talk with Lieut. Collins and he is quite anxious to forward the matter for himself, me, and Sergeant James A.Arnold, if you do not want to come in. But if you do, come on and take the Captaincy.
And I will come in for the 2nd Lieutenancy, for the boys in the Co. Are perfectly willing that I should. Today since I wrote the other notes, Col.
[Montgomery] Martin told me to write to you that if you preferred to remain where you are, to get an appointment from Gen. Then the other promotions can be made for the War Department will commission anyone Gen. I received yours in due time but could not answer until now. I think you have been with Col.Claper long enough if he was ever going to help you for him to do something pretty quick. For you will wait before you can find out until someone else will get a commission as Capt. And then the road will be blocked for the whole of us. Clay is trying to figure himself in as Capt. And we dont want him.
I think the best way is for you to be promoted to Captain even if you do not come back to the Company, for then Collins can be promoted and my chance will be good. Think of it and act accordingly and act quickly before anyone else gets the position or else let Collins be put in Capt.
Then that will debar others of the chance. Let me know soon if you can.We would be glad to have you come and take command of the Co. Please see my other items for more interesting Civil War letters, documents, and images. The item "Civil War Archive of Nine 58th Pennsylvania Soldier Letters, 1862-1864" is in sale since Tuesday, December 15, 2020.
This item is in the category "Collectibles\Militaria\Civil War (1861-65)\Original Period Items\Correspondence, Mail". The seller is "iron-horse-sales" and is located in Champaign, Illinois.
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