29th Massachusetts Infantry - Wounded at White Oak Swamp, VA

Item LTR-8129

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 4 pages, written in period ink.


Assonet
January 19th 1863

Lieutenant J. M. Deane,

Dear Jim,

Last Friday, you were promoted to a 1st Lieutenant. I don’t know how you feel about it, but I feel as if I had done a smart thing to get your promoted. The governor had been strongly prejudiced against you and Doctor Wheelwright had listened to your enemies. He and I have almost quarreled several times while discussing your merits.

Then Lieutenant Colonel Barnes sent on his nomination by which it was proposed to put in Winson and Braden over you. Then to secure their ends, Lieutenant Colonel Barnes wrote a letter. Captain Doten another and Whitman another. These letters were sent to a lawyer at East Bridgewater, who sent them to the governor, together with a petition form that town. Lieutenant Colonel Barnes also got Colonel Christ and General Burns to endorse the nomination and there was a desperate effort to make the governor believe that the only motive was to have the best officers promoted. Colonel Barnes in his letter said, “I ought to know, and I do know the caliber of the officers”. Colonel Christ said Colonel Barnes would not recommend these men if they were not the best and General Barnes expatiated on the responsibility to God and the Country those were under who held the appointing power. John A. Andrew never appeared to me more god like than when he handed over all this correspondence for me to read and asked an immediate expression of my wishes which were granted at once.

I was reminded that indeed there is a God in Israel and that I had the best reasons to know that my Redeemer lives. Now for your own sake as well as mine, do not be put under the wheel. Use all of your leisure time to study the tactics so that if Joseph H. put you into the mill, you may come out a good grist. This is the turning point of your whole life. You are now swinging on the hinges of your destiny. Succeed now and you are on the high and direct road to further promotion and honor. Fail, and you can never regain your position. Just think of it how your enemies would triumph over you (both in the regiment and at home). And even your children often you.

I suppose Major Chipman started for the regiment last night. Sergeant William H. Phillips has been made a second lieutenant and he will be sent back to the regiment this week. He was appointed on the application of Captain Tripp made in writing to both Doctor Wheelwright and myself. Sam Hathaway, I suppose you know, has taken the Porter girl to wife and has he would not treat, he was serenaded by a Calumthian Band. The different parts were played by drums, pots, and pans together with liver toned horns and an old molasses hogshead was hardly thumped beneath the bride. Winder and last not least of all the church bell was rung.

Please write me on receipt of this.

Yours, etc.,


E. W. Pierce

P. S. Please tell Captain Richardson not to be discouraged about my return. I hope to be there soon.