Department of the Shenandoah - NEW

Item LTR-11922

Description

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


Headquarters, First Division
Department of the Shenandoah
Williamsport, Virginia
June 1, 1862
 
Dear Sir,
 
Enclosed, I forward you a check on the treasurer at Philadelphia for sixty-six and 70/100 dollars which, I believe, covers the amount of my indebtedness to you. I would have sent the amount long since, but have been separated from the main army of the department and had no chance of procuring a check until the 2nd of May.
 
I have calculated the interest on the amount, and near as I could say, one hundred dollars for 5 months, $2.50, and seventy dollars for 1 year, $4.20. I paid $100 in October, and I now send a check for $76.70.
 
I consider myself under great obligation to you for the kindness you have shown me.
I presume, from the interest you have exhibited on former occasions, that a short sketch of my progress in the tented field would be acceptable to you.
 
To be brief, then: I was with my regiment until the 21st day of July, 1861, never leaving my company for a single day and seldom going out of camp. About 11 o'clock in the evening, I received an order from Colonel Woodhouse to report the next morning at seven o'clock at Hagerstown for temporary duty in the commissary department.
 
Upon arriving at Hagerstown, I found a communication from the chief commissary of General Patterson's army stating that I had been ordered by General Patterson to take charge of the commissary depot at Hagerstown and furnish the necessary supplies to all three-month volunteers. I had my hands full day and night until the 20th of August, when an order came for me to turn over all government funds and property in my possession to another officer and to repair to Frederick City and open another large depot. I remained there a few days when I was ordered to report to General Banks at division headquarters, where I received orders to proceed to Washington and Baltimore to arrange for supplies for the division.
 
On my return, I was assigned to the staff of Colonel Charles H. Biddle, commanding Third Brigade, and remained with him until he was ordered to join General McCall's division. There, I was ordered to report to Colonel George H. Gordon, and was afterwards assigned to the staff of General A.S. Williams.
 
In September, I was recommended by the chief commissary of General Banks, General McClellan, and the commissary general for an appointment in the commissary department with the rank of captain. This appointment was rejected by the Secretary of War until the 14th of November, when I received notice, through the Adjutant General's Department, that I had been appointed by the President and was ordered to report in person at Washington. I remained there a day or two, and was then ordered to report to General McClellan, who assigned me to the staff of my present commander, General A.S. Williams, as commissary of the brigade. My appointment was confirmed by the Senate at their last session, and I received my commission about two months ago.
 
I found no difficulty in getting my bonds, which was $16,000. On the 20th of March, General Williams was assigned to command the First Division, (formerly Banks) and I was also appointed commissary of the division, which post I still hold.
 
I am in excellent health and spirits, and never engaged myself better in my life. I am fully conscious of having received more favors than I could reasonably expect, from that fickle Goddess known as Fortune.
 
I should be pleased to get a long letter from you, containing all matters of interest that have happened in East Haddam since I left.
 
The account of our retreat from the Shenandoah you can get from the papers, so it will be unnecessary for me to say anything about it. When I see you, I can give you a detailed account of the whole affair.
 
Please remember me to all my East Haddam friends and acknowledge receipt of this as soon as convenient. Very respectfully yours, Edgar C. Beeman.
 
P.S. Please address Captain Edgar C. Beeman, C.S. Volunteers, care Brigadier General A.S. Williams, Banks Corps.