27th New York Infantry - Wounded at Gaines' Mill

Item LTR-6683

Description

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


Camp Clara
Alexandria, Virginia
27th Regiment New York Volunteers, Company G

March 23rd 1862

Friend Dibble,

John B. has just showed me a letter from you. And says lets’ write to him today and send them both in one envelope. Agreed, said I, as money is scarce and postage stamps scarcer. John finds paper and I find the stamp.

I am almost ashamed to write after delaying so long a time. But it has been said “better late than never.” But I think I hear you say better never late. I will settle the point with you after the war, which I think will not be long if they will only let us fight. We are now again in our old camp and are expecting every day to embark here at Alexandria and sail down the river for some place. I know not, nor do I care. It may be when you read this we shall be sailing on the briny waters of the old Atlantic. They were embarking artillery yesterday and today are embarking cavalry. Porter’s Division left the river yesterday. Yesterday morning the river was full of steamers and steam transports, from Washington to Alexandria.

As you know of an advance and the flight of the rebels from their Sevastopol, I have nothing to say on that point. Only that the great battle of Centerville and Manassas has been won with firing a gun. If we can win such fortification as those at Centerville without firing a gun, “what can’t we do if we only fire.” As the Union Army advanced with Banks on their right and Hooker’s on their left and George McC in the center, they came to the conclusion that they could not stand the pressure and had better skedaddle while they had the chance.

We were camped at Fairfax Court House four days. I wished that you could have been there to have seen the sight. It was magnificent or would have been to those who never saw the like before. There were in Fairfax about 100,000 troops composed of infantry, artillery and cavalry. There were several of the boys from our company visited the memorable battle field of Bull Run and there saw the bleached bones of some of the brave boys of the 27th that fell on that eventful day. They were thrown into a gully and covered. But the water had washed the earth from their bones. It must have been a hard sight, but “such is war.” It cannot be said but that they died in a noble cause. If it is my lot to fall while in the service, let me die in that way and at my post. As the boys of the Cumberland died after firing a broadside as she was sinking.

We all hated to return back to camp. Had much rather gone to Richmond on foot and made old Jeff a friendly visit. But we are willing to do just as McC wants to have us. We have the utmost confidence in him, both officers and men. Notwithstanding some of your worthiness think he is too slow. I have not written near all I intended to when I commenced, but shall have to close for the want of space. Now don’t retaliate by waiting as long as I have but write soon and tell me all you can think of for it is all news to me.

Yours,
Harmon

P.S. My respects to all your folks especially Emiline. My health is first rate, never better. I am in hopes that you we shall soon see one another again is the prayer of Harmon.