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![<b>Written by a former private of the 34th New York Infantry who was wounded in the battle of Antietam
Captured at the battle of the Crater at Petersburg and confined in Danville Prison</b>
2 pages, 5 x 8, in pencil, written by Orlando R. Chamberlin. Comes with cover addressed to Mr. William Chamberlin, Pikeville, Allegany Co., N.Y., with C.D.S., Washington, Jun. 29, 1864, and 3 cents rose George Washington [#56] postage stamp.
<b><u>Camp near Petersburg, Va., June the 24th, 1864</b></u>
Dear Friends at home, it is with pleasure that I try to let you hear from me, and I am well and do hope this will find you well. We are under fire every day. We are in easy range of the Rebs. They pop off and once in a while the cannons roar from one day’s end to another, so you see we have active work all of the time. We have lost half of our Company on the 19[th] of this month between the hours of six and seven. We had ten killed and twenty five wounded in our Co. Oh, I should like to hear from home first rate now. Do write to me. Send me some postage stamps and a fine comb if you please. Now I am a going to send this with Mahala’s. We have got the advantage of the Rebs and are a going to keep it. I think before next winter this Rebellion will close. Oh! I hope so. Now I trust in God. I want you all to pray for me. I want you to write me all of the news. I would like to hear something about my bounty. As soon as I can get my discharge I can get seventy five dollars more State Bounty. I have got to send to the Paymaster General of N.Y. Now I should like to see you all first rate. Good by for this time friends.
Your ever loving Son and Brother,
O.R.C. to you all
Direct to me, Co. K, 14th N.Y. Heavy Artillery, Washington, D.C., Burnside’s Corps
Orlando R. Chamberlin (also spelled Chamberlain) was 18 years old when he enlisted on May 18, 1861, at Addison, N.Y., as a private, and was mustered into Co. E, 34th New York Infantry. He was promoted to corporal, but the exact date is unknown. He was wounded in action on September 17, 1862, in the battle of Antietam, and discharged as a results of his wounds on April 20, 1863. After a time convalescing at home, he re-enlisted and on December 28, 1863, he became a member of the 14th New York Heavy Artillery. He was captured on July 30, 1864, in the battle of the Crater, at Petersburg, Va., and confined in Danville Prison. He was paroled and mustered out of the Union Army on May 29, 1865, at Elmira, N.Y.
The 34th New York Infantry, were known as "The Herkimer Regiment," and they served in the 2nd Corps, Army of the Potomac. They saw action at Yorktown; at Fair Oaks, where they lost 97 men, killed, wounded and missing; they lost heavily in the 7 Days Battles; at Antietam, they lost 154 men, killed, wounded, and missing; and they also fought at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville.
The 14th New York Heavy Artillery saw action in the battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg.](http://www.tias.com/stores/war/thumbs/ul1778a.jpg)
![<b>Written by a former private of the 34th New York Infantry who was wounded in the battle of Antietam
Captured at the battle of the Crater at Petersburg and confined in Danville Prison</b>
3 2/3 pages, 5 x 8, in ink, written by Orlando R. Chamberlin. Comes with cover addressed to Mr. William Chamberlin, Pikeville, Allegany Co., N.Y., with C.D.S., Washington, Jul. 11/64, and 3 cents rose George Washington [#56] postage stamp, with bullseye cancellation.
<b><u>Near Petersburg, Va., July the 11th, 1864</b></u>
Dear Brothers and Parents,
I now try to address a few lines to you to let you know that I am well and doing well. William I am much obliged to you for them postage stamps. I have received seven and the paper and envelopes too. Now I should like to see you all first rate. I am doing as well as can be expected. I have got my health, that is a good deal, for it is very warm here and is some sickly. We have rather tough times, but if the Rebellion is only put down is all I ask, and I think it is going down soon. Oh! I got a letter from Cornelia Bascon. She said she had been there on a visit. She praised up that big girl of mine. She said Ma that you and Mahala was getting along first rate and taking comfort. I hope so. I should like to see you all and hope it will soon be so I can. You say you can not pay Mrs. J. Well write to her that I shall soon get my pay, then she shall be paid. Now William do the best you can. Rosel I am sorry to hear that you are not very well. I hope you will doctor and soon be well. Be a good boy and write to me and you will not be sorry if I live to get home. Alonzo I am glad that you wrote me a letter. I hope you are well and I want you to be a good boy and write again. Ma, I am glad that you are well and hope you will still have your health. I am very thankful that you took so good care of Mahala. Best wishes and I will try and repay you if ever I come home which I hope shall soon. Do the best you can and write often. Pray for me and Pap. I hope the Lord will bless you and take care of all of you. Now I want you all to write to me. Give me all of the news all about home and its comforts. I imagine that it looks so pleasant up there in the woods. I will close by saying I hope soon to be with you all. Now good by for this time. Write soon.
From,
O.R. Chamberlin
Orlando R. Chamberlin (also spelled Chamberlain) was 18 years old when he enlisted on May 18, 1861, at Addison, N.Y., as a private, and was mustered into Co. E, 34th New York Infantry. He was promoted to corporal, but the exact date is unknown. He was wounded in action on September 17, 1862, in the battle of Antietam, and discharged as a results of his wounds on April 20, 1863. After a time convalescing at home, he re-enlisted and on December 28, 1863, he became a member of the 14th New York Heavy Artillery. He was captured on July 30, 1864, in the battle of the Crater, at Petersburg, Va., and confined in Danville Prison. He was paroled and mustered out of the Union Army on May 29, 1865, at Elmira, N.Y.
The 34th New York Infantry, were known as "The Herkimer Regiment," and they served in the 2nd Corps, Army of the Potomac. They saw action at Yorktown; at Fair Oaks, where they lost 97 men, killed, wounded and missing; they lost heavily in the 7 Days Battles; at Antietam, they lost 154 men, killed, wounded, and missing; and they also fought at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville.
The 14th New York Heavy Artillery saw action in the battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg.](http://www.tias.com/stores/war/thumbs/ul1777a.jpg)
![7 3/4 x 9 3/4, in ink.
Columbus, Ohio
June 22d, 1866
P.A. Bishop, Esq.
Elyia, O.[hio]
Dear Sir,
I have to respectfully call your attention to the following:
Christian Bauman, Late Pri.[vate] Co. "A" 58th Ohio Vols. has left a claim in my office for extra duty as teamster of Co. "A" aforesaid Regiment from Feb. 20/62 to September 20/62 (inclusive) 213 days at 25 cents. $53.25. He has the necessary vouchers &c, & the certificate of his Captain of the Service, and now the Department. Your certificate that the account is correct and just, that the Services were rendered as stated; and that they were necessary for the Public Service, I write you now to find if you are in Elyia and to know if you will make the certificate whereupon I will send you the vouchers.
Very Respectfully,
Thos. M. Dye, Atty.
Please Address:
Thomas M. Dye, Atty.
Lock Box 1301
Columbus, O.
Very fine.
Christian Bauman (also spelled Bowman) enlisted on October 1, 1861, as a private, and was mustered into Co. A, 58th Ohio Infantry. He was mustered out of service January 14, 1865, at Vicksburg, Miss.
The 58th Ohio Infantry, saw action at Fort Donelson, Shiloh (9 killed and 43 wounded), Chickasaw Bluffs (suffered 47% casualties), Arkansas Post, Deer Creek, and Grand Gulf.](http://www.tias.com/stores/war/thumbs/mem3601a.jpg)
![3 pages, 5 x 8, in ink, on patriotic letter sheet, trimmed in red and blue, with embossed shield with Union on it. Written by Henry C. Elson to his father. Comes with patriotic cover addressed to Mr. John Elson, Waynesburg, Stark Co., Ohio, with indistinct postmark. The envelope is trimmed in red and blue on the reverse and has an embossed American shield with spread winged eagle and motto, Union and Constitution.
<b><u>Dec. 13th/62, Camp near Nashville, Tenn.</b></u>
Well Pap,
I received your letter yesterday and was mighty glad to hear from you for I had not received a letter from home for a long time. Our Brigade went out foraging yesterday. We saw Old Gen. Jackson’s mansion. It is about 10 miles from Nashville and 8 from Silver Springs. The 23rd Brigade was out foraging about 4 days ago and the 51st Ohio Reg. and 35th Ind.[iana] got into a skirmish. They lost a few killed and wounded. There was none from about Waynesburg or vicinity hurt. I saw Harris yesterday morning. He was well. He was in the skirmish. The country around here is in a state of famine. Everything that is raised is taken. The corn, hay & oats is taken to feed the Army horses & mules. The chickens, geese & turkeys, if the citizens want, sell them to the soldiers. They will take them wherever there is camps. The rails are burned. They even tear down stables and barns to burn. Indeed years after the war closes the South will be in a state of desolation. A. Kitt from Canton is down here now & Williams of Massilon is also here. Monroe Ebi & Lewis Hurford have not yet arrived. They may be at Bowling Green, Ky. There is about 90 recruits there for our Regt. Capt. [Solomon J.] Firestone has them in charge. John Binkley belongs to a Regiment of Engineers and mechanics for the purpose of building bridges and so forth. There is 20 men detailed out of each Regiment in the Division. The boys from our neighborhood is all well. I am well, haven’t been sick a day since I came into the army. In regard to the war closing, I don’t think it will close for two years. I shouldn’t wonder but the South will gain their independence yet. Some of our Generals don’t care how long the war lasts. They are making lots of money. I will soon bring my letter to a close. Write soon.
H.C. Elson
Light age toning and wear. Very nice content.
Henry C. Elson, was 19 years old, when he enlisted on November 12, 1861, as a corporal, and was mustered into Co. H, 19th Ohio Infantry. He was promoted to sergeant on June 19, 1865, and was mustered out of service on October 24, 1865.
Monroe Ebi, one of the soldiers mentioned by Elson in his letter, was a 20 year old clerk from Canton, Ohio. He would rise to the rank of lieutenant and be severely wounded in the right shoulder, on September 22, 1864, at Lovejoy Station, Ga.
The hard fought 19th Ohio Infantry fought in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Stone's River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Rocky Face Ridge, Cassville, Pickett's Mills, Kennesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Lovejoy Station, Franklin and Nashville.](http://www.tias.com/stores/war/thumbs/ul1776a.jpg)
![<b>Written by Captain Clark S. Edwards, future colonel of the regiment and Union brigadier general
He led the 5th Maine Infantry in the battle of Gettysburg!</b>
6 pages, 7 3/4 x 9 3/4, in ink.
<b><u>Camp Lyon, Va., Oct. 11th, 1861</b></u>
Dear Wife,
It is now Friday noon. All is still in camp. I have just ate dinner. We had a very good one. We had stewed chicken & duck. Jimmy cooked them very nice. We also had some nice potatoes, good bread & butter, coffee, pickles, &c, so you see that we get enough and that tis good. I am on the Fort to work today with the working squad of 315 men, so you see it is on fort or picket or camp guard all of the time. We do not drill any, only a dress parade every night after we come off of the fort. I shall not finish this letter till Sunday, but write a little every day.
Friday Evening, 11th- Come off work at five o’clock and ate supper. Had for supper baked potatoes, broiled mackerel, butter, coffee, bread, &c, made out a nice supper. Had Dell to supper. He came from the Hospital this morning, going back in the morning. He is very slim, but I do not think he will go home at present. I sent a paper this afternoon to you, Frank & Nelly. Tell the little rogue to grow all he can. I want to see all of them. I hope they all will get through this week well as there is to be, or has been the great muster. I think it must have been a splendid affair. I want you to give me a full description of it. I see by the paper that Kate’s picture is spoken of very highly. I am glad she done so well. Hope she will continue to improve. Tell her I will try to hunt up her miniature. I think it must be in the Lewiston Co. If I do not go home I will have mine taken and sent which will do quite as well and not half of the trouble that I should be. I am some expecting we shall move tomorrow, but cannot tell tonight, but think we shall move but a short distance. It will be towards Washington I think, but the movement of the Army is not known by only two or three at the head. I will write a little more in the morning so good bye for tonight.
Clark
Saturday Afternoon: Dear Wife, I just ate dinner. We had baked potatoes, boiled mackerel, beef, coffee, &c. Feel first rate. Weighed one hundred & fifty lbs. after, which I think is some lbs. more than I weighed before dinner. John is beside of me writing to his sister. I am officer of the day and have but little to do. It is all confusion around camp today. Some six or eight regts. moving. Col. Jameson’s brigade just moved past ours in advance. Two regts. of our brigade moved today over near Bailey’s Cross Road. We are to move tomorrow or next day. I do not think much of the change. We shall leave the best location we were ever in. It is a beautiful day, just warm enough to be pleasant. You can just drop your work and imagine yourself on top of a high hill overlooking the capital of the nation and the beautiful Potomac flowing between and in view for many miles, also the heights of Maryland for fifty miles. I can now sit and see thousands of troops in motion. All is activity in camp in the Army of the Potomac. I think there will be a grand move in a few days of nearly the whole Army, but cannot tell for certainty as all is kept secret as to moves. I hope the great blow will be struck against secession. It will be done soon. Our Army never was in so good a plight. The cold weather makes the boys feel good and they are asking for a fight, and I think it will come soon. Col. Jackson was out with a squad of our cavalry that belongs to this brigade last night. Had a little brush, did not do great things, but one or two horses, and one or two men wounded. I have not heard the particulars yet about it. I hear that Neal Dow is getting up a Regt. I think it must be a good Regt. if they are all temperance men which I hear it is to be. Hope he will fill up his Regt. in double quick time. Jimmy is just beginning to get supper. I will not write anymore until after supper.
I have just got dinner. We had baked potatoes, beef steak, butter, bread, coffee, &c, all very good. I intended to have finished this letter last night but had so much to do that I could not finish. We had orders last night to have one days rations cooked and in our haversacks, and forty rounds of ammunition, and be ready to leave this morning at five o’clock, so our cooks were up all night through the camp. We had but little sleep I can assure you. Some of the boys were up all night. I got up about four and ate breakfast and our boys got ready to march and waited till eight o’clock, and then went to guard mounting. After that there was an inspection and then came on the Chaplain service. The old man preached well. I like him very much. I think he is a fine old man. It is now three o’clock and pretty cold for this state. We have had no frost as yet, but it is cold enough tonight. I rec. yours of Oct. 9th last night. Was very glad to hear from you all. You write that Brackett has got home. I hope he will get well of his rheumatism as he has been so lame for the last two months that he had to walk with two canes, but to tell the truth, I do not believe he was ever lame. I think he made it all [up]. You write me how he gets along and how long it will be before he is well. J.B.H. I think was sick and did not make [up] his sickness. I hope he will get well soon. I had one man by the name of Maxwell, a brother to George, he was lame. We are to leave our camp at nine o’clock tomorrow morning. If I have a horse I shall come into camp once a day after my letters as we do not go only about four or five miles out from camp. When I got into camp tonight I found a letter from you and one from C. Kimball. Right glad was I to hear again from home. It was dated the 16th. I was sorry to hear that Mr. Hammonds was so low. Hope he will get better soon. When he is sick Wash says he is the worst man to take care of he ever saw, but still I think he is pretty sick, but I think he will get over his sickness. You write me about what Mrs. Gaines said about our Regt. Hospital. The government furnishes 4 pr. socks a year. It does not furnish any wipers or towels, or mittens, undershirts, [or] handkerchiefs. Some of the boys have but one pr. of socks. They loose a good many and wear them out fast. You write that the company that is enlisting are getting along well. I am glad to hear it. Hope they will leave soon. It will be but little loss to Bethel. It is a pity there could not be a few more go with them & then Bethel would be quite a decent place. You write you hope I shall come in November. If we are in this part of the State I shall try to go, but we may be away down South or in Kentucky or Mo., but will come if I can. You want me to answer all your questions in your two last. I always take your letters before me and answer all your questions and sometimes more than you ask. You have got answers to them before this as I have wrote two or three since the 10th. You say that Kate says she has laughed many times to see me ride. I think that must be a mistake as I never rode but two or three times till I came here, but I can beat the best of them now, but my A[ss] is very sore a riding today, but I shall try it again tomorrow. You write that the report is at B.[ethel] that W. Brown is dead. He has not been sick since he came here so to be off duty. That is one of your Bethel stories. He has wrote home of late since. Sanborn is about half sick with the jaundice, but will get over it soon. The boys in the camp are pretty smart. I will close this in the morning. It is now about nine o’clock and a little cold for this place. All is quiet in the camps. Good night.
Sunday Morning: All is still in camp this morning. We leave for picketing at half past eight. I hope we will have a good time. I have but little time to write this morning and but little to write. You need not send any pillow. I have one now. If you have any pillow cases send two by Warnwell in that box. The Society is a go to send the cotton bed. You can do as you please about [it]. I do not need it or at least I can get along without it. I would like the cases, bitter pills and that is all I need except a woman to keep house and to keep me warm this winter.
Love to all,
C.S. Edwards
Light age toning and wear. Very newsy and desirable letter from the future Colonel of the 5th Maine Infantry, who led the regiment in the battle of Gettysburg, and was promoted to brevet brigadier general in 1865.
Clark S. Edwards was 37 years old when the news of the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter reached the small town of Bethel, Maine. He was high on a ladder shingling his roof and he immediately climbed down, obtained permission from the appropriate authorities to form a company of volunteers, and set out to gather recruits from Bethel and the surrounding towns. This group of men became Company I, 5th Maine Volunteer Infantry, with Edwards commissioned as their captain on June 24, 1861. He rose through the ranks and was appointed colonel of the regiment, on January 8, 1863, commanding the 5th Maine Infantry from that date forward. He was promoted to brevet brigadier general, on March 13, 1865, for his gallant and meritorious Civil War service record.
The 5th Regiment Maine Volunteer Infantry was one of the first Maine regiments to be mustered into the Union Army. They fought in many battles from 1st Bull Run to Petersburg. During the battle of Rappahannock Station the regiment is credited with capturing 4 Confederate battleflags and 1,200 prisoners. Known as one of Maine's best fighting regiments, it captured more prisoners than the entire number of men who served in the regiment, and three times the number of battle flags than any other Maine regiment. After three long years of hard fought service only 193 men were mustered out of the regiment when their term of service expired. Among their battle honors are written the names of 1st Bull Run, Gaines' Mill, 2nd Bull Run, Crampton's Gap, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Rappahannock Station, Rapidan Crossing, Mine Run, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor and Petersburg.
<u>Footnote</u>: The Neal Dow mentioned in this letter was future Union General Neal Dow of Portland, Maine. An advocate of temperance, Dow was known as the father of the Maine anti-liquor law. At the time Clark writes about him, Dow was raising the 13th Maine Infantry, and was appointed their colonel on November 23, 1861.](http://www.tias.com/stores/war/thumbs/ul1775a.jpg)
