CIVIL WAR LETTER - 123rd Connecticut Infantry on Union Ship to New Orleans !

Description

CIVIL WAR LETTER
Co. H, 23rd Connecticut Infantry.
This Civil War soldieer letter was written by George Leander Hotchkiss (1838-1892), the son of Gideon Oscar Hotchkiss (1811-1871) and Nancy Smith (1809-1894) of Naugatuck, New Haven, Connecticut. George was married to his wife Sarah A. Olmsted (1840-1893) prior to 1860.
In November 1862, George enlisted in
Co. H, 23rd Connecticut Infantry.
This regiment rendezvoused at Camp Terry (New Haven) where they were assigned to General Banks’ Expedition. From New Haven they proceeded to Camp Buckingham on Long Island and embarked on steamers for New Orleans by way of steamers from New York City on 29 November 1862. Three of the companies were sent on one steamer; the remainder on the
Chi Kiang
—a river steamer not necessarily crafted for open waters—which caused considerable delay in their arrival at New Orleans.
Apparently 60 soldiers were drawn from the 23rd, 25th, and 28th Connecticut Infantry regiments to accompany (as guards) a shipload of stores and baggage, 275 horses, and 40 mechanics for the Banks Expedition. They were transported onboard the ship
Planter
which we learn from this letter did not depart from New York Harbor until 3 January 1863. The last of George’s letter was penned as the ship sailed out of the harbor, and sent ashore by the pilot.
From newspaper accounts we learn that the
Planter
was shipwrecked less than two weeks later (14 January) on Stranger Key near Abaca Light. The
Planter
, weighing 2100 tons and drawing 19 feet, struck a reef four miles from land but fair weather allowed the crew to disembark all of the passengers into launches and convey them to the island where they remained for twelve days until picked up by the
Jennie Beals
and transported to Ship Island. Some small portion of the stores and baggage was saved but all 275 of the horses were lost. In addition, 3,000 pounds of stores, and boots and shoes sent out by the Christian Commission were lost. The ship went down in 7 feet of water and was considered a total loss. [see
New York Times
article on 16 February 1863]
Transcription
Aboard Ship
Planter
January 2nd 1862 [should be 1863]
Dear Father, Mother & Brothers,
I have not had an answer from my letter but as it is rather lonesome here I thought you would not feel very bad if I passed away the time writing to you. It is now seven o’clock. George is here by me reading in the Bible. Others are writing, some are playing cards, and some are a bed. We are down in the lower hold but one, the horses being above us. It is very comfortable here now but I don’t know how it will be when we get started. But I had rather be here than where there is all soldiers.
We don’t have to work very hard—at least not hard enough to hurt us. I have from three to six horses to take care of and be on Corporal of the Guard every other day. Some of the soldiers are making a fuss about taking care of the horses. They think the carpenters that get forty-five dollars a month ought to do it all and let us do the guard duty. I don’t know how they will come out. The carpenters say if they have to do it, they will all go ashore in the morning.
It has been two days now since we have been going to sail every two hours all day and I think we shall start in the morning for one of the ships that is going with us went this afternoon. They hoisted our anchor part way up and let it be so. There is two or three of our soldiers sick but none dangerous. We have lost one horse and shall lose more before long. They say it will take us three weeks if we have good weather to sail to New Orleans but they say we shall stop at Fortress Monroe for water. We have got to wash now in salt water to save the fresh there is so many horses aboard. The reason she did not sail is because we are taking on [drinking] water but the casks are all full now and I believe we are ready.
When I wrote you that other letter I was so excited I could hardly hold a pen for I did not think I was going to go on this ship until just then the news came for us to go ahead and we was going to sail that day. I had thought before that I should have a chance to see some of you before I went. I suppose Sarah has been there. I have written to her and Martha and am sorry she could not come and see me before I go but if we should not go in two days, they will not let anyone go ashore nor come aboard the ship. I shall write more in the morning so goodnight.
This 6-shot, .28 caliber Bliss & Goodyear revolver with walnut grips was made in New Haven in 1860. It was carried by Andrew Dwight Hopkins who served as Captain of Co. H, 23rd Connecticut Infantry (George’s Company).
9 o’clock in the morning. We are now underway passing Bedlow’s Island on our way out. It is very pleasant but cloudy. I expect to be seasick by tomorrow and then it won’t be so pleasant. I hope you will write as soon as you receive this and I shall get it then soon after we arrive in New Orleans. I shall send this ashore by the Pilot. He leaves us when we get outside.
The receiving ship has not gone yet but is loaded as full as it can be crowded. They had meeting on board of her yesterday and ran the flag up Union down.
1
There was a police boat came over from New York and stopped it and I see they had some of the soldiers on board when they went back.
I shall have to close hoping to hear from you all soon. I remain your affectionate son & brother, — G. L. Hotchkiss
Direct your letters to George H. Hotchkiss, Co. H, 23rd Conn. Vol.m Banks Expedition, care of
Capt. A[ndrew] D[wight] Hopkins
.
1
Flying the flag upside down is a signal of dire distress, signifying extreme danger to life and property. I’m not yet aware of what the emergency was that prompted the arrival of the police boat
but suspect the receiving ship (old ships used by the Navy to train sailors) was being used as a prison for either Union deserters or Confederate prisoners.
TERMS
.00 postage in the United States.  We accept Paypal.
Postage combined for multiple purchases.  Please wait for me to send the invoice, otherwise you will pay a higher rate.
For International buyers, we utilize eBay’s Global Shipping Program.  We had too many packages sent via the post office go missing.  So we believe this program will be safer for us and for you.
We are members of the American Philatelic Society, the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society, the Confederate Stamp Alliance and the Illinois Postal History Society.
We only sell genuine, original letters (no copies or reproductions).  Some of our letters have been transcribed and nicely presented for future genealogists and history buffs on the Spared & Shared blog.
We have been selling on eBay since 1998.   BID WITH CONFIDENCE !