CIVIL WAR LETTER - 16th New York Artillery, LOUD EXPLOSIONS Battle of the Crater

Description

CIVIL WAR LETTER
Civil War Letter by Soldier in
Co. H, 16th New York Heavy Artillery (NYHA).
This Civil War soldier letter was written by Will W. Wheeler (1841-1913) of
Co. H, 16th New York Heavy Artillery (NYHA).
William enlisted a private at DeWitt in December 1863 and was later promoted to a corporal. He mustered out with the company in August 1865 at Washington D. C. Will was the son of Josiah Parker Wheeler and Mary Davenport Webb (18xx-1887) of DeWitt, Onondaga county, New York. He wrote the letter to his brother-in-law, Gideon Stiles Wicks (1837-1915) who married Helen Mar Wheeler (b. 1835) in 1860
William writes of a recent fight and a victory. Much of what he wrote seems to describe the Battle of Wilson’s Wharf (also called the Battle of Fort Pocahontas)—which is where his letter was datelined from. However, this battle took place on 24 May 1864—a week before the arrival of the 16th NYHA at Wilson’s Landing. In that battle, only Battery M of the 3rd New York Light Artillery assisted the 1st USCT and four companies of the 10th USCT in defending the critical supply depot on the James River.
This was most likely the action at West Point, Virginia, on 20 June 1864. In this action, companies D, E, H, I, L, and M were engaged with the enemy but I am not aware of the participation of any USCT in that fight.
The 16th NYHA, companies E & H, along with members of the 38th New Jersey were stationed at Fort Pocahontas from October 1864 through the end of the war.
Transcription
Wilson’s Landing, Virginia
August 8th 1864
Dear Brother,
I received your kind letter Saturday night and now I will answer it. I wrote to Mother yesterday all the news but maybe I can scrape up some. I don’t feel much like writing for my hand trebles so [that] it is hard to write, but when you get this letter, read what is written in it but don’t look at the writing much. Have you got any tobacco this year? If so, write how it looks. How much corn have you got and where is it planted?
Wicks, it is hard to have John a prisoner for God knows it is hard for any soldier to live down here on the best of fare but when they shut one up in those prisons with half enough to eat, that is what I call tough—and mighty tough too. You at home do not know what hard times are but you would soon learn down here. What I call hard times is when one gets nothing but coffee and hard tack and the hard tack has got these black grubs in . We crack them open, hunt out the worms, then go in for a meal. Once in awhile we have some potatoes to eat [with] them. So good. This morning we had some pancakes to eat. We had some sugar to eat on them and they went very well.
This is a mighty hot place. It is hot enough here to [cook] a man if he goes out in the middle of the day. We have got brush over the tents so as to keep the sun from beating down so hot on them.
You said you had been up to Mr. Burg______’s. How are the folks? You did not write anything about them. How is Huntington [and] John Cummings? Write about them in your next.
You perhaps saw some of the Goodell’s girls up to Foot Street. Where do they live? If I knew, I have forgot. Have you seen Mrs. and Mr. Sweeney and how do they seem to prosper? I suppose they live happily together. Why should they not? They will all get married so when I get home there will be no chance for me. I will have to hunt up some new ones to go with.
I am a going to have this war over this year and then we will be home next spring. Old Grant will give the Rebs fun in a short time. He is digging them out of their holes. That explosion that they [see
Battle of the Crater
] had made an awful noise. It sounded like fifteen cannons going off at once. The ground fairly trembled. I heard it plain. We knew what it was very well. The niggers run in the last fight that was had. They had ought to shoot them if they do it again. I don’t like to see a man run.
Park has got a soft thing where he is. He can keep out of the hard fights and long marches which are so worrisome to the soldier. I have marched fourteen miles in one day when on a raid and I assure you, it made me tired some. The belt cartridge with forty rounds of ammunition and the gun is some load to carry in this hot weather but when you put on the knapsack, haversack with two or three days rations, and your canteen full of water, you have nothing to snuff at. I have had my knapsack so full and heavy that it was impossible to shoulder it.
Our orderly sergeant is going to get a furlough to go home. If so, I shall send some home. I will have him leave it at Whitlocks store. It will be safe there, will it not? You can get it and give it to Father. I will write as soon as he goes and tell you how much I send, &c.
Wicks, write soon. I wrote to John Cummings also. Give my best respects to all. How is the little boy? Tell him his uncle wants to see him. Goodbye. Direct as before. — Will W. Wheeler
[to] G. S. Wicks
Send me some weekly paper and oblige. The Standard will do.
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