CIVIL WAR LETTER - 16th New York Artillery, Negro Troops Fight Like Bulldogs !

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 on James River, Mathew Brady Photograph
Wilson’s Landing
June 24, [1864]
Brother Wicks,
I can’t answer any questions in this letter because I have not received any letters from you to do so. What is the reason you do not write me sometimes. I think you write and I do not get them but that can’t be as I get Mother’s letters. John does not write me nor Park. Perhaps you do not think enough of me to write but it is different here, I do some time. I will get mad and will not write at all. There is John and Park. I will not write to them any more, that’s sure. I do not think that he has ben so engaged for the last two months as not to be able to write me. It is no fun for me to write and get no letters in return.
I received a letter from Ellen day before yesterday. She wrote me a good long one. I have wrote four letters home since I have been here. It will be three weeks Sunday since we came here.
Had one fight. Gained one victory. The troops were mostly Negro troops. They fought like bull dogs. The Rebs come up so near us that we put in double charge of grape and canister and you can bet that when we shot it off, there was a sound. I had a ten-pound Parrott rifled gun. They came up so near that when it went off, it would tear off their arms, legs &c. What a sight it was but one some gets used to it. We killed and wounded about three hundred of them. You would have laughed to see the darkies go in. Some of them would get so bold that they would get on the parapet but they were sure to get shot then. They lost fifteen killed and wounded while we lost none. After the fight, the negroes went out and found some of the folks alive but they would kill everyone they took if there were no officers with them.
Wicks, I will tell you what I want you to do for me and that right off. That is to have a recommending paper made out for me so that I can go to the Military School at Philadelphia. Write a paper and get some big men to sign their names and that is all that is required. You can get plenty to sign it. I am bound to go there for I know that I can pass. There is a private in our company that is going. What is the use of staying in the army as a corporal when one can get better pay and rations & less to do. As long as the Negroes fight as well as they do, I am willing to take the command of them. Make the paper out in regard to my ability and character. There is a certificate in my trunk which if you can find will come good. Please see to it and have it made out and send it to me as soon as you can. Do not tell anybody what it is for so if I do not succeed, nobody will know anything about it.
The weather is so hot here that one can hardly live. It is much warmer here than at home in haying. A man almost roasts in the shade. How is the boy? From your brother, — Will
Write soon as you get this and a good long one. Write all the news. Have you sent the picture of the little boy yet? Direct your letter to Wilson’s Wharf, James River, Va.
Saturday morning, It is very warm. we were called out last night under arms. The cavalry were fighting them just outside of the pickets but they drove them, I guess, or they would have been here. Have not heard the particulars yet. All well. Feel bully. Write soon, — Will W. Wheeler
Keep that paper I sent you. Will tell you all about it in my next.
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