CIVIL WAR LETTER - 44th New York Infantry - Freezing in the Cold Virginia Mud !

Description

Civil War Letter
Civil War Letter - Written by Soldier in 44th New York Infantry - the "Ellsworth Avengers."
This Civil War soldier letter was penned by Anthony Gardner Graves, Jr. (1840-1930) who served in the
44th New York Volunteer Infantry—sometimes called
“Ellsworth Avengers.”
Anthony was the son of Anthony G. Graves (1806-1884) and Eliza Ann Johnson (1808-1877) of Albany, New York.
Early in the war, Graves served as a private in Co. B, 10th New York State Militia. In September 1861, he enlisted in Co. F of the regiment and was promoted to sergeant immediately afterwards. He was wounded in action at Hanover Court House, Virginia on 27 May 1862—the first major action of the regiment. He was then promoted to 1st Sergeant in August 1862 and was captured in action at Groveton on 30 August 1862. After he was paroled, he was commissioned a 2d Lieutenant in Co. G on 25 December 1862. He was then transferred to Co. F in March 1863 and promoted to 1st Lieutenant of Co. H in January 1864. He was wounded in the fighting at North Anna, Virginia, on 23 May 1864, and discharged for disability on 30 June 1864.
Not ready yet to hang up his uniform, Graves reenlisted as a private on 25 August 1864 in the 11th New York Independent Battery (light artillery) and was rapidly promoted to 1st Sergeant, to 2nd Lieutenant, and 1st Lieutenant. He was then assigned to detached service commanding the ambulance corps, and as an Assistant Quartermaster. He mustered out on 9 April 1865 at Albany, New York.
Lt. Graves is kneeling, third from left.
Alexandria, Virginia 1864
Transcription
Headquarters 44th Regt. N Y S Vols
Rappahannock Station, Virginia
February 3, 1864
Dear Mother,
With great pleasure I take the opportunity of addressing a few lines to you and hope it will find you enjoying good health. Christmas and New Years days. was passed very quietly in the army. All the men in the regiment had their Christmas given them in the shape of a good ration of whiskey which made them all feel very lively and if they could of had a little turkey, I think they would of enjoyed themselves full as well as though they had been home.
George arrived here last Thursday. He walked into my tent and took me all by surprise as I did not dream of seeing him down here. I was glad to see I’m, I assure you. He came in a bad time as it was raining hard and had been for the previous two or three days and the mud was almost knee deep and it was anything but pleasant, I assure you. I shared my bed with George and so he passed a night I the army on a soldier’s couch.
In the morning I got a couple of horses and we took a horseback ride up to Brandy Station to General Meade’s Headquarters. Here George got his pass extended for three days by
General [Marsena R.] Patrick
, the Provost Marshal General. George wanted to see General Meade’s tent so we went up there and while standing and talking to Captain Pease, a General and his staff rode up, dismounted, and went into General Meade’s tent. I thought I recognized his countenance as being General Carr. I asked Capt. Pease and he said that it was so I made up my mind that when he came out, I would speak to him. So when he made his appearance, I walked up to him [and] saluted. He looked at me quite a while [and] finally he said that my countenance was familiar and I introduced myself and he shook hands with me [and] asked what regiment I was in and where they was stationed. He gave me a polite invitation to call and see him which I think I will do in a few days. He is in command of a Division in the 6th Corps and has fifteen or twenty officers on his staff.
George and I afterwards visited the 43rd and 77th [New York] Regiments after which we started for home when it commenced to turn cold very fast and before we got halfway home the mud—which was knee deep—had frozen solid as a rock. I never saw such a sudden change in the weather before in my life. I though George would freeze but he had good gait and stuck it out. We had eaten nothing since morning and when supper was ready, we went into it with a good relish and I though George would never stop. He said that he never was so hungry in his life.
When it got time to retire, we turned in and I thought George would freeze surely. He almost hugged me to death and with eight blankets over us at that. George would never make a soldier, that’s certain. And I don’t think he will ever want to see Virginia again very soon. He has just seen enough to appreciate a soldier’s life and I think he will tell some pretty good stories about Virginia. He intends to get in Albany by Wednesday or Thursday. He started from here Saturday morning.
How did you spent the holidays? And how many presents did you get? I would like to make you one myself but circumstances will not allow me at present. But as the old saying [goes], it is better late than never. I did not think you would take in earnest what I said in my last letter about reenlisting as I was only joking about it. There was twenty-seven reenlisted in the regiment and have gone home on furlough for thirty-five days. There is a great many regiments in the army that reenlisted entire and have gone home to reorganize and reunite.
Everything is quiet in the army at present but not very quiet for as far as duty is concerned, for the whole regiment is on either picket or railroad guard every other day which makes it very hard for them men.
I have not been mustered in yet as 1st Lieutenant. I can’t get mustered back later than November 1st 1863. I think I will get mustered next week. I am at present in command of Company H—the captains having gone North on recruiting service and are stationed at Albany. Furloughs in the army for enlisted men have been stopped but the leave of absence for officers are still continued. I will close this letter and hope it will find all the family in good health. I would write more but George will be home in a few days and he can tell you more about camp life & company than I can tell in this letter. My love to all the family and to all enquiring friends. Hoping to hear from you soon, I close by bidding you all goodbye for the present.
From your affectionate son, — Anthony G. Graves, Jr., Lt. Commanding Co. H
TERMS
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