CIVIL WAR LETTER - 4th Connecticut Infantry near Harper's Ferry, Boat Travel Etc

Description

Civil War Letter
Civil War Letter - Written by Soldier in Company "I" of the 4th Connecticut Infantry.
Union Troops marching through Chambersburg in 1861
This excellent Civil War letter was written by Charles W. Smith (1837-1920) who mustered in as a private in
Co. I, 4th Connecticut Infantry
on 23 May 1861. He was promoted to corporal on 15 October 1861 and to sergeant on 16 March 1863. He was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant of Co. E on 8 November 1864 and was breveted 1st Lieutenant in Co. H on 24 April 1865. He mustered out of the regiment on 25 September 1865. The 4th Connecticut Infantry was later designated as the 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery.
Charles kept a diary during the war which includes the following entries: On 23 August 1861 Smith notes a rebellion in camp resulting in Company K being sent to headquarters under guard for refusing to obey orders. On 4 September 1861 he mentions that S. A. Woodruff accidentally discharged his gun, shooting through the body and killing a soldier in Company G. On 11 November 1861 the unit celebrated McClellan’s birthday by holding a dance in camp. He notes the death of Edward Alvord in a hospital near Fort Richardson on 26 March 1862. Pleasant weather was noted on the Peninsula from 10-20 April 1862. He writes on 10 May 1862, “Norfolk was evacuated this morning & the Merrimack was blown up by the Rebels.” On 22 May 1862, Smith wrote, “It comenced to rain about noon & rained like the devil for four hours we were out in all of it & got as wet as rats we marched about six miles while it was raining & the mud was up to our asses. we went into camp at 5 PM for the night –” The diary becomes very sporadic after early July 1862.
George wrote this letter to Emma A. Leach (1843-1914), the daughter of George Leach (1815-1894) and Maria L. Baldwin (1828-1913) of Litchfield, Connecticut. She would later become his wife.
(NOTE - the diary referenced above is not being offered here - just the letter transcribed below).
Transcription
Addressed to Emma A. Leach, Litchfield, Ct.
Chambersburg, [Pennsylvania]
June 15th 1861
Friend Emma,
As you requested me to commence writing directly after breakfast, I have done so. First I will give you a short history of our camp life &c. We left Hartford last Monday expecting to go to Washington. We took the boats
City of Hartford
&
Granite State
for Jersey City at 5 P. M., arriving there at 6 A. M. Tuesday. There we received orders to go to Chambersburg via Philadelphia & Harrisburg. Owing to the change in our route, we were delayed some on our route but we had a very good time but rather hard grub which made the boys grumble some.
Now Emma, I should like to have had you seen us as we left Hartford with our rations for three days in our haversacks which is nothing or less than a twill cotton bag, some[thing] similar to an old woman’s work bag. Our rations consist of horse beef & hard bread which is a little different from that which I have been used to. The night we reached this place, we had the soft ground for a bed & the sky for a coverlet which was something of a curiosity to see—one thousand men laying on the ground with nothing but a blanket to cover us.
Thursday we pitched our tents & got regulated once more. We are in camp with one Wisconsin regiment & one Pennsylvania regiment making three thousand men. The Wisconsin boys visited us last night headed by their colonel. They are the best set of men I ever saw together.
We are within 36 miles of Harpers Ferry & within 20 miles of their picket guard. It is said that we move today again. If so, we shall probably to towards Harpers Ferry & I expect to see that place in less than a week if I am alive. Our company are most of them in good health and our chief amusement is finding fault about our grub &c. We are under strict military discipline. The guard march will load guns with orders to shoot any man that attempts to run the guard.
Now Emma, I suppose you think it strange that I did not come to Chestnut Hill when I went home. My reasons were that I had bid you all goodbye & my time was so short that I could only do the same again which I thought was useless. If I had had time to made you a visit, I would have done so.
Now Emma, I must close this uninteresting letter as it is time for drill. It is very pleasant weather and the finest country I ever saw. Cherries & strawberries are ripe. Give my love to all enquiring friends & please write as soon as you receive this. I shall probably be in Virginia before you receive this but that will make no difference as our letters are sent to us wherever we are.
From your friend, — C. W. Smith
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