CIVIL WAR LETTER - 8th Connecticut Infantry - EXCELLENT CONTENT Wilmington, NC !

Description

CIVIL WAR LETTER
Written by Soldier in Co. E, 8th Connecticut Infantry
This Civil War soldier letter was written by Joseph (“Joe”) Herman Vaill (1837-1915), the son of Rev. Herman Landon Vaill (1794-1870) and Flora Gold (1799-1883) of Litchfield, Connecticut. His siblings included Catharine Harriet Gold Vaill (1824-1898), Charles Benjamin Vaill (1826-1881), Elizabeth Sedgwick Vaill (1828-1909), Abby Everest Vaill (1829-1897), George Lyman Vaill (1831-1833), Theodore Frelinghuysen Vaill (1832-1875), Sarah Hopkins Vaill (1834-1862), Clarissa Champlin Vaill (b. 1836), Julia Maria Vaill (1839-1912) and Mary Woolsey Vaill (1842-1871).
Joseph H. Vaill enlisted in
Co. E, 8th Connecticut Infantry
on 17 September 1861. He was promoted to Quarter Master Sergeant on 28 May 1862; promoted to 1st Sergeant on 20 February 1864; transferred to the 2nd Battalion, Veteran Reserve Corps 18 on May 1864; and mustered out on 20 September 1864.
Transcription
Headquarters, 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 25th Army Corps
Nutt Mansion, Wilmington, North Carolina
February 27, 1865
Dear Brother,
I took passage at Bermuda Hundred on Sunday P. M. February 19th on the steamer “
D. Webster
” for Fort Fisher, N. C., when I arrived on the night of the Wednesday following after a safe and pleasant passage. We lay at anchor one night in the James River below Harrison’s Landing, and five hours off Ft. Monroe. Capt. Mason remained at Bermuda to take passage by the “
Gen. Lyon
” with the animals and means of transportation of the Brigade and up to date he has not arrived at this fort. It is reported this morning that “
Gen. Lyon
” is at Fort Fisher aground, but there is as yet no confirmation of the report. I hope to see him in the course of the day here.
The “
Daniel Webster
,” on her way up Cape Fear river ran against an unseen obstruction which cut a hole in her bottom, causing a leak which the pumps of the steamer could not work fast enough to keep the water below the engine fires. We had just time enough to reach the wharf, disembark our troops (700), get off horses (12) and run the steamer aground to keep her from sinking. There is now from 8 to 9 feet of water in her hold and a lot of knapsacks and baggage belonging to our division. We have only one box now in the hold and that contains nothing personal and nothing of great value. The Captain of the steamer says he cannot get the water out of the hold until he can get a steam pump as his furnaces are under water.
I am now stopping with General Bates and staff at the “Nutt Mansion”
1
in the city and have very fine quarters with all the modern improvements—gas, water, piano, etc. etc. Out table is supplied with chickens caught by our “mokes” about town, and this noon we are to have a “roaster” (pig) of about 40 lbs.
The people of Nutt Mansion have eloped with the retreating army, Mr. Henry Nutt being a very strong and influential rebel. The hangers on sort of family retainers still remain and occupy two or three rooms but are very quiet and submissive. I have a small chamber to myself upstairs with gas and a grate and a bedstead. There is no residence in Litchfield so fine as this and only one in this city and that is occupied by General Schofield. There is a report that one division will do Provost duty in the city in order to have better harmony with the colored population who are being recruited quite rapidly. About 1,000 are already enrolled in this city alone. Our forces are about 10 miles from the city in a northeasterly direction.
I went to church yesterday with the Inspector General. I do not know that any Episcopal Church were opened for the Rectors were undecided whether to pray for Abraham or Jeff and had been to see General Schofield and Bates in the matter. At the Presbyterian Church where we went, everything passed off well. The minister in prayers said that the troubles now upon us were because of our iniquity, and he prayed that the time would soon come when there would be a lasting peace and the establishment of freedom to all. Whether he meant
our
kind of freedom, or the South side view, I do not know. I wish you would write me immediately and send this home.
Love to “Good” and all others of my acquaintance. Your affectionate brother, — J. H. Vaill
1
The Henry Nutt house was built in 1850 and stood on the south side of Red Cross Street between 2nd and 3rd Streets in Wilmington, North Carolina. It was designed by James F. Post. It is no longer standing.
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