Merritt L. Pierce, 1st New York Engineers, Letter 19 Mar. 1865, Broadway Landing

Description

Merritt L. Pierce, Company "L", 1st New York Engineers, Letter home to his parents, 4 large pages, 19 March 1865, from "Camp Near Broadway Landing," Pierce writes an excellent engineers soldier's letter but says
"I had rather be a Pontonier than an Engineer,"
talks of the number of Confederate deserters and their morale and the movement of the armies-
"the Army will soon be on the move for Richmond, they are moving on the left of our lines now,"
and other news, in part:
"
I have just finished my dinner.  It consisted of a small piece of pork, a cup of coffee and some hardtack.  I have got so I like the government rations first rate and they agree with me well..... Many of the boys are sick since pay day, just in consequence of eating too much.  I went to church this forenoon at Point of Rocks Hospital (it is nearly a half mile from our camp)....... Well today is a beautiful day... I forget for a moment many times that I am in a land of war and deadly strife, if I listen but a moment I hear the roar of the cannon which reminds me of where I am, but I am so used to hearing the noisy things that I don't mind them in the least.  (I must stop.  There is an inspection).  Inspection is over and no fault found with the Company excepting that one of the men had his pants rolled up and the Captain told him not to come on inspection again in that condition.  Ed has gone to Bermuda after the mail..... It is about a half mile up the river where we lay the bridge and we go there in small boats, each boat carries about 20 men and such times that we have racing to and from the bridge is a caution.  We construct a bridge and take it up in the forenoon and one in p.m.
It took us just 40 minutes to lay the bridge yesterday p.m. and it is well farther across than the bridge at Morrisonville.... where we shall go it is impossible to tell but it will be somewhere with a pontoon train.  I think I had rather be a Pontonier than an Engineer, don't think there is as much danger in laying bridges as there is in building breastworks....
I think we shall whip them (the Rebs) every time.  The fact is the Johnnies are getting discouraged and think there is no hope for them, they are deserting very fast now and very soon, they will have a chance to desert as fast as they are a mind to.  The Army will soon be on the move for Richmond, they are moving on the left of our lines now.....
According to my manner of thinking I have not got a great many bad habits for a soldier boy that is exposed to temptation on every hand.... it is most time I get ready for church.  I don't have to fix up much for I have not got the fringes to put on, just black my boots and brush up a little and then I am ready for church......
Monday morning- I am well, have just got my breakfast..... Edgar went to City Point on Friday..... one of the drummers is going to carry the mail here.... heard a very excellent sermon, the text was The wages of sin is death...
"
In fine condition.
Merritt L. Pierce joined the 1st New York Engineers out of happenstance when he went to New York City hoping to enter the U.S. Navy.  He was from northern New York state and ended up joining the 1st New York Engineers on 31 August 1864, enlisting in Company "L" along with other friends from his hometown.  He served with the regiment for the rest of the war in Virginia during the Petersburg and Appomattox Campaigns.  In his letters home he mentions other members of his company including Almon C. Emery, John Hunter and William Beckwith.  He generally wrote lengthy letters with good penmanship and spelling