Merritt L. Pierce, 1st New York Engineers, Letter 8 March 1865, Appomattox River

Description

Merritt L. Pierce, Company "L", 1st New York Engineers, Letter home to his parents, 4 pages, 8 March 1865, from "Camp Near Appomattox River," Pierce writes about surprising his family with news that the army is at the Appomattox, enjoying bridge-building and pontoon-laying, and describes his camp, in part:
"
I received a paper from you this morning, there was some gum in it.  Much obliged.  Well I suppose you are surprised at the heading of this letter.  We have moved again, have moved from Headquarters to the Appomattox River near Point of Rocks.  We left our old camp last Friday.... it is about 7 miles from Headquarters and a muddy road most of the way.  I stood the march first-rate........ Well we have had gay times since we have been here, the next day we went to work, hard as we could put in, building up quarters for ourselves did not get along very fast.  Our tents are built of fine slabs and they are the best tents we have had since I have been in the Regiment.  We have got a nice fireplace, bunks, etc.  I think I shall learn the carpenter's trade if I build many more shanties.  I tent with Eddy, Corporal Whitney and Corporal Thomas, neither of them use profane language, both young men from St. Lawrence County.
Our Company is going to take charge of a pontoon bridge.  We are going to drill here for a while and then perhaps take charge of this bridge.  I think I shall like the business first-rate.  We have got a beautiful camping ground, it is dry, sandy ground, a fine spring nearby.  You see I have learned to look on the bright side.... we went down to the river to drill but it rained so hard we had to quit...
"
In fine condition, horizontal and vertical fold.
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