17 10 273 https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/eadc06b7df4c771cd35219e0962e5b6f.jpg 647d1900ef391a929e630c15e265c048 https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/27da723dbde1737daf5aef0a5e562c93.jpg d3c89332dfb47ee751e9feb199bccd9a https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/bdd9dbaa81a761b3337f6b2cc2a96d68.jpg 1d65fce3cf5f6ffd9111ae7cef03d0e6 https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/1c505fd940d9881a66612df0a93b80b4.jpg 025629fc00c5f135cf0bee509b22142d Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 1863 Letter Archive Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document LETTER TRANSCRIPTION Lexington Ky 22nd May 1863 My dearest Wife, You will learn by last Wedn[esday’s] letter of our visit in L[exington] etc. It is ‘after tea’ (or coffee) and coming on dark and I can send you but a line in haste but I know they will be welcome as I love to send them for in all my turns and adventures, the face of my ‘own’ comes into temporal and I feel how good it is to have one dear friend more than others to share all. Well, Thurs. we remained about camp and town and eve received orders to report to headquarters for our part in the Ball. ‘Twas quite a fine affair. Civic and military and rather select. Some of the ‘first’ people such as Judge [???] Robinson etc. etc. and a goodly share of young people. Two officers with empty coat sleeves, a lieut. of artillery and a N.H. major were there who told of real service. The front entry and parlors were the scene of the dancing and all highly decorated with colors, the 36th flag being conspicuous in the entry. Of course we were outside and on guard a part of the time but could see and hear a good deal. About 2 a.m. this morn we were called in and had a nice lunch of the prevailing niceties of such occasions, cake, ices, wine, etc. etc. We have been sleeping for the most part today and mean a walk downtown this eve. This noon a large fire took place at which I “played engine” for an hour or so with many others of the ‘boys’. Everything wanting the order and system of the east, the fire had its own way completely destroying the medical hospital for soldiers. A large brick building (shaped like the Seminary in Charlestown) but four or five times as large. It stood alone or it would have been a disastrous fire - very. No orders as yet to ‘go home’ but expect them at any time. I cannot tell you all my adventures. I have seen some of the darker shades of army life for the distant field camp is the purest spot certainly. Of course I have heard nothing from friends for a week and desire to hear very much. Trust you are well. Are you in Chelsea? Have sent your letters to Billerica but expect to hear when I return to camp the latest news. Am in excellent health. Wrote Bro. Haynes folks yesterday. Weather very warm and everything dusty to the last degree. Love to all and as ever your ever loving husband, Jerome P.S. These flying notes are poor things I know, but you know my best thoughts, tho “unexpressed”, and love are yours entirely, for I do not feel the less the dear old home ties but this life is so full of stir I cannot write best always. News is scarce here. J I send you A’s letter. Don’t know whether you saw it before. TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE (Ben Raterman and Josef Rokus) Although the first name of Judge Robinson is illegible in the letter, it is possible that he was referring to James Fisher Robinson, who was an attorney and who might also have been a judge. More importantly, Robinson was the pro-Union governor of Kentucky at the time of the ball described in the letter, serving from August 18, 1862, until September 1, 1863. The governor of Kentucky would very likely have attended this ball, which was probably intended to be a part of a public relations effort to impress the local population with the capabilities and “friendliness” of the Union army. In addition, he would definitely have been part of the “first” people, as referred to in the letter. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Letter/Paper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource From Jerome to Allie, May 22, 1863 Subject The topic of the resource Peirce, Jerome Allie Lexington, KY. Description An account of the resource From Jerome to Allie Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Jerome Peirce Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Jerome Peirce Collection, National Park Service Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available HIST 428 (Spring 2020), University of Mary Washington Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1863-05-22 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource NPS, Civil War Study Group, Ben Raterman (Transcriber) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource For educational purposes with no commercial use. Courtesy of National Park Service, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania NMP, FRSP 16095-16102 (FRSP-00904). Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource 5.64 X 3.17 4.84 X 7.91 9.79 X 7.91 4.84 X 7.19 Jpg Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Letter #114 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Lexington, KY. Allie Jerome Peirce Lexington KY https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/493e0fdbf05b30fad0f4b23bee1b277f.jpg 2a184022082c371794afdcc6989a6c79 https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/5a4eb6162e7d83cfa4a6de8a1a121747.jpg f4f9d786c9b1b347f3a6c9d0d6b938af https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/217026de116bfb46c98893fe9dab94e0.jpg 4b4aa3aba58458e68b89aacc59a7c0c2 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 1863 Letter Archive Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document LETTER TRANSCRIPTION Lexington Ky Wednes[day] 20th May 1863 My dearest Wife, A long pause you will think in my letters. I wrote Abbie last Sunday eve. and expected to write you before, but Monday P.M. the Color Sergeant peeked into my tent [and] says quite mysteriously “fix yourself nice and be ready to leave in an hour.” Accordingly, I fixed and about 5 P.M. six of the color guard in all were all ‘aboard’ an army wagon with all their effects. Camped in the wagon at Hustonville first night. Tues[day] took an ambulance and came on to here, stopping near our old ‘Camp Dick’ for dinner and arrived here about midnight (took supper at the hotel in Nicholasville). Reported to the ‘Provost Marshal’ and were soon quartered for the night in Main St. It has been a wonder, all this for everybody, for no one could imagine what all the ‘Colors’ were being taken away from the Brigade, for two, yes, three other regts came the same [day] a[nd] the 45th Penn[sylvania] is expected today. All the officers, provost marshals and every official seemed utterly in the dark and even the Maj. Genl. Wilcox, to whom we reported this morn, seemed at first as deep as we were but finally he seemed to know and forthwith the colors ‘were taken in’ to his ‘house’, were provided quarters here in the fairgrounds where A tents are pitched and cooks, rations and all provided in style. Well, there is to be a grand ball tomorrow eve and the Colors from the whole corps are expected, to decorate and adorn the occasion, and what part we will take remains to be seen. Invitations were sent as far as N.Y. and we came 72 miles. This is one of the great movements I expect. We left too early for the mail so I have had no letters nor shall expect till we return which will be Sat. or Sunday perhaps. We are having fine times, liberty to go and come. Am going downtown soon and thought I would just send you a line. The country is lovely, the grounds where we are fine and fragrant with the locust tree[s]. A kind of a ‘Pic Nick’ for us. The boys who “generally kept themselves fixed up” were selected by order of the Col. so you see I am not quite careless yet. This for your private ear. How and where are you and are you still well? No doubt of it and you will be contented with this small affair for this time. Must fix up a little so a kiss and “good day” for today. Your loving Jerome P.S. Had a laughable affair with a drunken officer on the road who attempted to arrest us, etc. etc., but sergeant was game and we came out all right. TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES (Josef Rokus) NOTE 1: In reference to “Camp Dick,” Camp “Dick Robinson” was a large Union Army organizational and training center located near Lancaster in rural Garrard County, Kentucky. The camp was established on August 6, 1861, despite the protests of Governor Beriah Magoffin, a strong secessionist and Southern sympathizer. It was located about halfway between Cincinnati and the Cumberland Gap, and was about 30 miles from Lexington, Kentucky. It was constructed on the farm of Captain Dick Robinson, a strong pro-Union supporter. The post served as a rallying point for local loyalists, as well as for Unionists who had left their homes in eastern Tennessee in order to enlist in the Union army. In 1862, the Confederate Army seized the camp and renamed it "Camp Breckinridge," in honor of Confederate general and former U.S. Vice President John C. Breckinridge, a native Kentuckian. The advance of the Union army into the region forced the Rebels to abandon the camp, and Federal troops regained its possession for the remainder of the war. After hostilities ceased in 1865, the camp was phased out of existence. NOTE 2: At the time Jerome wrote this letter he was part of the Color Guard for the 36th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, which had the responsibility of guarding the “Colors’, i.e., the battle flag, of the Regiment. NOTE 3: The “A Tent” or “Wedge Tent” was a canvas tent stretched across a six-foot long horizontal bar with two vertical supporting bars in the front and back. These Civil War tents could sleep up to six men, but could only accommodate four men comfortably. If five or six soldiers were sharing the tent, they would have to turn over at the same time. It was a rather large tent and was not easy to transport when an army was on the march. NOTE 4: The “Col.” he refers to was Henry Bowman, from Clinton, Massachusetts, who enlisted as a Captain in the 15th Massachusetts Volunteers on August 1, 1861. He was captured at Ball’s Bluff, Loudon County, Virginia, on October 21, 1861. He was a prisoner of war at Richmond and was a hostage for Confederates held in New York for trial as pirates. Bowman was exchanged in August 1862. On August 22, 1862, he was promoted to colonel, commanding the 36th Massachusetts. He resigned on July 27, 1863, but was recommissioned in October of 1863. He subsequently served in different units, including at Baltimore and Philadelphia until the close of the war. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Letter/Paper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource From Jerome to Allie, May 20, 1863 Subject The topic of the resource Peirce, Jerome Allie Lexington, KY. Description An account of the resource From Jerome to Allie Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Jerome Peirce Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Jerome Peirce Collection, National Park Service Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available HIST 428 (Spring 2020), University of Mary Washington Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1863-05-20 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource NPS, Civil War Study Group, Ben Raterman (Transcriber) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource For educational purposes with no commercial use. Courtesy of National Park Service, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania NMP, FRSP 16095-16102 (FRSP-00904). Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource 5.84 X 7.17 11.16 X 7.17 5.84 X 7.17 Jpg Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Letter #113 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Lexington, KY. Allie Jerome Peirce Lexington KY https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/f19ef904c7ba62365098df95665da741.jpg bb203158d2997412e6744e8f6145beb8 https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/079cc794a5b3ebaa76182e6b18cbff3f.jpg 3f88971475ba3506552304af3fc4be69 https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/c241e7f5830409379df3690027badb56.jpg 2ae5978de33c8995e08d83d1043d0308 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 1863 Letter Archive Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document LETTER TRANSCRIPTION Thurs Eve 14th May 1863 My dearest Wife, Evening is come and though the mail brought nothing this eve, some token is your due and by my candle I close the day with a few lines more as a remembrance than to tell news. The day has passed very quietly, have spent most of the day my tent reading, have rarely left my tent. Yours of the 6th and of the Sunday before were duly received and you know something of the pleasure of the loving missive, and I trust your occupation will not lessen your loving messages for I find I live so entirely upon them. Nature is looking lovely “beyond compare” at this time and compensates much for so many blessings and endearments to demand. Most of the Co. [Company] has been on picket and some have just returned and others going out. There is again a bustle and a preparation, which indicates a movement and vague rumors are afloat about a raid from Morgan etc., etc. and which we have learned to regard very indifferently but still we may move in the morning as rations for two days are ordered. I fear it shall be dull tonight for there is absolutely nothing to write, but were I by your side with our dear little Lulu, how I could recall the past with perhaps a new interest! But now it seems like a strange tiresome dream. We are waiting for some intelligence from Hooker and are exceedingly impatient, for the papers are grossly sensational here and we feel lost in the dark and long for something reliable and pray that it may be propitious. It is with gratitude I hear of your good health. Is it not everything? Can we not bear almost anything if health is shown us? I feel so and you may be assured I shall use every effort to keep it. Am glad Hattie received my letter I wrote to Mary a day or two ago and sent some flowers for Lulu. I wish I could indeed write her a story, for Heaven knows, I want not be forgotten, and so I send her something she can see and handle as a token. You ask me about supplies, hdkfs. [handkerchiefs], towels. I am nicely supplied. Bought me a nice towel at Camp Dick and have one I brought from home. Hdkfs. [Handkerchiefs], I have two. It is so far from home you need not attempt to send such things, at least for the present. My wants are very few and I can supply myself from the Government. Have just drew me a new canteen, rubber blanket and one pair [of] socks and we keep our knapsacks as small and compact as possible. I am glad you attended Teacher’s Meeting. Pray don’t exclude yourself when opportunity for going out offers, for all such things while they may indeed remind you of past joys, will still offer some solace. I cannot tell you how grateful I am to be remembered. It seems worth suffering something for and inspires to greater fidelity. My thoughts have been much with the boys at Suffolk and I can but fear that they will yet see the sharp edge of war ere they reach home, but I trust the same hand will keep them in safety. Wrote Miss Waldo. Yet today, Henry Mayo spoke of his folks having a letter from you lately. I suppose you heard of the death at Athol of Miss Hill (one of John H.’s daughters, the eldest) that attended the dances at A [Athol]. Miss Goddard is quite well again but [???] tells me he is discontented and unhappy on his new place. Wants to go to California again, etc., queer if true, isn’t it? You may ask what I’ve been reading today, one of James’ novels, perhaps I have mentioned it before “Arrah Neil”, a picture of Cromwell’s time in England, rather dull but winding up with a happy marriage and a death scene on the battle fields of “Edgehill” of two who were just united also, thus setting joy and grief face to face and on the whole a touching picture. Every deserted camp shows many books, left behind for the next to carry along, not all of the highest order, but still, I have seen Scott, Leven and James in the list and thus speaks of home. You see I write in ink or pencil just as it happens. Sometimes pencil is very convenient for, unless quite careful, I lose my ink and I keep enough to superscribe with. One of our men came up today who was taken sick the other side of the Potomac and several of the Regiment. We have meetings several evenings in the week, sort of a revival, I imagine just now. I attend on Sunday always, the others are more general in which the chaplain takes a minor part. The “Tattoo” and my candle admonish me that it is growing late. So once more I must add a “Good Night” with remembrances to all friends, and love abundantly from your own Jerome. Please send in every other letter a sheet of paper as I wish to keep a little ahead. It’s better than sending much at a time. Fri. [Friday] morn. [morning]. All right this noon. Some good steak for breakfast, broiled. TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE (Josef Rokus) The “raid from Morgan” mentioned in this letter refers to a Confederate cavalry unit led by Brig. Gen. John Hunt Morgan. Morgan and his men are best remembered for the infamous raid they made into Northern territory. Specifically, Morgan's Raid was a diversionary incursion into Indiana and Ohio from June 11 until July 26, 1863. It covered more than 1,000 miles, beginning in Tennessee and ending in northern Ohio. It coincided with the Vicksburg Campaign and the Gettysburg Campaign, and it was meant to draw U.S. troops away from these fronts by frightening the North into demanding their troops return home. Despite his initial successes, Morgan was thwarted in his attempts to re-cross the Ohio River and eventually was forced to surrender what remained of his command in northeastern Ohio near the Pennsylvania border. Morgan and his senior officers were kept in the Ohio state penitentiary, but they tunneled their way out and took a train to Cincinnati, where they crossed the Ohio River to safety. The raid was ultimately classed as a failure. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Letter/Paper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource From Jerome to Allie, May 14, 1863 Subject The topic of the resource Peirce, Jerome Allie Middleburg, KY. Lexington, KY. Description An account of the resource From Jerome to Allie Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Jerome Peirce Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Jerome Peirce Collection, National Park Service Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available HIST 428 (Spring 2020), University of Mary Washington Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1863-05-14 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource NPS, Civil War Study Group, Bob Johnson (Transcriber) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource For educational purposes with no commercial use. Courtesy of National Park Service, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania NMP, FRSP 16095-16102 (FRSP-00904). Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource 5.84 X 7.17 11.06 X 7.17 5.84 X 7.17 Jpg Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Letter #112 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Not indicated. Probably in the Middleburg/Lexington, KY. area. Allie Jerome Peirce Lexington KY Middleburg KY https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/e559eb60ff6ae39339b690ed3471d893.jpg 44f9114359480203743d385701a8d7ba https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/f43e6d0d12e1f201ebe6fdfa57a728f2.jpg faaf0fdfa09df91f6988318ba463ffd1 https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/1e065ea9980f348a510960c08e244cec.jpg d8dbd147aff92c7ca718c65971dfd35c https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/d095c6c7bb26a1e09649d85eb4c01b57.jpg 285750a3a13860f0e125d8e928230c0d https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/93ecd6ce0cdad84a7d7bec80aa508ffc.jpg 662def331b0524149e8e21c41178428c https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/9550629be6ce2f0cf578c971991debff.jpg 4b6ce49f57f6617ea3cd885eb178223f Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 1863 Letter Archive Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document LETTER TRANSCRIPTION Middleburg, Ky, 11th May, 1863 My own dear Wife, I intended yesterday to have written you a “nice long letter.” ‘Twas a beautiful sunny day, thought I would wait ‘till the latter part of the day, so to have the “latest” news and before long the news, sure enough, began to come in. For the last few days, we have been in a fever of excitement by the news from the Rappahannock. One day victory and rejoicing, and then, defeat, or check and a corresponding depression. Well, thought I would attend the prayer meeting ‘till candle light and then light my candle and have a long chat with your dearest self, when while one young soldier was at prayer, a short burst from the 27th Mich. in front of us, soon little knots gathering here and there in our own Regt. Pretty soon, as our Col. and Lieut. Col. were passing out [a paper], a Maj., Lieut. Cross of Col. Leasure’s staff stopped them (the Col.) and gave him a paper, looked a moment and then turned about for his quarters. Soon, the bugle sounded and the whole Regt. was soon gathered about him while he read this dispatch from Gen. Wilcox (our Corps Com. [Commander]) to Gen. Welch. “Stoneman reinforced by Gen. Dix, who enter Richmond. The Stars and Stripes now float over the Rebel Capitol! Hooker reinforced and again crossing the river to meet the enemy!!!” How can I describe what followed, cheer after cheer went up at the Col.’s call (Reveille!). Well, the boys seemed perfectly wild with joy and they seemed at a loss what to do. Pretty soon “Out with your candles!” and in a twinkling every tent was illuminated by the candle, stuck out on the ridge pole, while the officers’ quarters were covered, and it was one of the most beautiful scenes I ever saw, for we had plenty of candles. The eve. was warm and still. In the meantime, the band, which is improved by the addition of four fifers, bass drum, and cymbals rung out, in merry tunes. Now just imagine this, trebled for the other Regts. soon followed suit, (the 36th were first on the candle move). Soon three large bonfires were blazing from the heights opposite our camp (south) and as they lighted up the freshly budding trees ‘twas a picture for the artist. The whole valley was soon lighted up, far and wide. But soon came the order again “Fall in boys with your candles!” and the whole Regt. with the band were in line and marched round the other two Regts. The 100th Penn. stood in line of battle at “Support Arms” with a lighted candle in the muzzle of their guns, 27th Mich. ditto and as were marched by them, the welkin rang with cheers from each in response, and the Bunker Hill boys done their part, as Lieut. Gird in his speech said, “You would not think Mass. was ‘left out in the cold.‘” Marched to the Col.’s quarters, each man lifting his candle (in a bayonet) as high as we could. Called out the Col. who thanked us for the compliment, and proposed “three more” for the great victory, and need I say how five hundred voices responded? Then came Adjt. (or acting) Hodgkins who made a speech and ‘twas fine. We then went to one of the Captain’s quarters and speeches from Captains Warriner, Sawyer, Lieuts. Brigham and Gird. (Captain Smith too, the one who was at Orange). They were all good. Brigham and Gird are good speakers. But the late hours came and at last all was still. It was a night to be remembered and with all the “scenes” at home I never shall forget this. God grant it may not be dashed by any misfortune, and that soon we may hear of the capitulation of Lee‘s Army, and the total downfall of the vile race of traitors. ‘Twas not one lot to share in this, but it was a fit place to hear these tidings on the soil of old Kentuck, the land of Henry Clay, and I felt that if I live to see home ‘twould be glory enough that I too was a soldier of the Republic in this her hour of trial. (Breakfast) How my thoughts have been with you at home, in these few past hours! It seems too good for reality, and with trembling we receive it, but I trust our brothers Frank and Will are indeed in the rebel Capital! But much hard fighting is yet to come I fear, but the arm is nerved and ready now to deal the last fatal blow to this infernal monster. In this Deptmt. [Department] all is quiet. The traitors seemed to have abandoned all idea of further mischief in Ky., but still they must be watched, and you will see by the way Gen. Burnside is dealing with Copperheads, that the “mill is grinding.” Vallandigham and others are beginning to feel what it is to talk treason. Well, your nice letter of the 3rd was received and last eve. Jos. H. came and showed me yours to him and the few words to him. He seems happy in his new place, is back more than two miles from here, and has to obtain a “pass” to get here. His letters from home are, I believe, all favorable, altho’ I expect the Orange boys in the 52nd have had a hard time. The boys here are all well. I mailed a letter to the folks at Billerica yesterday, (Mary). Our mail comes every day in the forenoon, the mail goes out at the same time. Am glad you had such a nice time, riding home, and at Stoneham. I hope you will correct any wrong impressions to Lucy or any one, in what I might have said about your “working” for yourself. I thought I took particular pains in her case not to give such impressions. I am satisfied and appreciate fully all the friends have done, and commend you, above all for your spirit, but at first the thought of leaving Lulu grieved me, but I know all is well, and you have done right, and I only felt, that you could do fine sewing among our mutual friends instead of shop life. You know I dislike that. You will now be among old friends, and have much to cheer and keep your mind busy. I know when I call to mind all things, I am hardly deserving [of] your dear self, and the thousand kindnesses I have enjoyed, and I will try and not to grieve you by any words again. Shall be eager for news now and I trust we are now to see the dark clouds breaking and that we shall soon be united once more in peace and happiness. My health is excellent, appetite tremendous, just as I was at Dayton years ago. Have not heard from the Suffolk boys for a long time. I kept the colored picture of Lulu. Had Henry P.’s picture the other day. Ben E.’s wife has had quite a “gay” time at Wheeling amid the excitement of the Rebel raid, rather amusing to her. B [Ben] thinks it quite a joke that she has been so much nearer the Rebs than he has [been.] All sorts of rumors about our movements. We may go back to Camp “Dick”, there is no telling how the late result will affect this Dept., time will tell. I amuse myself reading, hunting for flowers, and keeping things in order, [and] receiving and writing letters. Have sent your letters In Care of Charles S. of late thinking you would receive them more direct. Am glad you got the picture and glad you liked it. I have written this in haste, began before 5 o’clk A.M., ‘tis now past 6 and I want it to go this morning. Remember, as ever to all friends and may it find you happy and rejoicing in the hope of a speedy end of our woes. Hope to hear from you this morn. Thank Lucy for her kind letter, recv’d. a few days ago. I hope she will be benefitted much by her new teeth, as she certainly will. Kind regards to George. I trust the air is better. Remember to Miss Waldo, Abbie and As ever you loving husband Jerome I enclosed a letter for you in one to Murray the other day. TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES (Josef Rokus) NOTE 1: The capture of Richmond and the United States flag flying over the Capitol Building of the Confederacy was, of course, significantly premature when this letter was written. U.S. troops did not enter Richmond until April 3, 1865. The celebration and the speeches are described exactly as detailed in this letter on Page 44 of the Unit History. It describes the events as a “Fourth of July occasion” and goes no to say, “We soon learned that we had exulted too soon.” NOTE 2: Stephen C. Warriner enlisted as a Sergeant at age 23 from Monson, Massachusetts. He was appointed Captain of Co. E of the 36th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment on August 22, 1862, and he resigned on April 22, 1864. NOTE 3: Captain Christopher Sawyer enlisted as a Captain at age 28 from Templeton, Massachusetts, on August 22, 1862, and he commanded Company H of the 36th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, the company that Jerome was assigned to. He was discharged on account of disability on February 19, 1864. NOTE 4: William F. Brigham enlisted at age 23 from Marlborough, Massachusetts. He was appointed First Lieutenant of Company I on August 22, 1862. Brigham was discharged for disability on January 20, 1865. NOTE 5: James B. Smith enlisted at age 23 from Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was appointed Captain, Company K, on August 22, 1862. Smith was wounded at the Battle of Pegram Farm on September 30, 1864, but was mustered out with the Regiment on June 8, 1864, as a Major. He was subsequently promoted to Brevet Colonel for “gallant and meritorious service.” NOTE 6: Joseph W. Gird enlisted from Fitchburg, Massachusetts, at age 22 as a Private in Company F of the 25th Massachusetts Volunteers on October 4, 1861. On August 11, 1862, he was appointed First Lieutenant of the 36th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment but resigned on May 18, 1863. He was appointed Second Lieutenant in the 57th Massachusetts Volunteers on November 3, 1863, and was promoted in that regiment to Captain on December 31, 1863. Lieut. Gird was killed in action on May 6, 1864, at the Battle of the Wilderness, just a few days before Jerome was killed. NOTE 7: William H. Hodgkins enlisted at age 22 from Charlestown, Massachusetts. He was promoted to Second Lieutenant on Oct. 17, 1862. He served as the Acting Adjutant from January 18, 1863, until May 31, 1863, and was promoted to First Lieutenant on October 17, 1863, and to Captain on May 6, 1864. Hodgkins was subsequently promoted to Brevet Major, U.S. Volunteers, for “valued and distinguished service at Fort Stedman, Virginia, on March 25, 1865.” NOTE 8: The Ben E. referred to this letter was almost certainly Benjamin B. Edmands. Edmands enlisted as a Private at age 27 from Brookline, Massachusetts, and he was subsequently promoted to Corporal. On January 20, 1864, he was discharged from the 36th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment for promotion as a Lieutenant in the 54th Massachusetts Regiment of Volunteers. NOTE 9: The “Mary” referred to in this letter was almost certainly Allie’s younger sister, Mary Frances Jaquith. She was born in 1841, while Allie (Albinia) was born in 1834. NOTE 10: Clement Laird Vallandigham (1820 – 1871) was an Ohio politician and leader of the Copperhead faction of anti-war Democrats during the Civil War. He served two terms in the United States House of Representatives. In 1863, he was convicted at an Army court martial of opposing the war, and exiled to the Confederacy. He ran for governor of Ohio in 1863 from exile in Canada, but he was defeated. NOTE 11: Camp “Dick” was Camp “Dick Robinson” a large Union Army organizational and training center located near Lancaster in rural Garrard County, Kentucky. The camp was established on August 6, 1861, despite the protests of Governor Beriah Magoffin, a strong secessionist and Southern sympathizer. It was located about halfway between Cincinnati and the Cumberland Gap, and was about 30 miles from Lexington, Kentucky. It was constructed on the farm of Captain Dick Robinson, a strong pro-Union supporter. The post served as a rallying point for local loyalists, as well as for Unionists who had left their homes in eastern Tennessee in order to enlist in the Union army. In 1862, the Confederate Army seized the camp and renamed it "Camp Breckinridge," in honor of Confederate general and former U.S. Vice President John C. Breckinridge, a native Kentuckian. The advance of the Union army into the region forced the Rebels to abandon the camp, and Federal troops regained its possession for the remainder of the war. After hostilities ceased in 1865, the camp was phased out of existence. NOTE 12: The “Jos. H.” that Jerome referred to in this letter was Joseph H. Peirce. He enlisted as a Private in Orange, Mass., on August 4, 1862, at age 18. Jerome also enlisted in Orange on the same date, but as a corporal. Jerome was 31 years old at the time. According to the Unit History, Joseph H. Peirce was taken Prisoner of War at Pegram Farm, Virginia, on September 30, 1864, (See Letter No. 227) and he was later exchanged. He was discharged on June 21, 1865. Joseph H. Peirce was the son of Joseph Peirce, one of Jerome’s brothers, and was, therefore, Jerome’s nephew. NOTE 13: The “Col. [Colonel]” referred to in the letter was Colonel Henry Bowman, from Clinton, Massachusetts, who enlisted as a Captain in the 15th Massachusetts Volunteers on August 1, 1861. He was captured at Ball’s Bluff, Loudon County, Virginia, on October 21, 1861. He was a prisoner of war at Richmond and was a hostage for Confederates held in New York for trial as pirates. Bowman was exchanged in August 1862. On August 22, 1862, he was promoted to colonel, commanding the 36th Massachusetts. He resigned on July 27, 1863, but was recommissioned in October of 1863. He subsequently served in different units, including at Baltimore and Philadelphia until the close of the war. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Letter/Paper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource From Jerome to Allie, May 11, 1863 Subject The topic of the resource Peirce, Jerome Allie Middleburg, KY. Description An account of the resource From Jerome to Allie Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Jerome Peirce Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Jerome Peirce Collection, National Park Service Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available HIST 428 (Spring 2020), University of Mary Washington Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1863-05-11 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource NPS, Civil War Study Group, Paul and Louise Marahrens (Transcribers) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource For educational purposes with no commercial use. Courtesy of National Park Service, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania NMP, FRSP 16095-16102 (FRSP-00904). Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource 5.83 X 7.17 11.58 X 7.17 5.85 X 7.17 5.82 X 7.12 11.15 X 7.12 5.82 X 7.12 Jpg Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Letter #111 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Middleburg, KY. Allie Jerome Peirce Middleburg KY https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/d9026205445cf234edd8b5631ecb2d0a.jpg 4e1cb3685fbed5dffcaff71cd4c73636 https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/563f129e9facac6ac3248a6e44056003.jpg 89e26980f16d8db76e04f0782768613b https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/d1c72bbd8a20dd6f67ddae0f593338be.jpg 289e3fe4bff43ea4ff888742ae9732ec Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 1863 Letter Archive Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document LETTER TRANSCRIPTION Near Middleburg Ky 10th May/63 My dear “Pollyanthus” It is quite early Sabbath morning. The sun is shining warmly into my tent (it sets end to the east) and I thought before there was too much stir I would send a few lines. You have I suppose seen Allie lately and she has told you how and where I was and I wrote you thru Hattie the 28th ult. [last month] but I have to turn to the old spot and send in a little messenger for we must not let the wires get rusty or broken. How much I would love to be with you all and attend church and forget for a season the scenes of the camp, but alas, not yet can that pleasure be ours. Rose at 5 o’clck and went to the brook to wash and ran upon some flowers which I send. The brook reminds me of Suckees at the bridge where we have so often crossed and I assure you I have seen but few places in my journeys that are more pleasant in summer than that and “Prospect Hill.” The season is not of course fully on, but I doubt whether there is as great a variety of flowers here as at home. I find “Innocents” [flowers] as at home. Sent some to Henry Peirce yesterday. The strawberry is in blossom, violets too I found. Well we have been here (in this place) a week changing camp about a mile to this spot last Monday in the midst of a heavy shower, where we were wet through but were soon in tents expecting to leave in a day or two but this [is a] soldier’s life. The rumors now are that we shall move back towards Camp “Dick Robinson” by Tues[day] or Wedns., the “Rebel raid” having failed entirely in this state. But I have given up surmising where we may be. We are suffering great anxiety about the news from Gen. Hooker. Contradictory accounts, but we hope for final success. Surely if ever a people were being schooled, we are, and I trust the lesson will not be in vain. But how are you all and how do you get along in school? What of the boys at Suffolk (Will and Frank)? Wrote them last, but I know they have been very busy of late. And how is my Lulu? How did Mama look to her? When shall I see her? I hear she is well and a very good and happy little girl. I hope so and I see not how she can be otherwise. Does she run about the yard and out to the barns? I want much to hear direct from you now that Allie is at C [Charlestown]. She seems very happy and I am glad she can work with her old friends. I did not love to think of her as in a shop but I presume she will be happier doing for herself in some way if she thinks it best and I hope I gave no wrong impression in anything I said before for I fully appreciate all that you at the “old home” in particular are doing in the care of little Lulu and I do hope she may repay it in being some company and comfort to you. You must tell me all about her and her little doings in your next. Give her a kiss for Papa and accept these little posies for it is all I can send her. I think much about her. Her mother tells me she has a pencil. She must write me as she used to in Mama’s letters. Shall write Allie today. Give love to all the friends and tell me all the items at B [Billerica]. How do church matters prosper? Expect the folks are busy with farm work. It is a hilly country here and we are in a valley. It is called the “Nobbs” and newly cultivated by the “poorer” class. We see many slaves. They visit the camp. Do you hear anything from Jonny Bacon or Baffour? As ever affectionately yours Bro. [Brother] Jerome. Mailed you a paper yesterday. Excuse blots, camp “signs”. TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES (Josef Rokus) NOTE 1. Although there is no name in the salutation, based on previous, very similar letters, it was almost definitely written to Allie’s sister Abbie. He used “Pollyanthus” (a type of flower which is correctly spelled “Polyanthus”) as a term of endearment. He often refers to himself as the brother of Abbie, while, in fact, he was her brother-in-law. NOTE 2: Abbie (Abigail) Jaquith was Allie’s younger sister. Abbie was born in 1836, and she died in 1915. Allie (Albinia) was born in 1834, and she died in 1920. NOTE 3: Camp Dick Robinson was a large Union Army organizational and training center located near Lancaster in rural Garrard County, Kentucky. The camp was established on August 6, 1861, despite the protests of Governor Beriah Magoffin, a strong secessionist and Southern sympathizer. It was located about halfway between Cincinnati and the Cumberland Gap, and was about 30 miles from Lexington, Kentucky. It was constructed on the farm of Captain Dick Robinson, a strong pro-Union supporter. The post served as a rallying point for local loyalists, as well as for Unionists who had left their homes in eastern Tennessee in order to enlist in the Union army. In 1862, the Confederate Army seized the camp and renamed it "Camp Breckinridge," in honor of Confederate general and former U.S. Vice President John C. Breckinridge, a native Kentuckian. The advance of the Union army into the region forced the Rebels to abandon the camp, and Federal troops regained its possession for the remainder of the war. After hostilities ceased in 1865, the camp was phased out of existence. NOTE 4: Regarding the “Rebel raid,” he is almost certainly referring to Morgan's Raid (or Expedition) which was a diversionary incursion by Confederate cavalry into the northern U.S. states of Indiana and Ohio during the Civil War. The raid “officially” took place from June 11–July 26, 1863, and is named for the commander of the Confederates, Brig. Gen. John Hunt Morgan. Although it caused temporary alarm in the North, the raid was ultimately classed as a failure. The raid covered more than 1,000 miles, beginning in Tennessee and ending in northern Ohio. It coincided with the Vicksburg Campaign and the Gettysburg Campaign, and it was meant to draw U.S. troops away from these fronts by frightening the North into demanding their troops return home. Despite his initial successes, Morgan was thwarted in his attempts to re-cross the Ohio River and eventually was forced to surrender what remained of his command in northeastern Ohio near the Pennsylvania border. Morgan and other senior officers were kept in the Ohio state penitentiary, but they tunneled their way out and took a train to Cincinnati, where they crossed the Ohio River to safety. The activity described in this letter as the “Rebel raid” apparently preceded what is now considered to be the timeframe of the raid, i.e., June and July 1863, which Jerome would not have known about, of course, when he wrote this letter in May of 1863. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Letter/Paper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource From Jerome to "Pollyanthus" (Probably Abbie), May 10, 1863 Subject The topic of the resource Peirce, Jerome Pollyanthus Abbie Middleburg, KY. Description An account of the resource From Jerome to "Pollyanthus" (Probably Abbie) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Jerome Peirce Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Jerome Peirce Collection, National Park Service Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available HIST 428 (Spring 2020), University of Mary Washington Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1863-05-10 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource NPS, Civil War Study Group, Barb Davidson (Transcriber) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource For educational purposes with no commercial use. Courtesy of National Park Service, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania NMP, FRSP 16095-16102 (FRSP-00904). 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Abbie Jerome Peirce Middleburg KY Pollyanthus https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/78fcc1584403b7e0e8bb83e0596a1709.jpg d5b3d0003906ddbf549ccc3626ef21a9 https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/bbaead2ae1eba05e1c1aed296a2e5992.jpg 8b91d098ca1394ec606f94c4b81ac0cb https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/19803bc436622ace62b8551a36adc8b6.jpg 675b7c21e693682d6e567569b6a53a0f https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/6cc6f1b79760d498c4321e2444044c08.jpg 249a5e0aa5ada35bb6dbfbb1f8922905 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 1863 Letter Archive Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document LETTER TRANSCRIPTION Near Middleburg, 6th May 1863 My dearest Allie, If all reports are true, you have had glorious news ere this and it is said we are to hear it on dress parade this eve. A great victory at Fredericksburg etc. and a report of Gen. Hooker of eight pages sent to the whole Army! My heart beats as I write it and heaven grant all is true. Have just [seen] Ceritin Murray. We are halted. Moved camp to a more healthy location about a mile from where [we] were last Sunday, the date of my last [letter]. Of course all is still and dull. No news of importance in front (Tenn) and such as it is in our favor. I felt I must send you a few lines to tell you I’m well and coming up from the marches finely. Have had a good deal of rain for the last days. We came in here Monday P.M. in the midst of a tremendous shower, which wet us to the skin, but all were merry as larks, and soon had our tents pitched. I am now with the two Woodward’s from O. [Orange]. We are in a valley, heights all around, a river and brook in front and rear. Country hilly and rough people. A few Union farmers, all ordinary and quiet. The soldiers are very cheerful and careful not to trespass as we feel [we are] among friends. Had a nice time with Ben last eve. Is very happy at being so kindly remembered by you. His wife will have your messages. She was in the midst of the excitement at Wheeling, where the Rebels were raiding, but she was brave and did not like to leave the city as all of them did with their valuables and went over into Ohio. Witnessed a funny scene last eve. Some slave ‘boys’ singing and dancing by candlelight outdoors and a crowd of 36th [Regiment soldiers] around them. ‘Native talent” and vastly amusing I assure you. Hope for a mail tonight. None since Sunday. Am glad you are well and happy. Allie, you may have a wrong impression. I disliked the idea of you entering a shop for it seems to me you might have sewing as you will now and so be among friends and cheerful associations. The clouds do seem breaking and if the Rebel Army of Va [Virginia] is destroyed, the end is surely approaching. The loyal people here are bitter on the rebels and it does us all good to see evidence of earnestness and depend upon it [that] Ky. [Kentucky] will look out for the traitors. We amuse ourselves in keeping our “pieces” (guns) in order and cutting down knapsacks for rapid movement and mine is quite smaller. Don’t send any stationery just now as I intend to keep as little as possible and on marches I can write but few. You will understand. Our movements are all uncertain and I cannot imagine when or where we shall move. If the news is true, it may bring us to a dead halt or send us back to Camp Dick. Love to all friends, Alonzo and the rest. Have written someone near you almost every day of our moves. J.H. is well along with the teams. Heard of your call at Isaac E’s by Ben last eve, and a goodly message he sent us both. I cannot overstate my enjoyments with Ben and if we return together! But [???] with a [kiss] and one for Lulu. As ever your loving, Jerome TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES NOTE 1: The 36th Regiment camped at Middleburg (referenced as Middleburgh), Kentucky from May 2 to May 23rd, 1862. Middleburg is on the Green River. According to Wikipedia, the first landowner in the area was Abraham Lincoln I, the grandfather of president Abraham Lincoln, who purchased 800 acres in the area in 1784. NOTE 2: The Regimental History describes the favorable, albeit inaccurate, news about a major Union victory in Virginia, referenced in Jerome’s letter. On page 44: “Wednesday, May 6th at dress parade a dispatch from General Wilcox to General Welch, announcing cheering news from the Rappahannock was read. Not until two days later did we receive the tidings of Hooker’s defeat at Chancellorsville.” Rumors seemed to abound. The Regimental History noted that on May 10th, there were rumors of the capture of Richmond, and a major celebration was held by Union troops. NOTE 3: The reference to Camp Dick likely refers to Camp Dick Robinson, near Bryantsville, where the 36th Regiment stayed from April 9 to April 30, 1862. Camp Dick Robinson was named after the famer, Richard Robinson, on whose farm the Union established the first federal base south of the Ohio River in August 1861. It played an important role in keeping Kentucky as a border state during the war. Kentucky officially declared its neutrality at the beginning of the war, but after a failed attempt by Confederate General Leonidas Polk to take the state for the Confederacy, the legislature petitioned the Union Army for assistance. NOTE 4: The reference to the “excitement at Wheeling, where Rebels were raiding” likely refers to the Jones-Imboden Raid, a military action in April and May 1863. The raid, led by Brigadier Generals Jones and Imboden, aimed at disrupting traffic on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and the derail the statehood movement. Voters had approved a new Constitution and statement in March and were awaiting Congressional and Presidential approval, which occurred in June. The raiders damaged several railroad bridges, but not the two most crucial bridges. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Letter/Paper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource From Jerome to Allie, May 6, 1863 Subject The topic of the resource Peirce, Jerome Allie Middleburg, KY. Description An account of the resource From Jerome to Allie Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Jerome Peirce Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Jerome Peirce Collection, National Park Service Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available HIST 428 (Spring 2020), University of Mary Washington Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1863-05-06 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource NPS, Civil War Study Group, Tom Neubig (Transcriber) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource For educational purposes with no commercial use. Courtesy of National Park Service, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania NMP, FRSP 16095-16102 (FRSP-00904). Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource 4.74 X 2.75 4.85 X 7.93 9.71 X 7.93 4.85 X 7.93 Jpg Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Letter #109 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant near Middleburg, KY. Allie Jerome Peirce Middleburg KY https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/184768951ca3c18bdfcd0c4457756e69.jpg 6d0633cf8cf75c3700f7718c91cbcab3 https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/5bb3b7ba4c721b8712e8c6e18f7ee00a.jpg 77361e76c67d96df11f83515ba16901a https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/1c06beff109ed306414c84ef4291595c.jpg de89c07a2b94560b597200674032e4dc https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/b9e9fa1c6f4cc029ed5e389bed1c6824.jpg a60ce720c7b2a4bb71e4fff1fc9333e4 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 1863 Letter Archive Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document LETTER TRANSCRIPTION Middletown Ky. Sunday P.M. May 3rd 1863 My dearest Wife, I am sitting here in my tent, have been looking out upon a tree (at the left hand), which the rain and a beautiful rainbow has beautified. So like a painting that I wish I could transfer [it] to this paper and send [it to] you as a memento of this camp, the third since we left Camp “Dick [Robinson]”. It has showered considerably for two days, tho’ not yesterday. Another afternoon march yesterday of about ten miles. We are now in a rough portion of the state, thinly settled, there being only three or four houses here to claim the name of a town. We are surrounded by hills on every side with [the] Green River a few rods from our tent, taking its name from the color of the water. Early this P.M. took a bath in it and felt much refreshed. We are having fitful showers like April, one moment looking like clearing off, and then raining again. Was very busy this A.M. with little things that need “fixing” a little, but found time to attend the Services about 3 o’clk. The chaplain spoke on reading the Scriptures and very well. A shower interrupted us. Took a short walk after supper (5 o’clk) up a steep hill the other side of the road, which commands a very pretty view of the country, which looks much like the scene from old Tully, only the hills are not so high. (Since I began the boys have commenced chattering and making it unpleasant. Will have a candle and quiet, by and by). After Tattoo. Mail arrived and how glad was I to receive letters from your dear self, Abbie and Ellen and Edwd. P. etc. of the 26th Vlt. [Volunteers]. I feel much better in spirits than when some of my late letters were written. You will understand this. All is quiet in the tent. Seven of us of the ‘Colors’ in one tent, a candle burning, fixed in a bayonet, all under the blankets but Sergeant Goodspeed (of Worcester) and we are busy writing to [our] dear ones. He has nice little pictures of wife and four children like yours, fixed in a little movers case, the oldest thirteen, the youngest six. Well, the first Sabbath in May! and through many obstacles, such as the damp and mud of a low camp in rainy weather, the camp “talk” not always in keeping with the day, rumors and guesses etc. etc., but still my thoughts stole to you at church, amid congenial scenes, and I felt that I was still with you and believed that some comforting words from able lips [were] still bearing your spirits up, and so I was comforted. I must not omit a very interesting item of today. A family of refugees from E. Tennessee has been among us. A man of years with three daughters from perhaps nineteen to near thirty years, all intelligent and well appearing, wanderers as it were from Rebel violence. The story was too horrible for narration in full. The youngest girl had an eye gouged out by a bayonet while defending herself from ruffian hands, and one finger is gone from the shot fired which killed the villain whom her father slew in his frenzy, and it seems he literally cut him to pieces. They are lingering near here awaiting their chance to return. The father has been in the Union service and wounded. He is a large noble looking man, with a settled expression of grief and suffering such as I never before saw. I entered an officer’s tent when the four were conversing and contributed the best half of what I had left, felt I done it in a good cause. They were comfortable, well-to-do people of the staunch Union stock, and refused at the peril of their lives to join the miserable rebels. The home was attacked and here they are one of Parson Brownlow’s scenes to the life. Over a hundred dollars has been raised for them in the Brigade. The youngest, who is wounded, is exceedingly modest and pretty and all fine appearing. Such things are what will nerve the arm when the conflict comes. We have rumors of a great victory at Fredericksburg and pray it be so. Very interesting letters in the ‘Journal’ (enclosed in the “Register”). I greatly rejoice at the result at Suffolk and I hope the Rebel Army at F. [Fredericksburg] [Changed to brackets] will be destroyed, between F. [Fredericksburg] {Changed to brackets] and Suffolk. We expect to go to Columbia Ky. near the border and where the RRoad [Railroad] connects with Louisville and where we can draw supplies and so “hold on” for the next move. Have got nicely rested and expect to move tomorrow again. I have written every day since we left Camp “Dick”, to Alonzo, Abbie, or yourself, so you will know how we are getting on. Tell Abbie, her letter done me good, and is fully felt and appreciated. Tell Ellen I forgot to enclose the flowers but they were so crushed I would not have sent them, will sometime. You speak of my writing the S. [Sabbath] School. I find the scenes I am passing thru’ so great in contrast with it, I find it impossible to address them directly, but as the “spirit moves” I utter my feelings in a way which perhaps have a meaning for all in S. [Sabbath] School. In my last to Charles there may be a word that may do good. As Miss Waldo says, in substance, these times will impress the minds of the young, so that a deeper love of country may be the fruits, among many good results to follow from the present events. I shall feel quite happy to think of you with “friends” as Ellen says, and on the whole the look of things is more cheering than for a long time. My candle is most down and I must close. I dare say I forget much. Have seen Ben E. today as usual. Called on the Tennesseans with me and contributed his “mite”. I have plenty of stamps just now. Hope to see the paymaster again at the halt, Columbia perhaps. It seems strange about Eddy Haynes. What can be the matter? Wrote to Billerica a few days ago. Shall do so, as often as possible. Letters from Orange but don’t know the news. It has been very sickly there of late tho’. I send this soiled paper, as we are moving and spare the last for camp. Excuse all appearances, broke my ink stand again, the day at Stanford, so pencil must answer. Give some message to Lulu from me and much love to all friends and believe me ever yours wholly Jerome Mond [Monday] Morn [Morning] Clearing off, warm, uncertain about moving today. Saw a slip from the Boston “Journal” from near Bryantsville (Camp Dick) speaking of the trip to Cin. [Cincinnati] etc. and complementing the Col. etc. All quite just. The Col. is growing more popular. TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES (Josef Rokus) NOTE 1: Camp Dick Robinson was a large Union Army organizational and training center located near Lancaster in rural Garrard County, Kentucky. The camp was established on August 6, 1861, despite the protests of Governor Beriah Magoffin, a strong secessionist and Southern sympathizer. It was located about halfway between Cincinnati and the Cumberland Gap, and was about 30 miles from Lexington, Kentucky. It was constructed on the farm of Captain Dick Robinson, a strong pro-Union supporter. The post served as a rallying point for local loyalists, as well as for Unionists who had left their homes in eastern Tennessee in order to enlist in the Union army. In 1862, the Confederate Army seized the camp and renamed it "Camp Breckinridge," in honor of Confederate general and former U.S. Vice President John C. Breckinridge, a native Kentuckian. The advance of the Union army into the region forced the Rebels to abandon the camp, and Federal troops regained its possession for the remainder of the war. After hostilities ceased in 1865, the camp was phased out of existence. NOTE 2: The Green River is a 384-mile-long tributary of the Ohio River that rises in Lincoln County in south-central Kentucky. The river was named after Nathanael Greene, a general of the Revolutionary War. NOTE 3: Abbie (Abigail) Jaquith was Allie’s younger sister. Abbie was born in 1836, and she died in 1915. Allie (Albinia) was born in 1834, and she died in 1920. NOTE 4: Edward Peirce was the son of Foster and Catherine Peirce, Foster being one of Jerome’s brothers. Therefore, Edward Peirce, who was born in 1845, was a nephew of Jerome. NOTE 5: Samuel A. Goodspeed enlisted at age 38 from Worcester, Massachusetts, as a sergeant in Company C on August 13, 1862. He was promoted to First Sergeant on June 27, 1863, and to Second Lieutenant on Jul 17, 1863, followed by a promotion to First Lieutenant on January 3, 1864. Goodspeed resigned from the Army on April 20, 1864. NOTE 6: William Gannaway "Parson" Brownlow (1805 – 1877) was an American newspaper publisher, Methodist minister, book author, prisoner of war, lecturer, and politician. He served as Governor of Tennessee from 1865 to 1869 and as a United States Senator from Tennessee from 1869 to 1875. Brownlow rose to prominence in the 1840s as editor of the Whig, a polemical newspaper in East Tennessee that promoted Whig Party ideals and opposed secession in the years leading up to the Civil War. Brownlow's uncompromising and radical viewpoints made him one of the most divisive figures in Tennessee political history and one of the most controversial Reconstruction Era politicians of the United States. NOTE 7: The Second Battle of Fredericksburg, also known as the Second Battle of Marye's Heights, took place on May 3, 1863, in Fredericksburg, Virginia, as part of the Chancellorsville Campaign of the Civil War. NOTE 8: The “Alonzo” Jerome referred to in his letters was Seth Alonzo Ranlett. Ranlett enlisted in Co. B of the 36th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment as a Private on July 24, 1862, at age 22, and he was from Charlestown, Massachusetts. He was promoted to First Sergeant on August 27, 1862, and was commissioned as a First Lieutenant on December 1, 1862. On December 17, 1862, he was appointed Adjutant of the Regiment. He was mustered out “on account of physical disability from disease incurred in the service” on February 20, 1864. Ranlett was born on March 18, 1840, in Charlestown, Massachusetts, and he died May 21, 1905, in Newton, Massachusetts. Ranlett’s wife was Ellen Peirce Ranlett, with a date of birth of March 22, 1842, and a date of death of January 12, 1914. They were married on January 21, 1864. Ellen Peirce was one of the children of Foster Peirce and his wife Catherine Abby Beaman. Also, Foster Peirce was a brother of Jerome. Therefore, the Ellen that Jerome mentions in his letters was one of Jerome’s nieces, and starting on January 21, 1864, Alonzo was the husband of one of his nieces. NOTE 9: The Sabbath School is mentioned in this letter because Jerome was the Sabbath School Superintendent at the church in Orange, Massachusetts, that the Peirce family attended before he enlisted. NOTE 10: The “Col.” referred to in the letter was Henry Bowman, from Clinton, Massachusetts, who enlisted as a captain in the 15th Massachusetts Volunteers on August 1, 1861. He was captured at Ball’s Bluff, Loudon County, Virginia, on October 21, 1861. He was a prisoner of war at Richmond and was a hostage for Confederates held in New York for trial as pirates. Bowman was exchanged in August 1862. On August 22, 1862, he was promoted to colonel, commanding the 36th Massachusetts. He resigned on July 27, 1863, but was recommissioned in October of 1863. He subsequently served in different units and served at Baltimore and Philadelphia until the close of the war. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Letter/Paper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource From Jerome to Allie, May 3, 1863 Subject The topic of the resource Peirce, Jerome Allie Middletown, KY. Description An account of the resource From Jerome to Allie Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Jerome Peirce Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Jerome Peirce Collection, National Park Service Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available HIST 428 (Spring 2020), University of Mary Washington Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1863-05-03 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource NPS, Civil War Study Group, Paul and Louise Marahrens (Transcribers) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource For educational purposes with no commercial use. Courtesy of National Park Service, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania NMP, FRSP 16095-16102 (FRSP-00904). Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource 6.10 X 4 8.75 X 10.75 16.15 X 10.5 8.7 X 10.6 Jpg Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Letter #108 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Middletown, KY. Allie Jerome Peirce Middletown KY https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/61efb72c254b3143185aad5701eb8fee.jpg f31dcfe5e8edecb7d3372865af434e0f https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/41f7598b85f328f9d1d3b2c7ecd17c4c.jpg c64566a492ec0dcde671f2d3475deac7 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 1863 Letter Archive Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document LETTER TRANSCRIPTION Stanford, Ky Thurs Eve. 30th April ‘63 My dearest Allie, Much to our surprise, we left Camp Dick R. [Robinson] this morning about 7 o’clk, 18 or 19 miles. Made a good march, and nearly all came in in good condition, myself among the same. Dust laid by last night’s rain. We are moving to the front, Cumberland River, to reinforce, as far as we can learn. Expect to march two or three days more. Several are going to write just a line, so I must be brief. Am very well. Am writing with a candle on the rail of a fence and tents spread near us. Love to all and as ever yours wholly Jerome Will write when I can. May [1st] Have just read a letter from Alonzo rec’d last eve. Am quite refreshed. It is 5 o’clk and must make a fire and look out for some coffee. Our whole Camp “Dick [Robinson]” force is moving under General Welch. Give my love and thanks to Alonzo and will answer when we halt. Wish you could see our Bedrooms! I send a weed from Camp “Dick [Robinson]”, looks pretty growing, but sadly faded now. Jerome P.S. We remain here today. Will write Alonzo. TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES (Josef Rokus) NOTE 1: Camp Dick Robinson was a large Union Army organizational and training center located near Lancaster in rural Garrard County, Kentucky. The camp was established on August 6, 1861, despite the protests of Governor Beriah Magoffin, a strong secessionist and Southern sympathizer. It was located about halfway between Cincinnati and the Cumberland Gap, and was about 30 miles from Lexington, Kentucky. It was constructed on the farm of Captain Dick Robinson, a strong pro-Union supporter. The post served as a rallying point for local loyalists, as well as for Unionists who had left their homes in eastern Tennessee in order to enlist in the Union army. In 1862, the Confederate Army seized the camp and renamed it "Camp Breckinridge," in honor of Confederate general and former U.S. Vice President John C. Breckinridge, a native Kentuckian. The advance of the Union army into the region forced the Rebels to abandon the camp, and Federal troops regained its possession for the remainder of the war. After hostilities ceased in 1865, the camp was phased out of existence. NOTE 2: The “Alonzo” Jerome referred to in his letters was Seth Alonzo Ranlett. Ranlett enlisted in Co. B of the 36th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment as a Private on July 24, 1862, at age 22, and he was from Charlestown, Massachusetts. He was promoted to First Sergeant on August 27, 1862, and was commissioned as a First Lieutenant on December 1, 1862. On December 17, 1862, he was appointed Adjutant of the Regiment. He was mustered out “on account of physical disability from disease incurred in the service” on February 20, 1864. Ranlett was born on March 18, 1840, in Charlestown, Massachusetts, and he died May 21, 1905, in Newton, Massachusetts. Ranlett’s wife was Ellen Peirce Ranlett, with a date of birth of March 22, 1842, and a date of death of January 12, 1914. They were married on January 21, 1864. Ellen Peirce was one of the children of Foster Peirce and his wife Catherine Abby Beaman. Also, Foster Peirce was a brother of Jerome. Therefore, the Ellen that Jerome mentions in his letters was one of Jerome’s nieces, and starting on January 21, 1864, Alonzo was the husband of one of his nieces. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Letter/Paper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource From Jerome to Allie, April 30-May 1, 1863 Subject The topic of the resource Peirce, Jerome Allie Stanford, KY. Description An account of the resource From Jerome to Allie Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Jerome Peirce Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Jerome Peirce Collection, National Park Service Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available HIST 428 (Spring 2020), University of Mary Washington Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1863-04-30 1863-05-01 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource NPS, Civil War Study Group, Paul and Louise Marahrens (Transcriber) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource For educational purposes with no commercial use. Courtesy of National Park Service, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania NMP, FRSP 16095-16102 (FRSP-00904). Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource 5.5 X 8.25 5.5 X 8.25 Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Letter #107 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Stanford, KY. Allie Jerome Peirce Stanford KY https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/2352e41c9f6ede00d61b9c93f2c63e91.jpg 4e087d9564d73fea4210d466f8f62302 https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/ba6be58ce2195a0e6d82c40b8754d773.jpg d503a9e9f47d24591455448354bb3b9a https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/03a852a5ba26544f0f0876c31a42e223.jpg e4e32fd34fd15fd62d46f231d3556196 https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/c654368cfa28f9719fe21e21bff08503.jpg aab93043f70b3aa4ecf90bbd23a69e98 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 1863 Letter Archive Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document Near Fredericksburg Va 23d Jan 1863 My dear sister, Sitting here in our tent by a comfortable fine nephew and I am remembering those at home. Have written Miss W. a random affair which I hope she will be kind enough to believe an attempt to reply to hers. We have been in a disturbed state for some days expecting every moment to move and had not the storm prevented we know not what might have been. But that has stopped all for the present. The troops that did move are back in camp and some think it is Winter Quarters for us now sure, while another batch of rumors followed quickly to the effect that the Army of the Potomac is to be divided and some to go South West, others to remain in Va. I am of the opinion that VA campaigning is a humbug. We must seal up the southern ports, cut all R(ail)Road communications south and west of Richmond, secure the Miss[issippi] Valley and then with the Proc[lamation] of Emancipation to go before something will be done, leaving a capital without a Confederacy. We must utterly destroy slavery and the Southern aristocracy. To grant them Independence in any form and our troubles and their work are but just begun! You see what a statesman I am become! The knaves are after Mexico to form a great Southern Empire before which mere slavery will be a small affair. And if the truth was known France is afraid of that very thing today and if the North are once fairly on the winning side, Bony leaves Mexico instanter. Let us see how near I guess. Sometime I assume I believe the Southerners with independence and a Navy would make a stir in this Western Hemisphere. And foreign nations are learning where they got their ideas of American character. But “enuf”. Thanks for your letter (which I have answered I believe) but never mind. Tis not fair weather yet and muddy exceedingly so we sit in tents, chat, read, etc. You would have been amused to have seen us laughing of “Falstaff”. (E Peirce sent me a stage copy of Henry Fourth) my books from Crosby & Nichols don’t make their appearance but as they doubtless sent them I must wait and hope to see them sometime. And now to plague you a little. I enclose 25 cents. Will you ask Mr. Cutler (Abram E) to get the “Second Part” of Henry 4th (it is the first part I have) also “Macbeth”. Fishers in Court St. is where they can be had, and being pamphlets they will come safely and will be almost invaluable to me. The Stage Copy you know Mr. C. used to get them for the Reading Circle and I dare say will willingly do the same. You can give him my address. Shall have “Merchant of Venice” and “Othello” soon if the book don’t come and is not that better than paying the sutler? Alonzo R. is still a sick man at Geo(rge)town D.C. I trust he will be spared. The friends are very anxious for him. He seemed the picture of health when he left here. With “Remembrances” to all friends. I am ever lovingly Your Bro[ther] Jerome P. P.S. The plays are 12 ½ cents apiece. If there is no Henry 2nd part, send Hamlet. TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES NOTE 1: Although addressed to Sister, Abbie Jacquith was Jerome’s sister-in-law. NOTE 2: The storm referenced in the letter resulted in what has been called the Mud March. General Burnside, after the disastrous defeat at Fredericksburg in December 1862, hoped to cross the Rappahannock River and hit Lee’s flank. The march began on January 20th but it began raining hard for four days, and the offensive was called off on January 23rd, the date this letter this letter was written. NOTE 3: The Confederacy did have interest in expanding into Mexico after the Civil War. See http://mentalfloss.com/article/20360/confederacys-plan-conquer-latin-america NOTE 4: France invaded Mexico in 1862 under the guise of promoting free trade for Europeans in Latin America, while the US was busy fighting the Civil War to enforce the Monroe Doctrine. By January 1863, the French were increasingly successful in their capturing of Mexican towns. Later in 1953, Napoleon III of France established the brother of the Austrian Emperor as Maximilian I as Emperor of the Mexicans. NOTE 5: “Bony” is likely referring to Napoleon Bonaparte III, nephew of Napoleon I. Napoleon III was emperor of France between 1852 and 1870. NOTE 6: Based on a description in Wikipedia, Sir John Falstaff is a fictional character who appears in three plays by William Shakespeare. In two of the Henry IV plays, he is a friend of Prince Hal; the man who becomes King Henry V. Falstaff is very fat. He thinks he is very important and is always boasting. He is also a coward. Falstaff is a comic figure, but Shakespeare makes him say some things, which tell us a lot about human nature. For example: before a battle in Henry IV he explains that his cowardice is actually common sense, because honor in battle is not really worth anything. Honor would not stop other people saying he was a coward and it would not help him if he got injured. NOTE 7: Crosby & Nichols was a popular Boston bookseller in the late 1850s and 1860s with Unitarian proclivities. NOTE 8: A sutler is a civilian merchant who sells provisions to troops in the field, in camp and in quarters. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Letter/Paper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource From Jerome to Sister Abbie, January 23, 1863 Subject The topic of the resource Peirce, Jerome Abbie Fredericksburg, VA. Description An account of the resource From Jerome to Abbie Jaquith Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Jerome Peirce Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Jerome Peirce Collection, National Park Service Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available HIST 428 (Spring 2020), University of Mary Washington Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1863-01-23 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource NPS, Civil War Study Group, Tom Neubig Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource For educational purposes with no commercial use. Courtesy of National Park Service, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania NMP, FRSP 16095-16102 (FRSP-00904). Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource 5.49 X 3.15 5.06 X 8.07 10 X 8.03 5.06 X 8.07 jpg Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Letter #63 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Near Fredericksburg, VA. Abbie Jaquith Fredericksburg VA. Jerome Peirce Sister https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/5d6bca5336d96dc24449bc93924e23e0.jpg 11ce236643356a4fa5539bc5e3c56edf https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/750b3e5ca85a4ac764ef27a411a63e5d.jpg 0f529f44a3da2ce3184c3eed61a0276d https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/cb39b50c3b4af2550fcdf3b8de2ab57a.jpg ee3363b01450574f50c95d187792e89a https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/daaad11074a4c8a60abb2470252cb302.jpg e07e1cff2a3c9822e5d1ea93e440f4a4 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 1863 Letter Archive Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document Thurs eve 22d Jan. 1863 My dearest wife and daughter, It’s past “Taps” (lights out) but Jos H and I felt like writing a letter to the folks at home and here let me say that I hope these letters will be shared in a certain degree at least by the whole family. I seldom write directly to any but you, but I know it will be so felt. We have had a fierce storm of wind and rain for some 36 hours, still cloudy, but rained but little today. We escaped any serious wetting and what is far better, perhaps, a sight of not participating in another battle as we have been under marching orders for several days. Other divisions had broken camp and we were waked this morn. at two o’clk A. M. Had hot coffee and rations dealt out, but the weather has turned affairs and the troops have returned to camp. Jos. H. saw a soldier of the 10th Reg. today who said they had been out four days, had a rough time but thought this won’t finish the business for this winter and we should remain in camp now. Another rumor is by tonight’s paper that the Army of the Potomac was to be divided, part sent to Washington and the rest to go to the So. West for active operations etc. etc. etc. All of which is mere camp soldier and paper talk. The Journal will tell as near correct as any and I was glad to welcome the three [issues] that came a day or two since with the yarn and many thanks for the same. Well, your letter of the 18th came this eve., also the tea and stamps. Am glad the picture arrived safely and am glad you think it so natural and that Lulu knew it. It is one of the saddest thoughts that she may forget me or my looks so she might hesitate before coming to me. How your letter made me wish to embrace you both! We are not down-hearted, indeed have been in excellent spirits of late but we love to think of home and want to see the fighting done. The other eve. at dress parade the colonel read an ‘order’ from General Burnside to the effect that “we were about to meet the enemy and under the Providence of God hoped to win the victory which was due to the country etc.” The colonel called for “three cheers for the general” and were given with a will. But a strange fatality seems to beset us seemingly and I know not what to do or think, feel sometimes like a “ship at sea without a rudder” but still feel that the ship is sound and will come out all right yet. This is precisely as I feel as nearly as I can express it. Poor Ellen! Saw Lieut. Hodgkins who came from home via Washington a few days since. Said Alonzo was a sick man and would be prostrated for some time. Lieutenant H. has been ill and has just reached the Regt. and is acting adjutant in the absence of Alonzo. He too was a private in Co. B and promoted by the colonel and was to be Adjt. but sickness overtook him. He was a member of the U.S.A. [Army Regulars] and a fine, smart fellow and possibly we may have him in Co. H for Second Lieut. Had a letter from Ed Haynes (I mentioned before) also one from Edward Peirce dated the 18th said they had heard that day from Alonzo “was no worse” which E. [Edward] thought was poor encouragement. I do hope he will be spared but I know a fever will go hard with him as he is very fleshy and nervous. Did the Rev. Knapp you speak of ever preach in Brookline near Boston? I remember one by that name, used to be quite feeble, a good man and fair preacher if he is the one, quite tall. J. H. had a letter from home. All well but Jos., a bout with cold and cough. Charley is going to dances with the girls! and Jos. H. is writing him some good advice. Fine times among the young people up there. You see I have some stationery including some of the gilt edge that you sent, yet am abundantly supplied for the present. Will close tomorrow as letters go at night. Have a good, warm fire, doesn’t storm, very still, so a kiss and good night! Friday, near noon. Have written Abbie and Miss Waldo today. F. Crafts spent the P.M. in our tent a day or two ago. Not cleared off yet. They are playing euchre and checkers in the tents nearby. No news reliable. As ever your loving husband, Jerome P TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES (Josef Rokus) NOTE 1: "Taps" originates from the Dutch taptoe, meaning "close the (beer) taps (and send the troops back to camp)". An alternative explanation, however, is that it carried over from a term already in use before the American Civil War. Three single, slow drum beats were struck after the sounding of the Tattoo or "Extinguish Lights". This signal was known as the "Drum Taps", "The Taps", or simply as "Taps" in soldier's slang. NOTE 2: The location from where the letter was written is not indicated. However, based on letters prior to and after this one and the history of the Army of the Potomac, it was written while the 36th Massachusetts Regiment was camped near Falmouth, Virginia, across the Rappahannock River from Fredericksburg, Virginia, in Stafford County. NOTE 3: This letter was written as the infamous Mud March was coming to an end. The Mud March was an abortive offensive in January 1863 by Union Army Major General Ambrose Burnside. Burnside had been trying to approach the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia, by crossing the Rappahannock River at Fredericksburg, but had been soundly defeated. The so-called Mud March was his second attempt at a river crossing. The offensive began with a westward move on January 20, 1863, in unseasonably mild weather. Burnside, with a head start, altered his plan to aim at Banks' Ford, a closer, quicker crossing. At dawn of January 21, engineers would push five bridges across; after that, two grand divisions would be over the river in four hours. Meanwhile, another grand division would distract the Confederate troops by repeating the December crossing at Fredericksburg. During the night of the 20th, the rain began, and by the morning of the 21st, the earth was soaked and the river banks had the appearance of a quagmire. Already, fifteen pontoons were on the river, nearly spanning it, and five more were amply sufficient. Burnside began at once to bring up his artillery, which had the effect of making a perfect mortar bed. For a considerable area around the ford all day the men worked in the rain but to little purpose. Quite a number of cannon were advanced near the ford, but the 22nd only added to the storm, and the artillery, caissons and even wagons were swamped in the mud. The storm had delayed Burnside's movements, giving Lee ample time to line the other shore with his army, though there was no attempt to interfere with his crossing except from the sharpshooters, who peppered away on all occasions. No doubt Lee was hoping Burnside would effect a crossing; with a swollen river in his rear, it would have been a sorry predicament for the Union Army indeed, but Burnside finally became resigned to his fate and gave the order for the army to retire to its quarters, and thus ended the famous Mud March. The Mud March was Burnside's final attempt to command the Army of the Potomac. Lincoln replaced him with Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker on January 26, 1863. NOTE 4: The “Jos. H.” that Jerome referred to in this letter was almost certainly Joseph H. Peirce. He enlisted as a Private in Orange, Mass., on August 4, 1862, at age 18. Jerome also enlisted in Orange on the same date, but as a corporal. Jerome was 31 years old at the time. According to the Unit History, Joseph H. Peirce was taken Prisoner of War at Pegram Farm, Virginia, on September 30, 1864, and he was later exchanged. He was discharged on June 21, 1865. Joseph H. Peirce was a nephew of Jerome. NOTE 5: Euchre, a game of cards, is an offshoot of Juckerspiel, a game that became widely popular throughout Europe during the Napoleonic era. In the 1800s, Euchre became one of the most popular card games in America and Australia. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Letter/Paper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource From Jerome to Allie and Lulu, January 22, 1863 Subject The topic of the resource Peirce, Jerome Allie Lulu Falmouth VA. Description An account of the resource From Jerome to Allie and Lulu Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Jerome Peirce Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Jerome Peirce Collection, National Park Service Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available HIST 428 (Spring 2020), University of Mary Washington Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1863-01-22 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource NPS, Civil War Study Group, James Lloyd (Transcriber) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource For educational purposes with no commercial use. Courtesy of National Park Service, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania NMP, FRSP 16095-16102 (FRSP-00904). Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource 5.47 X 3.14 4.81 X 8.04 9.80 X 8.05 4.81 X 8.04 jpg Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Letter #62 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Camp at Falmouth VA. Allie Falmouth VA. Jerome Peirce Lulu