23 10 273 https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/306a3b2e7614203f3a54c9a23ee50052.jpg ce01eece2bd254b756bf902db11ab207 https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/7ace49a7817a4aba3891eb44533beee8.jpg db914e78234cb974823095a297b752b4 https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/16144ed180dd47d5aa6afa5ef56b56e9.jpg 99ba27042eeec0ef5a6472b2f7ec2152 https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/52c5d61f3fb0719f35d6aaa6d696be0e.jpg 121bae89d9fb26b5274d96c0927d5958 https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/2b6eeec3359776171380b598735e7da9.jpg ca32a9cc4ec415442e9fac2fc51b3ee0 https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/c237030ca4aac69f84711c7c16a0b261.jpg 247c9ba37f0ce957ebc944e02bbe455c https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/d05dc74e2b7a321bfd6707e06cca8edc.jpg a55426df0dcc8a7e5abd0a3d32d3151f 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 Lexington, Ky Mch [March] 30th/63 My dear Abbie What do you think of this? If you have a good war map just follow with your finger from Newport News across the Chesapeake to Baltimore, then across the country through Harpers Ferry, Cumberland, Grafton, Piedmont to Parkersburg, Va at the mouth of the “Little Kanawha”, down the Ohio River to Cincinnati, Ohio where we arrived on Friday eve at 7 o’clock and Saturday morn. or A.M. to Covington, Kentucky and by rail to this place where we arrived on Sunday (yesterday) at little before daylight, and then imagine a place very much like old Cambridge and our camp in a place like the College grounds without the buildings and not so artistic but equally pleasant, and you have our moves for the last week! Did you think your brother would ever wander so far from home? Well such are the demands of these times. General Burnside and his fine 9th Corps defending old Kentucky! And then you must know that we are but a few rods from the cemetery and Henry Clay’s monument, 152 feet high, and looks down upon our camp, a fine statue of him dismounting it. I am ignorant of terms to describe it, but it is the most elegant monument I ever saw of native stone of yellowish hue. A square like a building containing a marble sarcophagus of white marble, then a square base with a round shaft, Corinthian capital, above that a sort of a June apple with four scrolls and then the figure, altogether forming a graceful and beautiful tribute to the “Sage of Ashland.” The city is a mile away but in full view, a delightful and tastefully laid out place they tell me for I have not been “downtown” yet. Two churches remind me of old Cambridge by their spires. A college and large lunatic asylum nearby besides other fine buildings, denoting fine taste and pride of the best sort. Around us are fine old estates and plantations, spacious fields and excellent roads and, in short, one of the most delightful spots I ever saw. There is much Secesh element but it is diminishing and with a just and firm administration the union will prevail. Have seen some of the union people and we are welcomed by them with true Kentucky hospitality and we hope to be worthy of the same. We are probably fixed here for the present and ready to strike at any point that may be threatened for the ‘rebs’ are desperate and this is the last resort for Army supplies. Fortifications are in progress about the city and we will be ready. The Corps are divided, some at Louisville and in other places, so as to cooperate and thus enable General Rosecrans to keep his force unbroken. Of the journey, I enjoyed it hugely, passing through some of the grandest scenery in our glorious union and I feel still more inspired to defend it to the best of my powers. How much I wished I could have shared in comfortable passenger cars the fine scenes thru which we passed! Lost much in night riding but one great wish was fulfilled and that was a view of “Harpers Ferry.” It is a magnificent scene. We reached it early Wedns. morning and we passed through the ruins of the Armory building to receive our rations which were prepared on our arrival, at several places, on the route, hot coffee, etc. The rivers were both high and the effect with the grand mountain scenery was next to Niagara certainly. Along up the Patapsco [River] too from Baltimore, the “Relay House”, Ilchester, Ellicotts Mills and other factory villages were viewed by daylight and furnished fine “pictures” for memory. Cumberland is a pleasant enterprising place situated amid the loveliest mountain scenery on the whole route. Numberless canal boats, several large churches, a Catholic college and many nice buildings, but built mostly of brick. I forgot to mention Martinsburg, the great depot of railroad work and where the Rebels made a raid and destroyed a splendid bridge built upon fine granite towers and iron trestle work and the vast machine shops too, all in ruins. I assure you I was full of ire and could have punished them with a will, but all was a part of war I suppose. Piedmont is the great coal depot where the cars come from the mountains. (Dress Parade and I must prepare). A few moments later. Order countermanded, so I will try and finish. We passed through twenty three tunnels of various lengths on our route. We followed the Potomac River for most of the way, as you will see by the map, and it is a large stream the whole distance. From Grafton to the Little Kanawha is a rough and wild country of new settlements and a small snow storm made it dreary somewhat. Parkersburg is a large place with strong Secesh proclivities. The vote for the new state of “Western Virginia” came off the day of our arrival and I suppose it was carried for the new state as they felt confident of success. The trip down the Ohio was fine of course fair weather but somewhat chilly, but kept on deck most of the time during daylight. Cheers, salutes and various patriotic demonstrations all along, especially from the Ohio side. Portsmouth, Ohio and Maysville, Kentucky are the principal places on the river. Did not go ashore at Cincinnati as ‘twas not “according to orders” and then I remember my rambles there years before. It looked quite natural. A new Catholic church on Mt. Adams and the “Spencer House” and the principal new features. Covington is a fine city of some ten thousand inhabitants and I saw something of it as we laid “in waiting” at the depot all day Sat. Many things I must omit for the present, as I desire you may hear a “little something” from me. I am glad to say I am in excellent health and have much to thank a kind father above for in these my wanderings and I trust I may [be] permitted sometime to meet my dear ones again and enjoy the recollections of this experience in its purest form. The Union people take a very cheerful view of affairs and predict an early close of the war and for such we all hope and pray. I need not tell you how fondly and constantly my thoughts have wandered homeward and how eagerly I await tidings from Home! No word since a week ago last Sat. at Newport News. Expect a mail hourly and you can imagine the scene as we feel far far from home. Well, how are all the good and dear friends? I trust well. Wrote Allie and Bro F’s folks yesterday as soon as we pitched our tents. The weather is very chilly, but ‘twill soon be warm. The grass is very green and farming work is begun. Remember me as ever to each and all friends whom distance only endears. Write me as ever and believe me ever your loving Brother Jerome P I hardly know how you should direct letters. Have ordered them to Washington. Am just informed that it is “Lexington, Ky. via Cincinnati, Ohio.” Reg., Corps, etc. as before. Please communicate this. TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES (Josef Rokus) NOTE 1: Although the letter indicates that Jerome was Abbie’s brother, Abbie was actually his sister-in-law, i.e., Allie’s sister. Abbie (Abigail) Jaquith was born in 1836, and she died in 1915. Allie (Albinia) Jaquith was born in 1834, and she died in 1920. NOTE 2: The term “Secesh” was used at the time to designate a supporter of the Confederacy during the Civil War. NOTE 3: William S. Rosecrans (1819 - 1898) was an American inventor, coal-oil company executive, diplomat, politician, and U.S. Army officer. He gained fame for his role as a Union general during the Civil War. He was the victor at prominent Western Theater battles, but his military career was effectively ended following his disastrous defeat at the Battle of Chickamauga on September 19 -29, 1863. He was subsequently reassigned to command the Department of Missouri. Rosecrans was briefly considered as a vice presidential running mate for Abraham Lincoln in 1864. After the war, he served in diplomatic and appointed political positions and in 1880 was elected to Congress, representing California. NOTE 4: The “Soldier’s Letter, etc.” notation on the envelope was written on the upper right-hand corner of the envelope, where a stamp would normally be affixed. Charles T. Canfield, who was 38 years old and from Worcester, Massachusetts, was the chaplain of the 36th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment from August 28, 1862, until October 20, 1863, when he resigned. The rubber-stamped note “Due 3” was apparently stamped over Canfield’s hand-written note by a post office official. An identical note written by Canfield (and also the “Due 3” note) appears on several of Jerome’s letters. Canfield (and Jerome) apparently believed that this notation would make it unnecessary to affix the three-cent stamp required for a letter at that time. However, it appears that they were mistaken. Whether or not the three cents postage due was actually collected from Allie could not be determined. It is interesting to note that in more recent times, U.S. service personnel in war zones have been allowed free franking privileges by writing “Free” or “Soldier’s Mail” in the area of the envelope where a stamp would normally be affixed. There is also a faint notation on the envelope that reads “No Stamps”. NOTE 5: Henry Clay (1777 – 1852) was an American lawyer, planter, and statesman who represented Kentucky in both the United States Senate and House of Representatives. Clay helped elect John Quincy Adams as president, and Adams subsequently appointed Clay as Secretary of State. Clay served four separate terms in the Senate, and he ran for the presidency in 1824, 1832 and 1844, and unsuccessfully sought his party's nomination in 1840 and 1848. In addition, he created the Whig Party. Clay died on June 29, 1852, in Washington, D.C., at the age of 75. He was the first person to be lain in state in the United States Capitol rotunda. He was buried in the Lexington, Kentucky, Cemetery. The Henry Clay Monument, shown below, was erected at the cemetery in 1857 and consists of a 120-foot tall Corinthian column surmounted by a statue of Clay. The remains of Clay and his wife Lucretia rest in two marble sarcophagi on the floor of a vaulted chamber at the base of the monument. Clay’s estate, known as Ashland, is also located in Lexington and is now open to the public. 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 Abbie, March 30, 1863 Subject The topic of the resource Peirce, Jerome Abbie Lexington, KY. Description An account of the resource From Jerome to 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 1863-03-30 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). Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource 6.5 X 3.9 6.5 X 9 11 X 9 6 X 9 6 X 9 11 X 9 6 X 9 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 #94 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. Abbie Jerome Peirce Lexington KY. https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/c7edef086cae78243c92bc8e4462307d.jpg edaba2d93a2cd9ab099452f709de930f https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/3ed2dfb259071dfbaccd9b8d01837584.jpg 1c3c8dc003276c37cc5c80522c0bebfa https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/99eef77ed1215245b2e58693e0134917.jpg f32c3c9ac41e134f42a3fec5c3546fc5 https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/9ace774b179108f3e1a6d19b7ef18ed5.jpg 52d019dcd6e71cdf131478405548626c https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/6ac85ce5d354f7181e1f663ca5531a43.jpg d3246f94694d04bcf9d0b162ee3a9681 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 Lexington Ky 31st Mch 1863 My dear wife, I wrote you a few lines again today to inform you principally how to direct your letters in future. It is as follows: Co., Reg. & Corps as before but to “Burnside’s Department via Cincinnati, Ohio” and I shall get them. Have not heard from home yet since our arrival and you may imagine how anxious I feel to receive some tidings. I wrote you last Sabbath and to Abbie yesterday. We shall probably receive a mail soon. I have nothing new to write. It is quite cold here and snows a little today. The people think it is our doings for ‘tis uncomfortably cold for the season. Lumber is being distributed to raise our tents so by and by we expect to be nicely camped once more. Have been very busy this morning cleaning up equipments and for inspection this P.M. but I think there’ll not come off. The boys have been having a smart game of ball as it is a nice place and all in the best of spirits. There is a swift clean brook runs thru the grounds in the rear, so we have a nice chance to wash. Great fine black walnut trees adorn our ground. The state lunatic asylum, a large mass of brick buildings with red roofs, stand at the left while [Henry] Clay Monument looks down upon the opposite side, while cars are constantly coming and going in front of us and it don’t seem possible that we are so far from home as it is an old settled place and seems like Mass. very much. A gentleman formerly of Providence, R.I. called upon us on Sunday P.M. and a very pretty little boy with him. I showed him little Lulu’s picture. He looked funny and hardly knew what to do. He was a roguish little fellow. The church bells and the general hum seems quite [a] civilization once more. We can get passes to attend church and I shall attend at every opportunity. How do you all do? What do the papers say? I want very much to get a “Journal” and I suppose our movements were all talked over before we knew precisely where we are going. Many thought we were going to garrison places north to look after “Copperheads” but I understand they are growing “beautiful by less” everywhere and so I think they will. What of Will and Frank? I feel anxious about affairs in Suffolk for it looked like a fight when we left Va. No paymaster yet but expected daily and then I hope to send you something and have a little myself, for so far from home [I] shall need a little. Is Alonzo at home? I presume you will anticipate all these questions in your letters so I will close. Love to all and a special share for yourself and Lulu. As ever your affectionate husband, Jerome P. Transcriber’s Note: The following is an apparent continuation of the letter on a separate page. Allie, I suppose you will hear from Dan Preston’s family by this time all I could write What a tragedy! Oh Allie, there is something worse than my being here. To think of the fate of Ellen and her feelings! I pity her very much for wiser one might have saved her. I think by a right course Lucy wrote me about her. I send you some leaves and a purple flower, the “hyacinth”. The leaves are the ‘mistletoe’, a sacred plant with the English. Druids used in their worship I believe. They shoot out of maple trees, many feet from the ground. The limb swells like a sore and these shoot out all around it like this. Transcriber’s Note: The following note was written vertically on the margin, possibly not by Jerome. “Contents of the letter all safe.” Transcriber’s Note: The following appears on the reverse side of this page. This came in one of the first letters but took it out with some flowers and did not see it till this morning. Private We are pretty well. How is Alonzo? Your affec[tionate] Sister Hattie TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES (Josef Rokus) NOTE 1: Henry Clay (1777 – 1852) was an American lawyer, planter, and statesman who represented Kentucky in both the United States Senate and House of Representatives. Clay helped elect John Quincy Adams as president, and Adams subsequently appointed Clay as Secretary of State. Clay served four separate terms in the Senate, and he ran for the presidency in 1824, 1832 and 1844, and unsuccessfully sought his party's nomination in 1840 and 1848. In addition, he created the Whig Party. Clay died on June 29, 1852, in Washington, D.C., at the age of 75. He was the first person to be lain in state in the United States Capitol rotunda. He was buried in the Lexington, Kentucky, Cemetery. The Henry Clay Monument, shown below, was erected at the cemetery in 1857 and consists of a 120-foot tall Corinthian column surmounted by a statue of Clay. The remains of Clay and his wife Lucretia rest in two marble sarcophagi on the floor of a vaulted chamber at the base of the monument. Clay’s estate, known as Ashland, is also located in Lexington and is now open to the public. NOTE 2: In the 1860s, the “Copperheads” were a faction of Democrats in the Northern United States who opposed the Civil War and wanted an immediate peace settlement with the Confederates. Republicans started calling anti-war Democrats "Copperheads,” likening them to the venomous snake. Those Democrats accepted the label, reinterpreting the copper "head" as the likeness of Liberty, which they cut from Liberty Head large cent coins and proudly wore as badges. By contrast, Democratic supporters of the war were called War Democrats. The “Copperheads” represented the more extreme wing of the Northern Democrats. Republican prosecutors accused some prominent “Copperheads” of treason in a series of trials in 1864. NOTE 3: Hattie was Allie’s younger sister. Her complete name was Harriet Walker Jaquith, and she was born in 1845. The information about her on ancestry.com indicates that she probably died in 1930. NOTE 4: 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, March 31, 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 1863-03-31 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 6 X 9 11 X 9 6 X 9 6.5 X 8 6.5 X 8 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 #95 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/d681748fa0db4ca900846eace69bb7fe.jpg 9bdcd530e6bd33af7f17f5b3936d7982 https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/2907008169e2afd9ccc3732e23d16fab.jpg 10ac4cb8618f865bcdac3dff56f22f60 https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/b8eefba7bbe9d9eb7c0adac1816a60bc.jpg c03ba311edb86505364c165dcb5902d5 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 1862 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 “Pine Wood Camp,” Near Fred[e]ricksburg Va. 27th Nov/62 My dear friends, Wife and Sister, It’s Thanksgiving in dear old Mass. and I must first send a word of Remembrance & greetings. It has been one of the loveliest of the lovely days here, and a busy one. And I must tell you how I have spent it thus far. Early in the morn, filled the “Canteens” with water. about Eight Oclk. Came our breakfast—beans Cooked with special referance [sic] to the day, and we relished them I assure you, as much as we have sometime the best dinner at home. Passed the A.M. in chopping, and getting up wood[.] have to back it about quarter of a mile. Then came collecting Cedar boughs for our tents, and just got ready for dinner, when lo, order[s] to “fall in” change of Camp! Good! for we were in a low damp place. Moved about have [sic: half] a mile—in a very pleasant spot from the old place, among the little pines—elevated ground, grassy & a fine view out between woods across the river, towards the City and giving a very different poise to the spirits. Have just got nicely settled, and this will end the day. You may judge we have been lively, but how much I’ve tho’t of you all at home. Just as I mailed my letter to you Allie, day before yesterday P.M. a mail came—letter of the 16th, a Hdkf all right also Sumner’s Speech and the Register from Abbie. There are letters not recd yet. Allie, have recd $1.50 in all[.] it seems 50 c[ents] has not Come. have not got, but a $1.00 at one time and 50 c once. It may be along yet, as I get letters dated back some days sometimes. Speaking of writing, I average twice a week to you alone[.] I wrote the 11th[,] my birth day, also the 15, and so on, once “on the march to F”. It is my pleasantest work in camp. it will not be strange if some letters are lost or miscarried for it is an immense work to follow the army with it. It looks like a stop here for some time, but still I dare not encourage you to send anything, for there is any amount of stuff that will probably never reach here laying about. Winter quarters must come by and by, and then will talk of it. I receive the tea, and it is a great luxury, as Coffee. don’t agree with me always. Expected to have had a quiet “set down” this P.M. and to have written several letters, but have been stirred up, but felt that I must have a word home, and I have imagined the scene there, and wished to let you know we’ve a fine day here, are well, and in excellent spirits, and there are rumors, that there is a Ceasessation [sic] of hostilities, for awhile &c &c[.] at any rate, we feel that fighting is about over with, that some other way will lead to a settlement and we trust such will be the case. Let us all look on the bright side and trust that another Thanksgiving will unite us all once more. (Poor Rabbits! The boys are chasing a poor fellow thro’ the trees, and they frequently have a meal. game is quite plenty if we had “time and permission”.) But I must close. There is Confusion and talking all around, and I must bid adieu. Allie, and Lulu dear, I live with you in thought Constantly and write almost every day. Don’t let the thought of weather or Conflicts trouble you, or the newspapers. The weather is very different here. We had a little snow once—rain some—but we learn to weather it, make our tents Comfortable and the change today, will make a vast difference, in our Comfort, so cheer up. eat an apple and mince pie for me once in a while, and whether absent or present I am ever the same. Camp life makes me cling more tenderly to old loves and associations, and I battle daily with everything that would make me different from old times. Love to Abbie. Am eager for her accustomed letter[.] Many[?] a pleasant school, and winter to you. expect you will make a scholar of Lulu by the time I get home. Tell Joe we have some heavy logs to carry sometimes. Does he have any to split? Excuse blots. Camp accidents, you know. J.H. has written home, and I will add a word. (The name of the Camp is my own) As ever your loving Jerome I forgot to mention the Review yesterday. Waited three hours. Gen Sumner, a venerable, but lively looking man, with a keen eye, our commander. [Marginal notes] [Page 2] Breakfast of Fried pork and hard bread and pan cakes. J. H. [was] Cook. [Pages 2-3] Saw Dr Lyon from Charlestown, in Camp today. Fri morn. All well. Dreamed of being at home, last night. All very natural. 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 Friends, wife, and sister, November 27, 1862 Subject The topic of the resource Peirce, Jerome Friends, wife, and sister Pine Wood Camp, Near Fredericksburg, VA. Description An account of the resource From Jerome to Friends, wife, and sister 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 1862-11-27 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource NPS, Civil War Study Group, Donald Pfanz (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 6.5 X 4.25 - 1st Scan 6.5 X 9 - 2nd Scan 11 X 9 - 3rd Scan 6.5 X 9 - 4th Scan 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 #40 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Fredericksburg, VA. Fredericksburg Friends wife and sister Jerome Peirce VA. https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/5bcf72b400fdf8d30b9e235d3725dafb.jpg 8e554e157a5c4e9590cfdb10d2ee1cbc https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/e690042aeb0b29c1c4f2ff2f4185c1e3.jpg 11553f9087f4a237776a322b85ade426 https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/7b4a7d5cf15ea3deb798ef273a3247a2.jpg a439a1b1f8615dd15e5fb6fee63cab44 https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/0a83a16091bb243780140543ea23c4c0.jpg 6b4dc256d273cb130e1b21d61b639262 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 Lexington Ky., Apr. 3, ‘63 My Dearest Wife, No mail yet. Two weeks tomorrow and I assure you it seems a long time, so I resort to a few words with you once more knowing full well that they will be welcome and find an answer sometime. Well, we are still here in our very pleasant camp and the usual routine of duties are renewed, guard duty and drill and by the way, day before yesterday I obtained an entire release from guard duty as the Color Corps are exempt, but owing to a misunderstanding, I have served when the rest did not but now it’s all right and so I escape being out nights which is an object and I must tell you too what a change has taken place. Yesterday four new Corpls, were appointed and one promoted to Sergeant and my name is now first of the Corpls. Nelson Smith is one of the new ones, also Joshua Rich of O [Orange]. So Orange is quite well represented for Howe has his commission as 2nd Lieut[enant] and he is a fine drill officer. I must tell you too that on our journey which lasted just a week, Co. H carried off the palm in behavior, not a man reported for misconduct and the only Co[mpany] in the Regt! So much for a temperance Captain! And we are reaping “golden opinions” from all the officers. This is all the more pleasing as the Capt. has been “snubbed” sometimes because of his strict adherence to temperance etc. So much for Co. gossip which I knew would gratify you. You know we soldiers are not in the habit of saying much of Co[mpany] matters. So you may observe the same rule unless it be to correct errors. Life here is much as at all camps. I think the boys are quite as happy as at any place before. They play ball a great deal. Everything but the weather has tended to promote pleasure. It has been very chilly and cold for this country. We have high winds and as I write, ‘tis quite blustering but soon warm weather will fairly come and ‘twill be quite pleasant. We have the usual camp stories but I see no more signs of a collision with the Rebs than before altho “they say” they are to make a desperate attempt in Ky [Kentucky] to prevent them from starvation but the place is being formidably fortified so that we shall have their advantage this time so I see no more reason for anxiety for the friends at home for us than formerly. There is a strong force hereabouts and facilities for rapid combinations so I think there is small fear of disaster. We rise as usual at 6 o’clck, a nice wash from a sweet clean running brook, breakfast at little before 7. And I am feeling in excellent health. My cold is quite well. Had quite a “scene” last eve. Some ladies from the asylum nearby came to the wall bounding our camp next to the road when a grand rush was made by Co. B and some others to chat with them and it was quite pleasant. You know the south and western people are more “free” and less ceremonious. They were strong Union. Ben Edmands and I concluded ‘twas no place for “such as we” and kept at a respectful distance, so you see how considerate your lords are! Spent the eve in B. E.’s [Ben Edmand’s] tent reading Shakespeare aloud, taking turns from Hamlet, Twelfth Night and ‘twas fine times I assure you. There is an Englishman Lamont in the tent and he is very intelligent and a lover of the muses. So you may be assured “we three” have nice times. And so goes life here. How is it at home? How much I want to hear from you and to see a Boston paper. Hope for a mail today. The Chaplain and Captain went to town this a.m. What of my little Lulu? And all the dear friends? Please let my letters to you suffice for all just now. What of Alonzo and Ellen? Expect I shall hear ‘ever so much’ news when the mail comes! May it all be good. Have you received all my letters? The new direction is “Burnside’s Department” via Cincinnati O[hio], Co., Regt. etc. as before. P.M. After the above we [were] called into line to receive Gen. Burnside who is in town but not arrived yet. Expect him sometime this P.M. Fair weather and sunny, warm. Love to all and as ever, your Jerome TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES (Josef Rokus) NOTE 1: The following information about the men who were promoted and mentioned in this letter was taken from the Unit History. William Nelson Smith enlisted at age 20 from Orange, Massachusetts, on August 4, 1862, the same date that Jerome enlisted, and he attained the rank of Corporal. He was discharged for disability on December 23, 1864. Joshua Rich enlisted at age 32 as a Private on August 5, 1862. Rich was killed at the Battle of the Wilderness on May 6, 1864. William L. Howe enlisted at age 23 in Company H as a Private from Orange, Massachusetts, on August 4, 1862, also the same date that Jerome enlisted. He died of disease at Milldale, Mississippi, on July 7, 1863, not long after this letter was written and his promotion to Second Lieutenant. NOTE 2: Regarding Jerome’s promotions, in several letters he mentions that he might be being considered for a promotion to Second Lieutenant, but that promotion never happened. However, he was promoted to Sergeant on January 1, 1864, according to his Service File in the National Archives. NOTE 3: The Captain Jerome refers to in this letter was Captain Christopher Sawyer. He 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. Sawyer was discharged on account of disability on February 19, 1864. NOTE 4: Benjamin B. 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 5: 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 6: The “new direction” in this letter refers to how Allie should address her letters to Jerome following the recent move of the Regiment. 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 3, 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 1863-04-03 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource NPS, Civil War Study Group, Peter Rainey (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 6.5 X 4.25 6.75 X 9 11.25 X 9 6.25 X 9 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 #96 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/d640b828a390cc0b27670e7bf16e04d0.jpg a6c1f1dcc38ae74e4e3a2a90f02c7d59 https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/b2929fe90b583964c9cee0b6116b3adf.jpg 2a776abd16f0df9c0ce37f1c0f487aab https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/fd0c7f245fc309bb87a23239714f665b.jpg 5b8842a745e96f7a0c6f7600ef0fc66b https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/5586b8c1e27d3367285a4e55fc9c9100.jpg da4111355c85289650a001334c8f3d72 https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/46ff4cc9abee2b0b83e90a3feb25060a.jpg 69293deead7b8b0dbd15362dd443f39d 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 1864 Letter Collection 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 Bristoes Station, VA 27 Apr /64 My very dear Wife, Have just heard that a mail will leave for home tomorrow morning so I begin something. My last was from our camp near Alexandria. We’ve marched two days, passing thru Fairfax Court House, Centreville, Bull Run and over all the famous Battle Grounds of former and ill-fated times. All along are to be seen marks of the same. Arrived here before dark yesterday in excellent condition and last Eve. a mail came bringing yours and Abbie’s letters of 22? and 24 inst. Am sorry to hear of your terrible headaches and trust this will find you well as possible. It did me as much good to receive the letters for we fear we should not hear from home again soon as it was talked that the movements would prevent it but we cannot see it. Our movement is very grand, for miles the long dark columns fill the fields and roads as I have before tried to describe and the 9th Corps is in the most perfect condition. As far as we can know we are moving down to form the left wing of Meade’s Army or Reserve to watch his flank. It is said that when we reach our destination the Army will be more than a hundred thousand larger than ever before and it is believed that short work will be made of the enemy this time. And so we talk for I’ve little else to write. If you have one of Harpers Weekly maybe you can watch our march. Expect to bring up at Culpepper. I’m sitting back to the pleasant morning down on my knapsack. George E. had a letter from Ben. At home [???] sent me Mr. Bristol’s sermon on the death of Mr. King. The unspotted life is a beautiful thing, read it before I went to bed. To give you a more vivid idea of our march, I will say that we move easy than when in Tenn., halting about a quarter of an hour out of each hour. I am reading Dicken’s “Bleak House”. Found it in the camp at A. [probably Alexandria]. You will see officers and men reading on the march every spare moment while others run after water, nibble “Hard Tack” while some stretch out and can hardly speak or move from fatigue. Had a letter from Ed Haynes, from his father in answer to my Recommendations. Saw Gov. [Governor] A. [Almost certainly referring to John Albion Andrew, governor of Massachusetts from 1861 until 1866] and all is being done that can be. The Gov. was much pleased and would have given me appointment in one of the old Returned Regt’s [Regiments] had I been a little sooner but I have not neglected it. Others are ahead, and I must be patient. Have given the letter (Ed’s) to the Major this morning. But you will think of the future now as we move towards the enemy. It is natural, but we can only rely on the same good Power who has thus far led me on. I feel no sad resentments but on the contrary hopeful, so thankful that my health is so much better. Have reduced baggage and carry as little as possible and as the weather is coming warm it is favorable. Am glad so much of the needful had reached you safely and trust the whole $75.00 is at hand by this time. We should be mustered again soon and I hope to send you more before long. It looks a little as tho we should remain here today and I will finish by and by – Eve. and by candle light! This morning after falling in soon after I wrote and expecting to march all day, the order came to halt. Waited and waited, made coffee but soon, forward again and the result so far is that we are nicely in camp laid out in streets etc. some more than a mile from the old spot and the troops that were here have gone on and we almost feel that our dream is about to be realized and we are to have what the boys of the Army call “a soft thing”. We’re right on the R. Road [Railroad] and our Corps are said to be scattered all along as the ‘Reserve Corps’ to the Army of the Potomac – as the Washington folks said we were to be on. But we’ve seen too much hardship to flatter ourselves very much. Have been very busy of course in pitching tent. Am with another of the boys “Billy Gurrell” who came to the Co [Company] yesterday on the march. Was left in Memphis Miss. sick for some time etc. Five of us in a shelter tent is the most comfortable way we are allowed to live in the field. The country here is a vast level or valley, covered at intervals with pine woods. Here was a good deal of fighting not long since. I said level, there is a circular ridge but not high, where the rebel artillery done so much mischief and finally was captured some eight pieces by our forces. Remains of limited quarters of logs and fortifications with graves are scattered all around. It has been a delightful day and I have thought so much about you and how anxious you were probably feeling if the papers had got our movements. If mail arrangements are perfected I hope we shall chat often. And so the day closes. So different from what I expected but I expect we shall be busy with picket duty drill etc. but we can well afford to do that. ‘Billy’ is writing for he is a lover of letters and writes them often and remembers home. Co “B” boys are singing and a distant bugle is sounding the ‘Tattoo’ and I close with my last thought of you from my quiet tent and for once not tired out marching. A kiss for Lulu. Tell her the violets are springing beautifully and look like those at home. Also the “innocents” and everything tells of Spring. Love to all and ever from your own Jerome TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE (Josef Rokus) Per the Unit History: April 27, 1864 – May 2, 1864. Although they had expected to go on a coastal expedition, possibly to North Carolina, the men of the Ninth Corps were instead assigned to guard the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. They, therefore, started their march toward the Rappahannock River on April 27, passing through Fairfax Court House, Centerville, Bristow Station, and Manassas, Virginia. The 36th was assigned to a camp at Catlett’s Station. 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 27, 1864 Subject The topic of the resource Peirce, Jerome Allie Bristoes Station, VA. 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 1864-04-27 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource NPS, Civil War Study Group, Robert 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). 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 #214 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Bristoes [Bristow’s] Station, VA. Allie Bristoes Station VA. Jerome Peirce https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/f99693faeddf85d2bd53b5c1085b0a3a.jpg 2e06b99992bd7196a3d9ada03a8c4e25 https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/892573e3dba231c0d6fdc34bdf35dc51.jpg 4c879060b1f91f66b3fd8a7b3e0e0cf7 https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/a408b753f3a03e93aa6319381fff84a3.jpg 590c377841e684bc090a3bbcf40fb862 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 1864 Letter Collection 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 Picket Post. Near “Catletts Station”, Va. Sunday PM May 1st, 1864 My [own ???] dear Wife and Lulu. This beautiful Sabbath afternoon, may it be as pleasant with you – from this novel situation as Sergt. of the Picket, I send you a word of greeting. How little did I think one week ago that we should be so snugly fixed in this situation! Expected to have been on the Rapidan with Gen. Meade ere this, but we [fairly???] find ourselves living in log houses with cloth roofs and taking life easy guarding R Road [Railroad] from guerrillas which have infested the neighborhood. Mailed letters from near Alexandria and by our Sutler yesterday written from Bristoe’s [also spelled Bristow’s] Station where we camped for one night. Friday morning struck tents again and marched down the R Road some five miles when two Co’s H and G came down here, or a mile from here, where we relieved two Co’s. of the 14th Regulars and it seems the [???] for the present we scattered along this R Road as guard. The country reminds me some of the ground between town (at B [Billerica???]) and where Judkins’ [???] lived, rather skirted with woods. Where we are was a thick growth of oaks now much thinned out, the R Road ten rods perhaps on front with slight embankments. And some six or eight workmen are repairing while the sentinel paces his beat with fixed bayonet and ball cartridges. Trains pass frequently otherwise tis very quiet especially after such a long time at the front or with the hum of Camp life all about us. Have guard and Picket duty quite often of course but we shall rest up. The Regiment is nearby toward A. [probably Auburn, Virginia] while our quarters are towards Catlett’s opposite. Just breeze enough to be agreeable and reminds me so much of the dear old days at Pleasant Valley! If we could take a stroll together and hear a good sermon from [???] I do hope you are well and having some refreshment body and soul! Is it so? We soon expect to send and receive mail daily and then what chats we can have. Can you realize that your wandering boy is leading such a quiet life as near home? Let us make the most of it? A whole Brigade of heavy Artillery as Infantry passed us this A.M. for the front right from N.Y. harbor and many others are constantly going forward so it looks like something. A fearful future for some. Shall we be spared the last conflict? How these questions come up and we hope everything will be for the best. Are you all well? Can tell you nothing particularly interesting but I know a word will be axceptable [sic]. J. Henry is with the Co. [???] and is quartered with us eight in a house so far. Don’t know what the reason is that he came to the Co. All the boys from the Regt. are reported back. Will have a chance again soon perhaps. Is quite happy and boyish in his jollity. Another little incident. A playmate of Eddie Peirce’s is in our Co. belongs to the 29th Mass. (those who didn’t enlist are in our Regt.) and by chance I found him out. Geo. Woodbury I remember his name. Had a long chat last Eve. about old times in C [Charlestown?]. Younger of course than I am but as a mate of E’s [Eddie’s?] I was interested. A pleasant fellow and good soldier. How strange we meet folks in this world. Where’s my darling Lulu today? Found some flowers which I send her. Keep them and think of Papie. Time flies and I hope to see you one of these days. And then I will answer all her questions. What would she ask me first. Think? Am very well indeed. Read a Psalm and a chapter from Ep [Epistle] St. John after got ready on duty – perhaps I ought to before. Mustered again this morning as accounted for for Pay. Shall return to quarters about 10 o’clock tomorrow morning and hope you will get this promptly. Love to all and Ever yours Entirely Jerome TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES NOTE 1: This letter was almost certainly the last letter that Jerome Peirce sent to his wife and daughter. A note added by someone on the first page of the letter indicates affirmatively that it was. It reads “last letter form (should be “from”) J.S.P”. NOTE 2: Rev. Levi Ballou in the funeral service sermon for Jerome Peirce that he gave on June 19, 1864, in the church in Orange, Massachusetts, where Jerome Peirce had been the “Sabbath School Superintendent” made reference to several letters that Albinia had shared with him. The following is an excerpt from this letter that he used in that sermon. “Again, he writes his companion [his wife, Albinia or Allie], only 12 days before he fell, and after describing the place where he then was, as reminding him much of certain localities where they had in former days conversed and strolled together. He adds that by the movements of the army, “It looks like a fearful future for some.” He asks, “Shall we be spared the last fearful conflict?” “We hope all will be for the best.” He then speaks of his darling child to whom he sends some flowers which he had culled for her to keep to remember Papa and in closing says, ‘I hope to see you again soon.’” NOTE 3: The article titled “Hopeful Words Written in a Brutal Spring” in the Boston Globe edition of May 29, 1994, also includes the following excerpt from this letter. “Where is my darling Lulu today? Found some flowers which I send her. Keep them and think of Papie. Time flies and I hope to see you one of these days and then I will answer all your questions. What would she ask me first, I think?...Read a Psalm, a chapter from the Epistle of St. John after I got ready on duty.” This article mentions that this letter is dated May 1, 1864, and that it may have been the last letter he wrote. This letter is also referenced in the May 1994 issue of Reader’s Digest as being “cheerful and upbeat.” Likewise, the fact that he sent flowers with this letter is also mentioned in the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star article of May 29, 2001. NOTE 4: The following is a summary from the Unit History that describes the activities of the 36th Massachusetts Regiment around May 1, 1864. “On the 30th [of April, 1864] it became necessary to make another change, and our "Regulation Camp" was abandoned to others. We marched at half-past five o'clock in the morning, crossed Kettle Run at noon, and relieved the Seventeenth Regular Infantry, of the Fifth Corps, taking possession of the splendid camp near Catlett's Station, which they had occupied during the winter. Captain Morse, with Co. C, was sent forward to Catlett's, to guard the station and water tanks, while the remainder of the regiment went into camp. The larger portion of the regiment was accommodated in the barracks of the Seventeenth Regulars, but the three left companies were obliged to occupy their shelter-tents. Upon reaching this place, it being the last day of the month, the regular monthly return of the regiment was made up and forwarded to headquarters. As being the inventory of the effective strength with which we entered the campaign it may be interesting to include a synopsis of the report. At that date we had present for duty fourteen commissioned officers, and four hundred and twenty-six enlisted men, belonging to the regiment, including ninety-one men transferred from the Twenty-ninth Massachusetts Volunteers, or four hundred and forty in all. 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, May 1, 1864 Subject The topic of the resource Peirce, Jerome Allie Lulu Picket Post, 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 1864-05-01 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource NPS, Civil War Study Group, Josef Rokus (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). 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 #215 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Picket Post, near “Catletts Station”, VA. Allie Catletts Sation VA. Jerome Peirce Lulu Picket Post VA. https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/5f89aea2e60272e14268c3566fbe5390.jpg 12d43f8a65fb26c0780b18e6951c0ab9 https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/c0de239a5d3916a2075c741896c7cf0f.jpg c483d78a5939cb493610ee62a04363c0 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 1864 Letter Collection 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 Billerica May 8th 1864 My own dear husband, It is Sunday eve. We have just got through tea and here I am in the summer sitting room. I cannot write as I would like, my anxiety is so great. I saw by last night’s papers that Burnside’s Corps were ordered up. I can hardly contain myself today. I went to church this afternoon but did not find much comfort. I rather be alone when I feel as I now do. All I can do for you is to commit you to our Heavenly Father for protection, and I know He will care for and watch over you. To be here at home and not know what befallen you is hard to bear. The suspense is dreadful. I do hope before many days to hear directly from you. Yesterday your letter written a week ago today came. I was so glad to get it, but it seems as though your anticipated chat we were to have together when the mail runs every day. Disappointments are the lot of man. I wrote you last Sunday. Monday noon Hattie came. Will went to Lowell with Jos. We did not wash as they were coming and I was not well. Mary commenced her school and came home at night to see Hattie and Will. Tuesday it rained very fast so the folks did not go home, staid here. I put a [???] in Jos. shirt. Wednesday we washed. Thursday we ironed. Friday and Sat. cleaned house. Abby Faulkner and one of her aunts called Thursday, very pleasant call. Saturday Dr. Bundy and his wife called. The Dr. looked at your picture and he says he has seen you somewhere. Wants me to ask you if he has not. He has always lived in Boston. His name is Frank Bundy, M.D. The little flowers you sent are beautiful and I send you a few in return. Freddy gathered them near Suckers Brook, and I have tied them together for you. It seems quite pleasant to get into this room again and the next time we move into it I shall be thinking only a few months and you will come home. O, will you be spared to return to me. I can not think any other way and how earnestly are my petitions sent upward and I know if it is right, they will be answered. Mrs. Dr Barns spoke to me, inquired after you. She sends you a New York Tribune when I can get it. She is very kind. Mr. Stone preached for us today. I do not like him very much. Frank was quite pleased with his letter from you and I believe he is writing to you. I cannot write a long letter tonight. I am too much excited but will write again soon. Lulu is upstairs with Abby. Good night dearest. From your own Allie Transcriber’s Note: A note, written sideways on the bottom of page 4, reads Got this coming from church. TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES NOTE 1: This letter was written on Sunday evening, May 8, 1864, and was likely mailed on May 9. In view of the time it would have taken Allie’s letters to reach Jerome based on the transit time of other letters and considering the conditions on the battlefield at Spotsylvania Court House at the time, this letter would not have reached Jerome before he was killed early in the morning of May 12, 1864. It is very likely that it was returned to Allie with Jerome’s personal effects that were sent to her sometime after Jerome was killed. NOTE 2: This is the last letter from Allie in the collection addressed to Jerome before he was killed on May 12, 1864, and might be the last one she wrote to him. Based on other letters, the family learned of Jerome’s death sometime around May 20. How they found out could not be determined. It is likely that someone from his regiment sent Allie a letter at the first opportunity after the fighting at Spotsylvania had died down, and if so, it might have been Joseph H. Peirce, Jerome’s nephew. It is also likely that they saw it in one of the local newspapers. Those papers, such as the Boston Globe, invariably had reporters close to the fighting, and they reported the results of the battles, including a list of casualties of men from their area, very promptly, primarily because they were allowed to file their reports using the Union army’s telegraph system. NOTE 3: The “letter written a week ago” refers to the letter Jerome wrote on May 1, 1864, from Cattlets Station. Virginia. It is Letter No. 215 in this collection. NOTE 4: Hattie was Allie’s youngest sister Harriet (1845 – 1930?). NOTE 5: The pages of letter have brown stains on them which are the outline of the flowers she included, per her letter. Similar brown stains are found on one other letter, this one written by Jerome, which included flowers he sent to Lulu. That letter is Letter No. 191 in this collection. NOTE 6: “Suckers Brook” is also mentioned in the letter written by Jerome on April 20, 1864, from Annapolis, Maryland. He wrote, “We have some sweet singing birds here and as soon as the flowers spring, I will send her (Lulu) some. She must send me some of the first violets that grow by Suckers Brook.” That letter is Letter No. 210 in the collection. 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 Allie to Jerome, May 8, 1864 Subject The topic of the resource Allie Peirce, Jerome Billerica, MA. Description An account of the resource From Allie to Jerome Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Allie 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 1864-05-08 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource NPS, Civil War Study Group, Josef Rokus (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). 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 #216 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Billerica, MA. Allie Billerica MA. Jerome Peirce https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/ebeefff3377b22face81568af83f9e21.jpg 023e1ed0479c19e199f1e6d260fb3a24 https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/b95759713af33016ff7eaca905c34e78.jpg 8ada9411fbb8e6ceffa80fb45bb5b2bf 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 1864 Letter Collection 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 Billerica Sunday May 15th, 1864 My ever dear husband, I have written you every Sunday but I suppose you have not received many letters of late, I am very very anxious to hear from you. The time seems very long since I have heard from you and it seems doubly long my anxiety has been so great. O my dear husband how much the pour [sic] [poor] tired suffering soldiers have my sympathy and gladly would I flee to their assistance if I could or would bear their suffering for them. I have watch the papers very closely and find we are pushing hard upon Lee. I am very much cheered by the good news as are all the people if [sic] such victories without so many made to suffer, but they have the satisfaction to feel that they are suffering in a grand cause. I see by the papers that JH was sunstruck. I am anxious to hear how he is. I did want very much to go and take care of him and Nelson Smith – wounded in the side. I hope not bad. I have prayed so earnestly for your and others safety. The question cimes [sic] [seems] will my prayers be answered. Mr. Judkins sends me his paper every morning, the Post, and Mrs. Dr. Bowers sends me the Journal so I get the news. I hope you will be permitted to send a letter to me soon. It is Sunday afternoon. The folks have just got home from church. It is a very unpleasant day. Only the boys and Brother have been in church. Mr. Galloway preached. He sent word he shall be down this very same day this week. Jos said their [sic] [there] was great inquiry after you if we had heard from you. They saw J.H. news [???] and thought it was you. Lulu is quite busy with Abbie today and tod[d]les very fast. She woke up the other night and asked me where I thought Papie was. I thought she must have been dreaming about. Mr. Clark from Chelsea with his two youngest sons were here last night. They are going to remain for this week to work upon their farm. Frank and Jos has been in Boston this week to work for Mr. Clarke. They cannot earn as much you could in Boston painting. Marie Elizie was here last night and Mr. Gould. He has a brother in these battles. Freddie gathered these flowers for you. I have much sympathy for him, he has had much pain taken with him at home. I cannot write any long letters until I hear from you. I shall go to Orange as soon as I hear good news from you. All send love. Your ever loving wife, Allie TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES NOTE 1: Per the Unit History: May 13 – May 21, 1864, at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House: Following days of virtually continuous rain and a final unsuccessful attack by Gen. Grant on the Confederate lines on May 18, Grant decided to shift his forces and move south again toward Richmond. The 36th Regiment left the Spotsylvania Court House Battlefield on May 21, 1864. NOTE 2: This letter was written by Allie three days after Jerome was killed on May 12, 1864, a fact she obviously did not know when she wrote this letter. He was buried on the battlefield soon after he fell. His remains were re-interred in the Fredericksburg National Cemetery when it was established. The letter was apparently returned to Allie with Jerome’s personal effects which would have been sent to her by his commanding officer at a later time. 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 Allie to Jerome, May 15, 1864 Subject The topic of the resource Allie Peirce, Jerome Billerica, MA. Description An account of the resource From Allie to Jerome Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Allie 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 1864-05-15 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource NPS, Civil War Study Group, Josef Rokus, Luisa Dispenzirie and Donald Pfanz (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). 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 #217 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Billerica, MA. Allie Billerica MA. Jerome Peirce https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/3caebae712fec4d67152497923e45e7d.jpg e52a81bf2b5fa7863fddb7c645610b10 https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/4dce0d08bae516b178fe5ce1309272fa.jpg 115fdc85efa4cc4d43153db397add49b 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 Miscellaneous 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 June 3, ’95 My dear Auntie, Just a little birthday message of love to you. Will send a picture which I thought perhaps you would like to have, as I prize one like it so much, and how little we thought it would be so important when it was taken. You have probably heard of our Billerica trip. Very sad but satisfactory. Am always so relieved when these special days are over, as they will not come for a year and are so painful to me. Next Sunday would have been the 25th anniversary of their marriage. Did not write last week as I was so much occupied. Had a very pleasant lunch at Miss Arey’s, and we spent the afternoon driving. This morning received two tickets from her for a concert in town this P.M. These pretty words Margie Hill sent me to put to music which I did yesterday. They are written by one of their girls for graduation of H.S. [High School] I think. Have so much I’ve planned to do, must be stopping. Have just packed away our afghan that Grandma did in camphor and newspaper. Think a time may come when it will be even more valuable and dear to me than now and so wish to preserve it from fading and dust. Just spoke with Mrs. Ranlett and Katherine in the train Sat. [Saturday]. You will excuse my haste. I know and continue to love me as before both of you. Am glad it is so much cooler this morning. Sympathetically, Cordelia 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 Cordelia to "My dear Auntie", June 3, 1895 Subject The topic of the resource Cordelia "My dear Auntie" Description An account of the resource From Cordelia to "My dear Auntie" Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Cordelia 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 1895-06-03 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource NPS, Civil War Study Group, Jack Phend (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 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 #252 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Location not indicated "My dear Auntie" Cordelia https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/476fb71720a55145d9a8e62a363bb3c4.jpg 6d8398eba02878868ee25339cfb1fb44 https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/4a125b6c05cb45ac6463b66776ffde4d.jpg 05654a0b8d1dfb2fcce5344c30dee7ad https://peirceletters.umwhistory.org/files/original/9c8f5a0622531578fb9a1e045c7bf57b.jpg 73acb72fbb95ba68ac566150583588e6 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 1864 Letter Collection 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 Billerica, May 22nd, 1864 Dear Mrs. Peirce, Your very painful but kind letter was received yesterday and Allie desires me to reply in her stead. We had heard nothing of the sad intelligence of which you wrote. The papers have been most carefully searched, the names of wounded and killed particularly read. We saw among them James Peirce of Co. H 36th Regt. killed, and I believe about the date we should affix to dear Jerome if the report be true. It startled us some at the time but circumstances overcame the feeling, it would have to arose from mistake in the name, was without his Seargt’s title prefixed to it and Allie believed there were others by the name of Peirce in that company. Do you know if it was so? You were very kind to send to Allie as you did – indeed you have ever been and your frequent communications of late have given her so much gratitude as her mind has been so distracted by the anxiety of this fearful time. She is sadly, sadly grieved and we hardly know what words of comfort to offer. We can only wait, leaning on that Omnipotent from above able to bear up the broken hearted. We do still cling to shadow of hope that rumor may have deceived us and that ere long more cheering tidings will come to us. How can we best ascertain facts? What does Mr. Peirce think as best course to pursue? We sent a letter at once to Boston hoping some effectual step for action might arise in the mind of your brother there or that Alonzo R. could suggest some known means for communications. Hope we shall hear soon. Allie received a letter from Mrs. Richardson of Stoneham a few days since expressive of much concern for the dear ones exposed to the sad ordeal of battle. Dear Mrs. Peirce, we most truly feel with you for the suffering and cruel return to danger of Jos. [Joseph] H. [Peirce]. How hard for him thus to be sent forth in all his weakness. We have felt much anxiety for him since we saw the account of his illness in the paper. Allie wrote to him as soon as she got your letter telling of his location in the Hospital, thinking it might seem good in his loneliness to hear from friends. Perhaps the letter never reached him if he was so soon sent forth. Let us know of him when you hear. Are not hearts drawn very closely by sympathy at this time? Surely a wail of sorrow must arise from your town. How has Orange suffered in this cause. It seems as though it must be almost draped with mourning but let us “be still and know the Lord reigns.” With many regards. I remain your friend Abbie Jaquith Afternoon. Mrs. Stebbins and Mrs. Richardson, Jerome’s sisters, have just left here. They had heard nothing of what you wrote but wished to know what was true in regard to tidings. Our whole town is under much excitement here today. A lady of much refinement and greatly beloved who has recently been suffering from mental depression since the death of her husband by consumption was this morning found missing from her home. She put her three children to bed last night and this morning they saw a light still burning but no trace of her in the house. A hoopskirt was found on the banks of the river and fears are entertained that she is drowned. They are dragging the river and search is being made in every direction. She has lived for a few years past in Springfield but returned to town as her father lived here. It is a singular coincidence that she was living in the same house in which her parents lived when she was young and from which her mother wandered away and made an attempt to drown herself but courage failed. There is a general gloom over the whole place. We dread the discovery. How many ways for sorrow? Abbie Monday morn. The body of that lady was recovered from the river last night drowned. Allie’s and our remembrance to Mr. Mayo’s family. TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES NOTE 1: Abbie Jaquith was Allie’s sister. NOTE 2: According to the roster of men in Co. H of the 36th Massachusetts Volunteers Regiment contained in the Unit History, there was no James Peirce in that company, but Jerome Peirce is, of course, listed in the roster. The comments after his name read as follows: “Enlisted at age 31, from Orange, Mass. Mustered into service Aug. 4, 1862, Promoted Sergt. Killed in action at Spotsylvania, Va., May 12, ’64.” Therefore, the newspaper account referenced in the letter mistakenly identified Jerome as James. It is interesting to note that in the roster in the Unit History Jerome’s last name is spelled “Pierce” instead of the correct “Peirce.” NOTE 3: How and when Abbie first learned that Jerome had been killed has been an unanswered question. Based on this letter she was, very sadly, informed indirectly on or about May 21, 1864, from an article in a local newspaper that listed the names of men who had been killed or wounded in recent battles. Even then, she could not be absolutely certain that she would never see Jerome again because of the incorrect reporting of the first name. The fact that she received no more letters from Jerome after the one he wrote to her on May 1, 1864, must have been the deciding factor to convince her that the worst had happened. Quite often, official notifications of the next of kin did not take place for some time after the battle because the commanding officers were severely pressed for time as the regiments were compelled to move to the next battlefield. That was definitely the case for the Union army in May of 1864. Per Jerome’s Pension File, it was not until sometime in June 1864 that Abbie received an official notification that Jerome had fallen at Spotsylvania Court House on May 12, 1864. She used that document as part of her application for a widow’s pension. 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 Abbie to Mrs. Joseph Peirce, May 22, 1864 Subject The topic of the resource Abbie Mrs. Joseph Peirce Billerica, MA. Description An account of the resource From Abbie to Mrs. Joseph Peirce Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Abbie Jaquith 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 1864-05-22 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource NPS, Civil War Study Group, Josef Rokus (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). 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 #218 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Billerica, MA. Abbie Billerica MA. Mrs. Joseph Peirce