From Jerome to Allie, May 30, 1863

From Jerome to Allie, May 30, 1863

Peirce, Jerome

Allie

Kentucky

From Jerome to Allie

Jerome Peirce

Jerome Peirce Collection, National Park Service

HIST 428 (Spring 2020), University of Mary Washington

1863-05-30

NPS, Civil War Study Group

For educational purposes with no commercial use. Courtesy of National Park Service, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania NMP, FRSP 16095-16102 (FRSP-00904).

8.44 X 14
7.12 X 8.45
Jpg

English

Text

Letter #118

On the march in Kentucky

LETTER TRANSCRIPTION

Sat Morn 30th May/63
My ever dear Allie,
As you will see by these notes, we are marching and I cannot give you anything like a letter but I will finish this out and if opportunity offers will pencil it.
The inkstand came all right. Mr. Murray gave it to Alonzo. He just peeped into our quarters, the corn bin to a log barn, which made a comfortable place for we [had] plenty of straw. Everything is at a standstill and don’t know whether we go forward or back to Columbia.
The letters as mentioned came to hand and it seems good beyond expression to receive them in these wilderness marches. Am sorry to hear of Abbie’s illness. Will write to Billerica soon as we stop.
With you, we feel that the war will not end in this administration, but if [it] were not for principles, we would feel somewhat discouraged but aside from men and party schemes which have always clogged great revolutions, there is something to contend for and so we hope to see a triumph finally which will bring out the better fruits of this struggle.
I mailed a letter to Miss Lucy Walker for her kindness in sending the Register. I intended to have inclosed some leaves from the “Beechwoods”. I will send some, please give her them.
Alonzo is well and bearing the change and exposure finely and we have had some rough times this march.
Give love to Albert and all friends and a kiss for the babies. Little Lulu wrote me. Don’t be surprised if you do not hear so often as we shall be on the jump now but will write as often as possible.
Ben E. is well. Send a sheet of paper occasionally for I am getting short, as money and everything is out. The sutlers can’t follow us now.
As ever your husband
Jerome

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES

NOTE 1: This letter is a continuation of the previous letter (Letter No. 117), which was written on the same date.

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.

NOTE 3: The “Ben E.” referred to in the letter was almost certainly Benjamin B. Edmands. He enlisted as a Private at age 27 from Brookline, Massachusetts, and he was subsequently promoted to Corporal. On January 20, 1864, Edmands was discharged from the 36th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment for promotion as a Lieutenant in the 54th Massachusetts Regiment of Volunteers.

NOTE 4: Sutlers were army camp followers who peddled provisions not issued by the army to the soldiers.

Letter/Paper