From Jerome to Allie, June 5, 1863

From Jerome to Allie, June 5, 1863

Peirce, Jerome

Allie

Columbia, KY.

From Jerome to Allie

Jerome Peirce

Jerome Peirce Collection, National Park Service

HIST 428 (Spring 2020), University of Mary Washingotn

1863-06-05

NPS, Civil War Study Group, Paul and Louise Marahrens (Transcribers)

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

6.75 X 4
6 X 8.75
10.75 X 8.75
6.3 X 9
6.3 X 9
6.3 X 9
Jpg

English

Text

Letter #121

Columbia, KY.

LETTER TRANSCRIPTION

4 o’clk A.M.
Columbia KY, Fri morn 5th June /63
Ever dear Wife,
Hard and constant moving for the past few days, will prevent my writing much, but I must send you just a line to tell you how happy [I was about] the arrival of two letters last night on our reaching here. Intended to have written you yesterday or before but have been constantly on the “qui vive.”
My last was mailed from this place just as we were starting for Jamestown as it poured. Marched at ½ past 3 P.M. Monday, and moved all night, arriving at J. [Jamestown] early Tues. morn, tired and worn as you may believe. Hardly got our guns stacked when, crack! crack! from the woods and bushes about the village and in came our pickets and cavalry pursued by Rebel Cavalry. We formed in line of battle and moved to the field in front to receive what all supposed was a force, the rest of the brigade, 17th, 27th Mich. and battery (45th Penn), but it only proved a small body, intent upon a “raid” which our prompt arrival prevented, so all correct. They turned and a citizen captured one “reb” and two rifles were brought in. So ended this “affair.” Soon laid down in our blankets and got rest. Then came tents. Had one of my own, a cozy little affair which I had hoped to enjoy a little while, but, alas, not so.
Yesterday morn, mysterious hints began to be afloat of a quiet departure of our whole force etc. and at ½ past 11 A.M. were prepared. Soon left, on the retreat it looked like. Rumors of “raids”, capture of our team mail, etc. and we pressed on, arriving here about 9 o’clk last eve. And now the story is we are to report at Louisville as soon as possible. Shall march at 6 o’clk for Lebanon which is 40 miles and connected by rail with L. [Louisville].
Your letter and Abbie‘s were dated 24th. Have no time to “talk with you”, but to say that I am bearing the fatigues very well indeed, and hope to be equal to what is to come, 20 miles a day I expect, western fashion.
Wrote to Billerica friends Wedns. at J. [Jamestown]. Adjt. Ranlett is very well indeed, bearing himself bravely and well and our relations are very pleasant. Spoke to me twice on the march. “How do you stand it?” and it is mutual, and I am surprised to see how he bears it, for it has been the hardest time since our life in the Army.
The weather is fair this morn. and we shall have a good road.
Don’t know when this will go, but hope today.
Recvd. a paper “Journal” last eve. Don’t speak of neglecting me, or the appearance of letters. You are everything a good, dear wife can be, and Heaven keep that we can meet again.
Love to friends. More in future. Much writing will be out of the question, but you will be remembered.
As ever your own
Jerome
P.M.
Dear Allie
Stirring times. Orders just issued to be ready with 8 days rations, 3 in haversacks and rest in knapsacks. Shall turn over my own dress coat to Quartermaster.
Rumor says, we’re changed into the 1st Brigade, and Col. B. is to be Acting Brigadier Genl. Have been busy for the last hour or two, extra shoes, etc., etc.
Expect we’re going to Cumberland Gap as mentioned. May march tonight.
Officers are to live in shelter tents and have knapsacks, just like the men, so I hope something is to be done.
Will write you as often as possible, journalize etc., but can’t promise much to some of my friends.
Please see that Lulu has these verses from the Register. Intended to have written her a letter, but you must tell [her] about my long walks in the woods, birds, etc. etc.
As ever
Jerome
P.S. Received some letter paper yesterday by Hattie. Have no envelopes. Paper enough for the present, but please send envelopes in your letters.

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES

NOTE 1: Per the Unit History, “We remained at Jamestown until Thursday, June 4th, when at noon, to the surprise of all, we received orders to proceed at once to Lebanon, which was sixty miles away, our nearest railroad connection with the North. Although we had had little or no rest for a week, in forty-eight consecutive hours, including halts and sleep, we made the sixty miles, arriving at Lebanon at noon, June 6th. And this long journey was accomplished in heavy marching order, under a scorching sun, and in dust which was almost insufferable.”

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: The “Adjt. Ranlett” referred to in this letter 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 4: “Col. B.” was Henry Bowman, who enlisted as a Captain at age 28 from Clinton, Massachusetts. He joined the 36th Massachusetts as the colonel commanding the Regiment on August 22, 1862. Bowman commanded the First Brigade, First Division, Ninth Army Cops starting on June 1, 1863, as alluded to this letter. However, he resigned on July 27, 1863, for reasons not stated in the Unit History. Bowman was recommissioned in October of 1863 and rejoined the 36th Massachusetts at Blain’s Cross Roads, Tennessee, on December 26, 1863.

NOTE 5: 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.

Letter/Paper