From Jerome to Allie, June 13, 1863
Dublin Core
Title
From Jerome to Allie, June 13, 1863
Subject
Peirce, Jerome
Allie
Memphis, TN.
Description
From Jerome to Allie
Creator
Jerome Peirce
Source
Jerome Peirce Collection, National Park Service
Publisher
HIST 428 (Spring 2020), University of Mary Washington
Date
1863-06-13
Contributor
NPS, Civil War Study Group, Josef Rokus (Transcriber)
Rights
For educational purposes with no commercial use. Courtesy of National Park Service, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania NMP, FRSP 16095-16102 (FRSP-00904).
Format
6.81 X 4.45
6.24 X 9.31
11.21 X 9.32
6.23 X 9.21
6.25 X 9.15
6.18 X 9.18
9.05 X 6.35
8.91 X 6.19
Jpg
6.24 X 9.31
11.21 X 9.32
6.23 X 9.21
6.25 X 9.15
6.18 X 9.18
9.05 X 6.35
8.91 X 6.19
Jpg
Language
English
Type
Text
Identifier
Letter #127
Coverage
Memphis, TN.
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
LETTER TRANSCRIPTION
Memphis Tenn. 13th June 1863
Ever dear wife,
Still at the levee at M. [Memphis] and no move or indications of any. I am seated on the upper deck of the boat, comparatively quiet and now what shall I say to your dear self for my thoughts are constantly with you and I try constantly to see something to interest and cheer you now that I am so far from home.
It is nearly dark and quite cool and but for the obstructions I should have a beautiful scene before me but alas for war! This P.M. a large steamer arrived from Vicksburg full of wounded soldiers and I have been having a long chat with the poor fellows and they are now being conveyed to the hospitals of this city, four hundred of them and we treated many of them to lemonade and such things as were acceptable from the vendors who swarm on the boat. They are a noble set of men from Wisconsin and Ind’a [Indiana] regts. and are from the battle at “Cha[m]pion Hill” the 16th of May. It is remarkable how cheerful and resigned these wounded are for the most part, thinking more of what was accomplished than their hurts. Surely, what should we think if we did not feel that some great good was to come of it all.
I have thus spoken of this sad scene freely hoping that we shall yet be spared the dread ordeal of a like scene, but trusting it must come, we can be resigned. It certainly gives me fresh courage to witness such cheerfulness and bravery, added to the two months of wearisome waiting and marching which all declare is worse than actual conflict.
It has been a stirring day. A little before noon we were marched off on the levee, waited over an hour to enable them to cleanse the boat, a thing badly needed and it looked nice to be once more on a clean deck. Had a nice bath in the river while out and having a new suit, pants and shirt you may judge I feel ‘huge’.
A “halt” for tonight, Allie, and I must tell you how a man with an empty sleeve in citizens dress came up and says “Where you from?” as we replied “from Mass [Massachusetts]” “What! Still further back still.” He is a fine wide-awake son of Erin from Ills. [Illinois] and lost his arm at Lexington, Missouri, when Col. Muligan fought so bravely. A chat ensued and a shake of his other hand. Owns a fine place in Olney, Ills. [Illinois], where we stopped on the [???]. Just now, Ben E. came up and ‘tis growing dark, so will close by telling you I eat bread and molasses and coffee with Ben tonight. Will mail tomorrow. Good night.
Sunday morning 6 o’clk. Ben and I have just finished our “toilet”. He brought his “traps” up last eve. and are now quartered together as his place below was by the engine and not so clean and pleasant. Geo. E. is on the other side of me.
Sabbath morning and how difficult our situations! Don’t know as I shall attempt to go ashore for I like to move about as little as possible catching all the rest I can. I have plenty of good reading.
Had a long chat with Ben before we got to sleep about our marches and his life in Kansas etc. etc. He will [send] a letter to you in this which will compensate for my shortcomings and no doubt you appreciate it. In the mean time I am going to write a letter to darling little Lulu. Dear little thing. I feel rebuked when I think that I have not tried harder to say something to her but I always try to send some[thing] she can touch and handle as a token and that after all is what children remember by.
There appears to be little news this morn. Mailed you a St. Louis paper yesterday, will send you the Memphis Bulletin today.
Have been to breakfast and the sun is stealing to “our side” and I must close for this time. Another boat is in this morn. from V [Vicksburg]. They think we will go to the Yazoo River and say there is more troops at V [Vicksburg] than can land. If we go to the Yazoo district, I shall try and find out something about the Wymans. All accounts agree that Vicksburg is all right.
Noon. Incidents multiply. Had finished your letter and the order came to go ashore and the boat soon moved up about half a mile to an island thickly wooded with the cottonwood. They grow up very tall and symmetrical and resemble the poplar or popple and they emit a strong odor much like tobacco. I send you a leaf or two from the tree in maturity.
I carry a whole tent and Ben and I occupy it and both writing. Had a nice bath and the scene is quite pleasant, quite a Sabbath picnic. Nice just to let the men shake themselves.
The U.S. Mail Boat is just in and we hope for news from home. Shall wait awhile before mailing this. Shall be here a few hours and then return to our old quarters and still “wait for orders”.
Dear Allie, Ben has just read his letter to you and I am so pleased that you can have a little of the funny! I am sadly deficient you know in that line. We do enjoy so much and you may judge when I tell you we are beginning to share letters somewhat. I hope you will [???] his suggestion to call at his father’s and by all means not be jealous at anything he has written.
It is becoming exceedingly warm now and our “arousing” in the form of a tent is a timely institution. You will, of course, read and “deliver” Lulu’s letter. In future I shall try and write her more frequently.
Has Abbie returned to C. [Charlestown] and is she well? Am so eager for a mail. And now as Ben is writing to “his Amy” I shall attempt reading.
Ever remaining your loving
Jerome
No instructions yet about directing letters so you will send to Cin’ti [Cincinnati] (instead of Louisville).
All accounts agree that the negroes are splendid fighters and vast numbers.
Have written to Billerica and Foster’s folks. No mail yet since last Sunday at Lebanon, Ky. Hope to receive one soon. Remember me to Albert and family and friends and love abundantly from your loving husband
Jerome
Transcriber’s Note: This letter also included a pass that Jerome had received earlier. It consists of a piece of blue paper with the following text.
On the front side:
Camp Dick Robinson, Ky.
April 16th 1863
Color Corp. Jerome Peirce has permission to be absent from camp until 4 P.M.
C. Sawyer, Capt.
Co. H. 36 M. [Massachusetts] Vol. [Volunteers]
Granted
Henry Bowman, Col.
Transcriber’s Note: On the reverse side (in Jerome’s handwriting):
Allie. To show how we get out. The Col.’s autograph and Capt. S.’s.
Memphis Tenn. 13th June 1863
Ever dear wife,
Still at the levee at M. [Memphis] and no move or indications of any. I am seated on the upper deck of the boat, comparatively quiet and now what shall I say to your dear self for my thoughts are constantly with you and I try constantly to see something to interest and cheer you now that I am so far from home.
It is nearly dark and quite cool and but for the obstructions I should have a beautiful scene before me but alas for war! This P.M. a large steamer arrived from Vicksburg full of wounded soldiers and I have been having a long chat with the poor fellows and they are now being conveyed to the hospitals of this city, four hundred of them and we treated many of them to lemonade and such things as were acceptable from the vendors who swarm on the boat. They are a noble set of men from Wisconsin and Ind’a [Indiana] regts. and are from the battle at “Cha[m]pion Hill” the 16th of May. It is remarkable how cheerful and resigned these wounded are for the most part, thinking more of what was accomplished than their hurts. Surely, what should we think if we did not feel that some great good was to come of it all.
I have thus spoken of this sad scene freely hoping that we shall yet be spared the dread ordeal of a like scene, but trusting it must come, we can be resigned. It certainly gives me fresh courage to witness such cheerfulness and bravery, added to the two months of wearisome waiting and marching which all declare is worse than actual conflict.
It has been a stirring day. A little before noon we were marched off on the levee, waited over an hour to enable them to cleanse the boat, a thing badly needed and it looked nice to be once more on a clean deck. Had a nice bath in the river while out and having a new suit, pants and shirt you may judge I feel ‘huge’.
A “halt” for tonight, Allie, and I must tell you how a man with an empty sleeve in citizens dress came up and says “Where you from?” as we replied “from Mass [Massachusetts]” “What! Still further back still.” He is a fine wide-awake son of Erin from Ills. [Illinois] and lost his arm at Lexington, Missouri, when Col. Muligan fought so bravely. A chat ensued and a shake of his other hand. Owns a fine place in Olney, Ills. [Illinois], where we stopped on the [???]. Just now, Ben E. came up and ‘tis growing dark, so will close by telling you I eat bread and molasses and coffee with Ben tonight. Will mail tomorrow. Good night.
Sunday morning 6 o’clk. Ben and I have just finished our “toilet”. He brought his “traps” up last eve. and are now quartered together as his place below was by the engine and not so clean and pleasant. Geo. E. is on the other side of me.
Sabbath morning and how difficult our situations! Don’t know as I shall attempt to go ashore for I like to move about as little as possible catching all the rest I can. I have plenty of good reading.
Had a long chat with Ben before we got to sleep about our marches and his life in Kansas etc. etc. He will [send] a letter to you in this which will compensate for my shortcomings and no doubt you appreciate it. In the mean time I am going to write a letter to darling little Lulu. Dear little thing. I feel rebuked when I think that I have not tried harder to say something to her but I always try to send some[thing] she can touch and handle as a token and that after all is what children remember by.
There appears to be little news this morn. Mailed you a St. Louis paper yesterday, will send you the Memphis Bulletin today.
Have been to breakfast and the sun is stealing to “our side” and I must close for this time. Another boat is in this morn. from V [Vicksburg]. They think we will go to the Yazoo River and say there is more troops at V [Vicksburg] than can land. If we go to the Yazoo district, I shall try and find out something about the Wymans. All accounts agree that Vicksburg is all right.
Noon. Incidents multiply. Had finished your letter and the order came to go ashore and the boat soon moved up about half a mile to an island thickly wooded with the cottonwood. They grow up very tall and symmetrical and resemble the poplar or popple and they emit a strong odor much like tobacco. I send you a leaf or two from the tree in maturity.
I carry a whole tent and Ben and I occupy it and both writing. Had a nice bath and the scene is quite pleasant, quite a Sabbath picnic. Nice just to let the men shake themselves.
The U.S. Mail Boat is just in and we hope for news from home. Shall wait awhile before mailing this. Shall be here a few hours and then return to our old quarters and still “wait for orders”.
Dear Allie, Ben has just read his letter to you and I am so pleased that you can have a little of the funny! I am sadly deficient you know in that line. We do enjoy so much and you may judge when I tell you we are beginning to share letters somewhat. I hope you will [???] his suggestion to call at his father’s and by all means not be jealous at anything he has written.
It is becoming exceedingly warm now and our “arousing” in the form of a tent is a timely institution. You will, of course, read and “deliver” Lulu’s letter. In future I shall try and write her more frequently.
Has Abbie returned to C. [Charlestown] and is she well? Am so eager for a mail. And now as Ben is writing to “his Amy” I shall attempt reading.
Ever remaining your loving
Jerome
No instructions yet about directing letters so you will send to Cin’ti [Cincinnati] (instead of Louisville).
All accounts agree that the negroes are splendid fighters and vast numbers.
Have written to Billerica and Foster’s folks. No mail yet since last Sunday at Lebanon, Ky. Hope to receive one soon. Remember me to Albert and family and friends and love abundantly from your loving husband
Jerome
Transcriber’s Note: This letter also included a pass that Jerome had received earlier. It consists of a piece of blue paper with the following text.
On the front side:
Camp Dick Robinson, Ky.
April 16th 1863
Color Corp. Jerome Peirce has permission to be absent from camp until 4 P.M.
C. Sawyer, Capt.
Co. H. 36 M. [Massachusetts] Vol. [Volunteers]
Granted
Henry Bowman, Col.
Transcriber’s Note: On the reverse side (in Jerome’s handwriting):
Allie. To show how we get out. The Col.’s autograph and Capt. S.’s.
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES
NOTE 1: The Battle of Champion Hill, fought May 16, 1863, was the pivotal battle in the Vicksburg Campaign. Union Army commander Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and the Army of the Tennessee pursued the retreating Confederate States Army, under Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton and defeated his army twenty miles to the east of Vicksburg, Mississippi, leading inevitably to the Siege of Vicksburg and the surrender by the Confederate Army on July 4, 1863.
NOTE 2: The Ben E. referred to in the letter was 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, he was discharged from the 36th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment for promotion as a Lieutenant in the 54th Massachusetts Regiment of Volunteers.
NOTE 3: Abbie (Abigail) Jaquith was Allie’s younger sister. Abbie was born in 1836, and she died in 1915. Allie (Albinia) was born in 1834, and she died in 1920.
NOTE 4: Foster Peirce was one of Jerome’s older brothers. The 1850 U.S. Census listed him as being born in 1812, living in Charlestown, Massachusetts, and being in the furniture business. It is interesting to note that when that census was taken, Jerome, then 19 years old, was living with the Foster Peirce family, with his occupation being recorded as a “gilder.”
NOTE 1: The Battle of Champion Hill, fought May 16, 1863, was the pivotal battle in the Vicksburg Campaign. Union Army commander Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and the Army of the Tennessee pursued the retreating Confederate States Army, under Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton and defeated his army twenty miles to the east of Vicksburg, Mississippi, leading inevitably to the Siege of Vicksburg and the surrender by the Confederate Army on July 4, 1863.
NOTE 2: The Ben E. referred to in the letter was 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, he was discharged from the 36th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment for promotion as a Lieutenant in the 54th Massachusetts Regiment of Volunteers.
NOTE 3: Abbie (Abigail) Jaquith was Allie’s younger sister. Abbie was born in 1836, and she died in 1915. Allie (Albinia) was born in 1834, and she died in 1920.
NOTE 4: Foster Peirce was one of Jerome’s older brothers. The 1850 U.S. Census listed him as being born in 1812, living in Charlestown, Massachusetts, and being in the furniture business. It is interesting to note that when that census was taken, Jerome, then 19 years old, was living with the Foster Peirce family, with his occupation being recorded as a “gilder.”
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Reference
Jerome Peirce 1863, From Jerome to Allie, June 13, 1863, HIST 428 (Spring 2020), University of Mary Washington
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