From Jerome to Allie, August 24, 1863

From Jerome to Allie, August 24, 1863

Peirce, Jerome

Allie

Nicholasville, KY

From Jerome to Allie

Jerome Peirce

Jerome Peirce Collection, National Park Service

HIST 428 (Spring 2020), University of Mary Washington

1863-08-24

NPS, Civil War Study Group, Josef Rokus (transcriber)

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

"6.25 X 4" - 1st Scan
"6.4 X 9.45" - 2nd Scan
"6.4 X 9.4" - 3rd Scan
(JPG)

English

Text

Letter #154

Nicholasville, KY

Mond. 24th Aug. 1863
My dear Allie.
I wrote you yesterday and now I have something to tell.
Was called to the Commanders tent and informed that I was selected as the “Non Com” [Non-commissioned] officer to accompany others to go to Mass. to bring in Conscripts! You can imagine my feeling. It is a great favor and compliment too and my years’ service has not been for nothing, as it is a work requiring the right sort of stuff. Alonzo was the means of it in a great measure.
Expect to leave tomorrow, Tuesday or the next day with Lieut. Davis, Co. K, and six men. I send you this that you may be prepared to meet me either at home B [Billerica] or some point near or at Boston as the Camp is at Long Island you know. Talked with Alonzo. He didn’t think we shall have leave to go home, that is to visit round. I go out of my way so you will hear from me by Telegraph or letter as we are not quite certain what day we shall leave. This will reach you ahead.
My expenses, you see, will be all paid and I hope to see you soon.
You will please inform the friends so I can meet as many as possible.
Shall write to Orange today with this. J.H. has a fine thing: Orderly for Gen. Ferrero. Left for his post today.
In haste with love to all.
I am yours,
Jerome

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES (Josef Rokus)

NOTE 1: The Company Muster Roll for September and October 1863 in Corporal Jerome Peirce’s Service File gives the following information: “Absent. Sent to Massachusetts for conscription Sept. 15, 1863.” The next Company Muster Roll, for November and December 1863, lists him as “Present.”

NOTE 2: The Unit History mentions the conscription detail that included Jerome Peirce on page 80 as follows: “Between sunrise and noon of the 15th (of September 1863) we marched fourteen miles, and encamped at Barboursville, on the Cumberland River. Before marching this morning, a detail of three officers (Captain Holmes, Lieutenants Hodgkins and Davis), and six men left us, for the purpose of returning to Massachusetts, and bringing out the conscripts assigned to the Thirty-sixth Regiment, according to orders received at Nicholasville.”

NOTE 3: It is not clear who the Alonzo was that Jerome referred to in this letter. None of the men from Orange, Massachusetts, that he enlisted with in early August of 1862 was named Alonzo, and the Unit History Roster lists several men named Alonzo.

NOTE 4: The “J.H.” Jerome referred to in this letter, as well as in other letters, was almost definitely Joseph H. Peirce. He enlisted as a private in Orange, Mass., on August 4, 1862, at age 18. Jerome also enlisted in Orange on the same date, but as a private. Jerome was 31 years old at the time. According to the Unit History, Joseph H. Peirce was taken Prisoner of War at Pegram Farm on September 30, 1864 and was later exchanged. He was discharged on June 21, 1865. Joseph H. Peirce was a nephew of Jerome.

NOTE 5: Gen. Edward Ferrero (1831 – 1899) was one of the leading dance instructors, choreographers, and ballroom operators in the United States prior to his service in the Civil War from 1861 until 1865. He served admirably in a number of major battles and was assigned to the corps that included the 36th Massachusetts Regiment. However, he is most remembered for his dishonorable conduct in the Battle of the Crater (July 1864), for drinking with another general behind the lines, while both their units were virtually destroyed. A court of inquiry cited Ferrero for "being in a bomb-proof shelter habitually, where he could not see the operation of his troops nor know the position of two brigades of his division or whether they had taken Cemetery Hill or not." Nevertheless, Ferrero was brevetted as a major general on December 2, 1864, for "bravery and meritorious services." He subsequently served throughout the Appomattox Campaign in early 1865.

The following note was written on the top of page 1: “Please write Foster’s folks. Don’t know whether I can see them.”

Letter/Paper