From Jerome to Allie, July 15, 1863
Dublin Core
Title
From Jerome to Allie, July 15, 1863
Subject
Peirce, Jerome
Allie
Jackson, MS.
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
1863-07-15
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
7 X 4.3
7 X 9.3
7 X 9.3
Jpg
7 X 9.3
7 X 9.3
Jpg
Language
English
Type
Text
Identifier
Letter # 141
Coverage
Near Jackson, MS.
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
LETTER TRANSCRIPTION
Transcriber’s Note: The parts of the letter that precede this page are apparently missing.
Jul 15, 1863
… for sometime as Grant takes more time and “bags” all he can. All things now point to a speedy close of the hard fighting. Official accounts continue to come in of successes all around and the rebels here and well discouraged. Yesterday during a flag of truce the rebs came out and talked with us or our boys. Regretted that we should be fighting and wished ‘twas over with and there are many conscripts here who will not hurt us if they can help it and but for the leaders, ‘twould soon be over with.
We can see of the dome of the capitol at J. [Jackson] on a little hill a few steps from here and where I went this A.M. to see the artillery practice. The guns crack away every five minutes. Benjamin’s Battery is playing away but rebs does not reply very often and then over or under shoots.
We have learned to be quite indifferent to the din and danger of these things. I tell you these things not to alarm you but that you may know that I am wonderfully spared so far and I see no serious danger near. I take as good care of [my] health as possible and after what I passed through marching here and in the first days work in the woods in front, I gave myself little trouble.
We have been able to procure a little corn, some potatoes and I have with a plenty of fresh meat something still to live on.
I see by a letter from Mary (at O. [Orange]) that Dr. Willis is dead of diphtheria. This was sudden and a great loss. Jos. Henry was well last Thursday and in good spirits.
Goodard, I think, will recover. Do not think it is serious. Went to see him day before yesterday but they are now moved further to the rear.
All sorts of stories are in camp about our going North and but I suppose when Jackson [Mississippi] falls we leave for Cincinnati.
We have some delay about the mails and you must not allow yourself to worry because you don’t receive letters promptly. I write twice a week. They promise us that this mail will leave promptly. Rec’d a “Journal” from B. and two “Registers”.
Alonzo is nicely and writes today to Ellen. Has just left me with some paper, etc. as their baggage was all behind. We came in lightest order. Knapsacks have come up tho all right.
Am glad you have the prospect of remaining with Marion. Do…
Transcriber’s Note: The parts of the letter that precede this page are apparently missing.
Jul 15, 1863
… for sometime as Grant takes more time and “bags” all he can. All things now point to a speedy close of the hard fighting. Official accounts continue to come in of successes all around and the rebels here and well discouraged. Yesterday during a flag of truce the rebs came out and talked with us or our boys. Regretted that we should be fighting and wished ‘twas over with and there are many conscripts here who will not hurt us if they can help it and but for the leaders, ‘twould soon be over with.
We can see of the dome of the capitol at J. [Jackson] on a little hill a few steps from here and where I went this A.M. to see the artillery practice. The guns crack away every five minutes. Benjamin’s Battery is playing away but rebs does not reply very often and then over or under shoots.
We have learned to be quite indifferent to the din and danger of these things. I tell you these things not to alarm you but that you may know that I am wonderfully spared so far and I see no serious danger near. I take as good care of [my] health as possible and after what I passed through marching here and in the first days work in the woods in front, I gave myself little trouble.
We have been able to procure a little corn, some potatoes and I have with a plenty of fresh meat something still to live on.
I see by a letter from Mary (at O. [Orange]) that Dr. Willis is dead of diphtheria. This was sudden and a great loss. Jos. Henry was well last Thursday and in good spirits.
Goodard, I think, will recover. Do not think it is serious. Went to see him day before yesterday but they are now moved further to the rear.
All sorts of stories are in camp about our going North and but I suppose when Jackson [Mississippi] falls we leave for Cincinnati.
We have some delay about the mails and you must not allow yourself to worry because you don’t receive letters promptly. I write twice a week. They promise us that this mail will leave promptly. Rec’d a “Journal” from B. and two “Registers”.
Alonzo is nicely and writes today to Ellen. Has just left me with some paper, etc. as their baggage was all behind. We came in lightest order. Knapsacks have come up tho all right.
Am glad you have the prospect of remaining with Marion. Do…
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES
NOTE 1: The parts of the letter that follow this page are apparently missing.
NOTE 2: Based on the text, this letter was written in the vicinity of Jackson, Mississippi.
NOTE 3: 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 1: The parts of the letter that follow this page are apparently missing.
NOTE 2: Based on the text, this letter was written in the vicinity of Jackson, Mississippi.
NOTE 3: 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.
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Reference
Jerome Peirce 1863, From Jerome to Allie, July 15, 1863, HIST 428 (Spring 2020), University of Mary Washington
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