From Jerome to Allie, July 22-24, 1863

From Jerome to Allie, July 22-24, 1863

Peirce, Jerome

Allie

Milldale, MS.

From Jerome to Allie

Jerome Peirce

Jerome Peirce Collection, National Park Service

HIST 428 (Spring 2020), University of Mary Washington

1863-07-22-24

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).

6.45 X 9.25
6.45 X 9.25
Jpg

English

Text

Letter #142A

Big Black River, Camp at Milldale, MS.

LETTER TRANSCRIPTION

Wedns 22nd [July 1863]
My dear Allie,
Early morning. No chance to mail this so I add a line. A hot tiresome march from the R [Rail] Road to the old camp and then on Monday morn. and Tuesday to this place, Big Black River, on our way to Vicksburg where we expect to take transfers for the North at some point on the Ohio [River].
A sad, terrible march for the men, many dying on the way of exhaustion and dysentery, but I am still preserved in excellent health. Obtained a little help by a ride on J.H.’s team yesterday P.M. and expect to jog on early today.
I need not tell you how welcome your letter of the 6th July from Billerica, reading as while halting for dinner and everything seems more and more to the crushing out of the rebellion “right soon”. The North seems at last awake and things this way are decidedly “all up” for the rebels and their cause and the prisoners taken all curse the whole thing and wish an end.
‘Twas a Mass. [Massachusetts] Regt. [Regiment] that planted the flag at Jackson [Mississippi]. The 35th [Massachusetts] Regt. made a charge into the city.
No more now. Shall mail this the first opportunity. A thousand thanks for Frank’s photograph!

Fri. 24th
Dear Allie,
At the old camp scene Milldale! and no opportunity to mail this and just now it is announced that no more mail can go yet as I expect we leave for the transports to go up the river.
We may rest a day or two. I cannot tell you half I wish to but I keep writing a little that it may reach you sometime. This morn. yours of the 9th July came, also Abbie’s of the same date and a “Register”.
We long to get home and settle near together with other young friends of ours. No, Allie, give me dear Old Mass. We’ve had a terrible sad time in this Jackson [Mississippi] campaign, and I cannot write you the scenes of marching. Young Bliss of Orange is now lying dead a little way from me to be buried today. Died last night from brain fever. I saw him in the eve. and how I felt for his friends! He was a faithful soldier and a good boy and will find rest. He was [a] brother, you know, to Maria Bliss, the teacher. We have lost two others from our Co. [Company]…

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES

NOTE 1: This letter is apparently not complete, with a section or page missing at the end.

NOTE 2: The “J.H.” that Jerome referred to in this letter was 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 corporal. Jerome was 31 years old at the time. According to the Unit History, Joseph H. Peirce was taken Prisoner of War at Pegram Farm, Virginia, on September 30, 1864, (See Letter No. 227) and he was later exchanged. He was discharged on June 21, 1865. Joseph H. Peirce was the son of Joseph Peirce, one of Jerome’s brothers, and was, therefore, Jerome’s nephew.

NOTE 3: Augustus E. Bliss enlisted on August 4, 1862, at age 18 from Orange, Massachusetts. The Unit History confirms that he died from disease on July 24, 1863, at Milldale, Mississippi. The 1860 U.S. Census shows that Maria was a sister of Augustus, two years older than he, and that their father was a farmer in Orange. Augustus Bliss and Jerome enlisted on the same day and likely were friends even before they enlisted.

Letter/Paper