From Jerome to Allie, July 30, 1863

From Jerome to Allie, July 30, 1863

Peirce, Jerome

Allie

New Milldale, MS.

From Jerome to Allie

Jerome Peirce

Jerome Peirce Collection, National Park Service

HIST 428 (Spring 2020), University of Mary Washington

1863-07-30

NPS, Civil War Study Group, Peter Rainey (Transcriber)

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

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English

Text

Letter #145

New Milldale, MS.

LETTER TRANSCRIPTION

New Milldale, Miss. 30th July 1863
Ever dear Wife
I must send you a few lines if not of interest or news except that I am well and having the quietest idlest possible time. Still at the hospital, but no new cases and the one remaining a light case and doing nicely. We hope the disease is permanently stayed and that we shall soon be relieved and on our way out of this land of heat and small afflictions, such as fleas, mosquitoes and flies which keep us fretting day and night.
I am sitting at the door of my teak and mahogany table top resting on four sticks securing for a desk, your four last letters pressed under “Mrs. Hemans Poems” with writing paper, case of memorandum books, a tin plate etc. etc., making a shabby looking office. Woodward (Hiram) is lying down behind me. Nothing but the murmur of the camp and the twittering of birds serves to indicate the habitation of living things. ’Tis about 2 o’clk P.M. and all is silent enough. Still waiting for transports and today they say word has come by telegraph that they will be at the landing by tomorrow eve or Sat. morn. I only hope ‘twill prove true for we are entirely ready to leave this country where everything breathes of lassitude and silence.
I think the sick generally are doing pretty very well. Capt. Sawyer has a fever. Can’t hear much about him but expect he too is gaining. He is a very nervous, excitable man which of course is not well for sickness.
You spoke once that I did not say much about him of late. Well, my situation leaves me very little to do with the Co. having no duty only when the Regt moves, and I see but little of him when in such movements as of late having more to do with Capt. Smith of the Color Co. and the rest I will not speak of here, not but what we are entirely friendly as I don’t allow myself to be any other way, if possible with any of the officers but you know all men will not wear well or retain the nearest place for any long period. We’ve no officers of our own now Capt. S[mith] sick. Lieut. Howe dead. Lieut. Chipman of Co. A is commanding the Co. and Lieut. Sibley is second.
My thoughts visit you in Billerica where I trust you are enjoying yourselves and in [good] health. Would I not fly to meet you if possible! No papers. Yes, I receive the Register, but no late papers and all news comes by hearsay or in letters, and it seems like being out of the world.
Took a stroll out of camp more than a mile the other day. Got a few green apples for a fry that went nicely yesterday. Woodward got some corn, so we had boiled corn that was a treat. We lay here, read, chat, cook, write etc., so time goes. Heavy showers of lately and quite a cool breeze today.
Suppose you’ve heard all about the sad times in Orange (No. [North]) David Miller’s death, Mayo’s insanity. Sad times! and then the draft. But let us hope for an early and peace and sunshine once more after a season. I do hope Joe will escape for he is so needed at home. Frank’s last letter is before me and this must serve for all as I am hard up somewhat for stationery, but if he must come, I trust some way will be provided and that they will be resigned, but I pray daily for a close and no trust, honor, commission would induce me to remain a day longer.
Col. Bowman has resigned and returned with us. Had command of the brigade but I suspect a [???] took place somewhere in the Jackson expedition.
What shall we say of those who escape by paying the draft? What do they think its effect on those in the field, throwing the work on the poor, hardy men who have house and dear ones as well as they? Some I can see some excuse for perhaps, but what can the volunteers think about it?
I suppose everybody is off for the country. White, Hill etc. etc. Shall write Foster’s folks ere long. Have not seen Alonzo for a week. You must excuse this paper. It came out of an old record book and I found it in the woods, wet and soiled but ‘twill do for this time.
Hope soon to be where I can purchase ink and paper, so I ventured Ink this time.
If we move up the river don’t know when we shall receive a mail. Rec’d yours of the 13th with Mrs. Ellis’ and have answered it. Don’t say any more about going West, you take matters too seriously altogether.
Your last came in eight days to C. Have been reading Lulu’s book and Mrs. Heman’s today. Shall try hard to send them home for her sometime.
Love to each and all and as ever,
Your own loving,
Jerome

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES (Josef Rokus)

NOTE 1: The mention of him being in the hospital refers to the fact that he had temporarily been assigned as a hospital steward to take care of smallpox patients according to a previous letter.

NOTE 2: The following excerpt from the Unit History (Page 71) describes the conditions in the Regiment toward the end of July 1863. “On July 23rd at eleven o’clock AM, after a match of fourteen miles, [we] arrived at the old camp at Milldale. The condition of the regiment at this time was miserable indeed. Sixteen cases of small-pox and varioloid (See below), three being officers, were under treatment, and the regimental hospital was filled with sick. The adjutant’s morning report of July 24th was as follows: 6 officers and 98 men present sick, 63 men absent in hospitals, and 25 officers and 343 men present for duty. It was a season of general depression among all, and the only thing to relieve the gloom was the prospect of a speedy departure for the North, an event most anxiously awaited and desired.”

NOTE 3: The term “varioloid” was a common 19th century name for smallpox, but in the following century, the term would be used more specifically to describe milder forms of the disease that occurred in previously vaccinated individuals.
Smallpox was a devastating disease. On average, three out of every ten people who contracted it died. Those who survived were usually left with scars, which were sometimes severe, and some were left blind.
The basis for vaccination began in 1796 when an English doctor, Edward Jenner observed that milkmaids who had gotten cowpox did not show any symptoms of smallpox. However, widespread vaccinations did not occur until considerably later.
During the Civil War, it was standard practice to physically separate the men who had contracted the disease in an area away from the main part of the camp to prevent its spread.

NOTE 4: Felicia Dorothea Hemans (1793 - 1835) was an English poet. Her works appeared in nineteen books during her lifetime. After her death, they were republished widely, usually as collections of individual lyrics and not the longer, annotated works and integrated series that made up her books.

NOTE 5: Second Lieutenant Hiram C. Woodward enlisted at a relatively old age of 40 on July 31, 1862, from Orange, Massachusetts, and served in Co. H of the 36th Massachusetts Regiment, as did Jerome. He died on August 10, 1863, at Camp Dennison, Ohio, a few days before Jerome wrote this letter. He had been assigned temporarily with Jerome to work in the small smallpox hospital at an earlier camp. The “hospital” consisted of a regular tent physically located some distance away from the main camp to help minimize the spread of infection.

NOTE 6: James B. Smith enlisted at age 23 from Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was appointed Captain, Company K, on August 22, 1862. Smith was wounded at the Battle of Pegram Farm in Virginia on September 30, 1864, but was mustered out with the Regiment on June 8, 1864, as a Major. He was subsequently promoted to Brevet Colonel for “gallant and meritorious service.”

NOTE 7: William L. Howe enlisted as a Private from Orange, Massachusetts, on August 4, 1862. He was promoted to Second Lieutenant on January 30, 1863. Howe died of disease at Milldale, Mississippi, om July 7, 1863.

NOTE 8: George L. Chipman enlisted at age 28 as a Second Lieutenant from Fitchburg, Massachusetts. He was promoted to First Lieutenant on August 22, 1862, and served as Acting Adjutant from September 7, 1862, until December 10, 1862. Chipman resigned on October 23, 1863.

NOTE 9: Frederick H. Sibley enlisted from Fitchburg, Massachusetts, at age 24 as a Sergeant in the 15th Massachusetts Regiment on July 12, 1861, and was transferred as a Second Lieutenant to Company I of the 36th Massachusetts Regiment on August 22, 1862. He was subsequently promoted to First Lieutenant on August 2, 1863. Sibley died in the U.S. General Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky, of disease contracted during the Mississippi campaign on August 12, 1863.

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