From Jerome to Allie and Lulu, March 8, 1863

From Jerome to Allie and Lulu, March 8, 1863

Peirce, Jerome

Allie

Lulu

Newport News, VA.

From Jerome to Allie and Lulu

Jerome Peirce

Jerome Peirce Collection, National Park Service

HIST 428 (Spring 2020), University of Mary Washington

1863-03-08

NPS, Civil War Study Group, Paul and Louise Marahrens

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

5.15 X 3.01
4.94 X 8.23
9.75 X 8.23
4.94 X 8.23
jpg

English

Text

Letter #82

Newport News VA.

Newport News, VA 8th Mch [March], 1863
My dearest Allie and Lulu,
Sunday, almost noon
J.H and I writing alone in the tent, the others on Picket Duty. Had a violent thunderstorm, but now the sun is out and quite warm tho’ not fairly cleared off. Well now, what can I write that will cheer you? Another week has passed and much as ever, and if you receive my letters you will know how it passed. Allie, life here as at home, becomes quite monotonous and when we attempt to write, we hardly know what to say. Our Chaplain and one of the Drs. [Doctors] have gone home, so we may not have service at all, especially as the rain made it quite wet.
This morning I had to sew a little and before I had fairly got to writing the bugle called for the Regimental Inspection. Came in and finished a short letter to Ed Haynes, and now it is dinner call, so you see we cannot escape interruptions.
Yesterday we had a grand inspection which is more thorough than any other. Have to look our best, and any defect is looked after such as personal cleanliness, condition of clothes and every knapsack is looked over, so you see we are taken some care of. Have just had a little dinner, a “lunch”, a piece or two of bread and butter with cold meat and water, as at home on Sundays.
You will not think this much of a Sabbath letter I fear, but I have tried to give you an idea of what we do from time to time, and if letters do not read as you would like, you will know the reason. It took quite an effort of the mind or “preparation of heart” to make Sunday seem different from other days and yet today is one of the best I have had for some time.
Frank Burdett of Co. B came to see me this morning. He left for home today having obtained his discharge papers. I did not have time to even write a note, for he was to leave in about an hour and just then came the Inspection before mentioned. I mentioned him in my last letter. I think a fine fellow, and I doubt not he will recover his health at home. I thought he left yesterday.
Had a letter from Kate Fri. eve. Alonzo slowly improving. Ellen still at Georgetown with him. Heard a letter read this morning from Benj. Mayo of Orange at Newbern, in good health and spirits apparently. He writes the O. [Orange] boys. Harland Metcalf has been home on a furlough, was here Fri. He was well. Furloughs with us seem done for, except with Com [Company] Officers. The Col. arrived a few moments ago. The Major (Goddell) goes home next. Hope my turn will come one of these days and hope ‘twill be a long one, the war ended and nothing to think of but “Peace and good will towards men”.
I fear I did not get my usual letters last eve., none from Abbie and she generally writes every Sunday. Went to Division Headquarters yesterday P.M. and saw on the way back Willie Hall. He is as well as usual. I believe I told you that Dick was to be married at Baltimore soon. Gussy is engaged to an Italian lady, and is still waiting for his final opportunity of appearing in his profession. It seems he was deceived some way and has some further waiting but a new friend is to assist him in the autumn.
Well, you have had, I trust, a good Sabbath, perhaps Communion. Oh, how glad would [I] have been to have sat by your side, with the dear and familiar faces about me! And how poor a scrawl I send you for a Sabbath day! But you will read it on a weekday.
I am reading daily some portion of the good book but my mind is constantly assailed by the din and detail of Camp and I cannot express to you all I feel.
Here’s a little incident for the S[abbath] School children. Last Sabbath eve. I strolled to the adjoining Brigade where a band plays. Attached to it is a sweet-faced little lad of 13 yrs. He was so modest, expert and attentive that I inquired (after they had dispersed) his name, age etc. A man who seems to have charge of him, for his father is dead, told me, and said he, “He is a good boy and don’t grow old.” He is a fine little fellow with blue eyes and light hair, and a fit type of the little heroic “Drummer boys.” His name is “Jimmy Moores” and belongs in N.H. [New Hampshire] I have mentioned the incident to the Orange scholars and to Miss Waldo. “A good boy and don’t grow old”.
Mail just came (P.M.) Yours the 3rd Mch. [March] Dress very pretty. Am very, very sorry for your hard work. ‘Tis a trying time and I feel more than I can tell but, I do feel that all’s for the best. Have written to Ben Haynes’ folks today. J.H. and I wrote Lottie E. a few days ago. How little they know what they enjoy. Tell little Lu [Lulu] I shall carry the pieces of dress in my pocket. She must be a good girl to pay for the pretty dress. I hope to send you some money one of these days.
The Register came today but no letter from Abbie.
I did not send W.E.P. for stamps. His father promised to send and presume he spoke of it so sent them. I send you Kate’s letter. She seems very kind. What do you hear? I wish you would tell me.
I have only 5 c[ents] in my pocket and don’t spend a cent, and will not when I can help it, is a good motto is it not?

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES (Josef Rokus)

NOTE 1: This letter contains no closing, unless a page is missing.

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: Francis (Frank) Burdett of Company B was 26 years old when he enlisted from Charlestown. He was discharged for disability on March 2, 1863, in agreement with what Jerome wrote in this letter.

NOTE 4: 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 5: Corp. Henry H. Mayo enlisted at the age of 21 as a Corporal in Orange, Massachusetts, on August 4, 1862. Jerome enlisted on the same date. He was killed at the Battle of the Wilderness on May 6, 1864, just a few days before Jerome was killed at Spotsylvania Court House.

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