From Jerome to Allie, March 16, 1863
Dublin Core
Title
From Jerome to Allie, March 16, 1863
Subject
Peirce, Jerome
Allie
Newport News, VA.
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
1863-03-16
Contributor
NPS, Civil War Study Group, Peter Rainey (Transcriber)
Rights
For educational purposes with no commercial use. Courtesy of National Park Service, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania NMP, FRSP 16095-16102 (FRSP-00904).
Format
6.89 X 4.72
6.61 X 9.45
11.6 X 9.32
6.69 X 9.49
jpg
6.61 X 9.45
11.6 X 9.32
6.69 X 9.49
jpg
Language
English
Type
Text
Identifier
Letter #87
Coverage
Newport News, VA.
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
Newport News, Va 16th Mch [March] /63
My dearest wife,
Yours of the 13th came today and how can I express my thanks for the picture? If I only had yours to go with it.
Well my dear wife, yesterday I wrote I was ill with a cold, have been on duty today omitting one drill only and I am some better and shall come out of it by and by. It is but a few moments daylight and I thought I would begin tomorrow’s letter.
I showed Lulu’s [picture] to Corpl. Mayo and some they, who had seen her, they pronounced it excellent and how much comfort I shall take with it. I can see considerable change and not for the worse. I hope she will be as good as she is “otherwise.” She looks well and I trust she will remain so.
But that every move in our tent is retented to many others. I should have pressed the little dear to my lips! and how much it made me sigh for home!
Tues. AM 17th. And then I was interrupted and that’s the way we have to write. Am first in from Battalion drill.
A beautiful mild day, very warm [compared] to what we have usually had. Am feeling quite well again today tho my cold is not quite cured.
Ben E. called at my tent this a.m. and had a pleasant chat. He thought Lulu’s picture was very fine as a picture and a pretty little creature she is. It lead to a serious talk and we have both often questioned ourselves whether we did wrong to leave our dear ones for this life and did I feel that the whole people at home were so. I feel some may be. I should feel myself most wicked but no, there is, it seems to me, such as a great result if we do our duty that all these trials are more than counterbalanced and the government must be sustained or we must perish together. Had a letter from Lucy also yesterday. She said she expected you to make her a call or “visit” soon and by your mention of going to Boston I conclude you intended to go that way, hope you will. Of your going to the City, I know not what to say. If there were not “a better land” where the trials and griefs of the life were not forgotten we should be miserable indeed. I can only pray that you may bear up and feel sustained by another hand, not mortal, and we finally may see that all’s for the best. Such has been the lot of those generations who lived in times of war and public [???] and how many they have been!
I can but hope that you will find something that will throw around you a more cheerful influence. Perhaps I ought not to speak so for I know you must be busy and it grieves me so much to know you are constantly struggling with your feelings. I know from experience what fearful times these are, but enough.
P.M. Dear Allie, Shall I attempt to finish this? No letters from anybody today.
They have just raised a rural arch in the centre of the Regt [Regiment]. Co. “C” next to ours, you know. It arches the street a framework some 20 feet high and covered with pine foliage for an ornament like one or two other reg[iments] and will look pretty. It looks like staying here at present.
Jos. H. is better and is outdoors somewhere. Did not see his last letter from home of yesterday, so can’t tell the news. Presume all are well.
I begin to feel a little like Spring, yet tired easily but when Mch. [March] is gone hope to be all right.
I know this is not much of a letter. But you will have something to know me by if I was with you would do better. Tell me all your moves and adventures. Shall hear tomorrow I suppose.
As ever your loving husband,
Jerome
Tell Lulu a little girl came to see me on a card [picture] and looked so much like Papie’s little girl that I have to look at it very often. Papie always sends a K [Kiss] to Lulu and Mamie but I have no one to give me those from you.
My dearest wife,
Yours of the 13th came today and how can I express my thanks for the picture? If I only had yours to go with it.
Well my dear wife, yesterday I wrote I was ill with a cold, have been on duty today omitting one drill only and I am some better and shall come out of it by and by. It is but a few moments daylight and I thought I would begin tomorrow’s letter.
I showed Lulu’s [picture] to Corpl. Mayo and some they, who had seen her, they pronounced it excellent and how much comfort I shall take with it. I can see considerable change and not for the worse. I hope she will be as good as she is “otherwise.” She looks well and I trust she will remain so.
But that every move in our tent is retented to many others. I should have pressed the little dear to my lips! and how much it made me sigh for home!
Tues. AM 17th. And then I was interrupted and that’s the way we have to write. Am first in from Battalion drill.
A beautiful mild day, very warm [compared] to what we have usually had. Am feeling quite well again today tho my cold is not quite cured.
Ben E. called at my tent this a.m. and had a pleasant chat. He thought Lulu’s picture was very fine as a picture and a pretty little creature she is. It lead to a serious talk and we have both often questioned ourselves whether we did wrong to leave our dear ones for this life and did I feel that the whole people at home were so. I feel some may be. I should feel myself most wicked but no, there is, it seems to me, such as a great result if we do our duty that all these trials are more than counterbalanced and the government must be sustained or we must perish together. Had a letter from Lucy also yesterday. She said she expected you to make her a call or “visit” soon and by your mention of going to Boston I conclude you intended to go that way, hope you will. Of your going to the City, I know not what to say. If there were not “a better land” where the trials and griefs of the life were not forgotten we should be miserable indeed. I can only pray that you may bear up and feel sustained by another hand, not mortal, and we finally may see that all’s for the best. Such has been the lot of those generations who lived in times of war and public [???] and how many they have been!
I can but hope that you will find something that will throw around you a more cheerful influence. Perhaps I ought not to speak so for I know you must be busy and it grieves me so much to know you are constantly struggling with your feelings. I know from experience what fearful times these are, but enough.
P.M. Dear Allie, Shall I attempt to finish this? No letters from anybody today.
They have just raised a rural arch in the centre of the Regt [Regiment]. Co. “C” next to ours, you know. It arches the street a framework some 20 feet high and covered with pine foliage for an ornament like one or two other reg[iments] and will look pretty. It looks like staying here at present.
Jos. H. is better and is outdoors somewhere. Did not see his last letter from home of yesterday, so can’t tell the news. Presume all are well.
I begin to feel a little like Spring, yet tired easily but when Mch. [March] is gone hope to be all right.
I know this is not much of a letter. But you will have something to know me by if I was with you would do better. Tell me all your moves and adventures. Shall hear tomorrow I suppose.
As ever your loving husband,
Jerome
Tell Lulu a little girl came to see me on a card [picture] and looked so much like Papie’s little girl that I have to look at it very often. Papie always sends a K [Kiss] to Lulu and Mamie but I have no one to give me those from you.
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES (Josef Rokus)
NOTE 1: 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.
NOTE 2: The “Jos. 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 1: 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.
NOTE 2: The “Jos. 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.
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Reference
Jerome Peirce 1863, From Jerome to Allie, March 16, 1863, HIST 428 (Spring 2020), University of Mary Washington
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