From Milton to Allie, September 20, 1863

From Milton to Allie, September 20, 1863

Bliss, Milton

Allie

N. Orange, MA.

From Milton to Allie

Milton Bliss

Jerome Peirce Collection, National Park Service

HIST 428 (Spring 2020), University of Mary Washington

1863-09-20

NPS, Civil War Study Group, Josef Rokus (trancriber)

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

"7.96 X 9.82" - 1st Scan
(JPG)

English

Text

Letter #160

N. Orange, MA

N. Orange, [Massachusetts] Sept. 20th, 1863
Mrs. Peirce,
I cannot help expressing my thanks to you for your kind letter last month when I was in great affliction. I will not undertake to express to you my feeling caused by the death of my son. As you are a kind hearted woman, you can sympathize with my bereaved family.
Captain Sawyer is at home in Templeton. I went to see him a few days ago. He spoke in the same way about my son that your husband did, and he also spoke well of his men that went from Orange, but he spoke in particular praise of Mr. Jerome Peirce. He said that he honored his office and that a nobler man he did not find.
If I was alone in my affliction, I do not know as I could bear up under the load, but these trials are visiting most all families in my vicinity and I can look around and see those that are in worse condition than myself.
If I have to part with my son, I had rather he would lay down his life for the benefit of the country than any other way, as I consider that millions yet unborn are to reap the benefits of this great sacrifice.
May God’s Blessings visit all people but especially those in the Federal Army.
Give my respects to your husband.
Milton Bliss

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES

NOTE 1: Captain Christopher Sawyer enlisted as a Captain at age 28 from Templeton, Massachusetts, on August 22, 1862, and he commanded Company H of the 36th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, the company that Jerome was assigned to. Sawyer was discharged on account of disability on February 19, 1864.

NOTE 2: Milton Bliss’ son, Augustus E. Bliss, enlisted as a Private at age 18 from Orange, Massachusetts, on August 4, 1862, the same date that Jerome enlisted. He died of disease on July 24, 1863, at Milldale, Mississippi.
Jerome wrote about the death of Augustus Bliss in his letter Number 143 in this collection, dated July 26, 1863, as follows: “Poor [Augustus] Bliss. I seldom or never felt so sad towards one who was not a relative. He was beautiful in death, fair as marble but, oh, the aching hearts at home. He was always dutiful and prompt and kept clear of the vices of Army life but his work is nobly done and it is well. He lies nearby at the edge of the woods where the birds are singing and noble trees wavering over him.”
Further research indicates that that his remains were reinterred at the Vicksburg National Cemetery at some point in time. The cemetery records show that Augustus Bliss was a Private in Company H of the 36th Massachusetts Regiment, that he died on July 24, 1863, and that he is buried in Grave No. 9700 in Section Q of the cemetery.
In addition, Augustus Bliss is mentioned in a letter dated March 7, 1864, (Letter No. 200 in this collection) that Rev. Levi Ballou sent to Jerome approximately two months before Jerome was killed as follows: “Remember us to all the Orange soldiers, Henry Mayo, Nelson Smith, Joseph H. Pierce, Edmund Ward, C. C. Harris, Artimus Goddard. The Lord bless them all. Br. Edwin Stevens ever faithful, true and worthy we can meet no more on earth; and Harrison Goddard, A. Bliss, D. Mellen, D. Stearns, H. Boyden all have offered up their lives on their country’s altar and fallen in a noble and worthy cause.”
This collection of letters includes a letter sent by Mrs. Bliss to Allie (No. 159), dated September 10, 1863, also lamenting the death of her son.

Letter/Paper