From Jerome to Allie, November 5, 1862
Dublin Core
Title
From Jerome to Allie, November 5, 1862
Subject
Peirce, Jerome
Allie
Rector[s]town, VA. [Fauquier County]
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
1862-11-05
Contributor
NPS, Civil War Study Group, Donald Pfanz (Transcriber)
Rights
For educational purposes with no commercial use. Courtesy of National Park Service, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania NMP, FRSP 16095-16102 (FRSP-00904).
Format
4.86 X 7.42 - 1st Scan
9.48 X 7.42 - 2nd Scan
4.86 X 7.42 - 3rd Scan
jpg
9.48 X 7.42 - 2nd Scan
4.86 X 7.42 - 3rd Scan
jpg
Language
English
Type
Text
Identifier
Letter #31
Coverage
Rector[s]town, VA. [Fauquier County]
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
Wedns Eve, 5 Nov 1862
My dearest Wife,
How I wish you could just peep into my tent, for we have just got tea (some of Yours came this morning) and fixed up in quite a cosey [sic] way, in a new Camp, near Rectorsvitown [sic] Va. You will no doubt get letters written at Philemon, one very bri[e]f and denoting haste. Well we are a moving army, and everything is system, and have had no tents since last sabbath. On that day marched 15 miles, Monday about 8, rested Tues. and today started about 8 Oclk A.M. and to this place, some 6 miles[.] arrived about noon, or little past.
Weather has been favorable, but changeable cool and hot. the Country is fine, beautiful, but not quite the variety we have in N.E. in the way of Autumn scenery, missing the Evergreen[.] all hard wood, red and yellow, or straw Color, being the Colors.
But the living has been “high” since we entered Va. Poultry and honey, in abundance. this is only to be whispered, but the “Secesh” have to be made familiar I fear with the bold side of Yankee char[ac]ter and if you had seen the doings, the moment the Column halted today, in a few moments, pistols were snapping, rail fences, moving across the fields while pork and poultry flowed into the Camp “promisc[u]ously” and the orders are all in the breeze. I mention this because it was so striking a scene, and showing how little we, or some, think of hardships of war. But the news. Your letter of the 29th Orange, came this morn, the tea all safe as aforesaid, and I felt like marching as I knew you were all well. I wish I could see and Comfort my little Lulu. Papa does not wish to be away from his loves, but stern duty bids me to it as you well know, and she must be content with my love and little mementoes from time to time, as I “go marching along.” Jos H. has joined the waggon [sic] train, as teamster, and left us at 5 Oclock A.M. today, and altho’ I have rambled more than a mile to find him, after I reached here Could not find him--probably not got in. He is in the Division Head Quarters, train I believe, and will not be near our Camp always, but near the Generals location, which generally keeps ahead.
Shall write his father soon for him. He suffers under the Knapsack, and I dare say will be better off. Of our march and rout[e], I have a confused idea. We are just west of Washington, perhaps a little north, moving towards “Manassas Gap” (not the famous “ “ [Manassas] Junction, but some distance northwest of the latter. I expect there is a move to reopen the R.Road from Alexandria thro’ M. Gap, and “Thoroughfare Gap” &c and so furnish means of getting supplies to the army more promptly, and [sic: a] thing much needed, in order to furnish, the ready means for the Combined movement on Richmond, which I suppose is going forward. McClellan, Siegel & Hentzleman [sic] and our force are all in Concert, and where the Conflict will come cannot tell. Have been within Sound of Artillery ever since we left Waterford, on Sunday, but the Rebs seem to know “what’s up”, and so “Skedaddle” for the firing seems about so far off every day we march.
If you see some of Harper’s Weekly maps you may be able to trace out our course, but I am somewhat Confused—have not seen a map of our present move.
We live well, and generally are well—bear the marches finely tho’ today was tiresome, to me, but my supper, tea, and pleasant encampment makes me forget, everything but your own dear selves, friends at home and the pleasant side of things, and there is very much that is pleasant[:] A lovely season, the forest in gordeous [sic: gorgeous] colors, mild weather, for the most part, giving a “snap” to the feelings, and a most lovely Country, to “go to walk in.” There are many fine plantations here, wealth on every hand, nice dwellings, stone for the most, some plastered with a sort of yellow, sometimes, fine Cattle, varieties of poultry, but the owners in this section are “Secesh,” no young men, at home, old take, it, easy, lazy looking “proprietors,” with healthy looking blacks, slaves, and pretty keen some of them. In short, sometime, we’ll have a Country when the way is opened for Competition, and Yankee enterprise, and Aristocracy is overturned.
But to descend a little, my time is more taken up on marches. we have to do much of our Cooking[,] three days rations being dealt out raw meat, Coffee[,] sugar &c &c &c. making heavy loads in haversacks, and Consequently more work, and altho’ my love for writing increases I shall be compelled to ask some of of [sic] my very dear friends, even, to bear with me very patiently. Martha’s letter I desire to reply to, and will soon, for I think we shall remain here for a few days.
Our tent is filled with several inches deep of nice straw, each end closed up for the most part, and expect a warm comfortable time. In a single tent, for a while, only Marcus Howard, of Orange and I together. H.H.M with Nelson Smith, Harrison G. and a couple of others. On the march, the Color Guard Corporals have to keep together all the time so we have slept outdoors for some nights as before mentioned, hence the change in tent arrangements.
(The boys have just brought in a whole calf, and are cooling it near our tent, and talking it over) so you may judge how we live in present in “Old Va”.
Fri Morn, 7th—Was interrupted the other eve, and marched, early in the morn, to Rectortown, 6 miles. Off again yesterday early, to this place, the name I don’t know, some 18 miles. We are in hot persuit [sic] of Rebs. We are heading for Culp[e]per Court House as near as I can tell. The Blue Ridge is in front of us.
Don’t Know when I can write you. All well, and hope we will finish up before long[.]
Adieu
Jerome
My dearest Wife,
How I wish you could just peep into my tent, for we have just got tea (some of Yours came this morning) and fixed up in quite a cosey [sic] way, in a new Camp, near Rectorsvitown [sic] Va. You will no doubt get letters written at Philemon, one very bri[e]f and denoting haste. Well we are a moving army, and everything is system, and have had no tents since last sabbath. On that day marched 15 miles, Monday about 8, rested Tues. and today started about 8 Oclk A.M. and to this place, some 6 miles[.] arrived about noon, or little past.
Weather has been favorable, but changeable cool and hot. the Country is fine, beautiful, but not quite the variety we have in N.E. in the way of Autumn scenery, missing the Evergreen[.] all hard wood, red and yellow, or straw Color, being the Colors.
But the living has been “high” since we entered Va. Poultry and honey, in abundance. this is only to be whispered, but the “Secesh” have to be made familiar I fear with the bold side of Yankee char[ac]ter and if you had seen the doings, the moment the Column halted today, in a few moments, pistols were snapping, rail fences, moving across the fields while pork and poultry flowed into the Camp “promisc[u]ously” and the orders are all in the breeze. I mention this because it was so striking a scene, and showing how little we, or some, think of hardships of war. But the news. Your letter of the 29th Orange, came this morn, the tea all safe as aforesaid, and I felt like marching as I knew you were all well. I wish I could see and Comfort my little Lulu. Papa does not wish to be away from his loves, but stern duty bids me to it as you well know, and she must be content with my love and little mementoes from time to time, as I “go marching along.” Jos H. has joined the waggon [sic] train, as teamster, and left us at 5 Oclock A.M. today, and altho’ I have rambled more than a mile to find him, after I reached here Could not find him--probably not got in. He is in the Division Head Quarters, train I believe, and will not be near our Camp always, but near the Generals location, which generally keeps ahead.
Shall write his father soon for him. He suffers under the Knapsack, and I dare say will be better off. Of our march and rout[e], I have a confused idea. We are just west of Washington, perhaps a little north, moving towards “Manassas Gap” (not the famous “ “ [Manassas] Junction, but some distance northwest of the latter. I expect there is a move to reopen the R.Road from Alexandria thro’ M. Gap, and “Thoroughfare Gap” &c and so furnish means of getting supplies to the army more promptly, and [sic: a] thing much needed, in order to furnish, the ready means for the Combined movement on Richmond, which I suppose is going forward. McClellan, Siegel & Hentzleman [sic] and our force are all in Concert, and where the Conflict will come cannot tell. Have been within Sound of Artillery ever since we left Waterford, on Sunday, but the Rebs seem to know “what’s up”, and so “Skedaddle” for the firing seems about so far off every day we march.
If you see some of Harper’s Weekly maps you may be able to trace out our course, but I am somewhat Confused—have not seen a map of our present move.
We live well, and generally are well—bear the marches finely tho’ today was tiresome, to me, but my supper, tea, and pleasant encampment makes me forget, everything but your own dear selves, friends at home and the pleasant side of things, and there is very much that is pleasant[:] A lovely season, the forest in gordeous [sic: gorgeous] colors, mild weather, for the most part, giving a “snap” to the feelings, and a most lovely Country, to “go to walk in.” There are many fine plantations here, wealth on every hand, nice dwellings, stone for the most, some plastered with a sort of yellow, sometimes, fine Cattle, varieties of poultry, but the owners in this section are “Secesh,” no young men, at home, old take, it, easy, lazy looking “proprietors,” with healthy looking blacks, slaves, and pretty keen some of them. In short, sometime, we’ll have a Country when the way is opened for Competition, and Yankee enterprise, and Aristocracy is overturned.
But to descend a little, my time is more taken up on marches. we have to do much of our Cooking[,] three days rations being dealt out raw meat, Coffee[,] sugar &c &c &c. making heavy loads in haversacks, and Consequently more work, and altho’ my love for writing increases I shall be compelled to ask some of of [sic] my very dear friends, even, to bear with me very patiently. Martha’s letter I desire to reply to, and will soon, for I think we shall remain here for a few days.
Our tent is filled with several inches deep of nice straw, each end closed up for the most part, and expect a warm comfortable time. In a single tent, for a while, only Marcus Howard, of Orange and I together. H.H.M with Nelson Smith, Harrison G. and a couple of others. On the march, the Color Guard Corporals have to keep together all the time so we have slept outdoors for some nights as before mentioned, hence the change in tent arrangements.
(The boys have just brought in a whole calf, and are cooling it near our tent, and talking it over) so you may judge how we live in present in “Old Va”.
Fri Morn, 7th—Was interrupted the other eve, and marched, early in the morn, to Rectortown, 6 miles. Off again yesterday early, to this place, the name I don’t know, some 18 miles. We are in hot persuit [sic] of Rebs. We are heading for Culp[e]per Court House as near as I can tell. The Blue Ridge is in front of us.
Don’t Know when I can write you. All well, and hope we will finish up before long[.]
Adieu
Jerome
Original Format
Letter / Paper
Files
Collection
Reference
Jerome Peirce 1862, From Jerome to Allie, November 5, 1862, HIST 428 (Spring 2020), University of Mary Washington
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