From Jerome to Allie, September 14, 1863

From Jerome to Allie, September 14, 1863

Peirce, Jerome

Allie

London, KY

From Jerome to Allie

Jerome Peirce

Jerome Peirce Collection, National Park Service

HIST 428 (Spring 2020), University of Mary Washington

1863-09-14

NPS, Civil War Study Group, Jack Phend (transcriber)

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

"4.97 X 2.69" - 1st Scan
"5.00 X 7.98" - 2nd Scan
"10.05 X 7.98" - 3rd Scan
"5.00 X 7.98" - 4th Scan
(JPG)

English

Text

Letter #162

London, KY

Camp 11 miles beyond London, Ky.
Mond[ay] Eve 14 Sept[ember] 1863
My dear Wife,
Another day passed and so far on our way. Wrote you from “near London”. Came about 13 miles today. Left camp a little before 5 this A.M. Pleasant and cool in the morning, but hot before reaching camp, marching sometimes over an hour without a halt, but got along pretty well (I mean speaking collectively). I got on nicely not having my knapsack, but it came in all right with Regimental Team. Came thro’ a sterile region for the most part. One grand view from a summit that we passed. Behind us was a vast sea of green from the dense forests with long stretch of hills showing an extensive valley between. Not a church spire or village to break the scene.
The chief item today was the meeting over 2200 rebel prisoners captured at “Cumberland Gap” by Genl. Burnside. Good news still. Rosecrans and B. [Burnside] doing the business. We expect to remain at the Gap awhile. Shall reach there Wedns. or Thurs. Talk of a mail [call] tonight.
We are camped in a rough field; good water exceedingly scarce. Walked more than a mile to get some and very dirty at that. This is the exception in Ky. [Kentucky]. Pitched tent and rested awhile. Ground rough and covered thick with briers.
Word comes that we move again at 5 o’clock in the morning. The “boys” jabbering and playing Euchre outside. N.W. Ward still unwell inside.
Such, dear Allie, is this day. Am quite tired, so “good night.”
Tues[day] morning. How little we know what is before us! After closing this for the night, the mail came and how welcome in this far-off seeming country were your letters (and Abbie’s) of the 5th.
But that was not all. I had been receiving rations for an early start this morning and had been kept awake sometime and had just got nicely into a drowse when someone called out, “Jerome!” and behold, Alonzo says, “Your papers have come and you leave for home in the morning!”
I did not know what to think at first, but here we are at a farm house with many others, waiting for teams, wagons, or something to take us along. I am in hopes this will reach [you] a few days before hand. We are to report at Springfield, Mass. and probably, tho’ I don’t know certain, we shall come to Boston soon [thereafter]. The officers assure us we shall have ample time to see our friends, etc., etc. Don’t know whether we shall get started today, but the mail wagon will be along by and by. Don’t expect to leave Cincinnati before next Sunday or Monday, possibly Sat[urday]. ‘Tis a long tedious road full of rough places and harms.
I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed your letters and now indeed I hope soon to see you. Shall try and look well and bring no disease, for we have not been exposed for a long time. Will telegraph from Springfield as soon as we arrive there. Will send it to F. P. & Co. [Foster Peirce and Company].
The troops left this A.M. at 3 o’clk. All well or gaining.
Have scribbled this off in hopes it will reach you before I do.
As ever,
Jerome

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES (Josef Rokus)

NOTE 1: Nathan W. Ward enlisted at age 19 from Orange, Massachusetts, as a Private on August 4, 1862, the same date that Jerome enlisted. He died of disease on October 21, 1863, at Knoxville, Tennessee.

NOTE 2: 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 3: Foster Peirce was one of Jerome’s older brothers. The 1850 U.S. Census listed him as being born in 1812, living in Charlestown, Massachusetts, and being in the furniture business. It is interesting to note that when that census was taken, Jerome, then 19 years old, was living with the Foster Peirce family, with his occupation being recorded as a “gilder.”