From Jerome to Allie, October 19, 1863

From Jerome to Allie, October 19, 1863

Pierce, Jerome

Allie

Worcester

Boston, MA

From Jerome to Allie

Jerome Peirce

Jerome Peirce Collection, National Park Service

HIST 428 (Spring 2020), University of Mary Washington

1863-10-19

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

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

"5.38 X 3.12" - 1st Scan
"4.98 X 8.10" - 2nd Scan
"4.98 X 8.10" - 3rd Scan
(JPG)

English

Text

Letter #168

Worcester or Boston, MA

Worcester [???] Boston
Mond. Eve. 19 Oct 1863
Just a few words, my dear Allie, to say that I am ordered to the Regt, and expect to leave at ½ past 2 o’clk PM tomorrow, Capt. Holmes, Lieut. Hodgkins and four 21st Regt. boys.
I have feared this for a day or two and I am spending the last of my stay here.
Received yours of yesterday just as I was leaving the Island and thank you and little Lulu too. I can send but a word as I wish to mail it before nine o’clk this eve. If you can receive this in time, you will come down if you think best. You know full well I would like to see you. Letters that went to the Regt. I have received from Hattie, etc. written a long while ago. Also one from Jos. H. and Alonzo but not of late date.
Expect to be in Cincinnati next Sat. night where I will write if we cannot meet and I fear there is not time.
I hope you will see and feel that all is for the best. I do and go cheerfully. Letters say (from J.H.) that only two of the Orange boys are on duty and I am one of them! If so, I am needed.
All are well here and received your letter. Keep a good heart and Heaven bless and protect you till we meet again.
Love again to all and kind regards to Mr. Salloway.
As ever your loving husband,
Jerome
All send love.

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES

NOTE 1: The “Island” referred to in this letter was Long Island, not to be confused with Long Island, New York, which is situated in the middle of Boston Harbor, Massachusetts. Jerome spent a short time there as part of a temporary duty in Massachusetts for recruiting.
The island is part of the City of Boston, and is now also part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. In 1860, a plan to develop this island was thwarted by the rumors of war and plans for military installations on Long Island Head and other parts of the island. Camp Wightman was established on Long Island and in 1863 it had over 1,000 recruits in addition to several full batteries of heavy artillery under the command of General Charles Devens, Jr. Many deserters drowned in the waters around Long Island as U.S. Army recruits tried to get to the mainland. At the time, it was the custom to induct and train recruits on islands to minimize desertions. A major scam at the time was for a man to sign up for the Army and collect an enlistment bonus. Then, after going AWOL, he would sign up again in another town, collecting an additional bonus. Islands, especially, during the winter months, contained the recruits with the surrounding frigid seawater.

NOTE 2: Otis W. Holmes, from Milford, Massachusetts, enlisted as a Sergeant at age 27 on September 8, 1861, in the 25th Massachusetts Regiment. He was transferred as a First Lieutenant to Co. F of the 36th Massachusetts on August 12, 1862, and then to Company B of the 36th on May 2, 1863. Holmes died in Harewood General Hospital, Washington, D.C. on June 23, 1864, of wounds received in action near Petersburg, Virginia, on June 17, 1864.

NOTE 3: William H. Hodgkins, from Charlestown, Mass., enlisted as a 22-year-old private in July 1862. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in October of that year, received steady promotions, and was mustered out with the 36th Massachusetts Regiment as a brevet major. He was the principal author of the Unit History of the regiment titled History of the Thirty-sixth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers. 1862-1865 which is now available on-line on Google Books.

NOTE 4: The “Jos. H.” or “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 5: 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.

Paper/Letter