From Jerome to Allie, January 11, 1863

From Jerome to Allie, January 11, 1863

Peirce, Jerome

Allie

Falmouth VA

From Jerome to Allie

Jerome Peirce

Jerome Peirce Collection, National Park Service

HIST 428 (Spring 2020), University of Mary Washington

1863-01-11

NPS, Civil War Study Group, Peter Rainey

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

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English

Text

Letter

Camp at Falmouth VA

Sunday P.M. Jan 11, 1863
My very dear Wife,
Yours of the 4 to 6th Jan. are before me and a few moments from a busy day (in little household terms) must be devoted to you. Eve. [Evening] this I presume you have mine by Foster’s which I trust will seem a little nearer than usual for it is a pleasant dream to me of their visit. I hope you will hear more. I am glad you felt more cheerful in your last. For the one written the 4th must have been in a “passing cloud,” and I trust they will all prove with a “silver lining”. I have little news to write. Everything remains here as I wrote last. Have been busy today washing a little, getting wood, meals, rations etc. etc. ‘till the thought that it is Sabbath Day seems almost fled, but I do not let it pass so, oh no, I shall yet make something of it. It rained badly yesterday. We have improved our tent, raised it and dug down to about a foot, making the coziest, warmest kind of a house, generally, but the rain got in a little but we soon repaired and all light again today.
Have just written Bro. Haynes’ folks, and thus must close my writing for today.
The “Service Call” was sounded a few moments ago but immediately came, “No service.”
So, I hope to read a little before sleep. Your letter (of the 6th) and “Journal” came last eve. in the rain, and it seemed like an angel’s visit in the storm and darkness by a good fire and candle, to read the missives. The pencil was safe and I am writing with it, a very nice one. The suspenders also came safe and the stamps. I have quite a number and Foster will be sending me more soon. So you need not send any more for the present. And in regard to stamps, I have written a good many letters of late, those I felt a duty to. Notice for I write to as few as possible, hence, scarcity of stamps. I do hope you will not feel that I am careless about money matters. I dare say Frank will get along with less than I do. Many of the calls have been for necessities. By the way, you have not told me if you got all the money sent you from sale of my watch. I have sent you $9.00 ($1.00 in my last of Thursday last) which with the $5.00 from Pleasant Valley Md. makes $14.00 which I believe about balances accts., and for Government we must still wait. Business is good with both Foster and Joseph or I should not have taken a dollar, but they are willing to add a little to our camp diet. If you could see how we enjoy a little 3rd quality of critter on our “hard tack” with a little soft bread! Would do you good I think, but enough.
Am glad you have heard from the “Six.” I wonder if they received my letters? Have not heard from them since New Years.
Have you my picture as a soldier and do you like it? It was called a good likeness, of course, the facilities for taking them here are none of the best. You can have it copied. It took some two or three hours to get it and a long walk besides. Tell me all about it.
Have not seen Alonzo R., don’t know as he is returned from W[ashington] yet, shall find out before I send this.
I mailed three papers yesterday, for you and Sis, the Bowens I would save for her. The picture is very [much] like scenes on our march here aside from the little “Contraband” sitting on the carriage, which must have been touching indeed.
I trust Gen. B. [Burnside] will “achieve greatness” in the South, while we, if must be, “stand in waiting” here. Have received, and will send the letter and photograph for safe keeping of Mr. Bowen, Hannah’s husband at Jamestown, quite a pleasant gentleman, I should judge.
I have little more to say, and will leave till later for a word. While I think of it, don’t stick your stamps in the papers. I am always careful in opening letters. And tell me about you receiving the money. Your letters are not seen by anybody but me. Don’t allow yourself to get more discouraged than I do, and I feel better since the moves south. I do believe in Gen. Burnside.
If I don’t have time to add more, give love to all and abundantly to self and our darling Lulu. Tell me if she knows my last picture.
Jerome
P.S. Tell Father watching Rebs is very much indeed like watching woodchucks! I prefer the latter decidedly!!

P.S. 2nd Am closing this in Frank Croft’s tent. Added a P.S. to his letter to Lottie Wales. Willie Hull is just in. Sends regards to you. Alonzo R. is not returned, “sick” at Washington. A dodge to see Ellen, it is thought,
Boys all well,
Jerome

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES (Josef Rokus)

NOTE 1: The location from where the letter was written is not indicated. However, based on letters prior to and after this one and the history of the Army of the Potomac, it was written while the 36th Massachusetts Regiment was camped near Falmouth, Virginia, across the Rappahannock River from Fredericksburg, Virginia, in Stafford County.

NOTE 2: The “visit” he refers to relates to the visit of his two brothers, Foster and Joseph Peirce, who both lived in Massachusetts and who visited him at the camp for about two days starting on January 4, 1863. (See Letter No. 57)

NOTE 3: “Contraband” was a term commonly used during the Civil War to describe a new status for certain escaped slaves or those who affiliated with Union forces. The Army (and the United States Congress) determined that the U.S. would not return escaped slaves who went to Union lines and classified them as contraband. They used many as laborers to support Union efforts and soon began to pay them wages. The former slaves set up camps near Union forces, and the Army helped support and educate both adults and children among the refugees. Thousands of men from these camps enlisted in the United States Colored Troops when recruitment started in 1863. At war's end, more than 100 contraband camps existed in the South.

NOTE 4: 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.

Letter/Paper