From Jerome to Allie, January 15, 1863

From Jerome to Allie, January 15, 1863

Peirce, Jerome

Allie

Falmouth VA

From Jerome to Allie

Jerome Peirce

Jerome Peirce Collection, National Park Servic

HIST 428 (Spring 2020), University of Mary Washington

1863-01-15

NPS, Civil War Study Group, Paul and Louise Marahrens (Transcribers)

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 #60

Camp at Falmouth VA

Thurs P.M. 15 Jan 1863
My dear Allie
Here I am “cooped up” all alone in the tent. The Co [Company] off on picket and I have just laid aside my sewing! to chat with you awhile. What do you think my “sewing” is? Well, putting on some new chevrons on a new blouse that I have just drawn, and I find it a nice job altho’ shall make it look “pretty fair” for a man. I take the old ones and turn them so they look quite new and nice.
We have curious weather today, a warm furious wind so that I had to put out my fire. The wind blows very hard and shakes up the tents fearfully, commenced last eve. I am sitting with or in my shirtsleeves and am very warm at that. No mail last eve, hope to get one before I mail this. It seems strange now not to receive a mail every day. The last letter from you was of the 6th Jan, so it seems some time since I heard from you. Recd three papers this Tues. which were very acceptable. It is exceedingly dull and monotonous here. Nothing but a repetition from day to day without any changes. The usual amount of rumors, newspaper talk etc. but we mind nothing about that. Alonzo had not returned yesterday, don’t understand it. Said to be unwell of a cold in W. [Washington]. It is a pretty serious thing to be absent over the furlough so there must be something.
We have received the customary drills two hours a day and have part of our firewood brought in teams and dealt out as a “ration”, have to get some besides so we are not idle. Am still in excellent health, and so try not to make things any duller than possible tho’ it seems as tho’ we couldn’t be doing much good here, and seems like time wasted or at least misapplied, but we must make the best of it.
I wish I could tell you something new and interesting but it has been unusually dull for the last few days, but I know you expect something often, so you must make the most of it.
Have heard nothing from the brothers since their arrival home, perhaps you have.
I see by one of the “Journals” that Captain Joslin of Worcester is promoted to Major of the 15th Regt. so he has some compensation for his sufferings. Don’t know where the Regt. is. Had two papers from Mr Bowen, Jamestown the other eve and ought to have a whole “batch” of letters, say from Lucy, Geo. Pratt, the Social Six. Don’t understand why I have not heard from them. Have been so busy that I have delayed writing to Abbie quite long but will soon. It is harder to write, but I think all the more, if possible, of home and friends and shall be glad if I ever see my way clear of this business.
Shall be glad to hear from Mary Eliza[beth] for if we cannot write interesting always, to receive them is a great treat.
Have not written Dr Wilies yet, have not felt like it but may soon perhaps.
Heard from Frank, from himself. I believe I owe him a letter. He was getting along better as you mentioned.
Where is my little Lulu? How much Papa wants to see her she little knows and it grieves me to think she may forget me before I see her but such is childhood. I can only trust she will be a good child and a comfort to you all and that we may again become to know each other by and by.
Did you get the verses I sent to her, “The Wish” I believe and a little prose extract for yourself on “childhood, its love, faith, etc.”?
I have many little pieces saved which I look over Sundays. Ellen P sent me the play of “Henry Fourth” the other day.
Hattie I owe you I know, but you are always remembered. If we can only be permitted to join the Home Circle once more what an experience to think and talk over!! Will close by and by.
Fri P.M. Waited for mail, recd letters from you 11th, Dr. Bickford and Lucy R., and this morn one from Abbie that got sent into another company. All well. It seems Foster got home on Thursday at midnight, a week ago.
We have had a terrible wind for the last 48 hours and rain all last night but my tent was tight, scarcely any water got in, but my chimney smoked so I couldn’t live hardly and the consequence is I have some sore eyes today. It has cleared off but still windy, but the chimney behaved better as I have fixed it.
Have had all sorts of stories about camp. Expected some to be “paid off” in a few days but instead I suppose we are to “move” tomorrow. The orders are received, don’t know in what direction, three days cooked rations and 60 rounds of cartridges. I don’t know as I can add anything to interest. Shall keep notes and send you word as often as possible, altho’ if there is really any keeping letters back, I can’t say when you will get this. I hope we shall do something this time and have fair play. The belief is that we shall cross the [Rappahannock] River at some point above or below [Fredericksburg] and we may not.
I mentioned a reply to most things mentioned in your last in my last so I can think of little to say. I only hope you will bear up, for you certainly have my heart’s best love and sympathy altho’ I fear I have a poor way of expressing it, but you cannot feel more than I do at such times as these when all is so uncertain. I am so thankful that I am in such good health and well clothed. The weather is quite mild but still looks more than before like winter, that is southern winter, wind, rain, mud. But I must close for I cannot speak half I feel.
To all friends give much love and I hope to hear from you ere long and trust all will be well with us all.
Shall write to Abbie and Foster’s folks.
Kiss little Lulu and tell her Papa has to take another walk, and he wishes it might be to her and Mama.
With the love of your affect. husband,
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: He was sewing new chevrons on his blouse (shirt) because he was promoted from corporal to sergeant on January 1, 1863, per his Service File in the U.S. National Archives.

NOTE 3: Jerome’s question about the arrival home of his two brothers relates to the visit of 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)

Letter/Paper