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American Civil War ➔ Civil War letter to Allen C. Church 105th N.Y. Infantry from Chauncey E. Metcalf 136th New York Infantry Co. G
Identifier:
135952.1Description:
This letter is to Allen H. Church of the 105th New York Infantry. Allen mustered in a Geneva N.Y. on March 18, 1862 as a Private. On March 10, 1863 he transferred to the 94th New York Infantry He received promotions mustering out as Sergeant 3/14/1865. The letter is written by Chauncey E. Metcalf from the 136th N.Y. Infantry mustering in at Geneseo N.Y. on 8/11/1862 serving thru the war until 6/13/1865. He receives promotions to Sergeant Major and Adjutant.Chauncey and Allen are apparently from the same area of N.Y. as Chauncey mentions many local boys in this letter.
Last page(s) missing may perhaps be 135952.2; Camp Seward Arlington
Heights, VA. Oct.10,1862
Dear Allen,
I rec'd a note from you written from the field just before we left Portage, and meant to have answered it before, but didn't get to a good spot. Well my boy, here we are at last, way down here in Virginia, encamped on its sacred soil, engaged in the service of our country.It is just a week ago yesterday since we started from Camp Williams at Portage. We came to Washington via Elmira & Harrisburgh. At Elmira we received our arms, which are long Enfield rifles, said to be the best gun in the service. Maybe they are but they are pretty awkward and heavy. There is a story that some of the guns were taken from an English vessel that endeavored to run the blockade. We had a delightful ride through Pennsylvania and were handsomely treated by the inhabitants. Our Q Mr. is about as good as a basswood stick and didn't give us but three rations or rather three meals in the 3 days it took us to come from Portage to Washington- his name is Horton from Angelica. Nat Barney of Mt. Morris is Q.M. Sergt. I tried to get the place but failed, Amos bacon is Q.M.s clerk. Charlie Perkins & Carroll Van Rensselaer are acting as adjutants clerks. I don't know whether I have told you who are our Co. Officers.Sid Ward, Capt. O . Sackett 1st LT. K.M. Scott 2, A.A. Curtiss, 1st Sergt. Our Co. (G) has been favored by the Col. In addition to the clerks above mentioned, a Sergt. major and Color guard have been elected from it. Lucien Smith is Corporal. I am writing in a hurry and tell things just as they come in my head, so you will understand the lack of order. We got to Washington Saturday afternoon. We disembarked and had a good wash in the creek that runs by the Depot. While there I saw Bela Richmond, Eli Smith, and John Hanby who have enlisted in the 33rd regiment and were to start that night for Harpers Ferry. Walter Smith recruited them and has since been made 2nd LT. We have had a most miserable dinner & then started for this place about 1/2 past 5 p.m. Luckily for us we hired our knapsacks taken over for 10 cts. and a very good investment it was. I have discovered that my knapsack is altogether too heavy though there is but little in it besides what the gov't gives us. We reached our present camp after dark and in the rain and were forced to lie down on the ground as we were, all sweaty, tired, dirty and hungry. Those who became soldiers for the fun of the thing became sick of it from that night. We who have a different reason for enlisting could not grumble for we know what was before us & might think ourselves fortunate if we never had any worse experience. Pat McGuire took an awful cold, which resulted in inflammation of the lungs & he is now in the hospital. Our tents came the -- day, Sunday and very glad we were to receive them. There are several N.Y. regts encamped around us and they cheered us lustily as we passed them on our way from the bridge to the camp. We are told that there are over 100,000 men in camp on & about these heights. I think it is too big a yarn to believe. In fact I am very skeptical concerning these stories we hear in the army. It is almost impossible to get a pass or I would go down to Alexandria to see Hank Lamson who I understand is there in the hospital. Baker Van Zandt was here the other day and says that all the men in the 104th from Geneseo are killed or died from sickness- that is a sad record but it is not peculiar to our dear little birthplace. I have been from home before, but Geneseo was never more dear to memory than now.
Just came from company drill. We have an instructor from Gen. Casey's staff I believe. At least he was with him when the Gen. reviewed us the other day. He, the instructor is a Lt. in the regular army by name Whitney, and puts on a great many airs, yet withall understands his little business. Further concerning the review & it was a brigade review. Col. Wood is the commander of a provisional brigade consisting of 4 regts. of infantry, & 1 battery. The infantry are from New York State, and the battery from Pennsylvania. I have not been in the service long enough to be a judge of such things, but I thought we did the movements very well for such greenhorns. The battery flew around limbering & unlimbering like fury, The training of their horses was admirable. Gen. Casey is quite an aged man but looks fresh and healthy, sits a good seat on his splendid dapple grey horse.
