Tag Archives: 15th MA infantry

Letter – George Davis, 28 September 1862

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Letter written by Private George W. Davis of Company E, 15th MA Infantry, to his uncle, from Harper’s Ferry, VA. Davis writes that he is getting “as fat as a hog” in camp. Davis describes being in the battle at Antietam, and a slight wound he received on his hip that has since healed. He mentions the casualties suffered at Antietam on both sides. He writes that “the Rebs fight like devils,” and that war isn’t as “funny” as he previously thought. He inquires about men enlisting back home in Hardwick, MA. Davis also describes the land of “Old Virginia,” before asking about the current state of friends back home.

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Harpers Ferry Sept 28th ’62

Dear Uncle as I promised to write to you I now take the oppertunity to do so I am well and having a good time and getting fat as a hog we are encamped near the Ferry now we have had hard times and hard marches and one hard Battle I was in it I got a slight wound on the hip but that is all well now you had ought to seen the Rebels that were killed we lost a great many men the 15th was cut up very bad the Rebs Fight like Devils but we are driving them I will bet I shall be glad when I get

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out of this I tell you war is not so funny as I thought it was before I come out here we dont know when we are going move nor what we are going to do till we have the order to march and then we dont know where we are going till we get there is there any more enlisting there does [Louee?] or Joshua think of enlisting yet I wish you could come out here in old Virginia and see the Country you can travel miles and miles and not see a house nor a fence nor a Cultivated Field and I have not seen a real good looking Girl since I left old Massachusetts how does Miss Carrie A Taylor get along now a days

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how does that boy of old Butlers get along does he grow any Can he walk yet I saw Joel and Silas and the rest of the Hubbardston boys at Cambridge and at New York they were in good spirits when I see them last have you heard from them since they left well I cant think of any more to write now you must excuse me for not writing before for I have not had time nor place to write please write as soon as you get this for I want to hear from you verry much have you heard any thing from mother lately write soon your truly

George W Davis

George W. Davis was an 18 year-old farmer from Hardwick, MA. He enlisted as a private in Company E, of the 15th MA Infantry on August 5, 1862. He was wounded on September 17, 1862 at Antietam. He was mustered out on July 28, 1864 at Worchester, MA.

Acknowledgement of Resignation – Charles H. Eager, 17 December 1863

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Document of Captain Charles H. Eager of Company B, 15th MA Infantry. This document was sent by George F. Balch, Captain of Ordnance and Assistant to the Chief of Ordnance from the War Department in Washington, D.C. Balch is requesting an Ordnance Return from Eager in view of his pending resignation.

Ordnance Office

                                   War Department

                                Washington, Dec. 17, 1863

Capt. C. H. Eager

Co. B, 15th Mass. Infty.

     Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of Dec. 6th, 1863, notifying this office of your intention of resigning your commission as capt.

     Before giving you a certificate of non-indebtedness to the United States on account of Ordnance, it will be necessary for you to make and transmit to this Office the Ordnance Returns now due from you for the pt 1 quarter, 1862. On their receipt at this Office, they will be examined and referred to the Second Auditor; of which action you will be promptly advised. In your letter transmitting them, refer to this by its date.

     By order of the Chief of Ordnance:

                                      Geo. F. Balch

                                      Captain of Ordnance

                              Assistant to Chief of Ordnance

Charles H. Eager, a hardware dealer from Fitchburg, MA was appointed 2nd lieutenant of Co. B, 15th MA Infantry on August 1, 1861, at the age of 31. He was subsequently promoted to 1st lieutenant, May 11, 1862; and captain, October 15, 1862. He was a regimental quartermaster, and commanded the regiment from November 27, 1863 to January 1864. His resignation was announced February 4, 1864. He served at Ball’s Bluff, Antietam, and Gettysburg, among others.

Application Response – Charles H. Eager, 31 May 1861

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Letter written by A.G. Browne Jr., Military Secretary to the Commander in Chief, to Captain Charles H. Eager, Company B, 15th MA Infantry, from Boston, MA. Browne is responding to an application from Eager regarding a military commission. Browne writes that all applications will be filed and considered impartially, based on merit and the number of vacancies at the time.

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     Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 Executive Department

 Boston, May 31, 1861        

Dear Sir:

     It is impossible to hold out “any encouragement” concerning any military appointment to any person, beyond an assurance that his papers may be placed on file in this department and shall be examined and decided upon impartially with due consideration of the merit they exhibit, and of the condition of the vacancies existing at the time. If

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after examining the papers a personal interview shall be desirable, it is the custom of business in this Dept. to notify the applicant to that effect.

     It is impossible to decide on any one application individually or at once, because the object to be obtained is to secure what on the whole, all things considered, are the

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best appointments, which can only be done by considering together simultaneously a number of various applications.

                             Yours respectfully,

                                A. G. Browne jr.

                              Military Secretary to the

                              Commander in Chief

Chas. H. Eager Esq.

Charles H. Eager, a hardware dealer from Fitchburg, MA was appointed 2nd lieutenant of Co. B, 15th MA Infantry on August 1, 1861, at the age of 31. He was subsequently promoted to 1st lieutenant, May 11, 1862; and captain, October 15, 1862. He was a regimental quartermaster, and commanded the regiment from November 27, 1863 to January 1864. His resignation was announced February 4, 1864. He served at Ball’s Bluff, Antietam, and Gettysburg, among others.