Tag Archives: Bull Run

Letter – Lucy Morse, 7 August 1861

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Letter written by Lucy H. Morse, to her husband William H. Morse of Company C, 3rd MI Infantry. She recently received a letter from her husband, which is the first she has heard from him in three weeks since the battle of 1st Bull Run. Lucy had feared that her husband was dead, and writes of the Confederates that she wishes she could help “pick out their traitor hearts.” Lucy updates her husband on several of their family members and friends, and asks his advice on some family matters. She writes that their child is growing strong, and is big for his age.

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August 7th 1861

Dear Husband as Curtis

is writing I will write a few lines to you to let you know that we are well Uncle recieved your letter last night and never was a letter recieved with more joy than yours. it has been three weeks to day since I recieved a letter from you and you may be assured that a letter has been auspiciously looked for since the Battle I wrote to you sunday but this may not be unexceptable Dear Will you do not cannot know how thankful I am that you are safe I was almost cresy [crazy] before I head from you for fear that you had shared the fate of many a brave soldier Oh; it seems cruel that so much blood must be shed

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but I hope the rebels will get all the fun they want before they get through with it I wish I could help you pick out thier traitor hearts they are worse than the unscivilised savage I read an account in the paper of one of our Boys finding one of the enemy in a fainting condition he took and laid him in the shade and gave him a drink out of his own canteen when he revived he arose and deliberately shot his benefactor what a wretch he must have been I think he must have been born without any heart Will Jim think I had better keep house and have Father come and live with me this winter I recieved a letter from Sandusky last week Aunt Amy sent my letter out to York State and Uncle Charles sent Father five dollars and

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said that Fathers land could be sold for a hundred dollars and if Father wished he would sell it and get the mony and send to him. Dear Will write and tell me what to do. I mean to have Father let Uncle Charls sell his land he might Just as well have it as to let it lay doing nobody any good with the mony Uncle sent Father I am going to get him a pair of boots and some shirts. Oh; Will I wish you could be at home now it seems so odd to have to plan for myself but you must write what you think is best for me to do if I keep house I can make Father Comfortable and I think I shall be hapier my self for I cannot come here to board if I drew any thing from the state

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and there is no one else I want to board with but I think will do as you tell me write as soon as you get this and advise me what to do for if I keep house I shall have to make diferent arangements Will our little Curly head is well and grows every day he is real large of his age every body thinks he is so pretty and forward he is petted by every one who sees him he runs away over to the tavern every time he can get a chance we have to watch him all the time I can not think of any more to write this time so I will bring my letter to a close by bidding you good by

Forever, Thine, Lucy

Curt has not had time to write yet so I shant wait for him you must writ as often as you can Curt will write just as soon as he can no more this time Good By

Luc Morse

William H. Morse, age 24, enlisted with Company C of the 3rd MI Infantry at Grand Rapids, MI on June 10, 1861. He was wounded by a gunshot to the knee at the Battle of Fair Oaks, VA on May 31, 1862. The regiment lost 30 men killed, 124 wounded, and 1 missing. He was sent to a hospital in Philadelphia, PA, but later died there on August 8, 1862.

Letter – William Morse, 28 July 1861

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Letter written by Private William H. Morse of Company C, 3rd MI Infantry, to his wife Lucy, from Camp McConnell in Arlington, VA. Morse requests that his wife apply to get money from the county, and asks if she is getting enough to eat. He has seen men offer a dollar for a drink of water on the battlefield, and observes that it has been hard for poor people to make a living during these times. He writes that his friends at home should rethink any decisions to join the army, as “the privations of camp life are far worse than the chance on a battlefield.” Morse mentions being in the battles of Blackburn Ford and Manassas, but writes that he doesn’t think he was any more afraid of dying than if he was at home, and that the 3rd Michigan was highly praised after Bull Run. He concludes by asking his wife to tell their son that his father is “fighting for the Constitution.”

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Headquarters Arlington Regt., third Camp McConnell Co. C

July 28 1861

Dear Wife

I again sit down to write a few lines to you when I wrote the other day I was in such a hurry I could not write much and as I have plenty of time today I thought I would write another I dont know as you will accept of another so soon but I will send it at a venture when you write again I want you to tell me wether you have received any

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money from the County if you have not you had better apply for some for you may as well have it as other families I know of other families drawing money that dont need it any worse than you do and if you have drawn any how much I should like to know how you get along wether you have enough to eat or not tell me wether you have heard from our stears or not. I sent you a little money the other day it was all I had but it may do you a little good money is no object here I have seen men offer a dollar $ on the battle field for a drink of water I shall have some more money before long I hope and I will send you some more poor folks can hardly get a living here it is very hard times for them I tell you

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tell Joseph V fairchild I should like their company very much but they had better stay at home for a soldier here and a soldier in michigan the privations of camp life are far worse than the chance on a battle field they may say I am homesick or afraid but I am neither a soldier has to put up with all kinds of fare durin time of war. I have been in two battles and I dont think I had any more fear of being killed than I would at home I have seen many brave men fall by the cannon and musket and I could pass by them without scarcely looking at them all the boys that came from around where we live are well we are in camp now near the City of Washington and I think

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we will stay here for some time I hardlg hardly think they will take us to battle again for a good many of our officers have resigned our old Captain got scared and left us just as we were going into battle and we fought a battle of four hours length without any captain the Michigan third ranks as high as any other regiment in the united states service We got all the praise of the first battle July 18 I wish you could been here and heard them hurrah for the Michigan third as we returned from bulls run back to Washington, I shall have to close for my paper is used up be a good girl and dont be scared about me kiss bud for me and tell him his pa is a soldier fighting for the Constitution and the laws. good bye Lu write soon

no more from Bill this time

William H. Morse, age 24, enlisted with Company C of the 3rd MI Infantry at Grand Rapids, MI on June 10, 1861. He was wounded by a gunshot to the knee at the Battle of Fair Oaks, VA on May 31, 1862. The regiment lost 30 men killed, 124 wounded, and 1 missing. He was sent to a hospital in Philadelphia, PA, but later died there on August 8, 1862.

Letter – William Wilson, 15 June 1863

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Letter written by Lieutenant William L. Wilson, Acting Assistant Adjutant General, 3rd Division 1st Army Corps, to William Dehon. He is writing from the headquarters of the 3rd Division 1st Corps at Centerville, VA. Wilson writes to acknowledge that he received the photograph that Dehon sent of his son, Lieutenant Arthur Dehon, who was killed in action. Wilson describes how he received the photograph while his brigade lay on the bank of the Rappahannock River, receiving fire from Confederate troops. Wilson’s regiment had been recently marching near Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, which prevented him from answering Dehon’s letter sooner. Wilson says the next battle will likely be in Pennsylvania, foreshadowing Gettysburg.

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Head Quarters 3rd Div. 1st Corps

                    Centerville, Va  June 15, 1863

Dear Sir

     Your letter of May 11 (mis-dated I presume) inclosing me a photograph of your late son was rec’d 3 days ago while on the march. I have here to acknowledge also the receipt of another, some weeks ago. I owe an apology for failing to write you upon the receipt of the first. It was handed to me in the P.M. of April 31st, while under fire of the enemy’s batteries. Our brigade was lying on the east bank of the Rap[pahannock] River, directly opposite the spot where your son fell so gallantly. Ten minutes before, Capt. Baird had pointed [to] the spot where Lt. Dehon died, and

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the first shell fired at us was from a battery situated on the spot the Capt. pointed out to me, and struck the ground a few feet from me, just as I had broken the seal of your letter. From that time until the 8th May we were marching & busy continuously opposite Fredericksburg, and at Chancellorsville. The press of business consequent to engagements of that nature kept me so busy I really had no time to reply to your letter enclosing me a photograph I prized so highly. I appreciate it, indeed, sir, & while I am pleased at the excellence of the likeness, I cannot but feel sad thinking that one so young, gallant, and patriotic should die so early, & then too in support of a principle so noble yet bitterly warred against by the same enemy we now contend with. A part of the army – the 1st Corps [is here]; others are this evening at Centerville

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and Bull Run, where discouraged officers & soldiers assert we are to have our 3rd annual beating. Where we will be tomorrow is unknown to me. Whether we will fight here tomorrow or next day is equally uncertain. However, we think & generally believe that the next battle will be in Penna. It is supposed here the enemy are on their way there now, & will probably leave a force to attack Bull Run simultaneously with that in advance.

     Again, thanking you, sir, for the excellent likeness of your son, and for your good wishes, I am,

              Very respectfully, Your Obt. Servt.

W.L. Wilson

                                 Lt. & A.A.A.G.

William L. Wilson, was on the staff of Brigadier General Thomas A. Rowley at Gettysburg, and was slightly wounded in that battle (cited by Rowley for good service). He originally served with the 142nd PA Infantry, enrolling Sept. 1, 1862 as adjutant. He was discharged for disability on December 12, 1863.

Arthur Dehon was William Dehon’s son and a 2nd Lieutenant in Webster’s 12 MA Infantry.