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Letter written by Sergeant John W. Wiggins of Company F, 39th NC Infantry, to Mr. J. J. Colvard, from a camp near Shelbyville, TN. Parts of the letter are illegible. Wiggins writes that he has heard from brother Joseph, who was in good health and heading home. He has heard rumors that Kentucky voted to leave the Union and the government has called thousands of troops to defend the state. He requests news from home, particularly wanting to know who is killed or wounded from Company A of Ashby’s Regiment. Wiggins expects the next move by Union forces to be on the Rappahannock River, though they may try again at Vicksburg.
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Camp near Shelbyville Tenn
Feby 2d 1863
Mr. J.J. Colvard
Dear,
Brother and Sister its with the greatest pleasure that I embrace the present opportunity of Droping you a line to inform you that I
[next 12 lines illegible, obscured by traces of purple surface transfer ink]
John Cross was taken prisoner I suppose… any how that is all of the boys that is gone only them that you have heard of [???] I Recd a letter from Brother Joseph and he was in tolerable health and was on his way home
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There is not any news much here in camp & it is reported that to be true that the KY Legislature has voted out of the union and is now in arrest the Gov has called out (60,000) sixty thousand Troops to Defend the State of Ky this good if true you must write soon and give me all the news and if Joseph is at home tell him to write to me and write who of Co (A) in Ashby Regt was killed or wound we are not looking for the enemy to advance soon
Morgan and Wheeler is watching their movements daily I look for the next move the Yankees makes will be on the rapahannock they started the other day and the mud stoped them it may be that they will try Vicksburg again send my love to Nancy and Joseph and they boy tell Fathers folks that I am well Respectfully your friend until death
Jno W Wiggins Co (F) 39 Reg
NC Vols
John W. Wiggins, age 19, from Cherokee County, NC, enlisted in Company F, of the 39th NC Infantry, circa February 23, 1862. He is listed as a sergeant as of November 25, 1862, and was wounded at Stones River on December 31, 1862, but returned to duty the next day. He was promoted to 1st Sergeant of Company F on March 1, 1863. He was fatally wounded at Chickamauga on September 19, 1863, and died in the hospital on September 21st. He was twice reported on the Confederate Honor Roll for valiant service, at Stones River and Chickamauga.
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Letter written by Sergeant John W. Wiggins of Company F, 39th C Infantry, to his brother Joseph A. Wiggins, from Shelbyville, TN. Wiggins is replying to a letter from his brother, and writes that he is glad that Joseph is safe. He mentions supporters of Abraham Lincoln, and says they “showed themselves to be what they represent.” He remarks on the deaths of family friends. Wiggins has heard of recent reinforcements sent to the Union army at Tullahoma. Wiggins mentions their hard drilling, and how they have a new brigadier, General William B. Bate. Wiggins hopes that R. B. Vance, who was recently promoted to brigadier, will get command of his brigade.
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Shelbyville Tenn
April 20th/63
Mr. J.A. Wiggins
Dear Bro
its with pleasure that I put my pen to respond to yours of the 7th which has been before me only a few days I was truly glad tohear from you and hear that you had come through on a [???] and from the account you gave me that you was in a tolerable close place and it also seams like the Lincens [Lincolns] and their gallant Leader showed them selves to be what they represent I can inform you that I received a letter from home today and they was all well it was dated Apr 12th it said that Geminie Welch was dead and I also received one from home a short time before this and it said that Calvin Colvard wife was dead;
I expect that we will have something to do in a short time the enemy is reported to have received a reenforcement of (20,000) twenty thousand
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and it is reported that they are reenforcing at Tulihoma [Tullahoma] with 3 Divisions from Miss and it is also reported that they are reenforcing from VA; I would be mighty glad to see we are living tolerable well at present we have to drill tolerable hard we have got a new Brigadier Gen Bate Col R. B. Vance has been promoted to a brigadier but has not been ordered on duty I am in hopes that he will get command of this Brigade Brother Burton was examined and came clear of conscript so I recon I must close for the present so no more only remian Your Brother Respectfully
John W. Wiggins Co F
39 Regt NC Troops 2nd Brigade
McCowns Division
John W. Wiggins, age 19, from Cherokee County, NC, enlisted in Company F, of the 39th NC Infantry, circa February 23, 1862. He is listed as a sergeant as of November 25, 1862, and was wounded at Stones River on December 31, 1862, but returned to duty the next day. He was promoted to 1st Sergeant of Company F on March 1, 1863. He was fatally wounded at Chickamauga on September 19, 1863, and died in the hospital on September 21st. He was twice reported on the Confederate Honor Roll for valiant service, at Stones River and Chickamauga.
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Letter written by Private Reuben Rhoades of Company C, 19th ME Infantry, to his mother from McVeigh Hospital in Alexandria, VA. Rhoades writes that he is exhausted from marching, hence why he is in the hospital. He came to Alexandria on the railroad from Warrenton Junction. The army has gone down the Rappahannock River, but he is not in a hurry to join them. He mentions fighting at the battle at Gettysburg and the long marches that preceded it. He cautions his mother not to worry, as he is not “so awful sick.” The house that serves as the hospital is along the Potomac River, and he is able to look out his window and gaze at the steamboats while he rests.
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Alexandria VA. July 28
Mc Veigh Hospital 1863
My Dere Mother it is with plasure that I now rite to let you no how and whare I am weell as for my health it is not very good nor very bad but I am wourn out a marching and the most that I want is rest and I am in a good place for that. I come in to Alexandria last night on the cars from Warington Junction. the Armey has gon down on the Rapperhanock a gane [again] but I shant be in a hurry a bout going. I shell stay here till I get recuted up in good shape. wee have bin on the
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March for Six weeks without hardly adays rest and that is a nuf [enough] to ware most eny one out but I will be all rite before long but I shell stay here as long as I can and let the armey march to the devel [devil] if they want to. wee have marched over 600 miles and fought that battle at gettersburg that haint doing bad is it. I have not got but one letter from you since I left Falmoth wee could not get our male [mail] and not much chance to send one I have rote to you every chance that could get. now I dont want you to think that I am so awful sick for I haint and I dont want you to think so I am worn out and all I want is to lay still and recute
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up, and I have got whare I can have good care and well doctered and a good bed to sleep on, and it is rite byt the window and whare I can look on the Potomac and see the steembots go in and out, im up the thurd story of a splended brick hous, rit in the sity, now I have not got much more to rite this time I have jest bin to dinner and wee had new potatos and beets and onions and soft bread I call that prity good, now when you rite to me I want you to send me one or to dollers if you can get it eny way for I want a little change, rite soon and all the nuse and [w]ho was drafted from your son
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put on your letters
Mc Veigh Hospital
Alexandria VA
Reuben Rhodes, a citizen of Troy, ME, enlisted on August 25, 1862. He was between 18 and 20 years old. He served as a private in Company C of the 19th ME Infantry and mustered out May 31, 1865. After the war he returned to his parents farm and married a woman named Josephine. He died in 1923 and was buried in Fairview Cemetery.
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Letter written by Captain Alfred J. Sofield of Company A, 149th PA Volunteer Infantry “Bucktails,” to his wife, from a camp near Belle Plain, VA. Sofield describes an army corps review by President Lincoln, where he was able to see the president as well as his wife and children. He writesabout his potential promotion to major, though Sofield received the majority of votes from the officers, it was Captain John Irvine who was elected to the position. Sofield describes a recent ride to Falmouth, and how he stood along the bank of the Rappahannock River and gazed towards Fredericksburg. The Confederate and Union pickets are on opposite sides of the river, within speaking distance. Sofield writes about visiting the Lacy House and White Oak Church.
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Camp near Bell Plain, Va
April 12, 1863
My Dear Wife
I rec’d yours of the 7th inst. by this evening’s mail, and you were right in thinking I was anxious to hear from the boys. I wrote you a short letter on Tuesday last in which I stated that I was not well, or rather that I was lame. I have entirely recovered.
On the 9th inst. our army corps was reviewed by the president. Our regiment left camp about 8 o’clock in the morning en rout for Bell Plain (about 4 miles distant) arrived about 10 o’clock, were about the first on the ground, which gave us an opportunity of seeing the other regiments as they came in, and I can assure you it was a sight worth seeing. Well, about 12 o’clock the president arrived. I think there was in the neighborhood of fifteen thousand present. Mrs. Lincon and her two sons were on the ground. Mrs. L. was in a carriage and I did not get sight of her. To see him she looked, but the boys were in review and they stopped just in front of our regt., and I being in front of the regt., had a good look at them, and could not discover any particular difference between them and others of their age
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The president was on horseback. He rode along the whole line with his hat off. I think he is looking better than when I last saw him at Washington. I would have given a good deal to have had you and the boys there on the occasion.
You ask what about the major. Well, there is a considerably about it, and I will tell all about it. Soon after we came here the col. [Stone] was about to appoint Capt. Osborne [Co. F] to act as major until Speer returned. The capts had a meeting and agreed to tell Col. Dwight that that would not answer. We done so, and it blackened the game. A day or two after that we appointed another meeting to take into consideration what was best to do in the premises – as Col. Stone had issued an order saying that promotions should be made by appointment, and not according to seniority. Well, it so happened that I had to go on picket at the time of the second meeting, and my friend Capt. Irvine [Co. B] was also absent, but the other eight officers met and agreed to take a vote, agreeing that the man having the most votes should be declared the unanimous choice, and that they would pledge themselves to go in for his appointment. Well, they took a vote. There was two others nominated. I received six votes, and the others one each. They then drew up a writing according to the agreement and all signed it. Capt. McCullough took charge of the papers and
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says he publish it in his morning report book. That the book was taken to headquarters in the morning, and that was the last that was ever seen of it. Thus the matter rested until Major Speer was discharged. Then Col. Dwight said we must have an election, and appointed it on the 10th instant. I know that Col. Stone, & Col. Dwight were both in favor of Capt. Osborne, and I knew that they thought they could manage to have him elected, or else they would have stuck to their order – that is, have had it given by appointment. And thinking so, I concluded I would not take part in the election, but would do what I could to defeat Osborne. I attended at opening of the meeting, and stated to them that I was not a candidate, and should take no part in the election, but should insist upon my appointment by the governor, by virtue of being the senior captain, and also by virtue of having been declared the choice of the regiment by the former meeting. I then left, but before I went in Capt. Irvin & myself had done what we could to secure his election at the meeting, and we succeeded. Capt. Irvin was elected. Well, now the col. says he will not recommend Capt. Irvin at present, and I am of opinion he will not recommend anyone but Capt. Osborne. I have written to Wilson at Harrisburg a full statement of the case and asked him to attend to it for me. What the result will be remains to be seen.
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Yesterday I took a ride over to Falmouth. Falmouth is about 9 miles from our camp and about a mile up the Rappahannock River from Fredericksburg. I went down the bank of the river opposite Fredericksburg, and stood there about an hour. It was a beautiful day and I had a splendid view of the city and surrounding country. The river at Fredericksburg is about as wide as the Tioga River at Tioga, could hear the Rebels talk quite plainly. Our pickets are on one side of the river and theirs on the other, in speaking distance of each other. They are not, however, permitted to talk to one another. While standing there, about 20 Rebels came down to the river with a fish net and they came out more than half way across. I visited the Lacy house about which you have read a considerable during the war, but what about it I can’t recollect. It is a very large house standing on the bank of the river opposite Fredericksburg. If you remember for which it is noted, tell me in your next. About half way between our camp & Fredericksburg stands the famous White Oak Church, and it is in perfect keeping with everything else in this country. It looks precisely like a moderate farmer’s barn; no steeple, and in fact has no resemblance to a church. I send you a piece of it; the piece I send is not oak, but the frame of the building is of white oak, and from that takes its name. No paymaster yet. expect him every day. I rec’d a letter from Capt. Bryden yesterday. He started for home on Saturday last. Platt Irvin visited me today. He is checking for a battle about one mile this side of Fredericksburg. He is getting $40.00 a month. I must now close, and the next letter I shall direct to Hillsboro. Kiss the boys & have them kiss you for me.
Ever Yours,
Alfred
Alfred J. Sofield was a clerk/justice of the peace in Wellsboro, PA when he enrolled as a Union Army Officer. He served in the Civil War as Captain and commander of Company A of the 149th PA Volunteer Infantry. During the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg, he was stationed along Chambersburg Pike north of the McPherson Farm. His unit under artillery fire from the Confederate batteries on Herr Ridge, and was struck by a round, which killed him as well as Private Edwin D. Dimmick and Corporal Nathan H. Wilcox.
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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.
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