Saturday. My time was occupied mostly in reading books from the Circulating Library—Reade’s “Live me little, love me long” and one other. The doubt about our uniforms still continued.
Kenyon got a letter from Major Gen. Robbins in the afternoon ordering the Q. M. Gen[eral] to uniform us, but he made some technical excuse.
We were marched to and fro a great deal from one place to another, but did not succeed in effecting anything.
Friday. Everything is so dull that our present at the Recruiting Office seemed unnecessary, so Cas and I called at the Circulating Library on Westminster St. and drew out two standard fictitious works, Scott’s Ivanhoe and Dickens’ David Copperfield. I devoted my whole time from ten o’clock in the morning to two the next morning, to reading Copperfield for the hundredth time, and found it as interesting as ever. It is one of my favorite books, the characters are portrayed so finely and the narrative is so full of interest that I never can lay the volume aside till I have devoured it all. [Read more…] about July 10, 1863
Hd. qrs. 11th Corps, Boonesboro Gap Md
My dear Major
I received your letter while we were at Gettysburg and feel grateful for it. You know very well how difficult it is to write upon an active Campaign and I have never written so few letters as since we reached Md. and Penna. In fact we never drove business quite so hard before. Day before yesterday we marched about 30 miles. Our Corps is in advance of all. Schurtz Divn. went forward beyond Boonesboro last night to support Buford’s Cavalry which had been fighting all day – The other two Divns. took up position on the sides (west) of the mountain to hold the Gap at all hazards until the other Corps get up […]
Tuesday. My valise having given out in some unaccountable way, I proceeded to the lockmaker’s and endeavor to get it mended, but the worthy artisan did not consider himself competent to fix it and I returned with confusion of face to No. 47.
Wright and I were instructed by our friends the recruiting officers to procure passes for the South Ferry and with this object in view, we visited the Adj. General and other officials, but did not succeed in obtaining our papers. At last, however, we reached Maj. Pierce and Capt. Tetlow who expressed a perfect willingness to all us to go. We embarked on board the tug-boat Am,[erican] Union under the protection of Tetlow, Capt. of the College Company, who is a splendid fellow. He is called the first scholar in his class, and ought to be an Alpha Delta. He told me that our Society stood first in College, and the Delta Kappa Epsilon next. The Omega Lambda Chi are hard, the Psi Upsilon digs. He did not tell me why he had not joined any society. Our boys afterward told me that while he always expressed a preference for Alpha Delta Phi he had never concluded to join any Secret Society.
We had a very peaceful trip down the bay. There is some beautiful scenery along the shores but we miss the hills of Maine. […]
Headquarters Eleventh Corps, Army of the Potomac
My dear Mother,
One of our Divn. reached Middletown – back again night before last. And we returned to our old Hd. qrs. at a house <[torn]> this side of the town where we <[torn]> were treated very well when on our <[torn]> up. We came over the mountain at High Knob. The 5th Corps also under Otis’ command for the time came the same way. The Divn. which got to town that night had marched about 30 miles in one day. Some of our artillery got stuck in attempting to get up the mountain & as our troops could not get past, the rest remained there. At half past 3 next morning I went back to get up the artillery & trains & clear the way for the 5th Corps. Had to work very hard & finally found another road for the 5th – at same time got the artillery & all the trains in motion. This took me till 12 ½ m. I tell you this to show something of my occupation. I got not a <morsel> break till that time. Yesterday P.M. we marched to Boonesboro Gap where we now are on the west side of the mountain in sight of the Antietam battlefield. One Divn. at Boonsboro which went forward to support Buford’s Cavalry which had been fighting all day. After us the 1st Corps came up on our right and this morning the 6th which saw less fighting of lately strong has passed on to Boonsboro. [Read more…] about July 7, 1863
Monday. A. M. Bean called this morning with his Description List, which had been made by Orderly True. His clothing account was entered as $39.05. If it is not correct it will be rectified when we get the clothing book. He with nine others of the Regt. has re-enlisted for 2 years, their time to commence from the date of muster out of the 22nd. They are to have two months furlough from the 15th of July.
[Capt. I. W. Case died very suddenly at nine o’clock P.M. July 6th after making this last entry in his journal, congestive chills were the cause of death. His age was forty years.]
Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscript Collections]
Waking rather late, I bid my friends goodbye and left for the seat of war. Found Wright at the Parker House and while talking with him was accosted by [George Newton] Jackson (graduate Alpha Delta Phi). Wright had just left three Williams Alpha Delts whom he met in the street, fellows full to running over with the true Alpha Delta spirit. I went with Wright at his request to see the colleges again and also to Bunker Hill for the first time, up the 358 toilsome steps which lead to the tower from which Boston, Cambridge and Charlesto[w]n with all their historical and pleasant associations are plainly seen. [Read more…] about July 5, 1863
Gettysburg
Dear Father and Mother Brother and Sisters
I will write a few lines to you This being the last that I ever shall write I was wounded with a mimie ball the second day of July in the left Brest but I die like a hero [inkblot] that I have done my duty in defence of my country It is a glorious death to die Most all of our Co is killed or wounded it was a hard fought Battle but our men are victorious their was been no fighting to day tell the folks that I dies a glorious Death
I must close Good by now and forever
Weep not for me, S B Shea
[verso]
Gettysburg July 10 /63
Mr Shea This letter you Son rote it was the last he ever had the privilage to tell you he fell Your Son don his whole duty to his God and his cuntry and he diede with his Sences and he did not apear to sufer much He was struck in the left Brest and I think it past through his Lunge He had as good care taken of him as could be expected placd where we are I have done all I could for him and all the rest of our Com but he like some others of our Com, could mot Live with the Best of care he diede the 9th of this month at [illegible] in the evening and was buried this morning He did not say anything about home Poor fellow he has Fought his last Battle died like all true Soldiers. I was wounded the same day he was buy slight. I now am attending on the rest of our company, it is a horred sight to see some of them, we buried poor James Heal this morn with your Son, he likewise died at four yesterday eve he I think did not sense anything he was left of the field for dead, and the fourth day after the fight I reconised him and tried to bring him too but failed he never tasted anything for eight days I tried to get some down but could not and he died the eight day after the fight our Loss is heavy and we all done our duty nobely and our core Saved the Battle So dead Sir I say with your Son if we [illegible] all fall we die like heroes to save our Beloved Country and thank God we have come [illegible]ctorous with great victory.
With respect to you I write this to you to let you know how he diede and we buried him well. Jesse Mitchell Co K 19th Maine Vol
Samuel Beal Shea and Jesse Mitchell to Shea Family [Civil War Miscellany]
Camp 20th Me. near Warrenton Pa.
My dear friends at Home—
Again have I recd a kind letter from home of the date [illeg. paragraph]
We are leaving quite [illeg. word] now, but I expect that we shall move again [illeg. phrase]. It is cloudy today [illeg. passage]. … Corps lost so many horses. The army had to stop & rest a while [illeg. phrase] up its horses if nothing more & besides the men were getting raggedy everything needed rest, sweet rest. [illeg. passage] on the field of battle; I do not know but what you will think it is strange there can be a glimmer of peace[?] amidst such scenes but there nevertheless is; as only after a day of conflict & excitement as we lay ourselves down on the ground, with perhaps a stone for a pillow, & when all is still, & we look up to Heaven & thank our Heavenly Father that our lives have been spared; this then that a feeling of peace steals over us … when we are in camp for a few days … a neighboring Band strikes up in strains of sweet music, first some National Air, then some lively tune, & again some soft melodious strains, ‘tis then that a feeling of peace steals over us … when the Cannon is booming, in the fierceness of battle we can look for peace, for peace can only come to our beni[gh]ted country through these, & these alone. [Read more…] about July 3, 1863
Tuesday. Received a letter from Pamelia dated June 15th. All well at home. Bless the Lord, O my soul, & all that is within me, bless his holy name. She had received the two letters written at Algiers, 7 knew that we were here before Port Hudson. Went out to the 3rd Brigade Commissary, to draw rations for the 3rd, 4th, & 5th [illeg. word] Only a part of the articles we wanted were on hand, so we waited for teams to come from the landing, & at length, got nearly all except rice & beans. Issued the rations in the afternoon. Some new recruits came in toward night, whom we shall have to draw for tomorrow.
Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection]
