11th New Hampshire Infantry CIVIL WAR LETTER Diary Format Written in Virginia

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11th New Hampshire Infantry CIVIL WAR LETTER Diary Format Written in Virginia :
$44.04

Civil War Letter

Headstone of Pvt. Benjamin P. Nelson in Sutton, New Hampshire

This excellent letter was written by Benjamin P. Nelson (1824-1862) to his wife, Eleanor M. (Babb) Nelson (1830-1906). Benjamin was the son of William Nelson (1795-1869) and Patty Teel (1795-1891). Eleanor was the daughter of Joshua Babb (1796-1868) and Miriam Powers (1797-1886).Benjamin and Eleanor were married in March 1847.

Benjamin was 37 years old when he enlisted as a private in Co. F, 11th New Hampshire Infantry in August 1862. He was killed on 13 December 1862 in the Battle of Fredericksburg — less than a month after this letter was sent to his wife in Sutton, New Hampshire.

Benjamin’s death on the battlefield was described in a letter by George Morgan that was started on 6 December and finished on 16 December 1862. The letter reads: “There was seventeen out of our regiment killed on the field and a large number wounded. Benjamin [P.] Nelson was killed. The ball went through his head. He was close to me when the ball hit him. And George [H.] Filbrick [Philbrick] was killed, and they are all that we know were killed out of our company. Charles [C.] Pike was wounded in the face. George [M.] Jewett was wounded through the hand, and Robert blood was badly wounded, and Dave Bunker, John Lorden, and John Rollins, and [I] don’t think of anymore in our company that was badly wounded.”[Letter: 6 December 1862; When I Come Home….The Civil War Letters of George Morgan of Co. F, 11th New Hampshire Infantry]

This letter was part of a larger collection of letters written by Pvt. Nelson along with a tintype and a “Soldier’s Prayer Book”. The1/6 plate tintype of Pvt. Nelson has an early “jelly label” tucked into its brass frame that reads, in faded pencil, “B P NELSON.”

We are only offering the letter transcribed below. It is written in a very interesting and informative diary format (over a period of almost a month). The unit was on the move and I\'m guessing this soldier didn\'t have much time to write.

TRANSCRIPTION

Thursday, September 11, 1862 —Broke camp at Concord 7 o’clock A.M., arrived at Stoneston 9 P.M., thence by boat. Arrived at Jersey City 7 A.M.

12[th] — left at 11 A.M., arrived at Philadelphia.

13[th] — Left Philadelphia 7 A.M. Arrived at Baltimore 4 P.M. Left 6 P.M.

14[th] — Arrived at Washington 7 A.M. Marched at East Capitol Hill and encamped.

16[th] — Broke camp and marched to Arlington Heights and Camp Chase.

30[th] — Broke camp 7 A.M. Marched to Washington.

October 1[st] 9 A.M. went on railroad to Frederick City. Arrived at Frederick 6 A.M.

2[nd] — broke camp. Arrived at Sandy Hook [Maryland] 2 P.M.

October 6[th] — Moved 3 miles north to Pleasant Valley.

27[th] — Broke camp. 12 P.M. crossed the Potomac at Burlin on pontoon bridge.

30[th] — Broke camp 6 A.M. Marched 5 miles, encamped near Wheatland.

November 2 — Broke camp 9 A.M., marched 15 miles.

3[rd] — Broke camp 2 P.M., load our guns soon after starting, march 5 miles.

4[th] — Broke camp, marched 9 A.M. Mrch 5 miles to Upperville,

5[th] — Struck tents 9 A.M., marched 9 miles across Manassas Gap. Encamp at Piedmont.

6[th] — Struck tents 8 A.M., marched 12 miles.

7[th] — Very cold. Snowed all day. Struck tents 3 P.M.

8[th] — To Jefferson, Culpepper county.

12[th] — Broke camp 2 A.M., marched 4 miles to Warrenton Springs.

15[th] — Left camp 5 A.M. When we got about a mile from camp, the Rebels undertook to stop our train of wagons. We were formed on a line of battle. The shells flew and burst around our [regiment]. [Battle of White Sulphur Springs] None of our [boys] was hurt. Marched 4 miles.

16[th] — Struck tents 8 A.M. Marched 6 miles. Went in camp near Warrington Junction.

17[th] — Struck tents 11 A.M. March 12 miles.

18[th] — Struck tents 6 A.M. Marched 12 miles.

19[th] — Struck tents 6 A.M. Marched 8 miles. Encamped on Falmouth Heights and here we be now. [If] you go to Mr. Whidden’s, ¹you can get a paper that has got the piece in it where we had our battle at the Springs. I want to have you keep this so I can see this when I get home. I am well today and hope you [are] all the same.

Goodbye. [unsigned]

[to] Eleanor M. Nelson, Sutton

¹ 43 year-old Cpl. James G. Whidden of Sutton also served with Benjamin in Co. F, 11th New Hampshire Infantry. In a letter dated 8 October 1862 to his wife, Benjamin wrote that Cpl. Whidden cut 2 fingers off in an accident when 5 miles from Harpers Ferry as the regiment readied itself for battle. Benjamin’s letter suggested that Whidden did it intentionally so as to avoid the battle and so that he could be sent home. “His hand is spoilt forever,” wrote Benjamin.

TERMS

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