3rd New Hampshire Infantry CIVIL WAR LETTER - Worried Girlfriend is Cheating

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3rd New Hampshire Infantry CIVIL WAR LETTER - Worried Girlfriend is Cheating :
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Civil War Letter

This Civil War soldier letter was written by William H. Walton (1841-1864), the son of William Walton (1784-Aft1850) and Mary Ann Brown (1783-Aft1850) of Kensington, Rockingham County, New Hampshire. In the 1860 US Census — just prior to the Civil War — William (age 19) is enumerated in Kensington in the household of John Tilton where his occupation was given as a “carriage apprentice.”

William H. Walton, 3rd New Hampshire

On 22 August 1861, William enlisted in Co. B, 3rd New Hampshire Infantry. Company B “was recruited almost wholly at Exeter and New Market, chiefly by Capt. Wilbur and Lieut. Fogg. The company was somewhat unfortunate in its choice of Captain, as he was arrested at Hilton Head before we had seen much service, remained in arrest a long time, and was finally dishonorably discharged after trial. This untoward circumstance had a depressing effect upon the company itself… [Source: “The Third New Hampshire & All about It” (pg. 7)]

After being mustered in at Concord in August 1861, the 3rd New Hampshire moved to Camp Scott on Long Island on 3 September and then to Washington D.C.. From there they were taken to Annapolis where they boarded ships to embark on Gen. Thomas West Sherman’s Expedition to Port Royal, South Carolina. They remained in the vicinity of Hilton Head until April 1863. During the summer of 1863, they went on expeditions to Seabrook Island, St. Helena Island, and Folly Island before going to Morris Island in August. They remained there until January 1864 when Williamre-enlisted as a veteran. Following a veteran’s furlough, William returned to join his regiment before they embarked on Grant’s Overland Campaign in the spring of 1864.He was wounded in the right leg on 16 June 1864 at Ware Bottom Church, Virginia. His leg was later amputated buthe died of his wounds on 21 July 1864 at the Fortress Monroe hospital [New Hampshire Town records indicate the direct cause of death was diarrhea, however].

William wrote this letter to Mary Esther Blake (1841-1882), the 20 year-old daughter of Col. John Tuck Blake (1806-1883) and Mary Elizabeth Moulton (1807-1882) of Kensington. In the 1860 Census, Mary’s occupation is given as “Shoe Binder.” Her father was a “Shoe Maker.” These two, it seems, would most likely have married each other had not the war thrust them into different worlds. For the first couple of years of separation, William’s letters indicate a deep and committed devotion to his “dearest Mary.” But as the war dragged on, the separation led to doubts which led to suspicions of infidelity, causing each of them to let go of thepledges they had made to each otheron the eve of the conflict.

I do not have proof that she is the same person, but my hunch is that Mary Esther Blake married William A. Chesley (1842-1920) in Pittsfield, New Hampshire in October 1869.

TRANSCRIPTION

Morris Island, South Carolina
January 29, 1864

Dearest Mary,

Permit me to address you in my old familiar way and do not be offended at it. Yesterday as the mail came in, I was surprised to get a letter from you but it made my heart glad to read it. Mary, I feel that I have wronged you shamefully and caused a great deal of unhappiness in your heart in believing these stories that were told about you and I cannot forgive myself for it. But if you can find it in your heart to forgive so great a wrong, I shall be very happy. But if not, I shall be miserable the rest of my life. Mary, I do not blame you nor do I believe any of the stories were true, but I was foolish enough to believe them. But Mary, I will take your word before anyone else and you do me wrong to think that I would not take your word without asking your friend for proof. Dearest, you must not blame me for sending your ring and miniature for I wrote two letters to you and asked you to write to me but as I did not receive any answer from them, I thought that you did not care about corresponding with me any more so I sent them to you.

But Mary Ester, I have passed many unhappy hours since we stopped writing to each other. And Mary, when I thought that I must give you up, it was like tearing my heart from my bosom for I thought that you no longer loved me. But I see by your letter yesterday that your love for me is as strong as ever and I was very happy to hear that it was so. You said you had not told your mother nor any of your folks that our engagement was broken and I hope that you will not until you receive this and then I hope and pray that we can renew the engagement. If we cam, I shall be very happy indeed.

Dearest, I shall take the blame on myself for causing all this trouble and what I have heard. I believe it all false, as you have said, and I do believe that you have been ever true to me and ever will. And I hope that you will forgive me for what I have done. And I hope that we can become the same to each other as we have been for two years past. And I hope that we shall be permitted to meet each other in a short [while] and be able to take each other by the hand the same as when we parted in Exeter and on the same terms — if not on better.

Mary, I hope that this will reach you before you give those things to my folks that I made you a present of. If you have not, keep them by all means for I had rather you would have them than anyone else. And I would sooner lose my right arm than to cause you any more unhappiness again knowingly. I think you know me well enough for that. Mary, I hope that you will take me back to your bosom once more. If you can, I shall be happy. If not, I shall be miserable. I hope to be at home soon so we can talk to each other about these things. I suppose you know that I wrote to Sophia but I was requested to a number of times but I shall do it no more and when I come home, I will tell you all about it.

I will close hoping to hear from you soon. Give my love to your mother and all the rest of your folks and accept a good share to yourself.

From your true and ever loving friend. — W. H. Walton

Write soon.

TERMS

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TERMS

$2.00 postage in the United States and $3.00 elsewhere. We accept paypal. Postage combined for multiple purchases.

We're members of the American Philatelic Society, the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society, the Confederate Stamp Alliance and the Illinois Postal History Society.

We've been selling on since 2001. offer WITH CONFIDENCE.