4th Massachusetts Infantry CIVIL WAR LETTER from Fort Worth, VA - Nice Content

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4th Massachusetts Infantry CIVIL WAR LETTER from Fort Worth, VA - Nice Content :
$78.00

Civil War Letter

This Civil War letter was written by Sgt. John Whitcomb Piper (1820-1903) of Co. L, 4th Massachusetts Heavy Artillery is a delightful read and offersa sustained viewof Washington D. C. from the perspective of a non-commissioned officer not commonly found during the civil war.Serving as the company’s commissary sergeant, Piper was permitted to cross the Potomac in and out of Washington on nearly a daily basisseeking provisions and running various sundry errands for “his boys” in Company L. He used the opportunity to visit places of interest in the city and wrote home regularly and faithfully to his wife in Lynn, Massachusetts, of his daily “tramp.”

John Whitcomb Piper (1820-1903) was born in Ashburnham (Ashby), Massachusetts, on 19 March 1820. He was thefifth of eleven children born toPhilip Piper (1785-1858) and Rhoda Richardson (1788-1874). Briefly mentioned in these letters are John’s siblings Maria Piper (1813-1866), Silas Piper (1821-1876), and Emma Piper (1823-1867). He mentions “Mother Piper” from time to time; his father — a farmer– died in 1858. Before the Civil War, John earned a living as a carpenter, as a farmer, and as a machinist.

From a letter containedin thisarchive dated 5 January 1865, we learn that Piperfirst saw “the little girl” he would someday marry working at the looms in Fitchburg. Though he had to ask her twice, he eventually married Emeline Barrell (1825-1915)in Fitchburg on December 29, 1846 when she was 21 years old.Emeline was the daughter of Nelson Barrell (1800-1860) and Mehitable Jones (1801-1869).

In 1850, three and½years after their marriage, John and Emeline were enumerated in Ashburnham, Massachusetts. They were still childless. Three infants in three years had all died in infancy. The only other occupant of the household was Abigail Barrell (b. 1790) — a spinster aunt who was blind.

In 1860, John and Emeline were enumerated in Lynn’s 4th Ward where John worked as a machinist. Other members of the household included Emeline’s mother and four children (Marietta, John A., Abby, and Philip). It was atthis location on Silsbee Street, a short walk to Nahant Bay, that John and Emeline made their home in a brick duplex. Crossing Silsbee Street on its wayto theCentral Square Depot in Lynn ran the tracks of the Eastern Railroad that connectedMaine to Boston. The 4th Ward was filled with blue collar laborerslike John who worked long hours inthe city shoe manufacturing factories and machine shops.

From a Golden Anniversary notice and from one of the letters in this archive dated 19 March 1865 we learn that John and Emeline had twelve children in their first eighteen years of marriage though by 1865, only five of the children — highlighted in boldface — were still alive.On-line genealogical records tell us their names were: Emma Francis Piper (1847-1848), Frank Abbott Piper (1849-1849), Emma Piper (1850-1850), John Winthrop Piper (1851-1851),Marietta Piper(1852-1882),Abbie Kendall Piper(b. 1855) Ella Maria Piper (1856-1857),Philip Piper(b. 1858),Emeline Louisa Piper(1860-1896), twins Caddie and Carrie Piper (1861-1861) andJohn Abbott Piper(1863-1931).

After John was discharged from the service, he returned to Lynn where he found employment as a shoemaker. In 1870, he and his family were still in Lynn where John kept a large boarding house while their five children attended school — the eldest, Marietta, at the prestigious Holyoke Female Seminary. The boarding house accommodated 45 occupants besides the Piper family. Three domestic Irish-born servants were hired to help the Pipers with the board.

The aforementioned anniversary notice mentions that John “spent most of his life in his native place (Ashby), but for a time was engaged in the grocery business at Lynn and in the meat business with John Lowe, in” Fitchburg.

John W. Piper died of “La Grippe”(heart failure) at the age of 83.

TRANSCRIPTION

Fort Worth, Va.
March 19th 1865

Dear wife,

And can it be possible that I am 45 years old? This day reminds me of the fact and how swiftly have those years flown. When I was a child, I though a person old at 45. But today I feel as young as I did in my boyhood. We look forward to next August as a great while & yet how quickly our whole lives pass away. To sit down & think of it seems but a dream. When I look back to the spot where I was born & cast my mind through the neighborhood, and how many vacant places do I find. The old men — as I thought them to be — are all passed away. And how many young men have lived to grow up to see the age that I have arrived to. And we see written upon everything of an earthly nature passing away.

It seems only by yesterday since we children were all playing around the old hearthstone. And now all have grown up or passed the bounds of time. If I should be led to doubt the loss of so many years since we were playing in the little stream which wound its way through the pastures & meadows, I have only to cast up before me & see 5 smiling faces which seem ready to speak & call me father. Generation after generation how rapidly they pass away. And can you hardly realize that you have been the mother of 12 children when the time seems so short since we were children? But it must be true that our years are fast being numbered & we shall all soon feel old age creeping upon us. But let us try & retain our youthful feelings. Let us try & enjoy life & make the best possible use of time while it is passing before us. It is well for us to look back upon our past life & review of such times & try to learn by the past how to better spend our future years.

Our interests have been one for more than 18 years & how much has been crowded into this time. We have had many joyful & many sorrowful hours. But we have been guided by that unseen hand which upholds worlds & keeps everything in its place through all the crooked way of life & have been brought to see the day we now see. And how thankful we should be that we are blessed with what we now enjoy. Health is one of the greatest blessings which he gives to a fuller race. That we have so many children given us which promise to be a great comfort to us in our declining years. When I look back to the time that I first saw you & trace time & all the little events which happened in these years, I am glad to exclaim how wonderful, how great a change in these years. Who can tell what would have been your condition & what would have been mine if you had adhered to the first decision you made. I am very sure I should not have had all these little faces arrayed before me here in Virginia. How mysterious are the ways of Providence.But now as things seemed on the whole to work in our favor, we should rejoice & look forward & upward & press our way onward.

We have a great work on our hands — to bring up & educate our children & fit them for places in the world. I don’t look upon boarded wealth as being any comparison with a family of children well educated & fitted for important offices in life. What a thrill of joy it gives me as I cast my eyes upon those pictures as I have them all sitting in a row as I am writing. As I look upon little Emma’s face, it seems as though Icould hear her warbling off her little sayings. And little Philip looks as stern as though he meant something. And Abby’s eyes look just as though she was going to speak to me. And John Abbott’s face looks all full of goodness. And Marietta looks as though she was laughing at me. And you & I look just about as any. I should not want to part with these pictures for love nor money if I could get one more.¹

It is a beautiful day today. I expect that it is much warmer here than it is in Lynn though every time the wind blows from the north we get the cold breezes. Willy has got back. Came back of his own accord & inquired for the Sergt. of the Guard & wanted to know of him if he would receive him back into the guard house. He returned before he was reported at headquarters.

I have written a letter to Jimmy today and I think that I shall write one to Auston Hayward also. Ben Brown we shall expect to see Tuesday night. All growling is now stopped and I hope I shall be able to keep it still. Mr. [Thomas W.] Jenness is quite smart. I think that he will go now first rate. Give my love to all. Remember me to Mother Piper & all friends. The fields are looking so green & the birds sing so sweetly that I can hardly think that I am out here at March. But it is true. May peace come soon to our borders.

Yours in much love, — John W. Piper

¹ This is the onlytime that Piper mentions all of his surviving children’s names in one letter. We learn that Piper and his wife have been married for eighteen years and in that time she has delivered 12 children. On-line genealogical records tell us their names were: Emma Francis Piper (1847-1848), Frank Abbott Piper (1849-1849), Emma Piper (1850-1850), John Winthrop Piper (1851-1851),Marietta Piper (1852-1882),Abbie Kendall Piper(b. 1855) Ella Maria Piper (1856-1857),Philip Piper (b. 1858),Emeline Louisa Piper(1860-1896), twins Caddie and Carrie Piper (1861-1861) andJohn Abbott Piper (1863-1931). Only those five highlighted in boldface were living in March 1865 — the oldest, Marietta, being 12. Marietta was an 1871 graduate of Mt. Holyoke Seminary and became the wife of Edward L. Pease in 1875 but died of consumption at age 29 in 1882.

TERMS

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