Pair of 43rd Massachusetts Infantry CIVIL WAR LETTERS from North Carolina NICE
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Pair of 43rd Massachusetts Infantry CIVIL WAR LETTERS from North Carolina NICE:
$138.50
Civil War Letter
This pair of magnificent Civil War soldier letters was written by Colman Tilden, Jr. (1840-1927), the son of Colman Tilden (1810-1898) and Hannah Berry (1811-1882).Tilden was born in Scituate but came to Chelsea with his parents in 1848 where he was apprenticed to learn the mason’s trade. He married Eliza Emeline Howard (1842-1935), the daughter of Charles Howard, in Chelsea on 19 January 1864.
These letters were written during the Civil War while Colman served as a private in Company H, 43rd Mass. Volunteers. He enlisted on 6 September 1862 and was mustered out with the regiment after nine months service on July 30, 1863.
TRANSCRIPTION
Newbern [North Carolina]
April 27th 1863
Daylight morning
Dear Parents,
I intended to have written a long letter to you yesterday but I could not. I had no time. I wrote some to Eliza and then had to stop. I thought we should stay in camp for a spell but last night after we got to bed, the order came to be ready to march with three days rations at day break this morning. It is now six o’clock and we have not yet fell in but expect to every minute.
I am in good health. I do not know where we are going or what for . It is only for three days, or at least that was the order for rations. Do not worry about me. Bu the time you get this letter, I shall be home again and I will write just as soon as I get back. I wanted yo write you a good letter but they are bound not to give me a chance. They seem bound to put us through. Well! A soldier’s life is always gat it is said; perhaps it is. But I can write no more as I must get ready to go. Try not to worry so much about me. I am well as I can be.
Give my love to Katie and Sammie. Take good care of yourselves. God bless you all.
Your affectionate son, — Colman
Newbern [North Carolina]
May 1st 1863
Friday evening
Dear Parents,
I hasten to inform you all at home that I have once more arrived at Newbern in safety. We arrived in camp at half past four o’clock having been gone five days instead of three as we supposed. I suppose the first thing I had better do is to give you an account of our expedition. You know we arrived in camp on Saturday morning. Well we hoped to stay at home for a little time but it was not to be. Sunday night about ten o’clock, our Captain came round and said orders ha just come into camp to be in line at daybreak with three days cooked rations and one hundred rounds of ammunition. The powder part of the order rather started the boys. They thought something pretty serious was up as on the Goldsboro tramp we only had sixty rounds and have never had but forty since. The cooks had to turn out and go to work cooking our meat. In the morning, orders came that we need not start until eight o’clock and be at the depot in Newbern at ten. So we found out that we were not to march. When we got to Newbern, we found all our brigade with the exception of the 51st and part of Lee’s Brigade consisting of eight companies of the 27th, eight of the 5th. and two of the 46th. Lee’s and Amory’s brigade compose Palmer’s Division and of course he was in command. We did not get aboard the cars until past twelve o’clock. Then we started and went as far as Batchelder’s Creek — about eight or ten miles from Newbern. Here we all landed except the 45th and seven companies of the 17th. They went ahead. We were ordered to be ready to start in a short time so we laid down on the track and waited and waited but no train came along. We waited until eight in the evening when the train finally came along and the 43rd started for somewhere, we did not know where. We rode about eight miles farther when we espied a camp and found it was the 45th and 17th. We landed and camped for the night. That was nine o’clock.
Now for the other brigade. The 58th — a New York Regiment doing picket duty at Batchelder’s Creek with two pieces of artillery — joined Lee’s Brigade and started by the road to march to a certain crossroads. The next morning it rained, pouring a hard thunderstorm. We had no shelter except what we could make with our rubber blankets stretched across on rails. Companies from all our regiments were sent out scouting and about noon all the troops except the 43rd were started off. We did not know where they were going but congratulated ourselves that for once, we were going to be let off easy. It seems that they had word that the rebels were throwing up earthworks some ways up the track. Our brigade went up the track and the other troops went up another road to try and bag the rebels. They marched about eight miles when they came across the enemy and engaged them. After a sharp skirmish, one or two companies of the forty-fifth charged and planted their Flag on the works. The rebels had no artillery and skedaddled pretty quick when our folks charged. The forty-fifth had one man killed and three or four wounded. It is said on good authority too that the man was killed by their own fire and not by the rebels. The twenty-seventh had two or three wounded, Our folk took but one prisoner and he was wounded.
The next day we laid still except companies out scouting. On Thursday our regiment received orders to go up the railroad and guard the pioneers who were repairing the road. We marched up four or five miles and then went into the woods to camp. I thought we were to have a fine time and had got ready to make some coffee when the orderly had orders to detail ten men for scouts. Well, as it came my turn to go on guard and as it was intended to post pickets if needed, I was detailed. There was thirty of us — ten from each of three companies under Lieut. Chadbourne. We started and went into the woods where we deployed as skirmishers. We went out at eleven and staid till about two. It was hard work. It was all swamp and sometimes we were over our knees in water and mud, and then through thick brush where we could hardly make our way ahead at all. I got all scratched up with briars. We saw nothing of the rebels but saw a number of places where they had been but a short time before. We got back to camp pretty well tired out.
Saturday morning.
I had to leave off writing last night to go to bed so I will now try to finiah. We remained in that camp overnight and in the morning marched back to our old camp ground and about noon took the cars for Newbern and here we are once more. What the object of the expedition was or what it accomplished is more than I know. It seems to me as though all that was wanted was to keep us going all the time. There was but two days last month that we were not under marching orders and since the 7th of the month, we have been but two days in camp. We have not had a hard time with the exception of the Spinola march, unless you call loafing round with nothing to do and nothing to eat hard work, and I think it is. They have kept us going pretty well this month back and I hope they will now give us a rest — for awhile at least. Dr. Adams did not go this time, not being able. I have been on all marches so far and everywhere the company has been, I have been with them, and I hope I shall be able to be with them all the time and get home safely. Still I hope that we shall not be called upon to do anymore. It is coming warm weather and these marches begin to tell on the men.
Since we have been off or since the 7th of April, I have received quite a number of letters from all at home, and there were quite a number of things I wanted to answer but I cannot now for the reason that always when I start off, I burn all the letters I have. I have done so all the time and therefore have not got any letters of yours now and cannot remember what it was I wanted to answer. If there was anything in particular that you asked me, if I have not replied to, you will know the reason and if you ask again, I will try and answer them.
I have received a number of papers from you — also the flannel you sent for my shirts by Mr. Warren. Last night when I arrived home, I found an envelope containing a picture of Gus. It was postmarked Chelsea, March 12th, and just arrived. It came by a Washington mail and I suppose has been laying in Washington for some time. My thanks to Gus for it and I wish you would tell him that I will try to write to him if we ever get settled again, but we have been chased around so that I have had no time to write letters to you even. I have been reading accounts in the papers of Gen. Foster’s scrape at Washington [North Carolina], and also of the adventures of the 43rd Regiment. Some of the accounts are very laughable as the stories are stretched so much. Some do not say enough. The most correct, I think, of the march of the 43rd with Spinola, is contained in a letter written by Old South (Mr. Manning) in the[Boston]Journalof the 21st or 22nd, I forget which. One piece in the same paper about the 5th Rhode Island is false in a great many particulars. In the first place, they werenot on the Spinola March at all.And in the 2nd place, they were ordered to go just the same as they were to Washington, and did not volunteer as the paper says. I shall know how much to believe of these paper stories if I ever get home again. They did run the blockade, however, and a dashing thing it was too. We went there for the same purpose and why we did not go by, I do not know unless it is for the reason that is reported — that the captain of the boat we were on said he would not run his boat by those batteries. In all probability if the question had been put to vote of our regiment as it was the 5th Rhode Island, whether they should run by or not, every man would have voted to go. But at the same time they were pleased enough that they did not have to go. It is nothing to be ashamed of, to say that all hands were glad enough to be excused from that duty. It was one of the most dangerous things of htis war.
When those men of our regiment who ran the blockade reported to Gen. Foster as they were ordered to do, he asked the sergeant what regiment they belonged to. They told him that they belonged to the 43rd and they were waiting below in theThomas Collyerto run the blockade. He asked how many men there were with the regiment. The sergt. told him (some 650, I believe). Gen. Foster asked where the rest were. Why they staid at home, he answered, that they were sick at camp with the Spinola complaint. Foster laughed and turned away. He was not very well pleased with Spinola I hear, and for good reason too. The soldiers here are down on him too, I tell you. It is lucky for the army that he did not command at Washington. If he had the place, it would have been surrendered right off.
You know that I wrote you that we have had some picture of the camp taken. I have spoken for two of them. One is the “hollow square” and the other “dress parade.” The “hollow square” I want you to keep. The other one I am going to give Mr. Howard of ‘Liza does not want it for herself. I have written to her about it. If she wants it, it is for her, but if she had rather her father would have it, he is to have it as a present from me. The pictures were sent to Boston to be copied and when they will be ready is more than I know. If you do not hear anything about it there, I will send you word when I find out and you can go and get them. There will be nothing to pay as I shall pay here.
Afternoon.
This morning I was called away from my writing to get paid off. We were paid for four months up to the first of March. We got fifty-two dollars. The company clubbed together and gave what money they wanted to send home to Lieut. Bradbury. He is to send it to the City Hall and the money will be paid there. I am going to send forty (40) dollars and shall send the receipt for it it in this letter. By presenting it at the City Hall, you will get the cash. The money will go by Adams Express so it may get there before this letter does and it may not until after. They owe us for two months now but probably we shall not get paid again until we are discharged. Tell Katie that I want one of her photographs and if it is not to much trouble for her, I wish she would have some taken at my expense. Probably other of her friends would like some too so she may as ell get a dozen and distribute them. Send me one as soon as she gets them.
I suppose you thought of me often last Sunday as it was my birthday. I happened to be in camp that day to enjoy it. We got in the morning before and started off again the next morning. Last Sunday I saw some ripe strawberries and had the pleasure of eating two myself. Everything begins to to look green here and flowers are in bloom — any quantity of them. Yesterday was May Day and I could not help thinking that if some of those children who go round Boston on that day with so many paper roses could only be out here, they could get as many as they pleased of real flowers. Roses, honeysuckles, jasmines, lilacs, and a great many other kinds that I do not know the names of are all in bloom. If I could only send a bouquet home to you, I would. Apple and peach trees have been in bloom for very near a month and when I was at Hills Point, in the garden of a house that I had to guard, I saw peas a foot out of the ground. What do you think of that? Have you seen it at home yet?
Today I went down to the river to wash myself and some clothes. Most of the boys took them off some time ago but I thought I would wear mine long enough. It is very warm here now. Last Saturday I drew another pair of pants as mine were about worn out. I had to take a miserable pair as our Quartermaster’s Department is rather poorly supplied. I guess though they will last till I get home. The pair I drew in Readville were very good ones. I want you to give my best respects to all the men in the gang — Mr. Anderson and Sam in particular. Tell them that we have been put through some this last month but I stand it like a brick. I see by the papers that Parker has given notice of intention to build on Chapman Place. Will Anderson get a job there? I hope so.
I wish I could say something to keep you from worrying about me when I am off, but I don’t know what to say. I stand it first rate and guess I shall. There is but very little to worry about. I don’t think we shall see a great deal of fighting. The most that I have to fret on is thinking that all of you at home are worrying about me. If it was not for that, I could get along first rate. I do not suppose you can help it altogether, but I have no doubt you worry about me when there is no need of it. I hardly know what to do when we are ordered off about letting you know. If I let you know, you worry about it. And if I do not let you know and you do not get any letters, you worry for fear I am sick. So I suppose you would worry anyway. I think, though, I shall always tell you. If I don’t, you will hear from someone else. I should not think they would give us much marching to do this warm weather and in fact it seems as though we had marched all over North Carolina lately. I shall not be at all sorry though when our time is out. I have seen just enough and hope I shall not see anymore of the rough of a soldier’s life. As our time draws near its close, I feel less and less like doing anything and more like going home.
General Hooker of the Army of the Potomac has issued an order which if we are to be treated in the same way will be a good thing for us, as according to that we shall be mustered out the 20th day of June when our time is actually out. I think that we shall be served the same because I do not see what right Hooker has to issue such an order without the sanction of the War Department and if the nine month’s men in Virginia are served so, I do not see why we should not be too.
But it is getting so dark I cannot write any more now. I have already written a very long letter and shall now stop to commence a letter to Eliza as soon as lights are lit, as I must send a letter to both by the next mail.
Monday morning.
I shall have to finish this letter without writing anymore. They have made a new rule here. Every man in the company is to take his turn on the fortifications to help build it. Six men at a time to serve a week. I am one detailed for this week so I do not think I shall have much time to write. I shall send the receipt for my money by this letter. You can get it at the City Hall. You can do nothing about the pictures until I send you a receipt which i suppose I shall get as soon as the pictures are ready/ I have got to go to work at half past seven. So I can write no more now. If I have time to write again before the mail goes, I will.
Goodbye from your affectionate son, — Colman
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Pair of 43rd Massachusetts Infantry CIVIL WAR LETTERS from North Carolina NICE:
$138.50