Dear Sarah: Letters Home from a Soldier of the Iron Brigade
208
Dear Sarah: Letters Home from a Soldier of the Iron Brigade
208Hardcover
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Overview
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780253335609 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Indiana University Press |
| Publication date: | 11/22/1999 |
| Pages: | 208 |
| Sales rank: | 743,682 |
| Product dimensions: | 6.40(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.90(d) |
| Age Range: | 18 Years |
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Read an Excerpt
Dear Sarah
Letters Home From a Soldier of the Iron Brigade
By John Henry Pardington, Coralou Peel Lassen
Indiana University Press
Copyright © 1999 Coralou Peel LassenAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-253-33560-9
CHAPTER 1
September 1862
Mrs. J.H. Pardington Trenton Wayne CO. Michigan
To begin you know the Parting which I shall never forget
We can only imagine the many different emotions felt by the men that first night in camp. Many had never been away from home before. They were lonely, confused, and frightened, wondering how the folks at home were coping with their absence. Sons worried about their parents, husbands and fathers about their wives and children. The raw recruits wondered if they would be brave in battle. Would they even know how to fight? So far, they were relatively untrained, and the realities of war were unknown and probably somewhat romanticized.
Their send-off on August 29 was heroic. In his book The Twenty-fourth Michigan, Donald L. Smith described the exciting scene:
Cheering and singing had started as the Regiment was forming. Woodward Avenue was pulsing with an unexampled intensity. For hours people had swarmed upon every standing place along the route. The National colors were everywhere, making a carnival scene. They were draped across the streets, hung from windows, carried by children, as the populace prepared to send the Regiment off. It was less a march than a triumphal procession. As one corporal put it, "Roman emperor never had a prouder greeting." Street, sidewalk, windows, roofs, balconies, anywhere that people could hang, stand, or sit, were jammed with spectators. As soon as the people at any point caught sight of the long blue line and saw the shimmer of the bayonets, they took up a cheering that never ceased. Handkerchiefs fluttered in the air like butterflies. Eyes, many of them dim with tears and wet with pride, gazed upon the ranks as they passed. Through an avenue literally jammed, giving way before them and closing in dense masses behind, the companies marched.
They traveled by steamer to Cleveland. It was a stormy trip, so all were grateful to board a train for the journey to Pittsburgh. Townsfolk all along the way gathered to cheer them as they passed by. In Pittsburgh, the Gazette reported, "The Twenty-fourth Michigan arrived in this city Saturday evening, August 30. Its soldiers are of the very best class of men, stout, hearty, cheerful, intelligent, and splendidly equipped. They were marched to the city hall, where a sumptuous repast awaited them, during which Colonel Morrow [commander of the Twenty-fourth Michigan] made a patriotic address."
Reality set in on September 1 with their arrival in Washington. The journey had been long, tiring, and delayed many times when they were sidetracked for passing trains. Torrential rains battered them as they marched down Pennsylvania Avenue on their way to Alexandria. Passing them by were ambulances carrying the wounded from nearby battlefields.
At home, Sarah, missing her husband terribly, found solace in tending to her infant daughter, Maria, and writing to her sister, Mary Noble, who had recently lost her husband, David, to the war. Sarah and the baby eventually went to live with another sister, Belinda, and her husband, Joseph Van Horn.
The month of September found the Twenty-fourth Michigan moving to various camps, drilling, becoming more skilled with weaponry, and, in general, toughening up. Their preparation for joining the famous Iron Brigade was serious business indeed. On September 29, the regiment received orders to join the Army of the Potomac led by General McClellan in Frederick, Maryland. Once again they traveled by rail through beautiful countryside, passing by the old flag being displayed at simple cottages and grand estates alike. Most folks along the route called out their greetings and waved. An occasional few stood quietly and watched them pass without a gesture. They arrived in the Monocacy Valley, found a good campsite, and settled into a routine of more drilling and cleaning of clothes. When they had time off, a few fished in the river. Being tested in battle was still a challenge to be faced in the unknown future, and Johns letters indicated an eagerness to be done with it and return home. Little did they know what lay ahead.
Fort Lyons Alexandria
September 2,1862
Dear Wife,
It is in Haste I write these few lines to you for we are now under marching orders either to Bull Run or back to Washington. The enemys cavalry are now in full force a few miles from us. We have not a round of ammunition with us although in enemy country. There was five men shot on Picket only a little ways from us last night. They are having awful work here. They Put us through from Washington yesterday on a force march here with our heavy loads on our back. Hundreds drop out of Rank with fatague. Dear we are all in good spirits and well. We arrived here last night and just as we got here it comes on a heavy rain storm. Not a tent to cover us but I soon found out a old shed just about like Joes old cow shed and I slept good till morning although wet through. They have Put us through a little to heavey since we started. Night and day and here we are on the sacred soil of Old verginia. I am on gaurd to day and to night. My time will be off tomorrow at nine Oclock. I will write again directly we get settled. Dear Sarah the ambulences is one Perfect string of wounded going into Washington. I see Bob McDonald in Baltimore. He is getting along first Rate. Dear Sarah I dont think it will be long before we are ordered to the Battle feild. If it aint today some thinks that is our Plase of Destination. Hope not yet on the mens account for we are not drilled yet good enough. But if that should be the case not a man will flinch. Dear Wife kiss the Baby for me and keep up good spirits for hers and mines accounts. Today is as cool as any I have seen in Michigan. Dear Sarah dont write till you hear from me again for I dont know where we will be stationed. Remember me to all enquireing friends Jo and Belinda and Willie and Mr Clee. Tell them I will write when I can get time. Excuse this for it was wrote on the ground. Kiss the Baby and except one for yourself. Good By good By God Bless you.
I remain your affec Husband
John H. Pardington
Co. B Cap Ingersall
24 Michigan Infantry
PS. Dont write till I write again. Kiss Mother for me.
Jack
Alexandria
Camp Morrow Fort Lyons
Sept 3 1862
My Dear Wife
You will think it strange when you receive another letter from me But I will tell you the reason why. We have different orders. We are going to stay where we are for the Present for we expect a great battle here in a few days. Our army is faling back to Alexandria and the Rebels are in full foarce behind so you may expect to hear something from the 24th Reigment in a few days. We are all supplied with Plenty of ammunition and we sleep on our arms at night. The enemy aint over ten miles from us. Dear Sarah the 18th New York will be with us in a few days. I will find out Elias and then write to you about him. There will be a great Battle here in a few days which I think will Decide the events of the war. It is the Rebels last chance and they fight like Devils. Dear Sarah there was a whole Bragade came in today and they were numbered no more than our reigment. Our troops have hard work but are in good spirits and Bound to Whip them. Dear Sarah when you direct your letters Write them
John H Pardington
Co. B 24th Michigan Regiment
Washington D.C.
PS. Dear Wife Kiss the Baby for me and Write as soon as you get this and tell me the news at home for when I write again I suppose I shall tell you if I am spared how being on a battle feels. Remember me to all and a Kiss for the Baby and except one for yourself. So good By God Bless you give me your Prayers. Kiss Mother for me and remember me to Buttons folk and all in Trenton. If you see them mind Willie and Mr Clee and God Bless you and a Kiss. So good By I remain your affec Husband
John H Pardington
Co. B Cap Ingersal 24th Mich Infantry
Washington D.C.
Sarah When you Write send me a stamp with it if you please.
Jack
Dear Sarah our Regiment is made the advance of the Army of the Potomic and our Company is Detached for Skirmshers so you know how they Put Michigan men through.
John
Sunday Sep 14,1862
Camp Shearer
Fort Baker
Washington D.C.
Dearest Wife
Last night I received your kind and affec letter and was glad to hear from my little wife and my baby. O Sarah you cant think how eager I tore open the envelope to read the preacious line which thrilled through me and made my heart light and Happy. O Sarah you cant think how that few lines Put me in such good spirits. Dear Sarah do write me a long letter the next time not as I grumble at the one you wrote me no indeed far from [it]. Dear Sarah we have moved from the plase when I wrote my first letter. We have moved about 3 miles from Washington on the line of defences around the city. We are right by Fort Baker. Dear Sarah about sleeping and eating you never heard of a soldier getting the best. We fare Pretty well but the marches is what uses the soldier up the most. Dear Sarah we can now hear heavay firing in the distance suppose to be between the armies of McClellen and the Rebel Jackson. They must be fighting hard by the constant and hevey fireing. Dear I am going to Prayer meeting to night with James Havens in the Chaplin tent. We have a good many church members in the 24th. Dear Sarah it [is] now getting dark and I must now soon close my letter. But first tell me about what you done with your money and about your Order, Sarah excuse me for mentinont them. But you know Sarah it is my duty. Forgive me dear if I have done any harm for I ment none. Kiss mother for me and Remember Her to me My Dear. Kiss Belinda for me But dont tell Jo. or let him see you do it. Now Kiss the Baby for Little Dear How I would like to see her the dear little thing.
Good By God Bless you is my Prayer. Remember me to all and except a Kiss from your loveing Husband
J H Pardington
Co. B 24th Mich Infantry
Washington D.C.
PS. Sarah send a dollar or two I Bought a revolver and it used up my money. Mind the stamp.
Good By god Bless you
John
Write soon
Sunday
Camp Shearer Fort Baker
Sep 21
Washington D.C.
My Dear Wife
I received your kind and affectinate [letter] Last night and was glad to hear from you and baby. I Suppose you have received my letter By this time for I wrote it the day you wrote yours on the 14th day Sep. Dear Sarah be careful of little maria for you say the scarlet fever is very bad around trenton. Sarah if Jos children get it move up to mothers' and stay awhile. Not move your things but just yourself for I would not lose that little one for anything. It would make me reckless and I hope the lord willing she will be spared to us and excapes those dangerous fevers. Dear Sarah I took very sick yesterday but I am getting a little better today I was took with a Pain in my chest and I went to the hospatel for some mediceni and they gave me a dose of stuf which I thought would kill me. Thats what ail me now. I dont beleive they know what they was giveing me. They gave me a dose of Rhubarb. Why it was a teaspoonful besides something else in it all at one dose, and I was never better in my life before only that pain in my chest. What makes me sick is the cause of the stuff they gave me. They dont care some how or other but I war pretty sick last night. God forbid that i shall be any worse for Dear Sarah you have no Idea of what sickness is here. Give me the chance of the Bullets than the Hospetal.
Dear Sarah you say you was lonesom. What do you think of me away from friends and one that is so near and dear to me? You have got friends around you. But dear I hope the day will not be far distant when we shall clasp each others neck and Print a warm kiss of love on each other lips. Keep up spirits dear for my sake and that dear little Angel. Sarah have you heard from Maria? If you have I wish you would write and tell me and tell Maryann to write to me. Tell me all the news. Dear Sarah I had my hair cut all off short so I send you a lock of it which I know you will except it. I did not Plaid it. You wont care though will you dear. I wish you would Plaid some of yours and send it to me in your next [letter] and I will give you a good kiss when I come home. Remember me to all at home and all joes folks and the rest around there. Sarah I will send you my picture when I receive another letter from [you] for I want a little money from you. Excuse me for naming it but then I bought a revolver wich took all of it so you will not mind will you dear. Sarah you can all talk about volentering but if [I] was at home I think I should stay there for I know now how to appreciate your company and if ever I come [home] the Lord Willing I think I shall not give you any cause again to set up for me nights like you used to. Sarah if I could recall those nights I would sacriface my right hand But you will forgive me wont you dear and I make a faithful Promise before God if ever I get back to you I will live a different life.
Sarah I am trying to live a different one here and I hope the Lord Helping me I shall return a Christian. Pray for me Sarah that I may. We have nice Prayer meetings and class meeting and good Preaching Sunday which is a good Benefit to us. I am shure we ought to be thankful for. Ira is well. Raynors wife's brother is well. He is a nice young fellow and a member of the church. If you see Maria tell her I seen her old Beau Ed Sackrider. He is Post master in the 17th Mich Reigment. He is well. I have not seen Elias yet. We are farther off him now. I think it will be a Poor chance to see him now. Good By god Bless you and little maria and both of you except a loveing kiss from your loveing Husband John H Pardington
Co. B 24th Michigan Infantry
Washington D.C.
Write soon never mind Paper ink and stamp as long as you have got money and Health
Jack
Wednesday Sep 24 1862 Camp Schearer D.C.
Dear Wife,
Haveing a little spare time to spare I thought I would write you a few lines Incident to our jurney which I never mentioned in my letter. To begin you know the Parting which I shall never forget the last kiss. We arrived at Cleveland after a rather rough Passage about 8 Oclock PM. We staid at the depoe about one or two hours and then started for Pittsburgh. I shall never forget that Plase as long as I live. The Pepole was so Patriote [patriotic]. They gave us a first[rate] supper in their best Hall in the city, and then we got aboard [one] of the cars which runs in the center of the streets. We staid there about 2 hours in the cars Both sides being lined with Ladies and young girls and men. The girls would climb up to the windows and give us their Handkercheifs to remember [them] by I got six. Excuse me Sarah. But I did not take for that. But because I thought they would be useful to me. So you will forgive me wont you. I know you will. The next Plase we started for was Baltimore. We arrived there on Sunday afternoon about 4 oclock. We marched down to the depot and got Plenty to eat, But had to slep on the sidewalk all night wich I though[t] rather hard after being used to a good feather Bed and a good Bedfellow. We had no covering only our Blankets and wet to the ground. That was all very well so far But the worst is to come yet. The next morning we started for Washington. We arrived about 10 oclock A.M. We had Lunch there and started for fort Lyons about 3 miles beyond Alexandria where the Brave Ellsworth fell so nobly. Mind you we had our heavy knapscacks on our Back, under a Burning sun in all about 15 miles. We arrived there about sundown and just as we got there it set in a terrible thunder Storm and rained tremendious. We had no tents nor nothing to eat. Our tents and Provisions had not come up. We had nothing to do but dump down on the ground almost up to anlkes in water. But Jack thought that would not do for him. So off I started and some more [men] to an old Secesh House. We offered the Old Devil a dollar apeice to sleep on the cellar floor But he would not do it. But we was Bound not to be outdone. So off we started for the Barn but that was locked. We dare not break it in. It was raining awful hard all the time. Wet to the skin and cold. No supper either so we had to be satisfied with the old cow shed shit and all. Was not that Pleasent Sarah. I think it was. I slept first rate. But when I awoke in the morning I could hardly move so stiff and sore But in good spirits for the morning Broke in splendour and we soon got warm beneath the warmth and splender of a southern sun. We are encamped in a better situation now. Good and Plenty to eat and good Place to sleep. But we cant tell how long we may stay. We may [stay] all the winter and we may not stay a day. All according whaether they need us or not. Cant tell the fortunes of war. They are drilling us right through now and they are not doing it for nothing I can tell you. The Rebels lost 20 thousand in their Battles in Maryland and they have retreted from that state and not one left. They did not make much. Tell Jo McClellan is the man for to do the Busines. He is following them right up and now is the time for Richmond and an end to the Rebelion and Death to all Traitors is the War cry. Dear Sarah I must soon End with my kind Love to all And except the same from your Loveing Husband.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Dear Sarah by John Henry Pardington, Coralou Peel Lassen. Copyright © 1999 Coralou Peel Lassen. Excerpted by permission of Indiana University Press.
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