11th Massachusetts Infantry - Died of Wounds from Wilderness

Item LTR-11557

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 2 page, written in period ink.


In Camp 14 miles from Richmond
 
Sunday, June 1, 1862
 
Dear Brother,
 
Your favor of the 18th instant was received 2 days ago. I did not get into camp until that day Friday. Our (Hooker’s) division is on the extreme left, 14 miles from Richmond. Our advance is within 6 or 7 miles from Richmond and has been for several days. There has been hard fighting for the last 2 or 3 days on our advance and the result I know not. We hear that our men have been repulsed with heavy losses and General Casey and General Carney are killed. And then we [also] hear our men drove the Rebels right through Richmond and taken possession of the town. Hooker’s Division have been ready to march at a moment’s notice and in fact have been out on double quick twice expecting the Rebels to attack us on our left—a place assigned to our division to prevent the Rebels from flanking us on our left. While I am now writing, we are expecting an order to run any moment.
 
All our luggage, except haversack, canteen, gun and equipment, is all sent back across the Chickahominy river. It is very hot here today. It has been raining a considerable part of the time the last month. The roads are almost next to impossible to travel for man or beast. I saw the Westmoreland boys today. They are as well as could be expected considering the weather and fatigue they have to Endure. The papers say our troops of the Army of the Potomac are in excellent health. I don’t think so—to say nothing about those that have been killed or wounded on our right last week. There is more than 25,000 that have been sent home or are still in the hospitals and not fit to do any duty. Captain Barker told me today that the 2^nd New Hampshire Regiment could not muster over five hundred men that were able to go into battle (He told me that Abijah French was dead).
 
I came in the rear from Williamsburg and was 11 days coming. Took my own time. The houses on the main road were mostly deserted by the white population excepting families and seldom I saw any of them and nearly every house vacated. There were more or less sick soldiers in them and many of them turned into hospitals.
 
There was nearly three thousand sick in the hospitals at White House Landing and more arriving daily and taking the steamboat for Fortress Monroe, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, etc.. News has just come in that we had drove the Rebels and taken lots of prisoners. I have not heard from home since I wrote you last. Two or three letters came in my absence and were sent back to White House Landing in our Captain’s trunk. I am well and hearty. Tell [your daughter] Ella I am very much obliged to her for the letter she sent me and tell her to write again. Tell her also that Jeff Davis was not quite patriotic to hang himself. Stanton’s Michigan Regiment encamped near us at Yorktown. They are away in the advance now. I will see Lewis Webster when we come near them again. Give my regards to your family and write again. 
 
Respectfully yours,
 
Abel Starkey
 
We are Off.