Sick of War

Before I begin today's post--a small personal note needs to be added--I will be posting Monday-Friday because I'm not available during the weekends due to work. (This writer is also a church pianist/organist).  OK, personal stuff out-of-the-way, we continue onto September 17th, 1862.  The battle he is writing from is Antietam/Sharpsburg MD.  (Please see my post of June 5th for a link about this battle.) He gives a powerful and very personal account to his wife Roby in the next series of letters:

"This village is about as large as the Centre & West Village together & every house shed & barn ~ Store & Shop almost is used for a hospital or prison house ~ the Rebels & well us union soldiers are occupying them ~ mostly Rebels though that we are taking care of ~"

Yes, they took care of the enemy...

"there is not an hour but what we see dead bodies carried by us to their graves on a little frame called a Stretcher or if not that legs & arms & fingers buried here ~ now I will give you more particulars of the battle here of which we had a small share ~ in order not to alarm you I did not in my former letter write the worst part of it as we expected to be called on to take part In the battle now progressing near Harpers Ferry -- in the first place we were held as a reserve but exposed to a terrible fire of Shell ~ the bullets did not trouble us much because we were under the Hill ~ the 16th & 18th NYS Vol & the N Jersey Boys did the most of the fighting ~it was a terrible battle"

I'm pausing here to prepare you for a somewhat grim account of the battlefield and if you are somewhat squeamish, you might refrain from reading:

"early the next morning we marched on the battle field & encamped there ~ O what sights I see there - I counted 96 dead rebels & a few Federals but I did see them all not near ~ Our men were buried immediately but we had the pleasure of sleeping side of dead Confederates 2 nights & being in their Company 3 days ~ the most of the boys stripped the bodies of Badges Buttons & Stripes of the uniform to send home but I suppose you do not want any very bad so I did not do so myself ~ but to see bodies lying in every possible shape dead & staring at you [,] some shot in the head [,] some in the limbs & bodies but all of them but all of them [repeated twice] looking horrible was a sight that at first made me sick of war"

He finishes with a rather interesting personal observation of the dead:

"I found a great difference in the Expression of faces between our Soldiers & the Confederates with the exception [of] one ~ I found our soldiers died with a peaceful & satisfied expression of continence but the Rebels were all frightened & horrible to look at but enough of this [.] I must go to bed [.] The battle is raging fearfully 3 or 4 miles of us between Jackson & our forces ~ in the morning I will give you more particulars if we hear from there though you get the news about as soon as we do so good night [.]"  

His letter continues with a brief entry on Sept 18th 1862:

"I do not hear much from the battle this morning but we do not hear the firing so it must have stopped ~ it looks very much as if we had whipped them ~ it must have been a tough battle ~ Old Soldiers who are here wounded tell me that they never heard such Cannonading & musketry as we heard in their life ~"

Come back tomorrow for September 19th!
  

Berkittsville, MD Sept 17, 1862

"My Dear Wife

I thought that I would write to you once more before I heard from home ~ I think I am doing most of the writing [.] I have not heard from home yet but I do not suppose we can get letters under a week or 10 days ~ The most I write for tonight is to assure you of my safety & to let you know where we are & what we are up to ~ we are now on special duty that is our company ~ the rest of the regiment is out on a scouting expedition & getting prisoners &c [.] Our Company is stationed as guard & other duties in Berkittsville about a mile from the battle field to guard the town & take of prisoners & Hospital duty &c ~ our Captain is commandant of the town ~ now I will tell you what I have been up to today [.] The Captain detailed me to take command of a detachment of men large enough to hold by force a lot of prisoners to bury their dead[.] I had 15 prisoners but I sent back 5 that were sick that left me 10[.] I took 6 of our men with Loaded Guns & marched them off to the Battle field where we have been Encamped for the last 2 or 3 days[.] I made them bury one horse that belonged to Gen Howell Cob a Rebel Gen that was Treasurer under Buchanan ~ several of their dead that has lain 3 or 4 days ~ it was an awful job tell you but I am getting so hardened that it makes no difference what they set us at[.] I date not tell you what sights I have seen ~ it would make your blood run cold ~ after we got through I paroled all the prisoners I had in charge & sent them to Frederick City ~ they all to a man do not want to go back in the army ~ they want to take the Oath of Allegiance & not fight against the flag any more but we have to exchange them in order to get our men back again[.] I do not know how many men we have taken prisoners ~ it is hard telling there are so many[.] I should judge about 800 -- O you that stay north do not know the miseries and horrors of war[.] "

 Come back tomorrow for the continuation of Sept 17 "Sick of War"!

Field of Battle

Fourteen days out from leaving home and marching down to the fighting filled the young soldiers with excitement. The letter of the 14-15th practically brims over with Philip's anxiousness to enter battle but also underscores the truth of what he was really feeling (fear) as he described the day to his wife -- gun in hand, loaded and ready to fire when needed:

"Sunday Sept 14th 1862 Field of Battle

My Dear Wife

Although the Chaplain came in to day & brought the letters for the Regt yet none came for me & I sent out one to you [.] I thought I would write again & let you know where we were ~ we marched a few miles this morning & finally came up with the Enemy about 8 miles from Harpers Ferry & at Bryattsville I believe the name of the Town is[.] [T]hey are in force in the mountains & we have got them surrounded ~ we are fighting with them now [.] I say we because we are into it though we have not fired a Gun yet but they are all loaded & ready for action ~ we are kept back a little yet ~ we can get a small chance at the [.] I guess the moment we got here our Artillery sent a 24 pounder amongst them & then they answered it [.] I tell you [fancy] too & the way the Shot flew I tell you was fun [.] We were placed upon a side hill out of danger ~ a short time ago a ball struck the ground about 20 Rods from me (that is about 330 feet/100.6 meters from him) & one about 30 or 40 [.] I tell you they tear up things some [.] Our Regt take it pretty cool for a new one & upon the point of Fighting but when the first ball went over our heads it was fun to see the boys squat down a little though they pretended not to notice it much [.] I bent my head a little but nobody could help it ~ they do make an awful horrid noise especially the shells & there is not much chance of dodging [.]"

I'm not sure about you, but when I read that passage I could feel his excitement as the shells were whizzing past and yet a sense of reality and awareness settling in of the serious nature of the situation. He goes on to complain (a very little bit) about being left behind again:

"The rest of the Troops have gone on & are fighting but we are stuck behind as usual & compelled to see without helping ~ it is not half so exciting as I thought it would be but we are taking it very cool [.] I do not think we shall be called out to  night but the Major just said that we might possibly tomorrow ~ while I have been writing over 10,000 fresh troops have passed us to fight so our Chance looks small to be with unless it is to help finish them [.] The Artillery has stopped firing & I guess they will withdraw for the night ~ the Infantry has about stopped too ~ it has been nothing but skirmishing so far but I must get my supper ~ they will not allow us to make a fire so a cold supper awaits me so good night [.] "

Almost dejectedly, he packs it in for the night but the next day

dawns and what a difference:

  

"Monday Morning 15th 1862

Glorious News this morning my dear wife [!] our forces has whipped the Enemy though at the Expense of many a poor mans life ~ we marched this morning a couple of miles & have stopped a short time on the mountains ~ our forces last night made a rally on the Rebels & took about 500 prisoners & killed a great many ~ we lost about 20 killed & 200 wounded ~ the dead Rebels lay thick all around us [.] I have been to see some ~ I tell you it looks horrible [.] I am glad you cannot see a battle field as it looks after the battle is over ~ it is horrible. The Rebels Skedaddled & ran over the mountains & we are after them now ~ we expect to overtake them shortly so I thought I would finish this letter first ~ but I must close[.] I wish I knew where George is[.] I would give anything to see him[.] I have heard several times that he was on ahead of us but I doubt it some [.]"

 George was his older brother who enlisted prior to him.

"I wish you could see the Army we have here ~ there are 3 times as many men as there is in Otsego Co [.] I do not know what they are agoing to do with us but I suppose to follow them up - If I go into battle I shall do my duty & hope I shall come out of it all safe - if not I sure I shall die in a good cause - Tell Burnhams folks that Parsons is all right & ready for a fight [.] I wish I could hear from you - I do not know as this letter will reach you but I must close so good bye my dearest wife [.] Love me as much as ever ~ do not be unnecessarily alarmed for I shall take good care of myself & should I not live through the coming battle take good care of the baby but I have no fears [.] I think I shall come out all strait at least I will try to [.] Now good bye ~ give my love to all the friends [.] Write me immediately Direct to

                                                             Sergeant P.R. Woodcock

                                                             Co. E 121 Regt N.Y.S.V.

                                                             Washington Capt Campbell"

If anyone is interested in learning more about the Battle of Antietam, please visit a great website "The Civil War Trust" http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/antietam.html

Hope to see you tomorrow for the letters of the Battle of Antietam, Sept. 17-19th!

  

Kiss Baby for Me

Saturday morning 13th 

(September 13, 1862, continuation of previous letter from yesterday's post):

"At last our forces have engaged the Enemy ~ about 3 or 4 miles from here our advance is fighting ~ we are under orders to march ~ now in a little while heavy firing is heard but it sounds like shelling ~ I think they are shelling woods or entrenchments & doing a little something but made orders to march [.]

1/2 past 5 Saturday eve 13 Sept 

  
We have encamped again & I think till morning ~we have been trying to find the enemy ever since morning but every night when we stop for the night they tell us that we are within 2 or 3 miles of the Enemy ~ we can get up & march 10 or 15 miles & encamp & be the same distance from the rebels & we can hear the firing ahead of us [.] I think it is funny but we are stuck way behind & about the Last of the Division & we extend along the road for miles ~ we have marched to day about 10 miles & done it very easy ~ it does not worry us much now to travel -- The Captain has added to my duties ~ that of drawing & dealing out rations to the men [.] I tell a Sergeant has not much time to spare ~ it keeps me running &c & drilling & doing every thing [.] I have command [of] 32 men ~ one good thing ~ they all obey my orders & will do any thing for me I believe if I should be wounded in battle 40 out of the company would all let fighting go & take care of me so I have some friends here ~ you need not send me many Envelopes [.] I guess I don't know but I can get them but send me 2 or 3 Postage Stamps ~ we cannot get them here [.] I was very lucky in getting these [.] We are now about 15 miles from Harpers Ferry (A minor battle in W. VA)  about 6 - [miles] from Frederick City & 3 from Jefferson 5 or 6 from Monocacy & Buckeystown & are drawn up in line of battle with orders not to leave but stay in our places ~ we are held as a reserve [.] They are fighting a few miles from us ~ we hear heavy Cannons & mortars & have for hours [.] I think that we shall go to Harpers Ferry ~ we do not know [.] I do not think we shall be called out to fight yet ~ we do know a good many think that we have old (old, as in experienced) troops enough to whip them out ~ now write to me ~I do not know when I can send this letter to you but it is written [.] I may not have another opportunity to write so that you will get it but you must write every 3 days ~ now good bye & take good care of the baby ~ how I would like to see you both [.]

                                                  Direct   Sergeant P.R. Woodcock
                                                  Co E 121 Regt NYSV &c

Kiss baby for me  Send me your & his likeness if you can"

________________________

And almost as an afterthought or a P.S., he writes down the side of the page this: 
"I have just cooked me a nice little dish of rice & it was good ~ we make our own Coffee Peach Sauce Apples &c&c & if I can cook [illegible word] P.R.W."

Visit again tomorrow for his letter of the 14th on the Field of Battle

Waiting and Watching ~ September 12, 1862

Philip's letter  of the 12th continues today with a description 

of his living conditions:

"It was so late last night that I could not finish this after eating supper so I will try again this morning ~ The rebels Skedadled (sic) yesterday & I do not know where they are now but we have marching orders at six o'clock & now it is 1/2 past 5 ~ we probably will keep following them up now all the while ~ now I want to tell you how we live & sleep ~ In the first place last night we slept out in the open air as usual & it was a rainy misty night [.] I waked up several times during the night & felt it raining in my face ~ we laid on the bare ground no pillow my blanket was wet so this morning when I folded it up the water runs out of it & it is very heavy too & we will have to carry them all day [.] I was wet through but I did not catch much cold ~ "

Imagine a heavy wool blanket, soaking wet, folded up and carried the rest of the day, possibly into battle or tossed nearby.  He goes on to talk about his food supply and the cost of certain items at the time:

"well now about our living ~ when we have liberty to forage & carry out order no 5 we live well but when we live on the rations that we draw I tell you it is poor though I have not suffered from hunger but the Company has ~ my appetite has not been good enough to eat all my rations & consignments [.] I have enough [.] we drawed this morning 1 Gal of [Old or Cold, illegible] Beans apiece which was all the quartermaster had to deal out to us ~ usually though we have 5 or 6 Army Crackers a thing about as large as a northern Soda Cracker & very solid & hard & no salt in them ~ it takes a man a great while to eat them ~"

 These crackers were known as  Hardtack

"~also a small chunk of good pork & when in camp a little beef but it goes pretty good ~ I do not complain a bit ~ it is not much worse than I expected though we have been used like old Soldiers ~ put through the worst kind for a green Regiment ~ yesterday we lived high ~ we had succotash & Roasted Corn potatoes Apple Sauce &c ~ all day we stripped about a 100 Acres ~ every man is his own cook on a march ~ we left all our plates knifes & forks & cups at the Forst so we have had to buy them here [.] I came across a Tin can about the size of an Oyster can & had to pay 20 cts for it ~ I then bought a pint Cup & had to pay 15 cts for that ~ I was offered a dollar for them but I could not spare them [.] I have seen soliers give one dollar for pint Cups but they are nearly all supplied ~ writing of prices ~ I will show you what things are worth here ~"

This is where I had a reality check against today's inflation:

"Cheese 30 to 40 cts per lb [,] Butter 33 cts Tea 2.00 Salt can't get it [,] only from Washington [,] Potatoes 75 cts per bush[el] sugar 30 cts per lb everything in proportion ~ Crackers & Cakes 2/-per lb 20 to the lb [.] "

$.75 cents for a bushel of potatoes? $.30 for a pound of sugar?

"Now I will try & tell you where we are [.] I hardly know where we are myself but we have traveled from Washington north west [.] I think we are in a parallel line with Harpers Ferry & half way between that & Washington ~ we passed & left Poolsville about 5 miles back [.] I think we are expected to leave here every minute ~ just as I am writing our Cavalry scouts have just brought in 2 prisoners Rebels [.] I don't know what they will do with them [.] We have just drawed our rations of Crackers ~ these are pretty good ~ they taste fresh ~ we drawed 23 for 2 days ~ The Captain is putting out orders to march are in hand & I must quit [.]"

By 6 o'clock P.M. they are drawn up in battle order:

"Here we are again drawn up in battle order held as a reserve while our advance is fighting the enemy [.] That is the way it goes ~ when we get up with them & ready the battle is ended [.] I do not know how it is agoing now nor where it is in fact ~ we hear no Guns nor firing ~ still one thing I do know ~ we have about overtaken them [.] They have been ahead of us ~ all the road houses are all deserted & some of their Doors all open & Carpets down pictures hanging & everything loose ~ I presume 200 of our soldiers passed from kitchen to parlor & out ~ nothing was taken that I see except an old parasol [.] We have marched 10 miles to day and are drawn up in the woods ~ we do not know how long we shall stay but I hope all night [.] O.C. Parsons is about tired out [.] I have taken care of him like a brother but he will come out of it all right I guess but I must stop & get supper [.]" 

Tomorrow: The morning of the 13th ~ Forces engage the Enemy! 

Hope to see you then. 

  

Not To Be Forgotten

Not only did my great-great grandfather leave behind his letters, but he also kept his company roll books.  These are filled with the names of all the soldiers in his particular division.  You'll see in the upcoming letters how his responsibilities grew and although only 22 years old at the time, he was attendant to his fellow troops.  You'll see next to some of their names the word "wounded". He kept track of who was ill, wounded, missing etc.

Although these are roll books from 1863, it gives you an idea of what they looked like.

His next letter is written over a three day period from September 11 - 13th.  He was in Maryland at the time.  One of the major battles of the Civil War was fought just days later from September 16-18th in Antietam/Sharpsburg.  His letter outlines a first hand account of the battle and the days leading up to it.

                               

                                  Thursday September 11 1862
                                  Maryland
                                  Camp in Gen Slocums Divisions

"My Dearest Wife

I write to you once more again to assure that I am all alive & well & hearty as can be ~ after sending you yesterday morning my letter we received marching orders & we marched 15 miles from 10 o'clock AM untill 6 o'clock P.M. one of the hardest marches a green Regiment ever made ~ but I believe I could have marched 20 easy I felt so good it was not half so hard yesterday as the first days march to me though it was very hot ~ a good deal hotter that old Springfield ever see ~ we are now encamped on what was a battlefield yesterday but to day it is all quiet enough [.] we arrived here just as they the rebels got through fighting & had retired ~ they killed one of our men & wounded one or two but our men killed 2 of the Rebels & wounded 4-2 mortally[.] They lay up about 40 rods" (A measurement approximately 1/8 of a mile.) "from us now ~ our forces fought the rebels 10 miles yesterday right ahead of us on the same road & beat them back ~ now understand this 10 miles was the road that we came over~"

He ended that section of the letter because it was after supper and growing dark at that point.  Come back tomorrow for the continuation of September 12, 1862!

1863 Roll Book of P.R. Woodcock

 

September 10, 1862...Philip's letter continues...

                                                                               "Sept 10

I woke up this morning feeling pretty tough but I think a little better than yesterday [.]  There is no Enemy in sight or hearing this morning ~ there was 6 miles of artillery passed up this morning [.] I wished you could see a full Army once we have had good opportunities to know what war is [.] Every thing is desolate ~ here Land is trod down & corn fields stripped & I must tell you how tall corn grows ~ it is like Ohio Corn [.] I actually saw some yesterday 12 ft high but it usually averages about 10 or 11 ft ~ the country is not worth fighting for but we are here now & we will do the best we can but I forgot to tell you how we look ~ here on every side of us there are thousands of troops & almost in sight of us I know of a thousand of Cavalry & one Regiments of Lancers & mules we see by the hundred also baggage wagons by the miles of them ~ there are over 100,000 of troops directly ahead of us so you see we are far from fighting yet - we are all prepared ~ we sleep in our Arms every night & ready to be formed into line of battle in 3 minutes ~ we have been brigaded into Gen. Barletts Brigade an[d] put into Major General slocum division & all under Gen McClellan so you will know about where to find us in case I can not write to you. [.] I happened to be very Lucky or I could not have written this time ~ you see we left every thing in our knapsacks ~ they was not but one man that brought envelopes ~ he gave me an old one if I would get it apart for it was struck together [.] I left things in my knapsack that if I had known we was agoing to leave them for good I should have brought with me [.] I left your likeness there (her picture) & in fact every thing but my testament (his Bible) ~ I brought that as we was just agoing to have small prayer meeting as we started ~ tell father the Eld Sayr the Universalist preacher that used to preach to the Centre is our Chaplin bu we have had no Sundays since we left Mohawk ~ we generally have more to do Sunday than any other day but I must close [.] I would like to be home a day or two now untill I got rested out [.] I tell you yesterday I would have given all my bounty money to have been back home again & it was so with the whole Company ~ we have been rushed through like old Soldiers & oh I was so tired & my duties as an officer is very heavy ~ when I felt like falling down I had to keep cheering the men on & keep them from leaving the ranks but don't you tell anyone I was homesick for as I begin to feel better & getting rested I get over it ~ The 43rd NY Regt is stationed within within a few rods of us [.] Hank Stockings - Herbert Smalls wife's brother is amongst them he was in our Camp yesterday feeling pretty good [.]  I tell you the Old Soldiers are looking tough all burnt up & Clothes dirty and torn ~ I hope we never will look so ~ if we do you will not know me [.] I am badly burnt up now ~ this Southern Sun takes bad [,] it burns in one day all to pieces ~ now I want you to write to me immediately & if I cannot not answer your letters whit it (sic) will be because I have not the opportunity of so doing [.] I have not heard from home since we left Mohawk & I would like to hear also send me 2 or 3 Envelopes [.] I can take this book for writing paper ~ we probably will have to march again to day although we are settled for the day ~ it may be we shall not ~ I hope not at least ~ but I must stop now ~ take good care of yourself & baby & kiss him for me & write to me as often as you can for I can't write again untill I get some Envelopes for we shall not see our knapsacks again in several weeks if ever at least untill the Campaign ~ now in case of a battle here I shall be very near it if not in it & I hope I shall come out all safe if not God will take care of me now Good bye God Bless you"

                                           direct to Sergeant P.R. Woodcock
                                            Washington D C
                                            Co. E. 121st Regt NYV
                                             Care of Capt Campbell

Next post--September 11, 1862, Maryland, hope to see you then!