Keeping Track

I thought I'd start today with a military record of Philip that my grandmother (Roby Woodcock Abercrombie) wrote in 1972.  It's a great record of his career and it has certainly helped me in keeping track of the dates & battles.  After that, there is a small excerpt from his first letter of 1865 with more to follow in the upcoming Countdown to Surrender!

The Military Record of Philip R. Woodcock

b. 1840 - d. 1913

Enlisted as Private July 23, 1862, Springfield, N.Y.

August 1862- Promoted to Corporal at Camp Schuylor Mohawk, NY

February 22, 1865 - Promoted and commissioned 1st Lieutenant 

(Transferred to command of Co. "I", same regiment.)

June 25, 1865 - Received Honorable Discharge by General Order of War Department.

List of Highlights of Engagements:

• Sept. 16-17, 1862 ~Antietam, Maryland
• December 1862 ~ Fredericksburg, VA
• May 3, 1863 ~ St. Marye's Heights & Salem Church, VA
• July 2-3, 1863 ~ Gettysburg, PA
• November 7, 1863 ~ Rappahannock Station, VA
• November 28, 1863 ~ Mine Run, VA (Orange County)
• May 5 & 6, 1864 ~ Wilderness, VA (Orange County)
• May 10-12, 1864 ~ Spottsylvania, VA
• June 1, 1864 ~ Cold Harbor, VA
• July 1, 1864 ~ Petersburg, VA
• August 21, 1864 ~ Charlestown VA (Shenandoah Valley)
• September 19, 1864 ~ Winchester, VA
• September 22, 1864 ~ Fisher's Hill VA (wounded - 4 months inactive)
• February 4, 1865 ~ Petersburg, VA
• February 6, 1865 ~ Battle Hatch's Run, VA
• April 2-3, 1865 ~ Petersburg, VA
• April 9, 1865 ~ Present at Surrender at Appomattox

(Also in 14 minor engagements and skirmishes)

Wow!

As the war wound down in 1865, my great-great grandfather wrote 41 letters home to Roby (at least, that's what we have from that shoebox of letters!)  He wrote on January 1, 1865 from York, PA a long four page, legal sized paper, letter to her.  He ruminates on this being his last New Year's in the Army:

"York Pa Jan 1st/65

My Dear Wife

According to promise I write you again today I dont know but you will receive both of these at one time but I dont care[.]  I saw Dr Mintzer today & he said I coud go to my Regiment tomorrow morning so I will soon bid good bye in Little York Hospital where I have been bumming long enough..." (Please see my post from Oct. 3rd to detail his injuries.  He was in the hospital for approximately 3-4 months.) "It is New Years day & I would a good deal rather spend it with you than here[.]  We had a Stew for Dinner but nothing extra ~ This will be the last New Years I probably shall spend in the Army.  I hope so at any rate but know (sic) one but God can tell how or where we will be next New Years.  I hope we shall have a happy & pleasant one & be reunited again never to be seperated (sic) on earth.  The weather is cool with a little sleighing (not sure if that is the correct word.  It would seem to mean in context "sleeting".) I had no pass & could not go to church today but I shall go to night if nothing serious happens ~ The Doctor did not hardly fancy letting me go but when I made my statement he gave his consent readily ~ They had strange doing here in the street last night[.]  It sounded like 4th of July ~ Everybody was shooting & firing off revolvers to shoot the old year out ~ a practice which is in vogue here to a great extent, it sounded like skirmishing ~ I am agoing to write to Capt Cronkite today to let him know I soon shall be there ~ I hope I shall get that commission imediatly (sic)[.]"

I'll stop there for today.  Come back for the continuation of his New Year and see how the wounded men celebrated in the Sleeping Room!

Hope to see you then!

It's About Time

"...I was interrupted the other day..."

How true that statement is from Philip's continuation of his letter of March 15-17th, 1863.  I have been very interrupted in posting recently due to some internet issues, but I'm back up and running!  I'll finish this letter and then tell you about an exciting new direction I'm taking with this blog in the upcoming months.

Here is the conclusion of his letter written from Winter Quarters, Camp at White Oak Church, March 17th, 1863:

"I was interrupted the other day & now I will finish this ~ Our Lieutenant has returned from leave of  absence & he has command of the Company now though I am acting orderly Sergt.  Davidson has gone home on a furlough & I rank next to him so I am Orderly and I have enough to do too[.]  I dont know but I shall be home soon on furlough maybe next week I shall try hard but I am afraid I will have to wait 20 days longer ~ Sergeant Nubern, Armstrong & myself had our pictures taken yesterday & they were the best pictures out[.]  You must get it copied the first chance you get if you want ~ a good picture of 2 of the best Sergts in 121st Regt ~ but without bragging they were tiptop[,] they were taken in full Dress uniform with no Equipments nothing but Dress Sash[.] We sent it to Rosetta this morning & you must get a copy of it ~ I was vaccinated the other day again and it is working nicely I have a pretty sore arm[.]  The Small Pox danger is all over now I guess ~ We dont hear much about marching though the spring is getting so far advanced that the roads will soon be passable and from appearance & present indications I think we will soon have to "dig out".  Hooker is not the man to let us lay idle longer than he can help and when we do get it will be with a rush and some hard fighting again[.] The last and most current rumor now in camp is that we are agoing to Washington & from there to Staten Island but we of course don't put any confidence in such rumours (sic) as it dont pay ~ but if we go to New York I will let you know. "

(As several of his letters refer to the numerous rumors swirling through camp, I thought I'd research that.  It seems that swirling rumors were a very common occurrence throughout the war.  I tried to pinpoint it to just one battle or situation, but there were so many I couldn't even begin to list them.)

Philip went on to tease Roby gently in his letter about a gift he made for her and where it was obtained from: 

 "I enclose in this letter a bone ring which I have worked a good many hours on & which I hope you will be pleased with ~ but what would you say if I should tell you it was made out of the Shin bone of a Rebel? you must be carefull and not put it in your mouth..."

No worries though: "But you need not be afraid for it is made from a Beef bone and not a Reb[.] "

Then comes family concerns:  "I wrote the other day to Burney ~ Harrison, VanHorne & Bill Craft.  I got a letter from Aunt Nelly yesterday.  She is down on the War question the worst kind[,] she writes that Grandmother is very sick & helpless & would like to see father but she did not know what his business was & whether he could come or not ~ "

And finally, business at hand and updates on soldiers they both know:  "We had Target shooting the other day & as luck would have it I plumbed the Bulls Eye though not in the Center. I was the only man in the company though they all shot close but it was cold and windy & I guess it was accident my hitting it. We each had 3 shots[.] We are agoing out again this afternoon to try it ~ Isaac Whipple & Bob Christman have gone to Rip Raps and confined to hard labor for one year & forfeit all pay & allowances now due & 10 dollars a month while there ~ that is what follows desertions ~ Bill has been home I heard and is now in Canada[.] I hope you have got that money all safe I guess we shall get paid again this week now write soon give my little boy a kiss and one for you[.]

Love to all                                                           PR Woodcock"

A long and newsy letter!  

Now, onto my next blog idea....

The 150th Anniversary of the end of the Civil War is this year--2015!

Philip wrote approximately 40 letters during his final year in the war.  I also have a few that Roby wrote to him plus one from a friend.  There are also those diaries that I've yet to get to!  Much, much more to be explored.

My great great grandfather wrote about the death of Lincoln and the surrender of Lee, so be sure to join me on my Countdown to Surrender journey in this blog!

Hope to see you then!

In Command

I'm back to March 1863 after a brief holiday diversion.  (Please see previous posts from Thanksgiving through the New Year).  The Union Army is still in winter quarters at White Oak Church and all is calm.  Philip wrote a four page letter to Roby that spanned two days, March 15th and 17th.  Here is the first half:

"Camp near White Oak Church

March 15th 1863

My Dearest Roby

I write this to inform you I received yours yesterday morning & was glad to hear that you was all well ~ I also received Aby's letter this morning and a map from you ~ It is not very cold today but it has been for 2 or 3 days outrageous cold & windy ~ I believe we have the funniest weather here in Virginia of any place on the face of the Earth[.]  One hour it will be so very pleasant & may be[,] the next it will storm & Rain & blow like everything ~" 

Then he get's to brag a little bit...

"I tell you Roby I am doing a big business here for a short time and I feel big enough ~ I am left in command of Co. E. 121st Regt & I have my hands full but I like it after all.  I tell you nothing sets a fellow up so much as having a good company left on his hands[.]  [I]t is just what I wanted this good while[,]  to get command of the company long enough to see how it would go ~ Everything goes now just as I say & I have full Authority.  This morning I had Inspection & my Company had as clean tents, Guns, clothes & faces as any in the Regt. The boys seemed to take pride in it too and they certainly did look clean ~ One thing made us look good yesterday we all drew New York State jackets & they looked Gay.  ( I remind readers that terms/words have changed through the years and that in 1863, he was mighty impressed with his new jacket, hence the word "gay".) They are the same nearly as that fatigue jacket of mine in the likeness. That is the way Uncle Sam pays off his troops by making them draw lots of clothing[.] I wish now you could see me I am dressed up gay..."

He seemed quite proud of himself that day and glad to be in command.  I remind you, in 1863, Philip was only 23 years of age.  

Please join me for the continuation of this letter of March 15/17th in my next post.

Hope to see you then!

A Brief Word from Brother George

A few letters from various relatives are in this collection also.  I thought I'd put in one short letter from Philips's brother George today.  It was written to Roby (Philips's wife) on March 7th, 1863.  George's handwriting is beautiful:

"Camp near Pratts Point - Va

Feb March 7th-/63

Sister Roby

     Your kind letter came to hand last night - & I was very glad to hear from you[.] We are as well as..." (not sure of this word here...looks like vaval or several but it's difficult to make out) " 

I received a note from Phil last - night he was well & had just received his box he said it opened good I was first-a-going over to see him today had my pass all right - when it had to rain and my celebrations were all knocked in the head but I shall go tommorrow  (sic) if it does not rain[.]"

That's the entire first page!  Big difference between the brother's content and amount of information.  His second page reads as this:

"Our Lieutenant has just started for home on a furlough.  My Box or the contents were (except the dried fruit - mostly spoiled it was so long on the road & not having any air is what made it - I guess.  There has been a number of the boys belonging to the 76th that have been court-martialled (sic)  they take their pay & bounty away from them[,] it must be fun for them to soldier it for nothing[.]  I guess that they wish that they had stood by the Regiment[.]"

And the third page:

"I presume that by the time that this

reaches you that you will have been & got back from St Johnsville (?)  I hope that you had a good visit.  As I am not acquainted with John Frank or Ben Leeland I have nothing to say with regard to them only ask Sarah if she can not do something for her county by persuading them enlist & help put down this rebellion[.]  But I must close.  My love to all write soon

Yours with much Love

Geo P Woodcock"

And very much like Philip, there is a postscript written up the side of the page:

"What is the matter with Miranda that she does not write to me" [?]

George has a very different tone to his letter and almost a "gossipy" feel to it or perhaps I'm reading too much into it.  He certainly sounds somewhat suspicious of Roby and Sarah visiting with two men that he doesn't know!

I'll include more details about George and his personal life in my next post.

Hope to see you then!

Dear Roby, It's Christmas...

"My Dearest Wife....tomorrow is Christmas..."

I decided to look through Philip's letters that were written around Christmas time.  There was no letter written in 1862 around that time but if you go to my post of July 22 of this year, you will see his last letter of that year.  It's titled "Zip & Whistle on the Battlefield".  I did find one written on Christmas Eve the following year, 1863 and a diary entry on Christmas Day. 

He wrote in his diary on Friday, December 25, 1863:

"Christmas today.  Very cold but pleasant[.]  Had Hard Tack for Breakfast ~ Got up a lot of wood[.]  Commenced making me a Chair[,] Drew soft bread &c ~ Had some Ale issued out to us for Merry Christmas but not much of it[,]  made out Clothing Requisition again also a return of Ordinance Stores"

His letter the day previous was filled with disappointment:

"Camp of 121st NYS Vols.

Near Brandy Station

Dec 24th 1863

My Dearest Wife

Although I have no letter from you to answer yet I will write ~ I am well, although badly dissapointed (sic) ~ They have ceased giving furloughs again[.]  they are played out for the present so there goes all my expectations[.]  I had anticipated a great time but it is all knocked in the head ~ It is pretty hard but it cant be helped ~ I do not know the reasons of the sudden stoppage but I think it is because it has a tendency to stop Re-enlistments or it is because so many Regts that are enlisting over again are agoing home and it would weaken the Army ~ but I dont see why they should be afraid of that..."

He actually complained on and on in this letter--so much so that I will skip some of it but the sentiments were:

"...I am sure if Lee should attack us we could whip him on fair ground..."
"...I hope & think it very probably that they will soon give furloughs again..."
"...I should have been home about the 10th or 12th of January had this order not come..."
"...you can imagine how dissapointed I was..."
"...I shall have to be content but it seems pretty rough..."

I could feel his disappointment and almost despair that he was trying to cover for his wife.  The letter goes to practical things after that, mostly about her making him a new shirt and ordering new boots.  (I'll detail that letter later.) 

I want to close with his final paragraph in the letter...

"...Tomorrow is Christmas ~ know I wish I was with you.  We shall buy a pie for tomorrow. The Drum Corps has got a lot baked up for 40 cts.  Kiss the Baby for me, one for you, good bye

Yours truly and affectionately

P R Woodcock"

Merry Christmas and A Most Happy New Year from myself and the letters of Philip R. Woodcock to his wife Roby.

Please look for my New Year's Post next...

Hope to see you then!

A Change of Plans

"...Our Spirits Soared..."

I am certainly not a military specialist and have a limited knowledge of the actual "strategy" of a war but I do know the extent that which troop movements and days/timing of attacks is extremely important to the success or failure of a battle.  The Generals at the time of the Civil War planned vast campaigns to take back land and moved their troops into and out of various battles, some with great success and others with great loss.  This particular battle that Philip wrote about just after Thanksgiving was one of strategic moving that most certainly saved his life...

The continuation of the letter of December 4, 1863:

"after daylight the Generals all went out to plan the attack & view the ground ~ They see the danger of it & see the thousands that would fall and wisely decided not to storm the position ~ as soon as we learned it wasnt we glad (sic) ~ Lord only knows how thankfull we were[,] our spirits raised & had it not been such freezing weather would have felt good but we were so chilled through & so hungry that we was miserable & we knew we would have to stay untill after dark as if the Enemy knew that we were there they would warm us up with shell (humor?) but fortunately they were as much in the dark as we wanted as soon as it was too dark for them to see us we went out of there in a hurry[.]  I tell you what fires we had that night & what Suppers ~ The next day there were no movements made & the night after we withdrew & marched all night & uncrossed the Rapidan at Germanier Ford & got breakfast & moved in a little farther & lay back for the Teams & Artillery to get out the way here our Rations gave out although we was supposed to have one day on hand but being up so much nights we eat them all up[.]"

I would imagine the stress of the situation, bitter cold and uncertainty had them eating everything they could get their hands on.  He continues:

"I was not so bad off as some as I had been saving but some of our boys went all day without a mouthfull of anything but parched corn & beef ~ There I saw Bruce [,] the 76th marched by us & he stopped to see me I was glad enough to see him he looks as rugged and though as can be we stayed there all day & night and the 3rd marched back in our old Camp[.]  We was hungry & tired enough I tell you too but we got Rations & yesterday it was reported that the Rebs was advancing on us & I had to get up in the night & draw 3 days rations & issue but I guess it was only a small alarm ~ We think we will go into Winter Quarters now as I dont believe anything farther can be done this winter ~ I dont know what we made the advance for but one thing I do know that is the Army of the Potomac done more than ought to have been asked of them ~ it has been a rough time for us & filled up the Hospitals again ~ perhaps I can tell in my next Letter more of what we accomplished ~ I am on this campaign ~ I hope operations are suspended for the present here but I am thankfull to God for sparing my life & we must still hope all things will turn out well ~"  (and now finally a mention of that first Thanksgiving!) "Where did you spend Thanksgiving[?]  did you think of me [?]  that day it was a hard one for us ~ but thank God it was no worse[.]  Give my love to all write soon & Remember me Kiss the Baby for me  I will write again soon & if we stay for the winter maybe I can get furlough till then Good bye my dearest one[.]

Yours &c
Phil R Woodcock"

And on my earlier post of the beginning of this letter I mentioned that this last page also included a long post script--written upside-down

in between the sentences that I've just transcribed to you.  Here is what the rest of his letter said:

"I expect a lot of letters tonight if the mail comes[.]  If we go in winter quarters here we expect a good time as we shall build splendid shanties & get good Living[.]  I wrote a letter to Martha about some shirts that we wanted made & sent to Nubern.  Phil Van Horne & myself ~ I supposed you was out in Warren at the time and so I though would be sure ~ Nubern has written to his Mother about them[.]  What do you think about them would it be best[?]  The cost us here $5.00 apiece & I think that they would be cheaper got (illegible on the crease of the paper here) It [is] considerable warmer now than it was when we was in the Wilderness[.]  The mail has come in and of course I shall have a big one ~ They all send respects to you ~ You will have to get me another Diary for 1864 as this is almost full then I will send it to you[.]  Get me a good large one if you can as this is plenty small enough[.]  Dont forget me[.]  Morning of the 30th November I thought I never should see you again my thoughts were very painful ~ I prayed to God to protect you & Georgie I certainly never expected to get out of it ~ all the Generals concur in saying that 20 men of our Regt could not have got up there but it is over with now & I must forget it ~ There was a good many of our wounded on that campaign that froze to death but I must close so good bye write soon"

The underlining is my own.  His fear and relief are palpable.

So there you have it ~ the conclusion of my great-great grandfather's first Thanksgiving!  

Please join me again for the next sequential letter back in Winter Quarters of early 1863!

Hope to see you then!

The First Official Thanksgiving, 1863

I'm slow to finish up this letter, but never-the-less, want to do it before Christmas.  To backtrack to my previous post, Philip wrote this letter on Dec. 4th, 1863 after surviving a near battle and frozen conditions for several days, one of which was the very first official Thanksgiving holiday in America.  

I'll let Philip continue to describe his "holiday":

"We all laid on our Arms in line of Battle untill one oclock A.M. when we was routed out & marched down toward the Left through the woods & brush about daylight[.]  we joined the Right of the 2nd Corps[,]  The 152nd was there & on the same Line with us that is the 2nd Line of Battle ~ about 7 oclock we started out to find the Rebs[,] it did not take long & we skirmished with them some 3 or 4 miles[,] they falling back slowly near Wilderness Church and Robertson Tavern[.]  They made a stand & they had a splendid position ~ It rained pretty hard about this time and did all day it was mighty very uncomfortable as we got awfull wet ~ we finally formed out Lines and

I guess the Rain was all that stopped the attack that day ~ On the Right of us they was fighting pretty heavy ~ Our Supplies here run short but by a great Effort they got us up our Rations all except Pork we got nothing but Beef all the while ~ I had to get up in the night and draw the Rations ~ On Sunday we laid under Arms expecting to have an Engagement but there was nothing done ~ I think that Gen. Meade will not fight Sunday if it can be postponed ~ The Rebs had got a good position and we could see that it would have to be taken by storm and we knew that it would fall to us to do that and we dreaded it bad ~ It had cleared off very cold & we knew that tomorrow would see the Bloodiest day upon record for it had Leaked out that the 5th & 6th Corps had to storm the Fortifications ~ The next morning at one oclock we was called up & got Coffee & was marched very still a little farther to the Right & through our Picket Line & got in a piece of woods close to the Rebs & there laid down and waited untill daylight[.]  O how cold it was & no fires was allowed..."

His third page of the letter goes on to describe the plan of attack:

"The plan of attack was this:  The 5th & 6th Corps was to charge the Rifle Pits together [,] we formed 4 lines of Battle the best Regiments in each Brigade was selected to form the first line and make the charge ~ Col Upton who commands our Brigade selected our Regt ~ it was a high honor but exceedingly dangerous to us as the first line would not have many left when they got up ~ We had a good many Batteries in position and they was to open & shell them at 8 oclock for one hour and at 9 oclock we was to make the Charge ~ I tell you there was a good many pale sober faces that morning as the time drew near ~ We could see what we had to do & it was worse than we expected[.]  There was a plain field to cross then a piece of woods so filled with underbrush & felled Trees that our Skirmishers could not get through & then a wide ditch that the Rebs had dug out and drove sharp sticks in to annoy us when we crossed[.]  These sticks were so fixed that 1/2 of us would have been impaled on them in crossing & now then it was so cold that day that a wounded man who could not get off the field would die in 3 or 4 hours as the 5th Corps had 4 freeze to death that day after they got asleep.  Now do you wonder we dreaded it [?] "

And then, preparation for death...

~ There was more preparations made that day for death than any other time I ever saw[.]  I could see cards thrown away and men starting off alone in the woods to pray ~ We all settled up our world affairs that is left our money &c in the hands of those who would not get in the fight ~ I tell you the suspense of those 2 or 3 hours was awfull ~ We was suffering extrememly from the severe cold we almost froze & we had to keep in motion constantly ~ It will take a good while before we get over that chill ~"

I'll stop there for today.  Please come back soon and check for the rest of the letter!