Note: This is the last of Bates' letters from the Eastern Theater, and the last for the month of February 1863. It appears that young master Bates will be a bit busy for the next week or so with the move, given his new position.
Port Tobacco Md
(Undated)
Dear Parents,
I was just thinking of the remarkable and interesting Widow Bedett and her “Kant Kalkulate” stanzas, this morning’s sun rose on as here at home and with no thought of leaving for the summer, but to-morrow’s will find us on our way to Tennessee to join the army of General Rosecrans. I have only a few minutes to spare in writing but it is quite sufficient to give you all the news in it amounts to this.
1st an order from General Halleck came in this morning directing us to go to Genl Hookers Headquarters and turn our horses and equipments over to the Quartermaster there, and then proceed with as little delay as possible to the Army of the West there to join the rest of the regiment now serving with Genl Rosecrans, we start from here at six oclock tomorrow. And if nothing but good luck overtakes us we shall be in the field with the remainder of our boys in a week.
We caught Captain Harris, the man who burnt up the Island belle of our navy and then deserted to join the secesh; he had a sort of curiosity to see his old home I suppose, and came over from the land of cotton to make a visit. Upon his person was found a pass signed by a General in the Southern army at Richmond, giving his rank as private in the rebels, he was arrested by a Sergeant of ours today.
I am acting as Commissary Sergeant today and probably shall remain in office while we are on our trip to Tenn.
My time is run out so good bye, my love to all.
Affectionately
Charles E. Bates
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Monday, February 11, 2008
Milestone Reached
At some point earlier today, this blog received its 10,000th visitor. I didn't think this would be a milestone that would be reached that quickly, but I guess it just shows that you never can tell. Hopefully a few of those 10,000 will be return visitors....
Thank you one and all for your visits, support and commentary.
Thank you one and all for your visits, support and commentary.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Bates Letters - February 9, 1863
Note: The local historical society will likely be none too happy about the contants of this letter, but at least they'll now have an idea of what happened to the courthouse records. It doesn't seem to have occurred to Bates that Maryland is officially loyal Union territory.
Port Tobacco Md.
February 9 1863
Dear Parents,
Another week has gone by towards the three year stone I see in the distance, and Sunday might find me at the dame desk and occupation of last Sabbath. I spent all last Friday afternoon in writing letters, but as there is but three mails a week leaving here, viz. – on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. This will go in the same mail; the only bit of news I have for you is that the Ninth Army Corps is going on bad of transports at Acquia Creek now. And we have captured two thousand dollars worth of contraband goods with two smuglers (sic); by “we,” I mean “us,” that is, the 4th U.S. Cavalry Esq. I spent the forenoon in exploring the garret of the courthouse, and truly it was “a pursuit of knowledge under difficulties,” for my head would afford a fine study for a phrenologist to feel the “bumps,” but I have my reward in about nine cartloads of old records and papers, a sample of which I will send you. Ask Johnson to read the writing on the old plan of the courthouse I enclosed. There is about two hundred and fifty large books, all written full in just about as legible a style as the sample and I mean to read them all.
You must remember me to all the folks and be satisfied with this short letter for this time. Give my love to all the family and I remain
Affectionately
Charles E. Bates
Port Tobacco Md.
February 9 1863
Dear Parents,
Another week has gone by towards the three year stone I see in the distance, and Sunday might find me at the dame desk and occupation of last Sabbath. I spent all last Friday afternoon in writing letters, but as there is but three mails a week leaving here, viz. – on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. This will go in the same mail; the only bit of news I have for you is that the Ninth Army Corps is going on bad of transports at Acquia Creek now. And we have captured two thousand dollars worth of contraband goods with two smuglers (sic); by “we,” I mean “us,” that is, the 4th U.S. Cavalry Esq. I spent the forenoon in exploring the garret of the courthouse, and truly it was “a pursuit of knowledge under difficulties,” for my head would afford a fine study for a phrenologist to feel the “bumps,” but I have my reward in about nine cartloads of old records and papers, a sample of which I will send you. Ask Johnson to read the writing on the old plan of the courthouse I enclosed. There is about two hundred and fifty large books, all written full in just about as legible a style as the sample and I mean to read them all.
You must remember me to all the folks and be satisfied with this short letter for this time. Give my love to all the family and I remain
Affectionately
Charles E. Bates
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
6th US Cavalry - February 1862
The 6th Cavalry remained in camp and trained at Camp East of the Capitol throughout the month of February 1862 also. The regiment's assigned strength this month was 1,008 officers and enlisted men, 22 more than the previous month.
Of the 42 officers assigned, only 28 were listed as present for duty, including Assistant Surgeon J.H. Pooley. 12 of the missing 14 were on detached service. Captain Brisbin of Company L was in Cleveland this month, still recruiting his company, along with with 1st Lt Henry Tucker. 2nd Lt Balk of Company D finally returned from recruiting service in Philadelphia on February 22nd. Captain George Cram was sick in Washington.
The regiment had 966 enlisted men at the end of the month, but only 781 present for duty. A harsh winter continued to take its toll, as a total of 76 troopers were sick in the camp and another 11 were absent in hospitals from Pittsburgh to Washington. 42 continued to serve on extra duties away from the regiment, mostly as teamsters for the Quartermaster Department. 16 were in arrest or confinement, and 38 recruits from the recruiting depot were temporarily attached to Company C. Two troopers were absent on leave.
Thirty new recruits joined the regiment from rendezvous during the month, and two deserters returned to the regiment. Private Thomas Steen of Company H surrendered himself to Lt Balk in Philadelphia on the 5th, and Private McCracken of Company K returned to Camp East of the Capitol on the 20th. One soldier was newly-assigned to the regiment, but oddly his name is not listed. Two privates were discharged for disability.
Nine men deserted from the regiment this month. One corporal, Rudolph Kuppisch of Company I (yes, the same company that had a sergeant desert in Janaury), deserted on February 10th. The other eight were all privates and all deserted from camp. Companies A, C and M had two each, and B and G each had one. No soldiers died in February.
The regiment continued to be short of horseflesh, with only 828 serviceable horses and 26 unserviceable. The majority of the unserviceable horses belonged to Companies F, I and M this month, with five each.
Coming next month: off to the Peninsula
Of the 42 officers assigned, only 28 were listed as present for duty, including Assistant Surgeon J.H. Pooley. 12 of the missing 14 were on detached service. Captain Brisbin of Company L was in Cleveland this month, still recruiting his company, along with with 1st Lt Henry Tucker. 2nd Lt Balk of Company D finally returned from recruiting service in Philadelphia on February 22nd. Captain George Cram was sick in Washington.
The regiment had 966 enlisted men at the end of the month, but only 781 present for duty. A harsh winter continued to take its toll, as a total of 76 troopers were sick in the camp and another 11 were absent in hospitals from Pittsburgh to Washington. 42 continued to serve on extra duties away from the regiment, mostly as teamsters for the Quartermaster Department. 16 were in arrest or confinement, and 38 recruits from the recruiting depot were temporarily attached to Company C. Two troopers were absent on leave.
Thirty new recruits joined the regiment from rendezvous during the month, and two deserters returned to the regiment. Private Thomas Steen of Company H surrendered himself to Lt Balk in Philadelphia on the 5th, and Private McCracken of Company K returned to Camp East of the Capitol on the 20th. One soldier was newly-assigned to the regiment, but oddly his name is not listed. Two privates were discharged for disability.
Nine men deserted from the regiment this month. One corporal, Rudolph Kuppisch of Company I (yes, the same company that had a sergeant desert in Janaury), deserted on February 10th. The other eight were all privates and all deserted from camp. Companies A, C and M had two each, and B and G each had one. No soldiers died in February.
The regiment continued to be short of horseflesh, with only 828 serviceable horses and 26 unserviceable. The majority of the unserviceable horses belonged to Companies F, I and M this month, with five each.
Coming next month: off to the Peninsula
Monday, February 4, 2008
Ohio 6th Cav Volunteers
Over the weekend I found another 37 volunteers who joined the regular cavalry regiments in October 1862. All of these were members of the 7th and 8th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (O.V.I.)regiments. The majority of them joined the 6th US, though I've also noted a number who joined the 2nd US. I still haven't found that regiment that Sidney Morris Davis claimed in his autobiography yielded over a hundred volunteers at about this same time, but I'm still looking.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Bates Letters - February 1, 1863
Note: In which Charles provides a local history lesson of Port Tobacco.
Port Tobacco Md
February 1st 1863
Dear Parents,
I am “at home” here again. My company has moved into quarters at this place, and the old court-house (built 1819 as a tablet in front says) where for aught I know the most eminent men of the country here stood, or sat, is now the abode of the undersigned and his company; the room I stop in was the Grand-Jurors room, and the desk I am writing this on was once used by the Hon. Thomas Stone, son of the Thomas Stone, who was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. The house he lived in is about two miles from here and is now used and owned by John Stone, nephew of the Senior. The room which was occupied by George Washington when he (several words too faint to read) from the Stones’ mansion, and was owned by a relation of the Lees. The room is still in the same condition it was in when last used by Washington. In his journeys to Virginia Washington used to come here from the Capitol the first day, and spend the evening with Thomas Stone, and the night at Rose Hill.
Port Tobacco looks like a place which had seen its best days long before I saw my first. It is, to use an expression common among us, “played out.” The three hotels which occupy three sides of the public square, have “played out” by desperate opposition, and the town-pump in the centre of the square is now the only place of resort for its citizens; as for the pump, it has been converted into a hydrant, and now it furnishes a steady stream of clear water to the village.
The court-house where we live, it is a large, two story brick buildingand has been lately renovated, inside and out, and it looks with its newly painted walls as if it was trying to get away from the vulgar gaze of the three hotels, which occupy the other side of the square.
We did not get here until late last night, so I have not had time to get an acquaintance with the inhabitants, but I expect they are a queer, old-fashioned party, and I think if we are left here we can do some easy “Sogerin”
I wish you would write to me now and direct here. Give my love to all, I am going to meeting.
Good bye.
Affectionately,
Charles E. Bates
Port Tobacco Md
February 1st 1863
Dear Parents,
I am “at home” here again. My company has moved into quarters at this place, and the old court-house (built 1819 as a tablet in front says) where for aught I know the most eminent men of the country here stood, or sat, is now the abode of the undersigned and his company; the room I stop in was the Grand-Jurors room, and the desk I am writing this on was once used by the Hon. Thomas Stone, son of the Thomas Stone, who was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. The house he lived in is about two miles from here and is now used and owned by John Stone, nephew of the Senior. The room which was occupied by George Washington when he (several words too faint to read) from the Stones’ mansion, and was owned by a relation of the Lees. The room is still in the same condition it was in when last used by Washington. In his journeys to Virginia Washington used to come here from the Capitol the first day, and spend the evening with Thomas Stone, and the night at Rose Hill.
Port Tobacco looks like a place which had seen its best days long before I saw my first. It is, to use an expression common among us, “played out.” The three hotels which occupy three sides of the public square, have “played out” by desperate opposition, and the town-pump in the centre of the square is now the only place of resort for its citizens; as for the pump, it has been converted into a hydrant, and now it furnishes a steady stream of clear water to the village.
The court-house where we live, it is a large, two story brick buildingand has been lately renovated, inside and out, and it looks with its newly painted walls as if it was trying to get away from the vulgar gaze of the three hotels, which occupy the other side of the square.
We did not get here until late last night, so I have not had time to get an acquaintance with the inhabitants, but I expect they are a queer, old-fashioned party, and I think if we are left here we can do some easy “Sogerin”
I wish you would write to me now and direct here. Give my love to all, I am going to meeting.
Good bye.
Affectionately,
Charles E. Bates
New Civil War Blog
Rob Wick, one of the contributors to TOCWOC, has decided to start a blog of his own. It's called One Man's Rebellion Record. If his entries here are as good as the ones he wrote for TOCWOC, visitors are in for a treat. Welcome to the blogosphere, Rob.
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