The Stamford Historical Society Presents
Stamford's
Civil War: At Home and in the Field
a 2003 Exhibit and more
Transcripts of Letters
To
Mrs. Truman Smith from Sergeant Henry M. Capper
Connecticut 28th Regiment Volunteers
New Haven Hospital
June 25/62
Dear Friend
I have rec’d your
kind note this evening and thank you for your conversation. I trust you
are in good health and
may you long be able to continue your noble labors for our unfortunate
selves. I also rec’d a letter from Mrs. Hoyt. Will you please give
my respects to Miss Aiken for speaking to Col. Almy - I have this day undergone
a thorough
examination by Dr. Knight and he informs me that my leg will not be likely
to break out again and has discontinued dressing it so I shall endeavour
with God’s help to be with you in the course of next week as I intend
to be with you at the Fair. In regard to the Descriptive papers I shall
defer them till I arrive home at least - and I think that as I and you
and others have written to Newberne about it it would be as well to receive
an answer before taking further action in the matter. I will however leave
it with you to do as you think best as I shall be guided by your advice.
I shall be
in Stamford on Tuesday if all is well. I read your letter to the boys who
desire me
to thank you for
your kind inquiries and their thanks for the same. That currant Jelly was
excellent and if it would not be putting you to inconvenience we should
be glad of a second edition. I delivered your message to Mrs. Skinner and
am under great obligation to her for kind attendance. I am greatly pleased
with everything here. The weather has been very wet during the past 2 days
so I have been unable to get about. My general health is excellent. I have
lost my appretite but have found a horse’s. Please give my respects
to the Ladies Association and believe me
Yours very resptly
Henry M. Capper
Mrs. Truman Smith
P.S. Direct to the State Hospital
New Haven
Room No 17
Central Park Hospital
Dec. 2nd 1862
Mrs. Truman Smith
Upon my arrival in New York I proceeded
to Dr. Hudson. He informed me that nothing had been done about my leg as
he had but just completed his arrangement with the Government in the matter
of furnishing limbs and mine would receive attention shortly. He requires
other guarantees beside my word that the balance of the sum charged ($25)
will be forthcoming on the completion of the leg and desires me to produce
letters to that effect. He says he has been so much imposed on that he
is obliged to be exceedingly cautious in such matters. I informed him that
I would at once write to you and request you to direct an answer straight
to him instead of through me and when he receives it he will go at once
to work on the leg. I shall stay in the City until he receives it before
I return home. I also went to State Street and thence to Bleeker where
I found the Paymaster but he has unfortunately got out of funds and has
to send on to Washington for more money. - So matters stand at present.
I think I can get part of my money in time but that will only be my U.S.
pay up to the date of my discharge. There was such a crowd there that I
was not able to get an interview with him but I am going down tomorrow
for that purpose and will let you know the result.
I am with respect
Your Obed sv
Henry M. Capper
To Mrs.
Truman Smith from
a Mrs. H. P. Spencer
Mrs. Smith
Hearing that you was a friend to the poor
sogers and having a son hear on the island and who is ankious to get his
discharge I write to you to see if you will be so kind as to see what you
can do for him and you will graitley oblidge me as well as my dear son
he has been in the army one year last June and has not done duty since
last febuary and never be able to againe he has had the measles and it
has afected his eye sight so that he is almost blind besides he had a fall
which has ingurd his wits so that he will never get over it. I am afraid
I have him hear twice but the doctor was not at home I could not do anything
with him but this time I got his doctor to sign his card. He is a poor
unlucky boy who has not curage enuf to speak for himself and if you will
interesed for him I shall be so thankful. his father is in the armey he
is my oldest son and it would be a great comfort to me to have him com
home. If the distance was not so grait I wold com again. if you will intercede
for him you will do me as well as my son a great favor which I shall feel
very greatful for and shall hartely thank you for.
From Mrs. H. P. Spencer
Note - Took the poor boy to Phy ........
got his discharge and he went home rejoicing with his mother.
/s/ M. L. Sawyer
From
Thomas R. Mead, Connecticut
28th Regiment Volunteers
to
Sergeant Henry M. Capper
Ft. Washington, Md
October 3rd, 1862
Friday P.M.
Dear Friend,
I have been very negligent in answering
your last letter of August 4th. I have been away from camp a good deal
of the time. I thought I would not write till I accomplished something
for you.
I first gave
your doctor’s
certificate to Capt. Atherton, thinking he would do better than I in getting
your furlough
extended. He soon after resigned, then we has to go out on picket. then
Dr. Douglas resigned and went home. He told me that you would have to be
discharged. Dr. Newton then came from Beaufort and he says the same thing.
By order of the President, there was a muster
of all our troops the 18th of Aug. All that were then absent, were mustered
as absent without leave. And that is the way you are mustered on our payrolls.
So that you will see that I cannot draw your pay. Your case will have to
be inquired into and then, if there was reasonable cause of absence, as
there was in your case, you will be able to draw your pay. How much delay
there will be is more than I can tell, it is safe to calculate on considerable.
Col. Pettibone arrived from Conn. on the
4th of Sept. Two days after, I went to him for your warrant. He amde it
out at once. I waited a few days to get a box to send it in and since that
time we have been on the go.
We went on an expedition to Plymouth with
Cos I, F and D and were gove three days from the 15th to the 18th of Sept.
We went on the steamer Northern, had plenty of room a fine sail and nothing
to do.
One the 20th, with Co E we left Newbern
for Washington, arriving on the Morn. of 21st. Sixteen of our men are in
a blockhouse at the S.E. end of town under the command of Sgt Greaves.
The remainder of the company are in the Fort with me. there is a detachment
of the U.S. Marine Artiller in the Fort under Lt. Eastman. They man the
guns, of which there are six.
There is a terrible amount of sickness there
among the troops. There is little in Co. G.
I suppose you have heard that I am Capt.,
Benj. L. Greaves 1st Sgt and John M. Simms, 2nd Lt. of Co. G.
The promotions were announced on the 18th
of Sept. On the next evening I was called out and presented with a splendid
sword, sash and belt by Lt. Greaves inb behalf of the Company. They are
gifts of which any man might be proud. I shall value them above all price.
The boys nearly split their throats hurahing, as they did on the previous
evening.
I shall endeavor to send your warant as
soon as I can without danger to it.
I hope this letter will find you strong
and in good health.
Yours,
Thomas R. Mead
To Sergt. Henry M. Capper
Stamford, Conn.
From Private George
Gilbert Smith, Company B, Sixth Regiment Infantry
to his father George W. Smith
From:
Stamford Historical Society IC 105
George Gilbert Smith, Private
Company B, Sixth Regiment Infantry
Enlisted Feb. 27, 1862. Muster in - Feb. 27, 1862
Discharged Feb. 27, 1865 - Time expired
Son of George W. Smith
(
82 Letters,
plus an envelope
addressed to his father at "Cove Mills")
Camp 6th Conn. Vols.
Jan. 8th 1863
Dear Father
I
received this morning the Stamford Advocate and am much obliged to you for
sending it. We are both well at least I am. I have not seen Ophie
for about
a week for the Regiment has gone back to Ft. Fisher to help take it. I did
not go on account of the Pay Rolls which I am Making out for the whole Regt
and I was left at Brig. Hd Qtrs with Lt. Wicks I have not heard a word since
they started and so don't know what luck they have had.
The
weather has been extremely cold with plenty of snow for the last week and
since they started. Tell mother she need not be worried about Ophie for
he is all right, being along with Dr. Robinson a great friend of ours and a
Brother of yours he will take care of him where no harm will befall him our
armies being to near out for either of us to get hurt.
There
was 2 men shot for desertion yesterday but I did not go to see them it is
something I have a great dislike for but yet I think it serves them right.
No
more news today and so I will close hoping to hear from you soon, love to
all, Your Son Gilbert
QUARTER-MASTER'S DEPARTMENT
Camp Parole, near Annapolis, Md.
May 15th, 1863
Dear Father
I
have just received your very kind but short letter. I am quite well at present
and hope these few lines may find you the same.
We
have been very busy for the last few days the men all being sent to their
regiments that are exchanged. The whole camp was cleared out of men yesterday
but this morning we received about Two Thousand three hundred among them was
Marcus Waterbury. So I understand but I have not seen him as yet. I am going
to town to see him this afternoon. There is a good many of the Stamford boys
taken. I
hear they had a very tough fight down there. It was six of one and half a dozen
of the tother so the men say they have fixed old Stonewall Jackson. I saw a
Richmond Paper this morning that some of the boys brought along with them.
It was in deep mourning on account of his death had a black line all the way
across the first page about half an inch wide. They say all the Officers wear
black crape on their arms.
I
wrote to Oppey and am expecting an answer every day. I heard from Saxe he
was with the regiment. (What did Brother say because I did not Come back.)
Augustus
Bates sent me a Waverly Magazine a few days ago tell him When you see him
that I am very much obliged to him for it and should like Some more
tell him to send me the Stamford Paper once in a while.
I
have not seen any of the men in the Connecticut Regiment that were Taken
yet so I don't know who is a prisoner.
As
I have no more to write at present I will close. Give my love to Mother,
Georgia, and all inquiring
friends. Your Son Gilbert
(P.S.) I will write as soon as I see some of the Stamford men. Yours G.
The Stamford Ladies Soldiers' Aid
Society
