Letter #16 -- New Berne, North Carolina - June 27, 1862

The letter of June 27, 1862 provides confirmation of the unhealthy conditions of army camp life during the Civil War.  In this letter, JWD describes the death of a comrade and friend Adam B. Klock.  I did some research on Private Klock and found a few discrepancies in the various records.





For example....

In the Pennsylvania ARIAS Civil War Soldiers database...it refers to Private Klock as Andrew B. Klock.  I don't know if Adam was a nickname or if JWD just made a mistake in writing his name in the letter, but there is a difference.  Also, in Munsell's...History of Schulykill County, Pa., it lists his name as Andrew.  However, another discrepancy in that record shows J.H. Dorr as dying of disease, when it was actually J.H. Derr (previously mentioned in my prior posts).

The Miner's Journal in 1865 listed the casualities of the 48th PVI.  Below is an excerpt....

Miner's Journal - 1865

Upon the saddest chapter of this work we now enter. It is to give a record of the names of the sons of Schuylkill who died that their country might live. They yielded up their spirits in the noblest cause and while we mourn, we are consoled by the reflection that their memories will be embalmed in the national heart while Freedom claims a votary on our continent. 
FORTY-EIGHTH PENNSYLVANIA REGIMENT

COMPANY D
Lieut. Alexander FOX died Dec. 1, 1861, on steamer Spaulding near Fortress Monroe
Andrew SPEAR died Apr. 15, 1862, at Newbern, N.C.
Andrew KLOCK died June 30, 1862
Addison SEAMAN died July 16, 1862
Mattie SHEAFER died August 4, 1862, on board steamer Cossack
Charles MILLER killed at Bull Run, Va., Aug. 29, 1862
George RAMER died Sept. 6, 1862 of wounds
William BAMBRICK died Sept. 12, 1862 of wounds
Alva F. JEFFRIES killed Sept. 17, 1862, at Antietam
John SULLIVAN died Oct. 8, 1862, of wounds received at Bull Run
Henry WILLIAMSON killed at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862
Thomas KINNEY killed at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862
Jonathan KAUFMAN killed in battle, May, 1864
Henry DORWARD killed in battle, Sept. 1864
Daniel OKON killed in battle, Sept. 1864
Corporal J. H. DORR died in Washington, Jan. 1863
William H. SMITH died in Annapolis, Apr. 7, 1864
John DEITRICH died Mar. 22, 1864
Solomon EYSTER, died in Philadelphia, Aug. 22, 1864
David MILLER died in Annapolis, Nov. 6, 1864
C. Philip BECKMAN died in Baltimore, Feb. 9, 1865
Charles F. HESSER died (n.r.)
Jonas Z. RABER died (n.r.)
1st Lieut. Henry GRAEFF died in Pottsville, Mar. 26, 1865, of disease 
contracted in rebel prisons
 Total 23

Note that this record shows Klock's death date as June 30, 1862.  We know that is not possible, since the letter from JWD to his parents described his death, and was written on June 27, 1862.  This highlights some of the errors that are in the "official" records.


In Letter #16, JWD describes that Andrew "Adam" B. Klock died of Typhoid fever.  A common problem during the war owing to the unsanitary conditions of the camps and army life at that time.

Excerpt from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) website regarding Typhoid fever....

                                                                                                                                                                   

Typhoid fever is an infection that causes diarrhea and a rash -- most commonly due to a type of bacteria called Salmonella typhi (S. typhi).

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

The bacteria that cause typhoid fever -- S. typhi -- spread through contaminated food, drink, or water. If you eat or drink something that is contaminated, the bacteria enter your body. They travel into your intestines, and then into your bloodstream, where they can get to your lymph nodes, gallbladder, liver, spleen, and other parts of your body.

A few people can become carriers of S. typhi and continue to release the bacteria in their stools for years, spreading the disease.

Typhoid fever is common in developing countries, but fewer than 400 cases are reported in the U.S. each year. Most cases in the U.S. are brought in from other countries where typhoid fever is common.

Symptoms

Early symptoms include fever, general ill-feeling, and abdominal pain. A high (typically over 103 degrees Fahrenheit) fever and severe diarrhea occur as the disease gets worse.

Some people with typhoid fever develop a rash called "rose spots," which are small red spots on the abdomen and chest.

                                                                                                                                                                   



In addition to JWD's report of the death of Private Klock, he talks about how miserable life is North Carolina in the summer.  For a Pennsylvania boy who lived in the mountain regions and probably never experienced the hot, humid and sweltering summers of the south, life inNew Berne, NC was undoubtably miserable.


And now...Letter #16.....

New Berne, North Carolina

June the 27 A.D. 1862

My Dear Father,

                                                I take pen in hand to inform this few lines to you to let you know that I am well at present time and I hope that this few lines will find you in the same state of good health.  Further, I let you know that I received your letter this evening after we came in from dress parade and I was very glad to hear from  you and to here that you are all well and I am very glad to hear that you got my ten dollars which I did send home and got my shirts which you did send to me and I am very glad that you got all my letters which I wrote to you.  The reason was that I wrote so many to you was I did send that first letter home with them ten dollars and I didn’t get no answer for about four weeks and I thought that it might be lost maybe but so we are all right.  But I am sorry to say that Adam B. Klock died.  He died on the 23 and we buried him the 24.  He had typhoid fever.  We was only about one week sick.  I let you know that it is very hot here and very unhealthy.  We are in great danger of starvation but we put our trust in God.  Don’t forget to answer this letter as soon as you get this from me.  So much from me your respectful son.

                                                                                                John W. Derr

Direct your letter to John W. Derr, CO. “D” Regt. PA., Burnsides Expedition,  North Carolina in care of Capt W. W. Potts

Jim D.

Letter #15 - New Berne, North Carolina - June 11, 1862

The letter of June 11th, 1862 is much like others...repetition of prior letters, but in this case it includes an acknowledgement of the receipt of a letter from his parents.  In prior posts, I wrote about how soldiers often wrote multiple letters of the same subject due to the lack of confidence in the postal service, especially within a theater of war.  I wonder how many soldiers in other wars such as World War I and World War II did the same.   I suspect that it is not a frequent practice today owing to the use of the internet, email and telecommunications, which makes real time communication much more available.  Such is the life of a Civil War era soldier....and John W. Derr.

In previous posts, JWD had requested that his mother send him shirts that he could wear under his uniform frock.  The usage of wool as the primary material for uniforms in the 19th century made the utilization of cotton and soft flannel, a necessity.  Being June in North Carolina, and based on his prior descriptions of heat and unhealthy air, a nice new set of shirts was what he needed to stay somewhat comfortable.  JWD was wise to request gray flannel shirts vs. the white shirts his cousin John H. Derr requested...as he describes.  Keeping white shirts clean-looking was a real chore and downright impossible in the environment in which the soldier lived.

Overall, not a very revealing letter, but it does close the loop on the concern JWD had for the lack of parental correspondence!

And now Letter #15....

Camp near New Berne, N. C.

June 11^th, 1862

My dear Father,

                                                      I take my pen in hand to inform this few lines to you to let you know that I am well at present time and I hope that this few lines will find you in the same state of good health.  Further, I let you know that I received your letter on Saturday the 7 and my box on Tuesday the 10 with our shirts and we was very glad to have them and my shirts fit very well.  But the others are much too light and they are too long but I am well satisfied with them and John H. Derr he is very thankful for the favor which you done for him but he is sorry that he didn’t send for some grey ones like mine but he is well satisfied with them and you mentioned in your letter that you drawed my money again for the last two months and I am very glad that you did and take good care of it.  So I didn’t know much more to write this time so I will come to a close and say good by for this time.  Answer this letter as soon as you get this from me.

                                                                                                                              Your respectful son,

                                                                                                                              John W. Derr

                              Direct your letter to John W. Derr, Co. “D” 48 Regiment PA., Burnsides Expedition, North Carolina in care of Capt. W.W. Potts

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Letter #14 - Camp Near New Berne, North Carolina -- June 4, 1862

The letter of June 4th, 1862 provides no new insights into the path to be taken by JWD.  As is true and well documented by many soldier past and present, war tends to be short horrific battles with long routine interludes.  JWD was in one of these "interludes" between the battle of New Berne earlier in the year, and  the imminent movement of the 48th back into Virginia in preparation for the ongoing Peninsula Campaign of 1862.  Though the 48th would transition back in July of 1862 for support to this campaign, they would ultimately see another destiny as a key element of the union disaster at the battle of Second Bull Run.  As you will read in a few months, Second Bull Run changed forever, the life of JWD.

Letter #14 continues the discussion between JWD and his parents regarding the break down of communication between them.  As I have mentioned before...the reliability and slowness of a war time postal system for in the field communication...caused much anxiety amongst the troops.  In the case of JWD, it revolved around monies that he sent through the mail, that he believed had been lost.  It also highlights a method he uses throughout the war of repeating letters in order to ensure that eventually one would get through and his message would be heard.  Clearly, every one of the letters I post here in thes blog made it through....I have no idea how many did not.

References in this letter include his cousin, John H. Derr, corporal of the 48th who later dies and is buried in Washington DC in 1863.  (Note prior blogs for December 2011).

                                                                                                Camp near New Berne, N.C.

                                                                                                June the 4^th, 1862

My Dear Father,

                        I take my pen in hand to inform this few lines to you to let you know that I am well at present time and I hope that this few lines will find you in the same state of good health.  Further I let you know that this is the fourth letter that I wrote to you since April and didn’t get no answer yet.  Now I Can’t think what is the reason that I don’t get no answer to the first one that I wrote home.  I wrote for some shirts that you should send to me and I had ten dollars of money in it and I didn’t hear anything yet about the shirts yet and neither about the money and John H. Derr he wanted to have some sent along.  I wrote in my letter that our boys should go over to his parents and fetch his shirts and put it in my box and send them in my box.  And John H. Derr he got a letter from home and said that his parents sent his shirts off in my box and I didn’t get no box and no letter yet.  Now I wish you would let me know whether you got that letter or not with that money or not and whether you did send them shirts or not.  So I must come to a close.  Don’t forget to answer this letter.

                                                                                                Your respectful son,

                                                                                                John W. Derr

Direct you letter to John W. Derr, Co. “D”, 48^th Regiment PA., Burnsides’ Expedition North Carolina, in care of Capt. William W. Potts

Jim D.

Letter #13 - New Berne, North Carolina - May 24, 1862

As May, 1862 came to a close, JWD spent most of the month battling a bad catarrh (severe cold) and bronchitis.  His letters at this time do not indicate this, but the pension affidavits from the pension application of his widow Magdalena in 1878, indicate that he suffered during this period from these afflictions.  This was the second major illness suffered by JWD in his short period of service at that time.  The first was in the November/December 1861 time frame.  These multiple illnesses along with others later in the war (illness after digging the Petersburg Mine) contributed to his early death in 1876.  Though interesting and pertinent, the worst of his service problems would come in just a few months when he was wounded at the battle of Second Bull Run (August, 1862).  Needless to say... JWD's first year of service in the army was the worst of his life.

Letter #13 on May 24, 1862 is a typical JWD letter.  Filled with personal concerns regarding money and requests for packages.  This letter, amongst others, highlights how difficult communication was during this period of time.  Today, we take for granted the ability to rapidly and effectively communicate with any person around the globe.  Not so, in 1862.  Many letters were repeated since a guarantee of delivery was not always possible.  You can see the frustration in both parents and JWD as they try in desperation to tell each other information and respond to questions.  For a people who never traveled far from home...the inability to rapidly communicate in person must have been extremely frustrating.


And now...Letter #13....

                                                                                                Camp near New Berne,

                                                                                                North Carolina,

                                                                                                May the 24^th, 1862

My Dear Father Peter Derr,

                        I take my pen in hand to inform this few lines to you to let you know that I am well at present time and I hope that this few lines will find you in the same state of good health.  Further I let you know that this is the third letter that I wrote to you and didn’t get no answer yet from you.  I wrote one letter home with ten dollars in and I wrote for some shirts that you should send to me, and I didn’t get no answer yet but if you didn’t sent them yet you don’t need to send them now or later but I am sorry if them ten dollars didn’t come home.  Now I wish you would answer me this letter and let me know whether you got them ten dollars or not and let me know whether you did send them shirts or not and if you didn’t send them you don’t need to send them.  For I must come to a close.  Answer me this letter.

                                                                                                Your respectful son,

                                                                                                John W. Derr

Direct your letter to John W. Derr, Co. “D”, 48^th Regiment PA., Burnsides’ Expedition, North Carolina, in care of Capt. W. W. Potts.

Jim D.

Letter #12 - New Berne, North Carolina -- May 2, 1862

By May of 1862, the battle for New Berne, North Carolina was over and the eastern coastal area of the state was under the control of Union forces commanded by General Burnsides.  The memory and excitement of the March, 1862 battle had given way to the mundane camp life as described in JWD's letters.  The 48th PVI would remain in North Carolina for another 2 months providing provost duties at encampments around the New Berne vicinity.  This part of the Civil War would be recorded as the highlight of General Burnsides' career with future command decisions at Fredericksburg and Petersburg being criticized and scrutinized for decades to come.  For now, however, the General was a happy man and a happy soldier living and bonding with his beloved men.

The letter of May 2, 1862 has nothing of historical note, except for the insight it provides to the dullness of life between major campaigns and battles.  This is not what we think of as "the Civil War"...the war we see in movies with non-stop action, battles, and drama.  As one soldier writes..."war is one big bore, interrupted by moments of terror".... sounds like a nightmare to me.

In the future I plan to highlight various notations on the envelopes used to mail the letters.  I found interesting information regarding franking of letters at the authority of various commanding officers of the 48th PVI.  I have, and will continue to, search for example and facsimiles of the signatures of various officers...e.g. Nagle, Siegfried, etc... as well as those of the chaplains, and doctors whose names are on the outside of these envelopes.  The writing is not that of JWD...for example...in the envelope below, the style of the letter "S" is different from the addressing provided by JWD for "Schuylkill" vs. the  "S" in the word "Soldier".  My question is this....could the notation have been made by Col. James Nagle of the 48th PVI...or was it one of his Adjutants.  More that likely it was the latter...however....it would be nice to check it out.


Also of note, is that this letter provides insight into JWD's immediate family.  His post-script notation to his brothers and sisters provides the names and a bit of sadness as he addresses them directly regarding his fears about his future.

                                                                                                May the 2^nd, 1862

My Dear Father and Mother,

                        I take my pen in h and to inform this few lines to you to let you know that I am well at present time and I hope that this few lines will find you in the same state of good health.  Further I let you know that I received your letter on the first of this month and I was very glad to hear from you and to hear that you are all well at present time.  Further I let you know about my money.  I only sent $18.50 the first time and did put ten 10.00 dollars in a letter and you hadn’t it yet when you wrote that other one.  I wish you would let me know in your next letter whether you got it or not.  But that is all that I did send home but if them ten dollars will come home then I must have $68.00 dollars at home in all and if you will draw 20.00 more on the 15^th of May then I must have $88.00 dollars at home but what you had to spend for my things.  And let me know whether you got them ten dollars or not and I wrote home for two shirts in the same letter where the money was.  Further I let you know that I will send a box of old soldiers clothes home in care of Francis Dengler.  So I have not much more to write to you this time.

                                                                                                Yours with respects,

                                                                                                John W. Derr

John W. Derr, John W. Derr, George Derr, Peter Derr, Daniel Derr, William Derr, Catharine Derr, Anna Derr, Elizabeth Derr, Solomy Derr.  Who knows whether we will see each other anymore or not but keep courage and think that this war may soon be over.  Your beloved and oldest brother John W. Derr as a private in the United States Army.

Jim D.

Letter #11 - New Berne, North Carolina -- April 22, 1862

The letter of April 22, 1862 is one of many written by JWD that highlight his concern regarding his money and his pay.  Overall, this particular entry is not noteworthy with the exception of mention of John H. Derr who I have discussed in previous blog entries. (note September 10, 2011 entry at http://www.jwdletters.com/2011/09/john-w-derr-or-john-h-derrohand-thank.html and January 7, 2012 http://www.jwdletters.com/2012/01/visit-to-distant-relative.html).

John H. Derr was a Corporal in company D of the 48th PVI and a cousin of JWD.  His death in January of 1863 in Washington DC and his subsequent burial at the U.S. National Cemetery at the "Old Soldiers Home" is recorded in the January blog of this year.

The letter also gives a little insight into regular army camp life and how JWD and his cousin JH Derr wanted to have undershirts sent from home for them to wear under their very itchy wool frocks.  The practical side of JWD asks his mother for "grey flannel" shirts...since they don't get as dirty as the white ones he brought with him.  JWD does his own laundry and I suspect that the shear sweat and grime of daily army life made getting anything clean, next to impossible.  He opted for the infinitely more practical gray flannel which could, at least, hide the dirt.  JH Derr has asked for two "jacks" shirts, which I have translated to "checked" shirts...another style of the era.

                                                                                                April the 22, 1862

My Dear Mother,

            I take my pen in hand to write these few lines to you to let you know that I am well at present time and I hope that these few lines will find you in the same state of good health and I hope that these few lines will find you in the same state of good health (his repetition).  I will make a remark to you to do a favor for me.  I want you to send me two shirts,  if you please in a box.  I want you to buy some grey flannel like my overshirt was, and make me two like that was with pockets in.  We have nothing but these white flannel shirts, and we have to wash them ourselves and they get as dirty in few days that you can hardly get them clean.  John H. Derr wants to have two jacks (checked?) shirts sent along.  Our boys can go over to his parents and fetch them over to our house and then you will put them in my box and send them to us and if you have to pay for it, let me know what you have to pay so that each man can pay for his share alone.  Direct the box to John W. Derr, Co. “D” 48^th Regiment, PA. , Burnsides Expedition, North Carolina, in care of Capt. W.W. Potts.  Further I will let you know that I will put ten dollars of money in this letter.  It is a ten dollar bill.  Let me know whether you got it or not, and if you do get it take good care of it.  But you will take some of my money to buy the shirting and to pay the box.  So I must come to a close.  Don’t forget to write to me and send it as soon as you can.  Write a letter to me the saem time so that I know whether you did send it to me or not. 

                                                                                                Yours with respect,

                                                                                                John W. Derr

Letter #10 - New Berne, North Carolina -- April 7, 1862

Last year I jumped the gun a bit by discussing JWD's trip aboard the "George Peabody Boat"...aka...the SS George Peabody.  It was in reference to...well....this letter.  I finally get the opportunity to share this letter with you on the 150th anniversary of its creation.

Steamship George Peabody

Yesterday, I finished reading the book "The Crater", by Newt Gingrich and William Forstchen.  I was drawn to the book by the novel aspects of the Battle of the Crater at Petersburg, Virginia in July of 1864 and the direct involvement of the 48th PVI in the digging of the mine as well as the witnessing of the subsequent disaster.  As I have mentioned in prior posts, JWD was part of the digging crew for the mine and suffered the consequences of spending those weeks in the tunneling environment to his health during and after the war.  This is well documented by the post mortem pension application affidavits by fellow soldiers in support of his widow, Magdalena Derr.   Well...you ask..."what does this have to do with a letter written in April of 1862".....nothing really...except that references in the book to the Burnsides Expedition to New Berne in 1862 and the fame that it afforded the general.  The book illustrates how Burnsides was scape-goated for the post mine explosion battle.  It also shows that Burnsides had successes in his career as well as other failures....e.g. Fredericksburg.  It paints a very poor picture of General Meade.  All of this is very interesting, but what I found most heartening was how the authors portrayed the mutual affection Burnsides and his men had for each other.  As part of the Ninth Corps, the 48th was part of that unit and spent most of its time under the command of General Ambrose Burnsides.  The book also describes how Meade and Burnsides were deliberately separated from each other...both hating each other immensely...when the Ninth Corps was detached to the western theater (Kentucky and Tennessee) in 1863.  The Ninth Corps was eventually brought back east as a support unit attached...but not part of...the Army of the Potomac.  Lastly, the book describes the contributions of the 4th Division United States Colored Troops (USCT) and the 28th Indiana USCT.  All of this was true, and I find it interesting that my GGgrandfather witness all of it....the glory...and the horror.

Now...regarding the letter for today....

This letter was written in April of 1862.  During that period in the war, Burnsides planned and executed an assault on Confederate forces in New Berne, North Carolina as part of an effort to block shipping into and out of North Carolina, thus denying the south of an important import/export source to the outside world.  The 48th was part of that order of battle and proceeded via ship, to transit up the Neuse River to join the battle.  Unfortunately, the ships used by the Army to transport troops tended to be more intracoastal in nature and not equipped for ocean going service.  Overloaded and underpowered, the SS Peabody was slowed by the elements and nearly capsized...arriving late to the battle.  JWD describes how they arrived a few hours late to the battle and while missing the main action...they saw the results.

That said...the 48th was subsequently used to transport ammunition and supplies to the troops in the field...their support being so helpful that General Burnsides recommended that the battle be added to the regimental colors.

                                                                                                Camp near New Berne,

                                                                                                North Carolina   

                                                                                                April the 7^th, 1862

My Dear Father,

            I take my pen in hand to write this few lines to you to let you know that I am well at present time and hope that this few lines will find you in the same state of good health.  Further, I let you know that I had no time to write any sooner to you for we were moving all the time for a long time.  Further, I let you know that if my wife wrote a letter to me and she wants me to give my trunk to her to put her clothes in and I told her should go to you and ask you or tell you if you would have a place to keep my clothes so that they don’t get spoiled, she might have my trunk and let me know about it.  I wish you would let me know whether you drew my money or not, and let me know how much you got and when you got it.  Further, I let you know that we left Hatteras on March the 13^th, 1862 and went on board the “George Peabody” boat and went up the News (Neuse) River, and we were there to have a fight but till we were landed and came there we were about two hours too late for the battle.  We saw nothing of the battle but we saw the dead men and horses laying around there like old logs.  And it was night till we came there and we slept on the battle ground the first night under the bare heaven.  And the next day we marched down till this side of New Berne and there we camped a while.  But now we moved on the other side of New Berne and I think we will have another battle before we leave that place there.  But we want to go after them.  But General McClellan will come on their backs and make them run in our hands, and then we will mow them down like grass from the ground.  Let the Fetterolfs know that I am well at present time.  But now I must come to a close.  Don’t forget to write to me as soon as you get this from me.

                                                                                                Yours with respect,

                                                                                                John W. Derr

Direct your letter to John W. Derr, Co. “D”, 48^th Pa., Burnsides Expedition, North Carolina, in care of Col. James Nagle.

Battle of New Bern, NC April 1862

Jim D.