Letter #44 -- Camp Near Petersburg, VA -- February 15, 1865

With the fall of Richmond, Virginia and the surrender of General Robert E. Lee only 2 months away, John takes time to pen a short note to his parents regarding his health and well being.  December and January had been slow months for the Union army at the siege of Petersburg, Virginia.  But while the fighting soldier's work was relatively slow, the teamster soldier's work was never ending.  Moving supplies of food, ammunition and other quartermaster provisions for an in-place army, while easier to coordinate than a moving army, still had it's own set of challenges.  John has been busy these past few months teaming mules and wagons in order to keep the well feed Union army as happy as possible...given the circumstances.  I see in these latter letters that John probably senses that the war is nearly at an end.  With desertions rising on the Confederate side and talks of "peace commissioners" meeting with the Union government....nobody wanted to be the last man on roster of the honored dead.  On April 2, 1865 Petersburg and Richmond would fall.  Appomattox was only a week later on April 9, 1865.

In letter #44, John tells his parents that he is well and to tell his friends and family the same.  He inquires about his younger sisters Elizabeth and Soloma.  Elizabeth is 24 years old and married and John would like to know where her and her husband Jacob Dimler now live.  Soloma is 21 years old and has left the homestead.  I have little information about the life of Soloma (Solome in some of my genealogical records).  John also inquires about Samuel Wampole...a friend.  I know nothing further about Mr. Wampole.

One other interesting bit of information...John, being Pennsylvania German, spoke and wrote German as commonly as English.  Most of the books he had were in German, such as his hymnal and bible.  In this letter, he asks that his parents send along to him an "English Almanac".  He needed to specify the English aspect of the book, lest his parents send him a German version.  More than likely, it allowed him to share information with other non-German heritage comrades.

Lastly, John's suspicion about the end of the war is confirmed with him asking his parents about the the current news.  Ironically most of the soldiers did not have access to the news of the war they were fighting and had to rely on family and friends back home to communicate status.

The letter ends abruptly.  It doesn't appear that there is another page to this letter, but he stops the letter in mid-sentence.  I'm not sure what happened here, but more than likely it is lost in time.

                                                                                                Camp near Petersburg, Va.

                                                                                                February the 15, 1865

My Dear Father and Mother,

            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.  Dear Father and Mother I didn’t write to you for this long time so I come to the conclusion to write to you today.  You might wonder why I didn’t write to you any sooner to you.  I will tell you the reason why.  I was well all the time and enjoying good health and had a good deal of work to do so I didn’t care much about writing and I have no news to write today of any account.  I suppose you hear more news at home than we hear out here for we and everything is quiet here now.  And all the boys from around there are well as much as I know.  Let me know whether you hear something of Samuel Wampole.  Sometimes let me know where Elizabeth lives at now and Soloma.  Give my love and best respects to all inquiring friends and let them know that I am still alive.  I wish someone of you would buy me a English almanac and wrap it up like a newspaper and send it to me.  Let me know what the war news is at home whether this is to be settled or not.  I have none news to write at this time. So I will bring my

Letter #17 -- New Port News, Virginia - July 16, 1862

The letter of July 16, 1862 is much like others during this period between the battles at New Berne, North Carolina and the eventual campaign that would lead to the 2nd Battle of Bull Run later in the summer.  In this letter, JWD indicates that the 48th PVI has begun its movement out of North Carolina and back into Virginia.  Interestingly, his letter head states "West Virginia" vs. Virginia.  I find that interesting since West Virginia did not become a separate state until 1863!  Did JWD have clairvoyance!?  Anyway....these letters during the summer of 1862 do not shed much light on anything in particular, but provide a nice parallel to the true troop movements as documented in the official records.  This letter also provides a bit of the country humor and exaggerations...these little attempts at humor probably made his family chuckle a bit as they read the letter....for example...

"But I let you know that it is very hot here.  You may think that it is very hot here for we don’t need any fire to cook our beansoup and fix our coffee.  We can just let it out in the sun and it will boil there. "

At the close of the letter there are different names printed...Solomey A. Derr and Soloma R. Derr.  We know that he had a little sister named Solomy Derr.  The handwriting on the close of the letter is different, which makes me think that his little sister must have taken the letter after it got home and practiced her signature.  Kind of a nice family heirloom and one that a direct descendant of Solomy might like to see.  If you are reading the blog...enjoy!



I appreciate all of you for your continued support and for following the blog even during these lull periods where the letters are not very interesting.  I promise you that they become a bit more interesting after the 2nd Battle of Bull Run.  The letters of September 1862 provide a much more intriguing look into a life changing event for JWD.  But for now....Letter # 17 from New Port News, Virginia...

                                                                                                Newport News, State of

                                                                                                West Virginia, July 16, 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 yesterday evening.  While I was reading it we had a very hard rain storm but I was very glad to here from you and to hear that you are all well at present time.  Further I let you know that we moved again.  We was to go --- to Richmond to take it but then we only come to Newport News and there we are camped now and I don’t know where we will go next.  But I let you know that it is very hot here.  You may think that it is very hot here for we don’t need any fire to cook our beansoup and fix our coffee.  We can just let it out in the sun and it will boil there.  Further I wish you would let me know whether you did draw my last pay or not and would let me know how much money you got saved for me and then I can make a calculation about that what you wrote to me about, that is if you want to have her there.  So I must come to a close and say good by for this time.  Answer me this letter as soon as you get this from me.

                                                                                                John W. Derr

                                                                                                Solomey A. Derr

                                                                                                Soloma R. Derr

Direct your letter to John W. Derr, Burnsides Expedition Way, Fortress Monroe, Virginia

 Jim D.