Civil War Daybook

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Dear Lizzie:
I am at last able to send you something more substantial than promises.  Enclosed please find Two hundred dollars ($200.00).  I was paid to-day, the Paymaster having returned to this place to pay the 111th Illinois, and I taking advantage of his presence to get a little pay for myself I promised your father enough to pay his indebtedness to Mr. Russell.  Please let him have it if there is more than you need for your own use. Also remember to pay Aunt Sarah with all the interest she desires and my thanks into the bargain.
Now, you must go to St. Anthony on a visit, and to St. Paul to have your photograph (a dozen good ones) taken.  Do you hear?  I shall not take “No” for an answer.  Love to all.
Ever yours, Madison.

Citation:  May 20, 1863, Letter from James Madison Bowler to Lizzie, Correspondence, undated, 1829-1865. Bowler, James Madison and Family, Papers. Minnesota Historical Society. [P1330 box 1]

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Falmouth Depot Va
May 18th 1863
Dear Mother, your kind letters dated the 30th April 3rd May 5 do and one dated the 11th came duly to hand this evening[.] The ones dated 30 April 3d and 5th May has been without doubt been misplaced and faild to come through as quick as the one dated 18th.
Henry Boyson has returned from his furlough, and he looks fine, as if he had enjoyed himself[.] He came to me and told me he was very sorry that he could not fetch the things you wanted to send, he had so much he could not carry all the things and as his time was fast going he could not bother with a [trinket.] I am very much obliged to kind mother for the things you would have sent had you the chance[.] I am getting along fine here[,] we are not over 40 rods from the Depot where all the Army Supplys come too and can most any moment walk down and buy what little things we need.  it may be a little crowded but a Soldier can soon get through a crowd if his education befitting a Soldier is complete.  again I thank you very much for what you would have sent[,] also my sincere thanks to Mrs. Neff for her interest in my wellfare.  Pleas give my thanks to Matthew and Thomas Norton[,] Aunt Mary Jane[,] Uncle Will and to all[.]  tell them that I and as thanktful as if I had recd the good things[.]  Tell Albert Moss and Henry Dale that I send them my very best wishes for their future welfare[.]  How you came to get their pictures is a mystery in my mind. Charley Ely and myself thought them lost[.] He did not put them in the office[.] I nor any one in our tent did not and when they were missing we thought them stolen, as their was a letter with five Dollars inclosed in it close by the pictures. I think some person put them in the office thinking to do us a favor. The pictures were very poor and I thought I would not have any taken but Charley wanted one to send home and he being too dark to take good we got them taken to gather, you can see in the one you have got that the man was in a great hurry, he painted the parts before the picture was dry consiquently the paints look streaked.  All I want now is that mock tie and then don’t put your self to any more trouble on my account[.]  I don’t need any thing more at presant.  You may not think the excuse I give for Henry not taking those things a good one but to tell the truth let Henry [beg] whare he may and they ask him any favor and he cannot refuse when he had ought for their sake as well as his own[.] he is one of that good naturd kind of boys that is willing but still not able to do any body favors.  I would like to know how you get along with that lot of yours, have you got the taxes all paid and evry thing strait[?]
Orren wrote me a little letter not long since and I failed to answer it[.]
Here
Dear Brother Orren
I Got your nice little letter a good while ago and it was a nice one
Your Brother Chas Goddard

See full letter here: 1863-05-18_Smith_combined

Citation: May 18, 1863, Letter from Charles Goddard to his mother, Correspondence 1863-1929. Smith, Orrin Fruit and Family Papers, 1829-1932. Minnesota Historical Society. [P1434 box 1]

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Diary entry by Matthew Marvin of the 1st Minnesota Regiment, written from the 1st Minnesota’s camp near the Rappahannock River at Falmouth, Virginia.  During the past week camp life has been dull.  Marvin writes that “Their is nothing going on” and “Idelness is distruction to an army”.  But the boys keep themselves entertained.  Marvin remarks that “poker playing is [initiating] its self into the rotine of camp amusements” and, on May 16th, “For a little excitement to day the Officers mad up a [purse] of $17.50 for a foot race”.

On Sunday May 17, Marvin writes:
Was on Co Inspection & on Dress parade[.]  I have been unwell for a couple of days With dull headache & my appetite is not as good as usual[.]  The days pass wearly by when there is nothing to do[.]  Weather plasant[.]

See the week of Marvin’s diary entries: 1863-05-17_Marvin_5-12-17combined

Citation:  May 12-17, 1863 Diary entries by Matthew Marvin, Diary, January 1-December 31, 1863. Volume 2.  Matthew Marvin Papers. Minnesota Historical Society. [P2355 box 2]

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War Department
Adjutant General’s Office
Washington, D.C., May 16th, 1863.

His Excellency,
The Governor of Minnesota
St. Paul, Minn.

Sir:
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 7th Inst, asking if you have authority to appoint Hospital Stewards to the various Regiments of Minn Vols, and stating that Captain Nelson U.S.A. had refused to muster into service as Hospital Steward, Private Chamberlain, 8th Minn Vols, who had been so appointed.
In reply I have to inform you, that Hospital Stewards, are members of the Non-commissioned Staff of a Regiment, and as such the appointment is in the hands of the Commanding Officer of the Regiment, who alone can exercise the appointing power.

I am, Sir,
Very Respectfully,
Your Obedient Servant,
Thomas M Vincent
Assistant Adjutant General

Citation: May 16, 1863, Letter from Thomas M Vincent, Letters Received–AGO-QMG. Minnesota: Governor: Ramsey. Records. Minnesota Historical Society. State Archives. Minnesota Historical Society. [111.E.20.4F]

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Confederate flag captured by the 4th Minnesota

Transcription in part: Mother you said you was down harted [.] Now Ma I just tell you that you must not get discouraged for everything will be well [.] after all Ma you must remember that your boys is not dead nor there is not any danger of their dying but remember that they are fighting for to put this Horrible Rebellion down and to save our Country and for my part I never want to come home untill it is accomplished...[ Jerome Farnsworth died on July 5, 1863, from wounds received at the Battle of Gettysburg.]

See full letter here: 1863-05-14_Farnsworth_combined

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Camp Near Falmouth Depot
May 12th 1862 [1863?]
Dear Mother:
It has been some time since I have written to you and also some time since I recd a letter from you.  Chas Ely wrote to his mother just after the battle and I could not well get paper and ink[.]  I thought it quite sufficient so I did not write.  I hardly know wheather Joe Hooker has got the worst of the fight or has given the Rebs all they wanted[.]  it is a great deal mixed up here.  We don’t know hardly what to think of Hooker’s fighting qualities yet, but would not like to have him removed until he has another trial.  We were not engaged in this battle, but under some severe artillery fire.  Two from our company wounded – C. Boardman and C. Shaw.  Our Regt is in splendid condition, as is, I think, the whole of our Brigade.  It is not easy to take those old rafts men on the Mississippi and brake them down in two years.  I have been running all day with my shoes off and it seems quite could come down here and get shot I think without the trouble of shooting themselves. One of our boys has jest handed me a segar – probably you don’t appreciate the value of a good segar but then a soldier can. Mother, I and Ely had our pictures taken and was going to send them to you and Mrs Ely but they were taken out of the port folio and strange to say I cannot get any clue of their whare abouts, but then I think you can see the original about the 29th day of April 1864. Tell Brother Orren that it is when I get out of the army.  Now, I think if you saw a real Battle field you would be some surprised.  a goodeal of crouching when they can do so and a goodeal of “give it to them boys”, the most harrising of all things to troops is to take them whare artilry can get good range and the infantry cannot retaliate[.]  Well mother my supply of news is pretty well exausted and I think I will wind up with very best Respects to all of my friends[.]  Love to Brother Orren and your self[,]
Your Son Chas. E. Goddard

Citation: May 12, 1863, Letter from Charles Goddard to his mother, Correspondence 1863-1929. Smith, Orrin Fruit and Family Papers, 1829-1932. Minnesota Historical Society. [P1434 box 1]

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