Civil War Letter

This Civil War soldier letter written by George H. Shaw (1843-1913) of Weare, New Hampshire, who enlisted at the age of 18 as a private in Co. A, 3rd New Hampshire Infantry on 22 August 1861 and served three years, mustering out on 23 August 1864. He was born in Slatersville, Rhode Island and lived in Holyoke, Massachusetts, after the war where he worked as a lumber salesman.

George was the son of John Shaw, Jr. (1803-1886), a native of England, and Persis D. Gilbert (1808-1845), a native of Rhode Island. After his mother died in 1845, George father remarried to Lydia A. Howard (1814-1899). George regularly mentions two older siblings, John Judson Shaw (1832-1903), and Ellen Maria Shaw (b. 1840), and one younger half-sibling, Ansel Howard Shaw (1849-1899) in his letters.

A summary of the regiment follows:

After being mustered in, the 3rd New Hampshire left for Long Island, New York, encamping at Camp Winfield Scott at Hempstead Plains. From here, they went to Washington, D.C. and Annapolis, Maryland where the regiment embarked on the steamer Atlantic for the assault on Hilton Head, South Carolina. It was part of the forces used to establish Federal footholds on the South’s Atlantic Coast. Except for minor skirmishes with Confederate pickets, they did not see action until June 16, 1862, where it participated in the Battle of Secessionville. The 3rd entered battle with 26 officers and 597 men and suffered 104 casualties—27 of them killed or mortally wounded.

The 3rd New Hampshire then engaged in amphibious operations for several months and was assigned to one of the brigades to attack Fort Wagner. From July 10–13, 1863, the 3rd attempted the first assault, which failed, losing seven killed and 21 wounded. The regiment lost another eight in a second failed assault which took place July 18, 1863, led by Captain James F. Randlett.

During the spring of 1864, the 3rd New Hampshire was transferred north to Virginia where they joined the 10th Corps, also known as the Army of the James. Soon after, they were heavily engaged at Drewry’s Bluff on May 16, 1864, where sixty-six New Hampshire men were killed or wounded. On August 16, 1864, they also fought at Deep Bottom, Virginia, where Lt. Colonel Josiah Plimpton, in command of the regiment, was mortally wounded.

On August 23, 1864, the three-year term of service was up for the original volunteers, and those who did not reenlist were mustered out and sent home. Only 180 men remained of the thousand who had left Concord three years prior. [Wikipedia]

TRANSCRIPTION

Hilton Head, South Carolina

January 28th 1862

Dear Father,

I received your letters this morning—one dated the 9th and one dated the 20th. I received them both this morning an was shocked to hear that Ellen had acted so toward you. I could not make it seem so. I read it and reread it over and over again. You don’t know how I felt about it after all you had done for her. I know that I have done so myself many times before but did not see the consequences till after. Oh! my father, God knows that I have suffered for it in mind and heart. When I look back and view my past life, what you have done for me, it don’t seem that I could ever do enough to repay you. And to have your children act so toward you in your declining years when instead they ought to help you all they can. I have had John talk to me about it when Harriet wanted him to help her father along that he was willing to do his share of it, but at the same time he wanted to keep an eye out for you first and so it is with myself. I have nobody to look after and when you want any help, you can let me know and I will help you if it is but I will give it. We have not been paid off yet but when I am, I will let you have some of you will let me know if you want it.

As regards Ellen, I think that the best thing you can do is to let her tough it out now. Mark my word, father, she has made a very foolish move and one that she will repent of too and that before long. I have been through the mill myself. Experience is a hard teacher but a good one in the end.

I think on the whole it is for your good to let her tough it out if she wants to. It will be better for you and you will not have so much to look after. I think just the same as I always did, that if Sam Pratt is a going to have her, between you and I to speak plainly about it, he ought not to leave you to support her 3 or 4 years. And as regards the pay for her board, I honestly think that you ought to have it and to make a long story short, I should get it if I could. You have lost considerable you know on your house rent and been out of work &c., and I think that you ought to have it. When I get through with this war, I shall settle down and be a steady fellow and try and be respected as I know I can and I have made up my mind to that effect.

You wrote that you would have me enjoy the religion of Jesus Christ. God knows my head and father, I know that is a great and good thing and something which I and everyone ought to have and I would from the bottom of my heart that I had it. Pray for me that I may find it. But you say you must do something yourself towards it. I will try from this day forth to be a better man, Most every letter that I get they say that they wish I might come home a good and true man. I had a letter from Sarah Needham today.

Well, as I did not have room in the other sheet to finish my letter, I will tell you the news in this. You know that I wrote you that we were a going to leave here but we have not gone yer although we are under marching orders but one thing I do know, there has been heavy firing in the direction of Savannah all day and one of the teamsters told our 1st Sergeant that the Colonel told him to have the teams ready to move tomorrow morning. The report here is that the Stars and Stripes are floating over the walls of Fort Pulaski but cannot vouch for the truth of the thing. Do you get my letters that I send without stamps? I shall put one on this one and if you get them without, let me know and I won’t put any on. I have not had any letters from Ellen lately. I had one from John. His folks are all well and he had all the work he could do but as it is getting late, I must bring my letter to a close.

I was on guard last night and I am tired and sleepy but I could not sleep till I had written you.

By the way, I have strained my side somehow or other a lifting. The doctor said I come nigh having a breach but he gave me some lineament to put on and it is about well. I did not do anything for about a week but have gone at it again now.

The mail has not been out for a week or ten days so you can see the reason why you do not hear from me oftener but I must close. Give my love to mother & Ansel and tell Ansel to stick to his father, let come what may. Stay at home and comfort his father in his declining years. By the way, tell mother that I have not had any chance to get her any flower seed as they keep us close when we are under marching orders. Tell Aunt Dicey when she ain’t got anything else to do, to write to me. But I have wrote a good, long letter for me and if I don’t stop pretty soon, I shan’t have any paper to write another. Hoping to hear from you very soon and more cheering news next time, I remain your affectionate son, — George H. Shaw

Write soon. Goodbye.

NOTE..

Comes with full copy of Transcripts,and all Above information and copy of photos of Fort Pulaski ..Will be shipped with Tracking..Thanks for Looking..Brandon