These letters were 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
Pinckney Island, South Carolina
March 2, 1863
Dear Father,
I again seat myself to inform you that I am still alive and in good health as usual. We are again under marching orders ready to move at a moment’s notice to go anywhere they want to have us.
Well, Father, do you have many mosquitoes there yet? I guess that it would be apt to freeze them up your way. Well I was on picket last night and I could not get a minute’s rest on account of the mosquitoes being so thick, It took all of their time to tend to them and to tell the truth about it, the mosquitoes that we have here are as large as common flies that have North and when one of them bites you, it is like a hornet stinging you.
Today was the day set for an attack on Fort McAllister in Savannah River but I have not heard any firing in that direction yet. The Nashville is destroyed this time and no mistake neither. She was blown up by a shell from one of our gunboats. I tell you what it is, we are a going to have some late fighting down in this department before long & no mistake now. That is so, and it will tell the story one way or the other, I think. It will be a big thing for or against the Union, but the God of Battles only knows. But let us hope for the best and this bloody war be brought to a close soon.
The 9th Army Corps are coming into this department to cooperate with the 10th Army Corps so you can look for exciting news from this quarter before long.
I had a letter from Warren W. Eager last week. He said that the Wales boys were all well with the exception of Royal Nelson and Muton Chafee had died with the chills.
Well, Father, what do you think of the Conscription Act. Don’t you think it will make [them] tremble at the North before they get? But I can’t see how they can get out of it very well.
But I must close. Give my love to John and Harriet and keep the largest share yourself. I will keep you informed of the movements here as far as I am able but I must close for this time hoping to hear from you soon. I remain your affectionate son, — George H. Shaw
Pinckney Island, South Carolina