This stampless letter has a circular date stamp for PERU Ind., a match PAID, a handwritten 10 cent rate, and is addressed to Joseph Howes, Montpelier, Vermont, and is a one paragraph letter written by Henry Howes.
The headline is Monday Nov 8, 1847.
The letter reads: "Dear Brother, I now inform you that I have received your kind letter containing A draught of Six hundred dollars and feel very thankful for the same and I think that if my life is spared I shal make you a visit next season. My self and famaly are all well, give my respects your famaly and all enquiring friends, please to write as often as you think proper, so Adieu for the present."
Find your roots and hear your ancestors' words across the generations. Discover your origins in old letters as ancestors tell their stories and reveal family relationships, past events, moments in time and details of family history. Add branches to your family tree as you search your ancestry and build your genealogy.
Friday, August 27, 2004
Diary of Tully Crosby Brewster on board Ship Charlotte of Boston, 1848-1850 Massachusetts
This leather covered diary is hardbound and is a bit over 100 pages, or a total of 200 pages front and back
The diary is identified clearly in manuscript on the back fly page-- Tully Crosby Brewster [Massachusetts]
The diary entries begin with October 13, 1848 and end with June 19, 1850. Also included with the diary is a beautifully written, 4-page tipped in letter dated January 10, 1843,by the hand of Captain Crosby, addressed from London to his brother and sister, in Brewster, Massachusetts.
The following are just few of the highlights of the entries in this diary. The excerpts were chosen at random. You will learn from this brief list of entries that Captain Crosby was a brave man, sailing the treacherous mighty deep time after time, experiencing utter despair and frustration. He was a devoutly religious man so much so he heaps guilt upon himself for repairing masts on the Sabbath. But at the same time he and his crew wage utter brutality against the poor sea creatures, the whale and the porpoise.
October 13, 1848
I left my home at a late hour of the night to go forth and seek bread for the wife and little ones, whom God hath given me, to follow the profession which in my youth I so unwisely chose. I am one of those people who do business upon the might waters, who go down to the deep in ships, and there behold the wonders of the Lord & . I go because my duty calls me, yet my soul will dwell with you [my wife and children]. On the 14th, arrived in Boston, passed the day there. But in the evening I take cars for New York, and after a pleasant passage through the sound in the Empire State, I arrive safe &
Wednesday, January 27th, 1849
Ship Monterey of Boston
a high rolling sea at 6 p.m. It commences to blow again. Took in said as required and & we had to take all off but close reefed main top said and fore topmost stay sail. Midnight, a tremendous gale of wind & and the sea was terrific. May god have mercy on us... A heavy sea & filled the decks fore and aft and came nigh washing the whole watch off deck. On e many was swept from the bows of the ship, under the spars and was some bruised, passengers necessary was washed away & . It is indeed a very heavy gale, and the sea seems frightful .
Monday, January 31st, 1849
Ship Monterey of Boston
we passed close along side of a squid, a laying on the top of the water. I should think him 20 to 25 feet long and as large as a house the larges I ever saw, though I have heard of them much larger .
Sunday, February the 4th, 1849
Ship Monterey of Boston
we feel at times as if there was no one so unfortunate as we are, but we know when we exercise our better judgment that there is many worse off, by far, yet we feel bad, we are making a very long passage, and our freight is of the loveliest kind. The heavy winds which are continually so spitefully against us is a striping us of all our sails, or rather is straining and tearing them to pieces. We fear that our employees will get tired of our hard luck, but we must do our best and have [left] the result to God .
Sunday, February the 11th, 1849
Ship Monterey of Boston
we find by looking back in this our Journal that this is the twelfth gale of wind that we have experienced since we left port, that has caused us to have our ship too under close reefed main top sail and I think we have been laid too, about 13 days & Midnight calm. It is truly strange how sudden these N gales die down to a calm. In one or two hours from a gale to a perfect calm, all the latter part it is calm and clear and we are obliged to turn all of the watch onto work to repair sails, although it is a Sabbath day, we feel that it is our duty, yet we hate to work, or set men to work on the Lords day, but we have had a dreadful time, and our sails have all got split and strained to pieces and if we don t take the advantage of the good weather, we fear we shall lose them. Our Father, who art in heaven, again we are permitted through thy mercy to behold another Sabbath day. Although we have been at work all the day, upon our sail & c., we felt that it was our duty, and if we have sinned in thy sight, we pray that we may be forgiven, surely we have not meant it for sin, nor have we done it thinking light of thy Command, which requires of us not to work, neither ourselves or our servants, but we have looked upon it as work of necessity. And, our Master and Savior taught us that if we have an ass & that falls in the ditch, it is lawful to pull them out on the Sabbath day. True, such was not our state, but our sails have fallen in to very rough weather, and we feel that we are acting upon the same principle by taking advantage of a moderate day to repair them. Since this is only the third or fourth moderate day we have had out of 44 days, yet Father we do not wish to justify ourselves before thee, for we know that we have often done things that are forbidden in thy sacred work and left undone things that we are commanded to do.
Thursday, February the 15th, 1849
Ship Monterey of Boston & standing to the South to get clear of the Gulf where we find we have been for the last two days, although we have been from 60 to 120 miles south of where we ever knew the gulf to be before in this longitude, but everything has undergone a change apparently since we passed these parts before.
Midnight - a tremendous gale with lightning, thunder, and much rain. Oh God, have mercy on us, for surely we fear our good little ship will not be able to stand it much longer. We have now washed away our head sails, and started our head and main rail, and we fear our head will go altogether as the knees are gone, and if it does, we fear it will start a leak .
Saturday, February the 17th, 1849
Ship Monterey of Boston
Wonderful to relate we have not had to close reef our top sails for 24 hours. May god be praised for this blessing. At 10 a.m., we passed as bale of Cotton floating close along side of the ship, and some pieces of ship s bull works, the Cotton had not been long in the water. Some poor fellow no doubt had his decks swept about here during the late heavy gales. We still pray for a fair wind and may God her our prayers at last, and save us .
Thursday, February 22, 1849
Ship Monterey of Boston
Washington s Birthday.
when it blows, it always blows against us, and when it is calm, of course, we can do nothing, and we are almost ready to despair & surely there must be some cause for all this detention, and for so many, many disappointments, for when our hears are for the moment encouraged with the appearance of a fair wind, lo, and behold it is only for a moment for soon it is all withdrawn from us .
March 15th, 1849
In Baltimore
Ship Monterey of Boston
All of this 24 hours we have a thick rainy, foggy weather, but in the after part of the day, we commence discharging some of our cargo crates, and we hope and pray that tomorrow we may have a better day. Saw Mr. Paul Leans just from [here] from Boston and had a long talk with him about Boston friends there. Nothing new occurring this day & . Saturday, March the 20th, 1849Still in BaltimoreShip Monterey of Boston & Tolerable pleasant, but on Monday, the 20th, much rain which continues for two or three days, but we chartered the Ship for Liverpool to William Mankin. On the 25th had a letter from my wife and she was sick. Complains of weakness, cough, & c. and writes very discouraging. Oh, my Father in Heaven, what can this be, my fears are great, but in thee I put my trust. I immediately sent on for another Master for the ship for not for worlds would I go to sea and leave her sick. On the 29th had a letter saying Capt. George Dunbar is to take the ship, which I am glad to hear. He is a good fellow. On the 2nd of April, Capt Dunbar got on, expected to find the ship ready, but we had not began to load. I have trouble to get my fright as the rates have declined. I fear that Mr. Mankin will lose money by the ship. On the 11th we got her loaded and on the morning of the 12th started her off, and at the same time I started for home. Passed the evening and night in Philadelphia with Mr. Freeman, left next morning and arrived at New York. Left same evening, and the next day I got safe home with my dearly beloved family. Found my wife feeble indeed. But in a few days we start off for a town down east which proves a great benefit to her & . All the month of July and June, I was employed with Carpenters at work making alteration in my house. On the 10th of August, the Monterey arrived in Boston. I went up and took charge, got her Cargo out and I was taken down sick with bowel complaint. Was one week sick in Charlestown. Got a little better, went home and was taken with relapse. Found I should not be able to go in the ship, she being ready for Rio de Janeiro, sent up my old friend and neighbor Thacker, who I was glad to hear got the ship. She sailed on the 3rd of September. On the 20th of September, my health having been recovered, had letter from Mr. Lincoln to come to Boston. Went up on the 22nd, made an agreement to take the old ship Charlotte for a voyage to California.
Saturday, December 29th, 1849
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston
At 4 p.m. we spoke to the Bark, Leonoria. Off and from Liverpool, England, 23 days for Demerana (?), he complains with us that we are so far south and no trade winds. He wishes us a pleasant passage, a plenty of Gold & c., for which we are much obliged and wish him the same with all of our heart & [Barque (or Bark) A barque is square-rigged at fore and main masts, and differs from a ship in having no top, and carrying only fore-and-aft sails at her mizzenmast. She has at least three masts. All of them are rigged with at least three square sails each, except for the stern most one, which is rigged with fore-and-aft sails. The wooden three-masted barque was a common sight in the port of san Francisco in the middle of the 19th century. Barques were important in California's early development. Until the fast, elegant clippers and huge steamers began arriving in 1850-1851, barques, ships and brigs carried huge cargo loads from around the world. ]
Tuesday, January the 1st, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston
All hail Happy New Year! We greet you with the warmth and sincerity of an old friend. Yet we acknowledge that we are perfect strangers. But then we have been expecting you, and knew in reason that you would come about this time, January 1st. Well, you find poor Pill Garlick here on board of the old Charlotte, bobbing off for California, all down upon one side with the NE trade winds all from the SW. We hope friend fifty that we shall be good friends, and that we shall prosper much better under your administration than we did under the reign of your elder sister Queen 49. Yet we know that we even then was permitted to live, and sometimes took much comfort, but our gains in a Worldly sense was small .
Friday, January the 4th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston
At 5 p.m., spoke [with] the schooner S.D. Bailey, & bound for San Francisco, all well, intended to touch at St. Cruz, Cape Verd, passengers on board of her all in high glee. They gave us three cheers as they passed across our stern. We wish them good luck and hope God will prosper them and give them abundance of Gold, and return all those who desire it in safety to their fatherland, again in safety .
Wednesday, January the 15th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston
There is an American Hermaphrodite Brig within a main top sail & a coming up with us as they all do. We have only seen one vessel yet but what passed us, and this one will soon no doubt. But we are dragging along slowly all down upon our side. We have crossed the equator & . [Hermaphrodite Brigantine--If a ship has two masts, the foremast square rigged and the main mast fore-and-aft rigged, it can be called a hermaphrodite brig or a brigantine. Calling it a brigantine is a bit wrong, because the true brigantine should also have square sails on her main topmast. The brigantine must not, however, have a main course, because then it is called a brig and does not belong to the family of schooners since its main sail is not a fore-and-aft sail.]
Thursday, January the 17th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston
The Brig Crocas of and for Gardner Mc Cane up and spoke with us. 39 days out for California . He says he has spoke with two or three vessels before and he was to the east of them all
Wednesday, January the 23rd, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston
It is dreadful hot weather, and I am troubled with one of my bilious starts (bowel complaint?), but hope by the mercy of God soon to be well again. Have taken some of the wonderful Brandwiths pills .
Thursday, January the 16th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston
spoke to the ship Em? & from New Bedford, 80 days out on a whaling cruise. Had 400 bbls oil and three noble, large whales then turned up which the boats was then trying to get along side. Two of them already fast to the ship. Monstrous looking they are. And it is wonderful to think of the power of man to subdue all other creatures unto himself. But all under God must it be done.
Thursday, July the 20th , 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston
There is an American ship and Brig in Company. I expect they are bound to the Gold Regions, and I wish them much success .
Sunday, July the 24th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston
The Bark Emma, camp up and spoke and passed us. Reported 67 days from Bath for the Gold Regions. Full of passengers, and the little Bark sailed like a witch, while our good old Charlotte moves slow and graceful, as well the Charlotte should .
Wednesday, March the 6th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston
Wonderful events have this morning transpired. Mr. Lincoln our second officer has been all the voyage a trying to catch a porpoise. Was fortunate enough to hit one and draw blood. And although he did not save him, yet he is wonderfully elated, and is sharpening up his iron, and woe to the porpoises that now come nigh us, for blood is now drawn and the battle is fairly begun
Wednesday, March the 13th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston
thank our heavenly Father for every little that we gain on our course helps to carry us from this Cape Horn of which we have had enough for one cruise.
Sunday, March the 24th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston
ship laying and laboring in a tremendous sea, within 50 miles of the western entrance to the Straights of Magellan
Wednesday, March the 31st, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston
yet we feel thankful indeed that we can say that we have got clear of the Cape Horn without any material accident, though we have had a rough and long time of it, yet we flatter ourselves that we have got clear with as little damage and most any of the California craft, and we pray that we may be as fortunate the rest of the voyage.
Monday, April the 8th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston
this voyage we had a strong hope that we should have reached Valparaiso before this time, and as the first part of our passage was so prosperous, that hope was strengthened, but since we got up with Cape Horn, we have indeed had a hard time of it, although through the mercy of a kind providence, we have been preserved alive, and have not met with any serious accident, and we are now only 400 miles from Valparaiso .
Monday, April the 14th, 1850
ANCHORED AT VALPARAISO
Ship Charlotte of Boston
Monday morning went on shore and found to my great regret that there is no letters for me to be found here from any part, and I further find that there is no prospect of my selling the cargo on any part of it h ere to advantage so that I have no course to pursue but to continue on the San Francisco and the prospect does not look very flattering even there, but we must go
Friday, April the 26th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCSICO
Ship Charlotte of Boston
at midday there was a large whale one of the largest species came along side of the ship so near as to rub his sides against the bottom of the ship and continued to pass under the bottom from one side to the other, occasionally blowing close beside us and throwing his flukes about to our no great satisfaction, until we shot a Rifle Ball into his head when he left us in double quick time
Wednesday, March the 6th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston
hand variously employed in ship s duty & myself reading Doctor Allcot s novel, Reformer, but think as I ever have that the said Doctor Allcot is an ass, and I don t believe he thinks half what he writes true. Still he says some good things as who many not who writes so much
Wednesday, May the 8th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston
O how time flies away. It seems all most impossible, but such is the fact. We had hopes of being a little nearer to California when this day came around, but we had such a cruel hard, and long time off of Cape Horn which causes us to be no further on now
Thursday, May the 9th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston
hands employed in painting ship, cleaning iron work & . The weather is getting very hot, and we feel somewhat the effects of it operating upon our digestive organs. We have a craving appetite, and have not strengths of mind enough to curb its desires, when we know it hurts us to eat so much. Well, of people will dance, they ought to pay the fiddler
Monday, May the 12th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston
Clear, pleasant weather all sail out low and aloft, and our good ole ship is a doing the best she can towards reaching California
Monday, May the 13th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston
all hands employed scrubbing and scraping ship outside making ready for painting myself and Mr. Gould, passenger, practicing pistol and rifle shooting, the weather is very warm. Indeed the heat is very oppressive. We have one man sick threatened with fever
Tuesday, May 14th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston
hands employed painting ship outside, I had some high words with my mate Mr. Gillson. He provokes me all the passage, I suppose he wants to aggravate me to discharge him when the ship arrives, and heaven knows he may go for it. If I can t have an officer who will pay a little respect towards me as master of the ship, I don t want any. And I am quite sure that he does not, and he boasts of not caring a d**** whether he gives me satisfaction or not. I am sure of one thing and that is; that I never tried to treat a mate better than I have him, and I never had one who took such improper advantage of good treatment before, and I am sure I never had such improper advantage of good treatment before and I am sure I never had such abusive language from any one before. I could put him off duty, but this would be just what he would like, besides I am not disposed to do his duty for him, and as our voyage cannot be more than 20 or 50 days longer, I pray that God may give me patience. I hope to treat him in a proper manner, and deport myself toward him as becomes a gentleman and Christian. God knows I wish him no harm, but I pray that he may possess a better disposition. I am sure he will one day regret the abusive language that he has used toward me. But he has many things to repent of. He boast of having taken many Negroes from their native land to the West Indies and sold them, and swears he will do it again, one day. This will rise up in judgment again him
Sunday, May the 26th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston
we are now within 1200 miles of San Francisco
Monday, June the 4th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston
a high rolling sea, all of which continues all the 24 hours, just as it has for the last nine days & but I expect it is fair for some people, and we ought to be content. But our philosophy has got pretty much used up into fiddle strings, and we wish to Heaven we could get on fair wind to take us to San Francisco for we want to see the Elephant, and satisfy ourselves whether that animal has got horns or not. Cause folks says he has
Tuesday, June the 18th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston
at 9 a.m., the Baltimore schooner called C.A. Slicer came up and spoke to us she left Valparaiso eight days after us, and she came up and passed us like a bird
Wednesday, June the 19th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston
the Schooner that passed us yesterday is still in sight. We came up with some in the night, we begin to get some of the California weather, and our hope soon to get a fair breeze t take us in for we are truly sick of this long passage.
Tuesday, June the 20th, 1850
NEAR THE PORT OF SAN FRANCISCO~LAST DIARY ENTRY
Ship Charlotte of Boston
Commenced with a light air from WNW, nearly calm. All sails set low and aloft. Our ship a moving on her course about 4 knots an hour, which continues all the 24 hours nearly the same. The Schooner that we spoke to on the 18th is still in sight. She gets way ahead of us in the day time, but at night, we come up with her, and find her near us in the morning. We hope soon to reach our port, and as we now are a drawing nigh, we pray God to give us clear weather and direct our courses right and keep us in safety & Amen
The diary is identified clearly in manuscript on the back fly page-- Tully Crosby Brewster [Massachusetts]
The diary entries begin with October 13, 1848 and end with June 19, 1850. Also included with the diary is a beautifully written, 4-page tipped in letter dated January 10, 1843,by the hand of Captain Crosby, addressed from London to his brother and sister, in Brewster, Massachusetts.
The following are just few of the highlights of the entries in this diary. The excerpts were chosen at random. You will learn from this brief list of entries that Captain Crosby was a brave man, sailing the treacherous mighty deep time after time, experiencing utter despair and frustration. He was a devoutly religious man so much so he heaps guilt upon himself for repairing masts on the Sabbath. But at the same time he and his crew wage utter brutality against the poor sea creatures, the whale and the porpoise.
October 13, 1848
I left my home at a late hour of the night to go forth and seek bread for the wife and little ones, whom God hath given me, to follow the profession which in my youth I so unwisely chose. I am one of those people who do business upon the might waters, who go down to the deep in ships, and there behold the wonders of the Lord & . I go because my duty calls me, yet my soul will dwell with you [my wife and children]. On the 14th, arrived in Boston, passed the day there. But in the evening I take cars for New York, and after a pleasant passage through the sound in the Empire State, I arrive safe &
Wednesday, January 27th, 1849
Ship Monterey of Boston
a high rolling sea at 6 p.m. It commences to blow again. Took in said as required and & we had to take all off but close reefed main top said and fore topmost stay sail. Midnight, a tremendous gale of wind & and the sea was terrific. May god have mercy on us... A heavy sea & filled the decks fore and aft and came nigh washing the whole watch off deck. On e many was swept from the bows of the ship, under the spars and was some bruised, passengers necessary was washed away & . It is indeed a very heavy gale, and the sea seems frightful .
Monday, January 31st, 1849
Ship Monterey of Boston
we passed close along side of a squid, a laying on the top of the water. I should think him 20 to 25 feet long and as large as a house the larges I ever saw, though I have heard of them much larger .
Sunday, February the 4th, 1849
Ship Monterey of Boston
we feel at times as if there was no one so unfortunate as we are, but we know when we exercise our better judgment that there is many worse off, by far, yet we feel bad, we are making a very long passage, and our freight is of the loveliest kind. The heavy winds which are continually so spitefully against us is a striping us of all our sails, or rather is straining and tearing them to pieces. We fear that our employees will get tired of our hard luck, but we must do our best and have [left] the result to God .
Sunday, February the 11th, 1849
Ship Monterey of Boston
we find by looking back in this our Journal that this is the twelfth gale of wind that we have experienced since we left port, that has caused us to have our ship too under close reefed main top sail and I think we have been laid too, about 13 days & Midnight calm. It is truly strange how sudden these N gales die down to a calm. In one or two hours from a gale to a perfect calm, all the latter part it is calm and clear and we are obliged to turn all of the watch onto work to repair sails, although it is a Sabbath day, we feel that it is our duty, yet we hate to work, or set men to work on the Lords day, but we have had a dreadful time, and our sails have all got split and strained to pieces and if we don t take the advantage of the good weather, we fear we shall lose them. Our Father, who art in heaven, again we are permitted through thy mercy to behold another Sabbath day. Although we have been at work all the day, upon our sail & c., we felt that it was our duty, and if we have sinned in thy sight, we pray that we may be forgiven, surely we have not meant it for sin, nor have we done it thinking light of thy Command, which requires of us not to work, neither ourselves or our servants, but we have looked upon it as work of necessity. And, our Master and Savior taught us that if we have an ass & that falls in the ditch, it is lawful to pull them out on the Sabbath day. True, such was not our state, but our sails have fallen in to very rough weather, and we feel that we are acting upon the same principle by taking advantage of a moderate day to repair them. Since this is only the third or fourth moderate day we have had out of 44 days, yet Father we do not wish to justify ourselves before thee, for we know that we have often done things that are forbidden in thy sacred work and left undone things that we are commanded to do.
Thursday, February the 15th, 1849
Ship Monterey of Boston & standing to the South to get clear of the Gulf where we find we have been for the last two days, although we have been from 60 to 120 miles south of where we ever knew the gulf to be before in this longitude, but everything has undergone a change apparently since we passed these parts before.
Midnight - a tremendous gale with lightning, thunder, and much rain. Oh God, have mercy on us, for surely we fear our good little ship will not be able to stand it much longer. We have now washed away our head sails, and started our head and main rail, and we fear our head will go altogether as the knees are gone, and if it does, we fear it will start a leak .
Saturday, February the 17th, 1849
Ship Monterey of Boston
Wonderful to relate we have not had to close reef our top sails for 24 hours. May god be praised for this blessing. At 10 a.m., we passed as bale of Cotton floating close along side of the ship, and some pieces of ship s bull works, the Cotton had not been long in the water. Some poor fellow no doubt had his decks swept about here during the late heavy gales. We still pray for a fair wind and may God her our prayers at last, and save us .
Thursday, February 22, 1849
Ship Monterey of Boston
Washington s Birthday.
when it blows, it always blows against us, and when it is calm, of course, we can do nothing, and we are almost ready to despair & surely there must be some cause for all this detention, and for so many, many disappointments, for when our hears are for the moment encouraged with the appearance of a fair wind, lo, and behold it is only for a moment for soon it is all withdrawn from us .
March 15th, 1849
In Baltimore
Ship Monterey of Boston
All of this 24 hours we have a thick rainy, foggy weather, but in the after part of the day, we commence discharging some of our cargo crates, and we hope and pray that tomorrow we may have a better day. Saw Mr. Paul Leans just from [here] from Boston and had a long talk with him about Boston friends there. Nothing new occurring this day & . Saturday, March the 20th, 1849Still in BaltimoreShip Monterey of Boston & Tolerable pleasant, but on Monday, the 20th, much rain which continues for two or three days, but we chartered the Ship for Liverpool to William Mankin. On the 25th had a letter from my wife and she was sick. Complains of weakness, cough, & c. and writes very discouraging. Oh, my Father in Heaven, what can this be, my fears are great, but in thee I put my trust. I immediately sent on for another Master for the ship for not for worlds would I go to sea and leave her sick. On the 29th had a letter saying Capt. George Dunbar is to take the ship, which I am glad to hear. He is a good fellow. On the 2nd of April, Capt Dunbar got on, expected to find the ship ready, but we had not began to load. I have trouble to get my fright as the rates have declined. I fear that Mr. Mankin will lose money by the ship. On the 11th we got her loaded and on the morning of the 12th started her off, and at the same time I started for home. Passed the evening and night in Philadelphia with Mr. Freeman, left next morning and arrived at New York. Left same evening, and the next day I got safe home with my dearly beloved family. Found my wife feeble indeed. But in a few days we start off for a town down east which proves a great benefit to her & . All the month of July and June, I was employed with Carpenters at work making alteration in my house. On the 10th of August, the Monterey arrived in Boston. I went up and took charge, got her Cargo out and I was taken down sick with bowel complaint. Was one week sick in Charlestown. Got a little better, went home and was taken with relapse. Found I should not be able to go in the ship, she being ready for Rio de Janeiro, sent up my old friend and neighbor Thacker, who I was glad to hear got the ship. She sailed on the 3rd of September. On the 20th of September, my health having been recovered, had letter from Mr. Lincoln to come to Boston. Went up on the 22nd, made an agreement to take the old ship Charlotte for a voyage to California.
Saturday, December 29th, 1849
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston
At 4 p.m. we spoke to the Bark, Leonoria. Off and from Liverpool, England, 23 days for Demerana (?), he complains with us that we are so far south and no trade winds. He wishes us a pleasant passage, a plenty of Gold & c., for which we are much obliged and wish him the same with all of our heart & [Barque (or Bark) A barque is square-rigged at fore and main masts, and differs from a ship in having no top, and carrying only fore-and-aft sails at her mizzenmast. She has at least three masts. All of them are rigged with at least three square sails each, except for the stern most one, which is rigged with fore-and-aft sails. The wooden three-masted barque was a common sight in the port of san Francisco in the middle of the 19th century. Barques were important in California's early development. Until the fast, elegant clippers and huge steamers began arriving in 1850-1851, barques, ships and brigs carried huge cargo loads from around the world. ]
Tuesday, January the 1st, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston
All hail Happy New Year! We greet you with the warmth and sincerity of an old friend. Yet we acknowledge that we are perfect strangers. But then we have been expecting you, and knew in reason that you would come about this time, January 1st. Well, you find poor Pill Garlick here on board of the old Charlotte, bobbing off for California, all down upon one side with the NE trade winds all from the SW. We hope friend fifty that we shall be good friends, and that we shall prosper much better under your administration than we did under the reign of your elder sister Queen 49. Yet we know that we even then was permitted to live, and sometimes took much comfort, but our gains in a Worldly sense was small .
Friday, January the 4th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston
At 5 p.m., spoke [with] the schooner S.D. Bailey, & bound for San Francisco, all well, intended to touch at St. Cruz, Cape Verd, passengers on board of her all in high glee. They gave us three cheers as they passed across our stern. We wish them good luck and hope God will prosper them and give them abundance of Gold, and return all those who desire it in safety to their fatherland, again in safety .
Wednesday, January the 15th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston
There is an American Hermaphrodite Brig within a main top sail & a coming up with us as they all do. We have only seen one vessel yet but what passed us, and this one will soon no doubt. But we are dragging along slowly all down upon our side. We have crossed the equator & . [Hermaphrodite Brigantine--If a ship has two masts, the foremast square rigged and the main mast fore-and-aft rigged, it can be called a hermaphrodite brig or a brigantine. Calling it a brigantine is a bit wrong, because the true brigantine should also have square sails on her main topmast. The brigantine must not, however, have a main course, because then it is called a brig and does not belong to the family of schooners since its main sail is not a fore-and-aft sail.]
Thursday, January the 17th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston
The Brig Crocas of and for Gardner Mc Cane up and spoke with us. 39 days out for California . He says he has spoke with two or three vessels before and he was to the east of them all
Wednesday, January the 23rd, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston
It is dreadful hot weather, and I am troubled with one of my bilious starts (bowel complaint?), but hope by the mercy of God soon to be well again. Have taken some of the wonderful Brandwiths pills .
Thursday, January the 16th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston
spoke to the ship Em? & from New Bedford, 80 days out on a whaling cruise. Had 400 bbls oil and three noble, large whales then turned up which the boats was then trying to get along side. Two of them already fast to the ship. Monstrous looking they are. And it is wonderful to think of the power of man to subdue all other creatures unto himself. But all under God must it be done.
Thursday, July the 20th , 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston
There is an American ship and Brig in Company. I expect they are bound to the Gold Regions, and I wish them much success .
Sunday, July the 24th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston
The Bark Emma, camp up and spoke and passed us. Reported 67 days from Bath for the Gold Regions. Full of passengers, and the little Bark sailed like a witch, while our good old Charlotte moves slow and graceful, as well the Charlotte should .
Wednesday, March the 6th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston
Wonderful events have this morning transpired. Mr. Lincoln our second officer has been all the voyage a trying to catch a porpoise. Was fortunate enough to hit one and draw blood. And although he did not save him, yet he is wonderfully elated, and is sharpening up his iron, and woe to the porpoises that now come nigh us, for blood is now drawn and the battle is fairly begun
Wednesday, March the 13th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston
thank our heavenly Father for every little that we gain on our course helps to carry us from this Cape Horn of which we have had enough for one cruise.
Sunday, March the 24th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston
ship laying and laboring in a tremendous sea, within 50 miles of the western entrance to the Straights of Magellan
Wednesday, March the 31st, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston
yet we feel thankful indeed that we can say that we have got clear of the Cape Horn without any material accident, though we have had a rough and long time of it, yet we flatter ourselves that we have got clear with as little damage and most any of the California craft, and we pray that we may be as fortunate the rest of the voyage.
Monday, April the 8th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston
this voyage we had a strong hope that we should have reached Valparaiso before this time, and as the first part of our passage was so prosperous, that hope was strengthened, but since we got up with Cape Horn, we have indeed had a hard time of it, although through the mercy of a kind providence, we have been preserved alive, and have not met with any serious accident, and we are now only 400 miles from Valparaiso .
Monday, April the 14th, 1850
ANCHORED AT VALPARAISO
Ship Charlotte of Boston
Monday morning went on shore and found to my great regret that there is no letters for me to be found here from any part, and I further find that there is no prospect of my selling the cargo on any part of it h ere to advantage so that I have no course to pursue but to continue on the San Francisco and the prospect does not look very flattering even there, but we must go
Friday, April the 26th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCSICO
Ship Charlotte of Boston
at midday there was a large whale one of the largest species came along side of the ship so near as to rub his sides against the bottom of the ship and continued to pass under the bottom from one side to the other, occasionally blowing close beside us and throwing his flukes about to our no great satisfaction, until we shot a Rifle Ball into his head when he left us in double quick time
Wednesday, March the 6th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston
hand variously employed in ship s duty & myself reading Doctor Allcot s novel, Reformer, but think as I ever have that the said Doctor Allcot is an ass, and I don t believe he thinks half what he writes true. Still he says some good things as who many not who writes so much
Wednesday, May the 8th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston
O how time flies away. It seems all most impossible, but such is the fact. We had hopes of being a little nearer to California when this day came around, but we had such a cruel hard, and long time off of Cape Horn which causes us to be no further on now
Thursday, May the 9th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston
hands employed in painting ship, cleaning iron work & . The weather is getting very hot, and we feel somewhat the effects of it operating upon our digestive organs. We have a craving appetite, and have not strengths of mind enough to curb its desires, when we know it hurts us to eat so much. Well, of people will dance, they ought to pay the fiddler
Monday, May the 12th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston
Clear, pleasant weather all sail out low and aloft, and our good ole ship is a doing the best she can towards reaching California
Monday, May the 13th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston
all hands employed scrubbing and scraping ship outside making ready for painting myself and Mr. Gould, passenger, practicing pistol and rifle shooting, the weather is very warm. Indeed the heat is very oppressive. We have one man sick threatened with fever
Tuesday, May 14th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston
hands employed painting ship outside, I had some high words with my mate Mr. Gillson. He provokes me all the passage, I suppose he wants to aggravate me to discharge him when the ship arrives, and heaven knows he may go for it. If I can t have an officer who will pay a little respect towards me as master of the ship, I don t want any. And I am quite sure that he does not, and he boasts of not caring a d**** whether he gives me satisfaction or not. I am sure of one thing and that is; that I never tried to treat a mate better than I have him, and I never had one who took such improper advantage of good treatment before, and I am sure I never had such improper advantage of good treatment before and I am sure I never had such abusive language from any one before. I could put him off duty, but this would be just what he would like, besides I am not disposed to do his duty for him, and as our voyage cannot be more than 20 or 50 days longer, I pray that God may give me patience. I hope to treat him in a proper manner, and deport myself toward him as becomes a gentleman and Christian. God knows I wish him no harm, but I pray that he may possess a better disposition. I am sure he will one day regret the abusive language that he has used toward me. But he has many things to repent of. He boast of having taken many Negroes from their native land to the West Indies and sold them, and swears he will do it again, one day. This will rise up in judgment again him
Sunday, May the 26th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston
we are now within 1200 miles of San Francisco
Monday, June the 4th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston
a high rolling sea, all of which continues all the 24 hours, just as it has for the last nine days & but I expect it is fair for some people, and we ought to be content. But our philosophy has got pretty much used up into fiddle strings, and we wish to Heaven we could get on fair wind to take us to San Francisco for we want to see the Elephant, and satisfy ourselves whether that animal has got horns or not. Cause folks says he has
Tuesday, June the 18th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston
at 9 a.m., the Baltimore schooner called C.A. Slicer came up and spoke to us she left Valparaiso eight days after us, and she came up and passed us like a bird
Wednesday, June the 19th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston
the Schooner that passed us yesterday is still in sight. We came up with some in the night, we begin to get some of the California weather, and our hope soon to get a fair breeze t take us in for we are truly sick of this long passage.
Tuesday, June the 20th, 1850
NEAR THE PORT OF SAN FRANCISCO~LAST DIARY ENTRY
Ship Charlotte of Boston
Commenced with a light air from WNW, nearly calm. All sails set low and aloft. Our ship a moving on her course about 4 knots an hour, which continues all the 24 hours nearly the same. The Schooner that we spoke to on the 18th is still in sight. She gets way ahead of us in the day time, but at night, we come up with her, and find her near us in the morning. We hope soon to reach our port, and as we now are a drawing nigh, we pray God to give us clear weather and direct our courses right and keep us in safety & Amen
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
WW1 - William Holloway Clark 1919
WWI 14-PAGE LETTER FROM SOLDIER IN FRANCE TO SWEEHEART IN KENTUCKY
14-page letter written by Private William Holloway Clark, on "American YMCA" stationary.
Private William Clark of Louisville, Kentucky, writes an interesting, newsy letter to his sweetheart, Lila Robinson, dated Tuesday, February 25, 1919--only a couple of months after the Armistice Agreement with Germany was signed. Private Clark was with Company "A", 110th F.S. Battalion, 35th Division—American Expeditionary Force
LETTER EXCERPTS
"On Active Service with the American Expeditionary Force, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 1919, Commercy, France
Dear Lila:
I don’t know whether you’ll ever survive the shock of receiving this letter, but I’ll take a chance anyway. Hang up your Map of France and follow me in my wanderings. I’ve been all over this country from North to South and back again, and the only part of it that is worth a @#$%@___ is Paris. And I only got to spend two days there. Think I’ll get a job as brakeman on a freight train when I get home. I’m so used to riding inside door Pullmans—the kind that accommodate 40 hommes or 8 chevaux. I really think the horses have the best of it. Left New York September 8, landing at Glasgow, Scotland, Sept. 21. No excitement at all coming across, although one of the ships from our convoy did sink a submarine. However, we knew nothing of it until it was all over. I had an elegant bed on the boat, slept on the dining room table all the way over….
Ours was an English ship, and we have all been hating the English ever since. We took train at Glasgow for Winchester, England, arriving at latter place about 3 a.m., Sept. 22….
Landed at Cherbourg morning of Sept. 25 and marched out to rest camp where we spent 4 days. Only reason I could give for calling it a rest camp is that your stomach got much a nice rest, near starved. Being a British camp, more love stored up for the British. Get out your map of France now. Left Cherbourg evening of Sept. 28 in horse cars from Neuvic, France, a small town about 18 miles from Perigueux. 34 men in my car and fine sleeping, not one day and two nights along the way. Arrived at Neuvic station 7 a.m., Sept. 30 and were billeted in a small village about a mile from Neuvic. I slept in a nice airy barn—quite airy. In fact, my battalion remained here until Nov. 3, although the 84th div. was made a replacement div. about Oct. 10, and 12,000 of the infantry were sent away as replacements….
On Nov. 3, we left Neuvic for Cours Cheverny. Had to hike three or four miles to St. Astier where we took train. While we were waiting to entrain, who should look me up but Major Ford. First time I had seen him since leaving Sherman…. When our cars pulled in, we were agreeably surprised to find them to be passenger coaches, not first class ones, but passenger coaches just the same. Spent two days and two nights on the train and the morning of Nov. 5, detrained at Cours Cheverny and took a 10-mile hike to Les Montils, a small town about 8 miles from Blois….
On Nov. 11, the day the Armistice was signed, we heard that the 309th was to be broken up and the men sent to other units in replacements. That night, about 10 o’clock as I was coming back to my billet after celebrating the Armistice, I heard that the battalion had orders to move at 1 a.m. that night. I don’t see yet how that bunch ever walked the 10 miles back to Cours Cheverny. Nearly everybody was half shot after the celebration, and it was a wild mob that left Les Montil at 130 a.m., Nov. 5 on the hike to Cours Cheverny….
We spent five days on the train, detrained…to finish the last lap of our trip on foot. It was in the region…that I had my first view of the battlefield. About 75 of us from the 309th had been ordered to report to the division headquarters of the 28th div. at Hendicourt, about 3 miles from Woinville. We arrived at Hendicourt on the afternoon of Nov. 16. Nov 10, the day before the Armistice was signed, Hendicourt had received a final shelling from the Germans. We remained at Hendicourt from Nov. 16 to 18. There had been a mix up in orders and the 28th didn’t want us, so on Nov. 18, we were ordered to report to the 409th telegraph….
While at Brunieres, ran into Joe Lazarus from Louisville, a Lieut. in the 806th Pioneer Infantry, a Negro outfit. He was the first Louisville man I had run across since landing in France…. Ran up on Dick Jones…He was convalescing from the flu and [from] begin gassed….
[excerpt only]
….Signed ‘Holloway’ Clark…
14-page letter written by Private William Holloway Clark, on "American YMCA" stationary.
Private William Clark of Louisville, Kentucky, writes an interesting, newsy letter to his sweetheart, Lila Robinson, dated Tuesday, February 25, 1919--only a couple of months after the Armistice Agreement with Germany was signed. Private Clark was with Company "A", 110th F.S. Battalion, 35th Division—American Expeditionary Force
LETTER EXCERPTS
"On Active Service with the American Expeditionary Force, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 1919, Commercy, France
Dear Lila:
I don’t know whether you’ll ever survive the shock of receiving this letter, but I’ll take a chance anyway. Hang up your Map of France and follow me in my wanderings. I’ve been all over this country from North to South and back again, and the only part of it that is worth a @#$%@___ is Paris. And I only got to spend two days there. Think I’ll get a job as brakeman on a freight train when I get home. I’m so used to riding inside door Pullmans—the kind that accommodate 40 hommes or 8 chevaux. I really think the horses have the best of it. Left New York September 8, landing at Glasgow, Scotland, Sept. 21. No excitement at all coming across, although one of the ships from our convoy did sink a submarine. However, we knew nothing of it until it was all over. I had an elegant bed on the boat, slept on the dining room table all the way over….
Ours was an English ship, and we have all been hating the English ever since. We took train at Glasgow for Winchester, England, arriving at latter place about 3 a.m., Sept. 22….
Landed at Cherbourg morning of Sept. 25 and marched out to rest camp where we spent 4 days. Only reason I could give for calling it a rest camp is that your stomach got much a nice rest, near starved. Being a British camp, more love stored up for the British. Get out your map of France now. Left Cherbourg evening of Sept. 28 in horse cars from Neuvic, France, a small town about 18 miles from Perigueux. 34 men in my car and fine sleeping, not one day and two nights along the way. Arrived at Neuvic station 7 a.m., Sept. 30 and were billeted in a small village about a mile from Neuvic. I slept in a nice airy barn—quite airy. In fact, my battalion remained here until Nov. 3, although the 84th div. was made a replacement div. about Oct. 10, and 12,000 of the infantry were sent away as replacements….
On Nov. 3, we left Neuvic for Cours Cheverny. Had to hike three or four miles to St. Astier where we took train. While we were waiting to entrain, who should look me up but Major Ford. First time I had seen him since leaving Sherman…. When our cars pulled in, we were agreeably surprised to find them to be passenger coaches, not first class ones, but passenger coaches just the same. Spent two days and two nights on the train and the morning of Nov. 5, detrained at Cours Cheverny and took a 10-mile hike to Les Montils, a small town about 8 miles from Blois….
On Nov. 11, the day the Armistice was signed, we heard that the 309th was to be broken up and the men sent to other units in replacements. That night, about 10 o’clock as I was coming back to my billet after celebrating the Armistice, I heard that the battalion had orders to move at 1 a.m. that night. I don’t see yet how that bunch ever walked the 10 miles back to Cours Cheverny. Nearly everybody was half shot after the celebration, and it was a wild mob that left Les Montil at 130 a.m., Nov. 5 on the hike to Cours Cheverny….
We spent five days on the train, detrained…to finish the last lap of our trip on foot. It was in the region…that I had my first view of the battlefield. About 75 of us from the 309th had been ordered to report to the division headquarters of the 28th div. at Hendicourt, about 3 miles from Woinville. We arrived at Hendicourt on the afternoon of Nov. 16. Nov 10, the day before the Armistice was signed, Hendicourt had received a final shelling from the Germans. We remained at Hendicourt from Nov. 16 to 18. There had been a mix up in orders and the 28th didn’t want us, so on Nov. 18, we were ordered to report to the 409th telegraph….
While at Brunieres, ran into Joe Lazarus from Louisville, a Lieut. in the 806th Pioneer Infantry, a Negro outfit. He was the first Louisville man I had run across since landing in France…. Ran up on Dick Jones…He was convalescing from the flu and [from] begin gassed….
[excerpt only]
….Signed ‘Holloway’ Clark…
Friday, August 13, 2004
Civil War: Confederate. Liddy Berry, Charlestown, 1861
THE BATTLE OF THE FIRST MANASSAS—THE FIRST BULL RUN
"[Monte] was taken before General Pope and he sat with his hat on all the time and with a most indifferent manner. The General asked him a great many questions. Monte replied he didn’t think it fair to question him so, [and] that General Pope had his [own] resources from which to get his information and that now he [Monte] would like to ask him a few…."
A FEW OF THE LETTER'S HIGHLIGHTS
**Lee mentioned several times in letter. Possibly family members of Robert E. Lee
**General Pope’s Three-hour Interrogation of Confederate Soldier
**General Banks
**Harper’s Ferry
**Union troops search houses
**Fairfax Court House
**Oath of Allegiance and Agreement Refusing to Aid Confederate Army
**Many Negroes Have Gone
**Surrounded by Federal Troops
Confederate history—a 12-page letter written only seven days after the Battle of the first Bull Run.
The letter is written by Aunt Berry to her nephews, Charles James Berry and Lawrence Lee Gribbs Berry, both of Company "B", 2nd Virginia Infantry. The letter’s content is absolutely wonderful and gives one a sense of the early Confederate emotion as the war, in its infancy began to rage. The entire letter is filled with fantastic content. Because of its length it is quoted below in excerpts.
On July 21,1861, a bright, warm day, two armies of a divided nation clashed for the first time on the fields overlooking Bull Run. Their ranks were filled with enthusiastic young volunteers in colorful new uniforms, gathered together from every part of the country. Confident that their foes would run at the first shot, the raw recruits were thankful that they would not miss the only battle of what surely would be a short war. But any thought of colorful pageantry was suddenly lost in the smoke, din, dirt, and death of battle. Soldiers on both sides were stunned by the violence and destruction they encountered. At day's end nearly 900 young men lay lifeless on the fields of Matthews Hill, Henry Hill, and Chinn Ridge. Ten hours of heavy fighting swept away any notion the war's outcome would be decided quickly.
The two Berry brothers fought in the same Confederate Regiment, the same Company—but only one would survive the war. Lawrence Lee Gribbs Berry was killed at the age of 22 years while on picket duty at Falls Church, Virginia, only two months from the day of the first battle of Bull Run. His brother Charles James Berry would be discharged on October 14, 1862. He lived in Albany, Georgia, until his death in 1886. He is buried in Edge Hill Cemetery, Charlestown, West Virginia.
In the letter, other soldiers were also mentioned and a request was made by the Aunt for information on their fate. Richard Lewis Timberlake mustered into Company "B" of the 17th VA Infantry and later into Company "B", 12th VA Infantry was killed on September 16, 1864 at Sycamore Church and while on Hampton’s Cattle Raid. Francis H. Abbott, (Warren Rifle Company) also in the 17th VA Infantry, Company "A" would never see home again. He was killed on May 5, 1862 at Williamsburg, Va. He was described as 6’ 1" (tall for those days), fair complexion, blue eyes and light hair.
EXCERPTS OF BERRY LETTER
The battle of the First Manassas commenced on a Saturday, July 21, 1861. News of the bloody battle spread fast to the Berry family. Not knowing whether the Berry brothers were alive or dead, they anxiously awaited news from the front. Finally on Friday, July 26, 1861, Aunt F…received word. On Monday, she wrote to her nephews.
"Charlestown—July 29, 1861 (Monday morning)—
My Dear Nephews—
After a great anxiety, I received your welcome letters, chiefly welcome because they proved you both lived. Oh how thankful we ought to be that you were spared, and I am indeed so. I have been greatly distressed for those who have been killed and died. It was an awful loss of life and I wish it were sufficient to stop now. We could hear nothing of you boys until we got your letters. There were many letters received here, giving an account of the battle and of the dead and wounded among our acquaintances and as you were not mentioned we hoped for the best, but still feared the worst. We did not get your letter until Friday…."
…Charlie…has had his utmost ambition now gratified, I should think—as he was in the greatest fight that ever took place n this side of the globe--we have been surrounded by the Federal troops, but I am thankful to say we were not treated with any indignity by any of them—though I have been told that had they remained a day longer, our house was to have been searched as several others had been. I presume your Pa gave you a description of their stay and departure in and from our midst…."
…I was so sorry to her of Mr. Harrison & Conrad’s deaths. [The Harrison mentioned here is Major Carter Henry Harrison, VA 11th Infantry, killed on July 17, 1861 at Manassas. Conrad is identified either Henry T. Conrad or Holmes A. Conrad, both died at Manassas, both in Company "D",2nd VA Infantry.] Oh, what a loss! And to think ours is spared—to God be all the praise for ours…." George is in Col. Preston’s command, a waggoneer. [Col. Preston was wounded at Manassas on July 21, 1861 and died of his wounds in January, 1862, at the age of 50.] Have you seen or heard anything of Frank Abbott or Richard Timberlake wounded in your company. They were in Warren Rifle Company. Heard Seth was one, who was the other? [Seth Timberlake was severely wounded in both legs on July 21, at Manassas and later discharged. He survived the war and died in 1907.] We have heard from persons who have been over and returned from the battlefield, an account of the fight—and of many incidents after it….
I heard last evening that the Federal army was passing over the river at Ferry, but whether they will leave entirely or not, I do not know. The paper has stated that Harper’s Ferry is to be headquarters—a large party of their cavalry was up yesterday, in town, scouting. I have been told that some of them are here every night—he servants say they have the horses hoofs padded….
Cousin Betsy’s house was searched and M[onte’s] military coat and pants taken, and he afterwards was taken prisoner and made to sign a paper, refusing to aid our side. It is a great mortification to him. He was taken before General Pope and he sat with his hat on all the time and with a most indifferent manner. The General asked him a great many questions. Monte replied he didn’t think it fair to question him so, that General Pope had his resources from which to get his information and that now he would like to ask him a few…. Monte was kept for three hours…. Charlotte says it s a sore subject to him. When you write home…perhaps you best not mention about Monte unless you hear it spoken of. Still, I don’t know what harm it will do for it is true, he had to sign the paper. I understand General Pope has returned to Philadelphia and that Gen. Banks has his position.
I heard yesterday that your Uncle Lee was at Fairfax Court House. I wish you could hear positively how he is and let us hear—I fee anxious about him and hope he will not go into service until well. I hear this morning that there is none of the Federals at the ferry except the pickets, but understand they are fortifying the opposite side as they hear Johnson is going into Maryland….
Be sure to write and send the bag and burn or destroy this [letter]. If you see Lee, tell him I heard from his house a day or two ago—all were well. Lucky was out to persuade Jim not to go with the Federal army. She was so much afraid some older one might take him off. She don’t like the Northern men. Many Negroes have gone—among others….
Your Aunt Lidy Joe."
"[Monte] was taken before General Pope and he sat with his hat on all the time and with a most indifferent manner. The General asked him a great many questions. Monte replied he didn’t think it fair to question him so, [and] that General Pope had his [own] resources from which to get his information and that now he [Monte] would like to ask him a few…."
A FEW OF THE LETTER'S HIGHLIGHTS
**Lee mentioned several times in letter. Possibly family members of Robert E. Lee
**General Pope’s Three-hour Interrogation of Confederate Soldier
**General Banks
**Harper’s Ferry
**Union troops search houses
**Fairfax Court House
**Oath of Allegiance and Agreement Refusing to Aid Confederate Army
**Many Negroes Have Gone
**Surrounded by Federal Troops
Confederate history—a 12-page letter written only seven days after the Battle of the first Bull Run.
The letter is written by Aunt Berry to her nephews, Charles James Berry and Lawrence Lee Gribbs Berry, both of Company "B", 2nd Virginia Infantry. The letter’s content is absolutely wonderful and gives one a sense of the early Confederate emotion as the war, in its infancy began to rage. The entire letter is filled with fantastic content. Because of its length it is quoted below in excerpts.
On July 21,1861, a bright, warm day, two armies of a divided nation clashed for the first time on the fields overlooking Bull Run. Their ranks were filled with enthusiastic young volunteers in colorful new uniforms, gathered together from every part of the country. Confident that their foes would run at the first shot, the raw recruits were thankful that they would not miss the only battle of what surely would be a short war. But any thought of colorful pageantry was suddenly lost in the smoke, din, dirt, and death of battle. Soldiers on both sides were stunned by the violence and destruction they encountered. At day's end nearly 900 young men lay lifeless on the fields of Matthews Hill, Henry Hill, and Chinn Ridge. Ten hours of heavy fighting swept away any notion the war's outcome would be decided quickly.
The two Berry brothers fought in the same Confederate Regiment, the same Company—but only one would survive the war. Lawrence Lee Gribbs Berry was killed at the age of 22 years while on picket duty at Falls Church, Virginia, only two months from the day of the first battle of Bull Run. His brother Charles James Berry would be discharged on October 14, 1862. He lived in Albany, Georgia, until his death in 1886. He is buried in Edge Hill Cemetery, Charlestown, West Virginia.
In the letter, other soldiers were also mentioned and a request was made by the Aunt for information on their fate. Richard Lewis Timberlake mustered into Company "B" of the 17th VA Infantry and later into Company "B", 12th VA Infantry was killed on September 16, 1864 at Sycamore Church and while on Hampton’s Cattle Raid. Francis H. Abbott, (Warren Rifle Company) also in the 17th VA Infantry, Company "A" would never see home again. He was killed on May 5, 1862 at Williamsburg, Va. He was described as 6’ 1" (tall for those days), fair complexion, blue eyes and light hair.
EXCERPTS OF BERRY LETTER
The battle of the First Manassas commenced on a Saturday, July 21, 1861. News of the bloody battle spread fast to the Berry family. Not knowing whether the Berry brothers were alive or dead, they anxiously awaited news from the front. Finally on Friday, July 26, 1861, Aunt F…received word. On Monday, she wrote to her nephews.
"Charlestown—July 29, 1861 (Monday morning)—
My Dear Nephews—
After a great anxiety, I received your welcome letters, chiefly welcome because they proved you both lived. Oh how thankful we ought to be that you were spared, and I am indeed so. I have been greatly distressed for those who have been killed and died. It was an awful loss of life and I wish it were sufficient to stop now. We could hear nothing of you boys until we got your letters. There were many letters received here, giving an account of the battle and of the dead and wounded among our acquaintances and as you were not mentioned we hoped for the best, but still feared the worst. We did not get your letter until Friday…."
…Charlie…has had his utmost ambition now gratified, I should think—as he was in the greatest fight that ever took place n this side of the globe--we have been surrounded by the Federal troops, but I am thankful to say we were not treated with any indignity by any of them—though I have been told that had they remained a day longer, our house was to have been searched as several others had been. I presume your Pa gave you a description of their stay and departure in and from our midst…."
…I was so sorry to her of Mr. Harrison & Conrad’s deaths. [The Harrison mentioned here is Major Carter Henry Harrison, VA 11th Infantry, killed on July 17, 1861 at Manassas. Conrad is identified either Henry T. Conrad or Holmes A. Conrad, both died at Manassas, both in Company "D",2nd VA Infantry.] Oh, what a loss! And to think ours is spared—to God be all the praise for ours…." George is in Col. Preston’s command, a waggoneer. [Col. Preston was wounded at Manassas on July 21, 1861 and died of his wounds in January, 1862, at the age of 50.] Have you seen or heard anything of Frank Abbott or Richard Timberlake wounded in your company. They were in Warren Rifle Company. Heard Seth was one, who was the other? [Seth Timberlake was severely wounded in both legs on July 21, at Manassas and later discharged. He survived the war and died in 1907.] We have heard from persons who have been over and returned from the battlefield, an account of the fight—and of many incidents after it….
I heard last evening that the Federal army was passing over the river at Ferry, but whether they will leave entirely or not, I do not know. The paper has stated that Harper’s Ferry is to be headquarters—a large party of their cavalry was up yesterday, in town, scouting. I have been told that some of them are here every night—he servants say they have the horses hoofs padded….
Cousin Betsy’s house was searched and M[onte’s] military coat and pants taken, and he afterwards was taken prisoner and made to sign a paper, refusing to aid our side. It is a great mortification to him. He was taken before General Pope and he sat with his hat on all the time and with a most indifferent manner. The General asked him a great many questions. Monte replied he didn’t think it fair to question him so, that General Pope had his resources from which to get his information and that now he would like to ask him a few…. Monte was kept for three hours…. Charlotte says it s a sore subject to him. When you write home…perhaps you best not mention about Monte unless you hear it spoken of. Still, I don’t know what harm it will do for it is true, he had to sign the paper. I understand General Pope has returned to Philadelphia and that Gen. Banks has his position.
I heard yesterday that your Uncle Lee was at Fairfax Court House. I wish you could hear positively how he is and let us hear—I fee anxious about him and hope he will not go into service until well. I hear this morning that there is none of the Federals at the ferry except the pickets, but understand they are fortifying the opposite side as they hear Johnson is going into Maryland….
Be sure to write and send the bag and burn or destroy this [letter]. If you see Lee, tell him I heard from his house a day or two ago—all were well. Lucky was out to persuade Jim not to go with the Federal army. She was so much afraid some older one might take him off. She don’t like the Northern men. Many Negroes have gone—among others….
Your Aunt Lidy Joe."
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