Letters, 1862~ 1865 Samuel Haag to His Mother

Letters, 1862~ 1865 Samuel Haag to His Mother These Civil War letters were written during the years 1862-1865 by Samuel Haag to his mother in the Feura Bush area outside Albany, N. Y. Serving throughout the war, Haag enlisted by his own testimony on August 11, 1862 and was discharged in}une of 1865. He was a member of of the 43rd New York Volunteers which was part of the Army of the Potomac at the battle of Fredericksburg. Haag's account of the battle was written only five months after his enlistment. The engagement-one of the most devastating of the war-took place on December 13, 1862. Haag estimates that the Union forces lost 5,000 men. Later statistical analysis of combat strength and casualties settles on Union losses at Fredericksburg at 12,500, while Confederate losses are estimated to be 5,000. These data should be related to the combat strengths of the two forces: 120,000 Union, 78,000 Confederate. Following his discharge, Haag moved from the Albany area to settle in Great Valley, Chattaraugus County, N. Y. Haag's manuscript letters are in the Hudson Valley Studies Archives at Bard College. In this transcript of the letters, his spelling and punctuation have been maintained. -R.W. Letters, Samuel Haag to His Mother

Oct. 12 I think you had better send postage stamps as the letters may not go safe with out them. In reference to a box I will send word when to send it as we are moving all the time it may be miscarried, so If I need anything I had better send for money The boys that owe me money have not sent home yet and I suppose we will not get paid in some time. I would like to have a piece of weding cake. Some men of our company have diserted and went off. I Keep up good courage as I hope to be with you soon again but god Sustain the right. Yours Samuel Haag Direct your letters the same as before [obverse] I have Written to Ira and I will send both the same time. Nov. [sic] 13 1862 Mother Tell Kate and all the rest of the folks to excuse me for not writing to them I will write to them soon. I am well this morning except for a slight Cold. When you send letters send papers also for we hear no news here. I have written a long letter so I must close excuse mistakes as I wrote some in the dark. Give my love to all enquiring Friends. Yours respectfully 2 The Hudson Valley Regional Review

Camp Near Centreville Oct. 17th 1862 Dear Mother, I received your letter of the 12'h a few minutes ago. I also received one from you some time ago but have had no time to answer it. I suppose that you will hear of the moving of the Army before you receive this. I have seen active service since I have been with the Regt. and quite hard times. We had not been in camp Near Culpepper but a few days when we moved towards the Rappidon River and relieved the 2 J Corps who were doing picket duty there we remained there a few days doing heavy picket duty within sight of the Rebels, while There we had plenty of rebel news. The boys exchanged papers with the rebels and they exchanged Coffee for tobacco with them. I held no communication with them for I think it is wrong to hold any communication with traitors and enemys of my country. We had been doing picket but a few days when General Gilpatrick's Cavalry was attacked by the rebels who were trying to flank General Meade's army, in the evening we commenced a retreat and marched all night and the next day with but a few hours rest. crofsing the Rappahannock River at a station aby the same name making a distance of 30 miles in 24 hours. We encamped near the station for the night. The next morning we recrofsed the river, dug a rifle pit and at about 3 aclock PM. the gallant 6th Corps our regiment included advanced upon the enemy the Cavalry being in the advance and drove them a distance of five miles where we encamped in line of battle fore the night, but at midnight we commenced retreating again towards Centreville which is situated about 20 miles from Alexandria. We now lay encamped in line of battle near Centerville. A battle was expected here and there has been some sharp fighting, but it is reported this morning that Lee is fall ing back. The weather has been rainy last night but has now cleared up nicely. Capt. Burhans has returned to the company. The recommendation for a furlough tht G. I. Van Allen sent to me I received a few days ago, it came to the Regiment and Capt. Burhans neglected to send it to me. There was an order read to us that if the Majority of the Old members of the Regiment wou ld received 30 days furlough and $402 bounty and the whole regiment wou ld be allowed to come home and recruit a Veteran Volunteer regiment so perhaps I will come home for a short time this winter. I am well and stood the march well. I have no time to write to Mr. Van nor to Ira. I have written all the news so I must close. I have not received any paper from you. Your Truly S. Hoag Letters, to His Mother 3

Camp. Near Aquia Creek Vir ~ Nov.~"' 301862 Dear Mother I received your letter dated the 19 the night before last but it seems strange that I have not received one from Ira the same time as he received one the same time you received yours. I am pleased to hear that you are all well as I am at present. I was surprised to hear of Jacobs death, for I did not expect to hear of a death soon, there has been but on[el death in the 43d since we have been here. We are now encamped near Aquia Creek and about 14 miles from Fredricksburg which according to latest report is in the hands of the rebels. We have been encamped here some time on account of rainy weather & muddy roads which made it impossible for the Artillerry to move. It is generally supposed that the rebels are preparing for a fight at Fredricksburg, and if they do and the weather remains nice I suppose we will have a fight before long. I saw by your letter that you had received a visit from Bub Elmendorf I do not see why he could not have come down be fore I enlisted for I should have been much pleased to have seen him. John has been married before this time so tell him I wish him much joy and kits the bride for me you must take more pleasure and not be so anxious about me for I am in the hands of an overruling providence whose just will must be done hope for the best for I think I will be home soon. You must not work to hard & if you need anything you must use the money I seffi left home. I have received all the money you sent, the postage stamps and 3 papers. I forgot to mention the papers before. We will be paid off in January I suppos. I enlisted the II,h Aug. the 11,h of next month I will have been in the service 4 months, it makes no difference when we are paid about the time of enlistment for we will all be paid off the same time and up to the same time, to day is Sunday, we had meeting this fore noon and we are to have prayer meeting to night. the meeting put me in mind of home. I [slhould have written this yesterday but it was washing day, we first boil our clothes and then wash them I received a letter from Lawyer Van Allen in the same envelope with yours and I will send the the two answers in the same envelop. I will write and let you know when to send a box I do not think it is necessary to send a blanket or pillow for I can draw blankets here, we draw rations of soap and candles but you may send a little give my love to grandfathers folks and little kate and sarah for me. Send me a package of Writing paper as I am getting short, send some more stamps 4 The Hudson Valley Regional Review

soon as I write a good many letters. I have sent a letter to kate and I expect an answer soon. Tell Mifs Brownell I will write her soon. If I get sick or wounded I will send you word. Give my best respects to all enquiring friends. The weather is fine but cool. Hoping to see you soon I remain your son.. Direct the same as before Excuse this scribling as it was so dark I could not see very well Letters, Samuel Haag to His Mother 5

Camp near the Rapahannock near Fredricksburg Dec. 17'h 1862 Dear Mother I received your letter dated the 12 to day & was very much pleased to hear that you and the rest of the folks are well. On thursday the 11,h we marched to the rapahannock river with the intention of taking Fredricksburg but it is not taken yet. I have just pafsed through my first battle in safety, and a severe one it was as we lost about 5,000 men. I will now give you some accounts of the battle. We crofsed the river on the 12'h and marched towards the enemy who were on a hill in a strong position, while we were on the flats. Pratts Brigade the one I am in was in the advance but nothing much was done till the next day when we fell a short distance to the rear and Vintons[?] briggade took our places, this was the day that the severest part of the battle took place, the shells flew over us quite close wounding several in our regiment, several went very near us but we lay down flat and but two were hurt in our company, and they both with one shell, there names were Isaac Stofford and Michael ~ Wagoner both from Guilderland the former had his right leg shattered so that it had to be amputated the latter was only slightly wounded. The left wing drove the rebels some distance but were forced to fall back again. I stlflflese We have been fighting for five days but on the evening of the 15,h we recrofsed the river and retreated. I do not know for what reason but I suppose the enemys works were to strong to be attacked. I suppose you think it is strange how men can stand coolly looking on when others are fighting, but it is so. I my self slept while the firing was going on others were cooking there vituals as qu ietly as if nothing was going on. I suppose you will see the papers before you will see this so I will not give any more particulars. I have seen peter Wyncoop twice he seems to like a soldiers life very well. We pafsed thanksgiving in camp we had our usual fare which consists in hard crackers and salt pork once in a while fresh beef and beans and coffee. The weather is cold and cloudy. I do not think we will get winter quarters this winter so I will not send for a box, but you can send me a pair of buckskin gloves you can wrap them up in a paper and they will come in a mail bag with a letter I am out of money and you may send me some if you have it to spare Money comes very handy here for if a person feels unwell he cannot eat government food, we can buy flour fresh beef sugar & Molasses most any time of the commissary, send government money if you can get it handy. I must write some to ann so I will close from your son 6 The Hudson Valley Regional Review

[On the same sheet of paper] Dec. 17 Dear cousin Ann. I received yours and Iras letters I did not have much time so I did not answer it till now. I have just come through a battle in safety. The particulars are in my mothers letter. We had nothing unusual for dinner. if you want to get married I should think there were enough young men left but perhaps you would prefer to be the wife of the so ldier. Tell all that we have not much of a bed to rearange but I hope to be home soon and then I think there will be a great rearangeing of beds and c. Tell Ira to write but tell him to excuse me as paper and fen flelt5 er stamps are scarce yours respectfully Letters, Samuel Haag to His Mother 7

Camp Near Falmouth Jan. 15 'h. 1863 Dear Mother: I received your letter dated Jd a few days ago but have been busy so I could not answer it till now. I am yet enjoying that great blessing health. We are yet encamped near the rappahannock river. Yesterday the Regiment went out on division review. Today part of the regiment went out on picket but I was not detailed to go. We have just come in off a skirmish drill which I enjoyed very well. I received the 4 dollars you sent me also the gloves paper envelopes and stamps and $2.50 you spoke of. I felt quite proud of my gloves. I must close for the present for the bugle has sounded for drill & I shall have to fall in. Jan. 16 Friday I had no time to write any more last night so I will try to finish it this morning. I am well this morning with the exception of a slight cold. We have had a very bad night the wind blew a hurrricane and some of the tents blew down, while the rain fell in torrents. The pickets must have pafsed an awful night but I pafsed it quite comfortably as I have my tent logged up and have a fire place in it. Leonard Lasher tents with me and he is out on picket. I will give you a list of the duties we have to perform so you may know how little leasure time we have. At Sun rise we have roll call which all are required to attend. we then have breakfast of hard Crackers & poor Coffee, we then have about an hours time to ourselves. we then have drill then dinner after dinner we have another drill at night we have dress parade or inspection, we then have supper of crackers and coffee, we do not live as well as the papers state. the government allows us a good living but speculators cheat us out of more than half our rations. It takes all our leisure time we have between drills to keep ourselves and our equipments clean, so you may know that we do not have much time to write. It has been talked around that we would get paid off before the 15,h but here it is the 16,h and no signs of getting paid yet. I do not see how the government can expect the soldiers to do there duty when they do not pay them off nor feed them half, there are soldiers now in this regiment whose wifes have been turned out of doors in Albany for want of the pay that has been due them these 6 months I think there will be no trouble about drawing my wages at the Chamberlains office. notice will be given you when you can get the money if it 8 The Hudson V" II"y Regional Review

does not I will write as soon as I get paid here and then you can go and draw the money. Several boxes have come through and I think we will stay here some time so I guess you may send me a box. send it as soon as you can get it ready, and direct it the same as a letter. You may send me a good jacknife a hatchet and a bottle of peppermint. do not send anything damp in the box as it will spoil. get a receipt of the box at the express office and send it to me in a letter. send a letter the same time you send the box, and let me know every thing you send so I can tell if any thing is taken out or not. Give my love to all the folks and write soon I remain yours Letters, to His Mother 9

Camp 43d regt. N.Y S.v. Near Brandy Station March 4th 1863 Dear Mother I received your letter of the 28th night before last just after a heavy march from Robison Creek a distance of 29 miles. Feb 27th we took up our line of march towards Robison Creek, for the purpose of supporting Gen. Custer's Raid to Charlottsville, we march nearly twenty miles and We encamped for the night, on the following morning we march as far as Robbison Creek where we encamped remained encamped two days during which time we suffered much from rain Hail and Snow, having left our tents behind. On the 2d of march we commenced our homeward march and reached camp at about dusk making Twentyfive miles through mud ankle deep. The men suffered much from sore feet. My feet were so much blistered that I was obliged to fall out on the homeward march. I suppose we will remain in our winter quarters nearly two months yet for the weather will not be favorable for marching untill the first of May. So if you have any leasure time you may send me a box, if you have anti me to send one send me a good rubber Blankit. The Blankits we draw here are very poor and do not keep the rain out. I received a letter from Ira the night before we marched by which I learned that the school had broken up and he was going home. There is not much news at present. Five of the Captains of this regt have there wives here. I am well at present with the exception of a bad cold. If you have received my allotment you can send me Five Dollars in your next letter. Give my best respects to Mr. Van Allen and family and write soon. P.S. I received the papers you sent Yours Affectionately, 10 The Hudson Valley Regional Review

Camp 43d regt N.Y.S.V Near Brandy Station Apr. 4th 1864 Dear Mother I received your very welcome letter a short time ago and also the Rubber Blanket. I am well satisfied with the Blanket and I think it i a good one. We are still in our Old Camp near Brandy Station, but our time for ocupying this Camp is short for the Spring is far advanced and we will soon commence the Summer Campaign under command of General Grant Whether it will be succefsful or not remains to be proved at any rate I hope it will lead to our Capturing richmond and ending the War. We have not seen General Grant yit but I suppose he will ee review us soon. The Army of the the Potomac is much stronger than it ever has been before and it is divided into three Corps they are the 2d 5th and 6th Several of the Heavy Artillirry Regts. from the defences of Washington have come to the front to strengthen the Army of the Potomac, they have been turned in to Infantry and stand a fair chance to see some fighting. I do not know Whether the 7th has come out or not. The letter I wrote to Ira I directed to Feura Bush by his directions I supposed he would be home But I received a letter from Ira the same night that I received yours telling me that he was at Carlisle yet, but [?] he expected to go home in a week so when I answer his letter I will Direct it to Feura Bush. Part of The Army has been paid I suppose we will be paid soon. I suppose you will be pleased to hear that we have not commenced the spring campaign. I do not think you will have reason to condemn my conduct. I will do my duty as well as I can. Dont you remember you told me when I enlisted not turn my back on an enemy, or act cowardly. I will remember what you told me and behave like a soldier. There is not much news Our first Lieut. James H. Smith is home on furlough. I am enjoying good Health at present The weather has been very stormy lately. It is near time for to shoot at target so I must close. Keep up courage and write soon. Yours Affectionately Leccers, co His Mocher 11

[Apparently was wounded and sent to Harewood Hospital sometime between April and July; he was, however, back in active service again by April 1865.) Dear Mother Harewood Hospital Aug. 4th 1864 I received your letter of the 28th and it gave me pleasure to hear that you were well and that the foolks had not forgotten me so soon after I went away because from the talk of the most of my relations doe not tend [?) to make me think that I am not much cared for, but it makes but little difference to me as long as I have health and life. I hope I shall be able at some future day to make them ashamed of what they have sa id and done to discourage patriotism. I received your money [?) and I have also received a letter from G. 1. Van Allen, I will answer them both to day. Leonard Lasher reported here and has gone out to the front some time ago but I forgot to mention it till some time ago, my regt has been near Washington but I have had no chance to see it, there are very few men belonging to my regt in this Hospital. The Weather is very warm here but it is quite healthy and we have very few deaths, according to the number of patients in the Hospital. There is no news of importance in this mornings paper The principal news we have had lately is the repulse of Grant, has created quite an excitement here although it is nothing serious, nothing more than he experienced at Vicksburg, and on the first attack on Petersburg so I do not think it is best to be discouraged, but take the advice of a Soldier who has fought under him and knows some thing about him and his manner of fighting, and think that Petersburg will be taken soon and will soon be followed by the fall of Richmond. Grant Will never be defeated if the President gives him all the support he needs, it is hopefull he will. I am well as usual and enjoy myself very well considering the warm weather. Give my respects to all enquiring friends and remember, to Enquiring ones only, write soon Yours Affectionately Direct to Ward, 26 Harewood Hospital Washington D.C. 12 The Hudson Valley Regional Review

Camp 43d N.YV Danville Va. April 30th 1865 Dear Mother As I have a little leasure time to day I will write you a short letter. I wrote one some time ago sending for five dollars and have received no answer. We are now encamped at Danville Va. Our brigade doing Provost duty in the town. We marched here a distance of over One Hundred miles in four days. We are here to protect property, and restore order. Businefs was in a bad state when we arived here but now things begin to look different. We received more good news yesterday of the surrender of Johnstons Army which end the fighting for us. There is not much news. The weather is warm but fine. I am well as usual and anxious to hear from home. Our Government Shirts are rather warm for the summer, and those I brought from home are worne out, so you can send me a package by mail Send a package a thin shirt, some paper and Envelopes, some thread, and pins. I am nearly out of paper and Envelops and I cannot buy at present. If you have no money I do not wish you to discommode your self. We were mustered today for two months pay, they now owe us four months pay. write soon, direct as before, send me papers to read. Yours Affectionately Leners, Samuel Haag co His Macher 13