My Dear Sister,
I know I ought to have written to you
before this & my only reason for not doing so has been
that you no doubt have seen all my letters or the substance
of them has been communicated to you by our Mother for
we know she never could know anything without telling us
no matter how much she was bound to secrecy–You can have
no idea, you stay at home quiet sort of folks with how
much anxiety and impatience we poor soldiers on the sacred
soil of Virginia look for and how eagerly we penned letters from
our now doubly dear homes–If you knew how thankful we
feel for such attention I know a great many of you would
write often, and long letters–I cannot complain a great deal
yet as it is especially part of a soldiers priveledge & duty to
grumble. I must do my share of it. I do think you all of
you might write oftener than you do–there now I’ve spoken
my mind & I hope you will heed it–I write a good many
letters home & I must insist on prompt & long answers—
Well Corneil[?] how are you all doing up on the Hills?–do
you know that every morning about this time I used to start
for your house I think of you all and especially of the little
lamb Tom. Oh, how I would like to have him with me now–
I am very very much obliged to you for the likeness of the
dear little fellow–He must have changed somewhat since
I saw him–does he talk yet? But I need not ask any
questions about him, for I suppose that his like was never
seen before–our “precious” how is he? Has he any idea of
becoming a Zou-Zou. We have in our Regiment some boys as
drummers no bigger than he is–I suppose he reads as much
as ever & is generally about the same old gentleman as ever–
Nina owes me a letter and I wish she would write to
me. When you write to her just touch her memory about
[page 2]
it. Well about the War–Here we are encamped in the
same spot where we first stopped, although hardly a day
passes without some march, scout or excitement–On Wednesday
night last we started to attack a small detachment of Rebels
who were stationed near Bethel (the place where we were most
uselessly cut up.) We went away with the expectation of having
some warm work, but on arriving at the place we found only
traces of the F.F. Va.–this talk about chivalry we dont think
much of. We can’t see it as the boys say–these people here
who fight against us think it perfectly fair & very christian to
sneak up & shoot sentinels–Masked batteries and infernal machines
are their particularl delight, but they have stopped their talk
about half a dozen of their soldiers whipping hundreds of us
poor northerners–Their peculiar institution is in danger & their
faithful, open hearts & jolly, contented chattel are hourly leaving
their dear good massas and claiming the protection of us poor
mudsills–I have yet to see the first slave whose words or
appearance will not give the lie all the assurances of Dr. Lambs
whose letters were published in the Pecksville papers, and others
who I cannot but think have been wilfully wrong or most woefully
deceived–We have some 40 or 50 of the “Contraband” in & about
our camp & to a man they will fight rather than go back
again to their kind hearted & chivalrous masters–Our Regiment is
now in better drill & condition, than it has been since its formation
The inspection this morning was a peculiarly fine millitary display
and we had some 800 men on the ground besides officers & non
com officers–guards &c–this evening we had a grand dress
parade & review & Genl Butler & staff accompanied by Mr
Russell the correspondent of the London Times expressed themselves
very much astonished & delighted while reviewing & witnessing our
movements–Oh I tell you we are “[?]” We have church
every Sunday morning, and it makes me feel rather (not home
sick exactly but something like i)t to attend–and I thought of
you all at home, much more that I did of the service or the
[page 3]
sermon. I have been well (with the exception of 3 or 4 days)
since my arrival here, and am as contented as I can well do–at
any rate you may depend upon it whatever we are called upon
to do or endeaver or however poor our fare may be I never will
complain for I expected hard work & hardship when I enlisted
and I shall not be disappointed if we have plenty of both luxuries
before the war is over–The country for 10 miles around here is
almost deserted. Elegant Houses & grounds despoiled, fences torn down
grain trodden down. Everything going to ruin. It will be a long
long time before Virginia can repair the damage done in this
short time & if the war lasts for two or three years she will
be more than a wilderness–whether we are going to move forward
from here with the intention of meeting our troops at Richmond
or will form a line of defence from here to Newport News
is more than I can tell–The forces here is much to small to
attempt any march towards R- for if we have to (as we doubtless
would) take quite a number of their masked batteries it could
only be done with a great loss of men and time–Capt Kilpatrick
has returned to New York to attend to the recruiting there and also
to form a cavalry company with. He promised to take me with
him that is if he leaves the regiment–If he comes on with
such a company-you must certainly hear of some daring
attacks & warm work for as I wrote Mother he is a man who is
very ambitious and will run all risks for the sake of promotion
and a name–When he goes I shall try to follow if the horse will
take me–unless as Joe Meek said “there’s more than a thousand
of ’em” the Judge will understand the allusion–We have
received orders to move on to Hampton on Tuesday next, but as
we are so confortably situated here at present, I do not think
we will move unless the intention is as have said to form
a line of defence between them & Newport News–Now I could
write at greater length & I would do so willingly, but there comes a
time in our affairs when lights have to go out, and Taps are
now beating. so good bye & good night–If the Judge can
[page 4]
spare the time & has the inclination I should like very much
indeed to have him write me, although I ought not to be able to
make an answer interesting to him, but if there is any information
I can give him about the country around here or affairs of the
Regiment stationed here that he wishes I will do so cheerfully
I suppose that Charley & Bridget are with you–Remember me
kindly to them–Don’t fail to remember me with love to the
Misses Kissan [?] Miss Harriet in particular–Have you heard
lately from John Mills? If so please write me–now do write
soon and I will try & make my answer interesting to you. Kiss
the little one lots of times for his Uncle Al. and with regards for
all inquiring friends & continued love & respect for yourself & Thomas
I am my dear sister
Your affectionate brother
Al
P.S. Please excuse apearance & all
mistakes for I have no “gilt edged” & no time
to correct–
Al
X P.S. dont please show my letter for if there is anything I dislike to hear it is of my letter being shown around
Alexis Seymour of the 4th Connecticut Infantry, later reorganized as the 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery, died at Fort Scott January 1, 1864, aged 29.
Former congressman Benjamin Butler, 1819-1893, one of the most famous of the political generals had already suffered the humiliating defeat at Big Bethel to which Seynour refers. More importantly, two months before this letter three slaves escaped from Confederate fortifications on which they were employed and sought asylum at Fort Monroe. Instead of returning them under the terms of the Fugitive Slave Act Butler declared them “contraband of war” a decision soon adopted throughout the Union Army. By the time this letter was written Seymour was able to write that 40-50 of these “Contrabands” were already behind Union lines, the first of thousands who would flee to the Union armies.
Hugh Judson Kilpatrick, 1836-1881, has already been pegged by Seymour as a daring and ambitious leader. Wounded several weeks before at Big Bethel he returned to New York, as Seynour relates, and helped raise the 2nd New York Cavalry. His penchant for suicidal cavalry charges soon earned him the nickname of “Kil Cavalry.” He is most remembered for the Dahlgren raid, an ill fated attempt to free Union prisoners in Richmond.
Sir William Howard Russel, 1820-1907, an Irish reporter with the London Times was already famous for his coverage of the Crimean War and the Charge of the Light Brigade. The grim reports he filed of hospital conditions shocked the reading public and inspired Florence Nightingale. A known abolitionist he was at first welcomed to travel with the Union troops, but his vivid description of the Union rout after Bull Run/Manassas turned the army officers against him. He related his experiences in The Civil War in America and My diary North and South.
Many Confederate songs refer to the “Soil” of Virginia as in:
“we are a band of brothers, native to the soil…”; and “By our fathers’ pround example, southern soil they shall not trample!” and “whose soil all untarnished by sceptre or throne is a home for the brave and the free hear alone” are but three examples. (with thanks to Randy Cabell for his Virginia History List posting on the subject) Union soldiers picked up on this and referred constantly to the “sacred soil of Virginia” especially after Jefferson Davis used it in a speech praising the victory at Manassas/Bull Run. Seymour’s reference is an early example, predating Davis’s speech.
MSS 15084
