Boat Howitzer Battery, Md. Heights,
April 5, 1863.
Dear Friends:
I received three letters and a box. The major has got up a new signal code for the benefit of the officers; each one knowing them, they talk with the other batteries. I see by the paper that McClellan has made his report of his campaign, it will be out next week. The voice of the army is still for him, and no wonder, in his report he gives all the praise to the men. He says that “to the calm judgement of history he leaves the task of pronouncing on the mouvement, confident that its verdict will be, that no such difficult one was ever more successfully executed. That no army ever fought more heroically, repeatedly, and successfully against such odds, that no men of any race, ever displayed greater discipline, endurance, patience and cheerfulness under such hardships.” No wonder that the soldier’s heart clings to him, for the reason that he is right, but has been shamefully abused. Gen’l. Morris, formerly Col. of the N. Y. 6. Heavy Artillery, has command of us now, or rather we are in his brigade. All of his staff officers are from his regiment and he does not look with much respect on this battalion. Major R. will not stand much from him; they have only been in the service since last Oct. They have the idea that they can whip the world. It really seems as if we were never going to move.
I hope they will put the conscription act in force soon. I have no doubt some men north would as leave let the south have all they want rather than come out here. What kind of men do you call them? They think a great deal of their Country! If you have an opportunity, get the Adjutant general of Massachusetts report for 1862, it is a good thing. News from Fort Albany is big, I forgot to write it before. Major W. is a 2nd Lieut in the N. Y. 2nd H. A. Lt. D. is being court martialled for drunkenness. Capt’s C. and A. have resigned and also Lt. S. Col. W. has preferred charges against Col. C. Grand chance for promotion, which there always has been in this regt, but there is no chance for poor W. From
Lev.
Md. Heights, March 25, 186.3.
Dear Friends:
Glad to hear the Capt. is improving. We are well. Affairs are the same as the other day. The Lieuts. are still under arrest; some are at the naval guard house, took them out of the magazine on account of their health.
The signal Officer at this post received a dispatch from Martinsburg that we have Vicksburg in our possession, it has not got out yet. Tonight’s paper had no news, but the report is they are evacuating Vicksburg and are going to throw their whole force on Rosecrans; Burnside is at Cincinati on his way to the army of the south west. I do hope that we shall be able to give them a severe whipping all round before long. It is about time something was done. I want you to send me two boxes of salt mackerel A. no 1. I can get ten cts. a piece for them by keeping them till pay day. I am sure if you will get them for me, that I can get out whole with a little over. I shall expect all the butter you can send, as we need it very much, having nothing to eat but our bread, coffee and beef. “I must have my butter!” What do you think the prospect is of our getting home? Of course you know it can not be till the war is over. The general opinion is that six months will see all the fighting over. One thing more, we must not give them peace, unless honorable to our arms: there must be no squeezeing out place, keep them until they submit to our terms. The end greatly depends upon our success at Vicksburg, port Hudson, and Charleston. If we whip them at these places I think Joe Hooker will start them and will drive them till they get some thing very strong to hide behind. About influence, I don’t urge my case hard, but just mention the thing, and if any thing should turn up, you might put it to use in my case, as I am in the army. I think not to use any bragadocio, that I am as capable as a great many others. Jere will write next Sunday. Much love to all.
Yours &c.
L. Bradley. Jr.
Md. Heights, March 8, 1863.
Dear Father:
Yours recd. Am sorry to hear that you are so afflicted with rheumatism, it must come hard to you, as you have always been so healthy. There are only two sergt’s called from each company. They were examined, and a hard ex’, it was. I assure you there is a feeling for you here; there is scarcely a day goes by but what I hear your name spoken of in good terms. The noncommissioned officers recite once a week from the red book on artillery. They are going into the thing scientiffically: have bought several useful books on artillery and take hold of it with energy. I do not get lessons, but I am in the room when they recite and gather considerable information. I took a tramp with several of the boys to Solomon’s Gap, 5 miles out on the ridge; it is cut through the mountain; could see plainly where the battle of South Mt. was fought, it is about 12 miles from here. Would it pay for me to have a firkin of butter come out here? I will leave it all to you; butter is 35 cts. a lb. here and scarce at that. If it will pay ship it along, as there are plenty of chances to dispose of it. The Lieut, assigned to the Co. has not arrived yet. There are many reports going here; one is that we are going back to Fort Warren! Very respectfully yours,
L. Bradley, Jr.
Md. Heights, Feb. 22, 1863.
Dear Family:
Yours found us all well. This is the anniversary of the birth of Geo. Washington. We had an order yesterday to hold divine service at 10 o’clk A.M. together with a dress parade; but we had a severe snow storm last night and it has snowed ever since, the hardest we have had. Sergt. R. applied for a furlough; but the Major refused to forward it, on the ground that several had received them and have not been heard from since. T. is trying to get one; went over to see the Gen’l yesterday, but got no definite answer.
Capt. has not been heard from since keeping a hotel! The news seems to be a little more encouraging; we must have a defeat or victory at Vicksburg and along the Charleston coast. The papers speak of English and French mediation in our affairs, but I don’t know as it will amount to any thing. Last night they spoke of the French Army in Mexico; they have had several defeats and I guess they will have to work hard to get a good substantial position any where in Mexico. The boys say that Capt. Bradley and Genl. McClellan are their men. What do they think of the way Gov. Andrew used Genl. McClellan on his late visit to Massachusetts? The boys don’t have a very good opinion of his doings; in fact he is not liked amongst the troops. Now I will give Mother a little news, or rather answer some of her kind questions. I kept money enough to pay up old bills and a little on hand. We both kept $5 a piece; you see Jere only draws $12 a month to my $13. We fare as well as can be expected; in fact we have all we can eat and more too. Draw fresh beef and no salt or corned, keep twelve days rations ahead. To give you an idea of what we have (and you must judge the cooking; but we think it good, Cyrus Messer is cook now). Well first, we have coffee, Bread, fresh beef, with some that we salt, Bread of the best quality, potatoes, dried apples and molasses, and a soup twice a week; have vinegar, salt &c. as much as we want. I should like to write to all of my relations; but some times I don’t feel like answering letters and then it stops. I hope I shall be able to correspond with Home, as I may well call it, once a week. Love to all.
Leverett Bradley, Jr.
Boat Howitzer Battery, Md. Heights,
Feb. 8, 1863.
Dear Mother and Father:
Yours found us all well. I started the money last Wednesday $196 (one hundred and ninety six). George Bricket sent $32 which you will please deliver to uncle Frank; he paid me for sending it. It cost $1.50 for sending it; kept $1 out and paid the rest from my own. I shall keep dunning for the rest of those notes till I get it. Should not be surprised if we got paid again soon. The boys have all paid up their bills well. H. deserted, has not been heard from since pay day; most likely will keep clear and not get caught. We have an order to stop the Artillery practice and we have got a shelf fixed so we can take Shell of all kinds to pieces. There is an examination of Sergt’s for promotion; it is an order from Col. S. He will recommend them to Gov. Andrew. An Ex Capt. D. is at the Hooks on a spree and some of the boys go down and have one with him. There is a time coming when the men of Co. B will have a chance to speak their thoughts and minds and they will do it. The men still think a great deal of Capt. Bradley, or, as they call him, “Snap it up.” Your name is spoken a great many times a day, and many are the wishes that you were commander now. I may stand a chance yet. My duty is much harder than at Craig, on account of commanding the post. Have to make out returns of ammunition every Monday morning, &C. Much love to all.
Leverett, Jr.
Md. Heights, Jan. 25, 1863.
Dear Family:
Have written a note to Lizzie [his sister]. She says her school is “behaving in behavior.” We stop in No. 9 tent; it is stockaded and in rear of barracks; the women have our shanty.
Feb. 1.
We were all paid up Thursday for four months. I shall send the money by Adams express. I have collected all in the Co. but P. and G――n’s. I think I can get G―n’s before I send money; P’s is doubtful. Shall send Geo. Bricket’s with mine. We had a terrible storm; here on the Mountain the snow is two feet deep and it blows. M. was promoted to Corpl. yesterday. S. was broke. The boys are very indignant about it; you know he did not come out until last Sept. We have got so we have a row every day. Capt. has some one to the wheel every night; he has got the rough ones down on him. Co. sent home $1709 yesterday and paid debts for 6 months. I went down to the Naval battery and collected two bills there. There is a report that we are to move. Shall send our money on Tuesday, so look out for it. If we happen to move shall wait. Much love to all from
Lev., Jr.
Maryland Heights, Dec. 28, 1862.
Dear Family:
We have no letter from you. We are situated on the highest point of the Blue Range. Can see a distance of 40 miles in the valley of Virginia, and mountains some 75 miles distant. To the south west, on the opposite side of the river, is the village of Charlestown, where John Brown was hung, some 12 miles from here. To the N. W. is Martinsburg, 50 miles. It is a beautiful sight to see, worth coming for. Can see the valley of the Shenandoah for 15 miles, so notorious for the retreats and advances of the two armies of Gen. Banks and Jackson. There was a great commotion here, the other night, caused by a despatch from the two Gens, at Winchester that the enemy was coming and that they would fall back on Harper’s Ferry. But they have n’t come yet. The men are building barracks 24 in. thick. The detachment of Company H left two, which they had built for themselves. From the direction the rebels came, when they took the place, are lots of what might be called graves, with toes and hands out of the ground. The boys get bones and buttons and such things as relics. We have had a hard time of it so far; but no cause to grumble. Hard work to get food or water up the mountain. It takes five mules to bring a half load of water and that takes half a day. We are trying to get a pack mule to bring water. They are going to have a signal station. They are signaling now to a point of rocks 12 miles down the river, the place where the rebs crossed at the battle of Antietam. Capt., I will ask if once a week won’t do to write long letters? Time flies faster up here; we are above the clouds a good part of the time.
I expect muster rolls to-day, but have nothing but an old box to make them out on. I am writing now on a cigar-box cover on my lap.
[His writing and spelling had taken a great jump in a few weeks, showing unconscious control and a high standard in these respects.—Ed.]
Maryland Heights, Dec, 1862.
Dear Friends:
Have not rec’d your letter yet. We arrived here after an all night’s ride in the cars and then had to tramp this mountain. We are 1100 ft. above the river and it is cold all the time. We have to go a mile and ¾ to get up here and it is a steep and rocky path. We have 7 guns, 5 Boat Howitzers and 12 Pdr Field guns. There are two beautiful valleys, one on each side of us, named Pleasant Valley and Valley of the Potomac. The Shenandoah river comes in here. We have a fine view of Harper’s Ferry, but it is mostly deserted except by sutlers. The Rebs show themselves once in a while; they are guerillas of the Hampton’s League.
We are alone here on the mountain, the other Co’s are further down. We have a great job to get water; have to go a mile down and then three can get only enough for coffee. Start half rations twice a day. It is rather tough; but what is the use of being a soldier if you are n’t one. There are a lot of Rebs buried outside the battery, killed in the fight. We are both well. Wish I could have those things in G’s box. Love to all.
Lev.
Fort Craig, Va., Dec. 21, 1862.
Dear Family:
Glad to hear of your good health. We are in the same condition. It has been terribly cold weather for us.
The war news is of but little importance. The report is, we are to have a new cabinet, and that Seward has resigned. The men throughout the army are getting discouraged, and men from Fredericksburg say if officers were to try their best to lead them into another fight on the same ground the men would not follow. It was a perfect butchery of our men. Fremont (some think) will get either Sec. of War or command of the army. Report this morning was Halleck had resigned.
Don’t sell old Sam [a dog] unless you get a good price for him, because you know he is mine.
Later.
We have rec’d orders to go to Harper’s Ferry to-morrow and Jere had to get drum head. We shall carry most everything; will send you a box of extra clothing, pay at that end. I am packing up as fast as I can. The boys feel first rate; will write if there is anything new.
L. B., Jr.
Fort Craig, Va., Nov. 19, 1862.
Dear Family:
I am getting better day by day, but by what the boys say, am rather thin. They want to know what deed they have done, that a ghost should appear before them. I go by the name of Hamlet’s ghost; but I expect soon to get my old flesh on again. I am feeling first rate. The butter tastes first rate; I eat toasted bread and butter. I think it quite a relish to get hold of such stuff right along. Will do as you direct about money matters; if I can’t get over to the city myself I’ll send by the sutler. I think he can be trusted. Those shirts are very comfortable. I had but one the afternoon they came, and I had a bath and a change of clothes. Jere is on guard and cannot write. They have got so they put drummers on guard, the same as at Barnard; but he does not stop on all night, that is one good thing. We never have had so much sickness before. Burnside is doing a big thing, and if he don’t go through with it he will get kicked out, and receive no mercy from the public at large and some one else will come in. “O ―― He is the man. He is the man.” Then they will kick him out, and that is the way it will go. I am tired, a-s you will see by my writing. From
Lev.
