Letters Home in 1861

In an earlier blog post on June 11, 2020, I wrote about Henry Philip Hale, an 18 year-old Union soldier, who died only a short time after his enlistment from wounds he received at the First Battle of Bull Run and while in a Confederate prison hospital in Richmond, Virginia.  Henry’s letters were written to his mother and siblings who lived in Brooklyn, New York.  They spanned the time between when Henry’s regiment left New York until after the conflict at the First Battle of Bull Run.

While Henry’s letters to his family only covered a short period, there are several significant occurrences mentioned in his letters including the death of Colonel Elmer Ellsworth who was the first Union officer to die in the Civil War, making camp in the House of Representatives building in Washington D.C. while it was still under construction, and seeing President Abraham Lincoln.  Thus, I thought it would be interesting to make this blog post simply a transcription of young Henry P Hale’s letters home in 1861.

Washington, May 7 ‘61

Dear Sister,

I received your letter of the 2^nd this morning through Jim Smallwood and I was much pleased to hear from you.  I have written two letters home, one to you and one to Mother.  I presume that you have received them both.

We were mustered into the U.S. Service this afternoon.  Some fifteen of the men backed out.  They will be sent home in irons, having once been sworn into the State Service.  There are some few men who are a disgrace to the N.Y. Zouaves, four of whom have been found out and will be drummed out of the Regiment tomorrow and sent home in disgrace.  Two more have committed a crime and will be given up to the authorities tomorrow, and I hope hereafter we will go by a good name.  Col. Ellsworth is a trump and wants nothing but honest and respectable men in his regiment.  We pass away our time playing cards.

I have written Dave [brother], but tell him not to forget his soldier brother, if he don’t take the right side with him.  I have enlisted for the War … let it be five days or five years and God protect the right.  We are quartered in the room of Commerce next to the Patent office – best quarters in Washington.  Our Regiment has the honor of being the first regiment that has enlisted for the War – not thirty day men like the Fancy Seventh of N.Y.  They are the troops of B’way but not of Washington.  We are the only, or I am in the only Company at least, that there was not one man backed out.  Write soon.  Give my love to all and kiss the children for me and tell Ella [sister] that I am not sorry that I am here, altho I would like to see you all, hear you all – bid you good night.  God bless you all and believe me.

Your affectionate brother,

Henry

 

P.S. Please send me an old pair of pants with the books if you have not sent them, if you have never mind.  Don’t send my new ones for I hope to have them on in my dress again.

 

Camp Lincoln, May 17 ‘61

Dear Mother,

I embrace the opportunity to write you a few lines.  We are to pull up stakes this morning and go a mile below here next to the river where we can have plenty of fishing during our spare hours which are very few, as we are drilled hard and long.  I wrote Sis several days ago asking her to send me some collars – but you need not send them as I have no chance to have them cleaned when they are dirty without washing them myself, and rough dried collars would look worse than none.  I am beginning to think that there will be some fuss in the Camp before long as we now not getting half enough to eat.  Last night our tent had one loaf of bread among sixteen.  You may imagine what the boys thought of this kind of treatment – however, we’ll have to put up with this.  You may hear that we have plenty to eat, but don’t believe it.  The ones that get enough grub has money and buys it from the peddlers about here.  I have heretofore always tried to write a cheerful letter home but when things come to such a point as this I intend to let it be known.  If things do not go on better hereafter – as we are promised, I hear the boys saying they will have it published in the New York papers.

Have you sent that package yet?  I have not received it and cannot understand the reason as you intended sending it on the 11^th.  I hope it has not been lost as those little presents will not go amiss with me.

As long as I am writing I will give you an account of the way we do – We are woke up at 5 o’clock by the drum, and get our breakfast – or at least our little mouthful and then are called out at 9 o’clock and drilled until 12 o’clock – when we have two hours for dinner.  At 2 o’clock we go on the field and drill until 6 o’clock – get a little something to eat and have to be in our tents at 9 o’clock.  This is our regular way of living from one weeks end to the other.

Give my love to all the family.  Kiss the children for me.  Give my respects to all my friends.  Write soon and believe me.

Your Affect Son

Henry

 

Alexandria, May 25 ‘61

Dear Mother,

I received your kind letter Thursday night and was much pleased to hear from you.  We left our camp yesterday morning for Alexandria – joined rear troops about daylight.  We had taken the City and had little fighting to do but it pains me to say that we have lost our gallant Col.  He was shot at the Marshall House after having pulled down the Secession Flag.  On coming down stairs the proprietor stepped out of his room and shot him in the breast.  He lived but twenty minutes and all he said was “My God”.  How true his words came.  He said as we were leaving the camp to be prudent and not to run into danger, that perhaps he would be the first to fall, and so he did.  No one else received a shot.  One of our men was shot last night by one of his best friends.  It was very dark and the guard asked him to advance and give the countersign.  He kept coming toward him and did not speak and he was shot dead.  The man who shot the Col. was shot dead on the spot and the American Stars and Stripes fly over this town.

I enclose a few threads of the Secession Flag – I could not get any more.  Sew it into a piece of cloth and keep it.  I hope I may soon return to see it.  I certainly will if the Secession runs as they did here.  You could see nothing but their coat tails.

We have taken 37 horsemen prisoners.  They surrendered without firing a shot.  I have been amusing myself today hunting and searching around for things belonging to the Secessionists.  All we have found was powder and ball.  Write soon and direct as before,

Your Affect Son

Henry

 

Camp Ellsworth, ? 1861

Dear Mother and Sister,

We expect to have a little flight before long.  Two of our men belonging to our Co. was shot at Clouds Mills on Friday morning.  One killed and the other was wounded in the hop.  Young Cornell was buried on Sunday morning.  Yesterday his brother came on with an order from General Sanford for the body.  It was taken up and delivered up to him.

It is now raining in torrents and we are all getting on well passing the time away smoking, singing, and playing cards.  We now have plenty of grub since we have been here such as it is – hard bread, salt lunch Pork – and fresh beef once a week.

I wrote you while quartered at the Orange & Alexandria R.R. Depot and sent you a piece or at least a few threads of the Secession Flag that caused the death of the Col.  I am anxious to hear from you …….

Good bye.  God Bless you all

            Your Affect Son and Brother

            Henry P Hale

 

P.S.  Please send me a comb in a newspaper.  I have lost mine and my hair is getting quite long.

Washington, June 2 ‘61

Dear Mother and others,

I arrived here last night after quite a nice voyage [the troops were transported part way by ship].  We anchored off Annapolis day before yesterday.  We came on shore about 10 o’clock yesterday morning.  There is two men stationed at each rail from here to Washington.  We have fared quite well – had plenty to eat since we left N.Y. and it’s all in your eye about the men not having enough.  The President [Lincoln] received us last night.  He is about 7 foot, he looked like a fool standing with his hat off –

We are quartered in the House of Representatives – that is, the one they are just building.  I am writing on the floor and sitting on my knapsack and my back is nearly broken bending over – and you must excuse my miserable writing.

Hoping to hear from you soon, I remain your

Affect Son

Henry P Hale

 

Camp Ellsworth, July 10 ‘61

Dear Mother,

I send you my likeness by today’s mail.  It is not very good nor is it very well got up.  It has no case, I was down to Alexandria yesterday on french leave and thought I would have it take as promised to send it to you from Washington, but was short and could not.  I would have got a case with it but they charged $1.50 and I had not enough.  I expect you will think it looks rather rough, but you know a soldier with nothing but a Regiment shirt and blue pants on cannot look dressed.

I wish when you have the time and money to spare you would have Sis, Birdie & Ella [3 sisters] taken in one case and send them on to me as I would like very much to have them with me as the Lord only knows when I will be home, as it begins to look like War.  Some 5 or 6 regiments have come out here encamped within a mile of us.  There are the Michigan 1 & 2 regiments, the Maine 3, 4 & 5 regiments and an Ohio regiment.  Scott Life Guards Second Artillery Company and three horse company all within a mile of us.

We have not as yet received any pay, more have I any idea when we will.  We have been promised over and over again.  It seems our Regiment will be humbugged out of our money as well as clothes – if I am not paid shortly I will up stakes and join some other Regiment and if I possibly can I will be transferred to Ellsworths Avengers.

My draws [drawers] are worn out and I have none as well as my stockings.  We have a ____ in our Regiment and he is getting all of the boys pay.  I do not intend running up any bill with him.

Did Dave [brother] attend to having that I enclosed to you sent to the Mercury Office [New York Sunday Mercury newspaper]?   If not tell him to attend to it immediately, if not sooner.

I have seen some of my friends from New York who have joined other Regiments.  The reason letter does not reach me in time, you direct it to Washington instead of Alexandria.  Give my love to all.  Goodby

Your Affect Son,

Henry

 

Richmond, August 2 ‘61

Dear Mother,

I write this to inform you of my whereabouts.  I am still among the living although I was wounded in the Battle of Bull Run, and, I presume, named among the dead in the papers.  It was God’s Will that I only got a slight wound in the thigh.  I am recovering fast.  We are treated here with the utmost kindness.  Everything is done for us that one could wish.

I hope that War will soon end and we will all soon return home.  I hope Dave is successful in finding employment and is doing well. 

I have nothing to write about.  I am in a hospital in Maine Street.  Give my love to Grandmother, Sis, Dave and the children.  Goodbye.  God bless you all –

Your Affectionate Son,

Henry P Hale

 

NOTE:  Private Henry P Hale, 11^th New York Volunteers, 1^st Fire Zouaves, Company G, died on August 7, 1861, five days after writing the above letter from Prison Hospital No. 1, Main Street, Richmond, Virginia.

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Key Individuals:

     Philip Moore Hale  (1807 – 1870)

     Mary Ann Brown Dickinson Hale  (1816 – 1880)

          Henry Philip Hale  (1843 - 1861)

 

- Jane Scribner McCrary

Young Life Lost at Bull Run

Henry Philip Hale was the third child of Philip Moore Hale and Mary Ann Brown Dickinson Hale, and older brother to my great grandmother, Virginia Augusta Hale Scribner.  Henry was born April 20, 1843 in Baltimore, Maryland, and died in the early days of the Civil War on August 7, 1861 in Richmond, Virginia.

In 1861, Henry was living in Brooklyn, New York with his mother and four of his siblings.  On his 18^th birthday, Henry joined the Union effort and enlisted in New York City.  His enlistment paperwork incorrectly shows him to be 22 years old.  Henry was mustered on May 7 as a Private in the 11^th New York Volunteers, 1^st Fire Zouaves, Company G.

The 11^th New York Volunteer regiment was organized in New York City in May of 1861 as a Zouave regiment under the command of Colonel Elmer E Ellsworth, drawing many volunteers from the ranks of the City’s volunteer fire companies.  The company was known for its unusual dress and drill style.  Like most Zouave regiments, the men of the 11^th New York were fashioned in uniforms not typical of the standard Union soldier.  The 11^th Volunteers were issued clothing that among other items included light grey jackets, red overshirts and dark blue trousers, and received a red or blue fez with a blue tassel.  In the summer before the First Battle of Bull Run, most of the Zouaves left their jackets in camp due to the July heat.   Private Henry P Hale proudly had his photograph made in his uniform with no jacket.  The photo was taken July 9, 1861 while he was in Alexandria, Virginia, and Henry Hale mailed the photo to his family from his post at Camp Ellsworth the next day.

The 11^th NY Volunteers, 1^st Fire Zouaves, left New York aboard the steamship, Baltic, on April 29 and steamed to Annapolis, Maryland arriving on the evening of May 1.  The next day, the troops disembarked and traveled to Washington.  In Henry’s letter to his family on May 7, he wrote that “we are quartered in the room of Commerce next to the Patent office – the best quarters in Washington”.   And on June 2, he wrote that “We are quartered in the House of Rep. – that is, the one they are just building.”  In that same letter, he said that “The President [Lincoln] received us last night.  He is about 7 foot, he looked like a fool standing with his hat off – “.

The 11^th New York Volunteer regiment’s first major combat experience occurred on the morning of July 21, 1861 known as the First Battle of Bull Run near Manassas, Virginia.  It was the first large-scale battle of the Civil War and Henry’s regiment suffered extensive casualties.  Although accounts of the battle differ, most sources list 177 men lost at Bull Run, with 35 men killed, 74 wounded, and another 68 missing and presumed captured. 

Henry P Hale was among the wounded Union prisoners taken by Confederate forces to Richmond, Virginia and arriving on August 1, 1861.  Henry was taken to the Ross Factory Hospital located on Main Street in Richmond which was an old tobacco factory building.  Henry wrote a letter to his mother dated August 2 to reassure her that he was fine:

Richmond, August 2 / '61

Dear Mother,

I write this to inform you of my whereabouts.  I am still among the living although I was wounded in the Battle of Bull Run, and, I presume, named among the dead in the papers.  It was God's Will that I only got a slight wound in the thigh.  I am recovering fast.  We are treated here with utmost kindness.  Everything is done for us that one could wish.

I hope that War will soon end and we will all soon return home.  I hope Dave [his brother] is successful in finding employment and is doing well.

I have nothing to write about.  I am in a hospital in Maine Street.  Give my love to Grandmother, Sis, Dave and the children.  Goodbye, God bless you all 
--  Your Affectionate Son,     Henry P Hale

Even though Henry only mentioned a slight wound in his thigh in his letter to his family on August 2, he died five days later while still a prisoner in the hospital in Richmond, Virginia.   Very likely his wound became infected.

The Hale family must have struggled with all of the conflicting information that they received, not really knowing the true facts, only the reality that Henry never came home.  It appears, though, that the family was informed of Henry’s death by mid-September.   Henry P Hale’s obituary appeared in a Baltimore newspaper on September 19, 1861. 

 "Died at Richmond. - Henry P Hale, son of Mr. P M Hale, of this city, has died at Richmond, VA, of wounds received at the battle of Bull Run.  His age was 18 years."

*  *  *  *  *

Key Individuals:

Henry Philip Hale  (1843 - 1861)

Philip Moore Hale  (1807 – 1870)

Mary Ann Brown Dickinson Hale  (1816 – 1880)

Virginia Augusta Hale Scribner  (1848 – 1940)

Notes: 

Understandably, there was much confusion and difficulty with record keeping after the Union devastation at The First Battle of Bull Run.  The Union company muster records show that Private Henry P Hale was killed in action on July 21, 1861 probably because he was missing after the battle.  Union records however noted later that he died in Richmond from his wounds. 

On September 25, 1861 both The New York Times and the New York Daily Tribune newspapers printed lists of Union prisoners at Richmond after the Battle of Bull Run.  The newspaper accounting included Henry P Hale’s name twice among the list of wounded:  first as “Henry P. Hale, bullet through head”, and then later in the same paragraph, as “Henry P. Hale, not stated”.  By the time the newspaper was published, the family already knew that Henry had died in the prison hospital in Richmond.

I will likely do another blog post that is simply a transcription of the letters that Henry P Hale sent to his mother and sister in those brief few weeks after he enlisted and before he died. 

– Jane Scribner McCrary