1862-09-06: Gardiner, William H., to Patterson, Carrie, Letter |
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[page 1]
Near Fort Lyon, Alexandria,
Virginia Sept 6th, 1862
Dear little Cade
How lucky it
was that deferrede writing
until the time you dide: [illegible]
the precius little mission would
have remained in Uncle Sam’s
possession during the time that
we have been fighting and [blank space]
starving.
Heaven bless the hour that
saw you seated penning an
epistle to a poor benighted mor-
tal like myself. Receivede the
very hour that we arrived here,
foot-sore and weary, its effect
was like an electric shock,
not literally I do not mean, as
putting one in pain, but
[page 2]
giving me new life and with more
grace to bear my trials and
sore distress: and that night
saw me lay down in the
bosom of Mother Earth, calmly,
and grateful that the Almighty
had put it into the heart of
one oft remembered friend at
home, to give some tangible
evidence that his poor sin-
burdened piece of clay was
not wholly forgotten.
Since leaving this place or
very near it, last March, the
4th has seen some hard times.
Heintzleman’s Corps, consisting of
Kearney’s Div. of which the 4th formed
apart, together with Hooker’s has
seen full their share of this
wretched campaign and it
is unmeasureable not to suppose
that many a brave man from
the Old Pine Tree State, has
[page 3]
lain his bones in the swamps
of the Chickahaminy and on
the Heights of the Second Bull
Run. The last act in the drama
at least thus far, was the death
of Gen. Kearney: peace to his
ashes, and confusion to his
enemies.
I suppose that you have al-
ready learned the loss Co. K.
has sustained since arriving
in the region of the Rhappa-
hannack, in the death of Wm
King and Chas. Brown: Therefore
I need not dwell longer upon
it. I hear too that Frank
Huper, Ed Perry, and Dwight
Palmer, etc. some of your very
near and dear friends have
enlisted. How does that sit?
Poor Dwight! How could he
leave some of his dear female
[page 4]
friends, and go a “sogerin?”
and they, poor dear girls,
how do they bear it?
Shirl Sleeper by the by is well
and hearty, and you were
right to [illegible] imagin-
ing what reply I should
make to your remarks.
And now Cade, if you will
write often as you can. Be
sure it gives me great pleas-
ure to hear from you. Write
often, all the news about
all friends, some little
nearer home than you have.
You have better advantages
and more time for writing
than I, and I shall expect
everything of you. Good night
Yours Affectionately,
Wm. H. Gardiner
5th Sergt. Co. K
4th Regt. Me. Vol.
Object Description
Description
| Title | 1862-09-06: Gardiner, William H., to Patterson, Carrie, Letter |
| Creator | Gardiner, William H. |
| LC Subject Headings |
Gardiner, William H. Patterson, Carrie United States. Army. Maine Infantry, 4th (1861-1864) Maryland--History--Civil War, 1861-1865 Virginia--History--Civil War, 1861-1865 United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865 |
| EOA Categories |
History – 1838-1874: Sectionalism, the Civil War and Reconstruction Peoples -- Military Life Government and Politics -- Military |
| Description | These are letters (6) Gardiner wrote to his sweetheart, Carrie Patterson, in Belfast, Me., from Virginia and Maryland. Gardiner served as a sergeant in Company K, 4th Maine Infantry, during the Civil War. During the time period in which he wrote, Sergeant Gardiner's regiment was engaged in combat at Second Bull Run on August 29 and 30, 1862; Chantilly, Virginia on September 1, 1862; Fredericksburg, Virginia on December 13, 1862 and Chancellorsville, Virginia from May 1 to 4, 1863. He was taken prisoner at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and died of scurvy at Andersonville Prison, Georgia on August 16, 1864 |
| Digital Publisher | Auburn University Libraries |
| Date | 1862-09-06 |
| Original Format | 1 letter |
| Type | Text |
| Format | |
| Original Item ID | RG 0177 |
| Rights | This image is the property of the Auburn University Libraries and is intended for non-commercial use. Users of the image are asked to acknowledge the Auburn University Libraries. For information about obtaining high-resolution copies of this and other images in this collection, please contact the Auburn University Libraries Special Collections & Archives Department at archives@auburn.edu or (334) 844-1732. |
| Relation With | www.american-south.org |
| Finding Aid | http://content.lib.auburn.edu/u?/findingaids,170 |
| Language | eng |
| File Name | Gardiner WH letters_1.pdf |
| Collection | William H. Gardiner Papers |
| Repository | Auburn University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives. |
| Submitted by | Thornton, Linda, Hicks, Joyce; Galati, Leslie Ann; Coates, Midge |
| Transcript | [page 1] Near Fort Lyon, Alexandria, Virginia Sept 6th, 1862 Dear little Cade How lucky it was that deferrede writing until the time you dide: [illegible] the precius little mission would have remained in Uncle Sam’s possession during the time that we have been fighting and [blank space] starving. Heaven bless the hour that saw you seated penning an epistle to a poor benighted mor- tal like myself. Receivede the very hour that we arrived here, foot-sore and weary, its effect was like an electric shock, not literally I do not mean, as putting one in pain, but [page 2] giving me new life and with more grace to bear my trials and sore distress: and that night saw me lay down in the bosom of Mother Earth, calmly, and grateful that the Almighty had put it into the heart of one oft remembered friend at home, to give some tangible evidence that his poor sin- burdened piece of clay was not wholly forgotten. Since leaving this place or very near it, last March, the 4th has seen some hard times. Heintzleman’s Corps, consisting of Kearney’s Div. of which the 4th formed apart, together with Hooker’s has seen full their share of this wretched campaign and it is unmeasureable not to suppose that many a brave man from the Old Pine Tree State, has [page 3] lain his bones in the swamps of the Chickahaminy and on the Heights of the Second Bull Run. The last act in the drama at least thus far, was the death of Gen. Kearney: peace to his ashes, and confusion to his enemies. I suppose that you have al- ready learned the loss Co. K. has sustained since arriving in the region of the Rhappa- hannack, in the death of Wm King and Chas. Brown: Therefore I need not dwell longer upon it. I hear too that Frank Huper, Ed Perry, and Dwight Palmer, etc. some of your very near and dear friends have enlisted. How does that sit? Poor Dwight! How could he leave some of his dear female [page 4] friends, and go a “sogerin?” and they, poor dear girls, how do they bear it? Shirl Sleeper by the by is well and hearty, and you were right to [illegible] imagin- ing what reply I should make to your remarks. And now Cade, if you will write often as you can. Be sure it gives me great pleas- ure to hear from you. Write often, all the news about all friends, some little nearer home than you have. You have better advantages and more time for writing than I, and I shall expect everything of you. Good night Yours Affectionately, Wm. H. Gardiner 5th Sergt. Co. K 4th Regt. Me. Vol. |
