letters

[Page 1]
Fort Monroe, Virginia, April 28, 1861

Dear Sir:

As some of our boys promised to write you, and none of them have yet fulfilled their pledges, I thought I would spend a few moments in doing so. We all of us have so many correspondents that our letters are necessarily short and hurried and if critically examined would show many imperfections.

The Spalding landed us (the 3rd Regt.) at this fort about 11 o'clock a.m. Saturday the 20th, the 4th Regt. having been here 5 or 6 hours before we arrived. Our passage Friday being pretty rough, most of the men were suffering from the effects of sea sickness, but at about 6 o'clock p.m. we were marched aboard the Pawnee for a pleasure excursion to Norfolk Navy Yard. The Commodore of the Pawnee (Paulding) wished to take the 4th Regiment aboard as they had been ashore the longest and had had three rations served to them since landing, but Col. Packard objected saying his men were too tired. Hearing this Col. Wardrop exclaimed, "My G_d, my men can go!" and in reply to Com. Paulding's enquiry as to how much time was needed for preparation, he replied, "fifteen minutes." The [Page 2] result of our going you have doubtless seen in the papers long since. The Navy Yard was completely ruined, the ships and their houses completely destroyed, their magnificent dry dock, costing millions of dollars, blown up, and an immense quantity of guns, pistols, cutlasses, powder, shells, etc., put where it can never be of any use. It was a good streak of luck for Government, as it would have all been seized the very next day by the Succession Army, if we had not used it up so completely, and the very guns we spiked and the ammunition we spoiled would have been directed against Fort Monroe. Our Regiment was favored by not being attacked, for so many of us were nearly dead from the fatigues from a sea voyage that we could have made little resistance, and huddled as we were, nearly 400 of us volunteers, we should have been decidedly worse than nothing, as we would have stood in the way of the Marines who manned the vessel.

The Rebels appear to be busy making preparations to attack us, but nearly everybody in the Fort doubts their making any demonstration. We have command of the river by having the Man-of-War Cumberland stationed here. She is one of the vessels we took up in Norfolk and towed down and has already proved very serviceable to us. Last Thursday she fired into a tug which was towing out toward Norfolk a schooner, and the [Page 3] shot taking effect upon her wheelhouse she was brought to, and we made prizes of the tug and schooner both. On bringing the schooner to the wharf she was found to be commanded by a sailor who only a short time since deserted from the Cumberland, and it is said he was hung by the Marines. The craft was completely loaded with all the munitions of war including guns, gun carriages, ammunition, provisions, etc., and proved to be quite a prize – the little tug has been pressed into Uncle Sam's service, and very useful she proves.

This Fort answers very well the description given of it in the Boston Post about the time we sailed. It is a beautiful place and the transition from the barren and snow-clad hills of New England to the luxuriance of spring as seen here is well worth a trip to see. Our parade ground is covered with green grass and the trees which border the walks are just leafing out. There is a capital Brass Band in the Fort and they give us every morning some of the best music I ever heard. So beautiful is the scene, that we can hardly realize that it is possible that all this loveliness may soon be a barren waste. One cannot truly imagine the change which the horrors of an actual war may cause to pass over the face of everything here. I hope we may not witness the sight, but I do believe that if compelled to fight, the 3rd will [Page 4] give a good account of herself.

I suppose there is an intense feeling in the North. Our Company have not had many letters, so all the news we get is from Baltimore papers, but even those represent a decision of purpose on the part of the North, and North West to stand by our "Father Abraham." We expect soon to have northern papers regularly, and they will seem nearly as good as a letter. I long to see some of the Boston dailies.

You must excuse the style, etc., of this letter as I don't have time to be very particular and to have to write just as it comes into my head. I would be pleased to hear from you, at any time, and trusting you will overlook all errors.

Remain,
Very respectfully yours,
H. W. Poole

[To:] Cyrus Thompson, Esq.
Boston
Mass

Address: H. W. Poole
Care Capt. Harlen
Co. A 3rd Reg.
Fort Monroe,
Virginia

* * *

2. Samuel Wolcott to father, October 23, 1861.

October 23rd, 1861
On board Steamer Illinois

My Dear Father,

We are now lying at anchor near the walls of Fortress Monroe. We have been on our way here since Monday morning. We sailed all day Thursday and at eve anchored off the mouth of the Potomac. Weighing anchor again yesterday morning, we started again and continued on our course until between three and four in the afternoon. It had been raining all day and the fog was so dense at that time that the officers thought it was not safe to continue on their course ay longer, so we lay to last night again. And at daylight this morn we set sail and arrived here about ten o'clock. There is the largest fleet laying here that I have ever seen. I think there are between 75 to 100 large steamer vessels. Some of them are used as transports for carrying men and provisions and others are gunboats, of these there are a large number of large one. There are two men of war laying near our bow, each mounting forty-four guns. I think there are transports here sufficient for carrying fifty thousand men, beside what the gunboats will carry. I do not know whether we are to land here or not, but things do not appear as if we were, our Colonel has now gone to the Flagship of the Squadron. Perhaps you may know more that is going on here than I do. You certainly know more of what is passing elsewhere. I only know what I see. There are a great many rumours here in regards to our own destination as well as to what is transpiring around us, but those who circulate them know as little of their truth as do the newspaper editors who have been publishing like rumours for facts during the last six months. When this fleet moves, I do not think anyone save those in high authority will know. The fort here is a very large thing, mounting a great many guns. The walls are not as high as I supposed they were. They are built of stone and the top is covered with turf. I should think that the stone part might be from fifteen to twenty feet high and the turf from three to five feet high more on top. Small boats are continuously moving between the large steamers and communicating with them. I do not know if I can write any thing else that will interest you now. I would like to write often. I have not heard anything from you since I left. Anything from home will interst me. Let me know how you get along with work and what you do with those notes. You need not answer all my letters separately but write to me as you find time. I choose to occupy a large portion of my spare time writing. I do not get a very great variety of reading, and I have not attempted to scribe any yet, indeed on board this crowded shop there is no very quiet place. If I sit down to write, someone is continuously laughing and jesting within hearing and nearly every moment someone jars my arm or seat so that I do not make my letters look very well, but if you can read them that is the great consideration. Direct you letter same as before to Washington.

Give my love to all at home, and to my friends who may inquire after me.

Your affectionate son,
Samuel B. Wolcott

(7th Conn. Inf.)

3. PVT John Snyder, Cape Hatress, NC, to a friend, February 4, 1862

Certificate
To be given to volunteers at the time of their discharge
To enable them to receive their pay.

I certify, on honor that Oscar Pennovsky, a ___ of Captain J. Hoefflings Company K of the Twenty Regiment NY Infantry Volunteers [abbreviated] of the state of New York, born in Kernitchau (spelling in question), State of Saxony, aged 26 years, 5 feet 7 inches high, fair complexion, blue eyes, light hair, and by occupation a weaver, having joined the Company on its original organization at Williamsburg, and enrolled in it at the muster into the service of the United States at New York on the sixth day of May 1861, for the term of two years, and having served honestly and faithfully with his Company in Virginia to the present State, is now entitled to a discharge by reason of hernia inguinalis.

The said Oscar Pennovsky was last paid by Paymaster Major McLyon to include the 30th April 1862, and has pay due him authorized to volunteer soldiers, or militia so discharged.

Ocsar Pennovsky has received an clothing from the U. S. Government amounting to 31 dollars and 69/100.