Item No. 7595010

Private Philip Crewell wrote this letter to his brother Henry on March 24, 1862. Crewell was a member of the 34th New York Infantry—the Herkimer Regiment—and wrote the letter from Washington, DC. In it he discusses their rail trip to Washington, prospects for the next campaign, and news about the Battle of Kernstown.

The 34th New York had been posted near Harpers Ferry since the previous fall, and had just arrived in Washington by train. Days later, as part of the 2nd Corps, the regiment would march to Alexandria and board the transport Richard Willing, bound for Fortress Monroe and the Peninsula Campaign.

Crewell opens the letter in the hopes of getting paid. He plans to purchase new boots, then plans to send $15 home. He then discusses the journey to Washington and the loss of a comrade along the way:

Well now, about the last marching we done, on the place we were camped on last I sent only [1] letter home and that was to father, or I did send one to Dave I think, and that was [from] Bolivar Heights. We left there last Friday for Washington. We got here on Saturday morning about 3 o’cl with the loss of one man, and he got off the cars and went on ahead, and having plenty of liquor didn’t look where he was going and run off of a bridge of about 30 feet in the water, but was killed instantly.

He then writes about where they may go next, mentioning State Senator Addison H. Laflin, who evidently must have been visiting camp (the Senator’s younger brother Byron Laflin was the 34th’s lieutenant colonel). Crewell also mentions the arrival of “Burns’s Division,” but he certainly means the brigade of General William W. Burns, which belonged to the same division as the 34th. Crewell writes:

Well now, about the talk that is the way they think we will go from here, Senator Laflin says that we will sail up the York River, which lays towards Richmond. There was a fleet went out on Thursday, but where it was bound for I can’t tell. There is a Regt of us that is in Gen. Gorman’s brigade, but General Burns’s Division arrived here last night. There is to be a move made, but where it ain’t for us to know. And as for the movements, except in our one camp you hear as much as we do.

Crewell next mentions a battle taking place at Winchester. The fight would be known as the Battle of Kernstown. With the goal of keeping Union troops in the Shenandoah Valley, Confederate General Stonewall Jackson had advanced north toward Winchester, but was turned back at Kernstown. Crewell writes:

There has been a battle at Winchester since we left. The fight commenced last Friday and it is supposed to continue yet. There was 100-8 men killed on our side. The loss of the rebels is not known. There was 15,000 of them against 8,000 of ours. How the battle has come out I can’t tell. All it is, I wish that we could of been there. That all about the war.

The letter was written on two pages of a 7 3/4” x 9 3/4” bifolium letter sheet. Excellent condition with light toning. Creased at the original folds. Included is a stampless transmittal cover addressed to Henry Crewell, however it’s not quite the right size for this letter and must have been mixed up with another at some point in its past. The full transcript is below.

Washington
Mar the 24 1862

To H. S. Crewell, N.Y.S.V.

Dear Brother
I now set down once more in Washington to write a few lines to you. All the boys and myself are in good health, hoping these few lines will find you all the same.

We are a-going to stay here till we get paid off. I can’t tell how many days that will [be]. As for my part, I would as leave that they would wait till the first of May, but it will be acceptable any time. If we get paid off before we leave here I will send some home. I have to get a pair of boots first. I think that I can send $15 home this pay day.

Well now, about the last marching we done, on the place we were camped on last I sent only [1] letter home and that was to father, or I did send one to Dave I think, and that was to Bolivar Heights. We left there last Friday for Washington. We got here on Saturday morning about 3 o’cl with the loss of one man, and he got off the cars and went on ahead, and having plenty of liquor didn’t look where he was going and run off of a bridge of about 30 feet in the water, but was killed instantly.

Well now, about the talk that is the way they think we will go from here, Senator Laflin says that we will sail up the York River, which lays towards Richmond. There was a fleet went out on Thursday, but where it was bound for I can’t tell. There is a Regt of us that is in Gen. Gorman’s brigade, but General Burns’s Division arrived here last night. There is to be a move made, but where it ain’t for us to know. And as for the movements, except in our one camp you hear as much as we do. There has been a battle at Winchester since we left. The fight commenced last Friday and it is supposed to continue yet. There was 100-8 men killed on our side. The loss of the rebels is not known. There was 15,000 of them against 8,000 of ours. How the battle has come out I can’t tell. All it is, I wish that we could of been there. That all about the war.

Now it has been a long time since I last have heard from any of you. There is a young fellow here from up there, Jacob Vroman. He left there last Wednesday and that is the first that we have heard from home in a long while. Now write and let me know if you have sold any of the socks yet. Tell Dave to send me 50 cents worth of stamps. Write soon.
From your Brother P. C.