Item No. 3051170

A soldier letter written from Harpers Ferry on October 9, 1862, shortly after the Battle of Antietam, by Private Caleb H. H. Greene of Battery B, 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery. Writing to his sister, Greene discusses casualty estimates, reports the wounding of General John Sedgwick, and shares news about fellow soldiers.

On the losses at Antietam, Greene writes:

I do not know where the fourth Battery [D] is and I do not know whether it was in the recent battle or not. I heard the day I received your letter that Henry & brothers had run away, but did not know what to think about the matter, but think we shall hear of something more definite before long. Gen. Sedgwick was wounded in the shoulder, leg & foot…. I think the rebels loss was greater than that of the Union Army. The papers estimate our loss to be about ten thousand & the rebels loss to be about thirty thousand.

He adds, “You wished to know if George had got back on the same gun. No, he is not, but he is on the one next to me. Gen. Burnside Division is near Sharpsburg Md.” Later he inquires, “What was the reason that Jonathan did not get George’s body?” Near the end of the letter he mentions that his pards “Albert, Merritt, Clark, & Albert Cornell are all here. Albert received a letter from James a few days ago stating he was in the Hospital at Baltimore.”

The letter was written in ink on three pages of a four-page letter sheet measuring about 4 3/4” x 8”. Includes the original postal cover with 3-cent stamp. The full transcript appears below.

Harpers Ferry Oct 9th 1862

Dear Sister
Your kind letter came duly at hand _th inst. We have been in camp near here for two weeks. Do not know how long we shall remain here. You thought your Sabbath School would close the next Sabbath. I should like have been there to have witnessed the scene. I have not heard from Charles Cottrel since he joined the Battery. I do not know where the fourth Battery is and I do not know whether it was in the recent battle or not. I heard the day I received your letter that Henry & brothers had run away, but did not know what to think about the matter, but think we shall hear of something more definite before long. Gen. Sedgwick was wounded in the shoulder, leg & foot.

You wished to know if George had got back on the same gun. No, he is not, but he is on the one next to me. Gen. Burnside Division is near Sharpsburg Md.

You wished me to write some of the particulars about the loss in the recent battle. I think the rebels loss was greater than that of the Union Army. The papers estimate our loss to be about ten thousand & the rebels loss to be about thirty thousand. What was the reason that Jonathan did not get George’s body? Albert, Merritt, Clark, & Albert Cornell are all here. Albert received a letter from James a few days ago stating he was in the Hospital at Baltimore. He wrote that he was getting better.

Where is Frank Brittan this fall? Well, I believe I have nothing more to write at present. Take good care of yourself & take all the comfort you can, and if you have any to spare, remember me.
From your friend and well wisher
Caleb H. H. Greene