“I hope we will be able to catch Stuart and his Cavalry before they get out of Pennsylvania, but I think he is too smart to be caught. Our movements are too slow for him. You know he was near catching me when he made that raid between our Army and White house. I happened to get by Tunstall’s station a short time before he got there. It was more by good luck than good management that I did not have a chance to visit Richmond at that time. He got several Quarter Masters that time and plenty of Sutlers on the road.”

Item No. 1695636

Lieutenant Charles Pumpelly Bacon served as quartermaster of the 15th New York Engineer Regiment when he wrote this letter this his Aunt Stella Avery Pumpelly on October 12, 1862. In it he recounts conducting a three-day survey of Washington’s defenses, discusses the work on forts and pontoon bridges conducted by the engineers, recalls how he was nearly captured by J.E.B. Stuart’s cavalry at Tunstall’s Station, and comments on war profiteering in Washington.

Bacon opens the letter discussing the locations of family and friends and requests that his overcoat be sent to him by express. He also has “a regular apple eating fever on,” and requests a barrel to be sent to him, remarking that “poor apples in Washington sell for five cents each and good ones are sold at ten cents each. I never was so apple hungry before and eat a great many at those prices.”

As the regiment’s quartermaster, Bacon’s regular duties were seeing to the men’s supply. However, because “Engineers are scarce in this Regt,” he next writes about a three-day survey he performed in order to more safely link the forts on the Maryland-facing side of Washington’s fortifications, and which took a toll on his health. He writes:

My health is pretty good, but I am not altogether right yet. I have been making a survey for the purpose of connecting the chain of Forts on the Maryland side by roads that would be altogether concealed from the enemy in case we are attacked on that side, and should want to move troops or artillery from one Fort to another. I worked three days with a large party and finished the survey and made a map of it. Now I am attending to my legitimate business again as Q.M.  Engineers are scarce in this Regt, or I would not have such work to do. I had no idea but that I was about as strong as ever until I came to tramp over the hills for three days. And then I found I could not work as I have been accustomed before, and when I got through with the survey I was about used up and have not got rested yet. The Col. would like to keep me at that kind of work during this week, but I “can’t see it” and tell him the Regt is suffering for blankets, winter clothes, &c., that I must immediately attend to. I would never say anything about being too weak to do the work, as long as I could get off on any other plea.

Bacon continues discussing the regiment’s work improving Washington’s defenses, including mention of the pontoon bridge trains, the movements of which would play a critical role in the weeks ahead leading up to the Battle of Fredericksburg. He writes:

I have heard nothing about moving for two or three days and hope we may stay here, but nothing is sure as yet. There is a great deal of very important work laid out for our Brigade to do, and they are out every day. The fortifications on the Maryland side are being put in a perfect state for the protection of Washington, and the defenses are being enlarged and improved. I hear we are to have seven new Regiments in our Brigade. It will be a big thing then. If we prepare all those fortifications and at the same time fit out all the Pontoon bridge trains that are wanted, we won’t get away from here for some time. Three companies are detached from the Regiment now and I think the rest will go in detachments if at all, which will leave me here at Head quarters to get supplies for them.

Bacon then mentions that in the newspapers he does “not see Albert’s Regt mentioned in this last Corinth fight, so I suppose he was not in it.” His younger brother George Albert Bacon was then lieutenant colonel in the 30th Illinois Infantry, which did not participate in the October 3-4 battle at Corinth, Mississippi. Soon after Albert would be made colonel of the 15th Illinois Cavalry.

Continuing his discussion of the news, Bacon comments on Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart’s raid into Pennsylvania (Chambersburg had been raided on October 10). He also describes nearly having been captured by Stuart’s cavalry earlier in the year during the Peninsula Campaign:

I hope we will be able to catch Stuart and his Cavalry before they get out of Pennsylvania, but I think he is too smart to be caught. Our movements are too slow for him. You know he was near catching me when he made that raid between our Army and White house. I happened to get by Tunstall’s station a short time before he got there. It was more by good luck than good management that I did not have a chance to visit Richmond at that time. He got several Quarter Masters that time and plenty of Sutlers on the road.

Near the close of the letter, Bacon remarks on the war profiteering done in the capital. “This war has been a great thing for Washington,” he writes. “The town will be poor enough after the war is over. Now there is an immense business done here and the businessmen would hate to see the war ended.”

Transcripts of five Bacon letters, including this one, can be read on Spared and Shared.

The letter was written on eight pages covering two 5” x 8” letter sheets. Creased at the original mailing folds. The full transcript appears below.

Head Quarters 15th N.Y.V.E.
Camp Alexander, Ocb 12th 1862

Dear Aunt Stella
Your promised letter has not yet arrived, but I am expecting it every mail. I wrote Uncle John about a week ago and said I would write again when I heard anything of Frank. I called at the Ebbitt House to enquire about him and learned that he was at Frederick and sent in after his baggage last Tuesday, which they sent out to him. That looks as if Frank expected to remain some time at Frederick. He would never have sent for his baggage if he expected to go right into the field. He probably has charge of Ordnance Stores at that depot. Charley Sweet was here to see me last Friday. He was expecting to go home for a short visit in a few days. Paul Sweet and George Huntington are at Alexandria, where Charley & Hyatt Ransom have also been stationed.

We have had beautiful weather since we have been in this camp up to today. Last night it commenced growing cold and today a regular old fashioned cold rain storm has set in, and it looks now as though our pleasant weather was all through with, and winter about to commence. I think it would be good policy for me to have my overcoat out here, as I begin to feel the want of it. I wish you would get Charley or someone else to put it in a small box directed to me here, and send it by Express. The Express charges will have to be paid in advance. It will go to Elmira and from there by Harnden’s Ex. to Washington.

I have a regular apple eating fever on, and am continually wishing for some of those good apples out of Uncle George’s yard that I know are going to waste. I wish you would get some boy (with Uncle George’s permission) to put me up a barrel of those nice “Signofathers” and send them to me with the box. I will be very thankful if you will get someone to do this for me and please send me the amount of the expense together with the Express charges, which I will be most happy to pay. Poor apples in Washington sell for five cents each and good ones are sold at ten cents each. I never was so apple hungry before and eat a great many at those prices.

My health is pretty good, but I am not altogether right yet. I have been making a survey for the purpose of connecting the chain of Forts on the Maryland side by roads that would be altogether concealed from the enemy in case we are attacked on that side, and should want to move troops or artillery from one Fort to another. I worked three days with a large party and finished the survey and made a map of it. Now I am attending to my legitimate business again as Q.M.  Engineers are scarce in this Regt, or I would not have such work to do. I had no idea but that I was about as strong as ever until I came to tramp over the hills for three days. And then I found I could not work as I have been accustomed before, and when I got through with the survey I was about used up and have not got rested yet. The Col. would like to keep me at that kind of work during this week, but I “can’t see it” and tell him the Regt is suffering for blankets, winter clothes, &c., that I must immediately attend to. I would never say anything about being too weak to do the work, as long as I could get off on any other plea.

I have heard nothing about moving for two or three days and hope we may stay here, but nothing is sure as yet. There is a great deal of very important work laid out for our Brigade to do, and they are out every day. The fortifications on the Maryland side are being put in a perfect state for the protection of Washington, and the defenses are being enlarged and improved. I hear we are to have seven new Regiments in our Brigade. It will be a big thing then. If we prepare all those fortifications and at the same time fit out all the Pontoon bridge trains that are wanted, we won’t get away from here for some time. Three companies are detached from the Regiment now and I think the rest will go in detachments if at all, which will leave me here at Head quarters to get supplies for them.

I hear but very little from home. I trust to the Gazette for all local news, which I read with great interest. I have not heard from Albert or Fanny since I last wrote Uncle John. I do not see Albert’s Regt mentioned in this last Corinth fight, so I suppose he was not in it.

I hope we will be able to catch Stuart and his Cavalry before they get out of Pennsylvania, but I think he is too smart to be caught. Our movements are too slow for him. You know he was near catching me when he made that raid between our Army and White house. I happened to get by Tunstall’s station a short time before he got there. It was more by good luck than good management that I did not have a chance to visit Richmond at that time. He got several Quarter Masters that time and plenty of Sutlers on the road.

Washington is the same as ever. The same uncomfortable and expensive place. The only improvement is the Street Railroads which are now running from the Navy Yard down through Pa. Avenue to Georgetown, and a branch up Seventh Street. This war has been a great thing for Washington. The town will be poor enough after the war is over. Now there is an immense business done here and the businessmen would hate to see the war ended.

I got a very handsome suit of winter clothes yesterday, just in time for this change in the weather. I am going to get a stove up this week and be comfortable as long as I do stay here. I am sorry to trouble you about the overcoat and apples, and hope you will only trouble yourself far enough to engage some man to do the work for me. Old Forsyth would put up the apples and be glad of the job. I am afraid I shall not be able to visit you this Fall. It will be more difficult for me to get away than any other officer in the Regt, as I am wanted all the time. I suppose Lilla has gone home. Give my love to Aunt Hat. I would write her if I knew what to write about. We hear nothing new here and no news except from the papers. Give my love to Aunts Carrie & Susan, Uncle John, Charley. What has become of Jim Pumpelly and George? I have heard nothing of Geo. or Nat. Bosworth in a long time. Where are they? Still expecting your letter. I am
Your Affectionate Nephew
C. P. Bacon

I have never found out whether you got those clothes of mine from Genl. Yates or not. If you have them will you be kind enough to put in the pair of nice black pants for me with the overcoat? I can wear them here.
Yours
Chas.