Item No. 9030608

In this August 1861 letter, Private John March of the 23rd New York Volunteers writes boastfully about a skirmish at Falls Church, Virginia. March had enlisted in May along with his younger brother, Private William March, for two years. He opens his letter with discussion about deaths in the regiment and the health of his brother and comrades:

We are still alive and on earth. We have some sick and some died. We have had one death this morning by a tree falling on him, but the rest I think will live through it. James Hammond has got the fever and ague. He shook so hard last night that when he stopped shaking that he found himself three miles from the camp. Bill has got it bad. He is too damn large to shake. Seabury is well as can be expected.

Of the men named here, brother Bill would be killed May 25, 1862, at Fredericksburg when, according to pension records, a cache of ammunition exploded. Private Seabury Williams, also of March’s company, would be killed at the Battle of Antietam in September 1862. Private James H. Hammond, like March, would survive his two-year enlistment with the 23rd. He would again enlist in the 2nd New York Veteran Cavalry, serving through the end of the war.

March next describes the “very nice time” they had on August 14, when the regiment faced its first enemy fire in a small encounter at Falls Church, Virginia, while also mentioning the regiment’s reputation with division commander General Irwin McDowell. March writes:

Night before last, we had a very nice time. We was called out about 11 o’clock and we marched over ten miles through the rain and mud. The mud was up to our knees. We went without eating 2 days and had to march all the time. We went to Falls Church and had a few rounds with the rebels, and then marched back. But we cleaned them out wherever we went. But the bullets whistled around our heads pretty thick for a little while, but we stood it like a man. The rebels ain’t as gritty as we are. They are afraid to stand up to the rack like we do. General McDowell says that the 23 regt ain’t worth a damn to work, but they are on hand when they want to. But we go out on a scout, that is so they wanted us to chop trees down, but we wouldn’t. We are the last to get in Virginia, but we are ready when they want us to fight. We are ready every time. We are in a brigade now. We are in General McDowell’s brigade. We don’t like him, but we will have to stand it. We will have a fight soon now, for the rebels are advancing on us every day now, but we will stop them if they don’t stop themselves pretty soon, James Hammond says.

The letter was written on four pages of a patriotically decorated letter sheet measuring about 5 1/4” x 8”. Creased at the original folds. The full transcript appears below.

Three other war-date letters by John March can be read on the Spared & Shared website.

Fort Hoffman Aug 16 / 6[1]

Dear sister
I received your letter last night and was glad to hear from you. We are still alive and on earth. We have some sick and some died. We have had one death this morning by a tree falling on him, but the rest I think will live through it. James Hammond has got the fever and ague. He shook so hard last night that when he stopped shaking that he found himself three miles from the camp. Bill has got it bad. He is too damn large to shake. Seabury is well as can be expected. I myself, I suppose you know, enjoy very good health.

Night before last, we had a very nice time. We was called out about 11 o’clock and we marched over ten miles through the rain and mud. The mud was up to our knees. We went without eating 2 days and had to march all the time. We went to Falls Church and had a few rounds with the rebels, and then marched back. But we cleaned them out wherever we went. But the bullets whistled around our heads pretty thick for a little while, but we stood it like a man. The rebels ain’t as gritty as we are. They are afraid to stand up to the rack like we do. General McDowell says that the 23 regt ain’t worth a damn to work, but they are on hand when they want to. But we go out on a scout, that is so they wanted us to chop trees down, but we wouldn’t. We are the last to get in Virginia, but we are ready when they want us to fight. We are ready every time. We are in a brigade now. We are in General McDowell’s brigade. We don’t like him, but we will have to stand it. We will have a fight soon now, for the rebels are advancing on us every day now, but we will stop them if they don’t stop themselves pretty soon, James Hammond says.

You must tell Bassett’s family that he sends his best respects to them. Give my best respects to all. This is all for this time. Write as soon as you get this.
Your affectionate Brother
John March

to Alice March

James Hammond says I must close this.