Item No. 3443200

Three letters by Private James A. Andrus (Andrews) of the 16th New York Infantry, written during active campaigning between May 25 and July 20, 1862, during the Peninsula Campaign.

The first letter was written May 25, 1862, as the Army of the Potomac approached the rebel capital. He writes briefly, “We are five miles from Richmond. We had a little fight yesterday. We drove the enemy. We had none hurt.”

The second letter was written a month later on June 26 as he observed the sound of battle raging on the Union right flank at Beaver Dam Creek—the first of the Seven Days battles. “They are fighting today,” he writes. “The cannon roar like thunder. They are not far from [me] as I am sitting by candle light in my tent.” He then notes having seen his stepfather, John Butler (the “old man”), who was serving in another regiment. “He is encamped close to me and I see him every day,” he remarks, adding, “He told me to tell you that he would send you some money as soon as he could draw some pay.” Andrus indicates he plans to save his money “to buy that farm when I get home.”

While the fighting continues in the distance, he writes:

They are a fighting yet. It is after dark now. I will have to stop for tonight. My fingers are getting tired, but I will a little more. I want you to tell me all the news and what all the folks is a doing up in the woods. I want [you] to tell John that I say that when I get home that we have a dance and have a good time a hunting. I just stole a large cheese from the sutler today. Sold it for a little money and I send 1 dollar to Edward and George to get them some books, so that they can go to school.

In a postscript added ten minutes after signing off, Andres writes, “We have just received news from the fight. Our boys have beat the enemy soundly and are within 2 miles of Richmond. The City of Richmond is ours just the same.” Union General Fitz John Porter’s Fifth Corps had beaten back assaults by Confederate General A. P. Hill’s division.

Though unaddressed in the letter, the 16th New York would be engaged late the following day in the Battle of Gaines’s Mill.

The third letter was written July 20. Although no place is indicated, it was written from the vicinity of Harrison’s Landing, to which the Army of the Potomac had withdrawn following the Seven Days battles. Andrus writes about seeing friends from Potsdam, George Coffee and Ralph Collier, both of the 92nd New York. He then notes, “We had a hard fight the other day, but I did not get hurt at all.” He may be referring to the Battle of Malvern Hill on July 1, where the 16th was held in reserve.

In the remainder of the letter, Andrus again mentions wanting “to save enough to pay the land when I get home” and sends more money home for school books. He was saddened by how few letters he had received. “I have wrote seven letters and only got one in answer.”

While Andrus survived the campaign, he sadly came down with an illness within a few months. Records indicate he died of disease on December 15, 1862, at Belle Plain Landing, Virginia.

The letters vary in size from 4” x 6” and 5” x 8”. The June letter was written on a patriotic letter sheet, “The Union, the Constitution, and the Enforcement of the Laws.” Light foxing and toning. Creased at the original mailing folds. The full transcripts follow.

May the 25th 1862

Dear Mother, it is with much pleasure that I take my pen to let you know that I am well, and hope these few lines will find you all the same. We are five miles from Richmond. We had a little fight yesterday. We drove the enemy. We had none hurt. I heard Wm. has gone home. The corn is fit to hoe. The old man is tough as a bear. He is going into the artillery. Write me as soon as you get this. Tell me all the particulars.

Try to plant something this spring. I cannot think anything more now, so goodbye for this time.
James A. Andrus

Write your letters to Co. B, 16th Regt. N.Y.

June 26 1862

Dear Mother, I now take my pen to let you know what I am a doing and what I am a doing. I am well and hope this will find you all the same. We are very near Richmond. We have a good time here and I think that we will be home this fall, perhaps sooner. They are a fighting today. The cannon roar like thunder. They are not far from [me] as I am sitting by candle light in my tent.

I saw the old man today. He is well and tough as a bear. He is encamped close to me and I see him every day. He told me to tell you that he would send you some money as soon as he could draw some pay. He did not draw any pay this pay day. I did not get my money, but I will have fifty dollars due me when I draw pay next time. But I want to keep by money until I get home. I want to save my money to buy that farm when I get home. Tell William to be a good boy and try to do well as he can this summer. I have a good time here, but I would like to be home now.

They are a fighting yet. It is after dark now. I will have to stop for tonight. My fingers are getting tired, but I will a little more. I want you to tell me all the news and what all the folks is a doing up in the woods. I want [you] to tell John that I say that when I get home that we have a dance and have a good time a hunting. I just stole a large cheese from the sutler today. Sold it for a little money and I send 1 dollar to Edward and George to get them some books, so that they can go to school. And when I get some more I will send some more. I want them to go to school. They can try to learn to read well. I wish you would write to me more than you do. I have wrote four letters to you and have not had any answered. I want you to write as soon as you get this. So goodbye for this time from your absent son.
James Andrus
Co. B 16th Regt. of N.Y.S.V.

Ten minutes later
We have just received news from the fight. Our boys have beat the enemy soundly and are within 2 miles of Richmond. The City of Richmond is ours just the same.

Camp of the 16th Regt.
July the 20th 1862

Dear Mother, I now take my pen to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well and hope these few lines will find all of the folks enjoying the same. I received your letter last week, but did not have time to answer it until now. I was over to the ninety-second today & saw George Cofee and Collier. I think that we will get our discharge this fall.

We had a hard fight the other day, but I did not get hurt at all.

I sent 1 dollar to George and Edward to get some books and will send them some more in here if I can get it. I did not draw any last pay day. I want to save enough to pay the land when I get home. Tell him to fill up the lumber so that it will keep. I want you to tell me all of the particulars when you write, and what all of the folks are a doing up in the woods. I have wrote seven letters and only got one in answer. Write soon as you get this and write often. I gave the old man the letter that you sent him. He is well. He has wrote to you two letters. H will send you some money as soon as he can get it. I wrote to […], but have not got any answer yet.

Write as soon as you get this and tell me all of the particulars. I cannot think of any more now, so goodbye for this time.
James A. Andrews
Co. B 16th Regt. N.Y.S.V.