Item No. 5173209

A vivid and unusually reflective archive of nine letters written by First Lieutenant Thomas F. Plunkett, Jr., of the 37th Massachusetts Infantry, between September 1862 and January 1863. Writing home to family members in Pittsfield, Plunkett discusses the regiment’s arrival after the Battle of Antietam and the various movements in Maryland and Virginia leading up to the Battle of Fredericksburg, as well as the winter encampment at Falmouth that followed. The archive is packed with detail about rebel positions, difficult marches, and opinions of fellow officers, General McClellan, President Lincoln, the Emancipation Proclamation, and much more. Written with a lively and intelligent pen, the letters convey Plunkett’s growing confidence as he advances from a line officer in the 37th to aide-de-camp on the staff of Brigadier General Charles Devens.

The letters were written in pencil on a variety of letter sheets, most being around 5” x 8”. Some of his multi-sheet letters were previously bound together with string. Light toning and foxing throughout. The writing is sometimes faint, but legible. Creased at the original folds.

Also included, a March 1865 Massachusetts document certifying that Thomas Plunkett, in order to not be drafted, had secured a substitute and paid a $125.00 fee. It indicates that Private Benjamin Price of the 50th U.S.C.T. had taken his place. Signed by Governor John Andrew and state Provost Marshal Joseph M. Day. Measures about 15” x 9”.

The full electronic transcript of letters will be provided to the buyer. Excerpts from the archive follow:

Camp Chase, Virginia, September 22, 1862
Visiting Alexandria with the regimental officers; Dead horses “in all stages of decay”; Contrabands throughout Alexandria; Returned to camp late, but pickets let them pass; Reviewed by General Silas Casey

“Yesterday, I obtained leave of absence for a few hours & went over to Alexandria to see the 34th with Lieut Col Goodrich & 1st asst surgeon Lawton. I rode the Quartermaster horse. Such a scene of desolation is not often to be met with. Camps & forts all the way. Along the road were quantities of government horses dead & dying which had been abandoned by inhuman drivers & in all stages of decay…. Genl Slough makes his Hd Qrs in Alexandria & every street is guarded & almost every house. Contrabands by the hundreds are seen everywhere…. We had a very pleasant time & did not get away until dusk. We saw Fairfax Seminary, where the wounded from the last fight at Bull Run were brough & Jackson’s house where Ellsworth was killed…. Coming home we lost our way & run on to a line pickets who were disposed to take things easy & let us pass…. Yesterday morning we were reveiwed by Genl Casey who complimented our brigade highly. He rode the same horse (a large powerful iron gray) which he had at the battle of Fair Oaks…. The Capt says I have gained the goodwill of Co B very effectually & they all show it. I think that with proper precaution, tact, & good sense, that that reckless Tom Plunkett may be somebody anyhow.”

Washington, DC, October 1, 1862
Unsoldierly appearance of rebel prisoners; Promises to get a rebel sword for Eddie; Opinions about fellow officers; Advice for brother Charles Plunkett, who had joined the 49th Massachusetts; Likelihood of joining the staff of General Henry Shaw Briggs; Attempted burning of ammunition depot by rebels; Dead bodies of rebel soldiers killed in a skirmish

“Day before yesterday we rec’d orders to proceed to Frederick by rail & yesterday the whole brigade marched to Washington. I have been here since awaiting transportation. I am acting QM today in consequence of D.J.D. having a ‘game leg.’ It is only for today however, for I would not miss a mass for $20,000…. I have seen lots of rebel prisoners & a more unsoldierly looking lot of rips I never saw. Arlington House is in plain sight of Camp Chase. We are going now where there is some prospect of fighting. The 10th is in that region. The Regt is now in the park directly in front of the Capitol, but we expect to go this morning. To show you how tough I am, my bed last night was a rubber blanket laid on the platform of the depot & my supper was hard bread & salt pork However it’s bully! My dress coat is packed in my valise & does not come into use at all. Eddie will have to wait until I get a chance to shoot or stab a secesh before I can send him a sword. However, he shall have it at all hazards. Capt Dooley has not been before an examining board yet, but will before long. The Col’s health is much better. He sends his respects to the family. W.B. Smith has reported for duty & is looking first rate. He is really in supreme command of Co E, but not so nominally. Robinson & Rockwood are both here. Capt Hurlburt will not keep his place long. Tell Charley that the position of major is decidedly unpleasant on a march, as it is in the rear & his business is really to prevent straggling. I hope he will get it, for it is much pleasanter to ride than to walk. QM Howland of the 34th wishes to be remembered to Wm & recalls many pleasant instances of his winter in Boston. Confidentially, the place of aide-de-camp to Genl Briggs lay between Capt Hopkins & myself, & the Genl left it with the Col to say ‘which,’ & he told him that he could spare Capt H better than ME…. Three weeks ago this place was held by the rebels. We are in the cars awaiting patiently for the Reg’t. Directly in the front of us are a number of horse pens & in the rear of those is a magazine full of shells which has been set afire twice by rebels [but] has escaped destruction. The news has just come that we are going to Harpers Ferry. About 1/2 mile from here on the road from Relay House is a bridge which is nearly burnt, & near it there are the decaying bodies of rebels shot in a skirmish a few days ago.”

Camp near Rohrersville, Maryland, October 8, 1862
Touring the battlefield at South Mountain; Seeing President Lincoln and General McClellan; Rebels nearby; Has a black servant named Billy Grant; Opinions about 37th officers

“We are now encamped in a most beautiful grove near Rohrersville & about 4 miles from Sharpsburg. In our march from Frederick here, we encamped on the same ground where Jackson’s army was camped about 3 weeks before. & we passed over the battlefield of South Mt & actually stayed 6 hours on the field. I took a stroll over the most interesting parts & indeed they were interesting. It was astonishing to me how any common force could drive the enemy from their position on the Mt, but so it was. Graves are to be seen all the way from F, but on the Mt there were scores of them. Some were buried with only a few inches of earth over them & in many cases parts of the body were exposed to view. In one well were said to be 53 dead bodies of rebels. While roaming on the mountain the President, Gen McClellan, Gen McClernand & other notabilities passed & we had a first rate sight of them. The Prez looked pretty much ‘tuckered out.’ The boys stood the march tiptop. The 10th is right by us & the boys look decidedly ‘scaley,’ some having no pants & often coming out on dress parade in their drawers. Tom Clapp is in good health & looks well do Wheeler. They muster about 400 men. The Col told us yesterday on parade that we should lose our division commander Gen Couch, who is ordered to Sumner’s corps. Major formerly Capt Walker came over to see me today. He is one of the smartest officers in the service & is a splendid fellow. Genl Briggs left us at South Mountain. It is thought that we may winter in the fortifications at Harpers Ferry about 12 miles from here. Lieut Wheeler says that there were a squad of rebels down at the river last night, only 2 miles. There is quite a force 5 miles the other side…. We have just heard that the mail is coming & the excitement in camp is great, for it is the first mail for many weeks. Billy Grant (my boy) makes it go well. Capt Hurlburt will probably resign before long, do Dooley. Lt Col Goodrich is a useful civilian, but not much of a military genius & makes some sport for the Regt. The Col & Maj are liked very much. We have 4 hours drill & a daily recitation in ‘Casey,’ & you can see we are not idle.”

Camp near Cherry Run, Maryland, October 24, 1862
Plunkett in charge of Company B; Long march pursuing Stuart’s cavalry; Praises quality of the men in the 37th; Fifty rebel prisoners taken in federal uniforms; Rebel forces to Martinsburg, but pickets still visible at Williamsport; Opinions about fellow officers; Enjoying the soldier’s life

“The Captain having been quite unwell, I was in charge of the company. Fancy me at the head of 100 men, most of them much older than myself, giving orders, ‘puttin on airs’ &c, &c. However, things went on swimmingly…. Hancock was the place where Stuart’s cavalry crossed the Potomac. Our rest was destined to be short, for the next night at 12 we started on the back track owing to a rumor that a squad of rebel cavalry were attempting to cross at ‘Cherry Run.’ We were put into the woods near the river with orders to keep perfectly still, no fires allowed &c until 3 P.M., when we marched toward the river & encamped. Next day at 8 A.M. we arched out to the turnpike. Stayed until afternoon when back we went again & are now anxiously awaiting orders to go it again. Very few of the 37th fell out of the marches, & undoubtedly the reg’t is composed of the best material out. Of course, the boys improve every day in drill & discipline. Two companies are sent out on picket every 24 hours. Some 50 rebel pickets were captured on the other side of the Potomac yesterday by a part of Devens’s Brigade. They were attired in federal uniform which was taken in Pennsylvania. The 2 Rhode Island & 7th mass have been ordered across the river & we may follow them. The rebel forces are reported to have gone to Martinsburg some 13 miles down in Va. Co B went out on picket the first night under my command, but the only fun we had was to stop one of our scouts with dispatches to McClellan & to have a large body of ham & pork in the shape of a hog. At Williamsport, the rebel pickets could easily be seen with a glass, & when the baggage train came through with the QM & Capt Pease in charge, they were somewhat “skeered.” Only one from the Regt has died (a member of Co D) in coming from Hancock here. One of the teams was overturned & killed a poor fellow who was riding inside. He was of the 23 Penn. Capt Baldwin of Gen Deven’s staff recognized me as a Plunkett & told me that Wm was a classmate of his in college & wishes to be remembered to him…. Capt Hurlburt has returned to Mass, his resignation having been accepted. Capt. Dooley will in all probability keep his position. On the road to Hancock, he sprained his ankle & his lamentations were decidedly ludicrous, though heartfelt, as there was some probability of our seeing a fight. We are now living on bread taken from the rebels. As to the dangers, exposures, &c, of a soldier's life, it is all moonshine. Everything is lovely. It's rather unpleasant to lie down in a mud puddle after a hard day's march & go hungry to bed at that, but ‘what's the odds’ if you are happy.”

Camp at Berlin [Brunswick], Maryland, November 2, 1862
Marching along the Potomac; “Heavy firing” heard from the direction of Gordonsville; Army of the Potomac crossing over into Virginia; Rigors of the march; Will bring Eddie a sword

“When last I wrote we were at Wmsport in sight of the rebel pickets, &c. Well once again we started, & after a few hours arrived at our old camp near Downsville. It seemed like getting ‘home from a foreign shore.’ Our stay was short, as usual, for on Friday at 3 A.M. we struck tents & off we went, after numerous delays, towards Harpers Ferry, as it was currently reported that H.F. was our destination. We finally encamped near Rohrersville for the night. Next day we came to Berlin on the Potomac, where we now are, slightly fatigued but still ready for anything that may turn up. Heavy firing is heard on the other side in the direction of Gordonsville, continually, & the report is that there is a big scrimmage over there. McClellan’s hd qrs are in sight of our camp, but I do not know where he is. I have just been down to see Col Edwards. He is expecting marching orders every minute & he says that I shall have my desire to see the rebs satiated before long. Troops have been going over the pontoon bridge all the morning. We are only waiting for the requisition of clothing to be filled out before we cross. The Surgeon has given orders that no one will fall out after we have started, & all the ailing will consequently be left behind. The Brigade keeps up its reputation as a ‘flying brigade’ right plain, don’t you think so? I think it is right jolly, & I don’t complain when I say that occasionally when we sleep with but one blanket over us & a heavy & cold dew or rain falling, penetrating the blanket, your clothes, & yourself, that I should like to stay only over night in what used to be that old cold wing, but is in comparison a fireplace. Oh, it’s gay!! Campfires can be seen in every direction an immense way…. Tell Eddie that I can tell him some of the biggest stories he ever heard. I shall certainly bring him a rebel sword, if I come home again…. Taps have been beat long ago, so I must retire to my downy couch, so good night.”

Little Baltimore, Virginia, November 10, 1862
Difficult conditions while on the march, but morale high; General McClellan, replaced by Burnside, reviews the army before departing; “Praises & blessings” for McClellan; Shelling Stuart’s cavalry; Soldiers stealing livestock from “secesh” civilians; Cannonading heard daily; Servant Billy decides not to go home

“‘A soldier’s life is always gay,’ but the fact is I can’t see it when we are put up on the top of Bull Run Mountains to make our habitations, as we now are, & where a poor fellow has no overcoat & but one blanket. Where the winds blow hard enough to require lying down & holding on to the grass to prevent being blown away. However, we sing Blow on! Blow on! & enjoy ourselves generally. McClellan has reviewed his army this morning preparatory to leaving for Washington. Genls Franklin, Burnside, & half a doz others accompanied him. His entire staff & guard numbered over 200. The way that he was cheered was not slow, & everywhere throughout the army you hear nothing concerning Mac but praises & blessings. When I wrote before we were at union. After we left there, the next place that we encamped was on the top of a very high hill, where our batteries were placed & shelled the rebel Genl Stuart from an eminence not for distant. The next night we encamped at White Plains. The enemy held the place only a day before us. It is extremely secesh. The boys being short of rations & having no fresh meat for a long while, a flock of 200 sheep disappeared very quick. Ditto pork, chickens, &c. Consequently, we fare high. A guard was placed over the ground of a family who live near White Plains, but the lady of the house showing some insolence to the mudsills, the guard was removed & in went the soldiers, stripping everything & taking any quantity of poultry. The house being searched, 2 rebel stragglers were found, who went to the capitol forthwith. Yesterday (Sunday) about 3 P.M. we arrive here. The Bull Run battlefield is in sight. Ditto Centreville, ditto the Blue Mountains, do Warrenton, besides many other places of interest. Cannonading is heard every day, but today very distinctly. Col Edwards is liked as much as ever, do the rest. The Reg’t has dwindled down some on account of sickness &c. This kind of life will tell some on Charles, how marching all the time & living on hard tack & all sick…. Billy has concluded not to go home. I told him to do as he pleased. As to his Mother saying that I said give her some money, I told Billy I would send his wages to his mother if he wished it. Don’t give her any on my account, for I will pay Billy myself.”

[Little Baltimore, Virginia] November 11, 1862
Visiting with members of General Briggs’s staff; Practice battle taking place; Promoted to captain of Company E; Eating well on stolen property; Many resignations over General McClellans’s dismissal

“Major Walker came over yesterday. He is as fine as ever & looks splendidly. I saw Capt Hopkins, Lt Whittles of Briggs’s staff today. The Capt rec’d honorable mention in the despatchers to the War Department for bravery in the fight at Sheperdstown. A sham fight is just taking place & the roar of musketry is gay & loud. Your boy has been promoted to the act’g Captaincy of Co E, & you would hardly know me at the head of 100 men for whose lives I am responsible. I feel pretty big. We have fared very well lately, on account of confiscating rebel property. We have lived entirely without shelter since we left Camp Chase, & it tells on some of the boys. Col E is making every endeavor to get tents or shelter…. It is the general opinion that the advance on Richmond will be kept up, but the resignations are coming in part on acct of Mac’s removal.”

Camp near Falmouth, Virginia, December 28, 1862
After the Battle of Fredericksburg, settling into winter quarters; Comments on various officers of 10th, 21st, 37th, and 49thMassachusetts; Picket duty on the Rappahannock with agreement with rebels for no “picket murdering”; Burnside’s plan for a late-December movement cancelled; Observing the rebels; Pontoon bridges again thrown over the Rappahannock—regiment on alert; Comments on fellow officers; Objects to his letter being published in a newspaper; Emancipation Proclamation announced to the troops—“creates but little excitement”; “There is not much enthusiasm in the army, owing to our being out-Generaled everywhere”

“Also, that there is to be another advance, in which we shall have an active part. The move, in my humble opinion, will be towards ‘winter quarters.’ We have 3 drills daily, besides a dress parade, recitation, &c. Having just begun the ‘skirmish drill,’ you can imagine our life…. Affairs opposite Fredericksburg have returned to the old routine &, with the exception of occasionally a little artillery duel, all is quiet. Harper’s Monthly was rec'd yesterday in a dilapidated condish, but was decidedly welcome. Ditto Carrie’s letter. Maj Walker was here last week looking finely, do Maj Richardson of the 21st. Sanford Porter of the __th Conn looked in upon us this morning. Has the bloody 49th left civilization? The 10th officers have gone home with a dishonorable discharge, which however cannot disgrace them. QM Wheeler has resigned. QM Dodge will stay, I guess, though he would like to resign. He is not very popular in the regt…. [Jan 3, 1863] On Wednesday, we started again for the ‘Rappahannock’ to do a picket duty. We arrived near the river & posted our pickets in full view of the rebel forts, but there is a kind of tacit understanding that no picket murdering shall take place. I was posted with Co’s A & C as a reserve on a road running parallel with the river & ¼ mile from it. We saw that the rebs had built earthworks near the place of our crossing, but you can bet high that we don’t throw ourselves into such a trap again. The plan of Burnside was, however, that the army should cross at Skinner’s Neck 10 miles below, but the enemy having such a large column towards Warrenton, it was countermanded. We plainly saw a battalion drill & could hear the orders distinctly. Their bands are playing most of the time. They are clothed with our uniforms to a great extent. Last night, it being my turn, we had quite a little alarm. News came to us that pontoons were being thrown across & we routed out & went on the double quick to the spot, where after waiting a while we returned & lay on arms the rest of the night, fully expecting a fight. You would have been amused to have heard me talk to the men, with all the eloquence I could command, which of course was wasted. The division was under arms all night…. In answer to your questions, I will begin. 1. Lt Col Goodrich, though a good feller, is nothing as regards military. The boys make fun of him & I don’t think he will stay a great while. He was sick over the river. 2. Adjutant Colt, though the unhappy recipient of many damningsfrom the Col, gets along first rate. He will rise higher, but fills his present place well. 3. The papers, you so kindly send, are rec’d irregularly but are all right. 4. I have a comfortable private’s coat. 5. Gen Devens, though not as popular as formerly, is a sound commander. Franklin commands the respect of all. 6. Lt Champney = Lt Col Goodrich exactly…. I should prefer that those pictures should be demolished instead of given away. As regards the publishing of my letter, I seriously object, as it was not intended for that purpose & you will do me a great favor to desist from your intentions. The President's proclamation has been distributed throughout the army this morning. It creates but little excitement. New Years, we were invited to the headquarters of the picket & old Scotch whiskey punch was passed around. We are now anxiously awaiting the turn of affairs & although the weather is superb, it may not last long. There is not much enthusiasm in the army, owing to our being out-Generaled everywhere. As for yours truly, although I am ready to fight when called on & indeed am ready for any & everything, still I sometimes think that we might as well go home & own ourselves whipped as to suffer defeat at every point, but I don’t show much solicitude, for I am in excellent spirits & always shall be, I guess. Capt Thomas was about right when he said that I had rather endure hardships than not, for it is excitement, if tis uncomfortable.”

[Camp near Falmouth, Virginia] January 18, 1863
Promoted to General Devens’s staff; Rebel force no longer in strength along the river

“Allow me to introduce myself as ‘Junior Aid’ to Gen Devens. Yesterday, Col Edwards offered me a Captain’s commission of Co F, made vacant by the promotion of Capt Allen to the majority, vice Montague promoted, & said that Gen Devens wished to see me in relation to an appointment on his staff. I reported to Gen Devens forthwith & he made me an offer of an aide-de-camp’s position. After consulting with him & the Col &c &c &c, I accepted. The Gen’l says that it is far superior to a Captaincy or even Majority. The pay is the same as a Capt’s. Col Edwards said that, though very sorry to lose such an officer nonsense, he would not urge me to decline it, knowing its many advantages in regard to society &c &c. The other staff officers are Capt Reed, A.A.A.G., Capt Ellis, & Lt Aborn. All fine officers. Capt Baldwin the A.A.G. is in Washington, recovering from a broken leg. The Genl has kindly lent me a horse until I can provide myself. Of course, you can see why I am so proud of an app’t on his staff. A finer man never breathed than Devens. We have marching orders for tomorrow morning & expect a tough time. I have returned from the river banks & the reb force seems to have gone, but a picket force still remains.”