John and Hugh Crosgrove Civil War Letters
Westfield, Chautauqua County, N.Y.

Camp Fenton Washington Jan 29 1862

Dear Sister Sarah

I have been looking anxiously for several days for a letter from you but to night I came to the conclusion that I owed you a letter and thought perhaps I had better write to you and ask you for one before I get one    If I do not get a letter from home about once in so often I begin to feel lonesome and watch the mail pretty close.    you can scarcely immagine how much good a letter from home does us soldier boys the mail comes into our camp every day while we are out on drill in the afternoon and when we come in it is a little amusing to see the boys rush to the co post-masters tent to see if there is any letters for them and you can tell by their countenances whether they were disapointed or not and those that are fortunate enough to get a letter tare the envelop and devour the contense with great avidity    I am well and enjoying the best of health as I have ever since I have been in camp and as I tent with Martin Harmon and him and I agree pretty well we enjoy some pretty good old fashioned visits I find it to a nice plan to have a confidential friend away here in camp with whom I can converse freely on any and all subjects    I find him to be a very agreeable and interesting young man.   We have on some of those beautiful evenings walked out on our parade ground and had some good visits when all of our Friends were convulsed so we are carried back in our own minds to our own home.   But the Bugle would blow at 8 Oclock to summons us to roll call when every soldier is expected to be at his quarters.    If you were to come into our camp you think we were as happy a family could be thought of the boys all try to make the best of it.    [change in ink] We are getting to be pretty good cooks and can get up a first rate meal of victuals    we have exchanged our small tents for the large sibley tents that give us much more room and enables us to stand up strait    But they have also their disadvantages there being so many of us to geather and as a mater of course we have to have some that are not so agreeable as we would wish they were    I rode down to the city with Dr Spencer last monday    it was the first time have been out of camp since we came here although the city is not a very nice one it presents a grate many attraction to us soldier boys that never was in the the city before   the Dr look a good deal of pains to show me all the public Buildings and noteable objects    we rode past the White House the residense of the president    it is a verry large white building as white as snow and is so large that it ____ a person to go over it    then there are the Post Office Department Treasury Department War Department clothing Department Commissary department Pattent Offie all built of White marble and verry large buildings that would make a city of them selves    I think it was the Government Buildings that made the city what it is because I could not my attraction of nature to make a city    the streets were filled with commisioned officers and private soldiers and the large army wagons and at this time it presents the appearance of a thriving city.    I like the personal appearance of the people of the city verry much they are more tasty in their dress than the people of Albany    Samuel Taylor was over here to see me about 2 weeks ago and took dinner with me    he looks well and feels well    he likes soldiering pretty well    Ps write soon and give me all the news and let me know how you get along and how you enjoy yourselves at home this winter

From your Brother John

[First page of letter missing--no salutation or date, except March 20 is mentioned later in letter]

almost all of the boys with whom I am acquainted are now either at this place or on the move for here there are 50000 troops to leave here within a few days for Richmond.    one Battation of our Regt are detached to go in the Artillery and 2 Battalions of us go as infantry to guard the amunition train    we now have charge 100 6 mule teams loaded with amunition and are now waiting for orders    they are busy shipping troops now and we shall not go untill all the soldiers are gone then we will ship for Acqua Creek and from there we will have to go by land.    though our orders may be countermanded and we sent back to camp    things are so uncertain in the army that soldiers hardly know one minit what they will do the next    on sunday I went about 4 miles up towards Fairfax where I saw Capt Drake and a good many of my old acquaintances and among the rest I saw Jim Henner he looks tough and rugged but I think he is about tired of soldiering but there was one in the 44 Regt that I expected to see who I shall never see in this world and that is Samuel Taylor his Regt is now lying about 1 1/2 miles from us and I went up to see him and inquired for him and they told me that he died a week a go last sunday morning in the Hospital at Georgetown of Typhoid fever    his comrades told me that he lay sick in his tent a week and when they made an advance he was taken to the Hospital and they did not consider him dangerous but when they returned he was dead    the hospital where he died was only a bout 2 1/2 miles from our old camp and if I had only known that he was there I should have went to see him    his Co. all feel verry sad at his loss as he had won the respect of them all.    I will now give you a description of Alexandra    this is place of considerable notoriety being the city where Elsworth was shot and is full of secessionist if they only dare to express their sentiments and the city is now under marshal law    there is to forts that command the city and the river and they could shell the whole city with perfect ease    Fort Elsworth that lies nearest the city is considered to be a verry nice fort    they have some rifled cannon that are 14 feet long that will carry a ball 5 miles    this is the most beautifull spot that I ever saw    one of the most splendid views that could be imagined but the soldiers are fast destroying the country which money cannot replace fences groves and shade trees all fare alike all have to fall under the soldiers ax    our boys are cutting a beautifull grove of Oak chestnut and ceader willow etc right in the yard of a Reble Captain but are have respect for the property of all union men.    March 20th this is rather a moist morning and we are still here do not know whether we shall go any farther south now or not    Hugh Montgomery is here in this place     he likes the artillery pretty well    we are now feastin on Oisters    our men captured 2 Oisters Sloops loaded with oisters from the Rebles and brot them up to Alexandria and all soldiers are free to use them

From Your Brother John

Fortress Monroe Va. April 9th 1862

Brother Edward,

I received your last letter in due season with pleasure to hear from you and to know that you were all well and I now take this opportunity to answer it    I am well and have not yet known a sick day since I have been here.   the weather here is quite as changeable as at home    last saturday near Fort Ellsworth the snow fell to make the ground white.    I see by your letter that you have verry much improved your handwriting    I think that Talmadge has had you under his instruction again and I would advise you attend his lessons as long as he stays in Westfield a[s] I did know your hand writing.    I guess you will enjoy making sugar on the hill this year but you ought to have me up there to cook for you as I am pretty well used to a rough life and considder myself a pretty good cook.    But I think before you get your sugar made I shall be to far away for you to send me any as we are now on the advance and expect to be at Richmond in a short time there one hundred thousand men left this place this week and to day they expect to attact Yorktown    You asked how it was about the farms here in Va. and the fences etc etc.    I will now tell you a little about it although my travles have not been verry grate in Va., the farms are verry large some of the planters own from 1200 to 2000 acres with one large and sometimes a pretty nice house on them and 2 or 3 small negro houses out around    the houses have mostly been evacuated and now are occupied by our soldiers for Hospitals and Barracks etc    Some of the Planters have protection papers given them by the Government and the property of these have to be spared in the vicinity of the house    any how, the soil is verry shallow and some of it is not worth tilling and there is scarcely a rail or a fense to be seen the land all lays open to a common and the most of it is used by the soldiers    the surface of the country is verry uneaven and there is a good deal or has been of small scrubby timber but the soldiers have cut a good deal of it for to burn and a good to clear the way so that they can see farther that there may be nothing in the way.    I will now give you a journal of our trip here from Alexandria as perhaps that will be as interesting to you as any thing that I can write now.    Since we came to A. we were ordered to keep 3 days rations cooked and on hand as we were liable to be ordered to move at any moment but it takes time to move 10000 with their equippage teams provisions etc and as we go as a guard to the reserve Ordinance train we were about the last to ship but after being here 2 weeks we were ordered to the march last Sunday at noon but after getting ready and waiting a long time the Order was countermanded and we had to stay an other night in camp but on monday morning early we were ready to march to the dock and went a board of the boats about 10 Oclock 1 steamer 2 scooners and a barge but it took all day to get our baggage wagons and horses etc aboard but just at sundown we pushed out into the rive an achored untill morning.    the river is is verry hard of navigation    I had supposed that it was verry easy of navigation but there are very few pilots that ca[n] run it in the night on account of the shoals.    Tuesday Aprill 1st we weighed anchor early this morning and started down to river the morning was beautifull one and we enjoyed the ride verry much about 10 Oclock this morning we passed Mount Vernon the home of Washington

[ page missing? no signature]

Chantilly Va. Nov. 25th 1862

Dear Sister

You will doubtless be expecting a letter from me long before you receive this and I can offer no excuse for being so tardy except procrastination which you know is the thief of time but now I am just seated to write this leaves me well as I hope it will find you the same.   I saw Hugh last sunday and had a good long visit with him    he was well and learning soldiering verry well    found the boys all in good spirits and all of our amediate acquaintance were well and enjoying themselves as well as soldiers well could under the circumstances.    last week was rainy and unpleasant as Sigles whole division moved back to Centerville and Fairfax. We were verry much surprised when the order came for us to turn back but like true soldiers we obeyed.    our regt. had only just moved to the front.    our regt. was ordered for rear guard as usual.   when ever Gen's. Sigle or Sthall want cavalry that they can depend upon they call on the 9th    The army is a great place for petty stealing   I will just give you an instance of it.    Last Tuesday night where we had encamped for the night - M. Harmon and I had layed down for the [night] using a rubber blanket a our saddle-blanketts for a bed and we had two woolen blanket & a rubber blanket to cover us bet we had not lay there more than half an hour when some scamp slipped one of our wool blankets from under the rubber and got away with it an also a haversack full of hard bread our rations for the next day    we thought the trick a cool one    our present camp is on the Leesburg turnpike about 6 miles from Fairfax Court House and Hugh is on the same road and only 2 miles from here towards the C.H. and yet it requires a pass from a Major Gen to to pass the pickets that lye between us.    Sigles Army Corps is held as a reserve to the whole and I thin perhaps it will be kept near Washington to defend the capital and watch Stonewall Jackson who is reported to be watching an apportunity to get into the city but I think he will fail if he attemps it.    The weather is rather cold for field duty but we cavalry men have the advantage of the Infantry for we can carry more blanketts than they can.    We had a great inspection today    We have not had much duty to do of late consequently ourselves and horses are getting pretty fat the grain for our horses is brought from Fairfax but we have to go from 3 to 5 miles into the country after hay and carry it in on the horses backs.   we have not had any pay since the 1st of July and money is getting rather scarce.   but we expect pay this week.   I have no news to write    all the boys of our acquaintance are well    We expect a good many recruits to join this regt from old Chautauqua.    By the way how does Knapps get along recruiting; will they evade the draft; I think by all accounts there must be a good many invilades there just now; write soon and give me all the news you can think of    Give my best respects to all enquiring friends.    May God protect and permit us again to meet on earth that we may soon again meet to enjoy the comforts of home is the prayer of your Brother John

Westminster Md. July 3d 1863

Dear Brother

I now take this opportunity to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well and I heard from Hugh yesterday at 2 P.M. he was well and safe thanks to God for his mercies to us    I wrote to Sarah from Gettysburg and dated it July 1st but I made a mistake of one day    I wrote on the evening of June 30 just had time to finish it when we were ordered out on pickett we remained out that night and the next morning about 9.A.M. we were relieved by the 2nd squadron of our regt, and we reported back to the regt they were in line of battle and we formed in our place the fight now raged high there was nothing on our side but our division of Dav, and one Battery of artillery and the rebs. had two Division of Infantry and artilery we were obliged to fall back before noon but not till after we had took a Brigade of the Rebs. Prisoners then the 1st Corps. came up and we regained our old position but there was constantly reinforcements coming on both sides and the Rebs drove us back through the town and parolled a lot of our wounded
I cannot speak too highly of the people of Gettysburg they threw aside all fear and turned out to take care of our wounded carrying every thing that a soldier could    with for killed and two wounded one of them slightly the two that was killed were in our squandron and one that was seriously wounded belonged to our Co. a 9 months man named Cane the rest of the boys are all safe and well.    We left the Battlefield yesterday morning and are now 25 miles away but hear govt news from the front    I suppose you hear the news by the papers and I have not time to write you a long letter now I do not know what we are here for but this is the terminus of the Western Railroad and we have had no rations or forage in two days and our horses are verry much jaded and poorly shod and may be we we will get our horses shod and rest and go back to the field of action again we have not had mail in a long time should like to receive some mail there are squads of rebs going past under guard 700 just passed and we may be able to compell the reble army here to surrender here in pa    this is a good grain country and the fields are waving with ripe grain I will write more particular when I have more time    Excuse this scrible from your Brother John

the prayer of your Brother John

Kelleys Ford Va. Aug. 7th/63

Dear Sister

I just returned from Alexandra found the regt. just 'going out' on pickett and concluded we had done a good days work and did not go out but we had not been more than two hours when we were sent for as they had not men enough so out we go but were permitted to sleep all night and were not disturbed either by our own men or the enemy.    I suppose you have heard of the two late cav. fights we had last Saturday and Monday I was not here at either of them but think our men had a pretty hot time of it though there were only four killed and about 30 wounded which considering the circumstances was lucky    there were some officers wounded but none killed    one officer Lieut. Burrows of Co. K. from Fredonia was wounded badly in the right wrist and slightly in the neck    he was a brave and galliant officer    he is one of the few who earned his position in the field    the only man wounded in our co was Henry Masse    he was burned with a shell on the arm it tore his blouse and shirt and just started the blood a little his arm was pretty sore next Morn. and the Capt. thought he had better go to the Hospital    Henry is a good soldier and was promoted to Corp. last fall    as regards the fight I can tell you but little but we drove the rebs the first day nearly to Culpeper but they got reinforcements and we had to fall back    we are on the south side of the Rhaprahanoc from Rielleys Ford all the way up and have just completed the Railroad Bridge one the river.    though it is my opinion that we will not make any offensive movements (more than strong Cav. reconnaisance to find out the position of the enemy) untill we get the conscripts down here    nearly every regt. has sent their details of officers home after them    we will send ours in a day or two    I am glad they are going to fill up the old regt. for there are not more than 3 or 400 men in the largest regt. fit for duty but they all have their full share of officers.    then putting these new men into old regt. they will sooner be fit for the field than they would if formed in new regt. and will not be near as expensive    the weather is verry hot now when I was in Washington it was so hot that we could not go around any I was with in 2 miles of the paroled camp and the convalesunt camp should liked to have went there would have found a good many old acquaintance there. but I had no horse and it was so hot to go on foot.    It seemed like civilization to get to the city again.    the Guerilias are thick between Alexandra and Centerville they captured a large waggon train on Saturday    we expected to meet Mosely Bond but did not but I was verry unfortunate on the way I lost my menoramdom book that I had just put 33 postage stamps in and I had your Photograph and Edd & caps pictures a lot of letters and some papers that were of considerable importance to me so I will have to mail this letter without a stamp

Well how do you all get along at home; much the same as usual I suppose    I often think of you all and would like to see you and have a good long visit with you but I am not willing to give up the ship yet and let the rebs have their own way    I shall stand to my post and trust in God who will not suffer a sparrow to fall to the ground without his notice.    I read Cap letter last night glad to hear from you    please write soon    give me all the news my love to all and write all the news to your Brother John Crosgrove

I forgot to say the rest of the boys are all well.    I saw Hugh yesterday    he was well he had a chance to go home after conscripts and refused

Lookout Valley Tenn. Mar 27th [1864]

Dear Sister

I recieved your kind and welcomb letter yesterday with pleashure to hear from home and to know that you are all well these few lines leave me enjoying good health as usual    we are a going to have a funiral sermon    preacher here this after noon for a member of our Co who died in the Hospital a few days ago    he was taken sick the first of last may and was sent to the hospital and stayed there till about two weeks ago and then he was sent back to the Co for duty he had not been back to the Co but two or three days when he was sent to the hospital agane and died there with in two weeks    you wanted to know if we have light bread now    we have good soft bread all the time now for the last month fresh every other day    I just this minite drew five loves for John Wilson and mysilf for two days ration    John Wilson is a brother to Wallas. Wilson that was in Bliss's Co.    Lieut Beardsley has resigned and gone home    Lieut C. L. Barnhart is in command of our Co now    James Strain is well but lame yet    I thank that he will be put into the Invaled Corps    he has been examened twice since he came back to the Co.    he will never be able to march and cary his knapsack agane.    for it takes a good sound man to do it    it is the hardest work that I ever don    I had rather cradel all all day than to march and cary the knapsack and gun and sixty rounds of Catrages and from three to five day's rations which makes about as big a load as a man wants to cary.    I had a letter from John a few days ago    he is well    the boys are all well in the co now    we are have ing fine weather here now but we had quite a snow storme here last sunday night    the snow was fourteen inches deep monday morning that fell that night    it all went off in a day or two it was the first snow we have had here this winter.    the peach trees ware all in blossome two weeks ago but I am afraid that the cold spell killed them all    write soon    give my respects to all enquiring friends from your    Brother Hugh

Near Atlanta Geor Aug 11th 1864

Dear sister Sarah

I received your kind and welcomb letter yestarday and glad to hear from you and to know that you are all well    I now write you these few lines to let you now that I am still enjoying good health as usual    it has been quite rainey here for the last few days    I was glad to hear a little more from John and hope that by the time you receive this that you will have a letter from him stating that he is doing well and hope that he will soon get a furlough and go home for I think that he would get along better there than he would in the hospital for I think that you would take better care of him    I wish that you would send me another hat by mail    send a good stout one and not quite as light one as the last for it did not stand the hard usuaged that a hat has to here   I do not care what it cost send a black one.    the last one that you sent was so bad that I had to throw it away sometime ago and have been waring a cap for the last month.   we have got som large guns here now throwing shell into Atlanta som that throw shell that ways 72 lbs    there is some deserters that comes in all most every day they say that we are cutting Atlanta all to peaces    I should think that we would for there has been nothing but shelling every day since we came here.    tell Robert Mateer that I have been looking for a letter from him for some time back the boys are all well   Dolph Edgerton and Deloss Peck are boat here yet and well    I wish that you would send me a few postage stamps in your next letter as I have written all that I can think of    I will close by sending my best respects to all enquiring friends    write soon and give me all the news.
from your Affectionate Brother Hugh