Description:

Important Civil War Soldiers Slavery Letter

"they are agoing to form Reg of niggars to help fight themselves free"

This revealing letter by a pair of short-term Union soldiers from Pennsylvania on garrison duty in Virginia expresses war weariness and frustration over the costs of a war for abolition, for "many a life is lost and rivers of blood has been Spilt for them...." The letter expresses opposition to abolitionists and a desire for the war to be over and "let every State have there rights and them that prefer niggar let them have them."

[CIVIL WAR.] Jacob Wiess and Mahlon B. Hicks, Autograph Letter Signed, to Joseph Wiess, February 16, 1863, Yorktown, Virginia. 4 pp., 7.625" x 9.75". Expected folds; general toning; some archival repairs to folds; very good.

Complete Transcript
1863 Fort Yorktown Va Feb 16
Mr Joseph Wiess
Dear Brother
I had the pleasure of receiving a letter from you and was glad to hear from you and now I and Mahlon Hicks is agoing to write you answer together we are well and in hopes that this war will be settled be for long and peace restored to the Country as it once was in the good old times that has gone by let both armies be reduced and free trade and united and let every State have there rights and them that prefer niggar let them have them for many a life is lost and rivers of blood has been Spilt for them and many a Farther sister Brother and wife has been left here on earth to mourn the loss of the dear ones that has spilt there blood for some hot headed Abolition and niggars but we hope that the Abolitionist may Sink So low that they never could arise in existance here after
We will tell you a little our being routed out one night last week we was routed about 11 o'clock we was all a Sleeping very Soundly when the Signal Gun was fired and we had to get up on a double quick and form a lign of battle we remained there about an hour we was then ordered to our quarters where we went to bed but we did not lay long when we was routed again we began to think there was Some reality and though we shurly had to fight but we was out about an hour we then marched to our quarters and went to bed the alarm was caused by the some of Gen Keyes under Straper went up Williamsburg and got drunk and on his road back he fired at one of our guards which Caused all the Confusion herein the fort So endth the Alarm.
You Stated that you heard that the Rebels was agoing to drive us out of here but I think that would be some trouble to do it for we are prepared here for about Forty thousand and then they would have to work
The weather is Very Warm here almost like the month of May in Penn if you had such weather you would think about makeing garden we can hear the blue birds singing there beautiful Songs and the robbin a Jumping around it makes us think of home where we once enjoyed the Blessing of peace and liberty but now it is desolate
We have not drew any pay yet but the niggars has drew theirs here you can See that the niggars is more thought of than we are they are agoing to form Reg of niggars to help fight themselves free as there is not much news here I will Close for this time write Soon and tell pap to write for I have not heard from him in a great while So good by give my love to all enquirings friends
From Sergt M. B. Hicks and Jacob Wiess
pleas send me some Postage Stams
Jacob Wiess
Tell pap to let me know what is on Stephens face
Jacob Wiess

Historical Background
After Major General George B. McClellan's failed Peninsula Campaign in the spring of 1862, he insisted that the Union retain the deep-water port at Yorktown on the York River in Virginia. Engineers constructed strong fortifications at Yorktown, and Fort Yorktown provided a crucial harbor for the Union blockade of the York River and the Chesapeake Bay. It also served as a magnet for thousands of runaway slaves.

The garrison that defended Fort Yorktown numbered as many as 4,000 infantry, artillery, and cavalrymen. The 178th Pennsylvania regiment was a nine-month militia regiment organized at Harrisburg, Virginia, in October and November 1862. It moved to Washington, D.C. in December and then to Newport News, Virginia, where it was attached to Busteed's Brigade, 4th Corps, Department of Virginia. It remained on duty at Newport News until December 29, 1862, when it transferred to Fort Yorktown, Virginia, where it remained until July 8, 1863. In early July, the 178th Pennsylvania hurried to reinforce the Army of the Potomac in the defense of Washington. Because the Confederates had by then been driven out of Pennsylvania after the Battle of Gettysburg, the 178th Pennsylvania returned to Harrisburg, where it was mustered out of service.

In May 1863, Fort Yorktown served as a launching pad for more than 30,000 troops under Major General John A. Dix, who threatened Richmond in response to Robert E. Lee's march into Pennsylvania. In February 1864, Major General Isaac J. Wistar used Fort Yorktown as the springboard for a raid on Richmond. Though thwarted by a deserter's warning of the Confederates, Wistar joined the Army of the James in May for the Bermuda Hundred campaign on the James River.

Jacob Wiess/Weiss/Wise (1831-1899) was born in Pennsylvania. He married Adaline Hall (1832-1868), and they had at least six children. Wiess served as a private, then sergeant in Company H of the 178th Pennsylvania Infantry. He mustered into the service on October 28, 1862. He was promoted to sergeant on July 1, 1863, and mustered out with the company on July 27, 1863. In 1870, he was a farm laborer, living in Columbia County, Pennsylvania.

Mahlon B. Hicks (1837-1913) was born in Pennsylvania and lived in Centre, Columbia County, Pennsylvania in 1860. He served as a sergeant in Company H of the 178th Pennsylvania Infantry. He mustered into the service on October 28, 1862. He was promoted to 2nd lieutenant on June 6, 1863, and mustered out with the company on July 27, 1863. After the war, Hicks was a school teacher.

Joseph Wiess/Weiss/Wise (1837-1904) was born in Pennsylvania. In 1858, he married Hannah E. Herring (1839-1923), with whom he had at least seven children. By 1870, he was a carpenter.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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