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Superb Civil War Archive of Soldier Killed at Port Hudson - 50 Letters + Drawing, Some Patriotic Letterhead!
Superb Civil War Archive of Soldier Killed at Port Hudson - 50 Letters + Drawing, Some Patriotic Letterhead!
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Civil War
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Superb Civil War Archive of Soldier Killed at Port Hudson - 50 Letters + Drawing, Some Patriotic Letterhead!
Archive

A collection of +/- 50 fine content letters by George Frederic Edgerton, a carpenter by trade and a Private in the 26th Connecticut Infantry who was killed in action at Port Hudson on July 23, 1863. The letters span November 15, 1862 to March 19, 1863. A fine pencil drawing by Edgerton of Camp Parapet is also included, as well as transcripts of letters from relatives and poems and an article from Harper's Weekly; a few original covers, and more.

Each letter is very legibly written, with 12 on desirable Union patriotic letterhead. Content varies, and Edgerton's vivid descriptions of camp life and the "negrows" he encounters are fantastic. Each letter - ranging in length from one page to sometimes four - was meticulously typed-up by our consignor and organized by date, making this narrative a pleasure to research and read as well as enjoy the letters as archival material in and of themselves.

Edgerton's fateful journey into the deep south began on August 23, 1862 when he enlisted as a Private in Company G, 26th Infantry Regiment of Connecticut. The regiment was organized in Norwich, CT on November 10, 1862 and attached to Thomas W. Sherman's Division, Department of the Gulf.

The 26th left Connecticut for Long Island, New York on November 12, 1862 to report to Nathanial Banks for his Southern Expedition as part of the Vicksburg Campaign. It then boarded the steamer "Empire City" and to Carrollton, Louisiana November 29, arriving at Camp Parapet on December 16, 1862, where the soldiers received arms, drilled, picketed and otherwise waited for future orders. The southern climate, forced marches, guard duty, rugged accommodations and foreign food took its toll on the inexperienced soldiers from the North, who were further weakened by the oppressive heat, contagion, lack of sanitation and injury. Disease figures prominently into Edgerton's letters, and his descriptions -- too many to quote -- of the contemporary means of treating the afflicted do much to explain the high level of mortality in the unit.

In January 1863, the 26th was attached to the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 19th Army Corps, Department of the Gulf. It was on duty at Camp Parapet until May 1863, then boarded the steamer "Crescent" to Springfield Landing. Arriving on May 20, 1863, the unit was assigned to Nathaniel Banks' siege line against Franklin Gardner's command at Port Hudson.

From there, the regiment participated in the siege of Port Hudson from May 24, 1863-to July 9, 1863.

On May 26, and due to a misunderstanding between Banks and Sherman regarding a "loophole" in Special Order #123, the Brigade was organized at the right center of Neal Dow's Brigade and ordered into a plantation owned by a man named Slaughter (and which is described by Edgerton.) Over 135 men were killed and wounded in the failed assault on what is known as "Slaughter's Field." While Edgerton does not make specific mention of the name Slaughter, the context of the letter and the fact that then 26th was involved in the battle strongly indicate that it was.

It is not clear when or where Edgerton was wounded in action during of the Port Hudson battles, but he died on July 23, 1863 in a Union hospital.

For 48 days, Garrison commander Franklin Gardner held out on surrender until he was informed that the vital city of Vicksburg fell on July 4, 1863. He, with his starving and ragged army, surrendered five days later on July 9, 1863.

The 26th Connecticut mustered out on August 17, 1863. The regiment lost a total of 145 men during service; 4 officers and 51 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 1 officer and 89 enlisted men died of disease.

Edgerton's spelling and grammar are not corrected. His first few letters describe life at Camp Buckingham in New York, in which he tells that he is living well and is comfortable in a cushy tent with a coal stove and more than he can eat. But things soon change: "[November 20]…Joseph Bobbins…has gone to be Water (boy) for General Banks…there is 5 Redgiments on the ground now 26x28x24x25x23 and 11 more…they say they have got the small pox and Black Measels…[November 23] Our meat stinks and our cheese is alive, and Col Kingsley says it will crawl off the table. We had a big row this morning where the cooking is done and Col. Bissell drew his pistol…Water is very scarce here…I supposed we are going to Fort Monrow…".

Edgerton the begins on the arduous journey to the south with his unit. In extreme small part: "[December 9]…the wind began to blow and it began to snow…everything was covered in ice, 3 inches thick…down low they were stowed so thick, and about all seasick…Men begin to get lousy…[December 13] Been ploughing through the Gulf and on we go…[December 14] Got my canteen full of cold water. It is all made from salt water…Some of the men are picking lice off from them…[December 16] Had a pleasant sail up the Mississippi River…so many oranges growing…The negroes shook themselves almost to pieces…[December 19] We landed on here on Dec. 18th…A little steamer took us to shore…the Laurel Hill…There was 3 Regt. went away…to Vicksburg…they were hard tickets. Wilsons Zouaves was one…I never saw so many negroes in my life. We could all have one if we wanted…The are fighting hard to Vicksburg, now it has got to be taken….[December 20] There is 51 of the Connecticut men that are buried close by us so you see this is an unhealthy place here. The 23 and 28 Regts. came very near being lost that Saturday night…we hold most of the plantations…There are some white people here…[December 23] I have been sick all night with the bowel complaint…vomiting about all the time…The women peddle pies or something they call pies and every time we eat them we are sick…I was detailed with 4 other men to go down to Carrolton, a place about a mile from camp, to work at my trade, making Camp Chest for the big Officers to carry on the field…There is a large Bakery and Foundry down there where I work and a lot of n*ggers…The Southerners say the only hope they have is that we shall all die of disease…It is hot as July here in the day time and cold nights…The soil is all clay…You ought to have see me washing my clothes…An old back woman was looking on, she said 'dat is not de way I do it' so she went at it herself and washed mine and Charley's…I feel better…If you could see the mule teams and the n*ggers that there is agoing here, you would think they was some of them they drive 4 horses or mules and ride one of the kind ones…[December 24] Just got back from the hospital…These fortifications are about 4 or 5 miles long and was built by the Rebels and was Commanded by Gen. Lovel but when they saw our ships coming up the river, they ran and left and the women burnt the gun cartridges…There is troops agoing up the river almost every day…[December ?] One of our men is sick with the typhoid fever…the doctor thinks, if we are careful what we eat, we shall get along better…Our breakfast was clear tea and dry bread. This noon it was salt pork, friend, and dried bread. It is tough, I tell you…I had a narrow escape from being killed the other day. I was bringing a pail of water from the river and a n*gger was driving a wild ox and he came around the corner on to me sudden. I jumped to git out of the way and I went into a ditch 3 feet deep, head foremost. It did not break my neck but it is awful lame…He went on and the guard run his bayonet into his head and broke it off and over went that man and on went the ox until he fell into a hole and then they caught him…I had a good dinner the other day, it was down to the Bakery where I am to work. It was Christmas Day. The N*gger that was cooking upstairs brought us down a plate full of pancakes and they was good…[January 1] 24 sick in this Company now…I made you a nice little ring. I expect it was the bone of a Sesech Ox…[January 3] Pete Ladd…is ordered to his Reg't to Baton Rouge. Col. Burge he has been in the city all the time, helping the quartermaster…The boys have been fishing up balls & guns over the Parapet today. The Rebels just threw them in there when they left…[January 8] I wish you could see the negroe women that have come here. They dress up in flounces and all kinds of rigs and some with hoops on…There is about 1300 here and they say there is to be 11,000 here and what in the world are they going to do with them. We have 4 men guarding the house close by the Camp. The woman was afraid to stay there alone. Her husband is in the Rebel Army. I would not care if they should carry the house off and all around it…[January 9] John Crary is detailed to do writing for Gen. Neel Dow…Dr. Finney…says we must be careful what we eat and drink…We do not buy anything off the peddlers…I weigh 136 pounds… [January 11] Our men are dying pretty fast. We have lost 3 already…I expect we will lose more if we stay here, but there is some misunderstanding about this Reg't. and we are now known in Washington and it is all the talk around here and the Paymaster told the Col. he might go to hell with his Regiment…The Officers are all mad and want to resign. So you can see we are in a fix. We are encamped in a large Plantation…Gen. Banks and Sherman was up here the other day and the way the big guns did go was a caution. One of his staff was John Abbot and he kept close to him all the time…[January 12] Capt. Maynards Company, through a negrow, captured a Rebel Lieut…His father came after him but the Col. said he could not go…The old man's Plantation is in our possession…I should rather live in old Conn…where the negrows have got a chance to learn…I see them with their spelling books trying to learn their letters, old men and women…[January 13] I saw something that attracted my attention. It was a lady of color with drawers on. They were blue overhauls like mine. How we did laugh…[January 16] The River is rising fast, and the flood wood comes down so fast that the n*ggers are gitting it all the time…[January 14]…We built 3 chests…The old n*ggers wife baked me some hoe cakes and they were good. Then I got her to wash my clothes, 5 cts apiece….Today brings no news but it brings death. 2 more lay dead now at the Hospital…[January 16] I hear we are Brigadeed under Gen. Nell Dow…The Rebels say here that they are willing to lose their slaves and become a nation again…they are…taking the Oath every day. I saw a whole load of Negrows come in the other day and they did look tuff…The big guns are manned by a Company from Vermont and Wisconsin boys…[January 17] The Vermont Battery have gone from here today and a 15th New Hampshire Reg't. have come here today. They are Brigadeed with us…The 12th Reg't. is up above us. The name of the place is Lafonce, I believe…[January 20] There was about 500 negroes came here the other night and there is more to come. I wish you could have seen them. Such looking men and women I never saw. They carry everything on their heads and not touch it…There is a part of the 50th Massachusetts Reg't. They were 21 days coming from Hilton Head and the vessel was condemned…The 16th New Hampshire Reg't. was paid off today…The Parapet is 2 or 3 miles long with lots of big guns and the Rebels would stand a poor chance…I itch all the time and break out. They call it a swamp fever…[January 23] The news here today is that Vicksburg is taken…they have got Negrow Reg't. here and are forming more as fast as they can…the Portsmouth lays off the Parapet with her old guns run out and nothing can git by…We had 1100 dollars stolen out of the magazine the other night…I shall guard it tonight and the Col. says if anyone troubles me, to shoot them right down and I shall do it. They must look for a chunk of lead in my gun for it is sure every time. The 16th New Hampshire was ordered away and now they are coming back…Company A have just got marching orders to cross the River tonight on picket duty for 10 days…If we get a chance to shoot some of the Devels, they will get it, I tell you…[January 26] I do not think Vicksburg is taken yet…I hear the boys in the next tent telling Dugan that the Col. Has got a ball and chain on his shirt to keep him from running away…We had an order from headquarters to have 7 men…volunteer to join the Vermont Battery…they did not get but 3 to go. The men want to hang together…This morning we bought a corn cake of the black woman that washes our clothes and it was sour and I told her so and tonight she brought me another one and said 'my heart will not let me sleep until I bake another one and bring it up here', so we have got our cake…if that rats do not carry it off as they make no bones in running over us nights…[January 30] The Col. got throwed from his horse yesterday…it did not hurt him much…I went down to the Parapet this morning...to see them load more Blacks. There is about 300 & 50 of them coming and I wish you could have seen them…I think all the negrows are coming here…The Doctor was up here last night and said there was more sick in this Company than any Company in the Reg't…The steamer that brought the negrows here today, brought all the blacks on the Plantation and about 3 or 400 barrels of sugar and as much molasses. I guess they skinned it. You had ought to have seen the furniture the negrows had, Oh the Lord, how did we laugh, and the rigs they had on. I never see anything beat it in my life. Well, now the old black woman has just come and brought us a hoe cake. She ask us 2 dimes for it. We can trust her. The man that owned her owns the Plantation near by here and his son is in the Rebel Army and she ran away. She has taken my pants to put a new seat on them…The climate does not agree with us here…I would glad as git away if it were honerable…Capt. Maynards Company is over the other side of the river doing picket duty…[February 5] I am pretty well except I am lame in my right leg…We have got our tent raised up and it makes it larger…One of our men fell into the river today but did not drown. The river is very high and the gunboats have got into the cut across the river and they will give Vicksburg a hard one this time…By the middle of June you will see us coming along up the River, then we will march down to Camp Russell to be discharged…This morning there is more n*ggers landed here. Last night 3 or 4 hundred. I hate the sight of them…[February 15 to his son] We had a Brigade inspection yesterday and all the big Generals were here. They praised our Reg't. for drill and neatness and our Company in particular….Now I will tell you about the Camp…[referring to the drawing included]…[February 17] They brought in a lot of Rebel prisoners while we were there [in New Orleans]…I want the Stars and Stripes to float over every State and I think they are going to…If anybody wants to know anything about this country down here, let them come down and stay one week…to camp and stand guard…it uses the men up…[February 23] I am weak and pretty yellow now…The doctor keeps giving me quinine…my blister…filled 3 times now and it was very yellow. It is very lame and sore where my liver is…One of the zouaves got shot the other day by a stack of guns falling. The ball went right through his body…One of the New York 128 men was out on Dress Parade at night and in the morning he was dead…[February 24] This morning finds me better…The negroes have got a meetinghouse just below the hospital…I think our men have got 'round the Rebels up to Vicksburg and will starve them out…[March 1] I weigh 125 lbs. now and my appetite is good…I notice that there is a great many white children that come here to beg bread and they are an object of pity. Perhaps their Father's are in the Rebel Army but we give to them what we have…Some say we are going to New Orleans and then we are going up the river but still we remain here. There seems to be no fighting down this way…We had a Deserter here the other day from Port Hudson and he said it was as much as they could do to keep the men there and they would desert if they get a chance…They are making great preparations all along the Parapet to receive the Rebels if they come this way…[March 10] I think that this river will be clear through, perhaps by the time you get this letter. There is 13 or 14 Reg't. gone up the river. The troops have all gone between here and New Orleans and some from the City. I never saw such ships, Men of War, in my life. The Gun Boat Essex went up the other day…We have lost 2 more men out of Co. B…I had the Jaundice…Charley…got a letter from George Commings and…he wants to know how I like the Negrows. If he could hear me talk, I think he would know, but rather he wants to know how I like fighting for negroes. I am not fighting for them but I don't know but some of the men are, for they go and dance with them and hug them and that is not all…I hear there is a great change of Property at the Falls…Troops are going up the river all the time so look out for a big time. The Rebels will think they are come for, this time. I hear that Geo. Commings thinks of coming home on a furlough…I hope he will…[March 11] Uncle Sam carries on this Plantation and if I was going to hoe one of them rows, I should want a weeks rations to carry with me…I never saw so much level surface in my life. The railroad is the straightest one I ever saw. You can't see a crook in it as far as the eye can see and it goes to Jackson. They are getting ready to run again where the Rebels burned it down. Every Carpenter in the Reg't. is detailed to go to work somewhere…We came by a great many Plantations and could see nothing but negroes. We asked them where their masters was. They said 'I do no, he gone to fight. I suppose I hain't seen him for two years.' What fools they were to leave such beautiful places as I saw there…[March 14] Today the first cars went through on this road. It runs from New Orleans to Jackson and it is the first time a train of cars have been on this road since the Rebels left…We hear they are fighting to Port Hudson and that the Rebs have attacked our men at Baton Rouge and Gen. Dow and Sherman and all the Cols. that are here with him went all 'round here today….he wants the men to be ready at a moments warning and we had orders to turn out at roll call tonight, with all our equipments….but I do not think they will attack us here, but we can't tell…. [March 15] Last night I lay awake hearing the big guns thundering away all night and the Zoaves were up twice in the night…We have all got our things packed…Some think that they will attack us here for our troops have about all gone up the river…[March 14] Today they are practicing with their big guns on ship and in the Parapet, throwing shot and shell and such a racket…They have built a large earthworks inside the Parapet and if the Rebs ever get inside here, we can sweep the whole lot…It is a hard life to lead but we do it for the good of our Country. I hope we will whip them out of the river and I think there is a good prospect of it now but we lost one of our big ships in gitting by Port Hudson, but the Rebs did not get her…".

[March 19 to his son] We have got 4 Regiments here now besides the Battery Boys and some of them are Black men but they handle the guns well…".

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