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Four Letters From A Member Of The Union Army’s 119th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, The “Gray Re

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Four Letters From A Member Of The Union Army’s 119th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, The “Gray Re
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Four pages, 5” x 8”. Philadelphia. Sept 20, 1862 “Dear Sister, In your last letter to Sophy you stated that you had difficulty in procuring the new postage Stamps. I therefore enclose you a lot, which I hope you, will use in witting to your friends…………. Billy Oberman told me yesterday, that his wife (Mrs. Mary Oberman) has between the means of his getting a contact for 5000 rifles for the government at Washington. I felt really ashamed when he mentioned it & in a Walnut St. car at the time. Had a newspaper reporter been present the result would have been a scandalous squib in the papers or a payment of black mail. What fools people make of themselves…….. I receive a letter occasionally from Dr. Fisher (my cousin Eliza’s husband). He is Surgeon of the 5th N. Jersey Regiment, camped at Capitol Hill (Washington). From all accounts, I believe that the fortification around Washington, are now so complete that 1/3 of the army there now, is sufficient to protect the City. In my correspondence with the Baltimore folks I am careful not to say anything about he War. I have declined orders for Shot from the Eastern Shores of Md because I was fearful they might be re melted into bullets & used to by the Rebels People down that way I require to send me certificates of loyalty to the Federal Govt, before I will sell them goods. …..” Four pages, 5” x 8”. “No 13 11 Locust St. Phila.” August 18, 1862 “Dear Sister, I have the pleasure of informing you that Annie has today presented me with a little girl. Last Thursday week we left Kalmia in charge of the children 2 girls & coachman. Today at 1 12/ part 1 PM the little stranger made her appearance. We have named her “Annie” and a fine little baby it is. I have been in the habit every afternoon since our removal to the City of ~ out to Kalmia, taking tea with the children & ~ home by ½ past 9 ………………. The City is all astir with the excitement of recruiting for the Army, & the expectation of “the draft”. As I have passed the legal “Rubicon” I look on with quiet composure of the drafting business & Regiment have obtained Commissions in the new regiment now forming. Two thirds officers (filled & hire officer) of the 118th &119th Pennsylvania Volunteers are from the Gray Reserves. It will be necessary for us to recruit our own company ranks again, as I think this necessity for an overawing force “at home” to keep the traitors here in check is as great as ever. No doubt but that drafting will be required. Our old regiments have been so thinner off by the mismanagement of our Generals that it is necessary to raise 13,000 men in this city to replace vacancies in the old regiment from Philad Yesterday morning (Sunday) I visited Camp “Union” to see my friends of the “Corn Exchange” Regiment (the 118th Penn) The Reverend Mr. Jackson (a Methodist Clergyman who has made himself famous within the past few weeks preacher to the Soldiers. It was one of the most eloquent Sermons that I have ever listened to. Tears coursed down the check of weather beaten Soldiers who were there, as well as moving the men of the words. I would travel 100 miles if necessary to hear him again. Poor man, tho, is think he is killing himself with his efforts in behalf of the Union. Don’t our glorious old President loom up grandly amidst all the din & turmoil of the War. I do hope that he will Survive to see the payment brought together again in one glorious Union, never to be disturbed by traitors or fanatics. Better have the whole country desolate & depopulated to be undiscovered by a future Columbus than to allow ourselves to be tyrannized ever by the villainous slave drivers of the South” Two pages, 5” x 8”. Philadelphia. September 9, 1861. “Dear Sis, I have to enclose you a letter from Sophy, So I drop you a few lines, being somewhat harried to-day. I had a letter from our friend L. M. Abbett, he is improving & promises to pay us a visit so as to get Country air. Our family are all well. I keep my time well filled up as usual. What with the Factory, the Railroad the Soldier Company &c&c&c We have regular Regimental Drills & firings I feel like old veterans, only that we have not yet been under fire. (but that is not our fault you must remember) Last Thursday our Brigade (consisting of 4 Regiments of Infantry) elected Frank Patterson our Brigadier general. Hew as 3 mos. In the present war as colonel of the Pema, 17th Regt. Was in the Army during the Mexican War & is a West Pointer. So we have a perfect of Brigade Drill which will be something worth while the Capture of Hatteras has given a cheerful aspect to matter. I will write you soon again when I have more leisure Yours truly, T. Sparks” Eight page, 4 ½” x 7”. Darby, Pa. September 28 1862. “Dear Sister Caddy, I do not remember whether I am indebted to you for the last letter or you to me, however, I just feel like dropping you a few lines. Since I wrote you last our dear oh State has been in danger of invasion by the rebels, now, however the present danger is no more. When Gov. Curtin called upon the men to arm themselves to proceed to the southern border the “Gray Reserves” at once went to work to prepare for their duty. The day after the Proclamation was received in this City the board of Offices offered the services of the Regt to the Governor. The captains of companies were directed to fill up their ranks & to prepare for leaving the City at an hours notice. All the company ~ Kept open all day & night until ~ ~ Drilling was constant New members were proposed & elected The “Roll” was ~ in our Company (A) that numbers of our members had to be put off with promises for vacancies should they occur. ~peculiar business (bullet making) being the only one in Pennsylvania prevented my shouldering my musket, but I nevertheless spent nearly all the time at the Armory, (being Secty of the Co.) assisting in the work of preparation. On Monday (the 15th) the boys started for West Philad Dept of the Pennsylvania RR Co. They left 7th & Market W about ½ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~down to Chestnut up Chestnut to 12th up to ~ up Arch to 21st down 21st to Market – up Market St was the h~ to a gate opposite the Darby Road It was a very warm afternoon, & some of the men suffered severely from the fatigue in carrying their knapsacks ~ they had not yet become accustomed to the walks I carried the musket for one of our men part of the time. The cars left West Phila about 8 PM for Harrisburg. The balance of the trip to the battle field of Maryland I will allow two of my friends to relate to you in their own words Lieut. ~ & Private Jacob Donaldson wrote me a sketch of the adventures & I now enclose them for your ~. Please return them to me when next you write. In obedience to an order from Capt. Smith I called (the day after the departure of the Regiment) a meeting of the remaining Active, associates & Contributing member of C. A. to be held at the Armory for the purpose of organizing a Company A No2. the object of which was to be for constant daily ~, to fill up vacancies in the rank of the Company in the State Service & for Service at home in case theirs services might be needed. Altho’ the notice was so short that numbers did not receive their notification till too late, about 50 members met & signed the Roll under the call An election was held & (3 Sect) Bethell was chosen Captn. (Segt) Sears ““ Lieut (Corporal) Sparks “ “ 2d ~ The Captain at once appointed non-commissions officers Sectys, & Treasures & then the Co. A No 2 was organized. Until the Regt returned home we have had drills every afternoon (except Saturday & Sundays) & Wednesday & Friday nights My family being out of town I did not attend on the night drills but was very ~ & attentive to those in the afternoons As my election as 2d Lieut was by acclamation & as my 2 superior officers were old soldier (the Captn, was old Washington grey of Philad & the 1 Lieut for a long time an active member of the Tompkins Blues of New York) I feel rather embarrassed at first. But at it I went drilling, & standing alternately until I began to feel more confidence in myself. As the civil business of the co. had all been left in my charge by the offices who had gone with the company I was kept very hard at work, & my own business pretty brisk at the same time left me not a leisure moment. I was heartily glad when I read the news that the Regt was at Harrisburg on Thursday morning last the boys arrived at West Phila. Station at 8 ½ A. M . They looked like ~ who had seen service I assure you. ~ old Captain very old “moustache all ~ dark & with unshaven faces. …………………… When passing thro the deserted campgrounds of the rebel army they had to use great care that they did not carry of with them some of those insects usually denominated “soldier bugs” from all accts. I am satisfied that the rebel soldiers are a very filthy and licentious set of rascals. The women of Boonsboro had to close their doors & windows as the rebel army passed through their town. The scent was so very disagreeable, that anyone in search of them can smell them at a great distance. We have a large Army hospital in our neighborhood, viz. the “Summit House near the Episcopal Church The good people of the neighborhood are very attentive to the poor sick & wounded soldiers there the ladies & the children have fairs to raise the means to assist in obtaining extra comfort to. As breakfast is ready I must now close” ………………………….. Organized as regiment for home duty, the 119th Penn. Volunteers saw action in a number of important battles over the course of the Civil War, including Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Petersburg. In addition, the 199th was present when Lee surrendered to Union forces at the Appomattox Court House. It should also be noted that Thomas Sparks was a member of Philadelphia’s famous Sparks family, the builders and operators of one of America’s earliest short towers, which served as a major source of Union munitions during America’s long Civil War.
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