Archive Record

Images

1 of 1977

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Metadata

Catalog Number

XI.1.2.2019.029.18

Collection

Hazzard Family Collection

Object Name

Letter

Title

Letter from Thomas D. Hazzard to Joseph H. Hazzard

Scope & Content

Thomas David Hazzard writes to his brother from his encampment in Frederick County, Maryland with the Union Army. This letter displays the mental toll life in the camp took on soldiers during their service. Thomas writes that, though he has little to say because not much has occurred in the camp, writing letters helps keep his spirits up. In this letter, Thomas refers an upcoming battle in Kentucky and mentions his company will be spending the winter in Washington D.C.

Dates of Creation

December 19, 1861

Date

December 19, 1861

Notes

This letter is addressed to "Brother." All of Thomas D. Hazzard's letters are addressed to "Brother," in reference to Joseph H. Hazzard.

Notice: This letter contains racial slurs when addressing enslaved Black Americans. The word was removed from the transcription.

The full transcription of the letter is as follows:

Camp of Obersvation [Observation] M. D.
Dec [December] 19th 61

Dear Brother
I take my pen in hand to inform you that i recevid [received] the pacage [package] wich [which] you sent me it arived [arrived] hear [here] last tuesday [Tuesday]. i am much oblige to you for that things i receved [received] a pacage [package] from mother on last monday [Monday] evning [evening] by a young man who i sent to see mother as he was on a furlow [furlough] for the last 6 weeks. and i had just bought 25 cts [cents] worth of paper from the Sutlar [Sutler] on time so now i have a large lot of writing paper but the most difeculty [difficult] thing to get is post stamps. Soe [So] we are goen [going] to Washington City for the winter thay [they] are building barrcks [barracks] for us out of a row of houses. Colonel Birneys Zuaves [Zouaves] is to take our place in the Brigade so you see we have some one in the servis [service] who cares for us we have no officers or we wold [would] life to cross the potomac [Potomac]. you sent me a weekly paper you know. and i have sold it for 25 cts [cents] and will give it to the man when i
[page break]
i am don [done] reading it. and if you wold [would] send me one evry [every] week i could sell it for 25 cts [cents] evry [every] time after i read it. I have not heard wether [whether] mother receved [received] the 20.00 Dollars yet i dont [don't] know what to think of mother thay [they] dont [don't] send me aney [any] letters and i think thay [they] must have forgoten [forgotten] me. but i live in hopes of getting one from them the Next mail.
Some times i get quite down harted [hearted] and then i get at somthing [something] wich [which] gits [gets] my sprites [spirits] up again. it seems i must keep wrighten [writing] all the time or i wold [would] have the horrours [horrors] all the time as the Camp is dead and nothen [nothing] of aney [any] acount [account] is trancspiring [transpiring]. i hardley [hardly] know what to wright [write]. I am glad to hear that the Republicans have elected thir [their] Mayor. you said you thought the armey [army] was standing still well thay [they] have but the Rebles [Rebels] have been wiping them selves [themselves] all the time. and another thing in our favour [favor] is in the south the slaves
[page break]
have the week from Chrystmes [Christmas] to New Years to them selves [themselves] and we understand thear [there] is a insurection [insurrection] amoung [among] the [racial slur] thay [they] are goen [going] to rais [raise] that week as thay [they] are permitted that week to all get to gather [together] and goe [go] whear [where] thay [they] pleas [please] so look out for hot woork [work]. and in a fue [few] days thear [there] will be the largest Battle fought. wich [which] will be at a place called Balling [Bowling] Green, Kentucy [Kentucky] it will the largest Battle fought in this war. as the goverment [government] will have over 70,000 men in it and the south will send all she can spear [spare] to meet our men thear [there] then our grand Armey [Army] of the Potomac wich [which] had been a sleep will wake up and walk in to Old. Va. [Virginia] and befor [before] the South knowes [knows] it we will be at Richmond and further. at this moment thear [there] is heavy firing of Cannons some place up the Potomac. sence [since] last monday [Monday] up to last night i recevid [received] about 40 News papers. but
[page break]
the most of them is old ones we get the Philad [Philadelphia]- papers evry [every] afternoon about 3 oclock on the day in wich [which] thay [they] are published. so as long as the fellows have money we can read evry [every] days paper. i must drawr [draw] to a close by sending you my best Respects to you and Ann and kiss the children for me. Mother sent me her likness [likeness]
No more at present

I remain you Brother
Thomas. Davis Hazzard

Direct
Companey [Company] B. Bakers Califoinia [California] Regiment
Adamns Town [Adamstown]
Fridric [Frederick] County
Maryland
PS - i am in good health and hope this may find you in good health
Good By [Bye]
a happy Christmes [Christmas] and a merrey [merry] New Year

[written sideways in the right margin]
figmutch much Frohermarz- Rebellion Fridrache Bacemredracke
Adelaide Bracknig

Extent of Description

1 leaf, 11.5" by 7.375"

Relation

Show Related Records...

Condition

Good

Condition Notes

Overall, letter is in good condition. This sheet has one central vertical fold splitting the page in half. There are two more vertical folds about a half of an inch from the center fold on either side. Along that vertical fold there is discoloration. It has two horizontal folds across the page, splitting it into equal thirds. The left side of the front page of the sheet of paper, which includes the end of the letter, has increased discoloration throughout the page and along the fold lines.

Legal Status

Owned by The Union League Legacy Foundation.