Archive Record

Images

1 of 1977

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Metadata

Catalog Number

XI.1.2.2019.029.10

Collection

Hazzard Family Collection

Object Name

Letter

Title

Letter from Thomas D. Hazzard to Joseph H. Hazzard

Scope & Content

Thomas Davis Hazzard writes to his brother recounting his experience in the early days of the Union Army, stationed outside of Washington D.C. in the summer of 1861. He brags about the review of his company by President Abraham Lincoln and how well they performed. Hazzard tells his brother that he and his fellow soldiers were informed of men in the city that were sewing a flag for the Confederacy, but they were unable to go intervene because of their drilling. He also recounts the experience of life in camp such as getting paid, receiving mail from home, and the weather. Near the end of this letter, Hazzard mentions that Bill, assumingly referring to his brother William, is thinking of enlisting in the army. Hazzard does not want his brother to do so and says he would rather stay in the army forever than have any of his family enlist.

Dates of Creation

August 27, [1861]

Date

August 27, [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

The full transcription of the letter is as follows:

Camp Oreigon [Oregon] Washington Aug [August] 27
Dear Brother
I take my pen in hand to wright [write] you a fue [few] lines to let you know that i am in good health at present and hope thes [these] fue [few] lines may find you and your famile family] in good health. i receved [received] your letter a day or two agoe [ago] and ancerd [answered] it. and i have sence [since] Receved [Received] the package you sent me i am much oblige to you for it. i got paid on friday [Friday] afternoon and i receved [received] the package in the evning [evening] we receved [received] 17.23 cts for the time from 15th of may [May] to last of June. and this week we will get paid for July and Augest [August] then we wont [won't] get paid for 2 monthes [months] more. our grub has got pruty [pretty] good but i have sat but 4 meals from the goverment [government] sence [since] i got my pay as i can get as much as i can eat of good viticules [victuals] at a farm house for the trifel [trifle or triple] i had something to pay out of my money so i will send $12 50 home i wold [would] have sent it on monday [Monday] but i did not know if mother was in philad [Philadelphia] or in New York and i was in the city along
[PAGE BREAK]
with our 1st Lutenent [Lieutenant] and some 8 or 10 other fellows and the Lutenent [Lieutenant] and 2 other fellow besides me whent [went] over to the post office and a Old man engadeg [engaged] thear [there] called us to one side and told us whear [where] some pepole [people] whear [where] just finishing a handamde [handmade] flag to be presented to Jeff Davis and Beurgard [Beauregard] and we was to goe [go] and take it yester day [yesterday] but could not get away on acount [account] of our captain being under arest [arrest] for not taking the companey [company] out for drill[s] yester morning befor [before] brakfast [breakfast] and now we goe [go] to day [today]. we expect to have a fight for it but have it we will or die trying to get it. as we will not take our muskets but will take revolvers and if we get it it may be of some benefit to us. as for my part if i get my eyes on it once you may bet i will have it or die and if it cost me a leg or arm i will take it in exchange washington [Washington] is full of sesionsers [secessionists] and thay [they] get verey [very] bold once and a while. Thear is some fur hear [here] i think thear [there] is 150 pedlers [peddlers] on the grownd [ground] at once and if you stop to look at aney [any] thing
[PAGE BREAK]
one of them has got about 20 or sow [so] will run up and all of them will try to sell you somthg [something] Last sunday [Sunday] the presedent [president] and 3 other gentleman come up to revue [review] us on our canp [camp] grownd [ground] he is one of the comingest [comeliest] looking men i ever sawr [saw] and one day last week we was reveued [reviewed] by him and general [General] Scott and some other generals besides General Mclelond [McClellan] and Scott told Coneral [Colonel] Baker that we was the best looking and best drill rigment [regiment] of walenteers [volunteers] that is in the armey [army] at present i was published in the papers that we wold [would] not obay [obey] our officers so we was orderd [ordered] to stack our mus-kets opsite [opposite] to the white house and broak [broke] ranks and in about 10 minets [minutes] the bugle sonded [sounded] the asembley [assembly] and in 15 minits [minutes] we was marc-hing down the street. All the fellows nearley [nearly] has got thir [their] portragaphs [photograph] taken the way. is 6 of them gets taken to gether [together] with thir [their] tent for fifty cts [cents] a peice [piece]. it is a large siges [size] you know the general siges [sizes] thay [they] are about 6 inches wide and 8 or 9 long and i will get mine taken and send it to you. i am sorrey [sorry]
[PAGE BREAK]
to hear that mother did not com [come] on to your city as i thout [thought] that by her being thear [there] and by what i could send her she might get along. Bill talks about enlisting i sent him word not to do it if he doo [do] it will worrey [worry] me to death as i know what it is my self [myself] and to have a nother [another] of the famile [family] in the same fix i wold [would] rather send home evry [every] cent and stay in the same fix for a life time [lifetime] than for him to leave home i sent him word to stay home and i hope he will do it. it is getting cold hear [here] and in about one week we will get our blue cloathes [clothes]. you wold [would] laugh to see some of our mens clothes as for my part mine looks deacent [decent] along side to some of them. I will drawr [draw] to a close now by sending you and your famile [family] and all the folks my best Respects hoping this may find you all whell [well] Pleas [Please] to wright [write] as coon [soon] as posible [possible] and give me all the news make your letter as long as posible [possible] no more
Your Brother
Thomas. Davis Hazzard
Direct as befor [before]
Now Let the South brag as long as she will
I will fight for the Union still.

Extent of Description

1 leaf, 9.9" by 8"

Relation

Show Related Records...

Condition

Good

Condition Notes

Overall, letter is in good condition. This letter has three vertical fold lines, one down the center splitting the leaf in half and two less distinct fold lines on either side of the leaf. This paper also has two horizontal fold lines splitting the paper into equal thirds. There are some spots of discoloration and discoloration along the fold lines. The image near the start of the letter has a small tear or burn near the man's sholder. There is a small tear at the bottom on the center vertical fold line. In general, this letter is in good condition.

Legal Status

Owned by The Union League Legacy Foundation.