Archive Record

Images

1 of 1977

View Image Metadata

Metadata

Catalog Number

XI.1.2.2019.029.24

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 from his encampment with the Union Army in Virginia. He recounts the army's movements through Virginia and preparations for conflict. He adds that he was breaking in a new pair of boots on during their march and has greatly injured his feet. He details the various duties his company was given including manning picket lines, protecting the battery, and painting knapsacks. He ends the letter by mentioning that he is having jaw pain. The first half of this letter appears to be written in pencil and the second half in ink.

Dates of Creation

March 19, 1862

Date

March 19, 1862

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 Bolivar Harpers Ferry
March 19th 62

Dear Brother
I take this optunity [opportunity] of writing you a fue [few] lines to let you know that i am still alive and kicking. sence [since] I wroat [wrote] to you last we have marched over 70 miles. We left our camp and marched about 2 miles below Charlstown [Charlestown] and thear [there] we camped for 2 or 3 days and while we was thear [there]. i and 3 other men was detaled [detailed] to paint our mapsacks [knapsacks]. this was what we put on them [sketch of calligraphy writing saying (1st CAL) with a B beneath] we did not get all of them painted and we took up the march for a pla-ce called Berryvill [Berryville]. whear [where] we stoped [stopped] over night. but my Company was sent out on picket that night as. the fire zuaves [zouaves] was sent out but thay [they] sawr [saw] a lot of Reble [Rebel] Cavelery [Cavalry] comming [coming] twords [towards] them and thay [they] run so General Burns come to us and said Boys I can trust you the same as I could a company of Regulars. so we did not get aney [any] rest that night. as the next morning we marched to Winchester and we found no Rebles [Rebels] thear [there]. but found about 18 thousand men of General Banks coulem [column] marching in to Winchester. so we turned
[page break]
around and marched back to berreyvill [Berryville].
i was nearly killed. as I had bought a pear [pair] of Boots for 500 and thay [they] run ever and my feet was just like a peice [piece] of fresch [fresh] meat. I coul-d walk but I had to do so as we expected to be atteced [attacked] while on the march by. Reble [Rebel]. Cavalry so we had to be on the look out all the time. and while we was out on this spree we had nothen [nothing] but biskets [biscuits] and half of the time thay [they] was all green with mould [mold]. I supose [suppose] you have read Gen. [General] G. B. Mcellonds [McClellan's] message to the armey [Army] of the potomac [Potomac]. We will be at Manassa [Manassas] by the time you get this as our division is put down as the 2 Core of the armey [Army] of the potomac [Potomac] and we have been under orders to march for------- washington [Washington]. for 3 or 4 days. We drill now only the bayenet [bayonet] exiscise [exercise]. such as pareying [parrying] and thurst [thrust] and it is hard woork [work]. thear [there] is no Rebles [Rebels] now in w Virgineia [Virginia] from m 30 miles south of Manasses [Manassas] all the way up. so we are driving them all up in a heap and after while we will make them fight or we will
[page break]
hang them all up. yesterday i sawr [saw] the first train of cares [cars] wich [which] come down from. Winchester. the bridge beloingin [belonging] to the Baltimore, Ohio. railroad across the potomac [Potomac] at harrpers Ferry [Harpers Ferry] has been rebuilt when the River is low we can see the top of the Engine wich [which] the rebles [rebels] started over the bridge after thay [they] set fire to it. the ponntoon [pontoon] bridge across the potomac [Potomac] is over one thousand feet longe [long] it is said to be the longest one ever built in this country
Captain Ricketts wold [would] not let aney [any] other Regiment but ours protect his battrey [battery]. he said he wanted old soldiers to stand by him as he lost all his battrey [battery] at Bulls Run [Bull Run]. Joe you aught [ought] to see what a time thear [there] is when the 15- Mass. [Massachusetts] Reg [Regiment] and ours get to gather [together] such cheering wold [would] strick [strike] terrow [terror] to evry [every] tratiors [traitor's] hart [heart]. i have not recived [received] a letter from home sence [since] i left Poolsvill [Poolesville] i gess [guess] thay [they] have got tierd [tired] of writing to me. i may have the luck of comming [coming] bach [back] to Philad. [Philadelphia] some of thes [these] days. i think i will pay you a viset [visit] when I get out of the armey [army] -
[page break]
you had not better not send me aney [any] more papers as i never get them aney [any] more. it is imposseble [impossible] to live as we do and not catch colds and thay [they] are verey [very] heavy ones. Our Conl. [Colonel] is I. J. Wister [Isaac J. Wistar] he was our Lut. [Lieutenant] Col. [Colonel] when we left. New York. he got shott [shot] at Balls bluff [Balls Bluff] in the right arm and he has to ues [use] his left hand. wh we have one new Dockter [Doctor]. Gilbert is getting alonge [along] first rate he sends his Respects to you. some of the prisners [prisoners] has come back and we expect them all back shortly. my friend Thomas. Hazzard Balmer. is in philad. [Philadelphia] he will be back shortly. he is one of the prisners [prisoners].

I will close by sending you and Ann and John Barry my best Respects. i remain your
Brother
Thomas. D. Hazzard

Direct to me mind and put baker on the letter and send it to
Washington
D.C
or Elswheare [Elsewhere]

i have somthing [something] the matter with
my jore [jaw] bone i can hardly
bite a peice [piece] of fresh tender
meat

write scoon [soon]Good Bye

Extent of Description

1 leaf, 12.625" by 8.1"

Relation

Show Related Records...

Condition

Poor

Condition Notes

Overall, letter is in poor condition. The sheet has four vertical folds. One splitting the page in half, and two others each about half an inch from the center fold. The fourth fold is about two inches in from the right side of the front of the sheet. There is a small tear at the bottom of the central vertical fold. The sheet also has two horizontal folds across the page, splitting the sheet into equal thirds. The lower horizontal fold is torn at the center of the page for about two inches. There is some discoloration along the fold lines, especially on the front of the sheet. There is also slight discoloration along the sheet's edges. There are a couple small tears along the bottom edge.

Legal Status

Owned by The Union League Legacy Foundation.