Civil War Archive of the 7th Maryland Infantry, including letters and records related to Medal of Honor Recipient, Charles E. ...

Description

Civil War Archive of the 7th Maryland Infantry, including letters and records related to Medal of Honor Recipient, Charles E. Phelps.

An archive consisting of forty-one letters, three certificates of leave of absence dated May 18 to June 8, 1864; one acknowledgement of Phelps' resignation from the Union Army dated September 9, 1864; one undated letter segment; sixteen enlistment records, five property return audits, three circulars for troop orders, three field court proceedings, three final statement forms, two telegrams, two receipts of issue, two furlough forms, one set of minutes from a field officers' association meeting, one memorial for fallen soldiers, one post-war printed address from Colonel Ephraim F. Anderson dated September 5, 1868, one list of casualties, one statement of charges on muster and pay rolls, one quarterly return of ordnance and ordnance stores, one return of clothing, camp, and garrison equipage, one desertion notice, one payment record, one power of attorney declaration, one returns petitions, one appraisal form, one invoice of stores, and one post-war pension notice dated July 30, 1866; three certificates of leave of absence dated May 18 to June 8, 1864; three letters dated September 11, 1864 to January 11, 1865; one acknowledgement of Phelps' resignation from the Union Army dated September 9, 1864; one undated letter segment; and two printed postwar speech dated January 11, 1868. Documents produced during the war and its immediate aftermath range from August 15, 1862, to July 22, 1865. Items are written in both pencil and ink and average 7 ½ x 9 ¾ inches in size.

Active from August 1862 to May 1865, the 7th Maryland Infantry assisted in numerous major battles throughout the war. For the first few months of their service, soldiers defended Washington along the Upper Potomac until they received orders to join the Middle Department in the Shenandoah Valley. However, beginning in July 1863, the regiment was attached to the Army of the Potomac. Immediately after, the 7th Maryland played an important role in the Battle of Gettysburg. Although forced to retreat from Peach Orchard on the second day, they were one of the units that repelled Pickett's Charge on the final day of battle. One year later, the regiment participated in the Siege of Petersburg, suffering heavy casualties, but continued to Weldon Railroad, where several soldiers featured in this archive met their untimely demise. As a recognition of their service, the 7th Maryland Infantry was invited to march in the Grand Review in Washington on May 23-24, 1865.

The documents included in this collection boast signatures from several notable figures in Civil War history. On August 15, 1863, Brigadier General and Chief Quartermaster of the Army of the Potomac, Rufus Ingalls, wrote a letter to Colonel Edwin H. Webster regarding the latter's request for more gum blankets. Ingalls notifies the leader that "[t]hese blankets can be obtained by the Brigade Quartermaster making proper requisition, approved by Chief Quar'mst. 1st Corps, and presenting same to Capt. E.P. Pitkin, AQM at Warrenton Junction who will issue thereon." Signed, "I am Colonel Respectfully Yours, Rufus Ingalls Brig. Genl. & Chf. QM. Army of Potomac." Ingalls served the United States for four decades, joining as a Brevet Second Lieutenant Rifleman in 1843 and retiring on July 1, 1883.

Five months later, Robert Hergesheimer, Second Lieutenant in Company E, wrote to Captain David T. Bennett regarding supplies. Colonel Chase E. Phelps writes a note at the bottom stating, "Your last letter recd. with 10 days addl. extension. Enclosed find duplicate invoices & receipts for ordnance stores, last quarter, 1863, with Lt. Hergesheimer's certificate of its correctness." He adds his signature with rank, "Very truly yours, Chas. E. Phelps Col., Comdg. 7th Md. Vols." Phelps joined the Maryland Guard in 1861, was raised to Lieutenant Colonel of the 7th Maryland Infantry in 1862, and became Colonel in 1863. On September 9, 1864, he was honorably discharged. Phelps received the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Laurel Hill on May 8, 1864.

This lot features Phelps' resignation from the Army due to injuries incurred at Laurel Hill. After more than four months of recovery, Phelps tendered his resignation on September 9, 1864. Phelps wrote a farewell letter to his regiment on September 4. He began, "I shall never cease to regard my separation from you as one of the greatest misfortunes of my life, but so it has been ordained, you have in my absence and under other leaders, toiled, marched, fought and suffered with an unflinching heroism, worthy of your cause. You have without my aid, fought your way through almost the whole of this most arduous campaign and how bravely you have performed in your thinned ranks witness more eloquently than language. If the blood which has tracked your battle marches could this day speak from the soil it has reddened, voice would answer voice from the Rapidan to the Appomattox."

He continued, "Circumstances beyond your control or mine, have decreed that the separation between us should be final. I take my leave of my brave comrades with deep regret. I came among you a stranger. I leave you a brother. I joined you at your organization because I liked your looks, because I saw in the sturdy sons of Washington, and of Frederick, of Carroll of Baltimore, and of Harford, the promise of a noble regiment which would do good service to the country and reflect honor upon the state. I have not been disappointed in you nor in those gallant recruits who have added so much strength to your line...My brave men, farewell. Language cannot express the emotions, the sadness which I feel at parting from my old comrades. A thousand recollections crowd upon my memory, a thousand associations make the thought a bitter one for me. Though few your numbers now, always men, be the same proud regiment that marched seven hundred strong across the Rapidan, that fought amid the fiery thickets of the Wilderness, and charged the forest glades of Spotsylvania. Continue as you have always been, harmonious and united, faithful to your superiors, loyal to your country and to the flag now hallowed by the blood of your slain. And remember one and all, officers and men, that wherever in after life I meet a man who has served with honor in the 7th Maryland Regiment, I shall as if I had met a brother."

Three days later, Phelps wrote to Lieutenant Colonel David T. Bennett, expressing his dismay about leaving his regiment. He writes, "Discouraged at being so long disabled, and having no prospect of being fit for active duty during the pending campaign, I tendered my resignation, and it has been accepted. I assure you I have had the blues ever since. I never knew how much attached I was to my old Regt. until I really found myself out of it."

After his illustrious military service ended, Phelps pursued a political career in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1865 to 1869. Phelps opposed the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson in February 1868 and gave a speech outlining his position. A printed copy of this speech is included and reads, in part, "Any party which embarks itself upon the experiment of a political prosecution as a means of getting rid of an obnoxious opponent mistakes the character of the American people."

Nine months later, on April 29, 1865, Robert K. Robinson, surgeon for the 7th Maryland Infantry wrote to Bennett, now Lieutenant Colonel, to update him on the health of his soldiers. Robinson mustered in on September 26, 1862, as assistant surgeon and was promoted to surgeon on July 29, 1864. He mustered out on May 31, 1865. In addition to providing medical updates, Robinson offers remarkable insight into the aftermath following the surrender of the Confederate forces and Lincoln's assassination shortly thereafter. He writes, in part, "We have had the greatest joy and the deepest gloom follow in quick succession all over our land. I never saw such great rejoicing as we had when Lee surrendered. The men were wild with joy. There was also a feeling of forgiveness towards the captured enemy. Until the sad sad news from Washington of the assassination of the President. All was sadness and gloom. Seldom a word was spoken for some days and when a word was spoken, it was of deep revenge for the murder of our beloved President."

He continued, "Thank the Almighty they have left us a man who has suffered from them and can appreciate their wicked intentions. We were also fortunate in not having Genl. Sherman in command of the armies of the U.S...What a sad mistake Sherman has made."

Robinson's dig at Sherman likely referenced his actions immediately after the surrender at Appomattox Court House. On April 17, Sherman met with Confederate commander Joseph E. Johnston in Durham, North Carolina to negotiate a Confederate surrender. Under pressure from Johnston, Confederate President Jefferson Davis, and Confederate Secretary of War John C. Breckinridge, Sherman agreed to terms that gave Southerners generous concessions both militarily and politically. However, Sherman had acted without the consent of Union commanding general Ulysses S. Grant, newly installed President Andrew Johnson, or anyone from the Cabinet. As a result, rumors circulated about Sherman's connection to the Confederacy, including a leak to The New York Times that suggested Sherman had been bribed to allow Davis to escape capture by Union troops.

In addition to soldiers' letters, this archive features enlistment records, supply documents, and field court proceedings that offer different snapshots into life amongst the 7th Maryland Cavalry. Several notices from the Ordnance Office suggest that Captain Bennett regularly failed to return the correct number of items checked out to his unit. Likewise, three martial court proceedings detail the trials of alleged deserters who extended their furloughs without authorization. Broad in scope, this collection provides a comprehensive snapshot of multiple soldiers' experiences ranging from the battlefield to the sickbed.

Condition: All documents creased along folds with intermittent toning, staining, and foxing. Minor paper loss at margins, occasionally affecting text. Enlistment form of John Howard and Jacob G. Woodward exhibit severe staining both recto and verso. Title page and last page from Colonel Anderson's 1868 speech are detached from the pamphlet. Quarterly return of ordnance has two portions detached from the main document, separate along folds. All items are stored in sleeves kept in a binder.

More Information: Additional Excerpts:
The documents included in this collection boast signatures from several notable figures in Civil War history. On August 15, 1863, Brigadier General and Chief Quartermaster of the Army of the Potomac, Rufus Ingalls, wrote a letter to Colonel Edwin H. Webster regarding the latter's request for more gum blankets. Ingalls notifies the leader that "[t]hese blankets can be obtained by the Brigade Quartermaster making proper requisition, approved by Chief Quar'mst. 1st Corps, and presenting same to Capt. E.P. Pitkin, AQM at Warrenton Junction who will issue thereon." Signed, "I am Colonel Respectfully Yours, Rufus Ingalls Brig. Genl. & Chf. QM. Army of Potomac." Ingalls served the United States for four decades, joining as a Brevet Second Lieutenant Rifleman in 1843 and retiring on July 1, 1883.

Five months later, Robert Hergesheimer, Second Lieutenant in Company E, wrote to Captain David T. Bennett regarding supplies. Colonel Chase E. Phelps writes a note at the bottom stating, "Your last letter recd. with 10 days addl. extension. Enclosed find duplicate invoices & receipts for ordnance stores, last quarter, 1863, with Lt. Hergesheimer's certificate of its correctness." He adds his signature with rank, "Very truly yours, Chas. E. Phelps Col., Comdg. 7th Md. Vols." Phelps joined the Maryland Guard in 1861, was raised to Lieutenant Colonel of the 7th Maryland Infantry in 1862, and became Colonel in 1863. On September 9, 1864, he was honorably discharged. Phelps received the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Laurel Hill on May 8, 1864.

Also included are several letters detailing the accomplishments of the 7th Infantry. On December 13, 1864, Private Isaac Ridenour wrote, "I must inform you that we have been on one of the boldest raids that have been made since this war. We left here on the 6th and returned on the 12th being six days on the way on four days rations. We left here with a strong force with 10,000 cavalry, 30,000 Infantry and 45 of artillery. We have but little opposition. We marched over 100 miles, tore up over 30 miles of rebels railroad besides destroying millions of dollars worth of property such as cotton, corn, tobacco mills and other very extensive buildings." Ridenour mustered into Company G on August 20, 1862, and mustered out on May 31, 1865.

Ridenour's letter describes first-hand the Hicksford Raid, a key initiative that severed vital Confederate supply lines. On December 7, 1864, Major General Gouverneur K. Warren led 28,000 men south from Petersburg to destroy the Petersburg Railroad from Stony Creek to the Meherrin River bridge at Hicksford. Two days later, a Confederate force led by Major Generals Wade Hampton and W.H. Fitzhugh Lee confronted Warren. Hampton and Lee ordered the railroad bridge burned to prevent it from falling into Union hands. However, gunfire from Warren's forces drove off the southern firing party.

Five months later, on April 29, 1865, Robert K. Robinson, surgeon for the 7th Maryland Infantry wrote to Bennett, now Lieutenant Colonel, to update him on the health of his soldiers. Robinson mustered in on September 26, 1862, as assistant surgeon and was promoted to surgeon on July 29, 1864. He mustered out on May 31, 1865. In addition to providing medical updates, Robinson offers remarkable insight into the aftermath following the surrender of the Confederate forces and Lincoln's assassination shortly thereafter. He writes, in part, "We have had the greatest joy and the deepest gloom follow in quick succession all over our land. I never saw such great rejoicing as we had when Lee surrendered. The men were wild with joy. There was also a feeling of forgiveness towards the captured enemy. Until the sad sad news from Washington of the assassination of the President. All was sadness and gloom. Seldom a word was spoken for some days and when a word was spoken, it was of deep revenge for the murder of our beloved President."

He continued, "Thank the Almighty they have left us a man who has suffered from them and can appreciate their wicked intentions. We were also fortunate in not having Genl. Sherman in command of the armies of the U.S...What a sad mistake Sherman has made."

Robinson's dig at Sherman likely referenced his actions immediately after the surrender at Appomattox Court House. On April 17, Sherman met with Confederate commander Joseph E. Johnston in Durham, North Carolina to negotiate a Confederate surrender. Under pressure from Johnston, Confederate President Jefferson Davis, and Confederate Secretary of War John C. Breckinridge, Sherman agreed to terms that gave Southerners generous concessions both militarily and politically. However, Sherman had acted without the consent of Union commanding general Ulysses S. Grant, newly installed President Andrew Johnson, or anyone from the Cabinet. As a result, rumors circulated about Sherman's connection to the Confederacy, including a leak to The New York Times that suggested Sherman had been bribed to allow Davis to escape capture by Union troops.

While items in this collection reflect the 7th Maryland Infantry during successful moments in battle, other letters demonstrate the grim reality of near-constant engagements. On March 28, 1865, Charles A. Conner, First Lieutenant in Company D, wrote to Colonel Phelps describing the injuries he received at Weldon Railroad. He writes, in part, "Since last I saw you I have suffered greatly, in consequence of the wounds received at Weldon and, at one time, thought that I had heard my last reveille beat. But it was decreed otherwise and I can now rejoice in almost recovered health. My wound is entirely healed over but my side is yet weak and the assistance of a cane is still necessary to my locomotion. This, however, is mending rapidly and the Surgeons think that a few more weeks of rest and quiet attention will fit me for the field again. I want to be with you by the first of May to try my fortunes once more against our Country's foes. Long days of pain and suffering has not softened my feelings of hatred against ‘our Southern brethern' and I want to ‘see the thing out' come to me what may."

Conner mustered in on August 26, 1862, was promoted to Captain on May 6, 1865, and mustered out on May 15 of the same year. The First Lieutenant's letter references the Battle of Weldon Railroad, which took place on August 18-21, 1864. The fourth offensive of Grant's Petersburg Campaign, the battle resulted in a key Union victory in which Northern forces permanently captured one of Robert E. Lee's most important supply lines.

In addition to injuries, other missives offer a glimpse into the dismal atmosphere of Union parole camps. Private William Clay Kaufman of Company E wrote to Captain Bennett on September 22, 1862, describing the less-than-ideal circumstances. He writes, "I reported to Major General Wool as you direct us. He gave us transportation tickets to Annapolis; told us to report to Col. Sangster. We arrived there in the evening and reported to Colonel Wilson who had command of the Maryland troops. He placed us in Co. G, First Maryland paroled prisoners. When we found the First was going to leave, we did not know what to do. We had no officer to see after us, so we left with them and arrived safe at home. Captain, you ought to see the camp, a disgrace to the government. The best part of us had no tents; the men are lousy and extremely dirty, some without shoes and shirts, some without coats and caps; some hadn't enough to eat. I was extremely determined not to stay, there being no prospects of being soon exchanged. There are prisoners there from the First Bull Run fight who are not exchanged. A poor show for us. We are at home and await your orders..."

Throughout the Civil War, parole camps acted as places where Union soldiers captured in battle could be kept on parole by their own side in a non-combat role. They could be returned to the battlefield only as part of an exchange of newly freed prisoners of war. Living conditions at the camp were bleak, as verified by Kaufman's letter. The camps worked on the honor system; however, many parolees refused to do guard duty or routine work because they claimed it violated their parole. Soldiers often escaped to go home until they received word from their commanding officers.

Kaufman mustered into Company E on August 18, 1862. Although there is no record of him being captured, his letter clearly suggests otherwise. Like his comrade First Lieutenant Conner, Kaufman was wounded in action on August 21, 1864, at Weldon Railroad and mustered out on May 26, 1865.

After more than four months of recovery, Phelps tendered his resignation on September 9, 1864. Phelps wrote a farewell letter to his regiment on September 4. He began, "I shall never cease to regard my separation from you as one of the greatest misfortunes of my life, but so it has been ordained, you have in my absence and under other leaders, toiled, marched, fought and suffered with an unflinching heroism, worthy of your cause. You have without my aid, fought your way through almost the whole of this most arduous campaign and how bravely you have performed in your thinned ranks witness more eloquently than language. If the blood which has tracked your battle marches could this day speak from the soil it has reddened, voice would answer voice from the Rapidan to the Appomattox."

He continued, "Circumstances beyond your control or mine, have decreed that the separation between us should be final. I take my leave of my brave comrades with deep regret. I came among you a stranger. I leave you a brother. I joined you at your organization because I liked your looks, because I saw in the sturdy sons of Washington, and of Frederick, of Carroll of Baltimore, and of Harford, the promise of a noble regiment which would do good service to the country and reflect honor upon the state. I have not been disappointed in you nor in those gallant recruits who have added so much strength to your line...My brave men, farewell. Language cannot express the emotions, the sadness which I feel at parting from my old comrades. A thousand recollections crowd upon my memory, a thousand associations make the thought a bitter one for me. Though few your numbers now, always men, be the same proud regiment that marched seven hundred strong across the Rapidan, that fought amid the fiery thickets of the Wilderness, and charged the forest glades of Spotsylvania. Continue as you have always been, harmonious and united, faithful to your superiors, loyal to your country and to the flag now hallowed by the blood of your slain. And remember one and all, officers and men, that wherever in after life I meet a man who has served with honor in the 7th Maryland Regiment, I shall as if I had met a brother."

Three days later, Phelps wrote to Lieutenant Colonel David T. Bennett, expressing his dismay about leaving his regiment. He writes, "Discouraged at being so long disabled, and having no prospect of being fit for active duty during the pending campaign, I tendered my resignation, and it has been accepted. I assure you I have had the blues ever since. I never knew how much attached I was to my old Regt. until I really found myself out of it."

After his illustrious military service ended, Phelps pursued a political career in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1865 to 1869. Phelps opposed the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson in February 1868 and gave a speech outlining his position. A printed copy of this speech is included and reads, in part, "Any party which embarks itself upon the experiment of a political prosecution as a means of getting rid of an obnoxious opponent mistakes the character of the American people."