Civil War Soldier's Letters by Charles A. Wood, 7th Connecticut Infantry. . ...

Description

Civil War Soldier's Letters by Charles A. Wood, 7th Connecticut Infantry.

Fourteen letters dated January 1, 1862 to December 16, 1863, fourteen original transmittal covers, and one piece of the rebel flag captured at Fort Pulaski. Documents are written in pencil and ink and measure, on average, 5 x 2 ½ inches to 4 ¼ x 7 ½ inches. Wood mustered into Company H of the 7th Connecticut on September 5, 1861. He was promoted to Second Lieutenant in 1863 and First Lieutenant the following year. On May 14, 1864, Wood was killed in action at the Battle of Drewry's Bluff.

During Wood's time with the regiment, the 7th Connecticut spent much of its time stationed in South Caroline and Florida. For the first two years of their service, they largely were on patrol and fatigue duty. As described in Wood's letters, the men participated in the assault on Fort Pulaski, the Battle of Secessionville, and attacks on Forts Sumter, Wagner, and Gregg. Later, soldiers fought in the battles of Olustee, Drewry's Bluff, Swift Creek and Fair Oaks, among others.

This group opens with a pensive letter written from Wood to his wife on New Year's Day 1862, reflecting on the past year and the war to come. He writes, in part, "The old year has passed away and we find ourselves passed into the year of 1862 which bids fare to be very disastrous to our one happy country. I would to God that this war might stop whare [sic] it is and no more lives be lost. It is my opinion it cannot last more than six months longer. We are raising large Armys [sic] in Massouria, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia and sending a large for to opperate [sic] on the South Coast and down the Mississippi River and soon they will all be ready to move at once and crush out this Rebellion. Our Troops have commenced the New Year in earnest. They have attacked the Rebbels [sic] a few miles above Beaufort and are fighting as I am writing this letter. I can hear the cannonading quite distinct all the regiments on Hilton Head but one have marching orders and probly [sic] will leave for Beaufort this afternoon. The 7th Conn will not have the honor of participating in the fight. They are still at Tybee Island at the Mouth of the Savannah River throughing [sic] up entrenchments around the Light House and planting cannon preparatory to an attack on Fort Polaski."

Four months later, Wood and his comrades successfully recaptured Fort Pulaski after more than one hundred days of siege warfare against the Confederate stronghold. On April 13, Wood described the assault in detail, writing in part, "We have taken Fort Pulaski. It was almost a bloodless victory, we only losing one man kiled [sic] and not a man was wounded...we have 400 prisoners for small arms 60 cannon and provisions enough to last 500 men 18 months (so you see it would of [sic] been almost impossible to starved [sic] them out)... The first gun was fired at 7 1/2 o clock and continued all day till [sic] 7 1/2 in the evening when the firing stopped on both sides till 11 in the evening when we opened again and continued until 2 3/4 o clock the next day when the fort pulled down the stars and bars and ran up the White Flag. Then there was a complete roar of cheers from the shores of little Tybee then it was all anxiety to know who would be the first to go in the Fort in a few moments an Order from Gen Hunter saying 7th Conn stand ready to man the Fort all honor to you you have fought like brave men you shall have the honor of first going in the Fort. Then a small boat went over and raised the Union Flag and the steam boat Mattano came along side and took us on board and we were soon landed on the island. We loaded and fixed bayonets and marched in the Fort and surrounded the prisoners they then stacked arms. The officers gave up there [sic] swords & pistols. Part of our regiment was detailed to guard the pris. that night, the rest of our men were permitted to go around the Fort and examine the mass of ruins. We were all astonished to see what havack [sic] we had made in the fort. We tore a hole in one side big enough to put a house in. In a short time more we would of [sic] set fire to the magazine and blowed [sic] them all up."

Two months later, Wood wrote from James Island on June 12, 1862, just days before the Battle of Secessionville on June 16. Wood writes describing the skirmishing and shelling they incurred prior to the main battle. He writes: "...we are placed here in very peculiar circumstances the Enemy are liable to attack us at any time. They throw Shells at us every day but most of them fall short therefore they do us no harm. Our Regiment has been ordered out every day since it came here. We were ordered out this morning and got ready for action but it proved to be a fals sic] alarm. We stacked Arms and went to our quarters again. We have been skirmishing 3 or 4 times since we came here the first time we went out we had 2 man wounded and one taken Prisoner. I tell you the Balls come thick & fast for a short time but most of them went over our heads. The next day the 46 N.Y. went out with us they lost 3 kiled [sic] 7 wounded. We lost one that day we drove the Rebels & then returned to our quarters. We expect to bring on a Battle in a few days. Then we intend to drive them off the Island. Gen. Wright had a fight with them yesterday. He had 2 regt. with him he drove them killing quite a number of them. He buried 20 of there boddys [sic] to day. How many more Rebels lost no one knows but themselves. I think there is about 10,000 or 12,000 Troops on the Island. I mean Union Troops. The Rebel Cavalry has just come down and drove in our Pickets the 46th N.Y. has gon [sic] up to drive the Rebels back all the Regiments are ordered to hold themselves in readiness to march at a moments notice. I have just formed the Co. in line had them Stack arms ready to go any moment. We are resting for orders... I can here [sic] the Pickets fire quite often now. An Officer just came down says he thinks they will not make an attack to day on us..."

Throughout the fall of 1863, Wood again found himself regularly on the front lines as the Union Army launched major offensives against Fort Sumter, Wagner, and Gregg. On August 8, 1863, Wood updated his wife on the progress against Wagner, writing in part, "I can assure you during the last 24 hours our Brigade has been on Picket up on the front works within six hundred yards of Fort Wagner. There we were obliged to lay in the sand for 24 long hours under fire of all the Forts around Charleston. Fort Wagner does not fire much because our sharp shooters keep the gunners from the guns but Sumter & Johnson keep up a constant fire night and day. We are building batteries 16 or 1800 yards from Smter. There is where we lay last night to protect the working party...You or no one else can form any idea how very much the troops...are suffering I cannot tell you one half neither do I want to but one thing is certain unless Charleston is taken within two months the troops will all die off."

A month later, Fort Wagner finally fell to Union forces on September 8, 1863. Wood described the action in a letter written the next day: "On the morning of the 7th I was with my men ordered up to my battery at 16 o clock to open fire on Fort Wagner. As a deserter came in and reported that the rebels were evacuating Fort Wagoner [sic] I fired in the rear of the fort to cut off there [sic] retreat and no doubt a good many of them was killed. I went up to the Fort at 6 o clock and there we found ded [sic] and wounded men in one pile was five them the rebels did not have time to bury them. The fort was completely riddled and I never saw much sights as I saw on the morning of the 7th of Sept. I cannot begin to describe the scene so I will leave it to read it in the newspapers...Fort Sumpter [sic] was assaulted last night but our forces were repulsed. May, Samford and 50 men of the 7th were a portion of the party."

These letters offer a descriptive and candid depiction of the fall of several Confederate forts along the Atlantic coast. In addition to Wood's letters, this lot includes a portion of the captured rebel flag from Fort Pulaski, mentioned in Wood's April 13, 1862 letter, which was given to Union soldiers in honor of their service.

Condition: All documents creased along folds. Minor staining throughout all documents. May 18, 1862 letter has three ink stains on the first page, affecting text.

More Information: Additional Excerpts:
During Wood's time with the regiment, the 7th Connecticut spent much of its time stationed in South Caroline and Florida. For the first two years of their service, they largely were on patrol and fatigue duty. As described in Wood's letters, the men participated in the assault on Fort Wagner as well as Fort Pulaski. Later, soldiers fought in the battles of Olustee, Drewry's Bluff, Swift Creek and Fair Oaks, among others.

This group opens with a pensive letter written from Wood to his wife on New Year's Day 1862, reflecting on the past year and the war to come. He writes, in part, "The old year has passed away and we find ourselves passed into the year of 1862 which bids fare to be very disastrous to our one happy country. I would to God that this war might stop whare [sic] it is and no more lives be lost. It is my opinion it cannot last more than six months longer. We are raising large Armys [sic] in Massouria, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia and sending a large for to opperate [sic] on the South Coast and down the Mississippi River and soon they will all be ready to move at once and crush out this Rebellion. Our Troops have commenced the New Year in earnest. They have attacked the Rebbels [sic] a few miles above Beaufort and are fighting as I am writing this letter. I can hear the cannonading quite distinct all the regiments on Hilton Head but one have marching orders and probly [sic] will leave for Beaufort this afternoon. The 7th Conn will not have the honor of participating in the fight. They are still at Tybee Island at the Mouth of the Savannah River throughing [sic] up entrenchments around the Light House and planting cannon preparatory to an attack on Fort Polaski."

Four months later, Wood and his comrades successfully recaptured Fort Pulaski after more than one hundred days of siege warfare against the Confederate stronghold. On April 13, Wood described the assault in detail, writing in part, "We have taken u Fort Pulaski /u . It was almost a bloodless victory, we only losing one man kiled [sic] and not a man was wounded...we have 400 prisoners for small arms 60 cannon and provisions enough to last 500 men 18 months (so you see it would of [sic] been almost impossible to starved [sic] them out)... The first gun was fired at 7 1/2 o clock and continued all day till [sic] 7 1/2 in the evening when the firing stopped on both sides till 11 in the evening when we opened again and continued until 2 3/4 o clock the next day when the fort pulled down the stars and bars and ran up the White Flag. Then there was a complete roar of cheers from the shores of little Tybee then it was all anxiety to know who would be the first to go in the Fort in a few moments an Order from Gen Hunter saying 7th Conn stand ready to man the Fort all honor to you you have fought like brave men you shall have the honor of first going in the Fort. Then a small boat went over and raised the Union Flag and the steam boat Mattano came along side and took us on board and we were soon landed on the island. We loaded and fixed bayonets and marched in the Fort and surrounded the prisoners they then stacked arms. The officers gave up there [sic] swords & pistols. Part of our regiment was detailed to guard the pris. that night, the rest of our men were permitted to go around the Fort and examine the mass of ruins. We were all astonished to see what havack [sic] we had made in the fort. We tore a hole in one side big enough to put a house in. In a short time more we would of [sic] set fire to the magazine and blowed [sic] them all up."

Upon entering the fort, Wood remarked on his experiences with the rebel soldiers, writing, "I wish you could see the prisoners, they look so much different from our soldiers. There is no two rebels alike. Some say they are glad to see the old flag float over the fort once more, others are very insolent and say they will fight us again if they ever get the chance. We used them with all the respect we could under the circumstances. Col Berry would not allow our men to insult them. Dear Maria I think we have been very fortunate in this battle, our regiment has not lost a man in battle yet are we not lucky, I think so. That shell whistled all around us how we escaped without losing half our men is a mistery [sic] to me. I think the Lord is on our side and we are shure [sic] of victory whare [sic] ever we go."

On June 16, Wood writes describing the skirmishing and shelling they incurred prior to the main battle. He writes: "...we are placed here in very peculiar circumstances the Enemy are liable to attack us at any time. They throw Shells at us every day but most of them fall short therefore they do us no harm. Our Regiment has been ordered out every day since it came here. We were ordered out this morning and got ready for action but it proved to be a fals sic] alarm. We stacked Arms and went to our quarters again. We have been skirmishing 3 or 4 times since we came here the first time we went out we had 2 man wounded and one taken Prisoner. I tell you the Balls come thick & fast for a short time but most of them went over our heads. The next day the 46 N.Y. went out with us they lost 3 kiled [sic] 7 wounded. We lost one that day we drove the Rebels & then returned to our quarters. We expect to bring on a Battle in a few days. Then we intend to drive them off the Island. Gen. Wright had a fight with them yesterday. He had 2 regt. with him he drove them killing quite a number of them. He buried 20 of there boddys [sic] to day. How many more Rebels lost no one knows but themselves. I think there is about 10,000 or 12,000 Troops on the Island. I mean Union Troops. The Rebel Cavalry has just come down and drove in our Pickets the 46th N.Y. has gon [sic] up to drive the Rebels back all the Regiments are ordered to hold themselves in readiness to march at a moments notice. I have just formed the Co. in line had them Stack arms ready to go any moment. We are resting for orders... I can here [sic] the Pickets fire quite often now. An Officer just came down says he thinks they will not make an attack to day on us..."

Control of James Island was deemed critical in the Union's attempts to capture Charleston. Confederate forces would defeat the Union at Secessionville, and Brigadier General Henry Benham was court martialed for trying to take James Island against the orders he was given. Wood's second letter is four pages and is written from Edisto Island on July 10, 1862, sending news of the battle and of some of the wounded. He writes: "David C... a member of our Co. has had his Arm Amputated in consequence of a wound received at the late Battle. Poor fellow I am sorry for him, all the wounded are doing well some have been sent home... We left James Island on the 7th & arrived at Edisto Island the same night. All safe with the exception of one death on board the Steamer. Captain Palmer of Co. E who has been sick ever since the Battle died in the afternoon... he was a brave & good man. Only 23 years old. First Captain Hickock now Capt. Palmer. What a loss to lose such brave men. They both acted nobly in the Battle... I see the New York Papers don't give the 7th much credit in the Battle. Except the World of the 28th which gives the best account I have read. I gess [sic] if some of the N.Y. Editors were obliged to face the music they could give a better account of Battles than they do... There is about 15,000 Slaves on this Island, most of the Plantations have Government Agt. appointed to take charge of them & the Slaves. There is hundreds of acres planted with Cotton & Corn and it is growing... the Negroes do all the work. It is fun to see them work. They are so comical the Soldiers have a good deal of fun with them. Some of the soldiers use the darkies rather rough but they are punished if they are found out..."

. He highlighted the danger of his position in an August 5, 1863 letter to his wife, writing in part, "Our camp is within good range of Fort Sumter and the Rebs throw shells at us every day, in the night they fire every fifteen minutes but as yet they have no killed any of our regiment but Dear Rie we are exposed to danger all the time and your dear husband is liable to be killed or wounded any moment so do not be surprised if you should hear of my death or of my being wounded anytime...Charleston is to be taken by regular seage [sic], our regt battery and line of rifle pits are within 500 yards of Fort Wagner (the battery our boys charged on). 3,000 troops go on fatigue every night building battery up in the front. We our regiment have to go on fatigue every third night on grand guard to the front. Troops are arriving from the north all the time... Gen Gilmore is determined to take Charleston and you must know the troops have got hard work to do."

On August 8, 1863, Wood updated his wife on the progress, writing in part, "I can assure you during the last 24 hours our Brigade has been on Picket up on the front works within six hundred yards of Fort Wagner. There we were obliged to lay in the sand for 24 long hours under fire of all the Forts around Charleston. Fort Wagner does not fire much because our sharp shooters keep the gunners from the guns but Sumter & Johnson keep up a constant fire night and day. We are building batteries 16 or 1800 yards from Smter. There is where we lay last night to protect the working party...You or no one else can form any idea how very much the troops...are suffering I cannot tell you one half neither do I want to but one thing is certain unless Charleston is taken within two months the troops will all die off."

A month later, Fort Wagner finally fell to Union forces on September 8, 1863. Wood described the action in a letter written the next day: "On the morning of the 7th I was with my men ordered up to my battery at 16 o clock to open fire on Fort Wagner. As a deserter came in and reported that the rebels were evacuating Fort Wagoner [sic] I fired in the rear of the fort to cut off there [sic] retreat and no doubt a good many of them was killed. I went up to the Fort at 6 o clock and there we found ded [sic] and wounded men in one pile was five them the rebels did not have time to bury them. The fort was completely riddled and I never saw much sights as I saw on the morning of the 7th of Sept. I cannot begin to describe the scene so I will leave it to read it in the newspapers...Fort Sumpter [sic] was assaulted last night but our forces were repulsed. May, Samford and 50 men of the 7th were a portion of the party."

The Confederate evacuation of Fort Wagner marked the end of a fifty-eight-day siege on the garrison. Union soldiers commanded by Brigadier General Quincy Gillmore first tried to take the fort on July 11 and 18, 1863. Rebel troops led by Brigadier General William B. Taliaferro repulsed the men both times. Gillmore then besieged Wagner, creating zigzagging trench lines and using heavy artillery to bombard the fort. Though Union soldiers like Wood blocked off the rear escape route of Wagner, the majority of Confederate forces succeeded in sneaking out of the fort on the night of September 6, 1863.

The battle for Fort Sumter raged on. On October 7, 1863, Wood described the Confederate attack on the USS New Ironsides. He wrote, in part, "We had quite an alarm the other night. Last Monday night at about 1/2 past 9 o clock the Troops on this island was aroused with the long rod. I had just gone to bed but was not sleeping. I jumped up pretty quick and dressed and put on my sword and fell in my battery men and started for the battery with order to defend the guns to the last and I would of [sic] done it if the rebs had come that way. The alarm was caused by the rebs trying to blow up the Ironsides. They came down in small boats to attract there sic attention while a submarine boat with a torpedo in tow went under the bone of the Ironsides And set off the distinctive thing. We heard it when it exploded and we heard also the musketry firing. We thought at first they were trying to board the Ironsides and made up our minds they would get more than they bargained for. For it is almost impossible to board the vessel. It seems that the torpedo burst just at the time and place they wishes to have it but I understand it did not do any damage in the noble ship. We capture the two men that set off the torpedo and I hope they will not treat them as prisoners of war, they ought to be hung immediately. The Ironsides still lays off the harbor and looks as fancy as ever."

The rebel attempt on the USS New Ironsides was one of the first successful torpedo attacks in American history. Confederates maneuvered their semi-submersible ship, CSS David, and attached the explosive to the hull of New Ironsides. Despite the David's initial success, blowback from the explosion damaged the ship so extensively that Confederate leadership ordered troops to abandon the vessel. Damage to USS New Ironsides was minimal and the ship returned to blockade duty shortly thereafter.