Submitted by Carolyn J. McQuaid Thomas

Notes from Carolyn J. McQuaid Thomas:  Misspelled (by 1995 standards) words are italicized to show that this was the way Cornelius Richmond, my Great-Great Grandfather (and Ellen Richmond, my Great-Great-Grandmother, and Arthur Commerford) wrote the words��and they may have been correctly spelled for 1862/3. Questionable words have been printed in bold print to indicate that I may have misread those words. [Bracketed words] are my own questions/comments about content and are not original writings. There are very few periods at sentence ends and many sentences do not begin with capital letters, so I have triple-spaced to indicate what I believe is the start of a new sentence. There are many �periods� throughout the letters, which I have ignored since I believe they are simply spots where CR rested his penpoint on the paper. I have also attempted to capitalize all words that they did, but I may be misreading the beautiful Script handwritings of all three. I am not sure Cornelius handwrote the letters (note: "i/I" difference in first 2 letters), but then again, my own handwriting changes from letter to letter!

My father�s mother�s mother was Phoebe Richmond, the "babby" with "40 kisses."

Letter No. 1

 Camp Ramsay
Washington DC
Sep 4th 1862

Dear Wife and Children   i sit down to write you a few lines to let you know that i am well   hoping these few lines will find you and the family the same.   we left Philadelphia about 5 o clock on Tuesday and we reached Baltimore about 1 o clock the same day   we stayed in the Depot all night   we started for Washington about 6 o clock on Wednesday morning and we got here about 1 o clock. we will get our money this week   the captain said the Commitee will be here this week to pay us.   we are encamped about a mile from the Capitol   we will get our arms to day.   i will have to come to a close   you need not write till i write again for we dont know how long we will stay here   so no more at present   But Remains  

your affectionate Husband
Cornelius Richmond

Letter No. 2

Camp Ramsay 
Near Washington, D. C. My Dear Wife.

I take a few minets to Write a few Lines also to Send on my Releaf Cerifict So you Can Call on the Committy and get your Mony.    as Soon as I get My Bounty I Will also Send it on   You Mut [must?] take good Care of your Self and My Children   Keep Them at School.   give them all a Kiss and two for the Babby   We had a hard time gitting her [here?] and Now We are on 2 Meals a day. give My Love to all My friends & Brother Silas and if they have and thing to Send they can due So by Addams Express   give My [love?] to your Mother and may God bless you   I have No More to Say at Present

But Remain your Husband
C. Richmond

  Letter No. 3

Camp Addicks 
Near Washington
Sept 23/62

My Dear Wife

I Sent you on My Bounty and hope by this time you have Rec the Money I have Nothing New to tell you But that I am Well and hope you and the baby are the Same you Must take good Care of the Money as I due not know When We Will Rec our U.S.Bounty give my Love to all My folks and Write as Soon as you Rec this please Send me $3 as I have not one Cent take good care of your Self and I hope We Will yet be happy and Spend Meany a year yet on this Earth give My Love to all my friends Send me a few Stamp Send the Money in Small Bills and Write Soon I have No More to Say But Remain

your affct HusbandC Richmond

We are going to Work on one of the forts and due not Know how Long We may Stay here

Letter No. 4                  

      Camp Addicks
Near Washington D C
Sep 28  62

My Dear Wife

Your agreeable Letter of the 25th of this Month Came to hand on last Saturday Evening. and was glad to hear that You and the children are all Well.  I am happy to know You received the Order for my City Bounty.  You Need not be alarmed about not receiving the money.  Mr Faust was here when You called for it but as soon as he arrives in the City you will receive the Money from arthy [Arthur?] for I believe he is an honorable man

You Speak Wife  about Moveing as I am away from you. You can Suit Yourself Knowing that you will act for the best.

You will please inquire about My Dues in the Lodge for the reason that Some Lodges give benefits to Sech Members who are in the Army. and do not Suspend Such because they are behind in their dues   I would like to know how my Lodge would act toward me under the circumstances. If my Lodge requires all of its Members to pay up, You will of Course use all Means to keep Me in good Standing.

If you do move   It is my desire that you Secure as decent a place as possible, do not locate among the Darkeys or the Irish.   Knowing that Your Means are Small You will have to act accordingly.

You want to know if the Fify-cent-Note You Sent Me is good to purchase Such things as I want. In reply I will tell You that for Small Change it is all the kind We have here. it will buy a House [?] or a Small plug of Tobacco if we have Enough of them. If you Send Me any Change, please send Me just cuch [such?] kind of Money. I mean anything under the denomination of Two Dollars.

You want to know Wife  what Matt brought me. I will tell you, he brought me one Bottle of Lavender Brandy, One Pound of Chewing Tobacco, a Port-Folio and Six Postage Stamps and Envelopes, likewise a few bunches of Grapes, and the Women Folks two Havelocks (Muslin). [Webster�s Unabridged Dictionary: "Havelock: a cap cover with a flap hanging over the back of the neck, for protection from the sun."]

You say that Mother is worried about William.   for Myself I do not know any More about him than yourselves, for I am about thirty Miles from where his Regiment is.  He May yet turn up, but all we can do is to hope for his return, untill we are Satisfied that he has gone the Way of all flesh.

I cannot but feel as happy as Yourself, in My escaping the Corn Exchange Regiment   it has had a Severe trial, too Much so for a New Regiment. A Man once in the ranks you know has no control as to where he will go   alive today, but tomorrow beyond the Cares of this life.

We are now Working on a Fort close to us   I have been on Shoveling four days this Week   the Whole Regiment goes to Work just after breakfast.  We are not Idle.  We get up at daybreak, answer Roll Call, go to work with the Pick or Shovel. if not at that work we drill twice before Dinner   in the Afternoon we drill for one and a half hours.  Dress Parade at 6 o Clock   Roll Call before Supper   Roll Call at 9 o Clock at night.   then go to bed well tired. they find Something for us to do.   once a week we are on Guard for 24 hours. So you see we are kept busy. The Men find much fault in consequence of it, ��but of no use.

  We have with all much Sport. Some of our Men will drive the horrors away from anyone fit to live.  if it was not for the jokes and hard work in our Camp we would certainly have home Sickness.

We look for orders in a few days to March, but where we go I cannot tell.  but untill further orders from Me You will direct My Letters to Washington City.

My health Wife, continues good, also the Regiment, if I except the Bowell Complaint Which is very prevelant among the Men, it is caused by the Change of living��   The Country here is pretty to the Eye, but the land is rather poor.  No Pennsylvania farms here. Every thing like fruit, butter Milk, or any thing the Men would like to buy is very Scarce.  I will Wife, write in a few days. My Love to You, and a kiss for Anna Missouri, Eugene, and Phoebe.

Your Affectionate Husband

Cornelius Richmond
[Note: Sometimes the signature reads Cornelious]

   

Letter No. 5

Camp Addicks
Washington DC
October 2d, 1862

My Dear Wife

                        Your agreeable Letter of the 29 came to hand this Evening and was happy to hear you had received My Bounty and Knowing that you know how to take care of it I leave it with you to use as you See fit.

I am Sorry that you have So Much difficulty in procuring a House, I can not do any thing in the Matter.   if the Lanlords or Agents will not take one Months pay in advance and the Receipt Book you will have to Stay where You are. But under no circumstances do you give Ambler or anybody Else our Deed, for that is going rather too far.

You Speak Wife, about Sending Me a Box.   if you do Send Me Some Tobacco, and Some Sausages, or Ham   Something that will not break up for I have Arthur Commerford in My Tent and we go hand in hand for all good things.

The Weather is very hot here. we are Still Working on the Forts.

I Send My Love to You first, to Jane and all the Children.

If William is alive and a prisoner he will soon be released but the time will Soon come when we will know his fate.

How long we Stay here, is uncertain but we are always prepared.

Tell James not to forget the Jamica or Lavender Brandy.   let him well cork it, and rolled in paper.

So Good Night Wife
Cornelious Richmond

Co F, 119 Regiment P.V.
Col. Ellmaker
Washington D. C.

Please Send Me Some Butter in a vessel that will not break Dear Wife,

You will please See Mr Bergaman and tell him you are going to Send Me a Box and that I do not want him to forget Me.                        C.R.

Letter No. 6

Tenally Town

Octo. 5   1862

[See Letter 5]

My Dear Wife

                        I received your letter of the 3rd   I am glad to hear you sent me a box and their will be no danger about it coming if you send it by express.  It will only come to Washington and then our aumblence which goes there every day for the mail will bring it to me. We have very beautiful weather here, and are still working upon the forts.  There are rumers afloat that we will leave shortly to cross the river but their is none of them reliable but still it may be so   Then again some say we will remain here all winter which I think will be the most likely   Just tell me if Bergaman has forgotten me. and tell James that I am oblidged to him sending me a handkerchief   also give my love to Jane and all the children taking a full share for your self and to all enquiring friends. You ask me if I wear that stomach belt   I do and I think it does me a heap of good. I have forgoten the lady�s name that presented it to me but give her my thanks.  No more at present as their is no news here of any importance but when we have any I will let you know it.  I now close with my cinceere love to you from your husband    Cornelius Richmond

Dear Wife, The Soldiers in our Regiment are almost worn out with constant work   not that the Work itself is so hard, but for the fact that our Officers keep us Employed from Sunrise to 9 oClock at Night.  they give us No time to ourselves. We cannot have an hour without we are threatened with Extra duty if we leave our Camp. it is not agreeable to Men who have left So Much for the Cause of our Country to be treated So.   I expect to get the Box by to Morrow or Tuesday. It will be very agreeable to Me. I hope I can return your Kindness��

The Weather is hot here yet but Early this Morning it was quite Coll

Your Affectionate Husband
Cornelius Richmon
Co F 119th Regt PV Co Ellmaker
Washington DC

[Between CR�s closing and around the address at above, the address below is written. It is a different handwriting than CR�s. I believe it was written by Ellen after she received this letter (compare "W"s in her letter with this address) and may be "William"s address as prisoner of war: see Letters 4, 5, the postscript to Letter 8, and 15.]

 

                                                            Wm g Mulke com B

                                                          11 Regt PV   Col Wister

                                                          Camp Parowle       MD

                                                          Anoplis

                                                          Annoplis MD  

["Camp Parole was established near Annapolis and was a POW/exchange camp. Parole, MD, the suburb about 2 mi. West of Annapolis, today, is, I assume, the former site of Camp Parole" �Robert Richmond McQuaid to Carolyn McQuaid Thomas 12 Sep 1995]  

  Letter No. 7

[ This letter is written on stationery which is imprinted at left top with a pen and ink drawing of Columbia holding a standard with the Stars and Stripes and pointing with her left hand to the statement: "ONWARD TO VICTORY" at top right.]

Camp Addicks
Near Tennallytown MD
[See Letter5]
Oct 13th 1862

My Dear Wife

                    I avail Myself of this opportunity of addressing You a few lines to inform You that I am well. and kept buisy at Soldiering and Working on Fortifications.  how long we will remain here is More than I can tell but from present appearences, We Will Stay a few days longer. But So far as the feelings of the Men of the 119th Regiment is conserned it is immaterial were we go, for we have nothing but hard work and little to Eat, and worse than all, we can not leave our Camp, on a little pleasure after Working So hard, under any pretext Whatsoever.   if we do go out we are threatned with punishment at Harpers Ferry.

          The fault is not with Capt Wagner, or Either of the Lieutenants of Company F for We respect them, but we blame Col Ellmaker, or Some One higher than he.

          I received your Box with every thing it contained in good preservation, Excepting the Brandy.   the Cork containing it was Not tight Enough, for Most all of the Liquor had run out, but it did no Serious harm to anything beside itself for We Soon Made the reast of the Good things disappear. I can assure you that It was a great treat. My Tent Mates of Course had their Share. Arthur Commerford has got in the Notion to Send home for Something like it.

          Dear Wife: I must Say it was a great disappointment in not having enough liquor to drink the health of our friends with, but accidents will occur.

          The Weather has continued very hot with us, but last Evening a change took place, for the better, for we had quite a heavy rain throughout the night��

          Much sickness has prevailed in our Camp lately. Mostly an affection of the Bowels. Some think it is caused by Eating the Salt Pork we have had lately. The Doctor condemned our pork twice this week. So we had no Meat of any kind for three days. I tell you Wife, we live very close.

          A great Many regiments are constantly Moving in this direction, a vast Army is quarted in this Vicinity. It is the prevailing opinion here that a great battle will be fought before bad Weather Sets in. There is not a Soldier here but prays Sincerely that this unholy War May be Speedily brought to a close, but Not untill every Rebel Shall See the folloy of Waging War on a Goverment of their Own Making And a Goverment that Never harmed them from [CR wrote and then crossed out �their�] its foundation. God Speed the Cause of the right�����

          We have expected to be paid our Goverment Bounty for the last Week, but disappointments are our lot.   as Soon I receive it, You will of Course be apprised

          I thank James kindly for the HandKerchief. My Respects to him. You will please ask Mr Bergaman the reason he did not Send Me Something. It is My Opinion that he is no friend because if he was a Friend of the Union, he would have Sent his Friend a Bottle of Good Brandy to drink for the Salvation of the Union.

          Dear Wife, have you received your Releif Monthly, because it is an important Matter.  Please let me know if the Money is rec�d punctually

          My Love to Jane, and a few old fashion Kisses, Just to give her.  I feel contented here and try to make myself So. A little More grub would be acceptable.

                                                                   Your Affectionate Husband

                                                                   Cornelious

 

A Kiss for all the Children and a good Word to all My Friends.

          Co F, 119 Regiment. Col Ellmaker    Washington D.C.  

  Letter No. 8

                                         Camp Near Hagerstown

                                                                             Saturday October 25/62

My Dear Wife

          I avail Myself of this opportunity of Writeing You a few lines to inform you that we left Camp Addicks and Marched to Washington yesterday a week and had to stay there until Saturday Afternoon when when we the Regiment took Cars for Frederick  But I was one of the rear Guard and had to go along with the Wagons. So off we Started and travelled over one of the Most hilly countries in Maryland to Frederick City which place we arrived at on Sunday Afternoon. Left Frederick on Monday Evening at 4 oclock and Marched till 8 oclock wen we halted for the Night laied down without any Supper very tired.   we crossed the Blue Ridge Mountain.   got up at Sunrise Tuesday Morning and Marched to Within Four miles of Hagerstown and Encamped on a field, occupied a few weeks ago by the Rebels, left on Wendnesday Morning and Stopped at our present Camping ground 2 Miles North of Hagerstown West of a Turnpike Road.

          We Suffered very Much on our March from the weight of our Knapsacks   Our Colonel Marched us without a rest for So great a distance that the Men could hardly lift their feet from the ground.  They were Swearing at him all the time.   he is a very hard Man   No one respects him �� We all wish he would leave us.

          Our Camp is in a Woods and having No chance to get out we No [know] Nothing of the World and expect to be prisoners till we get home if Ever we do.

          On our March we crossed the battle ground of South Mountain.  We Seen the graves of Several poor Soldiers buried along the road

          The people all along the Road from Washington to this place appear to be poor   we could buy Nothing to Eat we have been Most famished and compelled to lay out without any Covering for the lass Week   our Tents not coming up   but by to Morrow we may have them

          I think Frederick City the prettiest Town in Maryland although Hagerstown is a clean, thriving place��

          You will please write and let Me know if you received My Fifteen Dolls [dollars?] There was a Box Sent on to Me and Adam Levering. but we have Not received it.   tell Me how Many Letters you have Sent Me The lass one I got was Saturday a Week

          There was in our Camp Yesterday John Sanders and a nother gentleman who had been at the battle ground of Antetam, for the body of James Downey. they got the body and are Now in Manayunk with it. [He spells this 3 ways: Manay/Maney/Many unk]

          You will please let Me know the Number of your house and all particulars, So I can direct My Letters to You.

          I send My respect to James Lackey and all inquiring friends��

          When you Send your Next letter please direct as follows

                                                                   Cornelious Richmond

[Continuing Letter 8]                         Co F.   119th Regiment P.V.

                                                                             Col Ellmaker

                                                                   Hagerstown      Md

If you or any one Send a Box Send to the above Named place   How long we Stay here is More than I can Say   Our Regiment is now placed in Pratts Brigade, Smith�s Division Franklin�s 6th Army Corps.

          We are I Should judge Some 30 Miles from the Potomac River, but you look at the Map and you Will See just were we are.

          We do Not look for any Money for Sometime to come.

          We are about 14 Miles from Cambersburg [Chambersburg] Pa, a rail Road runs direct from here there. So you See we are not far from old Pennsylvania��I wish I was in it. So do all the Men in the Regiment��

          Our living is miserable and the Rules very hard. We have no liberty at all. I would rather be in Moyamensig Prison than under Col Ellmaker

                                                          turn over

We had A grand Review of our Division last Thursday Afternoon   we had about Eleven Thousand Men on review,   it looked very handsome   it was at a field about 5 Miles from our Camp

          This is Sunday Morning   it is a raining now hard   the air is cold but we have no fire��

                                                                             Your husband send

                                                          His Love to you and the Children

                                                                                      Cornelious

I give My Love to Grand Mother and Phoebe. I am glad to hear William is on his parole. and among the living   May he live long��and die happy  

  Letter No. 9

                       Nove 7th 1862

                                                                   Camp Near White Plain V A

My Dear Ellen

          We have just got here after a March of 60 Miles and I am almost Wore out   Some days We have nothing but 4 Crakers and raw pork to Eat   So you may See We have a hard time of it   We Was to be paid   But God Know When We Will get paid Now as We Can not tell Wat Moment We Will go in Battle   You must Write to me Soon as We can not often get the chance   give Love to Jane and My Bro Mat and all My friends   Kiss My Children and take good Care of Your Self   Dirct to Me 119 Regt Col P Ellmaker Pratts Brigade  Smiths Devission  Franklins Army Corps Washington D.C.   Elseware [�wase�/ elseways? Elsewhere?] We suffer for the Want of Tobacco   it is 25 ct for a 3 cts peace and then cant get it.   No More                               from your affct Husband

                                                                             C Richmond

Letter No. 10

[Crossed out Heading: "Camp Near Hagerstown October 28th, 1862     Dear Joseph"]

                                                                       Dec 9th 1862

                                                Camp Near White Oak Schurch V A [White Oak Church]

                                                          2 1/2 Miles from the Roperhanock River

My Dear Wife

          We have just arrived here after a most Disagreable March though Mud & Snow up to our knees   We are only Waiting for the Bridge to be run over the River   We are the first Brigade to Cross and Will be the first in battle   I have bean Verry Sick for this Last 2 Weeks but thank God I feel better   I have Wrote you two Letters and Recd no answer to them   We are Looking for the pay Master to Come ever Day and I Wish he Would Come as I due not Want to go in Battle With My Money   I Want a Chance to Send it home first   give my Love to all my Relations and to the folks in Maneyunk and Write often   We Will have a hard time of it this Winter as We Will not go in Winter quarters this Winter   from all accounts Richmond Must fall or We Must Leave this State a gain   if We due they never Will get the men into this State again as the Men in the old Regt Say they Will throw down thare arms if We have to Retreat and go and give them Selves up   God Knows How it Will turn out but I hope for the best   Kiss all the children for Me and take good Care of your Self and Keep a good heart   it is very cold here and the horses are dien from Coald   We have had a great Meany deaths in our Regt   no wonder from the treatment they get   I have no More to Say at Present but hope to hear from you Soon   No More from your affct Husband                         [No signature]  

  Letter No. 11

Frederick�sburg Decem 15 1862

My Dear Wife

                    I just received your letter on the battle field   we are in line of battle waiting for the attack of the enemy   we have been under fire from the enemys guns 4 days and a great many men have been killed and wounded   To day we cannonaded them but they would not answer us   I supose it is because they have masked batteries and are afraid to show them   most of there force is in the wods some 7 miles in lenth and we will not be able to get them out untill we get our seige guns to bear on them   we have a tremendious armey and we must wip [whip?] them or they will drive us into the river   I got those things you sent me   give my love to those in Maneyunk and all the rest from your husband Cornelius Richmond  

  Letter No. 12

Camp Near White Oak Schurch 

Dec 25th/62

My dear Wife

                    I have Just Rec your Kind Letter of the 21 and was happy to hear from you, and find that you Was all Well and I hope May Spent a hopper day and I am doing [perhaps: I hope you may have spent a happier day (Christmas) than I am doing - ?]   We had Coffey and hard Bread for Breakfast and Will have Pork and hard Bread for Supper as We hear that We are only to have 2 meals a day   My dear I due not know how Long We May Stay here for Some Say that We Will go to Washington   others that We Will give them a Nother battle over the River   I hope not for the men are dishearted and Will Not fight as hard as before as We all thought We Would have Won the day but We Lost Some 20,000 men   So you Can See how it Went   We Lost 8 Wounded   one Lost his Leg   the Ball and Shell fell a round us for 4 day as fast as they Could   god only Knows how We got off So Well   but it Was a awful Sight to See the Wounded Carried off the feild   the Litters was one gaw of Blood   you Must give My Love to Mrs Morgan and tell her I hope to Come home Safe   you must not Wait for me to Write as We have hard time to get paper and you must Send Me Some Tobacco in News papers.  We have Now 4 Months pay due us but Now [no] pay master yet  I Wish he Would Come So I Could Send it on to you   you must give My Love to Jane and Kiss all the children and Write as often as you Can   take good Care of Your Self and the Children and I hope Ever thing Will Turn out for the best   give my Love to Mat and all the folks in Maneyunk and tell him I Would Write but have no paper   give My Love to Aunty and Melia and all the folks and I hope they Will Spend a happy Christmass   as for My LSelf  I have not been Well for a Long time and you Can See how We are treated as my feet have been on the ground for this Last 3 Weeks   give my Love to Aunt Mary and James and Mary & Billy and all my friends I Will Write as often as I can and if We get Ware [where] I Can Rec a box I will take my Christmass Some other time.                                                           No More from your affct

["GAW: a small channel cut for drainage purposes;                        Husband

 furrow; trench"�Webster�s 3rd New Int�l Dict.]                       Cornelius Richmond  

  Letter No. 13

Camp Near White Oak Schurch VA

                                                                             January 3rd 1863

My Dear Wife

          I have Just Rec your Kind & Most Welcom Letter and News paper With the Tobacco Which Came Just in time   We are now under Marching orders and We have Just heard that We Leave here to Morrow    Ware to go No Boady Can tell   I Was Much Worried about Not hearing from you for I have Just Wrote you 3 Letters and Rec No answer   You Must Write and the Letters Will follow me and I Can Know how you and the Children are getting on   tell Mrs Morgan that I am a hundred times oblige to her for her Kindness and hope God Will Spear me to Eat the Yoster [Easter?] Supper With you all   We Was Musterd yesterday for 2 more Months pay but god knows When We Will get it, not for Some time to Come yet   but as Soon as I get it I Will due My Best to get it home Safe to you for I know you Want it   thank god My dear Wife I feel a good deal better and We have got our Shoes   We have a good Meany deaths in our Regt   1 yesterday and one to day   I have got So used to the dead March that I due not mind it any More   try my dear and get the Children to School and that Will be a good thing   give my Love to my Bro Mat and all the Folk at Maneyunk��also to Jane   give the children a kiss and tell them that is all I have to give them this Christmas   Send Me Some Stamps and Tobacco When You Can and I Will Write as often as I Can   You Must take good Care always to go to the Committe and get your money or they Will think you due not Want it and they may Stop it on you   if I get any place ware I can get a Box I Want you to Send Me Some Red & black peper [pepper] and Kecup [Ketchup?]   I Will Let you Know if I Can get one When I Write to you When We Stop again   give my Love to James Lackey and Fred Leader and to his Sis Anna   give my Love to all my friends   I have No More to Say at present but Remain Your

                                                                             Affect Husband

                                                                                      C Richmond  

  Letter 14.

Camp Near White Schurch Jan 14 [16?] /63

My Dear Wife

                             I have Just Rec your Letter Wit the Card and Will Send it back in this Letter   I Wrote to Anna and Want a Box Sent   please Send Me Some Self Raising flour and molasses   We have got our Log huts built and got Shoes and I feel Much better and hope you and the children are Well give My Love to Jane & Mrs Morgan and tell them to Send Me Some thing good   give My Love to all My friends   We got the old Box and Every thing Was Spilled   the Brandy was good   the Tobacco Was thick With Mold   you Can Send the Boots But you must get them fixed   it is Verry Strange that you get No Letters from Me as I Write as often as I Can get paper   I have Sent you 3 Letters   I am in hopes We Will Soon get paid and then you Will have Some change by you   give all the children a Kiss for Me and Keep them at School for I Miss it Know [now?] in not going to School When young   give My Love to all the folks at Manyunk and tell them to get the Box off as Soon as possable   Write the Day you Send the Box   but [put?] in no fruit as it rots   Direct to me 119 P V Regt 1st Devission 2 Breagad 6 Army Corps Gen Pratt�s    Send Me Some peper Red & black and Tomato Kucupt.   Arthur Commerford is Well and is bussay making peper   give my Love to James Lackey Seth and Chas K and John Stroud and Keep a good Share for your Self   I have no More to say at Present   But Remain your affect Husband    

                                                                                      C. Richmond  

  Letter 15

I do not know how this letter came to be with the others.   One possibility is if Ellen received the above letter (#14) before she sent this one. In that case, since Cornelius had already received and returned the "Card" (see letter 14 & 15), Ellen may have decided not to mail her letter and then simply kept it with Cornelius� letters.  This supposition seems to be supported by the beginning of Letter 16, dated 2/12, where Cornelius says he has not heard from Ellen for 3 weeks.]

  Philadelphia 

Jan the 18th 1863

My Dear Husband, I understand that you soldiers are not alowed to write home at this present time and that accounts for me not getting any letters. I expect they are about to make another important move   (if so) god grant that it may not be another Watterloo as was the Battle of Fredrick   I think that Burnside is as much to fast as Mc lellen is to slow   I hope that he will be more cautious in future and not take the men in where he cannot bring them out   I for one am a waiting the result of this awfull War wondering when and whare it will end, living betwen hope and fear hoping that the Victory will yet be ours and fearing that it may not be   I expect that every Wife and Mother is like myself, interested in the welfare of those that have gone and left thare homes and familys to suffer almost every thing but death and dont know how soon that will be thair fate,   I am sorry very sorry that you ever enlisted more so now than when you first enlisted for I thought that it would of turned out better, but hope that all may yet be well   as you are thare I hope that you will be an honor to your country and never desert your post let the consequence be what it may.

          I hare that Hank [Hark?] Patton is Dead I supose that you seen him buried I have written two letters to you before this and hope that you will get them   the last wich was wrote on the 11 of the month had a card in wich your Captian must fill up before I can get any more relief mony and be sent Back to me   plese have it done as soon as possable and let me know also how you are a getting along if you are barefooted yet or if they have given you shoes   I think that your Paymaster is a grate [great? ie. long?] while about getting in your camp   I expect they think that boath you and your familys can do without mony   We are all well and traveling the dayly rounds of Life as usual trying to get along the best that we can   I work when I can get it to do but goverment work is done for the present and I dont think that thare will be any more   I asked the babe what I should send to her pap   she said fourty kisses   Jane sends her Love and says that she would like to here from you soon   Mrs Morgan send her love and says that she would send you another paper with tobacco but we dont know if you got the last or no   plese let us know as soon as possible   Anna and Missouri are both well and got to be fine girls   Eugene is well and goes to school now and learns very well   Bob Ridley is with us yet and that composes our entire family   Mother and her family are all well   Will expects to be sent back to his Reigt every day now   he is much better than when he first come home   I have not seen any of the Maneyunk folks since I was out there but I expect that they are all well   I will now close with my love to you   give my respects to Arthur and tell him that I shall ever rember his kindness    from your ever loving wife Ellen Richmond  

  Letter No. 16

Camp Near White Oak Schurch

Feb 12

My Dear Wife

                        I have been Waiting for an answer from you for this 3 Weeks but all to No Purpos   I Know Send this by one of our Men that Startes on to Morrow   they are Know granting Furloughs but My turn Will Not Come for months   give My Love to all my friends and tell Me Weather you Recd the $20� I Sent by our Minister   give my Love to Jane and Mrs Morgan and give My Love to all My Folks in Manyunk give thanks to Mat for the Tobacco he Sent on by Mr Devenport as our Tobacco is bad here and Worth about 2� a pound   We Will Move our Camp about a Mile   We are building our Huts   Kiss all My Children for Me   also take good Care of our [your?] Self   No More                        Your affct Husband

[originally written: C. Richardmond. Then last name rubbed out & re-signed:]   C. Richmond

  Letter. No. 17

Camp Near White Oak Schurch  

Feb 22nd/63

My Dear Wife

                        I Rec your Letter after Waiting for 3 Weeks for answers to Mine   you State that Every boady tell you I can not get a Box   if you had done as I told you I Would have had it and it Would Come Safe   Men get them Every day   please Send it as Soon as Posable and Send Me Some Tobacco   Derect to Me 119 P.V. Regt   1st Bridgade  first Devission 6 Armey Corps  Company F. Near White Oak Schurch Via Washington and I Will get it   My Dear I am Sorry to hear that you have been unwell also baby   But thank God you Both are better   We have Just Came in from Picket and had a hard time of it   Snow up to our Knees and Rained for 2 days   We was Wet all the time   We have moved to our New Camp and feel Much better   give My Love to Jane & Mrs Morgan and Mat & his Wife also to all the Folks in Manyunk   tell them it Will Not be Long Before Joe Hooker Will give us a chance at the Rebbles   please Send Me Some Molasses peper [pepper] Red & Black   Backing [Baking] Soda   [�flower� rubbed out] Flour and any Little Things you Can   also a bottle of ginger & pepermint   I have wrote five or 6 Letters to Mat & his Wife   Write When you Send the Box So I Will Know When to Look for it   Send me my Pound Cake on those Weddings that have taking place Since I Left at Manyunk   give my Love to James Strawhope and Jack & Eley Brash   I have No More to Say at Present [�about� rubbed out]   Send Me Some Stamps   No More but Remain your affect Husband                        C. Richmond

  Letter No. 18

March 12th  1863

My Dear Wife

I Rec your Kind Letter and Was Much please to hear that you are Well and have Started a Box on for Me but if I due Not get it in a few days it may be Weeks befor I get it as We are Now about to move and if the Storm had Kept off We Would Now be on our Way   You My Dear Speak about others Sending More Mony than I due   I have been Verry Sick and had to have Little thing for I Could not Eat the groub   Chees is 40 Butter 60 and 10 Small Cakes for 25 ct So you Can See   but if he Sent So Much of his pay he Must to Made Some in Some other Way for I Would not be in a tent With Men and Eat thare butter and other things and Buy Nothing   it Soon Would be talked about   give My Love to Jane & Mrs Morgan & tell them I am Much oblige to them for thare Kindness   Write often   I Must Now Close   I Wrote to Anna yesterday   No More but Remain                                                                                  your affc Husband                        C Richmond

    Letter No. 19

Camp Near White Oak Schurch

March 17th 1863

My Dear Wife

You all Can not Know how Much pleased I Was yesterday by Reciving My Box Safe and Sound and how thankful I felt to you   all the things Ware So Nice and Looked So Well   you Must give My Love to all   to My Bro and Sisters in Laws   also to Mrs Morgan and Dillman for thare Kindness as I Will Never forget thare Kindness    also Kiss all the children for me and tell the baby that I got the Tobacco   I Was a fraid We Would Move befor I Rec it   Write to me often and I Will Answer as often as I Can   give My Love to all the folks about Manyunk and all other   We have had bad Weather here   Nothing but Snow & rain   on Last Saturday Morning about 1 o clock our tent caught fire and Was Completely Burnt With My oil cloth Blanket and haver Sack   We Lost 4 oil cloths and haver Sacks and 4 peaces of tents   it Will Cost us about $3 Each   it is two bad but Can Not be helped   I Wish the pay Master Would Come So I Could Send You on Some Money   I have Nothing New to tell you   So no More but Remain your affct

                                                                                                            Husband                        C Richmond

  Letter No. 20

Camp Near White Oak Schurch

March 22nd  63

My Dear Wife

I Rec your letter last Night and god knows I feel verry bad about your Sickness and I Sincerly hope that god in his Goodness Will Protect you and that you May Soon be Well again to take charge of our little flock. My dear it is almost an Imposability to get a Furlough but I Will due my best and I hope I may get one   We are now in a new Brigade but you derect as before untill I Let you Know   take good Care and due not get up to Soon for you might get Worse   give my Love to Jane and Anna & Mat   also to Mrs Morgan and tell them that all they may due for you god Will Reward them in the Next World   Kiss all the children for me and get them Schooling So that they May Never Know the Want of it   I Wrote you about my [box?] Every thing Came So Nice   give My Love to all the people in Manyunk   We are Looking for the pay master to Come but Can not tell Wat time he Will be here yet   Write to me often and Keep nothing from me as I Will be Worried till I hear from you   I have no more to Say but Remain your affct

                                                                                                Husband                        C Richmond

    Letter No. 21

Camp Near Whit Oak Schurch 

March 29th 1863

My Dear Wife

                        I Rec your Kind and Welcome letter last Night and Was Verry Happy to learn that you Was better but Still hope by the time you get this that you will be Intirly Well also the Babby   I Was Much Worried about you and now feel Much better Since I Know that you are getting better    if you Should get Worse Send the Letter from the Dr and if thare is any Chance to get home I will   you must not beleave all that you hear   I Never had any opperation on My Eyes Nor Intend to   give My Love to Jane and Mrs Morgan and I hope that her Sister is better and that you May all Soon Enjoy good heath   We are in hopes that the pay master Will be here Soon before We Move   for We Will Soon be on the March again and I due hope We may give them Rats this time   give my Love to Mat and his Wife and all the folks about Maneyunk   I have Nothing New to tell you but We got New Peace of tent and Soon had our house up again   please See How I Stand in my Lodge   Send me Word in your next Letter and Write often to me   the Letters Will follow Me   Send Jane to the Committee and She Can find out how I Stand   She Will go if you Cannot go�� I Now Must Close   good by one and all   No More but Remain your                        affct Husband

                                                                                                            C Richmond

  Letter No. 22

Camp

 

My Dear Wife

                        I Rec your Kind Letter and Was much pleased to hear that you Ware better and I hope you Will Still Improve but you must take good Care of your Self   We have just Returned from Picket Duty and yesterday had a Grand Revew   old Abe Was thare   the Army Looked Well and I think Will Move Soon   We have been Looking for the pay Master Every day but We hear that he has not Left Washington yet   Wat does he Care for us or our Wifes or children   you must give My Love to all my friends in Manyunk   also to Jane and Mrs Morgan   Mat & his Wife   I am Verry Sorry to hear that Aunt Mary [Massy?] is so Sick   give my Love to all my friends and Kiss the children   I have a bad Coald My Self   I am glad I am all right in My Lodge   it Will be for your Interest if any thing Should happen to me   I am Sorry to hear of our freinds death   please Send me a Stamp in your Letter as this is the Last   god Knows I Want the pay Master to Come So I Could Send on the money   Write and tell me all the News   good by and god bless you   No More but Remain your affct Husband

                                                                                                C Richmond

 

    Letter No. 23

Camp

April 17th 1863

My Dear Wife

                        I Now Write to you to Let you Know that We are on the Move With 8 days rations in our Knapsacks   We had to Return our over Coats So you Can See that We are to go Light   god only know Wat is to be done   I have no heart for any thing as We get the Worst of Every thing We undertake   Look at Charleston and all other place   I am afraid that We Will Move befor the Pay Master Will Come   god Knows I hope not for the Men Will fight better if Paid   My Coald is Something better and I hope this letter Will find you better than you Was When I Last heard from you   Keep a good heart as I hope god Will Let Me Return home Safe yet   give my Love to Jane and Mrs Morgan and your Sister and my Brother and all my friends in Manyunk   take good Care of your Self and the children and due all in your power to Keep them Together   We due not Know Wat Minnet We May Start   Let Me Know how Grand Mother and Mrs Walker is   Write to me Soon as your Letters Will follow me   I have no More to Say but Remain your affct                        Husband                        C Richmond

    Letter No. 24

 Camp

April 22nd 1863

My Dear Wife

                        I Rec your Kind and Welcome Letter and Was Much pleased to hear that you Ware Well again   as to our Lot you Can get it Recorded and then if any thing Should happen to me it Will be all right   We Ware Paid yesterday 4 months pay and I Will Send $40 by our Chaplan So you must Look out for him   give My Love to Jane and Mrs Morgan and all my friends in Manyunk   Please pay up in my Lodge   I Will Keep a Nuff [enough?] So if I get a chance to Come home I Can    Keep up a good heart   My Coald is better   I have Nothing New to Say   No More at Present but Remain your affct                                                                                        Husband                        C Richmond

Send me Some Post Stamps

 

[On the reverse of this page, in the center of the three-fold sheet, is written the following, in what I believe is not CR�s handwriting:]  Philadelphia May the 3d   1863

    Letter No. 25

Camp Of the 119 Regt

Near White Oak Church Va

Sunday May 24 th  63

My Dear Madam,

                        Your letter of the 20th of this Month came to hand this Evening��and take pleasure in giving all the information concerning your Husband that I  posess.

Sine [since] the fight on Sunday Evening May 3d our Company has not received one word   in reference to what befel Cornelious.

The fight was in a Pine Woods with a thick underbrush.   after the Rebs drove us out   Many of of our Company was Missing.   one of My Company was Killed Named Moreau. Several wounded that are in our Hospitals at this time.  And this week our Captain received a letter  from One of our Men Named George W. Rickards,  Stateing that he and Six others of our Company are Now at Annopolis having been taken Prisioners, Marched to Richmond City and then paroled   your Husband is Not among them

We have Three Men of our Company yet to be accounted for��all the rest we know what    be came of them, or where they are at this time. but the three referred to. Your Husband, Albert Barnet and Edward Getz��those three we Know was in the fight on that Sad Night. but  wether they were killed, Wounded or are Now Prisioners.I cannot tell but we all trust that they May yet and that Very Soon Come to light. as we I can assure you, feel greatly worried about our lost Companions

            If at any time I should hear anything about Cornelious I will Send a letter to you immediately

If your Husband is dead (which I pray Most Sincerely is Not the case�) I can inform you Dear Madam that it would be impossible to procure his body.  the fight took place about 2     Miles back of Fredericksburg and the Rebels will Not allow us or any one of our Officers  to to cross the River for Such a purpose as you Contemplate   If he is Dead he has been long ere this buried

If there is anything further you would like Me to answer I will with great pleasure      answer or assist you in any Manner that I can   So do not think it a trouble for Me to Write.

Please let Me know if Matthew has had any word from our Regiment Concerning Cornelious.

Please give My Respects to Your Sister Jane. also to Ann  McClenigan. Tell Ann to write and Send her directions as I Should be pleased to heer from her                        With Great Respect                        Dear Madam                        Your Sincere Friend                        Arthur Commerford

Directions

Co F. 119 Reg PV

                        Col Ellmaker

                        Washington     DC

    Letter No. 26

Camp of the 119th Reg  P.V

June 19th 1863

Dear Madam

                        Your letter of the 13 came to hand promptly.  I can assure you Madam that all I communicated in my former letter contained all I knew in reference to Richmond

I did not withhold one fact or one incident in reference to the Battle or Your Husband

At the time I wrote the Letter I thought it was possible he was wounded and a prisioner. but Not hearing from him to this time I think he is Dead.

You Speak of a Notice of Mr. Getz death.   we know Nothing More of him than Cornelious. and I do Not think his Wife knows More than us. There is Not a Man in the Company that seen Cornelious, Getz or Barnett after the fight. or Seen them Shot in the Woods. the [there?] is but one in our Company Killed that was seen dead   that was Geo D. Moreau. but we have given up all Hope of Your Husband & two others.

A Number was taken prisioners but they are all at Annopolis Now��

You Speak of the Woods being on fire   our Shells did Set them on fire in Many places but wether any of our Men Suffered by it I do not Know

The Co G Man when he Says he Saw 150 Killed tells an untruth.   we had 124 Killed Wounded & Prisioners but a great Many of them are now in Hospitals and at Camp Parole.

It is a Shame for a Man to Write Such things when He Knew it was false.

He Never told Me anything particular about his family��of course he lost his Knapsack as well as the rest of us   all we had was in our knapsacks and the Rebels have them Now

We have Retreated again from Fredericksburg and our Knapsacks for the Second time have fallen in the hands of the Rebs��

It is a common thing beforge going into Battle for a Soldier to tell his Comrades to write home if he should be Killed or Wounded and other family Matters��

That fight on Sunday May 3 was in Such thick brush that we could not See one if he fell Except you was close by him��

I have Nothing More to Say than that he done his duty always as a Soldier�� And that I have but little hopes of his being alive at this time

My Madam In conclusion I can but Sympathize with you in your present distress, but Such is the horrors of this cruel War.  We Miss Cornelious very Much but Hope he is in a Country where Wars are unknown��With Great Respect                        Your Friend                        Arthur Commerford

To Ellen Richmond

Pension Application

[Pension Claim Notes: Italics denotes handwritten entries to pension form.  Boldface indicates possible misinterpretation of writing.]

 

   61  a                                           No. 82617

Increase

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

CLAIM OF WIDOW HAVING MINOR CHILDREN

I certify that Ellen Richmond widow of Cornelius C Richmond who was a Private Co F 119th Reg Pa Vols., in the service of the United States, is entitled, under the provisions of an amendment to the act of July 14, 1862, to receive pay at the rate of Eight dollars per month, to commence on the Third day of May, and to continue during life, unless she shall again marry, in which case the pension to her and for the within named children is not payable after the date of such marriage.

Also, there shall be paid to the widow on account of the following named children to commence July 25 1866,Phoebe J , who will be sixteen years of age 23 Oct 1876 the additional sum of two dollars per month for each child until arriving at the age of sixteen years; provided such child has not, before that date, married, died, or been adopted or abandoned. Former payments to be deducted.

Given at the Department of the Interior, this Second day of August, one thousand eight hundred and sixty- seven

                                                            [signed] O H Browning   [A ? HBrowning]

[Sealed w/Dept of the Interior Seal]               Secretary of the Interior

Countersigned Janus A Morgan

                          Acting Commissioner of Pensions

[Certificate is on legal-sized paper and folded in four: �book� style. On the outside are two ink stamps of the Department of the Interior Pension Office, one dated Mar 27 1876, the other May 24 1876. On the outside fold is this:]

82.617

Payments to be made semi-annually, to March 4 and Sept. 4 at Philad

by F F Burmeister Esq., Pension Agent

 

Transfd to Madison Ind

fm Mch 4, 76

JA Bentley

Commt

        per HM

Recorded in the Pension Office, in Book B Vol. 5  Page 114

Sargent

Clerk

Mini-Genealogy of Cornelius Trimble Richmond

Cornelius Trimble Richmond was born 15 May 1818, in New Jersey. He was one of the ten sons (and one daughter) of David Richmond/Richman (1782-1841) and Nancy (Mrs. Gamble) Richmond (1785-1827), who married 10 May (5 October?) 1801 in Gloucester, New Jersey.

On 15 February 1846 Cornelius, then of Manayunk, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, married Ellen R. CRISPIN of Philadelphia, at Philadelphia�s Mount Zion Methodist Episcopal Church.

Cornelius and Ellen had at least these children:

1. Anna Elizabeth Richmond, b. 9 Jun 1849 Philadelphia, PA, d. 5 Mar 1916 New Albany, Floyd County, Indiana; married William VAN KIRK 12 Aug 1868 Madison, Jefferson County, Indiana.

2. David Madison Richmond, b. 11 Dec 1853 Philadelphia, PA, d. Jul 1854 Philadelphia, bur. 23 Jul 1854 St. George Methodist Church, Philadelphia.

3. Phebe Jane Richmond, b. 24 Oct 1860 Philadelphia, PA, d. 19 May 1906 Springdale, Allegheny County, PA, bur. 22 May 1906 New Albany, Indiana; married Jacob HEYD, Jr. 21 Dec 1881 New Albany, Floyd County, Indiana. Phebe is the "babby" in the Civil War letters of her father Cornelius Trimble Richmond, 44-yr-old MIA at Salem Church on 3 May 1863.

If you have any additions or questions, address them to:  Carolyn "Cari" Thomas <western37@cox.net>.