These 15 letters were written by Edgar B. Bennett (1842-1918), the son of Smith Bennett (1807-1875) and Susan Snow (1809-1851) of Monroe, Connecticut. He served in Battery K, 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery. He remained with his battery until March 25, 1865 when he was slightly wounded and taken prisoner during the Battle of Fort Stedman ¹ (in front of Petersburg) and confined in Libby Prison for five days until he was paroled. On April 9, 1865, while on parole, he married Mary E. Marsh (1849-1919), daughter of Lewis and Evaline (Stone) Marsh.
Edgar wrote the four letters in 1863-4 from Fort Richardson — a detached redoubt in Arlington, Virginia, that was part of the defense ring surrounding Washington D. C.
Edgar wrote most of the other letters in 1864 from Redan No. 2 and Redoubt Anderson, fortifications on the Bermuda Hundred line south of the James River, not far from Petersburg, Virginia. Enclosed with many of the letters are swatches of silk purported to be cut from the Regimental flag of the First Connecticut Heavy Artillery. The color of the swatches seem to match those advertised in an on-line auction claiming to have hand-written provenance to support it. See images below.
Letter 1
Fort Richardson
[near Washington D. C.]
September 2nd 1863
Dear Mary,
It is with pleasure that I now seat myself to answer your most affectionate letter which I have just received. Oh how glad I was to hear from you. Also that you were well. I am well and hope this may find you the same. I am glad that we both think so much of each other for Mary, I could not bare the thought of parting could we but meet. But we cannot till in about 8 months. Then I hope we may visit. I hope this war will be over then but I am afraid it will not. I hope you will not be lonesome while your folks are on a visit to the Salt Water. I wish I could be there to keep you company but the time will soon pass off for it passes swiftly by and can never be recalled again. Time passes off so quickly here. I can hardly keep track of the days. Time seems long to look ahead but it is not. But I hope the time while your folks are gone will pass happily for you.
I received a letter tonight with yours from my grandparents and one from my aunt so in all I had three letters tonight and how glad I was to hear from them for it had been some time since I had heard from them all.
There is no war news except the same old story over and over about Charleston. One day it is taken and the next there is no truth in it. It is an wonder the people don’t get sick of hearing the same news over and over again for we have here and won’t believe anything. The soldiers around here have come to the conclusion they had better turn and be “Know Nothings.” We think it will be a good plan for us.
I am not going to worry at all about the draft although my uncles are drafted but I cannot help but feel bad to think that the people have got to come out here against their will and leave their homes and wives and children to mourn their loss if they should never return although they may not know how they die or how or where they are buried. So I cannot help but feeling bad to think of it and to think what they have to come out here to fight for.
Dear, I think of nothing more to write this time so I will close by sending my love and best wishes to all. My truest love to you. I remain your affectionate friend, — Edgar
Letter 2
Fort Richardson, Va.
January 1st 1864
Dear Mary,
It is with true love’s affection that I now seat myself to write you these few lines as I have nothing to do tonight for we had our lessons last night. I am well and hope this will find you all well. There is but little going on here but building barracks for the men, but I have nothing to do with that for we have all we can tend to drilling the recruits that we have got so they keep the sergeants and corporals busy all the time night and day mostly.
The snow is going off fast & it looks like rain & I think it will by tomorrow. I hope it will for I have had all I wanted to do since I got back. We got some more recruits today — 15 of them.
Mary, the last letter I wrote to you I dated it wrong. I thought it was the 14th but it was the 13th. I believe I have not told you that we had got an addition to our shanty. We have 7 men in it now instead of 5 and you can bet we are thick all in here together — some dancing — some singing — and some hollering — & all trying to see which can make the most noise. It makes me almost mad when one is trying to write for it seems as if they tried to make the most noise then.
Have the folks got over thinking that you are married yet? How is Martin & Eme? Give my best respects to them when you see them. How is your grandparents?
The boys are all snowballing & they are having a great time at it.
[Note: Edgar must have joined in the snowballing a returned with wet hands as the remainder of the letter is barely legible due to faint or smudged ink.]
Mary, I __________ & I hardly know war to write but how would you like to go to State Prison again ____ I would just like to be somewhere I could go to Catherine’s place first rate but I am not nor want to be for a long time but never mind; there is a better day coming. Whoever lives the ____ them. Ever since I have got back, I _____ than we ever did before for ____ have got ______ more rations and our cook don’t cook but little — more for _____. He is not too far ____ it is so much better _____ can’t eat so much of _____. My box _____ got here ____ but I [illegible].
I don’t think of anymore to write so I will quit by sending my true love to all. Don’t forget your Father & Mother. I remain your true love — Edger B. Bennett
[P. S. illegible]
Letter 3
Fort Richardson
March 8, 1864
Minnie Dear,
It is with pleasure that I now seat myself to write you a few lines hoping they may find you all well. I am well as usual but news is scarce so I will have to write anything that comes into my mind this time. It rains today and is quite unpleasant outdoors.
The carpenters are fixing up the barracks today and it is noisy as can be. One can hardly hear themself think. I have got to go on guard tomorrow in the rain. Oh, I dread it. Tonight too is lesson but I have all the afternoon to learn it so I don’t care much about it.
You must excuse bad writing these rainy days for it is dark in these barracks. I wish you could see how we are—all of us in barracks. They are 80 feet long and 30 feet wide and 150 men in them. There is two rows of bunks clear through three bunks high so that the top ones are about six feet from the floor. There is 6 in a bunk—two in each tier. We have two stoves in the barrack. The ally through the barrack is 8 feet wide.
How is Martin Roberts and Emma? If you see them, give my best respects to them and to all. Give my love to Father, Mother, and Grandmother. Also Willie if he is with you. I don’t know what more to write, Mary, so I will close by sending my truest love to you.
I remain as ever your kind & loving friend, — Eddie B. Bennett
Letter 4
Fort Richardson
[near Washington D. C.]
May 8th 1864
Mary dear,
It is with affection that I take this opportunity to write to you this beautiful Sabbath Evening but is so very warm here we cannot take any comfort at all. I have received two letter from you—the one May 4th & 6th and was glad to hear you were all well. I am well as usual and hope this will find you the same and have just received a letter from Carrie and I will send it to you. I received the postage stamps.
We don’t hear anything about going away of late but it is the opinion by the most of us here that we will have to leave but when we cannot make out. We are having beautiful times now as those that are going home this month have to do all the policing and the rest drill two hours each day and then get ready for parade which makes it easy for us.
We have plenty of news now from the front. They are fighting now and have been for three days [in the Wilderness]. The papers say there is severe losses on both sides. It states tonight that Lee has lost 13,000. His wounded are ten thousand and his killed three but our loss is heavy but don’t say how much. And the troops on the Peninsula are doing well.
The evenings are no length at all. I think of nothing more at present so I will close. Give my love to Mother, Father, and Grandmother. My love to all my truest. Love and a kiss to you. I remain your true and loving friend, — Corporal E. B. Bennett
Co. K, 1st C. V. Artillery, Washington D. C.
To Mary
Letter 5
Camp White
May 10, [1864]
Dearest Mary
It is with affection true that I take this opportunity to write you a few lines to inform you that we have started for the front. We left Fort Richardson today about noon. Everything seems nice. We are in little shelter tents. We carry our own houses and beds on our backs but the officers done one good thing—they let us leave our dress coats behind. I cannot write much tonight as it is late and I have nothing to write on but my knee and that is hard.
It looks like rain. You will see that this is written with pencil and I am afraid you cannot read it but I cannot write with a pen as I can with pencil. I shall try and write everyday now if I can find time.
I wish if you can see Grandfather’s folks you would tell them we are off but don’t forget me to Father, Mother, and Grandmother.
Dear, I had to burn my letters this morning and I was reading some of them over. I could not help crying. You must not be surprised if you should not get my letters for if we go by water, it may be a week before we can get them to any office. I must close.
Give my love to all and a kiss to you. I remain your true and loving friend, — Edgar B. Bennet
Direct to Corporal E. B. Bennett, Co. K, 1st Conn. Vol. Arty., Washington D. C. or elsewhere.
Letter 6
Camp Near Petersburg, Virginia
May 15th [1864]
Mary Dear,
It is with affection true that I take this opportunity to write you these few lines hoping they may find you all well. I am well as usual. I cannot write you any war news for it won’t do here. We are enjoying ourselves first rate on raw pork and crackers and we have a little coffee when we aren’t too lazy to cook it for ourself. We have our siege train with us. We are with General Butler.
Oh, before I forget it, I wish in your next letter you would send me a sheet or two of paper for we cannot get it for love or money here and I have not got but two sheets besides this. We cannot get anything at all. With this I will send you a nice mark that I took from a bible here that was printed in 1731. Also a piece of ginger root if, I don’t forget it.
We have great times. We have not been into battle yet but we expect to be engaged every day. Oh I could write a dozen sheets full if I dared to but oh, you don’t know what keeps me. But when I get where I can I will write a long one, I shall not write to anyone but you and if you should write to Carrie, you can tell her how I am and grandfather’s folks too. We are about 9 miles from the city of Richmond. Give my love to all my truest love and a kiss to thee. I remain the same true friend as when we parted in Bristol, — Eddie B [Bennett]
Minnie, please write soon. Today is Sunday.
Letter 7
Camp in the field [near Petersburg, Virginia]
June 12th 1864
Dearest Mary,
It is with pleasure that I now take this opportunity to answer your kind and welcomed letter I have just received of the 6th. I was glad to hear from you often as our mail comes direct now. I was glad to hear you were all well. I am well and unharmed so far but the coming week I am afraid will be a hard one for there has been no fighting here now for several days. The signal officers say that Grant is going to try to move again this week. Oh, what a lot of soldiers will get killed and wounded if he does. I seen in the papers that the 2nd Connecticut Vol. [Heavy] Artillery has lost 385 men in their regiment but I have not seen the names.¹
We are having nice times here now for we are getting more rations. We get some soft bread. We get two loaves a week, and the rest is crackers.
Today is Sunday and I never witnessed a nicer day in the army and everything so quiet. But to look off on the works, it looks sad — also at the foot of our streets — to see the large number of headboards of where there is so many soldiers buried — some from our own regiment. Oh, Virginia has got[ten] to be quite a graveyard.
[You could] Also go outside the works and see the Rebs shells they have thrown over here and did not burst. They could be picked up by wagon loads. And no one dare touch them. There is a nice stream of water runs close by us where we go and wash every morning — all that wish to — at 3 o’clock. We have to [go] then as it is not safe to go any other time in the day when the Rebs keep quiet. We have nothing to do but to wash and make ourselves comfortable. Since I last wrote, we have not fired a shot.
Yes, Minnie, I think of you often and those many hours we spent so happily together. Give my truest love to all my friends. Love and a kiss to thee. I remain yours truly, — E. B. B.
¹ The 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery’s first battle was at Cold Harbor on June 1, 1864, where it suffered 323 men killed or wounded, including its Lieutenant-Colonel, Elisha S. Kellogg, dead with two bullets to the head.
Letter 8
Camp in the field [near Petersburg]
June 27, 1864
Dearest Mary,
It is with affection true that I take this opportunity to write you these few lines as I have not had time to write any before since the 24th as a detachment of our Company has moved and I had to go with them. We moved yesterday—myself and 13 other men. We are in what is called a redan and about 300 yards from the rebels picket line. Our company is the only one that is left here now as the rest of the regiment has gone to Petersburg but we expect to go soon. The sooner the better so we get away from this place for I don’t like being here quite so much.
Yesterday they were fighting on both sides of us and very hard too. Cannon was heard for miles but we have had not fighting since I last wrote. Our Col. [Henry L. Abbott] ¹ has left us and is General Grant’s staff. Our Major [Thomas S. Trumbull] ² is on Gen. Ferris’ staff, so we have not got but one field officer now with us. We are independent of anyone at the present and are having better times now than ever and live better. For the first time they gave us some pickles the other day. Pickles, onions, papers and cabbage and now they give us soft bread and how can we help but enjoy ourself with plenty of fresh beef. More than we want for when we get a pound before we can get it cooked, there will be two pounds of it and so we have to throw the most of it away for the flies are too thick. So we draw ham or bacon in its place.
I am seated in a bomb proof which is made to protect the infantry. We don’t have any news of any account from the army except reports for the papers don’t come here now and we don’t know where Grant is.
I think of nothing more so I will close. Give my love to all my truest love and a kiss to the ____. I remain your true and affectionate friend, Eddie Bennett
¹ Henry Larcum Abbott (1831-1927) was appointed colonel of the 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery on 19 January 1863. He was placed in charge of the “siege train” by U.S. Grant with the daunting responsibility to get heavy siege guns into position near Petersburg.
² In June 1864, the 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery was ordered into positions near Petersburg to take part in the siege of the strategically important Virginia city. Maj. Thomas S. Trumbull, an officer from an old and prominent Connecticut family, was given command of several batteries of the regiment, and quickly settled into the hard and dangerous duty in the trenches. In a letter written on June 26, 1864, the day before Edgar’s letter, Major Trumbull brims with optimism and seems to relish the opportunities that lay ahead for him: “Our siege train arrived on Friday night, and three companies of our Regt. have already gone to Petersburg with guns, mortars &c. It would be improper for me to say how many guns have gone up, but I shall have a very pretty command. I do not wish to exaggerate the importance of my position, but I can safely say that it will be one of great responsibility & some honor We have had but little firing here for a few days past, and I was getting a little impatient at lying idle, while hearing the constant booming of Artillery from Petersburg. I judge we shall have plenty of firing up there, before long…” Trumbull’s assessment of the situation was spot on: “It will really be hard work for me to open fire in the beautiful city of Petersburg, but we shall have to do it, and in such a way that the enemy cannot live in it. My opinion may not be worth much, but I believe that the enemy will be forced to make a big fight at Petersburg, or evacuate Richmond. They must get hungry soon. I do not believe, of course that they will surrender, and if they fight I think they will have to be the attacking party, and then the result is run.”
Letter 9
Redan No. 2 near James River
June 30th 1864
Dear Mary,
It is with affection true that I take this opportunity to write you these few lines hoping they may find you all well. I am well as usual but oh, I am homesick for the first time. I have not enjoyed myself at all since I came to this place. I want to be with the company and I hope I will be with them tonight or tomorrow. I keep an anxious eye at the fort hoping to see a company of the 13 New York Artillery to relieve me.
There is hard fighting all around us today but it is quite cold here so that it suits the army. I have been nearly froze for the last two or three nights.
We expect fighting in our front every moment and there is every indication of it now. The most of our regiment is at Petersburg and we expect to go every day. Please excuse this short letter as I must go to the fort as the officer in charge has sent for me.
My love to all. My love to you. I remain yours truly, — E. B. Bennett
I will write soon again.
Letter 10
Camp in the field
July 4th 1864
Dear Mary,
It is the 4th of July again and I am still in Virginia alive and well and unharmed and what have I just got to make it pleasant is two letters from you and one from Father in yours. Oh, I was glad to hear from you. Also that you were all well. I also received some envelopes, stamps, and paper which I was glad to get.
The last letter I wrote was written on June 30th. I did not write much for the Lieutenant sent for me so O had to close and I was homesick as anyone need to be. After I finished the letter, we were relieved and went to camp and it seemed like going home after being away so long and the next day they sent us back to this place again where I am still. But we are having a pleasant 4th [of July]. It is not very warm here today but we do expect some warm work here by night.
Our regiment is all broken up into companies and we do not see any of them now. We have lost a number of men on this tour. Co. I has lost 7 one day. D Company has lost 3 or 4 and all the companies have lost more or less. They have been fighting at Petersburg quite hard and it is some with Grant here as it was with Old Abe at the Fair in Philadelphia—“He will fight it out on this line if it takes all summer.” But Minnie, we all have some some faith in Gen. Grant and we hope he will do well.
Yes, dear, you have my consent to use one of this miniatures for a pin so long as I remain a good boy and I always shall try and be one for how would I feel content for I should think all the while that those that loved me knew it. I think of nothing more so I will close and write a few lines to Father. Give my love to all my true [friends] & love & a kiss to them. I remain yours truly and faithfully, — E. B. Bennett
[to] Minnie
Letter 11
Battery Anderson, Virginia
August 20th 1864
Mary Dear,
It is with affection true that I take this opportunity to write now a few lines hoping they may find you all well. I am well as usual and unharmed by the Rebs. There has been hard fighting on the north side of the James River for several days past.² We still remain in our old battery [on the Bermuda Front] where we are likely to stay till the whole lines are advanced. Petersburg is the same as it has been for the last two months.
It has been very warm lately but today it is quite cold and rains some. Yesterday I went down to the Appomattox River. There is a splendid view of the surrounding country. Pontoon bridges across the river and everything looks nice.
I have just stopped to have some watermelon that one of the boys brought in. They are plenty out here at 75 cts to 1.25 cts apiece; apples 2 for 5 cts — little green ones; tomatoes 25 cts quart; potatoes three pounds for 25 cents and everything is as high as they dare sell them. They haven’t got only little over two years longer to sell them to me at that price.
There is a great deal of talk about politics here and most of the soldiers go in for McClellan. There is but little said in favor of Abe. ³ They don’t like him at all. I see by the papers that the quota of Burlington is 12 for the last call. I would like to know where they are going to get them. I cannot see who there is to come. Most of the young folks have all gone before.
I think of no news to write so I will close by sending my love to all my friends. Love and a kiss to you. I remain your true and affectionate friend, — Eddie B. B.
¹ Edgar was in a detachment of Company K, 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery, that manned a Coehorn mortar-battery near Battery X adjacent to Fort Stedman that was defended by eight companies of the 14th New York Heavy Artillery. The following summarizes the positioning of the units that comprised the Third Brigade the morning of March 25, 1865:
The Third Brigade was formed on the lines as follows: Eight companies of the 14th New York Heavy Artillery garrisoned Fort Stedman and Battery X, and guarded the trenches from the fort to a point one hundred yards to the right of the battery, and the 57th Massachusetts occupied the trenches on the right of the 14th; a detachment of Company K, 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery, served a Coehorn mortar-battery near Battery X, and one section of the 14th Massachusetts Battery, Light Artillery, was stationed in the battery. Two sections of the 19th New York Battery occupied Fort Stedman.
The 29th and 59th Massachusetts garrisoned the trenches and occupied Batteries XI and XII, where, also, Company L, 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery served, with batteries of 8-inch and Coehorn mortars. The 100th Pennsylvania occupied the trenches from Battery XII to Fort Haskell, and the 3d Maryland those for a short distance on the left of that work. The garrison of Fort Haskell consisted of four companies (I, K, L, and M) of the 14th New York Heavy Artillery, Captain Christian Woerner’s 3d New Jersey Battery, and a detachment of the 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery with Coehorn mortars. [Source: George L. Kilmer]
² Edgar is referring to a series of engagements (August 14-20) which has come to be called Second Battle Deep Bottom.
³ In general, union soldiers favored Lincoln over McClellan in the presidential election of 1864. Lincoln carried Connecticut by only a slim margin, however, receiving just 51.4% of the votes. Connecticut was probably the only state in which the soldier vote determined the winner and the disposition of the state’s electoral votes.
Letter 12
Battery No. 10
Near Petersburg, Virginia
September 27, 1864
Dearest Mary,
I have just been awakened by the sound of the mortar firing and as it is all quiet in our front, I will improve the time that I have in writing to you hoping that it will find you all well. I am well as usual. There is no news here at all for there has been no fighting around here and we have not heard the particulars from Butler’s lines as yet but there has been fighting there which lasted two days.
Oh I shall send in my next one state blank and I may send more in the next after as there is some talk of our being paid before long and as I can send them and have them made payable to Father, I think it will be safer for then they will do no one any good except the one they are made payable to.
The sharpshooters keep up their deadly work. They kill three or four every day. It is aawful to see how they work for it is sure death to the man they aim at.
As there is no news to write, I will close by sending my best love to all. My dearest love and a kiss to thee.
I remain yours truly, — E. B. B.
Letter 13
Before Petersburg, Virginia
December 16, 1864
Mary Dear,
It is lonesome here this afternoon so to enjoy myself I will improve the time in writing to thee, loved one, whom I cannot see at present, but I can hear from her. I am well and hope this to find you all enjoying the same blessing. There is no news. If there is, it is such that the authorities don’t like to have it get around for Grant was not as successful as perhaps he might have been for we can hear nothing from him now and if the news was good, the woldiers would have it in spite of them all. But no one knows nothing about the great move now that Grant was going to make to annihilate the Rebel army which we have been doing for a long time.
Our old Colonel was coming to see us today but he has not come yet. But we all want to see the General R[obert] O[gden] Tyler and Col. Abbott is appointed Brig. General so we will soon have another new Colonel. There is rumors that the Rebs are evacuating Petersburg.
Oh, I am so lazy. I’ll stop and finish by and by.
Evening, I continue writing this letter. Since noon there has been quite an artillery duel on the left. The Boys seem to be quite happy tonight for they are singing now their favorite song. The title [is] Mother Dear, I’ve Come Home to Die. Also Sweet Home. Singing is a favorite [past-time] although we are not the best of singers.
It has got to be very warm again and is very unhealthy for it is so cold one day and the next it is so warm, but the soldiers are so used to it that they don’t mind it. How fast the time passes off. It don’t seem as though it was a year since I was with you but it is. But Oh! may it not be another year before we may meet again.
I think of nothing more so I will close. My love and best wishes to all. My love and a kiss to thee. I remain yours truly, — Ed
Letter 14
Before Petersburg, Virginia
January 2, 1865
Mary Dear,
As I am seated by the fire thinking of the kind and loved ones at home, I will improve the time in writing you a few lines hopeing they may find you all well. I am well as usual and so far remain unharmed by the Rebs.
The New Years has commenced and with some it has commenced well and with others not so well. Yesterday–Sunday—was the first time we ever had orders not to fire on Sunday but yesterday we did and I think it must be on account of the Commanding General knew that the officers would get drunk and then try and see what they could do, and so they would had it not been for the order, for our officers were drunk all Saturday night and they have not got sober yet. Such a crowd of officers I never see in the army in my life as they are getting now-a-days, for they spend more for whiskey than their pay amounts to.
There is no news of late for we have not had any paper but Butler continues on his [Dutch] canal and the James.
As there is no news to write, I will close. Please excuse a short letter. Give my best wishes to all. My love and kiss to you.
I remain yours truly, — E. B. B.
Letter 15
This letter was written one month after Edgar returned to his company following his marriage and thirty days’ furlough. Though the war was essentially ended, the First Connecticut was tasked with removing the Confederate guns from the batteries along the James River throughout the summer of 1865 before their discharge in September. Fort Darling was a formidable confederate stronghold on Drury’s Bluff that controlled the James River and access to Richmond. The fort mounted two eight-inch and one ten-inch Columbiad (sea coast) guns — the latter probably being what Union soldiers referred to as the “little fellow.”
Fort Darling, Virginia
June 6, 1865
My Dear and Loving Wife,
One month ago yesterday we parted but little thought then either of us that we would be separated this length of time but my dear, I hope it will not be another month before we can be together again. The remainder of the boys got back Sunday night — 9 of them. They left home on the 27th of April so as to get their discharges but was used worse than we were that stayed our full time at home.
I am glad to hear you were well and hope you will continue so for I should not like to hear you was sick but I was afraid when you told me how fast you had grown poor. I was afraid you were going to be sick. Yes, my dear, I will know how to sympathize with you in sorrow when I get home and in joy for we have been parted and know what it is and in place of our thinking less of each other, our affections are fixed stronger upon our hearts and will continue so if we both are true to each other. And I know we both are.
I mentioned in my letter on Sunday that I would be on patrol Monday. I was not on the one I thought I would be and I was glad of it. I was on police around camp while H Company with 16 horses went after what we call the “little fellow” — that is one of the Reb’s large guns. It weighs 21,745 pounds and they got stuck with it and could not get it along so they are after it again today.
But it is no so warm today. We have plenty of good ice water here now. The officers send off after ice to the farmers here and get it and so we have all we want but it is not out of reach.
I went cherrying and got all I could eat and then we went and got a lot of mulberries. Wortleberries are ripe. There was some in camp today for sale — only 25 cts a quart. There is everything here mostly to buy.
I will now close as I have made a mistake in writing. Give my love to all. My warmest love and a kiss to you. I remain your true, faithful, and loving husband, — Edd
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