Letter from Robert G. McMoran - Civil War Soldier

Letter from Robert G. McMoran - Civil War Soldier

Chenango American, August 15, 1861

Letter Extracts

Marshall House
Alexandria, Aug. 1, 1861

Our Company is stationed in the city of Alexandria [Virginia], at the Marshall House, the place where Ellsworth was shot.  We are acting as a Police Guard in the city. We have considerable duty to perform, but we have good rations and plenty of them, and don't care how long we are left in this place, as it is better quarters than we have had since we left the Island, for I must tell you that we have seen some hard times since we left there; but they had harder times at Bull Run.  It was sufficient to make one feel sad to see the poor fellows on their retreat from the fight; some of them falling down by the way and not able to get any further.  I had a chance to see this, for we were sent to cover the retreat. The soldiers who had to come to Alexandria had to pass by us.  The whole complaint was against their officers for leaving them to be butchered upon the field and for their inefficiency.

There is a desperate battle to be fought soon, and the sooner the better, as our soldiers are anxious to avenge the blood of their fellows.  We have got the finest body of men that you could wish to see.  I understand that we have about 200,000 in and around this place and Washington, and more coming.  One object in attempting to take Bull Run was to cut off the supply of water from the rebel army; it is said that this would do it almost entirely.

People say that the rebels are much better than we do, but their prisoners tell a different story. They say that our Zouaves are the bravest men that can be produced and that they killed more of their men than any other two Regiments in the field.

An order has been issued that any soldier found stealing, upon conviction by Court martial shall be shot.

Tell all my friends to write to me.

Your son, R.G. McMoran.

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Robert George McMoran, b. 5 May 1838, Armagh Parish, Ireland, d. 8 Aug. 1888, Sundance, Wyoming; son of David and Ann McMoran, m. Mary Archer, 25 October 1866, five children:  Anna Cecelia, Frederic Archer, David Gilmer, Walter Eugene, William James.

Two enlistments - from New York Adjutant Reports

1)  25th New York Infantry:  McMoran, Robert G. - Age, 22 years.  Enlisted June 27, 1861, at Staten Island, to serve two years; mustered in as private, Co. I; promoted sergeant, discharged for disability, June 1, 1862, at Philadelphia, Pa.

2)  8th New York Cavalry:  McMoran, Robert G. - Age, 24 years.  Enlisted August 25, 1862, at Greene; mustered in a sergeant, Co. E, August 25, 1862, to serve three years; discharged for disability, May 21, 1863, at David's Island, New York.

Death of Robert G. McMoran

Sundance Gazette, August 10, 1888

Wednesday Mr. Hugh Burns brought in the news that R.G. McMoran, of Inyan Kara, had died on the morning of that day.  Deceased had not been in good health for the past year or two, and for the past six months has been confined to his house, and his death therefore was not entirely unexpected.  Mr. McMoran came to the Hills six years ago, and to Crook county five years ago, having lived during this time at his ranch on Inyan Kara, where he was engaged in farming.  He is spoken of as an honest, industrious citizen, who was esteemed by a large number of friends and acquaintances for his many good qualities. There survive him a wife and five children, four boys and a daughter, the latter of whom is the wife of William Miller  The funeral services were held at the residence today, and the body was interred in the Sundance cemetery.  [findagrave.com, memorial #25571205]

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