Soldier's Letter, Civil War - December 1861

 Chenango American, Greene, NY, January 9, 1862

Letter from J.W. White, 5th Regiment, Sickles Brigade

Camp Morgan, Md,, Liverpool Point, Dec. 29, 1861

Editors American:  You will confer upon me a favor for which I will be ever grateful, by granting me the privilege, through your paper (which I see every week when I don't miss of it) of expressing my warmest thanks to those of my friends in Greene, to whom I am indebted for a box of luxuries, which I received day before yesterday, in good order. The clothing was just the thing I needed; and as for those quilts (with many thanks to the donors) they are the right thing, in the right place, and at the right time. The cake and other luxuries is a feast of fat things I assure you, after having been kept for more than eleven months on iron bound crackers; but what adds value to it all, is the fact that it comes from kind friends at home.

We are now encamped on the banks of the Potomac, about fifty miles below Washington. The river is so wide here that king cotton cannot shoot across into our camp.  Just below and also above where we are stationed he has his batteries erected, and as our vessels pass them, he howls most ferociously, but some how the arrows from his bellowing engines of death, very seldom take effect upon the object of his wrath, but fall into the troubled waters of the Potomac or bury themselves in the ground as they strike on the Maryland shore.  We are yet living in our summer tents, but are now building winter quarters.  The weather has thus far been of the most favorable kind, yet we have had some days and nights which were not very pleasant for soldiers.  I fancy it would be quite a novelty to you who are accustomed to sit by a warm stove at your quiet homes these long December nights, to visit our camp and see how soldiers live.  It is an old adage that necessity is the mother of inventions; and I am sure no one would doubt the truth of it after visiting one of our camps.  We all have fireplaces in our tents' some of them are built of mud and others of logs and sticks plastered with mud.  Some of them work very well while others smoke about as much at one end as the other.  My chum David Hetzel of Norwich says, tell them while we warm one side, the other is highly entertained with a kind of music which the wind makes while blowing through the holes in our tent.

I have been in no battle yet and hope I will not be, until I can know whether I am fighting to crush out rebellion or to build up the accursed system of human slavery.

My health is good.  I weigh ten lbs more than when I left the pleasant village of Greene and turned my face toward the land of traitors.

J.W. White

Washington, D.C., 5th Regt. Sickles Brigade, Company C

Vital Records, 1842 & 1862

 Chenango Telegraph, Norwich, NY, Jan. 19, 1842

Married:  In this town [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], on Wednesday evening, the 12th inst. by the Rev. J. Sessions, Mr. Francis N. Grant to Miss Lydia Davis, all of this town.

Married:  In this town [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], on Wednesday inst. by the Rev. L. Howard, Mr. Elias G. Ford of Louisville, Otsego Co. [NY] to Miss Lorinda Thompson, of the former place.

Married:  In Plymouth [Chenango Co., NY], on the 12th inst. by the Rev. E.D. Willis, of Eaton, Madison Co. [NY], Mr. George Allen of Lebanon, Madison Co. [NY] to Miss Harriet A. Buel of the former place.

Married:  In this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], on the evening of the 17th inst. by the Rev. V.M. Coryell, Mr. Paris O. Davis, to Miss Emily Parker, all of this town.

Married:  On Tuesday morning, the 4th inst. by the Rev. Henry Tullage, Mr. John Henry McNeil of the firm of H...,, Sheldon & Co. New York, to Miss Helen Reed, daughter of Gen. Charles M. Reed of this city [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY].

Died in South New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 19th, John S. Buel? aged 34? of a severe illness which he bore with patient resignation.  He was a member of the Baptist Church.  

Chenango American, Greene, NY, April 17, 1862

Died:  In Chenango Forks [Broome Co., NY], on the 27th ult. of Cancer in the throat, Mrs. Lydia M. [Miller], wife of Chas. B. Miller, Esq., aged 20 years.   

Chenango American, Greene, NY, April 17, 1862

Sudden Death:  John B. Wheeler, a notice of whose death appeared last week in our obituary column deserves more than a passing notice.  Mr Wheeler came to this town about 36 years ago, and soon commenced the battle of life, poor and unaided.  He was industrious and prudent, and succeeded.  His education was limited, but his vigorous and original intellect and strong common sense made him successful in whatever he undertook.  He was one of he leading men of the town, and as a business man did much for its improvement.  He was the friend of the poor, and was always ready and willing to help those that would help themselves.  His sudden death has thrown a deep gloom over the community, and many are the poor that will miss his assisting hand.  In his death the town has lost an active business man, community a good citizen, the poor a friend.

Oneonta Herald, Oneonta, NY, April 2, 1862

Died:  In this village [Oneonta, Otsego Co., NY], Mary Francis [Brewer], daughter of Mary and Alexander Brewer, aged 1 year 2 months and 8 days.

Oneonta Herald, Oneonta, NY, April 9, 1862

Died:  In Laurens [Otsego Co., NY], March 20th, of the diptheria, Anna [Clark], daughter of Tompkins & Sarah J. Clark, aged 2 years 1 month and 15 days.  Beautiful and lovely, / She was but given, / A fair bud of earth, / To blossom in Heaven.

Oneonta Herald, Oneonta, NY, April 16, 1862

Married:  In Laurens [Otsego Co., NY], by Milton Gurney, Esq., Mr. Newton Keith to Miss Maria Snediker, of Laurens.

Died:  In Davenport [Delaware Co.., NY], April 12th, Albert J. Evans, son of James and Elizabeth Evans, aged one year 6 months.

Oneonta Herald, Oneonta, NY, April 30, 1862

Died:  In Meredith [Delaware Co., NY], on the 13th inst. Charles Reynolds, aged 59 years.

Soldier's Letter, Civil War - Ellsworth Regiment - December 1861

 Chenango American, Greene, NY, January 2, 1862

Letter from D.J. Wilson

Hall's Hill, Va., Dec. 27, 1861

Dear Friends: We had great fun on Christmas day.  The day before, the Col. gave orders that there should be no drill and no reveille in the morning, and that we could do as we had a mind to all day. We therefore went to work to devise some means to have fun.  All the officers were reduced to the ranks, and persons who were full of fun elected in their places.  Bob Hitchcock, cymbal player in the Band, and full of fun, was elected Colonel.  He is fat as Henry Whittenhall, but not as tall. Charley Hane, bass drummer, was elected Adjutant.  He had been a comic actor on the stage at Albany, so you can judge what he is. New officers were also elected throughout each Company.  The new Colonel gave orders that no two persons should be dressed alike at dress parade, and I must say that his orders were fully executed.  The Colonel appeared dressed in a uniform which I shall not try to describe.  He sat astride the poorest specimen of horseflesh that I ever saw.  The saddle was placed well to the rear, and the Colonel sat in front of it with his face towards the horse's tail.  He was armed with a wooden sword of huge dimensions and had on his feet wooden spurs about a foot in diameter, though he was so fat that they did not come within quite a distance of the horse's sides.  The Adjutant was dressed in red thro' out. The markers, which are usually small boys, were two of the largest men in the Regiment.  The Regiment was armed with sticks and clubs so crooked they would not lay still, and two of the boys had live possums tied to their sticks for bayonets. They were dressed in all manner of shapes. The Adjutant read quite a string of orders which would make a man laugh if he was going to be hung.  There was quite a crowd of spectators present and among them was Benj. Rexford from Norwich. The Band consisted of about 40 instruments of any kind that would make a noise. 15 snare drums (the players of which knew no more about music than Dr. P...), old pans, trumpets, bugles &C, &C.

In the forenoon we had a game of football.  This was great fun, although there being so many men and only three balls, a person was in danger of getting his shins kicked as I did mine.  Thus we spent Christmas.

Vital Records, Oxford, NY - April 1862

 Oxford Times, April 2, 1862

Died:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 20th ult., Hannah [Dunlap], wife of Robert Dunlap, aged 67.

Died:  In Preston [Chenango Co., NY], on the 22d ult. Miss Frances V. Turner, aged 24 years.

Died:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 17th ult., Mr. Joseph May, aged 83 years.

Died:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 24th ult., Peter G. [Wood], son of Gordon and Margaret Wood, aged 16 months.

Died:  In Litchfield, Illinois, on the 16th ult. of lung fever, Lewis Frederick [Byington], only child of Dwight and Emily J. Byington, formerly of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], aged 1 year and 7 months.

Oxford Times, April 9, 1862

Died:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on the 2d inst. Mr. Alfred Moffat, aged 77 years.

Died:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 27th ult. Sarah [Hayes], wife of Mr. James Hayes, aged 46 years.

Oxford Times, April 16, 1862

Died:  At Camp North Massachusetts, Washington, on the 1st inst., of congestion of the lungs, Elbridge R. [Burnham] of Company B., 76th Regiment, son of Norman Burnham of Pitcher [Chenango Co., NY], aged 20 years.

Died:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on 4th inst. of apoplexy, Mr. John B. Wheeler, aged 55 years.

Died:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 2d inst., Mr. Isaac Crosby, aged 25 years.

Died:  In Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY], on the 30th ult., Helon [Rood], daughter of Henry H. and Lovina Rood, aged 19 years.

Died:  In Coventry [Chenango Co., NY], on the 4th inst., Mary [Barstow], wife of Mr. Orville Barstow, aged 49 years.

Oxford Times, April 23, 1862

Married:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on the 9th inst., by Rev. J.D. Webster, Mr. Albert G. Northrup of Binghamton [Broome Co., NY] to Miss Viola A. Warner of Greene.

Married:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on 9th inst. by Rev. N.R. Everts, Dr. M.J.E. Hurlbut of Cincinnatus [Cortland Co., NY] to Miss Ella M. Shepard, of Norwich.

Died:  In this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], suddenly, on the 18th inst., Mr. Joseph Dickinson, aged 88 years.

Died:  In Smithville [Chenango Co., NY] on the 15th inst., Frederick [Rorapaugh], son of Charles and Antionette Rorapaugh, aged 7 years.

Died:  In Holmesville [Chenango Co., NY] on 13th inst., Mr. Peleg Dexter, aged 73 years.

Died:  In Smithville [Chenango Co., NY], on the 15th inst. Mary [Hayes] daughter of Samuel P. and Eliza Ann Hayes, aged two years and 6 months.

Died:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY] on the 10th inst., Frankie Eugene [Cohoon], youngest son of W.R. and Caroline Cohoon, aged 2 years and 4 months.

Died:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY] on 4th inst., Carrie Dunn twin daughter of Wm. and Miranda Dunn, aged 16 mos.

Died:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY] on the 10th inst. Mr. Philip Shiffer, formerly of Coventry [Chenango Co., NY], aged 77 years.

Died:  In Pharsalia [Chenango Co., NY], on the 14th inst. Ernestine [Eddy] daughter of George W. and Betsey J. Eddy, aged 18 years.

Oxford Times, April 30, 1862

Married:  In this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY] on the 28th inst. by Rev. J.C. Ransom, Mr. William H. Gage to Miss Adaline S. Fry all of Oxford.

Married:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on 10th inst, by Rev. E.Z. Lewis, Mr. Earnest L. Riesburg of Jamestown [Chautauqua Co. NY] to Miss Katharine Weller of Norwich.

Died:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 20th inst. Mr. Charles P. Browning, aged 60 years.

Died:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY] on the 20th inst. Peter Rathbone [Wheeler], son of Orrin and Mary Wheeler, aged 8 years.

Died:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY] on the 22d inst. Flora B. [Harrington], daughter of R.D. and Electa Harrington, aged 1 year, 10 months and 24 days.

Vital Records - Norwich, NY - December 1841 & March 1862

 Chenango Telegraph, Norwich, NY, December 1, 1841

Died:  In Homer, Cortland Co. [NY] on Friday last, of Scarlet Fever, Irving M. [Bowen], son of Mr. Ira Bowen, aged 5 years.

Chenango Telegraph, Norwich, NY, December 8, 1841

Married:  In Smyrna [Chenango Co., NY] on the 4th inst., by Nathan Sutliff, Esq., M. S. Hunt, aged 72, to Mrs. Susannah Tuttle, aged 67, both of the town of Smyrna.

Chenango Telegraph, Norwich, NY, December 22, 1841

Married:  In this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], on Wednesday evening last, by the Rev. L.A. Barrows, Mr. John Pellet, to Mrs. Persis Wagner.

Married:  In Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], on Thanksgiving day, at the 1st Congregational Church, by the Rev. J.L. Janes, the Rev. Lemuel Pomeroy, of Smyrna [Chenango Co., NY] to Mrs. E.A. Putnam, Widow of the Rev. S.G. Putnam, late of Guilford.

Chenango Telegraph, Norwich, NY, December 29, 1841

Married:  In Pitcher [Chenango Co., NY], on the 22d inst. by the Rev. E.T. Adams, Mr. Leander P. Lyons, to Miss Lucy Adaline, youngest daughter of Solomon Hakes, Esq., all of the above place.

Chenango Telegraph, March 12, 1862

Died:  HARKNESS:  in this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], on the 16th inst. of Scarlet Fever, James Thomas [Harkness] only son of James Harkness, aged 14 years 3 months.

Peoples' Ellsworth Regiment

IN THE

GRAND ARMY OF THE POTOMAC

Active, Able-Bodied Young Men, between the ages of 18 and 35 years, can now be enlisted into this Regiment for Three Years or during the War.

Applicants must be, at least five feet and seven inches in height, unmarried and of good moral character.  The pay will be from $18 to $21 per month.

$100 Bounty.  Pay and Rations to commence from date of enlistment. Squads of six will be taken to Albany, uniformed and equipped and forwarded to the Regiment in the field.  The high military reputation and the many selections among its members for Officers in other Regiments make it a desirable one for enterprising talent.

Apply at Rexford I. Kingsley's Law Office, Norwich.

W.M. REXFORD, Recruiting Officer

Soldier's Letter - Civil War, December 1861

 Oxford Times, January 29, 1862

Letter from Theodore F. McNeil, U.S. Navy

Barque Arthur, Dec. 28th, 1861

Dear Father:  We sailed from New York on the morning of the 23d and had a fine wind until yesterday. When off Hateras it was rather rough, the waves two or three times coming over the bow of the ship and wetting us down slightly, but the water and weather being quite warm, no inconvenience was occasioned except slight touches of sea sickness, which singular to say was but slight with any of us.  J.O.C. and myself have thrown up accounts a little, perhaps were not at it five minutes apiece. Felt the sea sickness some for a couple of days, but aside from a headache were quite comfortable.  Jon and Dolf have as yet retained their accounts for settlement. Both were a little off the hooks, but today all feel well.  You cannot imagine how it looks to be out of sight of land and waves rolling from ten to twenty feet high, and the ship pitching and roiling from side to side, but the Barque rides them well and is quite a dry vessel. Old salts say much dryer than they expected she could be.  Some of the boys were awful sick, but old Chenango's sons stand it tip top as yet.  When a storm comes we shall see how we endure. We are now off the coast of Georgia, have seen but three vessels since we left New York narrows, and but one in speaking distance.  My room is in the peak or bow of the vessel and the worst place for sea sickness on the ship.  Am getting along as well and better than I expected with my duties.  Our officers are all green in the service, which makes it quite inconvenient for us. We are called to quarters daily and work the guns. I have no station assigned me yet but have to take the place of some sick one on the guns. Our first Lieut. though ignorant of the rules of the service, is a perfect gentleman as far as can be judged as yet.

Sunday, Dec. 29th:  We are off Florida coast and it is as warm as a June day in Oxford.  Have just had services by the Pay Master, who read a sermon.  The sea is calm and the sun shines with splendor. Looks like summer and could not believe from the appearance of the day that it was the month of December and only two or three days before another year would begin.  At home I suppose it is wintry, and perhaps good sleighing.  The Captain made a few remarks to us today approving of our cleanliness, and to some youngsters advising the stopping of their grog on the 1st of January.  All of our boys had theirs stopped when we first came aboard, I believe.  I have been reading the Bible part of the day, and think whose gift it is, and shall take as good care of it as circumstances will permit.  All well and no sail in sight, the waters look perfectly splendid.

Monday, Dec. 30th, 3 P.M.  Just beat to quarters and guns ready for use.  Boarded a schooner, found her to be all right, so we had to let her go.  Hoped she would prove to be a prize. Felt no fear when called to quarters, no trembling of the knees nor rattling of bones anywhere.  It is as pleasant a day as I ever saw in Oxford, and as far as the eye can reach on either side, nothing is to be seen except a sail occasionally and the vast Atlantic. We had pork and beans for dinner with bread for desert.  Our food is good, much better than we saw on the North Carolina.  Drilled about 2 hours this morning with 32 pounders. Am much more contented than at the time C.A. Bennett was at Brooklyn. All a little unwell then and felt rather gloomy for a day or two. Now we have got to rights and all things move off nicely. A splendid view on the water. Feel perfectly at home and don't care how soon we see an enemy's ship.

January 6th, 1862:  Having an opportunity to send a letter home by a vessel lying near us, thought I would send a hurried note to let you know where we are and how we are. We are now lying off the Bahama Bank south of Florida at anchor, where we arrived on New Year's eve and dropped anchor just as the clock told us that another year had dawned upon the New World.  We have been obliged to lie here ever since on account of the wind being against us, and also for the purpose of painting the ship, &c., which is now done, and I expect every day when we shall weigh anchor and sail for Pensacola, touching Key West.  We had a fair wind from New York to where we now lie, but since we have been here the wind has been against us. We saw on our voyage here a water spout, which is something of a sight.  To see the water raise in a body to the clouds is a sight easier to be imagined than described.  We also saw a place called a "hole in the wall," but as yet there has not much transpired of moment to write. We were not any of us very sea sick on our voyage so far, although the waves several times came over the bow of the ship and wet some of us, but for all this we had a gay time and the sea never looks more beautiful than when she rolls up huge waves from her slumbering depths.  We go to quarters daily and drill with the Big guns, but I have no station yet, either in case of fire or in time of action, but am ready to take any position assigned me. We have boarded three or four vessels but all were found to be right and therefore allowed to go on their way. We are in sight of little Isaac's light house.

I have had no trouble in getting along with our officers, and they appear to want to get along with us without trouble.  The only fault to be found with them is their ignorance of the customs of a man-of-war. But when they get where there is a flag officer, they will have their instructions, and all will, I think, be remedied.  The sea looks nice on a morning like this. The sun hardly been darkened by clouds since we have been at anchor, but on the contrary it is very warm and pleasant.  The thermometer must range from 60 to 75 degrees above zero.  Some difference I image to the temperature here and in Oxford. I wear no under clothes now, and the officers appear in their summer hats.

Things appear in a very different aspect from what they did when CA. Bennett was here.  Then it was cottonlike cleaning most time. But now, we have got straightened around and things are in some kind of order.

I have been to work for a few days past on a shirt, which would be good enough for you to look in [unreadable] can I think make a shirt in a day and a half, if I had nothing else to bother me much.  

We have not seen any fighting yet, and I don't believe we shall see much, if any.  Think we shall be sent to some out-of-the way place, but all depends on the Flag officer. We are ready to meet the rebels and give them a lesson. Think we have good gunners, and some that will make the shots tell.

Should England interfere we would meet the contest like men, and never disgrace the stars and stripes which or'e-shadow our frail Bark--am not sure but we had better thrash her out after we put down the rebellion,. Can do it like a mice, and old Ireland will never (should a war between the U.S. and England exist) be an idle spectator to the scene.  Never was America so well prepared to give a reception to England with balls and shells as at this day.  But not having heard anything of what is going on, since we left New York, am ignorant what course England has concluded to adopt and will therefore dry up for fear of hurting Russell LD.L.'s feelings should he happen to get hold of this scroll.

We have services every Sunday--the Captain is spoiling for a fight, I should judge by his actions, and what he says, and we are ready to do our part. We are all well and contented.  Dolt has got entirely well--he was a little off the hooks when his father was here, but is sound as a brick now.

Tell father Stratton we will remember him to the rebels and give them an extra charge of grape or canister for him.

Have scrubbed our hammocks this morning and got them drying.

We have duff, roast beef, potatoes, hard bread, rice, butter, molasses, coffee, pork and beans, sugar &c. in their turn, together with vinegar, good cucumber pickles, dried apples &c.  Some difference from the food we got on the North Carolina.  My regards to all, 

Your affectionate son, Theodore F. McNeil.

Soldier's Letter, Civil War, - January 1862

 Oxford Times, January 22, 1861

Letter from R.L. Stevens

Camp Tenally, Washington, D.C., Jan. 3d, 1862

Friend Walker:  When we first came to Washington our Regiment was quartered on Meridian Hill, about two miles from the city, so called from the fact of its being the place from which they reckon latitude and longitude. The house in which we were quartered was a fine, ancient brick building and was occupied by John Quincy Adams as a summer residence, but since we left has been turned into a Hospital, and is now full of sick soldiers, of which there are 1500 in the different Hospitals in and about Washington. From there our regiment moved on the 26th of Sept. five miles farther up the Potomac, where a fort is building called Fort Bolt.  On the 11h of Oct. we broke up camp and moved our whole brigade to the vicinity of Chain Bridge which position we occupy at present.  Chain Bridge is considered the most important place about Washington, and is guarded accordingly, for if the rebels should succeed in crossing there, the city of Georgetown and Washington, with all its defenses would fall an easy prey. But it is so fortified that I think it would be impossible to pass.  Our brigade consists of 62d N.Y., the 13th Pa., the 55th N.Y., which are French, and as fine a regiment as ever shouldered arms and the 21st Pa. all Germans.  They number 4000 effective men.  The Colonel of the 55th together with a great many of his officers and men, were in the Crimean war, and they are the most perfect soldiers I ever thought of seeing.  Every movement they make is like clock work, and if the enemy should cross they would find them a hard snag to run over. There are three forts on this side of the river to defend the crossing, mounting 14 guns each of 24 pound caliber, besides two batteries of 32 pounders each within a few rods of the bridge, and on the other side equal preparations have been made for the defense of the bridge, and in fact, standing in our camp which is the most elevated spot in this part of the country, we can see up and down the Potomac 40 or 50 miles, and as far as the eye can reach nothing but fortifications and encampments can be seen.  Washington is completely surrounded by a chain of Forts and I have heard it remarked in Military quarters that they did not think it possible for an advancing army of 500,000 men to capture the city, but you can hardly conceive the damage that is done and the desolation that reigns throughout this section of Maryland and the adjoining counties of Virginia.  Whole districts without a fence standing and buildings such as barns, that stand back a little, are completely  demolished to get the boards to floor the tents with and the timber for fuel.  I was talking with one farmer and he told me it would cost him $400 to replace the fences on his farm, which consisted of but 80 acres, as the rails had to be split from white oak and cost $14 a hundred, and his meadows are trodden down until there is not one spear of grass to be seen, and the ground is bent as smooth and as hard as a marble table by the continual tramp of 4,000 men in their daily parade since last spring, and his is but one case of thousands.  Their crops here which consist chiefly of market vegetables, were completely destroyed, not leaving enough in some cases for family use, and peach orchards that would have yielded 200 bushels, the owners did not get 10 from, as they would all be taken before ripe. The officers would issue orders and punish men by the dozen, but it would not do much good. They would forage and take what they wanted if it came in their way. Government has appointed a committee of appraisers to appraise damages, but it never can be half paid for, there will be a thousand things that never can be appraised.  In Virginia it is far worse, the rebels have driven the Union men out in the spring, and as our troops crossed over and advanced, the secessionists fled, which left the country without inhabitants, and as for such property as cattle, sheep, horses, mules and hogs, what one army has left, the other had taken and there is nothing but the negroes, who wander about at will.  A great many of the houses are burnt, others torn down, others used by the soldiers for quarters, and everything around presents one wide spread desolation from  which it cannot recover for years.

Sunday 5th:  Today is a little more quiet than some of our Sabbaths on account of four companies being away on picket duty and guarding the forts.  Sunday is no different with us from any other day, except being a little more noisy and it is nothing strange for us to lose track of the day of the week entirely.  New Years the colonel made the Regiment a present of 20 kegs of lager beer, 100 pounds of crackers, 4 large cheese, weighing 60 pounds apiece, and a large mixture of brandy, which you may suppose made pretty lively times whilst it lasted.  Tell Jake that this is the greatest place to sell lager that he ever thought of seeing.  A man could sell 100 -?-, as fast as he could deal it out.  I do not think that in the brigade which consists of 4000 men, there are over 500 that are not foreigners, and they go in for the lager when it comes on the ground by the hundred, yelling the New York fire cry of hihihihihi repeated fast, which has a thrilling effect when it comes from the voices of three or four hundred men. The country here bears a poor comparison with old Chenango.  [...unreadable...] The soil is poor and very thin, the crops light, the country is very thinly populated and such a thing as a new building is not seen, except those that the Government has built lately, and such antiquated tools as they use here would make you insane.  Their hoes, shovel, scythes, axes, plows &c. all of the revolution or before.  You would not have believed that in our own country men could be found so dead to their own interests as to plod along and do business in the way they do here, and not seem to know that there is a better way.  The buildings in the cities and villages are all built of brick and most of them very old, and the villages do  not have that sprightly, bright, comfortable appearance that Oxford, Greene, and Norwich have, and one thing I notice that makes me think Clark Lewis would do well here, this is, they whitewash their houses instead of painting, which you know is a fancy idea with Clark.

Tuesday 7th:  Have been to Georgetown today, saw 1,000 Cavalry crossing the Chain Bridge into Virginia together with 12 mountain howitzers. We are all looking for a forward movement every day, in fact troops are moving in every direction now, but for what purpose we, of course, are ignorant, not even the officers know an hour in advance, when or which way they are to move.  But I must close by asking you to excuse this disconnected sheet, wishing to be remembered to all your family, I remain your fellow citizen.

R.L. Stevens.

Vital Records, Oxford, NY - March 1862

 Oxford Times, March 5, 1862

Married:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], by Rev. W.T. Potter, Dec. 25th, Mr. Thomas Wheeler to Miss Lydia A. Dickinson, 

Married:  Feb. 26th, Mr. Julius Wheeler to Miss Narcissa A. Mowry.

Married:  Also, Mr. Andrew J.V. Mowry to Miss Sarah A. Wheeler, all of Oxford [Chenango Co.., NY].

Married:  Also, in Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], by the same, Feb. 23d, Mr. Edwin Haight of North Norwich [Chenango Co., NY] to Miss Sibyl R. Gadsby of Gilbertsville [Otsego Co., NY].

Married:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on the 20th ult. by Rev. A.M. Bennett, Mr. Henry Johnson to Miss Mary E. Francis, all of Greene.

Married:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on the 25th ult. by Rev. Mr. Bennett, Mr. J.V. Southworth of Coventry []Chenango Co., NY] to Miss Sarah M. Osborn of Greene.

Died:  In this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], on the 28th ult. Ruth B. [Willoughby], wife of Mr. Russel Willoughby, aged 52 years.

Died:  In this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], on the 28th ult. Anna E. [Hidely], daughter of N. Hidely, aged 14? years.

Died:  In Constantine, St. Joseph's Co., Michigan, on the 20th ult. Gertie L. [Pearson], only child of James M. and Mary L. Pearson, aged 3 years and 8 days.

Died:  In McDonough [Chenango Co., NY], on the 5th ult. Maria [Barrows], wife of Alvin W. Barrows, aged 21 years.

Oxford Times, March 12, 1862

Married:  In this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], on the 8th inst. by Rev. J.C. Ransom, Mr. Liberal C.B. Fish of Otego to Miss Marian Briggs of Smithville [Chenango Co., NY].

Died:  In McDonough [Chenango Co., NY], on the 6th inst. Merton [Randall], son of Willis C. and Clarissa C. Randall, aged 7 months.

Died:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on the 2d inst. Harriet C. [Bates], wife of Harris Bates, aged 51 years.

Died:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on the 2d inst., Nellie J. [Beach], infant daughter of Darius and Jane Beach, aged 7 months.

Died:  In Smithville [Chenango Co., NY], on the 2d inst., Miss Euphemia E. [Ingersoll], daughter of David H. and Sally Ingersoll, aged 22 years.

Died:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 5th inst. Laura Louise [Brooks], youngest daughter of Charles B. and Anna L. Brooks, aged 2 years, 7 months and 11 days.

Died:  In Hospital, at Washington, on the 22d ult. of Camp disease, typhoid fever and Monia, George Rhodes, formerly of Pharsalia [Chenango Co., NY], aged 23 years.

Died:  In Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 9th inst. Mr. Abner Gilbert, aged 76 years.

Died:  In Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 9th inst. Mr. Sheldon Marsh, aged 63 years.

Fatal Accident:  Mr. Ira B. Payne of Smithville [Chenango Co., NY], met with a fatal accident on the 28th ult. while attempting to boil some oil, which took fire and exploded, filling the room with flames and burning him so that he died the next day.  He was in the 43d year of his age, and leaves a wife and nine children.  Help arrived in time to save the upright part of the house, but the wing was entirely destroyed.  Broome Gaz.

Oxford Times, March 19, 1862

Married:  In this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], on the 13th inst. by Rev. J.C. Ransom, Mr. Henry A. Nicholson to Miss Mariah Wales, both of McDonough [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  In Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], on the 5th inst. by Rev. D. Pendall, Mr. Edwin J. Fancher of Unadilla [Otsego Co., NY] to Miss Emily E. Parsons of Bainbridge.

Married:  In West Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY] on the the 5th inst. by Rev. N.R. Everts, Mr. Sheldon S. Hopkins of Oxford [Chenango Co., NY] to Miss Frances E. Fosburg, of the former place. 

Died:  In this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], on  the 18th inst. Mrs. Esther A. Merrills, aged 47 years.   

Died:  In Smithville [Chenango Co., NY], on the 10th inst. John F. [Harrison], infant son of James J. Harrison, aged 8 months and 17 days.

Oxford Times, March 26, 1862

Married:  In this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], on the 20th inst. by Rev. W.T. Potter, Mr. Thomas E. Searles of Bainbridge [Chenango C., NY] to Miss Augusta J. Loomis of Oxford.

Married:  In Hamilton [Madison Co., NY], on the 26th ult. by Rev. W.R. Brooks, Mr. P.L. Mathewson of Guilford [Chenango Co., NY] to Miss Mary A. Wickwire of Hamilton.

Married:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], Oct. 13th, by the Rev. W.H. Olin, Edward M. Mitchell to Jennie M. Walker, all of Oxford [Chenango Co., NY].

Died:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on the 17th inst., Miss Caroline Ockerman, aged 49 years.

Died:  In Smithville [Chenango Co., NY], on the 17th inst. Betsey [Merriam], wife of Samuel Merriam, aged 65 years.

Died:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on 18th inst. Eunice [Brown], widow of the late Ichabod Brown, aged 68 years.

Died:  At Hyde Park, Pa. on the 11th inst. Mr. Wm. Pier, aged 70 years, 10 months and 3 days.  The deceased was a soldier in the war of 1812, in Capt. Pelick Arnold's company, and during a long life was esteemed as a highly useful citizen.  Mr. P. was a native of N.Y. State.

Soldier's Letter, Civil War - December 1861 - Dickinson Guards

 Oxford Times, December 18, 1861

Letter from 89th Infantry N.Y.V., Dickinson Guards

Washington, D.C., Camp Shepard, Dec. 9, 1861

Thinking the Friends of our soldiers who left Oxford [Chenango Co., NY] would like to hear something of them, and the inconvenience of writing in Camp would not permit them all to write very soon, I take the opportunity of writing a few lines informing our friends something of our situation.  We left Elmira last Friday about sunset, left on the train for Williamsport, marched through Baltimore, about 2 o'clock Saturday night, a distance of three miles. We were greeted beyond our expectations, the Stars and Stripes waived on both sides and on the road.  I think the inhabitants sympathize for the Union.  We reached Washington on Sunday 3 P.M., being on the road two days and nights. We were rather tired when we reached camp, it being dark before we got our tents up.  The boys thought it rather tough to eat dry bread and salt beef, and sleep on the ground. They began to think they fared very well, while at Elmira, after all.  They used to grumble there sometimes, but they did not know when they fared well.  Though we shall soon get things straightened, and have pork, beef, rice, coffee, potatoes &c. and cook it ourselves to suit our own taste, of course.

It looks rather queer to see the inhabitants dressed in summer clothes, making garden, and setting out plants.  The weather is very warm here, as warm as our warmest days in June. We have our coats off, fixing our camp ground.

Our camp is on a high piece of ground or hill, which overlooks so beautiful a tract of country dotted with tents as far as the eye can reach.  The east branch of the Potomac is just beneath the hill. Arlington Heights is seen in the distance. We can hear their cannon frequently.  Our boys are all in good spirits. There is no Rebel camp within fifteen or twenty miles of us.  Everything looks warm like about us.    Horses and baggage wagons are moving in every direction.  It is talked that there will be an important movement in a few days.  The Railroad is guarded by our soldiers from the Penn. line to Washington, to watch the track and see that no trick is played on the soldiers passing through.

Yours &c., T.B.H.

P.S. Friends wishing to send letters to the Dickinson Guards, will direct to 89th Regt. N.Y.V., Washington, D.C.

Vital Records, Norwich, NY - February 1862

 Chenango Telegraph, Norwich, NY, February 5, 1862

Died:  TUTTLE:  In Columbus [Chenango Co., NY], on the 21st ult. of diptheria, Emma Adelia [Tuttle], only daughter of Almond Tuttle, aged 8 years.

Go to the grave but not to weep, / Nor bathe with tears her early tomb / That precious seed and angels keep / Til thence the memorial flower shall bloom. / Go to her grave, but not to mourn / That she was so fair, so bright / [...unreadable...]

Iley N. Welch, of Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY] and a member of Capt. Martin's Company, died at the Hospital in Georgetown, on the twenty-seventh ult.  Welch has been sickly for some time, and his death is not unexpected.

Chenango Telegraph, Norwich, NY, February 12, 1862

Married:  PHILLIPS - WOLCOTT:  In Otselic [Chenango Co., NY], on the 28th ult. by Rev. J.W. Barr, Mr. Welcome A. Philips to Miss Carrie L. Wolcott, both of Otselic.

Chenango Telegraph, Norwich, NY, February 19, 1862

SMITH:  In North Pitcher, on the 6th inst. Mrs. Cynthia Smith, wife of Harry Smith, in the 58th year of her age.

Chenango Telegraph, Norwich, NY, February 26, 1862

Married:  PHETTEPLACE - KETCHUM:  In East Pharsalia [Chenango Co., NY], on the 19th int. by Rev. E.N. Burdick, Mr. Samuel Phetteplace, to Mrs. Martha Ketchum, all of Lincklaen [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  PEARCE - BUNNELL:  In Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 19th inst. by Rev. A.S. Southworth, Mr. Leandoe Pearce, of Butternuts [Otsego Co., NY] to Miss Helen Fidolia Bunnell, of Guilford.

Married: DENNISON -DAVIS:  in Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 18th inst. by the same, Mr. John Dennison of Guilford to Miss Julia A. Davis of Daveport [Delaware Co., NY].

Died:  ELDREDGE:  In North Pitcher [Chenango Co., NY] on the 12th inst. of scarlet fever, James [Eldredge], youngest son of H. and Harriet Eldredge, aged 8 years.

Died:  MYERS:  In Columbus [Chenango Co., NY], on the -?- inst. Sarah L. [Myers], oldest daughter of Hezekiah Myers aged 14 years, 1 month and -?- days.

Died:  HARRINGTON:  In Smyrna [Chenango Co., NY], on the 17th ult. of scarlet fever, Marcus P. [Harrington], son of Orlando Harrington, aged 6 years and 7 months.

Terrible Accident:  From a letter received in this village a few days since we learn than an accident occurred at the house of Nehemiah Angel, in the town of Lincklaen [Chenango Co., NY] on the 12th inst., which in its consequences was truly heartrending.  Mr Angel was engaged in making some sort of medicine, the principal part of which was alcohol, when through some misstake of his it became ignited from the fire in the stove and spreading through the whole room, filled it with a blaze of fire.  There were six persons in the room and all were badly burned, one a child of Freeman Brooks, son of Luther Brooks, of this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], having since died, while the others are not yet considered out of danger. The house was almost demolished by the explosion.

Soldier's Letter, Civil War, Ellsworth's Regiment - November 1861

 Oxford Times, December 11, 1861

Letter from Ellsworth's Regiment

The following letter from a member of Ellsworth's People's Regiment to a friend in this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY] will be found very interesting.  Mr. B. was a student of the Academy last Summer.

Hall's Hill, Nov. 28, 1861

Dear Friend, Our little tent was enlivened by a letter from you this evening. As I seemed to be counted in the introduction, I will take the liberty of answering in part, although I am poorly situated to write, poor pen and ink, and sitting on the floor, yet I know you to be one who will take into consideration the inconveniences of soldiers.

We are encamped eight miles from Washington, upon the sacred soil, which at present is rather muddy. Being on the frontier of the army, we are of course subject to all the excitements of the war, which to me is very agreeable, for I like excitement. We are situated on Hall's Hill, near where his house was burnt by the rebels. He had a splendid mansion, it is said, which came into the hands of the rebels after the fight at Manassas, and was ruthlessly destroyed. A few bricks alone remain to tell where once was a pleasant home.  Hall, and family live at present in the city. To the left of us is Munson's and Upton's Hills, places that have figured extensively in this war, having been occupied and fortified by the enemy. Both now have a fine fort upon their tops. The former is called Fort Scadaddle, not a poetical name but a cant phrase used by soldiers to indicate fast running, such as was exhibited by the rebels, when they ran from Munson's Hill at the approach of our forces, four weeks ago.  On Upton's hill is Fort Ransey and is the headquarters of Gen. Wadsworth. To our left in Minor's hill, the place of balloon ascensions.  Prof. Lowe is now there.  From this hill can be seen Washington, nine miles back, and in front but for a single hill, Manassas could be seen fifteen miles ahead.  Two days ago returning from a scouting expedition toward Fairfax, I stopped at Miner's and ascended the signal stand. One of the finest sights I think that man ever saw presented itself.  From this elevation, some 80 feet, could be seen the camps of almost all of the grand army. For miles and miles around, was nothing but the white tents of soldiers.  At night, when all are lighted up, the sight must be splendid beyond description.  At the time of my view, the men were out on drill, and there must have been within a radius of seven miles, one hundred thousand men moving; infantry, cavalry, and light artillery.  I looked long and steady, leaving at last reluctantly. I thought to myself who would not be a soldier, but added if it was not for this living, I mean this eating.  I have traveled this country pretty well over since here, out as far as one can.  Have been on the lines, three times on picket guard, and three times beyond them scouting. Two days ago with some of our regiment, I went to Fairfax Court House onto the hill this side. We were led by a government scout, and went to take back some cattle which had been stolen by the rebels. We went further than necessary, just to get a view of the rebel fortifications reported to be at Fairfax village.  By keeping to the fields and woods, we got onto a little hill overlooking that renowned place, but saw but little save some slight breast works and a few women in the street. The place appeared like the rest of the sacred soil in these parts, deserted and desolate.

At Hall's Church, another noted place, and where our forces had a heavy skirmish some four weeks ago, I again stopped and went on a view.  This little village is also deserted by both men and women. A few Jews have their stands there to swindle soldiers out of $13 per month. Here is the ancient church where once Washington held his headquarters, 'Tis built of brick and has been in use one hundred and twelve years.  It was long kept in repair by a "F.F.V." and Henry Fairfax, to whose memory is a marble slab fitted in the wall on one side of the house with a full description of his munificence carved thereon for the benefit of the congregation to read every Sunday, especially those not interested in the sermon. The Church stands in the middle of a burying ground, in which there is a great number of recent graves, noticeable by their modern gravestones. Tis amusing yet sad to read the inscriptions; killed in battle, here a rebel, and there a Union soldier lying in close proximity to one another. They will war with each other no more. The Church is battered with bullets which lay scattered about like pebbles. The fence is literally cut in pieces to the Church. The doors lay open, the cushions to the seats have been carried off by pieces by the soldiers, and sent away to their homes.  I followed in the steps of my predecessors, but more sacrilegious than others, I took a piece from the pulpit, and will send you some. Over this had leaned for support some secesh while holding forth to an assenting audience his infernal doctrines of rebellion.  I also have been to the Scott house. You remember last spring of reading about the seduction of an officer by two young ladies who wished his escort home. The girls do not live at home now. They dare not. The old woman is all that is left. Sure does not war break up families.

You are undoubtedly looking for an advance, so are we, but know no more about it than you, yet we think it to be near. We are not ordered to make any preparations for winter which we would be were we not to move soon. There is fighting every day on the lines three miles from here more or less.  Last night two regiments were called out, and we were ordered to hold ourselves ready.  One of those that went was the 17th, in which are the boys that first went from Oxford, with Capt. Tyrrell.  They lay alongside of us in the same brigade.

Yours, &c.  J.S.B.

Vital Records, Oxford Times, February 1862

 Oxford Times, February 5, 1862

Married:  In Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], on the 27th ult., by Rev. David L. Pendall, Mr. Harvey J. Wescott of Oneonta [Otsego Co., NY], to Miss Adaline A. Pearsall of Bainbridge.

Married:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 22d ult., by Rev. Samuel Scoville, Mr. Charles H. Merritt to Mrs. Cornelia M. Hartson, youngest daughter of David Maydole, Esq.,

Married:  In McDonough [Chenango Co., NY], on the 22d ult., by Rev. W.W. Andrew, Mr. Augustus C. Aldrich of Plymouth [Chenango Co., NY], to Miss Sarah Kenyon of McDonough.

Died:  In Coventry [Chenango Co., NY], on the 13th ult., Addie Conant, aged 15 years.

Died:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on the 16th ult., Mrs. Young, aged 69 years.

Oxford Times, February 12, 1862

Married:  In Cincinnatus [Cortland Co., NY], on 20th ult. by Rev. B. Shove, Mr. William Winter to Miss Rebecca L. Curtis, both of Greene [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  In Afton [Chenango Co., NY] on the 29th ult., by Rev. W.G. Queal, Mr. Ira Bartholomew to Miss Rachel Holmes, both of Oxford [Chenango Co., NY].

Died:  In this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY] on the 5th inst., Fannie P. [Moulton], infant daughter of Jared and Esther Moulton, aged 7 weeks and 4 days.

Died:  At Washington, D.C., on the 2d inst., Mr. Nehemiah Carpenter of Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], a soldier in the Dickinson Guards, aged 24 years.

Died:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on the 8th ult. Clarissa A. [Barnett], wife of Rev. C.F. Barnett, aged 72 years.

Died:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on the 3d inst., Charles Frank [Cunningham], son of C.F.G. and Emily S. Cunningham, aged 9 years.

Died:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on the 4th inst. Hattie E. [Matteson], only child of C.B. and Amanda Matteson, aged 12 years.

Died:  In Coventry [Chenango Co., NY], on the 29th ult., Mr. Record Wilbur, aged 99 years and 29 days.  He had been for seventy years a resident of Coventry, and was for three months a soldier in the Revolutionary War.

Oxford Times, February 19, 1862

Married:  In this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], on the 11th inst., by Rev. J.C. Ransom, Mr. Lawrence C. Hubbard to Miss Melvina L. Murphey, both of Hamilton [Madison Co., NY].

Married:  In this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], on the 12th inst. by Rev. W.T. Potter, Geo. Claghorn, Esq., of Masonville [Delaware Co., NY] to Miss Almira Curtis of this village.

Married:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 13th inst. by Rev. W.T. Potter, Mr. David B. Gordon to Miss Mary F. Russel, both of Oxford.

Married:  In Smithville [Chenango Co., NY], on the 10th inst. by Rev. J.C. Ransom, Mr. Mandeville S. Cole to Miss Sarah Dibble, both of Smithville.

Died:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 14th inst. Mr. David P. Judson, aged 76 years.

Died:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 14th inst. Mary [More], daughter of Mr. Peter More, Late of Marathon [Cortland Co., NY], aged 21 years.

Died:  At Grand Rapids, Mich., on 31st Jan. Mr. Edward W. Cheesbro, formerly student of Oxford Academy, aged 42 years.

Died:  In McDonough [Chenango Co., NY], on the 5th inst., Mr. A. Barrow, aged 24 years.

Oxford Times, February 26, 1862

Married:  In this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], on the 22d inst. by R.F. Lownsbery, Esq., Mr. John Raynor of Unadilla [Otsego Co., NY] to Miss Elizabeth Leason of Oxford.

Died:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on the 19th inst., Minnie [Macdonald], infant daughter of Ransom and Almeda Macdonald, aged about 10 months.

Died:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on the 14th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hotchkiss, aged 57 years.

Died:  In Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 27th ult. L. Amelia [Whiting], daughter of B.M. and E.P. Whiting, aged 5 years.

Died:  In Smithville [Chenango Co., NY], on the 20th inst., Albert Rorapaugh, son of Uri Rorapaugh, aged 19 years.

Died:  In Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY], on 21st inst., Ella J. [Whitmore], daughter of Samuel P and Mary H. Whitmore, aged 3 years.

Soldier's Letter, Civil War - November 1861

 Oxford Times, December 11, 1861

Letter from the Ellsworth Regiment

A correspondent writing from Hall's Hills, Va. Nov. 28th to the Utica Herald gives some interesting intelligence which we copy:

We are encamped upon Hall's Hill, one and a half miles from Munson Hill, three miles from Fall's Church.  We arrived here the 28th of October (just one week from the day we left Albany) about 7-1/2 o'clock, after a tedious march of about 10 hours and 18 miles travel, and were quite surprised to find that the 83d Pennsylvania regiment had pitched our tents and had a good warm supper ready for us, which we did ample justice to, I assure you.  We are in Gen. Butterfield's Brigade and Porter's Division.  Our brigade is composed of the New York 17th and 44th regiments, and the Pennsylvania 83d and Michigan 2d regiments. We drill about six hours a day, so you see we don't have much time to ourselves.  We have knapsack drill from 7 to 8 a.m.; battalion drill from 10 to 12; and brigade drill from 2 to 5 p.m.  We drill mostly in skirmishing, bayonet and exercise and target shooting.  The measles have broken out in camp and most of the men have them. We lost six men last week, whose names I here give:  Company C, George W Schermerhorn, of Albany county, and Nathan A. Wilson, of Salem, Washington County; Company D, Elias D. Gardiner, of Burlington, Otsego county; Company E, Albert C. Belcher, of Newark Valley, Tioga county; Company F, Charles W. Chappel, of Schuyler's Lake, Otsego county; Company I, John F. Hime, of Hamburgh Erie county.

Last week Wednesday, our regiment, together with 71,000 more troops, were reviewed by General McClellan and President Lincoln, in a field of about 200 acres, near Bailey's Cross Roads.  It was the largest number of troops ever reviewed at one time.  There was a perfect sea of heads as far as the eye could reach.  From 9 o'clock a.m. until 1 p.m., every road leading to the review ground was crowded as far as you could see.  At 1 o'clock the President and General made their appearance on the ground.  They were greeted with cheers from the men as they passed, and our band struck up "Hail to the Chief."  A salute from the batteries was also fired as they came upon the ground.

Last Sunday, Gen. McClellan came to see us parade, and when we were done he told our Colonel that our regiment was the best drilled and finest looking regiment that he had ever reviewed.  That was something big for the Commander-in-Chief of our army to say, when there are so many fine regiments in the field.

Last Tuesday night, a messenger came into camp post haste, with the report that our pickets had been attacked by the rebels and driven in two miles.  Five regiments were sent out, but it was found to be the Pennsylvania 3d regiment of cavalry that had been attacked, about nine miles beyond our lines. they were surrounded by the rebels and had to fight their way out.  They lost 15 men, and a sorrier looking lot of men you never saw than they were when they came within our lines, some on foot, some on horse back, some minus hats, coats, &c, with their faces and arms scratched by the bushes.  One lieutenant came in next morning with his head cut by a sabre; he had lain in the woods all night.  Our pickets were advanced one mile yesterday; they are now about three miles from Fall's Church towards Centreville.  We expect to move on in a few days, but in what direction we don't know; we hope it is South Carolina, for it is so cold here that we are willing to have a little fighting just for the sake of getting into a warmer climate.

Vital Records, Norwich, NY - January 1862

 Chenango Telegraph, Norwich, NY, January 8, 1862

Married:  RANSFORD - GARLICK:  In this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], on the 24th ult. by Rev. A.N. Benedict, Mr. Chas. E. Ransford to Miss Almira M. Garlick, both of Norwich.

Married:  TINKER - SPENCER:  In Plymouth on the 20th ult., by Rev. O. Eastman, Mr. B. Tucker, of Delaware county [NY] to Miss Mary Spencer of Smyrna [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  MCINTYRE - SPENCER:  By the same, at the same time, Mr. Almon McIntyre to Miss Maria Spencer of Smyrna [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  VANPATTEN - RAY:  By the same on the 27th ult., Rev. James Van Patten of Belmar, Tioga county, Pa., to Miss A. Ray, of Otselic [Chenango Co., NY].

STEWARD - HUNTLEY:  In this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], Nov. 19th by Rev. I. Wright, Mr. -?- H. Steward to Miss -?- S. Huntley, both of -?-.

Death of a Volunteer:  Mr. Richard Miller, a private in Capt. Martin's Company, 17th Regiment N.Y.S.V., died at the Hospital in Baltimore on the 24th day of December, of Varioloid.  Capt. Martin represented that Miller was always a good soldier, and a true man, and his death is greatly lamented by his comrades.

Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY]:  Another of our oldest and most respected citizens has suddenly passed away and "the places that have long known him, will know him no more forever."  Nahum Starr, who died at his residence in this village on the 3d ult. was so well known in this community, that his death would seem to call for something more than an ordinary obituary notice.  He was born in Danbury, Conn. on the 24th of January 1790. After a short residence at Butternuts, Otsego Co. [NY], he came to Sherburne, soon after which he joined the army of 1812, and served through the war.  he was in the battle of Queenstown. At the close of the war he returned to Sherburne where he has since constantly resided. During all this time he has been identified with the business interests of our village, and his habits of industry, frugality and unbending integrity. gained him the confidence and respect of our whole community.  He has reared a large family of children, all of whom have grown to man and womanhood.  They are, however, so widely scattered that he was denied the gratification of their presence around his death bed.  One son, only, was present at his death.  Five of his sons have been, for several years, in Portland, Oregon, where they are doing a prosperous business, and his eldest son, Addison M. Starr is, or has recently been, Sheriff of the county in which he resides.  Mr. Starr was a man of more than ordinary intelligence, a good neighbor and warm friend.  Death  could hardly have taken from us one who would be more generally missed.   M.

Chenango Telegraph, Norwich, NY, January 15, 1862

Married:  FOSTER - HOPKINS?:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], Nov. -?-, by Rev. A.C. Smith, Rev. G.W. Foster of Oriskany Falls [Oneida Co., NY], to Miss Julia Hopkins? of Norwich.

Married:  PAINE - THOMPSON:  In Plymouth [Chenango Co., NY], on the 10th? ult. by the same, Mr. Arthur Paine of South New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY] to Miss Almira Thompson of the same place.

Chenango Telegraph, Norwich, NY, January 22, 1862

Married:  CHAPMAN - CLEVELAND:  On the 25th ult. by Rev. J. Lord, Mr. Anthony Chapman, to Miss Martha Cleveland, both of Smyrna [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  TOTMAN - NEWTON:  In Pharsalia [Chenango Co., NY], on the 1st inst. by Rev. J.W. Barr, Mr. Darwin Totman, of Pharsalia and Miss Newton, of the same place.

Died:  EVANS:  In Preston [Chenango Co., NY], on the 13th inst., Angeline [Evans], only child of Prentice Evans, aged 6 years, 2 months and 10 days.  We shall miss the kind word and encouraging face, / The house will look cheerless and sad. / For a chair will be vacant, a voice be missing / When the loved of our circle has fled. / But we know though she's lost to us here on earth, / She will have a bright home above; / And will join in the angels' holy songs / Of joy and praise and love.

Died:  MILLS:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 13th inst. of scarlet fever, Hattie A. [Mills], daughter of Mrs. Harriet Mills, aged 3 years.  A sad record that may well challenge the sympathy of the community.  In April the husband entered the army in the 2d Connecticut volunteers, was in the battle of Bulls Run and from exposure and over exertion was prostrated by disease, reached home only to die.  He died on the 4th and one of her two children on the 2nd of September, and now the last and only only child of the widowed mother is taken.

Death of Chenango Volunteer:  We have been furnished with a letter from the Chaplain of the Regiment, giving the particulars of the death of Milo Church, a private in Capt. Kinney's Cavalry Company, from which we intended to make some extracts, but, unfortunately, it is mislaid and we are unable to find it.  The letter speaks very highly of Milo as a man and soldier, and for the consolation of his friends, states that he had every attention in the hospital at Washington, where he died, that he could have had, and he died at his own home, surrounded by kindred.  Capt. Kinney and his men were unremitting in their kindness to him, for which they doubtless have the thanks of every friend of the soldier.  The body was brought home to Sherburne for interment.