21 Letter Archive - Brothers in 27th and 19th Mass Infantry, Salem Mass


21 Letter Archive - Brothers in 27th and 19th Mass Infantry, Salem Mass

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21 Letter Archive - Brothers in 27th and 19th Mass Infantry, Salem Mass:
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Very nice 21 letter archive from Salem Mass brothers AlbertCate (27th Mass Infantry; 18 letters) and John H. Cate (19thMass Infantry and USN; 3 letters). Archiveincludes 2 cabinet card photos and one small photo of their sister Hattie whoreceived many of the letters and preserved them plus a family history documentas well. All letters are signed and wardated (except 1). Also includes some internet research on the brothers.

I have transcribed 3 of the more interesting below from Albert. Here are some brief descriptions anddatelines

Albert’s letters:

1)Annapolis, MD Nov 6, 1861, Camp Burnside 3 andhalf pages in pencil, good newsy letter, addressed “Dear friend”

2)Annapolis,MD, Nov. 6th, 1861, 3 page in pencil, addressed, Dear Sister. Good newsyletter.

3)Pimlico Sound, on Board the Ranger, 4 pages in pencil,Dear Sister, great letter (transcribed below).

4)Newbern, NC, April 8th 1862, DearSister, 3 ½ pages in ink. War news …justgot back from picket, could see the rebel pickets every day…

5)Newbern, Aug 12, 1862, Dear Sister, 4 pages inink, describes a scout they were on that captured 9 rebels.

6)Newport Barracks, Nov 3, 1862, Dear Sister, 3pages in ink, Albert is ill, 40 sick at the hospital, company is played out,one of the co died Sunday, describes another expedition to Weldon and Suffolk.

7)Newbern, May 5th 1863, Dear Sister, 2pages in ink, describes a small fight with the enemy,

8)Newbern July 11, 1863, Dear Friend, 2/12 pagesin ink, small expedition to cover a cavalry raid, we had glorious news …”Gen Meadis doing the thing up brown” and also hear Vicksburg is taken…

9)Portsmouth VA, Dec 26th, 1863, DearSister, 4 pages in ink, newsy letter about the going to the theater in Norfolk,“they think more here of Christmas than they do of the forth of July up north”

10) Norfolk,VA Feb 15th 1864, Dear Sister, 4 pages in ink, company is stilldoing provost guard duty in the city, wouldn’t enlist again if he got twothousand dollars!

11) Norfolk,VA Feb 16th, Dear sister, 4 pages ink, more on provost guard duty inNorfolk.

12) Norfolk,Feb 16th 1864, Dear Mother 3 ½ pages in ink, domestic issues, wantsto get a furlough to go home.

13) Portsmouth,Feb 24th 1864, Dear Friend, 4 pages ink, fixing up camp outside thecity, camp gossip,

14) Juliancreek, near Portsmouth, April 15th 1864. Dear Sister, 4 pages ink,detailed report of an expedition to Suffolk.

15) Juliancreek, April 15th, 1864 Dear Mother, 3 pages, ink, talks about the expeditionand being on picket.

16) Infront of Richmond, May 25, 1864, Dear Sister, 2 ½ pages, pencil (nice action lettertranscribed below).

17) Campin front of Petersburg, Aug 21st, 1864, dear Mother, 4 pages, ink(another nice action letter, transcribed below).

18) StLouis, MO, July 23, 1868, Albert is planning on coming home from the west.

John Cates letters:

1)Falmouth, VA March 1, 1863, 2 ½ pages, ink,putting together quite a force here to keep the Rebs from crossing the river,Gen Hooker is a fine looking man, but not as good as McClellan, Rebs sendpapers back and forth to the union troops, small cavalry skirmish is reported.

2)Falmouth, May 12, 1863, Dear Mother, 2 pages,ink, don’t know whether we are going to have another battle, asks about otherfriends in the army.

3)Camp near Brandy Station, Dec 4, 1863, DearMother 1 page, ink, we were on a short campaign up to orange court house, hadone or two fight and drove the rebs every time we met them.

TRANSCRIBED LETTERS:

Pimlico Sound

On Board the Ranger, of(f) Roanoke Island, Feb 20

Dear Sister

Having an opportunity to write, I thought I would improve itby writing to you. I am well and I hopethis will find you the same. We have nowbeen on the water six weeks and I am sick of it, although we have good times.

We had quite a little battle a week ago on Roanoke I. The battle lasted two days, our Reg was onone of the gun boats and one company had got to stay to help work the guns, andit fell on our Com. Fryday at 11 oclockthe first gun was fired. We had 28 gunboats, they had a small fleet to meet us and a large fort on the Island, wefired all day long till dark and then laid off till morning. Not a shot struck our boat but the shellsflew all around us. We was about a halfa mile from the fort, som of the boats got hit while we was a landing ourtroops, and before morning they were all landed. In the morning we commenced again and firedabout an hour when we had a signal to cease firing for our troops had atactedthem. Our troops had to wade in mud upto their necks to get at them and at five oclock the stars and strips were hoistedon the fort. They had a long hardbattle, you can get more news in the papers than I can tell you. We expect to go to Newbern.

Do you hear from John?You spoke to have me get a bill so that Mother could draw from the city,I spoke you our Capt about it and he said he would give me one, but the Colwould have to sign it and he is on another vessle and as soon as I can I willget one for her.

I have not time to write much more for the mail goes out inhalf an hour. How does Hatty get along,give my love to her, tell her I shall write to her as soon as I can. What is Henry doing this winter? Give my respects to him, give my love toMother, I suppose she has a hard time to get along. I guess you thought I was not going to writeto you again. I wrote to you just beforeI left Anapolis, but Lizzy this is the first oppertunity to we have had sincewe have been on the boat to send any letters.

I must now draw to a close, good by till I write again.

From your affectionate brother, Albert Cate

Direct your letters:

Co D. 27th Reg Mass Vol, Fort Monroe, GenBurnsides Division and I shall be shure to get it.

In front of Richmond

May 25th 1864

Dear Sister,

I recived your letter and was glad to hear from you, it wasa good thing that you sent me this paper or I could not have wrote to you, itis impossible to get any here.

Hatte, we are having awfull times here, we lay now withintwenty rods of the Rebs behind brest works that we drove them out of. Our Regt made a charge day before yesterdayand they cut us awfully. Our Co had 6killed and 25 wounded. I never expectedto get out alive. We have only got 103men in the Regt now, we lost one morning with Butler 350 men, they have cut ourRegt all to pieces, we have lost 18 officers, both Colonels and Major andAdjatant

You asked me if I was going to get out of it this month, Iguess we wont till our time is out next Sept.The 19thMass us with us, I went to see it the other day, Ithought John was in it but they told me he had gone into the Navy, he was alucky boy.

Well Hattie, I must close, the balls are flying most to fastfor me to write. Give my love to Mother,Lizzie and all the rest. As soon as Iget some paper I will write again. Ifyou send me any more paper, direct the envelope, I don’t know how I shalldirect this.

From your affectionate brother Albert Cate, direct toFortress Monroe, Va

Camp in front of Petersburg, Aug 21st/64

Dear Mother,

I received your letter and was glad to hear from you. We are now laying in the rear works, we go tothe front to night. We moved our Campthe other day up to the works and they can see our tents, and every night atone oclock they have shelled us out of it so we would have to leave and getbehind the works. This morning they didnot commence till three oclock. Our Gentried to get (us) out, down behind a hill, but our Div Commander would not lethim. We would rather be to the front forthere is not half the danger up there. Theyare having a big fight on our left, the 2nd and 5th Corpshave gone out there, they have got the Weldon Railroad. It is a report here that the Rebs massedthere troops this forenoon and tried to drive our forces form it. We have not heard the results yet.

We got up quite a little panic in front of us thisforenoon. The Rebs come out of theirworks and started to come to ours, but our boys soon made them show the whitefeather. We had quite a little fight,we was called into line and stood behind the works about an hour, then we hadan order we might rest. We lay on ourarms now and will all night.

I don’t care about being in any more fights for my time isnear out and I want to come home, but if they attack us I should willinglystand behind the works and fight them.Only 29 more days, we begin to count them, we will leave the front aboutthe 15th of next month. Weare to be in Springfield on the 19th that is the order form Gov.Andrew. When you write to me, I wish youwould let me know what Father’s brother name was, there is a Cate inSpringfield that keeps store there, is he any relations of don’t you know?

I am glad you sent that letter of John’s to me, I shallwrite to him. Give my respects to Uncleand Aunt, tell them I should be very happy to make them a visit. There is a couple of boys in my Co formMaine, they want to have me go home with them, if I should, I could come whereyou are now.

Well Mother, I must close for I am not in a very goodposition to write with 60 rounds of Cartridges attached to me. Give my love to Carrie and except this fromyour affectionate Son,

Albert Cate

When you direct your letters to me leave off “in Camp nearPetersburg” and put on the Regt and Co, 1st Brigade, 2ndDivision 18th AC, Ft. Monroe, Va


21 Letter Archive - Brothers in 27th and 19th Mass Infantry, Salem Mass:
$600.00

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