4th Massachusetts Artillery CIVIL WAR LETTER Describes Captured Rebel Guns Etc..

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4th Massachusetts Artillery CIVIL WAR LETTER Describes Captured Rebel Guns Etc..:
$42.00

Civil War LetterThis Civil War soldier letter was written by Sgt. John Whitcomb Piper (1820-1903) of Co. L, 4th Massachusetts Heavy Artillery is a delightful read and offersa sustained viewof Washington D. C. from the perspective of a non-commissioned officer not commonly found during the civil war. Serving as the company’s commissary sergeant, Piper was permitted to cross the Potomac in and out of Washington on nearly a daily basisseeking provisions and running various sundry errands for “his boys” in Company L. He used the opportunity to visit places of interest in the city and wrote home regularly and faithfully to his wife in Lynn, Massachusetts, of his daily “tramp.”

TRANSCRIPTION

Addressed to Mrs. John W. Piper, Lynn, Massachusetts

Washington D. C.
October 6th 1864

Dear wife,

I have just received a letter from you & one from Louisa. I will as usual write you a line just so you can tell where I am. I have been looking over U. S. property today. After breakfast, I got 3 men detailed to build us an oven. After I had got them at work, I took two pairs of boots arms & jackets full of watches & wallet full of money & started for the city. I found a cobbler in Georgetown where I left my boots and then took the horsecars & rode to the Capitol. Here I spent an hour or 2 in looking over the Capitol [building]. It does a person a great deal of good to look over that building & the great paintings which hang around its wall. Go into the Senate Chamber & run it over. What a spacious hall it is. How neat & how rich everything looks. Then go into the Vice President’s Room & see the splendid mirrors — one at each [end] of the room, almost the size of the room & must have cost thousands of dollars, & the richness of the furniture &c. &c. I will not attempt to describe. I would like to have you come out here & see for yourself. I am inclined to think that you cannot have a better time to see what there is to be seen in Washington. I think it will be rather doubtful about our staying here this winter. I am more than half inclined to think that we shall see Massachusetts before next August. But never mind that. If we are going to spend out time in the forts, I should rather stay here than to spend the winter in forts in Massachusetts. But should be satisfied either way.

After I had seen all I wanted to in the Capitol [building], I went down to the Navy Yard. It is as much as a mile from the Capitol. I saw so many things there that if I should undertake to write them to you, I don’t know as I should have paper enough to do it. I saw quite a number of large guns that were captured from the Rebels. I saw one that was taken from the Old RebelMerrimack. It had about 2 feet broken off the end of it. I saw one gun that was as large round as a ____ at the breech & carried a 430 lb. ball. It was cracked in a number of places. It was fired over 800 times before it give out. I saw some nearly as large split in halves — some with the breech blown off & so on. I have a little piece of copper which I will send to John A. & Philip which will show you how they make percussion caps. They make them very fast & as fast as they make them, they cannot get them out fast enough. But will not attempt to describe anything more.

Naval Yard in Washington D. C.

I took the horsecars & set my face toward home. I rode about½ way [down] the Pennsylvania Avenue & then commenced doing my errands. Fiddle strings to get combs, watches, &c. &c. Got everything done & was walking on the sidewalk & met Capt. Levi Lawrence. He says it is an endless joke to get a discharge from the army. He has been there waiting for 2 weeks & says it will cost him 75 dollars.

As I stepped on the cars, there was a lady got off the cars with a little boy & bound for Willard’s Hotel. I think [it] was Mrs. Norcross. I did not think of her till she had ____ or I should have ventured to have spoken to her. I arrived home all safe & found the oven all done in good shape. And now I think we shall have some baked beans soon.

I am very glad you are going to take up that mortgage. It is the safest way to do, It was understood that I should buy 5 years but if he will take the money so much the better. It is always the safest way to pay dents when you have the money. I am glad that you get your State Aid without any difficulty. I don’t see but what you are well to live & everything you could ask for. Have plenty of little folks to help you and no man to trouble you.

The boys are talking over their gay living in Marblehead. Give my love to all & kiss all the little [ones] & tell them that Father wants to see them all. I am well as ever & hope that this will find you all the same.

From your affectionate husband, — J. W. Piper

TERMS

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