82nd New York Infantry CIVIL WAR LETTER from Camp Gorman, Poolesville, Maryland

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82nd New York Infantry CIVIL WAR LETTER from Camp Gorman, Poolesville, Maryland:
$56.50

Civil War Letter

George’s headstone at Arlington Cemetery

This Civil War soldier letter was written by George W. Fernald (1840-1918), the son of Richard M. Fernald (1801-Aft1870) — a master mariner — and Mary E. Golibart (1806-1859). George’s father was a native of New Hampshire; his mother a native of Maryland. In the 1855 NYS Census, 15 year-old George is enumerated in his parents household in Deerpark, Orange County, New York, where his occupation is given as “boatman.”

George enlisted on 21 May 1861 at age 21 in New York City to serve three years in Co. C, 82nd New York Infantry. He was wounded in the chest at Gettysburg on 3 July 1863 and later pronounced “unfit for active service” but, being unable to receive a discharge, he was placed on detached duty as a payroll clerk under Major Elliott in Baltimore. He was later returned to his regiment andtransferred into Co. A. but he did not re-enlist when his time was up and he mustered out of the service on 27 May 1864 at New York City.

The letter was written in 1862 when the regiment was encamped at Poolesville, Maryland, and the unit arrived at Harrison’s Landing on the James River in Virginia at the end of the Peninsula Campaign.

George wrote to his cousin, George H. Fernald (1832-Aft1910). In 1860, 17 year-old George (1843-Aft1910) resided in New York City with his mother, Eliza Fernald (b. 1809) and his six siblings. In the 1870 US Census, George’s parents areenumerated in Brooklyn. Golibart (age 24) was residing with them and his occupation is given as “works on ferry.” Also in the household was a son named Edward, born in 1858.

George married Martha Ann Graham (1838-1904) in 1866. Their daughter, Flora Parsons Fernald, claims to have been born in Syracuse, New York. We know that George served as a pension offclerk after the war. He started receiving an invalid’s pension himself in 1867.

Findley House in Georgetown

TheEvening Star(Washington D. C.) published the following incident involving George in its 30 November 1908 issue:

George W. Fernald, seventy years of age, who has held a clerkship in the pension office since January 1, 1883, was removed to the Casualty Hospital this morning in an unconscious condition, having inhaled illuminating gas. The gas in his room at the house of George Cook, 120 C. Street, northeast, had been accidentally left turned on last night and his death would probably have occurred had not the odor attracted attention to his room about 7:30 o’clock this morning. Shortly after reaching the hospital, Mr. Fernald regained consciousness and this afternoon it was said he would recover. the sick man is prominent in G. A. R. circles, and many anxious inquiries were made about him at the hospital. He is a native of New York.

Georgedied on 8 September 1918 at Washington D. C. and is buried in Arlington Cemetery, site 19244.

George was the owner of the Findley House at 3606 N. Street, N. W. in Georgetown in 1908.

TRANSCRIPTION

Addressed to George H. Fernald, New York City, N. Y.
118 Cannon Street

Camp Gorman [Poolesville, Maryland]
February 7, 1862

Dear Cousin,

I received yours of the 2nd last evening & was glad to hear you was well & enjoying good health, I am well except that I have a sore leg which troubles me a little this wet weather.

You wanted to know if I had got that box of stationery yet but I have not received yet. I got the papers that you sent me & am very much obliged to you for them. Also the box of stationery which I hope [will] reach here all safe.

The snow has been about four inches deep here but yesterday it rained which took it pretty well off & today it is thawing pretty fast. It is very disagreeable weather out here. One day it rains, next day it snows, & then it thaws so it makes it very unhealthy. There is some forty sick men in our regiment.

You wanted to know if things looked like a move out here but the roads are so bad that the army can’t move. But I expect that as soon as the roads get so that we can move, there will be a move all along our lines & some hard fighting is to be done then.

You say that you & Eliza went to the ball at the Apollo Rooms. ¹There was one of my tent mates at the same ball by the name of James McCord. Probably you may have saw him there.

But I must close now so give my love to all the folks & keep a large share for yourself.

Your cousin, — George

G. W. F. to G. H. F.

P. S. Write soon & often

¹ There was a Ball held at the Apollo Rooms in New York City on Tuesday Evening, January 14, 1862.

TERMS

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