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https://lc-digital.conncoll.edu/files/original/8398f8c6edb016409b0d53a3c65f6d20.pdf
a8f2103bda3a765d41f9e22590df6bfb
Dublin Core
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Title
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Cornelius Gold Papers
Description
An account of the resource
A collection of correspondence between Cornelius Gold and his family, written between 1862 and 1866. The bulk of the correspondence is from Gold to his mother. There are also several pieces of correspondence to his brother and individual letters to other family members. This collection includes two letters from Romulus Loveridge, a lieutenant in the 3rd US Colored Infantry. The collection also contains a 62 page journal kept by Gold on his voyage from New York to Hong Kong and from Hong Kong to England in 1861-1862.
Creator
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Gold, Cornelius, B., 1839-1921
Source
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<a href="http://collections.conncoll.edu/gold/fa.html">Cornelius Gold Papers</a>, Linda Lear Center for Special Collections and Archives
Publisher
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Linda Lear Center for Special Collections and Archives, Connecticut College
Subject
The topic of the resource
United States -- History -- Civil War (1861-1865) -- Sources
Text
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Text
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<p class="p1">Camp 3rd Reg’t. U.S.C.T.<br />Morris Island, S.C.<br />Sept 11, 1863</p>
<p class="p2">Dear Cornelius,<br />We have not taken<span class="Apple-converted-space"> <br /></span>Charleston, nor has this barren<br />island been transformed into<br />a second “Garden of Eden”, why<br />I seize my pen to write you a<br />hasty letter, but the non-arrival<br />of mail for us has made us<br />desperate - there is deep water -<span class="Apple-converted-space"> <br /></span>powder + balls near at hand. What<br />is to be done?<br />As all our news and love<br />must come from the north, I<br />suppose the treason must be great,<br />but remember we are willing<br />to pay high premiums for genuine<br />articles.<br />I take it for granted you<br /><br />[Page 2]<br />do not expect much from me<br />for it is glory enough <span style="text-decoration:underline;">to be a soldier</span>,<br />without being able to write a<br />good letter.<br />Did I think you were unlike<span class="Apple-converted-space"> <br /></span>myself and could sympathize<br />with the victim, I would tell<br />you of a foot-race that took<br />place between one of our boys<br />and a crab — poor crab got<span class="Apple-converted-space"> <br /></span>beaten + the fellow eats rations<br />for a week at one meal.<br />But to tell the truth we are<br />living by eating + drink here<br />as you do in the land of promise<br />not knowing what a day may<br /><span style="text-decoration:underline;">not</span> bring forth. The weeks just<br />past have brought forth daily<span class="Apple-converted-space"> <br /></span>digging in the trenches, before<br />Wagner, and last Monday’s<span class="Apple-converted-space"> <br /></span>sun rose upon <span style="text-decoration:underline;">Federal bayonets</span><br />upon the parapet of that fort.<br />Many lives were lost — many</p>
<p class="p1">[Page 3]<br />poor fellows wounded during<br />the seige, but we are thankful<br />that the number of casualties<br />was not increased by the capture<br />of the fort.<br />The chivalry left in time<br />to avoid fighting, leaving behind<br />them guns and ammunition.<br />They went not away, however,<br />without leaving unmistakable<br />tokens of the love they bear<br />us.<br />To facilitate our occupation<br />of their late home — they left<span class="Apple-converted-space"> <br /></span>heavy planks across the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> <br /></span>moat ring around it. Some,<br />without reason I think, are<br />disposed to question their motives<br />inasmuch as the planks were<br />driven thick with sharpened<br />spikes — they being two inches<br />apart and three inches above<br />board. Judging of this act in the</p>
<p class="p1">[Page 4]<br />light which their previous conduct<br />enables us to, is not the conclusion<br />reasonable, indeed inevitable, that<br />they intended us no injury, but,<br />probably laying the planks in the<br />dark, they accidentally got them<span class="Apple-converted-space"> <br /></span>down wrong side up — with the<br />spikes down the planks would have<br />been more firm.<br />I see no reason to regard these<br />people otherwise than as brothers<span class="Apple-converted-space"> <br /></span>and well wishers although along<br />the side of the fort exposed to attack<br />were driven lances, so arranged<br />that a party of men having gained<br />the parapet + then being driven back<br />must unavoidably fall impaled<br />upon them. To my mind the fact<br />that their object, in placing the lances<br />as stated, was to assist those who<br />might wish to scramble up the<br />bank.</p>
<p class="p1">[Page 5]<br />I sometimes think our kinsmen heedless<br />But the other day, they carelessly left<br />lying, unlabelled in the sand, a<span class="Apple-converted-space"> <br /></span>small tin box, which a soldier<br />accidentally hitting with his foot<br />and rendered amputation necessary.<br />“A prophet is without honor in<br />his own land”, so with this<br /><span style="text-decoration:underline;">traduced</span> people —<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>but abroad,<br />their friends are numerous.<br />Several orders forbid my<br />writing concerning future plans —<span class="Apple-converted-space"> <br /></span>we sometimes thake the liberty<br />to jump to conclusions.<br />I predict our next work will<br />be on Sullivan’s Island.<br />The Weehawken exploded a<br />magazine in Moultrie last<br />Monday. On the same day the<br />whole or a part of Moultrieville was<br />burned — cause unknown — at least<br />to me.<br />Do not get despondent and despair</p>
<p class="p1">[Page 6]<br />of the fall of Charleston. Take courage<br />from the past, if we have taken the<br />works upon which they <span style="text-decoration:underline;">mainly relied</span><br />it is but reasonable to conclude we<br />can capture the rest, one or two<br />months may be necessary for its<br />accomplishments — but being confident<br />of a victorious result — the time<br />will seem short.<br />Rumors are afloat to<br />day that Rosencrans’ army have<span class="Apple-converted-space"> <br /></span>plucked new laurels from the<br />hilltops around Chattanooga.<br />“God speed the right” —<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>but we<br />had best set ourselves about being<br />thankful or we cannot keep<span class="Apple-converted-space"> <br /></span>pace with the <span style="text-decoration:underline;">already</span> rapid<span class="Apple-converted-space"> <br /></span>progress of the Right.<br />Will not disaffection tear Lee’s<span class="Apple-converted-space"> <br /></span>army limb from limb?<br />Think of urging men to fight<br />for the defence of their homes, when<br />these are already under federal rule!</p>
<p class="p1">[Page 7]<br />and appearantly to continue so.<br />I told you our manner of<br />living was similar to yours.<br />You wish to know what<span class="Apple-converted-space"> <br /></span>our dish consists? Well, pure sand<br />is very plenty, but does not constitute<br />our whole dish. Seafood forms<br />a frequent dish — oysters — clams —<span class="Apple-converted-space"> <br /></span>crabs + fish receiving each, a<br />share of attention, we purchase<br />many things of the Post Commissar<br />and the Sanitary Commission<br />occasionally leave the pound at<span class="Apple-converted-space"> <br /></span>the Hospital + its equivalent, an<br />ounce with us. Every hill + valley<br />ought to pour out of its abundance<br />into the lap of the U.S.S. Commission.<br />The Sanitary + Christian Commissions<br />are doing immense good, under the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> <br /></span>direction of Dr. Marsh in this Dep’t. or<span class="Apple-converted-space"> <br /></span>at least, the S.C. is in his charge. Whatever I<br />receive from these commissions, I shall accept<br />as from the good friends of Washington; the</p>
<p class="p2">[Page 8]<br />codfish we had for breakfast this morning,<br />I give George Lyman credit for.<br />You will please say to Miss Mary<br />Vail that I enjoyed that bottle of wine<br />much + found it a great relief to<br />my “<span style="text-decoration:underline;">awful</span> infirmities”.<br />But I am just now informed<br />of my appointment as senior A.D.C.<br />to Col. <span style="text-decoration:underline;">Montgomery</span>, Comdg 4th Brigade<br />1st Div, and since I am to enter upon<br />my new duties, at once, you will<br />be spared reading more than I have<br />already written. The manner + matter show haste.<br />With very kind regards for yourself,<br />and your <span style="text-decoration:underline;">circle</span> of <span style="text-decoration:underline;">friends</span>,<br />I remain,<br />Your devoted,<br /><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Colored</span> friend<br />R.C. Loveridge<br />Address Romulus C. Loveridge<br />1st Lieut + A.A.D.C.<br />4th Brigade, 1st Div.<br />Morris Island S.C.<br /><br />N.B. I do not write for publication, so let this<br />be strictly confidential + delay the reading<br />of it until dusk, if you please.</p>
Original Format
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manuscript letter
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Romulus Loveridge, 3rd U.S.C.I., Sep. 11, 1863
Subject
The topic of the resource
United States. -- Army. -- Colored Infantry Regiment, 3rd (1863-1865)
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Sources
Soldiers--Conduct of life
Operations rations (Military supplies)
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Campaigns--Charleston (S.C.)--History--Siege,
1863
Description
An account of the resource
Romulus Loveridge writes to Cornelius Gold of operations around the siege of Charleston and life in camp.