Thomas Pimer, 21st C.V.I, October 16, 1862
Title
Thomas Pimer, 21st C.V.I, October 16, 1862
Subject
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Soldiers--Conduct of life
Antietam, Battle of, Md., 1862
McClellan, George B. -- (George Brinton), -- 1826-1885
Description
Thomas Pimer writes to his father about marching, camp life, his thoughts on George MacClellan, and being near the Battle of Antietam.
Original Format
ALS
Text
Pleasant Valley MD Oct 16 [1862]
Dear Father
Not receiving any
answer to my last letter I thought but
that I would wright again and
let you know that I am well
and have been well since I have
been out here, with the accep-
tion of a looseness in the bowels
which has plagued me a good
deal. it is on account of the
muddy water that we have
to drink most all of the Reg
iment are the same way.
since I wrote last we have
been on the march most of
the time going from one place
to another without stopping
but one night at a time in
any place since we left Va
[page 2]
we have marched in all about
one hundred miles going from
ten to fifteen miles in a day
some days we would not go
over six. I thought at first it
would go hard with me but
after I had gone a few miles
I did not mind it at all Just
as lieves go as not. I find that
stout rugged men are the
first to give out we have two
great stout fellows in the
company who have always
worked in the field and were
used to hard labor, and looked
as thought they could stand
most anything. they gave out
among the first. they are now
on the sick list and have
been for two or three weeks.
we have not lost but one
yet. poor Ed Addams he
[page 3]
was taken sick in Va and I
think if we had only had a
deasant surgeon he might
have been with us now.
when we had orders to leave
Va and go join MacClellan
he was left behind to come
on in the ambulance wagon
we did not hear from him
for five days and then
herd that he was worse
and had been sent to the
Hospital. the next we hear of
was that he was dead he was
a good boy and was liked much
in the company. we have
three more in the Hospital
now. we are now encampt
in a pleasant valley between
two mountains it is quite
a nice place. if we only had
something to protect us
[page 4 -- blank]
[page 5]
from the cold and rain
we have no tents. left them
all in Va the boys take their
rubber blankets and make
a little tent of them but
they dont keep out the rain
or cold. another thing is
we cannot get anything
to eat we have lived on hard
tack and coffee for more
than a week. some of the
bread you put on the stove
and there will be worms
half an inch long crawl
out. that is what makes
the soldier fat. we once had
some pork some and after
it was cooked it stank so
that we could not go near
it. the Colonel ordered it
to be buryed immediately
[page 6]
our Quarter Master has now
bought some cattle and we
will soon have a little beef.
we were within a few miles
of the great battle at Antetam
could hear the guns quite
plain. this morning we
heard heavy fireing in
the direction of Harpers
Ferry it lasted about three
hours. have not yet heard
where or what it was we
shall know to night most
likely. I saw General George
McClellan. he is a fine
looking man and is a
smart man to. there is
not a soldier in the whole
army but what speaks in
the highest favor of him
we are now under him
and Burnsides. and
[page 7]
are now preparing to go
into action before long
we are drilled eight hours
every day and have now got
so that we drill tip top they
are enlisting men now for the
Regular Army they give men
one Hundred Dollars bounty
and forty days furlough to
enlist there has been som
in our regiment that have
gone. I had rather stay where
I am and come home when
the war is over. give my love
to Mother and write to me
I dont care if it is no more
than two or three lines
I am not so far gone but a
little good advice from my
Father would do me some
good.
Direct the same
as the piece of paper is
From your most
affectionate son
Tom
[page 8 -- blank]
Dear Father
Not receiving any
answer to my last letter I thought but
that I would wright again and
let you know that I am well
and have been well since I have
been out here, with the accep-
tion of a looseness in the bowels
which has plagued me a good
deal. it is on account of the
muddy water that we have
to drink most all of the Reg
iment are the same way.
since I wrote last we have
been on the march most of
the time going from one place
to another without stopping
but one night at a time in
any place since we left Va
[page 2]
we have marched in all about
one hundred miles going from
ten to fifteen miles in a day
some days we would not go
over six. I thought at first it
would go hard with me but
after I had gone a few miles
I did not mind it at all Just
as lieves go as not. I find that
stout rugged men are the
first to give out we have two
great stout fellows in the
company who have always
worked in the field and were
used to hard labor, and looked
as thought they could stand
most anything. they gave out
among the first. they are now
on the sick list and have
been for two or three weeks.
we have not lost but one
yet. poor Ed Addams he
[page 3]
was taken sick in Va and I
think if we had only had a
deasant surgeon he might
have been with us now.
when we had orders to leave
Va and go join MacClellan
he was left behind to come
on in the ambulance wagon
we did not hear from him
for five days and then
herd that he was worse
and had been sent to the
Hospital. the next we hear of
was that he was dead he was
a good boy and was liked much
in the company. we have
three more in the Hospital
now. we are now encampt
in a pleasant valley between
two mountains it is quite
a nice place. if we only had
something to protect us
[page 4 -- blank]
[page 5]
from the cold and rain
we have no tents. left them
all in Va the boys take their
rubber blankets and make
a little tent of them but
they dont keep out the rain
or cold. another thing is
we cannot get anything
to eat we have lived on hard
tack and coffee for more
than a week. some of the
bread you put on the stove
and there will be worms
half an inch long crawl
out. that is what makes
the soldier fat. we once had
some pork some and after
it was cooked it stank so
that we could not go near
it. the Colonel ordered it
to be buryed immediately
[page 6]
our Quarter Master has now
bought some cattle and we
will soon have a little beef.
we were within a few miles
of the great battle at Antetam
could hear the guns quite
plain. this morning we
heard heavy fireing in
the direction of Harpers
Ferry it lasted about three
hours. have not yet heard
where or what it was we
shall know to night most
likely. I saw General George
McClellan. he is a fine
looking man and is a
smart man to. there is
not a soldier in the whole
army but what speaks in
the highest favor of him
we are now under him
and Burnsides. and
[page 7]
are now preparing to go
into action before long
we are drilled eight hours
every day and have now got
so that we drill tip top they
are enlisting men now for the
Regular Army they give men
one Hundred Dollars bounty
and forty days furlough to
enlist there has been som
in our regiment that have
gone. I had rather stay where
I am and come home when
the war is over. give my love
to Mother and write to me
I dont care if it is no more
than two or three lines
I am not so far gone but a
little good advice from my
Father would do me some
good.
Direct the same
as the piece of paper is
From your most
affectionate son
Tom
[page 8 -- blank]
Files
Collection
Citation
“Thomas Pimer, 21st C.V.I, October 16, 1862,” Linda Lear Center Digital Collections and Exhibitions, accessed April 25, 2024, https://lc-digital.conncoll.edu/items/show/1438.