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Camp near Falls Church
September 4th 1862
Dear Father & Mother I have the pleasure once more of writing to you to let you know where I am. We havent had the privlage of writing home for the last 3 weeks. We have been marching & fighting all most evry day. We have been in 4 diferent Battles. The first was at Seader [Cedar] mountain then at the Rapahanock station. There we lay 3 days under fire the Rebels shelling us evry hour or two & We couldent get a chance to shoot at them with our Rifels. But our Artillery giv it to them good during the whole 3 days
we was there. There was only one man Wounded in our Regt. The next was at Thourfair [Thoroughfare] Gap. There we skirmished a little But did not lose a man. But on the old Bull Run field there our Brigade got a ridling. We got onto the Field Friday night. Evry thing was quiat & We lay down & took a good nights rest. Then in the morning early we was called out & went a skirmishing. We was Skirmishing all day & about sundown we marched into a peace of woods & lay down and in a little while a Rebel offacer rode out of the woods on the right of us & looked a round a little
while & then went back & in 20 minets a whole sollid mass of Rebels came out & charged on our Bateries. We hoped up & fired 6 or 8 rounds at them then they comenced firing on us from all sids then the Col. [Howard Carroll] gave the order to right fase. We did so & Skedadled. We ran a crost a open Field a bout 40 rods acrost & they firing into us all the Way. Our Regt was badly cut up. I dont think there is over 200 men in it now. I dont know of any one in our Company that was killed. But Joe Cook & Louie Rice was Wounded. Orderly Bushnal
Mr. [Lewis] Rust Abner Marvin & quite a lot more was taken Prisoners. But We have heard they were released on Parole and at Washington. Capt. [Henry] Smith & Lieut Degraff [John DeGraff] were sick & wasnt in the fight. Lieut [Thomas] Stedman was acting as quartermaster. Our Comp was comanded by one of the Irish Lieut C. C. [Charles] Buckley. I came out all right & did not get a scrach. The Balls flew all around me as thick as Hale & lots of poor felloes fell all around me & I never got a mark. Wont I lucky. John Reed got 2 Balls through his canteen. That was all the Wound he got.
The male goes out in the morning so I shall have to finish this as soon as I can. We are a bout 6 miles West of Washington. I think we shall stay here a while & get some new cloths. I saw All Ellis [Albert Ellis, 9th NY Cavalry, Little Valley] & Will the other day at Center ville. I saw Clark Foster [37th NY Infantry, Ellicottville] & George Harvey [37th NY Infantry, Ellicottville] there too. Our male gust came in. I got to letters from home. The only letters I have had since We left the rapidan the 15 of Aug.
These was maled the 20 & 26 of Aug. I cant think of any thing more at present. I will write a gain in a few days.
Good By
Adrian
Maryland
Sept 13 1862
Dear Mother
The male is a going out this after noon & I thought I would write a few lines to let you know where I am. We left Falls hill [Falls Church, VA] last Saturday. Our Co went on picket & the Brigade moved in the night & they never let us know any thing a bout it & we was left all a lone & we came verry near
being taken prisoners. But we went to the camp & found the Regt gon so We follard [followed] on & over took them yesterday. I dont know Where we shall go to. We are in Miraland & are going a bout North West. I can hear canonading a head 8 or 10 miles. I dont know wheather they are fighting or not. I am well & so are all the Boys that are with us. I have heard that Mr [Lewis] Rust is ded
that he was Wounded & died on his way to the hospitall. I dont know wheather it is so or not. We have gust stoped here over night. They are mustering for pay this morning. I expect We shall start on a gain in a little While. I dont see what in the World our folks are thinking of. It seems as though this plagy war would never end. But they say it is allways the darkest before day. It seems to me as though We had go men eneough to whip the
South long before this time. But there is to many traters in our armey. Mother I hope you are not Woring your self a bout me for that would be all non sence. I am better off than lots of other Solders are. I am Willing to suffer my shair for my Country. If I am killed what of that (I was born to die). I dont fear death as I used to. When I am on the Battle Field & see our Brother Solders lying all a round me I consider them as sleepers that they have done with this
Worlds troubals. Poor Mr [Lewis] Rust. I am a fraid he is ded. I heared he was taken prisoner & was released on Parole & had gon to Washington. But they say now he was Wounded & died on the way to the Hospital. If he is not ded his folks has heard from him before now.
I must leave now. Write soon
from Adrian
Battle Field
Near Sharps Burg
Sept 18th 1862
Dear Father & Mother
I take this opertunity this morning while we lay here in line of Battle in suporting a Battery to write to you to let you know where I am. I am well. We had a hard fight yesterday & a good many of our Regt was killed & wounded. Wm. Booth was
shot in the knee early in the morning & died in the after noon. John Reed was shot in the right Brest. I helped him of the Field. They took him in an Amblance & carried him to a hospital. I dont think he is a live now. The Dockter said there was no help for him. He wished me to write to his mother & tell her all a bout it & I will as soon as I can. If John
dies he died a true friend of his country & a Brave soldier. This last Battle is the 6th Battle we have been in & perhaps we shall have an other to day. But I dont know. I rather think not. I received a letter from Mary day before yesterday maled the 10 of sep [September]. She said she had not heard from me in 3 weeks. I have writen every chance I could get.
Tell Montrose [Adrian’s brother] not to enlist. It is a hard life to live. If God spares my life to get home I shall be thankfull. I feel that God has heard & answerd your prairs in sparing my life this long. Write to me soon & send a sheet of paper & an envellop with the directions on.
from your Son
Adrian Fay
I saw Erast French the other day
[Erastus French, 6th NY Cavalry, Cuba. NY]]
Sept 19th 1862
Dear Sister Mati
I have the pleasure once more of writing to you to let you know Where I am. We have left the Field and advanced to wards the enemy. But when we got where they was they were not there. They have crossed the river & gone into Va. a gain. I can hear heavy canonading at Harpers Ferry Which is 12 miles from here. The Rebs left here this morning or in the night. We found 3 or 4 Beef criters that they had killed and was
in such a hurry that they could not take them a way. I was in the fight at South Mountain last Sunday. There we routed the Rebs too. One of them come vary near shooting me. I saw him rase up over a rock & draw his gun up & cracked a Way at me. But as good fortun would have it he did not hit me & then it was my turn to shoot & I never knew my gun to miss fire on a Reb yet neather. John Reed was with us. He fought like a good fellow too. We stood Side by Side & in the last fight of the 17th We stood to geather & he
was wounded in the Right Brest. The Ball went through & loged next to the skin of his Back. The Dock cut it out & I have got it now. I took him off the Field to a Hospital & staid with him untill they came with an Amblance & took him a way to some hospital. I dont Know where he is now. But I think it is doubtfull if he is a live. He gave me his Pocket Book with 5 dollars in it. I shall send the money to his mother as soon as I can get a chance to write to her. He wanted me to have all of his money sent home to Mr. Culver & I will as soon as we get our pay and
so B. P. [Russell] can pay what he owes him. (Tell me what Mr. Culver’s given name is.) Nyram Skeels was wounded in the neck at the Battle of South Mountain. Wm Booth was shot in the knee on the 17th and he died. He bled to death. Mr. [Cephas] Childs is with us yet & well. We have drove the Rebs clear a cross the River into Va. & I dont think we shall have to fight a gain very soon. I hope not at any rate. I have fought eneough I think. I think Charley Fields will find soldering Diferent from what it is to work for Uncle Ackel. Write soon & I will as soon as I can.
Add
Mati I am going to have a Fellon on my left Fum [thumb] sure as Tunket & I got a Bile [boil] on my back now
On an undated scrap of paper, Adrian writes:
We are on this side of the River in Washington County some where. That is all I know about where I am.
It was probably written just after the Army crossed the Potomac River into Maryland in early September, 1862, prior to the Battle of Antietam.
Battle Field near Sharps Burg
Sept 20th 1862
Dear Mother
I recd two letters from home to day one from you & one from Mary. Matis was maled Sept 13 & yours the 15th. I was glad to hear from home again. I wrote a letter to you a few days a go & wrote one to mati yesterday But I thought I would write an other to day. Just a Week a go to day We was on our way to the Battle of South Mt. There was a goodly number of us there But there is But a few of us now
We have had two severe Battles and it has thined our ranks a masingly. I think there is 150 men in our Regt now & a bout 25 in our company. We have a plenty to eat such as hard Bred & meat Suger & coffey. Our cloths are geting very poor. We havent drawn our new suit yet. I keep that testiment you gave me & shall as long as I keep any thing. B. P. [Russell] I think will resign & go home soon. He has But verry little intrest here. He Pais no more atention to me than he does to any of the Boys.
But I ask no ods of him. I am capible of taking care of my self. He allways apears glad to see me when he comes around & asks me how I do & that is about all. I dont know what has become of Mr Mc Cluer. I havent heard from him since a long in May. Abner Marvin is eather ded or taken prisoner & I heard that Mr [Lewis] Rust was ded & that is all I know about him. I sent a letter to Mrs. Cullver with 5 dollars in it & a 50 cent postage stamp that John gave me. We shall draw our Pay a gain
in a few days. You may look for 20 dolls of it in a week or two. I think we shall get it in that time. Tell Pa he need not worry about me caring Sesesh money. I will get my likeness taken as soon as I can get a chance. Ma it would friten you to see the piles of ded Rebs that lay on the Field about a mild from here. In some places they lay two or 3 deep. It is the awfelest sight I ever saw. But we cleaned them out Ma. We routed them. So good Bye for now.
Adrian
[Letter fragment written on short ruled note paper, probably after Antietam.
Adrian drew a sketch of the Blue Ridge]
the Ball struck Wm [Booth] in the right cide but it is not a mortal wound. he is in the hospital. [Cephas] Childs takes care of him.
[Written on reverse side:]
this is a picture of the Blue ridge Mountains
Look it um
Camp near Sharps Burg
Sept 28th 1862
Dear sister
I recd your ever wellcomed letter about ½ hour ago & one from Montrose [Adrian’s brother] & one from Sati[Sarah Flint]. So you see I have had lots of letters to day & I will try & answer yours the first one. I am well. We are encamped here now near the [Potomac] river & on a hill so it is a verry good place. But we have to sleep on the ground like cattle. I have got a Rubber blanket so I am better off than the most of the Boys. But we shall have our things
this Week. The trains have gon after them now. You may think it hard for us to sleep on the ground But we have got used to it. Some of the Boys went out Jayhocking last night & left the Bars down & some of us took cold (Believe it or not). Oh I did not have a Fellon as I thought I was. The “Bile” I had has got well & 2 more came. The weather is verry plesant. We have had no rany weather yet. I dont know wheather they calculate to have us fight any more this fall or not. I think we have done our share. We have been under fire 6 times & 3 Bloody fights at Bull Run & South Mountain & at the last Battle near Sharps Burg that was the hardest fight yet. John Reed is geting a long
first rate. I think he will get well & get his discharge to. Some think that the War is a bout ended that there will be no more fighting after this fall. I hope it is so. But I am a fraid it ant. I supose you have seen in the papers what Wonders Rickets Divison has done & even Duyrees Brigade. We have done Big hant we? We are now a bout a mild or a mild & a half from where the mane Battle was fought on the 17 & 12 miles up the [Potomac] River from Harpers Ferry. It is a fine country here. It is rather rough & rocky like Catt. [Cattaraugus] but the soil is good. They rase the bigest … of Wheat & corn here & it is a good fruit Country.
I think if Peace was Declared I should pick my Plantation in Maryland or Pa. Capt. [Henry] Smith has sent in his resignation Papers to Washington. If they are axcepted he will leave us in a few days. He is geting tired of the War as well as the rest of us. Capt [Richard] Whiteside is in comand of the Regt. now. The Col. [Howard Carroll] & Magor Sheds [John W. Shedd] was wounded in the last Battle. Mati it is singular I have been in evry fight yet & som times when the Balls flew as thick as hale & men killed & Wounded right beside me & I never have had a ball tuch me yet nor my cloths while some of the Boys have had their canteens & haversacks filled with Ball holes & even their Pants & coats & caps & some have lost their lives. (Bulley for it) & I am still living. Our Regt numbers about 300 now since the straglers have come in. There is allways a lot that are behind when there is any danger of a fight & it takes them about a week to catch up with the Regt. Tell Ma she no need to sent that Tea for we draw Tea once in a while. But not as good as this. I shall have a gay old supper to night. We draw Potatoes once in a while. But it is by the taps & we draw appels the same Way.
Saturday 28th[Sept. 1862]
Well Mati it is morning again & I have put in a bout 8 hard tax & some less than a pound of pork & quart of coffee & I feel pretty Bulley. We are to have an inspection to day at 10 o clock A.M. & I shall have to clean up my old Reb Killer & pack my Knapsack & wash my face &c. I am a goind to send you a Coral ring that I have made & I am making one for Montrose [Adrian’s brother]. I had a letter from him a long while ago but am to lazy to answer it. You can tell Joe [possibly Joseph Field, Adrian’s cousin] the reason I dont write to him is because I dont
get a bout it. He thinks I am mad or somthing. But I aint. It is cause I am so busy. That is all. I dont get any letter from Chas [Charles Field, Adrian’s cousin] yet. Do you hear any thing from John Reed? I havent heard from him in a great while. I must go to inspection. The Inspection is over & no body hurt & I am tring to write. But it is cold lazy work. The sun shines warm but the air is cold. How does Pa make it this winter hunting Dear. Does he hunt any or does he have to work in the shop all the time. I dont much expect to come home this winter un till they settle the War. Some think it will be settled this winter.
What is the opinion North. I think they had better settle it some way (or do worse). The Darned Abolishionist think they are doing big runing down Mclelland [General George B. McClellan] dont they? I wish evry one of them was in the Army now & had to fight under Old McDowel [General Irvin McDowell] untill they had freed all the nigers. This war never will end by fighting un less McCelland does it. That is shure as tunket. I have no fault to find with Burnside [General Ambrose Burnside] but I dont like the way the war runs some how or rather. Well Mati it is night again. I have just been out a gay old time with the Boys telling
& cairing on like the old Haireys. We allways have to have a regular Indian whoram around the fire just before we go to Bed, so we can sleep good. I wish you could be here to see us preform. It would be amusing to a Civillian. Mati if we ever get in to winter quarters I am going to send home some money & have you send me a Box of things such as dried fruit & 2 or 3 pocket Handkerchiefs &c &c & a chuck of Dried Venson if you have it. But you needent put your selvs to any trouble untill I let you know for we may not see winter quarters at all this winter & if we dont it would be doubtfull about my geting it. Write soon & tell me all the news.
To Dad
Pa it is now the 28 of Sept and we havent drawed our last pay & I dont think we shall not untill we are musterd again for 4 months pay. I have got out of money & havent had any for the past 3 weeks & if you will see Mr. Ward and get 2 dollars and send it to me I will be glad for I am getting out of paper & envellops &c. All of the Boys are doing the same thing sending home for money. I saved enough to last me 2 months. But it will probly be 2 months more before we will get our pay. But I shall have more when I do get it. Mom write your self when you send it if it takes you 2 weeks.
NOTE: This was written on a small piece of note paper, dated merely “Sept 28”, most likely in 1862, when the regiment was encamped near the Potomac River at Mercersville, Maryland after the Battle of Antietam.
Adrian Fay Civil War Letters – Transcribed by Phil Palen
Pages in PINK are transcriptions of Xerox copies of letters sent to Phil Palen by the late Hollis Harvey Reed of Philadelphia, great-granddaughter of Adrian Fay through his daughter, Hollis Fay Fellows.
Pages in GREEN are transcriptions of originals owned by Phil Palen donated to St. Bonaventure University.
Pages in BLACK are transcriptions of originals owned by Patrick Gallagher donated to St. Bonaventure University.
Phil Palen added periods and initial capitals in these transcriptions, but did not change spellings.