ADRIAN FAY 1864 LETTERS
June 1864
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Chaplain’s Quarters,
94th N.Y. Vols.,
Near Petersburg, Va.
June 27th, 1864.
Mr. Fay, Esq.,
Dear Sir:-
Yours of the 23rd inst. came to hand this morning. It grieves me to say that I find Adrian Fay’s among those captured or supposed to be, on the 3rd inst. while on the skirmish line. It some how happened that a portion of the skirmish line got in advance of the rest, and consequently did not get notice of the withdrawal or change of picket, and were consequently captured.
A brave fellow volunteered to go out and notify these advanced outposts that it was time to fall back, and if possible save them. But on arriving on the ground, he found the Rebel pickets so near that it was impossible to communicate with our men. Indeed, this man came near being captured himself. A Reb picket or skirmisher, dressed in our uniform, got very near to him and ordered him to surrender, but our man chose to take his chances for life by running. The Reb fired, and inflicted a very slight wound. Our man had no arms with him, but fortunately escaped unharmed.
In all, we have lost 28 men by capture since the 30th of May. On the 6th, 20 or 22 were lost this way. Nothing that has happened in the Regt. has grieved me so much as the loss of so many brave fellows by capture, and yet this may be the means of saving their lives. Thousands will be shot and die in captivity. I am inclined to think that the Rebels will treat their prisoners better than heretofor.
You have my cordial sympathy in this trial to your feelings, and my prayer is that God may comfort and sustain your son, and bring him safely through all his trial and sufferings while in captivity. Verily this is a “cruel war”. May God hasten the time when we may have an honorable peace.
Yours very truly,
P. G. Cook.
Chaplain, 94th N.Y. Vols.
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.