ADRIAN FAY 1864 LETTERS
May 1864
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Camp Parole Md May 11th / 64
My Darling Sadie
Acording to agreement I suppose I am bound to write to you the first thing I do after geting here though I am half tired to death and jaded out with my journey. But I arived here all safe this morning about the time you was comencing your School (9). I had no trouble at all coming though I expected that I should get here last night. But I did not get into Baltimore in time for the train
So I went to the Soldiers Home and staid all night and came down on the 7 o clock train this morning. Evry thing looks so changed here. The trees are all leafed out and the grass looks as though it was three weeks a head of Catt. [Cattaraugus] “Grass”. And the fruit trees are all in Blossom. I guess there will be a good deal of fruit this season. Oh Sadie I have been so lonsom ever since I left you that I have hardly known what to do with my self. I wonder if such has been your case? I presume it has allthough you have much to buizy your self about now. But I know you get time once in a while to think of your Add. Dont you Sadie? Dont think he is a bad boy though I think he acted very naughty some of the
time while he was at home. Sadie if I did do or say any thing that was offensive to you I hope you will forgive me. Will you Darling? You have neather said or done any thing that has been any offence to me at all. I am so verry tired and sleepy and it is so awful warm here that I cant write or think of any thing if I could. It is a great deal warmer here than it is in Shin town. Even when Mrs Harvey lived there. I expect they are having some warm weather and warm work in the Armey of the Potomac about these times. There has been some awful hard fighhting. Generals Segwick [John Sedgwick] & Wordsworth [James Wadsworth] are killed and many others wounded. Our old
Division comander (Gen. [John C.] Robinson) is wounded. Are we not lucky to be here now. If we had staid in the field we dont know how many of us poor Soldier Boys of the 94th might have been to day stretched out on some ‘”Bloody Battle field.” Either Killed or mortaly wounded. The prospects of us staying here are faivorable. They will keep us here this summer with out doubt. Col. Root says as long as the Boys do their duty well and behave well we shall stay here or in a better place. Darling I am so sleepy I cant see Wheather I am writing or not. I did not sleep much last night. The Boys made so much noise. The mail does not go out untill 9 o clock this evning. And I cant think of any thing more now so I will go and take a little knap the same as a Pig.
[Written upside down at the top of page one:]
Oh yes Sadie. I got Mati Willoughbys letter. She did not write much though. She said she and a friend of hers went up to our house to see a bout geting the school for her. But alas (she says) the school was taken. Sallie Flint has the great honor of teaching the young … how to shoot in the great city of Shintown.
Dear Sadie I have just woke up and perhaps I look some what sleepy. But I am not half as Sleepy as I look. At least not so sleepy as to keep me from finishing this letter though I do not feel much like writing as you will see when you come to read this. That is if you can read it. I was a going to tell you all the pitulars [particulars] “let me see”. I cant think of any thing verry pitular that I can think of just now. I left Gt Valley about 7 o clock and got into Elmira at 12 at night. Had to wate there till 3 in the morning then we came direct through to Baltimore.
Got there at five in the evning just after the train had left for Annapolis. Evry time we past a School house on the way [William] “Davis” would ask me if I saw the “Schoolmarm”. Wasent he hateful, Sadie? What do you think was the first question the Boys asked us after we had got here and had shook hands all round? Can you guess? I will tell you for fear you cant. (Did you get married?) while you was at home? And the punishment thy had for the Man that did get Married was a Blanket Court Martial. So I escaped. Wasnt I lucky? Some of them had
to take the Court Martial though. The Court Martials they got was not so pleasent as the one I had before Col. E. Flint. Well Darling I shall have to close and take this to the offace. I hope you will get it this week though there is nothing in it of any consequence. I dont know as I could write any thing of any “Quincycance” if I should try. But I am in an awful hurry to get your letter. I dont see how I can wait till it comes. Give my respects to “Orv” and your good Sister “Minia” and tell them I never thought to tell them to write to me. But if they will I will answer it as soon as I can or sooner.
Write as often to your Add as you can Dear wont you? And I will do the same. Tell me all the News and how you like the school. Good night Precious Sadie. From your ever True
Adrian
Sarah
NOTES: General John Sedgwick, commander of the Union Sixth Corps, was killed by a Confederate sharpshooter’s bullet on May 9, 1864 at Spotsylvania Court House, Virginia. Likewise General James S. Wadsworth of Geneseo, NY was killed on May 8 at the Wilderness. General John C. Robinson lost his left leg while leading a charge at Spotsylvania.
Alaxandria Va
May 16th / 64
Father we are geting our pay to day and I shall send home to you. Some I cant tell how much by express this after noon. We are drawing tents to day and other things for the Field. Though I think we shall stay here a few days yet until we are organized into “Brigades” and “Divisions” then we shall go some supose into some Armey. We cant tell when yet. We are all feeling tip top. We think we are all bound for “Front”. We have got a new stand of Cullars [colors]. With all the
Battels the regt. have ever been in. It is 11 I think. I have not counted the names yet. Well we are all Whoza For Whora, and who cairs for who cairs. And I wont write any more till I get my money then I will tell you how much I shall send.
Add.
I have Expressed to Alex. Fay 60 dollars. Now I must go on guard. Add.
Mr Childs
Sends 25 dollars in the pacage with mine. You can send it to Mrs. Childs and she will pay you the Expressage of 25 dollars
Camp Parole
May 16th / 64
Dear Mother
I will just write you a short line to day so that you can know where I am and what I am a bout. We have got orders to leave here at a moments notace, so we are all packed up and waiting for the “Word March” But We cant tell for sertain wheather we shall go or not for sure But verry likely we shall go some where. We dont know that eather
But I think we shall go to the Front again. It is all right if we do go. The Boys feel tip top. Wont we make them Rebs Skedadle when the 94th get there. I sent home my sachel to day by Express. Booth has got a pair of pants and a hat and a little satchel there and a Bandle of shirts. You can tell what things belong to me. Mr Booth can pay you half what it costs when he comes for the things. Tell Mati I sent that picture I was telling her a bout the day
Well I cant think of any thing more now But as soon as I get a way from here (if we go) I will write. Dont worry about me none because I am a going from here. You know I know my Bize a Bize evry time. I dont think we shall get any pay now in a long while may be. You need not write untill you hear from me a gain.
as ever Adrian
May 17th / 64
We shall leave here this after noon at four o clock so the Major [John McMahon] told me just now. But we dont know where we shall go yet. To the front I guess for we are drawing hard tacks and raw pork Shugar and coffee.
Well Mom if we go to the front I shall take care of my self and not get shooted
Adrian
Monday Evning 16th [May 1864]
Well Mama we have not got a way yet. We have got all ready and wating for orders. We may get them to morrow and we may not go in a week and I dont know as there is any thing even of our going at all. But quite likely we shall leave here soon or at least a part of the Regt. Those that have Reenlisted and have not been home yet are not a going. They are a going to stay here. And a squad went home this Morning. They are to report here when their furloughs are out.
I dont much think we shall go to the Front to stay there long. Because if we wer the whole Regt. would go. I should think I can tell what I can guess we are a going to do. I think we are going to guard Rebs Prisoners some where. But go for what we may. We are all rough tough and ready for any thing and any place they are a mind to put us. Not many Cowards in the 94th N. Y. V. V. Regt. They say things are a going now. I almost am in hops [hopes] we will go into the Field. “Grant is a Brick”
Well I wont write any more to night. I will wate and see what the prospects of going are in the Morn.
So Good Night
Add.
You will hear from me a gain soon if I have any chance to write
Add
May 17th / 64
Sarah
You will think that I am in a terable “distress” to write to you and I dont know but I am. But Darling I must so something to keep me from being “homesick”. So I shall write to you and if you can get time nor paitints to read it you can burn it up or put it where no one else can find it. But I dont think there is any danger of any one reading it if they do get hold of it. It is such poor writing. Well Sarah I think that a week from to night will find me some where in the Army of the
Potomac. We are going into the Field sure. We was presented with a stand of Cullors [colors] this evning on parade. They are the nicest cullors I ever saw. They resemble those used in the Regular Armey. But I never saw any that looked as good as ours. It bairs the name of the 94th N.Y. Veteran Regt. with all the Battels that we have ever been engaged in. That is ten. I have been in seven of them. Sarah I shall have to hurry and finish this for we leave here at three o clock to morrow morning. They say we are a going to join “Lockwoods” Brigade. But I dont know where that is. But it is
in the Armey of the Potomac some where I expect. I am in hops [hopes] I shall get a letter from you before I leave here. But I dont much expect to. We shall go before the mail comes in the morning. But if you have writen I shall get it some time. Excuse me Sarah for writing this awful poor letter and before I had got any from you. But I am so lonsome I have got to write to some one and you are the only one I want to write to But my own folks. Mother & Mati &c. I will write again as soon as I get your letter.
So good night Darling
from your Add. Sadie
[Written upside down at top of page one:]
I dont believe you will want me to write an other such a horrid letter as this is. Will you Sarah?
[Written in margins of page one:]
Sadie I am bound to take good cair of Add for you. But if he gets killed in a fight I dont know as I can help it. But I shall if I can. Good night Sadie.
NOTES:
May 19th [1864]
It has got to be evning and we have not left yet. We shant get a way under a day or two. We have got to draw tents Camp Equipage Teems &c. We have got to be fitted out for the Field. We belong to Gen. [Henry Hayes]” Lockwoods” Brigade [actually the Second Division] But I dont know what Divison or Corps. I Expressed $60.00. I drew 70 But I did not know But I should want to use a little before we left here. But if I dont I shall send $5 dollars home in a letter some of these days.
Mr [Cephas] Childs wanted to send $25.00. He thought it would not cost much more to send a good deal than it would to send a little. You must make Mrs Childs pay all it is worth or else dont let her have the money. You can pay the Expressage of what money I send home and you must keep track of it and I will make it all right at the end of 3 years or sooner killed.
I saw Dan Reed yesterday as we came through Washington But I had no time to speak to him. I guess he did not see me. If he did he didnt ... me. I hollerd “D...” at him. But I know he did not know me. Well Il quit. Direct your letters to Washington D. C.
Il write a gain if we leave here.
Add
Bell Plain Landing Va.
May 22nd 1864
Dear Mother
As evry thing is lovly and the “Goose” hangs high [meaning things are going well] and the old “chaplain” says there is no orders for us to March I will write a few lines so that you will know where I am. We left Alaxandria yesterday morning at 6 o clock and landed here at 6 last night. I suppose we are elected for to join the Armey of the Potomac. They say when we get out in front we shant be alowed to send letters. I dont know wheather it is so or not. The Chaplain [Philos G. Cook] left a man back to Camp Parole to bring up
the Mail that came there and he has not come yet. So I have not heard a word from home or any where else since I left home. You must excuse me for writing with a led pencil But I have not got any ink. I am not a going to cairy any more load than I can possably get a long with out. I wish I had sent home more in that sachel than I did. I have got my old Over Coat a pair of pants and a shirt that I shant carrey any farther than here. I wish I had sent them home. But I did not know when we wer a going and thought I might need them. There is a good many Soldiers here now and lots of sick and wonded coming in all the time
from the front. And a lot of Prisoners are down to landing loaded on transports. They Hooted and yelled when We came in And called us “Dam Sons” of Yankey Biches and all the Derned names they could think of. I had a good mind to load my gun and give them a shot the lousey pups. I hope I shall get a letter to day for I am anxious to know if you have heard from Montrose since I came a way. I wrote to Mati yesterday and sent 5 dollars to her in the letter. That is all the news I can think of this time. As soon as I can I will write a gain.
Add
Bell Plain Landing Va.
May 22nd / 64
Dear Sarah
You must excuse me for writing to you so often and harried your mind with my nonsence while you are so buisyly engaged with your school. But as I didnt know when I could get an other chance to write I thought I would improve the present opertunity. I have not got any letters from you yet as the man that was left back to the camp to bring up the Mail has not come up yet
But we expect him here to day. They say when we get out in front that we shant be alowed to send any more letters. I dont know wheather it is true or not. We left Camp Parole last Wedsday morning and got to Alaxandria the same night. We staid there ever since till yesterday morning. We got our pay the 19th and I was on Guard the same day but never the less I thought of that what you wrot in my Book and a good deal more. Sadie now I will tell the truth. I never was so home sick in all my life as I have been for the last two weeks. But I am geting over it now. I dont believe I ever want an other furlough. If I ever come home a gain
I want to stay there. Oh I do wish I could get a letter from you. I cant tell what to write a bout first. There is so much that I might tell you though a great deal of it would not interest you much. The weather is verry warm here now which makes it verry disagreeable Marching though I stand it better than most of the Boys. I dont carry any more load than I can possably git a long with out. But the 45 rounds of aminition is the heavyest thing just now. But I suppose they will make us carry 75 or 100 when we git out where the “Johneys” [Confederates] are. I cant get in any position where I can write then the sun shines in through the tent and Bothers me so I cant half write. So you must excuse all the mistakes
for I know there is a lot of them. Sadie I wish I could come and see you to night as I did two weeks ago to night. But I am a fraid it will be a long time before I shall see you a gain. But if I cant see you Darling I shall think of you often for there is no one living that I think half so much of as I do of you. But you know that all ready so there is no use of me telling you of it. Will Darling I shall have to close for the Chaplain is here after the mail now so I will tell you good Bye and here is a kiss for you Dear.
Write soon to your
Add
Adress Washington DC
I had to cut this short for the Chaplain is all ready to go now.
Good Buy Darling.
I will write a gain as soon as I can. Add
I. 94th Regt
May 26th / 64 Near Milford Station Va.
Dear Mother As there is a chance for me to send a letter I will write a short one and send it to you for I suppose you are wanting to hear from me and know how we are giting a long on our march “Onward to Richmond.” We left Bell Plain landing Monday night [May 23] at 4 o clock and went to FredericksBurg that night. Got there about 9 in the evning. Then we started earley in the morning from there and crossed the [Rappahannock] River. Marched along down on the South side crossed over the old [Fredericksburg] Battle Field. Saw the place where I was Wounded and where our Brigade fought. It doesent look much as it did that day [13 Dec 1862] though the old diches and same old road is there
and the house we used for a Hospital is all Burned down. Well we went a bout 10 or 12 miles that day. It was verry warm. Lots of the Boys wer Sun struck and some died on the road. Finaly we stoped and staid for the night. Our Regt had to go on Picket. It rained and thundered & lightend like “Sam hill” all the fore part of the night. But we stood it like “Bricks.” Thought of Camp Parole once in a while “though.” But still to be on Picket seemed kind a natural again. We got here last night at dark. We could hear Canonading all day yesterday and they are a pounding a way off in Front now a little But we can hear it here verry Plain. It is raining a little and I guess they are taking it easy to day.
We are in a bout a days march from the Fighting. But I dont know wheather they will put us right in or not. Some talk that we are going to guard a suply train. I dont know what we will do as I dont know as it makes much odds. We are as good fighters as they have got in the Armey. (So we are) I don’t know wheather we are Brigaded yet or not. We are in a Brigade under Gen Lockwood. But wheather we shall stay there or not I cant tell. We may go back to our Old Brigade again. I cant get any letters from you until we get into some Corps and regularly organized into some Brigad and Division and that may be some time yet. I have not heard from you yet and I dont know wheather you need write or not. But if you do write I can get it
as soon as we get into a Corps so upon the whole you may write if you are a mind to. Mr [Cephas] Childs is sick. We left him or he left us at Fredericks Burg or there was the last we saw of him. [Edward] Booth and [William] Davis are here and well only Booth is almost ded for a Chew of “tobacko”. I am glad I dont “Chaw.” Well I dont know as there is any more news to write this time. I would be glad if I could hear from Montrose. I suppose he is down with [Gen. Benjamin] Butler. I saw some of the 10 N. Y. Cavilry yesterday and they told me the 9[th New York Cavalry] was with Butler. That’s all I guess. I am well. Tough as a Buck. Stand marching the best of any man in the Company. I dont lie about it eather for I do.
Add Fay
[Written upside at top of page one:]
I dont suppose you can read half of this letter
Near Milford Station Va.
May 26th / 64
Dearest Sarah
This is the fifth letter that I have writen to you since I came from home. I dont know but you will get tired of so much of my nonsense but if you get tired of it you need not read them, the letters. But I presume you would like to know where I am at this time so I will write a short letter and give you a brief history of the past three or four days. We left Bell Plain landing last Sunday night at 4 o clock and went to Fredricks Burg that night. Got there a bout 9 in the evning.
We staid there all night. Then in the morning we crossed the [Rappahannock] river and marched along down on the south side most the whole length of the old Battle Field and I went to the same place where I was wounded. But it didnt look much as it did the day of the Battle [Dec. 13, 1862]. But still it looks natural excepting the house that we used for a Hospital was Burned and the grass was growing up green where it was all bair and coverd with ded men the day of the fight. So there is a great difrence in the looks of it now and the looks of it then. It was an awful warm day that day we crossed the old Field and we marched a good ways 12 or 14 miles I should think and it was so warm that some of the Men were sun struck and several died on the road. I stood it first rate. I took all the advantage of the roads that I could. When I could cut a cross and save a mild or half a mild I done it.
I am not a going to kill my self marching. If the “Rebs” kill me thats eneough. I shant kill myself. Well we stoped that day about 9 o clock and staid all night. Our Regt. went on picket and it rained all the fore part of the night. I tell you Sadie we thought of “Camp Parole” as much as twice that night as we stood there in the rain. I thought of the diference between the Picketing then and the “Picketing” that I done while I was in “Shin town” but little more than two weeks from then. “A good deal of diference Sadie.” We left there at 4 o clock in the morning and went to “Boling green” a little town about as large as “Peth” [a locality in Great Valley]. We took dinner then staid there till three o clock then we came to Milford station. Got there at five. Rested there a short time then came here. Got here about dark last night. And we shall probly leave here some time this evning when it gets cool.
We are in a bout a days march of where they are fighting [along the North Anna River]. We could hear canonading all day yesterday and have heard a little to day. But not much. A large train of wagons came in yesterday loaded with wounded. They say we are whiping them hard. When our fellows make a charge on them they wont stand more than one or two volleys before they will braik and run. “I guess they have heard the 94th are coming”. We dont belong to any Corps yet. We are in Gen. [Henry Hayes] Lockwoods Brigade [actually 2nd Division, 5th Corps]. We shant get any mail till we are put into some corps and I dont know when that will be. We can get a chance once in a while to send letters out. But it is hard geting any to us until we are joined to some Corps. Then we shall get our regular Mail. And I shall be glad of it too for I want to hear from Sadie once in a while. I have not heard from home yet since I left. I wouldnt cair if I could hear from Sadie “twice” in a while. I got a letter from you last Sunday and it seems more than a month ago. It will be longer I suppose before I shall hear from you a gain. But I shall write evry chance I can get to send a letter out. If I dont hear from you in six months and if you get tired and sick of so many letters you can burn them up and not read them. When you write direct your letters to Washington as you used to when we were in the Field before. Darling I shall have to stop and go and make me some Coffey for it is about dinner time. Sadie you remember that ring you had. I put that on to my little finger the other day and I cant get it off. It stoped over the joint and it wont slip back a gain so I shall have to wair it till it comes off. I shall have to stop. Good By Sadie. Add
[Written upside down and in the margins of page one:]
I have not got any ink so I Borrowed this of “Davis”. If you see any letters wrote with red ink in Mati’s posession you will know where they came from. Davis is well. But he is wors off than I am. He has writen lots and “sots” of letters But hasnt got any since he came Back to the Regt. I have had one. Excuse me Sadie will you. I will write a gain soon. As ever yours Add
NOTES:
Near Pamunkey River Va
May 29th 1864
Dear Mother We are once more in the Field and in hearing of Musketry firing. We crossed the Pamunky River this morning at 10 o clock and We have come a bout 3 miles since we crossed the River. We shall probly ... to morrow morning have a chance at some of the “Johneys” [Confederates] though we may not. We are back in the same Division that we used to belong to though not in the same Brigade. I dont know what Brigade we do belong to yet. I suppose Montrose is hear some where. The whole Cavilry Corps is around here. I dont know as I shall get a chance to send this But
I will write it and give it to the Chaplain. May be he will get a chance to send it some time. Now Mother dont worry about me. I am all right. It is no more for me to fight the Rebs than lots of other Boys. I have not heard from home yet But I guess may be I shall soon. We are sure that we shall drive the Rebs. They dont like ... yanks fight this summer. That is all this time. I will take cair of my self the best I can and write a gain soon.
Good by
from Add
behind “Brest Works” in front of
the Rebs. May 31st, 1864
Darling Sarah
I wrote you a letter one day last week. I have writen four or five since I came from home. I have had But one from you for we have had no mail since we left Camp Parole but once. I will tell you what I have been up to since last week at this time. We crossed the “Pamunkey” River day before yesterday, came about 3 miles South of the River then we Haulted and staid all night. Then in the morning we got ready to march. Was under marching orders till about noon.
We could hear Skirmishing about a mild and a half ahead of us. But we did not think we should have a fight that day. But shure eneough we wer Marched up and was drawn up in line about 2 o clock in the after noon. The fight comenced shortly after and lasted till dark when the Rebs fell back and gave it up as a bad job. There was none of our Regt killed (there was two men wounded). The first Division of our Corps lost heavy. We killed a good many Johneys [Confederates]. Our Regt fought behind Brest works [temporary earthen fortifications] so the Rebs had no chance to hurt any of us. Their Intfantry fire was verry light on us But their Artillery made us lay clost to our Brest works.
We are in the Fifth Corps Second Division First Brigade. They have been fighting up on our right all day to day and we can hear Firing down on our left now. I guess the Cavelry has comenced fighting them. We may have it here before to morrow night. But I guess we are good for them. We think so any way. Well Darling I cant write any more this time. I dont know as I can send this. But if I can see the Chaplain I will give it to him and he can send it to our Corps post master. I do wish I could get a letter from you. I didnt think that day I left you Dear that I should be in
a fight in just three weeks from that day. Did you think so? Well Sadie I shall have to stop. Please excuse me for writing with a Pencil for I have no ink and must write with a Pencil or not write at all. Dont worry about me Darling. I will be a good Boy and if we are parted for the last time and never to meet again here in this world let us try to meet in a better world. You must excuse me Darling now for I shall have to stop. Good by Dear Sadie. Write to me soon.
Adress Washington D.C.
I 94th
ever yours Adrian
Behind Brest works Near the
Pamunkey River about 10 miles from
Richmond May 31st 1864
We crosed the “Pamunkey” day before yesterday about 10 o clock and wated till yesterday at about 2 PM when we came here and formed a line just in rear of our Skirmishers and went to throwing up Brest works. We got them done about 4 o clock and about 5 they comenced shelling us and the skirmishers comenced firing pretty sharp But our Batries soon shut them up. The Rebs made 3 charges on our right But our men drove them back each time. The report is that the Rebel “Gen [Jubal] Early” was killed. Our men still hold the Field But they have been fighting up on our right all day to day. We are
on the left. There has not been any fighting here since last night. We are in the First Brigade Second Division fifth Corp. Gen. Lockwood comands the Division and Col. Lils [Peter Lyle] of the 90 Penna. comands our Brigade. We are laying here expecting to move evry moment. They are still Burning a way up on our right. Perhaps they will get around here by night. But we are eneough for them. We are in good fortifications and have got lots of Artillery. This is all I can write this time. I thought I would write a few lines so that you would know where I am. I will write a gain soon.
Adrian
[On an undated scrap of paper, Adrian writes the following to his sister Mary from the Cold Harbor battlefield, probably on May 31, 1864:]
The old Chaplain is back in the rear. But I have got a chance to send this back to him. It may be a long time before you get it. It is now one o clock. Nothing has been done here to day. But they are still fighting up on the right. Well tell “Mom” not to Worry about me. We will soon have Richmond and then we will all be home a gain.
Mati give my respects to the “School marm” or “...”. I little thought that Monday I left home that in just 3 weeks from that day I should be in 10 miles of Richmond and in a fight too. Well no more this time. I have not heard from home yet. We cant get our mail.
NOTES:
Adrian is describing the Battle of Cold Harbor, Virginia, which began May 31, 1864. The 94th New York was commanded by Lt. Col. Samuel A. Moffett. Col. Peter Lyle of the 90th Pennsylvania was their brigade commander and Gen. Henry Hayes Lockwood was the division commander. This is all within the Union Fifth Corps commanded by Major General G. K. Warren. The 94th New York suffered 49 casualties in this battle. Adrian was captured on a skirmish line near Bethesda Church on June 3 and sent away to Andersonville Prison in Georgia.
The Battle of Cold Harbor resulted in Lee’s army checking Grant’s flanking movement of the previous month. Grant then changed strategy and set out to approach Richmond from the south. Thus began the movement that bogged down in the nine-month siege of Petersburg. Adrian Fay would spend this time as a prisoner of war in the South.
“The old Chaplain” is Rev. Philos G. Cook, 94th New York.
“School marm” refers to his fiancée, Sarah Flint
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.