KP2025.001.026

No. 15
Camp Bayard of the 10th N.Y. V. Cav.
Jan 19th 1863.
Dear Brother & Sister
I have a few minutes leisure and so I will commence to write for your perusal, and I take this half sheet that you left blank in a letter so as to be economized for money is growing scarce with me. I have written to you since I have received any from you, so I have no letter to reply to and I don’t think I will send this till I get another from you. I am well but Joseph is sick. He has been complaining 2 or 3 days, has kept around till to day but to day he has lain in bed all day. He first complained of rheumatism and a cold and to day of headache. I don’t know what twill amount to. John Matthews is getting better. The day I wrote home last which was the 16th Our Co. went out the front 5 or 6 miles on picket together with 3 other companies of our Regt. for 3 days but only stayed one day when we were relieved by another Regt so we marched back to camp, and Sunday we went on inspection (our whole Regt) and to day out on review. Last night we got orders to be ready this morn with 3 days cooked rations at 6 A.M. to pack and here we are at 4 P.M. and no order yet to pack but we will look for it till it comes. The pickets of the 2 opposing Armies here stand upon the banks of the Rhappanhannock [Rappahannock]. I stood from 9 in the eve till 11, 2 hours then was relieved till 5 the next morn when I stood 2 hours more. Thats my first picketing. I had a beat of as much as a quarter of a mile, and walked my horse on it back & forth. My instructions were to keep a good look out for boats a crossing the river and if any seen to halt them 3 times and then if they did not halt to fire my Carbine at them (and hit em if I could) but all was quiet. I saw the rebel pickets in the morn.
Our mail has gone today and so I can’t send till tomorrow. Wm. you wrote me a while ago that you was a going to have two feet more head on the water wheel than I had, but you did not say that you were going to build the dam higher or set the wheel lower, which if you do not do you most certainly will get no more head than I had. Now if you think you can get more head just explain it to me so I can get it through my head. Harriet what will be the consequence of my grey horse is not sold by the time your Mortgage is due and I don’t pay it up into $125.00 until he is sold. I am glad you have concluded to send me some gloves by mail for I begin to need them and I will get them much quicker than by express. I am sorry you put vinegar in a bottle with mustard in that box. We have plenty of vinegar here furnished with the rations. If the bottle should get broke twould be a nice mess. 3 O’clock P.M there is sharp cannonading directly in front of us some 5 or 6 miles distant, I judge; they are dropping them in quite lively. I would not wonder if we had to saddle up. I guess I’ll close and be ready.
From Kimball

KP2025.001.027

In Camp Sat eve Jan 24th 1863
Brother, Sister & little Girls
May & Ida I am well but tired and sleepy for our Regt. have been out on picket four nights and three of them were awful rainy and cold. We could not get much sleep. Joseph did not go with us but I find him much better than he was when we went on picket. John gains and will soon be well again if he has no bad spell. I received a letter from you Harriett No. 14 while I was on picket but I could not answer it then. We got back to camp about 4 P.M. to day. I got a letter yesterday from Cousins Drucilla & Abigail and from S.F. Perrin & Silas which if you see them tell them I’ll reply as soon as I can get time. I am watching the mail for a package from you of a night cap and wristlets. To day one in our Company got a package by mail (cost 32 cts) of a little pastboard box 8 in long 5 in wide and 4 deep with brown wrapping paper around it. In it was sweet cake, boiled eggs, ½ lb butter a package of envelopes and a half doz little papers of something I don’t know what. I don’t write this because I want anything of the kind sent now but I may sometime want something of the sort. I suppose the Whole Army moved forward this week, and back again on account of the heavy fall of rain and the bad roads it made. We were on picket some 6 or 10 miles below Fredericksburgh [Fredericksburg] near King Georges Church so we did not see anything of the movement. I don’t know when there will be another movement but I think not very soon. Did I not tell you awhile ago to direct my letters to Co. L 10th Regt N.Y.V. Cav. Bayards Brigade Washington D.C. I think I did but they call came directed to Gen. Franklins Head Quarters 6th Army Corps. You must know that we are not at those headquarters, then why direct there. Please not any more. I am so sleepy I can’t finish this sheet tonight so good night and tomorrow I don’t know how twill be about writing for Sundays we have to go out on Inspection in the forenoon and I don’t know who will come in the afternoon but I’ll finish it as soon as I can.
Sunday the 25th I am well today and Joe and John are so as to be out on inspection to day. I have to day got another letter from you mailed the 21st and numbered the 15th and directed right. I have got all the stamps you sent up to this time. You may continue to send them for it is but little trouble for you and I would have to send to Washington by someone that was going there and back and I use them about as fast as I get them, if you send 3 in every letter. I do not know anything more about the lame Corporal. Who, or what fool says papers won’t come by mail here. Some in our company get papers every day from York State. I would like a paper once in a while but don’t have time to read much. You could send 4 times the heaft in each letter that you do and not increase the postage any. I like to have pieces cut from papers and sent in letters as you have twice only I want more. Try it and see if I don’t get papers that you send me. I would like to have you send me some paper & envelopes. If you send two quire of paper and two packages of envelopes they would not be so likely to get jammed crosswise of the paper and there will be a space as wide as tis from the bottom of this sheet for something else and I don’t think of anything I want more than I do black pepper and if you could sew it up in a cloth so it would not leak out you may do so and send some
[rest of letter missing]
[envelope]
Mr. Wm. H. Press
Gowanda, Catt. co.
N.Y.
[likely May Press practicing writing]
Mr. Wm. H. Press
for Jo
Mr. Wm H. Press

[envelope reverse]
MAY
[upside down] Jan 24 63

KP2025.001.028

Camp Bayard, Jan 27th 1863
Dear Brother & Sister
I am well. Have received no letter since I wrote therefore I have none to reply to. This is a business letter and will be short and to the point. Herbert Farnsworth says we can get Express packages from home so Joe and I will have you and Lis send one to us. You may send those two cans of boiled cider applesauce, and you can fill a 2 qt tin pail of Melissa’s with butter. Joe says he has got one with a cover to it and if we should move before twas gone twould be a nice thing to carry it in, and you will see what I’ve written to Drusilla and Abigail to send in a mince pie on a tin plate and get 5 lbs of cheese at Joshuas and some honey of Aunt Lydia if she had it and I want you to put in 4 or 5 lbs of dried apples and if part sweet and part sour would be better and use less sugar. Then send them so you’ll known and you and Lis make some cookies and ginger cakes or something to eat to chink up in the box. This is all we think of and if you can think of any little thing that I have not mentioned put it in. I suppose box and all will weigh 40 or 50 lbs. I don’t know what twill cost. I want you to pay it and charge it to me. Wm. get a box at the grocery or make one but have a strong one and a tight one and have it marked with paint and plain (I mean such paint as merchants boxes are marked with) and make a cross X on the upper left hand corner of the box so that the Quartermaster will know tis my box and send a letter with a
[remainder of letter missing]
[envelope]
Mr. Wm. H. Press
Gowanda Catt. Co.
NY.
[envelope reverse]
Jan 27 1863
Camp Bayard

KP2025.001.029

Camp Bayard Feb 3rd 1863
Dear Brother & Sister
 Your 3 letters dated from the 25th to 27th and No. 16 were received yesterday. It had been over a week since I had had a letter from you and I had got quite anxious to hear and I thought twas time I got my wristlets &c. Perhaps the cold weather had a tendency to make me want them hurried up but I suppose I shall have them before this reaches you, and now let me ask you to be prompt in sending whatever I may write for even if should have to eat a dinner or two of dry bread crusts and water (we have to make many a meal when on the march of dry crackers) and for a change I would be glad to get crusts of bread. I have got so I don’t care about butter or at any rate don’t think of it. When we camp we have good enough and if I can always fare as well as I have done I shall not starve. Harriet you ask what I charge for mill rent this year. I think Wm. & I agreed upon $35.00 unless it should be an uncommon year or something of that sort. I am satisfied with thirty five dollars if you are not let me know it. The Lottery business is out of my line just now. I am glad your health is so good. I did not know that Paine had any children but I had heard he was a Widower. You say you want to send me a bundle of papers some way. Now I don’t want a bundle at once only 1 or 2 at a time and send those by mail & they will come. There is papers come every day to some of the Co. Wm. I am disappointed to hear that my grey is going to be the largest and glad the mare does so well. I am yet coming home to drive them and I don’t want them sold unless you can get as much as $200.00 for both and not sell the grey alone for less than $125.00 unless I say so, nor the mare for less than 80. I would rather you would keep them and work them till we know how things are going to turn. Do as you think best about trading for that grey mare you spoke of, but I am afraid you won’t get one that will travel with the grey as well as the brown does. Can the mare trot as fast as the horse now? You have got a nice lot of cider and are making a first rate profit on it. I am glad you are doing so well in March you can sell some to the dutchmen. Is Charles Munger working for John or for Mariah or both. I can’t help what Mr. Henry says. I don’t think I shall send any letters without stamps on and I don’t mean to get out of stamps either. I have got 25 three cent stamps now and I want you to send me 2 or 3 in a letter whenever you can. Can’t you buy a dollars worth at a time at the P.O. for your own use. I did at Elmira. Tell Ida I got her shin plaster and will send her something sometime. I shall expect that box of provisions by express by the 10th then Joe and I will eat. Joe is not very well for a few days and John has got tough. That other co. is yet at Alexandria & Bela Dexter is there with them. Yesterday our co. got our pistols. They are Colts Navy revolver six shooters, a nice arm. We have had some hard times here (you’ll see in Shelden’s letter) but we are now in camp waiting for it to storm when I suppose we will go somewhere. Our Regt is being paid off today up to the first of last Nov. The old Companies get 4 months pay and I suppose we will get about one months pay. I have not quite got out of money yet and have not suffered for anything that money could buy here. I am scant for room to finish on that whole sheet so I’ll have to take this soiled sheet to finish on. I am glad that you gave an account of the tax, &c., but tis the lightest tax I ever had if I paid $3.00 dog tax. Some years I have had nearly $5.00 and no Dog tax. I would like to be at that Donation part but I can’t leave just now. If you could get a pastboard [pasteboard] box at the store when you buy the paper such as they keep it in twould be just the ting to send it in. Then get some tough wrapping paper and put around that and tie or past [paste] it secure and twill come all right I think. When we were out on picket I and some others shelled some rebel corn that was stored where we stopped and sent to mill by a negro he carried 4 bushels 2 miles with a mule and cart for 4p. Dan Brown and I shelled 7 bushel and I sold ½ my share for to pay the negro so I got about a peck of meal for nothing. I make hasty pudding & hoe cake. Joe has told me several times since I’ve been writing this not to write that he was sick but to tell them he was all right and so I must for when a man says he is all right we had ought to believe him. I would like to give you a description of picketing but don’t see as I can this time. I’ll tell a little anyhow. We had to stand 2 hours out of 12 each on about a quarter of a mile or more and had to walk his horse back and forth and keep a good lookout. We were but a few at a time. We slept or stayed in a shed when not on post about a mile back from the river.

Yours Truly
Kimball Pearsons
To Wm & Harriet
[upside down page 5] I can dispose of those pencils. Several are spoken for now. I hear they are at Alexandria.

KP2025.001.030

KP2025.001.031

No. 18
Camp Bayard Va Feb 4th 1863
Dear Sister
I have a little time and as this is a business letter I will use ink. I see by looking at my list of debts (which is the same as I left with you) the following that I have not got marked paid. If you have paid any more let me know it. If you pay any of these pay the 5 first first and leave S.S.S., I. Allen and H. Kelly till some other time.
Wm. if you will let me know how much of an account you have against me or in my favor I will be much obliged.

Its clear and cold today froze hard last night. I am well. Joseph is better. I’ll finish this after I get the next letter from you. Are my letters Post Marked at Washington or here in Va I put one in the office this morning & I think I forgot to No. it, twas No. 17.
Friday 2 P.M. Feb 6th 1863
I am well & in camp. Joseph is about well again. It’s been cold weather for a few days but last night it rained all night and has rained till noon today. Now I think twill clear off. The mud had all got frozen solid in the roads, but this rain and warm weather will fix it again. In about 6 weeks we will have warm weather and will probably be on the move as soon as that. I hear that we are to be used for the skirmishing and Reconnoitering. I hope its so for that’s just what will suit me. I have written to Aunt Lydia & to Joshua quite a spell ago. Do you know whether they got my letters or not. Day before yesterday our Regt. was paid off up to the first of Nov. last. I got $12.56. I had just $2.00 left that I brought from home & if I knew when we would get paid off again I should know whether to send home ten now or not. I guess I will take a week or so to make up my mind about it.
Sunday eve the 8th. Yesterday I received a letter from Cousin Joshua, washed a change of clothes and went out with the Regt. on Inspection. I’ll tell you what Inspection is. Our horses must be well cleaned off and saddled with one blanket neatly rolled and strapped on behind our Overcoats rolled and strapped on the front of the saddle. We must have on all of our weapons and have them well cleaned up and look tidy ourselves. Then we march by companies about a mile from camp in a field and form the Regt in a line 2 deep and then each Co makes a right wheel (do you know what a right wheel is) and then the officers highest in command, or yesterday twas a Major and Captain
[page missing]
[scrap piece of paper]
Mr Kimball Pearsons
Co. L. 10th regt N.Y.V. Cav
Washington, D.C.
The above is just as good to put on more, try it and see. KP
[reverse of scrap]
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23

[Note: this is the remainder of the letter KP2025.001.030 dated 4 February 1863. Diary entry for Feb 11th published in “Tough and Hearty” corroborates this, “finished a letter to send home that I had been writing several days No. 18.”]

rode through in front and rear of each company 3 times the first time to inspect our Sabres [sabers] the next to inspect our Carbines and last the Pistol. Each man has to hold up his weapons as the inspecting officer passes, and if there happens to be a man without spurs on he will see it. That is about all there is to it then we march back to camp. To day or Regiment [is] out on picket again. My horse was sick and I was not very well and so I got excused and am staying in camp. I got my boots tapped today, cost 75 cts there was a few of those dog buttons on them yet. Great changes are going on in this Army I hear for a day or two and I think its so that a part are going to fall back for the defense of Washington, a part going west and a part to North Carolina the Artillery & Infantry have already commenced moving to the Landing to take boats but where we will go I don’t know. A good many are getting furloughs for 10 days shall I get one if I can or not. Our mail did not come to day. The Chaplain acts as Post master his tent is only about 20 rods from mine there is a bag hangs at the door to drop the letters into and when the mail comes in the letters for each Co is carried to the Orderly Seargent [Sergeant] of every Co and he calls out Letters then the boys rush for them as fast as they hear their names read or called. Sometimes it seems as though my name was not found on a letter often enough. I am pretty sure I will get one tomorrow. To day has been a warm pleasant day. Will you ask John Whites folks what Regt and Co John McMillen is in. It is sleeping time and I will turn in.
Wednesday the 11th of Feb /63
Our Regt went out on Picket again day before yesterday my horse was sick and I did not feel very well so I stayed in camp by the permission of our excellent Captain and about noon Monday Cousin Marcus Bartlett came into camp and stayed with me over night and yesterday Hurburt [Herbert] Farnsworth, Nelson Washburn & myself went with Marcus down to the picket line where our Regt was an thence up the river road past Fredericksburgh [Fredericksburg] and Falmouth Station to the 64th and left Marcus there. We return to camp got in at 9 in the evening. I should Marcus the battle field at Fredericksburgh [Fredericksburg] and where the ponton [pontoon] bridges were so he has a good idea of the affair, and if you want to see someone that has seen me, go and see him and he will give you some information perhaps more than I have or can write. I am feeling well to day after riding as much as 25 miles yesterday. When I commenced this letter I thought I would not send it till I received another from you but I think now I will send this in the morn. Our Sundays mail and our yesterdays has not come yet and it may be lost. Day before yesterday I received 2 papers from you dated the 28th Jan and was very glad to get them. I hope I may get more now you have found out they will come to me. The 27th I wrote a letter for a box to be sent by express and if you have sent it you have of course sent me a description of the box and when you get this send me another description so if one is lost and I get the other that I can get the box. Monday I got a letter from Cousin Abigail & Melissa containing besides the letter one envelope with a stamp and 3 more stamps and 4 sheets of paper. I see by riding around yesterday that a good many of the Soldiers have left their camp here. I think the fighting is about through with in Va for the present, that twill be some where else but I may be mistaken time will tell. Last Monday night we lost a man from Co L with the Fever he being the first one that has died in the Co except the Q.M. Sergeant who shot himself a while ago. There is several sick in different Hospitals now from our Co and at present we have less than 50 men fit for duty. I have stood it about as well as any of them and think I can a spell or two yet. Erastus L. Harris has gone home on a furlough of 10 days try and see him.
From your Brother
Kimball Pearsons
To Wm Harriet, May and Ida
[upside down previous page] Please find enclosed a present for Ida and May. it’s the last I’ve got now. Tell them to send me more presents. KP