"I am rejoiced to hear that Lincoln's likely to be the Union candidate for the Presidency. He has my hearty support. He stands next to the Father of his country. He is in fact the second Father. No man was ever called to fill so trying a position and filled it so well. May God bless him and give him wisdom and grace that may do all for the glory of God."
15 pages, 5 x 8, in ink, written by Lieutenant Benjamin Wright, to his wife Abbie.
Head Quarters U.S. Forces, St. Augustine, Fla., Feb. 26th, 1864
My Dear Abbie,
Never have I neglected you so long as I have now. For the past week I have been so busy that I have hardly had time to sleep or eat. A boat left a day or two ago and I never sent you a word by it. I have altogether too much business on hand. I cannot attend to it properly. If I attempt to I shall use myself up completely in a very short time. In fact I have been unfit for duty for better than a week now, but I have had so much on hand that I have had to keep going. I find it will be impossible to attend to both Provost Marshal and Post Adjutant. One is as much as any man can attend to properly. I am going to ask the Col. to put some one else in Provost Marshal. I don't want the position unless I can attend to it. I have had a weeks experience and am perfectly satisfied. I must have time to write to you. It will never do to neglect you. I think I shall retain the Post Adjutancy and give up the Provo[st]. The Provo has an opportunity to get acquainted with everybody and to know everything that is going on. On that account I should like it very much, but has a good deal [of] responsibility resting on him. Everyone that comes in or that goes out has to do it through him. In fact he has almost everything to do. After all he is such a big man. The Post Adjutant stands first on the Comdg. officer's staff. In the Colonel's offering me the position shows that he has confidence in me. I am glad he has. I have always so far as I know done all that has been required of me since I have been in the service, and I believe done it well. I find some have appreciated it.
8 P.M.: I commenced this early this morning. I was not feeling very well then but I am feeling better tonight. In fact better than I have in a week. I have been quite relieved of my responsibility today. I told the Col. this morning that it would be impossible for me to attend to all the duties and that I would like to be relieved from the Provost duty. He said he did not know who to put in the place. There was but one in the Regt. that I thought would do at all and he I thought would make a pretty good one. I recommended him to the Col. He thought quite favorably of it and wished me to have him sent for and then told me to make out an order for his detail which I assure I did right quick. Glad to get part of my duties off my shoulders. I shall have time to breath now. I am situated very pleasantly. Have very good quarters. We occupy a large house nearly opposite the plaza where we can look off on the water. Nice large rooms. Our quarters are upstairs. Along the whole length of the house is a veranda. It will be a delightful place in warm weather. On our side of the hall is five rooms. The same number on the Provost Marshal's side. I have a very nice bedroom, a good mattress on the bed, so you see we are quite nicely situated. All our clerks' quarters [are] in the building. Col. Otis stops at Q.M. house on Main St. but a short distance from Head Quarters. My house is handy and my boarding place is not a minutes walk away. I think now I can get along nicely and after I get things going along right I can take some comfort. I don't calculate my labors will be very heavy after things get started. I don't know who has a better right to take things easy then I have and I think I shall improve it.
Saturday Eve, 30th: A boat arrived from the Head today. Brought no mail however. One had arrived at the Head before it left but was not distributed. We shall probably receive it tomorrow as our boat was there and was to wait for it. It was expected to leave yesterday forenoon, but I hardly think it left before last night or this morning. It would touch at Ferandina and would come in here at high water tomorrow. I have not heard of much news of importance brought by this. Capt. Bill Pratt of Gen. Stevenson's staff came down. It is said he reports the 24th [Mass.] and we will leave here soon and go to the Head. The Veterans to be sent home from there. I hope such will not be the case. We are just nicely settled. Such is the fortunes of war however. We know not what an hour may bring forth. We are to have Regt. Inspection tomorrow morning at nine o'clock by an ordinance officer from Gen. Gillmore's staff. Of course it must take place on the Sabbath. It will however take the place of the regular Sunday morning inspection. The weather still holds delightfully. Almost like summer. I amswered Lucinda's letter today. I have two or three others on hand unanswered. As the boat does not leave until Monday I will endeavor to get them all off. As yet I have never answered Dr. Linsley's letter. I must commence it tonight.
Monday Morning, Feb. 1st: Can it be that one month of the New Year is gone? and that another is right on its heels? Yes it must be so. The record is made up and the books are closed. How very rapidly the time flys. The Island City came in yesterday with our mail. It got in between four and five, just about the time of our dress parade from which I got excused that I might have a hand in opening the mail. I am one of the favored ones that gets in the office when a mail arrives and assists in distributing it. The mail yesterday was large but we soon shuffled it off. By getting to help sort the mail I am enabled to get my mail earlier than I should otherwise. I received four letters yesterday, three from you and one from Eddy. Yours mailed the 15th, 20th & 23rd. It would be needless for me to say that I was glad to receive them. They are ever welcome and I thank God that I have such a dear wife to write me such words of encouragement and cheer. Your letters are truly blessings to me. They ever encourage and cheer me. For you would I willingly suffer hardships and privations. Your patriotism is truly noble, worthy of immitation. I sometimes fear if it were not for you I should not be as patriotic and devoted to my country. I am glad you are so hopeful for the future of our beloved country. I too am hopeful. In fact I always have been but I believe now the day of our deliverance is not very far distant. I hope and pray that when this year rolls around we shall welcome it with shouts of joy. If God spears our lives, I shall see you before that time, but while my life and health are spared until this cruel war is over, until those who have raised their arms against their country shall be put down, my services belong to my country, and that country shall have them. I don't mean to say but that under certain circumstances I should leave the service, but those circumstances must be aggravated. If it were possible I would put to shame those who cowardly stay at home enjoying its comforts while others are in the field perhaps suffering, bleeding and dying for them who are just as able to endure as we are. Thank God that I am able to respond to my country's call in person, that no hireling shall ever do my fighting. [They] think more of their ease and comforts than of their country. I shall look on them with contempt. Feel myself a better man for having done my duty. You ask if Sergt. Salter was a member of the Greenwich church? He was an earnest Christian who showed by his life and conversation a devoted Christian life. You speak about those who enlisted in '62 being allowed to re-enlist. None were allowed to enlist as Veterans unless they had been in the service two years or more. Those who came out in the Autumn of '62 had not been in the field the requisite time. You say they expected to be mustered out with the Regt. next fall. If the Regt. had been, or should be mustered out they go with it, but it will not be unless the war is over. Just so long as this war continues [so] will the Tenth [Conn.] Regt. be in the field. When each man's time expires he will be mustered out. It would hardly have been right to have all owed them to have re-enlisted. They received large bounties when they enlisted. Others had never received any. By allowing them to re-enlist, if they should have to stay their full time out, the two enlistments would amount to but a little over four years while our old troops would be over five years, and not get as much pay as those who come in at the sixth & ninth hour. I think quite a number more in the Regt. will re-enlist yet. I think we should get three hundred. We received a letter from Gov. Buckingham today stating that the time for paying the $300 State Bounty had been extended to the 1st [of] March. When the mustering officer comes down again quite a number will go in. I think some of the boys are getting quite impatient about their furloughs. Some of them even begin to mistrust but it is foolish. Their furloughs are sure. If I was half as sure of getting home this spring as they are I should be pretty well satisfied. According to Gen. Gillmore's orders only five officers would be allowed to go home with the Veterans, but Col. Otis made an application for a greater number to be allowed to go. He asked leave to send nine. His application came back today approved. That was as many as he dared to ask for. Most of them have never been home. So far as that goes it is all right but a few of them have. I did not expect to go so long as there was men in the Regt. who had not been home at all, but when it comes to those who have been home I consider I have a good right to go as others, but for some reason I don't generally get the favors. I believe I am too valuable a man. Can't be spared or something of that sort. I should be delighted to go home with so many of the officers and men. What a glorious reception they will meet, but I will not covet any ones opportunity of going. I hope them a good time. I trust I will have an opportunity of coming some day, but then I can only get twenty days from the time I start while now they get thirty days after they reach the State. More than double the time. I am rejoiced to hear that Lincoln's likely to be the Union candidate for the Presidency. He has my hearty support. He stands next to the Father of his country. He is in fact the second Father. No man was ever called to fill so trying a position and filled [it] so well. May God bless him and give him wisdom and grace that may do all for the glory of God. I am glad the clerk at the store is pleasant and I hope you will get along pleasantly. If you decide to take a course of lessons in writing just take some time for me as I think I need some. What are the people in the town of Greenwich coming to? to allow a murderer to go free with a light fine. A price of a colored man but seven dollars is a small estimate on a human being. I see we shall have to come home an press them fellows out. I would just as have a muss with them as with the Rebels. I think I should deal with them quite as summarily. I subscribed for the War Record with orders to have it sent to you. Also for the Courant. It often has some excellent letters in [it] from Mr. Trumbull, besides other very good reading. I never heard that William A. Burns was killed by the Rebels because he refused to surrender. I think he fell the second volley they fired. Those who escaped did so by getting in the bushes and getting out of the way as quickly as possible. Greenwich I think is getting to be very much demoralized I should judge from what I hear. You have murders and prize fights or something of the sort. I was surprised to hear that Guernsey and Hancock had been fighting. What is Greenwich coming to? We had a very delightful Sabbath yesterday. Very interesting meetings and well attended. Tonight we met down to the Chaplain's home to decide upon some plan of organization for our Regimental church. We shall report after meeting tomorrow evening. The mail goes tomorrow. I don't see but that I have said about enough for this time. Tell Bennie the Rebels have not been hurting his dear Papa. Thus far he has kept out of their hands. I don't suppose you have heard Joseph say anything about writing to me. I would like to know how he thinks. I suppose probably I shall receive a letter from Mary some of these days, two or three months old filled with apologies for her neglect and with a great many promises of doing better in the future. Such I consider of little account so often have they been broken. You might remind her that she has such a brother as I who would be glad to hear something late from her, but it is getting late and I must close. Give my love to all. God bless you and Bennie. Good night.
Ever your affectionate Husband,
Benjamin
A boat outside this morning. Somewhat anxious to hear what orders she brings. Direct here after to Hilton Head.
We will supply you with some xerox copies of other items that Benjamin Wright signed with his full name to corroborate the ID which we fully guarantee. Newsy 15 page letter with some very nice comments on President Abraham Lincoln and much more.
Benjamin Wright, was a resident of Greenwich, Conn., when he enlisted on Sept. 13, 1861, as a sergeant, and was mustered into Co. I, 10th Connecticut Infantry. He was promoted to 2nd lieutenant, Jan. 8, 1863; 1st lieutenant, June 6, 1864; and mustered out of the service on Oct. 17, 1864.
PRINCIPAL ENGAGEMENTS OF THE 10TH CONN. INFANTRY:
Roanoke Island, N. C., Feb. 8, 1862.
Newbern, N. C., Mar. 14, 1862.
Kinston, N. C., Dec. 14, 1862.
Whitehall, N. C., Dec. 16, 1862.
Goldsboro, N. C., Dec. 18, 1862.
Seabrook Island, S. C., Mar. 28, 1863.
Siege of Charleston, S. C., from July 28 to Oct. 25, 1863.
St. Augustine, Fla., Dec. 30, 1863.
Walthall Junction, Va., May 7, 1864.
Drewry's Bluff, Va., May 13 to 17 (inclusive), 1864.
Bermuda Hundred, Va., June 16, 1864.
Deep Bottom, Va., June 20, 1864.
Strawberry Plains, Va., July 26 and 27, 1864.
Deep Bottom, Va., Aug. 1, 1864.
Deep Bottom, Va., Aug. 14, 1864.
Deep Run, Va., Aug. 16, 1864.
Deep Gully and Fuzzells Mills, Va., Aug. 28, 1864.
Siege of Petersburg, Va., Aug. 28 to Sep. 29, 1864.
Fort Harrison, Va., Sep. 27, 1864.
Laurel Hill Church, Va., 0ct. 1, 1864.
Newmarket Road, Va., Oct. 7, 1864.
Darbytown Road, Va., Oct. 13, 1864.
Darbytown Road, Va., Oct. 27, 1864.
Johnson's Plantation, Va., Oct. 29, 1864.
Hatcher's Run, Va., Mar. 29 and 30, and April 1, 1865.
Fort Gregg, Va., April 2, 1865.
Appomattox Court House, Va., April 9, 1865.
Source: Connecticut: Record of Service of Men During War of Rebellion
|
