History

“Just to the right of Petersburg”

Outer Line of Breast Works June 21, 1864.

Dear wife,

Here I am, just down to the right of Petersburg. Have to be low, so I will improve the time in letting you know how I am and how I got here. I shall always tell you just how it is. Thursday afternoon I went to Camp Distribution. On the next morning about seven hundred of us went to Alexandria, took a steamer for Bermuda Hundred but did not land there. Went back down the river a short distance and came on a few miles, Sunday night, and camped. Heard the roar of guns all night when I was awake, but I slept most of the time. In the morning started again to the Army Headquarters, found it and a lot of rebel prisoners. Then started for Corps Headquarters, found it. There saw a few rebel compliments in the shape of shell. The first one struck a little ways from me. Well, a few dropped around, but no one seemed to mind it, so I thought I would not. There were but four of us to report to this Brigade, that was up to the right of Petersburg, near to the rail road.

If you were alive in 1880, you may have been attracted to the following story in the newspaper: one of the three local banks left in ruins after the bank president skipped town after being discovered forging accounts.

It was a massive and stunning crime, as evident from this coverage in The Phoenix. Read on for an amazing story of Brattleboro banks, lawyers, investigators, detectives, and people who lost everything, today in history.

U.S. Sanitary Commission

Washington, June 15, 1864.

Dear wife,

Well, I am through the mill, and came out for a first Lieutenant. Now for the front. I have been up and seen Jacob and Dr. Bowker, etc. Heard from Zopher. Up to the 10^th he is well. He is a Sergeant. I have spent the whole day at Carver and Columbia and in laying in a little paper and tobacco, had the luck to find a friend that let me have a little money. I am well, first rate. If I could only get that strap on my shoulders. You know that I should not care, if there was not such a scarcity of pennies in my pocket. I cannot describe my feelings when I heard that mother was dangerously sick. How glad I am that I had written to her. I was intending to write again as soon as I had got through my examination here, but alas, she can write no more. How sad father
must feel.

Washington, June 10, 1864.

Dearest Abiah,

Here yet. Had expected to have been examined today, but shall not probably be before Monday. It may be
put off until a later day. I will let you know Monday night. I have seen Charles Wilder from the 10^th Regt. Co. K. He was wounded on Friday last. He says Zopher was then well. This is the last news that Jacob or I have heard. Wilder’s arm is pretty well ploughed up. It struck near the elbow, and went up to the shoulder, but it is a flesh wound. He is going to Philadelphia in the morning, came in yesterday. He is in Columbia, but Jacob would not have seen him if I had not found him. Lucien Piper is killed, so Wilder says. Some of our Brattleboro boys are back here in Hospitals. But one of our old Company B has been killed and one wounded, though they have been fighting all the time. The one wounded was shot through the calf of the leg. The other Company have had several men wounded, but none dangerously.

Washington, June 7, 1864.

Dear Brother,

Mr. Baxter has just handed me a dispatch from you informing me that mother is dangerously ill. How I hope that she may recover, for I have fondly hoped that I might see you all again. I have received a letter from her and father since I have been here. It does not seem possible that I shall never see here again. I write this without waiting to get your letter, for you to assure her of that which I know she will be pleased to hear, that I am resolved to live nearer God than I have done. I cannot begin as some can, with a sudden breaking light. I have always been convinced of the true Christianity, but my vision has always been obscured and the faults of Christians have always been in my way, but I have resolved to throw all such things behind my back and not let those come between me and my duties. I regret now much that I have never prayed with my family. That is a thing I never mean to neglect, if I ever live to get home, however dark my own light may be.

Washington, June 7, 1864.

Dearest Abiah,

Still in Washington. Shall not probably get away this week. Have no news to write. The battle still rages around Richmond, for it is an almost continued battle. There were many wounded brought in yesterday and this morning. I saw long trains of ambulances going to the wharf for wounded, but no returns are published yet, only the names of some of the officers. Lieut. Col. Henry of the 10^th is wounded. I expect there will probably be a list of the wounded in the morning papers. If I see any names that I know I will send a paper. The hospitals here are getting pretty well cleaned out, some die, some go home on furloughs, some are going back to their Regiments. There are many hard cases yet in the hospitals. Mr. Loring’s son died yesterday. The diarrhoea set in, and he was so low that he sunk under it. I have not seen Mr. Loring since I wrote you last. Capt. Lillie died last night, and Capt. Hurlburt will hardly live through the day. The weather is still very favorable to the wounded. There is now a mail established to the White House. A boat leaves here every morning. It takes about 24 hours to go from here to the White House, and three boats are put on.

Washington, June 6^th, 1864.

Dear wife,

I did not finish my letter yesterday, so will write a little more today. You ask me about the length of time I must serve. I feel a little delicacy about talking to anyone about what I have not got, but it is this way, it is for life or during good behavior, but there is no doubt but I can get out of it at any time I can give a good excuse for resigning it is the same as in the volunteer service. The government is not obliged to receive a resignation, but they do it. I should not feel like resigning during my term of service if the war lasts. If it does not last, I shall, but I must get my commission first. I think then I shall have you with me if it is a possible thing. It will depend upon where I may be, if in a fort then you can be with me, if in the field, I shall not try it.

Washington, June 5, 1864.

Dearest wife,

Here I am yet. This morning received two letters from you. They come double. Was very sorry to hear that Edmond Goodwin was killed. I am going to the Columbia Hospital and Carver this afternoon. Was in to Mr. Baxter’s room this morning. Told Mrs. Baxter where I was going. Gave me a dollar and told me to buy some Strawberries for some of the boys at the Carver. She gave me their names and Wards. She spends all her time for the soldiers, goes to all the hospitals and finds the wants of the boys, If she does not have a supply, impresses some one into the service and sends them next day. She had a list of the articles that they wanted where she was going today, some Lemon pies, some Rhubarb, some dried apple turn over, some oranges and some lemons. These things she pays for with her own money.

Washington, June 2, 1864.

Dearest Abiah,

Here I am yet. Report every morning at 9 o’clock. Have just been up. Shall probably have to remain here for a week longer, perhaps two weeks. They are today examining men that came in on the 19^th of May, but the number grows less every day. I see many persons here that I know. See Henry Newcomb almost every morning. His office is just across the street from where I report. He has been up to the Columbia, Carver and Campbell Hospitals with me. Saw Jacob. His health is first rate. There were many Vermonters in the Carver Hospital, but when I was there did not know it. When I returned, called at Mr. Baxter’s boarding place, and who should I find but Mr. Loring.

The Phoenix, May 27, 1904

“A proselyte is the most obnoxious type of an enthusiast and new purchasers of automobiles seem to suffer in a similar direction. A few arrests for fast driving by automobiles would have a salutary effect and might prevent some serious accidents. Several automobiles constantly run their machines, both in and outside of the village, at excessive speed.

They frequently come tearing down Putney road at a 20 mile an hour clip and pay little attention to the rights of people with horses. Several men who have fast horses which are not afraid of the cars have had the animals so badly frightened by the sudden approach of automobiles that they are now very difficult to control whenever an automobile appears.”

Washington, May 26, 1864.

Dearest Abiah,

I wrote to you a few lines last night, just to let you know of my whereabouts. Well, I am well today. Have eaten my allowance of grub. There are at this commission some thirty of forty awaiting examination. One reason why I wanted to go to the front was, there have been so many passed by the board I thought I should die with old age before I got a commission. I was just going to the front and fight my way up or – – – but I have concluded to stay here contented until my turn comes for an examination. This is all I have to say for myself. If Grant has to fall back, I shall go to the Regiment. As long as he is pushing on I feel very well. I suppose you know more about those that have been killed and wounded than I do, so I shall say nothing about it. I believe such fighting has never been known in the history of the world, it was almost certain death or wounds in that wilderness, full of concealed rifle pits, but Lee has had to leave that cover.

(Outside cover)

Head Qrts D of Washington,

22 Army Corps, May 25, 1864

Pass the bearer, via Long Bridge, to

Rendezvous of Distribution –

Washington, May 25^th, 1864.

Dear Wife,

Here I am in Washington. Came in the morning. Got permission to appear before the board, but when I got down here and could see over into Virginia where men were pouring out their blood like water for their country, the old feeling came over me to rush to the battle. I thought I would find Mr. Baxter and advise with him. You see I had nothing but my word to prove that I belonged to the 6^th Vermont. Mr. Baxter did not advise me, but I concluded to go, for I am not like Lynn. He thinks a living coward is better than a dead hero. Would not you blush to be the wife of a living coward, but Lynn does not mean it. He is not able to take the field.

Philadelphia, May 23, 1864.

Dearest Abiah,

I have been made twice glad today. When I came to dinner I found a letter from you and at supper another. My health is good. I heard from you Thursday. Jacob and Lynn Brooks were here, they came on with some wounded. There has been over 5,000 wounded men brought to the hospitals, but their names have not been published in the Philadelphia papers. I saw some of the men, one from the Vermont 3rd, that was carried off the field at the same time with George Hill.

I noticed the item in Today in History…in 1892, new boiler installed at the Brooks House.  It’s possible, but I’m not sure, that the boiler is located under the former Frankie’s Pizza.  It may briefly see light of day in the very near future when that building is razed.  I don’t know whether the plan is to bury or remove it.  Speaking of Frankie’s, it looks like his son is opening a restaurant/bar in the old HR Block location next to the former Lawton’s.

In 1881, Brattleboro taxes, bonds, and debts were an issue. Read on for a letter to the editor on the subject by Levi Fuller, a noted member of the Estey Organ Company and governor of Vermont.…

Taxation in Brattleboro

“What shall the tax of Brattleboro be this year?” is a question asked by many. The completion of the grand list furnishes the necessary information. An examination of the town auditor’s report (page 21) shows the expenses, outside of the reduction of debt or extraordinary repairs upon highways, to be estimated at $8,773, and for this sum the auditors report sufficient resources already provided.

You will enjoy this. The Phoenix of May 16, 1890 featured a story about a meeting held to discuss what is needed in Brattleboro. The following list was published as a record of the event. It isn’t often we get such a clear statement of desires from those who came before us.

Read on to see what they wanted. Some things came to pass, others faded away, and some are things we still talk about wanting today.

In May of 1885, Brattleboro formed a village improvement society. They called it the Rural Improvement Association, and many of the big names in town joined the executive committee. Dr Draper of the Retreat was chosen as president, and vice presidents included Gov. Holbrook, Jacob Estey, George Brooks, Edward Crosby and others.

(To P. Baxter, Derby Line, Vt. M.C. 1^stVt. District)

Philadelphia, May 15, 1864.

Honored friend:

I have received yours of the 12^th inst. That money came most opportunely as I hardly knew how I was to get through here. I am sometimes fearful that I cannot pass here. If I do I shall be very sure of the other examination. They do not mean to pass a man here that will be rejected by the board. If I cannot pass here, I think I can withdraw from the school. If I do I am determined to keep on with the study until I am qualified to command, whether I ever have that pleasure or not, the time is too short for me. There must be a great many soldiers here that cannot pass. There was hope of getting extensions to their furloughs, but that is gone. There are some that have come merely to pass away the time. There are others, noble fellows, that are working with all their might, but they must fail. One cannot learn the first two volumes in Casey, Geography, Arithmetic, Modern and Ancient History in thirty days.