Culture

Sunday June 26^th. I had to pick up in a hurry yesterday, as the enemy were reported advancing in heavy force on our left and we went out and were posted on the extreme left, and here I am this morning. There have no rebels made their appearance yet. I guess there were a few down on the rail road, though, there was quite a piece torn up yesterday by the cavalry by the sound. The enemy have enough to do on the right. The firing last night was very heavy. Our picket post is near a small house with a fine well of water. The women folks are at home. It is a real snug place, with a large apple orchard, the apples just about large enough to stew and they have to take it.

On the left flank of the army of the Potomac.

June 25, 1864.

Dear wife,

My last letter was dated near the railroad; while I was writing there were some skirmishers thrown out on the road, and the pioneers were tearing up the rails. Among them were companies F, L, K, and one other of the 11^th Vt. and the 4^th Vt. 4 Companies of the 11^th and a part of the 4^th were taken prisoners. There are a few left from each company. I saw what is left of Company F, Willard Morse, Elbridge Varnum, Charlie Brooks have gone to Richmond. I found but two left that I knew, David Morse and Henry Dawson. Saw Charles Dolloff. He was drawing rations at the time; they were taken pretty slick. We were but a little ways from them. Them that got away talk about firing several vollies, but they did not make much noise. I do not believe they fired a shot. I heard a few scattering shots, but no more than I had been hearing all the time.

The Historical Society of Windham County (HSWC) will be hosting a presentation on Wednesday, June 25, 2014 at the Moore Free Library (23 West Street) in Newfane at 7:30PM.

Bill Hosley, an historic resources and education consultant from Enfield, Conn., will demonstrate how art and artifacts can be used to understand historical experience while surveying the extraordinary visual allure of historic Vermont.

According to Mr. Hosley, in developing their towns, early Vermont settlers created a wide range of things that spoke to their values, background, skills and cultural attitudes.  Their architecture, gravestones, furniture, ironwork, paintings, pottery, and textiles are evocative of specific people, places, and situations. 

Left of Petersburg, June 23, 1864.

Down to the left of petersburg near the rail road. I am well. We left that nasty line where we were at about 12 at night. Lost one man in our regiment. We then came round here. Laid down here at about 1 o’clock. It is now 10 A.M. This is the first time I have slept since I joined the regiment. The 10^th is near us. They were just ahead of us last night, but we have no time to visit. The time I have had for rest has been well improved by me. I have kept in the ranks yet.

“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.