These letters were written by James Peters Elliott (1835-1909) from Fort Richardson and Fort Scott in the defenses of Washington D. C. James served with Co. I of the 1st Connecticut Volunteer Heavy Artillery—one of the first regiments to agree to a three year enlistment. James enlisted with his brothers, George Frederick Elliott and Edward Augustus Elliott; James and George in the 1st Connecticut H. A., and Edward in the 5th Connecticut Infantry. James reenlisted in 1864; George did not. Brother Edward deserted the 5th Connecticut in the summer of 1862 and went to Canada.
James enlisted as a private, was promoted to corporal in March 1862, to sergeant in May 1863, and finally to 2nd Lieutenant in Co. D in December 1864.
James wrote these letters to his parents, George F. Elliott (1810-1862) and Hannah Peters (1814-1907) of North Manchester, Hartford county Connecticut.
See also—James Peters Elliott to His Mother on Spared & Shared 13
See also—George Frederick Elliott to His Mother on Spared & Shared 19
Letter 1
Fort Richardson
Arlington Heights, Virginia
October 29th 1861
Dear Father,
Once more I seat myself to reply to yours of the 27th instant, not that I have seated myself before to reply to it, but I made a little mistake in my grammar at the first of the epistle.
I was glad to say that we have moved from our old campground down in the hollow where it was very damp and therefore a large number of our men got sick in consequence of having to remain in such a bad place. Nine companies of our regiment are here beside of Fort Richardson. Company A is stationed at Fort Scott and therefore I see [brother] George only once I awhile. I saw him the middle of last week & he was fat and well and to all outward appearance is in line fighting condition. It is about a mile from here to Fort Scott and it is in plain sight from here.
I am happy to say that we have been furnished with 50 Sibley tents new and nice. They are capable to accommodating 20 men each, so your see we are now in good condition to defy a good heavy rain. Our old tents were quite poor and leaked very bad. we bid them adieu this morning. Our Colonel is doing all he can for our comfort and appearance. We have also just been supplied with new drawers and some nice dress coats and pants will be given out sometime this week.
Col. Irish has come upon our ground today and we some expect to get our State pay of ten dollars tomorrow.
We have been somewhat close on our fare lately (that is by spells) and I have paid out of my own pocket to accommodate my appetite which you know hardly ever fails except at some such time as “Merry Thanksmus” or some other occasion when it gets covered up.
I have not much new to communicate at this time and therefore you will excuse me if I do not write any more at this time. Love to all. I am well as usual and am ready to fight or not just as happens.
G. Roe is well.
In haste. Your son, — J. P. Elliott
Letter 2
Fort Richardson
Arlington Heights, Va.
November 10th 1861
Dear Father,
Your kind favor came safely to hand and I am glad to hear that you are all well and that the Aunts have all been up to see you. I should have been glad to have been there with you but business is rather driving just now and I cannot see how I can well leave just now. Maybe I may be able to get a furlough some time this winter. I send a picture for Euphrosia which I got at Alexandria yesterday. It is most time for roll call so I must close very soon. I got a line from Ned. He is well. George and I are too. We have many upon the sick list just now and I am thankful my health is spared to me.
I think our cause begins to look rather more favorable than it did a month ago. Our Major is promoted to colonel of the 1th so we shall lose him. I am sorry.
You may send the box as I wrote last time unless you should be informed to the contrary the last of this week. I remain your affectionate son. Love to all. — James P. Elliott
Letter 3
1st Conn. Artillery
Fort Richardson, Arlington Heights
January 22nd 1862
Dear Mother, Brothers & Sisters
As I received by telegraph the sad information of father’s death. I hasten to send you a line in the form of a letter at the earliest opportunity expressing my regret that either George or myself were not permitted to pay the last tribute of respect to our beloved parent. But circumstances are such as to render it impossible at the time, as it is more than probably that there will be an advance of this position of the army in a very few days—perhaps before this reaches you. Perhaps we may go, perhaps not. As soon as the dispatch reached me I went to see the Col. to see if it was possible for me to get a furlough. He said that word came to him from Gen. McClellan to grant none to anyone for any time, though he (the Col.) would be glad to let me have one if he could.
You may be sure that I sympathize with you all at this trying moment, knowing that we shall be missed more at this time perhaps than any since we left our home to go out to help sustain our government and to fall in so doing if necessary.
The bad news was little expected by us as it was only a week since I received a letter from him. I know none of the particulars of his death. All I know as yet is simply the telegram saying he died on the morning of the 21st inst. wishing George and me to come to attend the funeral Saturday if we could. It was signed J. F Abbe. I suppose it meant Randolph.
By this dispensation, we as a family are all afflicted. Mother is left as widow and we are orphans. I feel that I can say in this, “God doeth all things well; let His will be done.”
The question arises now (in which George and I are interested) how is the family left? and how will they get along? I know nothing of your circumstances—how you are left—but I suppose that you will remain together until Spring certain and then perhaps you may think best to have a change. There will be some expenses connected with this event and I am not able to see how you will settle them. George and I are willing to do what we can to help keep the family together. You will please send the particulars of your circumstances and expenses to be paid, &c. to me. I have a little money by me at the present time and a little in Hartford which I shall furnish if necessary.
Mother, in my absence I can only refer your comfort to Him who has said He would never leave nor forsake us. Try and keep up your spirits as much as you can. I will wait until I hear from you before I write more. Much love to you all.
— James P. Elliott
“Sis,” you have some lines that Mary write title the “Sentinel.” Will you send me a copy. P. S. The telegram was directed to T. S. Elliot, Company F but I expect that was a mistake. I have just had a letter from Lottie saying that Father called there upon Sunday night, so if he is dead, he must have died very sudden.
Letter 4
Fort Scott, Virginia
September 20, 1862
My Dear Mother,
Once more I am happy to inform you that your kind favor of the 14th has reached me in safety. It came last night and although it is ten days since it was written, yet I was glad to hear from home. I had a letter from Mary last week and she said, “Mother was not very smart this fall,” and I am inclined to think you worry about us boys much more than you have occasion to. We are not at present inhabiting a poison, swampy region of country like that where we spent the summer months, but we are in one of the best locations for health in this latitude and I was pretty well dragged out at one time during the hot weather but I have been improving for the past two months, and since I came from Harrison’s Landing, I have gained about ten pounds. The medicine you sent me I don’t expect to have to use as my diarrhea has gradually worn away during the past few days. I will tell you what I think helped it.
Last winter I used to take the Colonel’s clothes down to Alexandria to white colored woman’s to be washed, and several times I met a Mulatto there by the name of Berry. He had a very bad cough and I told him he better loo out for it. He was a clerk in a large grocery store. Well the first man that called to see me after our return to Alexandria was Berry. He paid Mrs. Oden (the washerwoman) wanted to know whether I was dead or alive or wounded. I told him I was well except the diarrhea. Well he said if I could come up town he would let me have some brandy and cloves, but I could not go up town until after we came here to the fort, and it was some time before I could go anyway, but when I did go, the brandy had been used up but he gave me as much allspice, cloves and maice as I could hold in both hands. Well I took about half a teacupful of these spices and boiled them and drank the spice tea but it didn’t seem to help me at the time. But I have been improving every day since. I never felt better than I have for a few days past.
George had a touch of ague last week. I have not seen him since but the last time I heard from him, he was better and improving.
Since I wrote to you the 16th [Connecticut] Regiment has been in a fight [Battle of Antietam] and I hear that Capt. Fred Barber was wounded in the leg and some others of the Manchester boys, but I didn’t hear who. Lottie’s uncle—Henry Annis—was one of them I think, wounded slightly. I called over and saw the 21st and 20th [Connecticut] Regiments the other day. I found Herbert & Charles [Myron] Talcott. They are Foder’s sons [and] Lieut. Parker’s nephews. [paper crease] was on guard and I did not see him. They are both well. One man by the name of Loveland was there also. He used to work for Esq. Phelps. I went with 600 of our regiment to escort the remains of Col. Kingsbury (of the Connecticut 11th) from Washington to Georgetown, D. C.
My kind regards to all. Love o thee at home. — James
P. S. I see by the paper that Horace Brown is among the wounded in the 16th [Connecticut] regiment. You see it is not those what come out first that are first to be crippled.
Letter 5
Fort Scott, Virginia
January 11th 1863
My dear Mother,
Your letter came to hand last evening and I was very glad to hear from home again, and when I think what hard work for you to write, I realize you are ready to put forth uniting efforts for our comfort and happiness. Your letter came to hand in just the right time for me to write. Therefore, you will get an answer as soon as the mail can reach you.
It is most time for our State orders to come around again and also our government pay should come very soon and as soon as we get it you will hear from us and then you will be able to pay up your rent and other bills and have something to live on for a time. I think our pay will not run six months again while we are in the service for some of our head men are looking into the subject.
I shall not send you only part of my pay but shall have it where it can be had at any time in case you need it. Should we stay here, I may be able to use it so as to make something upon a part of it. Therefore I will keep a part of it for that purpose. Should you know of anyone that you think a little money would be of more service to than it would be to you, I can furnish you with some for that purpose besides what you need for your own use and should be glad to do so. You will please inform me upon the subject at any time.
Do not fret yourself about paying George and me for what we do for some time. We may have a family of our own and need some help that you could give, but no matter about it anyway. It is alright at any rate. Should we be so fortunate as to live to return safe, it is all we can wish. I hope Euphrasia will not be as ambitious as to get over done and tell her to look out for that cough that begins in the shop. hack hack &c. Euphrasia is afraid she will be a little expense to us. She may have wanted new clothes or something of that kind. Perhaps that induce her to leave school to go into that shop. If that was the reason, I wish she had let me know. I think she must be very careful how she is exposed to colds and trouble, or she will run down/ Knitting is a constant care and will wear upon sis, if she will let it.
Love to Charley, A__ & Ben. Also to yourself. I saw George a few days ago. He is well and also myself. Take good care of yourself. From your affectionate son, — James
Letter 6
Fort Scott, Virginia
January 24, 1864
Dear Mother,
Once more I resume my pen to write you a few lines. Your last kind favor came to hand last night. Was very glad to hear from home once more. We have been looking for our pay all of the last week but it has not come yet but still we are expecting daily. As soon as it comes, we shall send you some money. If you are out, will you please tis let me know.
As regards moving, I think you had better remain where you are until one or both of us boys can assist and look out for things. It is too much for you to do alone.
I have been drilling recruits the past two weeks six hours per day. One week ago today I was sick threatened with a fever but I took good care of myself and came out of it without a bit if sickness. Monday night I had such a pain on my shoulders that I could not lay down at all. Therefore I did the other thing—that is, sat up all night. But the next day I felt some better and went on drill and came out all right the next day.
I have not heard from cousin Lizzie for some time but had a letter from Lucy Parks a few days ago. Her father is dead. Lucy says that Aunt Nancy is well but she thinks she fails very much. She saids she calls upon her once in awhile. She said Aunt Eliza called on her.
Tell Bennie I hope he will be a good boy and help Mother all he can. Tell I say don’t be afraid of doing too much or more that his part. Bennie is large enough to [do] all of the chores about home even if Charlie did not help at all but I know Charles will help him.
If Euphrasia lends you any money to use, we will see it paid. I was over to see [brother] George about a week ago. He was well. He and I went and heard John P. Gough on Temperance. He spoke first rate.
The thing you sent by John Fagan came to hand all safe. I am very much obliged for them. Remember me kindly to all enquiring friends. Love to all. Affectionately your son, — James
Spared & Shared 13 