Tuesday, May 31, 2011

1865 May 31 Camp at Clouds Mill Va.

My Dearest Mother.
Last Thursday
the 25th we finally received the
Joyful orders to break camp, which
we did on the double-quick.
At 2 P. M. we left City Point, per
the Steamer Champion. we arrived at
Fortress Monroe the next morning
anchored there a few hours and
drew rations of bread, but did
not see anything of Jeff. Davis.
Although we had the satisfaction of
seeing his safe abode. About 10
A.M. we started up ^ ‘the’ Chesapeake
for the Potomac River and Washington.
As we got out into the Bay
the wind began to blow and
the waves to roll, and finally the
rain came down, and we had
[page 2]
a “right smart storm I reckon.”
as the southern phrase is: the storm
in itself was not so much to be
feared, as the rickety condition
of our boat, and its heavey [heavy] load,
there being a thousand souls aboard.
We were unable to make
Point Lookout and the Potomac,
during the storm, but were
obliged to put into Rappahannock
Harbor, in the mouth of that
river, where we remained two
nights and one day, and when
finally the “tempest was over
past,” we went on our way
rejoicing. at Point Lookout, we
drew sugar, tea, bread and pork,
but we go no water, and
the boys suffered considerably
until we got far enough up the
river to use the water: we
arrived at Washington late
Sunday night, staid[stayed] aboard all
[page 3]
night, early the next morning we
marched through the city, by
the capitol to the Baltimore Depot, and
the Soldiers Rest, where we took
breakfast: we soon met the
cav. corps, moving on their
way to Alexandria. we were
ordered to fall in with them.
we went back again through
the city, and crossed the Potomac on
the Long Bridge – a mile and a
half long – we marched all day
under a boiling sun, and finally
went into camp Just at dark
five miles beyond Alexandria,
making in all fifteen miles.
some of the boys dident [didn’t] come up
until the next day: I find that
I never was cut out for an Infantry
man. I can ride a horse as long as
any of them, but come to foot it and
it takes the starch out of me. We
now are very busy making
[page 4]
out our final papers, and
muster – out rolls. We worked
on them until late last night
and are at them again this
morning. we are in hopes of
completing them to –day or to-
morrow. we will in all
probability be mustered out
of the service in a week or
ten days: and then we will
go “Rolling Home Rolling Home
Boys.” &c.&c. I have heard
something about a grand reception
that is to come off when we arrive home.
if it is as yet in embryo, I hope it
will remain so. I wish to come
home in as quiet at manner as
possible, and think it is all foolish-
ness, and most of the boys think
so too. Excuse this hastily
written letter as it is awful hot
and I am in a bad position to
write. Write again to Your
Affect. son
Hervey.

The Civil War letters of Hervey Eaton end with this post.
MSS 14890

Friday, April 22, 2011

1865 April 22 City Point

Dearest Mother

As we have more traps than we can
possibly carry with us this warm weather, and as we
think of soon joining our regt Asa Ballou of Kirkville,
my tent-mate and I thought we would express home this box.
I will send it to you. it will probably be left, at Hodges.
pay the espressage, and we will make it all right, Mrs. Ballou
will either come or send after her husbands things, most of
the things cost us nothing only the charges of getting them home.
the pants if the cord was taken out and colored would make
a fine pair. The portfolio is new and worth $400. The Jacket
I have worn more or less for eight months, when cleaned it
will make Ira a good-coat. the goblet is a reminiscence of our raid.

[page 2]
The over-coat belongs to Addison Cole, the two Blankets to Ballou.
I will give you a list of my articles.

1 pr. Pants
1 Shirt
1 pr. Drawer. --blue
1 pr. Mittens
1 Port-Folio
3 bunches of Paper Dollars
2 cakes of Soap
1 metalic box of Shaving soap
2 towels
1 Goblet
1 Scarf
1 pr. Spurs

The rest belong to Ballou
except Cole's Overcoat--
Hoping that this will
reach you in safety and that
I may soon come too, I am
Your affect son
Hervey

My Drawers are blue, Ballou's are the white ones.
H.E.E.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

1865 April 20 City Point

Dearest Mother,

Hurrah!!! Hooop!!
Meeting is out! Elders Davis, Lee,
and Johnson have pronounced the
benedictation, and the Rebellion has
been dismissed. Yes.

Played, defunct, without a doubt.
The lamp of its existence decidedly out.

But, while the nation is in the
highest flow of its tide of rejoicing,
how stupendous, how terrible, is this
blow of sudden bereavement, that
has turned all of our Joy, into
intense sorrow. Abraham Lincoln,
benefactor, and second father of his
country. The Washington of the
nineteenth centuary, is dead: and at
the hand of a vile, miserable

[page 2]
wretch, not worthy to commit such
a deed on such a man.

The feeling in the Army
among the soldiers is intense in
the extreme: I have heard men
say, that if they ever got into
battle again, they never would
take any more prisoners: last night
we got a part of our back mail,
I rec'd. Mrs. Lyon's letter, one from
James and one from Eddie. There
must of course be some more
for me some-where. James writes
that my ^'money' is received by him all
right, and that Lizzie is improving.
has she been very sick?

I suppose that Eddie is
having a gay time now, him
on his spring vacation. tell him
to Just go in and win, and to keep
up my end, the same as if I were
there. Although we may not
be able to ho home till our time expires

[page 3]
yet I would not be surprised
if we would come, in two months
there is nothing more for us to do
down here. by the papers this
morning, Johnston is reported to
have surrendered, Mobile is ours and
Jack Mosby, and Kirby Smith across
the Mississippi, have applied for the
same terms granted to Lee: from the
fact that the Cavalry costs the Gov.
four times as much as any other
branch of the service, and from our
great need of curtailing our already
enormous expenses. A few of us
wise-acres have surmised that we
would be mustered out of the
service as soon, if not sooner, than
some others: our boys are getting very
uneasy indeed, now that there
appears to be nothing much for them
to do. they want to get home and get
their crops into the ground.

You don't write whether you

[page 4]
have received that express
package or not: as soon as it
comes I wish you would drop
me a line to that effect for
if it goes through all right
I have a pair of pants and
some other nice things that I
got near Petersburg, they would be
worth fifteen or twenty dollars if I
could get them through. write what
the package cost. After I had sent most
of my pay to James, the Sutler came
along, and to pay him what I owed
Just about cleened[?] me. I have but
one cent left, and that was captured
on the raid. I wish you would send
me three or five dollars. Addison Cole is
now with us, he tents with me, he is getting
along finely, his wound has healed up, he
sends his kind regards. Our Regt. is
near Petersburg, about 8 1/2 miles from here.
Ad. Cunningham was mounted and went up there
the other day, we have drawn new saddles
& equipment & expect to go to the regt. soon
I am getting tired of Camping here & will be

[written in side margin on page 4:]
glad to join my command. I have been acting regimental Quarter Master and
have had a pretty busy time of it. Write soon to Your aff. son Hervey

[written in the side margin on page 2:]
We have been dismounted now,one month and are getting quite sick
of it. we are anxious to be doing something Shoemaker has made

[written in top margin on page 2:]
us a little visit. H.E.E.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

1865 April 7th City Point

Dearest Mother

We still remain
here in the remounted camp,
and I still continue to keep a
stream of letters flowing to
you and James; but nary a
one do get in return: I
think it is very strange, as
I have given you the
proper direction several times.
I have only rec'd one frm
James, over two weeks ago, and
that was dated Feb. 27th the
very day we broke up
Winter Quarters.

I went up to the front
the day Petersburg and Richmond
were evacuated, the number of
wounded men were enormous.

[page 2]
I came back here on a very
large train bearing the wounded.
those that were helpless were
carried inside, and those that
could, climbed up on top: to give
you an idea of the excessive
number aboard: one engine
could with great difficulty
start off with us, and the car
that I was on broke down
with the weight; while there:
I was fortunate enough to get
some baggage that would other
wise have been lost: yesterday
I sent by Express to you one
shirt, one pr. Drawers, one pr.
socks, three scarfs, and one scarf
Jim: it will not probaby come
to you in less then ten days.
I sent it the 6th, about the 15th or
16th let Ira go down to John Hodges
and see if it is there; it will
be left there by the Rail-Road

[page 3]
Stage. There will be from $1.25 to
$1.50 collected on it. please pay
and let me know if it comes all=
right: if it does and if I come
home safe and sound, I will have
sent pretty cheap under-clothing.

You will also find
in the paper wrapped about the
thing: a partial account of
our raid also enclosed you will
find a Richmond paper, that
I got to Petersburg day before
yesterday: I had a very pleasant
trip. Addison Cunningham and I went
together. we went through a part
of the fortifications, and in sight of
Fort Stedman, celebrated in the
last fight: we were not fortunate
to see Fort Hell (Union) and Damnation
(Reb.) but we think they must have
had some warm times, if they
partook anything of the nature of
their enemies, certain it is that

[page 4]
an Illinois Regt. charged and took
the latter: charging such strong
fortifications as I saw, must have
been terrible, and it is no wonder
that the number of killed and
wounded was so great. I went
through a good part of Petersburg,
it is a large fine city built mostly
of brick and in a modern style of
architecture; it is by far the finest
city I have seen in the South,
and must have been of considerable
com^'m'ercial importance, but the eastern
part, that towards our batteries is
completely shelled and riddled to pieces.
the military rail road is now
completed from here to Richmond,
and I am gong up there if
possible, one of these days, won't you
send your love and compliments to Mrs.
Jeff Davis! If so I would be the most
happy to bear them. My health is as
usual tip-top. Now do please write to
Your affect. son Hervey

[written in side margin on page r:]
Direct Co. H. 2nd N.Y. Cav. Dismounted Troops City Point Va.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

1865 March 18 White House Landing York River

My own Dearest Mother


After so long a

silence on my part, and so

much dreaded suspense on yours,

I doubt not that a word from

your absent boy will be unwillingly

received. We have been on

a great raid, the whole

army of the Shenandoah have

been in the saddle twenty

days, we left Winchester Feb. 27th

and arrived here about an hour

ago; we have had a fine spell

of weather, and have enjoyed

ourselves hugely, but of course

in so long a period a few or

unpleasant things would come up.

We have been in two fights only


[page 2]

during all this time, one this

side of Staunton, where we met

Early’s command, after about an hour

fighting, we captured all of their

artillery, (six pieces) and fifteen

hundred prisoners. Early, himself

barely escaped on a train of cars.

Herbert Lord, alone, took twenty

two rebs, bully for him.


We have done the Jonnies

an im^’m’ense site of injury. we

have burned every bridge, and

torn up every rail-road we have

come across, we have lived off

the country as we went

through. And the tallest kind

of foraging we have had. two

days ago we were within fifteen

miles of Richmond, there we had

quite a fight, Ashland Station.

we fought about half a day and

lost only three men in the regt.

and we were in the thickest of it.


[page 3]

My health has been first rate

all along. one night when it

rained, I caught quite a cold

but have nearly got over it.

My horse has held out the very

best kind, while a great number

of boys have had several horses

play out, mine has carried me

safely through.


this has been the greatest

raid that has ever been made.

it will be an event of history

and if I live, in after years

I will be proud to say that

I was on “Sheridan’s raid.”


I have got to write a line

to James, and draw hay and

oats for the co. immediately,

so I shall be obliged to close

Your affect. son

Hervey


[Written in side margin on page 2:]

I was quite disappointed about my furlough, but when I come home

next September, it will be for more than fifteens day. H. E. E.


Sheridan's force of some ten thousand left Winchester, Va., heading south with orders from Grant to destroy the Va. Central Railroad and James River Canal.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

1865 February 26th Camp Russell

My dearest Mother

I should have
written you before, had it
not been that I expected
to see you very soon face to
face, and had thus been waiting
to give you a little surprise;
but for fear that you should
be looking for me every day,
and feel a little worried on
my account, I thought I
would drop a few lines,
thinking that perhaps they
may reach you a little
sooner than I.

My furlough went in,
several days ago, and should
have returned before this, but

[page 2]
for some reason, they have been
delayed; we think, that they
will get through by Tuesday, next
if so, I will be with you on
Friday next, providence permitting,
but if we move up the Valley,
and there are many indications
of doing so, then good-bye to
any furlough.

We think here, that it
depends entirely on the movements
of Lee. if he evacuates Richmond
and retreats West, we shall
certainly go up the Valley and
intercept him at Lynchburg,
and Sherman will do the
same from the South, while
Grant will be upon his heels,
and thus we will have Mr.
Lee, bagged: but if he remains
where he is, there will be
considerable chance of my
coming home: I have stated

[page 3]
the matter to you, fair and true,
so you can see just how I
am situated. Some of the
boys thought I had better tell
you that there was'ent no
hopes of my getting home before
Fall, but I preferred to let you
know all about it; it all depends
on whether we move or not:
if we do, why! in a Soldiers phrase,
"dished" if not "all bunck."

My health is good, never better.
Although it is getting quite muddy
here, still we take into consideration
that it is the sacred soil of Va.
and not our own free soil that
we are treading on, and
plastering our shanties and boots
with. In hopes of being able
soon to see you,

I remain in haste

Your affect. son

Hervey

Monday, February 14, 2011

1865 February 13 Camp Russell

My Dearest Mother

As John Morse is
going home this afternoon, I thought
I would send a few lines by him,
to let you know how I am progressing.
John dident expect to go until the
Col. and I went; but the col. got
his furlow through a few days sooner,
and he ^'will' go either to-day, or tomorrow.
you must not be disappointed because
I dident come with him; for I
shall surely come (Providence permitting)
in about two or three weeks at the
longest; I saw Col. Birdseye yesterday
morning and had a talk about it.
he will not forget me. the thing
is safe and sure.

I suppose ere this James has been
out and told you how he found me

[page 2]
he made us a very short visit,
but I guess he got a little insight
into soldiering; he had ought to have
come about a month or two sooner,
and seen us in our little "dog tents,"
living on our hands and knees.
that would have been a truer picture,
since we have lived four months
in that style, and but one, like
white men. We are all getting
along well, this cold weather
we keep pretty snug to our fire-
places; although I don't do any
drilling or picketing,still they
manage to keep me quite busy
drawing and issueing grain and
hay, makeing out reports, &c. &c.
half of which emenates from "red
tape"' and nothing else.

Capt. Remington came in
a day or two ago, and took command
yesterday, he is looking in good health,
he says he saw you a few days

[page 3]
since; I rec'd a letter from Jr.
Lyon a few days since. I have
commenced to answer it, but have
been interupted more than a
dozen times, I hope however to
finish it, if I have good luck.

There is nothing of
importence to communicate; we are
about a mile from the picket line
which is fired upon almost nightly
by bush whackers; we are ordered to
lay on our arms occasionally, when
there is an attack expected; I have
my revolver under my head at
all times ready for use, for some
night they might make a dash
in and steal a few horses; but it
issent likely, as we are in too
much force for them: a number of
our scouts and cavalry went over to
Moorfield the other day, and captured
the noted guerilla chief Harry Gilmore
and part of his gang: he was taken

[page 4]
by here on his way to Winchester.

It seems that a nice little
plan of his was nipped in the
bud, he had gone to his brothers
at Moorefield, where his lady-love
was to meet him and they were to
be marrried, our folks got wind
of it and came upon him about
four o-clock in the morning and took
him, as they were bringing him
into our lines, they were met by
his intended: how pleasant must
have been the meeting!

We have had some very very
cikd weather for Virginia. the
coldest known for many years --
almost as cold as it is sometimes
at home. I suppose you will
see Herbert Lord as he is at home
now; when do shoemaker, Dr. Hurd,
and Uncle Hiram think of coming
down here? dose'nt the Draft
make some of them squirm? It don't
bother us much here, we all say, Give
it to them. What do you think of
Peace? I believe we will have it

[written in the side margin on page 4]
before the Fourth of July. I've got a hat bet on it any-way, if we cant
have an honorable peace by negotiation, we will clean them out. And
then we will have it sure, write soon to your affect. son Hervey