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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC09273.30 |
| From Archive Folder | Collection of 50 letters of Horace J. Hammond, a soldier in the 189th regiment New York volunteers |
| Title | Letter from Horace J. Hammond to Eleanor Hammond with news from the camp and details of his duties as commissary sergeant |
| Date | 27 February 1865 |
| Author | Hammond, Horace J. |
| Recipient | Hammond, Eleanor |
| Document Type | Correspondence |
| Content Description | Health is "first rate," and leg is well. Weather is nice right now, and hopes this letter finds her well. Sent her two letters, each with $20 in them. Will send some more money by express soon. Does not need more than $5, and if he does, he will ask for some from her. Would have sent all the money by express, but did not learn until today that he could send any of it by express. Is now acting as commissary sergeant. Has to go to the brigade headquarters and draw rations for the company, then has to cook them. "Keeps me very busy." Received a letter from her this morning. Every day rebels desert and come through the camp's picket line. Glad that Leonard and Betsey have returned, so she will not be as lonely. John is at City Point and is getting better. Before that, he had been in Washington and Baltimore and had managed to get his "canteen filled with whisky." John also had a rendezvous with a prostitute for $1, but Hammond is very much uninterested in such an idea. Would much rather be faithful to his wife, "if I should stay away 3 years or 20 years." Would like to see Matilda and Charles very much. Is not sorry that he left to fight, and does not want to come home on a furlough. Left because he feared he would be drafted. |
| Subjects | Soldier's Letter Union Forces Military History Injury or Wound Marriage Union General Civil War Soldier's Pay Finance Military Camp Military Provisions Military Rations Diet and Nutrition Confederate States of America Desertion Alcohol Sexuality Morality and Ethics Women's History Conscription |
| People | Hammond, Horace J. (fl. 1864-1865) |
| Place written | City Point, Virginia |
| Theme | The American Civil War; Women in American History; Health & Medicine; Religion; Children & Family |
| Sub-collection | Papers and Images of the American Civil War |
| Additional Information | Hammond enlisted on August 17, 1864 at Avoca, NY as a Private. He served largely at City Point, Virginia, the headquarters for General Ulysses S. Grant. While at City Point, he was injured when a fellow soldier's rifle discharged and the bullet became lodged in his leg. Doctors removed the bullet and Hammond recovered without having his leg amputated. Hammond was discharged on May 30, 1865. |
| Copyright | The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History |
| Module | Civil War, Reconstruction and the Modern Era: 1860-1945 |
| Civil War: Recipient Relationship | Wife |
| Civil War: Theater of War | Main Eastern Theater |
| Civil War: Unit | 189th New York Vols., "G" Company |