Raynor HCA 2013-01
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/10/2013
Civil War Correspondence of Pvt. William S. Hill of the 4th New Jersey Volunteers, 12 letters to his wife, many on patriotic letterhead, thirty-nine pages total, dating between October 29, 1861 and July 9, 1862 describing daily soldier life, troop movements, and various battles. Some toning, many with some fold separation. Hill enlisted on 8/9/1861 as a private, was captured 6/27/1862 at Gaines' Farm, Va; and died from in captivity 7/27/1862. The 4th New Jersey Regiment saw heavy action in the Peninsular Campaign and was nearly annihilated at the Battle of Gains Mill. Hill writes, in small part: "[Camp Wilson, 29 Aug. 1861] … we are on marching orders but marching orders is get[t]ing played out with me I cant tell when we will march nor any of the men but the general himself and he wont let no one know when we are going nor where we are going … Incomplete letter, [Camp Seminary, 14 Jan. 1862] … you wished to know about the fourth Regiment going on the expedition the report is not true … [Fairfax Court House, 11 Mar.] … on Friday last the Brigade took up the line of march for Berks Station on the Rail Road toward Manassas we stop[p]ed there till Sunday morning the fourth Regt then marched for Fairfax court house where we are now … we expected a battle but all the battle we had was to march into the town and occupy it without fireing [sic] a gun on Monday the first Regt marched into Centerville and take [sic] it without fireing a gun where we expected to have a hard fight the Regt marched steadely [sic] up the enemys [sic] Can[n]on all mounted but when they go there they could not find any rebles [sic] as they had left and there [sic] canon was nothing but wooden ones the third Regt marched in for Manassas and got there this morning they marched in and the rebles fled leaving all of thier [sic] baggage and provisions behind and some of their canon they left in such a hurry that the beaf [sic] they had killed was not cold … Company A of our Regt has been out picketing with some Cavelry [sic] and brought in today 12 or 14 Prisoners the cavlery made a charge on the rebles and one of them cut of[f] a rebles head from the blow of his sabre …" After serving in Farquier County, Virginia, Hill became ill and was sent to the hospital where he remained through May. But his sojourn was not uneventful. On 28 April, 1862 he wrote his wife that he had gone to Alexandria to collect his pay, "but to my disappointment did not get it. Lieut. Johnson told me before I signed the pay roll that he would see that I got it. I told him if I should have any trouble about it I would not sign it, he told me to sign it. I did sign it, and to day as I expected to get it I was surprised to find my name scratched out and signed as a deserter I told the paymaster that I was the man and I dont think I am a deserter as I had signed the rools [sic] and never ha a court Marshall he asked me if I had a descriptive list I told him I had not he said he could not pay me then My dear my opinion is that officers don't care about the men nor their families… [Alexandria, 1 June] … To day I heard that the Rebles had evacuated Richmond, Corinth and Memphis, I hope it may be true … [Alexandria, 11 June 1862] … yesterday morning I had the pleasure of seeing one hundred and Sixty Rebls [sic] prisoners taken from the notorious Rebel Genl Jackson they were taken by Freemont [sic] and Shields I hope they will succeed in taking jackson and his whole army also McClellan will capture Jeff davis and his army and that Hallack [sic] will take Beauregard and his army …" Despite his illness, Hill was eventually sent to the Peninsula to join his regiment, but he was still very weak. Writing "near Richmond Va" on 6 July he wrote, "… I suppose you have heard of the Regiment being in battle [Gaines Mill, 27 June 1862] and most all of it taken Prisoner as I was not able to go out. I can't describe the horrors of the battle field but it was awfull [sic] some few escaped but it was a very few our Regiment numbers of a little over one hundred counting teamsters, Band, Drum Core [sic], Quarter Master and Quarter masters sergeants and doctors … I have been examined by the Brigade Surgeon yesterday he said I ought to be sent home he told me to follow the Brigade till our doctor give me my discharge … [9 July] Camp near Richmond Va … I have had the diaraeah [sic] very bad I began to think my time had come to depart form this world of trouble I am very weak scarcely able to walk a step I have no appetite no one to look after me … I can't bear the thoughts of dieing [sic] here … I am waiting for my discharge from washington if the Doctor has sent it I can't se[e] why he can't as well send me home … " This is Hill's last letter. Oddly, Hill's official service record notes he died of his wounds at Gaines Mill on 27 July, but we know from his own letters that we was not present at the battle. Judging from his letters, disease took him rather than bullets. On 4 August, Pvt. Charles H. Hagerman wrote to Hill's widow, "…there was no one standing by our husband at the time he expired except a dumb German and he said your husband did not say anything. I was talking to him the day before he died but he did not seem to have much to say. We were all out at work on the trenches when he died. If your Company and Regiment was here we would have sent him home but as there was only three or four of us we could not do anything, but I will have his grave fixed up with a Board with his name on it to mark the place and I will also get his likeness and things out of his knapsack and send them in the first chance I get. I went to see the Doctor this morning and he said all men that die in the army get their Honorable discharge and are therefore entitled to the Bounty. If he had lived till to day he would have had is discharge. The doctor says when the war is over you can get his Body it is in a handy place close to the river …" A touching correspondence.
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