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"My Dear Wife..." Letters from a Civil War Soldier

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Transcript

LETTERS

Camp Bailey, Dutch's Island, Nov. 24, 1863

My Dear Wife,

I now take my pen in hand to let you know that I am well and hope these few lines will find you the same. I am well at present. I have got over the neuralgia in the head.

We had a great parade on last Thursday, the 19th. The governor of Rhode Island was here and presented the regiment with a nice silk flag called the regimental flag. There was also present the governors of Massachusetts & Connecticut with a large number of the members of the Assembly, as was also one of the old 76 soldiers who said that we were good soldiers, very good. And we also fired 8 of our largest cannon from our newly mounted fort, the work of our own hands. We had a very fine band of brass music from Massachusetts.There are now 8 full companies on the ground, commencing at “A” and going down to “H”. There is now in Providence another Co. by the name of “I”. It is full and about 80 in Co. “K”. The Company I belong to is “E”. We are about building barracks for 1200 men.

There is a young man coming home with me when I come--I don’t know when that will be--by the name of Mr. Johnson. Tell Mary(1) to have her cap set for him when I come home as he is the handsomest man on the ground.

I have got an office but I don’t like it though it is something similar to that like I had in church assistant secretary(2). We have meetings every night in the week.

I want you to have your daguerreotype and Mary’s and Sis all in once case if you can send it by the next letter; and if you don’t put them in one case, have them taken separate as I should like to have them to look at, being that I cannot see your face. Write to me twicea week and let me know how you are getting along and how produce is selling, as we do not get but a loaf of bread and a cup of coffee during the day.

We live in cloth houses and lay close to the ground but we are in hopes if we trust in God to be in the barracks. And then I am in hopes that I may gain my strength and through the divine providence of God and his mercy, I yet live and one day or another I expect to arrive at home through storms and hurricanes. I expect if I never meet you on this shore or never see your face anymore, I expect to meet you in heaven, God being my helper.

My dear little daughter, I want you to write your papa a letter as it would please her papa very much to have a letter from his dear little daughter. Papa sends her 5000 kisses. Papa thinks a good deal of her.

Tell Sarah to tellPresilla(sic) to forward this letter to William(3), in the name of the Lord, as he is all the time “grumbling.” I had forgot it almost to the last, I want you please to send me those flannel pads that I wear on my bosom to keep me from catching cold. Give my love to all enquiring friends, especially to Julia Mary(4) and mother and the baby. Tell Mary not to forget to write me a letter.

Dear Wife, I send you 10,000 kisses. No more at present but remain your true and affectionate and loving husband Simeon A. Tierce. The reason why we cannot get any furloughs is because there has [been] too many run away.

Poetry
The rose is red, the violets blue
sugar is sweet and so are you.
Since woman to man is so unjust
it is only you that I can trust.
And if in war by battle slain
my love for you shall never frain.
If you loved me as I love you
no knife would cut our love in two.
As blood and water will not blend
my heart is true unto the end.
So good bye dear, I now must close
in these few lines with love below.

Please to direct your letters to Camp Bailey, Dutchs Island, 14th Regmt, Rhode Island Heavy Artillery Colored Battalion, Co. E in the care of Lieutenant Harard for Simeon A. Tierce.

Description

Sergeant Simeon Anderson Tierce was a Hills resident and a Civil War Soldier. His eloquent letters were written to his wife, Sarah Jane, while serving in the Civil War. Evident in his writing are his love and concern for his family, friends, and neighbors in The Hills community. He described life as a soldier, the living conditions, work duties, illness, and death. Transcriptions are courtesy of Dr. Edythe A. Quinn, who discovered the letters during her research at the National Archives.

Creator

Sergeant Simeon A. Tierce

Date

1863

Subject

Tierce, Sergeant Simeon Anderson

Tierce, [Depau, Depew], Sarah Jane

The Hills Harrison New York

Type

Text

Format

8" x 10" Paper

Source

Quinn, Edythe Ann. Freedom Journey: Black Civil War Soldiers and The Hills Community, Westchester County, New York, Albany: State University of New York Press, c2015, Appendix B, p.133-148

Relation

Simeon A. Tierce's letters are stored at the National Archives and Records Administration under the Federal Pension Records, 1861-1934 "Widow's Pension Claim, Case of Sarah Jane [Tierce] Depau, No. 257.715." [also spelled Depew]. Copies of the handwritten letters and transcriptions are from the Westchester County Archives’ website http://www.westchesterarchives.com/CW/Thumbnails/Tierce_letters_th.htm

Language

en-US

Rights

This material may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). Fair use of this content is permitted as defined by copyright law. Responsibility for determining fair use lies with the user. The user is responsible for any claims that may arise.

Citation

Sergeant Simeon A. Tierce, “"My Dear Wife..." Letters from a Civil War Soldier,” Harrison Remembers, accessed March 29, 2024, https://www.harrisonpl.org/harrison-remembers/items/show/97.

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