University of Notre Dame
Rare Books and Special Collections
Return Home
Topical Collections
Personal and Family Papers
Military Records
Letters and Correspondences
Anderson-Reavis Correspondence
Cicero R. Barker
Mary Bettle
Caley Family Correspondence
William Combs
Mary Crowell
Henry S. Figures
M. A. Harvey
Ora W. Harvey
John M. Jackson
James B. Jordan
Henry H. Maley
Christopher C. McKinney
Meek Family Correspondence
morgan Family Correspondence
James Parkison
Peed Family Letters
G. Julian Pratt
John Pugh
Harrison E. Randall
Read Family Correspondence
Samuel T. Reeves
Harrison E. savage
Shriver Family Correspondence
Shriver Family Correspondence
Sillers-Holmes Family Correspondence
Taylor Family Correspondence
Thomas Family Correspondence
Herbert Benezet Tyson
Isaac Ira White
Diaries and Journals
Miscellaneous Manuscripts

  (transcriptions only)

Technical Details
Manuscripts of the American Civil War
John M. Jackson Letters

< previous letter |  index  | next letter >


Document Type: Autograph Letter Signed

Author: John M. Jackson
Date: June 5, 1864
Place: Near Cold Harbor, Virginia
To: Betsey Mower Jackson

Physical Description: Pencil on paper; 4 pages (21 x 13 cm.) on 1 folded sheet

Number: MSN CW 5017-19


Transcription
(Please click on our Technical Details button at left
for more information on transcription conventions,
image scanning conventions, etc.)

Page 1      Images: 150 DPI100 DPI72 DPI

Behind a breast work said to be 8 miles from Richmond Va.
June 5th 1864
Dear Mother

     I have thus far written every time there has been a chance to send letters but now we have communication with White House Landing & they tell us we can send a mail every morn. I cannot write again until I get something to write on.
     We have seen another sharp fight [i.e., the battle of Cold Harbor, 1-3 June 1864] & this time we had the misfortune to lose our dear Capt. [i.e., Captain William R. Ham, Co. D, 32nd Maine Infantry] A better officer never entered the field. We have met with a loss that can never be made up to us. Benj. Larrabee [i.e., Private Benjamin B. Larrabee, Co. D, 32nd Maine Infantry] was also killed. A braver soldier or a more willing boy for duty never lived. Our Co. was sent forward on the skirmish line. I dont think our officers knew the position of the enemy. if they had I dont think we should ever have been sent there but

Page 2      Images (pages 2 & 3): 150 DPI100 DPI72 DPI

God can protect a man any where let the bullets come thick as they will. I dont realize as I should my obligation to my Maker & my dependence on Him still I trust Him as I never did before. This seems but little like the Sabbath. The rebs have a battery over here that they occasionally shell us a bit but none of our boys have been hurt today. there is continual skirmishing in our front but that dont amount to much any way. our fight came off Friday & it was the first fight we have been in when it seemed to do any good whatever. this time we whipped them good though they were strongly intrenched in pits & we had to advance on them. Our Co. or what of them went forward were under the fire of both lines. Corp. Wm H. Nevens [i.e., Corporal William H. Nevens, Co. D, 32nd Maine Infantry] was severely but I think not dangerously wounded two others were wounded that you dont know. We have lost seven killed

Page 3      Images (pages 2 & 3): 150 DPI100 DPI72 DPI

& eighteen wounded in all & two or three are missing probably prisoners. We now muster but eighteen muskets & have no commissioned officer with us. I expect our Sergt. Maj. will soon be commissioned & take command of our Co. he is from very near the Col's. region & was in the 27th Me I like him very well & I want some officers. I have not suffered from any of any consequence but "hard tack" has been sold from our Co. for $1.00 a cake & I am told that this morn. a man offered $5.00 for one cake. Today rations came by way of White House Landing & there was a great amount came so I hope the boys will not suffer any more. I have had a chance to make any quantity of money out the boys by taking advantage of their hunger but I cannot do it. I have given away considerable when I had any that I could spare but have not sold a cake as yet

Page 4      Images: 150 DPI100 DPI72 DPI

     I hope to write pleasanter things soon but I have to write what I see at present. I cannot write more now for the mail is going out now I was struck three times this last fight but was not much wounded I should have gone off the field if the Capt had not been hit so bad.
     Pray for me

Your son
John

I love my folks more & more

 
Transcription last modified: 11 Nov 2004 at 11:05 AM EST


< previous letter |  index  | next letter >



  Related Collections:   Colonial & Revolutionary America Early National & Antebellum America American Civil War Modern America Sports

Rare Books and Special Collections

University of Notre Dame
Copyright © 2006, 2009, 2011

Dept. of Special Collections
University of Notre Dame
102 Hesburgh Library
Notre Dame, IN 46556
Telephone: 574-631-0290
Fax: 574-631-6308
E-Mail: rarebook @ nd.edu