Head Quarters U.S. Signal Corps
Newbern, N.C. Dec 30th 1862
Dear brother Charles,
I was right glad to get your letter of the 5th ( ) & from Julia too. I am greatly obliged to you for
the pictures of the children. I think they are first rate ones. I do not think the one I have of Julia
does her justice, it is too ( ) I should like to look in upon you tonight. We are having a warm
rain.
Today has been warm. We sit with our windows open in day time. The nights are damp and somewhat cold. We were going out tonight to practice with torches in signaling if it has not rained. We are ready to go with any expedition now, & the Officer in charge left for Washington Sunday morn to be gone ten days, & was in our room the night before he left & told us we would all be under fire before ten days. I hardly think as soon as that. But it is my opinion that we shall strike at Wilmington next.
There is to be more troops come here. 15 000. which only gives a force sufficient to do something. ( ) 30 000-- We are pretty busy during the day. After 4 o'clock p.m. we have nothing to do & generally ride horseback for an hour or two. We new officers have not got our own horses, as a lot that have been sent from Washington have not arrived yet. We hope to get them in a few days.
There are some fine saddle horses in our corps. I rode a splendid one today. The horses are learned to gallop instead of trot here, & are guided by the rein instead of the bit. So that with one hand you can guide a well trained horse any way by swaying the rein instead of pulling upon the bit. It is much pleasanter riding ( ) as we do at home. If I can get a good "( )" horse I shall try and take it home with me if I go.
I suppose the retiring of Burnside from Friedericksburg caused the pulse to go down at home did it not? I think matters will get straitened out by & by. I have faith to believe that the nine months troops will go home before their term of service expires. But most people think they will not.
I have seen Charley Duren but twice since I came. He was over to camp just after we arrived, and when I came over to Newbern I went to see him, & have been again since the expedition returned but did not see him. I have been hoping to see him at my room. I trust Freeman was spared in the fight at Friedckb--.
We have had no mail for about ten days. I am hoping some will be in any day & that I shall get letters from home.
Do you see Appleton often? I have never heard a word from Martha since the death of Siggie(?) & of course shall never trouble myself about them under the circumstances. Shall of course take it that they wish all intercourse with me now to cease. And so it will be, unless I learn that it will be agreeable to them to have it otherwise.
We hear all sorts of rumors from the North every day & now I do not believe anything until I know it is true from some official source, and never expect anything until the order comes. One day the rumor was that all the Cabinet had resigned & that Burnside had resigned & McClellan recalled to take command of the army. But as we cannot learn that a mail goes North for some days, I will leave the remainder of this sheet until I hear when it does go & may have something that will interest you.
Dec. 31st I got letters from home today, & learn that a mail goes tomorrow so I will close this. I wish I had some news to communicate. The troops that we are expecting here, are beginning to come. One division is at Beaufort now. I think we may expect stirring times in this department soon. I saw papers today giving account of the Alabama capturing the Ariel (?). I think it is outrageous our government does not send something to take that.
What do you think of Jef. Davis proclamation? I hope our side "will get its dander up" by & by, & do something that will let the secesh know that we are in earnest. I do not feel at all discouraged at the prospect of affairs just now. I hope Lincoln will get mad and do something desparate. I wish we had some man like Jackson to take matters in hand just now. Let me hear from you often as you can. Give much love to Julia & a kiss for the dear little ones.
May God bless you all &(?) protect you is the prayer of
Yours truly John W. Fletcher
Dear brother Charles,
I have been hoping to hear from you for a long time. I wrote you a long time ago & have not
heard from you since.
I got a letter from Mr Duran last week stating the 50 anniversary of the wedding of Father & Mother Hyde would take place at your house 3rd of June. I should like to be with you & hoped to have been able to have written a note to Mr D-- as he wished, but have been sick on my bed the past week with Dysentery and this morn I wrote a few lines to you to let you know why I did not write. Hoping it will reach you before the 3rd of June. If I am able I shall try & write to them.
It is also the anniversary of my wedding day too & I assure you I feel alone when I think that the dear face, that has always g-------- (Portion was cut
I returned from my absence from---------- from
not be there when I return this time-------- the
hardly realize the truth that my dear-------- letter)
& think it seems to me sometimes that-----
of her sweet pure spirit near me. She told me, "if it was possible for her to be near me she would". I will try and think she is.
I must not write much. I hope to see you ere many weeks more are past. It is not fully known here when our Reg. does go home. I think the first of July or thereabouts.
I heard through Mr D-- you had not been well. I hope this will find you in good health & that sister Julia & the children are also all well. I often look at the pictures I have of you all & long to see you.
The weather is very warm here. I don't like the climate.
Charley D-- is still at South Carolina. I came from there in April on leave of absence & Gen Foster ordered me to remain in this Dept. much to my gratification. Although I like many things in Gen Hunters Dept. than in Gen Fosters.
I should like to see you & have a talk with you of an hour or two.
Give much love to all dear ones I hope you may have a pleasant time on the 3rd I shall try to write a line if possible to Mr & Mrs (?) Shall I not hear from you soon?
Yours truly
J.W. Fletcher
Dear brother Charles,
I have been meaning to answer your last for some time, but many things have caused me to delay.
When I wrote you last I was with my Regt. at Portsmouth. As my company was full, the Col got
an order from Gen Foster for me to come to this place on recruiting service, & I have been here
six weeks.
It is not much of a place for recruits. There have about 150 gone from here, & it has taken most of those that can be spared. There are none coming in from the country about here. I have had public meetings & have talked to about every one in town, but, shall not get many here. There had been two officers here before me for some time, & they got none. I told the Col when I came that I did not think I should do anything for I knew something of the field, as I was here last summer at the Hospital when I was sick.
Gen Wild came from South Carolina week before last, & he said that all those who belonged to the 2nd Regt who are away on recruiting service should be relieved by the officers of the 3rd Regt who are now here. So I expect every day to receive an order relieving me. It is dull business I can tell you.
I had a meeting last night in the Colored people's church. There were 400 or 500, and it would have amused you to have seen what I did. I made it a sort of religious meeting as it was Sabbath night, & I urged them to enlist under the banner of the Lord Jesus &e, &e. And I spoke as well as I knew how & I got their enthusiasm up, & such a scene you never saw. Such screaming from men & women. "Bless the Lord" "Glory, Glory", "Amen". & all the exclamations you can think of. And women & men shook hands, and two women embraced & hugged each other. I entered into it, & at the top of my voice I talked, and then I turned the subject & urged them to enlist in the army I was now recruiting for,&e, &e. If I ever live to get home I will tell you all about it.
In one of my letters from home my sister says that Mr Duran & Freeman were at my house, & that F- had been examined for a commission at Washington. I am glad. I was figuring to get him one in my Company, & I think I should have brought it about had I not heard of that.
I should try for one for Charley & I have not much doubt but if I had spoken to Gen Wild when I saw him I could have got him one, as there are, or were, some vacancies in our Regt- but Charley told me he would not fight with a negro & he did not believe in arming them. So I cannot recommend him, as the Gen will not have such officers if he knows it.
I have some hope that I shall not stay in the position I am now in long, as I hear it said that the Major of our Regt is not coming & my chance is first on the list I suppose. But I tell you that sometimes I wish I was at home with my family. There are so many discouraging things, & I see so much that makes me indignant.
I am glad to see Gen Butler is to be in command of this Department, Gen Foster is a first rate man & General, but he has been, or has allowed those under him to be, entirely too lenient to those who sympathize with the rebels. Here in this place there is a disposition on the part of the Provost Marshall to show favor to those who have been, & still are at heart no doubt, strong secesh. It makes me so provoked to see what I see, & hear what I hear, that I feel like leaving the service.
Today our blockading vessels got two fine prizes. Two large English steamers. One moving out, loaded with turpentine &e, & one very large fine one moving in, loaded with ammunition. They were taken just off the coast from here. We heard the firing early this morning. We are only about forty miles from Wilmington by water. I shall go over & see the prizes tomorrow. I suppose you are making money at home, that is the report from all the North, that trade is good, & all are getting rich. I expect I shall have to start all new, when I go home, if I ever am spared to go.
Where do you suppose the Presidents 300 000 are coming from, with the want of patriotism at the North I don't see I am sure where it will be able to get them. I wish we had the men now in the field to push right through from Washington to New Orleans. Desertions come in from the rebel lines ever day. I have had the Lieut Col's position offered me in a North Carolina White Regt that is forming here. But I shall stick to the blacks at present. And probably as long as I remain in the service.
I keep the pictures of your two children in my pocket with those of my own, all the time, & I find it very pleasant I assure you to have them. I tell you there are many times each day that I wish I was with you all at home. But my duty for the present is here.
I must not write more. Give much love to Julia, & the children a kiss from me. I hope to hear from you soon. I know that your health is better than when you last wrote.
That God may bless & prosper you & yours is the prayer of
Yours truly
J.W. Fletcher
I presume I shall be ordered to my Regt in the course of ten days.
Dear brother Charles,
I have been meaning to write you for some time, but have had a great deal to do for the past three
months. There is a great deal of writing to do, monthly returns of clothing, muster calls &e, &e.
And I do it all myself.
We came here about a month ago, & our Regt takes its turn once in three days, guarding the prisoners in the rebel camp. It is a singular sight to see black soldiers guarding rebel prisoners who two years ago held these same soldiers (in several cases) as their slaves & with orders to shoot any prisoner who shall offer them any insult.
The first day we went on guard, I was Field Officer of the Day and had the whole charge. I was responsible for the safe keeping &e, &e, of about 10 000 rebel prisoners. I was glad I assure you when I was relieved. For the twenty four hours I was on duty, I was hardly off my horse. But every thing passed off quietly for which I was very thankful I assure you. There had been some threats that there would be disturbances, & I had a note from some one of the prisoners, putting me on my guard, & I used some extra precautions.
I have hoped we might stay here, & let our men drill &e, but I learn we only took the place of a New Hampshire Regt gone home on a furlough & that we are to return to Portsmouth. I rather think we shall bring up down (rather a contradiction) in North Carolina again. I hope not. I am hoping to be able to get home for a day or two before long, but may be disappointed. I want to go very much, as my Mother wants to go home this spring to have her house in order, as Ada Flint & her Mother &e are coming home to make a visit this summer.
I hope your health is better than when you last wrote, & that Julia & the children are all well. I want to see you all.
I got a letter from Freeman some time ago declining to take a Lieut's commission that I could have got for him. He did not pass in the examination in Washington. I went & saw Gen Wild & explained all to him, & could have got Freeman a ( ) but he declined it, thinking Col Leonard would get something for him. I doubt very much he does. Unless some one should know him (Freeman) personally, the fact that he did not pass before the board at Washington would act against him. I have no doubt of his ability, or that he would make a good officer, but he was probably embarrassed & did not appear to advantage. There were several vacancies in this Regt when I applied to Gen Wild but they are now filled.
I suppose you are m--- (portion removed)--- I wish many, many times that I was at home. (There are)? many things that I would tell you were I at home where I could talk with you. I am very much disappointed in many things in this Regt, not in the colored men. But many things I would tell you which I will not write.
I got a letter from Mason this morning. I had written him in relation to my men wanting some books to learn to read in. He raised some money at our Union League, & has sent them to me. He tells me he went up into New Hampshire & stumped the State a week before election.
What do you think of the prospect now before us? Are we going to wind this war up this spring or are our leaders going to wrangling over the next President & keep it along another year or two? It does seem to me that all we want is a vigorous campaign this spring & it will be "squelched".
That defeat of our troops in Florida was a bad affair. I knew quite a number of the officers who were killed there. One-- Capt Jones who had been with us for some months with a company had just gone & joined his Regt.
But I must not write more today. I'll (---------) see you ere many weeks. Give much (---------) Julia & kiss the children for me. I(-------) pictures in my pocket at all times.
God bless, & protect, & prosper you, & all dear to you.
Yours truly
John W. Fletcher
36th Regt U.S.C.T.
We are changed from North Carolina Vols to United States (regulars) C(?) Troops. Let me hear from you often as you can.
Handwritten letter and Articles
No. 2 Court Sq.
Boston, Nov 13/67
James F.C. Hyde Esq:
Dear Sir:
I find bur one mortgage on the estate on Centre Street, Newton Center, adjoining the Rev. H.J.
Ripley containing about 29,750 square feet, which Edmin M. Fowle proposes to convey to your party,
and that mortgate is to J.G. Salisbury for $5000. dated Sept. 7 '67.
My examination extends back to April 6, 1822.
I find no attachments against Fowle.
Respectfully Yours
Francis V.B. ?Kevin
Articles of agreement made and entered into this fourteenth day of november
eighteen hundred and sixty seven between Edwin M. Fowle of Newton & Chas B Richardson
of Cambridge Port.
The said Fowle on his part hereby agrees to erect or cause to be erected upon the premises
just conveyed by him to said Richardson, in Newton a Barn of the dimensions designated on the plan (accompanying
& signed with this instrument) to be thoroughly built with celler underneath, french roof to correspond
with house, 14 ft. posts, to have double upper & lower floors, sheathing paper between upper floors, interior an arrangement
to correspond with plan and the whole to receive three coats of paint out side, roof to be slated & sides clapboarded.
And said Fowle also agrees to make the following additions & improvements
in the house situated on said premises. first to cement the celler of said house in a thorough manner.
Second,bath room to be furnished with hot & cold water with bath tub, water closet, & bowl with silver plated
trimmings, force pump in Kitchen, 30 Gallon boiler, & tank over bath room, finish in bath room
to be of chesnut except that already in which is to be painted in imitation.
3rd A ?Dunelee Furnace to be set in brick and registers in four rooms in first
story and four rooms in second story.
4th A ten planed slot fence to be put on each street with one large and one small gate and well painted, back
division fence to be of rough pickets.
And the said Richardson on his part agrees upon the completion of the above mentioned work which shall be done in
thirty days from this date to pay the said Fowle the sum of Seventeen hundred dollars which shall be in
full for the same.
In witness whereof we have set our hands & seals this date above mentioned.
[signed] E.M. Fowle
[signed] C.B. Richardsen
Letters written to his wife
[envelope postmarked Chemnitz 19.7.89, addressed to Mrs. C.B. Richardson, No. 4236 St.
Lawrence Ave., Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.]
[letter]
Chemnitz July 18 1889
My dear Julia
Although I wrote you Monday niight I will write to night as I am just received your letter of the
3d. I have written this evening to Frank and I must write you too. I have been quite busy this
week and shall be the rest of my stay here. We have not had very pleasant weather. It has rained
nearly every day this week. I am glad you like Ottawa so well and trust it will give you a rest.
I wrote to you on Monday all that had occured up to that time and now I have but little I can write. I have been busy all day about my business but weary. I keep my self in my room and read most of the time. There are a good many Americans here but none that I care particularly about.
Last eveng I went to a Mr. Kumin to dinner and did not get back to Hotel until 12 o'clock. We spent most of the time at the dinner table. I was quite well acquainted with all that were there and so it was very pleasant for me. It is a nice family. He has three little girls about the age of Charles's children.
To night I have spent entirely alone in my room and have been reading most of the time. It was 10.30 o'clock when I commenced to write but I do not care to go to bed very early here as I do not rise before eight o'clock. I have slept very well every night but one and then I drank tea for supper. We take our dinner at 1 o'clock and most of the people here eat another hearty dinner at 7 o'clock but I only take a cup of chocolate and a little dry toast. We have learned them how to give us very good trade. I can not eat as the germans do. They are not happy if they are not eating or drinking all the time that they are not engaged in business.
Mr. and Mrs. Field of Philadelphia are expected here on Monday. I shall have to stay here on Sunday and it will be a long day. It is very dull and quiet here Sundays, but I think I shall get through it comfortably. I am having a change and a rest and have no doubt it will do me good.
It is a long time since we went any where in the country together. I should like much to have a few days with you in Ottawa. I have no doubt that I should enjoy it, but I am glad I am able to take this trip for I am sure it has been good for me and although there is nothing new to be seen yet it is pleasant to see my old friends here. Still I should much rather have a trip with you if I could.
Mr. & Mrs. Palmer have left. They sail next week for New York. I shall write again Sunday and I will close now with love to the dear children and all the little ones and much love for yourself love.
Yours affectionately, Charles
[letter]
Chemnitz July 23 1889
My dear Julia
It is 9.30 Tuesday night and I will write a few lines to you as I fear I shall not be able to write
tomorrow night. I wrote you on Sunday and the time since is so short I can not give you much
that is new. I am invited to Mr. Goldens to supper tomorrow night. He sends his carriage at 7
o'clock and teakes Mr. and Mrs. Field and my self. I have been to his house several times in the
same way with the same people and always have a pleasant time. He has quite a family, two
married children and one that is not married and we generally meet them there.
I went last eveng for a walk after I had my supper here at hotel. I thought I should like to see the fair which I wrote you about on Sunday. The streets were crowded with people. It reminded me of Boston on a fourth of July twenty five years ago. The square was filled with people buying at the stalls. It was very funny to see the piles of ginger bread with nuts in it piled up three or four feet high in large flat cases say two feet square.
I saw a baby in a baby carriage, she could not be six moths old, with a sausage in her hands sucking away at it with all her might and there were lots of booths where they sold sausages. They would ?had them out of a barley pot and wrap a piece of bread around them and daub some mustard on them with a stick and hand them to people who would eat them with a relish. They eat a great many of them here raw. They also eat their ham raw.
As you know I never liked the cooking here. It is very greasy. I can get no fruit here that is good for any thing. And I am troubled to find enough to eat to keep me from being hungry. I eat my dinner at one o'clock and about seven o'clock take a cup of chocolate and a little toast and sometimes an omelette and then usually go to wak for half an hour and then to my room and say there the rest of the evening. There is no reception room in the hotel and I do not care to spend my time in the dining room.
I had me a new overcoat and I like it much. I also sent my brown suit to the taylors and he fixed it all up and made the button holes over and took all the spots out and it looks like new. I sent to day my grey coat and vest. It was very much soiled from travelling. I do not know how much he will ?renew it. I have a new pair of grey pants and it made the coat and vest look very shabby.
I think I shall spend next Sunday in Dresden and take a rest of a day or two there as I have worked pretty hard here and am feeling a little tired.
I trust I shall have letters tomorrow from you. I usually get them Wednesday and Saturday. I do not retire very early, from eleven to eleven thirty and lie untill about eight o'clock. I have slept well every night but one when I took tea for my supper and I think it made me wakefull.
I expect you are all in Chicago now and trust you are all well. I expect there will be great changes in the babies by the time I return and now I must close. With love to all the dear ones and much love for your self.
I am yours affectionately, Charles
Lewis, Brown and Co., 42 & 44 Summer St., (letterhead):
Boston, Dec 16 1880.
We agree to pay Mr. C.B. Richardson at the rate of $3000 per annum for his
services for eleven months ending January 1 1882, as buyer of Hosiery and Gloves,
and manager of Department C.
We further agree that if Mr R's services are satisfactory to us, and the department is
managed successfully, and to our satisfaction, to make him a further payment, at the expiration of the term,
at the rate of $500 per annum.
Lewis, Brown & Co.
In consideration of the above agreement, and the salary to be paid, to me, from time to time,
I hereby agree to render my best services, and to give my time for the purposes above named, and for the period
as written.
[signed]C.B. Richardson [all except this signature is in the same handwriting]
Handritten letter
Chicago
Oct 14/81
C.B. Richardson Esq.
Dr Sir, Your favor of the 10th inst is at hand & duly noted.
In conformity with your proposition we accept your services for two years, commencing
Dec 1st 1881 or Jany 1st 1882 salary $4000 per annum each year. With the understanding
that if the success of your Department in 1882 warrants your salary in 1883 wil be $5000.
Very Truly Yours
Burke Walker
© 1998 Shirley York Anderson and John Charles Richardson