1
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http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1862_0916/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1862_0916a.jpg
6be964111bbb0baa1e448e6df485c4db
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<p> </p>
Suffolk Va. Sept. 16 1862</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Dear folks at home, </p>
<p>It is after Tattoo but I am </p>
<p>determined to commence a letter for home and finish</p>
<p>it when I can. I sent one letter from Fort Monroe </p>
<p>a few lines and then I asked Mr Foote to call in
<p>at the Holden’s and tell them he saw me at Fort Monroe </p>
<p>all well &c. We went to Norfolk Sunday night and </p>
<p>staid aboard the boat until the next morning we then took </p>
<p>the cars and came to this “God forsaken country. All the residents </p>
<p>are Secesh. and all the able bodied citizens are in the Rebel </p>
<p>Army. The orchard where we are encamped belongs to </p>
<p>a Genl. in the Southern Army. As soon as we got here our boys </p>
<p>(Co. G I mean) went into the apples and picked about three </p>
<p>barrels we got rather more than our share but it was </p>
<p>“First come first served.” We have begun to hear the usual Camp </p>
<p>rumors. To day we heard heavy guns some where and thought </p>
<p>there must have been an engagement somewhere. Our scouts </p>
<p>came in to day and reported the Rebels coming in force from </p>
<p>Petersburgh. to day extra pickets were advanced two miles farther </p>
<p>and an extra force. We are under marching orders to be ready </p>
<p>at a minutes warning, and have to keep our things packed </p>
<p>all the time, and a days ration ahead cooked. I found </p>
<p>that the farther South we came the faster & freer the camp </p>
<p>stories came. We believe none of them. We only know we are </p>
<p>on the extreme point of the extent of our Army (Suffolk </p>
<p>being, as far as our Army extends in) and that with an </p>
<p>Indiana Regiment we are on the extreme right of this Brigade </p>
<p>(By the right I mean the advance) We are encamped in a beau</p>
<p>tiful place and could not ask for a prettier encampment</p>
<p>There are six regiments of infantry here (not full all of them, probably </p>
<p>4500 in all) two Batteries, and one Reg of Cavalry. They are expec</p>
<p>ting more here every day. Our Gen’s name is O.S. Ferry [Brigadier General Orris S. Ferry]. </p>
<p>I have to send in my morning report to him every morning. </p>
<p>To day I have had to work very hard and I have one days </p>
<p>work ahead of me now, but I must find time to write home </p>
<p>I am in the Adjutants tent. I bunk here all the time with him </p>
<p>and have everything but my rations here with him. that is the </p>
<p>reason I am allowed lights after Taps. Only Head Quarters </p>
<p>are allowed them after that time. I little thought six weeks ago I </p>
<p>should write by the light of a “farthing dip.” While I am writing we can </p>
<p>hear two or three guns in the direction of our pickets but as they do not </p>
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1862-09-16
1982-09-17
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1862_0916/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1862_0916b.jpg
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<p>continue we think it may be some run away nigger trying to pass </p>
<p>our lines. They come in squads of from 10 to 40 sometimes from as </p>
<p>far as N. Carolina and are brought into our Provost Marshall by the </p>
<p>pickets and by him sent to Washington or Fort Monroe. The Indiana </p>
<p>Regs are quite “hunk” with our boys. As soon as we came here </p>
<p>Co G. of their Reg. brought Co. G. of our Reg. pails of hot coffee and some </p>
<p>soft bread. They said “they knew what hungry soldiers were.” We had </p>
<p>had nothing but hard tack all the way. (Such as Wm Kent sent us </p>
<p>you know.) I did not know but what I should be like some of the </p>
<p>boys at Ship Island. They had not seen soft bread for so long that </p>
<p>when there teeth went through it, it went so easy they nearly crushed </p>
<p>both jaws. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Dark Wednesday eve</p>
<p>Fears of a surprise to night so I </p>
<p>must get some sleep and cant finish this </p>
<p>Plucky. Such is life & war, will write </p>
<p>soon</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Your aff Son & Brother,</p>
<p>and if the Holdens receive it</p>
<p>Your aff friend</p>
<p>John Watkins</p>
<p>I cant see my signature, too dark</p>
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1862-09-16
1982-09-17
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John C. Watkins Letters, Ms2009-071
Subject
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Civil War
Description
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This collection consists of seventeen letters. Sixteen of these were written by John C. Watkins and one is by his wife, Harriet (Hattie) Watkins. Three are fragments. All were written to friends and family back home in Lowell, Massachusetts, first, when Watkins served as a private with the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment in Suffolk, Virginia in 1862 and 1863; then while in Washington, DC, from 1864 to 1866; and, lastly, while serving with the Eighth Cavalry as Acting Assistant Surgeon at Camp Winfield Scott, Nevada. The letter written by Hattie Watkins is from Winnemucca, Nevada, and is dated 17 January 1870, shortly after the couple were married.
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John C. Watkins, 1842-1892
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<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00417.xml">John C. Watkins Letters, 1862-1870</a>
Date
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1862-1870
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This collection was donated to Special Collections in 2009.
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mdb
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Permission to publish material from the John C. Watkins Letters must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
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Collection is open for research.
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0.1 cu. ft; 1 folder
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Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech
Identifier
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Ms2009-071
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<h2><strong>Transcript:</strong></h2>
<p>Suffolk Va.</p>
<p>Sept. 16 1862</p>
<p>Dear folks at home,</p>
<p>It is after Tattoo but I am determined to commence a letter for home and finish it when I can. I sent one letter from Fort Monroe a few lines and then I asked Mr Foote to call in at the Holden’s and tell them he saw me at Fort Monroe all well &c. We went to Norfolk Sunday night and staid aboard the boat until the next morning we then took the cars and came to this "God forsaken country. All the residents are Secesh. and all the able bodied citizens are in the Rebel Army. The orchard where we are encamped belongs to a Genl. in the Southern Army. As soon as we got here our boys (Co. G I mean) went into the apples and picked about three barrels we got rather more than our share but it was "First come first served." We have begun to hear the usual Camp rumors. To day we heard heavy guns some where and thought there must have been an engagement somewhere. Our scouts came in to day and reported the Rebels coming in force from Petersburgh. To day extra pickets were advanced two miles farther and an extra force. We are under marching orders to be ready at a minutes warning, and have to keep our things packed all the time, and a days ration ahead cooked. I found that the farther South we came the faster & freer the camp stories came. We believe none of them. We only know we are on the extreme point of the extent of our Army (Suffolk being, as far as our Army extends in) and that with an Indiana Regiment we are on the extreme right of this Brigade (By the right I mean the advance) We are encamped in a beautiful place and could not ask for a prettier encampment. There are six regiments of infantry here (not full all of them, probably 4500 in all) two Batteries, and one Reg of Cavalry. They are expecting more here every day. Our Gen's name is O.S. Ferry. I have to send in my morning report to him every morning. To day I have had to work very hard and I have one days work ahead of me now, but I must find time to write home I am in the Adjutants tent. I bunk here all the time with him and have everything but my rations here with him. That is the reason I am allowed lights after Taps. Only Head Quarters are allowed them after that time. I little thought six weeks ago I should write by the light of a "farthing dip." While I am writing we can hear two or three guns in the direction of our pickets but as they do not continue we think it may be some run away nigger trying to pass our lines. They come in squads of from 10 to 40 sometimes from as far as N. Carolina and are brought into our Provost Marshall by the pickets and by him sent to Washington or Fort Monroe. The Indiana Regs are quite "hunk" with our boys. As soon as we came here Co G. of their Reg. brought Co. G. of our Reg. pails of hot coffee and some soft bread. They said "they knew what hungry soldiers were." We had had nothing but hard tack all the way. (Such as Wm Kent sent us you know.) I did not know but what I should be like some of the boys at Ship Island. They had not seen soft bread for so long that when there teeth went through it went so easy they nearly crushed both jaws.</p>
<p>Dark Wednesday eve</p>
<p>Fears of a surprise to night so I must get some sleep and can't finish this Plucky Such is life & war. Will write soon</p>
<p>Your aff Son & Brother<br />and if the Holdens receive it<br />Your aff friend<br />John Watkins</p>
<p>I can't see my signature, too dark</p>
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paper
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Letter, John C. Watkins to 'Folks at Home,' Suffolk, Virginia, September 16, 1862 (Ms2009-071)
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John C. Watkins
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<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00417.xml" target="_blank">See the Finding Aid for the John C. Watkins Letters</a>
Date
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1862-09-16
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mdb
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<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc" target="_blank">Permission to publish material from the John C. Watkins Letters must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
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Letters
Spatial Coverage
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Suffolk, Virginia
Temporal Coverage
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1862
Abstract
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This is a letter written on September 16, 1862.
Identifier
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Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1862_0916
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Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: John C. Watkins Letters, Ms2009-071, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
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<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/" target="_blank">Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech</a>
Civil War
-
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1862_1123/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1862_1123a.jpg
717371b68e0829e1831cbcd3d7532c35
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<p>[Continued from page 4]</p>
<p> </p>
<p>probably ever will be to any living woman, but I think it isn’t fair to make any body</p>
<p>wait when you know I shall not be in any condition to have serious intentions </p>
<p>for years to come and I think it would be fair to give them a chance </p>
<p>to take somebody else. Kiss her for me will you. I would if I were there. </p>
<p>As I am writing Orin Park [Orrin R. Park, from Lowell, corporal, Company A, Sixth Massachusetts; died, Suffolk, 15 November 1862] is being carried to the depot to be sent home. </p>
<p>You know he died last week. Jennie Thomas’ husband will soon be following. </p>
<p>But I must close, want of ideas and time for mail </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Your affec son & Brother </p>
<p>Johnnie</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Give my love to all the neighbors Hills Holdens Lowes Spritz & Adams </p>
<p>No mother I cant expect you to write often but I like to hear from </p>
<p>home and from you when you have a chance </p>
<p>What is Mary going to do now</p>
<p> </p>
<hr><p> </p>
<p>Camp Suffolk Virginia Nov. 23rd 1862</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Dear Friends at home,</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Why dont you write oftener? </p>
<p>I suppose you have sent something in the boxes </p>
<p>sent by the city and have sent a letter with it </p>
<p>but it is longer coming so than by mail. I wish </p>
<p>you would write twice a week. I go to the P.O. </p>
<p>every night and deacon says no letters for you, and </p>
<p>I sometimes feel rather hard about it when I see </p>
<p>others having two or three and sometimes more in </p>
<p>a week from the same person. Since I wrote last </p>
<p>I have been up to the “Blackwater” renamed here in </p>
<p>S. [Suffolk, Va.] by our frequent raids, and I have been, I guess </p>
<p>you’d call it, “under fire” but it was so far under </p>
<p>that I did not feel frightened, although I could </p>
<p>hear the bullets whiz about 30 feet over my head </p>
<p>and one horse was killed (no shot) about 30 yds </p>
<p>front of me. Two of our Regiment were taken pris</p>
<p>oners. I will give you a little description of our </p>
<p>trip. Monday morning I saw the Colonel [Colonel Albert S. Follansbee, of Lowell]</p>
<p>flying around and a hint was dropped so that I </p>
<p>thought “something was up.” I took my gun down </p>
<p>to the quarters and had a new tube fixed in. the old </p>
<p>ones were useless and most of them had been exchanged </p>
<p>At noon orders were given to prepare, and fall in at </p>
<p>1½ o clock. I fortified myself for the march by eating </p>
<p>a good dinner and filled my haversack with “hard </p>
<p>tack” raw salt pork, coffee & sugar. We commenced </p>
<p>the march and I must say I never knew the </p>
<p>powers of human endurance before. We would march </p>
<p>an hour and then halt 15 or 10 minutes. As soon as </p>
<p>we would halt down would go the whole regiment on </p>
<p>the side of the road. If we were near a fence, off </p>
<p>would come the rails till it was low enough to sit on </p>
<p>It was destruction to fences I tell you. </p>
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Date
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1862-11-23
1862-11-24
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1862_1123/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1862_1123b.jpg
922c78d83da29ebd5169e7b86bfbc7b2
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<p>You know at home we call 3 miles an hour rather </p>
<p>slow travelling. If we did as much as that we </p>
<p>thought it pretty “tall.” We marched all night </p>
<p>and went about 5 miles above Franklin on the Black</p>
<p>water. We turned down a road into a mans farm </p>
<p>and there the Rebs. sat on a fence, that is the </p>
<p>pickets, our men let fly and they replied. then </p>
<p>our artillery ran to the edge of the hill and let them </p>
<p>have a round of cannister. then they shelled them, and </p>
<p>after they were out of sight in the woods they shelled </p>
<p>their camp on the other side. As soon as the firing </p>
<p>commenced we tore down the fence and let the Cavalry </p>
<p>pass through, and we followed double quick and formed </p>
<p>in line to support the battery. Then was the time </p>
<p>we saw pale faces. two companies were deployed as </p>
<p>skirmishes but did nothing as there was nothing to </p>
<p>do. The battery then went down into the ravine and </p>
<p>shelled the woods and the cavalry followed and crossed </p>
<p>the ford, we after them and formed a line on this side </p>
<p>the pontoons were then brought down and one company </p>
<p>crossed and went into the enemies camp. After they </p>
<p>returned Co. G was deployed as skirmishers until the </p>
<p>remainder of the regiments and the battery got out </p>
<p>of the ravine. I suppose so that their scouts could </p>
<p>not return and pick off our men. I send you a </p>
<p>little leaf that I picked off the tree where I was </p>
<p>stationed. I saw but one reb. run from one tree to </p>
<p>another. This was the only one seen. One of the Indiana </p>
<p>boys saw him first, and I afterward. He kept concealed </p>
<p>and no one got a shot at him. We then countermarched </p>
<p>about a mile and a half, stopped and ate breakfast </p>
<p>fried our pork and made some coffee in our tin cups </p>
<p>perhaps you think coffee aint good made that way </p>
<p>I assure you it was “bully,” and tasted as good as </p>
<p>home made coffee. The only thing we did not like </p>
<p>was what we call “sandwiches,” wormy hard tack, </p>
<p>bread outside and meat inside. We did not take </p>
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Date
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1862-11-23
1862-11-24
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1862_1123/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1862_1123c.jpg
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<p>much notice of it however. Then we marched </p>
<p>toward Franklin. before we got there however, we heard </p>
<p>firing and when we got there the shells were flying </p>
<p>right smart. One or two whizzed over our heads and </p>
<p>made some of the boys duck. The plan was for </p>
<p>the part that went up to the first ford to cross </p>
<p>and get in the rear of the troops at Franklin. </p>
<p>if we had there’d have been hot work, but it was </p>
<p>impracticable on account of the ford being too </p>
<p>deep, so that artillery could not cross, and then too a regiment being stationed </p>
<p>there so that it was no surprise as they would get </p>
<p>word. Our other division was to attack them in front </p>
<p>at the same time. They did not reply much at </p>
<p>Franklin and our troops withdrew about three miles </p>
<p>to bivouac for the night. We cooked our coffee and </p>
<p>pork and <del>l</del> wrapping ourselves in our rubber blankets </p>
<p>laid down under the starry dome to a soldiers </p>
<p>rest and a rest it was. I did not wake until </p>
<p>4 o’clock when we were ordered to get breakfast and </p>
<p>start before day break, for they feared an attack. </p>
<p>After we returned to Suffolk the General said it </p>
<p>was lucky we did not cross at Franklin, for he </p>
<p>had received reliable intelligence that they had been </p>
<p>reinforced by ten thousand troops from Weldon N.C </p>
<p>Where Gen. Foster had been pushing them back. </p>
<p>Well, we marched with occasional rests, until we </p>
<p>got to Suffolk having been gone 48 hours and in </p>
<p>the time marched <u>over</u> 60 miles. I had a short </p>
<p>ride on the Adjutants horse. As I said before I </p>
<p>did not know the power of human endurance. </p>
<p>I would march until I thought I should drop </p>
<p>and where money would not have hired me to hang </p>
<p>on pride kept me up. I did not straggle until </p>
<p>we got most home then I fell back and swapped </p>
<p>places with one of the Cavalry boys. He was as glad </p>
<p>as I was. It was tough I tell you to find my </p>
<p>feet all blistered and yet hang to it, but I did </p>
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1862-11-23
1862-11-24
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1862_1123/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1862_1123d.jpg
de40f1eb7ba1b40c64f238cfb6b6975e
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<p>I can say that I have been under fire anyway. </p>
<p>From something the Adj. just said I imagine </p>
<p>we are likely to move at any time. Wont it </p>
<p>be tough to march far? knapsack & all. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Monday Morning, Nov. 24, 1862 </p>
<p>I received your letter last night and should have </p>
<p>finished mine but I did not have time. I am </p>
<p>glad my things are coming for I need them, and the </p>
<p>eatables for Billy has lots a coming and I want </p>
<p>some to counterbalance for we mess together. We </p>
<p>are to have a little shanty up here somewhere between </p>
<p>the Colonel’s & Adjutants. I hope it will be up before </p>
<p>Christmas. I mean Thanksgiving. We have laid out for the </p>
<p>day for our commissary has offered to give me a baking piece </p>
<p>of meat & the Hed Qurter cooks have promised to bake it. </p>
<p>Then we are going to have a bread pudding &c We were </p>
<p>going to save our rations of bread but somebody promised </p>
<p>to give us the bread if we’d give them a plate of pudding </p>
<p>so that is all “hunky”. I have no reason to complain of </p>
<p>our rations for I am growing fat on them, although they </p>
<p>are not just what I should want at home. So Ed [Nicks?] </p>
<p>is going to Liverpool I wish I was going with </p>
<p>him I’d give anything. I mean to see that country </p>
<p>sometime if I get out of this scrape alive. I heard </p>
<p>that all the females & children were ordered out of town </p>
<p>I dont know what it means and dont care much. I’d </p>
<p>rather they’d come here than to go 30 miles after them </p>
<p>and then not have a slash at them. This is the first </p>
<p>that I have heard of John Calef’s being at home. </p>
<p>Why didn’t you write? and I did not know that [?] </p>
<p>was in Boston. where is he? Where is the Dr going </p>
<p>to set up house keeping. How does Ella like it. give her </p>
<p>my love & the Dr. So Mary you think F. is splendid </p>
<p>So do I. So you think I’m not fair That there ought </p>
<p>to be some understanding &c “I ought to let her know if I </p>
<p>do or do not have any serious intentions for the future no </p>
<p>matter how distant” My intentions are as serious as they </p>
<p> </p><hr>
<p> </p>
<p>[Continued on page 1]</p>
<p> </p>
<p>probably ever will be to any living woman, but I think it isn’t fair to make any body </p>
<p>wait when you know I shall not be in any condition to have serious intentions </p>
<p>for years to come and I think it would be fair to give them a chance </p>
<p>to take somebody else. Kiss her for me will you. I would if I were there. </p>
<p>As I am writing Orin Park [Orrin R. Park, from Lowell, corporal, Company A, Sixth Massachusetts; died, Suffolk, 15 November 1862]is being carried to the depot to be sent home. </p>
<p>You know he died last week. Jennie Thomas’ husband will soon be following. </p>
<p>But I must close, want of ideas and time for mail </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Your affec son & Brother </p>
<p>Johnnie</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Give my love to all the neighbors Hills Holdens Lowes Spritz & Adams </p>
<p>No mother I cant expect you to write often but I like to hear from </p>
<p>home and from you when you have a chance </p>
<p>What is Mary going to do now</p>
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1862-11-23
1862-11-24
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Title
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John C. Watkins Letters, Ms2009-071
Subject
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Civil War
Description
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This collection consists of seventeen letters. Sixteen of these were written by John C. Watkins and one is by his wife, Harriet (Hattie) Watkins. Three are fragments. All were written to friends and family back home in Lowell, Massachusetts, first, when Watkins served as a private with the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment in Suffolk, Virginia in 1862 and 1863; then while in Washington, DC, from 1864 to 1866; and, lastly, while serving with the Eighth Cavalry as Acting Assistant Surgeon at Camp Winfield Scott, Nevada. The letter written by Hattie Watkins is from Winnemucca, Nevada, and is dated 17 January 1870, shortly after the couple were married.
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John C. Watkins, 1842-1892
Source
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<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00417.xml">John C. Watkins Letters, 1862-1870</a>
Date
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1862-1870
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This collection was donated to Special Collections in 2009.
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mdb
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Permission to publish material from the John C. Watkins Letters must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
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Collection is open for research.
Extent
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0.1 cu. ft; 1 folder
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Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech
Identifier
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Ms2009-071
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<h2>Transcript:</h2>
<p>Camp Suffolk Virginia Nov. 23<sup>rd</sup> 1862</p>
<p>Dear Friends at home,</p>
<p>Why dont you write oftener? I suppose you have sent something in the boxes sent by the city and have sent a letter with it but it is longer coming so than by mail. I wish you would write twice a week. I go to the P.O. every night and deacon [?] says no letters for you, and I sometimes feel rather hard about it when I see others having two or three and sometimes more in a week from the same person. Since I wrote last I have been up to the “Blackwater” remained here in S[offolk] by our frequent raids, and I have been, I guess you'd call it, “under fire” but it was so far under that I did not feel frightened, although I could hear the bullets whiz about 30 feet over my head and one horse was killed (no shot) about 30 yds front of me. Two of our Regiment were taken prisoners. I will give you a little description of our trip. Monday morning I saw the Colonel flying around and a hint was dropped so that I thought "something was up." I took my gun down to the quarters and had a new tube fixed [in]. The old ones were useless and most of them had been exchanged At noon orders were given to prepare, and fall in at 1½ o’clock. I fortified myself for the march by eating a good dinner and filled my haversack with "hard tack" raw salt pork, coffee & sugar. We commenced the march and I must say I never knew the powers of human endurance before. We would march an hour and then halt 15 or 10 minutes. As soon as we would halt down would go the whole regiment on the side of the road. If we were near a fence, off would come the rails till it was low enough to sit on. It was destruction to fences I tell you.</p>
<p>You know at home we call 3 miles an hour rather slow travelling. If we did as much as that we thought it pretty "tall." We marched all night and went about 5 miles above Franklin on the Blackwater. We turned down a road into a mans farm and there the Rebs. sat on a fence, that is the pickets, our men let fly and they replied. then our artillery ran to the edge of the hill and let them have a round of cannister. then they shelled them, and after they were out of sight in the woods they shelled their camp on the other side. As soon as the firing commenced we tore down the fence and let the Cavalry pass through. and we followed double quick and formed in line to support the battery. Then was the time we saw pale faces. two companies were deployed as skirmishers but did nothing as there was nothing to do. The battery then went down into the ravine and shelled the woods and the cavalry followed and crossed the ford we after them and formed a line on this side the pontoons were brought down and one company crossed and went into the enemies camp. After they returned Co. G was deployed as skirmishers until the remainder of the regiments and the battery got out of the ravine. I suppose so that their scouts could not return and pick off our men. I send you a little leaf that I picked off the tree where I was stationed. I saw but one reb. run from one tree to another. This was the only one seen. One of the Indiana boys saw him first, and I afterward. We kept concealed and no one got a shot at him. We then countermarched about a mile and a half, stopped and ate breakfast fried our pork and made some coffee in our tin cups perhaps you think coffee aint good made that way I assure you it was "bully," and tasted as good as home made coffee. The only thing we did not like was what we call "sandwiches," wormy hard tack, bread outside and meat inside. We did not take much notice of it however. Then we marched toward Franklin>. before we got there however, we heard firing and when we got there the shells were flying right smart. One or two whizzed over our heads and made some of the boys duck. The plan was for the part that went up to the first ford to cross and get in the rear of the troops at Franklin. if we had there'd have been hot work, but it was impracticable on account of the ford being too deep, so that artillery could not cross, and then too a regiment being stationed there so that it was no surprise as they would get word. Our other division was to attack them in front at the same time. They did not reply much at Franklin and our troops withdrew about three miles to bivouac for the night. We cooked our coffee and pork and wrapping ourselves in our rubber blankets laid down under the starry dome to a soldier’s rest and a rest it was. I did not wake until 4 o'clock when we were ordered to get breakfast and start before day break, for they feared an attack. After we returned to Suffolk the General said it was lucky we did not cross at Franklin, for he had received reliable intelligence that they had been reinforced by ten thousand troops from Weldon N.C. Where Gen. Foster had been pushing them back. Well, we marched with occasional rests, until we got to Suffolk having been gone 48 hours and in the time marched <span style="text-decoration:underline;">over</span> 60 miles. I had a short ride on the Adjutants horse. As I said before I did not know the power of human endurance, I would march until I thought I should drop and where money would not have hired me to hang on pride kept me up. I did not straggle until we got most home then I fell back and swapped places with one of the Cavalry boys. He was as glad as I was. It was tough I tell you to find my feet all blistered and yet hang to it but I did</p>
<p>I can say that I have been under fire anyway. From something the Adj. just said I imagine we are likely to move at any time. Wont it be tough to march far? knapsack & all.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Monday Morning, Nov. 24, 1862 <br /><br /> I received your letter last night and should have finished mine but I did not have time. I am glad my things are coming for I need them. and the eatables for Billy has lots a coming and I want some to counterbalance for we mess together. We are to have a little shanty up here somewhere between the Colonel's & Adjutants. I hope it will be up before Christmas. I mean Thanksgiving. We have laid out for the day for our commissary has offered to give me a baking piece of meat & the Hd Quarter cooks have promised to bake it. Then we are going to have a bread pudding etc. We were going to save our rations of bread but somebody promised to give us the bread if we'd give them a plate of pudding so that is all "hunky". I have no reason to complain of our rations for I am growing fat on them. although they are not just what I should want at home. So Ed Hicks is going to Liverpool I wish I was going with him I'd give anything. I mean to see that country sometime if I get out of this scrape alive. I heard that all the females & children were ordered out of town I dont know what it means and dont care much. I'd rather they'd come here than to go 30 miles after them and then not have a slash at them. This is the first that I have heard of John Calef's being at home. Why didn't you write? and I did not know that [?] was in Boston. where is he? Where is the Dr going to set up house keeping. How does Ella like it. give her my love & the Dr. So Mary you think F. [?] is splendid So do I. So you think I'm not fair That there ought to be some understanding etc. "I ought to let her know if I do or do not have any serious intentions for the future no matter how distant" My intentions are as serious as they probably ever will be to any living woman, but I think it isn't fair to make any body wait when you know I shall not be in any condition to have serious intentions for years to come and I think it would be fair to give them a chance to take somebody else. Kiss her for me will you, I would if I were there. As I am writing Orin Park is being carried to the depot to be sent home. You know he died last week. Jennie Thomas’ husband will soon be following. But I must close. want of ideas and time for mail</p>
<p><br /> Your affec son & Brother <br /> Johnnie <br /> Give my love to all the neighbors Hills Holdens Lanes Spritz & Adams. No mother I cant expect you to write often but I like to hear from home and from you when you have a chance</p>
<p>What is Mary going to do now</p>
<p> </p>
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paper
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Letter, John C. Watkins to 'Friends at Home,' Camp Suffolk, Virginia, November 23-24, 1862 (Ms2009-071)
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John C. Watkins
Source
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<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00417.xml" target="_blank">See the Finding Aid for the John C. Watkins Letters</a>
Date
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1862-11-23
1862-11-24
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mdb
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<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc" target="_blank">Permission to publish material from the John C. Watkins Letters must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
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Letters
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Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1862_1123
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Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: John C. Watkins Letters, Ms2009-071, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
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<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/" target="_blank">Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech</a>
Civil War
-
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1862_1208/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1862_1208a.jpg
f1ad827b6e6a1c1d3affca797b08120b
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<p>[Continued from page 4]</p>
<p> </p>
<p>of spirit out of them. Last night there was cannonading somewhere and they asked some of </p>
<p>our boys (on picket) </p>
<p>how far the rebs </p>
<p>were, the reply “about </p>
<p>2 miles.” It made </p>
<p>their eyes hang out </p>
<p>and I tell you </p>
<p>they did their duty </p>
<p>smart after that </p>
<p>There’s one regt. </p>
<p>about all Penna. </p>
<p>Dutchmen and </p>
<p>theres lots of </p>
<p>spirit with them </p>
<p>on picket.</p>
<p> </p>
<hr>
<p> </p>
<p>Head Qurs Sixth Regt. Mass. Vols </p>
<p>Camp Suffolk Va Dec 8th</p>
<p> </p>
<p>My Dear Sisters.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I hardly know how to com</p>
<p>mence my letters half the time, for I know </p>
<p>you both would like to have them addressed to </p>
<p>you individually, and I want to answer your </p>
<p>letters and would like to write to each of you </p>
<p>but I have not the time, so I think well, they </p>
<p>write for the whole, so I’ll address the whole. </p>
<p>I have just received Mary’s letter this evening </p>
<p>and I got one from O.[likely John’s sister, Ophelia] night before last and wrote </p>
<p>home last night. I have just been writing to </p>
<p>Minnie, and it is pretty late but the Adjt is out </p>
<p>and I’ll write till he comes. It is quite cool </p>
<p>here now and I rather think that I should prefer </p>
<p>to stay here this Winter, but there is every chance of our </p>
<p>moving. These trips to the Blackwater are merely </p>
<p>feints to draw their attention and to keep some little</p>
<p>force at Franklin, and is but preparatory to a move</p>
<p>ment that will “astonish the natives,” I dread this </p>
<p>lying out nights, for it will cause so much sickness </p>
<p>The regiment is pretty healthy. There has one disease </p>
<p>go into it that makes me feel badly about it. Diptheria </p>
<p>one has died with it to day. Do not tell people of it in </p>
<p>L. [Lowell, Ma.] for most of the boys dont know it. The surgeon told me </p>
<p>and said there were two or three that had it in its mild </p>
<p>stages. You spoke of the skirmish, saying our loss was </p>
<p>trifling. So it was, not a man missing in the </p>
<p>whole division. The prisoners looked rough enough I </p>
<p>tell you. They certainly are no match for </p>
<p>our soldiers. Their knowledge of the country is the </p>
<p>only thing that gives them the advantage and it certain</p>
<p>ly is so, that they are destitute. They must suc</p>
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1862-12-08
1862-12-09
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1862_1208/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1862_1208b.jpg
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<p>[Continued from the continuation of page 4 on page 1]</p>
<p> </p>
<p>But I must close for I am going to write to John Thorne to night. I have written </p>
<p>a very </p>
<p>uninteresting </p>
<p>letter, but </p>
<p>I suppose </p>
<p>most any</p>
<p>thing will </p>
<p>be welcome </p>
<p>at home.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Excuse </p>
<p>writing </p>
<p>for it has </p>
<p>been </p>
<p>written </p>
<p>in great </p>
<p>haste. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Affec </p>
<p>Brother </p>
<p>Johnnie</p>
<p> </p>
<p>love to </p>
<p>Aunt </p>
<p>Abby. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>John</p>
<p> </p>
<hr>
<p> </p>
<p>cumb. I haven’t a doubt that the thing will </p>
<p>be settled before I return. Four or five days ago </p>
<p>one brigade went from here toward Weldon and today </p>
<p>one battery and a regiment of cavalry went the same </p>
<p>way. We have a lots of rumors about them, one is, that </p>
<p>they have gone aboard transports on the Chowan to cooperate with Banks </p>
<p>another is that they have gone aboard transports and are </p>
<p>coming up to Franklin to cooperate with us. Others say </p>
<p>they have gone to tear up the Rail Road between Weldon </p>
<p>and Franklin to cut off their supplies, & I guess </p>
<p>if the truth were known no body except those in authority </p>
<p>know where they are. They took 10 days rations with them </p>
<p>Our camp, as I wrote last night has been moved </p>
<p>temporarily and it makes my work since harder </p>
<p>but, I like the running too & fro when it isnt too </p>
<p>cold. Ice forms in a night hard enough to bear in </p>
<p>the morning thats <u>pretty</u> cool. I was interrupted </p>
<p>by a serenade given to our Chaplain [John W. Hanson of Haverhill, Ma.]. He is liked by </p>
<p>the boys. He dont bother them much with his religion </p>
<p>but is always kind and pleasant. I like to talk with </p>
<p>him for he is <u>very</u> well informed, and I can learn </p>
<p>so much from him at the same time be interested </p>
<p>I think he should have been a Congregationalist </p>
<p>for he is so consistent in all his actions, just what </p>
<p>he professes, and I have seen other chaplains </p>
<p>that are not. Tell Gordan if he wants to hear </p>
<p>from me once in a while he must write to me </p>
<p>and then he will hear direct. I dont as its policy </p>
<p>to have <u>many</u> more correspondents, but I can </p>
<p>find room for Gordan. I’ll agree to write to all </p>
<p>that write to me let them be who they will. I dont </p>
<p>know as you’ll agree to furnish me stamps however </p>
<p>I pity those poor fellows that are in camp at Lowell </p>
<p>for they are green and wont know how to take </p>
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1862-12-08
1862-12-09
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1862_1208/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1862_1208c.jpg
64d8a4b5049bb1810814bf8ed1ac0149
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<p>advantage of everything to make them comfortable </p>
<p>I dont know though, they are Massachusetts men </p>
<p>and will get along well enough, I reckon. </p>
<p>Give me Mass. men for all anything I have seen </p>
<p>yet. You can tell their camps as quick as can be. </p>
<p>I should kind of like to be in that battery for </p>
<p>the remainder of my term of service, if it was well </p>
<p>officered and had good men. It is a prettier </p>
<p>branch of the service. If I thought I could </p>
<p>get a “commish” in that branch I dont know but </p>
<p>what I should be willing to make “sogering” my </p>
<p>“biz.” Mary are you going back to New Market? </p>
<p>If not what are you going to do? I mean to go </p>
<p>West when I return home. I feel more & more </p>
<p>impressed with the idea that that is the place </p>
<p>for a young man. What do you think about it </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Tuesday. 9 Dec. 1862 </p>
<p>You see I did not have time to finish my letter </p>
<p>last night. I expect there’s another Blackwater </p>
<p>trip tomorrow, another long hard march and lying </p>
<p>out over night for two nights and nothing accomplished </p>
<p>but keeping the rebs. at Franklin. I am like </p>
<p>the Yankee that didnt want <del>the</del> to strike the back </p>
<p>of the log with an axe, no. the log with the back </p>
<p>of the axe for he wanted to see the chips fly. </p>
<p>We are striking with the back of the axe and I </p>
<p>dont like it. We probably shant cross over to </p>
<p>Franklin until Gen Foster [General Robert Sanford Foster] takes Weldon then says </p>
<p>I, somebody goes from Suffolk. We had one </p>
<p>Brigade go from here last week and it has joined </p>
<p>Foster at Newberne NC. They went to the </p>
<p>Blackwater and took transports and went down </p>
<p>the river. I’d like to take the same route. </p>
<p>Nothing particular going on here now so there’s </p>
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1862-12-08
1862-12-09
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1862_1208/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1862_1208d.jpg
98d954bf4e8b30a1c8646b9305f0712f
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<p>nothing to write. All the boys are well and getting </p>
<p>along well as far as I can see. I did some </p>
<p>mending to day and I thought of home wishing </p>
<p>mother was here to fix them for me. I sit so much </p>
<p>I wear them out and they need to be reinforced. </p>
<p>How would you like to see me don the thimble </p>
<p>and wield the needle. A man dont know what </p>
<p>he can do until he tries. I find that I improve </p>
<p>every time I do any sewing, or darning. I can </p>
<p>darn stockings right smart, or so that they near </p>
<p>first rate. I dont look in the glass often out </p>
<p>here but every time that I do I am astonished </p>
<p>at the change that has come over your </p>
<p>brother. About every week some of the tell me that </p>
<p>they can see that another hair has started on my </p>
<p>face. The Lieut. Col. [Lt. Col. Melvin Beal of Lawrence, Ma.] advises me to come down to </p>
<p>guard mounting often, for the drums to be the </p>
<p>assembly and call my whiskers together. </p>
<p>Billy has to catch it too. By the way, if you </p>
<p>have a chance I wish you would send me on </p>
<p>my knife, for somebody has stolen my other one.</p>
<p>Tell Henry Howard I should not know what </p>
<p>to do without the knife he gave me, remember me </p>
<p>to him, tell him Alph Sawyer [Alfred A. Sawyer of Lowell, private, Co. G, Sixth Massachusetts] is doing well. </p>
<p>Billy S. had a letter from Kent last night. He </p>
<p>is doing well so I guess your fears are unfounded </p>
<p>Mary, you think <del>my</del> that motto is not right do you </p>
<p>I think so too, but at the same time I think I </p>
<p>should fight for my country against a foreign </p>
<p>power even if she were in the wrong. I’m sort of </p>
<p>afraid that we shall have trouble with England </p>
<p>bye & bye after this thing is settled. The only </p>
<p>way they’ll get soldiers then will be by draft. </p>
<p>We have lots of drafted men here and we have lots </p>
<p> </p>
<hr>
<p> </p>
<p>[Continued on page 1]</p>
<p> </p>
<p>of spirit out of them. Last night there was cannonading somewhere and they asked some of </p>
<p>our boys (on picket) </p>
<p>how far the rebs </p>
<p>were, the reply “about </p>
<p>2 miles.” It made </p>
<p>their eyes hang out </p>
<p>and I tell you </p>
<p>they did their duty </p>
<p>smart after that </p>
<p>There’s one regt. </p>
<p>about all Penna. </p>
<p>Dutchmen and </p>
<p>theres lots of </p>
<p>spirit with them </p>
<p>on picket.</p>
<p> </p>
[Continued on page 2 from continuation on page 1]</p>
<p> </p>
<p>But I must close for I am going to write to John Thorne to night. I have written </p>
<p>a very </p>
<p>uninteresting </p>
<p>letter, but </p>
<p>I suppose </p>
<p>most any</p>
<p>thing will </p>
<p>be welcome </p>
<p>at home.</p>
<p>Excuse </p>
<p>writing </p>
<p>for it has </p>
<p>been </p>
<p>written </p>
<p>in great </p>
<p>haste. </p>
<p>Affec </p>
<p>Brother </p>
<p>Johnnie</p>
<p>love to </p>
<p>Aunt </p>
<p>Abby. </p>
<p>John</p>
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Date
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1862-12-08
1862-12-09
Dublin Core
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Title
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John C. Watkins Letters, Ms2009-071
Subject
The topic of the resource
Civil War
Description
An account of the resource
This collection consists of seventeen letters. Sixteen of these were written by John C. Watkins and one is by his wife, Harriet (Hattie) Watkins. Three are fragments. All were written to friends and family back home in Lowell, Massachusetts, first, when Watkins served as a private with the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment in Suffolk, Virginia in 1862 and 1863; then while in Washington, DC, from 1864 to 1866; and, lastly, while serving with the Eighth Cavalry as Acting Assistant Surgeon at Camp Winfield Scott, Nevada. The letter written by Hattie Watkins is from Winnemucca, Nevada, and is dated 17 January 1870, shortly after the couple were married.
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John C. Watkins, 1842-1892
Source
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<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00417.xml">John C. Watkins Letters, 1862-1870</a>
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1862-1870
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This collection was donated to Special Collections in 2009.
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mdb
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Permission to publish material from the John C. Watkins Letters must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
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Collection is open for research.
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0.1 cu. ft; 1 folder
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Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech
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Ms2009-071
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<h2>Transcript</h2>
<br /><p>Head Qurs Sixth Regt. Mass. Vols Camp Suffolk Va Dec 8th</p>
<p> </p>
<p>My Dear Sisters. </p>
<p>I hardly know how to commence my letters half the time, for I know you both would like to have them addressed to you individually, and I want to answer your letters and would like to write to each of you but, I have not the time, so I think well, they write for the whole, so I’ll address the whole. I have just received Mary’s letter this evening and I got one from O. night before last and wrote home last night. I have just been writing to Minnie, and it is pretty late but the Adjt is out and I’ll write till he comes. It is quite cool here now and I rather think that I should prefer to stay here this Winter, but there is every chance of our moving. These trips to the Blackwater are merely feints to draw their attention and to keep some little force at Franklin. and is but preparatory to a movement that will “astonish the natives”. I dread this lying out nights, for it will cause so much sickness The regiment is pretty healthy. There has one disease go into it that makes me feel badly about it. Diptheria one has died with it to day. Do not tell people of it in L. for most of the boys dont know it. The surgeon told me and said there were two or three that had it in its mild stages. You spoke of the skirmish, saying our loss was trifling. So it was, not a man missing in the whole division. The prisoners looked rough enough I tell you. They certainly are no match for our soldiers. Their knowledge of the country is the only thing that gives them the advantage and it certainly is so, that they are destitute. They must succumb. I haven’t a doubt that the thing will be settled before I return. Four or five days ago one brigade went from here toward Weldon and today one battery and a regiment of cavalry went the same way. We have a lots of rumors about them, one is, that they have gone aboard transports on the Chowan to cooperate with Banks another is that they have gone aboard transports and are coming up to Franklin to cooperate with us. Others say they have gone to tear up the Rail Road between Weldon and Franklin to cut off their supplies, & I guess if the truth were known no body except those in authority know where they are. They took 10 days rations with them Our camp, as I wrote last night has been moved temporarily and it makes my work since harder but, I like the running too & fro when it isnt too cold. Ice forms in a night hard enough to bear in the morning thats pretty cool. I was interrupted by a serenade given to our Chaplain. He is liked by the boys. He dont bother them much with his religion but is always kind and pleasant. I like to talk with him for he is very well informed, and I can learn so much from him at the same time be interrested I think he should have been a Congregationalist for he is so consistent in all his actions, just what he professes, and I have seen other chaplains that are not. Tell Gordon if he wants to hear from me once in a while he must write to me and then he will hear direct. I dont as its policy to have many more correspondents, but I can find room for Gordon. I’ll agree to write to all that write to me let them be who they will. I dont know as you’ll agree to furnish me stamps however I pity those poor fellows that are in camp at Lowell for they are green and wont know him to take advantage of everything to make them comfortable I dont know though, they are Massachusetts men and will get along well enough, I reckon. Give me Mass. men for all anything I have seen yet. You can tell their camps as quick as can be. I should kind of like to be in that battery for the remainder of my term of service, if it was well officered and had good men. It is a prettier branch of the service. If I thought I could get a “commish” in that branch I dont know but what I should be willing to make “sogering” my “biz” Mary are you going back to New Market? If not what are you going to do? I mean to go West when I return home. I feel more & more impressed with the idea that that is the place for a young man. What do you think about it </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Tuesday. 9 Dec. 1862 </p>
<p> </p>
<p>You see I did not have time to finish my letter last night. I expect there’s another Blackwater trip tomorrow, another long hard march and lying out over night for two nights and nothing accomplished but keeping the rebs. at Franklin. I am like the Yankee that didnt want to strike the back of the log with an axe, no. the log with the back of the axe for he wanted to see the chips fly. We are striking with the back of the axe and I dont like it. We probably shant cross over to Franklin until Gen Foster takes Weldon then says I, somebody goes from Suffolk. We had one Brigade go from here last week and it has joined Foster at Newberne NC. They went to the Blackwater and took transports and went down the river. I’d like to take the same route. Nothing particular going on here now so there’s nothing to write. All the boys are well and getting along well as far as I can see. I did some mending to day and I thought of home wishing mother was here to fix them for me. I sit so much I wear them out and they need to be reinforced. How would you like to see me don the thimble and wield the needle. A man dont know what he can do until he tries. I find that I improve every time I do any sewing, or darning. I can darn stockings right smart, or so that they near first rate. I dont look in the glass often out here but every time that I do I am astonished at the change that has come over your brother. About every week some of the tell me that they can see that another hair has started on my face. The Lieut. Col. advises me to come down to guard mounting often, for the drums to be the assembly and call my whiskers together. Billy has to catch it too. By the way, if you have a chance I wish you would send me on my knife, for somebody has stolen my other one. Tell Henry Howard I should not know what to do without the knife he gave me, remember me to him, tell him Alph Sawyer is doing well. Billy S. had a letter from Kent last night. He is doing well so I guess your fears are unfounded. Mary, you think that motto is not right do you I think so too, but at the same time I think I should fight for my country against a foreign power even if she were in the wrong. I’m sort of afraid that we shall have trouble with England bye & bye after this thing is settled. The only way they’ll get soldiers then will be by draft. We have lots of drafted men here and we have lots of spirit out of them. Last night there was cannonading somewhere and they asked some of our boys (on picket) how far the rebs were. the reply “about 2 miles”. It made their eyes hang out and I tell you they did their duty smart after that. There’s one regt. about all Penna. Dutchmen and theres lots of spirit with them on picket. But I must close for I am going to write to John Thorne to night. I have written a very uninteresting letter, but I suppose most anything will be welcome at home. </p>
<p> </p>
<p> Excuse writing for it has been written in great haste. </p>
<p> </p>
<p> Affec Brother Johnnie </p>
<p> </p>
love to Aunt Abby.
Original Format
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paper
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Title
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Letter, John C. Watkins to Sisters, Camp Suffolk, Virginia, December 8-9, 1862 (Ms2009-071)
Creator
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John C. Watkins
Source
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<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00417.xml" target="_blank">See the Finding Aid for the John C. Watkins Letters</a>
Date
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1862-12-08
1862-12-09
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<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc" target="_blank">Permission to publish material from the John C. Watkins Letters must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
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Letters
Identifier
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Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1862_1208
Bibliographic Citation
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Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: John C. Watkins Letters, Ms2009-071, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
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<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/" target="_blank">Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech</a>
Civil War
-
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0309/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0309a.jpg
dca5bff30ef8bbc9ef8f2b8471d4032b
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<p>Camp Suffolk Va. March 9, 1863</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Dear Friends at home</p>
<p>I have just received your </p>
<p>letter from home (Mr Wheelers enclosed) and I </p>
<p>assure you I was glad enough to hear for </p>
<p>it is quite a time since I have heard from </p>
<p>home. You speak of Fannies writing twice beside </p>
<p>the note in yours. I never have received but one </p>
<p>letter and that I answered a day or two ago. </p>
<p>I am <u>very</u> sorry the letter was lost for if there </p>
<p>is anything I hate to lose its a letter. There are </p>
<p>others that I have lost beside hers. Tell Mr. </p>
<p>Wheeler I am very much obliged to him for his </p>
<p>favor &c and I am going to answer his letter as </p>
<p>soon as I get time. I have not yet received the </p>
<p>paper you sent expect to get it tomorrow. I should </p>
<p>like to see Johnnie Calef [Lt. John Haskell Calef] very much, and if he changes </p>
<p>his position I want you to keep me posted for he may </p>
<p>come down this way, and I may have a chance to see </p>
<p>him. Madam Rumor has a new place for us every </p>
<p>day and sometimes twice a day. Yesterday she </p>
<p>sent us home to enforce the draft, this morning to </p>
<p>S.C. to assist in the taking of Charleston, and tonight<p>
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1863-03-09
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0309/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0309b.jpg
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<p>to Winton N.C. Well, the general opinion is </p>
<p>that the 9th Army Corps is to stay still and the </p>
<p>7th Army Corps (ours) is to take the field </p>
<p>If its so, I suppose it is, but I shant believe </p>
<p>it until I see it. That opinion is credited </p>
<p>however, both at Fort Monroe and Newport News. </p>
<p>One thing is certain something is “up”, for all </p>
<p>the Brigades have Brigade drills quite often and </p>
<p>some changes are being made in the regiments </p>
<p>that have been doing provost duty at Norfolk </p>
<p>and Deep Creek. Well I am ready to move but </p>
<p>I hope there will be no necessity. Yesterday Henry </p>
<p>Cooper and Ezra Adams came here from Lowell. </p>
<p>I tell you it seemed good to see familiar faces &c </p>
<p>from home. Today there was a skirmish about 12 </p>
<p>miles out from this place. Our scouting parties taking </p>
<p>a few prisoners and driving the rebs across the river </p>
<p>Since I wrote you my last letter I have been to </p>
<p>Norfolk Fort Monroe & Newport News. Gus [likely, Augustus D. Ayling, 29th Massachusetts] was </p>
<p>here from Newport News and Lieut. Pinder [Lt. Albert Pinder of Lowell; Co. H, Sixth Massachusetts] and I </p>
<p>got passes through to go back with him. We did </p>
<p>not find him aboard the train but supposed he </p>
<p>had gone ahead. Nothing particular on the route to </p>
<p>N. it being through our edge of the dismal swamp.
<p>I could not help laughing at the N.Y. Herald’s report <p>
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1863-03-09
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0309/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0309c.jpg
cdeab1907cad5f3a3e45b804f76f421a
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<p>of Corcoran’s [Brig. General Michael Corcoran] reception. It said that “all along </p>
<p>the road from N. to Suffolk the soldiers </p>
<p>rushed to the cars and cheers upon cheers rent </p>
<p>the air &c. Now there is but one Regt. between </p>
<p>here and N. and that is stationed a mile from </p>
<p>the track. You may know hereafter how correct are </p>
<p>newspaper reports. The principle thing on that road </p>
<p>is the dismal swamp canal, the water of which is pre</p>
<p>cisely the color of coffee, colored by the juniper berry.</p>
<p>We got a dinner at Norfolk and I tasted milk </p>
<p>in my coffee for the first time in six months. </p>
<p>We went to Fort Monroe in the P.M. and from </p>
<p>there direct to Newport News. There are any </p>
<p>quantity of vessels here, transports, tugs, steam</p>
<p>ers, oyster boats, gun boats, war vessels and any </p>
<p>quantity of others. There were four British men </p>
<p>of war laying off in Hampton Roads. A set of their </p>
<p>officers (by a set I mean all grades of rank) went over </p>
<p>in the boat with us. They were wanting to see </p>
<p>Norfolk attacked, that was to come off Sunday, but </p>
<p>as communication has not stopped, and there are </p>
<p>no alarms, we do not fear. I could not help thinking </p>
<p>of “Orpheus C. Kerr” [satirical pseudonym used by Robert Henry Newell of the New York <i>Sunday Mercury</i>; a play on “office seeker”] sending to Washington for two </p>
<p>Brigs (Brigadiers) to replace two that had skedaddled </p>
<p>for there were three or more Brigs aboard our <p>
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1863-03-09
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0309/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0309d.jpg
716dab1c32259ea21b25366f1ee30565
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<p>boat and I don’t know but more. Well, we </p>
<p>arrived at Newport News and found the 29th </p>
<p>after a long walk. We found some that we </p>
<p>knew but no Gus, for he had got left. We then</p>
<p>found the 21st Mass and the 9th N.H then we </p>
<p>went down to the boat, and by dint of per</p>
<p>suasion with the provost guard got aboard and</p>
<p>made arrangements to stay all night. I could </p>
<p>not sleep much on account of the motion of the </p>
<p>water but slept enough and rose early. & looking from </p>
<p>the window I could see, about 10 or 15 rods off </p>
<p>the masts of the Cumberland [USS Cumberland was sunk by CSS Virginia/Merrimack on 8 March 1862] sticking out of the </p>
<p>water and I thought that probably the bodies of </p>
<p>some of her defenders still lay beside the guns </p>
<p>they so bravely manned. A little farther up </p>
<p>James river, not more than 1/4 a mile, lay the “San-</p>
<p>gamon,” one of the Monitor build of vessels. At first </p>
<p>I could only see the turret, but soon the sun </p>
<p>shone upon her and I saw a little white streak </p>
<p>from each side and saw that it was </p>
<p>the boat that the turret rested upon. I</p>
<p>stood and imagined the battle and saw the </p>
<p>Merrimack come down the river and do the </p>
<p>execution she did, and how all hearts sunk </p>
<p>with despair, fearing the next morning’s sun </p>
<p>[. . . end]</p>
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1863-03-09
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Title
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John C. Watkins Letters, Ms2009-071
Subject
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Civil War
Description
An account of the resource
This collection consists of seventeen letters. Sixteen of these were written by John C. Watkins and one is by his wife, Harriet (Hattie) Watkins. Three are fragments. All were written to friends and family back home in Lowell, Massachusetts, first, when Watkins served as a private with the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment in Suffolk, Virginia in 1862 and 1863; then while in Washington, DC, from 1864 to 1866; and, lastly, while serving with the Eighth Cavalry as Acting Assistant Surgeon at Camp Winfield Scott, Nevada. The letter written by Hattie Watkins is from Winnemucca, Nevada, and is dated 17 January 1870, shortly after the couple were married.
Creator
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John C. Watkins, 1842-1892
Source
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<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00417.xml">John C. Watkins Letters, 1862-1870</a>
Date
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1862-1870
Date Accepted
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This collection was donated to Special Collections in 2009.
Contributor
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mdb
Rights
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Permission to publish material from the John C. Watkins Letters must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Access Rights
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Collection is open for research.
Extent
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0.1 cu. ft; 1 folder
Rights Holder
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Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech
Identifier
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Ms2009-071
Document
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Text
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<h2>Transcript</h2>
<br /><p>Camp Suffolk Va. March 9, 1863</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Dear Friends at home</p>
<p> </p>
I have just received your letter from home (Mr Wheeler’s enclosed) and I assure you I was glad enough to hear for it is quite a time since I have heard from home. You speak of Fannie’s writing twice beside the note in yours. I never have received but one letter and that I answered a day or two ago. I am very sorry the letter was lost for if there is anything I hate to lose its a letter. There are others that I have lost beside hers. Tell Mr. Wheeler I am very much obliged to him for his favor &c and I am going to answer his letter as soon as I get time. I have not yet received the paper you sent expect to get it tomorrow. I should like to see Johnnie Calef very much, and if he changes his position I want you to keep me posted for he may come down this way, and I may have a chance to see him. Madam Rumor has a new place for us every day and sometimes twice a day. Yesterday she sent us home to enforce the draft, this morning to S.C. to assist in the taking of Charleston, and tonight to Winton N.C. Well, the general opinion is that the 9th Army Corps is to stay still and the 7th Army Corps (ours) is to take the field If its so, I suppose it is, but I shant believe it until I see it. That opinion is credited however, both at Fort Monroe and Newport News One thing is certain something is “up”, for all the Brigades have Brigade drills quite often and some changes are being made in the regiments that have been doing provost duty at Norfolk and Deep Creek. Well I am ready to move but I hope there will be no necessity. Yesterday Henry Cooper and Ezra Adams came here from Lowell. I tell you it seemed good to see familiar faces &c from home. Today there was a skirmish about 12 miles out from this place. Our scouting parties taking a few prisoners and driving the rebs across the river Since I wrote you my last letter I have been to Norfolk Fort Monroe & Newport News. Gus was here from Newport News and Lieut. Pinder and I got passes through to go back with him. We did not find him aboard the train but supposed he had gone ahead. Nothing particular on the route to N. it being through our edge of the dismal swamp. I could not help laughing at the N.Y. Herald’s report of Corcoran’s reception. It said that “all along the road from N. to Suffolk that the soldiers rushed to the cars and cheers upon cheers rent the air &c. Now there is but one Regt. between here and N. and that is stationed a mile from the track. You may know hereafter how correct are newspaper reports. The principle thing on that road is the dismal swamp canal, the water of which is precisely the color of coffee, colored by the juniper berry. We got a dinner at Norfolk and I tasted milk in my coffee for the first time in six months. We went to Fort Monroe in the P.M. and from there direct to Newport News. There are any quantity of vessels here, transports, tugs, steamers, oyster boats, gun boats, war vessels and any quantity of others. There were four British men of war laying off in Hampton Roads. A set of their officers (by a set I mean all grades of rank) went over in the boat with us. They were waiting to see Norfolk attacked, that was to come off Sunday, but as communication has not stopped, and there are no alarms, we do not fear. I could not help thinking of “Orpheus C. Kerr” sending to Washington for two Brigs (Brigadiers) to replace two that had skedaddled for there were three or more Brigs aboard our boat and I don't know but more. Well, we arrived at Newport News and found the 29th after a long walk. We found some that we knew but no Gus. for he had got left. We then found the 21st Mass. and the 9th N.H then we went down to the boat, and by dint of persuasion with the provost guard got aboard and made arrangements to stay all night. I could not sleep much on account of the motion of the water but slept enough and rose early. & looking from the window I could see, about 10 or 15 rods off the mast of the Cumberland sticking out of the water and I thought that probably the bodies of some of her defenders still lay beside the guns they so bravely manned. A little farther up James river, not more than 1/4 a mile, lay the “Sangamon,” one of the Monitor build of vessels. At first I could only see the turret, but soon the sun shone upon her and I saw a little white streak from each side and saw that it was the boat that the turret rested upon. I stood and imagined the battle and saw the Merrimack come down the river and do the execution she did, and how all hearts sunk with despair, fearing the next morning’s sun
Original Format
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paper
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The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Letter, John C. Watkins to 'Friends at Home,' March 9, 1863 (Ms2009-071)
Creator
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John C. Watkins
Source
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<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00417.xml" target="_blank">See the Finding Aid for the John C. Watkins Letters</a>
Date
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1863-03-09
Rights
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<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc" target="_blank">Permission to publish material from the John C. Watkins Letters must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
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Letters
Identifier
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Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0309
Bibliographic Citation
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Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: John C. Watkins Letters, Ms2009-071, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
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<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/" target="_blank">Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech</a>
Civil War
-
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0409/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0409a.jpg
e287ed9dd9f622aa9608c82cd2c48a7e
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>Camp Suffolk Va Apr 9.</p>
<p> </p>
Dear friends at home, </p>
<p>I expected a letter </p>
<p>from home this evening, but none </p>
<p>arrived. So I will write a few </p>
<p>lines. Our things are all packed, </p>
<p>and we are under marching orders </p>
<p>to go at a warning, where, we </p>
<p>dont know. Perhaps we may go </p>
<p>to Charleston perhaps to Newberne </p>
<p>and more likely than all up York </p>
<p>river either to Yorktown or Williamsburg. </p>
<p>We had sort of a premonition of </p>
<p>the thing and last night Col & </p>
<p>Adjutant were called and went down </p>
<p>to Col Fosters h’d Quars. Pretty soon </p>
<p>I was routed out of bed and orders </p>
<p>came saying that the Fatigue & </p>
<p>Picket were relieved till further orders. </p>
<p>Then we were certain. We are now </p>
<p>awaiting the result of a reconnoi</p>
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1863-04-09
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0409/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0409b.jpg
8716c5e4497a8d6f13a7ffd25c9eaf98
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<p>tering & bridge building partie’s </p>
<p>success, for they were repulsed </p>
<p>yesterday, and if they are again we </p>
<p>may remain. Direct your letters </p>
<p>to Fort Monroe for a little while </p>
<p>till you hear from me again or </p>
<p>till you see from the papers, </p>
<p>where we are stationed. </p>
<p>Gettys [Brig. General George Washington Getty, commander 3rd Division IX Corps] Div. had a review yester</p>
<p>day P.M. and I went over to it </p>
<p>I wish you could have an opportu</p>
<p>nity to see one of those little </p>
<p>things. As far as you see almost </p>
<p>a line of soldiers, and I think </p>
<p>one regiment of cavalry would sort </p>
<p>of make the eyes of the Lowell </p>
<p>people protrude in fear.</p>
<p>I saw Henry Chellis again. He </p>
<p>is looking well. There is nothing </p>
<p>particular going on in Camp </p>
<p>Hen Perkins & Frank Salmon came </p>
<p>to night. It looks queer to see </p>
<p>people in city clothes. </p>
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1863-04-09
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0409/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0409c.jpg
42861624918e1186773757bd1350c47a
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<p>I send you in this a couple </p>
<p>of pictures. Perhaps I may </p>
<p>send for them again but I dont </p>
<p>want them with me. Yes I do. </p>
<p>I shant send them. </p>
<p>Give my love to all the folks </p>
<p>would write more but I have two </p>
<p>more to write tonight, now late. </p>
<p>Please send me some “Journals” </p>
<p>now and then with “Haverhill’s”</p>
<p>letter.</p>
<p>Good night
<p>Your affec son &c</p>
<p>John</p>
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1863-04-09
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Title
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John C. Watkins Letters, Ms2009-071
Subject
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Civil War
Description
An account of the resource
This collection consists of seventeen letters. Sixteen of these were written by John C. Watkins and one is by his wife, Harriet (Hattie) Watkins. Three are fragments. All were written to friends and family back home in Lowell, Massachusetts, first, when Watkins served as a private with the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment in Suffolk, Virginia in 1862 and 1863; then while in Washington, DC, from 1864 to 1866; and, lastly, while serving with the Eighth Cavalry as Acting Assistant Surgeon at Camp Winfield Scott, Nevada. The letter written by Hattie Watkins is from Winnemucca, Nevada, and is dated 17 January 1870, shortly after the couple were married.
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John C. Watkins, 1842-1892
Source
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<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00417.xml">John C. Watkins Letters, 1862-1870</a>
Date
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1862-1870
Date Accepted
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This collection was donated to Special Collections in 2009.
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mdb
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Permission to publish material from the John C. Watkins Letters must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
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Collection is open for research.
Extent
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0.1 cu. ft; 1 folder
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Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech
Identifier
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Ms2009-071
Document
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<h2>Transcript</h2>
<br /><p>Camp Suffolk Va Apr 9.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Dear friends at home,</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I expected a letter from home this evening, but none arrived. So I will write a few lines. Our things are all packed, and we are under marching orders to go at a warning, where, we don't know. Perhaps we may go to Charleston perhaps to Newberne and more likely than all up York river either to Yorktown or Williamsburg. We had sort of a premonition of the thing and last night Col & Adjutant were called and went down to Col Foster's h’d Quars. Pretty soon I was routed out of bed and orders came saying that the Fatigue & Picket were relieved till further orders. Then we were certain. We are now awaiting the result of a reconnoitering & bridge building party’s success, for they were repulsed yesterday, and if they are again we may remain. Direct your letters to Fort Monroe for a little while till you hear from me again or till you see the papers, where we are stationed. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Gettys Div. had a review yesterday P.M. and I went over to it I wish you could have an opportunity to see one of those little things. As far as you see almost a line of soldiers, and I think one regiment of cavalry would sort of make the eyes of the Lowell people protrude in fear. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I saw Henry Chellis again. He is looking well. There is nothing particular going on in Camp Hen Perkins & Frank Salmon came to night. It looks queer to see people in city clothes. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I send you in this a couple of pictures. Perhaps I may send for them again but I dont want them with me. Yes I do. I shant send them. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Give my love to all the folks would write more but I have two more to write tonight, now late. Please send me some “Journals” now and then with “Haverhills” letters. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Good night </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Your affec son &c </p>
<p>John</p>
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paper
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Title
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Letter, John C. Watkins to 'Friends at Home,' Camp Suffolk, Virginia, April 9, 1863 (Ms2009-071)
Creator
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John C. Watkins
Source
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<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00417.xml" target="_blank">See the Finding Aid for the John C. Watkins Letters</a>
Date
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1863-04-09
Rights
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<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc" target="_blank">Permission to publish material from the John C. Watkins Letters must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
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Letters
Identifier
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Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0409
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Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: John C. Watkins Letters, Ms2009-071, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
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<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/" target="_blank">Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech</a>
Civil War
-
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0417/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0417a.jpg
8484680b8704629f2fa55f5a049edee5
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<p>Camp Suffolk Va. April 17 1863<p>
Dear folks at home, </p>
<p>It seems we did not go to Newbern </p>
<p>for here we are and here we are like to stay. I was </p>
<p>not intending to write till this affair was over, but </p>
<p>as there seems to be no prospect of its speedy </p>
<p>termination I thought I would write and set your </p>
<p>minds at rest. This is the first time I have </p>
<p>taken a pen in hand to write for a week and my </p>
<p>hands are as numb and clumsy as can be. </p>
<p>When I wrote before we were under marching orders </p>
<p>to go to Newberne and from there to aid Foster, but </p>
<p>it wasn’t a [went], for our orders were countermanded </p>
<p>for we were needed here. Saturday P.M. about 5 o’clock </p>
<p>or before the “long roll” sounded and our boys were ordered </p>
<p>to the rifle pits. Our pickets had been captured & </p>
<p>driven in on <del>three</del> two roads and a general attack <del>had been</del> was</p>
<p>effected. The next day they appeared on the other two </p>
<p>roads and the pickets on our front came in </p>
<p>right lively. We have had reinforcements coming in </p>
<p>ever since and there’s a pretty good force here now. </p>
<p>The 22d Army Corps that has been defending Washington </p>
<p>has come here or at least a good portion of it. </p>
<p>There is occasional skirmishing on all the fronts, </p>
<p>but nothing very severe, except down river where the </p>
<p>rebs have been trying to cross the river and cut </p>
<p>off our communication with Norfolk. We had 15 </p>
<p>Gun boats on the river beside batteries on the </p>
<p>shores and we just gave em “rats”. We are in </p>
<p>hopes they will attempt to come in on our front </p>
<p>for there is a splendid chance to just mow </p>
<p>them down. The Generals here say that 80,000 </p>
<p>men could not come in on our front. Our regt. </p>
<p>is in a very good position, protected by rifle </p>
<p>pits, and probably there is nothing to fear, from </p>
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Date
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1863-04-17
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0417/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0417b.jpg
f2fc87b1bc7001346debafd44e56c2d8
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<p>the rebs in the position we now occupy. Our </p>
<p>boys bring in a “Gray back now and then. I staid </p>
<p>in the rifle pits, two or three days but am </p>
<p>now in my quarters when I am not roaming </p>
<p>around the fortifications and rifle pits seeing </p>
<p>the fun. You must not be worried about us for </p>
<p>there is no danger, and you must not believe </p>
<p>what the papers say for they dont tell the </p>
<p>truth. So you must not believe me wounded </p>
<p>or dead till I write you to that effect. I dont </p>
<p>know as this letter will get through for I hear </p>
<p>there’s a stop at Fort Monroe &c, but “if you </p>
<p>dont receive this write me”. I like your pic</p>
<p>ture very much and gave Billy the other one. </p>
<p>No that picture of Billy was not yours but </p>
<p>mine. I have not given him your message yet </p>
<p>But I can write no more at present, and </p>
<p>its a wonder how I could this much. </p>
<p>Love to all. Why dont some of the H’s write </p>
<p>Will write more at length next time.</p>
<p>Your affec. </p>
<p>John</p>
<p>Excuse looks &c for my desk has been packed </p>
<p>up and sent off up to the Hospl a week ago </p>
<p>and you know I never could write unless I </p>
<p>was just so.</p>
<p>J. </p>
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Date
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1863-04-17
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Title
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John C. Watkins Letters, Ms2009-071
Subject
The topic of the resource
Civil War
Description
An account of the resource
This collection consists of seventeen letters. Sixteen of these were written by John C. Watkins and one is by his wife, Harriet (Hattie) Watkins. Three are fragments. All were written to friends and family back home in Lowell, Massachusetts, first, when Watkins served as a private with the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment in Suffolk, Virginia in 1862 and 1863; then while in Washington, DC, from 1864 to 1866; and, lastly, while serving with the Eighth Cavalry as Acting Assistant Surgeon at Camp Winfield Scott, Nevada. The letter written by Hattie Watkins is from Winnemucca, Nevada, and is dated 17 January 1870, shortly after the couple were married.
Creator
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John C. Watkins, 1842-1892
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00417.xml">John C. Watkins Letters, 1862-1870</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1862-1870
Date Accepted
Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal).
This collection was donated to Special Collections in 2009.
Contributor
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mdb
Rights
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Permission to publish material from the John C. Watkins Letters must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Access Rights
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Collection is open for research.
Extent
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0.1 cu. ft; 1 folder
Rights Holder
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Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech
Identifier
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Ms2009-071
Document
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Text
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<h2>Transcript</h2>
<br /><p>Camp Suffolk Va. April 17. 1863 </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Dear folks at home.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>It seems we did not go to Newbern for here we are and here we are like to stay. I was not intending to write till this affair was over, but as there seems to be no prospect of its speedy termination I thought I would write and set your minds at rest. This is the first time I have taken a pen in hand to write for a week and my hands are as numb and clumsy as can be. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>When I wrote before we were under marching orders to go to Newberne and from there to aid Foster, but it wasn’t as went, for our orders were countermanded for we were needed here. Saturday P.M. about 5 o’clock or before the “long roll” sounded and our boys were ordered to the rifle pits. Our pickets had been captured & driven in on two roads and a general attack was expected. The next day they appeared on the other two roads and the pickets on our front came in right lively. We have had reinforcements coming in ever since and there’s a pretty good force here now. The 22d Army Corps that has been defending Washington has come here or at least a good portion of it. There is occasional skirmishing on all the fronts, but nothing very severe, except down river where the rebs have been trying to cross the river and cut off our communication with Norfolk. We had 15 Gun boats on the river beside batteries on the shores and we just gave em “vats”. We are in hopes they will attempt to come in on our front for there is a splendid chance to just mow them down. The Generals here say that 80,000 men could not come in on our front. Our regt. is in a very good position, protected by rifle pits, and probably there is nothing to fear, from the rebs in the position we now occupy. Our boys bring in a “Gray back now and then. I staid in the rifle pits two or three days but am now in my quarters when I am not roaming around the fortifications and rifle pits seeing the fun. You must not be worried about us for there is no danger and you must not believe what the papers say for they dont tell the truth. So you must not believe me wounded or dead till I write you to that effect. I dont know as this letter will get through for I hear there’s a stop at Fort Monroe &c. but “if you dont receive this write me”. I like your picture very much and gave Billy the other one. No that picture of Billy was not yours but mine. I have not given him your message yet But I can write no more at present and its a wonder how I could this much. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Love to all. Why dont some of the H’s write</p>
<p>Will write more at length next time. </p>
<p>Your affec. </p>
John
Original Format
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paper
Dublin Core
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Title
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Letter, John C. Watkins to 'Folks at Home,' Camp Suffolk, Virginia, April 17, 1863 (Ms2009-071)
Creator
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John C. Watkins
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00417.xml" target="_blank">See the Finding Aid for the John C. Watkins Letters</a>
Type
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Letters
Date
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1863-04-17
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc" target="_blank">Permission to publish material from the John C. Watkins Letters must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Identifier
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Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0417
Bibliographic Citation
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Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: John C. Watkins Letters, Ms2009-071, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/" target="_blank">Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech</a>
Civil War
-
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0424/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0424a.jpg
2923835d0a53c2c52c79a6917beb400a
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<p>[Continued from page 4]</p>
<p> </p>
<p>begin to do it. They’ll find it a Fredericksburg on the other foot if they </p>
<p>dont look out for themselves. Gen. Halleck [General Henry W. Halleck, General-in-Chief of the Union Armies] was here the other </p>
<p>day and Gen Keyes [Major General Erasmus D. Keyes; commander, IV Corps] & Dix [Major General John Adams Dix; commander, Department of Virginia] were here before that. I guess </p>
<p>they suffered a pretty hard fight here but all appear well </p>
<p>pleased with the fortifications. But I have no more </p>
<p>time to write at present. Dont worry about me </p>
<p>for I guess I shall come out of this thing safe </p>
<p>and full as good if not a better man than I came </p>
<p>into it. Give my love to all inquiring friends and </p>
<p>write soon and often. I am as ever, </p>
<p>Affec Johnnie</p>
<p> </p>
<hr>
<p> </p>
<p>Camp Suffolk April 24, 63 </p>
<p>Dear folks at home.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I received Feely’s [John’s sister Ophelia] </p>
<p>letter last evening and should have writ</p>
<p>ten then, but I was not very well, </p>
<p>and have been delaying today, </p>
<p>for we have had a scout out, and </p>
<p>I wanted to write the news when they</p>
<p>returned. Four companies from our </p>
<p>regiment were ordered out the other </p>
<p>day Sunday and then the order was counter</p>
<p>manded and twice since then they </p>
<p>have received orders and they have been </p>
<p>countermanded but to day it was </p>
<p>a “go.” I started with the company </p>
<p>before (our company was one of the four) </p>
<p>but was unable to today. Well the </p>
<p>plan of the affair was this. Quite a </p>
<p>heavy force, six or eight thousand and </p>
<p>cavalry & artillery to match were going </p>
<p>out to try and effect something </p>
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Date
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1863-04-24
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0424/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0424b.jpg
8ae221cbd812fc85830013a2a87463cd
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<p>and our four companies and eight </p>
<p>from other regiments with 4 pieces </p>
<p>of artillery went out on another road </p>
<p>to engage the troops to keep them </p>
<p>from reinforcing the others which
<p>otherwise they could easily have done </p>
<p>by a cross road from one position to </p>
<p>the other. We had but one man hurt </p>
<p>from our regiment and he but slightly </p>
<p>(Foote [Charles C. Foote, private, age 34, of Lowell] of our company). I have not yet</p>
<p>heard from the other expedition, except </p>
<p>that it was a success. I heard <del>that</del></p>
<p>of an expedition night before last </p>
<p>however that was successful and was </p>
<p>sailor every inch of it. One of our gun </p>
<p>boats coming up the river heard of </p>
<p>some Reb. Cavalrymen, and a party of </p>
<p>them landed, and taking a howitzer </p>
<p>with a mule team for a caisson, </p>
<p>(i-e) to carry ammunition, started for them </p>
<p>They fired one or two rounds, and </p>
<p>the mule getting frightened ran away </p>
<p>and directly toward the cavalry. The </p>
Dublin Core
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Date
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1863-04-24
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0424/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0424c.jpg
bba2e7287c82e690b4ae4a5eaf8f0b04
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<p>sailors thinking they were going to lose </p>
<p>their ammunition legged after it, and </p>
<p>the Rebs thinking it a charge skedaddled. </p>
<p>They captured a number of horses </p>
<p>and killed the Capt. of the Cavalry </p>
<p>The sailors mounted the horses to </p>
<p>ride back, but not being accustomed </p>
<p>to manage such a craft, one of them </p>
<p>ran away, and his rider took the </p>
<p>only method he knew to stop him, </p>
<p>that was drew his pistol and shot </p>
<p>him in the head. I thought the </p>
<p>whole affair sailor like from beginning </p>
<p>to end. Since I commenced writing this </p>
<p>I was called out to hear a rebel </p>
<p>band that was playing over the river </p>
<p>somewhere, perhaps two miles or more </p>
<p>from here. To night it is very quiet </p>
<p>to what it usually is, for every night </p>
<p>so far, the cannons would fire from </p>
<p>some part of the town every few </p>
<p>minutes, and were we not accustom</p>
<p>ed to them we should not get much </p>
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1863-04-24
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0424/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0424d.jpg
4484689f41edf7c5eeea4d3c605b3f3e
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<p>sleep. Night before last I was </p>
<p>a little nervous and having been </p>
<p>abed all day of course was not very </p>
<p>sleepy and I was kept awake nearly </p>
<p>all night. If I got into a drowse </p>
<p>one of the guns from the fort near </p>
<p>our camp would boom and that </p>
<p>was enough to start me. We are a </p>
<p>little suspicious of the rebs for tomor</p>
<p>row morning for to night we cant </p>
<p>see any camp fires and there is no </p>
<p>skirmishing any where on the lines. </p>
<p>This is unusual. Our men have to be </p>
<p>up every morning at 3 o’clock and </p>
<p>remain in a line till day light. </p>
<p>I get clear of that nicely. Dont be </p>
<p>at all afraid Ophelia that they will </p>
<p>cut off our communication, or if they </p>
<p>do that they can whip us for we have </p>
<p>fodder enough to last till the last of </p>
<p>May, for all the troops there are here </p>
<p>and there are only sixty thousand out</p>
<p>side to try and come in and they cant </p>
<p> </p>
<hr>
<p> </p>
<p>[Continued on page 1]</p>
<p> </p>
<p>begin to do it. They’ll find it a Fredericksburg on the other foot if they </p>
<p>dont look out for themselves. Gen. Halleck [General Henry W. Halleck, General-in-Chief of the Union Armies] was here the other </p>
<p>day and Gen Keyes [Major General Erasmus D. Keyes; commander, IV Corps] & Dix [Major General John Adams Dix; commander, Department of Virginia] were here before that. I guess </p>
<p>they suffered a pretty hard fight here but all appear well </p>
<p>pleased with the fortifications. But I have no more </p>
<p>time to write at present. Dont worry about me </p>
<p>for I guess I shall come out of this thing safe </p>
<p>and full as good if not a better man than I came </p>
<p>into it. Give my love to all inquiring friends and </p>
<p>write soon and often. I am as ever, </p>
<p>Affec Johnnie</p>
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1863-04-24
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Title
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John C. Watkins Letters, Ms2009-071
Subject
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Civil War
Description
An account of the resource
This collection consists of seventeen letters. Sixteen of these were written by John C. Watkins and one is by his wife, Harriet (Hattie) Watkins. Three are fragments. All were written to friends and family back home in Lowell, Massachusetts, first, when Watkins served as a private with the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment in Suffolk, Virginia in 1862 and 1863; then while in Washington, DC, from 1864 to 1866; and, lastly, while serving with the Eighth Cavalry as Acting Assistant Surgeon at Camp Winfield Scott, Nevada. The letter written by Hattie Watkins is from Winnemucca, Nevada, and is dated 17 January 1870, shortly after the couple were married.
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John C. Watkins, 1842-1892
Source
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<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00417.xml">John C. Watkins Letters, 1862-1870</a>
Date
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1862-1870
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This collection was donated to Special Collections in 2009.
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mdb
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Permission to publish material from the John C. Watkins Letters must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
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Collection is open for research.
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0.1 cu. ft; 1 folder
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Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech
Identifier
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Ms2009-071
Document
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<h2>Transcript</h2>
<br /><p>Camp Suffolk April 24. 63 </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Dear folks at home.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I received Feely's letter last evening and should have written then, but I was not very well, and have been delaying today, for we have had a scout out, and I wanted to write the news when they returned. Four companies from our regiment were ordered out the other day Sunday and then the order was countermanded and twice since then they have received orders and they have been countermanded but to day it was a "go." I started with the company before (our company was one of the four) but was unable to today. Well the plan of the affair was this. Quite a heavy force six or eight thousand and cavalry & artillery to match were going out to try and effect something and our four companies and eight from other regiments with 4 pieces of artillery went out on another road to engage the troops to keep them from reinforcing the others which otherwise they could easily have done by a cross road from one position to the other. We had but one man hurt from our regiment and he but slightly (Foote of our company). I have not yet heard from the other expedition, except that it was a success. I heard of an expedition night before last however that was successful and was sailor every inch of it. One of our gun boats coming up the river heard of some Reb. Cavalrymen, and a party of them landed, and taking a howitzer with a mule team for a caisson (i-e) to carry ammunition. Started for them They fired one or two rounds, and the mule getting frightened ran away and directly toward the cavalry. The sailors thinking they were going to lose their ammunition legged after it, and the Rebs thinking it a charge skedaddled. They captured a number of horses and killed the Capt. of the Cavalry The sailors mounted the horses to ride back, but not being accustomed to manage such a craft, one of them ran away, and his rider took the only method he knew to stop him, that was drew his pistol and shot him in the head. I thought the whole affair sailor like from beginning to end. Since I commenced writing this I was called out to hear a rebel band that was playing over the river somewhere, perhaps two miles or more from here. To night it is very quiet to what it usually is, for every night so far, the cannons would fire from some part of the town every few minutes, and were we not accustomed to them we should not get much sleep. Night before last I was a little nervous and having been abed all day of course was not very sleepy and I was kept awake nearly all night. If I got into a drowse one of the guns from the fort near our camp would boom and that was enough to start me. We are a little suspicious of the rebs for tomorrow morning for to night we cant see any camp fires and there is no skirmishing any where on the lines. This is unusual. Our men have to be up every morning at 3 o'clock and remain in a line till day light. I get clear of that nicely. Dont be at all afraid Ophelia that they will cut off our communication, or if they do that they can whip us for we have fodder enough to last till the last of May for all the troops there are here and there are only sixty thousand out side to try and come in and they cant begin to do it. They'll find it a Fredericksburg on the other foot if they dont look out for themselves. Gen. Halleck was here the other day and Gen Keyes & Dix were here before that. I guess they expected a pretty hard fight here but all appear well pleased with the fortifications. But I have no more time to write at present. Dont worry about me for I guess I shall come out of this thing safe and full as good if not a better man than I came into it. Give my love to all inquiring friends and write soon and often. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I am as ever, </p>
<p>Affec</p>
<p>Johnnie</p>
Original Format
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paper
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Title
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Letter, John C. Watkins to 'Folks at Home,' Camp Suffolk, Virginia, April 24, 1863 (Ms2009-071)
Creator
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John C. Watkins
Source
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<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00417.xml" target="_blank">See the Finding Aid for the John C. Watkins Letters</a>
Date
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1863-04-24
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<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc" target="_blank">Permission to publish material from the John C. Watkins Letters must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
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Letters
Identifier
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Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0424
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Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: John C. Watkins Letters, Ms2009-071, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
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<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/" target="_blank">Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech</a>
Civil War
-
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0505/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0505a.jpg
be2dd3b707622a62325fbfaf2487ecde
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<p>Camp Suffolk Va. May 5th, 63 </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Dear friends at home, </p>
<p>The siege of Suffolk is raised and </p>
<p>we are once more enjoying peace and quiet, but </p>
<p>I dont know as I feel any different from what </p>
<p>I did day before yesterday. I dont sleep any </p>
<p>sounder than before, but it does seem odd not </p>
<p>to hear cannon booming or muskets cracking </p>
<p>every minute. Yesterday morning our regiment, </p>
<p>with others, was ordered to be ready to start at </p>
<p>a moments notice and in 20 minutes notice came </p>
<p>and we went, but the birds had flown, and we </p>
<p>chased them picking up deserters and prison</p>
<p>ers. Billie and I got ready, but we had orders </p>
<p>to remain and we were nothing both, and it was </p>
<p>fortunate we did remain, for it was a hard march </p>
<p>and no fighting there fore no glory. Probably </p>
<p>Joe Hooker’s [Major General Joseph Hooker; commander, Army of the Potomac, appointed 26 January 1863] attack was what called them back </p>
<p>for they were splendidly fortified, and wanted </p>
<p>to get us out side our lines, and then we should </p>
<p>have caught it. Sunday morning I heard </p>
<p>that the rebs had made an agreement with </p>
<p>our pickets on the So. Quay front (about a mile </p>
<p>from our camp) not to fire. I immediately rushed </p>
<p>out there and had a little converse with Mr </p>
<p>reb and pretty soon we got a boat, and sent </p>
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Date
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1863-05-05
1863-05-06
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0505/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0505b.jpg
207d27e14f0bb5e2561a20594bedb354
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<p>across two of our men, and they sent back </p>
<p>two of theirs, and so on till we had sent over </p>
<p>and back a dozen. I exchanged buttons and </p>
<p>stamps with them, and had a long talk with </p>
<p>them. They were from the eleventh Mississippi </p>
<p>They thought the “Damned Yankees” were pretty </p>
<p>good fellows after all and said they hoped </p>
<p>the war would soon end, and said they hoped they </p>
<p>never would meet any of our boys in battle. </p>
<p>They did not know then that they were going </p>
<p>away so soon, and agreed to meet us again </p>
<p>at evening, but before evening there was skirmish</p>
<p>ing again and of course mutual distrust, so </p>
<p>we did not have the pleasure &c, and before morning </p>
<p>they had “skedaddled.” After the forces had </p>
<p>gone out yesterday morning, I went out to the </p>
<p>So Quay road and saw a few prisoners and desert </p>
<p>ers come in, and picked up some bullets that </p>
<p>had been fired at our men. Then I came back </p>
<p>after Billie and we went out on our front, </p>
<p>(Sommerton road) saw the officer of the picket </p>
<p>and got permission to go out to the rebs breast </p>
<p>works &c so one of the pickets went with us </p>
<p>and we went two miles beyond our outer pick </p>
<p>ets and went all through their camps and </p>
<p>fortifications. I got a couple of gourds, and </p>
<p>also took a body belt that a prisoner had </p>
<p>He did not like to give it up, but we took them </p>
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Date
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1863-05-05
1863-05-06
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0505/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0505c.jpg
a3c131e81a02a4a67acfab578317b94b
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<p>off. One of our boys took his cartridge box. I took </p>
<p>his belt, and would have had his gun had not </p>
<p>the soldier in charge come along just as he did. </p>
<p>I shall bring home the belt, and a small gourd </p>
<p>that I found. I went quite a long distance </p>
<p>along their fortifications, and also on their </p>
<p>picket line. I would describe their works but </p>
<p>you would rather hear me tell of them, for </p>
<p>it would be uninteresting on paper, and about </p>
<p>a month longer, I shall see you. I see by the </p>
<p>papers that our time is supposed to be out the </p>
<p>8th day of June but our boys dont “see it in that </p>
<p>illumination” and will make a rumpus if they are </p>
<p>not mustered out the 31st of May. I am indifferent </p>
<p>myself a few days more or less if we dont </p>
<p>get into a fight in the time. I wonder what </p>
<p>will be done between now and a month from </p>
<p>now. Will Joe Hooker succeed or will he be de- </p>
<p>feated and thus bring the main body of their </p>
<p>force down on to Suffolk again, for just as </p>
<p>sure as Hooker is defeated we are a “goner.” </p>
<p>In this last raid we took 2 or 3 hundred prison </p>
<p>ers, and only lost a few men so I think [Sing </p>
<p>sheets] more was a lozing game for the rebs. </p>
<p>We are sending troops from here to day very </p>
<p>fast, and probably one division will go. We dont </p>
<p>know whether they will go to reinforce Foster </p>
<p>or Hooker probably <del>Foster</del> Hooker </p>
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1863-05-05
1863-05-06
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0505/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0505d.jpg
ada8fe6264efa980e016c94dfd0e0d94
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<p>Wednesday May 6, 1863.</p>
<p>So you think I dont write as often as Billy, well </p>
<p>I used to write twice a week and sometimes not </p>
<p>get but one and I gave it up. I guess you dont </p>
<p>write as often as his folks either for he gets two </p>
<p><u>every</u> week and sometimes three. Billy is just ask</p>
<p>ing if it isnt most supper time, for he wants </p>
<p>another job at <u>our</u> <u>pudding</u>. We have a jolly </p>
<p>one. How would you like to taste it. Eleven eggs </p>
<p>in it. So you want to taste some of our cook </p>
<p>ing. Well we shall have to give you an oppor </p>
<p>tunity. Why dont Fannie write? I have not heard </p>
<p>from her for two weeks. Have you received the </p>
<p>allotment yet for my 4 months pay. Just </p>
<p>think of it, only $40. for 4 months well that </p>
<p>is better than losing an arm, but then if I </p>
<p>come again I’ll have my $1200, you know. </p>
<p>Not much danger of my having so good an </p>
<p>opportunity however, for it isnt my luck unless </p>
<p>perhaps it might be a nigger regiment. </p>
<p>But I must close to be in season for </p>
<p>the mail. Nothing particular from Johnny Reb. </p>
<p>Love to all. Write soon. </p>
<p>Here is a reb stamp save for me I gave part of </p>
<p>them away. I am as ever John</p>
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Date
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1863-05-05
1863-05-06
Dublin Core
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Title
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John C. Watkins Letters, Ms2009-071
Subject
The topic of the resource
Civil War
Description
An account of the resource
This collection consists of seventeen letters. Sixteen of these were written by John C. Watkins and one is by his wife, Harriet (Hattie) Watkins. Three are fragments. All were written to friends and family back home in Lowell, Massachusetts, first, when Watkins served as a private with the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment in Suffolk, Virginia in 1862 and 1863; then while in Washington, DC, from 1864 to 1866; and, lastly, while serving with the Eighth Cavalry as Acting Assistant Surgeon at Camp Winfield Scott, Nevada. The letter written by Hattie Watkins is from Winnemucca, Nevada, and is dated 17 January 1870, shortly after the couple were married.
Creator
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John C. Watkins, 1842-1892
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00417.xml">John C. Watkins Letters, 1862-1870</a>
Date
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1862-1870
Date Accepted
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This collection was donated to Special Collections in 2009.
Contributor
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mdb
Rights
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Permission to publish material from the John C. Watkins Letters must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Access Rights
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Collection is open for research.
Extent
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0.1 cu. ft; 1 folder
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech
Identifier
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Ms2009-071
Document
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Text
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<h2>Transcript</h2>
<br /><p>Camp Suffolk Va. May 5th, 63</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Dear friends at home, The siege of Suffolk is raised and we are once more enjoying peace and quiet, but I dont know as I feel any different from what I did day before yesterday. I dont sleep any sounder than before, but it does seem odd not to hear cannon booming or muskets cracking every minute. Yesterday morning our regiment, with others, was ordered to be ready to start at a moments notice and in 20 minutes notice came and we went, but the birds had flown, and we chased them picking up deserters and prisoners. Billie and I got ready, but we had orders to remain and we were nothing both, and it was fortunate we did remain, for it was a hard march and no fighting there fore no glory. Probably Joe Hooker's attack was what called them back for they were splendidly fortified, and wanted to get us out side our lines, and there we should have caught it. Sunday morning I heard that the rebs. had made an agreement with our pickets on the So. Quay front (about a mile from our camp) not to fire. I immediately rushed out there and had a little converse with Mr reb. and pretty soon we got a boat, and sent across two of our men, and they sent back two of theirs, and so on till we had sent over and back a dozen. I exchanged buttons and stamps with them, and had a long talk with them. They were from the eleventh Mississippi They thought the "Damned Yankees" were pretty good fellows after all and said they hoped the war would soon end, and said they hoped they never would meet any of our boys in battle. They did not know then that they were going away so soon and agreed to meet us again at evening, but before evening there was skirmishing again and of course mutual distrust, so we did not have the pleasure &c. and before morning they had "skedaddled." After the forces had gone out yesterday morning, I went out to the So Quay road and saw a few prisoners and deserters come in, and picked up some bullets that had been fired at our men. Then I came back after Billie and we went out on our front, (Sommerton road) saw the officer of the picket and got permission to go out to the rebs breast works &c so one of the pickets went with us and we went two miles beyond our outer pickets and went all through their camps and fortifications. I got a couple of gourds, and also took a body belt that a prisoner had He did not like to give it up, but we took them off. One of our boys took his cartridge box. I took his belt and would have had his gun had not the soldier in charge come along just as he did. I shall bring home the belt, and a small gourd that I found. I went quite a long distance along their fortifications, and also on their picket line. I would describe their works but you would rather hear me tell of them, for it would be uninteresting on paper, and about a month longer, I shall see you. I see by the papers that our time is supposed to be out the 8th day of June but our boys dont "see it in that illumination" and will make a rumpus if they are not mustered out the 31st of May. I am indifferent myself a few days more or less if we don't get into a fight in the time. I wonder what will be done between now and a month from now. Will Joe Hooker succeed or will he be defeated and thus bring the main body of their force down on to Suffolk again, for just as sure as Hooker is defeated we are a "goner". In this last raid we took 2 or 3 hundred prisoners, and only lost a few men so I think Suf sheets more was a lozing game for the rebs. We are sending troops from here to day very fast, and probably one division will go. We dont know whether they will go to reinforce Foster or Hooker probably Hooker .</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Wednesday May 6, 1863.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>So you think I dont write as often as Billy, well I used to write twice a week and sometimes not get but one and I gave it up. I guess you dont write as often as his folks either for he gets two every week and sometimes three. Billy is just asking if it isnt most supper time, for he wants another job at our pudding. We have a jolly one. How would you like to taste it. Eleven eggs in it. So you want to taste some of our cooking. Well we shall have to give you an opportunity. Why dont Fannie write? I have not heard from her for two weeks. Have you received the allotment yet for my 4 months pay. Just think of it, only $40, for 4 months well that is better than losing an arm, but then if I come again I'll have my $1200, you know. Not much danger of my having so good an opportunity however, for it isnt my luck unless perhaps it might be a nigger regiment. But I must close to be in season for the mail. Nothing particular from Johhny Reb. Love to all. Write soon.</p>
Here is a reb stamp save for me I gave part of them away. I am as ever John
Original Format
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paper
Dublin Core
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Title
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Letter, John C. Watkins to Friends, Camp Suffolk, Virginia, May 5-6, 1863 (Ms2009-071)
Description
An account of the resource
Letter dated 6 May 1863 was written on the fourth and last page of the letter dated 5 May.
Creator
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John C. Watkins
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00417.xml" target="_blank">See the Finding Aid for the John C. Watkins Letters</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1863-05-05
1863-05-06
Rights
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<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc" target="_blank">Permission to publish material from the John C. Watkins Letters must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
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Letters
Identifier
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Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0505
Bibliographic Citation
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Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: John C. Watkins Letters, Ms2009-071, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
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<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/" target="_blank">Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech</a>
Civil War
-
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0518/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0518a.jpg
355efdb3c88c756816e9df417814f7fb
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<p>Camp Suffolk Virginia May 18, 1863</p>
<p>Dear friends at home,</p>
<p>I think I have written home </p>
<p>since this march, but be that as it may you will </p>
<p>hear of it before receiving this. Our boys started </p>
<p>last Wednesday with three days rations and since </p>
<p>then we have sent out rations twice, so that </p>
<p>they have plenty to last till Thursday. They </p>
<p>have had two or three little skirmishes, but it </p>
<p>was as heavy infantry firing as troops ever get </p>
<p>under, and our boys suffered. Johnnie Keith [John H. Keith, from Lowell, private, Company C, Sixth Massachusetts; died 16 May 1863] </p>
<p>Lucinda’s friend (the one that drew the pictures you </p>
<p>know) has gone, and probably his body will soon </p>
<p>be on its way to Lowell. Two (2) others are dead. </p>
<p>Our whole loss in killed wounded and missing </p>
<p>is 21. I hope the boys will come in without </p>
<p>any more loss, but we cant tell. It seems hard </p>
<p>when it so near time to go home, and when all </p>
<p>their friends expected them, just as much I think my </p>
<p>friends are expecting and longing to see me. </p>
<p>I wish I could have been there when Mr and Mrs </p>
<p>R. & Howard were there I think I could have </p>
<p>had a <u>tall</u> time, and I think I shall as </p>
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1863-05-18
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0518/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0518b.jpg
ad84e3e5c6fbadb75bd69332c091b502
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<p>it is, if I can get any thing to eat, for I have </p>
<p>had but one meal of any thing to eat since </p>
<p>the boys and that I had to pay 50¢ for, for </p>
<p>a piece of steak as big as your four fingers and </p>
<p>as tough to bite, two eggs, two poor potatoes </p>
<p>and a cup of coffee. I dont think I should </p>
<p>suffer if it was near pay day. We are in hopes </p>
<p>now to get home the last of this month but </p>
<p>do not know. I wonder what is going on up </p>
<p>with Hooker? We have had no evening papers </p>
<p>since the regiment went off. You must not </p>
<p>think I shirk these marches for really I </p>
<p>was unable to go being a convalescent to be </p>
<p>sure, but still I wasnt able to go.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I am glad the church folks are going to </p>
<p>wait before having their festival till we </p>
<p>get home for I was afraid we should </p>
<p>miss all the festivals and every thing else </p>
<p>I wonder if they will not have an excursion </p>
<p>to the pond this Summer. I often think </p>
<p>of home along toward evening for I go down </p>
<p>to the P.O. with the mail and it is through </p>
<p>town, and all the way along the little girls </p>
<p>and big girls are at the doors sitting on the </p>
<p>“pizarros”. It seems sort of home like. </p>
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1863-05-18
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0518/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0518c.jpg
470e105ca7ce13e33f356ebad83d41bd
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<p>I have just written to Mrs. Allen assuring her </p>
<p>of Tom’s [Thomas O. Allen of Lowell, the regiment’s Adjutant] safety. I have written her twice since </p>
<p>this affair commenced. Have any of you ever </p>
<p>called to see her? I have just heard that a </p>
<p>battery was taken last night by our forces. </p>
<p>I dont credit the report but am waiting </p>
<p>patiently for news from our boys as we expect </p>
<p>somebody in tonight. Yes you did have a </p>
<p>house full that Sunday evening. Seemed like </p>
<p>old times did it not? But I must close </p>
<p>and go to eating my dry ginger cakes, for </p>
<p>it is nearly time to go down with the mail. </p>
<p>Dry cakes and cheese is all I have had to eat since </p>
<p>the boys went off. Give my love to all friends </p>
<p>and write as soon as you receive this if you </p>
<p>wish to me to get it for there’s a possibility of </p>
<p>our starting soon. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I am with much love </p>
<p>Johnnie </p>
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Date
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1863-05-18
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Title
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John C. Watkins Letters, Ms2009-071
Subject
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Civil War
Description
An account of the resource
This collection consists of seventeen letters. Sixteen of these were written by John C. Watkins and one is by his wife, Harriet (Hattie) Watkins. Three are fragments. All were written to friends and family back home in Lowell, Massachusetts, first, when Watkins served as a private with the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment in Suffolk, Virginia in 1862 and 1863; then while in Washington, DC, from 1864 to 1866; and, lastly, while serving with the Eighth Cavalry as Acting Assistant Surgeon at Camp Winfield Scott, Nevada. The letter written by Hattie Watkins is from Winnemucca, Nevada, and is dated 17 January 1870, shortly after the couple were married.
Creator
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John C. Watkins, 1842-1892
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00417.xml">John C. Watkins Letters, 1862-1870</a>
Date
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1862-1870
Date Accepted
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This collection was donated to Special Collections in 2009.
Contributor
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mdb
Rights
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Permission to publish material from the John C. Watkins Letters must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
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Collection is open for research.
Extent
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0.1 cu. ft; 1 folder
Rights Holder
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Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech
Identifier
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Ms2009-071
Document
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Camp Suffolk Virginia May 18. 1863
Dear friends at home,
I think I have written home since this march, but be that as it may you will hear of it before receiving this. Our boys started last Wednesday with three days rations and since then we have sent out rations twice, so that they have plenty to last till Thursday. They have had two or three little skirmishes, but it was as heavy infantry firing as troops ever get under, and our boys suffered. Johnnie Keith, Lucinda’s friend (the one that drew the pictures you know) has gone, and probably his body will soon be on its way to Lowell. Two (2) others are dead. Our whole loss in killed wounded and missing is 21. I hope the boys will come in without any more loss, but we cant tell. It seems hard when it so near time to go home, and when all their friends expected them, just as much as I think my friends are expecting and longing to see me.
I wish I could have been there when Mr. and Mrs. R. Howard were there I think I could have had a tall time, and I think I shall as it is, if I can get any thing to eat, for I have had but one meal of any thing to eat since the boys and that I had to pay 50¢ for, for a piece of steak as big as your four fingers and as tough to bite, two eggs, two poor potatoes and a cup of coffee. I dont think I should suffer if it was near pay day. We are in hopes now to get home the last of this month but do not know. I wonder what is going on up with Hooker? We have had no evening papers since the regiment went off. You must not think I shirk these marches for really I was unable to go being a convalescent to be sure, but still I wasnt able to go.
I am glad the church folks are going to wait before having their festival till we get home for I was afraid we should miss all the festivals and every thing else I wonder if they will not have an excursion to the pond this summer. I often think of home along toward evening for I go down to the P.O. with the mail and it is through town, and all the way along the little girls and big girls are at the doors sitting on the "pizarros". It seems sort of home like. I have just written to Mrs. Allen assuring her of Tom's safety. I have written her twice since this affair commenced. Have any of you ever called to see her? I have just heard that a battery was taken last night by our forces. I dont credit the report but am waiting patiently for news from our boys as we expect somebody in tonight. Yes you did have a house full that Sunday evening. Seemed like old times did it not? But I must close and go to eating my dry ginger cakes, for it is nearly time to go down with the mail. Dry cakes and cheese is all I have had to eat since the boys went off. Give my love to all friends and write as soon as you receive this if you wish to me to get it for there's a possibility of our starting soon.
I am with much love
Johnnie
Original Format
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paper
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Title
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Letter, John C. Watkins to Friends, Camp Suffolk, Virginia, May 18, 1863 (Ms2009-071)
Creator
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John C. Watkins
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00417.xml" target="_blank">See the Finding Aid for the John C. Watkins Letters</a>
Date
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1863-05-18
Rights
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<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc" target="_blank">Permission to publish material from the John C. Watkins Letters must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
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Letters
Identifier
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Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1863_0518
Bibliographic Citation
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Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: John C. Watkins Letters, Ms2009-071, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/" target="_blank">Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech</a>
Civil War
-
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1864_0331/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1864_0331a.jpg
de50dbfb3b2bffb2d660d739ab0c03d1
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A written representation of a document.
<p>Washington D.C. March 31. 64</p>
<p>Dear Home Friends,</p>
<p>Mary’s letter received </p>
<p>last evening and I take this 1st oppor</p>
<p>tunity to write. I’ll commence with </p>
<p>the most interesting piece of news, i-e. </p>
<p>we got our commissions as regulars </p>
<p>Monday P.M. to date from 1st Apr. </p>
<p>I should have written this before but </p>
<p>was waiting your letter, so Mary (<u>u</u> <u>no</u>) </p>
<p>Yesterday A.M. I recd. a letter from </p>
<p>Jim McKeen asking me if I could </p>
<p>not get a vacation this summer and </p>
<p>come down to their fandango. You </p>
<p>know Jim graduates. I wish I </p>
<p>could be at home with you now and </p>
<p>have the family circle complete. I feel </p>
<p>sort of homesick sometimes when </p>
<p>I think that I probably never </p>
<p>shall make Lowell a home again. </p>
<p>I am glad you are going to take </p>
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Date
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1864-03-31
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1864_0331/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1864_0331b.jpg
73e07e419b4d910ebcb358b1a6584c8e
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<p>a daily paper. Mary dont feel that </p>
<p>I shall like dancing parties too </p>
<p>well, and I think “my mind well </p>
<p>regulated enough” not to be “dissipated” </p>
<p>by such things. I have not yet tasted </p>
<p>any wines or liquors and do not fear </p>
<p>that dancing parties will be the cause </p>
<p>of my getting into <u>those</u> habits. Nothing </p>
<p>particular going on here, except </p>
<p>Forest playing, and an Opera at </p>
<p><del>Fords</del> at one of the theaters I have </p>
<p>been to neither. I went to hear Gotts </p>
<p>chalk [Louis Moreau Gottschalk, pianist] Saturday evening. I shall </p>
<p>probably be paid by Saturday and </p>
<p>as soon as you receive my draft </p>
<p>write. Speaking of metre in those </p>
<p>lines, I knew where the mistakes were </p>
<p>but could not express what I wanted </p>
<p>to without. Morpheus is pronounced </p>
<p>morphuse. Perhaps that’s where you </p>
<p>thot one of the mistakes was, and </p>
<p>another “Angels visits &c were those the </p>
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Date
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1864-03-31
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1864_0331/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1864_0331c.jpg
3bdb7b553188db8278db13850bd71272
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<p>places you meant. No I did not </p>
<p>write that on the other side of that </p>
<p>paper. I copied it. I sent that to </p>
<p>Fannie. Why dont she write. Dont </p>
<p>you ask her but hint around, and see </p>
<p>No Miss L wont think I’m “in love” &c </p>
<p>for she knows that I know that she </p>
<p>is in love with somebody else and I </p>
<p>know that she ought to know I dont </p>
<p>care for her <del>eff</del> except to pass away </p>
<p>a few moments of leisure. I dont </p>
<p>go out very much now but now </p>
<p>and then I spend an evening. </p>
<p>When I come home I shall make </p>
<p>up for it by being out every night </p>
<p>I have not seen John Calef yet </p>
<p>though I have been to the Metro </p>
<p>politan every evening and day time </p>
<p>I hope I shall see him when he </p>
<p>goes thro here. He has not gone yet </p>
<p>has he? But I have not time </p>
<p>to write more now. I have nothing </p>
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Date
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1864-03-31
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1864_0331/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1864_0331d.jpg
78e1d1c3f7a5a9e11ff8ba91b536f0c2
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<p>particular to write. I found a </p>
<p>friend of mine here that knew </p>
<p>Sarah Eaton <del>here</del> when she was in </p>
<p>Salem Normal School. A Mr. Upson. </p>
<p>Give my love to all friends and </p>
<p>expect a better letter next time. </p>
<p>I saw by the papers here that </p>
<p>John Calef was promoted to 1 Lieut</p>
<p>I meant to have sent you a paper </p>
<p>as soon as the confirmation came out </p>
<p>but forgot it.</p>
<p>Write soon to </p>
<p>John</p>
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Date
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1864-03-31
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
John C. Watkins Letters, Ms2009-071
Subject
The topic of the resource
Civil War
Description
An account of the resource
This collection consists of seventeen letters. Sixteen of these were written by John C. Watkins and one is by his wife, Harriet (Hattie) Watkins. Three are fragments. All were written to friends and family back home in Lowell, Massachusetts, first, when Watkins served as a private with the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment in Suffolk, Virginia in 1862 and 1863; then while in Washington, DC, from 1864 to 1866; and, lastly, while serving with the Eighth Cavalry as Acting Assistant Surgeon at Camp Winfield Scott, Nevada. The letter written by Hattie Watkins is from Winnemucca, Nevada, and is dated 17 January 1870, shortly after the couple were married.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
John C. Watkins, 1842-1892
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00417.xml">John C. Watkins Letters, 1862-1870</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1862-1870
Date Accepted
Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal).
This collection was donated to Special Collections in 2009.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
mdb
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Permission to publish material from the John C. Watkins Letters must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Access Rights
Information about who can access the resource or an indication of its security status. Access Rights may include information regarding access or restrictions based on privacy, security, or other policies.
Collection is open for research.
Extent
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0.1 cu. ft; 1 folder
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2009-071
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Text
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Washington D.C. March 31. 64
Dear Home Friends,
Mary’s letter received last evening and I take this 1st opportunity to write. I'll commence with the most interesting piece of news, i-e. we got our commissions as regulars Monday P.M. to date from 1st Apr. I should have written this before but was waiting your letter, so Mary (u no) Yesterday A.M. I recd. a letter from Jim McKeen asking me if I could not get a vacation this summer and come down to their fandango. You know Jim graduates. I wish I could be at home with you now and have the family circle complete. I feel sort of homesick sometimes when I think that I probably never shall make Lowell a home again. I am glad you are going to take a daily paper. Mary don't feel that I shall like dancing parties too well, and I think “my mind well regulated enough” not to be “dissipated” by such things. I have not yet tasted any wines or liquors and do not fear that dancing parties will be the cause of my getting into those habits. Nothing particular going on here, except Forest playing, and an Opera at (Fords) at one of the theaters. I have been to neither. I went to hear Gottschalk Saturday evening. I shall probably be paid by Saturday and as soon as you receive my drafts write. Speaking of metre in those lines, I knew where the mistakes were but could not express what I wanted to without. Morpheus is pronounced morphuse. Perhaps that's where you thot one of the mistakes was, and another “Angels visits &c. were those the places you meant. No I did not write that on the other side of that paper. I copied it. I sent that to Fannie. Why don't she write. Don't you ask her but hint around, and see No Miss L wont think I'm “in love” &c. for she knows that I know that she is in love with somebody else and I know that she ought to know I dont care for her except to pass away a few moments of leisure. I don't go out very much now but now and then I spend an evening. When I come home I shall make up for it by being out every night. I have not seen John Calef yet though I have been to the Metropolitan every evening and day time. I hope I shall see him when he goes thru here. He has not gone yet has he? But I have not time to write more now. I have nothing particular to write. I found a friend of mine here that knew Sarah Eaton when she was in Salem Normal School. A Mr. Upson.
Give my love to all friends and expect a better letter next time. I saw by the papers here that John Calef was promoted to 1 Lieut I meant to have sent you a paper as soon as the confirmation came out but forgot it.
Write soon to John
Original Format
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paper
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter, John C. Watkins to Friends, Washington, DC, March 31, 1864 (Ms2009-071)
Creator
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John C. Watkins
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00417.xml" target="_blank">See the Finding Aid for the John C. Watkins Letters</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-03-31
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc" target="_blank">Permission to publish material from the John C. Watkins Letters must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Letters
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1864_0331
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: John C. Watkins Letters, Ms2009-071, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/" target="_blank">Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech</a>
-
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1864_0523/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1864_0523a.jpg
174196d383a6a21bf833a9a4a31d2d0a
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>Washington D.C. May 23d, 64</p>
<p>Dear Home Friends, </p>
<p>Yours received yesterday </p>
<p>and I will write now to send either </p>
<p>by mail or else by Gus Ayling [Augustus D. Ayling joined D Company, 29th Massachusetts Infantry in Jan. 1862 as a second lieutenant, later promoted to first lieutenant] who</p>
<p>starts for home tomorrow morning with </p>
<p>7 other officers to be mustered out. </p>
<p>He arrived here last Wednesday and </p>
<p>Thursday came up to the office. Thurs</p>
<p>day evening I spent with him (at the </p>
<p>Theater) and Friday they went to Belle </p>
<p>Plain, and last night they came up </p>
<p>again. He is glad enough to get out </p>
<p>of the service I assure you, and I dont </p>
<p>wonder. Tomorrow he starts for Boston. </p>
<p>I wish I was going the same way </p>
<p>but probably shant see that goodly </p>
<p>part of the country until next Oct. </p>
<p>Tell Annie, Cyrus’ wife that I will </p>
<p>look for her husband if any thing </p>
<p>happens, but I cant relieve her</p>
Dublin Core
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Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1864-05-23
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1864_0523/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1864_0523b.jpg
ee649dcc4239f30aef153e7532a21980
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<p>suspense now by visiting the 9th </p>
<p>Army Corps hospital as that is sup</p>
<p>posed to be at Fredericksburg. The </p>
<p>Army has been doing nothing for a </p>
<p>few days now, and they are sending </p>
<p>all the wounded up here so as to </p>
<p>make room for more there. I think </p>
<p>there is a mail from here <u>to</u> the </p>
<p>Army for mails come here <u>from</u> the </p>
<p>Army. Yes, I receive the papers you </p>
<p>send and like them much. Do </p>
<p>you receive the papers I send. I send </p>
<p>a Sunday Chron. every week and </p>
<p>for a week or two past a paper </p>
<p>every day but two. I suppose you </p>
<p>have ordered the goods all right </p>
<p>and if you get this in season </p>
<p>please send me one or two pairs of</p>
<p>socks ”paris marble” I believe Mr </p>
<p>Wheeler calls them. The reason I </p>
<p>sent for sewed boots was because </p>
<p>almost every body here thinks them </p>
<p>more durable, enough to make up </p>
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1864-05-23
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1864_0523/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1864_0523c.jpg
319db579f82372349713bbeb9472999c
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<p>the difference in cost. Every thing </p>
<p>is quiet here and very little of </p>
<p>interest to write. I follow the </p>
<p>same routine every day. I get up, </p>
<p>go to <del>work</del> breakfast, go to work, go </p>
<p>to dinner, go home, read, go to bed </p>
<p>get up &c &c. Yesterday I went </p>
<p>to Dr Sunderland’s church [Byron Sunderland, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Washington; Chaplain of the Senate 1861–64], & to S.S </p>
<p>heard a political war sermon & </p>
<p>a pretty good one though I did </p>
<p>not agree with all his ideas. </p>
<p>You will probably see Gus soon </p>
<p>and he will tell you all thats </p>
<p>going on here as well as I can, </p>
<p>and how he found me fat & </p>
<p>healthy. But I must close, </p>
<p>Love to all friends and write </p>
<p>soon to John</p>
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Date
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1864-05-23
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Title
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John C. Watkins Letters, Ms2009-071
Subject
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Civil War
Description
An account of the resource
This collection consists of seventeen letters. Sixteen of these were written by John C. Watkins and one is by his wife, Harriet (Hattie) Watkins. Three are fragments. All were written to friends and family back home in Lowell, Massachusetts, first, when Watkins served as a private with the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment in Suffolk, Virginia in 1862 and 1863; then while in Washington, DC, from 1864 to 1866; and, lastly, while serving with the Eighth Cavalry as Acting Assistant Surgeon at Camp Winfield Scott, Nevada. The letter written by Hattie Watkins is from Winnemucca, Nevada, and is dated 17 January 1870, shortly after the couple were married.
Creator
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John C. Watkins, 1842-1892
Source
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<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00417.xml">John C. Watkins Letters, 1862-1870</a>
Date
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1862-1870
Date Accepted
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This collection was donated to Special Collections in 2009.
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mdb
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Permission to publish material from the John C. Watkins Letters must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
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Collection is open for research.
Extent
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0.1 cu. ft; 1 folder
Rights Holder
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Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech
Identifier
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Ms2009-071
Document
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Text
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<h2>Transcript</h2>
<br />Washington D.C. May 23d. 64 <br /><br />Dear Home Friends, <br /><br />Yours received yesterday and I will write now to send either by mail or else by Gus Ayling who starts for home tomorrow morning with 7 other officers to be mustered out. He arrived here last Wednesday, and Thursday came up to the office. Thursday evening I spent with him (at the Theater and Friday they went to Belle Plain, and last night they came up again. He is glad enough to get out of the service I assure you, and I don't wonder. Tomorrow he starts for Boston. I wish I was going the same way but probably shant see that goodly part of the country until next Oct. Tell Annie, Cyrus’ wife that I will look for her husband if any thing happens, but I cant relieve her suspense now by visiting the 9th Army Corps hospital as that is supposed to be at Fredericksburg. The Army has been doing nothing for a few days now, and they are sending all the wounded up here so as to make room for more there. I think there is a mail from here to the Army for mails come here from the Army. Yes, I receive the papers you send and like them much. Do you receive the papers I send. I send a Sunday Chron. every week and for a week or two post a paper every day but two. I suppose you have ordered the goods all right and if you get this in season please send me one or two pairs of socks “paris marble” I believe Mr Wheeler calls them. The reason I sent for sewed boots was because almost every body here thinks them more durable, enough to make up the difference in cost. Every thing is quiet here and very little of interest to write. I follow the same routine every day. I get up, go to breakfast, go to work, go to dinner, go home, read, go to bed get up &c &c. Yesterday I went to Dr Sunderland’s church & to S.S. heard a political war sermon & a pretty good one though I did not agree with all his ideas. <br /><br />You will probably see Gus soon and he will tell you all thats going on here as well as I can, and how he found me fat & healthy. But I must close, <br /><br />Love to all friends and write soon to John
Original Format
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paper
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Title
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Letter, John C. Watkins to Friends, Washington, DC, May 23, 1864 (Ms2009-071)
Creator
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John C. Watkins
Source
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<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00417.xml" target="_blank">See the Finding Aid for the John C. Watkins Letters</a>
Date
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1864-05-23
Rights
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<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc" target="_blank">Permission to publish material from the John C. Watkins Letters must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
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Letters
Identifier
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Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1864_0523
Bibliographic Citation
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Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: John C. Watkins Letters, Ms2009-071, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
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<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/" target="_blank">Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech</a>
-
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1865_0522/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1865_0522a.jpg
9cd41fa3662e7b31d8d2206840897066
Scripto
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A written representation of a document.
<p>Washington D.C. May 22d 1865</p>
<p>Dear Home Friends</p>
<p>Yours received this morning, but </p>
<p>I have been so busy all day that I have </p>
<p>not had time to write before. I was much </p>
<p>surprised this morning, while opening the mail, </p>
<p>(for that is part of my work now) to see Preston </p>
<p>Lane walk into the room. I was very sorry </p>
<p>to hear from him that Stephen was unwell. I </p>
<p>was so busy, that I could not well leave the </p>
<p>office to go and see Stephen with him but I </p>
<p>went up to Gen Augur’s [[Major General Christopher C. Augur, Commander of XXII Corp and the Department of Washington, 1863–66] Hdqrs. with him & </p>
<p>found out where the Regiment was stationed & </p>
<p>got him started in the right direction to go </p>
<p>there. I shall probably hear how he is get</p>
<p>ting along from Preston & will write. The </p>
<p>City is jammed with Strangers from all parts </p>
<p>of the country and the Hotels are more than </p>
<p>full. A friend of mine went out this morning </p>
<p>to find rooms for his brother & wife but </p>
<p>said the hotel keepers said they wished they </p>
<p>had accommodations for 1000 more, they </p>
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Date
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1865-05-22
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1865_0522/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1865_0522b.jpg
2dabc7e4a28007fb02bccc63c5f0825a
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<p>could not then supply them all. We expect </p>
<p>a big time here tomorrow & next day. I </p>
<p>saw Gen Sheridan review his Cavalry yes</p>
<p>terday. I have seen all the big generals </p>
<p>except Custer & Sherman and I may have </p>
<p>seen them for all I know. I’ve seen so </p>
<p>many that I dont know who they are. </p>
<p>Brigadier Generals are thicker than Corporals </p>
<p>here and you can hardly move without running </p>
<p>against some of them. I wish you could be </p>
<p>here tomorrow to see this sight. I would </p>
<p>much rather you all would see it than </p>
<p>that I should. I have seen so much of it. </p>
<p>Ophelia do not be afraid of my doing anything </p>
<p>that you would not want to have me “over the </p>
<p>way.” I think I have <u>some</u> tact, and could </p>
<p>do things so that they would be understood. </p>
<p>You think Jim Trow would have some </p>
<p>objections to my paying much attention to </p>
<p>Hattie H. Well let him object. Tell him </p>
<p>I am heart whole in that direction. I know </p>
<p>he liked her very much for he goes to see her </p>
<p>through Concord every time he is home. </p>
<p>That should be Calhoun in Ben Gilpatricks </p>
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Date
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1865-05-22
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1865_0522/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1865_0522c.jpg
43db90c4ef51cc4491ad5923c3904566
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>address there is no Calh<u>oo</u>n in Kentucky. </p>
<p>I will fix those things all right with Darius </p>
<p>Forbes as soon as I receive that certificate from </p>
<p>Annie. we have a great many of similar kind. </p>
<p>I did not see that about “Mrs Davis, </p>
<p>fighting it out in that “line” but I did hear that </p>
<p>he was going to “shift” for himself here after </p>
<p>Poor Jeffy. Yes if I stay here I shall </p>
<p>have <u>less</u> expenses but they will be <u>enough</u> </p>
<p>“you bet”. So you think you dont know any </p>
<p>body that comes up to my “beau ideal” or “girl </p>
<p>ideal” rather. Are not the Misses Tarr in that </p>
<p>class of ladies—or dont you like them. </p>
<p>Hot, Hotter, Hottest. I wish you were here </p>
<p>if you like hot weather. I dont. I am </p>
<p>well & hearty hope to be so but I am </p>
<p>bon<del>e</del>ing some in study only 5 weeks more & </p>
<p>I am to take a sweating given by (7) </p>
<p>seven doctors. Dont you pity me. </p>
<p>But I must close now, for I give </p>
<p>you most of the news in the papers I send </p>
<p>to you. Give my love to all friends & write </p>
<p>some to Your affec</p>
<p>Johnnie</p>
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Date
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1865-05-22
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Title
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John C. Watkins Letters, Ms2009-071
Subject
The topic of the resource
Civil War
Description
An account of the resource
This collection consists of seventeen letters. Sixteen of these were written by John C. Watkins and one is by his wife, Harriet (Hattie) Watkins. Three are fragments. All were written to friends and family back home in Lowell, Massachusetts, first, when Watkins served as a private with the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment in Suffolk, Virginia in 1862 and 1863; then while in Washington, DC, from 1864 to 1866; and, lastly, while serving with the Eighth Cavalry as Acting Assistant Surgeon at Camp Winfield Scott, Nevada. The letter written by Hattie Watkins is from Winnemucca, Nevada, and is dated 17 January 1870, shortly after the couple were married.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
John C. Watkins, 1842-1892
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00417.xml">John C. Watkins Letters, 1862-1870</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1862-1870
Date Accepted
Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal).
This collection was donated to Special Collections in 2009.
Contributor
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mdb
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Permission to publish material from the John C. Watkins Letters must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Access Rights
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Collection is open for research.
Extent
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0.1 cu. ft; 1 folder
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech
Identifier
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Ms2009-071
Document
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Text
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<h2>Transcript</h2>
<br /><p>Washington D.C. May 22nd 1865</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Dear Home Friends,</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Yours received this morning, but I have been so busy all day that I have not had time to write before. I was much surprised this morning, while opening the mail, (for that is part of my work now) to see Preston Lane walk into the room. I was very sorry to hear from him that Stephen was unwell. I was so busy, that I could not well leave the office to go and see Stephen with him but I went up to Gen Augur’s Hdqrs. with him & found out where the Regiment was stationed & got him started in the right direction to go there. I shall probably hear how he is getting along from Preston & will write. The City is jammed with strangers from all parts of the country and the Hotels are more than full. A friend of mine went out this morning to find rooms for his brother & wife but said the hotel keepers said they wished they had accommodations for 1000 more. they could not then supply them all. We expect a big time here tomorrow & next day. I saw Gen Sheridan review his Cavalry yesterday. I have seen all the big generals except Custer & Sherman and I may have seen them for all I know. I’ve seen so many that I don't know who they are—Brigadier Generals are thicker than Corporals here and you can hardly move without running against some of them. I wish you could be here tomorrow to see this sight. I would much rather you all would see it than that I should. I have seen so much of it.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Ophelia do not be afraid of my doing anything that you would not want to have me “over the way.” I think I have some tact, and could do things so that they would be understood. You think Jim Trow would have some objections to my paying much attention to Hattie H. I will let him object. Tell him I am heart whole in that direction. I know he liked her very much for he goes to see her through Concord every time he is home. That should be Calhoun in Ben Gulpatnetes address there is no Calhoon in Kentucky. I will fix those things all right with Darius Forbes as soon as I receive that certificate from Annie. we have a great many of similar kind, I did not see that About “Mrs Davis, fighting it out in that “line” but I did hear that he was going to “shift” for himself here after Poor Jeffy. Yes if I stay here I shall have less expenses but they will be enough “you bet”. So you think you don't know any body that comes up to my “bean ideal” or “girl ideal” rather. Are not the Misses Tarr in that class of ladies—or don't you like them.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Hot, Hotter, Hottest. I wish you were here if you like hot weather. I dont—I am well & hearty hope to be so but I am learning[?] some on study only 5 weeks more & I am to take a sweating by (7) seven doctors. Dont you pity me.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>But I must close now. for I give you most of the news in the papers I send to you. Give my love to all friends & write soon to</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Your affec</p>
Johnnie
Original Format
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paper
Dublin Core
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Title
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Letter, John C. Watkins to Friends, Washington, DC, May 22, 1865 (Ms2009-071)
Creator
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John C. Watkins
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00417.xml" target="_blank">See the Finding Aid for the John C. Watkins Letters</a>
Date
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1865-05-22
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc" target="_blank">Permission to publish material from the John C. Watkins Letters must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
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Letters
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1865_0522
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: John C. Watkins Letters, Ms2009-071, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/" target="_blank">Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech</a>
-
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1866_0417/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1866_0417a.jpg
c5f67adf08ad4e0990a7f803d6557e82
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>Washington D.C. Apr. 17, 1866</p>
<p>Dear Home Friends</p>
<p>Yours just received to day and </p>
<p>I will not let it go so long again without </p>
<p>writing, even if I do not receive a letter from </p>
<p>home. My health is very good indeed though </p>
<p>I have been a little unwell since Spring set </p>
vin but feel nicely now. Geo. Fuller [a classmate at Georgetown College] will prob</p>
<p>ably leave here the last of this or the first of </p>
<p>next week. He is going to practice in Mass </p>
<p>somewhere I think. I shall not know what </p>
<p>to do when he goes. I have been around with </p>
<p>him so much. If he goes to practicing this </p>
<p>summer he has invited me to come and stay </p>
<p>a month at his house and I mean to go, </p>
<p>perhaps. We are at present mutually interested </p>
<p>in a beautiful lady from Baltimore though </p>
<p>she is married and has two children she is </p>
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Date
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1866-04-17
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1866_0417/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1866_0417b.jpg
87924fc405e794bc866ed64a2e1fc099
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>quite a flirt. I like flirts after all for </p>
<p>a girl usually has some spirit in her </p>
<p>and is usually better able to entertain a </p>
<p>man than one who does not try particularly </p>
<p>so to do. I am afraid it will be a long </p>
<p>time before I am married for I am so fickle </p>
<p>not knowing more than a week at a time </p>
<p>who I like and who not. Am glad you have </p>
<p>a sewing machine think it will save you </p>
<p>a deal of trouble and soon pay for itself. </p>
<p>I know a lady who makes all her husbands </p>
<p>clothes except the cutting and I think I shall</p>
<p>have to let you do it for me, when I get </p>
<p>some more Think I shall have to come </p>
<p>home this Summer and learn how to run it </p>
<p>and pay my own way while at home in </p>
<p>that way. So you are having small pox in </p>
<p>Lowell. There has been a great deal here </p>
<p>in Washington but so far I’ve kept </p>
<p>comparatively clear of it. I hope you will </p>
Dublin Core
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Date
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1866-04-17
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1866_0417/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1866_0417c.jpg
92dc71c6dcf71085bd53cee5ed21b181
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>not have Cholera in Lowell this summer, but </p>
<p>I am afraid we shall here. I have not yet </p>
<p>decided whether to skedaddle or to stay and </p>
<p>see it out. I have written to Mary and recd </p>
<p>an answer to my letter and have written again </p>
<p>Have not heard from Johnnie Calef yet. You recd </p>
<p>Lizzie Calef’s [John Calef’s sister Eliza, older by 2 years] letter so you know all the news</p>
<p>I hear she is quite a nice looking woman </p>
<p>now. I think she must be rather pretty if </p>
<p>childhoods looks promise anything for older </p>
<p>age I will try and get some more flower seeds </p>
<p>but dont know as I can. How soon before my </p>
<p>clothes will be sent from Lowell and how much </p>
<p>are they to cost? Every thing quiet here </p>
<p>and I am just as quiet as everything else </p>
<p>my life is very uneventful. But I </p>
<p>must close for the present. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Hoping to hear soon I am your affect</p>
<p>Johnnie </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Who and what are the young ladies that room at our </p>
Dublin Core
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Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1866-04-17
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1866_0417/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1866_0417d.jpg
9652f7d3623bf7d2bd523bc7593a621d
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<p>house. Are they pretty and how old </p>
<p>and what do they do? </p>
<p>Have the Hadley’s moved yet</p>
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Date
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1866-04-17
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Title
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John C. Watkins Letters, Ms2009-071
Subject
The topic of the resource
Civil War
Description
An account of the resource
This collection consists of seventeen letters. Sixteen of these were written by John C. Watkins and one is by his wife, Harriet (Hattie) Watkins. Three are fragments. All were written to friends and family back home in Lowell, Massachusetts, first, when Watkins served as a private with the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment in Suffolk, Virginia in 1862 and 1863; then while in Washington, DC, from 1864 to 1866; and, lastly, while serving with the Eighth Cavalry as Acting Assistant Surgeon at Camp Winfield Scott, Nevada. The letter written by Hattie Watkins is from Winnemucca, Nevada, and is dated 17 January 1870, shortly after the couple were married.
Creator
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John C. Watkins, 1842-1892
Source
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<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00417.xml">John C. Watkins Letters, 1862-1870</a>
Date
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1862-1870
Date Accepted
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This collection was donated to Special Collections in 2009.
Contributor
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mdb
Rights
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Permission to publish material from the John C. Watkins Letters must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
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Collection is open for research.
Extent
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0.1 cu. ft; 1 folder
Rights Holder
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Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech
Identifier
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Ms2009-071
Document
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Text
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<h2>Transcript</h2>
<br /><p>Washington D.C. Apr. 17, 1866</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Dear Home Friends</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Yours just received to day and I will not let it go so long again without writing, even if I do not receive a letter from home. My health is very good indeed though I have been a little unwell since Spring set in but feel nicely now. Geo. Fuller will probably leave here the last of this or the first of next week. He is going to practice in Mass somewhere I think. I shall not know what to do when he goes. I have been around with him so much. If he goes to practicing this summer he has invited me to come and stay a month at his house and I mean to go, perhaps. We are at present mutually interested in a beautiful lady from Baltimore though she is married and has two children she is quite a flirt. I like flirts after all for a girl usually has some spirit in her and is usually better able to entertain a man than one who does not try particularly so to do. I am afraid it will be a long time before I am married for I am so fickle not knowing more than a week at a time who I like and who not. Am glad you have a sewing machine think it will save you a deal of trouble and soon pay for itself. I know a lady who makes all her husbands clothes except the cutting and I think I shall have to let you do it for me when I get some more. Think I shall have to come home this Summer and learn how to run it and pay my own way while at home in that way. So you are having small pox in Lowell. There has been a great deal here in Washington but so far I've kept comparatively clear of it. I hope you will not have Cholera in Lowell this summer, but I am afraid we shall here. I have not yet decided whether to skedaddle or to stay and see it out. I have written to Mary and recd an answer to my letter and have written again Have not heard from Johnnie Calef yet. You recd Lizzie Calef's letter so you know all the news I hear she is quite a nice looking woman now. I think she must be rather pretty if childhoods looks promise anything for older age I will try and get some more flower seeds but dont know as I can. How soon before my clothes will be sent from Lowell and how much are they to cost? Every thing quiet here and I am just as quiet as everything else my life is very uneventful. But I must close for the present. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Hoping to hear soon I am your affec</p>
<p>Johnnie</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Who and what are the young ladies that room at our house. Are they pretty and how old and what do they do?</p>
Have the Hadley's moved yet
Original Format
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paper
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Title
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Letter, John C. Watkins to Friends, Washington, DC, April 17, 1866 (Ms2009-071)
Creator
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John C. Watkins
Source
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<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00417.xml" target="_blank">See the Finding Aid for the John C. Watkins Letters</a>
Date
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1866-04-17
Rights
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<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc" target="_blank">Permission to publish material from the John C. Watkins Letters must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
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Letters
Identifier
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Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1866_0417
Bibliographic Citation
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Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: John C. Watkins Letters, Ms2009-071, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
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<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/" target="_blank">Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech</a>
-
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1868_0823/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1868_0823a.jpg
c8b0fbc0251b5502ad3bd976e642e6e5
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<p>Camp Winfield Scott Nevada</p>
<p>August 23d 1868</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Dear Home Friends,</p>
<p>Your two letters of July 19th and 27th arrived on </p>
<p>Friday and are the first ones I have received from </p>
<p>you for nearly four weeks. I have not heard </p>
<p>from Hattie [Harriet Clark Clary, originally from Deerfield Ma., John’s future wife] for over two weeks until the same </p>
<p>time and I received two letters from her with yours </p>
<p>Our mails have been very irregular and we have made </p>
<p>considerable complaint but that is all the good it does </p>
<p>I have noticed the number of sun strokes, by the </p>
<p>papers and wondered if you were having as hot weather</p>
<p>in Lowell. I am glad you were in G [likely, Gloucester, Ma., home of the Calefs] to avoid it. </p>
<p>We have had very warm weather here but not so</p>
<p>badly as you have there. It does not seem so </p>
<p>oppressive, being a dry heat with little moisture </p>
<p>in the air. Then we have cool nights so tis very bear</p>
<p>able. You want me to write a more descriptive letter </p>
<p>and if I remember correctly that is the kind I have </p>
<p>been writing, but I so dreaded writing the same </p>
<p>things to Hattie and home too thinking you would </p>
<p>see her letters and she yours that I may have </p>
<p>omitted some things in my letters to you </p>
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Date
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1868-08-23
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1868_0823/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1868_0823b.jpg
e687efdb02057b6c2e67408b9a63e9ce
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<p>I have enclosed you a plan of our camp </p>
<p>and you can imagine it surrounded with </p>
<p>mountains except on the south side for we are </p>
<p>at the head of the valley. The mountains are about </p>
<p>a mile to the foot hills but two or three </p>
<p>more to the summit, but they look exactly </p>
<p>as though they might possibly topple right </p>
<p>on to us some fine storm or gale of wind. We </p>
<p>are watered by two creeks, and near where one </p>
<p>runs in to the other we have arranged a nice shower </p>
<p>bath in which I occasionally indulge usually </p>
<p>every day. The scenery is very fine for mountain </p>
<p>scenery, but I should enjoy it a deal more </p>
<p>if I knew I had a fine mine in one of them </p>
<p>and I dont know but what I have. Some </p>
<p>time ago in crossing the mountains, I picked </p>
<p>up some quartz having good “indications”. Gen </p>
<p>Gregg [John Irvin Gregg; commander, Eighth Cavalry, appointed 28 July 1866] who was here last Wednesday and Thursday </p>
<p>came over the same trail and noticed a quartz </p>
<p>ledge. I told him I had some specimens of it </p>
<p>and he has taken them below to have them assayed </p>
<p>so I may find myself sharer in a valuable </p>
<p>mine some of these days before I know. You </p>
<p>can just bet I’ll sell out if theres such a </p>
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Date
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1868-08-23
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1868_0823/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1868_0823c.jpg
82f844d6f365a581527dd29bddcb2548
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<p>thing possible and dont believe I’ll work it </p>
<p>I wrote you of my trip over the mountains with </p>
<p>Gen Ord. [Edward Otho Cresap Ord; commander, Department of California, appointed 24 April 1868] Gen Gregg has been here since and we </p>
<p>are still wondering if our post is to be removed </p>
<p>but cant tell so we keep on building. I dont </p>
<p>want to move from here until my time is up </p>
<p>next June for I dont know as I can get to </p>
<p>a place where I can do as well as I can here </p>
<p>and what’s more I dont know as I can make </p>
<p>up my mind to stay in this country after that </p>
<p>time. I think I have a fine chance to go </p>
<p>into business, but I dont want to, for all the </p>
<p>stores are open Sundays and do their best day’s </p>
<p>work and all of them too are obliged to sell liquor </p>
<p>and both of those things I dont want to </p>
<p>and wont do unless I change my mind </p>
<p>very much between now and next year in June </p>
<p>Dont fear anything about the Indians on my </p>
<p>account for they have made a treaty with them </p>
<p>here or near here, which will probably keep </p>
<p>them still a year or so until they break out </p>
<p>again. Then this place will be too much settled </p>
<p>for them to raid here for tis only 40 miles </p>
<p>from the Pacific R.R. and by next Spring </p>
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Date
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1868-08-23
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1868_0823/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1868_0823d.jpg
89fee6a4f18713d07444d9dcc5d61176
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<p>will be thickly settled a large portion of it. </p>
<p>The Indians have to go back before civil</p>
<p>ization more than before the guns of soldiers </p>
<p>Dont fear any accidents to me until you </p>
<p>hear of one, for there is no use anticipating </p>
<p>evil. I ride considerably and do not fear inju</p>
<p>ry though my horse is a little mild, </p>
<p>I am glad you had so nice times in G.[likely, Gloucester, Ma.] and R. [possibly nearby Rockport, Ma.] </p>
<p>Perhaps John [John Calef] and I may come in together next </p>
<p>year, who knows. I certainly shall if he </p>
<p>waits until the last of June or first of July </p>
<p>before coming. Where does Canning work now </p>
<p>You wrote about him going to Worchester to put </p>
<p>up machinery but did not say who he was </p>
<p>at work for. I received Vox and Journal [<i>Lowell Vox Populi</i> and <i>Lowell Weekly Journal,</i> newspapers] and </p>
<p>you can guess I was glad to get the news for </p>
<p>once. Am very sorry Minnie F. has been sick. My </p>
<p>love to her. When is Fannie to be married? </p>
<p>I wish you could look from my window here </p>
<p>and see the grasshoppers. I never saw any until </p>
<p>yesterday and now they have come in upon us </p>
<p>and have eaten every greenthing about our camp </p>
<p>and have completely ruined our fine garden except </p>
<p>the potatoes turnips and beets, or any roots of others</p>
<p>[. . . end]</p>
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Date
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1868-08-23
Dublin Core
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Title
A name given to the resource
John C. Watkins Letters, Ms2009-071
Subject
The topic of the resource
Civil War
Description
An account of the resource
This collection consists of seventeen letters. Sixteen of these were written by John C. Watkins and one is by his wife, Harriet (Hattie) Watkins. Three are fragments. All were written to friends and family back home in Lowell, Massachusetts, first, when Watkins served as a private with the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment in Suffolk, Virginia in 1862 and 1863; then while in Washington, DC, from 1864 to 1866; and, lastly, while serving with the Eighth Cavalry as Acting Assistant Surgeon at Camp Winfield Scott, Nevada. The letter written by Hattie Watkins is from Winnemucca, Nevada, and is dated 17 January 1870, shortly after the couple were married.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
John C. Watkins, 1842-1892
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00417.xml">John C. Watkins Letters, 1862-1870</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1862-1870
Date Accepted
Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal).
This collection was donated to Special Collections in 2009.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
mdb
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Permission to publish material from the John C. Watkins Letters must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Access Rights
Information about who can access the resource or an indication of its security status. Access Rights may include information regarding access or restrictions based on privacy, security, or other policies.
Collection is open for research.
Extent
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0.1 cu. ft; 1 folder
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2009-071
Document
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Text
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<h2>Transcript</h2>
<br /><p>Camp Winfield Scott Nevada August 23d 1868</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Dear Home Friends</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Your two letters of July 19th and 27th arrived on Friday and are the first ones I have received from you for nearly four weeks. I have not heard from Hattie for over two weeks until the same time and I received two letters from her with yours Our mails have been very irregular and we have made considerable complaint but that is all the good it does I have noticed the number of sun strokes, by the papers and wondered if you were having as hot weather in Lowell. I am glad you were in G to avoid it. We have had very warm weather here but not so badly as you have there. It does not seem so oppressive, being a dry heat with little moisture in the air. Then we have cool nights so tis very bearable. You want me to write a more descriptive letter and if I remember correctly that is the kind I have been writing, but I so dreaded writing the same things to Hattie and home too thinking you would see her letters and she yours that I may have omitted some things in my letters to you</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I have enclosed you a plan of our camp and you can imagine it surrounded with mountains except on the south side for we are at the head of the Valley. The mountains are about a mile to the foot hills but two or three more to the summit, but they look exactly as though they might possibly topple right on to us some fine storm or gale of wind. We are watered by two creeks, and near where one runs in to the other we have arranged a nice shower bath in which I occasionally indulge usually every day. The scenery is very fine for mountain scenery, but I should enjoy it a deal more if I knew I had a fine mine in one of them and I dont know but what I have. Some time ago in crossing the mountains, I picked up some quartz having good “indications”. Gen Gregg who was here last Wednesday and Thursday came over the same trail and noticed a quartz ledge. I told him I had some specimens of it and he has taken them below to have them assayed so I may find myself sharer in a valuable mine some of these days before I know. You can just bet I’ll sell out if there’s such a thing possible and dont believe I’ll work it I wrote you of my trip over the mountains with Gen Ord. Gen Gregg has been here since and we are still wondering if our post is to be removed but cant tell so we keep on building. I dont want to move from here until my time is up next June for I dont know as I can get to a place where I can do as well as I can here and what’s more I dont know as I can make up my mind to stay in this country after that time. I think I have a fine chance to go into business, but I dont want to, for all the stores are open Sundays and do their best day’s work and all of them too are obliged to sell liquor and both of those things I dont want to and wont do unless I change my mind very much between now and next year in June Dont fear anything about the Indians on my account for they have made a treaty with them here or near here, which will probably keep them still a year or so until they break out again. Then this place will be too much settled for them to raid here for tis only 40 miles from the Pacific R.R. and by next spring will be thickly settled a large portion of it The Indians have to go back before civilization more than before the guns of soldiers Don't fear any accidents to me until you hear of one, for there is no use anticipating evil. I ride considerably and do not fear injury though my horse is a little mild, I am glad you had so nice times in G. and R. Perhaps John and I may come in together next year, who knows. I certainly shall if he waits until the last of June or first of July before coming. Where does Canning work now You wrote about him going to Worcester to put up machinery but did not say who he was at work for. I received Vox and Journal and you can guess I was glad to get the news for once. Am very sorry Minnie F. has been sick. My love to her. When is Fannie to be married?</p>
<p> </p>
I wish you could look from my window here and see the grasshoppers. I never saw any until yesterday and now they have come in upon us and have eaten every greenthing about our camp and have completely ruined our fine garden except the potatoes turnips and beets, or any roots of others
Original Format
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paper
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter, John C. Watkins to Friends, Camp Winfield Scott, Nevada, August 23, 1868 [fragment] (Ms2009-071)
Creator
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John C. Watkins
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00417.xml" target="_blank">See the Finding Aid for the John C. Watkins Letters</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1868-08-23
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc" target="_blank">Permission to publish material from the John C. Watkins Letters must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Letters
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1868_0823
Bibliographic Citation
A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: John C. Watkins Letters, Ms2009-071, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/" target="_blank">Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech</a>
-
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1868_1122/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1868_1122a.jpg
ae0bc4df9c6f2550940b41210850238c
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>Camp Winfield Scott Nev </p>
<p>Nov 22. 1868</p>
<p>Dear Home Friends,</p>
<p>I have been waiting for the past two </p>
<p>or three mail arrivals before writing to hear </p>
<p>from you but have not heard for several </p>
<p>days and I can wait no longer. Where in the </p>
<p>name of wonder are you and what are you </p>
<p>doing? I have been quite busy lately having </p>
<p>had one or two patients dangerously sick and </p>
<p>now am without anything particular to </p>
<p>do but am mortally lazy. I fear that the </p>
<p>less I have to do the less I want to do anything </p>
<p>Then too I am in a fit of the “molly grubs” </p>
<p>because one of the Companies here has been or</p>
<p>dered to Arizona and it leaves us without the </p>
<p>society of our friends here in Camp. Captain </p>
<p>Kelly’s [Captain William Kelly] family and Lieut Ropes’ [Lt. James M. Ropes] are to go away </p>
<p>I tell them I am sorry they <del>are gone</del> ever came here </p>
<p>for we have just got well acquainted and </p>
<p>to liking each other and we had made ar</p>
<p>rangement for such nice times this winter </p>
<p>and now they are ordered away They are </p>
<p>very much provoked on their part and are </p>
<p>doing some tall scolding. We have had more </p>
<p>visitors here lately and had some nice rides. </p>
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Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1868-11-22
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1868_1122/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1868_1122b.jpg
e95056fc3f23e7a72f046f8e0d51b311
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>One gentleman came with a buggy and span </p>
<p>and loaned it me, so I have had the pleasure </p>
<p>of buggy riding again with a young lady </p>
<p>We have had some nice horseback rides but </p>
<p>I have told so much of them before that </p>
<p>I have nothing new to tell. I have one or </p>
<p>two patients with whom I have had such </p>
<p>complete success that my reputation is made</p>
<p>in this section. I only hope that when </p>
<p>I settle down in civil life that my first </p>
<p>few cases will be as successful as these have </p>
<p>been I was told only a day or two ago that </p>
<p>Everybody thought me wonderfully acute as </p>
<p>regards judgement &c especially so for </p>
<p>a young man, and again, a physician who </p>
<p>used to be here but who went East to prosecute </p>
<p>his studies wrote to one of the principle men </p>
<p>and asked him what the chances would be </p>
<p>for his success should he return. I learned </p>
<p>that his reply was that so long as they </p>
<p>could keep the one who was now here there </p>
<p>was no chance for him for every body was </p>
<p>more than pleased. Is it not gratifying </p>
<p>to hear such things of one’s self and to </p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1868-11-22
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1868_1122/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1868_1122c.jpg
d937e96e3b7091230f89d4df8eb1d29e
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<p>know they all like me? But I am waiting </p>
<p>now to hear from Van Couver in Washington Terry </p>
<p>a friend requested me to come there and </p>
<p>has written to the only physician there </p>
<p>to see about my going in with him. </p>
<p>He expects a reply by the next mail </p>
<p>If it should be favorable I mean to go </p>
<p>there in the Spring and settle down for </p>
<p>everybody says it is to be a junction for </p>
<p>a rail road and is now one of the most </p>
<p>beautiful places on the Pacific Coast. </p>
<p>I am glad on account of homefriends that </p>
<p>I did not settle in San Francisco for you </p>
<p>would all have been frightened about the </p>
<p>Earth Quakes and would have felt that I </p>
<p>was unsafe all the time. I am already </p>
<p>building air castles about Van Couver and am </p>
<p>half inclined to go there and set up a “she-</p>
<p>bang” of my own even if I do not hear favor</p>
<p>ably from the Physician there. The weather here </p>
<p>is cold and I am still living in tents but </p>
<p>am as comfortable as a pocket in a shirt </p>
<p>and am as well as can be and am getting </p>
<p>fat. I received a letter from John Calef </p>
<p>and he tells me he is just starting for Arizona </p>
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1868-11-22
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1868_1122/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1868_1122d.jpg
153c61d9c89377c2543736daa545429d
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<p>Is not very well. Wrote me had sent a </p>
<p>check to his father for $432 and would </p>
<p>send the balance on his return. I think </p>
<p>John has steadied down considerably and </p>
<p>says his dissipation is at an end in all </p>
<p>respects. I mean his speculations &c &c </p>
<p>I hope it is I am sure, and I think it is </p>
<p>I received a big fall from my horse a </p>
<p>few days since and came near getting hurt </p>
<p>but was not at all. The horse either stepped </p>
<p>in a hole or caught in a sage brush for </p>
<p>one or two who happened to be looking said </p>
<p>he stood on his head and they feared he </p>
<p>would fall over on to me. I jumped </p>
<p>clear of everything though and came off</p>
<p>with a slight bruise on my leg and back </p>
<p>They were going to fine me a basket of </p>
<p>champagne had I been thrown without </p>
<p>my horse going down. Everything remains </p>
<p>as usual and I have nothing special to write </p>
<p>so I will close and write to Hattie. </p>
<p>I remain as ever your affectionate son </p>
<p>and brother,</p>
<p>Johnnie</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Love to all Lowell Friends. </p>
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Date
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1868-11-22
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Title
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John C. Watkins Letters, Ms2009-071
Subject
The topic of the resource
Civil War
Description
An account of the resource
This collection consists of seventeen letters. Sixteen of these were written by John C. Watkins and one is by his wife, Harriet (Hattie) Watkins. Three are fragments. All were written to friends and family back home in Lowell, Massachusetts, first, when Watkins served as a private with the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment in Suffolk, Virginia in 1862 and 1863; then while in Washington, DC, from 1864 to 1866; and, lastly, while serving with the Eighth Cavalry as Acting Assistant Surgeon at Camp Winfield Scott, Nevada. The letter written by Hattie Watkins is from Winnemucca, Nevada, and is dated 17 January 1870, shortly after the couple were married.
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John C. Watkins, 1842-1892
Source
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<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00417.xml">John C. Watkins Letters, 1862-1870</a>
Date
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1862-1870
Date Accepted
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This collection was donated to Special Collections in 2009.
Contributor
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mdb
Rights
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Permission to publish material from the John C. Watkins Letters must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
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Collection is open for research.
Extent
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0.1 cu. ft; 1 folder
Rights Holder
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Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech
Identifier
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Ms2009-071
Document
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Text
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<h2>Transcript</h2>
<p>Camp Winfield Scott Nev</p>
<p>Nov 22 1868</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Dear Home Friends</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I have been waiting for the past two or three mail arrivals before writing to hear from you but have not heard for several days and I can wait no longer. Where in the name of wonder are you and what are you doing? I have been quite busy lately having had one or two patients dangerously sick and now am without anything particular to do but am mortally lazy. I fear that the less I have to do the less I want to do anything. Then too I am in a fit of “molly grubs” because one of the Companies here has been ordered to Arizona and it leaves us without the society of our friends here in Camp. Captain Kelly's family and Lieut Ropers' are to go away I tell them I am sorry they ever came here for we have just got well acquainted and to liking each other and we had made arrangement for such nice times this winter and now they are ordered away They are very much provoked on their part and are doing some tall scolding. We have had more visitors here lately and had some nice rides. One gentleman came with a buggy and span and loaned it to me, so I have had the pleasure of buggy riding again with a young lady We have had some nice horseback rides but I have told so much of them before that I have nothing new to tell. I have one or two patients with whom I have had such complete success that my reputation is made in this section. I only hope that when I settle down in civil life that my first few cases will be as successful as these have been I was told only a day or two ago that Everybody thought me wonderfully acute as regards judgement &c especially so for a young man, and again, a physician who used to be here but who went East to prosecute his studies wrote to one of the principle men and asked him what the chances would be for his success should he return. I learned that his reply was that so long as they could keep the one who was now here there was no chance for him for every body was more than pleased. Is it not gratifying to hear such things of one's self and to know they all like me? But I am waiting now to hear from VanCouver in Washington Terry a friend requested me to come there and has written to the only physician there to see about my going in with him. He expects a reply by the next mail If it should be favorable I mean to go there in the Spring and settle down for everybody says it is to be a junction for a railroad and is now one of the most beautiful places on the Pacific Coast. I am glad on account of homefriends that I did not settle in San Francisco for you would all have been frightened about the Earth Quakes and would have felt that I was unsafe all the time. I am already building air castles about VanCouver and am half inclined to go there and set up a “shebang” of my own even if I do not hear favorably from the Physician there. The weather here is cold and I am still living in tents but am as comfortable as a pocket in a shirt and am as well as can be and am getting fat. I received a letter from John Calef and he tells me he is just starting for Arizona Is not very well. Wrote me had sent a check to his father for $432 and would send the balance on his return. I think John has steadied down considerably and says his dissipation is at an end in all respects. I mean his speculations &c &c I hope it is I am sure. and I think it is I received a big fall from my horse a few days since and came near getting hurt but was not at all. The horse either stepped in a hole or caught in a sage brush for one or two who happened to be looking said he stood on his head and they feared he would fall over on to me. I jumped clear of everything though and came off with a slight bruise on my leg and back They were going to fine me a basket of champagne had I been thrown without my horse going down. Everything remains as usual and I have nothing special to write so I will close and write to Hattie. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I remain as ever your affectionate son</p>
<p>and brother</p>
<p>Johnnie</p>
<p> </p>
Love to a Lowell Friends.<br /><br />
Original Format
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paper
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Title
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Letter, John C. Watkins to Friends, Camp Winfield Scott, Nevada, November 22, 1868 (Ms2009-071)
Creator
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John C. Watkins
Source
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<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00417.xml" target="_blank">See the Finding Aid for the John C. Watkins Letters</a>
Date
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1868-11-22
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<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc" target="_blank">Permission to publish material from the John C. Watkins Letters must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
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Letters
Identifier
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Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_1868_1122
Bibliographic Citation
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Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: John C. Watkins Letters, Ms2009-071, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
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<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/" target="_blank">Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech</a>
-
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_fragment/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_fragment_a.jpg
b7950214c04e7f1e145e2c79970c584a
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<p>I can understand the Egyptian plagues now </p>
<p>for one of them could not have been worse than this </p>
<p>We had a raid of crickets a few weeks ago </p>
<p>and now the grasshoppers are taking what </p>
<p>they left. To cap the climax we fear our </p>
<p>creek will dry and we shall have to dig </p>
<p>wells. Are we not in a heap of trouble? </p>
<p>The grain crops are all ripe now and all </p>
<p>these things can injure them [at all?] and it </p>
<p>is really very interesting to see the people </p>
<p>with headers, reapers, and mowers gathering </p>
<p>and stacking the grain. They have to use ma</p>
<p>chinery here for they put in 300 acres of </p>
<p>grain and you can imagine it would take a </p>
<p>long time for a man to cradle grain to such </p>
<p>an extent. Politics are running rife here </p>
<p>but I have not had sufficient residence </p>
<p>to entitle me to a vote in November so I </p>
<p>cant make much spread here. I think </p>
<p>the Democrats are in the ascendancy here </p>
<p>for every body drinks &c &c and </p>
<p>many of them are rebels and of course </p>
<p>Democrats. The R.R. is within a few miles </p>
<p>of us now (We call 40 miles near) and we </p>
<p>shall soon have more luxuries than </p>
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_fragment/Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_fragment_b.jpg
25b200632893dc102753e5821971267d
Scripto
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A written representation of a document.
<p>ever. I mean in the way of fruit &c </p>
<p>Tell me all the news of the people about </p>
<p>and keep me posted. I am glad our grape </p>
<p>vine is doing so well. wish I could have </p>
<p>the benefit of some of them .</p>
<p>But I must close. I am going to write </p>
<p>to Mr Calef some time this week </p>
<p>Love to all inquiring friends. I am glad </p>
<p>you liked the Canyon. who fixed the </p>
<p>frame for you? The same young man? </p>
<p>You should pay him the difference if </p>
<p>he did. Was he satisfied with the price </p>
<p>if not pay him what tis worth. </p>
<p>Write soon to</p>
<p>Your affect.</p>
<p>Johnnie</p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
John C. Watkins Letters, Ms2009-071
Subject
The topic of the resource
Civil War
Description
An account of the resource
This collection consists of seventeen letters. Sixteen of these were written by John C. Watkins and one is by his wife, Harriet (Hattie) Watkins. Three are fragments. All were written to friends and family back home in Lowell, Massachusetts, first, when Watkins served as a private with the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment in Suffolk, Virginia in 1862 and 1863; then while in Washington, DC, from 1864 to 1866; and, lastly, while serving with the Eighth Cavalry as Acting Assistant Surgeon at Camp Winfield Scott, Nevada. The letter written by Hattie Watkins is from Winnemucca, Nevada, and is dated 17 January 1870, shortly after the couple were married.
Creator
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John C. Watkins, 1842-1892
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00417.xml">John C. Watkins Letters, 1862-1870</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1862-1870
Date Accepted
Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal).
This collection was donated to Special Collections in 2009.
Contributor
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mdb
Rights
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Permission to publish material from the John C. Watkins Letters must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Access Rights
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Collection is open for research.
Extent
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0.1 cu. ft; 1 folder
Rights Holder
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Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech
Identifier
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Ms2009-071
Document
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Text
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I can understand the Egyptian plagues now for one of them could not have been more than this We had a raid of crickets a few weeks ago and now the grasshoppers are taking what they left. To cap the climax we fear our creek will dry and we shall have to dig wells. Are we not in a heap of trouble? The grain crops are all ripe now and all these things can injure them at all and it is really very interesting to see the people with headers, reapers, and mowers gathering and stacking the grain. They have to use machinery here for they put in 300 acres of grain and you can imagine it would take a long time for a man to cradle grain to such an extent. Politics are running rife here but I have not had sufficient residence to entitle me to a vote in November so I cant make much spread here. I think the Democrats are in the ascendancy here for every body drinks &c &c and many of them are rebels and of course Democrats. The R. R. is within a few miles of us now (We call 40 miles near) and we shall soon have more luxuries than ever. I mean in the way of fruit &c Tell me all the news of the people about and keep me posted. I am glad our grape vine is doing so well. wish I could have the benefit of some of them
But I must close. I am going to write to Mr Calef some time this week
Love to all inquiring friends. I am glad you liked the Canyon. who fixed the frame for you? The same young man? You should pay him the difference if he did. Was he satisfied with the price if not pay him what tis worth
Write soon to
Your affectionate
Johnnie
Original Format
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paper
Dublin Core
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Title
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Letter, John C. Watkins, Undated fragment (Ms2009-071)
Creator
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John C. Watkins
Source
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<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00417.xml">See the Finding Aid for the John C. Watkins Letters</a>
Date
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n.d.
Rights
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<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc">Permission to publish material from the John C. Watkins Letters must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
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Letters
Identifier
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Ms2009_071_WatkinsJohnC_fragment
Bibliographic Citation
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Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: John C. Watkins Letters, Ms2009-071, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/">Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech</a>
-
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsHarriet_1870_0117/Ms2009_071_WatkinsHarriet_1870_0117a.jpg
bb6e8451d77dfcaf70c6f353cc9fd317
Scripto
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<p>[NOTE: This letter was written by Hattie Watkins (formerly, Harriet Clark Clary of Deerfield, Ma.), John’s wife. They were married in Elko, Nevada 17 December 1869.]</p>
<p> </p>
<p>[Continued from page 4]</p>
<p>Mary of course has written you of her trouble. I am sorry for </p>
<p>her. She seems </p>
<p>very blue to me.</p>
<p> </p>
<hr>
<p> </p>
<p>Winnemucca Nevada Jany 17, 1870</p>
<p>My dear home friends,</p>
<p>I hope that I do not write </p>
<p>too often to be welcomed. I think of you much oftener </p>
<p>than I can talk with you. & knowing how anxious </p>
<p>I should be to hear from any of you if you had </p>
<p>come to Nevada, I try to do as I would be done by. </p>
<p>And still I know how very acceptable a word put </p>
<p>in edgewise from John would be. I hope some </p>
<p>time that he can prove to you that long silence </p>
<p>is not forgetfulness. At present he is as busy </p>
<p>as ever. You will wonder what about & with </p>
<p>reason, but if you were here you would see. </p>
<p>Mr. Buchanan [J.Y. Buchanan, druggist] has been at Battle Mt. [town approximately 50 mi. SE of Winnemucca] all the </p>
<p>time, & that left everything here with John. </p>
<p>For the week past though, he has had his </p>
<p>old hospital steward, Schmidt [Christian Schmidt], for a clerk, </p>
<p>& that relieves him of his constant <u>hurry</u>, </p>
<p>& still he wants to attend & see to everything him</p>
<p>self. & besides quite a number of patients to </p>
<p><u>think</u> of, he is fully occupied. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>We are together at meals, twice a day to </p>
<p>be sure, & have a little “billing & cooing” </p>
<p>between times, but with that exception John </p>
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Date
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1870-01-17
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsHarriet_1870_0117/Ms2009_071_WatkinsHarriet_1870_0117b.jpg
40ac81c6ffd426662b526cd116fa7179
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<p>is at the store, & his wife is here. We are </p>
<p>still boarding at the same hotel, from necessity </p>
<p>& with reluctance, because the B’s [Buchanans] are still </p>
<p>in the rooms at the store. We <u>must</u> make some </p>
<p>other arrangement if possible. This morning we </p>
<p>here that the house that Joe is building at Battle </p>
<p>Mt. blew down all to smash in the gale the other </p>
<p>night. It is provoking enough for they expected </p>
<p>to move in a few days. He will be down this </p>
<p>eve, & something will be agreed upon I hope.</p>
<p>I am tired to death doing nothing, & mean </p>
<p>to work all the harder to make up for this </p>
<p>laziness when I am where I can “sling” a broom </p>
<p>or dish mop. I am “rested” through & through </p>
<p>& think that I am equal to again getting ready to be </p>
<p>married! When I am housekeeping & cooking </p>
<p>for my husband, <u>&c</u> <u>&c</u> these “<u>long</u>” letters will </p>
<p>come to a sudden end I fear. Don’t look </p>
<p>for more than a page once in six weeks. </p>
<p>John is already disgusted at my <u>volumes</u>, </p>
<p>& already lays down his commands but </p>
<p>I mind him about as much as I would a </p>
<p>pussy cat, considering that he does not have </p>
<p>to read them, but I think yr “mince pie” letter </p>
<p>is too good to have its sweetness wasted on the </p>
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Date
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1870-01-17
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsHarriet_1870_0117/Ms2009_071_WatkinsHarriet_1870_0117c.jpg
7147daf1c3c491a707390c90daa28fb6
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<p>desert air, & so I am doing my best to show </p>
<p>due appreciation. It is very sweet my dear </p>
<p>mother & sisters, to be called “daughter” & “sister”. </p>
<p>God helping me I will always fill the place, & I </p>
<p>cannot thank you suitably, or ever forget how </p>
<p>kindly you have taken me to yr hearts & warmed </p>
<p>me & fed me with yr true love. I assure you </p>
<p>that I do not forget how unusual it is, & hence </p>
<p>all the more valuable. You have all ever trusted </p>
<p>us so completely, & made it so pleasant for me, </p>
<p>that I’ve never had the feeling of encroaching </p>
<p>or robbing you of yr precious <u>all</u>. We are far </p>
<p>away only as to distance. Our thoughts & conversa</p>
<p>tion are of you & other loved ones, every day of our </p>
<p>lives. & we would <u>wish</u> to be <u>with</u> you, but since </p>
<p>our lot is here for awhile at least, it is best </p>
<p>to be contented I think. I’ve not had a notion </p>
<p>or symptom of homesickness. Shall not have. </p>
<p>I <u>could</u> not if I would. John is the best in the </p>
<p>world to me. King Solomon’s riches could not make </p>
<p>him better. I would rather have the good will of a loving heart </p>
<p>than cold deeds be they ever so many.</p>
<p>Now Felia [John’s sister Ophelia] to answer yr questions in a direct manner. </p>
<p>We are 432 miles from San Francisco. it takes a </p>
<p>day & night to get there, & less than half that distance from </p>
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Date
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1870-01-17
http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/files/original/John_C._Watkins_Letters_Ms2009-071/Ms2009_071_WatkinsHarriet_1870_0117/Ms2009_071_WatkinsHarriet_1870_0117d.jpg
b8e86dd9984bba61a69b891a989e0eeb
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<p>Elko Yes. John met me at Ogden at 5 in the eve & we merely </p>
<p>stopped to change cars & baggage, & eat supper </p>
<p>& then came right on with the friends to </p>
<p>Elko, arriving there the next morning at 8. </p>
<p>You needn’t imagine that we went to sleep like </p>
<p>good little robins, for we didn’t do any such </p>
<p>absurdly sensible thing as that. We kept our </p>
<p>eyes wide open & chattered as hard as we could. </p>
<p>Two of those friends passed through the other </p>
<p>day on their way back east, & left their </p>
<p>card for us, so they did not forget the silly</p>
<p>couple. Many thanks for Mr. & Mrs. Shaw’s </p>
<p>kind remembrance. They must not despair </p>
<p>like you do of hearing from John. Who were </p>
<p>the others Felia that you said I <u>must</u> “make” </p>
<p>him write to? We rec’d the papers </p>
<p>that Arthur sent. Do you know who got up </p>
<p>the notices? Didn’t it sound funny that </p>
<p>I came from <u>Utah</u>? I’m sorry they put </p>
<p>in my long name. It is astonishing enough </p>
<p>to take one’s breath away almost. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I must say Abbie [Abigail, John’s eldest sister] that you hit the mark </p>
<p>when you called us “old married folks.” </p>
<p>Yes, for just <u>four</u> <u>weeks</u>. We celebrated the </p>
<p>anniversary in the most charming manner. </p>
<p>My husband spent the <u>whole evening</u> in “the </p>
<p>bosom of his family”. It was enjoyment in </p>
<p>deed as it was his first devotion of the kind </p>
<p>to me. I expected every minute that somebody would cut </p>
<p>their heads or legs off & run for him, but </p>
<p>they deferred such little pleasures. </p>
<p>The evening before John had been called 27 [. . . end]</p>
<p> </p>
<hr>
<p> </p>
<p>[Continued on page 1]</p>
<p>Mary of course has written you of her trouble. I am sorry for </p>
<p>her. She seems </p>
<p>very blue to me.</p>
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Date
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1870-01-17
Dublin Core
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Title
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John C. Watkins Letters, Ms2009-071
Subject
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Civil War
Description
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This collection consists of seventeen letters. Sixteen of these were written by John C. Watkins and one is by his wife, Harriet (Hattie) Watkins. Three are fragments. All were written to friends and family back home in Lowell, Massachusetts, first, when Watkins served as a private with the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment in Suffolk, Virginia in 1862 and 1863; then while in Washington, DC, from 1864 to 1866; and, lastly, while serving with the Eighth Cavalry as Acting Assistant Surgeon at Camp Winfield Scott, Nevada. The letter written by Hattie Watkins is from Winnemucca, Nevada, and is dated 17 January 1870, shortly after the couple were married.
Creator
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John C. Watkins, 1842-1892
Source
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<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00417.xml">John C. Watkins Letters, 1862-1870</a>
Date
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1862-1870
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This collection was donated to Special Collections in 2009.
Contributor
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mdb
Rights
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Permission to publish material from the John C. Watkins Letters must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
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Collection is open for research.
Extent
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0.1 cu. ft; 1 folder
Rights Holder
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Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech
Identifier
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Ms2009-071
Document
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Text
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<h2>Transcript</h2>
<p>Winnemucca Nevada Jany 17, 1870<br /><br /></p>
<p>My dear home friends<br /><br /></p>
<p>I hope that I do not write too often to be welcomed. I think of you much oftener than I can talk with you. & knowing how anxious I should be to hear from any of you if you had come to Nevada. I try to do as I would be done by. And still I know how very acceptable a word put in edgewise from John would be. I hope some time that he can prove to you that long silence is not forgetfulness. At present he is as busy as ever. You will wonder what about & with reason, but if you were here you would see. Mr. Buchanan has been at Battle Mt. all the time, & that left everything here with John. For the week past though, he has had his old hospital steward, Schmidt, for a clerk, & that relieves him of his constant hurry, & still he wants to attend & see to everything himself. & besides quite the number of patients to think of, he is fully occupied. <br /><br /></p>
<p> We are together at meals twice a day to be sure, & have a little “billing and cooing” between times, but with that exception John is at the store, & his wife is here. We are still boarding at the same hotel, from necessity & with reluctance, because the B’s are still in the rooms at the store. We must make some other arrangement if possible. This morning we here that the house that Joe is building at Battle Mt. blew down all to smash in the gale the other night. It is provoking enough, for they expected to move in a few days. He will be down this eve, & something will be agreed upon I hope. I am tired to death doing nothing, & mean to work all the harder to make up for this laziness when I am where I can “sling” a broom or dish mop. I am “rested” through & through & think that I am equal to again getting ready to be married! When I am housekeeping & cooking for my husband, &c &c, these “long” letters will come to a sudden end I fear. Don’t look for more than a page once in six weeks. John is already disgusted at my volumes, & already lays down his commands but I mind him about as much as I would a pussy cat, considering that he does not have to read them, but I think yr “mince-pie” letter is too good to have its sweetness wasted on the desert air. & so I am doing my best to show due appreciation. It is very sweet my dear mother & sisters, to be called “daughter” & “sister”. God helping me I will always fill the place. & I cannot thank you suitably, or ever forget how kindly you have taken me to yr hearts & warmed me & fed me with yr true love. I assure you that I do not forget how unusual it is. & hence all the more valuable. You have all ever trusted us so completely, & made it so pleasant for me, that I’ve never had the feeling of encroaching or robbing you of yr precious all. We are far away only as to distance. Our thoughts & conversation are of you & other loved ones. Every day of our lives. & we would wish to be with you, but since our lot is here for awhile at least, it is best to be contented, I think. I’ve not had a notion or symptom of homesickness, shall not have. I could not if I would. John is the best in the world to me. King Solomon’s riches could not make him better. I would rather have the good will of a loving heart than cold deeds be they ever so many. <br /><br /></p>
<p>Now Felia to answer yr questions in a direct manner. We are 432 miles from San Francisco. it takes a day & night to get there. & less than half that distance from Elko Yes. John met me at at Ogden at 5 in the eve & we merely stopped to change cars, & baggage, & eat supper & then came right on with the friends to Elko arriving there the next morning at 8. You needn’t imagine that we went to sleep like good little robins, for we didn’t do any such absurdly sensible thing as that. We kept our eyes wide open & chattered as hard as we could. Two of those friends passed through the other day on their way back east, & left their card for us. so they did not forget the silly couple. Many thanks for Mr. & Mrs. Shaw’s kind remembrance. They must not despair like you do of hearing from John. Who were the others Felia that you said I must “make” him write to? We rec’d the papers that Arthur sent. Do you know who got up the notices? Didn’t it sound funny that I came from Utah? I’m sorry they put in my long name. It is astonishing enough to take one’s breath away almost. I must say Abbie that you hit the mark when you called us “old married folks”. Yes, for just four weeks. We celebrated the anniversary in the most charming manner. My husband spent the whole evening in “the bosom of his family”. It was enjoyment indeed as it was his first devotion of the kind to me. I expected every minute that somebody would cut their heads or legs off & run for him, but they deferred such little pleasures. <br /><br /></p>
<p>The evening before John had been called 27 [letter ends here]<br /><br /></p>
<p>[cross-hatching from page 1]</p>
<p>Mary of course has written you of her trouble. I am sorry for her. She seems very blue to me.</p>
Original Format
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paper
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Letter, Harriet Watkins to Friends, Winnemucca, Nevada, January 17, 1870 [fragment] (Ms2009-071)
Creator
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Harriet (Hattie) Clark Clary Watkins
Source
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<a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00417.xml" target="_blank">See the Finding Aid for the John C. Watkins Letters</a>
Date
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1870-01-17
Rights
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<a href="https://omeka.lib.vt.edu/files/thumbnails/spec_forms/PubPermission.doc" target="_blank">Permission to publish material from the John C. Watkins Letters must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.</a>
Type
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Letters
Identifier
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Ms2009_071_WatkinsHarriet_1870_0117
Bibliographic Citation
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Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: John C. Watkins Letters, Ms2009-071, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rights Holder
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<a href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu/" target="_blank">Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech</a>