Camp Bayard, VA 8 March 1863
.jpg)
KP2025.001.038 (001)
.jpg)
KP2025.001.038 (002)
.jpg)
KP2025.001.038 (003)
.jpg)
KP2025.001.038 (004)
Camp Bayard March 8th /63
Dear Brother & Sister
Yours numbered 21 was received last night and a few days ago No. 18 came & since I have written to you we got that box so every thing you have sent has been received unless it may be a paper or two. That box came nice as a pin, the contents was all right & in just as good order as when started & we are making away with it slowly. All the contributors to the contents as well as the maker of the box will please accept my thanks now & forevermore. (Please notify.) I am sorry you are having such a time with your finger Harriett but I suppose you will have to grin & bear it, but I am glad to hear that Melissa is better. Joseph has been about sick for quite a while or 2 or 3 weeks and came pretty near having a fever but he is better now. He has not written nor have I about it for we knew twould not help Melissa to hear he was sick nor twould not make him any better to write it. I think his hearing about her being so sick has made him sick or worse than he would have been. George Rudd received no injury at the battle of Fredericksburgh [Fredericksburg], nor did he fall from a tree either but I will tell you just how it is & I can prove it for I was examined at Buffalo by Dr. Boardman the same time he was and 4 others were in the room with us. The Dr. discovered a rupture on him and spoke to him that the State Surgeon at Elmira might not pass him, but George was smart enough to keep it from being discovered there and after he had got all his bounties and before he ever left Alexandria he tried to get his discharge. You can put no dependence on anything he says. Erastus L. Harris has been here and stayed all night with me, so I heard from home direct. You write that R. W. Mass has offered $100.00 for my grey now I want you to do just as you would with your own. It seems to me as though twould be better to sell them together than separately & then twould break up your team for doing springs work unless you could trade the mare for a yoke of cattle; do as you think best about selling him but I can’t say that I am very force for selling him. I think you had better sell 2 of my cows if you can get what they are worth but keep the one that was Betsies. In your letter of No 18 you say you will keep the team for the use of them until I return but if you get a good chance to sell them after your springs work is done or when it will not discommode you let them go. And you say also that you will take care of my things as well as you can till I return that’s just what I want. We’ve just got an order to go on picket for 10 days start in the morning. I have got excused to stay with Joe so he would not have to go into the Hospital. I am well as I ever was. Please tell Miss Clara Hartman that I answered her letter the next day after I received hers but I have never had a reply; but perhaps its because she has a Beaux there; How is it? (I charge nothing for this years Mill rent). I got a piece of May’s dress twas very pretty.
[side of last page wrapping around to bottom] I have seen the Conscript Act. I like it very much, but Wm you had better get a substitute if drafted than to come yourself.
K. Pearsons
[envelope]
Mr. W. H. Press
Gowanda
NY
Camp Bayard, VA 18 March 1863
.jpg)
KP2025.001.039 (001)
.jpg)
KP2025.001.039 (002)
No. 23
Camp Bayard Va March 18th 1863
Dear Brother & Sister
I write this time because I have nothing else to do. I have had no letters since I last wrote so I have nothing to reply to. John W. Matthews got a letter last night stating that Melissa was not as well as she had been which news I was sorry to hear. Joseph is gaining but not able to do any duty yet but I think he will be all right in a short time. Our pack mules have come for the whole Brigade. They are to be used in the [room?] of wagons to carry Rations & Forage when on a march. I hear some rumors that we will march in the course of 2 weeks but I don’t suppose any one other but Gen Joe Hooker knows when or where we will go (when I say we I mean the Grand Army of the Potomac) but I suppose we will cross the Rhappahannack [Rappahannock] (is that spelled right) somewhere and pitch into the Grey Backs and whip them or get whipped. Time will tell which. We have had a few old fashioned march days, cold & windy and last night it froze quite hard and to day it snows a little; the roads will soon be good. Joseph and I still continue to be thankful for luxuries sent in that box and I guess we will be until they are all gone. I don’t know where the 5th Regt of Cav is located that John McMillen is in, but I’ll keep watch for it. Please find out what Division & what Brigade he is in and where they have camped this winter and let me know. I found out by Wm Wimple a few days ago that when we were at Alexandria that he was only about a mile from us and I was in his camp once but did not know that there was anyone there that I knew. I have not seen P Waldens brother Lucius either nor do I know where he is. I think Philemon wrote me that he was in the 1st regular Cav. Please ask him if that is right and if he knows where they lay. I’ve got a little hard ware to send this time a 10 & L & Cross Sabres [sabers] all of which we had to put on our caps. I send them home to be kept as a memento of what was, & Joseph has given me a picture frame which I’ll send to May. That night cap is a big thing in every sense of the word but when I am asleep I can’t see it any more than the frog could. Has S. F. Perrin got his wife home and does Harriet Bartlett stay there and does Walt Falls pay particular attention to Hellen Perrin or not. We drawed some new Ponchos a few days ago for our summer tents. Our boys are on picket now near where they were before. Give my respects to all Loyal friends and tell them a letter would be very acceptable. With these few pencil marks I will adjourn writing till I get a letter.
Yours very sincerely
K. Pearsons
Wm H & H. A. P.
[upside down first page] I am well and in good flesh.
Tell Ida to send me some posies as soon as she can find any in the woods.
[upside down second page] I wear the black hat I wore from home. It’s better in a storm than 40 caps I sold my cap for .50 2 months ago.
Camp Bayard, VA
20 March 1863
.jpg)
KP2025.001.040 (001)
.jpg)
KP2025.001.040 (002)
I won’t number this at all
Camp Bayard Va March 20th 1863
Dear Brother & Sister
I am now expecting that Joseph will surely get a furlough and I want you to send me one pair of Socks one paper of pins one package of envelopes that are as long as this sheet of paper is wide, those you sent me were too short and I’ve got rid of some of them (and if you really want to let me have something for Cider Mill rent for 1863 I’ll take a two bladed jack knife for mine has giv[en] out, cutting open so many tin cans as I’ve had to lately.) and one paper of larger sized pins, and a black hat, Joseph is going to get him one and I guess same for others. I want about such a one as I wore away only a wider brim and lower crown. I lend Joseph $10.00 to bring him home which he will leave with you or arrange with you some way to suit him and you. I received a letter from Cousin Ann O. Bartlett a few days ago. She was well and the rest of our friends also. Its no use for me to write any news for Joseph can tell more in five minutes than I can write in an hour.
From your Brother in Arms
K. Pearsons
Wm & Harriet
P.S. One minute later. I will send my last years Diary home by Joseph; I want it preserved, you can look it over and see what I’ve done since I enlisted but keep it where everyone can’t get it for its pencil marks and won’t last forever, and I don’t care to have everyone see it either.
K. Pearsons
March 21st
I send a blanket and Joseph brings his, both for you to use for horse blankets. Send back all the news you can by Joseph.
K.P.
Camp Bayard, VA
24 March 1863
.jpg)
KP2025.001.041 (001)
.jpg)
KP2025.001.041 (002)
.jpg)
KP2025.001.041 (003)
.jpg)
KP2025.001.041 (004)
No 25
Camp Bayard, Va. March 24th /63
Dear Sister & May girl
Your letters No 22 was received night before last I was glad to get it, as I am always glad to get news from home, yes & a paper & a half come too, that’s the way to send them. And our Captain got a telegram the same evening (the 22) that Joseph Matthews wife lay at the point of death. But luckily Joe was on his way home, but I am very anxious to hear again but I fear we shall hear she is not living when I hear again. I have sold some of the pencils at 10 cts each and gave Eugene Colburn one because he brought them to me and gave Joe one. I have written you some Camp rumor occasionally about our destination, now I will tell what I think. I think we will go south, and when the Army of the Potomac goes. We have Potatoes & Onions occasionally and apples any day we wish to buy from pedlers [peddlers] who come through our Camp with a bag of them. We get from 6 to 8 apples for 25 cts and 2 or 3 for 10 cts. I wish you would raise 2 heifer calves for me, can’t you or Wm get my yearlings pastured somewhere and then keep the sheep and cows at home. I did not know before that David B. was in the army. It has been warm every day since Joseph left. We are under marching orders so watch the papers for news.
How & where did that girl May learn to write so good letters as she does, for when I cam away she could not write at all as I remember. I shall soon expect to get letters from Ida for May writes that Ida says she is as tall as a rail. Our Brigade which is the 2nd N.Y. 1st Maine & 10th N.Y. were out on Review today. I wish you could see even one regt of Cavalry. I think you would call it quite a sight. The 1st Maine have got assorted horses in each company, or each company have horses which are colored alike, one company of black, one of brown one of bay, one of chestnut, one of sorrel one of grey & so on which makes them look nice. Our regt have got all colored horses mixed up together. We have got some good horses and a great many poor ones, my horse has been sick a good deal this winter but he is gaining now, I have got a very easy riding horse and an excellent saddle one that never made me lame or sore yet. The grass starts here and warm weather prevails. I have not time before the mail goes to finish this sheet so you will have to put up wit another short letter. Can’t you write more news about the neighbors than you do once in a while. Remember anything is news to me.
Accept my best wishes now and evermore.
K. Pearsons
H.A.P. Press & Family
[envelope]
Mr. Wm. H. Press
Gowanda Catt. Co.
N.Y.
Camp Bayard, VA
27 March 1863
.jpg)
KP2025.001.042 (001)
.jpg)
KP2025.001.042 (002)
.jpg "Camp Bayard, VA")
KP2025.001.042 (003)
No. 26
Camp Bayard Va. March 27th 1863
Dear Brother & Sister
Last evening we got the news here of Melissas death, Ransom King had a letter from his cousin (one of Ed Farnsworths daughters) tis sad news to hear from home & unexpected to, for your last letter said you thought she would recover but I guess she was lower than you were aware of. It seems as though twould be more than Joseph could bear for when he left here he thought she was a gaining. Joseph talked about her a good deal before he left and told me that he hoped if she should not live she would be buried in our grave yard and that her friends would not have an orthodox sermon preached. I am going to tell you my dream, one that I had soon after we heard that Melissa was sick; I dreamed that I went home on a furlough and went first to Jonases & went into the room where Melissa lay sick & she seemed almost gone, but as I went up to her bed side she recognized me and reached up her hand to me. I took hold of her right hand with my left & took her left arm in my right hand, she raised up and I kissed her and then she lay back on the bed and immediately her hand & arm grew cold & I awoke. I told Joseph of it and if I had been a believer in dreams I should have thought she would not recover. The telegram that Jonas sent to Capt George Vanderbilt from Perrysburgh the 20th was received the eve of the 22nd. I suppose it came from Washington by mail, we did not return a despatch [dispatch] because we thought Joseph would get there the next day. It’s a very nice warm pleasant day I have just finished my dinner and will try to finish this letter. I commenced it as soon as I got my breakfast but we had to go out & drill with horses a couple of hours from 9 to 11 A.M. & in our drill today we made two charges with drawn Sabres [sabers] & yelling fiercely we charged about 50 rods on the run and if every I saw the dirt fly twas then. There is preparations being made every day to move the blacksmiths now have to work night & day shoeing up our horses and mules. The roads are drying up very fast now & with good weather will soon be so the Artillery can move, but whether this Army will move as soon as the roads are suitable or not is more than I can tell, as far as I am concerned I am ready to go to day & to meet the foe if need be & if tis my lot to fall in battle you can have the consolation of knowing that I was doing what I considered my duty. I have not changed my mind since I left home but still think it right to try to put down this rebellion with Arms. I feel as though the south were attempting to overthrow the best government that world ever knew & that no man that has had the protection of it is too good to die in attempting to support it. I am feeling well physically & mentally as well as I think I ever did and I am in good flesh for me. I expect a letter from you this evening but this I’ll send right off. The last letter I sent I kept 2 day after twas written and sealed up. The day I wrote it the mail was changed from what it had been & went earlier and the next day I forgot it.
Good day for this time
K. Pearsons
Wm & Harriett
[upside down] I suppose Joseph will be on his way back here before this gets there or I would write to him.