Lieutenant William James Fisher, Civil War Soldier

I. M. Fisher, Esq., Dear Sir:

I am afraid I can give but little information at all satisfactory, in answer to the questions you proposed to me in you letter of the 4th Instant.

I did not know anything of William’s having left his trunk at Willard’s. I imagine, however, that the trunk he carried home last spring was the one he left there, as he could hardly have carried it with him during the campaign.

Then in getting the valise you speak of, I imagine you have secured about all his baggage of that description that he had with him.

I did not join the Regt until it had been in the field sometime and did not store my baggage as most of the officers did. Most of the officers in our Regt. and I think of all the Regular Regiments, stored their luggage in a warehouse at the foot of G. Street in Washington. It has since been removed and stored in a warehouse known, I believe, as the “Whiting Warehouse.” This warehouse, if I recollect all right, is in the 19th or 20th St, between E & F Streets. Jenkins or James Bell could ascertain for you whether any trunk was left at Willard’s or in the warehouse I spoke of, by calling at the Quartermaster’s Office, corner of 18th & G Sts. They could ascertain where the warehouse is and what articles were stored in it by the 10th Infantry as our inventory of all the property in the warehouse is right there.

Lt. Hamilton was speaking to me of the dressing case you mention. I said he had looked for it but could not find it or hear anything of it. He seemed to think William’s servant* had stolen it. I did not hear him say any thing of the diary, or of any other papers.

I do not know where any of the officers are that you inquired for but you can ascertain where they are by addressing the Commanding Officers of the 10th Infantry at Fort Lafayette, New York Harbor. As I know it and the Regt. is stationed there at this time.

Capt. William Clinton was in command so long as we remained together. I cannot say in what battles William was engaged before I joined the Army of the Potomac. He was at the battle of Gains Mill, but whether in any other during the seven days fight I do not know. After that he was in the battle at Manassas or 2nd Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. He was also I think in our affair at Blackburn’s Ford on the 20th of Sept 1862 and in a reconnaissance made to Leetown, [Leesburg] Va. in the middle of Oct. of that year.

I do not know in which of these battles he commanded a company. Though I think, from the scarcity of officers in his Regt., he did so in most of them.

In reference to this and in answer to nearly all your questions, Lieut. Lauman or Hamilton could answer you much more explicitly.

Lauman was in the Regiment from the time it first entered the field. Lt. Hamilton may have been too – though I am not sure that he was.

There being nothing improper of course in inquiring of Lt. Lauman if he had William’s pistol and requesting him to send to you if in his possession.

Remember me to Mrs. Fisher.

Yours truly; Capt. Rodney Layton

[caption id="attachment_409" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Rodney Layton to Isaac Fisher"][/caption][caption id="attachment_411" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Rodney Layton to Isaac Fisher"][/caption]

Mr. Fisher,

Dear Sir,

Your letter of the 30th [Oct] was duly received.

In reply to your request, regarding the inscription of your son’s name on the monument to be erected in the National Cemetery at this place, I would say that only the names of those buried here will be inscribed on the monument.

Respectfully yours, David Wills

My Dear Mr. Fisher:

I have been prevented from acknowledging the receipt of your kind letter of Nov 13th—-by sickness, and absence from home.

My brother Robert was able to be with us on Thanksgiving Day, and he said that I had added much to the satisfaction of his visit to have the photographs of his last friend—-which came a few days previous. He thought I have no photograph of myself just now—but, as you expressed a desire for one, I will try to send you a Carte de Visite from Washington.

They were excellent likenesses, and said he should write you very soon to tell you what a comfort it was to have them.

We too, shall prize them—for we have a precious memory of them through Robert, and have become to feel interested in you all.

Robert is in New York recruiting, had two offices, one 115 Cedar St, the other I have forgotten.

He said, when here, that Lt. Hamilton had a Pistol belonging to your son—and if you would send the proper address—he would express it to you.

I shall be in Washington most of the Winter after Christmas—If you, or any of your family should be there, I hope you would not fail to call upon me at my Uncle’s, 312 H. St. —or if you every come to Conn., it would give all of us great pleasure to meet you——

All the family joins with me in kindest remembrances for yourself, Mrs. Fisher, and other members of your household—

Very sincerely your friend, Anna M. Wells