Lieutenant William James Fisher, Civil War Soldier

To Mr. Isaac M. Fisher Esq., Sir:

I received your note of the 23rd of July and I am very sorry that it was not in my power to answer it before this time for at the time that I received your note, I was sick in Camp.

About the first of August, I was sent to hospital where I have been very sick but, thank God, I am getting over my sickness and I take the first opportunity of addressing to you a few lines in answer to your note, for I can insure you that it is with pleasure that I give to the father of Lt. W. J. Fisher all the information in my power concerning his last moments.

But as Lt. George S. Lauman gives the description of the action and of the place where your son received the wound that caused his death, I will only state what followed the moment that he was struck.

I was within two feet of him and he made to turn round to the left, and raised his left arm and placed it around my neck. He would fallen to the ground had I not supported him by pressing my right around his body, at the same time asking him, was he wounded, but he did not answer me nor did he speak one word from the time that he was struck until his death. It was just at the time the Brigade received orders to fall back that your son was struck and him being helpless in my arms. I called for assistance to take Lt. Fisher off, so Lt. Welles of the 10th Infantry and 1st Sergt. McCabe of Co G 10th Infy and one private came to my assistance. We lifted him off his feet and carried him out of the woods into the open lot land as we crossed this open lot and had for about 14 or 20 paces from the woods the enemy being in our rear and on both right and left of us.

Sgt. McCabe got wounded in the side and fell, but still we carried your son in until Lt. Welles got wounded in the leg and then we had to lay him down for the Brigades was leaving us far behind so we laid his body down. The place is marked by two very large stones near a lone tree and it was along side of one of those stones that Lt. Welles and me laid down the body of your son and after I had left him a few paces I returned and took possession of his watch which was turned over to Capt. Bush of the 10th Infantry along with all his effects.

You wish to know if he lingered after he was struck or if he seemed to suffer with pain. Now to the best of my opinion he did not live five minutes after he received the wound nor did he seem to be in the least pain for when I stooped over him to take his watch there was seemingly no life and there was a smile on his countenance.

You also asked if he was acting as Capt. of Co or as Lt. He was acting as Lt. of Co. G of the 10th US Infantry. You asked me if I considered him a brave and honest young man. Now I have been in the army nearly six years and I have been under a good many officers in the time for it was only in July ’62 that I received my commission but I left Washington on the 10th of March ’62 with the Army of the Potomac and since that time I have been personally acquainted with your son W. J. Fisher and have been under his command for part of the time and a more braver young man I do not know and as to being honest and upright his superior does not live, and he had the respect of all that knew him from the highest to the lowest in the army.

You also asked to know when he was buried and who placed the card on his headboard. He was buried about nine of clock in the morning and the name of the man that placed the card on his head board was Private Wm. Buchan of Co. H, 10th US Infantry.

So I think that is about all that I am able to give but if there is anything that I have neglected there is nothing [that will] give me more pleasure than [to] let you know.

Yours with respect, George Hamilton, 2ndLt.10thUS Infantry

Isaac M. Fisher, Esq.

My sister received a letter from you some time ago, which would have been answered in this, had I been in a condition to write. I do so now, and will Endeavor to give you, so far as I am able, a complete account of the death of your son, Lt. Fisher.

The encampment, during the morning of the 1st of July, was the town of Hanover, PA. About 2 P.M. we started, and marched until 11 P.M. where we halted in the road, about three miles from Gettysburg, resting then, until 3 A.M. July 2nd. Then we moved forward, and halted in front of a heavy piece of oak timber about half a mile north of Gettysburg.

Then Capt. Bush and myself, with men were sent forward, and commenced skirmishing with the Rebel Picketts.

I was absent from the Regt. until 12 noon. When I joined them, they had moved to the left and was of the line of battle and were resting in the shade of a large oak. In front was a cornfield and a large farm at the left used as a hospital. On the right of the field, a road or lane led directly to the front, another road running at right angles in front of us.

Lieut. Fisher seemed cheerful—we talked and laughed wondering when we should get into the fight.

About 3 P.M. we moved by the flank at double quick—then forward into line which brought us to the crest of the hill the meadow in front, Round Top Mountain being some distance at our left. We crossed the meadow up the opposite side and the fight commenced.

Then we came to the only fence that we had in our way. Back of this fence was oak timber. It was about six rods further on that Lt. Fisher was shot. We had been engaged probably ten minutes when I saw Lt. Fisher suddenly clasp his hands upon his breast and fall. I cannot tell the precise spot where he was hit, but know it was on his right side near his breast. Just as he fell, the order was given to fall back, the Rebels attempting to flank us. I passed where Lt. Fisher was lying; he looked up—in that look was everything.

I had known him long. He was about my own age and our time in camp had been spent mostly with each other. I thought he might be only seriously wounded, little dreaming he was to die so soon.

Lt. Hamilton assisted me and he was carried some distance when we laid him down for a moment. Then Sgt. McCabe came and we put his rifle under him but barely raised from the ground when the Sergeant was shot. I then raised him in my own arms and carried him down the hill near to the stream in the meadow. But before we reach there he dies. During all that time he said not a word, and I don’t think he suffered much pain if any—I felt him straighten and go rigid as I carried him and he died like one going to sleep. That he was conscious I am quite certain for when I first saw him after he fell the look he gave me was more appealing more than any words he could have uttered and afterwards when the Sergeant came, he looked first at one and then the other, as if he knew who we were.

To you who know him so well it is not necessary for us to speak words in his praise. He commands the respect and esteem of all—he died nobly in a glorious fight!

I would be pleased to have a photograph of him. Enclosed I send my own.

Just as I reached the stream with him, I was wounded and could do no more. His watch and what else was in his pockets was taken by some one of the officers of the 10th and will be forwarded to you if you have not already received them. Lieut. Lauman had Lt. Fisher’s pistol—his sword I think, Lt. Hamilton brought off the field—yet I am not certain. At the time of Lt. Fisher’s death, he was acting as Lieutenant of Co. G of our Regiment.

Capt. Bush of the 10th (our Regiment) was probably the one who place the board at the head of his grave. With much sympathy for you all, in whom I shall ever feel a great interest, from my acquaintance with your son, believe me.

Very sincerely your friend, Robert G. Welles

Mr. Isaac M. Fisher, Sir:

I have just received your letter of Aug. 5th.

I knew your son as a very gentlemanly, quiet, unassuming officer and was sorry that his career was so soon terminated. But he died in a good cause, and like a soldier.

I can appreciate your feeling as I lost my younger brother (a medical cadet) by (consumption) on the 19 of August ’63, aged 21yrs and 14 days. His disease was brought on by overwork and confinement in a Hospital in this city. I also lost a brother to disease contracted in Missouri last February—two victims of the accursed Rebellion. No less surely than was your promising boy.

On going to Wilmington I gave to Major Samuel Breck, Adjutant Generals Office, your son’s effects and informed Lt. Lauman of that fact. I presume that you knew all about it before this time. If not, by applying to Maj. Breck, you will obtain your son’s effects, a complete list of which had been furnished the Adjutant General.

As to his account I can give you no information. Lt. Lauman or Hamilton was more intimately acquainted with him than I.

My card was placed at the Head board on July 3rd, ’63. Asst. Surg. Ramsay USA did the writing as I had been wounded in my right hand the day before and could not then write at the time.

In conclusion I offer you my sincere condolences and shall be happy to give you any other intelligence that I may be able to do, with reference to any experience I may wish to make.

I am yours respectfully

Your obt. Servant, E.G. Bush, Capt. 10th US Infantry

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

I owe you an explanation of my apparent neglect in so long permitting your letter of August 5th to remain unanswered. It reached me only a day or so before our Regt. left the last encampment we had in Virginia, and since that time, I have been busily engaged.. I would have replied to the letter immediately on its receipt but that I expected, to obtain from others, some information in reference to one or two of your questions that I did not possess.

Before I received your letter, both Capt. Bush and Lieut. Hamilton, had left the Regt. The former having been ordered to St. Louis, Mo. as Asst. Provost Marshal, and the latter, sent away sick, and so that some particulars in reference to which you inquire cannot be as satisfactorily answered. Perhaps as they might have answered, had I had an opportunity to see them after receiving your letter.

I saw Lieut. Hamilton only a few days before you wrote to me and did not know, until I inquired of him, that he was about to write to you in answer to a letter he had received. I hope this letter contains all the information you desire.

The 10th Infantry was on the right of our Regt. on the 2nd of July. The brigade had advanced to the edge of the river in front of Round Top Mountain. We remained there for some time before another advance was ordered. During this interval your son came over and sat down with me. We remained together in company with one or two other officers until the Brigade prepared for another advance. It could have not been more than five or ten minutes, after we separated, before he received his fatal wound. I did not see him after his death. The morning after the battle or rather of the day in which we were engaged I went to look for his body. Lieut. Hamilton had it in charge. It has been removed for burial from the place where it had been for some time and I was unable to find Lieut. Hamilton to ascertain where the body had been conveyed. I wanted very much but I did not succeed.

From all I can learn, your son was dead before the evening reached the spot where he had fallen and they were so soon pushed that no time was left then to take anything from him. I do not know certainly, but I think that Lieut. Hamilton had the board placed at the head of the grave and also attached the card to it.

Capt. Bush forwarded your son’s watch to Washington where you can obtain it. Bedsides the watch, there was $51 recovered. $50 of this amount was Company funds in his possession.

Two months pay, at least, must have been owed him and there will also be additional pay to the amount he had received from the time of his promotion to a 1st Lieutenant.

Capt. Bush is not a relative of my wife’s family. He is from Illinois.

I sympathize deeply with you in your great affliction. You have indeed suffered a great loss. You may very well be proud and treasure the memory of him for whom you mourn, he fell, or he had lived, in the discharge of his duty. He was a brave man and a good officer and enjoyed the respect and esteem of his associates.

I have been relieved from duty with my Regt. and now in recruiting service and after departing at Boston and ascertaining where I am to recruit.

I shall go down to Sussex for a few days. Whilst there, I shall ride out to see you.

Remember me kindly to Mrs. Fisher.

Truly your friend, C. Rodney Layton

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Kind Sir:

I received your kind and welcome letter of August 26th.

I shall relate the circumstances as correct as I can in regard of your son, what was killed at the battle of Gettysburg.

I was not with him when he was killed. I was on the pioneer party but was there soon after the battle and saw his body, the third one I saw.

He was carried back behind the hill and laid down there until the battle was over. Then he was removed to the house near where he was buried. He lay from about five in the evening until about 8 in the morning.

I was one of the men sent to bury him.

He, as near as I could tell, was shot just below his heart on the left side. The ball passed out at his right side below his belt.

Apparently he had died early for he was as natural as when he was alive only paler. All that see him said he was the prettiest corpse they ever saw.

He was wrapped up in a clean blanket and laid carefully in his grave such as it was.

The paper that was on his Headboard I got Captain Bush to write it down so there would be no mistake. I then put it on with some pins. I then thought the rain might wash it off. I then marked the head board below the paper and that did not suit me for I thought as much of him as if he had been my brother.

I then went where they had been some wagons camped and I found a piece of a cigar box. I then cut out the letters with my pocket knife and then marked them with my pencil so they might be seen plain.

He was greatly missed in the company; In fact in the whole Regiment.

The first battle I was with him was at Fredericksburg, the 13th of December last.

He was as cool in the battle as he was out of it. And as brave a man as there is in the Regiment. There was not one man in the Regiment but what thought a great deal of him. When on duty with him, he wasn’t crass like some of them. He was kind and genteel to all to us. I wish he was here with us now. Most of the time, when the rest of the officers was playing, he would stand and look at them. He was always the same way.

He always appeared to be with Lt. Hamilton more than any other one, another nice and kind man.

I was with him at the battle of Chancellorsville.

He was always the same man and called a brave officer by all that knew him.

I have the handkerchief that he gave to me at Camp near Fredericksburg after crossing the Potomac following after the Rebels before the battle of Gettysburg.

I also have a clasp of a belt that he wore out and gave me before we left camp near Falmouth which I shall keep as long as I have my health. He was always kind to me.

The Sergeant McCabe you spoke of is nearly well. He is with the Company now. He is first sergeant of the Company I now belong to.

Since we left the field, the Regiment has been put into two companies, G & D. I am now transferred to Co. G.

You asked how long he lived after he was struck. I could not say for I wasn’t bye him at the time. He was dead at the time I first saw him. He could not of lived over twenty minutes. He was shot, I think, with one of those long balls with a hollow in the butt of them for that was the kind they was shooting.

Well, I will have to close, for I have given you all the news; I can’t think of more.

This leaves me in the best of health at present; hoping those few lines may find you enjoying the same great Blessing willed to us by God.

No more at present but, Remain your obedient friend

John H. Buchan, Co. G, 10th U. S. Infantry

Fourth Avenue between 93 & 94 St., New York

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Miss Anna M. Welles, Glastonbury, Conn. Circa September 1863

My Dear Miss Welles:

I read a letter from your brother Robert, written at Glastonbury Conn., requesting one from me,] on Sep. 18; enclosing his photograph and one of my dear departed son, and also giving a very satisfactory account of the scene at, and before, the battle, which proved to be his last.

I was under the necessity of procuring copies before I could furnish Lt. Welles and have been subjected to great delay in procuring them. I now, however, enclose two. I hope you will do us the kindness to enclose your own to my address.

I address this letter to you because I do not know where Lt. Welles is. Will you be kind enough to inform me, as I wish to write to him again, making inquires about the affair of my departed boy.

I also desire to ascertain where Lt. Hamilton is.

I. M. Fisher

Kind Friend Fisher:

It is with much pleasure that I sit to answer your kind and welcome letter of the 19th which I received last evening. I was very glad to hear from a father of so kind a man as Lieutenant Fisher was.

You wished to know if I ever heard the Lt. make any remarks on the field. I did not, except at the battle at Chancellorsville, when laying at the back of our breast works that we built to defend our bodies from the balls [bullets]. There were several volleys fired. The Lt. was standing, looking in the direction from which they, the fire, were coming. There was several shots that came close to Lieut. Boyce and Lt. Fisher and Lieut. Boyce told fisher to look out. His answer was short, “I would as soon be dead as alive.” That is the only remark that I ever noticed.

Lieutenant Boyce is dead. He died of the wound he received at Gettysburg.

Lieutenant Lauman has been sent back to the Army of the Potomac.

Lieutenant Hamilton is in the recruiting service.

You asked me what state I was from. I was born in Ashland County, Ohio and raised there until I was 14 years of age. Then my parents moved to Iowa. They are all there except my dear mother which died in 1849.

I am not married. I am as yet single.

My father lives in Benton County, Iowa. My brother at the age of 18 and myself, that is, are in the army fighting for our country. My brother is in Rosecrans’s Army of the Cumberland.

I have three brothers at home and two sisters. My oldest brother and my two sisters are married. My father’s name is George Buchan and lives in Bruce Township, Benton County, Iowa.

The Regiment has moved to Fort Lafayette. I think we will remain here for the purpose of recruiting the regiment.

Well kind Sir, I will have to close. This leaves me in good health. Hoping those few lines may find you and your family enjoying the great blessing with the will of God.

No more at present but remains your well wished friend

J. H. Buchan, Co. D, 10th U. S. Infantry, Fort Lafayette, N.Y.H.

PS: The Regiment is all in one company, which is Company D. I shall always be happy to hear from Mr. Fisher

Sir:

I have this day received your letter having a date of the 16th instant.

It gives me infinite pleasure, Sir, to give you all the information I can, relative to your son, the late Lieut. Wm. J. Fisher, 10th Infantry; an officer who was regarded with the utmost esteem, affection, and respect by his inferiors, as well as by his superiors, for his fine soldierly qualities, his gentlemanly deportment and his extreme kindness and unassuming manners towards those under him.

I have had the honor to serve under the immediate command of this really excellent officer ever since he entered the service and have been in his company during the 7 days fight, the battles of Gains’ Mill, Malvern Hill, Antietam, 1st Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and several minor skirmishes.

In all these general engagements he behaved over with a coolness, intrepidity and personal bravery, almost unequalled during my long time of service. While in the Army he was always of a sedate, contemplative character and never did I hear a profane word come from his lips.

When he was struck at the battle of Gettysburg (at which battle we lost nearly 2/3 of our regt.), he grasped a tree while falling and was carried to the rear by Lt. Hamilton, Welles, and myself. He rolled his eyes full of gratitude towards us but already he was speechless. He never uttered a word after being wounded.

It moves me to tears now to recall this gloomy scene to my memory.

He died brave as a lion to the last and never even groaned when he received his mortal wound.

As I said before, he was greatly beloved by every man in the brigade and died deeply regretted by everybody that knew him.

Lt. M. C. Boyce died on the 2nd of July 1863 at the General Hospital Gettysburg of wounds received in the battle of Gettysburg.

I am Sir, Very Respectfully, Your obedient Servt., Terrance McCabe

1st Sergt, Co. G, 10th U. S. Infantry

PS: Thank God, I am almost recovered from my wounds too. The present station of the 10th Infantry is at the Fort where owing to its very small number of men it is likely to remain during the winter.

T. McCabe

I. M. Fisher Esq., Dear Sir:

I have just received your letter of the 8th Instant. It follows the Regt. from New York to Alexandria. It was then forwarded to Boston and from there to this place where I am now stationed in recruiting service.

In my former letter, which probably [illegible] your last in the way. I related all I knew in reference to the circumstances connected with the death of your son. I was very sorry, when at home some days ago, that I was not able to run out and see you. My time was so short that I was unable to do so. Did not even get down to see my brother. I sent word to you therefore that you would to be able to get in time. As I stated in my former letter, the effects of your son were forwarded to Washington to the Adjutant General by Capt. Bush. Capt. Bush is now in St. Louis. So by writing the Adjutant General, you will be able to obtain the effects forwarded there by Capt. Bush and any information you may desire as to the manner of preserving the pay due him at the time of his death.

You had better inquire, particularly, as to the date of his promotion to 1st Lieutenancy, so as to get the increased pay due from that time.

The only effects sent to Washington were his watch, the money in his purse, except perhaps $51 being company funds. You will probably be able to ascertain from the Adjutant General the amount due to William.

The 10th Regt. is now at Fort Columbus in New York Harbor. All the Regular Regts, except the 6th and 10th, have returned to the field.

I thank you, Sir, for your kind Congratulations

Yours truly, Caleb Rodney Layton

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Mr. Isaac M. Fisher,. Sir:

I recently received your letter of Aug. 19, it having followed me and our Rgt. right to New York, and was from there sent to me [Missouri].

I had left the Army of the Potomac 9 days before the date of that letter.

I carried his effects from [illegible] to Washington and turned them over to Adjutant (Asst) General Breck and obtained his receipt therefore then had no opportunity to express anything till I reached Washington and then I had not time as I was in a great hurry then to get home and see my poor brother who has just died. I believe that I received a letter from you since my arrival at this place and I wrote you then in full. If I can give you any information that I missed I put into this letter that you desire to know I shall be happy to give it to you at any time.

I am respectfully, your obt. Servant,

E. G. Bush, Capt. 10th U. S. Infantry