Lieutenant William James Fisher, Civil War Soldier

Dear Father & Aunt Angie

I received yours this morning, dated Nov 4th, and Aunt Angie’s of Oct 30th.

You write that you haven’t received the letter I wrote on the 20th Oct. and Fred Callaway hasn’t received his. If you go to Uncle John’s any time soon, tell the boys that I shall expect the next writing to be done by them.

I expect we shall move over into Virginia very soon. General Scott has resigned and general McClelland, it is thought, will put the Regulars into Virginia. General Scott’s plan was to keep us as a reserve in case of another disaster like that at 1st Bull Run.

I should like to send my overcoat home, if I could fix upon any plan by which I could get it there. It’s of no use to me here. It’s more in the way than anything else. So I think I’ll send it home by Adams Express, but I will let you know by my next letter what I have concluded to do.

I guess you have got your wheat sown and are getting in your corn.

We have it rather cool today. We had a very heavy rain last night.

I was passing down the Avenue yesterday and saw a bundle of partridges, a rabbit, summer duck, and a wild turkey hanging up before a restaurant. I felt then as if I should like to take a little spree gunning.

I guess Uncle John’s boys have a nice time now partridge hunting. I should like to see them all and go hunting with them.

I’m very well except for a cold which I have taken since last night.

Write soon and tell me all the news.

Your affectionate son, W. J. Fisher

PS I have sent two copies of the Rebellion Record. Have you ever received them? W. J. F.

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Dear Father

I received yours of 12th a few days ago and also one of same date from Uncle John’s boys.

I am still attached to the 2nd infantry, although I applied for permission to join my own Regiment more than a week ago. I heard this morning that they are to leave soon for Leavenworth City. I hope I shall get orders to join before that time because if they go out to Kansas I want to go with them. But if we do make a move of that kind I’ll write immediately and let you know.

There is a grand review going on over the river today. Most of the officers have gone over. There are thirty-two thousand troops to be reviewed.

To answer Ma’s inquiries on how I live, I live at a private house and pay thirty dollars a month for my meals only. I have quarters assigned to me by the government. I pay five dollars per month to a black boy for fixing up my rooms and one dollar per day for washing. Put all together it amounts to about forty or forty five dollars per month just to live.

Write soon give my love to the family.

Your affectionate son, W. J. Fisher

My Dear Father:

Since I last wrote I have been removed from the Second to the Eighth Infantry. They moved me from the 2nd to the 8th. When my Company was here in the city doing duty, I immediately made application to Gen. Porter to join my Regiment. I haven’t heard from him yet but hope to get orders in a few days to join my Company.

We had a very large fire here a few days ago. In which two hundred and sixteen horses were burned.

I was at the President’s house yesterday and shook hands with him. I also saw Mrs. Lincoln who stood by the President.

I went to the Capital this morning but they were doing nothing so I came away as a matter of course.

If you see Uncle John’s boys soon tell them I’m looking for that letter very patiently.

Please answer this letter very soon for I want to hear from home.

Your affectionate Son, Wm J. Fisher

Direct your letters to Headquarters Battalion, 8th Infantry. WJF

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My Dear Mother:

It has seemed longer to me since I left home the last time than it did from the time I first came until I went home. The reason, I suppose, is that when I first came, everything seemed new, and when I got settled down with the 2nd Infantry, I had company all the time, for the Government furnished us quarters and we all lodged in the same house, but since I came to the 8th Infantry, it has been entirely different. I board and lodge in the same house where there is nobody else but the man and his wife and a little one, about two months old, who keeps up almost a continual squeak from night until morning. That is the only time I’m in.

I have a very nice little room neatly furnished with bureau, washstands, writing table, and a couple of chairs. It also has a fire place and if I stay here this winter, I shall be fixed very comfortably. I pay fifteen dollars for room and fifteen for board, making it cost me the same as when I was with the 2nd.

I was at the President’s levee on New Year’s Day and had the pleasure of shaking hands with him. He had on a pair of white kid gloves, I suppose when he commenced, but when I saw him, they were about the color of Tom’s kids when he had no gloves. I saw his wife standing by him. I told you I thought she was very near the size of Sarah Meredith but she is not much taller than you and looks as duchy as she well can look.

I’ve been to the Capital several times lately and I’d give about anything to have you all see it. There are more of the finest pictures I suppose that are in America. Several of them are as large as one side of your parlor.

There is a full statue of Washington presented by the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Senate Chamber and House of Representatives I shall not attempt to describe. I couldn’t tell you anything like how they look. But it would be worth while to come here just to see them if you didn’t expect to see anything else.

I hope you all had a merry time of it this Christmas. It was the first one that I ever remember of being absent and I never saw a Christmas that I enjoyed so little.

I have nothing else to write at present so I’ll close, hoping this will find you all well. Please write soon and tell Pa to write for I’m getting impatient to hear from home. I haven’t heard since I came away.

Your affectionate son. W. J. Fisher

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Dear Father and Mother:

I received yours of the fifth and sixth on the seventh and, at your suggestion, I wrote to Aunt Angie. You wrote that you hadn’t received a letter from me since I left home except the last one I wrote on before that and wrote that I staid in Wilmington the night after I left and came on to Washington by the 12 o’clock train next day.

I saw Captain Layton in Wilmington. He said he was going to Georgetown this next week and after that would probably come here, but I haven’t seen him.

Mr. Lovejoy introduced a bill the other day to decrease our pay twenty five dollars and a half per month and Mr. Wilson put in another of the same description which I suppose will pass as it don’t cut their pay down. If it does pass I hope Mr. Lovejoy will put in another bill requiring all of us to pay him twenty five cents per month for the privilege of being an officer in the army.

Mr. Cameron, after stealing a million or two, has resigned and Mr. Stanton of Pennsylvania was appointed in his place. I think this will be a move very soon.

We received orders to draw one hundred rounds of ball cartridges for every man and to use up all of our blank cartridges practicing. There has been another Provost Marshal appointed to Washington and General Porter will take command of all the Regulars which will act as a reserve.

General Sykes will have command of the infantry I think, and I believe a great many of them think, when Burnside’s Expedition lands, that there will be a war made from every side.

I saw General Butler a few days ago for the first time. He is just like the pictures you have seen of him.

Gen. McClellan has been very sick for some time but is better now.

There are a great many soldiers and officers, here now that were exchanged.

It has been sunny and rainy for the last twenty three days and we have a very slippery time of it. I slipped down twice today and it’s not very pleasant to sprawl down in the street and have every body laughing at you.

Please write soon.

Your affectionate son, W. J. Fisher

Tell Sis to write what she wanted me to send back by you and maybe I’ll send it if she will knit me a pair of gloves.

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Dear Father:

I received yours of the 10th on the 19th in which you said you thought of visiting this place in a few days. If you do, I think the best place that you will stay would be the Kirkwood House. You could stay there for the first day or two but if you want to find Mr. Luff’s, he lives on 9th between “E” and “F”, 2nd door above “F.” If you could, if you wanted to stay with me, and take your meals at some of the hotels where I think you could get them for about seven dollars per week. I have a very nice room and I think you would enjoy yourself more by staying with me (at Mr. Queen’s) because I’m in a very quiet part of the city on Massachusetts Avenue between 6th & 7th but be sure and come.

We all (of the officers) called on Mr. Stanton yesterday. We first went to the Provost Marshal’s office and from there to the War Department where Mr. Stanton was with Gen. McClelland in his office. I was introduced first to Mr. Stanton and then to Gen. McClellan. Mr. Stanton is a good sized man with a very heavy black beard. That is all I can see of him. I hope he will make as good a secretary as Mr. Cameron.

All those officers that wanted to, then went up to pay their parting respects to Mr. Cameron. As Deputy Secretary he made a short speech and Gen Thomas replied in his reply. Gen. Thomas said our army was all ready to move and that in a short time, a very short time, this Rebellion would be crushed out.

I think we will move as soon as the weather permits.

I am not very well at present and haven’t been right well since I left home the last time.

We have it very muddy here now.

I saw Captain Layton Saturday.

If you can, be sure and come very soon if you want to see the Army before it moves.

Your affectionate son, W. J. Fisher

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Dear Father:

I received yours of the fourth this evening. I also received one from Ma several days ago. But I’ve been so busy since then, getting ready for the field, that I haven’t had but very little time. I have also been acting Adjutant for the 8th Infantry for several days.

We received an order a few days ago to be ready to march at a moments notice, but we have since been relieved of it. If we should have moved then, it would have been to Harper’s Ferry.

I saw Mr. Bell in the street yesterday.

We have a new officer that reported for duty this morning. He has been a prisoner in Richmond since last spring. Captain Willard, the officer you saw in command when you were here, has been promoted to a Majority in the 19th Infantry.

General Lander’s body arrived here yesterday evening. He is to be buried this morning. General Hunter is stopping at Willard’s.

I know of nothing else to write except that I’m alive and if I have a relapse of the measles and hives, it was when I was asleep.

Your Affectionate Son, W. J. Fisher

My Dear Father:

We received orders at midnight last night to march today at twelve o’clock. I am so busy getting ready that I haven’t time to write more.

I feel very well and think I can stand almost any amount of fatigue.

Your affectionate son, W. J. Fisher

My Dear Father and Mother:

We moved out onto the sacred soil on the 10th. Started out from Washington about 2 o’clock P.M.; marched about four or five miles and encamped in a low bushy wood. We have no tents pitched and had to sleep on the ground with one gutta percha and one woolen blanket for a bed, and one woolen blanket and an overcoat for covering.

I had command of the Rear Guard all day and was very tired. But it was so very cold and wet and there was so many drunken soldiers and teamsters that I couldn’t sleep.

Reveille beat off about 4 o’clock A.M. When we got up, those at least that were lying down, and had breakfast consisting of cold ham, crackers, and coffee with no milk. We have a nice set of tin ware, including spoons, knives, and forks, etc. After we got our breakfast, we packed up the wagons, and started about sun up for Fairfax.

We expected to camp here all night and move up to Centerville. But when we got here, we learned that Manassas had been evacuated and was occupied by General McDowell. And of course we halted and have been here since yesterday evening. We received orders to march to Alexandria today. The Quartermaster, with one of our wagons, is in Washington and we are waiting impatiently for his return.

I am acting Battalion Adjutant and have a horse to ride, which, if I am on the sacred soil, I’d rather ride than walk.

It is very uncomfortable in camp today. It is raining very hard and has been raining moderately all day. I am sitting on a camp stool in a small tent writing on a small fine table. My adjutant books and desk are on my left, my saddle, bridle etc., are on my right, with the surgeon behind me lying in a small cot, trying to sleep off the blues. The table furniture consists of one bottle of ink, sheets of paper, pipe, dirty collar, necktie, a tooth brush, broken padlock, and sword belt and sash, besides a revolver.

General Smith’s division passed this morning on their way to Alexandria. I think it is estimated that at least fifty thousand men have been sent there.

I had three Rebel Prisoners turned over to me the last time I was Officer of the Day. One was a Louisianan and the other two were Virginians. The Louisianan was dressed in a gray cotton uniform with a blue cap. The others had no uniforms on. We have three more in camp to day; 2 more Virginians and another Louisianan. Neither of them have a uniform on.

General McClelland’s headquarters have been, until today, within two hundred yards of us. But this morning, at 5 o’clock, he moved off toward Alexandria.

We have two companies from the 17th Infantry here. One is commanded by Capt. J. P. Wales of Delaware.

Please write me direct to Washington, D. C., Head Quarters Battalion, 8th Infantry.

Your affectionate son, W.J.F.

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My Dear Father:

Since writing at Fairfax this is the first opportunity I have had. While we were encamped near Alexandria I had neither paper nor ink. The evening before we were ordered from Camp to Fortress Monroe, I got some pens, paper and ink. The next morning we were ordered to move. Since, we have been almost constantly on the move. But there is a carrier this evening. He will go back to the Fortress in the morning.

After we left Fairfax, we marched all day, part of the way over a very good road but the greater part, I believe, through mud, almost ankle deep, and encamped near the Physiological Seminary which is about two miles from Alexandria. While there I received orders from General Porter to report to General Sykes for duty which I did on the 22nd of March. He ordered me to report to Major Lovell who is in command of the 10th Infantry. He assigned me to duty with my Company G.

On the 27th of March we embarked for Fortress Monroe as we all supposed and our supposition for once happened to be correct.

We anchored in the stream, about one mile from the wharf. Next morning, after hitching on to two lighters, we set sail and arrived at Fortress Monroe at 11 ½ o’clock on the 29th. Our troops were landed the same evening but I was detailed to take charge of the baggage which was taken up as far as Hampton on the steamer but we could not land on account of the great number of boats that had got in ahead of us and the consequence was I had to pass another night on board but it proved in the end to be the best thing that could have happened to me.

I got a good nights rest, supper and breakfast while those that landed got mutton but had to be out all night with nothing to protect them from the heavy dew which fell.

The next day we landed our baggage, but didn’t have transportation for it ‘till very late in the day, then it was my turn to make up for the night before.

It came on to rain about three o’clock and I was out in it until 9 o’clock and got very wet. When I got into camp, I found my bed lying in the mud. But it happened, as good luck would have it, it was wrapped in India rubber blanket and didn’t get wet.

We were encamped near Hampton for three or four days and were then ordered to move. I was again detailed to take charge of the baggage train, then join it, move that was made.

One of my teamsters broke the tongue of his wagon off. That detained me for several hours and the consequence was I got several miles behind the company and didn’t get into camp till near 8 o’clock. When I did get in my room mate or tent mate had the tent all ready pitched after getting supplies and took over a news paper which was about a week old. I turned in for the night.

Reveille beat off at 3 ½ A.M. After getting a light breakfast we were again put in the march. We marched all day and arrived here last night about dusk. It rained very hard yesterday morning and made it very hard marching. Our wagons got stuck in the mud and didn’t get in until about the middle of the day.

To day we had nothing to eat yesterday after breakfast, except a piece of pig which somebody had killed. I stuck it on a stick and tried to roast it in true prairie style but after burning the outside to a crisp I gave up as a bad job and ate it raw or that is raw enough for the blood to drip. But to my mind it was about the best piece of pork I ever ate.

This morning I started out to forage for something to eat for the first time in my life. I went to a farm house and after waiting till near the middle of the day got a breakfast of wheat cakes and coffee and they told me that coffee had been selling for $1.25, for the butter .75 cents and things in proportion.

We are now occupying quarters that were built by the Rebbles but were a banded by them when they retreated. It was commanded by Colonel Cobb of Georgia, a son of Howell Cobb I suppose. I saw one trunk marked John S. Floyd, so it very probable that that eminent traitor was quartered here for a short time.

The inhabitants are making preparations for cultivating the soil this spring. The fruit trees are in full bloom and in the day time it’s uncomfortably warm.

We attacked the Rebbles at Yorktown yesterday and it was reported we were repulsed with the loss of five. Our Brigade will probably move up tomorrow. I suppose if we whip them out, we will have some very hard fighting. We have eighty thousand men to attack them with. They have fifty thousand behind breastworks to with which to defend themselves. We may succeed and we may be repulsed but, I suppose, you will know it very soon, whichever we do.

I am getting near the end of this sheet and must close. Please write and tell Uncle John’s boys to write. Write very long letters. If you will write immediately, on receipt of this, I will probably get it very soon.

Direct to W. J. F. 10th infantry, Sykes Brigade, Washington, D. C.

Your affectionate son, W. J. Fisher

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