Lieutenant William James Fisher, Civil War Soldier

My Dear Father:

I wrote to you a few days ago, but having nothing particular to do, except go on Officer of the Day every other day, and having no Company to command, I have plenty of time to think.

When I got back home [to camp] I found my company broken up and all the eight companies consolidated into two.

For the first few days I had plenty to do to straighten up my papers and get the Company Property off my hands. But I soon got through with all that and now I have nothing to do with a Company. Now I think I am temporarily attached to one.

Enclosed you will find some photographs but they are not very good and if I live to get back to some civilized place; I will have some better ones taken.

My candle is going out. No more at present. Write soon.

Your son, W. J. Fisher

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My Dear Father:

I received yours of the 14th Inst. this evening.

When I wrote I did not mean for you to apply to G. P. Fisher to get me on some other lighter duty. If I had meant that, I could have applied to him personally, while in Washington; and as to applying to get out of the field, I wouldn’t do it. What I did mean is that if there is any position in the State where they might want an officer, you might get it for me, probably through the Governor. And if such a place is vacant, or it was to become vacant, I wish you would try and get it for me. There are very few officers who have been in the field as long as I have and I’d like to fall out.

My Regiment is all gone, or either will be in a short time, as they were all enlisted in 1858, just before the Utah Mormon Expedition. By the last of April we won’t have a hundred men in the whole Regiment.

Captain Layton’s brother is out here now and also the Captain’s wife. I called on her this evening but heard nothing particularly brilliant.

Genl. Pleasanton’s Cavalry crossed the River this morning and cannonading has been going on all day, but as to results, I have heard nothing.

Your son, W. J. Fisher

My Dear Father;

I see by yesterday’s paper that Mr. Temple our M.C. is dead. I suppose if that’s the case, Mr. Cannon will have the opportunity of appointing our next Member of Congress. I see in the last NEWS that Mr. Fisher has been appointed Judge of the Delaware. If that’s the case, I suppose, he will not want the appointment. If Mr. Cannon appoints any one you are intimately acquainted with I wish you would speak to him personally to try and get me ordered out of the field or some other duty. (Perhaps he can get me on some duty within the state I would not want to get out of the field if I had a company but my company has been broken up and I’m attached to a company as 2nd Lt. I think I’m a first Lt. from the fourth of March as there is a vacancy from that date. The vacancy was caused by an officer being cashiered for not turning over monies in his possession.

If you are in Wilmington soon, I wish you would have your Photograph taken. I should like to have it.

I wish you would write me a letter telling me all you know about the above, whether Mr. Temple is dead, and also who Mr. Cannon will appoint if he has the opportunity.

Your affectionate Son, W. J. Fisher

My Dear Father:

I received a letter from you a few days ago but, as there has been nothing to write, I have delayed answering it.

This morning there was a general muster through out the whole army. It was made for the purpose of ascertaining the number of recruits required to fill all the Regiments in the Army up to the minimum standard. To fill up our eight Companies we wanted about seven hundred men. I believe it is designed to recruit us up with conscripts but I hardly think it will work, to put conscripts in the Regulars, although it may.

I just saw an officer who returned from Washington a few days ago and he told me that, by application through the Secretary of War, I could get ordered on Mustering duty. I wish you would get Gov. Canon to speak to the Secretary of War or the Adjutant General next time he goes to Washington and if he don’t do that I will get home and speak to Judge Fisher. Perhaps he could get me ordered off as he is well acquainted with Genl. Thomas.

I think I could get off now as regular officers are wanted for mustering duty.

I wish you would write to me immediately, on receipt of this, and tell me what you well can or have done.

Give my love to all the family and tell me in your next how Ma is.

Your son, W.J.F.

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My Dear Father:

I received yours of 19th instant this morning.

I’m glad to hear that Ma is getting better and hope she will be entirely well very soon.

I’m glad you spoke to Governor Cannon to get me on duty within the State. You also said in it that you would get him to speak to the Secretary of War next time he visits the Capitol. If he requests the Secretary to get me on some “Fancy” duty I’m sure he would do it as he needs Regular officers for dispersing and mustering duty.

On Saturday we were reviewed by the Major General of the Swiss Army who is on a visit to this Country for the purpose of observing the coming summer campaign.

Some ten or twelve days ago the president reviewed the whole Army. He looked very well. I believe his wife accompanied him but I didn’t see her.

Give my love to all…..and write soon…..Your son, Wm. J. Fisher

Camp, near Falmouth, Va.

My Dear Father:

I think I answered your last letter but I am not sure.

We left our camp on the morning of the 27th and marched about six miles and went into camp, the 10th being on Provost Duty, marched in the rear of the Division and consequently did not get into camp until about two hours after the Division. We had to stay behind, to keep up the stragglers and also the pack mules (we used pack mules instead of wagons; had one mule to eight officers and mules to carry ammunition).

On the morning of the 28th, we moved again and marched about the same distance that we did the day before and again went into camp. After we had been in it a short time, General Sykes issued an order saying that our next march would be a “long and rapid one.”

On the 29th we again moved; the Division ahead and we bringing up the rear as before. We marched to the Rappahannock and had to wait ‘til the II and XII Corps passed. This is where we laid the Division last. We had to stay on the banks of the River until nearly dark when we were ordered to cross. After we crossed we marched all night (and the rain was pouring down) and also, until next morning when we caught up with the Division, went into camp within ¾ of a mile of the enemy and went to bed on one blanket for the first time in thirty-six hours. After we had been in camp about two hours, the other Company of the 10th with our flag and band now in our whole Regiment presently consisting of nine Companies and the band.

The next morning the 1st of May we were relieved of Provost Duty and were ordered to report for duty to 2nd Brigade. We hadn’t been in the Brigade on hour before we were ordered to move. We hadn’t marched a mile before we were attacked by the enemy’s picketts but we drove them back about two miles. Killed about fifty and with nearly the same number prisoners. The tenth took twenty seven prisoners and killed eight. But after we drove them back, they brought up reinforcements and drove us back and we had to retreat for the want of reinforcements. We were turned back to where we started from in the morning but the enemy did not follow us near our camp.

I had command of a Company of sixteen men out of which I lost four, just ¼. After dark we fell back about ½ mile and the 10th went on Pickett duty. We were on Pickett until the morning of the 3rd when we again fell back about one mile and entrenched ourselves on a crest of hills. We lay behind our works until yesterday morning when we retreated across the river and afterwards were back to this our old winter camp. I think the whole move was caused by the cowardly Dutchman (XI Corps) belonging to Sykes’ old Corps who allowed themselves to be surprised and a lot of them were taken prisoners. I hope we will hang them.

I am in Camp now. I have no idea how long we will stay or anything about it.

I wish you would write oftener.

Give my love to all. Your son, Wm. J. Fisher.

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My Dear Father:

I wrote a letter to you several days ago but I don’t know whether I mailed it or not.

There is no news stirring at present, although I believe it’s the general impression that we will move sometime soon, but how soon, no one knows.

The weather is very warm and has been for several days back.

I have my tent fixed up tolerably comfortably with a Bowers in front by cedar bush.

Have you seen Gov. Cannon since he returned from the Army, and if you have, what did he say about what the Secretary of War told him in regards to my getting ordered out of the field?

Just at this time, there are a great many vacancies for Regular Officers for inspection duty for the Provost Marshals of States and districts. I believe two are almost to each state, but I’m not sure. I know two have been ordered to report to one and I think everyone are allowed two Assistant Inspectors.

The situation I am in now is officially about as disagreeable as it can well be. The whole Regiment is here and altogether make only three Companies and they are not more than half full.

Lately I have been commanding one company and it wants thirty seven recruits. Within the last few days another officer, who ranks me, has jaundice, so I shall again have my Company.

Officers are leaving almost every day for duty in the States and I think if George Lauman made the application to the War Department, I shall get out also, at least I hope so, until my Regiment can be filled up to the minimum standard.

We sent out our Picketts this morning but I, very fortunately, was not detailed.

Has John F. Allen raised his company of Cavalry yet? When I passed through Wilmington I tried to find him but failed.

I see by the Delaware papers that Rev. Peter Meredith died some time ago and Mr. James Layton also.

I have to go as Officer of the Day this evening and it seems about time to get ready. I’ll have to close. My love to all the family, Your son, William J. F.

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My Dear Father:

I received a letter from you a few days ago, but I have had nothing to write about.

The reason I didn’t call on Governor Cannon was that I did not know when he visited the Division. At the time he was here, I was on duty at Head Quarters as Adjutant Provost Marshal. I know he was in the Army, but didn’t know when he visited our Division. If I had, I certainly should have called on him.

Everything is quiet in camp. I’m afraid I shall not be able to get out of the field at all. If I stay in the field much longer, at least I will have given up all hopes of getting out before the war closes; if some Sesech bullet don’t send me out double quick, some time, where I don’t desire to go.

I think we will move again before long and have another fight and retreat back to this place or some other farther back, perhaps.

I hear that General Hooker has been relieved and that General Franklin has been put in command. I would not be at all surprised if it is so. Saw Capt. Layton yesterday. He was well.

Give my love to all. Your son, Will

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My Dear Will:
I am just going to send George to Bridgeville with the carriage for your sister Mary and one of her school mates, Miss Mobray, I think her name is, and although I am tired, having just come in from plowing, I thought I would write you a line.
I have received one letter from you since the great battle fought by Hooker and hope to get another today, delivered by George, giving a more satisfactory account of the battle, and of the part you took in it and how you lost your men, whether in battle or on pickett duty.
Your Ma, Aunty, and I joined in writing you since we received your letter and when you write again please inform me whether you received our letter and also whether you received one or two which I wrote you about the time this army moved over the Rappahannock to fight. I wrote you once or twice about that time, but I fear you never received them.
I spent the Saturday and Sunday, that you were fighting the Rebel Army, in Wilmington, and went the next day to Philadelphia, to see your Aunt Hetty and Theodore Parker.
It is known here that Stonewall Jackson was killed during the recent battle also that Van Dorn in the Southwest had been killed.
When you write again, give me a statement of the losses sustained by the army in the late battles, also the newspapers of the Rebels. The news-papers differ so widely that I do not know what the truth is. Also let me know what is likely to be the next move of the army. Some of the news-papers openly declare that your failure under Burnside and Hooker both is attributable to the inefficiency or want of purpose, or treason of Genl. Halleck the Commander in Chief. What do you think of this old gentleman? What does the Army think of him? I see the Delaware Republican, published in Wilmington, charges him bodily with all our misfortune.
I must close this letter and let George go. Write as soon as you receive this and answer my questions.
I have loaned some of your money for you and if you will save some more and send it home, I will invest it for you so that it will pay you 6 percent or, buy Government Stock for you that pay you 3 percent every 3 months in gold.
Your father, I. M. Fisher

My Dear Father:

On 23rd Instant, I went on Pickett to stay three days, and when I returned, I found a letter from you, and also one from the Secretary of War, giving me my promotion as First Lieutenant, to date from March 4th 1863.

I had a very pleasant time on Pickett. The weather was clear and warm, the greater part of the time, and there were plenty of trees and shade, so I think I enjoyed myself better than if I had remained in camp.

The enemy was said to be six mile in our front, with Infantry and Cavalry, but I think it was a false alarm.

I believe it’s the general impression that we will not move for some time to come.

In the first place, I believe the enemy out numbers us and having the choice of position.

Of course, two of their men are worth at least three of ours.

There has been some rumor of an attack on us by the enemy. I wish they would undertake that. We would make them get back considerably faster then they came.

I think they must begin to lose heart in the cause after losing their second best General and their second most important position Jackson & Vicksburg.

Yesterday, I saw Mr. Smithers from Dover; Dr. [Marvel or Maull] and Col. Harris over at Capt. C. R. Layton’s tent. I believe that Gov. Cannon will not stop at this Division at all when he visited this Army. Did the Governor say there was any chance for me to get off? Or haven’t you seen him since he returned?

Saw some ladies in camp a few days ago but they are becoming quite a curiosity.

I haven’t heard from Sis in two or three weeks although I have written to her two or more times.

I have a tent now all to myself. My tent mate left yesterday morning on sick leave.

Give my love to Ma the rest of the family.

Your son, W. J. Fisher

P.S. I just received your letter of the 25th saying you were afraid to ask Mr. Cannon about my case for fear he would answer, “He had forgotten me entirely.”

If you fear of getting such an insulting reply as that, please don’t even mention the circumstances to him again. I suppose he thinks I ought to have called on him while he was here. The reason I did not was because I did not know he was here at the time, and if he was to come again, I wouldn’t call on him if I knew he was in the next tent.

I know I can do more by applying to the Secretary of War, through Judge G. P. Fisher, but I don’t care about applying personally to any one, besides, I don’t care about applying to him, for anything else, for he has done enough for me already.

I think I could get off by asking Mr. Smithers to aid me in Washington, but I did not feel like it, he hadn’t forgotten me, although it had been nearly two years since he last saw me.

If Governor Cannon thinks I’ll get on my knees and kiss his foot, because he is a Gov., he is considerably mistaken. If I had known when he was here, I think I certainly would have called on him, not because he was Gov. Cannon, but because he was a citizen of Delaware.

If you haven’t said anything to Gov. Cannon, please don’t say anything to him to get an insulting reply.

Your Son, W. J. F.