Lieutenant William James Fisher, Civil War Soldier

Isaac M. Fisher, Esq. My Dear Sir:

I received a letter from my son, Caleb Rodney Layton, this evening. He owes me no information of his intentions to visit Washington, DC. He was up to Philadelphia today to return, probably on Monday, to Washington, D.C.

The Company that went up from this County [Sussex] last Wednesday has chosen their officers. They are: Edward P. Harris, Capt; William Y. Swiggett, 1st Lieut; & Albert S. Phillips, 2nd Lieut. The Regiment has not chosen their field officers yet. I think if I were you, I would write to the War Department to ascertain when or where your son, William, might think to report himself.

Allow me today—In reference to our conversation of today–that I wish the leading men of the Republican Party (the union men, Unconditional union men of all parties) come in and see me, as often as they can, to consult together in relation to the Party’s operations of the Union Party. We must strengthen each others hands and stand by each other. “In Union there is strength.”

Most truly & faithfully yours, Caleb Layton

We have had a glorious victory at Lexington, Missouri. Our forces under Col. Mulligan, the rebels under Price et al. It is said the Rebels lost 4,000 in killed and wounded. But I think this is an exaggeration. But the Rebels were repulsed with great loss. They were 15,000 strong. Mulligan about 5,000…….you. C. L.

Father:

I saw Mr. Fisher last night. He advised me to go to Washington, D.C. and instead of a letter of recommendation he is going himself to Washington, D.C. this morning.

The reason I didn’t write last night was that I didn’t get to see Mr. Fisher until after dark. I went to his house and staid till 10 o’clock.

Your(s) affectionate(ly) son, W. J. Fisher

Dear Father:

I wrote you a letter a few days ago but I haven’t received an answer to it. I concluded you did not get it.

I supposed you would be uneasy about me as you expected me to have to go to Missouri and as that is a very disagreeable place at present I thought probably you would think I’d been taken prisoner or killed but as good luck would have it, I didn’t have to go to Missouri.

When I came here I learned that the company [G, 10th US Infantry] that I belong to was in Utah and were about to be ordered in. So they put me on temp. duty under the Provost Marshall.

Captain Layton came out here [Washington, D. C.] the same day I did. He got his commission and orders (I suppose) and departed next day for Boston. He is in the 1st new Regiment [1st Battalion, 11th US Infantry].

When I came through Wilmington, [Delaware], I saw Nathaniel Heald and paid that bill.

I saw a balloon go up the other day. It took time and or broke a line and carried the owner up in it. It landed in Maryland somewhere.

I’ve seen Gen. Scott and the President since I’ve been here.

I am very well at present and hope this (if it reaches you) will find you all the same.

Your affectionate son, W. J. Fisher

Direct all letters to: Lt. W. J. Fisher, Head Quarters Battalion, 2nd Infantry, and I will get it but if you don’t put that handle to it, I can’t say that I will get it as there is another Fisher in the ranks. Write soon. WJF

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Dear Father

I haven’t received a letter from you yet. I’ve written twice since I’ve been in Washington before this letter. If this reaches you, write and tell me of all the news. How the family are getting along (too?). And if it don’t reach you, write and tell me so that I can write again.

I went to the Review on Tuesday. There I saw McClellan. I had a good view of him from the pictures you’ve seen of him you’d have no idea of the looks of the man. When I saw the guard come round, I didn’t know him from the rest. He dressed very plain; is rather stout; has a light mustache and has a very clear eye.

I also saw the President and his wife. I took a good look at him. He is just like the last photograph you saw of him in Harper’s Weekly.

I also saw McDowell, Sickles, Colonel Blenker and Prince de Joinville.

There were reviewed six thousand cavalry and a great many artillery.

I’ve nothing else to tell at present so I will close. Give my love to all the family.

Your Affectionate son, Wm. J. Fisher

There is a regiment of Cavalry passing my window as I write. WJF

Dear Father

I received yours of the 8th, day before yesterday. The reason I didn’t write sooner was that I didn’t know what I was going to do or where I was going to be stationed until a day or two before I wrote. I thought you knew I came on to Washington, for the last thing I did, before I left Dover [Delaware], was to write that I was going on [to Washington] and that Mr. Fisher, instead of writing a letter of recommendation, was going with me…or rather I with him.

You ask how I was treated by Mr. Fisher. He treated me very well and kindly.

He took me up to his house and introduced me to his family. The little girl that we saw on the Delaware Rail Road, who you said was Judge Harrington’s daughter, is Mrs. Fisher’s daughter. And the lady that sat on the same seat with her is Hiram McCauley’s daughter, Mrs. Fisher.

When we came on home, he took me to the President’s Levee, and went with me to Adjutant General Lorenzo Thomas’ office. He also went to Gen. Scott’s headquarters with me.

He was very kind to me. Carried me to a private house where he boarded and where I got board for $1.25 per day. Whereas, if I had have gone to a hotel, they would have charged me about $3.00 per day.

House rent is very high here. Capt. Latimer pays sixty-five dollars per month for two rooms for his wife and himself. We got our room for nothing. The Government furnishes them.

My messmates are 2nd Lieut. W. F. Drum of Minnesota.

He was at West Point for two years, about ten years ago. Lieut. Robt. P. McKibben of Pennsylvania and Dr. Woodholm of Kansas. The Dr. is a very clever man. He just came a day or so ago. The surgeon we had before he came was B. B. Miles, son of Colonel Miles. Colonel Miles boards at the same house that we do. Board costs $1.25 per day. We are allowed $1 and 20 cents per day for board.

We received orders last night to be ready to march at a moments notice. That the enemy was coming down in force but it has all gone back.

You wished to know when the company that I belong to will be in. They are in Missouri now. But I shant join them yet. I should have to apply to Gen. Thomas to let me go to my own company and I should have to go into active service at once and that is what I don’t want to do until I get well drilled. Then I will join my company and go with them to Charleston.

I was Officer of the Day yesterday (what is meant by Officer of the Day is that he attends to all the duties of one day and night only) and when I stepped out on the scene (at 12 o’clock at night, we have to go around and inspect all the guards) there I saw a large balloon floating by. It startled me a little at first. It came before me so suddenly. The clock struck one so I must stop and go to dinner. Give my love to all the family.

Your affectionate Son, W. J. F.

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Dear Father

I received yours of the 16th a few moments ago.

You spoke of seeing Judge Houston in Georgetown and that he said he saw me in Washington. I don’t remember seeing him. He might have seen me, but I don’t think he spoke to me. I think if he had, I’d have known him. I saw him in Dover and, I think if I’d have seen him here, I’d have remembered him.

I see so many men (officers principally) that I’ve been introduced to, that I can’t recognize them when I see them again or (rather), I can’t remember their names. I know that I’ve seen them before, and have been introduced, but I can’t recall their names.

So probably Judge Houston saw me and spoke to me. But if he did, I didn’t recognize him.

You want to know how I stand in regard to money matters. You know I had fifty dollars when I left home. It took about $15 to get to Washington, plus boarding while I was here. The first week cost me about $10.00. To make it clear, I’ve spent about $10 since I’ve been here. I’ve got about fifty now. I received $10 the first of October as pay. I’ve had a great many things to get (blankets, haversacks and several other things).

We are getting ready to go into the field next week. If I like and nothing happens I shall receive $10 or so at the end of this month. I think there are no vacancies in any of the apartments, and if there were, I wouldn’t advise you to try and get it, for, if you be fortunate or rather unfortunate in getting a situation, you’d be sorry for it afterwards.

It would cost you $150 or $200 dollars per month to live here. House rent, for one thing, is so very high. You wouldn’t get a house large enough for less than $75 dollars per month and every thing else is in proportion.

The clerks hardly get time to eat or sleep. It is a continual go with them. They have to be at their place of business by eight o’clock and don’t get to dinner till four and then go back and stay till eight o’clock at night.

There is no news of any importance, I believe. Although there are a great many rumors, they will be contradicted before night

Give my love to all and write soon.

Your son, W. J. Fisher

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Dear father:

Yours and George’s of 19th was received a few moments ago, and as I have nothing to do, and it’s raining so hard that I can’t go out, I will answer your inquiries at once.

The Washington news is no news at all. We have reports almost every day of battles and skirmishes just beyond the river [Potomac], night before last. The train didn’t get in at the usual time and it was surmised that Beauregard had crossed over into Maryland, tore up the Rail Road and had defeated Banks and had possession of Baltimore. But of course it was all false.

Our forces made an advance yesterday. Gen. Stone and Colonel Baker was killed, this is true.

About the fleet that was reported out up at New Orleans is all a humbug. It was taken from Southern papers in the first place.

The Tenth came in from Utah and arrived here, night before last. I’m expecting an order to join it.

All the officers here are getting ready to go into camp.

George says he has received three letters from you since you have been in Washington. I think this is the fifth one I have written. I wrote one on Sunday last and also one to Fred Callaway.

George says Bill Hinson enlisted and then they refused him on account of his size. That was wrong. I’ve seen boys acting as drummers here, not over 10 years of age. They ought to have made him a drummer.

Who is it that’s raising a company; George Lovell?

I expect I tire you of reading so many letters, but when I’m out of a job, I generally write.

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

PS I expect we will go into Virginia this week or early next.

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Dear Father

I received your letter of 18th this morning.

The Laurel, Delaware news is news indeed for I never heard of it before. I think I had better correspond with some of the inhabitants of Laurel to tell me the news.

I think Uncle John’s boys might write to me. I wrote to them about ten days ago and haven’t received an answer yet. They might not have received it but if they haven’t they might write. I suppose they know where I’m stationed and if they are as interested in the War as you write, I think they would write to me and ask what they want to know about the looks of the Generals and the general appearance of the Army per se.

You write that you are gong to send Sis to Philadelphia to some school but you didn’t write what school it was.

I think I should be able to send one hundred dollars home next month. With this months pay, I have to get an overcoat, which will cost forty dollars, and a heavy suit of common uniform for everyday winter wear besides camp beds and other things.

We are all ready (the soldiers) to go into camp and I believe it is thought that we will get into camp in a few days but I cannot say positively anything about it. We may stay here a month or two or we may go into camp in a few days.

I had a little kind of an adventure a few days ago. I arrested an officer that was suspected of being a woman, carried him into the office and questioned him about where he came from etc. and after a while he confessed that he was a woman. I was then in hopes that she was some southern spy, but when she was examined there was nothing proven so it amounted to nothing.

I have nothing more to relate at present. Why don’t some of the families write? You have done it all so far. Sis is going to Crittenden and I think she might condescend to write sometime. But please write soon and let me know, if I’m wounded or killed any time (soon?).

Your affectionate son, W. J. Fisher

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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