2011-11-10

              KJoho lull
FREEWRT K5BQRIAL LIBRARY
144 W HERRICK RD
' FRSEPORT NT 11530 J?9
Veterans!
o
LEA
FREEPORT CIVIL
WAR VETERANS
at the re-dedica-tion
of the Mott
Monument, 1927.
photo and letters
courtesy of the
Freeport Memorial Library
Camp of the 1 st N.F.M.R.
Near Richmond
March 22nd 1865
Dear Uncle,
I received your letter a few days ago, so I
have a little time to write so I thought I
would answer your letter. We are now on
the move again that is our regiment. I do
not know where we are a going we expect to
get off by tomorrow morning, we will not be
with the Cav. Div. anymore, and I am glad of
it, as I do not like to stop in one place long.
We sent our sick away to day, we received a
new lot of horses yesterday and expect some
to day [sic], the Cav. Div. was on scout a few
days ago. I was not out with them I was on
guard at the time the regiment went out. We
are having very pleasant weather hear [sic]
now this has been the pleasantes [sic]
month of March I have seen down hear
[sic], it is very windy to day [sic]. I had to
stop writing and go and take care of my
horse, so I will now finish my letter. I am
very well to day [sic] and I hope you are all
the same. I received a letter from Maria and
Albert a few days ago. They was very well
at the time, our folks are all well, we have
not heard from Joshua since he left
Savannah, I should like to hear from him. I
expect Sherman will be this way before long.
I think Sherman and Grant will fix the
Johnies [sic]. I was over to see them
exchange prisoners. Our soldiers look very
bad, some of them could not walk, from their
[sic] I went to Dutch Gap, it would not take
long for to finish it but they could not work
their now as the Johnies [sic] have got their
guns so they can fire through it. I received
the box all right, everything was in good
order, we are having fine times eating what
it contains, well I will now close my letter,
my love to all the folks.
From your nephew,
Charles U. Combs, Jr.
Mailed to Mr. Carman Cornelius
Jerusalem
Long Island N.Y.
In Camp near Petersburg, VA
Tuesday, August 23,1864
Dear Uncle,
Your kind and welcome letter found its
way to me about half past two this morning.
It was early, but still I was up, for they
expected the "rebels" to make an attack,
and they had us over to Headquarters in
case the rebels did try it but they did not. I
had the chills, and fever yesterday so I did
not go. They got back about 8 o 'clock again
this morning.
Last Thursday morning at half past one,
the rebels commenced an artillery duel; it
was a pleasant night so I got up and went
out on the Hill. It was a fine sight; I wish
you could have seen it, the two lines,
appeared to be one blaze. It lasted for about
one hour, where it sloped [sic] and was a sill
as if there had never been a shot fired. On
Friday and Saturday mornings they was
[sic] at it again, but it being stormy I did not
get up. We have had rain for over a week
almost everyday. I think it is making up the
dry spell.
On Sunday there was heaving fighting on
the left of our lines, but I have not heared
[sic] any of the particulars, rumor says that
our left had been extended across the
Petersburg and Weldon rail-road. I wish it'
was across the Danville and we could hold
it. I think it would trouble the rebels some.
While I was out on inspection on Sunday,
part of the 2nd Corps. Passed our camp,
and a sergeant of the lllth Regiment asked
one of our sergeants what regiment we was
[sic], he told him, then he asked if there was
a man by the name of Place in our regiment.
Our sergeant told him I was in his company.
He could not wait till I came in. He told the
sergeant his name was Jim something, as
the sergeant told me, he forgot the last
name, but said he was from Long Island.
The only Jim I could think of was Jim
Andrews and our sergeant says that was his
name. I do not know if Jim Andrews is out
or not, if he is I suppose it was him.
"Uncle Sam" does not give us any more
pork at present. We get salt cod and mack-erel
in place of it. We had codfish balls for
dinner to day. We got over our rations from
the cook and bought potatoes and made
them. We get fresh beef twice, fish twice, and
bacon once in five days, fresh bread once
and sometimes twice. I must now bring this
letter to a close, hoping you will excuse the
scribbling, and that you will accept my sin-cere
thanks for your "Carte de Visite" which
I think is a very good one. I hope these few
lines will find you all well. Give my love to
the folks. This is all at present.
From your nephew,
Thomas Place
A program, "Freeport During the
Civil War," sponsored by the Freeport
Historical Society, will be presented
on Monday, November 14, at 7 p.m. at
the Freeport Memorial Library.
The 150th anniversary of the begin-ning
of the Civil War will be docu-mented
by reenactors from Company
H. Many Freeporters, including
,-Dandridge Mott, were members of ,
this company. They will portray the !
life of the common soldier, display '
original period items and conclude '•
with a question and answer forum. i
NAMES MAKE THE NEWS: Read about your neighbors! 55 local people's names were in your community newspaper this past week. Maybe yours is in this week! See inside.
Help OHR for
the Holidays
page 2
Village board
talks traffic
page 3
Sporting Devils
page 6
Don't forget our
POWs
page 11