This letter is regarding: The Civil War
Pages: 4
From: Edward Drake
To: William Titus
Document Date: 1863 March 26
Camp near Baton Rouge
March 26, 1863
Mr. Titus
Dear frend [friend],I received your letter and was very glad to hear from you. I am well at present and hope that you are enjoying good health. Around here, our regiment is very poor in health, a great many sick. James Gifford is dead. He died at the general hospital with a fever.
Whe [we] have had one fatiguing march through the woods tords [toward] Port Hudson, but it did not amount to ennything [anything] of importance. [It was] about like all our movements that our folks make and I don’t think whe [we] will ever whip the South. And I don’t think whe [we] had out [ought] to. I say give them thare [their] rites [rights] and they won’t need whippings.
Well Mr. Titus, I am glad to hear that the democrats are a doing so well. I would like to hear that the black Republicans never cood [could] get another vote, for I don’t think they deserve enny [any]. Whe [we] have here sum [some] forty or fifty thousand men a doing nothing, only bleeding our government and I think that it is purty [pretty] much near its last drop, for they do not pay us so promt [prompt] as they did at first.
Whe [we] have the report here that whe [we] are nine months Men and whether it is true or not, I can’t tell. But, perhaps you have heard something about it. Whe [we] hear that little John Se [saw?] the governor and he said whe [we] should be home in May. I hope it is true. I wish if you have herd [heard] ennything [anything] about it, you wood [would] rite [write] to me and let me no [know], for I feel anxious to get back and take the team for you. I think that will soot [suit] me better than soalgering [soldiering] dos [does] and tell Mrs. Titus I think often of what she sed [said] befoar [before] I left, that I wood [would] think of my children often and I do.
I tell you there is no place like home. I hope you will rite [write] all the particulars about thare [there] and give my respects to all. Tell Mary to ay [?] of good currage [courage], for the darkest our [hour] is just befoar [before] the brake [break] of day.
From your frend [friend]
Ever yours,
Edward Drake
You must excuse this riting [writing] for I have no place to rite [write], only my ne [knee].
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Many Fair Haven, Cayuga County and Oswego County men were members of the 110th New York regiment. They would have been in camp with Edward Drake when he wrote this letter. Though they would have shared these experiences, it is not known how many Northerners shared Drake’s rarely heard sentiments about Southern rights and justification for the war. Regardless of their political opinions, most men wished the war to be over as soon as possible so they could return to their families.
Edward Drake
Edward Drake was from Hannibal. He had two daughters age 2 and 5 when he wrote this letter. After his discharge on August 24, 1865, he returned to his family in Hannibal.
Corporal James Gifford – New York 110th, Company F
Military records show that James Gifford died from Typhoid Fever on March 27, 1863, the day after this letter is dated. Edward Drake may have written the incorrect date, or the military recorded the death some time after Gifford actually died. He is buried in the Baton Rough National Cemetery.
Port Hudson
During the Civil War, Port Hudson, Louisiana was
Nine Months Men
Most men signed up for a three year commitment during the Civil War. Those who committed to only nine months were known as Nine Months Men. Edward Drake drake had already served seven months at the time he wrote this letter. He was not a Nine Months Man; he served three years, from August 25, 1862 to August, 24, 1865.
Source: Fair Haven Public Library, Raymond T. Sant Document Collection
Thank you to Pat Ridgeway for transcribing this letter.