CIVIL WAR LETTER - 57th New York Infantry - Remarkable Content from Long Island!

Description

Civil War Letter
Civil War Letter - Written by Soldier in Company "H" of the 57th New York Infantry.
Augustus Chambers was 38 years old when he enlisted at New York City on 17 September 1861 to serve three years in
Co. H, 57th New York Infantry.
One years later—to the very day, he was killed in action at the Battle of Antietam.
Augustus was the son of Solomon Chambers (1791-1835) and Ann Johnson (1790-1885) of New Jersey. He was married 23 November 1845 to Elizabeth Hancock (1818-1859) and the couple had at least three children: Joseph Hancock Chambers (1847-1932), Charity H. Chambers (born 20 June 1850), and John R. Chambers (born 7 February, 1857). In the 1850’s, Augustus was employed as a “laborer” in Burlington, New Jersey, with a residence on Pearl Street. He was an active member of the Methodist Church. A widower, in 1860 he was enumerated in Ann Hellina’s boarding house in Burlington; his young children apparently being raised by others.
The particulars of Augustus’s death cannot be found but we can assume that he was struck down in the regiment’s charge upon the Sunken Road or in the Piper’s cornfield beyond. Sixteen enlisted men from the 57th New York regiment lost their lives on the field that day. Seventy-three more were wounded, most of whom survived. A regimental history describes that moment as follows:
“We are lying behind the hill that overlooks the field of action, every moment expecting to go in. The bullets are whistling over our heads and our hearts are beating as fast as the lead is flying. ‘Whose head will come off,’ we are asking ‘when we rise and move forward?’ The worst part of a battle is this waiting to go in. ‘Fall in!’ The word has come, we jump up, get in line and march steadily in battalion front to the brow of the hill. Now we are in it and the minies are plenty. As we pass the Sixty-Ninth—or what is left of them about a hundred men with colors in tatters—they cheer and we return it. Down the side of the hill toward the Sunken Road the Fifty-Seventh and the Sixty-Sixth charge together and over the ditch they go, stepping on the bodies of the rebel dead. Yet another charge and we have taken Piper’s house and are in the cornfield beyond. All along the path of this charge our men have fallen killed and wounded, but victory is ours.”
[Fifty-Seventh NY State Vol., by Gilbert Frederick, Ch. VIII]
Transcription
Camp Morgan
Long Island
October 23, 1861
My dear friends,
I reached my camp on Saturday about 5 o’clock P. M. in safety with pretty good wetting, having to walk two miles from the landing in the rain. But I am still well. A camp life agrees with me first rate. The worst fault I have is the wickedness of the soldiers but thank God I can live a religious life here in the discharge of my duty. I can find time to pray and read the scriptures by so doing. I receive strength to resist the temptation and to stand steadfast unmovable always, abounding in the work of the Lord. I am not afraid of a soldier’s life hurting me though I have no doubt it will be the ruin of hundreds.
Like the Manhattan Rifles, the Clinton Rifles must have originally worn the baggy pants popularized by the French Chasseurs. Members of the Manhattan Rifles mustered into the 43rd and 57th New York Regiments.
We are not a going to leave for the South this week. The fleet that we was going in has gone. We are going to move to Staten Island to join a part of a regiment that is there tomorrow, We shall not be called the Clinton Rifles anymore but shall be the 57th Regiment of New York. We shall change our uniform and I shall be glad of that for I do not like these big [baggy] pants.
Staten Island is about 30 miles from here. This is the third time we have moved. We have a fine chance to see the country. We shall not be long there I guess. We shall go to Washington. For my part I don’t care much where we go—-wherever I can serve my country best. I have had quite a feast on the nuts Rachel and Charity put in my satchel. I ate the cakes coming along on Saturday. The soap I have not tried yet.
Camp Lafayette
Staten Island
Co. H, 57th Regt. New York
Capt. Horner
October 25, 1861
We are now in our new quarters. Yesterday morning at 4 o’clock the drum beat to call us up to get ready for a march. The camp was soon all astir and full of life. We soon got our breakfast and began to pack up. At 10 we was called in line, some with knapsacks, some with carpet bags, rifles and blankets on our shoulders & it looked quite war like, I assure you. The command march was soon given and we started for the landing, 3 miles distant, where one of the government steamers was waiting for us. We were soon all on board, the lines cast off, and we soon [were] on our way for Staten Island.
It was a very pleasant ride down the Sound. We passed through what is called Hell’s Gate and was soon in sight of New York. We also saw Blackwell’s Island on which is built the city prisons and alms houses and on which are hundreds of prisoners & paupers. We were soon opposite the great city—New York on the right and Brooklyn on the left—with the hundreds of boats and vessels of all description passing in every direction presented quite a lively scene. We soon passed the two beautiful cities and found ourselves in the middle of New York Bay. The swells run pretty high. Some of them striking our boat would make her timbers crack again but we passed safely over and was soon landed on the island which is about 7 miles from New York. Several nice steamers play between the island and the city—60 cents is the fare. There is a railroad running through the island about 20 miles long. On this road we went to the camp which is 4 miles close to the track. There is not many tents here but there is building 400 feet long with bunks enough for a 1,000 men to sleep in. We have straw matts to lay on and we can rest pretty well only it is rather cool. We had a heavy frost this morning and there was a good deal of complaining of sleeping cold.
“Quite an amusing incident occurred today while eating dinner. An elderly woman and her daughter entered the building, marched up and aisle till they came to a lad about 17 years old, took him by the collar, and marched him out of the house amid the cheers and shouts of hundreds of soldiers.”
We have another house where a 1,000 can sit down and eat at a time. Quite an amusing incident occurred today while eating dinner. An elderly woman and her daughter entered the building, marched up and aisle till they came to a lad about 17 years old, took him by the collar, and marched him out of the house amid the cheers and shouts of hundreds of soldiers.
We have plenty to eat and more than we do eat, several poor women come & get what is left & they go away loaded.
Our camp is in sight of the Atlantic Ocean whitened with sails of the many ships that gather there. The talk is that we shall be here about ten days before we start for Washington but it is hard to tell.
October 26, 1861
I will try to finish my letter today. I have fell in with some religious company here which is a great comfort to me. We had a good prayer meeting last night. The Lord was with us & we are going to have one every week. We will show these wicked sinners that we can serve our God in the camp of wickedness. N. B. I wish you would mail to Taylor’s. They would like to hear from me [but] I cannot get time to write to all my friends. Direct to Gardener Taylor, Cinnaminson Post Office, New Jersey. Never mind the county. And Jos. and Charity, I would say you must obey those that have the rule over us. I do it and I want you too.
And you must not forget your Master in Heaven. We must obey Him above all others. Read His holy word and you will learn what he commands of you. He says give me thy heart. He says we must repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and unless we do that, we can not be saved. We cannot get to Heaven. I want you to be good and get to that Happy World where there will be no more war, nor sin, nor sorrow. I do not forget you in my prayers though away from you but you must pray for yourselves and for me that God may keep [us] from evil and sin in this trying hour, and if it is His will, bring me back safe. We must learn in all things to say, “Thy will be done.” and then all will be well. Thank His holy name I can trust all to Him. The bible says it shall be well with the righteous and I believe it with all my heart. But I must stop. I am on guard today.
My respects to all. — A. Chambers
Excuse this writing and spelling. I did in a hurry.
TERMS
.00 postage in the United States.  We accept Paypal.
Postage combined for multiple purchases.  Please wait for me to send the invoice, otherwise you will pay a higher rate.
For International buyers, we utilize eBay’s Global Shipping Program.  We had too many packages sent via the post office go missing.  So we believe this program will be safer for us and for you.
We are members of the American Philatelic Society, the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society, the Confederate Stamp Alliance and the Illinois Postal History Society.
We only sell genuine, original letters (no copies or reproductions).  Some of our letters have been transcribed and nicely presented for future genealogists and history buffs on the Spared & Shared blog.
We have been selling on eBay since 1998.   BID WITH CONFIDENCE !