Item No. 0862294

Four war-date letters by Miles T. Jones, who served in the 85th New York and 160 New York Regiments, in which he discusses a number of topics from the advance on Manassas to losing a gunboat in Louisiana. In his December 27, 1861, letter, Jones writes of hearing a battle “on the other side of the Potomac.” It’s not exactly clear what engagement he heard, although Fort Frederick in Maryland, up the Potomac River from Washington, had been attacked on December 25. “We saw the signal lights go up the evening of the 25,” he writes, “but did not hear any firing. But we heard the firing all day yesterday of cannon and musketry, but we do not know how it came out.” He then reports news of a destructive fire in the capital:

There was a large fire in the city last evening. I climbed a tree and looked at it with a spyglass, but could not tell what it was. We learnt this morning that it was one of the government stables. They say that there was about two hundred horses burnt, but I guess that there was not so many as that.

Of his Washington surroundings Jones writes:

Washington is not so handsome as most think it is. Take the public buildings from it and it would be a rough town. The most of the wood buildings is painted with white wash. The clapboards is about a foot wide. We can see the boats going up and down the river, but not very plain.

In his second letter, dated March 11, with no year but determined to be 1862, Jones writes that he is “somewhat tired, for two companies of us have been on a march about five miles.” He explains:

I was down in a burying ground on Fourteenth Street when the orders came, so I did not know it until a boy out of Company I told me of it. I hustled up to camp and got ready, then marched down to headquarters, found out what we was to do. We was to guard a train of ammunition. So we left thirty men there, then went back to camp to hold ourselves in readiness to escort it over the river when ordered. I went over the river this morning about four miles, then was ordered back, for they did not want it. I guess that it was going up toward Manassas Junction.

Manassas had been held by the rebels since their victory there in July 1861, though days before the writing of the letter Confederate General Joseph Johnston ordered his troops withdrawn south to the more easily defended line of the Rappahannock River. Union troops crept forward into the rebel defenses after the withdrawal. Jones continues:

Our troops have got this celebrated place, and the stars and stripes is floating over it. The rebels evacuated it and our troops is following them up like hat blocks. Where do you suppose they will stop? The cowards—we can whip them the best day they ever see. There is no use of my writing the rest of the news, for you will get it long before this reaches you in the New York Papers. The blockade is open. Not a rebel to be seen or found along the Potomac. I wish they would make a stand long enough for us to give them a good rub. I have not seen a rebel since I left home.

Jones’s third letter was written March 31, 1863, after he had joined the 160th New York as a second lieutenant. Stationed at New Orleans, he writes about an incident up Bayou Teche in which the gunboat Diana was captured by the rebels:

We lost a Gun Boat on the 28th up in the Teche at Franklinville. Co. F of this Regt was on board of it and they had five men killed and some wounded. The prisoners was paroled and they came back last night, and we are under marching orders to go at a minute’s notice. I think that we will go up the Teche again to fight the rebels, at least we hope so.

The fourth letter is dated August 27, 1863. In it he discusses the regiment’s activities, including the death of a comrade:

You will see Cap. Vaughan before this reaches you. I sent $250.00 home by him and $25.00 to Adelbert Lewis’s father and I wish that you would see that he gets it. Please give my compliments to the Capt. and tell him that we have moved since he left, we are a guarding the Rail Road, and that Henry Freeland died on the 18th. He died very suddenly—congesting fever. Ask him what I shall do with his mail. We have the best place on the Rail Road. Our Company is alone here at this place and we have got a house to live in and we have got a nice grove of orange tres all around the house, and nice fishing ground. We catch fish here that vary from five to fifty pounds, and in fact we are having a nice time of it all except the mosquitos and they are thicker than hairs on a dog and a great deal worse for biting.

The letters are on various sizes of letter sheets, all in very good condition with light toning. Creased at the original mailing folds. Two of the original stamped postal covers are included. The full transcripts can be read below:

Letter No. 1:

Washington, D.C. Decem. 27
Camp Warren, Meridian Hill

My Dear Parents
I write these few lines to let you know that I am well and doing well. We are faring well. There is five of us in one tent that is seven foot by eight. We have been drawing our rations cooked, but now we draw them raw. We bought a stove, spider, and coffee pot for $2.68 off the sutler, so we do our own cooking. So we fare first rate. Tip top.

I suppose that you have heard of the battle on the other side of the Potomac. We saw the signal lights go up the evening of the 25, but did not hear any firing. But we heard the firing all day yesterday of cannon and musketry, but we do not know how it came out.

There was a large fire in the city last evening. I climbed a tree and looked at it with a spyglass, but could not tell what it was. We learnt this morning that it was one of the government stables. They say that there was about two hundred horses burnt, but I guess that there was not so many as that. We are a going to have a new suit of clothes within a week, although I do not need them, and we think that we shall have our pay the first of the month. I will stop at present, for I shall not have time to finish before the taps and, if they find a light, it is ten chances to one that the one up with it don’t get in the guard house. There they go—out with the lights.

Decem. 29
Saturday we went to the city on brigade drill and review with our harnesses on. We was some tired, not much though. This morning we had to get out with our harnesses on for inspection.

They are making out the pay roll and I would like to have little advice whether to draw notes or the gold. I think that we can draw either. You could use the gold to a better advantage there than you could the notes. I shall get some money for myself.

C. S. Farnum was here today. He is at Alexandria. He thinks that the war will end in four months, but that is not my opinion.

The boys that I mess with is Jesy Green, Samuel Wheaton, Fulton Bundy, Albert Palmer, all good boys.

Washington is not so handsome as most think it is. Take the public buildings from it and it would be a rough town. The most of the wood buildings is painted with white wash. The clapboards is about a foot wide. We can see the boats going up and down the river, but not very plain. This is such a hard way of writing on my knee that I can’t make it go very well. I wish that you could see us, you would laugh. Where is Sister Maryann? I should like to hear from home little oftener than I do. I have had one letter from home, that is all that I have heard from you. I want an answer from this as soon as you get this.
From your son
Miles T. Jones

P.S. Direct as usual
Miles T. Jones
Washington D.C.
85 Regt. N.Y.S.V.
Co. H

We don’t get much war news here.

Letter No. 2:

Washington D.C. March 11

Dear Parents
I write you these few lines to let you know that I am well although somewhat tired, for two companies of us have been on a march about five miles. I received a letter from Ira this afternoon. It was handed to me after I had got into the ranks to march. I was down in a burying ground on Fourteenth Street when the orders came, so I did not know it until a boy out of Company I told me of it. I hustled up to camp and got ready, then marched down to headquarters, found out what we was to do. We was to guard a train of ammunition. So we left thirty men there, then went back to camp to hold ourselves in readiness to escort it over the river when ordered. I went over the river this morning about four miles, then was ordered back, for they did not want it. I guess that it was going up toward Manassas Junction. Our troops have got this celebrated place, and the stars and stripes is floating over it. The rebels evacuated it and our troops is following them up like hat blocks. Where do you suppose they will stop? The cowards—we can whip them the best day they ever see. There is no use of my writing the rest of the news, for you will get it long before this reaches you in the New York Papers. The blockade is open. Not a rebel to be seen or found along the Potomac. I wish they would make a stand long enough for us to give them a good rub. I have not seen a rebel since I left home. Not even a man so bad as Steward.

Well I shall have to draw to a close. We have not got our pay yet and do not know when we will get it. All news makes a poor soldier’s heart glad. Hark, I hear the cry of lights out. I shall probably blow mine out when I get ready, but then I guess it is best to put it out, so goodnight.
From your son
Miles T. Jones

Letter No. 3:

Camp Mansfield, March 31st 1863

Dear Brother
I have not as yet received anything from you since I arrived here in the this country. I watch the mails daily, but I do not get anything from you. I have received just two letters from father. I am well at present and hoping the same of friends at home. If they are not I do beg of you to write and let me know. I don’t think that I shall write again until I hear from home.

We lost a Gun Boat on the 28th up in the Teche at Franklinville. Co. F of this Regt was on board of it and they had five men killed and some wounded. The prisoners was paroled and they came back last night, and we are under marching orders to go at a minute’s notice. I think that we will go up the Teche again to fight the rebels, at least we hope so.

I have no more news to write at present. If you can read this you can do more than I can, for I have to write on my knees and in a hurry, so good day.
Lieut. M. T. Jones

To my Brother
Hugh Jones

Letter No. 4:

Hd Quarters Co. H 160th Regt. N.Y.S. Vol.
Bayou Ramos, La.  Aug 27th 63

Dear Parents
It is now some time since I have wrote you. I received your kind and welcome letter in date time and I assure you that I was glad to hear from home. I am well at present and so is the most of the boys. You will see Cap. Vaughan before this reaches you. I sent $250.00 home by him and $25.00 to Adelbert Lewis’s father and I wish that you would see that he gets it. Please give my compliments to the Capt. and tell him that we have moved since he left, we are a guarding the Rail Road, and that Henry Freeland died on the 18th. He died very suddenly—congesting fever. Ask him what I shall do with his mail. We have the best place on the Rail Road. Our Company is alone here at this place and we have got a house to live in and we have got a nice grove of orange tres all around the house, and nice fishing ground. We catch fish here that vary from five to fifty pounds, and in fact we are having a nice time of it all except the mosquitos and they are thicker than hairs on a dog and a great deal worse for biting. I received a letter from Brother Ira today and I will answer it soon. There is no news to write at present, so I must close for the present. Write soon. Give my compliments to all of the inquiring friends. Good night.
This is from your son
Lieut. Miles T. Jones

To my Parents
T. H. & E. M. Jones