Item No. 3002791

This newsy letter was written by Lieutenant Frank M. Kelley of the 44th New York. While still a sergeant, Kelley had evidently been serving on the staff of Brigadier General Charles Griffin, commander of a division in the Army of the Potomac’s 5th Corps. Records indicate Kelley was promoted to second lieutenant on December 31, 1862. In the letter he expresses doubt that he will be retained in his current staff role and hopes to obtain a new position with his brigade. He also writes negatively about the Emancipation Proclamation going into effect and describes muddy conditions days before the infamous “Mud March.”

Near the beginning of his letter, Kelley states that another member of General Griffin’s staff, Captain Catharinus B. Mervine, “has not arrived yet,” but that Griffin “returned tonight,” saying that Mervine “was in Washington and would be home within a day or two.” Kelley expresses uncertainty about whether he will be retained once his commission comes through:

I have not received the commission yet, and still continue in my duties here, and I do hate to queue them up. Genl. Griffin is such an odd man that I have but little hope of being retained here, but when the papers arrive I will probably go to the Regiment, and then with Pa’s help I could get on the 3d Brigade Staff.

Kelley hopes his father will write to Colonel Henry A. Weeks, the commander of the 12th New York Infantry who had been elevated to command of the 3rd Brigade after the Battle of Fredericksburg a month earlier. “Tell Pa to write Col. Weeks about me and request my detail on the Staff when my commission arrives,” he writes. “Col. Rice [of the 44th New York] wants me to return now, but I will not until I get the documents.”

Later in the letter, Kelly writes, “Not much signs of a move down here. Mud getting plenty. Plenty of Rebels in our front, and bolder than ever.” Little did he know that in just seven days the Army of the Potomac would embark on its embarrassing Mud March, in which General Ambrose Burnside would send the Army of the Potomac on a flanking movement that would end before it began due to the inability of troops and wagons to navigate the thick January mud.

Kelley then expresses his opinion toward the Emancipation Proclamation, which had gone into effect January 1:

Great talk about the n——r Proclamation, and it is regarded as an extension of 5 or 6 years to the war, which has turned out to be a crusade against Slavery rather than the restoration of the Union, as it was…. Tell Harry the 44th still lives, and they all hope for “consolidation.”

He concludes his letter with one last bit of news, writing, “There was an order rec’d to send the 5th Corps to relieve the 8th Corps around Baltimore—change places, and it was rescinded 15 minutes after rec’d.”

The letter was written upon four pages of a lettersheet measuring about 5 1/4” x 8”. The lettersheet split in half along the centerfold. Creased at the original folds. The full transcript is below:

Head Quarters 1st Division
5th Army Corps
Jan’y 14—1863

My Dear Mother,
Your most welcomed letter came to hand this evening, and although it is cold and late, yet I will drop you a few lines. I am glad to hear that you are enjoying yourself, and also Harrison, who seems to be among the Girls considerable, somewhat more than usual.

Mr. Partridge’s Church, I am glad to hear, is finished and I would like to see it, as well as attend it occasionally, but I don’t see any such prospect as that in view. However, I may come home unexpectedly one of these fine days, but hope not with a broken arm.

Captain Mervine has not arrived here yet, but the General returned tonight saying he was in Washington and would be home within a day or two. I have not received the commission yet, and still continue in my duties here, and I do hate to queue them up. Genl. Griffin is such an odd man that I have but little hope of being retained here, but when the papers arrive I will probably go to the Regiment, and then with Pa’s help I could get on the 3d Brigade Staff.

Tell Pa to write Col. Weeks about me and request my detail on the Staff when my commission arrives. Col. Rice wants me to return now, but I will not until I get the documents. There is many a Slip between Cup and lip.

I am pretty busy most of the time, and there are hundreds of papers going through this Office every day.

Not much signs of a move down here. Mud getting plenty. Plenty of Rebels in our front, and bolder than ever. Hope Pa will make a good thing out of the mine before lead goes down. Would like to see him down here now, and I tell you he would appreciate the visit. Love to Mary & Richard, Kate & W. H., Phibe & all.

Great talk about the n——r Proclamation, and it is regarded as an extension of 5 or 6 years to the war, which has turned out to be a crusade against Slavery rather than the restoration of the Union, as it was. I wrote a lengthy letter to Jarred. I wonder what they think of it. I hope they will answer. Tell Harry the 44th still lives, and they all hope for “consolidation.”

There was an order rec’d to send the 5th Corps to relieve the 8th Corps around Baltimore—change places, and it was rescinded 15 minutes after rec’d. Love go all and write soon & remember
Your Son
Frank M. Kelley