Company C., 26 Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers, October 1862 to November 1863
Translated by: Clara M. Lamers and William M. Lamers, 1933
Edited by William M. Lamers and Robert Di Bartolomeo, 1963
Introduction______________________________________________________________________________
The State Historical Society
has just received from Professor William M. Lamers, of Marquette University,
the typescript of a translation of Adam Muenzenberger's Civil War letters.
The translation was made partly by Professor Lamers and partly by his mother
Clara M. Lamers.
Adam
Muenzenberger, a German of good education who lived in the town of
Greenfield, Milwaukee County, enlisted in Company C. 26th Regiment, Wisconsin
Volunteers, in October, 1862. The 26th, it will be remembered, was the
second "German Regiment" to be raised in Wisconsin during the Civil War,
the first being the 9th Regiment. The active service of the 26th was performed
mostly in Virginia up to the time of the Battle of Gettysburg, July, 1863,
in which engagement Adam Muenzenberger was captured and taken to Richmond
as a prisoner of war. There he died in November of the same year.
During Muenzenberger's
absence from home, first a baby boy died, and later an older son, leaving
but two of the four children in the family. But these sad experiences represent
only a part of the trials of the good wife. Of these trials we hear little
directly, for only two of Mrs. Muenzenberger's letters are to be found
in the collection. Still, those of her husband reflect the innumerable
worries and difficulties under which she labored, difficulties about securing
the means of livelihood for her family, difficulties with neighbors who
imposed upon an unprotected woman, and finally -- as reported in her last
letter -- an act of God in the form of a stroke of lightning which partly
destroyed the home and obliged her to call upon a generous friend in Milwaukee
for aid. This last letter reveals that she and the two remaining children
were about to go to the home of a sister in La Crosse to remain there for
eight weeks.
Muenzenberger's letters
justify to the existence of a of very interesting superstition which may
have been widespread in the northern army during the Civil War. In numerous
letters he speaks about prophecies concerning the termination of the war
which prophecies he unusually discounts. But he says in one letter that
he is very anxious to receive his wife's prophecy concerning those things.
He has more faith in her than in other sooth sayers. And, over and over
again, he asks, "What does your teacup say?"
We do not know what her
teacup said. If by any chance it prophesied the dire truth, that war widow
must have lived in the profoundest state of mental depression all through
these long months which decided her husband's fate. These letters in short,
while they reveal the hardships of the soldier, reveal still more strikingly
the hardships of the family at home.
Excerpts of letters from
Wm. M. Lamers, Marquette University, Milwaukee to Dr. Schafer, in State
of Wisconsin Historical Society Correspondence Files.
______________________________________________________________________________
Sept. 26, 1933
I am taking the liberty
of sending to you a carbon copy of the translation of the Civil War letters
of my great grandfather, Adam Muenzenberger, made by my mother and me ....
The letters cover a period of thirteen months. The writer of them, my great
grandfather, was born in Germany and was brought to America, while little
more than an infant, by his parents who settled in the town of Greenfield,
near the present outskirts of Milwaukee.
He was a shoemaker by
trade, with an interest in book learning and had not been in the 26th Wisconsin
Regiment for many months before he was made secretary to its Commander,
Colonel Jacobs. As a result of this occupation, he apparently had
plenty of time to sit around headquarters and write. The letters,
almost without exception, are addressed to my great-grandmother, and deal
partly with war experiences and partly with the homely realities of life.
My great-grandfather was captured at the Battle of Gettysburg and died
in Richmond in November, 1863."
Letter #1______________________________________________________________________________
Camp Sigel, September 30th, 1862.
Precious Barbara:
I just found out from
Leopold [Drewes] that you would like to know when we expect to get our
banner. We will receive the flag next Thursday [Oct. 2]. If you would like
to come it would give me the greatest pleasure to have you with me here,
as I see you only as a guardian angel.
I found out that we leave
next week.
Many regards from me:
also kiss the children for me.
In hope that I will see
you soon again I remain,
Your loving
Adam
Letter #2______________________________________________________________________________
Washington, Arlington Heights
Dear Wife:
Duty bids me write you these few lines. Immediately after sending the first letter we received orders to march to Arlington Heights and to remain there until further orders. We are well and happy and do not know as yet when we march. We stay here for an indefinite time. We will be in Sigel's command as soon as he wants us. Answer this as soon as you receive this letter. My address is
Adam Muenzenberger
26th R'gt
Wisconsin Volunteers
Washington D. C.
Remember me to all who inquire for me. Dear Barbara, kiss the children for me. I remain.
Your True
Adam
God keep you!
Letter #3______________________________________________________________________________
Headquarters 26th Regiment Wisconsin
Volunteers, Colonel Jacobs, Co. C.
Fairfax Court House. Virginia,
October 14, 1862.
Beloved Barbara:
I find myself in good
health on the soil of Virginia. I beg of you not to worry about me. We
are living very well and the climate is tolerable. The days are quite warm
but the nights are cool.
Our trip was enjoyable
from the beginning to the end. At every station we were received with the
greatest enthusiasm. We were detained two days on Arlington Heights. Then
we were ordered to General Sigel's command and
the Nineteenth Regiment had to make room for us. Today, Wednesday October
15, General
Steinwehr inspected us and then we were ordered to make ready for
a review by General Sigel. We were drawn up in line and then at last brave
Sigel came. He paraded up and down and inspected us from head to foot.
He admired the Germans from Wisconsin and said that it was only through
the Germans that anything would be accomplished. He told the officers that
only in the solder's life was there a unity in two parts, namely, one that
commands and one that obeys. "I demand from you officers that you expect
no more from the soldiers than you know they can do and that you care for
them and teach them. You soldiers, obey your superiors in order that brotherly
love shall always prevail."
The land here looks desolate.
All the houses that are not in ruins are unoccupied. Too bad for this cleared
land that lies here. It looks as packed as the roads do at home. Everything
is trodden down, all the fences are burned, even fruit tree have been chopped
down and burned. There is no beef to be found here other than that which
belongs to the army for slaughter. We have fresh beef twice a week. Adam
is well and he's just the same as he was at home. Everybody likes him because
he is always satisfied. The whole regiment knew him. His mother needn't
worry about him. He sends his regards to her and his sisters.
Dear wife, as happy as
I would be to be in your midst, I am not sorry to be here. The soldier's
life suits me well enough and I therefore urge you not to worry about me.
And if the money which I send you does not reach, go to Christian Preusser.
He told me you should come to him.
Write to me soon. God willing we will meet again. Many regards to
all our friends and acquaintances. My greetings to you and to the children.
Your Husband,
Adam Muenzenberger
Kiss the children for me. Write soon. the address is:
Adam Muenzenberger
Co. C. 26 Reg't Wisconsin Vol.
Sigel's Division
Fairfax Courthouse, Virginia.
Letter #4______________________________________________________________________________
Fairfax Court House, October 30, 1862.
Precious Barbara:
I received your letter
last Sunday and see that you are all well except that you burned your hand
and that it pains you much. We are all very happy and wish very much to
be remembered. We have camped here for fourteen days but yesterday we broke
up and moved into tents on the south side of Fairfax. We are now
assigned to Carl Schurz's division. All
the regiments under his command are busy today erecting their tents. We
still have beautiful weather. They say that we will have our winter quarters
in the place where we are now stationed. The drinking water here is wonderfully
pure - all spring water. There is a great plenty of wood and as far as
we have gone the district is not nearly as thickly settled as Wisconsin.
The whole country hereabouts is covered with shrubbery and wood and no
one can imagine how it looks. Therefore the poor war plan.
It is said that as far
as the soldiers are concerned Carl Schurz is the best division commander
as he takes the best care of them.
I heard that we will
receive our pay within the next few days. As soon as we receive it I will
wire you. But if it doesn't come go to Christian Preusser. He will attend
to it as he promised me he would.
We have been visited here several times by men from Milwaukee. M.
Shepard came first, then Joseph Philipps who works for Dr. Silberg, and
several others who are traveling around electioneering. We were allowed
to vote. I see that they are going to send a band of music to our regiment
from Milwaukee.
Colonel Jacobs is the
best man that would be found for his soldiers. We have him to thank for
everything good that happens here. If it weren't for him the captains would
not treat us nearly so well. This is all the news I have to write you at
this time.
Dear Barbara, please
send me 25 or 30 cents for nine three cent post stamps in order that I
can send you more letters. We cannot get them here. Here the price for
them is already ten cents.
I have been put on scouting
service. Please remember me to all our society members and acquaintances,
especially Adam Muehl and family, and grandma, Aloys Roller and family,
and mother-in-law, Herman Stiefvater and wife and family. Greetings to
you and to the children, to your mother, sisters, and brothers, and acquaintances.
Your Loving
Adam
Kiss the children for me. Answer soon. I just received your second letter and it pleased me very munch to receive your handwriting again. I hear that we will be paid in the next few days.
Letter #5______________________________________________________________________________
Gainsville, November 12, 1862.
Dearest Barbara
Having no duties to perform
today - I was on sentry duty yesterday while our company was on picket
duty - I felt that I should write to you. Adam and I are well and happy
and we hope that these lines may find you the same.
The day after my last
letter we marched with the Hills of Bull Run on the one side and the fields
on the other and occupied the main street of the town where two days before
the enemy's pickets had been posted. They had been driven in by our cavalry
under General Stahl. We left our camp at eight o'clock in the morning and
arrived in full equipment at one P. M. We were given immediate orders to
set up our tents. One had barely finished with this when the younger soldiers
of the regiment went out foraging and brought in pigs, chickens, ducks,
turkeys and geese in large numbers. We roasted and cooked them.
We are staying at a place
called New Baltimore. The other day thirty thousand men of General McClellans's
command passed on with orders to march double time toward the enemy. A
couple of days ago we were ordered to break camp and to march east towards
Gainsville which is a railroad station from which we draw supplies. Ten
days ago this town was still in the hands of the rebels. It lies between
Centerville and Manassas Junction and was destroyed by them before their
retreat. The rebels are in constant flight and are being followed by our
companies, particularly by General Stahl's brigade. We are still held in
reserve. We have seen no rebels but here and there the wives and children
who have been left behind stare at us - sometimes sadly, sometimes hatefully.
Occasionally we come
across a farmer who says that he has rented his farm and would gladly go
north if he could only secure his possession safely. These men are sent
north immediately. No horse or cow is safe from the old regiment. The soldiers
take everything along on the plea that they wish to pay the rebels for
the treatment at the last battle of Bull Run.
We hear that our wives
have received no assistance from the government and a lot of other idle
talk. Please write and tell me how everything is at home. Whether Walsh
paid the constable's expenses, and what is happening. You write me that
you have heard it prophesied that we can be home by spring. Let me know
whether we can believe this or not. Please tell me who the prophet was
and where he gets his prophecies and whether we can believe them or not.
Please tell me what the teacup gives as truth. I'd rather believe that
than any other thing.
We haven't received any
pay as yet and haven't heard when we will be paid. If you haven't sent
me any post stamps as yet, send me some - but all new ones - and I will
write you one of, even two letters every week. Stamps cannot be obtained
here. Write me also whether you received the power of attorney and let
me know how many letters Adam wrote to Christina and especially how that
last trouble with Wallace turned out on account of that window peeking.
Please greet all my acquaintances, relatives and friends, especially your
mother, your sisters and brothers, my brother-in-law, sister and brother,
my father and grandmother, my godfather and family, and Loehr and his family
in Milwaukee. Many thousand greetings to you and your children.
Your faithful husband,
Adam Muenzenberger.
We just received the news that we march tomorrow. Wither we don't know. Kiss the children for me. I hope for a speedy return. Answer soon.
Letter #6______________________________________________________________________________
Gainsville, November 16, 1862.
Precious Barbara, My Dear Wife:
As soon as I received
your long expected letter, I felt the urge to sit down and answer it immediately.
I don't know what to think of the fact that you didn't receive an answer
for so long. Your letters arrived as we lay in our tents and you can't
imagine how happy their arrival made me. News again from my dear ones!
I had been very much depressed because I had heard that you were seriously
ill. Fritz had received a letter from his parents in which they mentioned
your illness. Now as I hear your sweet voice again in your letter, I find
peace again - but this only through prayer.
I do everything as I
promised you - everything with which so long as we are together I could
please you. I am very happy to hear that our children are so diligent in
study and especially in penmanship, which as you know was always my greatest
pleasure.
Since the 30th of October
I have written you two letters besides this one. I take pleasure from that
fact that the Walters and Hirsch (Francis Louis, his wife Amalia, his brother
Carl August, and his wife Rosina) families were so helpful to you in your
sickness. I am indeed very grateful to them. I thank your mother as well
and all those who stood by you during your distress because it shows that
I and my family still have good friends and brothers.
My clothing is still
in good shape. I wash my blue shirts and my underwear every week in spite
of a lack of women to do it. Only the soles of my boots are worn through.
My shoes and the new grey shirts which I received from the government are
like new.
We have received no money
as yet nor do I know when we will receive any but as soon as we are paid
I will write and send you some. Report has it that we will march again
tomorrow or the day after. They say that we will go back to Fredericksburg,
Maryland.
I was just invited to
a sausage lunch by Jacob Michel, Louis Manz, and Nicholas Frederich. We
live as well here as we can. The food is good and the crackers taste -
or rather must taste - good to us. We have fresh meat almost every day.
Don't give up hope, old
lady, trust in the Lord. In the wish that these lines find you in the best
of health as they leave me I salute you all heartily. Send my best wishes
to all that ask for me and to all the relatives.
Your Ever Loving,
Adam Muenzenberger.
Answer soon. Farewell. Kiss the children for me. I am sending you 39c for stamps. Now you can send me many letters. It must be nice to hear little Adam talk. You can't imagine the pleasure I get from looking at your picture.
Letter #7______________________________________________________________________________
Centerville, November 19, 1862.
Precious Wife:
The day before yesterday,
on our retreat from Gainsville, we arrived here in Centerville and we have
pitched our camp in the fortifications. Centerville is - or rather was
at the beginning of the war - a charming little village with fine mills
and a fairly large church, but now it is an abandoned nest. The mill has
been destroyed by fire and the church has been converted into a hospital
and quartermaster's station. The people have moved out of the place and
the houses are occupied by officers, soldiers, and negroes.
We are expected to camp
here for an indefinite period. Where we go then we don't know. Our Army
is falling back - why, no one knows. Rumor has it that Jackson threatens
Maryland again. If such be the case he will be enticed into Maryland and
his retreat will then be cut off. They say likewise that two divisions
will be put aboard ship and sent to Charleston. They want to attack the
Southerners in the interior. The 26th Wisconsin, 119th New York, and the
75th Pennsylvania form our brigade. Our regiment is the strongest.
We had two deserters.
Captain Landa, Lieutenant Zarnow of Company D, Lieutenant Waller of Company
G, and several returned home. Many of these gentlemen were forced by Colonel
Jacobs to ask for their discharges. Colonel Jacobs is sick. He worried
too much about his officers.
Rumors of all kinds concerning
peace and a return to Milwaukee are floating around. I don't think you
can find a single soldier in the entire army who wouldn't rather go home
today than tomorrow. Everyone sees this big humbug with wide - open eyes.
The man who stays well
here is fortunate. Our doctors are absolutely worthless. During the retreat
over the battlefields of Bull Run, one noticed to the disgrace of the Northerners
that everything had been done with great carelessness. Where our fallen
comrades had been buried in many instances, hands and feet and sometimes
whole heads were exposed. The Southerners are buried decently. In several
instances more than a hundred are placed in one grave - but they are at
least covered and on the one side a board is erected as a marker. We noticed
one board inscribed with the names of 130 men of the First Mississippi
Regiment.
This must be all for
today. If we leave here in a short time, I will write you. Greet all of
mine and our friends and in the hopes of a speedy return I greet you and
the children, your mother and family, my sister and brother-in-law, Rollers
and family, my godfather and family, and I remain,
Your loving husband
Adam Muenzenberger.
Kiss the children for me. Answer soon.
Letter #8______________________________________________________________________________
Centerville, November 25, 1862.
Precious Barbara:
Troubled with lonesomeness
and with my thoughts forever with the loved ones at home I take my pen
in hand to write you a short letter. We are, God be praised, in the best
of health and hope that this letter finds you the same. We enjoy happy
times here in the encampment at Centerville. We take long walks and pass
our time in the easiest fashion. From time to time we have to take picket
duty or night watches. Several rebels are captured every day. They are
taken as spies. Seeman is provost marshal and sends the captives to Washington
where they must stay until they are exchanged.
We have target practice today, twenty men being selected from each
company. Adam is with the twenty men today but not I and on that account
I have a chance to write a letter and to give the children a little pleasure.
Today several of the
officers of our regiment were shipped back to Milwaukee for good, some
for being incapable and others for being opposed to commander Jacobs. The
commander is still down with the chills and fever. This week as corporal
I had the watch before his room. In the morning he treated us with a bottle
of brandy. He is in all respects the best officer in the regiment. He is
not naughty like Lehman and Major Horwitz. General Schurz is a good man
to his division. All of his men have great respect for him. He cares for
them like a father. Every two days we get good wheat bread; the other days
we have crackers. We likewise have fresh beef every two days. On the other
days we have salt pork and bean soup.
We have received no money
as yet and don't know when we will receive any but as soon as I do get
some I will write to you. The weather here is about the same as it is in
October at home. It freezes just a little at night and there is a light
frost. We are camped here in our cotton tents, quite well satisfied and
filled with the hope that the war will be over in spring. Report has it
that there has been drafting in Wisconsin and great resultant scandal.
We have had a great laugh at the simpletons who laughed at us because we
volunteered. Please let me know who was drafted if you can find out so
that I can laugh at their lot the way they laughed at mine.
I find happiness in the
thought of a loving wife and children who still remember their father in
the north and the more I think of you the more I count on seeing you soon
again if God wills. Therefore be comforted. As I have found out here a
protecting hand is over us. I send my greetings to all my friends and acquaintances,
all my society brothers, to all who ask for me, to my sister and brother-in-law,
your mother and family, to Adam Muehl and grandma and family, and to George
Michel and his wife. Many greetings to you and to the children, and I remain,
true soul.
Your loving husband
Adam Muenzenberger.
Farewell. A speedy return. Answer soon.
Letter #9______________________________________________________________________________
Centerville, November 27, 1862.
Best Beloved Barbara:
As it is the custom to
greet a good friend on his namesday I consider it my duty to send you,
my dear one, congratulations on your namesday, and to wish you many more
happy returns of the day with your children. But my greatest wish is that
I could be united with you and the children soon again.
I am quite well satisfied
here. Our food and surroundings are good, and we expect to spend the winter
here in Centerville. According to the latest report we are to work a fortifications
this winter. The fortification is to be rebuilt into a very strong fort,
and so, God willing, we will spend the entire winter here.
We were on picket duty
again last night. We did picket duty before a house where we get a quart
of milk every morning and evening. I was the corporal of the watch. We
didn't know what to do to pass the time without getting into mischief.
We are in good health, and have plenty to eat, and an over abundance of
good, healthy appetite. But Babbette, you can't imagine the poverty among
the people here, especially among the farmers. At every retreat the Rebels
make they plunder everything that isn't fastened down. If the Northern
Army [?] retreats they do the same. They (the natives) think the North
has some very tough soldiers, but they always have a word of praise for
the 26ers, they are always sent back for guard.
We set up our big tents
again today.
We didn't receive any
money here as yet. Please be so kind and write me soon. I don't know whom
to blame for not receiving an answer. I write to you so often and always
get an answer every fourteen days. So far I have written you five or six
letters and have not had an answer. I don't demand an answer from you for
every letter I write, but I would like an answer at least once a week from
my beloved one. There is nothing more consoling to a father far away from
home than to hear good news and often from his folks. Write me if you received
the power of attorney and my commission as corporal.
I beg of you, write me
soon and often. Write me and let me know who has been drafted.
Again I wish you love
and happiness for your namesday and by next spring your old man will be
home in your arms again.
Best regards from your
brother. He got another letter from his sweetheart [Christina Schmidt].
It was heartbreaking.
Thank God we are well
here and hope this finds you in good health as it leaves us.
Farewell, true soul. Farewell.
Letter #10______________________________________________________________________________
Blue Mountain, November 29, 1862.
I received your letter
and am greatly pleased to hear of your recovery. I am well and our trip
agreed with me nicely. We are still marching inland toward Richmond as
reserves. After we had camped to the south of Fairfax Courthouse for several
days we received orders to get ready to march. On November 1 we left our
former camp and at noon we arrived at Centerville where we camped again.
Centerville is eight miles from Fairfax. From Centerville we left and passed
through Bull Run. On the outskirts of Bull Run we camped two nights. There
we caught two spies. Early the next morning we marched through the Bull
Run Hills and came to Haymarket where the inhabitants still remain. They
looked at us insolently but our men sang in a loud voice, "In the South,
in the South, where the German guns explode and the rebels fall."
We marched on. I should
say here that the rebels were chased by our cavalry before this. Toward
four o'clock we arrived in - or rather - at the Bull Run Hills where three
hundred men of our company were put on picket or outpost duty. We fixed
bayonets and in this way we entered the hills and took up our posts.
There we stayed until
this noon. When we were doing picket duty our other companies which had
stayed in camp collected about a hundred sheep, pigs, chickens, and geese
and killed them and dressed them. Besides that they took potatoes and cabbage.
Then they burned down the houses. The New York regiment is entirely German.
Wherever you meet soldiers they're German. And they've all sworn vengeance
on the South.
Today is election day.
All companies have voted except ours. Our officers are all Republicans
and our soldiers are all Democrats and so they've cheated us - or rather
the candidates. This evening the wife of Captain Pelosi arrived here. She
said that there was rumor that our regiment had already been in a battle.
We haven't as yet but it may come soon as we have been listening to the
thunder of cannon for the last two days. McClellan and Burnside are at
present engaged with the enemy and if it is necessary, we will follow.
Please don't forget the
postage stamps or else I can't send you any letters. We haven't received
any money as yet. The weather here is fine and warm.
I must close my letter
as I have no more room to write. Address your letters the same as before.
My greetings to all our relatives and friends, to my brother-in-law,
sisters and brothers. And in the hope of a happy return, I greet you and
the children, your mother, sisters, and brothers,
Your Loving,
Adam Muenzenberger
Adam sends his love to his mother, sisters, and brothers. Please kiss the children for me and please answer soon.
Letter #11______________________________________________________________________________
Centerville, December 7, 1862.
Precious Barbara:
I received your letter
of November 26 and I see that everybody - and especially you - is well.
As for me I am still healthy and satisfied. When your letter arrived I
was doing outpost duty. Just as the assignments for outpost duty were posted.
It began to snow and it continued to fall until eight o'clock in the evening.
During all this time we stood in the snow around a fire. The officers and
the non-commissioned officers don't have to suffer as much as the privates
who do picket duty. Every two hours pickets are changed. At nine P.M. the
weather cleared and the wind whistled so coldly that we thought we would
freeze.
When we came off duty
I read your letter, dearest, and I was much pleased to learn that Harmeyer's
hired man had been drafted. You're still the same. I was encouraged by
the fact that you confronted me about the draft. I'm perfectly satisfied
that things are as they are and, if God will, the war will soon be over
and we will have the opportunity, volunteers as well as drafted men, to
talk to one another.
We do nothing now but
picket and will be kept on this duty until New Year At that time our Regiment
will be released. That will be a happy day as these duties are very hard
- twenty-four hours without shelter. It is terribly cold here now. There
are traces of snow and the wind is biting. We build little fireplaces in
our tents and they feel good - as long as we can remain by them. But what
can we do. Duties must be performed.
Our colonel, Jacobs,
hasn't taken command as yet. Everybody rejoices at his return because our
first lieutenant, Lehman, is a beast and is drunk most of the time. Then
he doesn't know how to mistreat the men.
Our company is still the strongest in the Regiment and we will have
two promotions very soon. Perhaps two of our corporals will be made sergeants.
Who will be the lucky ones, no one knows.
Please be so kind as
to write me immediately. Write to me every Sunday if you possibly can.
You can't give me any greater pleasure than to write me a letter with your
beloved hands. I was afraid that I wouldn't receive any more. Tell me if
Harbacher is still with you and how the weather is at home. Write me also
whether you received the corporal's commission and what your names day
wish is. When you see Walsh tell him that I had written you in regard to
the money. I had an entirely different opinion of him as he promised to
give me the money at Camp Sigel.
Send my best wishes to
all my society brothers and acquaintances, to my brother-in-law and sister,
to your mother and family, to Grandmother Muehl, Rollers, and families,
and to John Mirgeler and his wife. I wish them much happiness in their
marriage. Also greet Montag, Weiler, and Hirsch and their families, Konrad
and Krempel and their families, and then I send many hearty greetings to
you, dearest, and to the children, and in the hopes of a speedy return,
I remain,
Your loving husband,
Adam Muenzenberger
Kiss the children for me.
Letter #12______________________________________________________________________________
All your friends send greetings, I can't name them all.
Greenfield, December 8, 1862.
Dear Adam:
My wholehearted thanks for your loving congratulations on my names
day. My greatest wish is to have you return to me. Beloved, you write that
I write so little. Here after I will send you a letter every Sunday. You
don't know how much work I have - especially with the wood because since
your absence I have cut every piece myself. You can't get anyone to chop.
And you know what kind of wood chopper I am. God be praised though, it
goes better now. And then you know I sew for other people. Money is scarce.
Dear Adam, it pleases
me much that you have good food and are well and happy. I received your
power of attorney and also the patent. Please tell Korbmacher that a little
son arrived at his home and that he should write to his wife as soon as
possible.
His family is well and
is anxiously awaiting a letter. Write the address for him the same as yours.
Jacobs has been slandered in Milwaukee on the grounds of misusing a solder.
I saw Deuster at the Seeboth office. He asked me how you were getting along
and I told him that you considered Jacobs a wonderful man and praised him
highly. This didn't seem to please him very much. Dear Adam, Jungbluth
and his family send their regards and always inquire about you. Write me
what happened to John Kraemer as his parents are not very well. I close
my letter now in good health. Your wife and children send greetings.
Barbara Muenzenberger
Many greetings from mother,
sisters, and brothers, brother-in-law and sister, Rollers, Hommel and family,
and best regards from your society brothers.
Farewell, and the good
God be your protector. I want to save paper so that you can use the other
side for an answer. Farewell, dear Adam, in God's name, Greet my brother
heartily.
Letter #13______________________________________________________________________________
Centerville, December 9, 1862.
Dearest Wife Barbara:
Your letter of December
3rd found me in the best health and I learn from it that you are the same.
You do not know how surprised I was to learn from your letter that the
26th Wisconsin and the 119th New York ran away at Gainesville and had left
their blankets and guns behind them. It is laughable and at the same time
annoying to have anything of that kind said or written about a regiment
such as ours.
It is laughable to this
extent. Up to this time our regiment had not had the honor to even meet
a Southern soldier with the exception of those whom our pickets took prisoner.
Our regiment is still very cheerful and we just received the news that
by morning we would break camp and take the field against Jackson's army.
Everyone is cheering and waiting the chance to send Jackson home.
It is annoying because
we hear that these rumors are given out in part by the Milwaukee Sentinel
and in part by the Milwaukee Seebote. Of course you can't blame the Sentinel
in this matter. It hasn't forgotten the slur our first lieutenant, Lehman,
gave it. It certainly would be aggravation to get a good dig from a Dutchman
and not to be able to return it. You know, we are no Yankees.
One can forgive the Seebote
because the editor simply doesn't understand the affair and I know the
old men. He screams when the other one shouts and be is angry besides because
his Napoleon, McClellan, was relieved of duty.
Beloved, believe me -
and I wouldn't lie, we marched back in the same order and with the same
order and with the same packs that we had when we left here. In the same
way that you saw us march from Camp Sigel, we marched from Gainsville to
Centerville with our stomachs empty. The whole company grumbled because
our equipment wasn't hauled there in spite of the fact that we knew two
days ahead of time that we were going to Centerville. I firmly believe,
though, that our regiment would let itself be shot to pieces before it
would retreat. Let me repeat once more, then, that as yet we haven't seen
the enemy and that the whole tale is an ugly slander against us.
John Kraemer is sick
now, but not dangerously so. He sends his regards to his parents.
Tomorrow we march ahead
to look for the enemy and it is possible that before you receive this letter
the 26th regiment either have withdrawn or fought Jackson.
The news about little
Adam and the other children gives me much pleasure. Let everyone read this
letter as proof that these rumors are silly and false.
Many greetings to all
our friends, relatives and acquaintances, to grand mother, to godfather
and his family, your mother and family; also to the Hirschs, Weilers and
to their families. My greetings to Dr. Krak and his family. I remain, loving
until death,
Your husband
Adam Muenzenberger.
Greetings to the Roller family. Kiss the children for me.
Letter #14______________________________________________________________________________
Fredericksburg, December 16, 1862.
Precious Wife:
At last we have arrived
at Fredericksburg where Burnside has been bivouacked for five days and
I take my pen in hand to write a few lines to you. Immediately after I
had written to you the other morning we were ordered to move. We marched
from Centerville to Fairfax Station where we pitched camp for the night.
On the next day we continued the trip. All that day we struggled through
the mud. The ground is frozen in the morning.
It thaws about nine o'clock
and becomes soft and dirty. The second day we came into Wolf's Run where
we camped over night. The third day we moved on again. The weather is warm
and clear-about the way it is at home in October. We marched to within
a mile this side of Dumfrie, a little village. Here we rested a whole day.
That night I spent on picket duty again.
The weather is beautiful.
The next day we pulled stakes and continued to Stafford Court House where
we remained for the night. The following day we continued through a village
called Stafford which was about the most beautiful I have seen on our whole
march. Thence we proceeded to a railroad station called Brooks Station.
Here we were given hardtack. We had been without it for two days. Each
man received five crackers and every two men were given two tablespoons
of coffee. Our wagons couldn't follow us on the march. At Brooks Station
each man received twenty crackers and six tablespoons of coffee. Now we
are in good condition as far as eating is concerned.
We have pitched camp
a mile and a half from Fredericksburg which General Burnside occupied several
days ago. His troops are now camping in the village. The rebels in their
forest are only four miles away. For five days now that battle has been
going on and no one knows yet if it is over. We have heard that ten thousand
of our men have been killed or captured. Our people marched everything
in the town with much enthusiasm. We are hourly awaiting a renewal of the
battle inasmuch as the rebels don't want to withdraw. This evening we received
orders to retreat-where to no one knows but the generals. Hourly new troops
are arriving on our side.
Stafford Court House, December 17, 1862.
This morning we broke
camp very early and marched back to Stafford Court House where we arrived
in a snow storm. We pitched our tents immediately. By the time they were
up the snow had stopped falling. How happy I was when our quartermaster
brought our mail and I received a letter from my precious wife. I immediately
thought, I must finish this letter which I had started at Fredericksburg.
God be praised, I still am in the best of health as are Adam, Leopold,
John Kraemer, Stubanus the basket maker, and I hope that this letter finds
you the same.
We have plenty to eat
again but we don't know what's going to happen to us and where will be
sent to next. They say that Sigel's corps is to go to Richmond by water
with the fleet. General Banks is before Richmond and Sigel is to support
him. Tonight it is rumored that General Banks took Richmond but whether
the report is true we don't know. We hope that it is.
Enough of that, Adam
is very dissatisfied because he hasn't received a letter. He did get one
from Mary from La Crosse. She wrote that they had built a barn for two
animals and for two tons of hay, that they had drilled a well, and that
my father wanted to come to you by Christmas time.
Jacob Michel has been
promoted to sergeant and I am third instead of fifth corporal. There have
been many promotions. Lieutenant Pizzala has been made a captain. Send
my regards to George Michel and tell him that Jacob is now a sergeant and
that Nick Fredrich is in the hospital. He is at Fairfax Station.
Dearest, I pity you because
you have to cut the wood and do all the hard work. But be satisfied, true
soul. This hard lot is merely a test for us. If God wills I can return
and we will have wonderful-in fact the most wonderful days of our life
together.
Now don't give up. God
still lives and I trust that he will let me return in the best of health
and will reunite us.
Many greetings to all
who inquire for me, to Jungbluths, Michels, Rollers, Muehls, Jungs, Montags,
Stubers, to Herman and Bina, your mother and her family, to Weilers, Hommels,
Kraks, Hirschs - to all, in fact, that ask for me. Also to Loehrs and family
and tell them that Deany Steinly was made a corporal. His parents live
at Loehrs.
And I send you best wishes
from my whole heart and I wish you a merry Christmas and a very happy New
Year in the best of health and before our wedding anniversary in the embrace
of
Your loving husband,
Adam Muenzenberger
Kiss the children for me, precious soul. Farewell. We will meet again. Answer immediately.
Letter #15______________________________________________________________________________
This little letter is for you and if anyone wants to read it don't give it to them.
Dearly beloved Barbara:
Precious heart, as happy
as I would be to be with you and with our children and in the circle of
our families, I must write you how I am and how I like my lot. I am well
satisfied, I like the life, and I do not think that there is anyone in
the regiment who is as contented as I am. I haven't found a doctor necessary
as yet and I don't think that there is another corporal in the regiment
with duties as light as mine. Since we have been in camp I have been on
guard only twenty-four hours and of that there was only a half-night.
There is no corporal
in the company so well liked as I am both by men and officers. The reason
is that when they are off duty I let the men do as they wish-but if I am
on duty with them they obey orders promptly.
I heard yesterday that Schurz's division is at Arlington Heights
near Washington. We hope that is true.
Dear Heart, please send
my greetings to your mother, sisters and brothers, to Herman and Bina,
to the Muehls and their family and grandmother, to Wallace, Weiler, Hirsch,
Krak, Montags, Konrad, Krempel, Jungbluth, Jungs, Roller, Michel, Loehrs,
and in fact to everybody that inquire for me. And especially do I send
my greetings to you, beloved, and to our little ones. And I ask you to
kiss them and to tell them to study hard. Greeting you and the children
many times I am,
Your Loving Husband,
Adam Muenzenberger.
Farewell, I hope we shall be together in eternity... I thought I had a half sheet but it turned out to be a whole one. Farewell, true soul, we shall see each other soon. Kiss the children for me and write me in your next letter whether you received the letter with the dollar and my picture. I hope that I will be home by summer time.
I greet you heartily, precious soul.
Your Loving Husband,
Adam Muenzenberger.
Goodbye!
Letter #16______________________________________________________________________________
Stafford Court House, December 21, 1862.
Precious Wife:
I have received your letter
of December 11th and your best wishes for my names day. I see from it that
you and the children are well. As for me I am likewise well and happy and
I greet you many, many times.
Precious, you can't imagine how pleased I am every time I receive
a letter from you. I get added pleasure from the knowledge that you are
all well and happy. A letter from you always brings healing medicine to
my heart which beats only for you, my loved ones.
I am highly pleased to
hear that Ernest and Mary like to study. Tell them to keep on so that when
I return I may be very proud of them. They can please me better in no other
way. Should I return I will surely bring them a beautiful gift if they
study hard. How is Henry and little Adam?
I am likewise pleased
to hear that my Godfather, Adam Muehl, is of so much assistance to you.
I thank him heartily for it. I am not sorry I enlisted but I do wish that
those who talked war constantly would have to perform an American soldier's
duty for eight days. Then there would be peace in a short time.
The newspapers say that
the army is well satisfied with the conduct of the war. That is nothing
but a lie. There isn't a regiment that isn't looking for peace saying that
war is nothing but moneymaking and humbug. This war doesn't concern the
Union but the almighty purses of the officers and contractors, speculators
and dealers. For these the war hasn't lasted nearly long enough. As long
as Uncle Sam pays the war will last. The New York troops are the most dissatisfied.
The weather is now pretty
cold. We have only wood to use for fire to warm ourselves. Nothing would
warm me more though than a letter from you and a greeting from your faithful
heart. We have received no wages and will not receive any for a while.
The story that Heinz from Company G writes that he received his month's
salary is nothing but a lie. Not a man of the 26th regiment has received
his pay. It must be that Heinz is a ----- and got his pay that way because
anyone who knows him knows that he has a pretty big mouth. The man who
talks a lot can't always tell the entire truth. On that account, dearest,
don't believe all the rumors. I know that when payday comes the entire
brigade will receive their pay and only one regiment, much less one man.
Men like him only make heavy hearts for other families. Some wives think
that their husbands have received their pay and wasted it. Others again
feel that they have lost it.
Adam at present isn't
quite well but he hasn't gone to the hospital. He has caught a slight cold.
He and Holz were out hunting yesterday and killed a cow. They brought it
to camp in five pieces. We have plenty of fresh beef now but there isn't
enough hardtack. A strong person goes hungry. I always manage to have some
left from one meal to the next. Adam is often without it. Leopold, Adam,
Asmuth Holz, Andreas Springling from Milwaukee and I are sleeping partners.
Andreas Sprengling is from Weinholdsheim and lives - or his wife does -
at or near Loehrs. There are entire companies of Darmstaedter with us.
I wish you and all who
ask about me a happy new year, good health, and speedy return. Greet all
our neighbors. Many regards to Adam Muehl and his families, to Roller and
his family, to Jungbluth, Stuber, Weiler, Hirsch, Hommel, Krak, Montag,
and especially to Herman Stiefvater and to my sisters and your mother and
the family. Adam sends best regards to his mother, and to his sisters and
brothers.
Many greetings to your true, true heart and to our children from
Your Loving Husband
Adam Muenzenberger
Letter #17______________________________________________________________________________
Stafford Court House, December 28, 1862.
Precious Wife:
I received your last letter
of December 21st just after I had written to you on the 27th. By it I see
that you and the children are well and happy. I am likewise in good health
and I greet you and the children heartily.
I am happy that you thought of making me a little Christmas present.
More, I have nothing but thanks for you. But I ask you not to get any more
ideas like that in the future. Presents might reach me but the freight
on them is more than they are worth. I want to thank you again though for
your goodness of heart. That is all I can do for you at this time but I
will never forget it of you.
You write me that Patrick
Walsh hasn't paid you as yet. Wait a short time and then ask him again
and if he doesn't send you any money then I will send him a letter through
the general. I am very sorry that such things happened to Mrs. Wallace.
I am happy that you followed my advice and stayed away until she came to
her senses.
The next time you write
you can send me a few stamps again and please send me a few newspapers.
You can include some zinc nails, a few pegs, an awl, some hempen thread,
brushes, and shoemakers glue. You don't have to send it this week but send
the awls and zinc nails as soon as possible. Not too many at once, though,
only enough to sew my boots as they have been worn out for quite a while.
I have received my second pair of shoes. There are many who have received
their second trousers and shirts. For these naturally they have to pay.
My clothes are still in good condition. All I have drawn is two pair of
stockings, one pair of shoes, and one pair of gloves.
You can see from this
that I own gloves and that I am well supplied with clothes. The weather,
too, is very mild. We have had two deaths since we went into camp here.
One of them was the son of Mr. Jaeger who lives near the Muehls. The other
belonged to Company G. I don't know his name. They buried the first in
the cemetery in Centerville, the other here on a high hill on the other
side of camp. His comrades made a fine marker and a garden for him.
Our first lieutenant
becomes more bestial day by day. No soldier has any respect left for him.
They sneer at his commands. Sometimes he hasn't nerve enough to come into
camp until after midnight. The regiment likes our commander more every
day. They say that he is a very good man and a very successful officer.
Everyone has the greatest respect for him.
Adam is on the way to
recovery and asks me to send greetings to his mother and family.
I must close my letter
now as I have to make out muster roles. I still think thankfully about
your good intentions regarding your Christmas present. Still advising you
to be firm and trustful in the hopes of my speedy return I send you my
greetings.
Your loving husband,
Adam Muenzenberger
