Soldiers and Heaven

     Today has been incredible.  During a lull at work, I decided to do some random google searches related to my ancestry.  Specifically those that fought during the Civil War.  I stumbled upon a website that had a multitude of information that had been put together by Nancy Machuga (One of our many family historians).  I started to read about Charles Gleasman, who during the summer of 1862, lied about his age, and enlisted in the 117th New York State Volunteers at the tender age of 19.  The following is a letter written by Charles, to his older brother David from Camp Morris, in Washington D.C.  It is the only letter written by "Charlie" to have survived all these years.

Headquarters of the 117th regiment, Camp Morris

Dear Brother David,

        

      I take the liberty to write to you a few lines to inform you that I am yet in good health and feel very well.  I will also let you know that I received your letter last night.  I was very glad to hear from you. You wanted to know how I get along.  I get along very well and most generally have enough to eat. Sometimes we are short for one day or so but not very often.

      

     There is great disease in our regiment.  Most of our regiment have the yellow fever or the jaundice.  They are very sick but I have not had it yet.  We are now in Maryland.  One expects to be called in the battlefield before long. They are preparing for a battle. The hardest battle that ever was since the war commenced. Perhaps it will be the last one.  But it is doubtful.  There are 100,000 on the rebel side and 150,000 on our side.  It is only 20 miles from here where it will take place.  It is in Fredericksburg.  If our folks will take that then we are all sound.  The Five Oneida is there.  They will soon be in the fire.  I hope we will go there soon.  We are not afraid to fight.  Our folks are in a line of battle in Fredericksburg.  They are eight men deep and the line is ten miles long.  So you can judge what a force we have got.  It will probably take place in eight or ten days.

        

     You wanted to know what kind of food we get.  We have bread and meat and coffee and rice and beans.  But we are short sometimes.  The weather here is cool and rainy and very windy.  We see nothing here but heaven and soldiers.  Last Sunday there were 10,000 men of cavalry went by here.  I wish you could see the cannon fired!  We have got to build forts here.  But we don’t work very fast.  We expect to get paid this week or next.  And then I will send some money home.

        

     News, I don’t know very much at this present.  I will write you more news next time.  When you get this letter, read, give it to Godfrey.  I should write to you before but I didn’t have any paper.  I had to beg this sheet and I won’t get a chance to buy any.  I am hoped to hear from you very soon.

                                                         

 My best respects to you,

                                                          

be sure and put the directions on just as it is here.

 Charles Gleasman

c/o Capt. A. R. Stevens

Company H,

117th Regiment 

NYSV

Washington, D. C.

     After researching the 117th regiment a bit more, I discovered he had been wounded in the leg on the 29th of September, 1864.  This was during the battle of New Market Heights, which was just one of a series of battles that took place during the siege of Petersburg. After being wounded, he was moved to a hospital where his leg was amputated.  He survived the surgery, but later died due to a sudden hemorrhage at the site of the amputation on the 19th of October, 1864.  He was then laid to rest at the Hampton National Cemetery, which is only 15 minutes from where I live right now!  After discovering this, I raced to the cemetery after work to find my ancestors gravestone!  With the help of Wayne, the grounds keeper, I managed to find Charles' grave with ease.  I took a few pictures to share with all of you, and I hope you enjoy them.  What a day! To find out that I inadvertently moved to the city where one of my ancestors is buried!  Isn't it strange how these things happen?  At any rate, I'm sure that Charles was glad to get some company after all these years.  Thank you for your service Charles.  Rest in peace.

Charles' name on the graveyard roster.

A nice poem.

Charles' tombstone

Charles, at rest with his many brothers in arms.