War-dated ALS in pencil signed “Benjamin,” 23 pages on six lined adjoining sheets, ranging in size from 5 x 8 to 5.25 x 8.25, dated in installments from December 24, 1862, through January 1, 1863. Benjamin Wright sends a lengthy letter to his wife, Abbie, in full: “Dear Abbie,
The mail has come up but I received none. I think it was a very small one. There was not twenty letters for the company. Those that came were mailed the 19th, 20th, only two days later than my last. I finished the last just after the battle of Kinston. After we drove the Rebels across the bridge they went just outside of the city on a hill and drew up in line to give us a turn, but they at last decided that discretion was the better part of valor and skedaddled. We went just outside the village on the road to Goldsboro and put up for the night. We supposed we should go right on towards Goldsboro the next morning, supposing that would be the next place on the program, but instead, the next morning we turned about and went back down across the river and took a road up on the other side of the river going towards Whitehall. We marched about sixteen miles and halted for the night about four miles from Whitehall. Soon after starting the next morning we heard the ball open. Whitehall is a place of about half a dozen old houses. At this point there is a bridge across the Neuse River. The R.R. from Kinston passes near on the opposite side. At this point the Rebs were building an ironclad to come down and annihilate us. They had it on the opposite side of the river and they had fired the bridge so that we could not cross. The boat was nearly ready for the plating. They had a battery opposite in the woods, and the trees were full of sharpshooters who picked off a considerable number of men belonging to other Regts. One very remarkable circumstance occurred. We were put in a comparatively safe place so that we were under fire but a very short time, and lost no men. We were placed on the extreme right. Here I am sorry to say Col. Legget made a perfect fool of himself. After we got in position and when waiting for orders, he came to Lieut. White and told him to take his company and go up the river and see if we could not find a fording place. If we succeeded, report immediately. That was a very foolish and hazardous move. If it was to be done at all it [was] the business of the flank companies to do it. We went up the river for about two miles and finding no fording place returned to the Regt. We found the river deep and the current very strong, but Col. Legget was not satisfied. He was bound to have us cross the river which at the least was over 50 yards wide. At first he had three men swim the river with axes on their back. They cut down two or three trees when he ordered them back. One of them got so chilled that he came near dying. He then set the pioneers to work cutting down trees and falling them in the river to stop the current as he said. Said he could wade across the river himself. After the pioneers had fallen two or three trees, he called for swimmers. He gave the order, quite new in military and not to be found in the Tactics, swimmers to the front. As the order was quite contrary to all regulations, no one stepped out. If any great thing could have been accomplished by swimming the river, I would not have been backward to have offered my services, but as it was, if our little Regt. had.....
25th, 6 A.M.
.....got acrost, which would have been impossible for half would have drowned in the attempt, with nothing to support us. We would have very likely all been cut up or taken prisoner, but the Col. was that drunk that he would have taken us through fire and water, but just at this time orders came for us to withdraw from the river. Word had probably reached the Gen. how things were going on and [he] put a stop to it very soon. While we had stopped at Whitehall, Gen. Foster had sent on a section of artillery and some cavalry to burn a bridge and tear up the R.R. below Goldsboro, and we were to keep the enemy engaged at Whitehall until they got some distance on the road. The cannonading lasted four or five hours. Some times it was fairly terrific. The Rebel battery was soon silenced, but their sharpshooters kept up the fire. The gunboat was riddled but not burned. Little after noon the whole column got under motion again towards Goldsboro. That night we encamped in a field where there was a large heap of sweet potatoes. We got some meat that night, the first we had for several days, and with the potatoes and meat we made a good supper. The meat was roasted by holding it in the fire on a stick. When we were at home we would not have thought we could eat meat cooked that way, but we thought it very good. We were glad to get most anything part of the time as rations run short. The country we traveled over was not as good as that towards Hamilton and Tarboro excepting the corn. I don't believe there is provisions enough to subsist the force we had for two days between here and Goldsboro. In fact we ate up most everything as we went along, and when we stopped, we burned all the fences for some distance. It was a splendid sight to see the whole division encamped, the camp fires extending two or three miles. The next morning we were told that before night we would turn towards home, that we were not going to Goldsboro, but were going to burn a bridge on the R.R. We had not gone very far before we heard music ahead pretty lively. We shoved right on when about a mile from where they were engaged we came out on a high open country overlooking the field. It was the first I ever saw our forces drawn up in line of battle in the open field. It was a splendid sight. There was a straight run between us and them. We found the third line of battle and were drawn up on the opposite side from where they were. We could see the whole performance which was mostly done by artillery. Acrost the lower part of the open country ran the R.R. and just above in the woods the bridge over the Neuse River, a very long bridge, trellis work and all, perhaps a half mile long. To destroy this, [was] the object of Gen. Foster. Our men when first entered the field, there was several companies of Rebels who came right out and attacked them, but they soon escaped across the river. The Rebs had an iron monitor on the track which they succeeded in running to the opposite side of the bridge, and then used it to fire on our men who attempted to set fire to the bridge. They also had a lot of sharpshooters who tried to do the same thing but the bridge was at last fired and the track tore up for some distance. Our artillery kept playing on the bridge while it was burning to prevent the Rebs from putting out the fire. The firing soon ceased except an occasional shot. We had orders to fall in and countermarch. We now headed towards Newbern. Soon after the column had got under motion we began to hear the artillery fire becoming heavier until at length it became almost incessant. We kept on for several miles, the firing still continuing, expecting every moment to have orders to turn about. A little before dark one of the aides rode up in a great hurry. We were halted at the time resting for a few moments. We soon had the order, attention 2nd Brigade, countermarch by file left. We had got perhaps three or four miles on the road. You had better believe some of our feet dragged heavily after us and we did not go back as light hearted as we were going the other way. It got to be dark before we got back near the field. We were filed off in the woods to the left of the road. We were told that probably we should have to sleep on our arms. We saw the other Regts. and the artillery passing us going towards home. The man that was left to notify us that our Brigade was moving off failed to, and we might have been there until this time, if the Rebs had not taken us, if it had not been for our chaplain who is ever looking after us. He came down and told us our Brigade had gone and left us. You can bet we got out of that about as soon as possible and followed after them. We went back that night to where we staid the night before. Got in about eleven o'clock. It seemed that after we left the field, the Rebs had a Brigade come in from the Blackwater under Gen. Pettigrew. Seeing our infantry leave they thought it might be a good time to secure some artillery, so they crossed the river to the left, and advanced through the woods without being seen, until they got quite near the artillery when they made a charge. The artillery men let them get pretty near when they had their guns double shoted with grape and canister and let them have it. Mowed them down like grass. The reception was so warm that they could not rally but broke all up and ran leaving full one third of their number on the field. Our forces lost very few if any. We encamped that night about eleven o'clock. After we got in camp I got our camp kettles and cooked meat. We were well tired but it was too cold to sleep. I laid down about two hours but it was so cold I did not get much rest. I lost my blanket at Whitehall and I missed it very much. After this nothing of much account occurred until we reached home where we arrived Saturday night at half past seven, although some of our men did not get in until the next day. We made full thirty miles the last day. Pretty tall marching. It will take the boys some time to get over the tramp. A good many have bad colds and sore feet. Probably will have to go again before they get over it. I think there is another expedition fixing to start before a great while, perhaps next week. The 10th [Conn] Regt. may not go however. If we do, we will be very small. There has been nothing going on in this department but that we have had to have a hand in. There is not another Regt. in the department that has done anything like as much as we have. It seems as though nothing could be done without us. A few more actions like Kinston will use us up so that we will not be of much use. I think the next expedition will go to Wilmington. They have been taking the mortars out of Fort Totten and putting them aboard of vessels. Looks as though they intend to bombard some place. Our Regt. was offered the patrol of the city since we came back. All the officers except the Col. wanted to go. The men wanted to go also but the Col. said he did not want his soldiers to do police duty. I would like to know how much better he thinks the swimming of the Neuse River would be. If we had gone to the city we would probably have been left there for some time, but now there is no certainty about anything. If we had gone in the city the guard duty would have been quite heavy on the men, our Regt. being so small, but then we would have had good quarters. The duty would be nothing like as hard as camp guard. Our band played for us tonight on dress parade. It is most 10 o'clock and I must stop for the night and go to bed. I have made quite progress in writing tonight although I don't know as I have written much that will interest you.
Sergt. Knapp got a box the night we got back from the expedition full of good things such as under shirts, drawers, &c in the clothing line, cakes &c in the eating line. He has stood straight ever since. The rest of us think it will be our turn by and by. Lieut. Coffin died this morning. He makes 4 commissioned officers that was killed or have died in our Regt. from wounds received at the battle of Kinston, one Capt. & three 1st Lieuts. Two or three more are wounded. Our new recruits did first rate in that battle. [Elias] Ringrose alone was a perfect host. Lieut. White said he never saw such a man. He loaded and fired with a perfect form. Kept just as cool as an iceberg [and] in the hottest of the fire he stopped and took a drink from his canteen. He did first rate throughout the whole of the expedition. Was willing to do anything that was wanted to be done. He has done first rate ever since he got here. We have done no drilling at all since we came back. Probably about Monday we shall have to go at it. All of our wounded are able to be with us and to do duty except two that are in the hospital, Jonathan Lockwood and William Ritch, both first rate fellows. I enlisted Lockwood when I was home. Neither of the wounded did very bad. I would not be at all surprised if they got furloughs to come home for a short time. If they should I would like to have you go and see them. Mr. Turnbull still continues to have prayer at dress parade. The weather has been fine. Much warmer than it was when we were on the expedition. Some nights then were very cold so that it was very uncomfortable, but it was very fortunate for us that we had no rain, but I think I have written about enough in this tonight. Tomorrow I want to get time to go down to the hospital to see the boys.
27th:
Today has been a cloudy wet day. We signed the pay roll tonight for two months. We shall probably get paid on Monday.
Sunday, 28th, 4 P.M.:
It cleared off pleasant this morning. I went down town with Lieut. White to see some of the sick and wounded and had them sign the pay roll. We were there the wrong time of day to visit the general hospital. They receive visitors there between 2 and 4 P.M. There has been a number of new hospital buildings put up recently. The Sisters of Mercy have charge of them. Everything looked as neat as wax. Everything is done for the men that could be done. I think they are conducted much better than our Regimental hospital is at the present time. We saw William Ritch. He is in a small building back of the hospital. Everything looked very neat and comfortable. He is getting along well and was in good spirits. He is one of our best boys. We could not see Jonathan but he is getting along well. We then went to our hospital. We have one man there. He has the rheumatism very bad. Has been there for some time. It is Elisha Miles. He ought to be discharged. Will never be of any use to Uncle Sam. We saw Lieut. Simms there. He has a very painful wound. The ball entered his shoulder through his shoulder strap and passed down in his arm. It is there yet. The Dr. has not been able to find it. He will probably carry it as long as he lives. It is about time for meeting and I will stop writing for the present.
Dec. 29th, 6 P.M.:
I stopped writing yesterday just before meeting. The day was fine and a good many were out. The band played. Mr. Turnbull preached a very good sermon. He referred to our troubles as a nation. Said that perhaps we had not been successful yet, but we must use every means in our power and then trust in God to give us success. Through him we should do valiantly. In the evening we had a prayer meeting in our quarters. It was a very good meeting. How much different was the day passed then the two previous Sabbaths, one on the battlefield, and the other moving our things and getting settled again in the barracks. We have but few quiet Sabbaths now, either moving on the march or preparing for a march.
Dec. 31st, 6:30 P.M.: We received a mail today. I received but one letter that from you dated the 22nd. I thought I should get more. We were paid on Monday for two months, Sept. and Oct. I send you $50 by express. I took it down to the office yesterday. I also made up a package for some of the boys and sent it. Amounted to something over $600. I directed it to Joseph. I think I shall make up another package tomorrow as some have said they did not know I was going to send it so soon. A good many send their money separate. Last night I made out the muster roll for Nov. & Dec. and this morning at 10 we were mustered. Corpl. Ferris has been making out the pay rolls this afternoon. I think we shall be paid again soon. We have had quite a low in the quarters tonight. Just as sure as some men get any money they must have a drink. We let them go on with their noise last night, but thought tonight it was about time it was stopped, so we took two of them to the guard tent. Probably they will get cooled off somewhat by morning as it is pretty cool tonight.
Yesterday morning a party started to go to Kinston with a flag of truce for the bodies of Capt. Wells, Lieut. Hill & Perkins. It consisted of a company of cavalry, the Maj. of the 24th, and 6 from our Regt. Our Chaplain, Sergt. Long, Mr. Hill, Zachariah Mead, Ike Loyd & one from Co. E. Long and Zac has got back tonight. They were not allowed to go to Kinston. They were allowed to go within about 25 miles to about 15 miles of Kinston. The Chaplain only was allowed to go on. The Rebs promised to render all the assistance they could, and would deliver the bodies at our lines. The soldiers they saw said they were sick and tired of the war. That appears to be the feelings of all their soldiers. If it was not for their officers this war would be closed up very quick. As New Years approaches, Jeff Davis begins to squirm as is proved by his message. I suppose he will catch Gen. Butler before he hangs him, and when he does that, he will probably have to get up earlier than Gen. Butler does. I have been looking for a letter from John Rinney but it has not come yet. Hope I shall get one soon. It is too bad that the pirate Alabama is still allowed to be at large out at sea. I hope she will be captured soon. In the Tribune of the 26th, I see the names of the killed and wounded in our last expedition. There will be a good account of the expedition in the Hartford Courant from our Chaplain. It is most 10 o'clock and I shall soon have to stop for the night. The old year is almost gone. Little did I think one year ago tonight that at this time I should still be in the army, but so it is, and to all human appearance the war no nearer to a close then it was then. It is well for us that we do not know what is before us.
Jan. 1st, 1863:
The New Year has come in clear and cold. We have no drills today. We are going to take up the body of Leander Mosher today and send him home on the boat tomorrow. It will be sent to William Smith. He is to see that all the expenses are paid. The expenses at this time will be $7. I will pay that and Mr. Smith will see that the amount is paid to you.
5:30, P..M.:
It is nearly time for the mail to close. I have had but little time to write today. We sent Mosher off. The company have gone down town with the Regt. to escort the body of Lieut. Perkins to the boat. I intended to have written a few lines to Joseph and tell him about the money I directed to him. It ought to get there soon as this letter. Please tell him. It is getting so dark I can hardly see to write. My love to all. Kiss Benny for me.
Ever your dear Husband,
Benjamin”
Scattered light creasing, toning, and soiling, and a few light tears, otherwise fine condition. RRAuction COA.
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