James Bartlett Letters

The War-Time Letters of James Bartlett

Courtesy of

The Plymouth Historical Society

These letters are in the archival collections of the Plymouth Historical Society, Plymouth, Michigan. I am very grateful to Beth Stewart, the director of the museum for giving permission to use them on this site. I am also indebted to Diane Dismukes who was kind enough to type them for me.

The spelling, grammar and sentence structure are substantially as written.

These letters were originally transcribed and edited by Julie Fountain. They form part booklet of of letters from the Plymouth Historical Society entitled "Letters From the Front", which is available from the museum at a very moderate cost. ($3.00 in 1997).

1/13/1863
Camp Isabelle, Virginia
James Bartlett to:
Brother Ed and Sister Harriet

Dear Brother and Sister,

As we are now in winter quarters and have got our cabin build we will have a little more time to spare and so I set myself to answer your long neglected letter or to write you a few lines to let you know how I am now getting along. I am well and tough as a bear. I have enjoyed the best of health ever since I have been in the army although I have seen some pretty hard times. You folks there at home may read the papers about the great battles and the hard marches and will perhaps come to the conclusion that the army sees some hard times but you don't know nothing about it nor never will until you have been down here and carried a knapsack and gun, 60 rounds of cartridges and haversack with 3 days rations and march all day and then lay on the ground all night and perhaps in the rain at that and then sometimes have to go out on picket and stand all night and then march off again in the morning. I tell you what; that's what will take the patriotism away from a fellow. I could endure it all well enough if I thought that the leaders were trying to settle the war but Ed, I believe that the rebels is no more subdued now than they were years ago. But if the officers on both sides who are working for pay had to take up with the same fare and the same pay as we privates I believe the thing would be settled in a hurry. But I can stand it as long as any of em and if I should ever get back hoe I think the lesson I have learned will be a useful one.

Well Ed, perhaps you think hard of me for not writing to you before but when we were on the march I had but little spare time and then I felt like resting. But I should thought you might continue to write to me. But I will endeavor to write often now as I will have more time. We are having fine weather here now, better than I ever saw in Michigan this time of year. It is warm enough here in the day time to husk corn but I suppose you are through with that business. I suppose you are enjoying yourselves there visiting evenings and drinking cider and eating apples. But the next time you and George get together before a good meal of victuals you must eat a few nut cakes and a few biscuits and a few apples and an extra piece of mince pie for me but I must close as the boys has got supper ready. I received some dried fruit and some butter and a pair of boots which came first rate and I have written for a box. Frank Johnson had a box come from home in 8 days.

Well give my respects to all the folks and answer this as soon as you get it.

James Bartlett

You must excuse all mistakes and bad writing. I shall have to send this without a stamp as I have none and can't get them here.

6/19/1864
On the Battlefield near Petersburg, Virginia
James Bartlett to;
Brother Ed and sister Harriet

Dear Brother and Sister,

I received your letter of the 4th last eve and was very glad to hear from you I assure you. I tell you place a person in the situation that I have been in for the last six weeks and there is nothing that cheers him up and does him as much good as a few lines from friends at home. I am well and have passed so far through this awful campaign without receiving a scratch although I have been in some pretty warm places and have had a good many pretty close calls. You inquire about John. I can sympathize with you and can realize what your feeling must be but I cannot give you any further information concerning him. You cannot place any confidence in that report in the paper unless it was taken from someone's pen who was taken prisoner and saw him. He is reported on the company books as wounded and prisoner and that was what the correspondent of the paper took it from no doubt. That is the way they are always reported on the company books as at least they are never reported killed until they know it to be so and the last time he was seen by anybody now in our regiment he was alive although mortally wounded. It might be possible that he is still alive. I saw a paper today in which was a list of prisoners captured in the first day's fight from the 24th which I think can be relied on as it was taken from a letter written by one of our regiment who was captured on that day and saw the men himself. Among them was N. (Nelson) Pooler, G. Kynock, A. Laning, C. Dobbins and A. Willis of Co. C. I think if we could hear from Nelson Pooler we would learn something about John. Perhaps his folks have had a letter from him by this time. For if one can write a letter to get it through the lines I don't see why another cannot. If you do hear from John from that source write to me and let me know. Our regiment as well as our whole corps was again badly cut to pieces yesterday. They charged on the rebel works in doing which they had to advance over a hill where the rebels had a raking fire on them and then down through a hollow and then up another hill on the top or just back of the top of which was the rebel works. But our men was repulsed and had to fall back to the hollow and here remain until after dark when they fell back on the other hill and then fortify themselves during the night. I worked hard yesterday afternoon carrying off wounded burying dead and in the for part of the night building frontworks. Our front line of works and the rebel's front line is only a few rods apart in just good musket range and if a man shows himself on either side his life is in danger.

We are directly south of Petersburg 2 1/2 mile on the Petersburg and Norfolk railroad. We crossed the James River in transport at Charles City landing last Thursday and marched without opposition until about a mile and a half back from here where we found the rebels well fortified. But they was soon drove back from that position by Grant's usual method, flanking and we advanced to the position we now occupy yesterday. Our loss is heavy and no doubt greatly exceeds that of the rebels. Among the killed of our regiment yesterday was our adjutant Sirel Chillson who was an aid on General Cutlers staff and was on his horse when he was shot. I helped to carry him back to the rear and bury him decently.

Harriet, you say you can hardly write your thoughts are so confused about this war. I know you all must be very anxious to know what this campaign will result in but you must have faith and be patient for it will end alright. I am just as satisfied of that as I am that there is a here-after. God does everything all right and he will end this rebellion all right. I believe we are fighting in the right and I believe the right will conquer but I mist draw my letter to close. I think I have done pretty well today. I have written this in great haste while heavy cannonading has been going on the right and brisk skirmishing in front and occasionally a stray musket ball buzzes past me. I must now cook my supper for we will be apt to be called on to go to the front and work all night.

Excuse mistakes and poor writing and write often. Don't wait for me to write and answer everyone but write as often as you can and don't be alarmed about the letters not reaching me for the mail comes up regular every 3 or 4 days. Give my love to all and accept the same for yourselves. Pray for me that if it is the will of God that I fall here that I may die the death of the Christian and go home to meet our dear Brother who if dead has gone before us and where I hope to meet all of our brothers and sisters and Parents.

I remain your Brother

James Bartlett

Editor's Note: John Bartlett (discussed in the letter above) never returned home. He was wounded on May 6, 1864 and died from his wounds on May 9, 1864.