Trafford Publishing: Quite Ready To Be Sent Somewhere: The Civil War Letters Of Aldace Freeman Walker

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Quite Ready To Be Sent Somewhere: The Civil War Letters Of Aldace Freeman Walker

; Edited by Thomas Ledoux

402 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #02-0207; ISBN 1-55369-394-9; US$32.00, C$37.00, EUR26.50, £18.50

The Civil War Letters of Aldace Freeman walker, First Heavy Artillery, Eleventh Vermont Volunteers. Letters home, 1862-1865, from the defenses of Washington, the Overland and Shenandoah Valley Campaigns with the Sixth Corps, and the immediate aftermath of the war.

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About the Book

Native Vermonter Aldace Freeman Walker, valedictorian of Middlebury College's Class of 1862, future lawyer and Chairman of the Board of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway, gave his commencement speech in the uniform of a First Lieutenant, U.S. Volunteers, and promptly set off for war. After nearly a month of initial training in Brattleboro, Vermont, Walker's regiment, the Eleventh Vermont Infantry, arrived at the Seat of War in early September 1862. For the next twenty months Walker and his regiment occupied the forts in the northeastern quadrant of the Defenses of Washington, drilling socializing and fretting that the war might pass them by.
    But in mid-May, 1864, as Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's Army of the Potomac began the bloody Overland Campaign against Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, the Vermont "Heavies," as they came to be known, were called up to active campaigning, joined the famous "Old Vermont Brigade," in the Sixth Corps, and participated in every battle of that unit from Spotsylvania until the end of the war.
    Walker's 288 letters to his parents and younger sister are regular, often long, and always lucid and opinionated, Historian Benjamin Franklin Cooling III, who has written extensively on the defenses of Washington during the Civil War, opined that " no better account of the 'life and times' of junior officers in the wartime defenses of Washington remains" than Walker's letters home.

About the Author

Tom Ledoux is a Green Mountain Boy, a 7th-generation Vermonter, currently residing in Ellicott City, Maryland.
    Mr. Ledoux is the creator and webmaster of an award-winning Internet project, "Vermont in the Civil War," a grassroots effort to document online the Green Mountain State's role in the War of Rebellion.
    Living south of the Mason-Dixon Line provides frequent opportunities for him to visit the majority of the battlefields where Vermonters fought during the war.
    A 26-years U.S. Navy veteran, Mr. Ledoux is a 1996 graduate of the University of Maryland University College, and a graduate of American Military University, Manassas, Virginia, where he was awarded a Master of Arts in Military Studies (Civil War Studies) in December 2001.
    Mr. Ledoux is currently working two additional volumes; "Vermont's Rebel Heroine, Revisited," an anthology of letters, publications, legends and myths about one of the most endearing stories to come out of the Civil War, and a history of the First Artillery, Eleventh Vermont Volunteers, the largest unit fielded by Vermont during the Civil War.

Sample Excerpt

From Chapter 2.
Arriving at the Seat of War
Fort Lincoln, Washington, D.C. September to October 1862
Fort Lincoln, Thursday, 11 A.M. [11 September]
Dear Parents:
    This is the first chance I have had since we left Brattleboro to write a word. We have been continually on the move, and are not settled fairly even yet. I have not had any writing material with me, or I might possibly have written on the cars, though not with much profit. Since we left the cars we have seen nothing but a continual tote, and no peace. I am well yet, however, though somewhat tired. The regiment has done first rate, and is still plucky. We left Brattleboro, as we expected, Sunday morning, about ten. Went on nicely to Springfield, and there we found a house across the track, and a road had to be built around it. Detained us some two hours, which the good people of Springfield improved by introducing all the liquor possible into the cars. I was officer of the guard and emptied several canteens myself, and we kept all out we could; and no trouble, serious, arose from the run.
    We got to New Haven about six, and embarked in an hour on the steamer Continental - a splendid boat, one of the best running. I met Emma Allen in the boat house at New Haven. Saw none of our relatives there. The Col. complimented me much on my work through the day, and I did work hard to keep the boys on the train and everything straight. Morning found us in Jersey City. We got in about three, had breakfast, and got away by eight. I went across to the city, thinking I should go to Hoboken; but was afraid I should not have time, and came back. Pretty soon Uncle and Aunt 2 came to Jersey City, and I had quite a visit. There was a Mass. Regiment came from Pittsfield down the Hudson in the Oregon, which got away just after us, and met an accident on the way. A train ran into them and killed three, injuring many. A New York regiment which got here just behind us broke down near Annapolis Junction, nearly killing a Capt. and injuring others. We had a safe and very pleasant trip on the whole. We spent from one to seven p.m. in Philadelphia. Peaches were freely distributed through the cars before we crossed the ferry, and the regiment was fed, as all are, in the city - and very well too. From here the boys had freight cars to ride in, which we did not like so well of course. Our Co., however, had passenger cars to Baltimore, because there were not enough cattle cars to go around.
    We left Philadelphia about 7 p.m. and were twelve hours going to Baltimore, 90 miles. I slept some through the night and felt well in the morning. Had to march a mile and a half in both Philadelphia. and Baltimore, and it was hot in Philadelphia. We had breakfast in Baltimore and came on very slowly, reaching Washington about six Tuesday afternoon. There was a supper ready, and we camped down in barracks close by the depot - that is, in big sheds where every man could have a chance at the floor. I slept soundly however, and lived well at a restaurant near by the Capitol. Had supper and breakfast there. After breakfast yesterday we had orders to leave for an encampment on Capitol Hill - about a mile and a half off. We reached a good place, and were ordered off; we got to another, formed a line and were staking out a camp, when we were ordered to report to Fort Lincoln. We went another mile so as to be out of the way, and stopped to rest. Some meat and bread that we brought from Brattleboro were issued, and that was the last we had till eight this morning, when we had some salt beef and hard crackers, not enough to go around. After our dinner we started off. Marched to the depot again, and then out on the Bladensburg road to our camp. We marched some four miles, and found ourselves half a mile from the place where we started, and had four miles more to go then. It was very hot when we started, but rained presently, and we got wet and dirty. Our position on the line has been changed by the promotion of the Capt. of Co. A and we are now at the head of the column, a place where we can march much easier. We came very slowly. The men were heavily loaded with knapsacks, guns, haversacks, canteens, boxes, belts, overcoats, blankets, &c., but kept along bravely, and turned at last after dark into an open field, dropped on the ground and went to sleep. My valise came along and I changed my stockings. My waiter had kept my shawl, with slippers done up in it, with him, and I found much comfort from the pumps and slept in the shawl. Much of the rest of the baggage is yet at the depot. My calf boots made my feet sore at Brattleboro, and I put on the others as I came away. They are not fairly broke in yet, and my feet are a little sore, but pretty well on the whole.
    Our quartermaster has some stores for us at Washington, but had 17 wild mules that never were halter broke issued to him, and can't get them harnessed without four men to each mule. When our rations get here we shall know it I suppose. This morning we laid out camp and pitched tents. It is now raining hard, but we are comparatively comfortable. I received no damage sleeping on the lee side of a fence - not even stiff in the morning. We found a great deal of excitement in Philadelphia and Baltimore about Jackson,3 and with good reason. Fort Lincoln is on the railroad (or near it) to Baltimore, about four or five miles out of the city. It is the center (headquarters) of a string of earthworks, some dozen, seven miles in extent, under command of Col. Gibson of a Pa. regiment. There is a regiment or so, I suppose, in camp near each, and the line is quite strong. It is really the advance now, for there are strong expectations that Jackson will turn up on the railroad near Bladensburg, two or three miles from here, within reach of three of the posts, and if he presses toward the city from this direction, he will go within half a mile of us. So there is a possibility of something to do. The 9th Vt. are off toward Harper's Ferry. The Cavalry is over the river near Alexandria. Our first work will be to dig, or help dig, a chain of rifle pits connecting these forts, though we hear 500 negroes will be here soon. We have just heard that the 10th, which we have not seen, has marched 2000 rebel prisoners into Washington; whether we ever hear of it again I doubt. I am glad we are out of the city, and we are in a very pleasant place. Will write more in a day or two.
A. F. Walker
    I sent money to Middlebury to pay all my bills.
    Have money enough for the Direct to Co. B, 11th Vt. Vols., Washington.
Fort Lincoln, September 16, 1862
Dear Father:
    I received your second letter tonight. Am still well and all right. We have got out of the trenches, but more work is provided for us. We now go to work at an earthwork, and more rifle pits I guess, so far away that the men will have to carry their dinners. I wish we could drill, and the Col. grumbles a good deal, but there is nothing to be done but to fall in and keep picking. I am to be officer of the guard tomorrow - rather hard now as the sentinels have all to be instructed in the duties of active service; but I shall be off the next day, and mean to see the country some in this vicinity. I remember distinctly writing you (in my long pencil letter, I think) that I had paid my Middlebury debts and had money enough for present use. It will be rather expensive living here - butter is 50¢ a pound, eggs 30¢ a dozen, etc.; still I mean to live comfortable as long as I can, for the time may come when I can no longer. We have officers schools now in the tactics, reciting every evening to the Colonel. Some of the officers are dull enough I assure you. We are getting monotonous in our life now.
    The recent victory of McClellan 4 has relieved our apprehension of an attack, and we expect now orders to leave at any moment. We should like well to stay here a month or two or three, and may. I never was in a place where I knew so little of what was coming, and where I cared so much less. I think the regiment as a whole is well officered. There are a good many fine men as captains, and three or four capital first lieutenants. There are some complete ninnies also, and growing more so every day. It did me good to see one of them make a fool of himself at guard-mounting this morning. There is the most made of this of anything in the service; it must be done just so and with a long ceremony. The Col. has taken it in hand and it is improving. Don't know but I shall appear as green as any of them tomorrow, but think not. Monday the officers had a drill, and I had command of the whole regiment in the rifle pits. It was quite a job for me to boss, but it was all right. I have received no letters except from you, and one from Henry. Have you ordered the [Rutland] Herald for me? I did not receive it last week.
    The nights are very warm here; we hardly want anything over us. Still, the days are very comfortable. We have had no rain except showers, though a storm is threatening now. We heard the firing in the battle of Sunday, and some on Monday morning. When the news reached us, the companies were formed and the news announced. Hats went up, I tell you. I get your letters in about three days. This will do very well for mail matter. Please keep sending them. The 10th we hear has been ordered up the Potomac on a long march. The 9th is under Gen. White, 5 in trouble at Harper's Ferry. We have the easiest time of all, and are thankful for it. When times will change we don't know. The Cav. boys come this way occasionally. I have seen no acquaintance but Grid. Perkins.6 They have had rather a rough time. No rest for nine days and nights except what they could get on the ground with the halters tied to their wrists; and no food for the horses except what they picked up thus in the night. I think I told you that Higley 7 is Adjutant. The tattoo just beats for roll-call.
Aldace F. Walker
Fort Lincoln, Sept. 20, 1862
Dear Father:
    I have written once or twice this week, but a letter received from you just now puts me in the writing mood. I thought by the last letter I got that you had heard from me once then from here, but it seems not. Letters are long enough on the way - this one, four days; but then if we write once in so often, they will come steadily, and that is the essential. Myself and Lt. Goodrich, or rather G. and I, have just come in from a drill among the sergeants. The Major has charge of the squad, and the drill now is that of skirmishers. The movements are all on double quick, and the exercise is interesting, though tiresome. We have little drill now - an hour before breakfast is all - so improvement is slow. The Col. is much troubled that we spend all our time in the trenches, and when we are called to the field shall have so little preparation. The regiment is among rifle pits some five miles from here, where they have to carry their dinner and spend the day. It is a hard days work, though of few hours. We go out at 7:30 and get back by five. Our Co., however, has not as yet been outside the reach of a warm dinner - being at work upon an earthwork for eight guns, some two miles from here.
    We are getting so as to live quite comfortably. Have quite a kit of tools, stove, toaster, pans, pails and kettles, in our mess. The boys, Capt. and Lt., have given me $5 each to provide till the $15 is gone; so we have fresh meat often and eggs, butter, cheese, chickens, potatoes, soft bread and toast, as we wish, and live high while we may. I am gaining flesh, and feel capitally. We are afraid now of the equinoctial storm. Have had very pleasant weather so far, but it now threatens a storm. We are much better protected and ditched around our tents than when we first came, and shall be ready, I think, for a spell of weather. Yesterday I bossed our Co. all day in the trenches. The day before I came off guard in the morning, and was at liberty all the rest of the day. The guard duty is somewhat different from that at Brattleboro. The detail is not so large, but the duties must be more strictly performed, and on the whole the work is as great - especially the night work, when we have a countersign out, and the new men must be instructed in their duties. Tell Mary the countersign for the night was "Nerva."8 It is the same through all the grand army. We are still in constant expectation of a move.
    The defeat of McClellan would have involved an attack upon our line of defense. His victory probably involves another advance into Virginia from this direction, so we are liable to be called away. A regiment that came to this vicinity the same day that we did has been relieved and sent away, and we may follow. The 10th has left tents and everything almost at Alexandria, and gone up the Potomac. The 9th, we hear will have a chance to fight without violating their parole - against the Indians in Minnesota. I don't envy them their position, nor their Commander - Pope,9 whom the Cavalry boys cordially detest. Day before yesterday I went with Lt. Foot 10 to Bladensburg, some two miles away. The village is terribly run down, and looks most emphatically Southern. The houses are shabby and mean, the negroes are plenty, though the majority have skedaddled, the bridges are rotted away, and the teams drive through the river. There are some fine places, however, and we called at one. Were received hospitably, and treated to peaches. Had a pleasant visit with the lady of the house, and a pleasant afternoon generally. Shall go again without doubt. We officers have had the question of rank agitating us somewhat. The companies were arranged arbitrarily by Gen. Washburn - ours coming in second, though organized fourth. However, the lieutenants expected to follow the rank of the captains of course. The Lt. of A had been promoted, leaving me senior. Goodrich of Castleton (Fairhaven Co. C) was next. The Col. gave orders for a roster of lieutenants according to date of commissions to report to Col. Gibson, who had asked a roster with the ranks. He, Col. Warner, imagined that this was the only way he could legally do. Goodrich and I blew some - in a gentle way, of course - but the Col. could see no other way than to follow the "Regulation" and the dates of commission. So it went in so, but was promptly returned by Col. Gibson, who did not "care for the date of commission - the Department had ordered volunteer regiments to rank according to order of muster," and so the Col., very sheepishly, I thought, told me that I remained first, as I had been acting. He said that he was best satisfied to have it so, as far as persons went; and I reckon spoke the truth, for the senior lieutenant by his arrangements was a fool, who could not act as adjutant better than a stick, and I have had that to do several times. This Goodrich is one of the best fellows in the regiment. The officers, I reckon, did not know of the change contemplated, except us, and we were bound to have our dues if we could. The Col. had promised to leave it to Gen. Washburn, if Gibson had not amended.
    I am ready to hear often. Shall mean to write twice a week. Have not heard from anyone but you, save one forwarded from Brattleboro, and have received no papers. Am very anxious to get some Vermont news. Please write all you can, as I seem in a strange land. Think of me as contented, and always remembering my friends with much love. I have written many letters, and shall get replies presently.
Aldace F. Walker
Camp near Fort Lincoln, D.C., Sept. 24, 1862
Dear Father:
    Some way or other I receive very little mail matter in this region - a Rutland Herald today being my first installment this week. I have heard once from Aunt Minerva, with the [New York] Tribune's account of McClellan's great fight, which I was very glad to see. The papers from Washington and Baltimore reach us regularly and early - the W. at six and the B. at seven; but they are very unsatisfactory, and a New York paper is a great treat. My letters seem to be peculiarly unfortunate in time spent on the way, but I expect the gate will be raised sometime and the flood come. The Herald I was very glad to see. I have been away from our fatigue duty today, and in fact all this week, at work upon our company books. It is quite a chore to start the accounts, clothing, etc., correctly; but I am getting to be quite a book-keeper, and like it much better than ditching. Our regiment is still at work, though I suppose it is almost through - in fact, would finish this afternoon if it was not raining. This is the first rain we have had in the day time since we came here, I believe, and it is very gentle now. We fear, however, that it is setting in for a long pull, as we have not had our equinoctial storm yet. The clouds look light, however. Since we have been at work, the regiment have dug several miles of rifle pits; have built a battery, or rather earthwork for eight guns; and have been of late at work upon a military road, which is nearly finished; and then Col. Gibson says we may commence drill. I understand that it is the intention of our officers to be very thorough with us if we ever get at it, and am glad of it. Eight hours a day, however, will give us quite a pull. We are gaining a very good reputation around here - so much so that Col. Gibson is straining every nerve to keep us in his brigade on this line of defences, and the probabilities now are that this disposition will be made of us. He says that he wants his men to be in contact with such a regiment, that the duty will be light, and the time for drill plenty; and we think it all very good, though we should like to get into the field after a month or so drilling, or the 11th won't have much of a name in history. Still, this is principally surmising. The appearance now is that we shall remain in this place some time; tomorrow it may change. We shall be very glad to stay here a while, as we are most pleasantly situated. I have never been in better health - have not had a touch of dysentery since I have been in camp here - eat heartily - feel well - and am well enough contented. We have things arranged now so that we live as well as we do or should at home. Get fresh meat when we want from the city markets and at reasonable prices - bread very nice - butter, good but dear - eggs, ditto. Then we have coffee, of course, twice a day - potatoes at $1.50 a bushel, rice, beans, salt pork and beef, etc. - too numerous to mention. We can find no fault with the cooking - have a stove, pots, pans and kettles, and things generally clean and neat. Have been living on fresh pork steak today at 12 ¢ a pound, with other things to go with it of course. I am commissary for the mess. Can't tell how much it will cost, as we have been getting tools, etc. It will be somewhat expensive, of course, but we may be put on to short rations, and we need not scrimp now. I have some money yet - say $15. Shall probably want more before pay day.
    We had the honor of officiating in dress parade last night before Hon. Wm. H. Seward,11 Lord Cavendish, and one or two other English sprigs of nobility, including an officer in the English army. They complimented the Col. very highly concerning the regiment; the officer said our appearance far surpassed that of a British regiment he just saw arrive in Canada. Seward drove up behind the Col. and spoke to him three times, but he never answered or moved a muscle to see who it was till the conclusion of the parade, when he turned and saluted. I like our officers very much. Their principles are not of the highest cast, though the Col., Lt. Col. and Major, always attend the meetings on the Sabbath; but I like the men, and think they mean to do the best they can. Some of the line officers I don't like at all, but this I should expect.
    Last Sunday Bogart had a service at 11 a.m. A Methodist Pennsylvania chaplain preached - well enough. A church, or body rather, was organized in the afternoon. I did not join, though I meant to, as they finished taking names before I was aware. I was rather glad I did not, however, as they proceeded at once to the administration of the sacrament, kneeling of course, and the clergymen passing around talking continually in a manner that seemed impious to me, or at least entirely destroyed the solemnity of the occasion. The prayer meetings I attend often, but have not participated in. I am willing any one should know where I stand, and presume they do - my acquaintances, at least - as the adjutant, a rough fellow, and one whom I very little like, asked me the other day if I had intended to enter the ministry.
    Our Company stands well in the regiment. Our Captain is conceded everywhere to be the best, and my situation seems in every way as pleasant as could be expected. If we stay here our position is safe enough if we take decent care of our health. I have bathed every week so far, and am intending to keep it up. I find the mattress a great advantage. Smith has a buffalo, and between us we have no trouble in keeping comfortable. We fear, and expect, that if we spend the winter here we shall be divided - a company or two to a fort. This will break up the unity of the regiment, which is great now, and hope to find our winter quarters further south. Please write as long and fully as possible. Any items of course will interest me, though Wallingford news is not West Rutland. You may here from there occasionally. I find my slippers a very great convenience here; shall get some more when these are used up. I have got my oration of the chaplain, and return it. Please put it with my other papers, as I showed. Have you received my "Will" from Kellogg?
Truly,
Aldace F. Walker

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