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UNION SOLDIER LETTER - SERGEANT WILLIAM H. BAKER, 100TH NEW YORK INFANTRY, WITH COVER ADDRESSED TO CAPT. ANDERSON GRIFFIN ERIE CO, NY

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Dated “Camp of the 100^th Regt. Seven Miles from Richmond, Sunday afternoon, May 26^th, 1862.” Addressed to “Capt. Deacon Griffin, Capt. of Griffins Mill Home Guards, Dear Friend.” 4pp. on unlined paper w/blue & red trim, 5” X  8. Exhibit fold-marks, & light soiling. Else VG, & entirely legible.

Aged 20, William H. Baker enlisted on 10/16/1861, and was mustered in as Sergeant of Co. “K”, 100^th New York Infantry in December. He was discharged for disability on 10/8/1862 at Ft. Hamilton, New York. During his time with the unit through October 1862, the 100^th New York participated in McClellan’s 1862 Peninsula Campaign, beginning with the Siege of Yorktown and the Battle of Williamsburg, followed by the Seven Days Battles for Richmond. It was transferred in December to South Carolina and participated in actions at Fort Wagner and Gregg and at Morris Island in the attempt to reduce Charleston.  In 1864 the regiment was attached to the Army of the James, and engaged at Bermuda One hundred and during the Siege of Petersburg. Present at Appomattox, it witnessed the surrender of Lee’s army. During service it lost 194 men killed and mortally wounded, and 203 by disease for a total of 397.

This letter was written during the prelude to the Battle of Seven Pines, with Union forces, and the 100^th New York a bare seven miles from Richmond.

Text:

“I thought I would write you a few lines this afternoon. Seeing that we are camped for the day, on a field that was contested for yesterday between our Artillery and that of the Rebels. But of course we gained the day as well as the Ground to Pitch our little tents on last night with none to molest or make afraid, as Brother Sanford says. Our Brigadier Genl Naglee of the Brigade we are in had a horse from under him yesterday.

There were twenty of our Artillery Pieces playing upon them and they had eight playing on us. The6y used every thing you could think of for shot in their Cannon. They used broken flat irons pieces of chains dray teeth & every thing. While we were just pouring the canister and shell in on them. At last just as we came up they broke and ran pell mell into a swamp which was just in the rear of them. Our cavalry charged after them into the swamp as far as they could go capturing prisoner and killing them that showed fight.  Right in one huddle lay upwards of sixty dead Rebels one of the number being a Rebel Genl.

I have not learned the number killed wounded and taken but understand that they captured a good many. Our loss is but slight. All that were killed on our side were a few gunners. Our loss would not probably exceed twenty killed and wounded. You see we were in ambushed and they could not get a good crack at us. Deacon it is all in understanding it. [“Deacon” obviously a nick-name for his correspondent}

I can tell you where we took it hot and heavy and that was at Williamsburgh. I can tell you Boy that was a sight to see. Where we were camped day before yesterday. I should like have had you there for one day to see the sight we were in what looked to be a Broad Prairie if you could have been there with a good field glass and looked out upon the tented fields and seen about 16000 troops all tented in line of Battle in this form probably you will understand it.

Line of Battle on first Battalion right in front into column, the movement is by battalion. Close column by division  on first division right in front a division you understand is two companies combined. That brings one division in rear of the other with a line of Battle formed of the different Battalions from right to left.

And then to see us start off. Oh D__ it would have been one of the grandest sights you ever saw. It was the first time I ever saw Mc
Clellan’s whole Army together before. For the reason we are generally  in the woods. Virginia is a very wooded country. I suppose before this letter reaches you we probably shall best to be in Richmond.
And I have no doubt that we can get there.

We are just seven miles from there. And we have not failed to move from 4 to 14 miles every day for three weeks. So I conclude that probably we shall be there before long.

Now ___ about the Boys connected with the Home Guards. How do they prosper. Do they just pitch into the drill right up to 44-40. I have not heard a word from them since I left buffalo. I do hope you will not disband until I come home for I want to see them perform. Tell them I have got me head stored full of drill to learn them when I come. One thing is the skirmish drill which I know the boys would to drill in tip top. And they can be as good a drilled company as ever was in Erie Co. to come out at Genl. training if they choose to do so.

So I shall have to close. Now write as soon as you receive this.  Direct your letters like this and I shall be shure and get it for they are forwarded to the Regt. Sergt. Wm. H. Baker,, Company “K”, 100^th Ret. N.Y. Vols, Washington DC, Care of Col. Jas. M Brown and oblige /

Your old Friend Wm. H. Baker / Alexander Griffin / Tell any of the boys to write me.”

Excellent letter by an enthusiastic Sergeant of the 100^th New York, containing  account of battle action under artillery fire and in pursuit of rebels. rebel artillery.  [jp][ph:L]

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