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Dated “Camp Winfield Scott / Before Yorktown, May 3^rd, 1862, enroute to Yorktown, VA. Addressed to “Dear Friends” 4 pages in ink on unlined paper, 12.5” x 8. Exhibits fold-marks, chipping along upper margin. Else VG plus.

A resident of Providence RI, Albert H. Trescott enlisted as a private and was mustered into Battery “E”, 1^st RH Light Arty., 9/30/1861. He died of disease at a hospital at Harrison’s Landing, VA., 7/28/1862.

His unit was organized in August 1861 and attached to the 3^rd Corps & later 6^th Corps, Army of the Potomac. It engaged in the 1862 Peninsula Campaign during which Prescott died of disease, and, from Fredericksburg on, was active in all the major engagements of the AOP through the 1865 capture of Petersburg. Mustered out in June 1865, the Battery lost 17 men killed and mortally wounded and 12 by disease for a total of 29.

Private Trescott’s prose is smooth and several cuts above the norm, and he seems to have been the battery’s report-writing clerk, remarking at the very end— “A great many reports have to be made and I get so fairly tired of writing that I don’t feel much like writing when I do have a chance.”

He opens by noting…. “I think the last letter I wrote to you was dated Feby 23rd….I thought I had not written to your for so long a time until I looked at my journal.”

From here on the letter can be read in part as a report summary of the movements and activities of his battery during the early phase of McClellan’s Peninsula Campaign through the Siege of Williamsburg (early April) into early May, heading toward the Battle of Seven Pines, in route to the Seven Days Battles after which he will die of disease at Harrison’s Landing in late July.

Beginning with a detailed inspection of a useless fort…. “When completed it [Fort Harrison] will mount 150 guns, but the time for its work is gone by. The army will never have any fighting to do in that quarter of Virginia…”

Excerpts as follow: “On the night of 14 March we had to turn our good Sibley tents over to the quartermaster as all had to be stowed away in Alexandria. We had rubber or canvas blankets issued to us and two of these put together made a good tent for two...this was a new feature for us but we were pleased with the idea…

Monday the 17^th at noon we started for Alexandria making the wharf at 2 pm. And embarking on board a barge. No steam or sails. All was loaded by night and in the PM the 18^th were on our way to Fortress Monroe in tow of a propeller and in company with about 30 steamers all loaded with troops. At two PM  we passed Fort Washington receiving a salute from its guns...I had a fine view of Mount Vernon and think it is truly a pretty place although everything is plain nothing monumental…

About noon on the 19^th a heavy wind commenced and we were obliged to make harbor in St. Marys river. Soon a heavy rain commenced and by night our three days rations were gone...and the tugs left us saying that they did  not dare take us out into the bay. Well, we were in a pretty fix. We run up three Union flags upside down when three gunboats came to our relief, bringing fresh meat, hard bread and coffee….

On the morning of the 21^st one of the gunboats towed us out into the stream where several propellers (on the way to Washington) lay at anchor. Capt. Thompson—chief of artillery—rowed over to them and tried to get them to tow us down but they would not. Sunday morning before reveille the corporals of our Battery were called and ordered into small boats, arming ourselves with revolvers. 8 of us and a crew from the gunboat went over and took possession of two of them with force., put an engineer on each, got up steam and pitched onto the barges and by 9 o’clock were once more on the go…

We made the Fortress [Monroe] where we encamped until March 4….the village of Hampton must have been once a sweet pretty place….I went to the residence of John [former president] Tyler, the only house left standing by the rebels. Here we had a fine camp and plenty to eat...Amid all my comforts I was sorry to learn ot the death of my dear brother. This was a great sorrow to me, altho I think by his death I have been called to a higher walk with God.. Truly he doeth all things well.

On the morning of the 4^th we started on the road for Richmond. We passed Big Bethel from which a company of Rebel Cavalry was were driven in the morning, and rested there….We had given away to infantry our rations and the provision trains was some six to eight miles in the rear. So supperless to bed we went and without breakfast started on the road again…

We moved as well as the mud would allow, and arriving near to Yorktown at 1 pm. we halted. After about a half an hour we were ordered forward. We were by three pm  in an opening in the woods leading to Warwick Court House. Captain Griffin’s Battery had been engaged and we were ordered to relieve them. Our four rifled guns were brought into the opening (which was about 200 yards wide and had been cut by the Rebels to command the road) and before we had unlimbered they threw a shell at us…..we had by 5 oclock silenced the small battery and the left fortification. At 6 not a shot could we draw from them and after giving them a few shells—say 25—for the next half hour we returned to camp.

The loss of our battery was 5 horses killed and 3 severely wounded, one of our pieces broken a little, but not seriously, but not one of us was injured though their shots came thick and fast….Our crew stood bravely to their guns and have the name of being the best volunteer battery in the Army of the Potomac….

Since then we have had several adventures….I have had my piece within 400 yards of a rifle pit which the 9^th Mass boys the other night took by surprise, with 16 prisoners and leveled it to the ground...We have picket duty to do occasionally and this keeps us from rotting in camp…

When the siege does open their will be heavy fighting on both sides...But all our troops are confident that Genl McClellan is competent for his task and Yorktown will be ours. We are now in a thick piece of woods and have a splendid camp. The trees are all leaved out and the fruit here is blossoming. If we stay here two more weeks I shall have some green whortleberry sauce. This kind of life is really charming and if I live to return home will be of vast value to me. I have written more than I expected to, so that you will please excuse the errors and poor writing. Let me hear from you often...With regard to all inquirers…I remain respectfully / Yours / Albert H. Trescott. / Direct to Albert H. Trescott / 6^th RI Battery / General Kearney’s Division / Near Yorktown.”

***

An extraordinary letter from a bright, idealistic Rhode Islander marching “On to Richmond” in the spring of ‘62. A letter typical of many written by Union volunteers accompanying George McClellan on his doomed campaign. Letters that—with the foreknowledge that the writer will die of disease huddled among Little Mac’s beaten army at Harrison’s Landing in late July—can break your heart. In protective sleeve. [jp][ph:L]

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