See transcribed text of letter
Union soldiers in Arlington wrote from geographic locations such as Arlington Heights and Hall's Hill. While the forts in the defenses of Capital are well-documented and photographed, it can be hard to obtain info on temporary camps and hospitals.
State and local historical organizations help piece together the "pose" of a Civil War ancestor's life after consulting on-line photographs and other sources available through the Library of Congress and National Archives and Records Administration.
For example, on December 31, 1861, Iselin Roberts of the 4th NY Cavalry wrote a missive to "My Dear Wife Nelly" from Camp Hunters Chapel. Information from the Arlington Historical Society website http://www.arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org and Arlington United Methodist Church historian Sara Collins locates this camp at Glebe Road and Columbia Pike, at the place of the Hunter's Chapel Methodist Church. The Federal Army established a tent and appropriated church building materials. Hunters Chapel's successor, Arlington United Methodist Church, is two blocks away.
The New York State Museum and Veteran's Research Center website has a regimental history of the 4th NY Cavalry's service, including their travel to Fairfax Court House and forward to the First Battle of Bull Run/Manassas, and the writings of Gustavus Asche-Berg, "This Sorrowful War: A Veterinary Surgeon in the 1862 Shenandoah Valley Campaign."
Another New York regiment stationed at Hunter's Chapel, the 8th NY Infantry, also known as the German Rifles or Blenker's Division, was made up of German immigrants. The aristocratic military veterans of European wars in Blenker's Division impressed General-in-Chief George McClellan with their drilling practices and neat campsites. A book owned by Arlington Central Library, The Soldier's Pen: Firsthand Impressions of the Civil War by Robert E. Bonner contains soldiers' writings and drawings from the Gilder Lehrman Collection of New York City. A unique drawing of Camp Hunter's Chapel and drawings of other Northern Virginia locations by Private Henry Berckhoff of the 8th NY German Rifles can be ground in this word and in a virtual exhibit on the Digital History website of the University of Houston.
What most you?
Do you take a Civil War ancestor who came to Arlington? Do you know of documents or images of the Civil War in the Northern Virginia area? The Virginia Room wants to know.
Headquarters New York Mounted Rifles
4th Calvary N.Y. Volunteers
Camp Hunter's Chapel, Virginia
My Dear Wife Nelly,
I wrote to you two years ago and I cannot help writing to you again. You will relieve the composition as my mind aches so I can just see I take such a bad cold still I must make a few words with my Nelly. I received an nother Box yesterday from my Sisters and Brothers for Christmas and we had a merry time over it I tell you for there was much of serious things in it. My Dearest Nelly, I wrote to you on Sunday last the day that I received your letter and I am in hopes that I will learn from you soon again. I want that you could save to me ofttimes as your letters do me so much good, and I wish to learn from you so very much.
Dear Nelly, I did not say much in my conclusion as I was in such a hurry but you can reach my Best Respects and like all of them a Glad New Age for me. I think Mrs. Phillips, Mrs. Jenner, Mrs Simmons, Mrs. Richmond, Mrs. Clark, Mrs. Green, Mrs. Arnold and all inquiring friends, also Mr. Phillips, Mr. Jenner, Mr. Rodman, Dr. Crane, Dr. Baker and all of your friends. I trust there will be no difficulty near the Furlough, they say that we will get paid the 5th of January. I trust we leave as I wish to try and take the money home to you. I haven`t much to say at present, only I hope that my dearest Nelly will experience a serious New Years.
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