CIVIL WAR LETTER - 2nd Connecticut Infantry - Regiment News, Deaths, Wounded Etc

Description

CIVIL WAR LETTER
2nd Connecticut Volunteer Heavy Artillery (originally organized as the 19th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry).
This Civil War soldier letter was written by Charles Benjamin Vaill (1826-1881), the son of Herman Landon Vaill (1794-1870) and Flora Gold (1799-1883) of Litchfield, Connecticut. His siblings included Catharine Harriet Gold Vaill (1824-1898), Elizabeth Sedgwick Vaill (1828-1909), Abbie Everest Vaill (1829-1897), George Lyman Vaill (1831-1833), Theodore Frelinghuysen Vaill (1832-1875), Sarah Hopkins Vaill (1834-1862), Clarissa Champlin Vaill (b. 1836),
Joseph Herman Vaill
(1837-1915), Julia Maria Vaill (1839-1912), and Mary Woolsey Vaill (1842-1871).
In his letters, Charles expresses concerns for the safety of his brother Theodore who was serving in the
2nd Connecticut Volunteer Heavy Artillery (originally organized as the 19th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry).
By March 1864, Theodore had been promoted to 1st Lieutenant as was the Adjutant of the regiment. Theodore survived the war and mustered out of service on 18 August 1865 at Fort Ethan Allen in Washington D. C.
By 1860, Charles was working as a book keeper in New York City with a residence in Brooklyn’s 6th Ward.
Transcription
New York [City]
June 8, 1864
Dear Father,
The enclosed letter from [brother] Theodore reached me yesterday, having been posted in Washington on the 6th. It is probably the one he referred to in his letter of last Saturday week. I fully expected to hear from him by today’s mail bt no letter has come. I do not find his name in any of the lists of killed, wounded or missing. He may, however, be sick, and he may have written & the letter be still on the way.
The papers this morning state that Col. Kellogg’s body had arrived in Washington on its way to his friends, but no mention is made of Herman Wadham’s remains—although I presume they will be sent home. Major Ells is wounded. Also Capt. James Dean (an old friend of Charley Robinson). Lieut. B. H. Camp, who was adjutant before Theodore was, & several other officers whom I don’t know.
I wrote quite a long letter to Theodore last Monday week but it may not have reached him yet. They have bee so constantly on the move—fighting, marching, or digging—as to have no time for mail, receiving or sending. But nevertheless, we ought to keep on writing, and I hope all the friends at home of the boys at the front will write often & cheering letters. If they are still in the ranks & fighting, it will encourage them. And if they are sick or wounded, it will comfort them.
Alas for the 2nd Conn. Vol. Artillery! Its strength & efficiency are sadly reduced by the loss of their beloved Colonel [Kellogg]. Few men had the love, admiration and respect of those under him at Col. Kellogg possessed, and although he was a very rough man in his talk, he had the tenderness of a woman. Who shall say that in the day of final reckoning that man man not rise up in condemnation over many a sanctimonious traitor or Pharisaical Copperhead who would see his country ruined and his countrymen made slaves without raising his hand or voce to prevent it.
I may not hear anything from or of Theodore before you do through some of the boys & I should like to have you send me any news that you suspect I have not received.
If I hear any further news today, I will add it in a post script. In haste. Your affectionate son, — C. B. Vaill
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