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Cassimere Churchill was born on October 20, 1840 in Alexander, Genesee Co., New York to Cullen Dyer and Caroline Brown Churchill. He enlisted in Company E, 9th Cavalry Regiment New York on December 7, 1861. He died on September 3, 1862 as result of a wound inflicted in Alexandria, Virginia.
This collection contains letters from Cassimere Churchill, a member of Company E, 9th Cavalry Regiment, New York, to his family while stationed in New York, Washington, D.C., and Virginia during the Civil War. He participated in the battles of Yorktown, Virginia, and Williamsburg, Virginia, as an artillery guard. He includes descriptions of Yorktown, Va., Manassas, Va., and Washington, D.C. He writes about camp life and the surrounding area, as well as his opinions of the war and the Union's leadership.
Letters to his parents, sisters and brother telling about his experiences.
Cassimere writes of bathing and the system of water and pipes. He describes the infantry's barracks, artillery leaving for Washington, D.C., the city, and Hudson River. He tells of a court martial, fight in town, and drilling exercise where men left formation when asked "to form on fours." He advises his brother, "I want you to be a man in every respect, a man that is a Man is the noblest work of God."
Cassimere writes how he woke sleeping sentries, but didn't report them, even though a risk to his post. A large balloon passed over camp. A comrade died during the night from measles. "I have been strutting around camp with a new carbine..." He tells about the satchel he sent home.
Cassimere writes, "Eunice talks of enlisting as soon as she gets her regimentals. Do you think she would be accepted..." He writes a poem about home and loved ones. He comments, "... if they would let us we would wipe out every rebel in a short time, but it is not policy to shed any more blood than can be helped." They aren't allowed papers to get the news. 20,000 men have been moved over the river. War policy is to not let soldiers know what is happening in the War Department. He discusses camp routine, predicts a battle in New Orleans, and includes a verse written by a bugler on their trip to Washington, D.C.
Note on top of letter: "Please do not let anyone see this." Cassimere writes of his drilling exercises. He was sick and got medicine, but threw it away so he could "die a natural death." A comrade gave him coal and molasses. He describes cooking utensils and cooking in his tent.
Cassimere is stationed near Columbia College while on sentry duty. He writes of drilling exercises and personal chores, such as blackening his boots. He shares his New Year Eve thoughts. "Maybe you think that it is strange for me to cook, but just tell the girls not to get married until the soldiers return home."
Cassimere gives a detailed description of the area and fortifications: camps of the Fourth Pennsylvania regiment, an artillery camp, a Rhode Island camp and a California camp where a shell thrown in the fire explodes near him and injures others. "I visited the soldiers home and talked with the old broken down soldiers." He also visits Floyd's plantation, the president's residence (The White House) and the soldiers' burying ground.
He tells them, "to direct your most serious attendance to the importance of character..." He overhears a lieutenant saying "he believed I was the happiest man in the regiment and why is it... because I have lived up to the... principals that father requested..." He gives advice on being of good character.
Cassimere writes that the only horse he has ridden is a wooden one. He received thirty-nine dollars in pay. He discusses where and how he sent the money and what he needs his brother to do with it.
They had to have a parade when the Colonel's wife arrived at camp. There were two horse incidents. He has begun a Bible class in his tent. He was guarding prisoners and a peddler was with the prisoners, but he thought the peddler was another prisoner and he wouldn't let him leave.
Cassimere discusses the kind of letters a soldier wants and doesn't want. He left camp without permission and found out where the officers "passed away their evenings." A Captain saw him and asked what business he had out there and "I asked him how many of our officers were in that lady house yonder." When he returned to camp with the Captain, he called the guards because the Captain didn't have the countersign. The Captain ran away with a patrol chasing him. He went to the city where he had his "likeness taken," visited the Capitol and the saw a session of Congress in the House of Representatives. In a debate on Home Guards, "the gentleman from Mass (said)...these home guards were to uphold the devilish institution of slavery and to prevent them from escaping from the lash into the free states..."
Cassimere writes of a drill where three horses fell and rolled over their riders and about officers from another camp who entered their camp drunk. He had 17 in Bible class. A strong wind damaged tents, trees, houses and churches in the city. A prisoner with his arms and head in a barrel, who was marching around, blew down and rolled down a hill. General Palmer in camp on February 27.
He writes about money he sent home. There is excitement in the camp when Fort Donelson was captured. Their regiment is known to be the best drilled.
He had his picture taken and received her picture. They drilled four hours. He goes on guard duty tomorrow. Soldiers believe they will have Manassas soon and "all the artillery been ordered over the river." Preparations of the artillery when they march. Still haven't received horses. May change regiments, maybe Burnside or regular cavalry. Complains of management of his regiment and lack of loyalty of officers. Has Bible class twice a week. Celebration and fireworks on Washington's Birthday.
Partial Letter. Cassimere writes of the march to Manassas and Baileys Crossroads. He walked around Manassas. Someone brought back "a couple secesh cats" to camp. Some men got drunk and murdered their prisoners. He served guard duty. He notes, "we have an Austrian rifle to drill with..." Order to march to Alexandria at 1 am. When they arrived without their tents, Colonel told them to break ranks and find a place to stay. He describes the house he found. He writes of "sitting in a sesesh chamber by the window" looking down on the Potomac. He mentions the vessels that he sees and guesses there are one hundred thousand men there. He toured the area and went to Alexandria and the river.
Cassimere describes where he is sitting and what is going on around him. He is guarding the ammunition train which has "one hundred and twenty waggons drawn by three hundred and sixty teams... we have shot and shell enough to bury Richmond." He tells of the vessels on the river and how regulars and volunteers often fight. He replies to his sister's criticisms of his picture. He is the heaviest man in the regiment at 227 lbs. "... three wooden guns at Manassas were put up to fool us..."
Cassimere writes, "The rebs run off Saturday leaving their guns and ammunition and tents. Sunday morning our cavalry and light infantry went in persuit and overtook their rear guard about noon...Monday they had a battle where our troops gained a complete victory...a number of our men killed by the bursting of shells that the rebs had planted under the surface of the ground..." He mentions the "sesesh" items he acquired. "The rebels wrote on some of their tents these words 'follow us on to Richmond'..."
Daily log of events: shot a loon. Went up black river; got sweet potatoes; looked for missing drummer boys; had a turkey shoot. Saw the "Marrimac (Merrimac)... capture three of our schooners... Marrimac retreated beyond Sewels Point." Went to Fort Monroe, watched rebel gunboats. "Struck our tents this morning and marched for Yorktown." Had dinner on enemy's works at Big Bethel. Marched to Harwoods Mills and camped. Continued march to within shelling distance. Have 80 prisoners. "...shell struck near me." "Last night... skirmishing on our left." Two or three balloons ascended. "... saw our men planting their seige guns." Visited the 64. "Rebels tried to shell one camp but failed. Our sharpshooters picked off their gunners." Went within half mile of enemy and heard their band playing Dixie. Went from York River to James River. He stopped at 100th Regiment where many were sick. "It is wet and cold. Hurrah for the sunny south." Visited the 82nd PA. On police duty. Rebs threw shells at men in the trenches. Skirmishing and heavy cannons during the night. May 1: enemy firing on entrenchments with little effect. "Our company went down to ship point to unload a cargo of shot and shell." He received two months pay.
He writes, "I steal a few moments from my country's service to write to you, my dear parents, who have nourished me unto manhood..." "I am going to take part in the coming battle if possible wheather my regament (regiment) does or not..."
He writes, "I was taken sick the next day after the battle at West Point...fever for ten days..." "Williamsburg...not but a part of us in the hottest of the fight at that place for we had the ammunition train to guard...kept in the rear." "At West Point the programme was about the same only our ammunition was on steam transports in the river..." Went up Pamunkey River to White house landing. Ordered back to Washington by the Secretary of War to be mounted (on horses). Returned by the steamer "South America" on May 22. His officers are Colonel John Beardley and Captain B.F. Chamberlain of Randolph. He will send her some cotton seeds that he got in Yorktown. "I found the people of both colors more ignorant than I had any idea they were or could be in this day and age of the world." He relates the story of a conversation "with a young lady of appearantly high rank." Many of the enslaved people who helped make forts at Yorktown were taken to Washington with them.
Cassimere writes that they have yet to get horses. The ones requested were given to General McClellan. When he was sick, he took quinine. He writes of the rough conditions that made him get sick. "The specimens" he got at Yorktown were a revolver, a knife, Confederate script, "a piece of the stone where Cornwalice surrendered," and "military buttons that we dug up in our trenches that were buried there in the revolution."
He notes that there is no guard around their camp. Many soldiers are sick. They are buried in bark coffins, in their blankets and good coffins. He bathes in the river. There is punishment if you do something wrong, particularly being put into the guardhouse.
Cassimere writes, "... we went within eight miles of Richmond or to White house landing and then our term of detachment ran out... our officers kept back out of harms way and that did not go down verry well..." His regiment had been accused as cowards because they were guards rather than in the fight. "...Col. Hunt told Gen. Palmer... those men (speaking of us volunteers) have been shamefully abused for being reported as cowards..." He gives more of Colonel Hunt's remarks about their help in Williamsburg and how they handled the ammunitions supply. Still no horses. "I never shall go into the field again on foot let what will, come."
Cassimere notes that he "had another attacked of intermittant fever." Thanks God for helping him get well. He writes of his belief in God. He spends his time reading newspapers and target shooting. His regiment is ordered to Warrenton, Virginia, but he is still too weak to go. They have horses. Tells more particulars about the Battle of Williamsburg and how "they shot the sesesh officers horse out from under him." He weights 210 pounds. General Pope will take the Shenandoah Valley and join McClellan at Richmond.
C.D. Churchill, the father of Cassimere Churchill, writes to another son about the death of Cassimere. He describes why Cassimere joined the military and how he handled the conflict with his religious upbringing. "It was on the night of December 31st or Watch Night that he publicly professed his faith in Christianity. Each Watch Night was his religious anniversary." "I have the fatal bullet that that took his life a large Minnie ball." C.D. mentions the recipient's brother, Charles, is sick in the hospital in Suffolk, Virginia. C.D. refers to a letter from Cassimere where he was on a visit to the Rapidan River. Cassimere was killed on the retreat. He writes of his own pain and sadness. He signs the letter, "your weeping Father C.D. Churchill."