Manley Stacey Civil War Letters

From the collection of the Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest, Illinois

December 23, 1862 – Camp Pomeroy

camp Pomeroy 8 miles South of Alexandria Co D 11th Regt NYSV Dec 23/62 Dear Father After a very long delay, I got your letter & five papers to night. I was glad to hear from you again. I got a letter also to night from Mr Cookingham, from Lock Berlin, asking me if I […]

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December 25, 1862

Camp Pomeroy Dec 25th -/62 9 AM Dear Father I read you letter of the 22d last night & was very glad to get one at that time. Last night I was on Brigade Guard, so had to stay up all night. I have just been Excused, & will now write a little. This was […]

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December 26, 1863

Camp Pomeroy Co D 111th Regt Dec 26th 1862 Dear Father I received your note of the 23d, to night, & will reply immediately. We have got neither of the Trunks, yet & are wondering what in the world is the matter. We are afraid Budlong will dissappointed us. We had got our mouths all […]

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December 28, 1862

Camp Pomeroy Dec 28th 1862 Dear Father As usual we had Inspection this AM. We had a very Rigid Inspection of Arms, & then of Knapsacks & then of Quarters. We have lovely times keeping our Guns bright & clean, with out anything to clean them with. Those that had not got their Guns perfectly […]

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December 30, 1862

On Picket about 2 miles west of Camp Dec 30th 12 PM Dear Father All quiet on Picket so far. Last night everything went off smoothly, no alarm of any kind. We have got a very nice post, & Barney, Aleck, Billy Waters & myself are together. Last night our Pickets were Attacked about 4 […]

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January 1, 1863

Camp Pomeroy Jan 1st 1863 Dear Father Yesterday we had a considerable excitement on Picket, about 2 PM, the word was passed along the Lines, that the Pickets on our left were driven in. We then had orders to draw our loads, & get every thing ready to rally, at a moments notice. This story […]

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January 7, 1863 – Centerville

On Picket 4 miles South East of Centerville Jan 7th /63 Perhaps you may be surprised to see where this is from, but as moving is the order of the day, you will have to get used to that. Yesterday morning. Co D & H were ordered to be ready to strike our Tents at […]

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January 9, 1863

Jan 9th /63 Dear Father I received two letters from home, this AM, with $5,12cts in, which I am very glad to get. I wrote to you on the 7th, but got no chance to send it, as the mail has not commenced running regularly yet. The day I wrote to you, we had got settled […]

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January 11, 1863

Camp Near Centerville Jan 11th /63 Dear Father I sent you a long letter yesterday, & now will try another. Yesterday I was Detailed to go on Camp Guard, everything went well, as could be expected, with a regular Virginia Rain. Our Guard House, is two Tents, with no Floor & a Stove in but […]

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January 14, 1863

Camp near Centerville Jan 14th /63 Dear Mother I received your letter last night & will reply immediately. I can see you do not wish me to belong to the Color Guard, I have not been Detailed yet, & think now I shall get something better. the Color Sergt, wants me to carry the State Colors, […]

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Manley Stacey

born October 29, 1842

died December 26, 1863

Written during the battle of Gettysburg, July 1-3, 1863

"When we camped last, we could see the wounded coming in, those that were able to walk, and the cavalry horses coming in riderless. This showed us that something was going on...I think this will be an awful battle very soon and of course we are in for it...It is a sad sight to see the wounded brought in on stretchers, the poor boys all covered with blood & as pale as death.

"Last night at 4 PM we were ordered to march and form in Line of battle on our left. After a great deal of confusion, we got formed and then we were ordered to advance, right in the face of the rebel guns who were firing their grape and canisters into us by wholesale...After a great deal of marching and counter marching, we were ordered to charge on a rebel battery. We were now right in front of our canons, advancing on their guns, the rebel sharpshooters in our rear picking off our officers. This was an awful time the shells taking the men down by ranks. While we were marching, a man was shot, and the Blood was spilling all over my face, it perfectly Blinded me.

"At 1 PM we were shelled by 100 guns, all concentrated on the force supporting the battery. There we laid behind a stone wall, the shells passing over us and killing the men all around me. Three men were killed and thrown across me, covering me with blood. While we were laying here, a shell struck a stone in the wall and killed a man throwing the man across my legs and the stone striking me in the back & doubling me up.

"We have got about 18 men now in the Company fit for duty and 150 in the Regiment. We went in the fight with over 400, and have yet now 150."

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