Civil War Letters of John W. Derr: First Blog

Saturday, April 2, 2011

First Blog

Hello! and welcome to my first blog attempt. I decided a couple of years ago that I was going to share a family heirloom with anyone who is interested in the writings of a common soldier during the American Civil War. I am lucky enough to have all of the original letters written home by my great-great grandfather, John W. Derr, during his four years of service in the Union army. John was a private in the 48th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry (48th PVI) from September 1861 through July 1865, when he was mustered out. Unfortunately, I do not have any letters during the year 1863. I have inquired within the family but have never been able to locate the letters, if they ever, or still exist. My father received these letters from his grandmother and she stated, before her death in 1959, that she believed that all of the letters that existed were in her possession. We will never know.

My plan with this blog is to publish letters on the 150th anniversary of each individual one. So for example, my first letter publishing will be September 3, 2011, exactly 150 years to the day when John sent home his first letter to his parents Peter and Katherine Derr. Before that first letter is published, I will blog on background for John and his family to give you a feel for his life and times. Now...I warn all of you that these letters, while being unique for being together after 150 years, are...in general....rather boring. You will be seeing the writings of a common soldier. Not a General or a Captain. Not a great strategist or world leader. Just a common soldier...who at the time...was more interested in where is pay ended up, or getting a parcel from his parents to supplement his diet. Still, I hope you enjoy them as much as I have over the years.

Jim D.

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Welcome

With 2011 being the 150th year since the start of the American Civil War, I thought it would be appropriate for me to share letters written by my great-great grandfather, John W. Derr during the course of the war. I have completed posting each letter on the 150th anniversary of their creation (mostly!). Since Private Derr did not write his letters in a consistent pattern...sometimes there are gaps in time better one letter and the next...This blog includes gap filler with other information relevant to him and his regiment. As I posted each letter, I created a corresponding link on the right side of the webpage to provide easy access and reference as you read each posting. I hope you enjoy the history of this common soldier during the most tumultuous time in our nation's history.

Additionally, I recently completed a long anticipated project by publishing a book "A Widow's Due" in June of 2020. This book is primarily about the life of my Great-great grandmother, Magdalena Diehl Derr, the widow of John W. Derr. It is based on years of research and much documentation, and whereas it is a work of "creative non-fiction", it is accurate and true to the documents and records I was able to find. Please visit my other website relating to the book as well as other upcoming projects at: www.jamespderr.com. Thank you.

Biography of Private John W. Derr

John W. Derr (JWD) was born in Barry Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania on October 7, 1839.

He enlisted in the Union Army in September of 1861 and was mustered into the 48^th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Company D at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg Pa, in that same month. From Harrisburg, the 48^th PVI transitioned through Baltimore, MD and then down the Chesapeake Bay to Fort Monroe in Virginia. From there, the 48^th PVI was attached to the larger Burnsides Expedition to North Carolina (Hatteras/New Berne area). After the North Carolina expedition the 48^th PVI was moved north and participated in the 2^nd battle of Bull Run, where JWD was wounded on August 29^th, 1862 and taken prisoner. He was paroled by the Confederates, and was transported to Georgetown College Hospital in Washington, D.C. After staying in Washington and missing the battles of Antietam and South Mountain, he was transferred to the Cherry and Broad Street hospital in Philadelphia, Pa in December of 1863. He was subsequently furloed home for further recuperation.

His unit was then detached for guard duty in Kentucky and Tennessee, where his unit re-enlisted in December 1863 at Blains Crossroads, TN. In 1864, the 48^th PVI was involved in Grant’s campaigns of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Courthouse, Cold Harbor, etc…and eventually the Petersburg Campaign. JWD, as part of the 48^th PVI was integral in the digging of the Mine Crater. Documentation of his participation in the actual mining activities and subsequent illness from the damp/cold conditions are documented in his post mortem pension application by his widow, Magdalena Derr. Pension affidavits by his fellow soldiers indicate that his participation in the mining activities, along with his wounding at 2^nd Bull Run were the primary cause of his early death in 1876

In addition to his participation in the Petersburg Siege, JWD participated in the 1863 Army review by President Lincoln in Washington, D.C., the Grand Review of 1865 in Washington, D.C.

He was mustered out of the Army in July of 1865 and returned home to live out his remaining short life, dying on January 12, 1876 at age 37.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

First Blog

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