Letter #9 - Hatteras Inlet, Camp Winfield, North Carolina -- February 18, 1862

Thanks everyone for your patience...I know it has been a couple of weeks...so here you go....



I've often wondered about the food that soldiers had available to them during the Civil War.  Horror stories of southern soldiers eating shoe leather (when they could find a shoe) as well as grass, boiled bark and insects are documented.  While JWD did not have to endure this level of deprivation, it is clear that his diet changed dramatically owing to the realities of army logistics in the 19th century and the affect on food inventories.  Most army encampments had some sort of sutler informally attached to the unit...a retail camp follower would be a good description...but those "Quickie Marts" of the day were expensive and not always of the best quality.  Funny how some things never change!

I did a little research and found the following which is an excerpt from "Hardee's Rifle and Light Infantry Tactics":

One soldier's ration would include:

• 20 oz. of salted pork or fresh or salted Beef^[1]
• 12 oz. of Hard Bread^[1] in camp or garrison or 16 oz. of Hard Bread at sea, on campaign, or on the march.
• 1 oz. compressed cube of desiccated mixed vegetables^[1] or a 1.5 oz. compressed cube of desiccated potatoes if supplemental foods were unavailable.

This would be supplemented by (per 100 rations):

• 8 qts. of Beans or Peas.
• 10 lbs. of Rice or Hominy.
• 10 lbs. of green Coffee beans or 8 lbs. of roasted Coffee beans.
• 10 lbs. of Sugar.
• 2 qts. of Salt.
• 1 gallon of Vinegar.
• 3.75 lbs. of horse meat The most common field ration issued to individual soldiers was salt pork and hardtack, both which were designed to withstand field conditions without deteriorating. Excess salt could be scraped off the meat to supplement the salt ration.

These rations required cooking to make them palatable, but less experienced soldiers were unlikely to have their own cooking equipment and the large company-level kettles were sometimes left behind during a rapid advance.

Food often became infested with insects, especially rice or grain weevils. Infestation along with scarcity and unpalatability of rations made it necessary for soldiers to supplement their diets. A soldier could often gain a larger variety of foods either by foraging/raiding, by receiving food boxes from their families, or by purchasing items from sutlers. Families throughout the country were affected by the war and often had little to give. Those supporting the side currently in control of the area might be able to provide food, but in most cases, the food had to be acquired by theft.

***From Wikipedia....Search item:  "Foods of the American Civil War"


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foods_of_the_American_Civil_War




This list provides what a soldier in the North was SUPPOSED to have for a daily ration.  I did a comparison against what JWD states in various letters and it is clear to me that the average soldier did not get a consistent ration as stated above.

I have had numerous discussions with my Dad regarding the tone of some of JWD's letters.  We have both concluded that he had a bit of wit and sarcasm in some of his letters.  Something that his parents probably read and laughed about.  Letter #9 shows some of this sarcasm...

"Further, I let you know that I like it very good yet.  So far we have plenty to eat and plenty to drink for we will get one cup of coffee and four crackers in the morning, and piece of speg (bacon) and a cup of hominy for our dinner, and a cup of coffee and four crackers for supper and that is the way it changes off, every meal something new. " 

Describing a less than filling daily meal regime and by concluding with the words "...every meal something new..." conveys his humor at the monotony of the food provided to the soldier in the field.   This explains his excitement in Letter #6 (January 16, 1862) at receiving a box from home filled with the foods he loved best.  In college, I felt the same way when my Mom would send me a big box of cookies to supplement the terrible cafeteria food at my school.  I was immediately the most popular person in my dorm as other dorm mates would descend upon my room for a share of the home goods.  I imagine it was the same for JWD.

In addition to the description to his parents of his daily food situation, JWD also talks about his sister Elizabeth and her work as a domestic at the home of the "Heplers" as well as his other sister Salomy.  He references another friend's family...John Beaver...and is interested what is happening at home.  At this time, the 48th PVI is camped on Hatteras Island where it is windy, cold, wet and sandy.  I imagine he is very bored, tired, and longing for home.  So far for JWD...the war has not seen very much action....six months of drilling, moving from one place or another...and waiting.   Not quite what he thought he would be doing to defend the Union.  I believe that this is what drives his comments regarding the conclusion of the war and his eminent return to Pennsylvania.  Wishful thinking.  His reference of returning home in May is ironic as this is the time his real battlefield involvement begins.

Lastly...he is still concerned about ensuring that his pay and pay certificate is safe and secure.  After all...if he is going to be miserable in the army...he wants to come home to some reward for his service.  

Hatteras Inlet, N.C.,

Camp Winfield,

Feb, 18. 1862

My Dear Father,

            I take my pen in hand to write these few lines to you to let you know that I am well at present time and I hope these few lines will find you in the same state of good health.  Further I let you know that I received your letter yesterday and I was glad to hear from my dear sister Elizabeth and as much as I can understand she is at Hepler’s again.  But I would like to know whether she is single yet or not.  And I would like to know whether Salomy is at home or not.    I wish you would let me know how John Beaver’s family is getting along for you didn’t mention anything yet about them.  Further, I let you know that I like it very good yet.  So far we have plenty to eat and plenty to drink for we will get one cup of coffee and four crackers in the morning, and piece of old speg (bacon) and a cup of hominy for our dinner, and a cup of coffee and four crackers for supper and that is the way it changes off, every meal something new.  But we don’t expect to stay long on Hatteras Island anymore for we calculate to come on the mainland before long and till May we will all be at home in sweet Pennsylvania.  Further I let you know that I did send a letter home two weeks before this with a certificate in it to draw my money at home and I wish you would let me know whether you got it or not.  If you did, let me know, if not do the same.  You must excuse my bad writing and all my mistakes.  Answer me this letter as soon as you get this from me and direct as before.

                                                                                    Yours Truly,

                                                                                    John W. Derr

NOTE:   There is a large gap between Letter #9 and Letter #10.  Letter #10 will be available on April 7th.  I will be blogging on other items during the gap time, so please check back during that period.

Thanks to all of you for your comments, suggestions and well wishes. 

Jim D.

Letter #8 -- Hatteras Inlet, Camp Winfield, North Carolina -- February 4, 1862

It was only two days between JWD's letter written on February 2nd and this one written on February 4th.  This letter was written after he got information about how to have family members draw monthly soldier pay in lieu of the soldier drawing the pay in the field.  Having family members...trusted family members...draw pay at home was a much more secure method that prevented loss of pay through theft, gambling, and death.  You can see in this letter that he wants his father to understand explicitly how the process works and even tells him to have the letter read by Francis Dengler to ensure that he doesn't get it wrong.  He further tells his father to write back and tell him that he understood the letter and process for pay withdrawal....and in the post script he tells him to never give the certificate to anyone.  You can see he is rather nervous about this arrangement and is probably frustrated that he can't just talk to his dad to get it explained verbally.  Such is the dilemma of a man with only a couple of years education.

Here is letter #8......

                                                                                    Hatteras Inlet, N.C.

                                                                                    Camp Winfield,

                                                                                    Feb. 4, 1862

My Dear Father,

            I take my pen in hand to inform these few lines to you to let you know that I am well at present time and I hope that these few lines will find you in the same state of health.  Further I let you know that they made arrangements that our parents can draw our money at home in Pottsville from Hunsinger, so I will send a certificate home to you and then you can draw the money for me every two months.  For me you will draw ten dollars for every month but it wouldn’t be worthwhile to draw it every month.  So you will draw it every two months, then you will draw twenty dollars every two months.  If I would know that it would be worthwhile to put it in the bank, I would say you should do so.  You can send the certificate down to Pottsville with Dengler.  You can draw for two months on it, as soon as you get the certificate but you might let it start two months more.  If you like, take this letter to Dengler and get it read so that you understand this thing right.  And answer this letter as soon as you get this from me and let me know whether you got the certificate and whether you understand it right or not.  I must come to a close these few lines from you dear son. 

                                                                                    John W. Derr

Direct your letter as before, you may well know.  But you must never give the certificate.  You must keep it to draw it every time.

 Jim D.

Letter #7--Hatteras Inlet, Camp Winfield, North Carolina -- February 2, 1862

The letter of February 2, 1862 was written after JWD had recuperated from a long illness.  For seven weeks he suffered from bronchitis and possibly a variant of rheumatic fever.  Though he does not indicate the latter in his prior letters home...subsequent depositions during the pension hearing by his widow Magdalena, indicate that this was the case.   The depositions by fellow members of the 48th PVI describe the conditions that the 48th endured during the initial landings on Hatteras Island in November of 1861.  Fellow soldiers complained about how soldiers waded to shore and remained wet and cold for days after the initial landings.  Not long after the landings, JWD was bedridden with a severe illness that progressed to bronchitis or even possible pneumonia.  As he states, he was off duty for seven weeks.

This letter is a bit more normal, with JWD conveying news to his parents and asking questions about home.  Interestingly he writes to his parents about a letter he received from his Uncle Solomon Weikel...his mother's brother...and how his uncle's family had been sick with the measles.  In the 19th century, measles was a deadly disease and so this information was truly family news!    His reference to "Esther" is interesting to me.  I have not been able to determine who she was and what her relationship was with JWD.  I am only guessing, but I assume she was a girlfriend or a close lady friend.  Clearly, Esther was illiterate, owing to the comments made by him regarding her need to have the letter read. It is also clear that he did not want any personal and intimate words he might write to her to be made public by the reading of a letter.


And now...letter #7...                     


                                                                                    Hatteras Inlet, North Carolina,

                                                                                    Camp Winfield

                                                                                    February the 2^nd, A.D. 1862

My Dear Father,

            I take my pen in hand to inform these few lines to you to let you know that I am well at present time and I hope that these few lines will find you in the same state of good health and further I let you know that I received that letter from you on the 2^nd day of this month and one from Uncle Solomon Weikel.  He wrote to me that he didn’t hear anything from you the whole last summer and I wrote a letter to him and I told him you were all well when I got that letter from you.   Further I will let you know that they were all laying sick with the measles but they are all well again.  When he wrote that letter to me, further I let you know that John Brown and George Batzel are in the war too.  And if Esther wonders why I wouldn’t write to her anymore, tell her that she would have to get her letter read by somebody else and so I have no pleasure to write to her what I would like to write to her.  And she could always hear from me when I write home.  I send my best respects to Slotterbachs family and to the Fetterolfs and to Peter Fetterolf too and to all the rest of the neighbors and tell Mary E. Slotterbach that I was glad to hear from George and Harvey Snyder and William Derr and tell her if she would write to George again she should let him know that I am well and would like it very good so far.  Now I must quit writing because my fingers are too cold and I can’t write no more.  These few lines to you.

                                                                                    John W. Derr 

Jim D.