Civil War Letters of John W. Derr: Letter #11 - New Berne, North Carolina -- April 22, 1862

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Letter #11 - New Berne, North Carolina -- April 22, 1862

The letter of April 22, 1862 is one of many written by JWD that highlight his concern regarding his money and his pay. Overall, this particular entry is not noteworthy with the exception of mention of John H. Derr who I have discussed in previous blog entries. (note September 10, 2011 entry at http://www.jwdletters.com/2011/09/john-w-derr-or-john-h-derrohand-thank.html and January 7, 2012 http://www.jwdletters.com/2012/01/visit-to-distant-relative.html).

John H. Derr was a Corporal in company D of the 48th PVI and a cousin of JWD. His death in January of 1863 in Washington DC and his subsequent burial at the U.S. National Cemetery at the "Old Soldiers Home" is recorded in the January blog of this year.

The letter also gives a little insight into regular army camp life and how JWD and his cousin JH Derr wanted to have undershirts sent from home for them to wear under their very itchy wool frocks. The practical side of JWD asks his mother for "grey flannel" shirts...since they don't get as dirty as the white ones he brought with him. JWD does his own laundry and I suspect that the shear sweat and grime of daily army life made getting anything clean, next to impossible. He opted for the infinitely more practical gray flannel which could, at least, hide the dirt. JH Derr has asked for two "jacks" shirts, which I have translated to "checked" shirts...another style of the era.

April the 22, 1862

My Dear Mother,

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 that these few lines will find you in the same state of good health and I hope that these few lines will find you in the same state of good health (his repetition). I will make a remark to you to do a favor for me. I want you to send me two shirts, if you please in a box. I want you to buy some grey flannel like my overshirt was, and make me two like that was with pockets in. We have nothing but these white flannel shirts, and we have to wash them ourselves and they get as dirty in few days that you can hardly get them clean. John H. Derr wants to have two jacks (checked?) shirts sent along. Our boys can go over to his parents and fetch them over to our house and then you will put them in my box and send them to us and if you have to pay for it, let me know what you have to pay so that each man can pay for his share alone. Direct the box to John W. Derr, Co. “D” 48^th Regiment, PA. , Burnsides Expedition, North Carolina, in care of Capt. W.W. Potts. Further I will let you know that I will put ten dollars of money in this letter. It is a ten dollar bill. Let me know whether you got it or not, and if you do get it take good care of it. But you will take some of my money to buy the shirting and to pay the box. So I must come to a close. Don’t forget to write to me and send it as soon as you can. Write a letter to me the saem time so that I know whether you did send it to me or not.

Yours with respect,

John W. Derr

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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.

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Letter #11 - New Berne, North Carolina -- April 22, 1862

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