Civil War Letters of John W. Derr: Letter #31 -- Philadelphia, Pa. -- December 24, 1862

Monday, December 24, 2012

Letter #31 -- Philadelphia, Pa. -- December 24, 1862

I'd like to say that the letter of December 24th, 1862 was full of Victorian era...Dickensonian splendor, but it is not. The shortest of all of the letters, this one is a simple acknowledgement to his parents of the receipt of $10.00 in the mail. Not exactly an insight into 19th century Christmas tradition. I can only surmise that John had little to say since his last letter on December 20th and more than likely he was a bit depressed and sad at spending another Christmas away from home...in the hospital.

Philadelphia

December the 24 AD 1862

My Dear Father and Mother,

Set myself down to write this few lines to you to let you know that I am well at the time this letter leaves me and I hope that this few lines will find you in the same state of good health. Further I let you know that I got the letter with the 10.00 dollars in and I did answer it which you will have the answer before then. This few lines from your son.

John W. Derr

Direct as before.

NOTE TO MY READERS REGARDING THE YEAR:

1863

As I wrote about early in this blog, no record of letters written in 1863 survive today. It is not known whether letters from the year 1863 survived, or if indeed, there were any letters from this period. However, it appears inconceivable that a prolific letter write, who was as concerned as John W. Derr was about his family and friends and his financial affairs at home, would simply not write home for a year. On the contrary, the early six months of 1863 which were spent by the 48^th and JWD on provost and guard duty at Lexington, Kentucky probably generated more letters than previously.

Despite this chronological gap of letters, it is possible to draw a fairly accurate picture of his monthly activities and location during 1863 from his muster records and other historical records of the 48^th Regt. Pennsylvania Volunteers. I will strive to post historical records of the travels of the 48th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry during the period of January 1863 to March of 1864...when the letters resume. Please stay tuned for more information on this as well as adjacent stories and history of John W. Derr and the folks of Deep Creek, Pennsylvania.

Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year! Thank you for your support in 2012.

Best wishes for a Merry Christmas and very Happy New Year,

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.

Monday, December 24, 2012

Letter #31 -- Philadelphia, Pa. -- December 24, 1862

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