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March 18th, 1863 (a Gooch Letter)

3/18/2020

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During his time serving in Company I of the 27th Maine, Private CHARLES W. GOOCH wrote over fifty letters to his wife Julia, back home in Kennebunk, Maine. The following is a letter he wrote to her on the 18th of March, 1863. I've transcribed it as written, with lack of punctuation and spelling errors included. Clicking on pictures will enlarge them for better reading.
​
Camp Genl Casey Vir March 18 63
                                  My Dear Wife
with pleasure I improve this oppertunity
to inform you that I am well and
hope you enjoy the same blessing
   I suppose I hardly dead remind
you that it is just five calander
months to day sence I left all I
hold dear on this green earth to
go no one new where but through
the mercies of A kind providence
I have been spared and kept from
Maladies whitch none are exempt
from thus far and I hope that
nothing will befall eather of us
and that in less than three months
from this day we ma meet again
where we last parted in the full
enjoyment of health and streangth
where we can lay down at night
​with out thinking of the (rivlee)
Picture
Picture
loud revelee whitch beats every
morning at day break and bids the
sleepers awake I would not have
you think that I forgot the sole of one has
fled or rather there is one little one
that used to form part of our sircle
now sleeps in the cold ground with her
little arms folded acrost her breast with
upturned face ready to hear the
the revelee that awakes the sleeping
million of the grave
when I make A little ring or any thing
for our little one that was left us when
the other was taken it makes me think
that I ought to make a nother
and some times I can hardly perswade
myself but what but what I had when
I could see how plane she used to
look when I gave her any thing that
pleased her and how she used to serene
    but I will change this conversation
lest I tire your patience we have not
​don any thing sence Sunday the
weather has ben stormy and the
ground so muddy that we have
not had so mutch as dress perade
and there is some snow now on the ground
  I have not got any thing new to write
to you in looking over the two pages
I have written I have made so many
mistakes in leaving out words and substi
tuteing words that I fear you cannot
make any sence of it
   I received A beautifull letter from you
monday saing you and gussy was well
whitch I was verry glad to hear
   there is an old fellow in our company
whe pertends to be A medium he
was in our den to day and tiped
our thing whitch takes the place of 
A table he drumed out that we was
going to portland the 15 of May and
would be mustered out the 30th of June
and that we should stay hear 3 or 4
weeks longer and then move to
the relay house and finish our
​
Picture
Picture
time out there but I beleive as
mutch of his sayings as I have A
mind to and you can do the same
   I wish I had some good news that
would interest you but I have not
and so your letter will be dull again
this time
   I enclose hear two rings one for gussy
the other for Williams little girl
if they will fit their finger and
if gussy is asleep when (the) you
get them put hers on her finger
and write to me what she says
when she wakes up and seese it
   I shall go out on picket saturday
I expect and I ma not get a schance
to write Sunday but I will write
as soon as I come in if nothing happens
to prevent so if you do not get your
next letter in time do not feel
uneasey about it
and as I have nothing more that
I can communicate to you I close
hopeing soon to see you
   your Affectionate hus C W Gooch
PS keep up good heart I will come
                        by and by I hope

Notes:
​Pg. 1 - "Camp General Casey" was located near the Fairfax Seminary, outside of Alexandria, Virginia. The regiment had moved there in January 1863, and would relocate to Chantilly on the 24th of March.
Pg. 2 -  On this page, Charles is writing about his deceased daughter Cordelia, who had passed away back on 23 Nov. 1862, aged 6 years.
Pg. 3 - "gussy" is Augusta Gooch, his three-year old daughter.
Pg. 3 - "an old fellow", probably not a volunteer from Kennebunk, as he'd have known him, and probably would have mentioned him by name. There were a few 40+ year olds in the company, including John Bracy of Alfred, George Buzzell and George Emmons of Lyman, and John Buzzell of Biddeford.
Pg. 4 - "Williams little girl" likely refers to Sarah, dau of William Emery, who was wife Julia's brother. She was aged 1-yr in 1860 Kennebunk census. 
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March 15 1863 (a Gooch Letter)

3/15/2019

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​During his time with the 27th Maine, Private Charles W. Gooch, of Company I, wrote over fifty letters to his wife Julia, back home in Kennebunk, Maine. The following is a letter he wrote to her on the 15th of March, 1863. I've transcribed it as written, with lack of punctuation and spelling errors included.
Note:clicking on images will enlarge them for better viewing/reading
Picture
Camp Genl Casey Vir March 15 63
                                My Dear wife
with pleasure I improve these few
moments to inform you that I am
well and hope you enjoy the same blessing
                 to day has been A busier day
with us we packed napsacks and put on
our best cloths and blacked our boots
this morning for A general inspection
and review and was in the harness
tell past M martching and counter
martching but kno one come while
we were out but after we come in
some of the dignitaries come from
Washington and we have got to come
out again at 2 1/2 oclock PM
but it looks very mutch like rain
and I do not care mutch if it does
for they have no business here
Sunday haveing A grand mele at
our expence they had better do
as the people of niniver did than
to have so mutch horse raseing
and hilarritee sunday
I have not any thing new that I
can write but I thought I would
write and let you kno that I was
well (yet) and not so mutch demoralise
yet as to approve of sutch unnessary
work sunday but I do not kno
as it makes mutch differance for
they might as well be hung for An old
sheep as A lamb the drum beets I must go
        one hour later we was in line
at the hour dessignated and there
was two wortheys there from washington
one was John M Goodwin from Me
the other I do not kno who he was
some of the boys said he was agent
for northern lights but I cannot
voutch for the truth of the assertion
it commenced to storm as soon as we
got in line so we had dress perrade
​and come to our quarters
Picture
Picture
I received A letter from you
friday with some stamps I was
verry mutch oblidge to you for the
letter and stamps also I think
you are A well wisher to me and
I hope I shall be plased in cirum
stances again where I can repay you
as I ought
I enclose A steeletto whitch I made
for you (I did not kno but whad
you might want to make some holes
in some little things) you must excuse
for you kno that I love to joke
some times
our pay master has not come yet
and I do not think there is mutch
signs of it yet but I wish he
would not on my part but I should
like to send the money to you
when we was payed off before I kept
$12 dol and sent $10 to you I have
$5 now and have lent one so I 
do not think I have don bad

some of the rest of them sent
home 15 and $20 and some kept
the whole of theirs and about all
in the company have had any
quantity of suttlers tickets and
ben out of money for more than
​two months
but I do not kno as the financial
department of the company will be
interesting to you and I will stop
you wanted to kno if G Wakefield
was sick you hear all the news see
he has ben sick with the yellows
and pain in side and back but
he is about well now I think if
he was at home he would be at work
every day in your next please tell
me if there is any suspissious storys
going on about Mrs G.W. and Mr
A.C. I hear some news out hear
there I guess you will say what A letter
this time but it is made up of
odds and ends but me love for you
has not odds or ends and I hope to
manifest it to you by my good deeds
so hopeing soon to meet you I close
from your affectionate husband C W G
Picture

NOTES:
(pg 1) Charles Gooch was a religious man, and this letter seems to show his disapproval for all the maneuvers taking place on a Sunday
(pg 2) "people of niniver" - likely a reference to Ninevah, from the Biblical Book of Jonah, whose residents had to fast and repent for their sins to avoid their city from being destroyed by God
        - the "worthey" (ie worthy, slang for someone important) John M. Goodwin from Maine was probably the Biddeford lawyer.
   - "agent for northern lights" - other than the steamship "Northern Light", and a company of Wisconsin soldiers, I did not find sources for what he meant by this phrase
(pg 4) "G Wakefield" is George W. of Kennebunk. While he was serving in the 27th ME, letters sent from home told of "suspissious storys" between his wife and a "Mr A.C.". They separated soon after his return in '63, and he filed for divorce in 1864 (while on furlough from the 2nd Maine Cav), approved in Jan of '65. ALSO in court at this time was Olive B Clark, who was divorcing Abner Clark (aka Mr A.C.) [SJC Vol 22 pg 108], who had deserted her the same day George's wife Emma left home. Many years later, this same Olive (Littlefield) Clark would marry, as his 2nd wife, Charles W Gooch, writer of this above letter (his wife Julia died in 1882).
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Jan 15 1863 (a Gooch Letter)

1/15/2019

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During his time with the 27th Maine, Private Charles Gooch, of Company I, wrote over fifty letters to his wife Julia, back home in Kennebunk, Maine. The following is a letter he wrote to her on the 15th of January 1863. I've transcribed it as written, with lack of punctuation and spelling errors included.
Picture
           Camp Genl Casey Vir Jan 15 63
                       My Dear wife
It is with plasure that I take this
oppertunity to inform you that
I am well and hope you are the same
I received A letter from Theodore to
day he said you was into his house
that day so I suppose you are better
or you would not be out
I expected A letter from you to day
but I did not get one
I should have written to you yesterday
but I was out on picket and had no
convinience to write I went out monday
and was releived this morning we had
first rate weather our picket line has
ben changed so it does not take (all)
so many men as it did before and we
only stay out 3 days now and then
we shall not have to go out Again
​for 2 or 3 weeks
my post was near a house occupied
by A irishman the talk there
was that he was secesh but he
used to talk with me like A union
man I went up around the house
when he was out around it he appeared
very friendly indeed he invited me
to go in but I did not his wife
came out he told her she was at
liberty to give me A sup of milk
to put in my coffee (fath) but I
told them I had ben to coffee
that morning and did not want
it (fath)
​In your last you enclosed a extract
from the watchman and reflector the first
part of it was correct as far as I kno
the last part of it is not as far as I kno
as regards liquor among privates I
have not seen one drop of liquor
sence I came into virginia they do
not allow it sold in alexandria
​and what there is got has to be
Picture
Picture
smuggled from washington one
day when we was over to Camp
Seward there was two soldiers
from Ft albany they came up to me
and asked me if I wanted to buy
some good liquor they told me they
had some that come from washington in 
bottles in their pockets I told them
I did not they went down through
the lines and sold some to two
men in one of the lower companys
they got intoxicated and one case beside
this is all the efects of rum that I
have seen sence I came in vir but
if they have rum in Ft Albany they
do not have in the 27 Me
I have ben puzzelling my brain to try
and think of something to write that
will interest you but I cannot
and so I shall have to close
I wish I could think of enough
​to fill up the sheet but I cannot
so hopeing soon to see you and
and be with you and enjoy
your society whitch I prize
above all other I close
your affectionate hus
                                C W Gooch

PS you wanted to know if I
and Isaac stopped to geather we
do not when we lived in tents
we had 4 syblie and 7 A tents
he is ordely sargent he and 2 other
sargents had one A tent and
there was 3 other tents between
him and me and they claimed
the first partment I come in
the next so there is room
​to go over the top of that
Picture
Notes:
(pg 1) "Theodore" is Theodore Gooch, a cousin of Charles W Gooch, who also lived in Kennebunk. His full name is mentioned in an earlier letter.
(pg 2) The Christian Watchman and Reflector was a Baptist newspaper style weekly periodical, printed in Boston, MA. The article mentioned by Charles was likely from the Dec 25th issue (viewable on Genealogy Bank w/ subscription), which included a letter written by a soldier at Fort Albany, describing the 27th Maine (and other units) marching onto the grounds.
   (fath) = perhaps he meant "faith"? As he wrote this word on both ends of the sentence where he declined the offer of milk, was he fibbing about already having coffee that morning? Charles was a religious man, so perhaps he felt bad about lying to the Irishman and wife, so called that out in his letter.
(pg 4) "Isaac" is Sgt Isaac Emery of Kennebunk, who was the brother of Charles' wife Julia.
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A Letter Home from Horace

12/10/2016

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The following is a letter written by Horace Pennell, who was a private in Company C. At first I thought it was addressed to a "Brother Danl (for Daniel)", but now believe the name is Darl, short for Darling [Huntress Chadbourne], his brother-in-law. Darling's brother Francis T Chadbourne, and a first cousin James M Chadbourne, were also in the 27th Maine, but in a different company than Horace, and may be those mentioned in the letter.  In the closing, respects to "Mother", "Lizzy" and "Mellie" are written, and are likely referring to Darling's mother, wife and his sister Melvina. A Sam and David are also mentioned, but I didn't see any close family relations with those names.

There was no puncuation throughout the letter, and I didn't add any to the transcription. It is interesting that there is a piece cut off from page three, removing about three lines of writing. Was this done by someone who inspected the outgoing mail, perhaps an officer within the 27th Maine? Maybe Lieut Warren himself! 

Camp Casey Virginia
Jan 5th 1863

Brother Darl
I received yours last night
and was glad to hear from
you that you was all well
I have not had a letter
from home for three weeks
but then I hear from them
by others so I dont worry
about them  I am getting 
along first rate our company
are all out on picket but
8 or 10 men and we are
having a first rate time
the most we do is to
move from one place to
another we moved a week
ago about 1/2 mile and it
is said that we shall move
​
Picture
Picture
back on to Camp Seward
in a few days so that
is the way we are moving
our time out the story is that
we guard the long bridge
this winter but we cant tell
any way we dont do any thing
to amount to much as yet
I see Franer (Francis?) and James
most every day they are well
the health of the regiment
is very good take it as a
whole we dont get much 
news none but Camp stories
you spoke of Burnsides
affair it is thought by many
that he did ot do the honest
thing that if he had put
the thing alongas he might
he might routed the rebs
all out when he was
there but when he get so
far he stopped
it is thought out here that
this thing will be settled up
before a great while it is said
the north will furnish no man
nor money and publick opinion
is getting stronger every day
towards putting a stop to this
and congress must go with
publick opinion before long
and do something for when
the nine months men are out
there are a great many two
years men that will be out
by that time then we
shall no army to depend upon

Lieutenant Warren sends his
best respect to all and says
he likes (lives?) first rate his health is
good [rest of page is cut off]
Picture
there is nothing more that
I know of we have no news
give my best respects to
Mother and Lizzy and Mellie
and all the rest Sam and
David and so on


​Yours Horace Pennell

   Horace Pennell, the son of James and Jane (Berry) Pennell, was born 27 May 1819 in Buxton, Maine. He enlisted from Hollis at age 43, his occupation listed as a michanic(sic), though he usually worked as a carpenter. Some time after the war, he moved out west, settling in Meeker County, Minnesota. In 1901, just a few months prior to his death, he moved to Flint, Michigan, to live with his daughter Clara. He died on 10 Aug 1901 in Flint, and was buried there in Avondale Cemetery.
   He was married to Elizabeth "Lizzie" Ann Chadbourne in 1852, and they had two children, Clara E Pennell (who married John E Andrews), and Horace E Pennell (who was married to Mary Nye).
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