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Primary Sources for the 8th New York State Militia
Figure 1: Scene in the Camp of the Washington Greys, 8th N. Y. S. M.
The Press, May 9, 1861
The Accident at the Relay House.
The sudden death of a member of the Eighth New York regiment, by the discharge of his musket while cleaning it; yesterday, has saddened the hearts of his comrades, and thrown a gloom over the regiment. His name was LLOYD, and he was endeared to his associates by his courteous and kind deportment. He leaves a wife and two children in Brooklyn, New York.
Lest evening, a number of the soldiers at the Relay House sickened after eating ginger cakes, purchased from a cake vendor, who came to the camp. The matter is to be investigated.
the_press._philadelphia_pa._may_09_1861.jpg
Figure 2: new_york_times_fri_may_10_1861
Figure 3: new_york_daily_herald_fri_may_10_1861
Brooklyn Times Union, May 11, 1861
OUR WAR CORRESPONDENCE.
ENCAMPMENT, from Baltimore
9 miles, May 6th, 1861.
EDITOR TIMES.—I suppose you wonder at our being here, supposing we would remain at Annapolis for some time yet, Last Saturday evening we received orders to pack knapsacks and be In readiness to leave Annapolis the next morning at 6 o'clock. None of us knew where we were going, we were under sealed orders, but we all concluded that our destination would be Washington, but time soon informed us of our mistake. We are here, a short distance from Baltimore, holding a very important post called the “Relay House”; we are in camp, our duty is to protect the bridges and railroads in this part of the country.
I would have written you before, but could not find time, as we were all day Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, pitching tents and preparing grounds, which I assure you was hard work as it was raining hard all the time.
Our living is very poor, but gradually getting better, fresh meat is not to be had here, and hard biscuits are played out, I tell you it is very hard living for so much hard work, but I do not wish to complain, I shall stay with the Regiment as long as they stay.
One of our men was accidentally shot yesterday, he was drawing a charge from his musket, when it went off, the ball entering under his chin, passed through the top of bis head and killed him instantly; he was buried in the afternoon with all the military honors, the ceremony being very impressive.
All the boys are in good spirits and health and appear to be aching for a muss, which I think they will soon be sure to have, as it is said if the Pennsylvania troops are not allowed to pass through Baltimore without molestation, we are to go down and give them a brush. Another report says we are to go Harper's Ferry, which if true, will certainly give us the pleasure of a fight. But rumors are not to be relied on, all we can do in to obey orders.
I do not think we are going to Washington at all, but cannot tell exactly; to our friends we would say, all letters or parcels directed to us at Washington or Annapolis, will be forwarded us wherever we chance to be.
Oh how I would like to take a peep in the ‘Burgh, to see how you all are and get along, and get one good square meal of victuals,which I have not had since I left home.
Maryland appears strong Union, so I would judge. I think there is no fear of attack while in this State, but we are well prepared if such a thing should happen.
I may not be regular in writing, for sometimes we are ordered off when we do not get a chance to write in three or four days, like the present case.
Respectfully HIRAM G. SMITH
Corporal Co. B, 8th Reg., N. Y. S. M.
P.S. Excuse writing, as I am sitting upon the ground writing on my knapsack.
brooklyn_times_union_sat_may_11_1861.jpg
New York Evening Post, May 11, 1861
The Eighth New York Regiment In Maryland
A letter from a member of the Eighth Regiment of this city, dated at Elk Ridge Landing, Howard county, Md., says;
“We are encamped here, about seven miles from Baltimore. Send me a double Mackinaw blanket; my single blanket is not sufficient. It is very chilly here nights, and since our arrival here the weather has been very disagreeable and rainy. It is currently reported here that the Seventh Regiment, on being sworn in, distinctly stipulated that they should not be called away from Washington until their term expired. We have not yet been sworn in,but we are ready to face Harper's Ferry, Baltimore, or any of their strongholds.”
Another member of the Eighth, in a letter received this morning, writes:
“It has been cold all the time since we left New York. Some of our men are without over-coats, some without under-coats and some ragged, but we are all much better off than the poor Massachusetts boys, who have had a rough time here, without tents or proper provisions for their comfort.
“I feel anxious about leaving my wife and child, but my country called and I had to make the sacrifice.”
Our benevolent citizens, whose contributions to other regiments have been lavish, might direct some of their generous offerings to the Eighth Regiment. They will scarcely find a more deserving body of men.
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Figure 4: new_york_times_sat_may_11_1861
Middletown Whig Press, May 14, 1861
News from Volunteers.
Edwin J. Scrantom, an apprentice in this office during the past year, but now a member of Company G, Washington Greys, 8th Regiment, on their way to the seat of War, has written a letter to a friend in Middletown, giving his 'experience’ of army life. We make some ex- tracts, He says the troops are (May 7th) encamped at Jack’s Bridge, eight miles from Baltimore, where there are 5,000 of them. One of the men in drawing a load from his gun that morning was accidentally killed. As to provender, he says they have salt pork, hard crackers, and coffee without milk. A night or two previous himself and another guard on duty 'surrounded' a prisoner.
We are sorry to see that 'Ed.' does not fancy a soldier’s life very much, and thinks he will discard the army when his time expires. We expected that, being a typo, he would have more of a liking for the 'shooting stick.'
middletown-whig-press-may-14-1861-p-2.jpg
Figure 5: commercial_advertiser_1861-05-14
Figure 6: rocklandmessenger1861-05-16
Figure 7: new_york_daily_herald_fri_may_17_1861
Figure 8: the_daily_exchange_mon_may_20_1861
Figure 9: new_york_daily_times_sat_25_1861
Figure 10: daily_herald_page1_1861-06-05
Figure 11: geneva_daily_gazette._june_14_1861
Figure 12: queen_county_sentinel_6_27_1861
units/8th_new_york_state_militia_sources.1559739465.txt.gz · Last modified: 2019/06/05 12:57 by admin