George W. Adams, Camp Ellis Minor Hill, Va., to W.H. Nearpass, October 9, 1862

This accession contains correspondence from Union soldiers in the 124th New York Infantry during the Civil War to members of the Nearpass family in Port Jarvis, New York. The soldiers' letters describe their experiences during the war as well as their attitudes toward their commanders and their opinions on the New York City Draft Riots in 1863. Soldiers who wrote to the Nearpass family included George Adams, Henry Strader, L.E. Elston and J.B. Thorpe. Most of the correspondence was written to W.H. (Henry) Nearpass. There are eight original letters and one transcribed copy. In two letters, Adams discusses actions by his unit in Northern Virginia to include a pontoon bridge crossing of the Potomac just after four regiments of cavalry had crossed. He is also critical of the Brigade commander. In another letter written by Adams from the 3rd Corps hospital at Aquia Creek, Virginia, he describes being wounded in a big fight, and he may have to have his arm amputated due to blood poisoning. He also mentions being Masonic Lodge brothers with W.H. Nearpass. Another soldier (Charlie) describes a 150-mile march and the capture of some prisoners and contraband items, including five kegs of powder which they buried. Another (Henry Straden) is critical of General McCellan. L.E. Elston describes his entire unit bathing in the Potomac near Arlington Heights, and how a Virginian family near his unit’s camp made a profit selling items to Yankee soldiers. J.B. Thorpe describes how a twelve-inch snow followed by days of rain in Falmouth, Virginia, had turned the roads into impassable mud. He is also angry at accounts of New Yorker’s opposition to the draft and hopes his unit will be called there to “bring them out at the point of the bayonet”. Sgt. Martin Kinter is hoping for discharge soon in Washington, D.C.