Civil War Letters of
Sgt. George A. Crawley
In the Battle of Burden's Causeway ("Bloody Bridge") on John's Island, South Carolina, Saturday, 9 July 1864, during a short retreat of his Company B to prevent being outflanked on the left, Sgt. Crawley caught a fragment of a Confederate shell fired from James Island. He died of this wound about a week later in Hilton Head Hospital.
Occasionally Edwin Hanford's brother, Carroll ("Carrie"), also in the 144th, took part in this correspondence.
The standard source for the history of this regiment is: James Harvey McKee, Back in War Times: History of the 144th Regiment, New York State Infantry (Unadilla, N.Y.: Bailey, 1903; Bowie, Md.: Heritage, 1994). Material is also available at the Delaware County (New York) Historical Society.
Dear Sister
I again seat myself to write a few lines to let you know how we are getting along
We are all enjoying ourselves first rate we are having fine wether & like the climate first rate we are encamped on high ground where we can have a fine view of the surrounding Country & as far as the eye can reach can be seen the stars & stripes of the Union army
New regts are coming in every day last night the 143rd from Sulivan Co encamped across the road a few rods from us Julia Niles husband is with them & also Flavel Pattengill. tell his Uncle that he is says he is tough and rugged & sends his love to them all I saw him this morning in our camp
Dear Sister
I recieved your letter of the 3[rd] with the stamps enclosed all right & am glad to hear from you again & that you are well & enjoying yourselves
Well we are well & enjoying ourselves here as well as possible considering the circumstances but I would liked to have been home & took supper with you Christmas eve but I was on guard duty as officer of the Guard that day & night
Our Co did not have anything extra for rations that day because they were all at work building a new cook house & could not get much of a dinner
But New Years day we had an oyster dinner & I presume enjoyed it as well for us here as you did at home for we eat all together in the cook house for the first time & had lots of fun & a first rate dinner
About 12 oclock Christmas eve Some of the batteries began to fire into Charleston kept it up most of the next day wishing them a merry Christmas I suppose & I guess they had merry time of it for there was a large fire there for 8 hours before it could be put out & I wish they had kept on till they burnt out the whole city but I suppose Gilmore wants to save enough houses for Head Quarters when we get there
The same day the Gunboats on Stono river took a rebel battery
We could see them from our camp firing over there but did not know what was going on
We very often hear the guns from the batteries & boats firing weve notice now any more than we used to a crack of a rifle at or think any more about it. we have got so used to hearing them
I see that alomst all the young folks are getting married there & also some that are not quite so young
I dont know as I should know the place if I were to go back now & I hardly think you will know me if I do not go home before me time is out for I dont know but I am growing old & if I stay here in the service & wear the Soldiers cap I shall be bald headed for there is but very little hair left on top of my head now but its no use talking of going home now for I doubt if I can get a furlough at all & some times think it no use to try there is so many others trying that need to go that have got families that they want to attend to but still my chance may come yet
There is nothing here to write about interesting & it is hard work for me to get up a letter at all
When I say "I am well how are you" I have said all there is to say so you must excuse me if I do not get up a very interesting letter I will now close with love to all
Write again soon to your Affectionate brother
Geo Crawley
Dear Sister
I recieved your last letter some time ago but have not had time to answer it till now.
A week ago this morning about 1 oclock we were waked up & ordered to get ready to be at the dock in an hour with 5 days rations in light marching order.
We got there & on the boat & started up the river at 3 on a raid with Gen Gordon for our leader
40 miles above here we took on about 100 of the 157th regt at Picolata & some Colored troops.
At 4 oclock we landed opposite Pilatki & marched about 8 miles & encamped The next day we marched about 20 miles & I tell you it was hot some of the time & a number of the men gave out sick & were sent back
We marched till after dark & encamped & found some rations there for us with the wagons of the 17th Conn & also Col Noble of the 17th & in the night a detachment of the 75 Ohio mounted infantry joined us & we expected the next day to have some fun with the rebs but like all the raids of Gen Gordon & the 144th it was a fissle
A few nights or days before the rebs had crossed the river & captured a picket post of th[e] 17th Conn of 40 or 50 men & Col Noble sent to Gordon to come up there & take it back again
(Col Noble with the 17th is in St Augustine doind Provost & picket duty & this was one of his posts)
But the Johnnys only stayed about 6 hours & were gone back across the river probably before we got the order to go after them
Gordon gave Noble a blowing up for not sending him word of it & then he took the nearest route to the river & hailed a boat & come down & our Col went to St Augustine with Col Noble & we in Command of Major Rice & Lt Col of the 157th took the road for Picolatta about 55 miles most of the way through the woods where we would not see a house in a dozen miles It was very warm & we would not march very fast or far without resting
Soon after dinner we passed a fine pond & filled our canteens as it was 15 miles farther to water where we must go for the night
We had a hard march before dark & a good many were behind but we expected to go only a little farther & kept at it The guide said water was only a short distance ahead but was mistaken every time for where he supposed he would find water it was dried up so we kept on such as could till most 10 oclock we came to a halt & the Major told us we would stay where we were & the[n] the Guide & Lt Col had gone on to find the water After we had rested we got up & stacked our arms & there was but about 75 of our regt out of 200 that started in the morning one Co had but 3 men In about an hour the Lt Col [returned] & said he had found the water & it was 2 miles farther & he took his regt on to it but we had all gone to bed & the Major told us to lay still We got up the next morning at daylight started again & found the water & stayed till nearly noon waiting for the straglers to come up but there was a good many missing when we started We marched 5 miles got our dinner & at 4 oclock started again & went 8 miles & Camped for the night the last 2 miles it rained very hard & it was dark when we stoped & then we lay on the wet ground with a rubber blanket under us & got up in the morning sore & stiff with about 10 miles march before us & when we started our joints fairly squeeked but we kept at [it] & arrived at Picolatta at 11 oclock & went into a camp left by the Colored troops & a splendid place it was or had been
There had been a nice house there & this was in the yard & was a splendid shade
We laide there too days waiting for a boat to fetch us home where we arrived at 4 oclock Last night having been absent a week & captured a spotted dog & killed what cattle we wanted to eat Some of our straglers went to St Augustine & came in last night & 3 were left there in hospital & some have not been heard from yet Our companie is in all right
We have recieved no mail here in two weeks & are very anxious to hear the news from Richmond besides getting news from home
Yours Affectionatly
Geo Crawley
[This is the last letter in the series.]