compiled by David Flint
During the Civil War, Stephentown resident Charles F. Chapel was a Landsman, a seaman recruit, aboard the USS Wabash, Flagship of Admiral Samuel F. du Pont, Commander of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron.
On board Steam Frigate Wabash September the 4th, 1862
Dear Mother and friends,
Having this afternoon to myself I thought I would write to you. There is not much news to write about. There is nothing doing here and not like to be as I see the Southerners are doing all the fighting. By what I can hear they are driving our armys North again Well, I don’t know how this war is coming out. I think this winter will decide it one way or the other.
Why don’t you write, I haven’t heard from you since we came back. I wrote to you just last Sunday and spoke of sending you some money but I can’t get it before the first of the month. It is more work to get money here than it is worth. As soon as I can get it I will send it by Adams Express.
I can’t write much more for the reason why I can’t think of anything. I would like to be at home this winter. I would eate apples and drink sider the whole winter. I have forgotten how thay taste. Ask Jarime how many trout he has caught this summer, and Jonathan how does he get on? I want James to go to school this winter. Do you hear anything from Stephen? I think I have writen anough so I will close. Write as soon as you get this.
Yours resp.
Charles F Chapel
Port Royal Soth Ca
Chapel sounds dismayed about the way things were going in the War, and well he might. In early August the Union army was defeated in the battle of Cedar Mountain which resulted in shifting the fighting from the Virginia Peninsula into Northern Virginia. And in late August the Union suffered another disastrous defeat in the second battle of Bull Run. In the aftermath, Confederate forces chased the Union Army back to Washington, two Union generals were killed and the Army of Northern Virginia crossed the Potomac River to invade Maryland.
The Adams Express Company, which still exists as an equity fund company, was during the 19th century a transportation company delivering freight, cargo, small parcels, mail, currency and other things. One of those other things included an ingenious Virginia slave by the name of Henry Box Brown who in 1849 had himself shipped in a crate to freedom in Philadelphia via Adams Express. The company, along with its secret subsidiary, Southern Express, actually functioned as sort of a paymaster for both sides during the Civil War and soldiers and sailors depended on it for communicating with the folks at home.
James is Charles’ younger brother. He died in Missouri in 1932. Stephen was an older brother.