with comments by David Flint
Calvin A. Haynes of East Nassau, NY, at the age of 24, enlisted in August 1862 at Troy in the 125th New York Infantry Regiment that was being raised in Rensselaer County by Colonel George L. Willard. Mustered in as a Sergeant in Company E to serve three years, he was taken prisoner at Harpers Ferry, spent two months in a parole camp, was exchanged and later faced Pickett’s charge in the battle of Gettysburg. He was discharged in January 1864 to take a promotion to 2nd Lieutenant in the 25th Regiment of U.S. Colored Troops. He was mustered out in December 1865 and died in New York City in April 1894.
His letters home to his wife Lucy during his time with the 125th Regiment have been transcribed by John Minitti of Winchester, MA, whose wife, Laurie, is Calvin’s 2nd great grandniece. They are here reproduced, with some editing, courtesy of the New York State Library, Manuscripts and Special Collections.
Rebeldom Sept 3d 1862
Dear Wife
I suppose that you would like to hear where I am by this time. We are at Martinsburgh, Virginia right in the heart of Secession. It is sunrise the boys are around the campfires a warming themselves. It begins to look like soldier life. We had a good bed last night the ground for a bed and the heavens for a cover. We are liable to have a battle at any moment. The guerrillas are all around us. There is a regiment of Infantry and Cavalry and flying Artillery stationed here. They have got marching orders at ten o’clock today, then we shall have to do our own fighting if we are attacked. I feel just like fighting. To us the country looks so desolate. Rail roads torn up houses burnt bridges torn down and so forth.
We have traveled night and day since we left Troy. We arrived at New York at 6 o’clock the next morning. We stayed there until 9 o’clock and then got on to a steamboat and sailed thirty miles to South Amboy, arrived there at 6 PM. Then we took the cars for Baltimore traveled all night – arrived at Baltimore at 10 AM stayed there until 12 ½ o’clock at night arrive at Martinsburgh yesterday at 5 PM. We are 19 miles from Harpers Ferry. We past through there yesterday and saw where old Johhn Brown had a battle. I think that I shall like it here it is a healthy place there is about 1200 soldiers here that have been here about three months and only three men have died in the time. I feel first rate this morning considering how I slept. It is very cold here nights but we shall have some tents to sleep in tonight if nothing happens. The boys are a getting their guns this morning we have got some light ones they only weigh 8 pounds. I shall go and get mine. I shall be glad when we get drilled so that we can skirmish around after the guerrillas then we will have something worth writing about. They are all rebels here. The ground that we are camped on belongs to a rebel that has gone to war and our folks have taken possession of his farm. The boys went out this mornng and tore down about 20 rods of board fence to build a fire with. Thats the way we do business here. I wish I knew how you felt this morning I hope you will enjoy yourself if you can. I am agoing to if it is possible. Take good care of little Ella. the boys all feel first rate from East Nassau. I must close my letter and go and get my gun so that I can be ready to drill. The next lettter I write I will write all the particulars. You must answer this as soon as it comes for I feel axious about hearing from you that you and Ella are well. You need not worry about me Lucy because it will not do any good. they have just called us to get out guns and I cannot write any more.
From your Husband
C. A. Haynes
Ella is Calvin’s 3-year old daughter, later in life married to William H. Atwater of Stephentown who was also a Civil War veteran.
