The Reed Brothers

Submitted by Charles Reed
Civil War Reenactor, San Francisco, California

Warner lists David, Ellis and Jeremiah in the Military Records of Schoharie County as farmers from the town of Broome. Jeremiah enlisted in Company F of the Seventh New York Heavy Artillery August 1, 1862 and died of wounds August 15, 1864. David and Ellis enlisted in Company E of the 134th New York Volunteer Infantry August 19, 1862. The letters and picture are from the collection of Beatrice Mattice, Historian Town of Conesville.

Civil War letters
Written by David H. Reed

March 23, 1863
Dear Brother Stephen,
I received your letter that you and Daniel wrote to me and was very glad to hear from you both and so today beinit is Sunday and have not got anything to do so i would write to you and let you know that i am well and am fat as a hog and ask no ods of none of the officers and am in good sprints but it makes me feel somewhat sad to hear that poor Mary is sick i am afraid that she will never get well for i drempt the other nite that Joseph and Lydia got married and had awful time and i dream every five nites that the berrying_____________ is dry_________ and____________ graves stand wide open and i think that something wil hapin.But i hope not i hope that you will all live to see me return when the viety is won. Then i can tell you more in one hour than i could write in 10 such letters i like ie hear and consider myself better off than you are for things is so high. Poor people must suffer and uncle same gives me tip top good clothes and gives me enough to eat more_________ for_________ quite large links of beef and good crackers if I could got aholt of them when we marched to fredericksburg on seven days march. Now it is passed and gone i will tell you how we suffered we got out of rations and had to go two days without anything to eat and at nite when we stopped i and all the boys went about half a mild wherer others Regt. was baitchering and picted up the lites of the_________ that they had thrown out ________dish without grease________ made out quite a mifer. so you can see i am tuff and can do it again if it is needed. All of the rest of the boys is well. Rite soon
from David Reed

Wednesday 19th 63
Mr. Daniel Reed
I don’t know as I have much news to write as everything is quiet around here. I am well at present (?) allowance. We have just got the news that the seige of Charleston has commenced. The combined band of naval forces of our men and boats all seemed to be engaged in the bombarding. The roar of artillery must be terrible both sea and land must surely tremble. How the groaning misels must whistle and when come in contact with the Forts how the brick, stone and morter flies. Fort Sumpter and Waginer must be a pile of ruins. The story will soon be told. None of us will be sorry to hear the news when Sumter falls. The Rebels strongholds is mostly taken the time. The time will soon come when they must confess this guilt and shame before the world. Two, three places more ends their strong fortified work and if Sumter falls, I believe the other places will follow the same as Fort Hudson did after the fall of Vitburgh. They will be so disheartened they will throw down their arms and declare they will fight no longer as thousands have of the Rebels since the fall of Vitburgh, For Hudson and the floging of Lee’s Army. I will enclose in this letter a small some of money. It ain’t much for I aint much to give at present but you must be thankful for small things. Many small things together make a big thing. You take 25cts., George 25cts., Edwin 20cts. I ain’t time to write Edwin a letter now. I expect you are all very busy with your haying and harvest it would please me to be at home for about four weeks that I could swing the sythe and cradle. I don’t believe I have forgot how yet but I must be contented to shoulder the musket. Tell Stephen I would like to hear from him. How much he works for and how his health is and so forth. I have just got a letter from cousin Pat Spencer. He is well no more. This from your brother Daniel.
Jeremiah W Reed

Sept the 10th 1863
My dear father
to day i thought that i would let you know how I am getting along my leg is healing slowly Thare is a place that dont heal much is on the shin bone the bone is bare about an inch square one little piase of bone had come out and thare is more to come out it will be some time before i can walk i can not straten my leg out to save my life i have growed so poor that none of you would hardley now me if you should see me i have laid so long in the bed that my hip bone is sore and the side of my foot is worne through on my lame leg i haft to lay just so of i cant take no comfort but i am getting quite smart i set up in the bed most all the time and begin to eat quite hearty i fare tip top get all i ask for and i am well wated or i have rode out the ward wise in a big rocking chair with wheels to it now you have got all that i can think of so give love to Ma and all the children and to MaMa and Mary
This letter from David H Reed