Civil War letters of the West Brothers - 136th and 160th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment

A direct descendant of Lafayette West-- Elizabeth Stead Kaszubski, prepared this annotated transcription of the Civil War letters of Andrew, Arzy, and Lafayette West. The original transcription of the letters was contained in �FENTON- America, 1688� by Ora Melvin Cramm and Allen B. Johnston (1951), and is available at the Wyoming Co., NY, historian�s office.

Elizabeth Kaszubski owns two of the original letters and is very grateful to the family of Allen Johnston for their kind donation of these letters-- many years after Allen�s untimely death. The original of all but these two letters are missing, but fortunately Allen Johnston carefully transcribed all of the letters before some of them were lost.

Allen�s family is descended from the West brothers� sister, Paulina West Fenton, therefore the letters that had been written home during the Civil War to their sister had been in the family for many years. The following transcription contains all of the original misspellings and language particular to that period in history in which they were originally written. The boys were farmers.

Arzy and Lafayette West were residents of the town of Bennington, Wyoming County, NY, at the outbreak of the Civil War. They lived with their father, Thomas West. They enlisted together in the service in Company H of the New York 136^th regiment and were mustered into the service on September 25, 1862. Their brother, Andrew, was a resident of Attica, NY and volunteered for Company G of the New York 160^th regiment and was mustered in on November 20, 1862.

Arzy West did not survive the war, being killed during the Battle of Gettysburg and buried there on July 3, 1863. Lafayette was at Arzy�s side at his death (see an article from �Historical Wyoming� for more details and the details from the diary of Lt. Hall shown in this transcript).

After Gettysburg, Lafayette West participated as one of General Sherman�s men in the �March to the Sea�. Andrew�s unit participated in more southerly adventures near the Mississippi River, but he also survived the war. Andrew�s whereabouts after the war are unknown.

Lafayette West returned to Bennington, NY, and spent the rest of his life as a resident there. The following letters were written to Mr. Thomas West (their father), his son-in-law and his daughter-- Henry A. and Paulina West Fenton during the Civil War from 1862-1865.

Washington, DC

Camp fair fax Court house. Wall father I supose that you think it was about time I wrote you so I thought that I wood take this oportunity to wright you an let you know how I am get along. I am well at present an hope that the few lines will find you the same.

Wall father I supose that you wood like to hear from the potomake that you have heard so much about. it is very hansome river. the longe bridge is compose stone and brick. it is about a mile longe. on the south side there is a fort that has a boot size gun that rake about a mile in ever direction so it is imposible for the rebles to get into Washington an take a large army to take it.

I have seen general lee hors. it a pret large hors. his farm cut all up. the soil is loam an red caste. I have some fifteen miles from the potomake and the corntry that I have pass through sorry desolate there but a few house on the way an most of them turn into hospitals. it look verry desolate as I pass a longe. I want you to wright what regiment Phillip Marz was in an what company in.

We received your letter last night and was glad to hear from you that you was well and hope these few lines will find you enjoying the same. We are well at present. We have been on the march for the last 3 days and it is pretty hard work to march and carry our load. it has rained for the last week here and has not stoped. we are mud up to our knees. we should like to be at home and see you but we cannot I suppose.

We got a letter from father to last night and was glad to hear from him. We are glad that he is going to live with you this winter. tell him that we are well and will write him a letter in a few days. tell Henry that we are all right and are waiting for this war to close to come home and see you all and we hope that wont be long.

first I tell you what you need not blame the boys for running away from the draft for we dont want any more to come down here to suffer. there is enough already more than they can use laying around doing nothing. the whole thing does nothing but help make a debt that we can never pay. you must write as soon as you get this and write all the news.

I have nothing do now and I thought I wood write a few lines and let you know how I am getting along. I am well at present and I hope theas few lines will find you the same. We are Encampt Clost by the city hall. We have gay old times runing the guards, when one com in three go out.

Our capt. wont pass us out so we run the guard. When we are a mint to we are all over the citty. it is like town meating every day hear. I want you to write and let me know father is and tell him I have not for got him and I want to write and let me know how the boys are getting along and tell me where they are and how they are getting along and when you write to them tell them I have writen to letters and have not received no answer from them.

Heare is the damdis plase for stealing that ever wass invented. Som has from five dollars one hundred dollars taken from the boys. it is getting late so I bring this concern to a close so good by and tell Orlando to write.

Direct your letter to New York Citty to the Comp. G, 160^th regiment N.Y.S.V. in the care of Capt. Wright

I take my pen in hand to write a few lines to you to let you know how I am getting along. I am well at present and I hope that theas few lines will find you the same. I received Henry letter last night and was glad to hear that you are all well. I was on guard new years. my presant was forty rounds of cateriges.

I sposed you wood like to know what the weather hear. it is like april weather showery. it rain bout every day hear. it very warm hear daytime and cool night. I want you to write all that is going on and what the folks think about the war coming to a close.

I want you and the rest to write as often as you can and send me once awhile a Attica paper so I can read the news from home. you must write if you dont get letters from me every week or not and Orlando to write as often as he can and I will try to do the same. I want him to write and let me know if he has got my old shot gun or not and tell him to write and let me know how old friends on the East hill get along and tell H. E. Griffith to write a few lines to me.

I Suppose you wood like to know how we live down heare and I will tell you we live on the top shelve and sleepe on the soft side of a pine board. January the 4 I was on guard last night and it rained like the devil. we are Encampt Eight miles from new orleans up the mississippi river. the watter we drink come from the river. it looks like the watter in the attica creek after a heavy rain. we have plenty of oringes heare. they look nice growing on the trees.

I cant think of enny thing to write so I will bring this consern to a close so good by.

if you can read this you can do beter than I can. I want you to write as soon as you get this and tell all to write

(Editor�s note: Their brother, Orlando West, lived on the eastern most ridge in Bennington which borders the town of Attica on the east.)

i thought that i would write a few lines to let you know how i am getting a long. i am well at presant and i hope that theas few lines will find you the same. we have moved from thilodany our old camp last Sunday.

we have a splendid camp ground now. we are some Eighty miles from new orleans. the clover is as green as it is at home in June. we have beter watter to drink hear. the watter we have been drinking is worst than Attica creek after a heavey rain.

Capt. Wright has resigned and left us and started home this morning and good by. i wish this would come to a close be fore long fore i am getting dam sick the way it is caried on. i dont think the officers care rather it come to a close or not you needient think that i am home sick for i am not but i am sick of the way the war is cared on. i would like to be at home to get some cider to drink and apple to eat fore they are very scarse down heare. butter is fifty cents a pound tobaco is dollar and a half per pound and tea is two dollars per pound.

we have plenty to eat. i only weigh 169 pounds. i want you to write to me all the news from home and how father get along and tell him to write to me and barney and Corinthia and the girls to write as often as they can for i like to hear from home. tell Orlando to write and let me know if he got ten dollars that i sent to him or not and the check. i must bring this letter to a close so good by. you must excuse this poor writing and pelling.

(Editor�s note: The above letter was written on what appears to be but a mere scrap of paper, very badly torn. Also, Barney and Corinthia West Altenburg are his sister and brother-in-law who lived next door to his brother, Orlando, in Bennington, NY.)

may god bless you and my old gall to. i received your letter the 10 and was glad to hear from you and to hear that you are all well. i am well at present except that i spraint my ancle and i hope theas few lines will find you all well. there is a battle comming off in a few day.

we will drive the devils to hell and gon. our men have been buisey in crossing the bay. our force hear is from forty to fifty thousand men. they are ready for the fray. they calculate to cut their throught to franklin. i dont know whare to from there but i hope we shall drive the soles in the gulf of mexico. that is the place for the devils. you want to know how the boys get along the most of them are well.

Ruben Wellman and Charles Nelson are all right and the rest of the Attica boys. i have not heard from the boys in some time. i cant think of enny more to write so good by for this time. write as soon as you get this. this is dam poor writing and dam poor paper and ink.

we are going home in a few days yess in a horn we will that is the mater with susa.

The following is excerpted from the Diary of Lt. Hall of the 136^th New York Infantry. This diary is not part of the West letters but will further explain the next letter sent back home by Lafayette West to his sister-- after their brother Arzy died at Gettysburg.

Marched from Emmitsburg to Gettysburg, when within four miles of the place we heard the fighting there when we were obliged to go at almost double quick our Brigade formed in the Cemetery a very beautiful one it seem almost sacriligious to trample down the graves of the sleeping dead. The First Corps suffered severely having been attacked before any other could come to their assistance. The 11^th was the next to go in and every Brig. Was engaged except ours--6 were wounded in our Reg today principally by accidental shots. Gen. Reynolds was shot today

This morning we were ordered to the right of the tow as the enemy appeared on the North of the town. Soon it was evident they were making a feint to draw or attention then when we they would come in on the left, and two companies thrown out as skirmishers�one was killed instantly another mortally wounded and three wounded�Skirmishing continues commenced at 8 o�clock. At 4, a general engagement took place and lasted till ten, a most terrific fight. At first they tried our left, but were finely repulsed and driven then our right and were repulsed and then in front. We whipped them everywhere.

We (our company) went out as skirmishers at 12 P.M. all was quiet, till 4 A.M. when our skirmishers began to fire. Soon it became brisk and finaly a general engagement between the skirmishers. Charles Elwell was shot dead. John Boyd severely wounded in head and thigh. Noones in leg. Arzy West was killed. Peter Mus wounded fatally I think Geo. Mosher wounded. Frank Wood missing Chester Warriner thumb Curtis in arm John Stowell severely wounded. Franking missing R. Lawton wounded in the head. Henry Orr-- I had my haversack pierced by bullet we made a charge and did not accomplish much. Came into our Reg. feeling bad on account of the loss of friends and comrades in arms.

At 1 � the enemy opened a line of artillery nearly a mile long, they tried to convince our battery but found they could not come it. The heaviest by land cannonading that will be recorded n the history of this Rebellion it lasted an hour and a half and it seemed as if Mars had let loose all his thunderbolts and all the elements loose in all their fury�immediately following this fierce duel the Rebels came out of the woods on the left in three lines on double quick to charge on the batteries but was a fatal charge for them for they were most beautifully repulsed with heavy loss Gen. A.P. Hill who led this charge was wounded and taken prisoner on the extreme left [actually wounded but not taken prisoner] Gen. Longstreet is reported to have been taken prisoner� [actually, Longstreet was not captured] at night I went out on the skirmish line again in command of the Co. We lay on the old line during the night and at daylight we charged down to the front, but luckily there were not casualties

Came in at 7 o�clock nothing but Picket firing today. It was a lonesome day on account of rain went up on the battlefield and to the hospitals where I saw every amount of suffering and dead. No language can portray the reality. A night I went down on the field where we lost some our men and got the bodies of Arzy West, and C.C. Elwell. They fired on us when we went after them. I spent a sleepless night for the water runs under me which made it uncomfortable indeed

We ordered to fall in early this morning which we did promptly but they were gone by daylight. We are getting ready to follow them�started in the direction of Emmitsburg at 5 o�clock and marched till 11 through the mud, tedious! Wrote to Gast that Frank Wood was killed�went down town it is a wealthy city and neat one in Adams County�we buried their dead�left 16 of our Reg�there�besides putting others in a fair way to be left behind.

I am now seated with my Friend Osgood to write you a few lines to let you know that I am still alive and well and sincerely Hope this will find you the same. we are now far away from Home and Friends But trust we are still remembered By those Friends still as they are By us.

Father we Have Had another Battle and I am still spared perhaps to fall in the next one like my Brother Arzz, But Hope it will not be so. our Regt Did not suffer much this time being the supporting column.

you wished me to informe you Arzze affars and mine stood together. you well know that ever since we commenced working out together that our earnings were all together and we worked together as Brothers should. what was His was mine and mine His. Now as to How His property will Be Disposed of is more that I know But it was His wish that I should Have it if he did not live to come Home.

Brother Osgood and Austin have heard him say the same many a time at Stafford, last winter before the Battle of Gettysburg where he was killed. rest assured that you shall never come to want while myself or lou lives.

you shall be cared for as a father should Be in His Old Age. it is not my nature to see my Father suffer while I Have anything to relieve Him. pride forbids it But I may never see your face again But if I do not remember that I still think of you with the love of A son, yet & always will.

Well father must close for this time. write as soon as you get this. give my love to all that enquire. think what you will of this letter and when you write let me know. I am as ever your son.

Mr. West as it is the wish your son that I should say a few words. will do so as to what Arzz sad while at Stafford. last winter I Have often Heard Him say that if He did not live to come Home that every thing He Had he wanted laffayette to Have and He always seemed to carry the idea that should not live to come Home.

I do not write this Because I wish medle with your affairs for I do not. I do it at the request of your son. your sons were Both my friends and I prised their friendship Highly and when Arzz was gone I missed Him almost as much as Laffayette. I have no more to say upon this subject.

V.D.Osgood

[Vriling Osgood, musician, 136 NYSV]

i now set down in my tent to write a few lines to you to let you know how i am getting along. i am well at present and i hope when theas few lines reach you they will find you injoying good health. i have got back with the Company once more thank god for it. i am well as ever and fat as a hog and what more can i wish for only whiskey. i had a letter from Corinthia and lond november the 23 and was glad to hear that you was all well then and to hear that Father was well and injoying good health for him.

i would like to home and see him and the rest of you but i think it will be some time yet before that day will come. i live in hope that the day will come by an by that we can be together once more as we use to be in days gon by. say tell the old hog that the old gall is all right. she would like to have her pick up all the shuck that she can for i hant got enny time now to help.

i have not had a letter from fay in along time. i dont see the reason he dont write to me. i would know whare he is and what he is about. when you hear from him write and let me know whare he is and how he is getting along. i cant think of enny thing more to write so good by. write as soon as you get thise. this is from old cole

[Editor�s note: Lafayette might not have been able to write to Andrew because the NY 136^th was being transferred at this time from the Army of the Potomac in the Eastern Theater to the Western Army. This involved a long train ride for the XI corps.]

i thought i would try and write a few lines to you to let you know how i am getting along. i am well at present and i hope when theas few lines reach you they will find you the same. i received a letter from Paulina Feb th 4 of January th 17 and one from Ellen Altenburg and one from Fay. i am going to send it to you. i presume you will get one before you get this.

Father i supposed you want i should write to you once in a while but when i write to Henry folks i think it will do for you all. i was glad to hear that you are well an in good health. we had a general review today so you see we are putting on the potomac stile. it is all quiet on the Bayou tache. we have nice warm weather hear now. it is like the weather in september at home.

they say that Mr. Wright has cut a gut. i under stan he will have to go to Auburn and stay there a spell. it is good enough for the dam cuss. i suposed you have heard more a bout him than i have. how is my old gall Irena get along. i would come home and see you all once more. i cant think of enny thing more to write so good by for this time. write as soon as you get this from old cole.

forward march double quick halt

Your kind and ever welcome letter of Date July 12h came to Hand A few Days since and am now seated to reply. was indeed glad to hear from you Again and to hear you are All well. My Health is good never Better and I cincerely Hope this will find you and Friends enjoying the same great Blessing good Health Bring us one and All.

We are now Before the long coveted city, Atlanta. how fruitful our efforts will prove to Be in getting posession of it am unable to tell you, But wish I might Be Able to Do so. our lines are slowly But carefully Advancing. We are within short Rifle Rang of their Main works. it would Be impossible to Advance farther without Bringing on an engagement, which I think would not Be to our Advantage as it would Be impossible to carry their works By storm as they are very strong and enfiladed By Artillery. our loss in such A case would Be to heavy to Risk an engagement of that kind.

The weather is verry Hot most of the time. we have now and then A shower of rain Which serves to cool the heated Air or otherwise we should All Die of Heat. it is somewhat sickly, constant exposure and the fatigues of A siege like this are telling fearful upon the men. while now and then A stray Bullet or piece of shell takes Away one of our number. its rough work, rather more so than Expected when I came into the service But must put up with what comes Along. No use finding A worst of fault.

News there is none. its the same Old story over and Over Again and Am Heartily sick of the name much more the sound of War.

You must excuse me for A short letter as its almost impossible to write anything that will Be of interest at Home.

I must Bid you good Bye for this time By Asking you to write Again soon as convienent.

[Editor�s note: The XI Corps had by this time been combined into the XXth Corps in preparation for the assault on Atlanta and the eventual March to capture Savannah, Ga.]

I sit down to write a few lines to let you know how I am getting along. I am very well now and I hope when theas few lines reach you they will find you all injoying good health. I am a shame to write for I ought to answer your letter before now but I write now it will do the same. now I suposed you have forgotan old cole by this time so it dont make much difference to ether you or I. I would like to hear from Father to know how he is getting along. I have not forgotan him if I have not wrote before. I hope I find you all in good health. I will bring my letter to a close for it is all most supper time for I would not miss that for a good deal. I will close by saing good night. all write as soon as you get this. you must excuse this shorte letter and poor writing and bad spelling. Direct your letter

A. A. West

[Andrew West]

I sit down to write you a few lines to you to let you know how I am getting along. I am well up to the presant time and I hope when this reach you it will find you injoying the same blessing. wall Paulina I received a letter from you a few days ago and was glad to hear from you and to hear that you were all well. you need not think that I had forgoten you if I dont write oftener to you. I would like to have you write once a month at enny rate if you can make it convenient. it is snowing and blowing today like jehu. we have some as cold weather down hear as we do in york state. we have a good deal to do. we are on duty about every day so you see we dont have much time to do enny thing else.

what do the folks at the north think about the peace rangement. do they think the war is going to close right of or not. I tell you what I think about it. I think there will be peace when we drive all the gray backs into the gulf of mexico, dont you and then there will be peace. no how I would like to hear from Father once in a while and to hear how he is getting along. I cant think of enny thing more write so I will close this time. this is to you all. write as soon as you get this. I send my love to all the young maidens that would like to marrey but I dont want to if they do that so

I have nothing to do so I thought I would write a few line to you to let you know that I am in the land of the living yet. I am well at presant and hope when theas few lines reach you it will find you all the same that so. We have had consibely savanah feaver. long back the report was that our division was going to savannah. that is played out think I hope so for I had rather go north than south. I have been in this show as long as I care about, that is. fay I suppose is at home eare this, I hope so, I wish I was to. no news of importance only that soldiers are going home every day.

Father had you an uncle by the name of Thomas West, if so there is an old gentleman live about half a mile from camp by the name of William West son of Thomas West. he hail from Vermont east of the green mountain. his Father had a Brother by the name of Jonathan W. he moved out in york state good menny years ago. he think that he is a cousin of yours. he wanted I should write to you and find out you can write to him if you have a mind to. his P.O. address is Washington DC

I cant think of enny thing more to write so I will close by saing good by write as soon as you get this.

we shall meete but we shall miss him thair will be one vacant chair we shall linger to caress him while we breath our eavening prair

The Civil War Letters of the West Brothers

136th and 160th New York State Volunteer Infantry Regiments

Washington, DC