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. His letters home to his wife Lucy have been transcribed by John Minitti of Winchester, MA, and are here reproduced, with some editing, courtesy of the New York State Library, Manuscripts and Special Collections.
After their surrender at Harpers Ferry in September 1862, the 125th along with other Union Army units spent several months dejected and discouraged on parole status in deplorable conditions at Camp Douglas in Chicago. After being exchanged, they spent the winter encamped on the outskirts of Washington. Haynes writes about camp life and being on picket duty in various locations, but they engage in no battles. In June they join the 2nd Corps of the Army of the Potomac and march off to meet Lee’s army at Gettysburg. Following the battle that took place on July 1-3, Haynes writes home:
Loudon Valley, Va
July 19th 1863
Dear Wife
Not having heard from you in a great while, I did not know but what you would like to hear whether I am dead or alive. I am enjoying good health at present. We have had an awful march and a terrible battle. A great many of our boys were killed or wounded but I escapted without a scratch. It is a miracle that we were not all killed or wounded. We were in the thickest of the fight making a charge on the Rebs at ½ a mile through a fire of grape and cannister. Our Regt lost 100 men in 10 minutes. Our Co. lost 9 killed and 14 wounded. Stephen Hunt was all the one that you are aquainted with. He was wounded in the hip. I have not seen him since he fell as there was no chance. He was carried off to the hospital but I have understood from those that saw him that it was not a dangerous wound. Stephen was a good soldier full of his fun. We miss him.
This has been the hardest campaign the army of the Potomac ever had. We have in 21 days marched considerable over 200 miles, fought a 2 days battle, dug rifle pits & so forth and withal the boys feel bully.
We did just clean them out nicely. Their loss from time they crossed the Potomac until they recrossed was 42,000. Our loss will not exceed 12,000. The 2d in the afternoon was the bloodiest part of the battle. At 2 PM they opened on us (on the center where we were stationed) with over 100 cannon. We lay flat on our faces for 2 hours, the air was filled with shell bursting in every direction.
The Battery that lay in front of us had 55 horses and 30 men killed. At 4 PM the infantry charged on us with 3 lines of battle. We were formed in lines of battle. We were formed in line under a heavy fire and stod our position behind a slight breastwork of stones and rails. It seemed as they advanced on us that it would be impossible to stop them. As soon as they got within range we poured into them and the cannon opened with grape and cannister. We mowed them down in heaps. What was left broke and run, some of them raised a white flag and come into our lines.
That night and the next day they retreated leaving their dead and wounded on the field. I went over the field; such a sight I never wish to see again. Every conceivable wound that can be thought of was there. There was so many wounded that it was impossible to attend to all of them, some of them laying 48 hours in a drenching rain. It is beyond the power of man to describe a battle field.
The way we have given it to them this month will soon end the Rebellion if the Damnable Copperheads of New Your City would do as they ought to. How soon it will be before we have another battle is impossible to tell. I cant say as I ever want to see another but if I am called upon I shall try and do my duty. It may be my turn next. If it should be, take good care of little Ella for my sake.
We are encamped about 3 miles South of Harpers Ferry. We arrived here at 3 PM yesterday. It is now 8 AM and no signs of moving. We have had a good time picking Runny Nine Cherries. There was about 30 acres covered with things. We have all had our fill.
I have not had a letter from any one in almost 2 weeks. I will now close hoping you will answer soon and much oblige.
CA Haynes
Kiss little Ella for me and tell her she must be a good girl and I will come home by and by.
The NY 125th lost 139 killed and wounded at Gettysburg. Colonel George Willard, who had formed the regiment and had recently been moved up to brigade commander, was among those killed. The regiment and the brigade at Gettysburg charged and drove back Barksdale’s Mississippi Brigade, repulsed Pickett’s charge against Cemetery Ridge and earned back their honor after the debacle at Harpers Ferry. According to 3rd Division Commander Brigadier General Alexander Hays, “The history of this brigade’s operations is written in blood… the acts of traitors at Harpers Ferry had not tainted their patriotism.”
Following the battle, General George Meade failed to press his advantage and allowed the defeated rebel army to cross back over the Potomac and make its way south. Pursuit was half spirited and thus the NY 125th found themselves back at Harpers Ferry, “and no signs of moving.” The bloody war would drag on for almost another two years.
This is the last known letter from Calvin Haynes. Army records show that he was discharged as a sergeant on January 12, 1864, in order to accept a commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the 25th Regiment of U.S. Colored Troops. He was sent with that regiment the following month to New Orleans and then to garrison duty at Pensacola, where many of them, including Haynes, suffered from chronic diarrhea, scurvy and other diseases. He was mustered out in December 1865. He died in New York City in 1894 at the age of 56.