.MzkxMQ.NjM2Ng

First letter]

[Pg1]

Armey on the Lower Potomic Jany 4th 1862

Dear Father

I recieved the Christmas dinner the day befor New years and it was vary exceptitable as your may judge a bout an hour befor I recieved your box I recieved a box from uncle Richard Willson from Bordentown it contained some mince pies and 2 cans of tomattoes, 1 roast fowel some dozin apples with more doughnoughs than I could eat. I was vary glad to have boath boxes for it did not onley serve for my self but for the whole tent. I cooked one of them

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Chickines on new years day and had a fine feast off of him and I had the other one yasterday they didant go vary bad out here and them pies didant go vary bad not mentioning the Cakes preserves apples &ct. I hardley know what to write at presant and I will close by telling you that if you recieve a letter with Soldiers letter on it after pay day for when I send money I will put that on for it will bee more apt to go [throu?] with a samp. give my love to the whole family write soon tell mother that I will attend to that state money and if she has not recieved aney of it since Elmer stoped it I wrote to him and told him how the circumstances

[Pg3]

was and I would likee to know how it is a getting a long nomore at presant from your most dutiful Son William T. Cobb

N.B. Direct as befor

[Second Letter]

[Pg1]

Camp on Lower Potomic Jany 15th 1861

Dear Father

As I have not recieved aney letters for nearly a month I am all most out apof patian

                           ce

I think it is little as aney of you can do to write to me once in a grate while I like to here from home once in a while, for if I can not bee there I like to here from home at aney rate. Wee have a vary stromey day of it here to day it snowed her last night and it is now turned to a rain wich makes

[Pg2]

it vary disagreeable out of doors but as wee have good tents and have little to do out of doors it makes no differance to us about the wather. Lat Sunday wee was seting in our tents and our attention was attractted by a grate fireing of cannon and wee went down to the hill (wich is in the rear of our camp) to sees what the fraceous was and when wee got there the rebel began to fire at us the first shell fell short about one hundred yards the next one come right over whare I was sieting and by the looks of it it was a bout 25 feet above my head and it went an and struck and bursted

[Pg3]

a bout 30 yard in the rear of whare I was setting but it did not hur[d][written over]t aney oney they then let fly with another shell but that one went a bout five hundred yards in our rear it went over our heads it bursted and did not hurt aney body and wee stood our ground for wee wanted to see the fun like all other Jersey man and so wee waived our hats at them and give them three cheers for such bad shorts and they got out of patiance at us and would not fire aney more at us and wee had a happy time wee have several pises of the

[Pg4]

shells to look at. it is fine mauseic to

         h

here the wizing balls comeing through the air wee can here the reports of the Cannon befor wee can here the ball or shell comeing and wee can here the ball time enough to get out of the way. I expect that wee will bee paid off pretty soon. you must write as soon as you get this and I will answer it. give my love to Mother and all of the Cobb family nomore at presant Direct to Co (F) 5th N.J. V armey on lower Potomic from your most Dutiful Son Wm. T. Cobb. O.S.

[Stamped Envelope]

1-15-61 (62)

[postmark] Washington D.C. Jan 17

Mr Samuel Cobb Mauricetown Cumberland Co N.J.

[Third Letter]

[Pg1]

Camp on Lower Potomic

            8

Febry 5th 162

Dear Father

I recieved your letter day befor yasterday and was glad to here from home. you said that you had recieved the money (or as good as the money) that I sent you and I am glad to here that you have. I will tell you why I did not send you aney more. in the first place I bought a watch wich I vary much needded and I bought a pair of boots that cost 6$ and several other articals that I needded vary much but perhaps I will bee able to send more the next time that I get paid off. I would have written

[Pg2]

before but wee went on picket on monday and I had no chance to write befor I went on picket with the Companey for wee had no 2nd Lieuts nor Capt with us Consiquintely I had to act 2nd Lieut and go a long with the rest and a bad time wee had of it too it is the first time that I have bin on guard since I was out in the three months service and it wend rather tough with me for wee had a bout 5 miles to go and it snowed so hard that wee could hardly get a long

                                                            night

and it snowed [for][overwritten] all [through?][overwritten] night at long and such a happy time as I had runing up and down the shore, falling in ditches over logs I never befor

[Pg3]

experianced. The reason why I had so much runing to do was on account of a prisionors that wee had taken for haveing Lequer to sell to the soldiers and wee caught the old fellow at it and I had to go to take the orders and read them to him station guards over him and several other things to [..tigi..?] to mention, and wee are makeing arod from our camp down to Run point (the place of landings) it is made of Logs 16 feet long laid cross ways of the rod the whole Bragade is at work makeing the rodd, the rebels [is?] over the river playing a way with their big guns but dont hurt aney [baday?] the rods is so bad that the

[Pg4]

the teams can hardiley getalong to day I saw a team with 6 horses to it with 6 barles of pork in it and they come to a place in the road that the horses went down in the mud so far that they was in tirely covered with the mud all expect there heads they was so far down that there backs was below the level of the ground such is the condition of the roads down here. I here in clowes 2 dollars for you to

               n

send me that a mout in Postage stamps for wee can not get aney down here. Send them as soon as you get this letter, give my love to mother and all of the rest of the Cobb family nomore

                 most obediant Son

at present from your Wm T Cobb

[Marginalia Pg1 right side]

I will write soon again

[Stamped Envelope]

2-5-62

[postmark] Washington D.C.

Mr. Samuel Cobb Mauricetown Cumberland Co N.J.

[Fourth Letter]

[Pg1]

Camp on Lower Potomac Feby 15th 1862

Dear Father

I recieved your letter day befor yasterday and was glad to hear from home received the lost [stamps?] and was glad to get them for now I can write when ever a get a [charince ?] I have [ag...?] [  ? ] write now for I have nothing else to do for I have got a sprained ancle wich I got when I was at work on the road by a log [lolling?] onit it is getting better now and it will bee so that I can go on duty in the corse of a day or two it is so that I can go around a little but it will be well enou

                                              gh

to go on duty to morrow. wee had a little snow here last night but there is not much of it yet but it keeps snowing all the time and I dont know how deep it will bee befor it stops and car less for wee

[Pg2]

have good tents to put up in and while the snow is on the ground wee will have no drilling to do. our Captain came back yasterday and wee was all glad to see him for he has bin gon home 6 weekes and has bin sick ever since he went home but he is a grate deal better now. I would like to come home and stay there for tow or three days and then come back again for I like a soldiers life so well that I think that I will bee a soldier after this war is over providing I live to see it out. The rebels keeps fireing at us but do no damage to us. I dont know when wee will leave here for the ground is so muddy that wee can hardley [walkl?] a long the roads it is under stood that wee will moove as soon as the ground gets settled so that the teams will be able to getalong and wee dont know how soon that will come but I hope it will bee pretty

[Pg3]

soon the Rebels keeps there fag (arrag wich ever you may term it) a flying on there battaries I think that they will have it to pull down one of these days or wee will pull it down for them. I cant tell when I will get to come home but I dont think not much befor the war ends for there is no furloughs granted now. Perhaps you would like to know who that writer is that writs for the Pioneer it is John Horten he is one of the player in our brass band he is

                                        ted

[Lydia?] Ann Blues brother. I am well acquan with him. I have no more news to send you at presant. [from][crossed out] give my love to Mother and all of the rest of the Cobb familey Call and all the rest nomore at presant Direct as befor and it will be correct from your most obediant Son Wm T Cobb

N. B. write soon

[Stamped envelope]

[postmark] Washington D.C. Feb [18?] 1862

Mr Samuel Cobb Mauricetown Cumberland Co N.J.

     62

1/15/[68][crossed out]

[Fifth Letter]

[Stamped envelope]

2/23/62

[postmark] Washington D.C. Feb 23

[Mr Samuel Cobb][underlined] Mauricetown[underlined] Cumberland Co.[underlined] N.J.

[Letter Pg1]

Camp on Lower Potomac Feb 23d 1862

Dear Father

As it is my birth day I take the plasure in writeing you a few lines. I recieved yours of 18th inst and was much pleased in hearing from home you give me a discription of the Late Battles but I expect wee herd of it as soon as you did. wee get the newes evry day and so you may judge wather wee get the news or not wee have the Philadelphia Inquirer, New York Tribune, Baltimore Clipper Washington Starr, Trenton gazette & Republican and several other news papers wee have the news here as soon you get them at home if not a little sooner. Wee herd a grate Cannonadeing yasterday over the river I believe there was a battle from what I hear. wee wiped the rebels

[Pg2]

and took 900 prisoners this happened a bout 3 miles a bove us on the opposite side of the River. wee could see the smoke but could not get there. wee expect to cross the river as soon as the wather permits. it has bin so muddy that wee could not moove. wee got our filed pieces day befor yasterday and was glad to see them come. wee have some Twelve or 14 big Scowes each of wich will hold a regiment the Scowes is for us to cross the River in. the rebels has not fired on us for nearley a week which is a grate curiosity to us. I dont know the reason without they have run out of amunition. I would like for you to make me a box. I want it to be 17in long 14in wide 12in deep and a lid with hinges and a small clasp on it with a paddock you can put the lock and key in side and put a screw or two in the front to hold the lid down untill I get it and I wish you would

[Pg3]

send me Dr Lardners Works with Coppy of a Work (I cannot tell you the name of it) but I will tell you whare you can find one like the one I want go to the school house and inquire for one of the Books that has Geomatay Triganomitary and Surveying in and you will find it and Mr Jarman will tell you whare you can get one if you will send them to me I will pay you for them when wee get paid and you may send as maney etibles as you can get in the box after the books you may thing it vary queer that I want such books out here but Father I find that I am not to be grined at by evry one, I have a vary inteligant man in the tent with me he has bin a [school?] teacher for several years and I can beat him on a grate maney quetions as it is and if I had the books what I dont know and he des he will learn

[Pg4]

me and I cannot do much without Book. I have one book her I expect you have read it and that is Polloks Course of Time it is a handsome book and I read it quite a gratedeal I am vary well at presant and hope these few lines will find you the same. I would like to have the books as soon as you can send them. I have a box of mathuematical instroments now. No more at presant Direct to Co F 5th N.J. V armey on Lower Potomac. give my love to Mother, Call Edd and all of the rest of the Cobb familey nomore at presant from your most dutiful Son William. T. cobb O.S.

write soon

[Sixth Letter]

[Envelope]

3-6-62

[postmark] Washin[gton] D.C. [  ?]

Mr Samuel Cobb Maruicetown Cumberland Co N.J.

[Pg1]

Camp on lower Potomac March 6th 1862

Dear Father

I recieved your letter a few days a go and was glad to here from home. You said that Ed was going down to fordress Monroe I would like to see him and all of the rest of the Cobb family I sent a letter home [for][crossed out] some time a gos requesting you to send me some things wich I should vary much like to have for I have resined my office as Orderly Sergent so that I would have a chaunce to studdy more. I resined day befor yasterday and the Captn wanted me to take another office but I would not take it and he

[Pg2]

wanted to know the reason why I would not take it and I told him that I wanted to studdy and iff I had the office I would have no chaunce. I dond know wather they will forse me to take it or not but I dont want it. I have a Bugle now and I expect that I will be buglar for the Companey wich is an easey birth. I would like to have them Books as soon as you can send them for I want to get to work to learn some thing. The Companey is vary much apposed to my resineing they say that they will never get another man to bee O. Sergent that will bee as I was and they told Capt Renolds that if wee ever got in to an ingagement that

[Pg3]

they wanted him to let me have charge of the Companey for they didant think him or aney other officer Capeable of haveing charge of a Companey in Battle, and they told him that I was the best man in the Companey. Captn did not like it but he said that he could not denigh it. this is the reputation that I have in this companey and not onley this Companey but allothers in this Regiment. Father you might bee surprised if I tell you that several of the Commisioned officers come to me for in formation which I always give them an answer and a correct one at that you may think is strange of my resineing but I have something in my

[Pg4]

head that if I can carry it out will proove to bee of more service to me than Orderly Sergent Ship. dont fail to send me the books that I sent for. the rebbels keeps fireing on our side of the river but do no damage I have no more news to send at presant give my love to Mother and all of the rest of the Cobb family Ed in to the bargan. I forgot to tell you one thing and that is I got a letter from John Tibbels he is in the 4 Regiment N.J. Vols he sends his love to all of the people of Mauricetown No more at presant from your most obediant Son Wm. T. Cobb Co (F) 5th N.J.V. armey on lower Potomac

[Stamped envelope}

3-14-62

[postmark] Washington D.C. [  ?]

Mr Samuel Cobb Maruicetown Cumberland Co N.J.

[Seventh Letter]

[Stamped envelope}

3-14-62

[postmark] Washington D.C. [  ?]

Mr Samuel Cobb Maruicetown Cumberland Co N.J.

Camp on Lower Potomac March 14th

                           1862

Dear Father

I recieved your letter yasterday and was glad to her from home you may well believe that for I cannot see aney boddy from home. perhaps you would like to know how wee are a getting a long. well the Rebels has left there Batteries for us to take Charge of they left two or three days a go and retreatted back to Fredricksburg or Richmond. wee (to resume the story) the day that they left they fired the Steemer page and two or three Schooner and then left in a grate hurry the next day wee went over the River and took Charge of there Batteries

[Pg2]

wich we now hold. I wish you had bin here with us to see the Camp of the Rebbels they left there guns 5 on the upper Battery and 6 on the louer Battery there was one of the largess guns on the Battery had bursted and by the appearance of things it has done a considerable damage the remaining four guns was there some of them had there Carrages cut up and and evry thing indicated a stampeed there wagons was cut down and when wee went over there wee found pans of all sizes skillets pots and a full chest of Carpenters tools and a full set of Blacksmith tools and varous parts of Clothing and a mong the rest wee found a trunk with a new suit of officers uniform and a mong all the clotheing wee could find none that would fit me they was

[Pg3]

all to small it appears that there has bin boys over there in the place of men. wee found about $ 30000 worth of shot & shell you may think that a good sum wee found them in trenches some of them had the caps taken of and filled with water but that did not hurt them wee also found a large number of Canister and grape in holes a bout 3 feet wid and 8 long it kept the whole Reginent all day to carry the amunition to the Barges I dont recolect of ever haveing so much fun as wee had that day wee ransacked the shanties and found many things such as books papers old letters knives and various other articales to tigious to mention. well wee have not left our Old Camp yet but I expect that wee wil leave pretty soon. I have improoved on learning to play the calls on

[Pg4]

Burgle wich the Companey is vary much pleased with it to think that I am to bee bugler of the Companey I see vary easey times for the last three weeks I onley practice on my bugle. well if you see fit to send me the Scientific Classbooks you can do so but I want Books of some discription I would rather hav Lardners works than aney onther works that you have but dont forget the other book. Direct to Co (F) 5th Regiment N.J. Vol. Armey on Lower Potomac, be carefull to make the N.J. V in full for a grate maney is made so nigh like a y that they go to N.Y. V in sted of us give my love to Mother, Call, Ed and all of the Cobb family and your self included. you must excuse bad writein for I have onley a bout 6 in by 8 in to set and write in with a man on each side of me and bother me like time. nomore write soon from you most obediant Son William . T. Cobb

[Stamped envelope]

1-27-63

[postmark] Washington D. C. [Jan][?]

Mr Samuel Cobb Mauricetown Cumberland Co N.J.

[Stamped envelope]

3-[20?]-62

[postmark] [  ? ]

Mr Samuel Cobb Mauricetown Cumberland Co. N.J.