Fairchild, Charles

Description

This folder contains transcripts of letters sent by Charles Fairchild to his mother and sister in Madison, Wisconsin during the Civil War, 1861-1862. Early letters give detailed accounts of camp life, marching, drilling, entertainment, music (Negro melodies, hymns, and individual practice of band members), and dances for commissioned officers (27 May 1861). Also of interest are his accounts of the march from Camp Scott in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Camp McClure in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and then to Camp Negley at Hagerstown, Maryland, and the celebratory nature and food offerings of citizens along the way (13 June 1861); a description of Major General [Robert] Patterson (18 & 23 June 1861); and a discussion of military rule in Maryland (23 June 1861). While in Washington awaiting appointment to the Navy, Charles wrote letters describing in detail his observations of McClellan's arrangement of the army into Grand Divisions (7 March 1862) and of McClellan's overall command of the six Corp D'Armie. Also of interest are descriptions of the bakery in the basement of the Capitol building,which supplied the army with fresh bread; the work of the superintendent of the Washington arsenal, Col. George D. Ramsey, in organizing and arming the defenses around Washington; use of the French shelter tents made of linen instead of canvas; and vandalism done to grave monuments at the Arlington House (former home of General and Mrs. Robert E. Lee). He also briefly mentions attempts by Generals Fremont and Lane to oust McClellan as commander of the Army of the...

Record Contributed By

East Carolina University

Record Harvested From

North Carolina Digital Heritage Center