Johnson, Edgar W. Correspondence Edgar W. Johnson Correspondence, 1864 Ms.1989.077

Edgar W. Johnson Correspondence, 1864 Ms.1989.077


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Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech

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Business Number: 540-231-6308
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URL: http://spec.lib.vt.edu

John M. Jackson

Repository
Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
Identification
Ms.1989.077
Title
Edgar W. Johnson Correspondence 1864
Quantity
0.1 Cubic Feet, 1 folder
Creator
Johnson, Edgar W., 1845-1864
Language
The materials in the collection are in English.
Abstract
Six letters from Edgar W. Johnson (1845-1864), private in Company F, 50th New York Engineers during the American Civil War, together with three letters from Thomas M. Blyth and Henry De. Wakeman, both also of the 50th New York, all written to Johnson's father, the letters from Blyth and Wakeman relating to Johnson's death.

Administrative Information

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Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Edgar W. Johnson Correspondence, Ms1989-077, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The Edgar W. Johnson Correspondence was purchased by Special Collections and University Archives in 1989.

Processing Information

The processing and description of the Edgar W. Johnson Correspondence commenced and was completed in February 2022.


Biographical Note

Edgar Wallace Johnson, son of Jabish and Arminda Edwards Johnson, was born in Harford (Cortland County), New York on September 27, 1845. He is likely the 15-year-old "Edwin" Johnson listed in the 1860 federal census among the residents in the Steuben County, New York home of "Jabez" and "Ann" Johnson. (His letters suggest that Johnson married prior to 1864, but no further information regarding a spouse could be found.) He enlisted as a private in Company F, 50th New York Engineers at Jasper, New York on January 4, 1864 and mustered into service on January 26. Edgar Johnson died of disease at Brigade Hospital (Washington, D. C.) on May 8, 1864 (listed on hospital rolls as Edward W. Johnson), and was buried in Washington.

Thomas M. Blyth, 36, enlisted as a private in Company F, 50th New York Engineers on December 31, 1863. He was promoted to artificer on October 1, 1864, and mustered out with his company on June 13, 1865.

Henry De. Wakeman, 26, enlisted as a private in Company B, 50th New York Engineers on August 3, 1861. He transferred to Company F on November 1 and was promoted to sergeant. Wakeman mustered out on September 20, 1864.

Scope and Content

This collection contains six letters from Private Edgar W. Johnson (1845-1864) of Company F, 50th New York Engineers during the American Civil War, written from Elmira New York, Washington D.C., and a camp near Rappahannock Station, Virginia to his father in 1864. In the first letter, written from Elmira on January 17, 1864, Johnson urges his father to collect his scrip and pay various debts. He then describes crowding in the barracks: "[I]t is about inpesibul to rite. Whare thare is from 8 to 10 hudred in one building. Sone snaking [smoking] some playing ucar [Euchre] fidling some dueing ever thing that ever was thoug of." Writing on February 5, Johnson again directs his father regarding the scrip and other financial matters and asks his father to visit him. Still writing from Elmira on February 7, Johnson informs his father of his ill health: "[I] ante ben exrackley wel I first had the shites and then to top off on a weak ago to day the Dr put sunthing In my arme that made it most aufull soar ..." Johnson was in Washington, D. C. by March 12, 1864, when he again wrote his father, mostly concerning personal financial affairs. In a letter dated March 21, Johnson writes from a camp near Rappahannock Station, Virginia that he has finally reached his company, and he describes recent movements of the Confederates and firing of the artillery. In his final letter, dated April 3, 1864, Johnson writes of playing baseball, then describes the recent execution of a Union soldier: "the First Mass calver man had ben on picket and they just went by here while they was out the grites pitched on them and and took one of our men and striped him nacid and then put 26 ball holes thrue him ..."

The collection also contains three letters from Thomas M. Blyth, also of the 50th Engineers, to Johnson's father. On April 20, Blyth writes from Stevensburg, Virginia and notes that his Company has been engaged in fixing a corduroy road. He then writes that Edgar and others have been left at Rappahannock. Blyth describes Edgar as a good soldier and good son and discusses in general the morality of soldiers. Writing on May 31, Blyth relays news of Edgar's death and advises his father to apply to the Sanitary Commission for Edgar's back pay. Blyth notes that the regiment, acting in the capacity of infantry, has been working and marching night and day while on short rations. Writing from near Petersburg, Virginia on August 11, 1864, Blyth expresses outrage over an apparent scheme by a woman named Edith Johnson to obtain Edgar's personal effects and back pay, then mentions that he has had the Virginia fever, describes engagements with Confederate pickets, and complains about not having been paid: "I wonder if the administration at Washington thinks Our Families can subsist on air and make Us more patriotic in the Field to know they are starving at home," Blyth writes. "We are perfectly willing to undergo hardships, providing they dont share it while Contractors and shoddyites are revelling in Luxury on the Country's Blood." Also in the collection is a letter from Sergeant Henry De. Wakeman, of Company A, 50th New York Engineers, describing Edgar's ailments (including the mumps) and death and offering advice regarding the back pay and personal effects of the deceased.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

  • Civil War
  • United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the Edgar W. Johnson Correspondence by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ ).

Container List

folder 1
Correspondence
1864