Dave Rutherford Show: Letters From War - A Veterans Day Special

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Letters from War. Today on The David Rutherford Show.

This is from Peter Brown.

He was in Colonel William Prescott's Massachusetts Regiment. This is to his mother in Cambridge, June 25th, 1775

Dear Honored Mother, As per my duty to you, I would inform you of my present state and employment. Friday, 16th of June, we were ordered, but God and mercy to us fought in our battle. And though we are but few in number and suffered to be defeated by our enemy, yet we persevered in a most wonderful manner, far beyond our expectation. And to our admiration, for out of our regiment there were but 37 killed, four or five taken captive, about 47 wounded, and, oh, may I never forget God's distinguishing mercy to me and sparing my life. When they fell on my right hand and on my left and close by me, I was in the fort when the enemy came in, jumped over the wall and ran half a mile, where balls flew like hailstones and cannon roared like thunder. Still remain your dutiful son, P. Brown.

On June 17th, 1775, Charles Down, Breed's Hill, Massachusetts, British regulars and marines under Howe 3000 engaged, assaulted American militia fortification, Prescott's Massachusetts men, Putnam's Connecticut, 2,200 men, British Pyrrhic victory after three assaults, Americans withdrew when ammunition failed, American casualties, 450, 115, 140 killed, 305 wounded, 30 missing, British, 1,054, 226 killed, 828 unit, the units, American, Prescott's Bridge, Fry's Massachusetts Regiment, Putnam's Connecticut, the British, the Grenadiers, the light infantry marines from multiple regiments.

This is from the Battle of Trenton, December 26th, 1776 And this is from Lieutenant Joseph Hodgkins from the Ipswich Company, Massachusetts. And this is to his wife. These lines come with my most affectionate regards to you.

On Christmas night, we marched with about 2,000 men to the ferry about seven miles from camp, in order to pass over the Jersey side of the river to attack a party of the enemy that lay at a place called Mount Hawley. But the ice prevented our crossing that night. But the troops that lay about 20 miles up the river against Trenton got across, and marched around, and came up upon the back of the Trenton about morning, and began a heavy fire with their field pieces, which surprised the enemy, so they soon surrendered.

On the night of December 25th and 26th, Trenton, New Jersey, Washington's Continental Army, 2400 men, who successfully crossed the icy Delaware with artillery under knocks. They surprised the Hessian garrison under Colonel Johan Rao, who had 1400 to 1500 Hessian mercenaries. There was an American victory. Rao was mortally wounded. The American casualties, five wounded, none killed in most accounts. The Hessians, 22 killed, 83 wounded, 800 to 900 captured. The units that participated, American were Green's and Sullivan's Division, including Glover's Mercer's Sterling's Brigade, and the Hessians, it was Rao, Canupcian and Lopsburg regiments. Apologize if I butcher the names for all those that are affiliated, related and care about them.

This letter is from the Civil War, from Gettysburg. This is from Private Ellis C. Strouss, the 57th Pennsylvania Infantry, 3rd Corps to his mother. He wrote this on July 6th. Dear mother, the Battle of Gettysburg is fought, and thank God the Army of the Potomac has been victorious. Our regiment was engaged on Thursday, July 2nd. I am alive and quite well. I came out of the battle unharmed. We have many missing who may be either killed, wounded, or taken prisoners. The loss in the regiment is, as far as I know, 10 killed, 53 wounded, and 68 missing. The boys are all confident that we will whip Lee's Army so that he will not be fit to do anything more for some time to come. Here's another one. This is also from Private Ellis C. Strouss. Same group, same guy. This is another letter to his mother.

Dear mother, I have a chance to mail letters, so I'll write to you, for I know you are anxious to hear from me. We are fighting at this place. Our regiment was engaged on Thursday, July 2nd. I'm alive and quite well out of the battle and unharmed. I cannot tell yet with any certainty the losses in our company. Jonas Snow and Thomas Crossley, Lieutenant, are wounded. The missing are Horace Sweet, Richard Farrington, Adolphus Thompson, Albert Peck, Jonathan Locke, William Speer, all of our company. Our Colonel is slightly wounded in the hand. Our adjutant in the hip. The major is missing, also acting Sergeant Major James Hotaling. Our regiment numbers are about 60 men. We are confident of victory.

I seen some of the 150th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers and was informed by them that Samuel Pfeiffer was killed. Peter Kepler was sick in the hospital there, so he wasn't in the battle. I got two letters from you last week, also some papers and a pocket handkerchief. I also got a letter from Wirt Chase. Let him see this or else acquaint him with the loss of our company. I will write it soon again if God spares my life. This is very poor writing, but I guess you can make out what it is. I hope this battle will end the war so I may return home to you. May God bless and protect you all. My love to you all, I remain your affectionate son, Ellis C. Strouss.