Bogart, Abram (fl. 1825-1865) to his wife re: siege and fall of Fort Wagner
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02970 Author/Creator: Bogart, Abram (fl. 1825-1865) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1863/09/09 Pagination: Order a Copy
Transcript available.
Black soldiers participated in the war at great threat to their lives. The Confederate government threatened to summarily execute or sell into slavery any captured black Union soldiers--and did sometimes carry out those threats. Lincoln responded by threatening to retaliate against Confederate prisoners whenever black soldiers were killed or enslaved.
In July 1863, the 54th Massachusetts Infantry, the first black regiment raised in the North, led an assault against Fort Wagner, which guarded Charleston, South Carolina's harbor. Two of Frederick Douglass's sons were members of the regiment. Over forty percent of the regiment's members were killed or wounded in the unsuccessful attack, including Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, a member of a prominent anti-slavery family, who was shot dead in the charge.
This soldier's letter reveals the grim realities of the war as Union forces attempted to conquer Charleston.
September 9 ? 63 South Carolina
Dear wife and Companion for life. It is with pleasure that I send afew lines to let you know that I am in the land of the liveing and in the midst of death in every form and shape some by fever, some by dysentry which goes hard here and some by [struck: rebles] rebels bals for we have drove the rebels off Amorros Iland and have taken fort wagner[,] greg and Sumter. They serrendered this week monday and now the chanel is clear to the harber and citty and they are at work at the forts in the harber and on james island. Now the 10[th] is pleasent here now but the wind blows like a storm.
[2] Our folks found a horable sight when they went into the [inserted: forts][.] They found legs and arms and pools of blood and pieces of flesh all over the forts and by kicking up the sand they would find the dead just out of sight and the smell was to much to bear so they dont occupy the forts for they are of no use to them being this side of the citty and all of the rest of the works so we have to build new works as we advance for the works are taken by land batteres now and the gunboats stand sentinel to keep the rebs from reenforsing their work they took three boats carrying supplies to their men in the forts before they gave up and they say our men are gaining on Charleston every day but slow [3] for it is a hard road to face a fortefied enemy to his den but it will be done for Gilmore is the man if government gives him half a chance, well I don't suppose you care much how the war goes if I only get home safe well that is the way with a good meny here if they was out of it they would give up their claimes on government and go home peneles and say good by trouble now I am agoodeal of their opinion for the rheumatise bother me some and I am out of mony entirely for it cost me two months pay on the gun and equipege that was turned in when I went to hospital for I dident get no receite of it from the quartermaster and the Collonel resined and went home before I new it so I had to stand it
[4] Sep 11) The wether is pleasant yet and all goes fine here now for we are reported un fit for duty and expect to go back to Washington as soon as they can get boats so whare we shal be next I cant tel so direct your letters to the Regiment as usual and I will get them some time and write as often as you can and I will do the same if I have the paper or can get time[.] I received your paper and envellop and sent it right back to you and I have got two sheets more to send to you so you se how it is with me just now but we expect our pay the first of next month or near that time but may not [inserted: get it] in four months or six for thare is nothing surten in our pay but we no when it comes now thare is a good meny things that I wanted to ask you but I have forgot them just now but I want to know how the children look and if berte wears pants yet and how cassa likes to go to school and how she learns and wether you have been on the plase this summer and how it looks up thare and what for a man is on goes Thomsons place and wether John Olsted has cut that follow through to mine or not yet and whare Charles Coughlin is this summer for I havent a word from them yet and how sarah and henry get along for they must be lonesome with their los and if it wouldnt be a good plase for you to stay if agreeable with yourself for you must be your judge in the matter be good by for this time yours untill death your husband
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September 16 as I dint get this done in time to sent it by the fast mail it has had to lay over the next pay day
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As are was no rule marks on the last side I got it close together but I guess you can read it if to send it back and I will read to you[.] Ask James to rite to me for I have sent the last letter[.] Send me a little mony if he can and I will pay him if he will come after it for I dont no as he got the last.
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