Sergeant James A. Bailey, Co. E, 5th Massachusetts Volunteers, Civil War Archive

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• Lot Description

  Lot of 11 war-date letters written by Sergeant James A. Bailey, Company E, 5th Massachusetts (3 Months) Volunteers, including CSA calling card & typed biography regarding Bailey. The CSA calling card is inscribed by both Sergeant Bailey and one of his Alabama prisoners. One side is inscribed: D.D. Fiquet, Tuskaloosa, (sic) Ala., which is Private Dominique Deux Fiquet, 5th Alabama Infantry. On the other side, Bailey penned: Sergt. J. A. Bailey, Co. E, 5th Regt. M.V.M.

  Sergeant James A. Bailey began his service towards the beginning of the war. The city he departed from gave him a raucous exit. Bailey described, We have had a great time coming on. Every depot we stoped at had a band of music, refreshments & etc (St. Nicholas Hotel, [Boston], Sunday, [April 21, 1861]). What was very uncommon; however, was his send off by the President. Before leaving for the front Bailey and his friend Emerson visited the White House and asked to see the President. Remarkably, they were granted this request, We were shown into his room & shook hands with him and talked with him about 20 minutes. He is a fine man…our bits are quite mad to think we got the start of them and have been trying to see him but they cant come it (Washington, April 28, [1861]). He even managed to grab a token to send to his family. He wrote, I send you a flower from Old Abe's Hot House. It was plucked by his young son…this letter it is written amid the noise of 300 or 400 men so you must excuse mistakes (Washington, April 28, [1861]).

  Soon after, Bailey and the 5^th Massachusetts marched the long way to the front lines. He described:

  We have had a hard march & drill this afternoon…we were on our pins &…was double quick…such a rough piece of ground you never saw. A long field with ditches and holes & puddles of water, steep banks & etc. with an old brick yard at one end. It looked some like a battlefield so many fell down in jumping the ditches & banks…some gave out not being able to stand it, but I went through it without a fall…Jim…a soldier in marching order carries…his arms are a gun weighing 10 lbs & the Sergeants carry a sword & revolver, a cartridge box & 24 rounds of cartridges & caps…a haversack with tin plate, knife & fork & dipper…we have an overcoat which we either wear or roll up & strap on top of our knapsacks…his house & furniture are all on his back. It does not seem very heavy at first but after marching a few miles he find he has got just as much as he can stagger under (Washington, May 13, [1861]).

  In a second letter, Bailey also explained the crushing weight of their clothing:

  The picture had to be taken very dark in order to show the grey uniform. I will get one in our undress uniform…we do not wear our dress hats at all. They are so heavy they would kill a man to carry one round. Nor do we hardly ever wear our coats. We drill all together in blue shirts (Washington, May 22, [1861]).

  There was some infighting with superiors as to the regiment’s position. Bailey wrote, Gen. Butler wants to have us join the 6 [Mass.] regt. as both belong to his brigade, but Old [Winfield] Scott wants to have us stay where we are. He says somebody must be here & as we are a very orderly set of men it would be cheaper to keep us here, but Old Butler wants to show us off. He would do most anything to gain a little reputation (Washington, May 22, [1861]). The regiment did not travel far and oversaw some of the forts in the area, including prisons. Bailey described some of his wards:

  We have sent about a dozen drunkards to the lockup & we have 3 or 4 here now…the Zouaves brought in 4 prisoners, 3 of them are soldiers belonging to the Alabama regiment & the other is a citizen who was their guide. 15 of them were out scouting [when] these 4 were taken. The rest look leg bail…I have had a long talk with [one of the men]. He is a young fellow about 23 years old…he says the rebels are spoiling for a fight…they will soon get a belly full (Alexandria, VA, July 14, 1861).

  A few weeks later, Bailey and the 5^th marched for the First Battle of Bull Run. After the fight, Bailey wrote:

  I came mighty near losing [my letters] last Sunday [battle of First Bull Run] when we went into the fight. We were ordered to through down our blankets & haversacks. When we retreated I was bound to find my haversack if possible. I didnt like the idea of my letters being read by the rebels & after a while I had the good luck to find it…very few of our boys got theirs. They came back with out guns or anything else. I lost my blankets but picked up 2 others much poorer than my own. I brought everything else back. I was bound to stick to my "good" as long as I could walk. That battle field was a hard looking sight. All kinds of weapons…ammunition, wagons, provisions, clothing & worse of all men & horseplay scattered all around…we expect to start for home some time next week…in our regt. there are about 25 killed & missing. We are quartered in a large hall attached to Willard Hotel, but we don't dine at the hotel…we are getting over our troubles pretty well. A great many are lame & foot sore…my self just a little lame that's all…Jim…excuse this scrawling for their has been a "heap of trouble on the old man's mind." He's getting better though (Washington, July 26, [1861]).

  Bailey finished his three month term and did not re-enlist. Refef to cowans.com for additional transcribed letters included in the archive. 

  ________________________________________________________________________________

  Transcribed letters include:

  St. Nicholas Hotel, [Boston], Sunday, [April 21, 1861], to his family, in part: We start for Washington in a few moments. We have had a great time coming on. Every depot we stoped at had a band of music, refreshments & etc…tell them they shall have a good account of the 5th Regt. The mails may be cut off so that I shall not be able to write again for some time…Jim… Also included is an original transmittal cover free franked by Massachusetts US Senator Samuel C. Pomeroy (1816-1891), anti-Lincoln 1864 reelection supporter.

  Meeting Abraham Lincoln

  Washington, Apr. 28, [1861], in part: We arrived at Annapolis…on the 24th…we were quartered there two days…I was Sergeant of the guard the first day and 10 men with me with guns loaded with ball, prepared for any emergency. On the 25th part of our troops took the cars for Washington and the train was coming back for us but the mob had torn up the track and we had to march to the junction 20 miles with our overcoats, haversacks, blankets, cartridge boxes & guns on our backs. It was the hardest tramp I ever had…each man carried 3 days provisions…we stopped one day & night at the junction sleeping on the ground with our guns in our hands. Then we took the cars for Washington…are now quartered in the U. S. Treasury. SAll the public buildings are full of troops…I know what the camp fever is now. I had not been in Washington an hour before me and Emerson…go up to the White House and ask to see Old Abe Lincoln. We were shown into his room & shook hands with him and talked with him about 20 minutes. He is a fine man…our bits are quite mad to think we got the start of them and have been trying to see him but they cant come it…I send you a flower from Old Abe's Hot House. It was plucked by his young son…this letter it is written amid the noise of 300 or 400 men so you must excuse mistakes…Serg. Bailey, Co. E 5 Regt. M. V. M…care of Capt. John Hutchins…

  Washington, May 13, [1861], to his family, in part: …the officers formally quartered with us & had a portion of the room parted off by a gun rack for their own use & had mattresses to sleep on. They now live outside and the place is left in charge of the Sergeant. We 4 now sleep on the mattresses…there is an alarm of fire going on in the street now & we can see the light from our windows. They say it is a bridge across the Potomac river. Some troops are going to Harpers Ferry tomorrow…it is generally thought that there will be no fighting here. We are too many guns for the Southerners. There are between 30 & 40,000 troops here. We have had a hard march & drill this afternoon…we were on our pins &…was double quick…such a rough piece of ground you never saw. A long field with ditches and holes & puddles of water, steep banks & etc. with an old brick yard at one end. It looked some like a battlefield so many fell down in jumping the ditches & banks…some gave out not being able to stand it, but I went through it without a fall…Jim…a soldier in marching order carries…his arms are a gun weighing 10 lbs & the Sergeants carry a sword & revolver, a cartridge box & 24 rounds of cartridges & caps…a haversack with tin plate, knife & fork & dipper…we have an overcoat which we either wear or roll up & strap on top of our knapsacks…his house & furniture are all on his back. It does not seem very heavy at first but after marching a few miles he find he has got just as much as he can stagger under. The Ladies of Medford have sent us blue flannel shirts & socks & pocket handkerchiefs…J. A. B…

  War-date partly-printed 5th Massachusetts pass, reading, in part: Headquarters Fifth Regiment M. V. M. Treasury Building, Washington, D. C., May 16th, 1861 Pass….of 5th Company… Signed by Colonel Samuel C. Lawrence (1832-1911), Harvard graduate who was severely wounded and left for dead upon the battlefield of First Bull Run. Later he commanded troops who helped suppress Boston's draft riots.

  Washington, May 22, [1861], in part: …we were all out to attend divine worship…we all marched back & ordered to pack up & be ready to march…the fact of the case is this. Gen. Butler wants to have us join the 6 [Mass.] regt. as both belong to his brigade, but Old [Winfield] Scott wants to have us stay where we are. He says somebody must be here & as we are a very orderly set of men it would be cheaper to keep us here, but Old Butler wants to show us off. He would do most anything to gain a little reputation. Bad manners to him. Since we kicked up such a row about our provisions we have been served a great deal better…we are drilled every day by a West Point cadet & we have target practice now & then. Thus far our company has made the best shots in the regt…none of our company have got in the guard house which is more than any other company…they also take our men to guard the provisions in the cellar. A great deal of which has been stolen, such as cans of preserved meats…some of the companies…call us the "Colonel's pets"…[Dear Mother]…it looks as though I had blacked my mustache, but I did not. The picture had to be taken very dark in order to show the grey uniform. I will get one in our undress uniform…we do not wear our dress hats at all. They are so heavy they would kill a man to carry one round. Nor do we hardly ever wear our coats. We drill all together in blue shirts…[I] don't think I shall reenlist…I am going to try & go tot the President;s levee this afternoon…Jim…that stripe on the arm below the elbow is a 5 yrs service stripe. The others are sergeants stripes. J.

  Head Quarters Patrol Police, Alexandria, [Va.], June 29, [1861], to his family, in part: …our Lieut. Col. [James D. Greene 6th & 17th US Infantry, brevet brig. gen. 3/13/65], major [Hamlin Wales Keyes 14th US Infantry, WIA Spotsylvania Court House 5/12/64] & Adjutant [Thomas Oliver Barri 11th US Infantry KIA Gettysburg 7/2/63] have obtained situations in the regular army & will leave the regt. very soon…day before yesterday I went to Washington with a prisoner of war in my charge. He was an Englishman & says if they don't let him go pretty quick he'll send for Lord Lyons & he will. I send you my picture in marching order…I hope it will come to you in good shape…things go along about as usual…arresting more or less every day soldiers & secessionists …Jim.

  [n. p., but Alexandria, Va.], July 7, 1861, on a section of Manassas Gap Railroad manifest form, in part: …I went down to Washington…& while there I saw a regt come in. I…saw on the back of the knapsacks "Mozart Regiment" [40th New York Vols.] Recollecting that the West Cambridge Co. were in that [regiment] I made a rush & soon had the boys by the hands…I also went to the Capitol, to the senate & house & saw how they did things. There is going to be some work done in this state pretty quick. The last few days there has been a number of Regts come…here & tomorrow several more are coming in…we have been the farthest Regt in the direction of the rebels …but now 2 or 3 have gone ahead of us…there is a heep of soldiers in this neighborhood going down the river to Washington…as far as you can see are the tents & camps. In the river are war steamers & gun boats with there "Bull Dogs" pointing towards "dixie"…it is pretty tough work marching …[July 8]…this morning here is a great deal of firing with heavy guns…speaking of him I kind of want to go & yet I don't want to. Things are just getting interesting & we shall probably take no part in it…we have been the advance guard of a large army when we were only intended to protect Washington & if we don't see a fight it is not our fault. We have done our duty…Jim.

  Alexandria, Va., July 14, 1861, to his friend, in part: …today we have sent about a dozen drunkards to the lockup & we have 3 or 4 here now…the Zouaves brought in 4 prisoners, 3 of them are soldiers belonging to the Alabama regiment & the other is a citizen who was their guide. 15 of them were out scouting [when] these 4 were taken. The rest look leg bail. These fellows are pretty good looking men. One of them especially…I have had a long talk with him. He is a young fellow about 23 years old…he says the rebels are spoiling for a fight…they will soon get a belly full…every day for a week a regiment has past through here & this afternoon 3 more have gone on. There was one called the Garibaldi Guards [39th New York] the hardest lot of merchants you ever saw. They are composed of Italians, Germans, Frenchmen and all the rest of the devils of New York. They went through here singing like good fellows. Most of them have sen service in their own country and any of them would kill a man as quick a[s] look at him. They are hard nuts…I saw the Mozart regiment [40th New York] come in…we have had some mighty hot weather here lately but now it is very cool so that we war our overcoats at night…I had to take those 4 prisoners to Gen. McDowell at Arlington heights & from theres to Washington to Gen. Mansfield. They asked them all kind of questions & then they were taken to jail…there has been a sharp fight in the Western part of this state [Falling Waters, July 13]…there is going to be some more done…in a day or so. Our regiment has been ordered to get ready for a march…they say that 30,000 troops are going to advance within 2 days…there will be a strong smell of gun powder somewhere…Jim Bailey. P. S. If you or Kidder would like a couple of hundred Niggers or any other little job done. I can do it…

  Included is a calling card inscribed by both Sergeant Bailey and one of his Alabama prisoners. One side is inscribed: D.D. Fiquet, Tuskaloosa, (sic) Ala., which is Private Dominique Deux Fiquet, 5th Alabama Infantry. On the other side, Bailey penned: Sergt. J. A. Bailey, Co. E, 5th Regt. M. V. M.

  Aftermath of First Bull Run Letter

  Washington, July 26, [1861], to his friend, in part: …I received your letter…which must have been carried all over Virginia…I came mighty near losing them last Sunday [battle of First Bull Run] when we went into the fight. We were ordered to through down our blankets & haversacks. When we retreated I was bound to find my haversack if possible. I dint like the idea of my letters being read by the rebels & after a while I had the good luck to find it…very few of our boys got theirs. They came back with out guns or anything else. I lost my blankets but picked up 2 others much poorer than my own. I brought everything else back. I was bound to stick to my "good" as long as I could walk. That battle field was a hard looking sight. All kinds of weapons…ammunition, wagons, provisions, clothing & worse of all men & horseplay scattered all around…we expect to start for home some time next week…in our regt. there are about 25 killed & missing. We are quartered in a large hall attached to Willard Hotel, but we don't dine at the hotel…we are getting over our troubles pretty well. A great many are lame & foot sore…my self just a little lame that's all…Jim…excuse this scrawling for their has been a "heap of trouble on the old man's mind." He's getting better though. James. Included is the original patriotic transmittal cover.

  Condition

  Typical folds of the letters some with there original envelopes. 
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