History of the town of Marlborough, Ulster County, New York, from its earliest discovery, Part 22

Author: Woolsey, C. M
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Albany, J.B. Lyon company, printers
Number of Pages: 552


USA > New York > Ulster County > Marlborough > History of the town of Marlborough, Ulster County, New York, from its earliest discovery > Part 22


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Gilbert Fowler, M.D., died 1822, 28 years.


David Merritt, died 1817, 20 years. .


There are also the graves of Joseph Cromwell, Benoni Clark, James Wygant, Jonathan Conklin, Daniel Tooker, Wilhelmus DuBois, Samuel Carpen- ter, Nathaniel Huson, John Kniffin, Reuben Bloomer, David Staples (one of the deacons of the Lattintown Baptist church), John D. Wygant, Thomas Wygant, Capt, Anthony Wygant, John Marr. Charles Craft, John Taylor, David Mackey, Daniel Pierce, John Pembroke, George Hallett, Jolın Dexter, Austin Mer- ritt, William Rogers, John Conklin and John Bloomer.


There have been more interments in this yard than in any other in the town, but very few of the earlier graves are marked. I find by an ancient record that interments were commenced a month before the deed was given, as in March, 1764, two children of James Merritt and one of Thomas Silkworth were buried. February, 1766, Elizabeth Platt, wife of E. Platt, the first grown person, was buried. In 1770 and 1771


several deaths from small-pox occurred. December 1774, two children of Jacob Degroot, who were burned to death, were buried. November 26, 1776, buried Dr. Abijah Perkins, a friend to this society and a good man." August, 1777, buried George Landon; No. 61 in the church yard. May, 1782, Sarah, wife of Nathaniel Drake; No. 93; August, 1784, buried Jane Pell, aged nearly 100. December, 1782. buried Phebe. wife of Peter Purdy; No. 95. December 12, 1800,


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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.


Annanias Valentine, Thomas Pickney, Isaac Elliott, Jeremiah Cropsey and Leonard Merritt were drowned. They were buried here.


Up to and including 1800 there were over 200 interments in this yard. From what can be inferred a large number of people must have been buried there up to the present time. Some thirty or forty years since a considerable tract of land was purchased on the south of the old yard, laid out in lots, and sold to purchasers. This part of the yard is well kept and contains many fine monuments.


In the Lattintown Baptist churchyard I find among the oldest graves the following :


Stephen Staples, died April 1813, 56 years.


Jonathan Woolsey, Nov. 1822, 67 years.


Titus Ketcham, 1818, 78 years.


John Mackey, May 1818, 73 years.


Nathaniel Quimby, May 1823, 75 years.


N. W. Marr, 1832, 82 years.


Samuel Waters, Nov. 1828, 87 years.


Nathaniel Benedict, June 1825, 64 years. Abigal, his wife, March 1862, 93 years.


Joseph Rhodes, Dec. 1851, 93 years. (A soldier of the Revolution. )


Aaron N. Staples, Feb. 1847, 41 years.


Zepheniah Northrip. Jan. 1846, 66 years.


Curtis Northrip, May 1851, 47 years.


James Fowler, Feb. 1839, 70 years.


Oliver Cosman, Sept. 1846, 52 years.


"Deacon of the Baptist Church." Richard Caverly, Apr. 1842, 64 years.


George Harper, May 1842, 63 years.


Noah Woolsey, 1832, 82 years.


Gilbert Kniffin, June 1826, 82 years.


William St. John, Oct. 1841, 13 years.


Henry St. John, 1820, 37 years.


Nehemiah L. Smith, Apr. 1819, 61 years. Lydia, his wife, 1851, 80 years.


William Lyons. Jan. 1836, 84 years.


Sylvenus Purdy, 1830, 68 years.


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THE ANCIENT BURIAL PLACES.


William Mitchell, Mar. 1835, 46 years. Nathaniel Harcourt, June 1818, 20 years.


Richard Harcourt, July 1827, 48 years.


The Quaker or Friends' burying ground at the Henry H. Hallock place, Milton, was bought and used originally for the Friends to bury their dead. The land was conveyed to the Society about 1780 by Elijah Lewis, and in 1801 Lewis conveyed more land adjoin- ing for the same purpose, and it is claimed it was afterward enlarged. All the original Friends were buried there. It was the custom among Quakers to put field stones at the graves, and on this account the oldest graves cannot be identified. For a great many years all who chose to could bury their dead here, and there are a large number of graves that have no marks. After 1828 the Old School Quakers bought a lot for a graveyard of Foster Hallock and erected a church. That society has since buried their dead there. The New School or Hicksites continued to use the old yard. Captain Mann and the two Lieuten- ants, Edward and John Ketcham, are buried there, and several other soldiers; Dr. Quick, the Shermans, the ancient Hallock family, and many of the best people in the town in that day are interred there. It is a lonely, sequestered spot, shaded with tall locust trees and a large old chestnut tree is still standing there which was left when the original forest was cut down. It is several hundred years old. The grave- yard is seldom seen and never visited except by the friends of the departed. The Quaker yard above spoken of has been the burial place of the Friends since 1830. Foster and George Hallock are buried there, and other Quakers and their friends have used it since that time. It adjoins the George Hallock pond and is a nice, quiet place.


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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.


The Episcopalians at Marlborough have a yard ad- joining their church which is well kept, and contains the graves of the Buckleys and others. It was not in use until some time after the church was built.


Most of the older yards are being neglected. The friends of the departed have died, moved away or descendants have forgotten that they had any such ancestors. In many places in this state societies are formed to protect and take care of such places. In Massachusetts, the towns take charge of the ancient burial places and pay the expenses as a town charge. Plots or maps are made locating each grave, and the name (when it can be learned), and all in such a man- ner that the location will be known for a long time,- even after the stone is gone. In riding through Mass- achusetts a few years since, I observed how well their vards were fenced and the grounds cleared up. I. had no trouble in finding ancient graves of former generations that I sought. It may be thought that a great deal of time has been foolishly spent on the graveyard matter, but I have heard from so many about departed relatives, and have been asked so many questions by strangers who visit here, that I knew this account would be pleasing to many and help them very much in their researches.


POLL LIST IN 1834.


Poll list of an election commencing the third day of November in the year 1834 and held for three days in the town of Marlborough in the County of Ulster.


David Mackey


Thomas Cropsey


Dennis H. Doile


John Carlish


Barnabass Mapes


Job Cropsey


Richard Coligan


Solomon Utter


Ezra Waring Miles I. Fletcher


Isaac Tarwillegar


James H. Longbottom


311


POLL LIST IN 1834.


John Buckley Richard R. Fowler


Joseph Brook


Timothy Colegan


James Dickenson


Joseph Plumpsted


Leonard S. Carpenter


Joshua Brook


Charles Merritt


Charles Brook


Benjamin F. Patten


Thomas Shackleton


George Mabee


Edmund Melona


Bartholomew Van Valken-


Alexander Cropsey


burgh


Robert Morgan


Martin I. Lawson


George Barnhart


Benjamin Pettit


Charles Tooker


Nathaniel Huson


David 1. Merritt


William Dolson


Henry Plumpsted


Benjamin Townsend


John Wilklow ('has Birdsall


Robert B. Mapes


Carpenter Caverly


Henry Mabee


Philip Caverly


William Rogers


Joseph More


William Mellrath


John B. Wygant


William Ellis


Joseph Hepworth


Sylvenis Purdy


Lewis Young


Jeremiah Tarwillegar


Uriah Plumpsted


Daniel G. Russell


John T. Ferguson


William Van Vanlkenburgh


Lewis Supreme Mungo


Andrew Oddy


Nath! Wygant


Robert Beebee


Burns Wygant


Stephen Van Valkenburgh


Daniel Strait


James Horton


John Woolsey


Asia Conkling


Elias Howell


William Kelly


Ezekiel Veely


Peter M. Jones


Barnard Bond


Richard Rhoads


Eli T. Lockwood


Cors Carpenter


Charles N. Brown


Purdy Lownsbury


Elisha Purdy


Stephen Staples


Jeremiah Thorn


David Staples


Charles G. Jackson


Gilbert Caverly


Jacob Gidney


John W. Wygant David Morgan


Andrew Ely


Ebenezer Crosby


Henry Cropsey


Barnard Wygant


Samuel I. Halsey


Stephen HI. Benjamin


George Fetter Selah Dickenson


Gilbert Thorn


Thomas Bingham


Henry Lownsbury


Henry V. Bont


George Birdsall


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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.


Daniel S. Birdsall


Jacob Poste


William W. Lockwood


James Fowler, Jur


William Smith


Benjamin Hulse


Jeremiah Decker


James Sherman


William Holmes


Jonas Denton


Joseph Wygant


Israel Hait


Benjn Rhoads


William Soper, Jur


Samuel Lord


David R. Ostrarder


Peter Freer


Henry McQuill


Daniel Underwood


Thomas R. Jones


Michael Wygant


Joseph L. Donaldson


Cors Wygant


Aaron Bradbury


Edward Dubois


James Fowler


Marcus Dougherty


Abraham Tuttle


Josiah H. Merritt


Hiram Lewis


James Bloomer


Augustus H. Conklin


Robert Spence


Cornelius Bradbury


John Lawson


John Y. Barrett


Samuel Drake, Jur


Samuel Herbert


Gabriel Merritt


John Bent


Jefferson Bloomer


Rufus Rhoads


Daniel Bloomer


John Wood, Jur


Justus T. Cumfort


Jacob P. Townsend


Peter Purdy


Robert Young


Stephen Purdy


Isaac Fowler


Edwin P. Howell


Nathaniel Strait


Stephen Rhoads, Jr


A. D. Soper


Joseph P. Howell


Jacob H. Gillis


Lewis Rhoads John W. Cropsey John Decker


Eliphalet Smith


Henry Lownsbury, Ju.


John Davis


Michael Wygant 3


Tuthill Martin


Garrett Dubois


David Sands


Nathaniel Belly


Isaac Quimby, Jur


John Degrote


Levi Mackey


D. W. Woolsey


Nelson Smith


Isaac L. Craft


Simon Ostrander


John B. Holdin


Jacob Lawson


Smith Rhoads


Henry Hamblin


Robert S. Lockwood


Joel Hornbeck


James D. Sloan Jonas Fowler


Peter Relyea Alfred Lewis John Sands


Remus Woolsey


Henry King


Anson St. John


313


POLL LIST IN 1834.


Charles L. Marble Jeriah Rhoads


Absalom Barrett


James Denton


Elias Mackey


Reuben B. Drake


Benjamin Anthony


Joseph K. Weede


Benjamin Rhoads


Thomas Griggs


David Selleck


William Dowe


John Belknap William Hallock


William Coffin


Nathaniel Hallock


Oliver C. Hull


James Hnll John Hull


Samuel H. Adams


Edward Hallock


Allen Lewis


Cornwell S. Roe


Josiah Lockwood


Ananias Quick


Isaac Minard


William Young


James Malcolm


Uriah Coffin


John Purdy


Nathaniel Clark


John T. Hallock


Richard I. Woolsey


Albert Fowler


Michael Smith


Robert T. Hallock


John Dickinson


Peter Lockwood


David Gidney


James Adderton


Enther Pratt


William Wendover


John Rhoads 3


Michael Quimby


William Gidney


Nathaniel Harcourt


David S. Adams


Smith Wood


Matthew Potter


William D. Wygant


Thomas Woolsey


Nathaniel Dubois


Oliver H. Smith


William Roat


Jacob Rowley


John Stephens


David Brower


Stephen Rhoads


Peter Quimby


Isaac B. Purdy


Samuel Stratten


Hiram Smith


Daniel Quick


Hezekiah H. Mapes


John Sheffield


William L. Rhoads


David A. Hull


Nicholas Belly


Archibald Rhoads


William Lynason


Joseph Sheffield


Philip Mackey


Charles King Jacob Belly


Reuben D. Mackey Daniel Rowley Lorenzo Hait


John D. Crook James Quimby George Wygant Thadeas F. Hait


Elijah Lewis


Nathaniel Woolsey Jonathan Kent


Peter Vandermark


James Wygant


Stephen B. Mackey


Josiah L. Dowe


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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.


Isaac Merritt


Mathew T. Wygant


John S. Roe


Hacaliah Purdy


Cornelius Rhoads


John Harris


Latting Caverly


Jeremiah Mackey


Isaac Winn


Daniel Kniffin


John S. Wood


Thomas Mackey


Joseph Harcourt


Thomas S. Mackey


William Swart


Gilbert Conklin


Austin Merritt


Abm Young


Lewis Rhoads


Uriah Drake


Samuel Ayres


Charles Caywood


Benjamin Kaywood


Isaac Staples


Peter Barnhart


William Lyon. Jur


Nathaniel Woolsey Ju


Peter T. Kniffin Abm Woolsey


Anthony Maekey


Francis Mackey


William L. Mackey


Daniel St. John


Philip Fowler


Zadock Rhoads


Frederick Hadley


John Rhoads


Dennis D. Purdy


Uriah D. Quimby


Thomas Smith


Isaac Quimby


Samuel Drake


Fowler Quimby


Peter H. Caverly


Joseph Caywood


John I. Rhoads


Benjamine Ayres


James Ilait, Ju


Adolphas Smith Thomas Kniffin


Heman Matine


Lewis Quick


William Lyon


Charles Wygant


Hait Benedict


Denton Smith


Abel Smith


Joseph Stiles


Elias M. Mackey


Oliver Huson


Stephen HI. Smith


Lewis Staples


Chester Kniffin


Chaney Wygant


Jonas Maekey


Harvy Wygant


Purdy Hadley


Wygant Merritt


George Hearst


Joseph Merritt


Jesse Lyon


Lewis Dubois


Elett Howel


William Hull


William Rhoads


Levi Crosby Eleazer Gedney


William Wygant John Mabee


Oliver Covert


Daniel Lester


Richard Caverly


James Force


David M. Hait


Henry Cosman


Nathaniel Utter


-


Adna Hait


John S. Purdy


315


POLL LIST IN 1834.


John B. Porter


Allexander Young


Abel A. Hull


John S. Purday 2nd


John Hull


Daniel Tooker


Oliver Hull


James Quimby, Jur


Jeremiah Mackey


Thomas S. Warren


Joseph Berryann


Richard Scoat


Charles Decker


Henry Quick


Allen Quick


Zephaniah Northrip


Harvy Quick


Hiram Campbell


Mathew T. Berryann


Cornelius Quimby


David Young


This election was held the first day at Marlbor- ough, the second day at Milton and the third day at Lattintown. This can be readily seen by examining the names. There were 383 votes cast.


Win. L. Marcey, for governor, received 234 votes and Wm. H. Seward received 149. At that time there were the Democrat and Whigs parties. Marcey was the Democratic nominee, and Seward the Whig. Marcey had eighty-five majority showing how strong the Democrats were in those days. The ticket ran about the same for all the rest of the nominees. I think there were more men than this in the town at that time, but there were certain qualifications which prevented all from voting.


These elections were held all over the State in the same way, occupying three days, the inspectors going from one place to another and carrying the ballot boxes with them. This must have been done for the convenience of the voters, as it provided for three polling places in each town, or could be made avail- able for that purpose ; and one set of inspectors did the whole work. The worst feature about this man- ner of voting would be the opportunity it afforded to tamper with the ballots after they were deposited in the ballot box. The first two nights of such an election, the boxes must have been taken in charge by one of the inspectors, most likely taken to the


316


HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.


house of one of the inspectors, unless all the inspec- tors sat up with the boxes, and even then, if the in- spectors were mercinary, they could have opened the boxes and tampered with the ballots, and made most any return of the votes which they chose. Under this system of voting, it would not be necessary to buy up the voters. It would be so much easier and cheaper to buy up the inspectors; and the inspectors, un- doubtedly, were no better or worse than the other voters, and equally purchaseable, though they would have wanted more money. Isn't it funny when you think of it?


EDWARD HALLOCK KETCHAM.


CHAPTER XII.


MARLBOROUGH IN THE CIVIL WAR.


Marlborough, like all her sister towns, and the nation at large, was startled and astounded when war was precipitated by the attack upon Fort Sumpter by armed rebels. President Lincoln's immediate proc- lamation calling for 75,000 volunteers was responded to by some from this town.


The 20th Regiment of Militia, after its three months' service, returned home and immediate steps were taken to organize it into a regiment of volun- teers for three years' service in the war. It left Kings- ton October 25, 1861, Geo. W. Pratt, Colonel, for its journey to the seat of war, as the 80th New York Volunteers. The next regiment from the county was the 120th, Colonel Geo. H. Sharpe. This regiment left Kingston for the front Sunday, August 24, 1862. Lieutenant Edward Ketcham and his men were with it,- many of the people flocked to Kingston to see them off, and to extend to them, as it afterward proved, a last " goodbye." The approach of the steamer, Manhattan, on its trip down the river with the regiment was watched from the shores about the town by a large number of the people.


The next regiment, the 156th, commanded by Eras- tus Cook, left for the front in December, 1862. Lieu- tenant William J. Purdy and his men were from the town. All of these recruits were mostly from Ulster county and were enlisted for three years or during the war. The larger part of the enlistments from this town were in these regiments; the other recruits were scattered among many organizations. No at- tempt will be given to tell of the war or the services


[317]


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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.


these regiments performed. It is all recorded in his- tory and accesible to everyone.


Many are still living in the town who well remember how all anxiously awaited any news from the seat of war. They thronged around the post-office when the mails came, anxiously waiting for the daily papers, and for the letters from dear ones; and when the news of a great battle arrived, the anxiety of the people was great to hear who had fallen.


The battles of Antietam and Gettysburg produced great sorrow in many homes. When the friends of those who were slain were so fortunate as to obtain the bodies of the dead for-burial here, whole neigh- borhoods turned out to pay their last tribute of love and respect to the fallen heroes.


The impaired currency, specie driven out of circu- lation, gold bought and sold, - the same as any other commodity, paper money of all denominations, the fractional part of a dollar called shin plasters, flooded the country. There were high prices for everything, all this and many other things will be remembered. Almost five years of strife, the North contending against the South, armies marching up and down the land, property by the millions of dollars worth de- stroyed, lands and towns laid waste, thousands of men shot to death on the fields of battle, thousands more dying in the prisons of the Union and Confeder- ate armies, commerce destroyed, credit impaired, battles won and lost, mourning in almost every home north and south, families divided in opinion and in service in the war, then the surrender of the south and great rejoicing throughout the north soon to be followed by the assasination of our beloved President Lincoln plunging the nation again in sadness and sorrow; these were some of the results of the Civil war.


But the fact was established for all time that this


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MARLBOROUGH IN THE CIVIL WAR.


country was to be a Union of all the states "one and inseparable;" all thereafter to act together as one nation for the common good, and all the states to be subordinate to the national authority. The fallacy of state rights was dead, never to be contended for again. The curse of slavery was wiped out, and ours had become a nation of soldiers in numbers and skill sufficient to protect itself against all the world.


The eloquent and patriotic record of two of our soldiers are here given. They show spirit, devotion and patriotism seldom equaled and we are glad to re- cord their virtues :


EDWARD HALLOCK KETCHAM


Born in Milton, N. Y., December twenty-serenth, eighteen hundred and thirty-fire, entered the service of his country, at Kingston, August nineteenth, eighteen hundred and sirty-two; commissioned second lieutenant, Co. A., One Hundred and Twentieth Regiment, Infantry, N. Y. V .; killed at Gettysburg, July second, eighteen hundred and sixty-three ; buried on the battle-field; remains subse- quently exhumed, and reinterred in the Friends' Burial Ground at Milton, N. Y.


JOIIN TOWNSEND KETCHAM.


Born in Jericho, L. I., January twelfth, eighteen hundred and thirty-eight: entered the service of his country, in New York City, February sixth, eighteen hundred and sixty- three; commissioned second lieutenant, Co. M., Fourth Regiment, Cavalry, N. Y. V .; taken prisoner, and died in Libby Prison October eighth, eighteen hundred and sixty- three ; remains returned to his friends, and reinterred in the Friends' Burial Ground, at Milton, N. Y.


Of the young men of the town of Marlborough who answered to their country's call, there were no braver


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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.


or better men than Edward H. and John T. Ketcham; their conduct and the manner of their deaths lend a halo to their memory. They were sons of David and Martha T. (Hallock) Ketcham. At the commence- ment of the war their father was dead, and they were the only children. They lived with their mother on their farm at Milton. From infancy opposed to slavery and zealous for the rights of man, and know- ing or recognizing only one nation and country, the commencement of the rebellion found them not only strong abolitionists but uncompromising Union men, and although the teachings of their ancestors for many generations had been for peace, yet they recognized in this struggle that peace would not do; that there were some things in this world that peace, the gospel and religion would never accomplish, and that in the coming struggle nothing but war, cruel and bitter war, could accomplish freedom and preserve the unity of the nation. At the commencement of the struggle they were both anxious to enter the service, but their duty to their widowed mother restrained them, yet the feeling grew upon them; it haunted their thoughts by day and their dreams by night, and they deter- mined that one at least should go into the service and the lot fell upon Edward the elder. A few months later, John could not restrain himself longer and he went to the front. Edward was killed at Gettysburg; he was the first man killed in the regiment. It was on the second day of the battle and his regiment was exposed to great danger. Officers and men to the number of 427 were present, 204 of whom were killed or wounded. Many other men of Ulster county gave their young lives on that eventful day. No prouder thing can be said of anyone than that he died while helping to hold the line of battle for his country at the great battle of Gettysburg. It will be told in re- membrance of them by coming generations, and their


JOHN TOWNSEND KETCHAM.


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MARLBOROUGH IN THE CIVIL WAR.


deeds will be proclaimed in song and story by a grateful people yet unborn. I feel that this history would be incomplete unless something was said of them, and perhaps nothing could be better than to reprint some of the letters they wrote their mother.


Manasses Junction, Nov. 18th, 1862.


Dear Mother: I wrote home and said that I was sick; but I am very happy to say that I am a great deal better; in fact, about well. So don't feel uneasy, for nothing short of a rebel bullet will kill me, I think. We are now all the time expecting orders to march, to what place I do not pretend to know; but the knowing ones say, to Fredericksburg, which, from every indication and the situation of our forces, I think not unlikely. ** I have faith that, when the war is ended, I shall be home again all right, and I only fear that I shall find thee the worse for the worry and anxiety that I know are bestowed on me. Don't for heaven's sake, fret and worry, on my account, if for no other reason; because I want to see my mother when I come back (if it is my fortune to do so,) as I left her, not broken down with useless anxiety on my account; so be as cheerful as possible, and think, if it should be my lot to be among those who are never to return, that I shall die doing my duty ; and that is the way a man should die ; for die he must, and a few years more or less don't make much difference, so that when the end comes it finds us at our posts with our harness on our backs. It is not the business of a man's life to devote himself, simply, to saving that life; but to do his duty, whatever it may be, and let life take care of itself. So in either event don't feel uneasy about me, for I have no fear for myself. and I do not wish any one to worry uselessly for me. So, hurrah for the second grand army! It is going to do its duty, and it won't be sacrificed to strategy, thank God, with Burnside and Abraham Lincoln.


Affectionately, thy son,


E. H. KETCHAM.


Old Camp near Falmouth, Dec. 17th, 1862. Dear Mother and Brother :


The last letter I wrote home, was dated " Field of Battle." But enough of this fight. I am alive and well, and 11


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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.


never felt better. I can sleep with or without blankets; with or without tent : with or without fire; with or without rain, in the middle of December; and come out next morning, lively as ever, and don't mind it.


I have never known what it was to really suffer, from hunger or cold; and I know that soldiers' letters, (officers included) are, nine times out of nine, one-half exaggerations. So, don't believe the stories that will, doubtless, innocently and in good faith, be sent back to Milton, by the boys who came from there; for. in the eyes of some, a mole hill is a mountain. Don't think that, because I am an officer, I fare better than they. When it comes hard times in the field, there is no difference to speak of; only the men drew rations on the field and the officers did not. I had bread and meat in my haversack, how- ever, when I got back. We have got our tents and baggage, and are comfortable ; and I have no trouble on my mind, except a fear that my mother may worry herself sick, on my account, though I hope she may not. Don't think I am going to be killed or wounded. It is all nonsense to borrow trouble from the future. I will live, if I am to live, and die if I am to die; which, I suppose, I shall some day-if not on the battle- field ; and it is only a question of time. Next time we cross the Rappahannock, I guess it will be a sure go; so, hurrah for Burnside, and our army !


Affectionally, your son, and brother, E. W. KETCHAM.


HE ADVISES HIS BROTHER NOT TO ENTER THE SERVICE. Camp near Falmouth, Va., Jan. 11th, 1863.


Dear Jack :


I received a letter from you by Col. Sharpe, and you may suppose I was somewhat surprised. * Our mother, in * her declining years, has a right to one of her sons, at least, and when I left home I thought that you would stay. You remember, when the war first broke out, that we cast lots, which should stay ; it fell on you, and though it may come tough, stay like a man, and don't murmur. Jack! I may fall a victim to rebel bullets, or disease, that strikes oftener and harder. I want you to stay at home, and save our name and race; for it is at least worth saving, and trust us, in spite of the dis- aster at Fredericksburg, to put it through and save the nation. We have changed camp to a lovely spot, and I have a com- fortable shanty; about eight feet by fourteen, and a good fire-




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