Friday, January 24, 2014

Adam Bentz Civil War Letters 5-10; Battle of Lynchburgh

These are letters that Adam Bentz (1842-1886), a Union Civil War Soldier from Meigs County, Ohio, wrote or received in the Civil War era.  Reading them in succession from 1 to 18 gives an interesting story.  William W. Bentz (1913-2001), Adam’s great nephew and my Dad, found these letters in the family Bible of Adam’s parents, Michael (1815-1864) and Mary Harpold (1823-1912) Bentz.  Emma Bentz Hayman (1854-1934) and Matilda Bentz (1857-1944), Adam’s sisters, lived together in Syracuse, Ohio and had custody of the Bible for many years.

Fifth Letter February the 7, 1864





Dear Nephew  I seat myself this afternoon to answer your most kind and welcome letter it us all well at present I was glad to hear that you got my picture but you ought to always get the scrubbingrag ready when you get a letter from me for it always has nonsense­­ in it I would have answered your letter before now but it had to wait until I seen Spence to know where to direct letters to the boys it is La Grand Oragon there is where Henry Harpold is and Henry Hester and Josh was tending a farm somewhere else but he has gone to the two henrys I guess they aint doing much vint is a going to leave before long with his wife for Illinois and Spencers Widow run off the other day and they don’t know where he went down the river they are very unruly boys Adam don’t get married until you have a place to take your wife to and let them secesh gals alone for they might make you sorry before a week I wish you could have been here this winter to had fun I would like to know how it comes that they can keep you until September they cant do it for you only enlisted for 3 years and they cant keep you any longer it is just their own doings and I think they ought to let you free when your time is out but obey all commands and live in hopes of better day a coming when you will be free from this bad war and Adam try to live a good boy, that if you should die before you get released that we will meet in a better world where wars can never come I want to see your sweet picture so bad that I cant hardly wait until I get it your grandma and pa are as well as common and they send their best love and kind wishes to you  georges wife is sick with the consumption I guess it is but she is little better now ok
 Adam if I could only see you it would do me lots more of good than to be writing but  I thank God that we can write to one another it is a little satisfaction I wish you was here tonight to tell me more yarns but I would get the scrubbingrag ready so I would not have to go and get it when I needed it you said you just finished a hearty breakfast of coffee and bread and meat I am glad you have enough of that but Adam I would freely eat what you have to eat until your time is out if I only could so than you to not have plenty all the time Calirsa got you letter Thursday and he is agoing to answer it Barbara Ann McDade AB

Sixth Letter March 6th 1864







Ganley Bridge West Va
March 6th 1864
Dear Father
I now seat myself this morning to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well at present & hope when these few lines come to hand they will find you the same.   I have nothing very interesting to write.  But the Captain of our Company went home a few days ago and sent by him a little small box with a letter in it and a little Bead worked pocket which I want Emma to keep until I come home if the Captain has not brought it up to you yet you can send Peter down after it, and before the Captain comes back you can give him a quart bottle of good Whiskey to bring to me for he has his Trunk with & he can bring it very handy.  We will get paid off in a few days about the 12th or 15th inst I cannot say when I will come perhaps not before I am Discharged.  You can send a letter also by Capt Pinderly, so nothing more at present.   I send my love to Ma & all the children.
               Your Affectionate Son
                              Adam Bentz
               To M Bentz

 Seventh Letter April 30th 1864






Ganley Bridge West Va April 30th /64
Dear Father and Mother Brother and Sisters
I again seat myself to write you a few lines to inform you that I am well at present time and hoping when they come to hand they will find you all well and doing well.  George Holland & George Johnson is going to start for home tomorrow that is the reason that I write this letter and another thing is that perhaps I wont get the chance to write again for sometime.  We have orders to march in the morning our destination is unknown, but anyhow this is the start of the Campaign.  The general opinion is that we will go to Doublin Depot to get possession of the R Road there.  I am not allowed to state how many Troops there are in the Valley but I can assure there is plenty to give the Rebs a good (turn) Supper or Dinner.  We were within 17 miles of Lewisburgh last week a repairing the Roads and opening the Blockades.  We are all busy getting everything ready for the march.  There is nothing new a going on here.  Only about the place we are bound for.  It has been 4 months since we have been paid  off.  But now I think we will not be Paid until our time is up and I don’t care then I wont have the pleasure of spending it out here where everything is so dear.  Butter is 30cts per lb Eggs 20cts per doz Coffee 50 cts Pork 10 cts Bacon 15 cts.  Calicos 40 cts to 50 cts per yd.  the 13th Va Inf is on its way up here also the 23d.  Our time is up the 14th of Sept. then I will be home for certain.  I think I could have gotten a furlough if I had tried but my time is so short that I didn’t care.  Our Captain says that we will come back here but when he cant say. I believe I have nothing more to write this time so I will close.  Give my Respects to all enquiring Friends and accept the same yourselves.
I Remain Your Affectionate Son
               Adam Bentz
  To
               Mary Bentz

PS you need not write for about a week.
               Address
                              Adam Bentz
                              Camp H 5 Regt Va Voll Inf
                              Ganley Bridge West Va

Eighth Letter June 13th 1864




Camp at Lexington Va June 13th /64
Dear Brother
               I will write a few lines to you to let you know that I am well at this present & hoping when they come to hand they may find you all well and doing well. 
               Well I am still right side up with care.  To Day our men captured 8 Canal Boats with everything in them. General Averell is out today fighting old Imboden there is a rumor in camp that our men took Lynchburgh if not we have already surrounded it & will soon close in on it.
               I guess we will leave this place in a day or two.  We made the Rebs get out of this Place we also captured all their Cannon.  Yesterday we burnt up the Military Institute & Govenor Tetchers House. I also went today and seen where Gen Jackson was buried.  There is a few Univr People in Town.  It is a very nice town.  Well I have nothing more to write so I will close hoping to hear from you soon.  Peter I want you to write to me as soon as you read this for I am anxious to hear from home.  You must put a Stamp in every letter you write so I can send it back to you.
                              Adam Bentz
                              Camp H 5th Regt Va Volls Infantry
                              1st Brigade 2 Division 8 Army Corps
                              Via Clarksburgh West Va
                              Direct as it is written above
                              Adam Bentz to Peter Bentz

                              3 month from tomorrow my time is out
                              Tell Frank Hollands mother that he is well & right side up

Wikipedia:  Battle of Lynchburg

Background
During the Civil War, Lynchburg was used as a supply and hospital center. It was also a connection in the railroad that supplied the Confederate States Army. It was for this reason that Hunter determined to capture it. In accordance with a plan formulated by Brig. Gen. William W. Averell, the infantry divisions of Brigadier Generals George Crook and Jeremiah C. Sullivan proceeded south from Staunton on June 10 alongside Averell's cavalry division.
However, Hunter had two major problems. He was supposed to receive help from Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan; who never showed up because he had suffered a major setback at the Battle of Trevilian Station and was forced to retreat to an area around Richmond and Petersburg. The other, and perhaps most devastating, issue was that Hunter's supply lines were being harassed by the 43rd Battalion Virginia Cavalry, under Lt. Col. John S. Mosby. Between May 20 and June 17, only one supply wagon had reached Hunter.
At Lexington on June 11, Hunter fought with Confederate cavalry under Brig. Gen. John McCausland, who withdrew to Buchanan. Hunter ordered Col. Alfred N. Duffié to join him in Lexington with his cavalry division. While waiting, Hunter burned Virginia Military Institute and the home of John Letcher, former Governor of Virginia. After being joined by Duffié on June 13, Hunter sent Averell to drive McCausland out of Buchanan and capture the bridge there across the James River, but McCausland burned the bridge and fled the town. Hunter joined Averell in Buchanan the following day before advancing via the road between the Peaks of Otter on June 15. His cavalry occupied Liberty that evening.
Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge sent Brig. Gen. John D. Imboden and his cavalry to join McCausland. Breckinridge arrived in Lynchburg the next day. Maj. Gen. Daniel Harvey Hill and Brig. Gen. Harry T. Hays constructed a defense line in the hills just southwest of the city. That afternoon, McCausland fell back to New London and skirmished with Averell's cavalry which pursued him. The Union launched another attack on McCausland and Imboden that evening. The Confederates retreated from New London.

Battle

Early arrived in Lynchburg at one o'clock on June 17, having been sent by General Robert E. Lee. Three hours later, Averell encountered McCausland's and Imboden's dismounted cavalry entrenched at the Quaker Meeting House, four miles from the city. The Confederates were driven back after Col. Carr B. White's brigade moved in to support Averell. Two brigades of Major General Stephen Dodson Ramseur's division occupied the area around a redoubt two miles from the city and hindered the Union advance.
Hunter made Sandusky his headquarters and planned the attack on Early's defenses. That night, trains could be heard moving up and down the tracks. Also, various instruments such as bugles and drums were heard by Hunter's troops. Even the people of Lynchburg made noise by having bands play and citizens scream. Their goal was to make the Confederate army seem larger than it really was.
On June 18, Major Generals Arnold Elzey and Robert Ransom, Jr. arrived from the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia. Elzey assumed command of Breckinridge's infantry and dismounted cavalry while Ransom superseded Imboden as commander of the mounted cavalry. Early elected to remain defensive and wait for the rest of the Second Corps to arrive. The redoubt now known as Fort Early was at the center of the Confederate line, with Maj. Gen. John Brown Gordon's division on the left and Brig. Gen. William G. Lewis's brigade on the right. McCausland commanded the right flank, which included a redoubt, and Elzey's command defended the area between it and Lewis' brigade. Col. Scott Shipp's VMI cadets were placed in reserve at Spring Hill Cemetery while the inner defenses were occupied by the Confederate Home Guard.
Hunter, still not convinced that Lee had sent reinforcements to Lynchburg, deployed Sullivan's and Crook's divisions in front of the Confederate center, with Averell in reserve, and sent an order to Duffié to attack the Confederate right. Reconnoitering the line in an effort to find a weak spot to push his infantry through, Hunter ruled out a direct attack on the redoubts, for they appeared too strong. He allowed Lt. Col. Henry A. du Pont to deploy his thirty-two cannons. Crook was sent to flank the Confederate left, but marched a few miles before finding it impracticable. The Confederates attacked Sullivan and du Pont, who managed to hold them at bay until Crook returned. The Confederates fell back after a half hour of fighting, but spent the next hour and twenty minutes attempting to break through the gap between Sullivan and Duffié before withdrawing to their earthworks. A regiment of Col. Rutherford B. Hayes' brigade pursued them but were beaten back.
Meanwhile, McCausland succeeded in holding off Duffié's assaults. As ammunition ran short, both Hunter and Duffié became convinced that they were outnumbered. Early then prepared to begin an attack of his own, but Hunter retreated at nightfall.

Aftermath

Early's army moved sixty miles in three days. At that point, Early called off the pursuit and awaited for Hunter to make a move. Hunter decided to move across the Shenandoah Valley and into West Virginia.
The Battle of Lynchburg proved to be quite helpful in the Confederates' fight against the Union. Hunter's retreat made it possible for Early to freely move up the Shenandoah Valley. Early's army advanced up through Maryland and even made it as far as Washington, D.C.

Ninth Letter June 30, 1864





Camp Piatt West Va
June 30th /64

Dear Parents
               Once my arrival is made to this Camp and thank the good man for it.  I got here last Evening safe.  I was perfectly played out.  I never was on such a Raid as this one in my life, nor do I want to go another one as long as I am in the Service.  I cannot write this time for I am so weak that I cannot write nor walk either.  Wm Llewellyn was wounded in the fight at Lynchburgh he is either left at Liberty or has been brought to Charleston Va there was of wounded & one missing out of our Camp army.  I got through the battle it was a hard Battle and loss is about 1000 killed & missing & starved to death on the retreat.  I will tell you more about it when I come Home that will be in 60 days.  I cant tell how long we will stay here we will be Paid off in a few Days the Paymaster is here now at Charleston.  Tell Frank Hollands mother that he is well & right side up.   I have not seen Henry McDade yet but expect to in a short time.  I hope these few lines will find you all well when they come to hand.  Give my best Respects to all enquiring Friends; let GrandPa know that I am well. So good bye.
I want you to write soon as you get this Letter.  I had a notion to Telegraph to you this morning.
               Adam Bentz
To
               Mary Bentz
Direct Letters
To          Adam Bentz
1st Brigade 2d Division
8th Army Corps
Camp H 5th Regt Va Voll Inf
Charleston West Va

PS Dont forget to write right for we may have to leave soon AB

Tenth Letter July 1864 (Letter Not Dated)



Dear Mother I cannot write much for I am so tired & weak from the march to Lynchburg & back to Knawha & glad to get through the fight safe it was a fmithy hard one.  Our Regt & the 116th Ohio Charged over the Enemy breast works while they poured their grape & canister in to us who could expect to come out of such a fight going right up the mouth of a cannon little did I think that Adam Bentz would get out safe.  I wish I now then to talk with you a while but still writing is better than nothing at all  I got your letter dated June 13th that was the first letter I got from you for over two months I had a very few fourth of July.  Tell Pa I don’t think there is very much jinsang up here.  I cannot find out where John is. Uncle Henry he is going to start home today.  I seen Henry Mcdade yesterday he is still well & hearty.  You need not be uneasy about me for I never expect to be in another Battle my time will out in 60 Days then I am coming home.  I have 6 months Pay coming to me I guess we will get Paid off this week.  I will save all the money I can.  Perhaps we may not get Paid until our time is out some of the boys will be discharged this Month.  I have no stamps or I would put one on this letter.  I am glad Pa sold the House Henry will be home about the same time as I will then we will have a jolly time together  I will get my Photo taken & send it to Emma when I get paid off.

               Adam Bentz
To
               Mary Bentz
Direct Letters
To          Adam Bentz
Camp H 5th Regt V Volls Inf
Charleston West Va


Give my respects to all

No comments:

Post a Comment