This group consists of 24 letters from Corporal Baragar addressed to his wife Ann—[“Mrs. J.K. Baragar/Canaseraga/ Allegeny County/ N.Y.”]--written between 11/25/1862and 5/2/1864. It includes three letters from subsidiary relatives, plus a letter from S.H. Bradley, Co. “D”, 9^th NY Volunteer Cavalry, in a U.S. Sanitary Commission envelope, dated 28 June 1864--informing Mrs. Baragar of her husband’s [mortal] wounding at Old Church, VA. Most letters are four pages, in pencil and ink. All exhibit fold-marks and are lightly faded while remaining entirely legible. All are contained in protective sleeves, accompanied by partial, handwritten transcripts, along with original envelopes. The grouping is enclosed in a black vinyl ring box binder, and contains much miscellaneous handwritten research inviting further study. Also Included is CIVIL WAR HISTORY AND ROSTER OF THE FIRST NEW YORK DRAGOONS, a 7.5 x 9.25” paperback, compiled by Deanna Bedgood, published by Outskirts Press, Denver, 2010. 141 pp., ills.

John K. Baragar was a 44 year old private who enlisted 6/6/1862 in Co. “I”, 1^st New York Dragoons, 8/6/1862. [Baragar’s age suggests that he enlisted to avoid being caught in the 1862 late summer Union draft]. He was promoted to Corporal, 9/3/1862, and died of wounds received at Old Church, VA, 5/31/1864. Originally mustered as the 130^th New York Volunteer Infantry, this unit was reconstituted as 19^th New York Cavalry in July 1863 and re-designated 1^st New York Dragoons in September. At the time of Baragar’s death--(on the eve of Cold Harbor)—the First Dragoons were operating with the third reserve Brigade, 1^st Division Cavalry, AOP. During service this unit lost 130 killed and mortally wounded and 130 by disease for a total of 261.

Most of Baragar’s letters are gloomy and fatalistic in tone, and for good reason. Partial text excerpts below, in chronological sequence:

Oct. 25, 1862—[Baragar’s correspondence opens with a letter to friend “E.C. Beach,” complaining about his wife’s silence: “I have given up all hopes of getting a letter from home, I thought I would write to you trusting you would write that I may hear from home. I think I have been much neglected as I have not had two letters since I have been here. …I wrote two weeks ago to Mrs. Baragar to send me a box of eatables…our rations are very small we scarcely know what it is to have enough to eat the health of the regt. is very poor. There is nearly half that is not able to do duty there is three died we buried one last Sunday…I wonder if there are not more deaths as we do not have it as well as the dumb beasts should. The reg are much dissadisfied…this climate does not agree with our northern troops…not any regard payd to the Sabbath…if one refuses to work on Sunday he is put in the Guard House… I ask it a favor of you to show this to Mrs. Barager so she can see how I feel about it. The mail has come in and every other one had from one to three letters but none for me and you may think I was not pleased. She may be sure that I will not write again until I hear from home.”

Nov. 19, 1862—[Baragar’s salutation indicates a husbandly mood shift toward his wife] “My Dear wife, your of the 9^th was received….the war is not being conducted to suit me…the abolitionists ought to come down here if they want to get cured…to see the negroes getting fat on what we ought to have to eat & they think they are better than every soldier…no one can make me believe the negros are better off free…I got the box that I had things fit to eat…so many friends thought you thought a great deal of me…there has come an order to march to Black Water with three days rations…If I live to get back I will write again.”

Dec. 9, 1862—“My Dear wife….We went to Blackwater [VA] last Monday and…..I had the pleasure of helping take 22 rebel prisoners 11 horses & 40 guns and a battery worth $40,000. I tell you I never was better pleased then to see them rebels marched in between two ranks of cavalry with the blood driping off of them from the sabers on had his ear cut off and they badly cut up but their wounds was dressed and his ear sewed on, brought to Suffolk and put in jail...I have faith to believe that I should live to come home…”

Camp Suffolk, Feb. 14, 1863—“…quiet here since our fight of Jan. 30. The Rebs has not made there appearance on this side the Black water [river]…but the Rebs are desperate…when we skirmished the woods the shells would come and cut the trees down on each side of me….the rebs fired on us and never killed a man but wounded three…one man fell within a few feet of me wounded in two places…it was a narrow escape….tell them [the children] to remember their Pa if I should never return…but I think I shall be spared to return to my family

Suffolk, May 7, 1863—“we had a battle and was successful, whipped them and routed them…they say they are in a starving condition and I should say they was by the appearance…they was the worst looking set I ever saw….It is strange that they should shoot at us and me at them all day and at night our picket and them would come together and shake hands and change papers and the next day fight again…there is not an hour when awake but my mind is with you..”

Suffolk, May 17, 1863—“…I am well but have been troubled with the diarrhea and have lost 12 lbs of flesh as it is getting very hot in the sunny south and fear it will be sickly here…I did feel incouraged two weeks ago thinking Hooker was going to take Fredericksburg and Richmond but he has failed…”

Suffolk, June 1863—“..there is considerable diarrhea in the regt. I have a furlough on the way for about two months…it is hard to get. there is so many that go and do not come back…I would give all I possess in this world if I could honorably get out of this wicked war and return to my family…Grant progressing finely at Vicksburg the last account…if he succeeds in taking it it will be a death blow to rebellion…there is a great excitement in camp now about our Reg. being transferred in to a cavalry regt and I think it will done. As for me I am not in favor of it but the majority is..”

Harewood Hospital, DC, Aug. 3, 1863—“I am slowly improving….who is drafted and been sent[?]…who is drafted in Canaseraga…tell Pa I wish he would see if he can find me a good horse six or seven years old sound and tough…”

Stockport Station, NY, Sept. 15, 1863—“Dear wife….I obtained transportation at Elmira to NY and arrived at Hancock and Stockport….found mother at the mill as well as could be expected and went to Starbirds…have been to see all my friends near Stockport and was received with as much respect as the President would by everyone…”

Centerville [VA], Oct. 17, 1863—“Dear wife, I am yet alive and well and we have fighting for a week and have been successful…We had a hard ride last night. we rode through Bull Run Creek nearly to our horses back and my horse fell down all under and got up with me all right but you can think I was some wet; we having rather hard times as we only have half rations for ourselfs and horses our poor horses how they take it…”

Bristoe Station [VA], Oct. 22, 1863—“My Dear wife….I am yet alive and well death has been nigh…last Saturday we went out to where the rebs was and we found plenty of them. There was only our reg and there was twice that No. of them drawn in line of battle. Our colonel ordered us to charge on them we went in with a yell. They fired on us a volley…they were mounted and so was we. We pursued them about two miles and we killed ten that we found and a deserter said we killed and wounded about 50. I tell you it warm for a few minutes. The balls flew like hail…we lost two killed and three wounded and one killed by falling from his horse…”

Camp near Culpeper [VA], Nov. 12, 1863—“My Dear wife….I am alive and well. We have been on the go almost night and day for three weeks and nearly used up ourselves and horses. I have the forth horse now. We do not have enough to eat for ourselves and horses for they can’t get it to us for the R.R. being destroyed…I trust there is a better day coming. I expect to get pay soon for there was seven pay musters came in the army yesterday and when I do I will send you all I can…”

Culpeper, VA, Dec. 8, 1863—Dear wife…we returned from the Rhapadan….we was on half rations and hard tacks and pork…we drew soft bread for the first time in six weeks. Scott’s dog fares much better than I do. We lay on the ground in shelter tents and nearly eaten up with lice…I have not drew any new clothing yet for they didn’t have any long enough for me and my overcoat I want and shall need this winter…Yours until death..”

On Picket 8 miles from camp, Dec. 26, 1863—“My Dear wife….we still remain in shelter tents and nearly freeze and on picket every fourth day for 24 yours and in sight of the rebs on the bank of the Rhapadan…our pickets extends all along the river and there is constant firing while I am writing there is artillery and muscatry all along the lines…..William Smith of Ossian [on furlough]…will call and see you…get me a pr of first rate buckskin gloves…give him a good dinner…if he will bring some dry fruit…I can’t write much for my hands are so cold. I am writing on this dirty sheet on a canteen…Smith can tell you how we fare…Yours in haste..”

Michel Station, {VA}, Jan. 13, 1863—“…We had a very hard scout that nearly used us up. Rode all night and it was very cold. In 18 hours went sixty miles but we captured six rebels & their horses & all their accoutrements. We took them out of their beds. One Lieutenant we found him between the straw and feather beds and two girls laying on him but we dug him out of that. I tell you them women took on awfully but was no use he had to come…from your husband, J.K. Baragar.

Michel Station, Jan. 20, 1864—“Dear wife…yet alive but not well. I have been unwell for near two weeks with a severe cold and diarrhea. I report to DR every day but he don’t do very good…my apetite is very poor and I have been obliged to buy some butter at 50 cts…cheese 30…send a box.”

Michel Station, Feb. 12, 1864—[the three cheeriest of Baragar’s letters, all written the same day] Letter 1: “My Dear wife…pleased to receive a box of such luxuries as I received from your hands…such splendid cakes & pies never came in Va. before…what the gloves cost they was just the thing…I am quite fleshy & weight is 192 and my whiskers has grown out…my love to my Dear teanty girl and my little man. Yours…” Letter 2: “Dear wife…Oh what a good breakfast I had out of that box…Send some stamps…It is warm as summer here…” Letter 3: “My Dear Wife…as I did not go on picket today and had a little leasure I thought I would write a few more lines as I can hardly express my gratitude to you for such an expression of gratitude to me….I will close for you will get tired of reading my nonsense…”

Mitchell Station, Feb. 21, 1864—“My Dear wife…received the box…came all right and I was much pleased with…those pies and cakes are all gone as there is four of us in the tent. I will send my little teanty girl [Mary} a pin & she must wear it and think of her Pa and I well send my little man [Winfield Scott Baragar] something as soon as I can get it to send…I never lay down on my bunk but I think that to wash off and go in a clean bed with you would be a luxury…”

Preston, PA, March 21, 1864. [Letter to Private Baragar from his mother Charlotte Baragar, written for her by relative Horace Starbird.] Dear Son…if it is his will he will shield from the rebels carnage…that you may have a safe and welcome return to the northern hill and valley and family and friends which are waiting and wishing with tearful eyes and bleeding hearts…if it should be your to fall on traitors soil we may meet in realms of Eternal bliss…I am at Wm. Starbirds…the spotted fever in carbondale there has about 1000 of the population has died…it is spreading all over the country…PS Remember the prayers of a praying mother. I beseech you trust in the god I trust in and you will be safe. C.B.”

Camp Near Culpeper, May 5, 1864—[Corporal Baragar’s last letter before his death, and not a happy one]—Dear wife...I have wanted for three weeks to get a letter from you in vane and thought I would write once more and see if you’d reply. if not would stop writing as my patience is exhausted…we expect the fight will commence soon and it will be a hard one too but if we are successful I think the rebs will soon give up but I fear they will whip us the first fight which I am not anxious to be in…I think if you have any love or respect for me you would write….yours in haste. J.K. Baragar.

White House Landing, VA., June 2^, 1864—[Notification of Baragar’s wounding at Old Church, Virginia, May 31, 1864]—“Mrs. J.K. Baragar, Madam…your husband requested me write you as he is not able to write because he is hit in the right breast with a ball coming out behind the shoulder blade. He is now where he can get good care and will along finely. We had to ride 30 miles in army wagons which came near to finishing all the wounded. He is on the steamer Connecticut and will leave for Washington tonight or tomorrow morning. He will let you know where to direct your letters when he gets in the hospital at Washington. Yours respectfully, S.H. Bradley, Co. D, 9^th NYVC”

At the bottom of this letter is appended a note written from widow Ann Baragar to an unknown addressee: “Sir, this is the letter I received in respect to my husband’s being wounded. I have thought it best to forward it to you as it may aid you in finding his remains. Please return this when you write to me/ Ann D. Barragar/ Capt. Leach of Dansvill was wounded and came to Washington on the same boat and left him on board of the boat on the morning of the fourth inst.” The exact date of Baragar’s death is unknown, presumably occurring aboard the steamer Connecticut or in an army hospital soon after.

From the 1^st New York Dragoons….a magnificent Civil War soldier letter group--personal and poignant, with superb camp and battle content. Invites further research.    [jp]

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