1863 SOLDIER LETTER - COL. EBENEZER W. PIERCE, 29TH MASSACHUSETTS INFANTRY TO LT. JOHN M. DEAN, LATER RECIPIENT OF THE MEDAL OF HONOR FOR GALLANTRY AT FORT STEDMAN

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Item Code: 846-341

Dated “Assonet Jany. 19 1863.” Addressed to Lieutenant John M. Dean, Medal of Honor recipient for later gallantry at Ft. Stedman, VA, 3/25/ 1865. 4 pp. on unlined paper, 5” x 8. Exhibits fold-marks, and slightly faded ink. Else VG & entirely legible.

Ebenezer W. Pierce was a resident of Freetown, MA, a 42 year old “Gentleman” who enlisted and was mustered in as Colonel of the 29th MA Infantry, 12/31/1861, and was discharged for disability 11/8/1864. His 29th Massachusetts served primarily with the 9th Corps and participated in many of the major battles—Seven Days before Richmond, Summer 1862, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Cold Harbor, Siege of Petersburg—of the Army of the Potomac, also seeing service in the west at Vicksburg, and during Burnside’s 1863 Tullahoma Campaign. Mustered out 7/29/1865, during service the unit lost 57 killed and mortally wounded and 99 by disease for a total of 156.

The recipient of this letter, John Milton Deane was a 24 year-old teach from Freetown, MA, who was commissioned into the 3rd MA Infantry Militia, 4/23/1861, and mustered out 7/22/1863. Encouraged by Colonel Pierce, he accepted a commission into the 29th MA Infantry, receiving promotions to 1st Lieut., Captain, and Major (5/15/1865), and warded the Medal of Honor for gallantry at Ft. Stedman, VA, (3/25/ 1865.

In this interesting letter Colonel Pierce writes informing Lt. Deane informing of his influence gaining Deane  promotion to 1st Lieutenant against his many enemies. Text as follows:

“Dear Jim…Last Friday, you were promoted to a 1st Lieutenant. I don’t how you feel about it, but I feel as if I had done a smart thing to get you promoted. The Governor had been strongly prejudiced against you and Doctor Wheelwright had listened to your enemies. He and I have almost quarreled several times while discussing your merits.

Then Lieutenant Colonel Barnes sent on his nomination by which it was propped to put in Winson and Braden over you. Then to secure their ends, Lieutenant Colonel Barnes wrote a letter. Captain Doten another and Whitman another. Their letters were sent to a lawyer at East Bridgewater, who sent them to the governor together with a petition from that town. Lieutenant Colonel Barnes also got Colonel Christ and General Burns to endorse the nomination and there was a desperate effort to make the governor believe that the only motive was to have the best officers promoted. Colonel Barnes in his letter said, “I ought to know, and I do know the caliber of the officers.” Colonel Christ said Colonel Barnes would not recommend these men if they were not the best and General Barnes expatiated on the responsibility to God and the Country those were under who the appointing power. John A. Andrew never appeared to me more god-like than when he handed over all this correspondence for me to read and asked an immediate expression of my wishes  which were granted at once.

I was reminded that indeed there is a God in Israel and that I had the best reasons to know that Redeemer lives. No for your own sake as well as mine, do not be put under the wheel. Use all of your leisure time to study the tactics so that if Joseph H. put you into mill, you may come out a good grist. This is the turning point of your whole life. You are now swinging on the hinges of your destiny. Succeed now and your are on the high and direct road to promotion and honor. Fail, and you can never regain your position. Just think of it how your enemies would triumph over you (both in the regiment and at home.). And even your children after you.

I suppose Major Chipman Started for the Regiment last night. Sergeant William H. Phillips has been made second lieutenant and he will be sent back to the regiment this week. He was appointed on the application of Captain Tripp made inwriting to both Doctor Wheelwright and myself. Sam Hathaway, I suppose you know, has taken the Porter girl to wife and as he would not treat he was serenaded by a Calumthian Band. The different parts were played by drums, pots, and pans tighter with liver toned horns and an old molasses hogshead was hardly thumped beneath the bride. Winder and last not least of all the church bell was rung / Please write me on receipt of this…”

This letter from a Massachusetts colonel to a favored home town lieutenant offers a perfect illustration of how fierce and how political the competition for promotion in Civil War regiments could be. In protective sleeve, accompanied a typewritten transcriptoin and research info.    [JP]

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