(Company D, Cole’s Cavalry)

Sergeant Alpheus Stansbury

Submitted By: Lisa H. Farnitano

Nov 19, 1861

Hagerstown

Dear brother I write you a few lines to inform you that we had orders to go to Frederick again immediately and it created disturbance between all of us[.] I cannot tell how soon we will start or whether we will go at all or not. Our company is greatly filled out but if it was over filled I could get four or five of you fellows in yet for they is several in the company that will be transferred in infantry[.] if you fellows will come around by Frederick our commanding officers will meet ….and talk it over[.] Just you get ready if you want to come until I….send you a letter and then I can tell you particulars about the affair[.] One of our men died yesterday an was sent to Baltimore this morning[.] His name F. Wigggins[.] Calvin if you have promised to bring the boys bring them a long and you will be paid but do not go to expense[.] I will write another letter tomorrow. It is now getting dark.

I am well at present

Alpheus Stansbury

Tell lil grogg about it [The Grogg family lived in Hampstead]

Harpers Ferry July 24 [probably 1863]

Dear friends

I address you all with pleasure. I received your letter to day an was very glad to hear from you all and of you all being well. I am not very well at present my self nearly one third of the company is sick more or less with the dissentry. The season is now approaching for the fever an ague which the soldiers will be subject to a long here but that is a light disease. I would not be surprised to here of the yellow fever getting among our lower armies. General Wall reviewed us on brigade drill at Tuesday. He was much pleased an says we are fit for active service. He says he will call shortly to see us again. Twelve of our men went on a scout to day as far as Berryville they report all quiet in that section. I cannot say how long it will remain so. I am inclined to think that they will be an other move of the armies before long. They has bin no change here since you left. If you meant to stay until next week do so. You will not be punished for it, if you manage it right. You can come through in one day but you will have to take the first train at Reisterstown for Balt in the morning never be behind time. When you arrive at Calvert Station get some boy to show you the way to Camden station then get a ticket to harpers Ferry. Be careful not to get on the wrong cars for they will be difficult to find the right one. I suppose will it go a hard for you to leave or for them to see you leave. But you can tell them that you are not in the field alone. Therefore do not be troubled. If nothing happens at me I may get home this fall or write but not before in fact I do not care about coming home but I would like to see you all very much. No more at present. Write as soon as you receive this. Stay until the middle or latter part of next week an I think that will be long enough. Never intrude upon good nature.

My love to you all

Alpheus Stansbury

Letter from Alpheus Stansbury to his brother Cal on Dec 12, 1863, from Charles, VA (Probably Charles Town, VA)

Camp at Charles VA De 12th 63

Dear Brother

I address you with pleasure to inform how things are going on in this Department all the Cavalry of this command has gone on a scout they are gone out for fifteen days. They is a big thing on hand in this department the are accompanied by the 34th Mass. Regt, 12th VA an Capt Miners Indiana Battery they are to form a junction with the forces from western VA somewhere up this valley. You will in all probability here from them in the Course of two weeks but not sooner unless they are driven back but not with withstanding they have made preparations to come back when they get ready. The reason why I am not along is that I was on Picket when the scout was ordered. I received a Letter from Whit he is at Brandy Station an well all is quiet there. Cal I saw in the paper where a man by your name is drafted how do you think you will like soldiering. I think you will make a pretty good conscript I think you have the mettal you out to get an old musket with the black broke of an learn to drill. Also get an old saber that is dull an learn the points an parrys you ought to get some hard tack an eat them occasionally so when you do get in service the change of diet will not effect you so much. I must talk about something else. Cal a small box containing some apples a can of oysters a bottle of drink would be expectable providing it be genuine I would sent the money for them but have not got it at present our pay was detained on account of some of the boys stealing whilst on a scout trip up the valley No more at present My best wishes are for you an the welfare of our Country

A Stansbury

May the 12th

Camp near Martinsburg VA

Dear friends I address you all with pleasure to inform you that we are all well at present an hope these few lines will find your enjoying the same blessing. John received a letter from Whitfield. This evening his regiment is yet at Berryville everything is quiet in that department a great many of our troops has left Winchester an gone to western VA to goin [join] henly an mulligan. I think they will be a fight there shortly as the enemy is concentrating a considerable forse ther under the command of Jones an imboden. Every thing is quiet here at this time we captured four rebs the other day in a mile of us[.] I sent you a letter the first of May stating that I have sent you ninety Dollars the package was directed to uncle John and I put a little note inside of the package stating that the money was for you so if he gets it you will get it no doubt, I do not suppose you received my letter dated May 1st or you have answered it before now the weather is pretty fine at the time the grain an grass looks fine but the corn an oats looks quite short but I think if the weather continues like it is now I would like very much to be at home about this time but no chance[.] I was in Martinsburg yesterday[.] They were loading troops there on the cars to send to the western part of the state to cooperate against the railroad an bridge burners the remainder of our battalion is Kearneysville we were sent up here to guard a bridge over the opeycan break[.] I must now close as I was on picket last night an feel more like sleeping than writing.

No More at Present

My love to you all

Alpheus Stansbury

Henry Stansbury

Direct to Harpers Ferry VA

Write Soon

Camp Stoneman June 8th [18]64

Near Washington, DC

Dear Friends

I address you with Pleasure to inform you how we are getting along at present.

I have just bin over to see John. He does not appear to be any better yet but by no means any worse than he was when Cal was here. He does not appear to be in any Misery. He is very weak Not much appetite I don't think that he will get any worse than he is. For the reason is this he has now bin ill for ten Days an he is no worse to Day than he was Six Days ago. Therefore I think he will Soon change for the Better after he gets able he may Possibly get A chance to get home. I would have written sooner but was waiting for a change so that I Could write you a more satisfactory Letter. There is no mistake the endurance an the privations of a Soldiers live is by no means easy. Therefore when a Soldier gets ill it goes hard with him our past exposure then tells. As for myself I cannot stand half the exposure that I could two years ago but I believe that I could stand before the Enemy now better than I could then. I am getting a Little more accustomed to the noise of artillery for they are Shooting around here Every Day and I heard a Little before I came here. I have no Particulars to tell you at Present

Let me hear from you all

My Love to you all

Alpheus Stansbury

Camp Stoneman June 12, 1864

Dear Friends,

I have the pleasure to inform you that John is Getting Better [.] One of the boys just Left him a few minutes ago. He was sitting up talking with Some of the men there. No Doubt but what he will recover fastly. I intend going to see him to morrow my self. I could not get to go to Day.

The weather is quit[e] pleasant here today for the Season. We have had very warm weather here but it is cool to Day[.] on Thursday Evening we had a terrible Storm. during the storm they was a great many of our tents leveled to the ground[.] of all the Storms that I ever witnessed this beat all. They was a perfect gale of sand that Swept from the fortifications an was hurled in our Camp by the raging Strom an dusted us so badly that we looked more like Brick makers than Soldiers fortunately they was no damage done. More than a few tents upset[.] I have received no Letter from home since you Left.

They is rumors in camp that we are to move from here but that is all that I know about it[.] I intent writing a Letter to whit to Day

No more at Present

My love to all, Alpheus Stansbury

Co. D Coles MD Cavalry

Camp Stoneman near Washington DC

September 4th

I thought I finish my Letter this morning & the boys all came home last night on parole of honor. John is at the point of ------------. He is not hurt. John Williams is wounded. John will write to you to day. I am in a hurry

I ought to be off now

My love to you all