Chauncey Hill: Part 2

By Craig Hilmer

During the 1860’s settlers to the St. Charles area not only tamed the prairie for agriculture and commerce, but they sent their sons and husbands to help fight for the Union in the Civil War.
One of those early settlers in the area was Chauncey J. Hill of Saratoga. Hill was a 26 year old pioneer who had followed his family to Minnesota from New York. He met a young neighbor girl, Sarah Downing, married her, and was starting his own farmstead when he was called up into the Minnesota 9th Regiment, Company K.

He and Sarah corresponded during the war and those letters were maintained by family until they were donated to the Minnesota Historical Society in the 1960s.  Some of that correspondence is being reprinted in The St. Charles Press over the next few weeks.

The image is some of the envelopes the letters were mailed in 150 years ago. 1 cent stamps.
Sometimes the envelopes are sent to Saratoga, some to St Charles.

Today’s installment finds Private Hill at Fort Snelling in St Paul, awaiting orders to march south to meet the rebels in battle.

Fort Snelling March 4th 1864 

Dear Sarah,
We have just read some important news, important to us because it concerns us. Edwin Day, this afternoon heard the Colonel say the boys of the unit are going to be sent away on Monday next. 

So you see we are considerably elated and are hoping that it may be so, for we don’t like the idea of staying here this long. It is doubtful about getting an opportunity to see home on our way down and I cannot say when we will arrive in Winona.  We have some hopes of going down with Levi Taylor’s team and so having an opportunity to stop at home as they will go by way of Rochester. I will not write anything definitely today as Joseph intends to write tomorrow.  

If Taylor’s team goes without us they will probably get home in season to let you know.
There may still be delays as there often is in military matters. But I hope Joseph will be able to write particulars tomorrow.  In the meantime we shall be full of expectations and you need not give up all notion of seeing us at home.  

Confusion, dirt, shouting, swearing and scuffling still reign supreme in our quarters. We slept one night on the floor. Yesterday we cleaned out new quarters, fitted up bunks and took our pick. In the evening an immense crowd gathered here to see a regular circus performer. It was quite a sight; he was about as limber as an eel and twisted into a great variety of shapes. Finally a small table was set on the top of four common bottles and a chair on four more placed on top of the table. He climbed them and seated himself in the chair after various exercises, called for a hoop and a glass of water. He placed the glass on his forehead, throwing his head back, putting one foot through the hoop crawled through it back and forth in a most singular manner. It was well worth seeing. 

Today we saw several of the cavalry boys with sticks of cord wood tied to them which they were obliged to carry around as a punishment for running past the guard.
We drill twice a day and have no more news. Don’t indulge in too much hope of seeing us, but I hope we shall stop. Good Bye this (unintelligible) Your Chauncey 

 Private Hill took time to compose Sarah a song, hymn-like in structure, that frames the perils ahead of him and Sarah. Hill uses a literary device, shifting his persona from soldier to the lover left behind. One could assume Hill did this to allow more freedom in expressing his fears and hopes for the coming months, as well as to note his pride in serving his country.

When This Cruel War is Over
Dearest love do you remember when last did meet,
How you told me that you loved me kneeling at my feet?
Oh how proud you stood before me in your suit of blue
And you vowed to me and country ever to prove true.
Weeping sad and lonely
Hoping and fears how vain
When this cruel war is over
Praying that we meet again

When the summer breeze is sighing mournfully along.
Or, when Autumn’s leaves are falling sadly breathes the song.
Off in dreams I see thee lying on the battle plain.
Lonely, wounded, even dying,
Calling, but in vain.

If amid the din of battle
Nobly you should fall
Far away from those who love you
None to hear you call.

Who would whisper words of comfort
Who would soothe your pain?
Oh the many cruel fancies
Ever in my brain!

But your country call you darling
Angels cheer your way;
While our nations sons are fighting
We can only pray!

Nobly strike for God and Freedom
Let all nations see
How we love the starry banner
Emblem of the free!

Weeping sad and lonely
Hoping and fears how vain
When this cruel war is over
Praying that we meet again

Next week more correspondence from Sarah’s side. Did Chauncey get to see her before they moved on down to Missouri to stage for battle? Stay tuned.