Chauncey Hill: Part 5

By Craig Hilmer

Chauncey J. Hill, in 1864, was a young farmer just married to 20 year old Sarah Downing. Both had family who farmed in the Saratoga area and were themselves just setting up their own household and farm when Chauncey was called up to offer his services to the Minnesota 9th Regiment, Company K for battle in the Civil War.

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 those letters are being reprinted in The St. Charles Press over the next few weeks.

In week five of our series Private Hill is in St. Louis, Missouri, being staged with his company at Schofield Barracks as they prepare to transport to Fort Wyman in Rolla Missouri. Fort Wyman was the last stop a Minnesota Regiment made before being shipped south to battle with the rebel army.

Before we get to Chauncey, the completion of Sarah’s letter of last week where she recounted a dream she’d had of Chauncey home on furlough. Sarah discusses some local characters and tells Chauncey of the establishment of Sabbath classes at their church.

I have dreamt twice since you went away of seeing you with some stripes on your coat sleeves. I wonder what that meant, do you know? 

A Sabbath school house commenced at the Harding School house. They met together (on) Sabbath to choose teachers. They have 8 or 10 teachers, they have about 5 scholars in a class in all except the Bible class. There are 2 Bible classes, one for the girls and one for the boys. Mr. Gerrish and his wife are teachers of the Bible classes. Mr. Tower is the superintendent. The people in that neighborhood raised some money, enough to get a 20 dollar library, it is a very nice one.  They have got some new singing books, too, and folding chairs. I think they will have a good school. 

Lydia Schowell is very sick. I saw Mrs. Dickson today, she was in to see Lydia yesterday. She says they allow no one to talk with her but her own folks; they think she cannot live. Mrs. Dickson thinks she is dead now.  

This morning affine looking fellow came along with some Astronomys, some maps of the United States and lots of pictures. I bought a beautiful picture of a young lady with a dove in her arms. I think it splendid and well worth the money I gave for it, which was 25 cents. The picture is about 18 x 16 inches. Maybe you will think I had better kept the money for some other purpose, but it was so handsome I thought I must have it.
I am much obliged to you for the ring you sent me, I shall keep it for as long as I live if I do not lose it.  

Now Chauncey, take good care of yourself and keep in good company.
From your loving Sarah, ever yours, Sarah E. Hill

In the same correspondence, Sarah included this letter

Saratoga, April 28th 1864 

Dear Husband,
It is with great pleasure I take up my pen to answer another letter which I received from you today. It had been over a week since I had a letter from you and that seemed a long time to wait. But now I have found the reason why I did not get a letter. Through carelessness of some Postmaster you letter, dated April 18th was carried up to St. Mary’s, so it did not get round to me until this afternoon. And now I can tell you I feel better. 

The Winona paper says that in Missouri an order has been received from the War Department to forward all volunteer regiments now serving there to the Army of the Potomac. Quite likely you have heard of that before now. I suppose you and Joseph and the other boys will have to go, too. It seems to me as though you would be in more danger there than you are now; but the Lord only knows. May the Lord protect you and go with you, wherever you go.  

It is late in the eve now, and I am tired I have been ironing all the PM so I must go to bed and rest. 

Good night, my Chauncey

From Chauncey:

St. Louis Mar 21 1864 

Dearest Wife,
So I’ve just been writing home and I will put in a few more words to my Sarah. We are still idling away time in Schofield Barracks but expect to start for Rolla tomorrow.
I’ve not yet been over this city much and probably will not. I’ve been out twice since our arrival and may go to the court house in the PM. There are many sights to be seen but you know my curiosity is not very great as I will probably not see it all.  Our quarters seem more comfortable the longer we stay. 

I have enjoyed two more meetings and find a strong religious sentiment here.
The weather is cool and clear. We enjoy good health though my cold has not yet left me. My appetite is good (unintelligible) and the cold is better. 

I have not received a letter from you and don’t know when to look for one. Direct your next to Rolla if you write immediately after getting this. We may stay there some weeks. I don’t know what county its’ in but direct to Co. K 9” Minn Vol. Rolla Missouri. When we get there I expect to write again.  

How do you enjoy yourself since parting? My first homesickness was that afternoon but we must shake off such feelings as much as possible and look forward to the future with hope. Be assured I shall ever try to be in the line of duty and also look out for myself. ‘Tis necessary to be ready and fearless but also to be prudent. 

Dear Sarah, look to God and be reconciled to his lot which is his will and should be ours. Pray that we may meet in peace. May His joy go with you. 

Your Aff. Husband
Chauncey J. Hill

Another letter from Chauncey:

Co K 9” Minn
Fort Wyman, Rolla Mo, Quarters of C.E. 9” M. V. March 24” 1864 

My Dear Sarah:
We are at last experiencing something of camp life. Arrived here without accident last Tuesday PM by mail train from St. Louis after a slow ride of a hundred miles or so. The road is in poor order for fast funning being rough and uneven. It is guarded at various points by small squads of men who ward off the “bushwhackers.” 

The country is very poor excepting a few miles of route near St. Louis. It is rough and considerably covered with timber. We passed one station of some size called on the map Big River, I think. Most of the way the settlers are “few and far between.” Much of the farming seems to be poorly conducted; having a thriftless appearance not often seen in Minnesota. There are, however, some farms which something of wealth and enterprise; having some good rail fences, fine orchards of apples and peaches but very little land plowed or being plowed. They seem to rely considerably off on stock, though we saw not little of that. Altogether I would not wish to live here from what little observation I have made.  

Rolla is a little town at the present terminus of the southern branch of the Pacific R.R. It has a dilapidated and dirty appearance for a new town and one which a great amount of business done in it.  It’s quite an important (unreadable) at present as there is much government property and barge supplies in about the town. 

Fort Wyman is about ¾ of a mile west of Rolla on an (unreadable) overlooking the town. It has four 32 pounders at the angles mounted on pivots capable of being turned in any direction. 

The fort is an earthwork of considerable strength with a trench around it and bastions at two angles loop-holed for infantry. These abstains command the trench and are covered with dirt. One of them is used for Rebel prisoners. One attempted to escape a short-time ago and was shot down about 4 rods from the fort. 

I am now quartered with Co. E with whom I sleep and get rations. We are better suited than we were at Ft. Snelling or St. Louis. The tents are comfortable and convenient. They are built up with logs for about 3 feet and the tent spread on top. So we have a little door 2 foot high and a small fire-place of brick or stove. A floor of boards is quite common. A shelf or two, a stool, clothes line, some straw and extra coffee sacks, finished off by the articles a soldier always has completes the store.  

But I must stop. We are getting some more tents and I must look out for a chance. Love to you; respects to all. I’ve had no better yet. Blessings go with you. Excuse haste. 

Ever in love,
Chauncey

Next week we’ll continue on. The letters from Chauncey are numerous, many from Rolla where he and the 9” waited for over a month. Those will be excerpted until he gets closer to the battle. There aren’t as many letters from Sarah. One might presume that Chauncey, on the move in the throes of war, was not able to maintain as many as Sarah did.