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Editor's Note

This ends the second section of the Civil War letters. At some future time, we will take up the next group of letters. For a full introduction to these correspondences, please see the Fall 2005 Milestone--Vol. 30, No.4. These Civil War letters were brought to the Foundation by Mrs. Alta Musgrave. They were written by two of her ancestors, David Nichols and Robert Steel.

The David Nichols letters were featured in the Fall 2005 Milestones. If you missed these, there are still some copies available at the Foundation office.

The Civil War Letters of Baden Native Robert Steel

Beaver County native Robert Steel enlisted in Company "M" of the 6th United States Cavalry at Pittsburgh on September 10, 1861. The 6th Cavalry was a regular army unit consisting of 34 officers and 950 men who were recruited mostly in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Western New York. Originally equipped with only pistols and sabers, the regiment was almost continuously engaged in combat since its arrival in Northern Virginia in March of 1862.

The letters of Private Steel are written to his sisters Peninah Steel and Sophia Steel Nichols as well as her husband, Hampton Nichols, all living near Baden. In order to keep the spirit and historical flavor of the letters, I have left in the spelling errors, but have added some punctuation for ease of reading. Otherwise the letters are as we found them.

The Civil War Letters of Baden Native Robert Steel
Letter No. 1, January 26, 1862

This particular letter was written to his sister, Peninah, who was living with their parents in Baden, approximately four months after Robert enlisted in the 6th United States Cavalry. It was penned as the unit was encamped near Washington, D.C.

My Dear Sister Peninah

I take this present opportunity to let you no that I am well at present and I hope these few lines may find you all well and in good helth. I received a letter from Sophia and Sarah and I sent you the news of Washington and I would like to hear if you got it or not. It is nerely three weeks since and I got no ancer from you since and I want to no the reason why you did not rite me a leter and tell me how all of you are getting along at home since I left and I want you to tell me how many slay riders you got yet and tell me if you had much snow this winter. There has not been ainney here yet but there has been aheap of rain for the last two months and it is verry mudy now in camp and we are doing nothing at all for now for it is to mudy to drill. H. Hart rote something about money but I could not make it out rite but I understood that it was for me to send money home to Pap and he would be more contented but it would not be safe to send it in a leter for some of the boys tried it and the money and the leter was all lost and for my part I won't try it I can keep my money safe here and Peninah tell Pap to keep in good hart and Mam for I will come home safe again and tell Pap if he needs money I will send him some for I will do anney thing in the world for him and you can tell me if he needs it or not. I have a good deal of money now but i do not spend it like some of the boys dose I cannot rite much more at present there is no fighting agoing on nere here but down the Potomac there has been some little scermiches [skirmishes] but not handy and I don't no how long we will stay here yet. We might leve here soon and we might stay here the three years. I can't tell the brush crick [Brush Creek] boys Is all well at present and C. Belar is all well. I can send you some newspapers if you want to read them and the only thing that we need in this world is good helth and tell Pap and Mam to not spend a minute of uneasiness about me for they can't help me ainney by fretting about me for a soldier has to trust to the lord for they have a great many doings to go throu. Rite soon Peninah and be a good girl and do every thing that your parence tells you to do and you will be a happy woman. Rite soon.

Robert Steel

The Civil War Letters of Baden Native Robert Steel
Letter No. 2, February 16, 1862

This second letter was written to his brother-in-law, Hampton Nichols, approximately one month after the first letter. At the time of this writing, the 6th Cavalry was still encamped near Washington, D.C. The reader will notice Steel's reference to a large number of soldiers dying from Typhoid and Small Pox. Historians have estimated that throughout the Civil War, the Union side alone lost over one quarter of a million men to disease.

My Dear Brother

I take this present opportunity to let you no that I am well and in good helth and I hope that these few lines may find you in the same state of helth. I received your letter the 14 and I was glad to here that you all was well and in good helth. You said that Sophia and Polly sent me some things on the cars but I did not receive it atall. You said that you paid the frait [freight] to Washington but my good friend it did not come atall I think it was rong [wrong] shipped some how there was some of the boys in our company got things sent to them from Pittsburgh on Adams Express and it came all wright and I am sorry that you had ainey bother for nothing. There is only about the half of the letters that the soldiers rites goes home for I think the letters is all opened on the way. There was two or three letters came in our Company opened but there was none of mine opened yet I am verry sorry that you had so much bother with that box you tried to send me and it did not come. The boys that got things sent to them was in a tight box and directed in large letters and they came safe. There is not much agoing on here now the weather is verry rough and a heap of rain there is three inches of snow here now for the first this winter but lots of mud. Alf Charuthers is well at present and Jim Evins is well and all the brush crick [Brush Creek] boys is well except Art Hillman he is trying to get his discharge he has been sick ever sence he has been in camp. Our boys is pretty well at present the Typhoid Feaver was verry bad here but it is a little over now and the small pox is verry bad now there is a heap of the boys in camp dying with the feaver but for my part I never had better helth in my life then sence I have been in camp. It agrees with me first rate. The worst thing that we have to do is to stand gard around the camp there was one of the Sentinels shot last Thursday night on gard and they could not tell who shot him. There is more of the cavalry that gitts throwed off their hourses and gets killed and their arms and legs broke that the Secesh [Secessionists or Rebels] will kill. All the arms we have is a saber and a revolver a good six shooter. I can't rite much more at present about war there is a heap of talk about them discharging the sixth cavalry against Spring and send them all home but I don't know how it will turn out yet. Now Hampton I want you to rite to me as soon as you git this letter and tell me how all the folks is agetting in baden. I send my best respects to all your folks and Joseph Evins no more at present but still remain your affectionate friend. You must be sure and tell me how Pap and good old mother is getting along. No more at present but still remain your affectionate friend.

Robert Steel
to Hampton Nichols

The Civil War Letters of Baden Native Robert Steel
Letter No. 3, April 1, 1862

During the days prior to this letter, the 6th U.S. Cavalry was taken by ship to Fortress Monroe after having marched to their embarkation point via Fairfax, and Alexandria, Virginia where they were loaded onto ships. The 6th was to play a part in General McClellan's amphibious invasion of Virginia known as the Peninsular Campaign.

Fortress Monroe
April the 1 1862

My Dear Brother

I take this opportunity to let you no that I am well at present and enjoying good health and I hope that these few lines may find you in good helth. We have left Washington three weeks ago and went to Fairfax and from there to Bull Run and from there to Manassus Junction and then to Cedar Crick and then we went to the Rapehannick [Rappahannock] river and then twined round and went across to Alexandria and incamped there three days and then got on a ship and sailed down to Fortress Monroe and now we are on the ship lying here and I can't tell you whether we will land at all or not for they are waiting for orders where to go but i think we will land and incamp here a while. But I tell you we are in the hornets nest now. Yesterday there was fifty thousand strong there leftYorktown only eight miles from us. There is hundreds of steamships and boats lying here in this bey [bay] loadened [loaded]with soldiers and it is just where the James River emptys into the Potomac. There is a large bey named Chesipeaque Bey but I tell you that the next fight they have will tell the tail for it will be a hard one. Hampton the most that I rite for is to lett you no that I am well and all the rest of our Boys only McCombs and A. Hillman went home on a furlo and coming back at Harrisburg [Pennsylvania]. Hillman deserted and run off from McCombs and if they catch him they will put him in a tite place. I sent Peninah a letter when I was at Alexandria and did not get an ancer yet ­ I don't think she got it and Hamp rite often and tell me how Pap and Mother is getting along. I can't rite atall here on bord of the ship for it is verry rough today and they say that the letters won't go atall from here but you must rite often and tell me how you are getting along and tell Peninah to rite soon. You see that the letters will come to me when they won't go home for we are now rite in the thickest of the Secesh [Secession] and we can see them sometimes coming on the bank of the river about 4 miles and then they turn round and run back in the pine. Hamp I can't give you any sadisfaction in a letter atall. I just rite to let you no that I am well and that is about all I can tell you for if I have luck to come home I can tell you all about it plain and strait. Now rite soon. No more at present but still remain your affectionate friend. Robert Steel
Hampton Nichols

Rite soon Dear Brother and tell me the news all about home and if Sis did not git that letter tell her to rite me soon as possible
Good By

The Civil War Letters of Baden Native Robert Steel
Letter No. 4, April 17, 1862

This particular letter was written as the regiment was being held in reserve about seven miles from Yorktown, Virginia and only about 70 miles away from the Confederate capital of Richmond during the Peninsular Campaign.

My dear brother

I take this present opportunity to let you no that I am well at present and hoping these few lines may find you all in good helth. I received your letter yesterday the 16 and I was glad to hear from you and you said that you had rote me a letter a month ago and got no ancer but I rote you three since I left Washington and only got one ancer yet and if you git this one rite soon and tell me how you are all getting along. We got on bord the Vessels at Alexandria and was 7 days on them for we had to lay at Fortress Monroe three days befour we could get a shore and then we traveled across the country to shipping Point and we have been in camp here four days and it is a verry nice level country but it is verry swampy and the water is verry bad. If we sink a hole only three feet we can git water aney place we are only seven miles from Yorktown and 70 miles from Richmond and that will be the hardest place to take that they have taken yet for the secession is all there but I think that they will take Yorktown this week for they had a small skermish yesterday and they took our wounded along here last night to the hospital and our troops is shelling the wood all the time as they advance on the town to drive in their pickets for they shot some of our guard and the shells scares them out prety fast and there is lots of the [unreadable] deserting and coming over to our army. Last night there was a hole squad come and give themselves up and they tell all about their army and the number of their men and all about them. I can't tell you much about them yet but I can tell you more the next time. We can hear the cannens all the time at Yorktown and there is a good many of our boys got the Buck feaver since we have got so nere the enemy and is on the sick list. Young Bill Kelly of Brush Crick is pretty sick but he is getting better our regiment is kept back for the reserve and all the volunteers goes ahead of the regulars and I don't think that the cavilry can do much here with them four they have to many forts and will half to be shelled out and then the cavalry can make a charge on them. It is verry searious to go in a fight I think but would like to make a charge on the devils and there is no doubt that we will not half to do it real soon. I can't rite much more at present and will half to soon quit. Spring has appeared very nice and the cold and dreary winter is past and summer is come and the apple trees is all out in leaf nice here and every tree but the oaks and every thing looks green and gey [gay] and I wish you a good harvest and good helth.
R. Steel
Hampton Nichols

Sophia my dear sister you said that you was so lonesome since I left but you must be contented for I will come home safe again. I know you think a good deal about me but you must not fret but I know that a sisters love is true and I hope we will have some good fun yet when I come back again I can't rite often for we are moving all the time. Rite soon.

R. Steel S. Nichols

The Civil War Letters of Baden Native Robert Steel
Letter No. 5, June 1, 1862

This particular letter was written to Robert's sister, Peninah Steel, as the regiment was in camp along the Chickahominy River, again as part of the Peninsular Campaign.

My dear sister

I take this opportunity to let you no that I am well and in good helth at present and I hope these few lines may find you in the same good helth. I received your letter yesterday and it pleased me to here [hear] from you and all the folks and you said that mam wanted a present and I will send her 20 dollars for her to buy a nice dress and you can buy one to and if you get it send me a letter strait back and tell me if you git it or not and if you do I will be verry glad and that news you hear about me bein sick is all a ly [lie]. I have not been sick a minute since I left home and we are pretty nere Richmond at the Chickamahoning [Chickahominy] river and that news you heard about Captain haris [Harris] bein at town is all aly [a lie]. Haris [Harris] is here with us and he is a brave man and you said you heard that Josh Kreps was our Captain and that is a ly [lie] for when we had that fight at Williamsburgh he got his hoursse shot and he fell on his leg and Josh is gone home and he is agoing to git his discharge if he can. Pap said he wanted to no who will be our Captain and Haris [Harris] is our Captain and we have too good lieutenants and General Stone [Stoneman] is our General. We are in his division and Emery is the courier and we have all good officers. We have had three fights already and the Sixth Cavilry is the advance and the Sixth Cavilry is the best regiment General McClelland said in the service and I can't tell you ainny more at present but rite soon and tell me if you got this or not and tell me all the news that is agoing on. I would rite oftener but we are moving every day and I cannot rite often. I would like to rite to you all but I cant this time. Rite soon. Charles Belar wants you to send him a letter. No more at present. Direct your letters the same as befour and I will get them. Rite soon

Robert Steel Peninah Steel

The Civil War Letters of Baden Native Robert Steel
Letter No. 6, June 13, 1862

The letter was written as the regiment was camped about eight miles from Richmond, and says that there wasn't much happening. That was all about to change as Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart was embarking on one of the most famous cavalry actions of the war, when he embarrassed the Union Army by riding his command around them. The Sixth Cavalry was ordered in pursuit, but fought no major actions with Stuart's troopers as they returned safely to Confederate lines.

Camp near Richmond

My Dear Sister
I take this present opertunity to let you no that I am well and enjoying good helth. I received your leter and I was glad to here that you all was well and in good health. Peninah you must excuse me for not writing you a long leter this time but I am just writing more to let you now [know] that I am well. We are now within 8 miles from Richmond and we are looking for a large battle every day and I think that this battle here at Richmond will finish the war altogether. I have not much to write at present and Peninah I want you to rite me a large leter and tell me what is agoing the 4th of July and tell me how Henry Heart is getting along on the new farm by [unreadable] and I send my best respects to Hamp and Sophie. Now Peninah tell me how Pap is agetting along this summer and how mam is to and all the particulars that is agoing on about home. Rite soon

R. Steel Peninah Steel

The Civil War Letters of Baden Native Robert Steel
Letter No. 7, July 26, 1862

This letter is being written at Harrison's Landing, Virginia as the Union army has withdrawn from Richmond following their defeat and near disastrous retreat during what is known as the "Seven Days' Battles" between June 25th and July 1st.
Harrisons Landing Virginia

My dear brother

I take this present opertunity to inform you that I am well and I hope these few lines find you enjoying the same good helth. I received a leter from you some time ago and I neglected riting to you but you must excuse me for not writing sooner this time for I could not rite often for I had no chance. The weather is verry hot and dry here and the watter is scarce and there is a good deal of sickness here now. The ague and the feaver is very bad but it could not be any other way when there is so many men together. There has been no fighting since that big fight that they had three weeks ago. All is quiet about here now. Yesterday our pickets and the rebs had had a small skermich and we captured 8 of them and they wounded one or two of our men and then dismounted and run in the swamp and we got 22 of their hourses or else we would have taken them all prisoners. They are a mean set of men and as cunning as foxes. Our boys is all well at present and getting along fine but some of them is verry tired of the service. Charles Belar is verry busy making a kind of a bake oven today. He said he will have some fresh bread like we used to have at home. Weens and younner and I think we have raisins this day he talks like old perry ust to talk when she came over for corn. You know Sophia what fun we often had apicking corn. Some of our brush Crick boys is very down hearted but that is no use we must keep our spirits some way and they would like to get their discharge if they could but they cant. I here that they have called out three hundred thousand men and they say that they are drafting in new york and pittsburgh but I don't believe it. But Hamp don't you list [enlist] for God sake for you don't now the soldiers has to stand the times. Hamp I never want to see anny of my brothers in the infantry if they can possibly help it. General McClelland thought that he could lik [lick] the south with a few thousand men but I tell you that he finds out his blind mistake now for it will take all the men he can raise and then might not lik them. Hampton if the war is settled with powder and led [lead] it will be the hardest fighting ever was known just when our men thought they was in Richmond the rebels came around and attacked them in the read and drove us back 20 miles and now our army is all lying under cover of our gun boats and waiting for reinforcements to advance on Richmond. They say our men won't attack this winter if they let us to do yet nor I don't care neither we do all we can now for we are here and there is no way of getting out of the scrape. Sophia I went out to the volunteers and I say Unckle David Akens and Barty and John Heckert and they are all well and sends their best respects to you. All poor old Davy said in that fight that had he shot till his gun was so hot he could not lode it anny more and Barty said he will jist build himself a fort against the next fight and croll [crawl] in it and he said he will jist get his discharge. No more at present but rite soon Sophia and Hamp and tell me all about harvest and tell me about how things is about home and tell me how the poor old man and Mother is this harvest. And rite soon and tell me all that is agoing on about home and Baden. Hamp I can't tell you verry much about the War I just rite to let you no that I am well. Rite soon good by.

Robert Steel to Hampton Nichols