Merritt L. Pierce, 1st New York Engineers, 30 April 1865, Richmond at End of War

Description

Merritt L. Pierce, Company "L", 1st New York Engineers, Letter home to his parents, 4 large pages, 30 April  1865, from "Manchester," (Manchester being a district in the city of Richmond), Pierce writes about the coming end of his term of service, how he has changed as a man, and includes a fantastic description of the city of Richmond at the end of the war.  Pierce visited the Confederate Capitol, statues of Washington and Henry Clay, Castle Thunder and Libby Prison and Jefferson Davis's home (where he cut out a small piece of Davis's carriage to send home), in part:
"
Well it is Sunday morning, have just been on inspection and are to have another one at one o'clock at which we shall be mustered for pay (hope the paymaster will be along soon) but don't expect he will be until our time is out which will be in just 4 months, two more general inspections and I can go home.  I would not refuse my discharge at any time previous but I don't expect it...... I can hear the church bells ring and how I wish I could go but I can't today.  There is not a Sunday that passes but I think of home and the pleasures I once enjoyed there, how I used to get ready for church and then play a tune on the melodia..... I think of the past much more of late than I did before the great victories....
I have not got a great many lady correspondents and I don't care to have.....
Well last Thursday I took a stroll through Richmond to see the fine place.  I visted the Capitol first but could not go inside (it is a fine building).  I saw Washington monument which is a splendid thing, he is represented as being on horseback and it is very life-like, how I wish you could see it.  I also saw one representative Henry Clay which they said was very correct.  I then walked through Broadway and up some of the principal streets (the fire has done a great deal of damage but it is a Beautiful city as it is.  I visited President Davises dwelling, it is a fine structure and in a sightly place.  As I stood before that beautiful place I had some solemn thoughts.  I could see the stairs that he had ascended and descended so many times and there was his carriage nearby that he had rode in many times, and it seemed to me as if I could almost see him walking about in all the splendor imaginable, but not with a clear conscious.  I then walked down to Castle Thunder and then to Libby Prison where so many of our brave boys were starved to death, they are filled with prisoners that have committed crime now since Richmond is ours.....
I will try to write a few lines when I get through with this miserable inspection.... Well the orderly called us out and we waited quite a while and then the orderly said break ranks and fall in when I call you..... I don't want anything better than a dish of bread and milk and a piece of custard pie.
P.S. Enclosed you will find a small piece of Jeff's carriage that I spoke of.
"
In very good condition, but with some separations at the middle folds yet intact.
Merritt L. Pierce joined the 1st New York Engineers out of happenstance when he went to New York City hoping to enter the U.S. Navy.  He was from northern New York state and ended up joining the 1st New York Engineers on 31 August 1864, enlisting in Company "L" along with other friends from his hometown.  He served with the regiment for the rest of the war in Virginia during the Petersburg and Appomattox Campaigns.  In his letters home he mentions other members of his company including Almon C. Emery, John Hunter and William Beckwith.  He generally wrote lengthy letters with good penmanship and spelling