Merritt L. Pierce, 1st New York Engineers, Letter 23 September 1864, Petersburg

Description

Merritt L. Pierce, Company "L", 1st New York Engineers, Letter home to his parents, 4 pages, 23 September 1864, from "Camp Near Petersburg," Pierce writes about a long "walk" that tired him out not being used to the marches of army life, choosing to join Company "L" and specifically the Engineer branch, being in charge of a squad of negroes on the front lines and experiencing the effects of bullets and shells for the first time, and the benefits of being in an Engineer regiment, in part:
"
I am well but feel some tired from the effects of a long walk I took yesterday.  We started for Point of Rocks, the Headquarters of the Regiment to get assigned to one company..... I chose Company L and so did 10 of the other recruits..... I have had very easy times since I came here, have not worked 6 hours since I have been here, in fact I have not
worked
at all.  I was detailed to go over to the Subsistence Depot and get a load of supplies for the Engineers..... I was sent to the front one day which was not quite so agreeable, the work was nothing for all I had to do was to boss a squad of Negroes, but I was where I could hear the bullets whistle over my head and hear the bursting of shells and see the pieces strike within 5 rods of me.  There was no one hurt that day in our Battery.  I was some frightened when I first heard the whistling of the bullets but I soon got over it and did not mind it at all.   There is not much danger if a person is careful.  I am glad I chose the Engineer service for all of any other.  We have better rations, more liberty, we can go where we choose without a pass, we have no marching to do, no picket duty to do.  Sometimes in an emergency we might have to fight, or rather defend ourselves but this is seldom the case..... They say we will finish the fortifications here in the course of two weeks.  Our Colonel is trying to get us stationed at Washington this winter..... I have not paid the Sutler a single cent yet and I don't think I shall...... I would like you to make me two flannel shirts and color them blue if you can, if you cannot, color them red....
"
In fine condition.
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.