Letters of Private Giberson, 14th NJ Volunteers Camp Hooker Oct 27/62
Dear Cousin,
It is with the greatest pleasure that I take my pen in hand to write you a few lines to inform you that I am well at present, hoping these few lines may find you the same.
I am encamped at Frederick Junction, Monocacy Bridge, Maryland guarding the government stores and railroad bridge which was blown up by the rebels just after we left there and went to Elyaville. They done quite a good deal of damage in coming through here, for the railroad bridge cost eighty thousand dollars. It was a double track bridge, it being the central railroad from Philadelphia to Ohio, and the main road from here to Harper's Ferry and Washington.
It hurt us a good deal putting our troops and supplies through to the main army. The rebels diidn't make much by going through for they got most an awful hammering at Harper's Ferry. We had one thousand of the prisoners here. They was a pretty rough customer, I tell you--half naked, lousy and barefooted. It would have made you shudder to look at them and think how will they stick and fight. I should think they would give up and come under the laws of the United States and not fight any longer, but I don't believe they ever will until they are whipped in and I hope they will be before long.
I have been in the service very nigh three months and haint had a shot at the rebels yet. It is quite hard to go so far from home a gunning and not find any game to shoot. It's a worse place than Jersey for game---all but the rebels.
Tell Grandfather and Grandmother that I am in Dixieland trying to fulfill my country's duty and bear up that starry flag which our forefathers fought and bled under to gain us the most glorious country and government that ever existed and I thought it my duty to come and fight for my country, my parents, and the rest of my family was well when I heard from them.
If you can tell me what regiment James is and what company and name of his captain, I will try and send him a letter, for I would like to hear from him and let him know where I am now.
You think because I am a soldier I am like a brute, but theres not a day that passes over my head but what I think of my folks and believe me to ever be your affectionate cousin, Oliver C. Giberson.
Direct your letter---
Oliver C. Giberson
Co. F 14th Regiment--N.J. Volunteers
Frederick City
Frederick County Maryland
In care of R.B. GowdyCamp Hooker---Monocacy Bridge Maryland November 11th 1862
Dear Cousin--it is with pleasure that I set down to answer your kind letter which I received yesterday. It came little unexpected to me though I sent you one first, for I wasn't thinking of an answer but I am sorry to say that your letter didn't find me in quite as good health as mine did when it started from here for I have the rheumatism pretty bad and the diarrhea so that I can't hardly do anything, but I am getting better now and hope that I shall be able to do my duty. I hope this letter will find you all enjoying good health. It is not as healthy in the Southern states as it is in Jersey.
Tell Sarah Lipincott and (unintelligible) that I send my best respects to them and Rebecca Rose and all the rest that I am acquainted with down there. I hope the time will not be very long before we will have the pleasure of seeing each other again, and may we have as happy times together as we used to have in times of peace, but peace now is out of the question altogether for it is all discord and strife--a once loving and happy nation parted in sunder and nearly ruined by nothing at all but the abolisist party. It has ruined our country and now it will take it as long as it did in the first place to rebuild it up again.
You must excuse my poor writing and spelling and all mistakes for I am as liable to mistakes as anybody else. You know that we are all liable to such thing. It is getting along in the afternoon and pretty nigh time for the mail to leave so I must bring my letter to a close--
so goodbye till you hear from me again. I still remain your
Affectionate Cousin
Oliver C. Giberson
Direct your letter as before
Only in Care of R.B. GowdyCamp Hooker---March 27 1863
Dear Cousin---
I take my pen in hand to write a few lines in reply to your kind and welcome letter which I received the other day and was glad to hear from you and the rest of the folks around there.
It found me well and I hope these few lines will find you enjoying the same blessing. It is very nice here now. The weather is very comfortable now, but it is as a general thing stormy.
There was two carloads of graybacks went down toward Baltimore this morning. I suppose they will be taken to Fort Delaware to be taken care of till exchanged the same as those that we took there that was taken at the battle Antietam. They took nine hundred there.
I shall have to inform you that I am on guard today. While setting in the guard house I thought I would scrabble a few lines to let you know how I was getting along. I haven't heard from home for near two weeks but when I heard from there, they was well.
You said in your letter that you was going to move to Burrsville the third of this month I believe that is in Burlington County. I believe when you write, let me know what county you live in.
You must excuse this short letter. There isn't much news now---no more at present from your cousin
O.C. Giberson
---please write soon so goodbye till you hear from me again.
Camp Hooker/Saturday, June 13, 1863
Dear Cousins
It is with the greatest of pleasure that I now set down to write you a few lines in answer to your kind letter which I received yesterday, and was much pleased to hear from you and to hear that you are enjoying good health.
Your letter found me well and I hope those few lines will find you the same.
I was glad to hear that grandfather and his family is enjoying good health which is a great blessing for the old folks. It is a fine thing for them that Mr. Clark thought enough of the old man to pay him what he owed him. I was very glad to hear that Mr. Clark was so honest. I haven't heard from them for some time till you wrote to me.
I had a letter from home a few days ago. They was all enjoying good health as far as I could learn. Governor Parker was here to see us on the 10th of this month and presented to us our state flag and a stand of regimental colors which we received with great enthusiasm.
He, with the greatest of delight, hearty cheers and the booming of cannons was heard on his arrival---he made a very good speech for us when he presented to us our colors. He said he was much pleased with this regiment---it being one of the best drilled regiments that he had seen.
The news is very good: the rebs made a dash the other day across the Potomac River near Poolsville capturing our pickets along the towpath along the canal killing four of our men. We also served them the same--kill a lieutenant and a private, captured six or seven prisoners. They also drew up their cavalry force with 16 pieces of artillery in all, amounting to 12,000 men at Culpepper Court House making preparation for a raid out in Pennsylvania, for the purpose of robbing and plundering.
This is all I have to say at this time. Give my love to Sammy and Ducky and keep a good share for yourself.
I still remain your most affectionate cousin until death.
Oliver C. Giberson
Please write soon---don't fail.The originals of these letter were discovered at the bottom of a steamer trunk owned by an elderly woman living in Monmouth County, NJ in 1989.Private Giberson, according to the military service records obtained from the National Archives, was from Giberson Mills, Ocean County, NJ. He enlisted in the 14th New Jersey on August 15, 1862, at Freehold, NJ, for a period of three years. His pay records indicate he was fit and present for duty until August 19, 1863, when he took sick and was sent to Fairfax Seminary Hospital in VA; he died of typhoid fever on September 1, 1863 in hospital. He was buried at the National Cemetery in Alexandria, VA., the following day.
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