Born: 1839.
Contracted Typhoid Fever in September of 1861.
Died: Unknown.
Buried:
Occupations:
Pre-war - Clerk.
Post-war - Plant Nurseryman.
Description:
Height: 5 feet, 5 1/2 inches.
Complexion: Dark.
Eyes: Blue.
Hair: Sandy Colored.
Enlisted: April 18, 1861 at Brooklyn, New York to serve 3 years (aged 22 years).
Mustered In: May 23, 1861 as private.
Company: H
Camp Wood
Sunday June 9th/61 8 P.M.
Father & Mother:
I hope this finds you all well . I was down to Washington yesterday afternoon for the first time since I have been encamped and while there I had a likeness taken which I have sent on by a young man who has got a leave of absence for a few days he will leave it at Smith & Co's Butler store with Mr.Pettis, so if you are down to the city any day this week he will have it for you, if you should not be down he will leave it at the house. Since our tent made a noise about our ration no person on full rations and the boys in our tent have boxes of cakes, cheese and together with what we buy we have fine times we (the boys have these boxes sent by their folks) have more than we had ought to eat. I find I can cook about as well as any of the boys. We get along first rate now. We had first rate time cooking our grub in a thunder storm that is only fun. I have written a few lines to Tip today. You know the young fellow that used to be in the store with me and came in with us he was taken down sick the next day after arriving in Washington and he has been in the hospital till lass week when he came up to the camp and I am sorry to say that he is quite out of his mind and in fact he is quite crazy. I expect he will be sent home in a few days. We had a passtime yesterday about 6 P.M. in the way of a thunder storm. I think I never saw it rain or blow harder and you would have laughed if you had been in our tent cuss at that time and had seen us every man was at his post holding the tent down to keep it from going over there was lots of them blooded over and then the fellows had to stand out in the rain it lasted about an hour & half. We have a large tent size about 18x30 ft which belongs to the chaplain but used as a guard tent at times and that blew down as well so the boys that were on guard last night had no shelter at all.I see in the NY Illustrated news a representation of the 21st Regt of Connecticut which is a very fair picture. You may see what that looks like and what is said there and you may have some idea of our life. We are about 400 500 yards away from those boys. We expect orders every day now to go to Manassas Gap (distance 79 miles) if we should go you may expect to hear of work being done if all accounts are true this peace is the principal point. Jeff Davis new hold it is said there is some 18 or 20,000 secessionists troops stationed there. There is some talk of a number of Regiments to move on to Harpers Ferry at day light. ------- is said around Washington our troops are to go farther south.
Just before dark we saw a balloon the boys didn't know what to make of it but I have since heard that it was a ---- that has come on to Washington to make a trial he has engaged with our government to sail over these places and spot Jeff's men and then report to us Very good idea I think. If we would have ---- here when you write direct the ---- to Washington as before and they will forward it to the Regiment wherever they may be last night for suppose I will give you the bill of fare.
Fruit cake Crackers smoke beef Bread Cheese Tea and great super it is and we had strawberries & milk can you beat that at home for dinner today we had a first rate pot of soup that could not be beat here in or any ---------. You can buy fine strawberries for 10 cents a quart nice and ripe. You may think we live pretty nice so we do. We have a good sized table to eat off of. We take the ground the whole size of the tent. I must conclude give my compliments to all.
I shall expect to hear from home soon don't fail. I remain yours
John W. Palmer
Camp Wood
Arlington, Va
September 1861
Tip:
I again write a few lines. I have been shut up in the hospital since 2 weeks ago last Sunday with the Typhoid fever and I tell you I came within one of going the voyage.
I had the fever pretty strong. I am still in the hospital but am doing well. I am getting better as fast as can be expected. Father was on here some few days ago I suppose you know.
You must write soon and when you write let me know if that girl has gone to New York.
I must conclude don't fail to write.
No more this time.
I Remain
Yours & ---
J.W. Palmer
Arlington, Va
September 23rd /61
Father & Mother:
I am still in the hospital but am going to leave tomorrow and go to my quarters. In regard to my coming home on furlough I am disappointed. I got my certificate from the Brigade Surgeon yesterday and it was marked "Disapproved".
So it is no use now. I can't go any further with it. I am very weak yet and I have such an appetite. I eat my dinner in the hospital and then go out and get another.
Yesterday was the first time in 2 weeks that I have had enough to eat you would not believe what an appetite I have had since I got wounded. We have a man here with the same fever as I had, they don't think he will last longer than over today. Hospital is no place for me. I am getting along first rate now. I must conclude. Give my respects to all.
Camp Marion Uptons Hill Va
(Monday night 11:30 P.M.)
January 23rd 1862
Tip:
I received your letter of the 22nd this evening: I am on guard tonight but I have just done my tour (2 hours) so now I am off till 3 a.m. So I thought I would write a few lines in the meantime. I am first rate. Hope this may find all well. I suppose the boys must look pretty good ha? You must be careful of Ro. That he does not catch cold. Our Committee waited on Pres. Lincoln & was introduced as the " Red legged devils". He says we are still the 14th Regt N.Y.S.M. I can tell you without bragging that we boys have a good name by all. Even by old Beaureguard himself if the stories of the returned prisoners can be relied on. He (Gen. B) says at Bull Run those fellers with the red pants fought well and did more execution that day than any other regiment on the field. So you can see a name is worth having that is why we (privates) are so loth to give up the 14th & take the 84th. You see all our laurels would be gone & also the change would make a big difference with the officers in regards to their commission and other points. But let it be 14th or 84th I am staying till the war is over for when I joined the regiment it was with the intention to stay for the war. Hold on till I come home & I'll show you a Brooklyn Gal. good looking & has money too.
New York can't begin. So not the Astoria Ducks Either. So just wait. We are going to have bean soup for dinner tomorrow. We have them on the fire cooking now (11:30pm). Do you think they will be cooked sufficiently.
I wrote a few lines yesterday. I wish you to send me word if you got it. I have not much to write this time. I suppose pop will make a flank Movement on some of your ------- real Estate some day Ha? Did you hear Pop say anything about making a trip down to Dixie again? If he should he better come soon for there is no telling when we will move. We expect it every day. There was a regiment passed here by the cars yesterday (4)th Pennsylvania and now are on the way to Port Royal. I must conclude. My respects to Jim & all the rest of ManKind.
No More Now
I Remain Yours
J.W. Palmer
Direct
J.W. Palmer
Co. H 14th Regt
N.Y.S.M.
Upton's Hill
Virginia
Camp Marion
Contents of box from Toni?
Cigars + pipe
Sugar New Year Cakes (several)
Smaller dodods
Mixed candies
Oranges
Baby & cradle & other things
You asked in your letter about the box. Well it went the way of all ---stear
Mud Easy a foot deep Camp Marion Arlington, Va
Tuesday, Oct. 22nd '62
Tip:
Yours of the 15th came duly at hand: You speak of answering a letter: Well I wrote you an answer to the first the long one but not the second I got the long one in the afternoon and the second one at night so you may see how it was. I have not written to that Girl but once since I went into the hospital. I wonder what she thinks. HA? She and the Sergen. Don't seem to get along very well you will notice- When you write again just ascertain if the "Old folks at home" have got my letter, as I have written several times but have had no answers, also inquire about the box and let me know as I have not received any. We are living pretty good so far. We have plenty of fresh meat and fresh bread and we boys go out foraging and get plenty of potatoes turnips and cabbage. So you may know we get along so long as we have plenty of these delicacies in the house. We have only 3 or 4 in our hospital just now but no serious cases. We buy a good deal from our Sutler such as butter etc. I have not been over to Washington yet. I have not been to the City since the 12th of June and been encamped all the while right in sight of the Capital till we came out here to camp. Why do you want to know if I smoke ha? That likeness ain't for that Girl you wouldn't think What ------? We have a band now. They came in from Brooklyn yesterday, some style ha!
Moses Rodgers is on here. He was over to our camp yesterday afternoon and he and I went over to the Lincoln Cavalry and it was dark when we got there. We stopped in their camp over night. So this morning its raining right smart and he had to get back before dawn to Washington by noon so the boys put on him one of their overcoats and put him on a horse and he and one of the weavers ( ---- Ritchie)rode down to Long Bridge so he got along first rate. He came on to see Sam but he has been over to Washington 3 or 4 weeks and his father is unable to find him. I had a mess of mushrooms for lunch today. I have seen all the West Jaoms boys in the Cavalry. Bill Taylor went home last week on discharge.
Give my compliments to the Ducks, don't forget. I must conclude. Hoping all is well no more this time.
I Remain Yours
J.W. Palmer
"Old Virginy never tire"
I expect we'll move on again tomorrow but direct
J.W.Palmer
Co. H 14th Regt.
N.Y.S.M
Camp Marion, Arlington Va.
Detached: As Attendant to Regimental Surgeon from August 8, 1863 to muster out June 6, 1864.
Mustered Out: With company on June 6, 1864 at New York City, New York.
Enlisted in the US Navy, enlistment papers dated August 17th, 1864.
Served on the ship, Grand Gulf.
Office of the Provost Marshal
Third Congressional District
Brooklyn, L.I., December 24th 1864
Captain Carter
U.S.S. Numont, Brooklyn Navy Yard
You have on board your Ship a man by the name of John W. Palmer who served three years in the Regiment I commanded (the Brooklyn 14th) and was honorably Discharged on June 6th. He shipped in August on board the Steamer Grand Gulf. He was a good soldier and is a reliable man. He is anxious to spend New Years day with his family at West Farms Westchester Co. N.Y. If the interests of the same will permit, I will respectfully recommend that he be granted a brief Furlough for that purpose.
Very Respectfully Yours
E.B. Fowler
Residences:
Post-war: Stamford, Connecticut.