The remarkable thing about this letter, dated June 10, 1862, is not so much its content as the fact it survived for more than 150 years. Written by a young man named Hoel C. Wright, it passed through three generations and traveled from Virginia to Michigan to Iowa and to Kansas before his niece, Helen (Wright) Ohme, then living at Leavenworth, Kansas, donated it to the Lucas County Historical Society in 1969.
The author was a native of Ohio who grew up in Berrien County, Michigan, and was 27 when he enlisted on Nov. 2, 1861, at Grand Rapids, in Brady's Sharpshooters --- a semi-independent company of riflemen attached as Company A to the 16th Michigan Volunteer Infantry.
It's not clear why Hoel was writing on colorful stationery of the Excelsior Brigade, composed largely of units from New York, but the 16th Michigan was part of the Army of the Potomac, too, at the time. The Sharpshooters were camped near New Bridge, Virginia, when the letter was written to Hoel's younger brother, George, back home in Michigan. The Caroline mentioned in the letter was their little sister.
The most notable thing about the letter's content is how anxious he was to hear from his family. Even 157 years later, you're tempted to sit down and write the guy a letter. Here's a transcription:
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First Regiment, Excelsior Brigade.
Col. Dwight, Commanding
Camp Near New Bridge, Va., June the 10th 1862
Dear Brother,
It has not been long since I wroat you, but as I have not much to do just now I will write a few lines to you. I have not much to write. We expect a big fight in a few days. We was call out yesterday and once last night expecting to meet the rebels on our own ground, but they did not come on. I think that it will not be long before we will have a chance to meet them. We are having very good times hear just now. It is quiet warm today. I have not much more news to write for I expect you get more news than what I can write you. You will find inclose a check of $20. I want you to write as soon as you get this. I receve a letter from Caroline about the 15th of April and I answered it the next day but I have not receive no answer from it yet. I hope that you will all write as often as you can. Good bye for this time.
H.W.
Direct as you did before. I sent you a book a few days ago.
P.S. June the 16th
I went out on picket yesterday and got back today. Our picket lines and the rebels lines are about 20 or 30 rods apart. Now don't forget to write as soon as you get this.
Mr. Hoel C. Wright
Stockton's Regiment
Brady's Sharpshooters
in care of Capt. Kins ---
Washington, D.C.
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Prior to the letter's date, the 16th Michigan had participated in the Siege of Yorktown and had been engaged at Hanover Courthouse.
Not long after the letter was written, on June 27, the 16th engaged in the deadly Battle of Gaines Mills --- three officers and 46 men were killed, six officers and 110 men were wounded and 2 officers and 53 men were reported missing. Capt. Thomas W. Stockton's horse was shot out from under him, he was captured and held prisoner for the remainder of the war.
We have no idea, without additional research, how Hoel fared. What remained of the unit was at Malvern Hill on July 1, at Manassas on August 30 and then at Antietam.
On the 9th of October, 1862, Hoel was discharged for disability at Fort Monroe, Virginia, and sent home. Had he been wounded or was he chronically ill? We don't know.
What we do know is that he lived a long and productive life in his home county of Michigan, married, raised a family, farmed and was 88 when he died on Feb. 15, 1923. Commencing in the 1870s, he also received a modest pension for his disability.
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Meanwhile, his brother, George Wright, moved to Iowa during 1871, married Antoinette Boss during January 1872 in Des Moines County and the newlyweds settled near Derby in Lucas County that spring and spent the remainder of their lives there. They named their second son Eugene Hoel Wright, in part in his uncle's honor.
George Wright, too, lived a long life --- he was 94 when he passed on Feb. 4, 1932.
Eugene Wright married Maud Champlin and they had two surviving children, Max and Helen. It was Helen (who married Albert Ohme) who inherited her uncle's letter home and eventually passed it on to the historical society.
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