This NY Soldier Died at Andersonville

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/25/2025

The following letters were written by William Henry Stebbins (1839-1864) of Wirt, Allegany county, New York. William enlisted in August 1861 as a private in Co. C, 85th New York Infantry. He was taken a prisoner on 20 April 1864 at Plymouth, North Carolina and died of dysentery as a POW at Andersonville on 18 June 1864.The first letter, datelined, Camp on James River, Va., Sunday, July 6th 1862 to his brother Ed. In part, “I have been sick three weeks but I am getting better. I did not know of your marriage till I received your letter. I did not think when I was at home last fall I should have the privilege of calling you brother. ... I shall have to fetch home with me a wench. There is lots of black devils here and I hate the sight of them. ... Our regiment is camped near Harrison’s bar on the James river. It seems as if we would never get Richmond. I am getting tired of waiting. There was lots of reinforcements came in last week and I hope Richmond will be ours pretty soon. We have got a new general in General Casey’s place. It is General Peck. He has command of the Division. I shall have to close. “ ... plus, datelined Camp Suffolk, Va.,November 26th 1862, in part “You wrote that you had enlisted in the cavalry. I am glad that you done so for you will have it easier than infantry on a march. I have wished a great many times that I belonged to cavalry when I was on a march. A horse is a darn nice thing when a man is pretty tired and has got a good ways to march. ... I was sorry to hear that Seymour was elected. I don’t think he is the man for Governor. What do you think of McClellan being removed? He was too slow to suit me. I hope Burnside won’t give the rebs a chance to sleep nights. I hope he will make them hunt their holes and after he get them in, I hope he will make them smell powder. I believe this war could have been stopped six month ago just as well as to have it where it is now. ... plus, datelined, Plymouth, North Carolina, September 20th 1863 to his sister, in part, “Ed Knapp and his wife run away from Glendale, Ed was drafted. I suppose he thought it would be cheaper to run away than to leave his pretty Sarah. ... There has been an order issued from the War Department that all of the old three years men will be discharged in July. If that is so, it will be a poor old joke on us soldiers. My three years will be up the 2nd of September...”. ... plus datelined War Neck [North Carolina], Sunday, February 21, 1864 to his sister, in part “Tuesday night there was 20 men from our company & some from Co. H that are stationed here went out on a scout about 15 miles and went to a house where there was a party. They took six rebels and came in yesterday morning all safe and sound. ...” ... plus, datelined Plymouth , March 18th 1864 to his sister, in part “Most all of the men in the 85th that did not reenlist have been put into the 24th Battery of the New York Light Artillery to take the place of the Veterans that have gone home on furlough. I suppose when they get back that we will go back to our regiment. I wish that I could serve out the rest of my time in the battery for I like artillery better than infantry. ... This evening there was 13 recruits came for the battery and 30 for the 85th. I have not seem any of the men that came for the 85th so I don’t know whether there is anyone that I am acquainted with or not. There has not any of the Veterans from here gone home except those of the battery and I don’t see any prospects of the Veterans of the 85th going home very soon. ...” ...plus a pre-war letter, datelined August 8, 1860 to his sister.

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