[Civil War-] John Moore

21 letters of an African-American soldier, private then Captain in the 99^{th Regiment, U.S. Colored Infantry, plus a letter from a cousin, another from a family friend, and a third taken from an army depot addressed to General Zachary Taylor (see 9a), Louisiana, 2 July 1862 – 12 July 1865, and 1869 as listed below; generally in very good condition with only a few small tears or stains, many with original envelopes.}

21 letters of an African-American soldier, private then Captain in the 99th Regiment, U.S. Colored Infantry, plus a letter from a cousin, another from a family friend, and a third taken from an army depot addressed to General Zachary Taylor (see 9a), Louisiana, 2 July 1862 – 12 July 1865, and 1869 as listed below; generally in very good condition with only a few small tears or stains, many with original envelopes.
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A fascinating archive of letters written by one of the 180,000 African-Americans who served in the Union Army during the Civil War.

Moore hailed from Kensington, Connecticut, 15 miles southwest of Hartford. His father Sanford owned a small farm which cultivated fruit (including strawberries), served on the school board, and corresponded with various agricultural magazines. John Moore's service in the 99th Regiment, also known as the 15th Corps d'Afrique Infantry and the 5th Corps d'Afrique Engineers, took him to Louisiana where he built bridges and fortifications. He began as an orderly and ended up as a Captain. His ethnicity is demonstrated not simply by his affiliation, but by a few of his remarks, especially (8 August 1863): "To be sure it has been a time of war and many lives have been lost but it seems to be necessary if we ever are to have a permanent place" [emphasis added]. The letters show that he met many relatives and friends from home while in Louisiana, and that the leisure afforded the troops, who were, with a few exceptions, not permitted to fight, generated boredom and a longing for home.

1. Moore, John. Autograph letter, signed ("John Moore"), 4 pages (8 x 5 in.; 203 x 128 mm) plus envelope, Camp Parapet [New Orleans, Louisiana], 2 July 1862, to his parents Sheldon and Mrs. Moore, expressing his joy at receiving letters, his light duty "I have got to be quite comfortable. Captain said he should try me with soldier's duty this week but he has not yet, I am not very strong yet...," [he was going to be charged for the loss of his rifle and cartridge belt but the captain let him off.]

2. Moore, John. Autograph letter, signed ("John Moore"), 6 pages (8 x 5 in.; 203 x 128 mm), Camp Lyon [New Orleans?], 7 September 1862, to his parents, he is slowly returning to full strength, "the war seems to me to look a good deal discouraging. McClellan's evacuating Richmond does not look like a speedy termination of this desperate struggle ..." "I wish you would try not to feel so anxious about me. I am only one of the million of men that are to be in the field."

3. Moore, John. Autograph letter, signed ("John Moore"), 4 pages (8 x 5 in.; 203 x 128 mm) with stamped envelope, Camp Parapet [New Orleans], 11 September 1862, to his parents, more on his continuing illness and the difficulty of getting a medical discharge, "I regret to have to say that General Phelps is relieved and is going immediately ... I don't know what Government intends to do but till it raises an army large enough to march through this rebel country and free all the slaves, I don't believe we shall have any peace worth having. General Phelps is too much of a soldier and a man to be sacrificed at this time. I don't believe there is a man in the division but had more confidence in him for a leader than any officer in command."

4. Moore, John. Autograph letter, signed ("John"), 8 pages (8 x 4 7/8 in.; 203 x 124 mm), to his parents, Camp Buchanan [Louisiana], 25 February [1863], march to Brashear City, father continues to contemplate discharge, "If I was out of the army, I would try to get the position of Sutter to a regiment. It is needless to make such profits as they do." "There is some talk of General Butler's coming back here to take command and organize a Regiment, I should have said a number of Regiments, of natives (colored). If he should come, if you wanted to help me, I think you might by seeing Colonel Deming for if he recommended me to General Butler, I think it would get me a commission," he continues on the differences in treatment between officers and enlisted men, "The news tonight, through Rebel sources, is that our Gunboat "Queen of the West" has been taken by the enemy near Vicksburg."

5. Richardson, James. Autograph letter, signed ("James Richardson"), 8 pages (8 x 5 in.; 203 x 127 mm) with partial envelope, on Sanitary Commission stationery, Washington, 31 March 1863, to Sheldon Moore, offering news of the Sanitary Commission, his work load, and a short history of his life in the army.

6. Moore, John. Autograph letter, signed ("John Moore"), 4 pages (9 x 7 in.; 228 x 178 mm), In camp near Alexandria [Louisiana], 13 May 1863, to his parents, details of his march from Louisiana, nearly lost his diary while washing in the bayou.

7. Moore, John. Autograph letter, signed ("John"), 1 ½ pages (7 x 8 ½ in.; 178 x 216 mm), to an unnamed recipient, [Alexandria, Louisiana], Friday 15 May [1863], reporting his march to Alexandria to relieve the 6th New York or Wilson's Zouaves, his stomach ailments, enclosing some flowers for Susan picked from the battlefield at Centerville [Louisiana], seeking a position in one of the "Corps d'Afrique."

8. Moore, John. Autograph letter, unsigned, 2 pages (9 ½ x 7 5/8 in.; 242 x 194 mm), to his parents, near Port Hudson [Lousiana], 25 June 1863, on his correspondence and lack of paper, details of a march. Plus short note dated "Friday 26th" [June 1863].

9. Moore, John. Autograph letter, signed ("John Moore"), 4 pages (8 x 6 3/8 in.; 204 x 162 mm) with envelope, to his parents, Brashear City [Louisiana], 8 August 1863, "To be sure it has been a time of war and many lives have been lost but it seems to be necessary if we ever are to have a permanent place", more on his duties as orderly, on friends he has met, his light duties, and insect pests, "Lee's army at last accounts was south of the Potomac and in great strength I should judge. We have the veterans of Grant at liberty to march on the enemy, probably as good a fighting force as any in the field, but the army of Lee appears as yet to be invincible ... I picked up, among letters and papers in the Depot, a letter from General Macomb to General Taylor which I enclose thinking you may like to see it. How it got there I don't know whether General Dick Taylor had any agency in its getting there I can't say." The enclosure is present here:

9a. Macomb, Alexander, Jr. (1782–1841). Autograph Letter, signed ("Alex Macomb"), 2 pages (10 x 8 in.; 254 x 202 mm), to Brigadier General Z[achary] Taylor, Commanding the Army in Florida, Fort King Florida, 5 May 1839, refusing Taylor's request to be relieved from duty while a Court of Inquiry examines his conduct respecting the Missouri Volunteers and the Battle of the "Okechubbe"; some soiling and staining, formerly folded. Macomb, as commanding general of the U.S. Army, is referring to the Battle of Lake Okeechobee in which Zachary Taylor led the 6th Infantry Regiment against 400 Seminoles. The first line of troops were the Missouri Volunteers, who retreated when the Seminoles opened with heavy fire. Every officer but one was killed, but Taylor was promoted to Brigadier General and became known as "Old Rough and Ready."

10. Moore, John. Autograph letter, signed ("Jno Moore"), 4 pages (9 7/8 x 7 5/8 in.; 250 x 194 mm.), to his parents, Camp 15th Infantry C[orps] d' A[frique], 20 January 1864, "You would hardly think by my careless writing that I have the credit of keeping as clean a set of books as any in the Regiment but I've been told so ... The country is getting tolerably filled up with adventurers I presume, and it wants brains or money to do a good business ... Money down here is plenty and free, five dollars is a trifle. We are building forts or field fortifications of earth. We go to work at Seven AM and come to camp at One PM and are to have an hours drill in the afternoon."

11. Moore, Charles. Autograph letter, signed ("Chas Moore"), 2 pages (8 x 4 7/8 in.; 203 x 125 mm) with envelope, to his uncle Sheldon Moore, New Orleans, 9 February 1864, asks for $500 instead of $1000: "We can get trusted for all our goods here in the city until the Regiment is paid, our only trouble is to get money to pay for building a shanty and pay freight which [is] very high here and it is the fashion and, I'm sorry to say, to black mail in order to get permits to transport goods."

12. Moore, John. Autograph letter, signed ("Jno Moore"), 2 pages (8 ½ x 5 ¼ in.; 215 x 134 mm), to his parents, Camp 15th Infantry C[orps] d'A[frique], 11 February 1864, asks his father and uncle Eli to put up $1000 to help cousin Charles start his sutter business to serve the regiment.

13. Moore, John. Autograph letter, signed ("John Moore, Captain 5th Eng[ineers]"), 4 pages (9 7/8 x 7 ¾ in.; 252 x 196 mm) with envelope, to his parents, Camp 5th Engineers C[orps] d' A[frique], Berwick City, La., 9 March 1864, under orders to march to Franklin, "I thought till quite recently we were to see Mobile if successful but now the movement appears to be towards Texas ... Charles has gone to New Orleans today, they have much trouble in getting goods up, they have received but few yet ... We get no pay yet, I don't know how we are to live if we are sent off without pay ... I think some of my company would steal the planters blind if I should give them a little encouragement..."

14. Moore, John. Autograph letter, unsigned, 2 pages (9 7/8 x 7 ¾ in.; 252 x 196 mm), to Cousin [Charles in New Orleans], Camp 5th Engineers at Grand Ecore, 11 April [1864], "We arrived here last night after a hard retreat with the Ponton train and teams but our army at the front whipped the Rebels severely and occupy Pleasant Hill or a position near there and supplies have been sent forward...[requests various supplies] ... We did not fight, were were drawn up in line in the spot where 24 hours afterward the Rebs lay in heaps. Skirmishing was going on between one or two of our Regiments and the Rebs when were were ordered back with the Pontons."

15. Moore, John. Autograph letter, signed ("John Moore"), 2 pages (9 7/8 x 7 ¾ in.; 252 x 196 mm) with envelope, to sister Susan, Camp 99th U.S. Col[ore]d Inf[antry], 5 July 1864, "Our Regiment is now near Carrollton. We were ordered down here to report to Col. Robinson of the Col[ore]d 3rd but it seems to have been a mistake and we go back to Morganza in two or three days.

16. Moore, John. Autograph letter, signed ("J. Moore"), 6 pages (9 ¾ x 7 ¾ in.; 248 x 197 mm) with envelope, to his parents, Camp 99th U.S. Col[ored] Infantry, 25 July 1864, "We are ordered to New Orleans to be consolidated with the "3rd" or "97th" properly speaking but we have been ordered to stay six days longer to do work on this fort ..."

17. Moore, John. Autograph letter, signed ("John Moore"), 4 pages (9 7/8 x 7 ¾ in.; 252 x 196 mm) with envelope, to his parents, Morganza L[ouisian]a, 4 August 1864, "Charly is still in New Orleans for all that I know, we have not heard from him. He has lived rather fast some of the time but I hope ... he will do rather better than he has done ... My health is not at all good and I mean and hope to get out yet ... The place looks much different now from what it did—to stand on the parapet of the fort just before sundown, when the air is comfortably cool, and see the great variety of busy life before you is quite interesting. A force of a few thousand, only, soon changes the appearance of a place greatly... If I were to stay any length of time in the Engineer Corps I should want some mathematical instruments to busy myself with, if they were of no practical use to me ... We hear Atlanta is in Sherman's possession: I hope so and I hope peace is not far distant but I confess I don't see it so near as I could wish ... I think of your apples and fruit now ripening and I want to go home in time to get some."

18. Moore, John. Autograph letter, signed ("Jno Moore"), 4 pages (9 7/8 x 7 ¾ in.; 252 x 196 mm) with envelope, to his parents, Morganza L[ouisian]a, 17 August 1864, "Our duties are not very arduous ... but I have set my mind or heart on going to Mobile ... I have half given up any attempt to get home this fall, though it is believed by some of the officers that at the expiration of the original term of one's enlistment he can demand his discharge ... I wish I could be at home this fall, hunt and fish and eat fruit all day long ... I am doing much better pecuniarily than I've done out of the army but I think if I wanted to stay in this part of the country I could do better out of the army than in it."

19. Moore, John. Autograph letter, signed ("John Moore"), 4 pages (9 7/8 x 7 ¾ in.; 252 x 196 mm) with envelope, to his parents, Plaquemine, Louisiana, 1 November 1864, "You will see by the date of my letters we have moved to Plaquemine. There are four companies of us in all from our Regiment. I like the place much better than Morganza, though it is a secesh place and, I should judge from what little I've seen, the French element predominates ... I don't see why Grant don't pay us. We have six months pay due us and I have no money short of New Orleans to live on."

20. Moore, John. Autograph letter, signed ("John"), 2 pages (9 7/8 x 7 ¾ in.; 252 x 196 mm) with envelope, to his parents, Steamer Magnolia, 9 March 1865, "I am well and have been through the hardship of marching and the bullets of the enemy without a scratch or serious injury of any kind. We have finally been in a pretty severe fight, and though we finally repulsed the Rebels in their attack, yet we were obliged to skedaddle for the coast at our best gait, the enemy following so close that only two or three miles from the fight, their cavalry charged down upon us so that we formed line of battle faced to the rear, strengthened our rear guard by a strong skirmish. But this was in the evening and the enemy were not probably in much force. [gives details of casualties]"

21. Moore, John. Autograph letter, signed ("John Moore"), 3 pages (10 ½ x 8 ½ in.; 266 x 216 mm) with envelope, to his father Sheldon, Tampa Florida, 12 July 1865, "It grieves me very much to find you feel so badly about my not coming home. I think if I had known all that I have learned in the brief experience I've had since I came here, I should perhaps have acted wiser to have gone home, but that experience I had to acquire. I thank you very much for paying the draft given as it was with no consultation with you ... [he has gone into a supply business with a partner but is unsure whether his resignation from the army has been accepted or disapproved, yet he still plans to stay in Florida] ... I don't think I can live at home and work on the old homestead for a living and a little money besides when people in Fl[orid]a can live without work. There are several ways to make a profitable living here and if I get out of the business I am in now and return to the army I will, if I live, go home and try to get Charles to come out and you may want to come too, it is the finest climate for invalids in the country ... I would like to feel that we're earning money faster than we can on a small farm in Conn[ecticut] and work hard at that.

22. Moore, John. Autograph letter, signed ("John"), 4 pages (7 5/8 x 6 ¼ in.; 194 x 158 mm) with envelope, to his mother, Creve Coeur, St. Louis, Missouri, 25 April 1869, [news of raising chickens threatened by cholera, and growing corn and apples].