Emma's Essay: A Soldier Boy in the Army

In honor of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, we thought we would look at an item in our collection from the era of his presidency: a child’s essay about her brother’s letter home from war.

In November 1860, Longmeadow’s eligible voters chose Abraham Lincoln over Stephen Douglas by a vote of 190-81. Within months, southern states had seceded from the Union and the Civil War began. Between 1861 and 1865 approximately 166 young men from Longmeadow enlisted or were drafted into the Union Army, leaving behind friends, parents, and siblings.

At Center School, students were compiling a literary magazine called The Carrier Pigeon. It contained their compositions on a variety of topics like winter sports, apples, fish, and trips they had taken. It was the winter of 1864. Eleven-year-old Emma C. Coomes wrote about her older brother, Harvey, who had enlisted in 1861. Completely absent of any of the patriotism and glory so typical of soldier stories at the time, and with the complete candor only a child can get away with, Emma’s composition is a matter-of-fact telling of how miserable her brother was. By 1864 Harvey Coomes’ battalion, the 5th Connecticut, Company B, had been involved in several significant battles, including Gettysburg. Per Emma’s account, though, the only thing that mattered to Harvey was doughnuts. He had had enough of the coffee and pork provided to the troops morning, noon, and night, and he missed doughnuts.

In school-girl cursive Emma writes of the dispute her brother had with his boss at the docks in Hartford that led him to enlist, and how his three-year commitment now “stuck in his throat.” (spelling and punctuation edited for clarity):

“A soldier boy in the army.

Seeing that [a] great many of you got Brothers to war I will write a little something about my brother. My brother was in Hartford working on the boat. Well Harvey was tending the boat and someone else took care of the boat. The boat got stuck and they couldn’t get it out, and the boss told Harvey to get it out and Harvey wouldn’t, and the boss told him to leave the boat and the boss said that he wouldn’t pay him, and Harvey put his hand into his pocket and pulled out his money and told the boss that there was enough to pay his fair And the boss told him to leave so Harvey started and the boss called him back and paid him and told him to go to work and Harvey said he had left for good. So Harvey came home and talked about enlistment and father and mother didn’t want to have him go, but he did, and for three years, and he told father that the war would be ended in half a year and father told him if he got there he would have to stay there and he has and I guess he wishes himself home again and we had a letter the other day, and he said that all of his company had enlisted but 13 of them and he said that the three years stuck in his throat and it wouldn’t come. We had a letter from him yesterday and he said that he wished that we would send him a box if it wasn’t nothing but a doughnut, for he said that it was coffee and pork in the morning and coffee and pork at noon warmed over and coffee and pork at night for a change so I guess that we will send a box to him. I can’t think of any more to write about him. I only hope the soldiers will get home.

ECC

Emma’s pigeon”

Hopefully, Harvey Coomes got those doughnuts he craved so much when he was discharged from service in the summer of 1864 and returned home to Longmeadow. He married and settled in New Haven, CT until his death in 1894, the result of an injury received after a night of drinking in a New Haven saloon. His sister, Emma, married a Civil War veteran herself and moved to Springfield where she lived until her death in 1937.

Carrier Pigeon, Literary Journal, 1864

Longmeadow Historical Society

"A soldier boy in the army" by Emma C. Coomes

Longmeadow Historical Society

"A soldier boy in the army" by Emma C. Coomes

Longmeadow Historical Society

-Contributed by Melissa M. Cybulski, Longmeadow Historical Society

Hey Phil!

In honor of Groundhog Day, this author thought our readers might like to don their beaver silk top hats like this c. 1890-1905 one in our collection and learn about the lowly creature. We've all seen them, usually by the side of the road, quietly eating, while we worry that they will suddenly get the urge to run across the road in front of us. Although run might be the wrong word--it often looks more like a fast waddle.

The groundhog, Marmota Monax, has many nicknames, some familiar, like woodchuck, and others less so. Here are just a few: wood-shock, whistle-pig, whistler, thickwood badger, marmot, monax, moonack, weenusk, red monk, and land beaver. A couple of the names might derive from Native American words--Moonack is an Algonquian word for digger, and Wuchak is another Algonquian or Narragansett name. You can imagine that "Wuchak" might sound like woodchuck, which of course brings to mind the old tongue-twister--how much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?" I always wondered what "wood chucking" actually involved!

Groundhogs are mostly herbivores and eat berries and many agricultural crops. This, along with their propensity for digging tunnels that can topple foundations, can make them unpopular. As such, one New England community even had a “Woodchuck Committee.” The Report of the Woodchuck Committee found in the Journals of the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the State of New Hampshire, June 1883, lists some of the critter’s egregious crimes:

• "First of all, the woodchuck has so many aliases that mankind may easily be misled by the confusion of names. That the woodchuck is a notorious character is apparent by the load of names under which it waddles."

• "It is a thief by nature and a freeloader by profession, and there has been no instance brought to the knowledge of your committee where nature was ever suppressed or profession lowered on the part of these devastating quadrupeds. The same might occasionally be said of the human race, but there is no exception on the part of the woodchuck."

• "The predatory habits of the animal make it the common foe of mankind, for it is a sneak-thief, first, last, and all the time. As the woodchuck cannot be sued for trespass or imprisoned for larceny, the only thing left is to fight it to the bitter death."

• "The animal, so they say, takes its bed about October 1, and forthwith rolling itself into a ball becomes torpid and to all appearances dead. Unfortunately for the farmers, this interesting habit only goes into effect at that season of the year when nobody cares a snap about the woodchuck or the clover crop....Your committee also believes that this torpidity has nothing to do with a smitten conscience. The woodchuck is not only a nuisance, but also a bore. It burrows beneath the soil, and then chuckles to see a moving machine, man and all, slump into one of these holes and disappear."

In their defense, they do have some redeeming qualities. The groundhog is obviously well-adapted to digging, with its long, broad claws and short, powerful legs. Their digging can mix up the soil, and their burrows can provide homes for critters such as skunks and red fox that eat mice and grasshoppers that destroy crops. Perhaps Longmeadow farmers didn’t find them all bad?

Looking for a period Longmeadow reference to groundhogs, we were excited to find one in the index to volume 7 of the transcribed Stephen Williams diaries (1716-1782). The passage from February 26, 1771, reads, "this day it raind considerably- & ye Ground hog being coverd with ice-ye water rain freely-Brooks were greatly raisd & considerable Damage done to Bridges and Damm/..." Wait.. a groundhog covered with ice?

Alas, as faithful readers will know, transcribed documents often contain errors, and this was no exception. When compared to the original handwritten script, it was apparent that the transcriber added a word that was never there. The original wording actually made more sense than the transcription: "this day it rain'd considerably & ye ground being covered with ice-ye water rain freely- Brooks were greatly rais'd & considerable damage done to bridges and damms..." No “hog” in sight…just ground. Drats! The notorious evader was taunting us from all the way back in 1771 and had eluded us yet again. Just when we thought we had a groundhog reference he disappeared! Does this mean six more weeks of winter?!?

Nevertheless, the tradition of using woodland creatures to predict seasonal changes began in Germany where the forecasting animal was the badger. The belief is that if a groundhog emerges from its den during its hibernation and sees its shadow, that winter will continue for 6 more weeks. He will then retreat back into his den to finish out the long sleep. Although there is little agreement about what constitutes an early spring, by most measures the famous Phil's accuracy is poor. And can anyone tell me why the people who pull Phil from his "burrow" wear formal gear? By the way, we do recommend the Movie "Groundhog Day" released in 1993 starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell. The movie is a story of redemption as Bill Murray's character, named Phil, relives Groundhog Day over and over until he is a man changed for the better. Who doesn't love a happy ending?

-Contributed by Betsy McKee, Longmeadow Historical Society board member

A Longmeadow Boy and the Gold Rush in 1851

Gold rush stories are great places to find drama and intrigue. The History Room at the Chicopee Library holds a series of letters that tell the fascinating story of the Gold Rush adventures of one Longmeadow resident. The letters are filled with the optimism of a young man, Gilbert Billings, ready for an adventure, and the worried warnings of his father, Lyman, left behind at home.

Gilbert Billings was born in the eastern portion of Longmeadow to Lyman and Roxanna Billings on May 17, 1831. He was 20 years old when he sailed off for California, likely inspired by stories he had heard recently of the chance to make a fortune in gold. In 1851, there was no easy land passage across the country, so he sailed from New York toward South America.

Early in his journey, on October 31, 1851, Billings wrote to his father from onboard the ship, Daniel Webster, “I did not think of writing until I arrived at San Juan De Nicaragua but all letter writing must be finished before leaving this boat in order that she take them back to New York. We sailed from New York Wednesday Oct. 22nd at 3 o'clock p.m. and my health has been good since, though I expected to be very sea sick, but thank God for my good health..."

Billings was apparently traveling with two companions whom he knew from Longmeadow, Wadsworth and Gilbert Lord, who had been sick on the voyage. Billings noted that he had paid the higher price ($100) to travel in a first-class cabin rather than steerage ($50-$75) because he hoped he would be less likely to become seasick. He felt that he would save money by purchasing steerage accommodations when he got to "the other side" - that is the Pacific Ocean. The cost of the voyage was fairly expensive, especially for a farmer’s son. The country was still recovering from the economic panic and crisis of 1837 and 1839. Using an inflation calculator, the $100 spent on the first leg of the voyage would be equivalent to approximately $3,870 in buying power in 2023.

Billings wrote of two events that surely worried his family back at home. First, he wrote that he accepted a dare to ascend the main mast of the ship and touch the brass ball on the top. He took the dare and won $10. Second, he explained that after arriving in Nicaragua and before embarking on the next leg of the journey, which required a trip up the San Juan River, the captain warned passengers of dangerous trouble ahead. He wrote, "While the passengers were preparing to leave the boat, the Captain received a letter from the Pacific side ... to the following effect: that a mob had broken out up the river and the passengers would be murdered if they ventured to go on," and the only other way to go was to go by way of Chagres in Panama, some six hundred miles below. Billings wrote that they decided that the "The mob" was "humbug."

Ultimately, news arrived that the steamship North America was on the other side ready for her passengers to San Francisco. The letter ends with Billings explaining that he along with some three hundred passengers and a “Mr. Vanderbilt”, the owner of the route and many ships, were going to leave in "the little steamboat" to travel up the San Juan River to the Lake and then cross to the Pacific Ocean.

The “Mr. Vanderbilt” that Billings was referring to was Cornelius Vanderbilt, the famous American business magnate. Many gold prospectors traveled west via Panama, crossing the isthmus on mule back. Vanderbilt had the idea of crossing Central America via Nicaragua. This route to California was several hundred miles shorter than the Panama route. He invested in the American Atlantic and Pacific Ship Canal Company. Mr. Vanderbilt's company crossed Nicaragua via the San Juan River, Lake Nicaragua, and a twelve-mile road (later to be a canal) to the Pacific. Gilbert Billings didn’t know it at the time, but by 1853 this same “Mr. Vanderbilt” would be worth an estimated $11 million for capitalizing on his preferred route of transport from New York to California.

It took just sixteen days for Gilbert Billings’ letter from Nicaragua to reach his family in Longmeadow. His father, Lyman, wrote back on November 22, 1851. He wrote of the health of family members and commented that he "ment" to tell his son before he left "about taking care of your health, that is for you to wear flannel wool shirts next to your body." He also advised his son "not to run any dangerous risks, such as climbing to the 'Brass Ball.' He went on to share advice from an acquaintance who was a sailor. He told his son about markets being "rather dull" and listed the price of turkeys and chickens. He did mention that another local young man in the gold fields had sent his father six hundred dollars:"I don't write this to you thinking of dunning you for money. I hope you will not think so." His father also heard that California is "a place for music" and wondered whether his son might make some money playing a fiddle there but cautioned, "... I do not advise you to use the fiddle unless profitable." He concluded with a remark that most parents would appreciate --"I hope any advice will be accepted."

On February 23, 1852 Billings’ sister, Beulah, and father wrote to him. Beulah wrote that she was well and working in the mill and was making $2/week. There was plenty of snow and it was good sleighing. Billings’ father let him know that he had been to the post office several times for a letter from him and, "began to think that something was the matter, you not writing." His father had heard stories of men being killed over arguments related to digging for gold. He cautioned, "I hope that you will not get into any trouble with anyone."

A year after Gilbert Billings left Longmeadow, sister Beulah wrote that their grandmother was ill, and in December 1852 his father wrote that she had died with "dysenteric symptoms." In the rest of his rather lengthy letter, Lyman shows how clearly worried he was for his son’s safety. He mentioned stories that he had heard and read about California and wrote down many of his concerns and questions for his son.

On February 6th, 1853, Billings wrote from Auburn, California, which today is the home of the Gold Rush Museum. Concerning his grandmother, he acknowledged that when he left for California, "I never expected to see her again." He continued, "She lived to a good old age, more years than I expect to see." He went on to report, "Ever since I've been mining I have made but two decent week’s work and last week was one of them. They were not much, but if I could do as well all of the time, I would not complain. Two of us took out Seventy two Dollars last week which made 36 a piece. We done about the same one week previous. The rest of the time we have made a little better than board, clothes and tools. No telling what I may happen to hit upon hereafter." He also went on to describe the relatively high prices of food, candles, and powder.

On March 9, 1853, Billings wrote to his father that he had taken "another start to better his situation if possible." On traveling from Auburn to Sacramento he ran into his cousin Horace and friend, Gilbert Lord, with whom he had set sail nearly a year and a half earlier. In a letter from Buck’s Ranch dated April 18, 1853, Billings explained that he left Marysville, California on the 8th, and was working his way toward Rush Creek. He began the trip with "some Mexicans, going with a pack train of mules loaded with provisions etc. for the same place. They are hired to take the cargo by some white men who are taking the goods to sell, and are along with us. We have had rather of a tedious time of it, stormy, bad trail, deep snow etc. We have about 30 miles of snow, crossing the high mountains between Maryville and Rush Creek."

Billings described feeling ill, having leg swelling "the same as when my leg was hurt and I have the erysiphelas [sic]." He also expected higher costs for room and board but also remarked that the weather would be better in a month and, ever hopeful, commented "if I can get a good claim, that will pay as well as it ought to for coming here" then it would be all worthwhile.

Unfortunately, the next and last letter from Billings was from San Francisco on Dec. 11, 1858 - over 5 1/2 years later. It is as if a few chapters had been torn out of this story. He informed his father that he would be returning home by steamer.

So what became of Gilbert Billings after his Gold Rush adventure? Apparently, he had enough money for the trip back to Massachusetts where he was able to purchase a farm and marry. The 28-year-old Gilbert Billings married Lucinda Richardson, 22, in February of 1860. They settled down to farm in the Chicopee area. The 1860 Federal census for Chicopee indicates that Billings’ personal estate was valued at $400. The 1860 non-population census data for Holyoke shows that he had real estate including 8 acres of improved land valued at $1300 and farming implements valued at $50. Compared to the other 59 farmers in Holyoke on the same census schedule page, his farm ranked 58th in value and the value of his equipment placed him at the bottom of the list as well. He had one horse, three "milch" cows, and one pig. He was growing Indian corn, oats, tobacco, Irish potatoes, and hay.

This all suggests that Gilbert Billings did not come back from California a wealthy man. While we learn from census records that Lucinda had one child, the child must not have lived long. Without children to assist with work on the farm, Gilbert and Lucinda were likely busy with farm chores. However, Gilbert was not too busy to devote time to town politics and he was the Chicopee town surveyor for fifteen years. He was also a genealogist and a historian. For a time he organized Billings family reunions. He also hosted well-attended husking bees - gatherings to husk corn - and dances at his barn!

Gilbert Billings died in September 1916 at age 85; His wife Lucinda died that same year. One wonders whether Gilbert ever told stories about his trip to California at grange meetings, before the start of Chicopee Town Meetings, Billings family reunions, or at husking bees.

-Contributed by Al McKee, Longmeadow Historical Society Board Member, with support from Betsy McKee

Notes:

The Chicopee Library Special Collections librarian provided digital images of a portion of the Billings documents including transcribed letters, deeds and genealogical information to the Longmeadow Historical Society. This story would have been difficult to produce without their generous assistance.

Want more stories of local connections to the California Gold Rush? See "Is There A Doctor In The House?" at www.longmeadowhistoricalsociety.org as well as the Pioneer Valley History Network’s work on the Pioneer Valley & the California Gold Rush at https://pioneervalleyhistorynetwork.org/project/gold-rush-stories/

Image Sources:

“Daniel Webster (1851 steamship) at Point Isabel, Texas, March 30, 1861” courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository

Jocelyn, Albert H. Government map of Nicaragua: from the latest surveys ordered by President Patricio Rivas and Genl. William Walker ; executed under the supervision of the Señor Fermín Ferrer, Governor of the Western Department. New York: A.H. Jocelyn, 1856. Map. https://www.loc.gov/item/2004629018/.

Parsons, Charles, Artist, and George Victor Cooper. Sacramento city, Ca. from the foot of J. Street, showing I., J., & K. Sts. with the Sierra Nevada in the distance / C. Parsons ; drawn Dec. 20th by G.V. Cooper ; lith. of Wm. Endicott & Co., N. York. United States Sacramento California, ca. 1850. New York: Published by Stringer & Townsend. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/93511486/.

Cooke & Lecount, Publisher. A newly constructed and improved map of the State of California: shewing the extent and boundary of the different counties according to an act passed by the Legislature April 25th,with a corrected and improved delineation of the gold region. composeds by Tassin, J. B., Cartographeriler San Francisco: Published by Cooke and Lecount, . San Francisco: Lith. by Pollard & Peregoy, 1851. Map. https://www.loc.gov/item/2018588046/.