Adolphus Nichols Civil War correspondence, February 1864 - April 1864

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Summary

Creators:

Nichols, Adolphus, Private, 1824-1864 and Stewart, Stephen

Abstract:

This collection contains two letters from Adolphus Nichols to his family during the Civil War. The letters were written in a camp of the New York 6th Heavy Artillery in February and April of 1864. Also included are transcriptions of the letters and brief unit histories for the 5th and 6th Artillery.

Extent:

.1 Linear Feet (2 folders)

Language:

English .

Preferred citation:

[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Adolphus Nichols Civil War correspondence (2019.186.w.r), Center for American War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.

For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains two letters that Pvt. Adolphus Nichols of the New York 6th Heavy Artillery wrote and sent to his siblings, Emma and George, during the Civil War.

In a letter dated 8 February, 1864, Nichols writes that he is at Brandy Station and within sight of Rappahannock Station in Virginia. He describes the countryside as "burntd" and "desolate looking." "It looks some here like it did in California when I first went there," he observes. Nevertheless, he notes: "All of the Big officers here are agoing to send for their wives & they want a place to hide them." First reassuring his family that he is comfortable, Nichols shares that he can hear canons and muskets, which "sounded like popping corn when it goes lively." He closes by telling his siblings that there is preaching every evening and on Sundays, which he has attended three times. "You musent tell Delight of it for I am afraid it will make her feel bad," he cautions.

On 26 April, 1864, Nichols wrote again to his brother and sister. This letter provides instructions about settling debts and managing the farm in his absence. He also relays rumors that his unit will soon be given marching orders. He admits, "it is a tiring time around here now." He also describes with surprise the density of Virginia woodland despite the fact that "there has been more wood cut in sight of this camp this winter than you could saw in 2 or 3 years[.]"

Biographical / historical:

Private Adolphus Nichols, United States Army (1824 - 1864) was born in Reading, Vermont. In 1850, Nichols lived in a mining camp in El Dorado, California. He ultimately moved to Pierrepont, New York where he made a living as a farmer. Between circa 1854 to 1858, he fathered three children with Delight E. Dimick (c. 1827 - 1905) of New York: George E., Ida J., and Ellen H. Nichols. At approximately age 39, Nichols enlisted in December of 1863 with the New York 6th Heavy Artillery. The 6th was initially stationed around Baltimore and Washington, D.C. in order to protect the capital. The unit moved south with Army of the Potomac in the Spring of 1864. Pvt. Nichols was wounded on 21 June, 1864 near Petersburg, Virginia. He died three days later at the Depot Field Hospital in City Point, Virginia.

Delight married Pvt. Orlando J. Knapp (1838 - 1917) of the 12th Indiana Infantry in 1867. Like his wife, Pvt. Knapp was born in Pierrepont, NY. In 1870, Delight E. Knapp filed a petition in New York to be appointed guardian of her daughter, Ida J. Nichols. Her petition was granted. Ida went on to marry Orren (or Owen) Saltmarsh of New Hampshire in 1878, and the Knapps moved to Michigan. The fates of George and Ellen Nichols are uncertain.

Acquisition information:

Gift of Stephen Stewart.

Arrangement:

The two letters are arranged chronologically and the transcriptions and unit histories are in a separate folder.

Physical description:

The letters are housed in sleeves due to tearing at the creases.

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:: Correspondence -- American Civil War
Names:: Stewart, Stephen

Access and use

Restrictions:: This collection is open for research.
Terms of access:: There are no restrictions on the use of this material except where previously copyrighted material is concerned. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain all permissions.