Written During the Civil War
The letters listed below are taken from copies at the Library of Congress. They were obtained by John Robertson, Jr., of Upton, while doing research for his book, On Old Marlborough Road. John made copies of the fifty pages he had, and gave them to me. I'll try to get them all online eventually. The first of them was written at Camp Lincoln, Worcester, on October 5, 1861, and the last from Camp Oliver, probably in North Carolina, on July 6, 1862. There are others at the Smithsonian, but these covered the period John was studying. His book is about two men from Upton who were killed at the Battle of Newbern. Draper was in that battle, and mentioned them in his letters and his autobiography. You can also read, from Draper's autobiography, Recollections of a Varied Career, the story of his marriage during a furlough in 1862, and his account of being severely wounded during the Battle of the Wildernesss. Most of the letters here are about life in camp and on ships. Draper saw a great deal of action during the war, but most of it occurred after the period covered in these letters.
Three of Draper's letters were written from Newbern. If you'd like to read more about the battle, you can find it in Robertson's book. It's a wonderful account of the years leading up to the war, the Fiske and Rogers families in Upton, and the battle. It's for sale at the Upton Historical Society Museum, on the second floor over the Upton Library in the center of Upton. They're open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from nine until noon. (Even if you're not buying the book, the museum is well worth a visit.) The price is $26.25. (All proceeds go to the Upton Historical Society and the Upton Historical Commission. To order by mail, send $29.25 to the Upton Historical Society, Box 171, Upton, MA 01568-0171.
October 5, 1861 - Camp Lincoln, Worcester, Massachusetts
November 2, 1861 - On board steamer Louisiana, Baltimore, Maryland
November 13, 1861 - Camp Hicks, Annapolis, Maryland
November 29, 1861 - Camp Hicks
December 5, 1861 - Camp Hicks
December 7, 1861 - Camp Hicks
December 13, 1861 - Camp Hicks
Undated - Camp Hicks
December 25, 1861 - Camp Hicks
December 30, 1861 - Camp Hicks
January 12, 1862 - On board Schooner, Colonel Satterly, Chesapeake Bay
January 28, 1862 - On board Schooner, Colonel Satterly, Hatteras Inlet
February 9, 1862 - On board Steamer S.R. Spaulding off Roanoke Island (Dear Lilla)
February 9, 1862 - On board Steamer S.R. Spaulding off Roanoke Island (Dear Father)
March 15, 1862 - Newbern, N.C.
April 5, 1862 - Newbern, N.C.
May 2, 1862 - Newbern, N.C.
June 2, 1862 - Camp Oliver
July 6, 1862 - Camp Oliver
Draper Menu HOME