William Garret Fisher joined the Union Army on September 30, 1861, as a bugler in Company A, 7th Regiment of New York Cavalry Volunteers also known as J. Morrison’s Black Horse Cavalry. When this Regiment was mustered out of service six months later on August 7, 1862, Will re-enlisted as an infantry private in the 123rd Regiment, New York Volunteers. He served with that Regiment throughout the remainder of the war.
In the spring of 1861, Will was doing well in his studies at the Cambridge Washington Academy, particularly in Latin. When Will determined to “go as a soldier," he met a good deal of opposition from his family and teachers. But Will was itching to get into the fight and that fall his mother gave her permission for his enlistment. Will was seventeen. He was born July 11, 1844, in the town of Cambridge, Washington County, New York, a deeply religeous, farming community ten miles east of the Hudson River where everyone abhorred slavery. He fought the war alongside many of his relatives and neighbors from the same county.
Will Fisher wrote letters throughout the war to his mother, brother and cousins. Will describes exactly what he feels and sees, a frank, vivid picture of the Civil War at ground level. Many of the letters were written on knapsacks by lantern light on the run. The letters are transcribed practically verbatim with corrections to spelling and punctuation. The transcription of each letter is accompanied by a scan of the original, handwritten letter to show the rich variety of paper quality, size and shape, as well as the changes in Will’s handwriting over the years. Some letters, written on the battlefield, are stained and burned, and the ink is faded by age.
The first letter of this collection is addressed to Mrs. Fisher from Will’s Latin professor, A. F. Beales. It reads:
Cambridge, New York
Wednesday, March 28, 1861
Mrs. Fisher,
I wish to say a word in reference to William. He has made excellent proficiency this term. Has done well in Latin as any scholar I ever had. It would be a great disadvantage to him to be out of school next term, for he would forget nearly all he has learned this year. If possible, I hope it can be arranged for him to study through the summer. Rest assured that William improves his opportunities.
Most respectfully,
A.F. Beales
|
Index of Letters
J. Morrison’s
Black Horse Cavalry
Will Fisher to his mother
Camp Strong
October 5, 1861
Will Fisher to his brother
Cambridge, New York
November 27, 1861
Mrs. Fisher writes on back
December 2, 1861
Will Fisher to his brother
Albany, New York
PM, December 9, 1861
Will Fisher to his mother
Camp Stoneman
December 17, 1861
Will Fisher to his mother
Christmas, 1861
Will Fisher to his mother
Camp Stoneman
December 28, 1861
Will Fisher to his mother
Camp Stoneman, Washington, D.C.
January 3, 1862
Will Fisher to his mother
Camp Stoneman
January 11, 1862
Will Fisher to his mother
Camp Stoneman
January 12, 1862
Will Fisher to his mother
Camp Stoneman
January 18, 1862
Will Fisher to his mother
Camp Stoneman
January 23, 1862
Will Fisher to his mother
Camp Stoneman
January 30, 1862
Will Fisher to his mother
Camp Stoneman, Washington, D.C.
February 3, 1862
Will Fisher to his mother
Camp Stoneman
February 8, 1862
Will Fisher to his mother
Camp Stoneman
February 19, 1862
Will Fisher to his mother
Camp Stoneman, Washington, D.C.
February 26, 1862
Will Fisher to his mother
Camp Stoneman
March 2, 1862
Will Fisher to his mother
Camp Stoneman
March 21, 1862
Will Fisher to his mother
Camp Stoneman
Sabbath PM, March 23, 1862
Will Fisher to his mother
Camp Stoneman
March 31, 1862
Will Fisher to his mother
Camp Stoneman
April 5, 1862
Will Fisher to his mother
Washington, D. C.
April 9, 1862
The 123rd NY Volunteers
in Winter Quarters
Will Fisher to Ajt. Gen. USA
with response
Cambridge, New York
July 23, 1862
Will Fisher to his mother
Jersey City
Saturday night
September 20, 1862
Will Fisher to his mother
Soldiers Retreat, Washington, D.C.
September 24, 1862
Will Fisher to his brother
Camp Chase
September 28, 1862
Will Fisher to his mother
Camp Chase
Sunday morning
September 28, 1862
Will Fisher to his mother
Camp Chase
September 29, 1862
Will Fisher to his mother
Headquarters 123rd Regt. Co. I, NYSV
Frederick City, Maryland
October 1, 1862
Will Fisher to his mother
Headquarters 123rd Regt. Co. I, NYSV
Sunday Morning in Camp
2 miles From Sandy Hook
October 5, 1862
Will Fisher to his mother
Camp near Sandy Hook
October 9, 1862
Will Fisher to his brother
Camp near Sandy Hook, Maryland
October 13, 1862
Will Fisher to his mother
Camp 123rd Regt. NYSV
near Sandy Hook, Maryland
October 17, 1862
Will Fisher to his mother
Camp of the 123rd Regt.
near Sandy Hook, Maryland
About 4 o’clock PM
Tuesday, October 21, 1862
Will Fisher to his brother
Camp near Sandy Hook, Maryland
October 21, 1862
Will Fisher to his mother
Camp near Sandy Hook, Maryland
Saturday, 5 o’clock AM
October 25, 1862
Will Fisher to his mother
Camp of the 123rd Regt. NYSV
Loudoun Valley, Virginia
November 13, 1862
Will Fisher to his brother
Camp of the 123rd Regt. NYSV
Loudoun Valley, Virginia
November 15, 1862
Will Fisher to his mother
Camp of the 123rd Regt. NYSV
Loudoun Valley, Virginia
November 25, 1862
Will Fisher to his mother
Loudoun Valley, Virginia
December 9, 1862
Will Fisher to his mother
Fairfax Station, Virginia
December 18, 1862
Will Fisher to his brother
Fairfax Station
December 21, 1862
Will Fisher to his cousin Julia
Camp of the 123rd Regt. NYS Vols.
Fairfax Station, Virginia
December 26, 1862
Will Fisher to his mother
Fairfax Station, Virginia
December 27, 1862
& January 1, 1863
Will Fisher to his brother
Fairfax Station, Virginia
January 5, 1863
Will Fisher to his mother
Woodyard Ford, Virginia
January 10, 1863
Will Fisher to his mother
Fairfax Station, Virginia
January 12, 1863
Will Fisher to his mother
Stafford Court House, Virginia
January 26, 1863
Will Fisher to his mother
Stafford C. H., Virginia
January 31, 1863
Will Fisher to his brother
Stafford C. H., Virginia
January 31, 1863
Will Fisher to his mother
Stafford C. H., Virginia
February 1, 1863
Will Fisher to his mother
Stafford C. H.
February 10, 1863
Will Fisher to his mother
Stafford C. H.
February 13, 1863
Will Fisher to his
cousin Julia A. Whelden
Stafford C. H., Virginia
February 14, 1863
Will Fisher to his mother
Stafford C. H.
February 27, 1863
Will Fisher to his brother
Stafford C. H.
February 28, 1863
Will Fisher to his mother
Stafford C. H.
March 21, 1863
Will Fisher to his brother
Stafford C. H.
April 1, 1863
Will Fisher to his mother
Stafford C. H.
April 2, 1863
Will Fisher to his mother
Stafford C. H.
April 16, 1863
Will Fisher to his brother
Stafford
April 21, 1863
The Chancellorsville
& Gettysburg Campaigns
Will Fisher to his mother
On the battlefield
Chancellorsville
May 5, 1863
Will Fisher to his mother
Stafford C. H.
May 10, 1863
Will Fisher to his brother
Stafford C. H.
May 10, 1863
Will Fisher to his mother
Stafford C. H.
May 19, 1863
Will Fisher to his mother
Stafford C. H.
May 27, 1863
Will Fisher to his mother
Camp of the 123rd
June 6, 1863
Will Fisher to his mother
On the battlefield near
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
July 5, 1863
Will Fisher to his mother
Warrenton Junction, Virginia
July 27, 1863
Will Fisher to his brother
Kelly’s Ford, Virginia
August 8, 1863
Will Fisher to his mother
Kelly’s Ford, Virginia
August 8, 1863
Will Fisher to his mother
Kelly’s Ford, Virginia
August 16, 1863
Will Fisher to his mother
Kelly’s Ford, Virginia,
Camp of the 123rd NY Vols.
August 21, 1863
& August 26, 1863
Will Fisher to his mother
Kelly’s Ford, Virginia
September 7, 1863
Will Fisher to his mother
Kelly’s Ford, Virginia
September 11, 1863
The Railroad Becomes
A Military Weapon
Will Fisher to his mother
Bridgeport, Alabama
October 5, 1863
Will Fisher to his mother
Bridgeport, Alabama
November 3, 1863
Will Fisher to his brother
Bridgeport, Alabama
November 5, 1863
Will Fisher to his
cousin Julia Whelden
Bridgeport, Alabama
November 6, 1863
Will Fisher to his mother
Head Quarters Provost Guard
Bridgeport, Alabama
November 20, 1863
Will Fisher to his mother
Camp of the 123rd NY Vols.
at Bridgeport, Alabama
December 2, 1863
Will Fisher to his mother
Bridgeport, Alabama
December 16, 1863
Will Fisher to his mother
Bridgeport, Alabama
December 23, 1863
Will Fisher to his mother
Bridgeport, Alabama
December 29, 1863
Will Fisher to his mother
Bridgeport, Alabama
January 3, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
Elk River, Tennessee
January 10, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
Elk River, Tennessee
January 15, 1864
Will Fisher to his cousin Julia
Elk River, aka
Estill Springs, Tennessee
January 17, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
Elk River
January 22, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
Elk River
January 23, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
Elk River, Tennessee
Friday, January 29, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
In my little shanty, Elk River
February 4, 1864
Will Fisher to his brother
In camp at Elk River, Tennessee
February 7th, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
In camp at Elk River, Tennessee
February 15, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
Elk River RR bridge, Tennessee
February 24, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
Elk River RR, Tennessee
March 6, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
Elk River RR bridge, Tennessee
March 14, 1864
Will Fisher to his brother
Elk River, Tennessee
March 21, 1864
Will Fisher to his
cousin Julia Whelden
Elk River, Tennessee
Camp of 123rd NY Vols.
March 28, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
Elk River, Tennessee
March 30, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
Elk River, Tennessee
Camp of the 123rd
April 9, 1864
Will Fisher to his
cousin Lib Sherman
Elk River, Tennessee
Camp 123rd NY Vols.
April 11, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
Elk River, Tennessee
April 17, 1864
The Georgia Campaign
and Siege of Atlanta
Will Fisher to his mother
East Elk River, Tennessee
April 27, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
May 3, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
Chickamauga Battle Ground, Georgia
Evening, May 4, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
Near Ringgold, Georgia
May 6, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
Camp near Calhoun, Georgia
May 18, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
Cassville, Georgia
May 20, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
Camp near Dallas, Georgia
May 29, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
On Marietta Pike 8 or 10 miles
left of the battlefield of May 25th
June 7, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
In camp don’t know where
June 18, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
In the line of battle for
the 25th day successively
June 20, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
Kenasaw District, Georgia
June 29, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
Still in the “ditches” before Atlanta
July 2, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
Near the Chattahoochee River
July 6, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
Near the Chattahoochee
River, Georgia
July 8, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
In camp near
Vinings Station, Georgia
July 12, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
In the trenches
3 miles from Atlanta
July 21, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
Near Atlanta
Sabbath PM, July 24, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
Still “sieging" Atlanta
August 1, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
“Sieging”
August 8, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
Camp as before
August 14, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
Before Atlanta, Georgia
August 17, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
Camp near Atlanta, Georgia
August 24, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
Camp of 123 NY Vols.
near Atlanta, Georgia
August 24, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
Camp of the 123rd NY Vols.,
near Chattahoochee River, Georgia
August 29, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
Atlanta, Georgia
September 6, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
Atlanta
September 25, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
Atlanta, Georgia
October 1, 1864
Will Fisher to his brother
Camp of 123rd NY Vols. Inf.
Atlanta, Georgia
October 4, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
Atlanta, Georgia
Oct. 12, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
Atlanta
October 20, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
Atlanta, Georgia
October 23, 1864
From Atlanta To The Sea
Will Fisher to his mother
Three miles south
of Atlanta, Georgia
November 6, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
Camp 4 miles from Savannah
December 18, 1864
Will Fisher to his mother
Camp 4 miles from
Savannah, Georgia
December 18, 1864
thru January 15, 1865
Will Fisher to his mother
Savannah, Georgia
December 24, 1864
Will Fisher to his brother
Savannah, Georgia
December 26, 1864
Sherman’s Army
Sweeps North
Will Fisher to his mother
Three miles above Sister’s Ferry
South Carolina, Savannah River
February 2, 1865
Will Fisher to his mother
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Sabbath, March 12, 1865
Will Fisher to his mother
Goldsboro, North Carolina
March 25, 1865
Will Fisher to his mother
Goldsboro, North Carolina
March 30, 1865
Will Fisher to his brother
Goldsboro, North Carolina
April 9, 1865
Will Fisher to his mother
Raleigh, North Carolina
April 17, 1865
Will Fisher to his mother
Holly Springs, North Carolina
April 26, 1865
Will Fisher to his mother
I Co. 123rd Regt. 1st Div.
20th Army Corps., Holly Springs
April 27, 1865
Will Fisher to his mother
Raleigh, North Carolina
April 29, 1865
Will Fisher to his mother
Richmond, Virginia
May 9, 1865
Will Fisher to his mother
Washington, D.C.
June 7, 1865 |
