Darwin Sunderland, from Rensselaer Falls, New York, was a private in Company C of the 106th infantry regiment of the New York State Volunteers. He served in the Union army from August 6, 1862 until he died in combat on May 12, 1864 near Brandy (Spottsylvania), Virginia at the age of 23. The following are letters written by, and about, Darwin.
1861
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| December 15, 1861 | Albany Barracks | Mother, I received Your Letter this Fore-noon and you may be sure that I was glad to hear from you. I should have been home be fore you had written if Bristol had done as he said he would but he… |
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1862
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| January 8, 1862 | Albany, NY | Father & Mother I received yours of the 5 and was glad to hear from home. I sent a letter by Howard Cast Saturday to the post to be left at _________. He said he should get there at night. |
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| January 13, 1862 | Albany, NY | I am now about giving a little description of our barracks and of our living. 1st I will endeavor to describe our barracks. They are large 4 story brick building some 200 feet long by 40 wide… |
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| January 23, 1862 | Albany, NY | Mother I now am about to write to you to let you know that I am still in the land of the living I have seen two short lines from you since I wrote. You wanted I should write how many logs I… |
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| November 7, 1862 | 106th Regiment, NYSV, Beatton River, VA | Mother, I seat myself once more to pen a few lines to you. On the 7th Nov we made a forward movement and we marched to Kelleys fort a distance of 14 miles from camp and there found a few rebs on… |
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| December 7, 1862 | New Creek, VA | Home Tomorrow we leave We are going to the south Branch of the Potomac to build a bridge our Co. only and we shall not get any mail. We probably shall be gone two weeks so there is no particular… |
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| December 10, 1862 | Greenland Gap, VA | On the morning of the 9th Co. C 106 Regt. Packed up and started for Greenland. We had very fine times. Nothing happened of any account till near noon when a flock of geese flew over at which… |
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| December 12, 1862 | Greenland, VA | Dec. 11 we went in to the woods and cut timber and I went a hunting and I rambled about to see what I could and the first I saw worth noticing was a deer which jumped up about 10 rods ahead of me… |
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| December 18, 1862 | New Creek, VA | Mother & Father I have just go back from G. Gap and I found a box and two letters from you I am very thankful to you for the things you sent and so soon as we get our pay I will endeavor to… |
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| December 27, 1862 | Martinsburg, VA | Home Well I have not had any letters from you for some time back. The last was the one that had a bill of the things in the box or the one that was written soon after for I got them both… |
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1863
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| February 4, 1863 | Martinsburg, VA | Sister Emma I thought I would write a few lines to you and I want you to answer it yourself, as soon as you have time. I hope you are having a good school this winter, and that you is trying… |
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| February 23, 1863 | Martinsburg, VA | Home; Well I have not much news to write to night for I am not in a very good mood to write. We got our pay last Sunday and the boys are a having a little time. I have just come from town and I… |
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| March 21, 1863 | North Mountain, VA | Home, I have looked for a letter all the last week from you but have looked in vain, I wrote you one a week ago last Tuesday, the day I got the box with the boots and cigars in and I sent you $10… |
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| April 26, 1863 | Webster, VA | Home, Well I take the first opportunity to write you. On morning of the 25 we took the cars and passed up the Potomac River and we arrived at this place. |
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| May 3, 1863 | Grafton, VA | Mother, I take this present opportunity to write a few lines to you to let you know that I am well. We are still in the front of the enemy and do not know how soon we may be attacked.… |
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| June 4, 1863 | Washington, DC | sister Emma As I have got a little more money than I want to use I thought I would send you a little[.] |
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| June 20, 1863 | Maryland Hights, MD | Home, Well I once more seat myself to write a few lines to you to let you know that I am yet alive and well. |
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| June 22, 1863 | Maryland Hights, MD | Home: I now tak[e] my pen in hand and seat myself for the purpose of continuing my account of the proceeding of the last great battle. |
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| July 8, 1863 | South Mountain Pass, MD | All hands at home, well here we are right in the face of the enemy. |
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| July 12, 1863 | Home, Well hear we are expecting a battle evry moment[.] we were maneuvering as a reserve all day yesterday. |
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| July 14, 1863 | Sharpsburg, MD, Harpers Ferry, WV | Home Yesterday morning we received the news that Lee had crossed the river and was on his way to Richmond as fast as he could go and we are now in persuit. |
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| July 17, 1863 | Loudoun Valley, VA | Well hear we are after a march of 7 miles mostly performed in the dark through as mudy roads as ever you see as a good deal worse. At 6 o clock P.M. yesterday the bugle sounded for us to… |
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| July 19, 1863 | Warrenton, VA | It is with pleasure I seat myself to answer your short letter which I have just received. I was pleased to learn that you were well and also that you were getting along so well with your studies. |
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| July 22, 1863 | Manassas Gap, VA | Hear we are after a march of 16 miles in the face of the enemy. We came past the battle field of bull run yesterday. |
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| September 26, 1863 | Culpepper, VA | Home Well I resume my pen once more to communicate my wants to you. We are still hear and keeping eight days ration good yet. I am as well as can be expected under the presant situation. I… |
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| November 10, 1863 | Brandy Station, VA | Mother I take my pen once more to write a few lines to you[.] I am well to day and I hope you are all enjoying the same blessing[.] |
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| December 2, 1863 | Brandy Station, VA | Mother I take my pencil to write a few words to let you know that I am not hurt but I am pretty tired so you will not expect a long letter. We had one pretty smart little battle in which I was… |
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| December 17, 1863 | Brandy, VA | Mother I take the present opportunity to write a few lines to inform you of my present welfare. I have been looking for the last three or four days for a letter from you but have looked in vane. |
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1864
| Date | Location | Excerpt | Image |
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| January 31, 1864 | Brandy, VA | Mother I seat myself to day to answer your kinde favor which came to hand that next day after I wrote, also makeing a request to you for another pair of shirts and boots for an English comrad… |
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| March 23, 1864 | Brandy, VA | Home I seat myself to write a few lines to you to night to acknowledge the recipt of your last letter which I got a few days ago but was soon after detailed for picket duty where I had to stay 4… |
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| May 14, 1864 | Dear sir: It becomes my faithful duty to inform you of the death of your son Darwin[.] he was killed in action on the 13th inst. he was in the act of laying down[.] the ball struck him in the… |
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| June 3, 1864 | Gaines Mills, VA | Madam In compliance with your request to write, I send you these lines. Any attempt to process the body of your gallant son at present would be futile. |
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| June 6, 1864 | My dear madam: Your favor of the 24th inst. is received. It would be utterly impossible to recover the remains of your son. At present we are many miles away from the spot where he is buried… |
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