The Civil War Letters of James and Ann Colwell

When the Civil War erupted in 1861, James Colwell and his wife Ann were living in Carlisle, Pa. and raising four children.  James immediately joined the Carlisle Fencibles, a local unit which became the 7^th Pennsylvania Reserves.  This unit was heavily engaged in military campaigns in Virginia and the Battle of Antietam in Maryland, where James was killed on September 17, 1862.

Between June 1861 and September 1862 over 180 letters were written between James and Ann.  These letters provide a window into that traumatic period and reflect the society in which they lived.  Major issues were discussed and debated in the letters such as the war’s purpose, slavery, and President Lincoln.

A fascinating aspect of the Colwell letters is the contrasting views of the writers, based on their upbringing.  James was raised in the Carlisle area while Ann was born in Baltimore and raised with a more southern view.  The result was many disagreements between them concerning the war and James’ role in it.

James joined the army in 1861 before discussing it with his wife.  This was extremely upsetting to Ann, who opposed the war, and thought she should have some input in his decision.  James Colwell’s reasons for enlisting were to sustain the government and preserve the Union.  James defended his enlistment in a letter to his wife on July 4, 1861, “I did it with the best motive in the world.  I have no hostility against the south, and this war is not on behalf of Lincoln or any other man, but it is to sustain the government.”  James continues with a surprising statement, based on our modern perceptions of the war, “And if Jeff Davis had been elected president and was endeavoring to preserve the Union, I would have been found aiding him with all efforts.”

James Colwell’s thoughts regarding slavery were complex.  His letters describe his observations of slaves in Virginia and his sympathy for their plight, but he did not appear to support immediate abolition of slavery.  James clarified his position regarding abolitionists in a letter to Ann on June 4, 1862, “I am not one.  And I think their cause is reprehensible.”  While campaigning in Virginia, James witnessed several slaves singing and dancing near the Rappahannock River.  The scene apparently had a tremendous impact on him, and he made an interesting observation to Ann, “They are poor deluded creatures that do not know what they are rejoicing about.  They have a vague idea that this war is going to benefit them in some way.  It may a few.  But I am inclined to think it will be an injury to most of them, although it may benefit their posterity and the civilization and religion of the world in general” (June 11, 1862).

James also mentioned the runaway slaves that were following the Union army.  His letters recognize the slavery problem, but he could see no solution to it, “At Harrison’s Landing there was quite a city of them, dwelling in tents.  We were here but an hour or two till they were beside us putting up their tents.  What is to be done with them I do not know.  I suppose they are more uncomfortable than they were with their masters” (Aug. 23, 1862).

Ann Colwell’s letters, compared to her husband’s, provide a very different perspective of the war.  She was raised in a family that was sympathetic to southern concerns.  Her cousin married Richard Anderson, a Confederate general and future corps commander in the southern army.  Because of her background, she was adamantly opposed to the war which is clearly demonstrated in her letters. 

When her husband joined the army, Ann tried to persuade him to resign.  James resisted stating it would bring “disgrace and dishonor on myself and my little family…” (July 4, 1861).  In the same letter James expresses hope that “we understand each other and that you will scold me no more.”  Ann though, remained depressed by James’ absence but eventually seemed to accept his decision.  In another letter to James, Ann described a conversation with a cousin who asked about her husband’s motives for enlisting, “I replied that your motives were purely conscientious, but you and I differed widely in regard to your taking so active a part.” (Aug. 20, 1861).

Ann Colwell remained strongly opposed to the war and she blamed “this hateful war” for separating her husband from his family (Dec. 16, 1861).  Shortly after James enlisted, Ann wrote him stating, “this terrible war was only a diabolical plan enacted between Jeff Davis and Lincoln to deprive good wives from their husbands and thereby try their tempers…” (June 20, 1861).  Ann was not an admirer of President Lincoln, and she stated her opinion in her letter Nov. 7, 1861, “…although I consider him ‘honest Abe’ I don’t think him competent to fill his present position.”  She also told James she was informed that Mrs. Lincoln was a secessionist (Aug. 26, 1861).

As the war dragged on into its second year, Ann grew increasingly frustrated with its slow progress.  After the Battle of 2^nd Bull Run, Ann complained, “What will be the end of all this?  We seem to be gaining and losing all the time and this battle has been fought on the same ground of the one a year ago.” (Sept 1, 1862).  She also had an overwhelming fear that James would be killed in battle.  Ann witnessed the dead and wounded returning home and the grief of loved ones which she referred to as “the bitter, bitter fruits of this war” (Sept 3, 1862).  In the same letter she recounts her efforts to obtain information about James’ safety, “I feel very anxious and miserable about you.  I read the papers till I grow sick.”

Even though James and Ann had very different opinions about the war, their letters show a great deal of affection for each other.  It is obvious they missed each other.  Both wrote frequently about reuniting and Ann even requested to visit James in the field.  Sometimes they joked in their letters.  Once, James requested that Ann make him a long nightgown and Ann replied that she can imagine him “metamorphosed from a soldier into a monk” (Oct. 3, 1861).  In another letter, she proclaimed that if he didn’t get “a little teasing occasionally he’ll get too fat” (Aug. 20, 1861).  In the same letter she disclosed how much she missed him, “I would like to have a husband to talk to just now…”

A constant theme in James’ letters was his unfailing optimism that the war would end soon in a Union victory.  On September 2, 1861, four months after he enlisted, James wrote that he expected to be home in less than a year from when he left.  He added, “Nor do I think the recognition of the South as a government by England will change the final result.”  A few days later James told Ann, “The news here is that the Southern army cannot be held together much longer…” (Sept. 5, 1861).

When the Union army commander General McClellan began the Peninsular Campaign in the Spring of 1862, the 7^th Pa. Reserves remained near Washington DC to defend the capitol.  As General McClellan’s army advanced toward Richmond, James believed the war was almost over.  He reported to Ann a rumor that the rebels were evacuating Richmond and stated, “I do not think now that the rebels will make a determined stand in Virginia” (April 6, 1862).  When the Union army captured Yorktown, James expected the war to be over in two or three months.  On May 13 James wrote Ann, “We are expecting to hear this week of the capture of Richmond.”

In June 1862, the 7^th Pa. Reserves was ordered to reinforce McClellan’s army.  The unit was then involved in a series of engagements near Richmond known as the Seven Days Battles, which forced the Union army to retreat.  Even after that reversal James continued his optimism and wrote Ann on July 6, “When this war will be ended it is difficult to say now. It will probably be 2 or 3 months, but I trust it will not be very long.”

By August 1862, the Peninsular Campaign was deemed a failure and the Union army was recalled to northern Virginia.  The Confederate army then began an invasion of Maryland and the Union army followed to defend the State.  On September 14, the 7^th Pa. Reserves participated in the Battle of South Mountain which pushed the Confederates back from the mountain passes.  James was elated by the victory and his optimism soared as he wrote Ann, “We drove the Rebs clear over the mountain.  The Rebs are in full retreat I think toward Va. never to return.  The end of this war has commenced.”  Just three days later, on September 17, James was killed at the Battle of Antietam.

Ann Colwell did not hear of her husband’s death until September 19^th.  Her reaction to the news is not recorded, but one can imagine her anger and depression based on her letters. 

The Colwell letters, written over the course of 15 months, expose the human and emotional cost of the war.  It illustrates that even in the staunch Unionist State of Pennsylvania there were differing opinions about the war’s purpose.  Despite James Colwell’s confidence in a quick victory, the Civil War was not yet half over at the time of his death.  Ann Colwell, then a widow with four children, still had to endure another 2½ years of war.