Francis M. and Henry H. Stone letters

Collection

Identifier: BUSC-2004-005

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection contains twenty-one letters written by the two brothers while they were in the 27th Regiment of the New York Volunteer Infantry and then the 1st Regiment New York Veteran Cavalry. The brothers were from Lima, in Livingston County, New York. The letters to their father, sister Alta, and brother-in-law George date from 1861 to 1864. The majority of the letters were written by Henry, most of which were penned during his service, 1861-1863, with the 27th New York Volunteer Infantry. His last three letters were written while in service with the 1st New York veteran’s cavalry. Francis wrote seven letters, five between 1861 and 1862 as a soldier in the 27th New York Infantry, and two in 1864 as a member of the 1st New York Veteran’s Cavalry.

The letters furnish information about their daily life as soldiers, family matters, bad living conditions, limited food rations, and being grateful for receiving food from home as the army’s quality of food was not very good. Illness within the camps and barracks are included in the letters. Both brothers are stricken with an eye ailment that seems to be more serious for Frank.

They participated in some of the most important battles, Bull Run, Manassas, Martinsburg and Richmond. They write about preparing for battle and waiting to be called upon to fight, battle positions taken up, troop strength and movements, capture of prisoners, and the numbers of Union soldiers wounded and killed. Soldiers that are acquainted with the brothers are also mentioned.

Henry’s letter of June 24, 1864 is the last of his letters. On July 2 he was captured at Berryville, VA and taken prisoner. In June 1865 he was paroled at Anapolis, MD. The last letter written by Frank is July 4, 1864 and in it he mentions that Henry was well, unbeknownst to him that Henry had been captured two days earlier.

This collection has been digitized and is accessible from the New York Heritage Collection.

Dates

1861 - 1864

Creator

Stone, Francis Marion (Person)

Biographical Note

Brothers, Francis Marion (March 26, 1842-?) and Henry Horace Stone (1839-April 4, 1883) were born in Livingston County, New York. Their mother passed away in 1851. After their mother’s death the family moved to Lima, Livingston County where they operated their family farm. During this period their father Horace remarried. By 1860 Francis had moved out and was living with his sister Alta and her husband George Coe, in Conesus, Livingston County, but Henry remained on the family farm. Soon after the start of the Civil War the brothers enlisted on May 7, 1861 for two years with the 27th New York Volunteer infantry as privates in Company G. On May 31, 1863 both were discharged.

Henry returned soon thereafter to military service, joining the 1st New York veteran cavalry, Company E on July 27, 1863. He was promoted to sergeant in February 1864, but was reduced in rank on July 1, 1864. He was captured at Berryville, Va. on July 2, 1864 and paroled in April 1865. Henry mustered out of the service on June 28, 1865.

Francis waited almost a year before returning to military service, enlisting on March 21, 1864, also with the 1st New York veteran cavalry. He was promoted to the rank of corporal in December of the same year. On July 20, 1865 he mustered out with his company.

The brothers returned home to the farm in Lima, New York. Francis’ life after 1865 is unknown as he is not listed in the census records of Lima or Conesus, New York. In 1875 Henry was living in Conesus, New York with his sister Alta and her family, working as a laborer on their farm. In April 1883, presumed to be heading to Michigan, Henry stopped in Tonawanda, New York while travelling to Michigan. After spending the evening there in a saloon, Stone started for a hotel on the other side of the canal where it was believed he walked off the abutment of the bridge and fell twelve feet into the water to his death on April 4th. His nephew, John C. Coe brought Stone’s remains to Conesus where he was laid to rest.

Extent

2 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

This collection contains twenty-one letters written by brothers Francis M. and Henry H. Stone during the Civil War. The brothers were from Lima, Livingston County, New York. The letters, from 1861 to 1864, are to their father, sister Alta, and brother-in-law George, and are full of rich details concerning their daily life, poor camp conditions, troop movements and battles, such as, Bull Run and Manassas. This collection has been digitized and is accessible from the New York Heritage Digital Collection.