CIVIL WAR DRAWINGS AND LETTERS OF GEORGE JOSIAH SAGER, 149TH ny vOLUNTEERS. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, THE ARMY OF CUMBERLAND AND THE ARMY OF GEORGIA AND WAS A BREVETTED 2ND LIEUTENANT FOR GALLANT SERVICE.  ACCORDING TO A NEWSPAPER CLIPPING HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR   CONCEIVING THE IDEA FOR THE 149TH DEPICTION "MENDING THE FLAG", A BRONZE  STATUE ON THE SOLDIERS AND SAILORS MONUMENT. The TABLET is OF SERGEANT lILLY 'MENDING THE FLAG" WHILE UNDER enemy FIRE. THE MONUMENT IS IN GETTYSBURG AND ALSO IN DOWNTOWN SYRACUSE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following are some of the Civil War letters of Lt George Josiah Sager, 149th NYS Infantry.  Some I have transcribed and some were sent from Ian Morgan who found them in the Pearce Collection as noted. George Josiah Sager was the great uncle of my grandmother Rena Josephine Green Trombley.  Some of the letters were written to George by his mother Rebecca Smith Groot Sager, great, great grandmother of Rena Josephine Green Trombley. The letters reflect some fantastic observations of the time i.e. the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and major battles aa well as the mundane regarding everyday life at that time. They reflect the religious devotion and unwavering trust in God that Rebecca Sager had and her hope that her son would find God and soon would be safe. The letters which I have transcribed are in the Onondaga Historical Associations collections.  Due to time constraints I was not able to copy all the letters so more remain. He survived the war, married and never had children and made quite a life in Syracuse as seen by this excerpt, courtesy of Cindy Hill “Alderman George J. Sager of the Thirteenth ward was born in Albany in 1840.  He is of Dutch ancestry, his relatives both on his father and mother's side having been among the original settlers of the Capitol City.  Mr. Sager came to Syracuse to live in 1847, and has seen the growth of the city from about 14,000 population to its present position as the banner city of the State.  Educated in the public schools of the city, Mr. Sager takes especial pride now in the public school system, and as a member of the finance committee of the Common Council is one of the most active in favor of anything tending to contribute to the welfare of the present school system.  He started his business career as a bundle boy in a dry goods house in 1853 and with his brother has been engaged for about fifteen years in manufacturing, importing and jobbing knit goods.  He was elected Alderman in November, 1897, his first public office, having been elected on the regular Republican ticket.  He is the father of the bill that made Syracuse a port of entry.  He served three years with the One Hundred and Forty-ninth New York regiment and was brevetted lieutenant.  He is a member of the G.A.R., Royal Arcanum, Central City council, and is trustee and for thirty years has been an active member of the Centenary church.  He lives at No. 123 South Avenue."

 

Just to get an idea of some of the people mentioned in the letters I would like to provide the following genealogy:

Jacob Sager and Rebecca Smith Groot Sager were George Josiah’s parents. They had:

Amasa and Aaron and Abram(Rena Green Trombley’s grandfather) mentioned in the letters are George’s brothers.

“Nettie”, which I believe to be Nellie, is the wife of Amasa

"Emma" is Emily Sager Hubbell, who writes to her brother in one of the letters below that she did not wear her hoops to school and the teacher did not say anything! Her  jewelry box is pictured on the main Sager page. It is because of this defiant  young lady that we have this collection preserved today!!!!

“Aunt Ann” could possibly be Angeline Groot b. 1809, Rebecca Smith Groot Sager’s sister

“George and Kate”- George being Capt. Collins, who wrote a book on the 149th and his wife Kate(NOTE: they were married 70 years!!!!).

 

***Here they are in chronological order. I have kept the spelling and grammar true to the original writers. The racial descriptives concerning the black units are a little shocking :

 

George J. Sager letters FROM RESEARCH OF IAN MORGAN. Held by Pearce Civil War Collection, Navarro College ,Spelling errors and lack of punctuation kept as written ,# marks end of page.

Bolivar HightsVa [N.B. This is now Bolivar, WV – adjacent to Harper’s Ferry - IBM] Dec 7th 1862 

Dear Mother

I returned yesterday from a four days march weary and footsore to find our box had arived wich revived me very much and when I opened my small box I allmost felt as though I had “struck a vein” the coffee pot from Emma arived in good order also the contense  give my love to Emma and tell her I think of her every time I use it  the nightcap from Amasa is a most beautifull thing and just what I wanted  I think of him very often and the fried cakes tasted so naturall and home like # that I could imagin you frying them over the stove the “Balony”  I must thank All for in another letter those dried fruits are just the thing althoug I did not think to say anything about those jells in my other letter I enjoyed them very much as I do every thing from “Home” send on the plums Mother  I have Ger Collins half of the cakes of the apple sauce of Mrs Porters I never saw but 3 spoons full as the can was marked for Ger Collins  give her my thanks for them  our box got her the morning after we left but I did not return till yesterday noon #  But Mother I must give you a history of our “reconoisence” tuesday morning  we wer aroused at four o’clock to start at 5 oclock for a 7 days march  with one days rations in our haversacks the rest caried by the wagons the first day we marched 25 miles about to “Beryvill” by way of Charlstown  I saw the Corthouse where John Brown was tried and the field where he was hung  we wer the rear guard to the waggon train wich was nearly a mile long  there being 2 Brigades with 2 companies of artilery 

I walked 15 or 16 miles when Ger Collins got me into an empty Ambulance  We were # marched very fast Gen Greene (one of the worst General in the service for marching soldiers fast) being on the lead  we camped the first night 2 miles past Beryvill in a “sesesh” country where we stayed till the next day at noon when we went 5 miles farther towards Winchester  we camped within 4 or 5 miles of winchester where we was going the next day  this was the 2d night out about 6 oclock in the morning we started for Winchester where we arived a little after noon marching around through the town we went out and took posesion of the forts and planted the “stars and # stripes without any trouble  we camped this night (the 3d out) about 5 miles past Winchester on our way home by another route marching in all that day some 10 or 11 miles  the next day we marched off at 6 oclock marching through Midleway and Bunker Hill some 15 or 16 miles when as much as two thirds of one regiment and one third of ours and other regiments in [proportion?] wer laging behing and Gen Greene was forced to stop for the night  this was about 2 oclock P.M. when it comenced to snow too and was very cold too  we camped in the woods where we found plenty of rail # fences where we built us all huts to keep off the storm and built large fires and got lots of good straw from a farm close by owned by a reble and we slept first rate all night going to bed about 8  I got up in the morning at 3 oclock cooked what little I wanted and saw the eclips of the moon  we started after the 4th night out for camp about 11 miles where we arived at noon marching through the snow  it was quite cold all the time we were out and first rate marching weather  nights we camped in the woods where we kept good big fires all night  in coming back we passed through # Charlestown again singing “John Browns body lies molding in the grave but his soul is marching on”  they did not like it at all as he was hung in that place.  The window blinds wer all closed and we saw very few persons.  Where we was all along the road they confess to be secesh and stick to it that they are right.  the boys wer out foraging all along the road and fresh meat was pleanty  at one place we stoped for diner our boys went into a farm and got 16 hogs all dressed when they immediately cut them up and distributed them and went to cooking  chikens turkies and ducks wer plenty #

But I must here close Dear Mother anything you have a mind to send me in the way of “eateables” will be most thankfully received although we can get enough here that wich comes from home is very dear to me

I wish you could send me 4 or 5$ as Mark and I want to get a stove and it will cost 2$ a piece  I keep track of what I get from you in fact I only borrow it and will send it home again pay day.  give my love to all at home  remember me to Father  Thinking of you very often and hoping again to see you I am

Your affectionate son

George J. Sager

Excuse the writing as it is rather cold

 

 

  Stafford Court House 8 miles From Fredericksburgh Jan 24 1863 

Dear Mother

You are doubtless anxious to hear from me about this time and and acording to promise I will lett you know where we are  we are on our way to Fredericksburgh camping at the above named place for the night  we have had 2 or 3 days bad rainy and cold days and nights

have bin on the march for the last 6 days  one day we marched 18 miles the hardest marching I have yet seene with our knapsacks but tonight we are quite # comfortable with a good big fire at the front of our tent and our blankets and clothing well dried though we are all dreadfull worn out and tired

for the last four days the mud has bin very heavy on the road and consequently there has bin a great deal of suffering with both man and beast  dead horses and mules are strewn along the road  I saw one mule alive with just his head out of the mud  some days we could not travel more than 3 or 4 miles  we are yet ahead of our wagons and when we do come across the wagons we draw 2 or 3 days rations ahead for fear we will not see the wagons # again  so far we have not suffered for rations only we have to do without our sugar and drink our coffee clear.  the men  are all through prety well worn out and every night you can hear them ask the officers “When shall we get our letters” but I have not much time to write and must close  I should be very hapy to hear from home  I think of you Mother on the march very often and it bears me up for I know you pray for me  give my love to all at home and write to me soon  from

Your son  George

The rest are from the Onondaga Historical Association collection, transcribed by Pat Leight:

 

Syracuse Sept 29th, 1863

Dear Brother George,

I am all most ashamed to write to you because I have not wrote to you in so long a time. I wrote a letter in school but ment to coppie it. But Annas getting married I had so much to do that I did nt have much time. But you must forgive me this once for I don’t think I shall not do it again.  It is evening and mother is getting some pears ready to preserve them. I would like to have you home home to eat some if you could be here. If you come home when your time is out I shall be 15 years old that is if you do not get killed as I hope you won’t You talk so much about Rufus that it seems as though I knew him. Last Sunday our Sunday broke up . I wanted to get some Sunday school papers for you and Rufus to read but that Miller boy got them all to take up to the peninitentiary . I was very sorry that I could not get any. They gave the books to the children . I got four, there was 2 volumes of Dred or the dismal swamp, 1 of Eastern Holiday at Cedar Grove. 1 of Hemlock Ridge or Old Dan Whites Son.

No more for to night.

Sept 30th

Some more for to night. Mother went to prayer meeting. Father went down city and left me home to take care of Kitty until Kate came from Mrs. Collins with the baby. She just got home and has laid down with Kitty. Yesterday I went to school in the afternoon with out my hoops so did Carrie Brilcher the teacher did not say a word about it. I hope you and Rufus will prosper.

Good bye

PS You please ask Rufus if he has got any sister as small as I and if he has what her name is.

From your sister Emma

 

 

 

Syracuse, Oct 18, 1863

Dear George,

I was glad to once more hear from you. I feel that we are a great distance apart stil I am glad that we can hear from each other. You said that you did not no what put it in my head to think that you would take a drinking. I gave you my reasons your father came home very often and said how freely the liquour was used in the army . I put so much confidence in yo as a mother can in a son but we are all failable creatures. I am glad that you hav no relish for it. Anna enjoys here new home very much. Your Grandmother came  home(?) a week agoe last Friday she and aunt Anna were have a joyfull time. Mother looks as young as she did when I last saw here. Aunt Anna is a going back west. She says she cant not content her self she will come back to Syracuse to stay. Aaron was her on wensday and seams to feels very much encouraged in his business. Nettia is coming a Monday and ----. I expect we will all be to gither and have a super on Monday night and how I wish that you could be with us but we look forward to that day when you will again be with us. I went to see Mr. Dillaye about the lot and put the money into Mr. Gotts hands fiftey dollars to make the first payment and he would like to have us take the lot right back of the one we have taken. I will have to write short letters while Mother is here . I shall incl  two dollars in this letter. May the Lord still protect you and keepe you from the dangers seen and unseen good bye fore the present

 from your Mother R. Sager

 

Syracuse Dec. 30th 1863

Dear George

 

I once more have a few leisure moments to let you know how I am and how I spent Christmas as Emma and myself were at home all day. Amasa was in the store until 2 ‘oclock your father did not work that day it seemed so quied that I could not help wishing that you was home but I could not bare the thoughts of yo gouing back. I feel more encouraged then ever that you will come back again but I can not say that I would wish you to come home before your time is expired. I am still a keeping my dear children on the alter of mercy and my prayer is that the Lord will convict and convert. I feel that the Lord will still hear and answer prayers. I am tempted just now but for my own soul sake and yours I dare not keep still. I feel that you don’t want to hear so much of those thingh that pertain to your spiritual good, but I will not allow myself to feel so for I know that you are to honest about those things. I expect that you have heard before this time that George Collins is home. (ED NOTE-THAT IS CAPT COLLINS OF OF 149TH). They stayed with us three days and I was pleased to hear him say one morning after I had read the Bible that he was rather a skeptic and says he “ I know that I am a poor wretch but he says he believes in prayer in the darkest moments he remember that he had friends at home a praing for him”. I am glad that he begins to see what he is by nature and I trust that he will soon see what he must become by grace to live here below and to live hereafter. I expect you would now like to know what presents I got you say that my Joys are yours. I believe it to be so and I shal tell you. George and Kate and Amasa made me a present of a hood of four dollars and a half. All gave me Becker gave me a set of silver forks Abram gave me a thimble. You spoke about those socks Grandmother said I must tell you that she nit one pair aunt Ann the other pair. I will send my picture in my next letter I could not spare the money until now to have them taken. I told you in my last letter that I would tell you about the Church Brother Gould has left Syracuse the independent Church and the free Church have united they have bought and repaired No3 schoolhouse and have made quite a comfortable Church of it. I begin to feel at home they have a large Bible class Anna and myself have joined it she don’t feel hersef at home among the Prespeterian one of the sisters asked her if she still loved her mother and she said “ more then ever”. I am a going to bake some misc pies and wish you had some of them we will look foreward wen you will share it with us let me know if you have got my letter.

From your affection

Mother

 

April 8th, 1864

Head Quarters 3rd Brigade, 2nd division

Stevenson Ala

 

Dear Brother Aaron,

Your letter of the 28th March has come to hand. Am sorry to learn that Nettie is again suffering from that very troublesome complaint and hope by the time this reaches you she may be more comfortable. Am myself enjoying good health as I ever had in my life.  This is indeed April weather we are having here. Warm and rainy. Yesterday was a warm dry and pleasant day. And we had a big time here. Horse race at 12 o’clock six horses for a price of $18. some good running at half a mile. Next on the program came a footrace for $5. Very good fair race quarter of a mile. 3rdly wheelbarrow race. The men blindfolded and you better believe there was some sport to see the all of them start off at once all different ways as the had t turn around three times before starting The 10 dollars was one by an old racer who had practiced for some time and he went straights up to the hole at 30 yards. 4thly was a sack race for $5 which was hip hop it was won by an old cavey who started off last went steadily and slowly up to the pole. 5thly a greesed pole no one could climb it although $10 and a jug of “grog” was at the top. Several tried it. 6thly a greesed pig was let out for the “contrabands” to catch, which was the most sport of the day to see them “Nigers” tumbling in all shapes after that hog for at least 20 minutes and when we came away our sides weer fairly sore with laughing, a soldiers life airn’t all  canc after all.

I am much obliged to you indeed for your exertions in my behalf and I assure you that if they were of my avail I should try my best to make myself deserving of them. But I fear ther of little use as Barnum is down on detached men and as long as the brigade holds together I can not get away from my present place and I am satisfied that I am dong very well where I now am. Am learning and keeping up old business habits which will be of great use to me when I get out of the Army. But I must close. Give my love to Nellie and Cora and believe me ever.

Your affectionate brother. George

 

 

 

Syracuse, July 5 1864

Dear George

I once more am a trying to write to you you may feel that I am neglecting you if I do so in writeing it is not that my love grows cold nor that I forget you. It is for the want of time you may think how can this be wen the family is so small. I will tell  you how it is with us at present. George and Kate are keeping house in the frunt room and we feel very much unsettled they are a getting along nicly with their house it will be a very nice cosy plse. We will all be very glad wen it is finished although we see a good many happy hours together. Anna has been sick she was confined to her bed for two weeks and All had here broght to our house and she stayed here three weeks then herself and I went to Cortland . I stayed from Saturday to Wednesday. Anna stayed All went out there last Friday and returned last night the fourth here health is improving only she has a couple of jobes comforters. There was a funeral in our Church last week. It was the funeral of Mr. Shelten he was in the 122 infantry he died very happy he wrote to here a short tim  before he was wounded she must prepare herself for the worst after he was wounded he sent for here to Washington. She was with him a week before he died the ball entered his head lodged in his shoulder his arm had to be amputated he never enjoyed himself so well in religion as he did after he went into the army. It shows that we can live a Christian life wherever we are. I have found it so by both blest and sad experence religion is good under all circumstances. Another forth of july is past their has been no great excitement here the most exciting thing was a festival for the benefit of the sick and wounded soilders we are very much in want of rain  every thing is a suffering for the want of it but we have better then we deserved  you wold be surprised to see Amasy how tall he is the girls remark  a greate many how much he looks and acts like you he will be the largest of you all. Mr. Gott is very sick he is not expected to live he is possible dead by this time a great many will feel his loss: you spoke of the boys going to camp meting. I expect that you knew they wen there for sporte you acted the wis part not to goe read your Bible. You ever will loos nothing by it Amasa and Emme go with me to Church every Sunday morning and Sunday school. We shal be glad wen you can join us one more we look forward to that time if the Lord pleases we will truste in him the onley safe way from your affectionate Mother

R Sager

 

 

January 28th 1864

Headquarters 3rd brigade 2nd division, 12th

Stevenson, Ala

 

Dear Brother Aaron,

Your letter f the 20th has come to hand in better time than I generally get most of my letters from home. Got one from “All”, dated the 17th. Sometimes letters are 14-16 days on the road. We are at present enjoying some of the most beautiful weather I ever saw for  the season. Today we had all the windows up that we could get up. No fire and going about in our blouses and with a very little exertion, can get up a pretty respectable “sweet”. In fact it is decidedly “warm” but the “natives” tell me we shall have to pay for this in 3-4 weeks of ran and mud. We have not been so pleasantly situated since I have been in the service, my health is good and we are taking every advantage of our “situation”. Last Sunday Capt. Johnson the a.a.g.s. for whom I am clerking told me to take his horse out whenever I wanted to and requested me particularly to take him out. Then , of course I had no objections so I had him saddled and went off to Capenton Ferry about 2 miles from here on the Tenn. River where 3 companies of the 149th are stationed. Saw a number of refugees being brought over the river with their families. Quite a number are coming over every day. Had a very pleasant ride. Enclose find “General Order NO 398 War Dept” also sketch of “Drumming out of Camp” which took place at Wauhatchie some time since which you probably have seen in the papers. Has his head shaved and was labeled “Coward”. Also “Robbing the Dead” This is the way such fellows get it in the White Star Division. Stephenson is a very lively place it being a great military depot. The place itself is not much to wit . A large wooden hovel very much like the Cortland house called the “Alabama Home”, a few settler shops, depots, a number of “niger shanties”, lots of little nigers or “Moaks” as the boys call them and the usual complement of dogs, rats, donkeys, etc. etc. It is nearly time for Tatoo so I shall bring my letter t a close. Give my love to Net and Cora and remember me to the “Old Folks”. Hoping to hear from you again soon.

I remain your affectionate brother, George 7-28-1864

Syracuse, July

 

 

May 23, 1865

Near Washington, DC

 

Dear Brother Aaron,

Am about to answer your dated April 27th acknowledging the receipt of mine of March 27th, so it is just two months since I wrote to you last. And what an eventfull two months! The decisive battle of the war has been fought and the troops are returning to their homes and within that time an assassin has deprived a nation of a good and just ruler! But they could not deprive us of the principles which he laid down for us. And the “Old Flag” is planted more firmly than it ever was before!

I will give you briefly a statement of our movements since I last wrote to you- hoping soon to give you verbally a detailed account of those and previous campaigns.

April 10th left Goldsboro, NC in pursuit of Johnson- arriving at Raleigh NC the 13th after a day’s march of 30 miles

April 30th left Raleigh enrout for Richmond

May8th Camped near Richmond mking the march of 180 miles in 9 days. At each crossroads the trees were marked with the xx and the road over which the 20 company passed will be known many years hence.

May 11th Passed thru Richmond and not being obliged to go with the column or rather in it I made use of my time while in that place.

May 12th passed through Chickahominy swamp

May15th passed over the Spotsylvania battle ground and there witnessed what gave us a fainte idea of the hard fighting of the “Wilderness and the hast with which General Grant followed up the rebels leaving the field strewn with our brave fellows, one of our mess counted forty two skeletons in blue uniform in one place. I saw a large number myself. The “Johnie’s were mostly all buried by the citizens- On the same day visited the Chancellorsville battle grounds, found things looking quite natural, saw many curious sights of which, more hereafter.

May 19th camped within 3 miles of Alexandria, , on the 24th crossed the Song Bridge and witnessed the “Grand Review” of “Sherman’s Men” and  I tell you it was a thrilling sight- had an excellent view of the President, Grant, Meade, etc.

Washington is still draped in mourning from the Capitol down to the smallest grog shop- Abram Lincoln will be cherished in the memory of this nation for many years- he was the true type of an honest man.

Heard a short speech from Gov. Fenton yesterday- and now that the Grand Review is over, we are to be musterd out as soon as possible.

Maj. Grumbach has not commenced to make out our papers yet though some regiments have theirs almost completed. We shall probably be home before the 4th anyhow- and then! But I must not anticipate too much.

My general health is good, had a slight touch of dirreah yesterday but it has all passed off and no signs of it today.

It is getting late and I must close. “Tattoo and Taps” will soon go out of fashion and the bugle will no longer remind us that it is “time” to douse the glim. Good night. Love to Aunt Cora????? ****** Regards to the Old Folks and hoping soon to be with you. I remain as ever your affectionate  

Brother George

PS If you should write again with the usual directions add the regiment 149 NY Volunteers, the Brigade may soon be broken up.

 

 

Syracuse, July (sorry missed the date on this one P.A.L.)

Dear George,

We received your letter and was very glad to hear from you. I almost begun to think you had forgotten me, it is true I do not write as often as I should wish to n account of my time being so taken up always . the time is drawing nigh when Anna is to be married and she is very busy and that leaves the greater part of the mark for me I have not forgotten you. You are just as dear to me as ever as I was walking down Saturday to the city you was brought back to my mind very fresh by seeing a young man walkin just in front of me . He was dressed so much like you was last summer and could not make myself believe but that is was you I felt like speaking to him but after all I knew that it would not be George. I was so full that I bit my lip to keep from giving vent to my feeling. But I began to pray for a submissive heart and again felt that comforting spirit as I always do when I call upon the Lord so that I can say religion is everything to me. Therefore I would recommend you to the Lord when you are discouraged. He says if we will draw nigh unto him he will draw nigh unto us. He says also seek and ye shall find. Read his word and try to understand his blessed promises. Religion is good to live by and I expect it will be good to die by. Now I would like to speak to you about that lot. Mr. Deliea was here a few weeks ago to see about the papers and lot. We went down to see and the heir has not come yet. Mr. Delia is very anxious that we should take it. I want to now tell you about Aunt Anne. I suppose you would like to know things Aunt Anne is very much dissatisfied down ther. She says she is going to move back to the West. She did not find things quite as pleasant as she thought. Uncle Aaron’s wife has got a pair of twins a boy and a girl. She says they abuse Grandmother very much but you understand something about it. They will talk and find fault with each other and not know it.  She says that grandmother wants to come down and see us and make us a visit. The arsenal is guarded here with about 60 men since we have heard about the riots in NY and other places. I felt as if we were in danger but we feel fairly well prepared now the Globe hotel is pretty well prepped. They have hand grenades and some ammunition on hand. They feel in danger on account of their having Negroes waiters and other Negro help. Father came home one evening and said he expected they would have a riot. That evening Anna and I were out and he worried about us very much when we came home late. Emma and Parkie sat looking very much frightened. It was quite an excitement for a while and now it is all quiet again. We had Abraham and Aaron’s family as well. I have nothing more to write at present. – write as often as you can for it is a great comfort to me to hear from you. I am still looking forward to the time when you will come home if the Lord permits. Good bye.

From you mother mrs. R Sager