“Brother Dustan’s Death at Cold Harbor”

Sgt. Isaac N. Watts

Letter to sister

Location: Camp near Charlestown, VA

Date: August 29th, 1864- Sept 2nd 1864

Unit: 11th Vermont Infantry or 1st Vermont Heavy Artillery

Dear Sister:

It was with great pleasure that I received your very welcome letter of July 24th which I reed last Friday. It had been a long time since I have heard from any of you in Cal. and though I had not forgotten there were friends there have hardly had time to think of them of late among so much bustle as we have been in for a few months past. My health is good and I have generally enjoyed good health since leaving home, a year ago. But I probably dont look much now as I did when the picture you have was taken. It will make anyone look rough and dirty to bring around as the army has done this summer. Friends at home would hardly own us if they could see us just as we are and yet we have good times and enjoy life when not much is given us to do.

Dustan’s death came as unexpected to me as any one. I had heard he was doing well and thought he would soon be at home but it seems it must be otherwise. I never saw him after he was wounded and did not know it was done until after he went to hospital and as our reg. was advanced just then never had a chance to see him. I presume you know the particulars as well as I can tell them. He was wounded at Cold Harbor early on the morning of June 3rd. There was very hard fighting in front but we lay back some distance and it seemed we must be quite safe, but rebel bullets will go most any where. Dustan was a good soldier and after his promotion was liked very much by all his men. They all felt very badly to lose him. His sword, belt, and nearly everything he had were lost before his wife reached him. I would give a great deal to have them saved but ive written enough on this subject.

We all miss him very much and I think I do as much as any. A week ago yesterday we had quite a fight near here. It was rather the hardest one I have ever took an active part in. There are 8 VT boys buried on a little knoll just back of our camp that were killed on that day. I came out safe as I always have and hope I always shall. It has been some time since I have heard from home or a little more than a week which seems long to me. They were comfortably well then. Father had been sick but was better then. He was talking then of selling his farm. I suppose it is the best thing he can do his health is so poor though I hate to have the old farm go out of the family. I dont know but I ought to have staid at home with him but I did not feel as though I could and feel satisfied. It is hard for the girls and makes rather a lonesome home for them, but as you said “nearly all NE homes are lonesome now.”

Sept. 2nd

I began this several days ago but have been prevented from finishing it till now. We are still in the same place and have had no more fighting since then with no prospect of any for the present and hope there wont be. I got a letter from Alice last night they are well as usual and getting along as usual. There was no particular news. Father had bargained but not deeded his farm. The great excitement there is the draft “They pay large bounties but probably wont get volunteers enough for their quota, and the men must come. My old ?  come back a day or two ago. He has been sick again. I should like to be with you this fall and eat some of your nice fruit. I think I could like on it exclusively I was always a great lover of it and now can eat any amount.j

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Biography:

Isaac Watts was born in Peacham, Vermont in 1842 to Lyman and Roxana Watts; he was the youngest son of 12 children in the Watts-Walbridge family. At the start of the war in 1861, Isaac was 19 and not able to join but watched his brothers hurry off to a war that he felt he should have a part in. 

During this time, Isaac helped on the family farm and was planning to continue his education until he made the executive decision to go against his family's wishes and signed up in 1863 at 21 years old in Brattleboro Vermont. His dad was so against this he even offered to pay $300 to keep his son from having to go.

Early on, Isaac’s unit was guarding the Capitol and really did not see much action. During this time, he spoke mostly about activities to fill his days as he was bored by the waiting. One thing that Isaac enjoyed was getting letters from family and writing back; this made him feel closer to home. He advanced through the ranks quickly being promoted to corporal 6 months after enlistment, then was made Sgt. in January 1865. 

In May 1864, battery M was assigned to join the 6th army corp and were in action at Spotsylvania and Cold Harbor, which this letter would be written shortly after. This letter would be different though; it hit home in a way that none of the letters had before. This letter would detail the death of his half brother Dustan Walbridge. 

Dustan Walbridge was in Co. A in the same regiment and was also at Cold Harbor. (We will be doing a segment on him next week as we have one of his last letters written home). Dustan was wounded at Cold Harbor on the morning of June 3rd, and Isaac did not get to see him due to the chaos of battle. He explained that there was fighting in the front, and he had thought they were safe and then said quote, “but rebel bullets will go most anywhere.” Dustan would have his right arm amputated and die the 19th on a Sunday. There was also a skirmish that would have been most likely around the 22nd of August near Charlestown and talked about it being one of the toughest he had been in, losing 8 boys from his home state that day. He mentions that they were buried at the back of the camp.

Isaac would go on to be promoted to Sgt. after this and get out of the military after the war. He took over the family farm, was married twice, and had 2 daughters. Watts became a Sunday school superintendent and was very active in the town of Peacham; he even helped get a Civil War monument erected in 1869.