We celebrate the Memorial Day holiday, begun as Decoration Day in 1868, to honor Union soldiers who died in the Civil War, the holiday later to embrace all those who died while in military service. Below you can read two contemporaneous letters published in the Lewis County Historical Society Journal. First Lieutenant Henry Hammer, who through his niece Dorothy Hanno has many relatives with deep roots in Lewis County history, conveys his sometimes horrified account of the war in February of 1865. These letters reveal how deeply affectionate family ties sustain the hope of survival and eventual resolution.

Adam Gopnik, in the April 25, 2025 issue of The New Yorker, asks “Was the Civil War Inevitable?” a question we may find ourselves asking about all wars. In February of 1861, President-elect Lincoln organized a peace conference that included “twenty-one of the thirty-four states [still] in the Union” in an effort to halt secessions and contain slavery. Despite the descent into Civil War in 1861, Lincoln still attempted to contain slavery in 1862 with a “program of compensated, gradual abolition for the border states.” Even this attempt failed. “The tragedy was that, while the South could not overcome its paranoia about the violence it would suffer if the slaves were freed, the North could not imagine the scale of the violence it was choosing. The assumption, of course, was that the conflict would last twelve weeks—just long enough to put the erring states back in their place.” As early as November 1861, already “more than forty thousand soldiers had fallen.”

Enjoy Henry’s letters to his father, his open affection for his family and desire to keep in touch, that remind us of the importance of family and personal affection as an antidote to brutality. Two Civil War Letters (v.3.1, 1971)

Recently Mrs. Bessie Kelsey of Martinsburg graciously consented to our publishing several letters written by her late uncle, Herman Hanmer, while he was an officer during the Civil War. 

Although Mrs. Kelsey, and her immediate ancestors, were originally residents of Delaware County, her daughter, Mrs. Dorothy Hanno, has many children and grandchildren whose affinal ties have deep roots in Lewis County history. Because of this, and also since it seem- ed proper to preserve on a wider scale such valuable documents, we have here included these letters for your interest and enjoyment. 

The author of the letters was Mrs. Kelsey’s father’s brother. Herman D. Hanmer was a 1st Lieutenant attached to Company E, 3rd New York Cavalry. Apparently he had an interesting career in the service and following the war he married a southern girl and settled down in Vir- ginia. No doubt there were other letters written by Lt. Hanmer, but over the years they became lost or misplaced as is so often the case. We thank Mrs. Kelsey for having preserved these two letters, written to her father, which give a personal and human side to the conflict rather than the interpretative history we normally depend on. 

Dismal Swamp rd. Feby 1st 1865 

Dear Father 

There is no news at present of interest in fact we have had no late news for several days in sonsequence of the river being frozen up. Blairs second mission to Richmond has not amounted to much. I did not expect it would. Shermans mission into Georgia & South Carolina will amount to something though and next spring when Grant Sherman Thomas Sheridan with their mighty armies move upon the wreck you may look out for a smashing up. There will come loud cries for “peace” but the answer will be “the way of the transgressor is hard ” 

With much love to all I close remaining ever your affectionate son,

Herman D Hanmer 

1st Lieut Co “E” 3rd NY Cav. 

To R M Hanmer 

Union Grove, N.Y. 

Suffolk Va Feby 25th. 65 

Dear Father 

I take my pen to drop you a line just before leaving on a “wild goose chase”, We are going into Gates and Perquimons Counties N.C. after a Guerrilla party that are robbing and murdering union people Several depradations have been committed by late by this gang of cutthroats. Our Command consists of Cos “E” “W” and “I” of the 3rd Regt NY Cavalry commanded by Capt John M Post. I will write you particulars of our adventures soon as we return which will be in three or four days providing the “Johnnies” dont gobble us.— 

We are now in the town of Suffolk very pleasantly located, have considerable duty to do tho’ The people here are Secesh (?) to the backbone worse than I have ever found heretofore. War news is very encouraging Charleston SC the hot-bed of Secession has a last humbled to the hated “Yankees” Soon Richmond and Petersburgh must fall and ere many days the “Old Flag” will wave triumphant over the land both north and south. I have just received some letters from home, among the best one from Robert R. much pleased with it, but a Philadelphia Lawyer could not read it, however I solved nearly all it mysteries. Give my love to all. (write often)

Your Affectionate Son,

Herman