Captain McDonald’s departure point
From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in August 1862:
Letter from Capt. McDonald.
We are permitted to publish the following extract from a letter written by Capt. MCDONALD to his wife in this village:
FORTRESS MONROE, Aug. 25, 1862.
*** I have just one moment to write you a line. Capt. Spalding left me and my Co. here a few days ago, with orders to take a steamer and bring six large barges to Acquia Creek, loaded with Engineer property. I started on the evening of the 23d, and the next morning, while on the Chesapeake Bay, was overtaken with a furious gale, losing two of my barges, with everything on board, and, what is more than all, I lost one of my best men, Albert Kissinger. I have written to his mother. I have found that my pastimes, on this occasion, were of some service to me. You know how found I am of sailing. Well, in this terrible and fearful gale I was able to remain col and calm, while many were crying in despair about me. If I had not been use to rough weather on the water I do not know but I too, would have been excited. I had forty teamsters from the country with me and they gave me more trouble than all the rest. My soldiers moved when and where I told them to, and kept quiet, rendering me much service by their manly conduct. I tell you, I felt proud of them. They kept their eyes on me, and moved promptly to the pumps, or elsewhere as I ordered them.
Wharf at Fort Monroe, December 1864
While we were pitching about on some huge wave I thought there were dear ones at home whose hearts would have to ache soon. But thank a merciful Providence, we were saved, with sad hearts at the loss of poor Kissinger, who perished before my eyes. I had called to the men on the barges behind me to cut away the ropes, and called Kissinger until I was voiceless. Two more barges sank as soon as we got them to dock. many of the men lost everything which they had. We, no doubt, would all have perished had not a large steamer been sent to tow us in. – The waves were so high that we could not be taken off the barges without endangering both boats. I expect to leave for Acquia Creek day after to-morrow if the weather will permit, and a good steamer to take me, but we will not go without.
JAS. H. MCDONALD,
Capt. Co. K, 50th N.Y.V.E.
A Civil War barge – I don’t think Captain McDonald had any railroad cars
The captain’s destination – Acquia Creek Landing, February 1863
