Philbricks and Philbrooks in the Civil War:

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The Civil War Letters of Capt. Alvah Philbrook, 24th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry (1862-1864) PART 4: The following letter from Alvah Philbrook contains racial epithets that were common to his day, and should be understood in its historical context. Alvah shares, in a private communication with his brother, his opinions regarding the war and its personal and political implications. I have left the letter as written without changing it, regardless of today's climate of "political correctness." - RWP Chapter 4: Army Life Due to the difficulty in reading Alvah's handwriting, there are many words that I am still trying to decipher. I have tried to edit this as best as possible for reading and original intent. This particular letter is undated, but mentions the Emancipation Proclamation and was probably written after Stones River but before Chickamauga in Sept. of 1863. RWP Dear Brother, I am glad that you are enjoying the comforts of a happy Home and have a good job. As long as you can earn a living, be content. Don't fret about the future but enjoy the present for you will never know how to price a home until you are deprived of it as I am. If the war should last for years, keep out of the Army, don't for God's sake ever leave your Family under any circumstances to go into the Army. For honor and patriotism never will pay the Soldier for the privities he has to go through, but I am in the Army and shall do my duty as long as I am here as I have done it before. My name went forward with the reports spoken highly of as to my conduct on the Battlefield and although I say it myself, I never have known what fear of death of is yet, when it was being dealt out all around me. But I hope God in his mercy will spare me to come out of this safe, that I may make my home happy again for it has been no home since I left. If I get out of this safe I am going to make you all visit before I go to work again. Simon {Alvah's younger brother - R.P.} was drafted and left the State. I am Glad of it for his sake for I don't want to see any of my Friends in the Army when they can keep out of it. You must give my love to your wife, also the Folks at home. Write to them after you receive this, for my letter (may have been miscarried?) to mother. I should like to be in Boston now to see how it looks. We ( ____ ) (others?) a poor prospect ( ___ ) we encamped close by to smell bacon. There is nothing to break the monotony of life except our regular duties. We (live?) ( ____ ) that is on bacon, crackers, some fresh beef and a very little flour with no way to cook it decent. I have got enough of it but I suppose shall have to stretch it out as it is a hard matter to resign at present but we can in hopes the war will close the coming summer but we may be disappointed and have to stay longer. The Niggers don't affect this departments Army. We don't see enough to hire servants from. The Emancipation Proclamation is a humbug as far as this department is concerned for we can hardly feed our soldiers and could not feed the Negroes if they were deposed to be free. I never have seen an instance of Diarrhea ( ____ ) since I have been in the ( _____ ). Our servants all deserted us as soon as the battle commenced carry off everything that we had to make us comfortable. I will write no more. You must write often. From your Soldier Brother, Alvah

Historical Documents and Artifacts (Click on image to see larger version) This document (one of two dozen pages) is from a ledger compiled by J.W. Sargent listing various products he sold as a merchant. The two Philbricks listed in the ledger are Andrew J. Philbrick and Elbridge G. Philbrick of Danville, New Hampshire (see JC #132 on pages 146 and 147.) The listing of Andrew J. Philbrick in the ledger seems to dispute Chapman's listing of Andrew J. dying as an infant in 1830. Of interesting notes are the prices for some of the goods purchased by the Philbrick brothers on this and other pages within the ledger: 50 lbs of Sugar, $4.00; 25 lbs of butter, $5.00; 2 Cows @ $15.00 each; 6 lbs of snuff, $ .72; 4 gallons of molasses, $1.00; 20 lbs of coffee, $2.40; 2 lbs of tobacco, $ .60. Document purchased by and in the collection of Robert W. Philbrook, Palm Springs, CA