subject index to the William H. and Edwin C. Burbank Papers
Alphabetic index to the Schoff Civil War Collections
| William L. Clements Library
The University of Michigan Schoff Civil War Collection Soldiers' Letters 87 |
Burbank, William Henry, ca.1838-1864? Rank: Pvt., Q.M. Sgt. Regiment: 5th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. Co. E (1861)
5th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment (1861-1863)Service: 1861 April 16-July 31; 1862 October 8-July 2
Burbank, Edwin C., b. ca.1843 Rank: Cpl. Regiment: 5th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. Co. F (1861-1863) Service: 1862 September 1-1863 July 2
William H. Burbank, a 23-year old clerk from Medford, Mass., responded to the Sumter crisis in April, 1861, by volunteering for three months' duty in the Lawrence Light Guard, later Co. E of the 5th Massachusetts Infantry. The 5th encountered little resistance as they embarked at Annapolis and marched to Washington, becoming one of the first regiments to reach the capitol, arriving in the last week of April. While posted at the Treasury Building (until May 25th) and at Fort Massachusetts, near Alexandria, the 5th were assigned to enforce martial law and perform guard duty, and rapidly gained a reputation for discipline and good behavior. Their only engagement with Confederate forces came at Bull Run on July 21st, when, as part of Franklin's Brigade (Heintzelman's division), they sustained 34 casualties, including 9 deaths, and were forced from the field in disarray. Only ten days later, the 5th returned to Boston to be mustered out of the service.
Lincoln renewed his call for troops on August 4th, 1862, and the reconstituted 5th Massachusetts Infantry volunteered as a nine-months' regiment in October. William Burbank was appointed Q.M. Sergeant, and was joined in the regiment by his 19-year old brother, Edwin. The regiment left for the Department of North Carolina in mid-October, arriving in New Bern where they remained throughout their enlistment by the end of the month. This second incarnation of the 5th Massachusetts Infantry was unsually active for a nine-months' regiment, and Edwin Burbank appears to have been present at every skirmish, battle and expedition they undertook. While William was occupied with Quartermaster duties in New Bern, the regiment participated in the exhausting expedition toward Williamstown, N.C., between November 2nd and 13th, and on December 10th, both he and Edwin took part in a rapid succession of battles at Kinston, Whitehall and Goldsboro during the Goldsboro Expedition. In the Spring on 1863, the 5th were involved in the defence of New Bern during the Confederate attack of March 15th, and took part in several expeditions during April and May to relieve Union forces besieged at Washington, and in the Gun Swamp expedition in May.
In April, 1864, a William H. Burbank, probably the same man, accepted a commission as Lieutenant in the 58th Massachusetts Infantry. Less than a month after mustering into the service, Burbank was wounded near Cold Harbor, and died of his wounds at White House Landing three days later.
The Burbank Brothers Papers is a superb smaller collection for the study of the attitudes of one of the earliest volunteers in the Union cause, and in documenting the simmering warfare in the Department of North Caroline in 1862 and 1863. Both William and Edwin Burbank are excellent writers, observant, patriotic and unfailingly cheerful. Thirty-three of the letters were written by William, and nine by Edwin, all to their Mother Eliza, brother Oscar, or little sisters, Ella, Ida and Eva. Genealogical records indicate that Eliza's husband William died before 1860. The collection also contains a letter from a friend of the family, H. Dede, serving with William Burbank in the three-months' regiment (enclosed in one of William's letters home), and a fragment of a letter from Ida Burbank, probably to William.
William Burbank's letters provide a good general feeling for his optimistic attitude toward the events of the war and his willingness to serve, but they provide little very detailed information about his specific duties. While in the three-months' regiment, William's letters reflect the comparatively quiet circumstances in which he was posted, but do give a feeling for the combination of tension and aggression felt in Washington during the early days of the war. While deeply racist, William appears to have been more sympathetic to the abolition of slavery than the average soldier, as judged by the few comments he makes about slaves and African-Americans. Among William's best letters are a very long letter describing the Goldsboro expedition and a letter describing the attack on New Bern and featuring a manuscript map of the city and Union emplacements (1863 March 16). Best of all, his letters to his little sisters are affectionate and suggestive for how some soldiers dealt with describing war experiences to children. His letter of March 20th, 1863, is a very sweet account of hearing shells fall and of soldiers enjoying themselves in camp, chasing greased pigs, climbing a greased pole, and running a sack race. In general, few of William's letters reflect the stress that most soldiers felt in a combat zone, but his letters to his little sisters are oddly removed even from the little stress he allows his mother to see. Apparently the eldest, William also tried to look out for his brothers, whether by passing Edwin food or small luxuries, or by trying to find a position in North Carolina for Oscar. Though sketchy, given the small number of letters, the relationship between William and his sisters and brothers is fascinating.
Edwin Burbank was a more reluctant writer than his brother, but his letters are equally good. They include several fine descriptions of the expeditions he participated in, many of which William missed when performing his quartermaster's duties. Edwin's letters provide more thorough descriptions of the Williamstown, Washington and Gun Swamp expeditions than do William's, and slightly different details for the Goldsboro expedition and for the assault on New Bern. Edwin appears to be a bit more free in relaying unpleasantries to his family, as when he and his comrades found a skull in a Confederate camp marked "Bull Run, 5th Massachusetts."
subject index to the William H. and Edwin C. Burbank Papers
Alphabetic index to the Schoff Civil War Collections
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