Mereness, Peter B.
Rank:	Private(?)
Regiment:	5th New York Heavy Artillery Regiment. Co. I (1861-1865)
Service:	1861?-1865 June 24 or 25

Background note:

The experiences of some heavy artillerists during the Civil War were markedly different than those of the average foot soldier, and in some ways, an exaggerated version of the average Civil War experience. Assigned to garrison forts, often far from the fighting, many soldiers in heavy artillery regiments suffered more from boredom and occasional ill health than the effects of war, but when thrown into conflict, sometimes only sporadically, they took part in some of the most violent confrontations seen.

Peter Mereness was one of two brothers from Lowville, N.Y., in the military service during the Civil War. As a member of the Co. I (3rd Black River Battalion), 5th New York Heavy Artillery Regiment, Mereness was stationed in the northern defenses of Washington, D.C., from the time of his enlistment, serving at Forts Carroll, C.F. Smythe and Stone until ordered to move out to Harper's Ferry in November, 1863. From that time, the regiment saw more vigorous service, all at the northern end of the Shenandoah Valley. During their enlistment, the regiment lost 66 men killed in action, and a spectacular 614 missing, most of whom were taken as prisoners of war at Harper's Ferry in September, 1862, and at Cedar Creek in October, 1864.

After leaving the service in June, 1865, Mereness returned home to Lowville, and for many years, was active in veterans' organizations, including the Grand Army of the Republic and the organization of veterans of the 3rd Battalion, 5th New York Heavy Artillery.

Scope and contents:

All of the letters in the Mereness Papers were written by Peter Mereness to Helen A. Arthur -- "Nelly," as he called her -- who seems to have been his sweetheart. Most follow the same format: introduction, description of weather, other information, close. In a few cases, the information section includes accounts of war-related events, and particularly of Mereness' frustration with military service, but all of the letters possess the kind of back home gossip exchanged between close friends.

Mereness spent most of the war in three forts: Carroll, C.F. Smythe, and Stone. Although he includes details of several battles and skirmishes, Mereness never mentions having been in combat himself, and in one letter he refutes charges of being a "featherbed soldier." Mereness chronicles Capt. Smith's dishonorable discharge and Smith's attempts to be reinstated. He also recounts the death of his friend, Maurice, from smallpox and the railroad's refusal to take the corpse back home for burial. Mereness obviously disliked "soldiering" from the start of his service, and was determined to stay in close touch with "Nelly." He alludes several times to wanting to marry her.

Mereness does not write in great detail about his experiences in the war, and his occasional notices of military events are usually brief. He does however repeat an account that had John S. Mosby (1833-1916) killed by a Loudun Ranger in 1865. Mereness also writes of his entry into Charleston, W.Va., shortly after its occupation by Union forces. Battles mentioned are: Vicksburg; Port Hudson; and Centreville, Va.

Mereness was very active in veterans' organizations after the war, and the collection contains 13 ribbons worn by Mereness at encampments or organization meetings. There is also a tintype of Mereness taken on April 8, 1864.

M-2407
cat. ch, recat 10/97 rsc

Link to subject index to the Peter B. Mereness Papers

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