Letters

Along with the diary kept by Chancey there are three letters that were a part of the collection of material preserved from Chancey’s service. They are presented here as an addition to the transcription project.

The first letter is written by Chancey to his wife Mary, It is dated after his discharge date and appears to be the last letter he penned before arriving home from his service.

The second letter is written by Chancy’s wife Mary and contains the lyrics to a song she wished Chancey or Chester to have. Mary also describes some of the activities going on around the home.

The third letter is written by Mary to Chancey and is a long letter written over a few days, recounting activity going on around their home. It is the most informative and interesting of the three letters. Mary included a patriotic flair to the letter by changing ink colors every few lines between blue and red. The ink changes are noted in italic throughout the transcription. There is a palpable affection in the tone of this letter that also presents a true glimpse into nineteenth century farm life.  

                                                                                                              July The 19, 1865

Dear Mary

I received your very kind letter yesterday and was glad to hear from you for you are the only one that I have heard a word from since I left home your letter was a good long while a comeing here it went to Ft Laurane and then it was sent back here but I guess that I will write often enough to make up all that you don’t write, it is not a week yet since I put a letter in the office for you I had a lame arm then but it has got about wel now

It is early in the morning now I have not been down stairs yet it rained here all knight and it rains now, lute sits here a reading something I cant tell what

Mary I think I shal be at home before long I wrote in that other letter about you and Rhele a comeing to Mt Morris but I I know as I can tell what day we shall be thare I may be at home next week and I may not be at home in three weeks I talk of going to Rochester to day but I I know for certain but if I do I may keep on home for I I think I can tell one day a head what I shall do the next

(I suppose you think you know what I will do if I go the the City I you Mary)

Mary I I spose Parker cared any thing about the bay if he could saved his horse did he  he is tuff and able I I suppose they have any ripe apples out thare yet they have been ripe here a week or more you wrote that you went or was agoing to the 4^th did you have a good time

            it is a getting to be about breakfast time a I shall have to hury a little or loos my breakfast Mary if you get this letter next week and I are not thare a weak from today I would like to have you write once more but I expect you have wrote your (?) (?) and one now I think it is very likely that I shall be thare by the time the letter is and may be before but if I am not you must write write me for Mary you I know how I would like to see you     Lute send his love to you I don’t know as I will send mine I guess I will keep it and fetch it to you and then you shall have the whole of it , be a good gal sis

                                                                                                ,This truly yours my friend

                                                                                                                                Mary

                                                                        From your best friend , Chancey A. Cronk   

            The following letter written to Chancey by his wife Mary was contained in a manufactured plain white envelope measuring 5.5” x 3.125” . Written across the address field is;

Mr Chancy Cronk

     Geneseo

N.Y.

Livingston Co

There is a two cent postage stamp on the upper right corner of the envelope face. The stamp has a left facing portrait of the bust of George Washington with the words “United States Postage” printed in the arch shape of the portrait frame. Printed below the portrait is “ Two 2 Cents”. The stamp has perforations around all its edges and its printed all in a reddish brown colored ink. There is a circular cancellation mark across the stamp. There is a second circular postage cancellation mark to the left of the stamp that reads “Angelica DEC 14 N.Y.” The top closure flap has been sealed, it is a moisten and seal type envelope, the envelope has been opened along its left and top edges.

The letter is written on a single white sheet measuring 8”x 6.1875”. The paper is ruled in light blue guidelines spaced .28125” apart. The rulings run parallel with the 8” edge. The letter is folded once down the center and then tri folded. Three fourths of the letter is written in very plain to read red ink. The last page of the letter is written in a fading black ink which now appears very light gray. The letter appears to have been handled a lot, there are tears along most all of the folded creases. It reads;        

Chancey do you want this if you don’t give it to Chet

            We are marching on to Richmond

With napsack sling and blithly sing

We are marching on to Richmond

With hearts so light and weapons bright

We are marching marching onto richmond

Each weary mile with song beguile

W are marching on to richmond

The roads are rough but smooth enough

To take us safe to Richmond

Then tramp away while bugles play

We are marching on to richmond

Our flag shall gleam in the mornings beams

From many a spire in Richmond

Our foes are near their drums we hear

Their camped about in Richmond

With pickets out to tell the rout

Our army takes to Richmond

But yesterday in murderous fray

While marching on to Richmond

We fasted here from comrads dear

While marching on to Richmond

With manly sigh and tearful eye

While marching on to Richmond

We laid the braves in peacefull graves

And started on for Richmond

Our friends away are sad to day

Because we march to Richmond

With loveing fears the shrink to hear

About our march to Richmond

the pen shall tell that they nobly fell

while marching onto richmond

Had hearts aglo and face to foe

And died in sight of richmond

Our thoughts shall roam to scenes at home

While marching on to Richmond

the vacant chair that waiting there

While we march on to Richmond

It will not be long to shout and song

We’ll raise aloud in Richmond

And wars rude blast will soon be past

And we’ll go home from Richmond

Then tramp away while bugles play

We are marching on to Richmond

Our flag shall gleam in mornings beams

From many a spire in Richmond

Chancey this is a song that is song around here a good deal so I thought I would send to you and if you nor Chet don’t want it send it back to me will you

May the 12 1863 Good evening Chancey I will tell you where I (have been) today well I

have been down to Mrs. Denics to a sewing society that is to help the sick and wounded soldiers there was 12 woman there besides Dolier and me we peiced a comforter and tied a while we were there don’t you think that (???)

it is now quiet late and I will wait untill to morrow and see if I got a letter from you or someone So I will Say Good night if you can’t read this fetch it back to me will you

                                                                                                From Mary Cronk   

(red) Tuesday Evening at home.       Sept the 18, 1863

Not forgotten Chancey

            I will try and commence you another letter to night to tell you a few things. I got a letter from you last night it had five dollars in it. Let me ask you before I forget it have you ever written to me about sending you some boots you spoke as if you had but I have never (blue) received any such letter but chet told me how you had wrote to him about fetching you a pair when he went back but he said that he might not go where you were in a long time he thought he would not take any to you (red) but if he was a going right there he thought he would do it in a minute for you. Chet & your Mother was here a little while or in the road they did not come in the house to day. they told me how your father had thrashed and had 25 bushels of wheat & 18 of oats (blue) off from our land farm I don’t think that is doing anything extra do you Chancey I have been a washing to day and I am some tired for I had a large wash and had to fetch all the water pa was on the hill a drawing manure and Will had a lame back so he could not work Melford was over t o Killborns (red) I can’t write much to night our folks have all gone to bed. I sent you a letter last night have you got it yet If you have are you a coming to the fair it commences tomorrow be you a going I don’t think I shall go it would put me in mind (blue)of some times I have had with you when young If I write a page every day won’t that do until I get it filled up this is a big sheet this is a big sheet I don’t know whether I can ever fill it or not

Page 2

I must tell you of something I washed to day it was our pet lamb it was just all I could lift in the wash tub and she fills it full when she is in it. she is the handsomest lamb or sheep you ever seen I wish you could see her she is as white (red) as snow when she is clean.  Melford is down to the village to a meeting and I guess I will write until he gets back if he don’t stay to long. it has just struck nine or ten I don’t know which nor I don’t care.  but I would like to know where you were tonight (blue) and what you were a doing. chet told me how he could not get his furlow and he had got to go back again next week. Chancey Rast Johnson started this morning he is agoing to Geneva to winter so he says so he will have easy times if he can ( red) stay there all winter. it is very warm here to night and has been so to day for I have been bare foot almost all day. Now I have got the outside door open.  Chancey when you draw your other pay and send it home I will put it all out (what I have and all) on intrest but (blue) don’t send it all home keep what you kneed yourself you maybe sick and want some real bad so do keep some of it wont you fer your Marys sake.  I would have put it out before but one thing I have just (been) told of it to day for the first time so I will tell you too (red) that is because if I had put your money out in my name or yours any one that had any note or account against you could throw me out of the (whole) for it has been tried by two in the village one was Charly Minards wife was wronged out of all of his bounty but if you was not owing anything it would have been all right pa says that he will put it out in his name and no one can get it away from us unless he does and I guess that there aint much danger do you think there is. well I am writing a good deal more than I thought I should when I commenced Melford I come but I must say good night Dear Chancey.

page 3

Sep the 16

Now for some more writing to finish out this sheet I am all a lone Ma has gone over to Mrs Demilses and is a going to stay all night. I wish you would happen home to night just about the time I get supper ready. I must tell (red) you what I had for dinner I had bread & meat potatoes & butter cucumbers coffee boiled (geen) & (minute) pudding & I had some left and I know you like it so if you will stop home a little while you may have some. Chancey I am so (?lonely) I don’t (blue) feel like doing anything but write I haven’t much to write but I will try to fill this so it will go out in the morning  another drove of cattle has gone by here to day I guess that you will have (??) living on beef if it all goes to feed the armys (red) how do you like my stile of writing does it suit you if it don’t I will try and do better next time if you will let me know Chancey every miserable (???) is a getting a chance (blue)  to come home (?Denis) Wright has come home. I don’t see why you cant get a chance (blue) to come home too if you would try. have you ever asked for a furlow they could onely deny you. I do want too see you a most awfully.  But I suppose I shall have to wait until your time is out if you live until that time and I do too then I shall see you (red) and not until then will I Chancey two years more seem like a long time to wait. I have just been a looking to your pictures they all look natural except the one your sent home in a letter but I expect that looks like you for Chet said that you looked just (blue) like it when it was taken so (fat) and (cross) liking but then I guess that you would not (hurt) me if I could see you would you (??). Pa is sowing wheat to day on the hill. he says tell you that he kneeds some help real bad just now and he would like some of your assistance if he could have it he has got corn to cut up and (???) to cut on the (flat).

page 4

 Chancey it is four oclock time to commence supper so I cant fill this side until after supper has been got, this is the first day of the fair to angelica. I seen Mr Seets folks go by and a great many others one year ago tonight you came home I wish it might happen (red) so to night but no, far to many miles separate us O how long will (bleak) distance divide us will it be always no no it wont if you live (will it) it don’t seem to me as if this war was any nearer to a close then it was a year ago nor so near for then I had hopes of its ending  but (blue) now I have no faith to elieve anything that I read or hear but I hope for the best to come. I wish I had something real interesting to write you nor any thing worth writing you will think when you get this letter wont you (???) will have (red) to tell me what I told you when you was down to Elmira wont you Chancey I have just bored the (???) ears and put them rings in that (let) gave me she did not like it very well I don’t blame her any well I have been and got supper and now there is no one here to (blue) eat it so I shall have to wait till they get ready to eat wont I there was just now 2 or three men a (running bases) I never see any one (run ???) I think of the time you run (horses/bases) coming home from Portage I guess you remember it well don’t you. I do (red) I havint wrote this very straight for this side was not ruled but I think you can read it if you cant send it back to me Ill read it to you it is now sundown and when the mail comes (??) I must go down and put this in and get one if there is one for me now tell me if you don’t think I have done pretty well (blue) for me considering im writing so long a letter without any sense to it the folks are just going home from the fair it will be our turn some time and then some of them that go now will have to stay to home Chancey what had I better do with my wheat sell it the first chance I have or keep it a spell and the oats too. I think that your father had ought to pay the taxes on the place for wat pasture he has had of my (part) what do you think about it write and tell me all you think and what I had better do will you Chancey Now good bye write soon, this your Mary writing to you 

Write and tell me what you think when you open this the first thought you have I should like to know real well. Good night dear Chancey    

References and Credits

References / Sources

http://www.vanvlack.net/64thRegiment.htm

Internet information site about the 64^th Regiment New York State Inf. Vol., 2005

Transcribed Diary of Martin Sigman, 1861 – 1864. Library collection, Cattaraugus County Historical Society, 23 Main St. Cattaraugus, New York. 14719

National Archives and Records Administration, Textual Archives Services Division, 700 Pennsylvania Ave, NW., Washington, DC 20408-0001 Service records information.

The diary of Chancey B. Cronk, From the Collection of Ron, Jackie Klein, Perry N.Y., 2003

The Letters of Chancey and Mary Cronk, From the Collection of Ron, Jackie Klein, Perry N.Y., 2004

Pfanz, Harry W., Gettysburg: the second day. Chapel Hill, N.C. University of North

 Carloina Press, 1987.

Regimental history of the 64^th New York Volunteer Infantry. New York State Library,

 Albany New York.

Map Sources

 The Editors of Time-Life books, Echoes of Glory, Illustrated Atlas of the Civil War.

Alexandria, Va.: Time-Life Books, 1996

Davis, George B. (Maj.), The official Military Atlas of the Civil War, Barnes and Noble

 Publishers, 2003. ISBN 0-7607-5044-0

McElfresh, Earl B., A Theater Map of the Gettysburg Campaign 1863, McElfresh Map

 Company, Olean N.Y., 2003, ISBN 1-885294-27-1

Photographs

Klein Ron, Jackie. Print collection, 2004, Perry NY. Photos of Chancey & Chester Cronk

Thomas Smith, Photographer. Photosmiths Inc, Oakfield N.Y., 2004. Retouching, reprints.

Printing

Lake Country Penny-saver, Albion, N.Y. 2005