President Lincoln's call for volunteers to fight for the
restoration of the Union was answered by common men throughout the
United States. William A. Robinson was one of them - a simple
farmer and a family man from Delaware County, New York, who
enlisted for a three year term in Co. I of the 89th NY Volunteer
Infantry in the fall of 1861. Over the course of those three years
Robinson and his fellows in the 89th would see service throughout
the South, participating in engagements at Antietam, South
Mountain, Fredericksburg, Suffolk, VA, the Federal siege of Fort
Sumpter (1863), Cold Harbor, Petersburgh and Fair Oaks. Robinson
wrote home to his wife Mary as often as the rigors of soldiering
would allow, and over 100 of these letters have survived to the
present day. Robert J. Taylor has transcribed Robinson's Civil War
letters in their entirety, supplemented by a history of the 89th NY
with accompanying rosters and an index of full names. The letters
describe the everyday experiences of the soldier in the field,
alternating between the monotony of camp life and the thrill of
combat. More important perhaps are his references to the other men
in the regiment, noting illness, injuries in battle,
hospitalization, deaths, court martial, desertion, the arrival of
new recruits and the dismissal of veterans. Four appendices round
out the text: "Military Service of the Men of Company I," including
date of enlistment, rank, age, date and circumstances of death or
discharge, and other biographical information wherever known;
"Regimental Staff Officers," noting the same; complete rosters for
Companies A-H, and K; and a "Compiled List of Men Crossing the
Rappahanock River, Dec. 11, 1862." With a bibliography and three
portraits.
General
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