Allen, a "shoe-cutter" from East Bridgewater, Mass., enrolled as a private in Co. L, 4th Mass. Volunteer Militia and was later appointed corporal of Co. L, which became Co. C of the 29th Mass. Infantry Regiment. His letters to his brother are full of detail about life in the army and his experiences, with extensive comments on Union military operations and personnel. Receiving a head wound at Antietam, Allen was discharged on Nov. 28, 1862. Letters: 1861 May 22: passage to Ft. Monroe; arrival of Gen. Butler; taking the oath. 1861 May 30: to Hampton, home of ex-Pres. Tyler; Zouaves stealing everything; 2 soldiers shot for sleeping on picket duty; escaped slaves arriving at Fort; Fort shelled. 1861 June 15: attempt to take Rebel battery; drills; comments on quality of officers. 1861 June 26: rumor about returning home; asks brother to send a revolver; good library at Fort; average number of sick 10 per day. 1861 July 14: serving on steamer Anacostia in Chesapeake Bay. 1861 Aug. 23: at Ft. Calhoun; Sawyer Gun fired at Rebel batteries; mutineers of 2nd N.Y. sent back to Newport News. 1861 Aug. 31: Butler successful; prisoners brought bedbugs to Ft. Calhoun; mutineers sent to Tortugas; two runaway slaves arrived at Ft. 1861 Nov. 5: at Camp Butler sleeping 17 to a tent. 1861 Nov. 17: picket duty described; attack expected; Slidell and Mason probably at Ft. Monroe. 1861 Dec. 3: daily drills since arrival of Mansfield; new system a mixture of Hardee and Scott; engagement with Rebel steamer Yorktown. 1862 Jan. 3: writing from a miserable "negro hut" used as a guard house. 1862 Jan. 16: learning the bayonet exercise. 1862 Jan. 16: sending money home. 1862 Feb. 7: rumor that regiment was to go to Federal Hill, Baltimore to replace Duryea's Zouaves; Col. Peirce arrived. 1862 March 11: Ericsson's Monitor arrived; McClellan has advanced. 1862 March 26: troop movements in Dept. noted; Col. Peirce greatly disliked - has been spending time with a "mulatto girl" and tried to hide it; report Merrimack is coming. 1862 May 14: capture of Norfolk Is. hospital; report on condition of Merrimack after battle. 1862 May 20: near Gosport Navy Yard, which has been destroyed; Union sentiment growing in Portsmouth and Newtown; pretty women in the towns; the Naugatuck was up; the Galena damaged. 1862 July 10: has been unwell; "one more skedaddle as we had last week would ruin the army;" "where is Pope and his army and Burnside's?;" saw Pres. Lincoln - "he looks like all his pictures;" few wounded, many on sick list - many "cowards." 1862 July 19: advises brother not to enlist and if drafted to hire a substitute - "money is nothing compared with health;" complains about how wounded and sick are cared for, surgeons lack training; McClellan to be reinforced finally; comments on Fair Oaks retreat and Gaines' Mill battle; receives N.Y. Herald and Philadelphia Inquirer newspapers; general hatred of "niggers" in the army - "the sooner they are out of the country the better." 1862 Aug. 12: health getting better. 1862 Sept. 13: at Frederick Md., evacuated by Jackson; Union forces enumerated. 1862 Oct. 6: writing from hospital at Ft. McHenry; lists items he wants sent; hospital is to be broken up; head wound better. 1862 Oct. 26: hospital is terrible & Gen. Morris should be whipped. 1862 Nov. 4: Head wound healing. 1862 Nov. 24: disability papers received; headaches worse. Collection includes photocopies of Allen's army records, etc.
