Ezekiel M. Hollenbeck
1839-1862

Civil War Veteran
Pri. Co, H 4th Regt. P.R.V.C.

The following was provided by R. Edward Hollenbeck.  

These letters were written by Ezekiel M Hollenbeck to his mother, Amaretta Mowry Hollenbeck. At the age of twenty-six, he lost his life in service to his country during the Civil War.  His brother, Urias F.Hollenbeck, also lost his.  [The original handwritten letter was in the possession of Ronald Mowry, Meshoppin, PA. 1982. Transcribed copy created by Lamora Magdaleno, Port Hueneme, CA. 1982. Transcribed copy in possession of R. Edward Hollenbeck, Long Beach, CA 1999.]

Camp Hale
Baltimore City, MD
4th Regiment, Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer Corps

This is to certify, that Ezekiel M. Hollenbeck by profession Farmer, age twenty one years, Residence Auburn 4, Sus. Co. Pa. Is a member of Company H, Fourth Regiment P.R.V.C., Colonel Robert G. March, was mustered into the service of the State of Pennsylvania on the twenty-first day of June 1861, and into the service of the United States on the seventeenth day of July 1861, under my command.

Witness my hand ect. this fifteenth day of August one thousand eight hundred and sixty one.

E.B. Gates, Captain

William Magee, Orderly Sergeant

Just a note Mother

Mother you may not send those pants that I wrote you about for we received ours today. Send the shirt if you a mind to. My health is mending.

E M Hollenbeck

Send that other case of writing paper and envelopes.

Dear Mother

We left Camp Curtin on the 21st about 12 o'clock reached Baltimore about 11 o'clock pm left the cars at the depot and marched down over the green, threw out our Guard and lay down for the night. Every man with his knapsack and slept soundly for the night (if we were in the enemy's country). Stayed there until the Col. Went down to Fort McHenry and got orders to move through the City over to this hill which is about 1/2 m. from the city where we can overlook all of it. It is a splendid sight the city being kept under only by the troops that are stationed here. When we came through there was only four flags floating in the whole city. The poor class of the people are the only ones that are Union men. A man on the side walk said "you D-m Rebles will get mange of it." Several Hurrah for Jeff Davis. Last night when they heard from man Junction that our troops were defeated there was hurrahing in dif. parts of the city Houses were lighted up so much so that we were ordered out about 10 o'clock to load our guns and sleep on them the rest of the night. Two of our boys have been poisoned in whiskey. There was about 6,000 men here when we came. Now there are 11,000. There is a Reg. Of 3 months men in this out camp who will leave for home shortly but are going to return. We received our equipment and clothes at Harrisburg which consists of

Clothes                                Camp Utensils

1 pair of shoes                      tents 16 to a Co.

2 pair of pants                       eating utensils

2 shirts                                  8 pans iron

1 co. cap                               8 pots iron

1 blanket                               1 plate, 1 knife, 1 spoon, 1 cup each

2 pr hose

and our pay up to the first of July. We received it all in paper money and that is of no use here for they will not take it

July 26, 1861 at Baltimore, Wednesday morning

There is a 16th Reb to pass through here today. The Capt thinks that they will be here by next Monday 40,000 men. A reg. came in last night. We have 16 tents in our Co. 6 of us to a tent together. In our tent is: U, G Gay, A Hall, Capt John Anderson & myself. The days are no warmer here than they were up at Easton. The nights are middling cool. I am in good health and spirits and like it first rate. We expect new guns tomorrow the Minnie Muskets . . . a house in camp that Gen. Washington had for headquarters during the War of 1812 when the British bombarded Fort McHenry the brick was all brought from England. Receiving a letter from George last night. They came to Easton and was brought down by a man that we left there. Lso one from Ed. The boys came home and had no excuse at all. They came home almost as deserters. Fort McHenry is firing guns we can see the smoke. I expect that they have heard good news. Denmark was sworn in. There was a misunderstanding about it. When we were sworn in J Gay, John Smith & Cope were down at Easton when they came back the officer was gone. They then took them and swore them in by another Capt but it would not hold. When he came back they were all sworn in then and only draw pay from July 5th. We will stay here for a short time. I can't say where my next will come from but think from here.

Yours with reverence,

Your son and soldier

E M Hollenbeck

Note: Ezekiel Hollenbeck died 10 Mar 1862 at the age of 26 years in the Douglas Hospital, Washington D.C. His brother, Urias F. Hollenbeck, a lieutenant in charge of Co. A, 151st Pennsylvania Volunteers, died 24 April 1863 at 26 years of age in the General Hospital, Aqua Creek, VA. They were both sons of Ephraim Hollenbeck and Amaretta Mowry. And, both were descendants of Kaspar Jacobsz.

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