Oliver Hazard Perry Holland ⁶²

  General Notes:

Oliver joined the 41st Virginia Infantry, Co. K, on July 24, 1861. He was promoted to full sergeant on March 1, 1863. He was killed in combat in the defense of his country at the North Anna River, Va. May 1864.

Included here is the text of two letters he wrote during the war.

Letters home to Dianna Cutchin from Oliver H. P. Holland during the American Civil War

Below is the transcription of two letters sent from Oliver Hazard Perry Holland of Nansemond County, Virginia to his cousin, Dianna Cutchin, while serving in the 41st Virginia Infantry during the Civil War. Dianna, the daughter of Treacy and John Anthony Cutchin, was but 15 when the first letter was written. The original letters are in the possession of (Jua)Nita Rawls Watterson of Virginia Beach, Virginia and copies were sent to L. Bolling Hagen and transcribed in May 2004. The spelling will be preserved as best as can be determined. The ( ) will be used to clarify the meaning of that word or section of the letter where the understanding is questionable. Notice the use of "f" for "s".
The people named in the letters include Aunt Treacy Holland Cutchin [Ant Trecy, as named in the letter], wife of John Anthony Cutchin [Uncle John] of Nansemond, Eli Daughtrey [cousin Ealy], son of Joshua and Priscilla Daughtrey, of Isle of Wight County, Virginia; cousin Joel, [Joel H. Cutchin], son of John Anthony and Treacy Cutchin and brother to Dianna. Mr Murfee is probably James Murphree, husband to Oliver's sister, Orrie Holland. John T. Holland in the second letter is the son of James and Matilda Holland. Treacy, Priscilla, and Matilda are sisters and Oliver Holland is the son of Jason Holland, brother of Treacy, Priscilla, and Matilda. The farms of these families were located along the Isle of Wight/Nansemond County boarder near Holland, Virginia.


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Camp near
Fredericksburg
March 25, 1863

Dear Cousin,
I seat myself this morning to write you a few lines to let you hear from me. I am tolible (tolerable) well present and I am in hops (hopes) that these few lines may fine you and the family injoying the same good blessing. I receved Cousin Joels letter that he sent to me by Cousin Ealy and I was glad to here that you all ware (were) injoying good helth (health) at that time. I think that Cousin Ealy fell deply in love while he ware at home for he has bin looking very (weary) ever sense he came back about something and I cant tell what else ware the mater if that wont but for he cant half talk about them so I think his trip a disadvanteg then for he is wisse of (worse off) than he was before he went home. Cousin Joel rote in his letter for me to see if there was any chance of his geting a plase in any of the Departments in this Brigade tell him that I don't think there is any more plase all plases are filed up but if I see a vacansy I will try for him with all my mite.
I has nothing of importance write to you at present. I don't think that this Brigade will leve this plase any time soon we are expecting a fight down here every day we are station near United States ford (forward) about 6 mile farther up the river when we was when I was at home. Give my love to Ant Trecy Uncle Jack Anthony Cousin Joel and all the children to Mr. Murffree and family shear (share) a larg potion (large portion) for yourself. I was much oblige to you for them apples that you to me by Cousin Ealy. You must excus this badly rotes and speling leter so write me soon.

So I will close by saying I remains yours truly Cousin as long as life lasts.

Oliver H. P. Holland


The envelop address reads:

Mifs Diana Cutchins
Franklin, Depot
Care of Southampton Co.
J. A. Cutchins Virginia



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Camp 41st Va. Infantry
Near Madison Station
March 20 / 64
Dear Cousin,
I seat myself this beautiful evening for the purpose of replying to your letter which was red with the greatest pleasure that could be afforded, it found me well and getting along as well as I could expect and I hope I shall have as good luck as I have during the time I have been in the field.
There is no news of interest. stiring at present.
I got a letter from Cousin John T. Holland last weeke and he was well he was at richmon.
(a reference to Richmond, Virginia) and had been before the bord (board) for a discharge and he was looking for his discharge every day.
You must excuse my bad writing and speling.
Give my love to Ant Trecy, Uncle John A. Cutchins and the rest of the family and shear a larg portion for yourself.
Write soon and write me all of the knewes. So I will close by saying I remain yours truly
Cousin.
Oliver H. P. Holland


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Oliver Hazard Perry Holland was born about 1839 in Nansemond County, Virginia near the town of Holland. He enlisted as a private on 24 July 1861 in Company K, 41st Infantry Regiment Virginia. He was promoted to Full Sergeant on March 1, 1863 and to Full Sergeant 1st Class on April 16, 1864 (Estimated day). The first letter above was written March 25, 1863. In December of 1862 the 41st Infantry in General R. H. Anderson's Division of Longstreet's Corp, had just participated in the defeat of the Union Army at Fredericksburg. While the Union Army reorganized with General Ambrose Burnside being replaced by General Joseph Hooker, Lee's Army rested in and around Fredericksburg in winter quarters. During this time Oliver and Eli were able to take leave to visit family in the Southside Virginia County of Nansemond. Upon returning to his unit, Oliver was promoted to Full Sergeant as Lee's Army prepared to defend against a rejuvenated Union Army under General Hooker. The resulting maneuvers ended with the Battle of Cancellorsville in early May and Lee began his invasion of the North in an effort to bring a negotiated settlement to the war. Oliver survived the high water mark of the Confederacy at Gettysburg and maintained his service throughout the fall, winter, and spring of the next year. The 41st had retreated with the Army of Northern Virginia to the relative safety of Virginia. General Meade would not pursue the defeated Confederates but remained in command throughout the winter.
During this time, Oliver wrote the second letter transcribed above. The letter dated March 20, 1864 was sent just before the Union Army began its final push that would end in the defeat of the Confederacy. On March 9, 1864, Lincoln raised Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant to the rank of Lieutenant-General and placed him in command of all the United States armies in the field. Grant began his planning for the capture of the Capital of the Confederacy. The Armies clashed at The Battle of the Wilderness in early May. The 41st served gallantly at that battle as well as the Battles at Spottsylvania Court House fought from May 8 to the 15 in 1864. As General U.S. Grant maneuvered his Union forces toward Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and Richmond, 1st Sergeant Oliver H. P. Holland was killed in the service of his country at The Battle of Mount Carmel Church, North Anna River on 24 May 1864.

"Cousin Ealy" Daughtrey was born March 26, 1838 in Isle of Wight County, Virginia near the Town of Holland. He enlisted as a private on March 18, 1862 in Company K, 41st Infantry Regiment Virginia and continued to serve faithfully throughout the war. He was wounded on May 15, 1864 at The Battle of Spottsylvania Court House. Eli was hospitalized at Chimborazo Hospital in Richmond while recovering from his wounds. He was able to return to his unit in the trenches of Petersburg by October 8, 1864. When Petersburg fell and Richmond was evacuated, Eli remained faithful to the cause throughout and was paroled at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865. Within two years of returning home, Eli married Julia Anna Rawls, most probably the girl to which Oliver refers in his letter of March 1863: "..Cousin Ealy fell deply in love..".

Julia Anna Rawls was the sister of Robert Rawls, who also served in the 41st Virgnia Infantry. Robert Rawls' family lived in Nansemond County near the Daughtreys, Cutchins, and Hollands. Robert was paroled on April 17, 1865 at Burkeville, Virginia. He returned home and on May 27, 1866 married Dianna Cutchin, the young woman to whom Oliver was writing. Robert is the Great Grand Father of Nita Rawls Watterson who is entrusted with the safekeeping and preservation of Oliver's letters and the family heritage.

"Cousin Joel" is Joel Hollerman Cutchin. Not yet 18, he enlisted as a Corporal in Company E, 32nd Infantry Regiment Virginia on January 2, 1864. He remained with his unit until the surrender on April 9, 1865 at Appomattox Court House, Va.


"Cousin John T. Holland" of the second letter, is most probably the son of James R. and Matilda Holland. Matilda was the sister of Jason, Treacy, and Priscilla Holland. He enlisted as a Private in Company K, 41st Infantry Regiment Virginia on June 6, 1861. He was promoted to Full Corporal in the summer of 1861 and to Full Sergeant 1st Class in the summer of 1862. He was wounded on July 1, 1862 at Malvern Hill, Va. causing deafness from a shell concussion. Over the next few years, John T. Holland would be hospitalized at Chimborazo Hospital, Richmond, Va. for his deafness and wounds, given 30 days sick leave furlough in October 1862 and once again hospitalized in May 1863 at Winder Hospital, Richmond, Va., this time for pneumonia. He was detailed on staff at Richmond Hospital, Va. in February 1864 and discharged from service because of wounds on March 25, 1864. His service records indicates his height: 5'6 ", eye color: grey , hair color: brown.