The Gorham collection consists of only four letters, three written to his sister Sarah Jane and one to her husband, James R. Marrett. Three of the letters were written during the Atlanta Campaign, and one shortly after the fall of Savannah. Gorham's letters reflect his high level of education. They are observant and literate, and yet, because he was detailed as regimental clerk during the campaigns in Georgia and the Carolinas, they are comparatively slight on detail concerning military activity. The last letter in which Gorham describes the headquarters in Savannah and relating a little bit about the city and state, is far and away the best in the collection. Gorham's notion that the quality of the regimental band made them a popular choice for headquarters guard duty and favoritism is also worth noting.
Gorham, J. Martin, 1830-1880
Rank: Pvt.
Regiment: 33rd Massachusetts Infantry Regiment (1862-1865)
Service: 1862 September 25-1865 June 10
Jason Martin Gorham, a lawyer from Barre, Mass., and a Harvard graduate of the class of 1851, received a Lieutenant's commission in the 42nd Massachusetts Infantry (nine months' service) on September 25th, 1862. On May 13th, 1863, he resigned his commission and was discharged by special order #115 from General Banks, and remained a civilian until December of that year, when he enlisted as a private in the 33rd Massachusetts, then at Chattanooga.
In April, the 33rd Massachusetts was consolidated into XX Corps under Joseph Hooker (later J. A. Mower) and joined in the Atlanta Campaign. The regiment suffered heavy losses at Resaca, Dallas, and Kenesaw Mountain, and took part in the occupation of Atlanta and the March to the Sea and March through the Carolinas. During these campaigns, the 33rd was consistently tapped for headquarters guard duty -- because of the unusually high quality of the regimental band, according to Gorham. During this time, too, Gorham was assigned to duty as regimental clerk, relieving him from any obligation as a combatant. When Johnston surrendered, the regiment was doing guard duty at Raleigh, N.C., and on June 1st, 1865, Gorham transferred to Co. H of the 2nd Massachusetts Infantry.