This unsigned letter was clearly written by a female from Plano, Illinois, who signed herself as a “friend” to George Anthony Beck (1838-1889), then serving in Co. H, 13th Illinois Cavalry, and encamped near Pilot Knob, Missouri. George’s father, Benjamin J. Beck, died on 20 August 1862 at the age of 48. With two of his younger brothers serving in the Civil War at the time, George may have wanted to return home after his father’s death and it’s noted that George was able to able to be discharged on 31 August, 1862.
Since this is the only letter written by this woman, I can’t compare her handwriting to other correspondence of known origin but my hunch is that it was written by Caroline Elizabeth Tenney (1842-1920) of Plano who became George’s wife on 31 December 1863.
The letter speaks of the President’s call for volunteers in the fall of 1862 which resulted in the raising of a regiment in and around Plano that organized and mustered into service as Co. F, 127th Illinois Infantry, commanded by Capt. Charles Schryver of Big Rock.
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
Plano, Illinois August 17th 1862
Dear Friend,
Your kind and interesting letter of the 6th came to hand the 21th inst. and I assure you, it was welcomely received as it had been six weeks since I received your last and you can hardly imagine how highly I prize such welcomed letters. You are perfectly excusable for your tardiness for I know you have been very busy. I heard from you by the way of Maria’s letter. You were very thoughtful to remember me in her letter and your compliments were kindly received. I heard some three weeks ago that your company had gone on to join [Gen.] Curtis but it seems that only part of your company that were at Reeves Station have gone on and that you are nearer home than before.
The war business looks rather discouraging at present but you know the old saying, it is always darkest just before day. It is true our side has lost ground lately, but I think it will all prove to be for the best at last, and I believe that if our army before Richmond had gone on and taken that place, the President would not have issued an order to confiscate the property of the rebels and employ the negroes to do the hard work that our poor soldiers have been obliged to do, while they [the negroes] have been ready and willing to do it if they could only have the privileges. And I believe this war will never come to an end until slavery is done away with.
The call for 600,000 more men must rejoice the hearts of you that are already in the field. I do not think there will be much need of drafting as there are a great many enlisting all through the North. However, I do not think all of the states will fill their quotas. If they do not, I hope they will draft for I do not think the President has called for any too many. I think the more that go at once, the quicker this war will be over and the easier it will be for all. It would not pay to send a few at a time and have them killed off. And I think the quicker they can get 600,000 more in the field, the better. As you said, if they wait until you are all cut to pieces, they will not have you to help them and they will have the same ground to go over alone. The rebels will improve every moment until you are reinforced and for this reason I think what is done ought to be done quickly. And I trust it will be.
Charles Scriber [Schryver] has got up a company [Co. F, 127th Illinois Infantry] in and around Plano. There are a great many of our neighbors going. I will name some of them. Mr. Andrews, Mr. Ludington, John and Amasa Steward [Stuart], Alfred Darnell, Ed[ward] Welch, Ben[jamin K.] Favor, John Rowley, Henry Gies, I[chabod] Gurney, and a great many others that I will not attempt to mention. I attended a war meeting one week ago Saturday. It was held in the meeting house which was crowded full. We had some good speeches, I tell you. There were several that enlisted that evening. Ben[jamin Kimball] Favor and Cornelia Doil [Doyle] were married last Thursday [14 August 1862]. I was rather surprised to hear such news as Ben is going to war so soon but everyone to their notions.
Sarah and George were here the other Sunday and so was Maria. She comes here with John Petit. He appears a real good, steady fellow. He is going to war too. Maria is at work over to Mrs. James Culver’s. I went over there one evening to see her on horse back. I had a good visit with her but it was rather short as I did not get off my horse.
I am glad you are having such good fare. You said you had melons. You have got the start of us a little. Ours are not near ripe for I tried one the other day. We have some apples that are quite good for making pies but they are not very good to eat raw. Some of our trees hang so full that we are afraid they will break down. We will have a great many more than we had last year. There are a great many that will be good next winter. It makes this winter evenings pass off so pleasantly to have some apples that I look forward expecting to have good times eating them.
You wished I could have some of your apples that you have there which I should like very much. I shall wish you could have some of ours for we have some that I think are real good when they are ripe. You stated that you had orders to go on another scouting expedition to be gone a week…[rest of letter is missing]
The following letter was written by Joel E. Beck (b. 1842), the son of Benjamin J. Beck (1814-1862) and Mary Ann Walrath (1814-1881) of Plano, Kendall county, Illinois. He wrote the letter to his older brother, Sgt. George Anthony Beck (1838-1889) who was serving at the time in Co. H, 13th Illinois Cavalry, having enlisted on 31 December 1861. He mentions his brother DeWitt Clinton Beck (1840-1898) a couple of times in the letter.
Joel’s letter reveals that he was assisting someone named Thomas, likely his brother-in-law, with wheat farming on his land. The letter is dated from Lane, but the state isn’t specified. It is believed to refer to Lane in DeWitt County, Illinois, located about halfway between Springfield and Champaign, nearly 150 miles from Plano. This region, known as the Grand Prairie, features vast areas of deep-rooted prairie grasses in a rolling landscape with wetlands. Due to its poor drainage, many early settlers avoided it, deeming it too swampy and unhealthy. Farming there would have been quite muddy in springtime, earning it the labels of “wilderness” or “ill begotten country.”
“We have made out to get 20 acres of wheat sown and finished dragging today at noon and now it is raining again at the rate of ten knots an hour….If it don’t stop before long, we will have to give up farming this year.”
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
Lane April 21st 1862
Brother George,
I will endeavor once more to answer your generous letter which was written April 5th, 1862 which I received the 18th. I was very glad to hear from you once more and exceedingly glad to hear that you are enjoying good health down there among traitors. I should have written soon if I had been at home so I could. I came away rather unexpectedly. DeWitt came home two weeks ago last night with two of his toes badly cut. He done it sharpening posts and nothing would do but I must come out here and help Tom put in his grain.
I arrived here to T. Prowley’s two weeks ago tonight after a very severe ride all day in the rain. We have made out to get 20 acres of wheat sown and finished dragging today 1 at noon and now it is raining again at the rate of ten knots an hour. I have worked two days since I have been here. It has rained all the rest of the time. The roads are worse than I ever saw them. The mud is about four feet deep on the level. Teams get stuck most every day with the empty wagons. If it don’t stop before long, we will have to give up farming this year.
I got a letter from home a few days ago in which they sent me yours. They were all as well as usual except DeWitt’s toes was not getting along very fast. I wish he was well so I could go home and see to the work there. Money would not have hired me to left on any other circumstances. I am tired of this wilderness until we have better weather than it is at present.
I received a letter from you a few days before I came out here which was written the 30th of March if I remember rightly. DeWitt said he would answer it for me. I don’t [know] whether he did or not. I expect some of them have before this time. I suppose you hear all the war news as soon as we do. I should think that secesh would think it was about time to pull in their horns. It seems to me that they are getting the worst end of the bargain. I hope that this rebellion will soon close and suppose that you would as soon be at home as to be down there among strangers and in such an ill begotten country as it is down there. I hope we never will be obliged to live in such a place as that. This is bad enough. This is almost out of the world.
I don’t know as I can think of anything new to write. It is the same old story and nothing new. My health never was better than it is at present. I am able to take my regular rations. I have not seen a girl since I have been out here except the school marm and she is most awful homesick to get home. the rest of the folks are all well as usual. Write as often as you can and I will try and answer them most punctual when I get home again. Directto Plano. Give my best respects to all enquiring friends. Reserve a share for yourself. Excuse these scratches. from your brother, — E. J. Beck
1 Dragging the field after sowing crops was required to cover the seed and was accomplished typically with a harrow but in resource-constrained locations, farmers may have used repurposed items like heavy wooden logs or chains. It must have been extremely difficult to accomplish this in muddy fields.
The following letters were written by Hiland Homer Weaver (1833-1915), who lost his parents Hiram Vanarden Weaver (1809-1841) and Minerva Doud (1811-1844) at an early age. From his younger brother Orland’s obituary we learn that their father was killed by the caving in of a well; their mother by disease. They lived with the Samuel Orr family in Hillsdale county, Michigan, until Hiram married Harriet (“Hattie”) Arlie Johnson (1831-1907) in 1854 and settled in Beaver, Butler, Iowa, prior to the Civil War.
During the Civil War, Weaver enlisted in the 3rd Independent Iowa Battery (the “Dubuque” battery) on August 28, 1861. The Battery remained in the western theater of the war until it was disbanded and its members discharged on October 23, 1865. One source says he entered the service as a sergeant and left the service as a 1st Sergeant. Another source says he was commissioned a Lieutenant prior to leaving the service. Though he entertained thoughts of remaining in the army, Weaver left for Michigan, where Hattie lived during the war, and settled in Reading. Weaver worked as a carpenter following his military service, and died on January 23, 1915. He and Hattie had at least three children: Hiram (b. 1857), Jay (b. 1860), and Jennie (b. 1866).
These letters were once part of a very large collection of Weaver’s letters, sold at auction by Raynor’s Historical Collectible Auctions. Other quotes from Hiland Weaver’s letters found on line include one written at Little Rock, Arkansas on 10 January 1864 which reads: “…There was a fleet started for here some time ago to come up the Arkansas River and it is over due but the ice I presume has kept it back. I hope it will get here soon if it does not we will lose the most of our horses, they are dying almost daily for want of proper food…think of a horse going five months with only one feed of hay and a good deal of the time but very little grain…I wrote to you about the catching of a spy at this place, he was tried and sentenced to be hanged until he was dead and sentence was executed on Friday…there was a large crowd of soldiers and citizens present, I among the rest, he was hung at three o.c. p.m. in front of the St. John’s College. He was about twenty years of age, smart and good looking, he had some relatives living here at this place, he had been raised here and had attended college several terms in the building in front of which he was executed. Little did he think when attending school that he would be hung on that beautiful ground where he had seen so many pleasant hours but such is the fate of spies when caught. He seemed to be perfectly reconciled to his fate, he died like a man should and for which I respect him. Hattie I can see in an enemy his good qualities as well as in a friend, although sometimes it is rather hard to acknowledge it…I will give you his name it is David O. Dodd…I think I wrote in my last that there was a rumor in camp that Old Price was coming to make us a visit. If it were true I think this cold had whipped him and saved us the trouble and as far as I am concerned I would as soon cold weather would whip him as to have to use powder and lead, and as far as his coming here if I do not see another battle until the rebs come here to fight I do not think I shall ever see another…”
Also: [Camp Union, Sept. 25, 1861]…we have got an order to…march…for St. Louis…the boys are…in a hurry to have a fight…[Camp Heron, Dec. 5, 1861]…we have great times drilling…we have got our guns…[and] are making great progress in drilling…as soon as the rebels find out that the Dubuque Battery is ready for the field there will not be any sesesh in Missouri…[Camp Heron, Dec. 14, 1861 on “Not a star shall fall” patriotic stationery]…there will be a large battle fought near here before long…most of the boys are anxious to have a hand in it…there has been several thousand soldiers through here in the last week. The Iowa 11 and 18 regiment have past here…[Dec. 27, 61 on Washington patriotic stationery]…there is…twenty seven men on the sick list…we have loaded our guns on the cars…we are going to Rolly [Rolla, Misouri?]…about 80 miles from here south west…[n. p., March 14, 1862 on battle of Pea Ridge, eight pages but partial]…the country is all hills… the grass is getting green…it will not come to soon for inhabitants around here where our army has been…it is hard to see the destruction…when an army passes through a country. The houses are torn down for fire wood and the fences are all burnt up…where the hardest of the battle was there was a splendid orchard and the trees were all shot to pieces. There was a large house and barn…and there was not a building…several [had] cannon shots through them. There was a family in the cellar during the two days…the house was filled with dead and wounded…we had to get up and scadadle from Camp Halleck at Cross Hollows…we were enjoying ourselves as well as soldiers could…about nine o’c. at night…the men were in bed when orders came for us to be ready…there was some confusion but we got ready…and we left just in time…[or] we would have been taken…those that showed the white flag in the morning were very much ashamed after the battle…after the battle…our cavalry were running them off. We went into camp on the battlefield…I had a chance to look over the battlefield and…it was too heartrending…there was men with their heads shot off and some shot all to pieces, some [?], some asking for quarters…one of the rebel Lieut. Col. lay on the field with all of his head shot off by a cannon ball. There was…four dead rebels to one of our men…for miles around was filled with dead rebels…it is the hardest thing…to see women and children crying for us not to take the last bit of corn that they have…I cannot see a woman crying and stay around a great while…if our army stays in one place forty eight hours we clean out the country…I this last battle…the Iowa 9 reg. and the Iowa 4 reg and the Iowa 3 reg of cavalry…was very badly cut to pieces…the federal loss in killed wounded and taken will come very near fifteen hundred…[Little Rock, Oct. 16, 1864]…I am tired of running around the country and if Old Abe is reelected…we will have this war brought to a close in less than six months [the war ended almost six months to the day of this letter!]…Old Price is up in Mo. doing his best…we have a large force after him…they will take him…[Little Rock, Oct. 26]…three cheers for Old Abe…[Little Rock, Dec. 11, 1864]…it gives me sad thoughts to know you are in need of money…I never saw a time but once [where] I could not get fifty dollars in our company…I have got forty cents and…tht is far above average…[on rare printed stationery, reading, “Ordnance Office, 1st Division, 7th Army Corps, and post of Little Rock, Little Rock, Ark,” June 5, 1865]…I am shure the war is over…I have been thinking…of going into the regular service but I have not been before the board yet…Gen. Solomon is President of board…[on rare printed stationery, reading, “Ordnance Office, 1st Division, 7th Army Corps, and post of Little Rock, Little Rock, Ark,” June 27, 1865]…now about my going with the Regular Service I do not think I shall…there is too many chances for me to be sent where I could not take my family with me…[Willoughby, Iowa, Nov. 3, 1865]…I thought I would write you a few lines so you would know that I am not dead…and shall start for home in the morning…”
As I do not get any letters, I thought I would give you a benefit as I am not able to do duty so I can write. Hattie, you can see that I am getting better by my writing. I never saw any one gain so fast as I have since I came out of the hospital. I think I shall be able for duty in a few days if I do not get my setback. There is about half of our company have had the measles and I guess the rest of them will have them. We have had one man die in our company. He was a sergeant. That is all the deaths we have had in our company.
Hattie, I will have my likeness taken as soon as I get so as to look like myself. you would not want to see me as poor as I am now. Hattie, when I was taken sick, I weighed 162 and last week I weighed only 121 pounds. So you can see that I lost some flesh in four weeks. But I think I shall be as tough as a bear now.
Hattie, you must not worry about me for I have good care when I am sick and when I am well, I can hold my row with any of them. Hattie, the next letter that I write, I will send you a photograph of Camp Benton. I would have written on one of them this time if I had thought of it before I commenced my letter. Hattie, I wish you would send me some Hillsdale papers once in a while. They would come kind a good in camp. Some of the boys got papers a most every mail. Hattie, I have not been sorry yet that I enlisted. I have full confidence that I shall come home to see you all and I do not think it will be over in six months before this war will be settled. Hattie, I did not think I could think of anything to write when I commenced but I guess I shall get this sheet about full. I wrote to Sam Ketters yesterday and today I have written to Captain Fowler this afternoon.
Hattie, as this sheet is about filled, do goodbye for this time. Write soon. Kiss the children for me and give my love to all enquiring friends, from [ ] H. H. Weaver
Letter 2
Entered according to act of Congress, by John G. Wells, cor. of Park Row & Beekman Street, New York, in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court, or the Southern District of New York.
Camp Halleck Cross Hollows Benton county, Arkansas February 26, 1862
Dear Hattie and little ones,
How do you do this afternoon? I wish I could be with you today instead of sitting here on the ground writing to you over a thousand miles away. We have camped here to recruit. I do not know how long we may stay here—not over ten days I hope for I want to be on the move so as to get home as soon as possible for it is getting to be hot weather here. It is as warm here now as June in Iowa. I wrote to you a few days ago but I do not think you will ever get it for I understand that our train was taken by the rebels and the mail was with it. But I hope it is not so.
Hattie, I wrote in my last letter to you something about the battle our company was in. It is called the Battle of Sugar Creek. 1 Since my last, the General—that is, General [Samuel R.] Curtis—has reported that we killed one hundred and fifteen and wounded sixty-eight of the rebels. They—that is, the rebels—had fifteen thousand men on the battle ground and twelve pieces of artillery and we did not have but four pieces that done any firing. There was two companies of our cavalry that made the charge on them but we had one regiment of cavalry and two regiments of infantry to support our battery. But they did not discharge a round. Our battery done all the firing. After the cavalry made the charge, we were very fortunate indeed not to get a man hurt in our company but stop. I am a little too fast for there was man that wanted to have an excuse to get behind a tree so he put his foot under the wheel of the gun and let the wheel run over it. But thank fortune he was not in my detachment. I have not a man that did not show himself to be a man.
The firing lasted one hour and twenty minutes. During this time the cannon balls were flying through our ranks like hail stones but they were very large hail stones and they came a little faster than I like to see them. Hattie, I did not want to come home until I had been in one battle. Now I have been in one and I would like to come home and see you and our darling little boys. But when that will be, I cannot tell. But I have hope it will be before many months. Our battle was on the 17th of this month. I forgot to tell you before, Hattie, I would send you some money in this letter but there is no certainty of letters going to their destination for there is no regular mail out from here to Rolla—a distance of over two hundred miles. But the first opportunity I have that will be safe, I will send you twenty or twenty-five dollars. If you are in want of money very bad, borrow some and as sure as I live or we not taken prisoner, I will send it to you at the earliest possible time. I think some of our officers will be going to Rolla before long. If they do, I will send it by them. We have no use for money here for there is but very little to be got and that we go and take.
Hsattie, I have not written to you how near I came of being taken prisoner by the rebels. There was six of us went out to find some forage the next day after the battle. We were about five miles from camp at a house where there was corn and hay and the first thing we knew, there came a volley of shots and the balls flew on every side and the next thing there came some thirty mounted men on full run. We fired our revolvers at them and put spur to our horses and away we went as fast as our horses could carry us. We made camp about dark. There was two of the company taken prisoner at the time. We have not been out since without a company large enough to not be run in by any party of forty or fifty men.
Hattie, it is almost dark and our section was out on picket guard last night and we are somewhat tired and sleepy so I will close for this time. Hattie, I will send you five dollars and two dollars of rebel money—some that I confiscated so you can see what kind of money they have. I do not know what the boys are a going to do for postage stamps for there is not any chance to get them here for there is not any to be had. Hattie, I will bid you good night with a kiss to you and the little ones at home. Direct to Rolla, Mo. and put on the 9th Iowa Regiment, Dubuque Battery. — H. H. W.
1 The Battle of Sugar Grove, fought on 17 February 1862, was also called the Battle of Dunagin’s Farm—an early skirmish in the Pea Ridge Campaign.
Letter 3
Camp on Red River at Searcy White county, Arkansas May 22, 1862
Dear Hattie and little ones,
As it is raining today, I thought I could not pass off this afternoon to any better service than writing to you. I have not had a letter from anyone since I left West Plain, Missouri, and that was from you. We do not get much mail since we have got so far into the wilderness for we move about as fast as the train does that brings our mail. I understand that there is a great quantity of mail at Springfield for our army but when it gets to us, no one can tell.
Hattie, it is very wet weather here. It is almost impossible for an army to move but we are moving slowly to the south. We are but fifty-five miles from Little Rock. I think we will have another battle there but I do not know how it will be. I am not over anxious to get into another Pea Ridge battle but if they want to fight, they will not find me running until I am shipped for I came here to fight for my country and if need be, to die for it. But Hattie, I have full hope that I shall live to come home to my dear family again and God hasten the time. It is almost nine months since I left home to serve my country and I hope it will not need my services as a soldier but a short time longer. A great many think they will be at home to spend the 4th of July this year but I am afraid they will be disappointed.
Gen. Carr said last night that the war would not last but a short time longer. We are so far from any railroad or steamboat communication that we do not know what the other divisions of the armies are doing but I hope and trust they are doing well. I know they were at last accounts.
We had a small skirmish with some Jayhawkers a few days ago in which there was sixteen of our men killed and twenty wounded. They [our men] belonged to the Missouri 17th Regiment. Our men were out foraging and had their arms stacked when the Jayhawkers came on them. Our men asked for quarters and they said they did not take any prisoners and fired on our men. There was one lieutenant, he went up to the leader and gave him his revolver. He took it and shot him with it. About that time there was a squad of our men came up and fired on them, driving them from the field, killing seventeen on the spot and they do not know how many they wounded. I wish they had killed the last one of them. There will not be any mercy shown to them hereafter. Our men will not take any more of them prisoners. There was two of them up toward our men and wanted to give themselves up as prisoners but our men shot them down as they would a viper and that is the only way to deal with these outlaws. They go through the country just ahead of our army to harass our men and plunder from the people but I think they will get thinned out before long. 1
The health of our army is very good at present. I find there is not near as many sick when we are on the march as when we are in camp so I am quite willing to be on the march. General Curtis has just come through from Batesville. I expect he has brought some late news. I hope so for I am anxious to hear from the East. I expect there will be a forward movement made now on to Little Rock or some other point. There is no bottom to the roads here and it yet rains. The streams are so high that we cannot cross until we build bridges but that is a short job where there is so many hands. You know the old negro said many hands makes light work.
Hattie, I never was more healthy in my life than I have been for a long time—as long as I can get half rations, I am alright. But that looks rather scaly just now in the condition the roads are in.
Hattie, I will have to close for the cooks are calling me to supper and if I do not go, I will have to go without for they will not stop eating as long as there is anything to eat. Give my love to all. Kiss the little ones for me and have them kiss you for me also. I hope I shall get a letter from you soon. If you hear from [brother] Orland [in 4th Michigan infantry], let me know for I am very anxious to hear from him. I think he must have been in a battle before this time as that part of the army in which he is in has been in several battles since I have heard from him. Goodbye for this time. Yours forever, — H. H. Weaver
1 The incident that Sgt. Weaver refers to was called the Battle of Whitney’s Lane (also known as the action at Searcy Landing) in Arkansas on May 19, 1862, when a foraging party by members of the 17th Missouri (Union) Infantry was ambushed by a force of bushwhackers under Confederate Colonel Emory Rogers. The foraging party lost 22 killed, 33 wounded, and two missing. Weaver’s account of “no quarter” is confirmed by other accounts. The foraging parties became a necessity due to the bad roads which limited Curtis’s supply lines. This was one of the primary reasons he shifted his objective from Little Rock to Helena, Arkansas.Weaver refers to the bushwackers as “jayhawkers” though this was a name generally only applied to pro-Union marauders.
Letter 4
Camp of Dubuque Battery and 9th Iowa Camped six miles west from Helena August 29th 1862
Dear Hattie and little ones,
How do you do this morning? It will be one year tomorrow since I last saw you and to you it must have been a long year. But to me it has been very short for I have been on the move almost all the time, seeing new things and a soldier’s life is a life of excitement the most of the time which causes the time to pass by very quick. And another thing, there is no Sundays in the army—especially when we are on a march. When we are in camp, we sometimes know when Sunday comes [but] if it were not for my writing, I should not know what day of the week it was one time in ten. But I write so much that i keep the day of the month and consequently I do not lose the day of the week very often. The great reason that it is so hard to tell when Sunday comes is on account of our duty being the same every day. It is like a woman’s work—the same day after day.
I hope we will have a change before long for I am getting tired of this laying in camp so long and I think we will start on a march before long because it has not been our lot to have it so easy. But they say it is a long road that has no turn and perhaps our time has come at last. But I would like to have the thing pushed through so what there is left can go home to their homes and wives and little ones, no more to go forth to fight the battle of their country.
Hattie, I look forward to the closing up of this war in the next six months. I think that there will be an order passed declaring all slaves free before the 15th of next month. It is necessary that there should be something of that sort done to save the government and that is the least thing I can see that is the only thing that will effectively put a stop to foreign intervention. As soon as our government disowns slavery, no foreign powers dare help the South for as soon as any government joins with the South, they must recognize slavery and they dare not do it for that is the great thing that has caused this trouble in our country. If there had not been any slavery, there would have been no rebellion. And the only way to close the trouble, is to remove the cause. And until that is done, there will be no peace.
Hattie, I wish you would make me a sedicule [probably a “housewife”?] and send it to me for they are a very nice thing for a soldier to have for we have to do our own mending. You know how they are made for there is not anything that is made with a needle and thread that you do not know how to make. Put in a few needles about middle size and some pins for it hard to get such things here and the clothes that we get are all made by machines and we have to make them all over.
Hattie, I have written to Jim Daniels and to Hiram Weaver this morning. Hiram and Uncle Lanzes’ [?] boy. He is in the army. I received a letter from him yesterday. He is in the Wisconsin 13th Regiment. He is a drummer. He says he likes the army very well. Hattie, tell me what company Coluno is in and what regiment. Hattie, I will close for this time. Answer soon. No more this time. Kiss the little ones for me. I remain yours as ever, — H. H. Weaver
The following letter was written by John Barr Bell (1837-1930) who served as the Commissary Sergeant for the 85th Pennsylvania Infantry from mid-May 1863 through December 1863. He had been acting in that capacity since Mid-May 1863. Prior to having been promoted to this staff position, John was a private in Co. A. John was the son of Robert Bell (1801-1890) and Susanna D. Tidball (1809-1881) of Thompsonville, Washington county, Pennsylvania. He wrote the letter to his younger brother, Robert Boyd Bell (1840-1918).
In 1863, the regiment moved to Folly Island, South Carolina, to participate in the Union siege operations targeting Fort Wagner, Fort Sumter, and the defenses of Charleston Harbor. As such, they were a part of Gen. Gilmore’s command and received his congratulatory orders for the taking of Morris Island.
Two more of John’s letter may be found in the Auburn University Digital Library (See John B. Bell letters (1862-63). Apparently John kept a diary during the war which was referenced heavily when Luther S. Dickey was compiling the History of the 85th Pennsylvania.
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
Folly Island, South Carolina 29 November 1863
Robert,
I have not had time to finish the letter I commenced the 31st day of October for we have moved down to near the same place where we were camped before. We moved to Morris Island last July. We have been very busy for a few days and I had to try and get rations for the regiment and I only succeeded in getting them today after the regiment had been three days without & I expected to hear plenty of complaining but they did not complain any.
I got a letter from Sarah yesterday dated 22nd ult.
There was a man in Co. G died yesterday from the effect of drinking so much Jamaica Ginger. 1 He drunk about 20 bottles in a few days. It is not the first man in the 85th [Pennsylvania Infantry] that was killed by using Jamaica Ginger. It is worse than whiskey for if men get to using it, they soon get that they cannot quit. I have saw men drink a bottle down without putting any water with it. 2
I will stop for tonight. I will send you a copy of Gen. Gilmore’s congratulatory order. We are now in the 3rd Brigade of Gen. [Alexander] Schimmelfennig’s Division. — John
1 I was unable to locate any member of Co. G that “died” or was “discharged” in November 1863.
2I believe that the “Jamaica Ginger” John refers to was actually “Essence of Jamaica Ginger” which was commonly called “Jake.” It consisted of a certain type of ginger, known as white ginger, and was sold as a medicine. Advertisements by Frederick Brown, a druggist and chemist of Philadelphia who manufactured the article, highly recommended it for the soldier heading off to war: “In ordinary diarrhea, incipient cholera, and in all cases of prostration of the digestive organs, the medicine has been found a sovereign remedy, and we therefore feel it to be a humane suggestion to the multitudes who are now about exchanging the comforts of home for the exposure of the camp, to recommend them to supply themselves with this invaluable medicine. Let all our readers interest themselves in carrying out this suggestion, by seeing that every soldier who leaves our city is provided with this simple, but effectual safeguard against sickness and suffering.” Brown recommended a dose of one teaspoonful for a grown person, half a teaspoonful for a child 10-12, and 15 to 20 drops for a child 2 to 5 years old.However, because of its extremely high alcohol content(88%), it was frequently abused by alcoholics.
The following letters were written by Dixon Greene Conn (1840-1921) who enlisted first in the 5th North Carolina Infantry but when the regiment was reorganized in early May 1862 as the 15th North Carolina Infantry, they elected a new slate of officers and sent the old ones home. The reorganization took place near Yorktown and the regiment was one of the last to leave that stronghold before abandoning it to the Yankees. They served as the rear guard on the march to Williamsburg but were then sent to Kent Court House without engaging in the fight. “After several days of slow and tedious marching through rain and mud, occasional marches and skirmishes, with little to eat but parched corn, the regiment crossed to the south side of the Chickahominy River and encamped on the turnpike to Mechanicsville. As the Union army extended its lines to the right a portion of the regiment on picket duty at Ellyson’s Mill, and had a small engagement, capturing a few prisoners, with no loss to the regiment. On the 30th and 31st of May the regiment marched and counter-marched almost constantly between Mechanicsville and Seven Pines, and on Sunday morning, June 1st, was formed in line of battle to the right, near Fair Oaks, to reinforce and renew the attack at that point. Before advancing the order was countermanded and the.regiment took position on the Nine Mile Road above Fair Oaks, where it remained under daily fire from the enemy’s batteries” until the start of the Seven Days Battles. [Source: North Carolina in the American Civil War]
Dixon Greene Conn’s obituary informs us that he was born in Franklin county, North Carolina, on 13 March 1840 and was educated in a private academy in Louisburg in which he also served as an instructor.At the outbreak of the Civil War. he enlisted in Co. L, 5th N. C. Vols., which was the first company that went out of Franklin county. He reenlisted in Co. L. 15th N. C. Troops and next in Co. K, 32nd N. C. Regiment. He was wounded seven times in the war, five times at Malvern Hill. On account of his wounds, Dixon was discharged from the Confederate Army early in 1863 at Richmond; but before completing his convalescence, being refused active combatant service, he volunteered in the Confederate Navy and served on the Indian Chief, on which he was master at arms. From this ship he later transferred to the Pee Dee at Cheraw, South Carolina. He was taken prisoner on 6 April 1865 and confined on Craney Island for several months.
Dixon wrote the letters to his older sister, Mary Eliza Conn (1833-1914) who never married and was residing in Galloways, Franklin county, North Carolina at the time of the 1860 US Census.
Over the years I have transcribed several letters by members of the 15th North Carolina. They include: George W. Mock, Co. F, 15th North Carolina (CSA 1 Letter) Leander Mock, Co. F, 15th North Carolina (CSA 1 Letter) Theophilus Thomas Spaugh, Co. F, 15th North Carolina (CSA 1 Letter) Solomon Tesh, Co. H, 15th North Carolina (CSA 1 Letter) Daniel Wilson, Co. H, 15th North Carolina (CSA 1 Letter) Daniel Wilson, Co. H, 15th North Carolina (CSA 2 Letters) William H. H. Tyson, Co. M, 15th North Carolina (CSA 1 Letter) William H. H. Tyson, Co. M, 15th North Carolina (CSA 1 Letter)
Letter 1
My regiment has reorganized for two years longer. I will give you a list of my staff and company officers.
15th Regt. North Carolina TRoops
Staff—- H[enry] A. Dowd, Colonel Jas. McCrae, Lieut. Col. W[illiam] H. Yarborough, Major W. H. Ballard, Adjutant Company Officers—- J[ames] I. Foster, Capt. W[illiam] R. Young, 1st Lieutenant R[obert] E. Ballard, 2nd Lieutenant D. G. Conn, 1st Sergeant J. H. Howard, 2nd Sergeant P. H. Winston, 3rd Sergeant H. N. Jasper, 4th Sergeant J. W. Whiliss [?], 5th Sergeant R. C. Martin, 1st Corporal B[enjamin] C. Arrington, 2nd Corporal T. H. Leigh, 3rd Corporal J. S. Tuthill [?], 4th Corporal
Our old officers were not reelected; consequently they were sent home.
When you write, direct to D. G. Conn. Co. L, 15th N. C. Troops, Richmond, Va.
Tell me whether you know anything of Joe May—whether he is in camp at Raleigh. Again my respects to all. — D. G. Conn
Letter 2
Richmond, Virginia May the 28th, 1862
Affectionate sister,
Although I wrote you yesterday, I think it necessary on account of a certain circumstance to write a few words again today. I want you to let me know immediately whether you received a letter from me written about the 18th April. I gave it to Algernon Strother to be mailed on the way as he was going home. He says the marks rubbed off (it being backed with a pencil) and he directed it to Louisburg to you, and sent it I suppose out to Pa’s. In it I gave you permission to try to have me discharged. I am very sorry it was miscarried. By all means, do not try it now. I would not have you try it now for no amount. But I would be glad if you could get that letter. But I think it doubtful as I suppose Pa has it. Nothing more. Write immediately. — D. G. Conn
Yesterday evening there was a fight about three and a half hours to our left about three miles distant. 1 I have not learned the result yet. I could hear it very distinctly. All calm this morning. My best love to all, — D. G. Conn
1 This may be a reference to the Battle of Hanover Court House who took place during the afternoon of May 27, 1862.
The following letter was written by 47 year-old John Geary (1814-1889) of Page county, Virginia, who at one time was a partner in the Shenandoah Iron Works with Daniel & Henry Forrer, wealthy industrialists and landowners in Page county. At the onset of the war in 1861, local ironworks across Virginia were pressured or contracted by the Confederate government to shift from domestic iron production (like stove plates and farming tools) to wartime ordnance (cannonballs, shells, and gun tubes). The labor force performing this difficult work consisted of a mix of local white mechanics, free Black workers, and conscripted or hired enslaved laborers.
Geary’s letter describes the disappointment of the laborers who had failed to manufacture cannon balls for the Confederacy. The cupola referred to was a vertical foundry furnace used to re-melt pig iron into special molds. The “flasks” were the wood frames that hold sand molds for the casting of cannon balls. The failure was due primarily because they could not find the “stone coal” (anthracite) which was required to generate sufficient heat to cast the cannon balls. Eventually the Confederacy was able to manufacture cannon balls and other munitions at the Tredegar Iron Works in Richmond using Page county’s raw pig iron.
John Geary’s 1889 obituary states that he was “at one time engaged with Messrs. Forrer in the iron business, but after selling the furnace in Page county to Mr. Wm. Milnes, he retired from business and lived on his farm where he died.” He died unmarried and left the bulk of his property to Bishop Keane of the Catholic Church. It isn’t clear from the content of this letter who Geary was writing to and there is no surviving envelope.
A pre-war image of Oscar Garland Cosby when he served in the Richmond Grays Militia. He was married to the daughter of Daniel Forrer, Geary’s business partner.
There is a reference to Mary Catherine Forrer’s husband, Oscar Garland Cosby (1832-1878). Oscar was the son of Peter G. Cosby and Frances W. Rison. Oscar worked with his father on several business ventures in Richmond, VA, primarily as a tobacconist. He also represented his father-in-law, Daniel Forrer as an agent to transact business with the Confederate government for iron during the Civil War. Despite wearing a pre-war militia uniform of the Richmond Grays, I could find no evidence that Oscar ever served the Confederacy in the military. In fact, Geary suggests in his letter that Oscar Cosby and the other “six or eight hands from Richmond” had come to Luray to attempt manufacturing cannon balls simply to avoid military service.
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
Near Luray [Page County,Virginia] September 17, 1861
My dear sir,
Yours of the 9th inst. is to hand which I now proceed to answer. I have nothing of importance to write about as to comment on the war & its disaster would be useless as all information concerning it is known (unfortunately as it is, all our land). Grayson & others got home from the [Manassas] Junction Saturday night & state that another bloody engagement may take place at any moment.
There is not much business doing here. Tommy Almond returned from Richmond Saturday night, purchased a few goods, as he states, at very high prices. Purchased no groceries nor shoes owing to the prices. Goods of all kinds are very scarce in this vicinity & no groceries at any price.
I just returned from the Furnace Saturday night. Found there Daniel Forrer’s daughter Mary Catherine & her husband [Oscar Garland Cosby] & some six or eight hands from Richmond who were engaged in the manufacture of the cannon ball which up to the present has proven an entire failure and I fear will under the circumstances they are placed. They went to considerable expense in building a cupola making flask &c. &c. at the old place & when all was done, could find or get no stone coal to answer. They also tried it at the Furnace [possibly Catherine Furnace] which is out of blast, and then it also proved a failure. The hands and Daniel’s son-in-law is considerably dissatisfied from all I can see & learn from Daniel’s boys son-in-law & his wife especially there is considerable dissatisfaction as to the entire course of the acting proprietor there who started to Richmond on Saturday last. Mary Catherine wrote to her father same day to come down and enjoined as a duty (privately) on me to meet him (her Father) there on Friday night next or when he came, the object being chiefly—as I could learn from the Party—being to get the McKiernan Furnace to go to moulding the cannon ball, more, I think, for the purpose of keeping all the boys & all [who are] subject to military duty from serving in the army by reason of the Government contract than anything else.
I got a decree at our Circuit Court last week to rent out the McKiernan property for 12 months (am commissioned myself for that purpose) unless a compromise is effected between the parties conveying back the property to D & H Forrer which is now in course of negotiation & I think will be consummated, McKiernan expects to learn in a few days. Mr. Henry Forrer is opposed to joining them to mold whilst the others are all in favor of it. I fear there will be a storm between the parties. Mary Catherine also states (privately) that her father intended endeavoring to get me to go back to the old place to take charge of matters. I said very little either way. I very much fear that matters are becoming squally. I must act very cautious. Will tell you all about matters when you come down as you say you will by 1st of next month which I hope you can as I am very anxious to see you.
I showed your account & explained the nature of it to both William & Madison Grave, both of who are administers of the old man’s estate. They both seem to think that the account settled with the old man in his life time is the same they now claim, but finding such on his books they had to do something towards collecting it. They promised to examine into it and arrange it.
I apprehend a great deal of trouble amongst other misfortunes with our party here. They now refuse to pay any more Iron on the contract for the property. Also deny Fottz’s] right to coerce it so there is yet about 33 to 34 tons Iron due on the property which for which it is bound & is therefore safe. Fottz wants to dissolve the partnership & relies on me to manage the whole affair. The parties are very histile to each other which makes it the more deplorable for parties espectally, also unpleasant. I expect to have to commence legal proceedings in the matter ere long & fear I shall have to contend with a great many difficulties all of which we can talk about when you come down which I hope you will write me before coming. I would gladly go up but cannot leave with safety as there is some wholesale grabbing & swindling going on here now. Your friend, — Jno. Geary
The following letters of mid-March 1862 were written just before and after the Naval Battle between the CSS Merrimack and the USS Monitor in Hampton Roads, Virginia. The second letter also refers to the 500 seat theater erected out of timber constructed by the 1st Delaware Regiment at Camp Hamilton where they had been posted since the previous October.
I was at a loss as to the author’s signature but I was pretty certain he must have been an officer in one of the many Union regiments gathering around Fort Hamilton (near Fortress Monroe) in March 1862 in readiness for McClellan’s Peninsula Campaign. I asked Artificial Intelligence (AI) to identify a Union officer who had a relative named Austin and a correspondent he termed “Dear Nellie” who would have been posted at Camp Hamilton in March 1862? Within seconds, I was told that it was written by Capt. Charles Robinson Johnson of Co. F, 16th Massachusetts Infantry (nicknamed “The Iron Sixteenth”). It also told me, “His collection of wartime correspondence includes a series of letters addressed to his sister, whom he affectionately called “Dear Nellie (Ellen Johnson). In March 1862, the 16th Massachusetts was stationed at Camp Hamilton, a massive Union staging ground located near Fortress Monroe in Hampton, Virginia. His younger brother was Austin Irving Johnson (1847–1920), whom he frequently mentioned in his updates back home.”
I thought this was incredible so I went to check it out. Turns out the wartime correspondence AI referred to was the collection I transcribed and published seven years ago. See—1861-63: Charles Robinson Johnson to Nellie. Charles R. Johnson (1836-1863) was a 25 year-old Boston merchant when he received his commission in July 1861. He was wounded at Chancellorsville on 3 May 1863 and again on 2 July 1863 at Gettysburg. He died due to wound complications on 17 July 1863 at Lexington, Massachusetts. The only thing AI had wrong was Nellie’s identity—calling her his sister. It was actually Charles’ wife, Ellen (“Nellie”) Shepard Albree (1838-1906)—the mother of his young boy, Charles Berkley (“Berk”) Johnson (1859-1925) who is mentioned occasionally in the letters.
These letters may have been previously published in their entirely in a book published in 2015 under the title, “If I am alive next Summer’: The Civil War Letters of Captain Charles Robinson Johnson of the 16th Massachusetts Infantry,” edited by Albert C. Eisenberg and Michael Hammerson. ISBN-13: 9780788456497
Letter 1
Camp Hamilton, Virginia March 5, 1862
Dear Nellie,
It is half past seven o’clock in the morning and in 3/4 of an hour I start for picket. By this time father has arrived home. I wonder if he noticed that as the steamer Constitution was on her way to Newport News the rebel [guns] from Sewall’s Point fired three shells at her. Monday evening there were eight heavy guns fired by the rebels at Craney Island, the purpose of which I don’t know. Rumor stated that it might be the successful launch of the [CSS] Merrimack.
We have had one beautiful day since father left, but it was cool. Monday night for a half hour the rain came down with as much violence as I ever remember of seeing it, starting some small leaks in my tent. I went out of my tent with the impression that it was a violent hail storm but found myself mistaken. I forgot to mention that the guns on Craney Island are so powerful that at the distance that we are from them, Mr. Rogers state that the concussion jarred the crockery.
Nellie, notwithstanding the rumors of a large reinforcement soon to arrive, we now have here at Camp Hamilton less troops by one regiment than we have had all winter and consequently our turn to go on picket comes oftener. It is now once in ten days. I intended to have written you a long letter last evening but had an invitation to play a game of Whist with Drs. [Charles C.] Jewett & [Edward Andem] Whiston, accepted it, got interested [and] did not retire until late. Give my regard to all friends. Yours affectionately, — Charles
Letter 2
Camp Hamilton, Virginia March 16, 1862
Dear Nellie,
I have received your letters of March 11th & 13th. Since I last wrote there has been no changes and quietness has prevailed as far as action or combat is concerned. But the camp has been flooded with rumor and we have been under marching orders about half the time, the men keeping their equipments on and officers going to bed with clothes and boots on.
From The Evening Post, New York, 5 February 1862
I meant to have mentioned the pleasant evening I spent at the Delaware regiment and their theatre, but the naval battle [between the Monitor and Merrimack] was so much more interesting that I deferred it. The theatre is a large log house, the seats for the audience rising one above the other, a regular stage with scenery of which I believe they have four sets, orchestra consisting of the regimental band. The ladies parts are taken by the actors. The acting was good and the whole passed off very pleasantly. I send you one of the programmes which was reduced to the present state by being in my vest pocket while marching to Newport News.
All the ladies have left and every person here without business are also obliged to leave. I hope that before the Merrimack again makes her appearance, the Monitor will have some other battery to assist her as the Merrimack has four guns to her one. You can send on the sash as it is if the difference in color is not too great. I have received Austin’s letter. Give my regard to all. Yours affectionately, — Chas.
This letter was written by Calvin Marshall Bragg (1836-1924) who served aboard the USS Michigan as a private in the Marines beginning in 1858. He later served aboard the USS Sabine, the USS St. Louis, the USS Rhode Island, and then back on the USS Michigan again. Apparently when the USS Ozark was commissioned in 1864, he was afforded the opportunity to transfer to the Navy and given the rank of Acting Ensign. The Ozark was a unique, wooden hull, ironclad river monitor with a single turret added to the Mississippi River Squadron under Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter in time for the Red River Campaign.
Calvin’s service record before and during the Civil War. (Pension File)
A pension record was found for Bragg that provided us with some biostatistics. He was born in 1836 in Kirtland, Lake county, Ohio. He stood 5′ 6″ tall, had blue eyes and dark brown hair. He was married once in 1883 to Ellen Vanduzen in Boston, Massachusetts, but later divorced her (date not stated). They had no children. He served many years in the Navy after the Civil War, finishing out his career as Chief Master-at-arms. When he retired, he settled in Jefferson, Ashtabula, Ohio. His death in Cleveland, Ohio, on 15 July 1924 was reported to the Pension Bureau by his niece, Mrs. Jennie S. Dodge.
A family tree in Ancestry.com informs us that Calvin’s parents were Solon Bragg (1803-1860) and Sarah Rose (1806-1901) of Ashtabula, Ohio. He had a younger brother names Charles P. Bragg (1838-1921) who he refers to in the letter. Another brother, Albert C. Bragg (1840-1863) served in the 2nd Independent Battery, Ohio Vol. Infantry, was wounded in the Battle of Port Gibson on 1 May 1863, and died two weeks later in Grand Gulf, Mississippi.
Calvin’s letter describes the death and burial of his shipmate, Acting Ensign Thomas W. Roberts who signed on with the USS Ozark on 25 June 1864 and died on 17 August 1864. He was originally buried on Acklin’s Plantation in Louisiana, but his body was later removed to the Natchez National Cemetery. He directed the letter to Robert Roberts, a brother of the deceased, whom I believe was a former shipmate aboard the USS Michigan. I have not been able to learn anymore about the Roberts family.
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
Off Red River U. S. S. Ozark August 18th 1864
Mr. Robert Roberts,
Dear sir. It becomes my painful duty to write to you at this time to inform you of the death of your brother who departed this life yesterday at about three quarters of an hour after four o’clock in the morning. Your brother had been sick about three weeks altogether. None of us thought him dangerous till about one week before his death. I hardly know what to term his disease. The doctor said that it was more the trouble of the mind than the body. From the first he seemed to give up easily. When spoken to about how he was getting along, he would always answer that he was doing well and seemed to think he would get well.
Mr. Roberts was buried yesterday. He had a decent burial, having a very good coffin and burial case besides having a head and foot board with his name, rank, and age carved on the head board. The funeral was attended by nearly all the officers of this vessel. He was buried on the left bank of the Mississippi River looking toward New Orleans or down the river.
I understand that your brother leaves a wife and some small children. His death will be felt very severely by them as well as yourself. To them and to you I offer my kindest sympathies for the death to them of a husband and father. Also you of a dear brother. There are a trunk and some clothes here belonging to him which I suppose our paymaster will send to his wife together with what money that is coming to him. Enclosed I send you a small lock if your brother’s hair which I had clipped off a short time after his death knowing how much you would prize such a memorial of your late brother.
When you get this, please answer that I may know that you got my letter. I have been out here over a year. Charley, I suppose you have heard ere this, was taken prisoner up Red River. My health is good and I am doing well. The next time you see Capt. [John C.] Carter [of the USS Michigan], please remember me kindly to him. It was through this kind, good old gentleman that I owe my present position in the Navy. 1
The weather here is pretty warm some of the time. This week the thermometer stood 108 degrees in the shade. Remember me to the [USS] Michigan Boys when you see them. But I will close. Direct to Acting Ensign, — C. M. Bragg
U.S.S. Ozark, Mississippi Squadron.
Another view of the USS Ozark on the Mississippi River in 1864
1 The USS Michigan was the Union’s only warship on the Great Lakes during the Civil War. It was tasked with patrolling Lake ERie and guarding the Confederate Prisoner-of-war camp on Johnson’s Island.
I could not find an image of George but here is one of William Peters, Co. D, 1st Battalion Cavalry, MMB wearing the uniform of the MMB (Lawrence T. Jones III Collection)
The following letter was written by George Homer McIntyre (1841-1924) of Co. C, Mississippi Marine Brigade (MMB) Cavalry. George began his military service in Co. C, 32nd Wisconsin Infantry but then volunteered to take a transfer to the MMB Cavalry early in 1863.
George’s obituary is posted below. It reads in part: “Mr. McIntyre enlisted in August, 1862, at Markesan, with Co. C. 32d Wis. Infantry. Later he was transferred to the First Mississippi Marine brigade, acting as a scout to police the great river against the Confederate Guerillas. He served at the siege and fall of Vicksburgh, under Gen. Grant. His war record was a brave and unblemished one, but malaria and ‘swamp ague” got the best of him physically, and left him with nervous debility from which he had suffered bravely for 50 years.”
For the best description of the Mississippi Marine Brigade and its activities, see The Civil War Diaries of Almon Joel Pierce—an archive that I transcribed in May 2024.
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
Addressed to Miss Rebecca A. Ferris, Pilot Mound, Filmore county, Minnesota
Vicksburg, Mississippi January 21st 1864
Dear Rebecca,
I received your kind letter and was glad to hear that you was well. It found me well and happy for we had just received orders for to turn over our arms and everything we had that belonged to the U. S. and get ready to be mustered out of the U. S. service. There has been seven companies got their discharges out of the regiment and gone home and there is only three more left and mine is one of the three. We will get out in two or three days if nothing happens and when I get my discharge, I will take the first boat up the river for I have got enough of the Sunny South to mast me for a while, If the Lord lets me live and nothing happens more than I know, I will be at home by the time you get this letter. So when you answer this, you can direct to Princeton, Wisconsin.
Dear Rebecca, this is a little better than I expected—for me to get out of the service so soon. But it does not hurt my feelings a bit. The reason of our getting out so soon is this. When they took our boats away from us and put us on land, we did not like it for we did not enlist to do land service but marine service. So we sent in a petition to the Secretary of War to see if they could make Marines do land service and when he looked at it, he issued an order to muster us out of service for her did not think that it was right for us to do land service. So the commander here at Vicksburg had to obey his orders.
Well, Rebecca, it is getting pretty late and I must close. Give my love to all of your folks and to Mon = folks and tell them to write to me and direct to Princeton for I think that will be my headquarters as soon as I get out of this. It will be for a while at least. This from your true friend and well wisher. — Geirge H. McIntyre
This letter was written by George Orme (1834-1928) of Aurora, Illinois, while serving in Co. H, 124th Illinois Infantry. George mustered into the regiment at Aurora on 10 September 1862 and mustered out on 15 August 1865. Census records inform us that George was a native of Surrey, England and that he emigrated to the US about 1840-41 with his parents, Thomas Orme and Martha Ward. George was married in April 1858 to Minerva H. Miller (1841-1923) in Kane county, Illinois.
After the war, George relocated to Saunders county, Nebraska, where he lived out his days as a farmer.
The 124th Illinois Infantry (a.k.a., the “Excelsior Regiment”) recruited its members from a number of counties, including Henry, Kane, McDonough, Sangamon, Jersey, Adams, Wayne, Cook, Putnam, Pike, Mercer, and Christian. George wrote this letter shortly after the Siege of Vicksburg but his regiment has seen action at Raymond and Champion Hill before digging in at Vicksburg. I found a diary written by another member of Co. H, 124th Illinois that I have posted after George’s letter that will give readers a better idea of the regiment’s activities leading up to the letter. During this period, they were in Logan’s Division and McPherson’s Corps. It was said of them that “they were never driven from a position, and never attempted to take a position and failed.”
This letter was made available by Loren Lindahl for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by express consent. The original has been gifted to the Saunders County Historical Society to be forwarded to the National Battlefield at Vicksburg.
Barracks of the 124th Illinois Infantry at Vicksburg
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
Vicksburg July 8th 1863
Dear wife,
Here I am jotting down a few lines to you by way of letting you know that I am all right and hope that these [lines] will find you the same. We have got keeping house once more. We have our tents and our cooking utensils so that it begins to look like living once more after being without them for two months and over. I tell you, we know how to appreciate a little comfort.
When I wrote to you last, I was in something of a hurry and did not have time to write many particulars about this place but today I thought I would sit down and give you all the news together—so here it is, on secesh paper right from the City of Vicksburg.
To commence with, we have about 30 thousand prisoners here and such times as we have trading with them, you never seen. Minerva, it almost makes me think that I am up North for you know that when there is any chance for trading, that I am around. Well, the secesh will trade for anything that comes from the North and pay big for it. Most of them have lots of money but it is all secesh. They will give five dollars of their money for one of ours and are glad to get the chance. They will sell anything they have for coffee or Lincoln money. There is more than half of them that says that they will never fight again for we have shown them how they have been humbugged with their leaders and our officers have given them all seperate paroles so that they can go hope if they want to. Their officers wanted them to be paroled in companies so that they could keep them together but the men would not be fooled with them for we had talked the thing over with them and they are bound to go home. They are picking up all the coffee they can get. They will [give] one dollar per pound for it to carry home with them for they say that they have not had any for over a year.
They say that they are much disappointed with us for we use them more like friends than enemies and when they look at the way we live and our clothes and horses and everything that we have, it makes them wonder how their leaders could be such rascals to lie to them in the way they have. I think that we have given Old Secesh a blow this time for we have hurt their cause more by using their men in the way we have than if we had shot every man of them for they will go home and tell their neighbors how we used them and that we are not fighting them to take their rights from them but to protect them in their rights as citizens of the Union. They start for home today.
Now then, my dear, I have given you some of the news about the rebs. Not I [will] say a word about other matters. In the [first] place, I would like it if you could send me some butter when Mr. [Lieut.] Potter comes back. Tell Ma that I never wanted some of make of butter so bad in all my life as I do at the present. We are drawing some soft butter and if we could get a little butter, Oh how good it would go with us. You can’t think how bad it makes me feel every time I think of the trouble you went to in fitting up that box of stuff and then for me to never get a smell of it. Hain’t it provoking to think of it?
I heard from James Newell day before yesterday. He is about three miles from here and he told one of our boys that he saw in town that we would come over as soon as he can to see me. There is strong talk of our being stationed here for guard. I hope it will be so for them there will be some chance for us to get furloughs to come home.
In your letters, you have never said anything about James Miller. I heard about him yesterday. His Captain thought he must be lost or he would have come to his company. I heard from a man that was in Vicksburg at the time that the boats run through that Jim was taken prisoner the next day. He knew him in Aurora three years ago. I am somewhat acquainted with him. It is the man that Old Pat sold the old house to. He is an Irishman. Bill will know who he is. He is going to come back to Aurora as soon as he can get money enough to carry him back. He says that they put him in prison because he would not enlist and he told me that the night before we got to this place, they came in the night and took the last cow he had and killed her and he could not say a word and they wouldn’t even give him secesh money for her. They told him he was a damned federal and their money would not do him any good for they intended to leave shortly and that would be good enough pay for him. Well we have got and I suppose that he will have to feed the folks here for they have nothing to eat and nothing [to] buy with.
I have got a couple of nice rings for you as trophies—one from Champion’s Hill and the other I got here.
Now Kitty, don’t forget to see Potter before he comes back and send my boots for I do need them bad. I must close for supper is ready. So goodbye till next time. Yours truly, — George
Charles H. Snedecker
Diary of Charles Henry Snedecker of Aurora who also served in Co. H, 124th Illinois Infantry with George Orme. I’ve included that portion of Charles’ diary from late May to mid-July 1863. Source: Find-A-Grave
MAY, 1863 26th Pleasant weather. Quite extensive Rifle Pits were dug by our troops last night. Canonading and Sharpshooting as usual. No advance today. Mailed letter No. 30.
27th Co. H and two other Co. s from the 124th detailed last night to work on fortifications in front of “Shirleys house” Worked till daybreak and went back to quarters a tired sett. Nothing unusual today. Weather warm and clear.
28th Weather fair. Received letter No. 22 from home. Sent home letter No. 31. Today men are at work throwing up intrenchments in front of our Regt. Co. H detailed to go out to the rear on Picket. Went out 3 or 4 miles on the Bridgeport road. Got to our Post just after sundown. Dust in the road two or three inches deep.
29th Weather fair and warm. Went out and gathered Plums and Blackberries. Plums are very plenty both white and red. In the afternoon we were moved out a mile or so farther and were reinforced by two more companies. Heavy firing in the direction of Vicksburg this morning. Had Plum Sauce and Blackberries and sugar for Supper.
30th Fair and warm. Alarm by the sentinels twice in the night. The reserve called into line both times, and the last time we marched out beyond the outposts to reconnoitre, but not being able to discover any enemy, we marched back and laid down on our Arms. Nothing more occurred to alarm us. Our sentinels said that they saw men with guns moving around. Got some Mulberries and stewed them. We were relieved at 5 P.M. by 5 companies of the 10th Mo. Arrived in camp at 7 o’clock.
31st Sunday. Clear and hot. Was aroused at 2 1/2 o’clock this morning by our Artillery opening fire on the Rebs. It was kept up for an hour a perfect roar after which it gradually ceased. Some cannonading all through the day. The Rebels fired a few shots in return.
JUNE, 1863 1st Clear and hot. Artillery firing every half hour through the night. Very heavy cannonading at 3 A.M. Two more “Parrott Guns” planted in front of our Regt. during the night. Wrote a letter to Mrs. Lennox informing her of her Husbands death. One of McAlisters 24 pound howitzers charged down the hill through our companys shanties, tearing some of them down and scattering things generally, but fortunately without hurting any one. Co. H detailed on Picket.
2nd Clear and warm. Went on Picket at 3 P.M. in the Rifle Pits. The Rebs tried to capture a Battery on our left, but were repulsed. There was a large fire in Vicksburg about midnight. I could distinctly hear the fire bells ringing in the city. I drew a pair of Shoes, 1 pair of socks, a shirt, Hat and Rubber Blanket. Our Artillery played a lively tune on the Rebels about Sundown. The “Lombard Brothers” were here and sang the “Battle Cry of Freedom.”
3rd Still camped on the hill. Weather warm. Cannonading and sharpshooting as usual. Co. H detailed on Picket.
4th Weather warm. Nothing but the usual routine.
5th Warm. A moveable car for sharpshooters was put up last night. It is mounted on wheels and protected by cotton bales. It was put up in front of the Rebel fort. Co. H detailed on Picket.
6th Very oppressive weather. Was quite un-(well) all night and through the day. Wrote letter No. 32.
7th Sunday. Sick with a hard cold. Co. H detailed on Picket at night. Weather hot.
8th Warm again. Our Mortar Boats shelled the city all night. One man in Co. B Killed, and one of Co. H wounded in the leg just at night.
9th Warm. One 9 inch Siege Gun came up today. Our whole Regt. on Picket. Chas. Titsworth of Co. H wounded while on Picket.
10th Rainy. Received letter No. 23 and one from Mother. Not much cannonading, but very lively sharpshooting.
11th Pleasant. One 9 inch Siege Gun mounted and at work battering down “Fort Hill.”
12th Pleasant. The Rebels have thrown a few shells towards our “Big Gun”, but has not hurt any body yet. Got a letter from Bro. George.
13th Clear. Washed my clothes. Our Regt. exchanged their old guns for new Enfield Rifles. The Regt. detailed for sharpshooting and Picket to go in at 6 1/2 A.M. tomorrow and stay on duty 24 hours.
14th Warm. Sunday. “Philips” of Co. C wounded in the face. I was detailed to stand on Picket at night outside the breastworks. The Rebs threw quite a number of 9 inch shells some of which struck very close to our Hospital.
15th Rainy in the morning pleasant the rest of the day. Wrote a letter to Bro. George. Co. H to go on fatigue duty tomorrow at 4 A.M.
16th Pleasant. Co. H aroused at 3A.M. to go for fatigue duty on the trench leading to the Rebel Fort. In the afternoon they threw two “Hand Grenades” at us from the Fort. They fell short 50 feet and exploded doing no damage. We are now within 100 feet of the Fort.
17th Fair. Several 9 inch shells bursted over our camp today. One piece weighing two or three pounds struck about 5 feet from where I was sitting. No one was struck by them. Very heavy cannonading part of the day. I had a billious attack.
18th A large fire in the city last night. The Rebs opened a gun on our right from behind a cotton Fort. Our Gunners shelled them and set their fort on fire. Got letter No. 24.
19th Weather warm. Wrote letter No.23 (33) and posted it. Got some canebrakes and make a bed. Regt. ordered to be ready for sharpshooting tomorrow morning.
20th Regt. ordered into line at 4 A.M. and marched into the intrenchments. Artillery commenced firing at the same time all along the line and continued without intermission till 10 A.M. We were kept in the trench till near noon, when we were put on duty sharpshooting. A Squad of men at work digging into the side of the Fort. One of the 45 Ills. shot dead on the top of the Fort, while trying to shoot inside. One of Co. Es men shot through both thighs accidentally by our own sharpshooters.
21st Sunday. Carpenter and myself on Picket last night in the extreme advance. Hand Grenades were thrown at us, from the Fort. We were relieved about 5 A.M. by the 23d Ind. Quite a number of shot & shell was thrown into our camp today, but no one was hurt. Wrote a letter to Mother and mailed it. Weather warm.
22nd Fair. Last night a bullet passed through Carpenters Rubber Blanket and G. Ormes boot they were on the top of our shanty. Very rapid sharpshooting on our right this morning. The Rebs fired by volleys. I was detailed to go after Lumber for Hospital Bunks, but could not get any inside of the Picket lines. Saw the remains of a large rebel camp.
23rd Detailed as Guard to the Paymaster. We received two months pay, up to May 1st. The Rebs fired several solid shot into our camp today. One of which cut the ridge pole of Lieut. Howards tent in two, and smashed up Co. Hs oven. Nobody hurt.
24th Rainy last night. There was quite a sharp engagement on our left between 10 and 12 last night. It lasted over an hour. Major Pattison paid me $8.35 for my subsistence money. Sent $26.00 by Express to my Wife in New Haven. The 124th Regt. are out sharpshooting and on Picket. Our Gunboats and Mortar-boats are shelling the town pretty lively.
25th Warm. Wrote letter No. 34. Our Co. stood Picket last night in the hole that was dug into the Fort. Between 3 and 4 P.M. we were ordered into the trenches, soon after which the Fort blew up making a breach in one end of it. The 45th Ills. advanced and took possession of the outside of the breach and opened a brisk fire on the rebels. They were relieved after two hours or more by the 31st Ills. and they by others so that a continual fire was kept up all night. The Lieut. Col. of the 45(th) was badly wounded and the Major was killed. The Lieut. Col. of the 31st was severely wounded in the side and arm by a Hand Grenade. The 124th went to Quarters and slept on Arms.
26th Had a good rest. Got up at daylight and got Breakfast. Co.s I and H ordered to the breach about 7 A.M. and staid one hour firing over the bank into the Fort and rifle pits as fast as we could load. One of the 45th Ills. was killed and one of Co. I 124th badly wounded while we were out this time. From this time till near night the 124th were fighting in the breach by reliefs. Near sundown we were ordered to fall back to the Rifle Pits. The Rebels threw Hand Grenades among us killing some and wounding a great many of our Regt. quite a number of whom were badly mangled. The miners were at work all day digging another mine to blow it up again. We were relieved at night by the 3d Brigade.
27th Warm. Our Regt. laid in camp today and rested. The Boys were pretty well tired out. I was unwell with a fever. Our troops did not fight in the breach today as the position could be held just as well from the rifle Pits. Hand Grenades were thrown both by our men and the rebs. In yesterdays action our Regt. lost 49 in killed and wounded. Two were killed outright and two have since died and there are several more that will probably die soon. Co. H had 7 wounded most of them slightly. None killed.
28th Sunday. Very warm. Nothing unusual going on today. Reported sick.
29th Warm. Lieut. Potter and David Smith got furloughs and started for the river this morning. Got letter No. 25 from my Wife. Had my hair cut.
30th Co. mustered for pay. Wrote letter No. 35. The 124th detailed for Picket and sharp shooting. Our Engineer Corps have made a wooden Mortar for throwing hand Grenades. It does the work first rate.
JULY, 1863 1st Last night the Rebels rolled a gunpowder keg with a 13 inch shell in the middle of it and the balance of the keg filled with powder over the parapet and into the breach. No one was there at the time so that it did no damage, but the explosion was terrific making the ground tremble in our camp. About noon today the mine being ready was exploded, throwing high into the air an immense body of dirt, Timbers &c. Several men Rebs were blown up. Three Reb soldiers and three negroes that were digging for our powder were thrown outside of the fort and landed near our works, The three white men and two of the negroes died. The other negro was more scared than hurt. He said that he went up into the air about two miles. The Rebels were seen very busy in digging immediately after the explosion, It was thought that they were digging out those that were buried up. Our Regt. occupied the Rifle Pits ready for action in case of an emergency. Our Artillery poured into the fort a perfect storm of Shell, Grape, and Canister. We were relieved about 6 P.M. Weather very warm.
2nd Weather warm. Detailed for fatigue to remove timbers from the breach in the Fort preparatory to starting another mine. Saw one of the little “Wooden Mortars” at work throwing 12 pound shell into the Fort. It works nicely. It takes but an ounce and a half of powder for a charge. There is quite sharp firing on our left. The Rebs are firing by Volleys.
3rd The Rebels raised a flag of truce at 8 A.M. Firing ceased till between two and three P.M. when it was resumed for an hour or so, when the Rebs again raised the white flag and firing again ceased. Guards were placed between the two Armies by both sides. They were in some places but a few feet apart. I saw a Union and a Secesh soldier drilling each other on the parapet of the fort. The Generals of both armies held a conference under the shade of an Oak tree between the two lines.
4th Independence day. The most quiet fourth of July that I ever knew. Not a gun was fired all through the night. 6 O.clock A.M. The Generals are now together under the “Oak tree” talking up the terms of the surrender of Vicksburg. 7 A.M. Word has come that Vicksburg is ours and that we are to march in at 10A.M. and take possession of the city. A good enough fourth of July celebration for us. I was detailed for Guard duty on the line of Rebel Rifle Pits. Our troops marched in at noon. The Band struck up “Yankee Doodle” as they passed through the Fort. The Rebels have holes and caves dug in the ground in every direction to protect themselves against our shells. The Rebs are starved out and our Boys are giving them Hard Bread and Bacon which they thankfully receive and eat as if they was hungry. They had to eat mule meat and were living on quarter rations. Our sharpshooters have riddled their sandbags pretty thoroughly.
5th Sunday. All quiet through the day till near night, when the captured Arms were fired off by a detail made for that purpose. A caisson was blown up accidentally by some men throwing cartridges into the fire. No one was hurt by it. The Prisoners are the most of them very friendly with our Boys, mixing in with them and eating at our tents, talking, exchanging canteens, and trading generally. They are buying a good deal of coffee which is a great treat to them, as they got none in the Army. Our tents and camp equipage that was left at “Millikens Bend” on the 25th of April came up today. I was not relieved from guard till near 8 o’clock P M. Our Govt. issued rations to the prisoners today. Weather very warm.
6th Went on fatigue duty. A Rebel Lieutenant ate breakfast with us. Wrote letter No. 36 to my Wife. Took a stroll along the fortifications on our right. Saw the effect of some of our shots on the Rebel Artillery. I saw one Parrott Gun with three feet of the muzzle knocked off and a number of wheels disabled.
7th Lying around camp and fixing up the tent. Got some Confederate money and sent part of it home. A few citizens came into town today.
8th Detailed on fatigue to load the captured Arms on board the “Metropolitan” 100, 000 stand of Arms are estimated to have been captured here. Saw the “Lady Bowen” a 10 pound Parrott Gun on the Boat. This was a “pet” with the Rebs. Took a walk along the River and saw two of the “Big Guns.” Also saw our Gunboat “Cincinnati” which was sunk by the Rebs. Nearly every house in the city has the mark of one or more of our shells.
9th On fatigue this morning. Detailed for Picket at night. Our Regt. had Dress Parade this afternoon. Went into a tent with Stickel and put up a bunk in it.
10th The Paroled prisoners are going out in squads on their own hook. They appear to be well pleased at the prospect of going home. Weather very warm. Sick today. Some of them were caught carrying powder out with them and now they all have to be searched.
11th The Rebs commenced marching out in a body early this morning, but as they had to be searched they did not get out till afternoon. I found a stocking leg with about a pound of powder tied up in it by one of the Rebs. He had thrown it out to prevent having it found on his person. It is reported that Pemberton sunk 1500 stand of Arms in the River after the surrender.
12th Sunday. Another large body of Rebs marching out this morning. It is reported that all the Negroes are sent back, they not being considered as “Private Property.”
13th It is said that many of the paroled prisoners have come back inside of the lines to take the oath of allegiance. Heavy details are made from our Brigade to fill up the trenches that we dug during the siege. Our Boys are all on duty every day either fatigue or Picket. Weather warm.
Spared & Shared 23 