1862: Mitchell Campbell Lilley to Amanda (Brooks) Lilley

The following letter was written by 43 year-old Mitchell Campbell Lilley (1819-1897), the proprietor of a moderately successful bindery and printing firm in Columbus, Ohio, at the time that civil war erupted in 1861. Having served previously in the Mexican War, and being a member of the local militia, Lilley was quick to offer his service as Captain of Co. H, 46th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI). Ill health, however, forced Lilley to resign from active service in January 1863 but he returned to Columbus to command a home guard militia for the duration of the war.

Following the war, Lilley convinced the Ohio General Assembly that deaf students at the state institution for the deaf could be trained in bookbinding skills which enabled him to expand his business and branch out into other endeavors, such as manufacturing and distributing fraternal regalia.

Lilley was married in 1849 at Paris, Illinois, to Amanda C. Brooks. They had 13 children, five of who died in infancy.

The 46th OVI took part in Grant’s first attempt to seize Vicksburg which was to march his army overland from La Grange, Tennessee, following the Mississippi Central Railroad south toward Vicksburg. He imagined that a supply line could be maintained from Columbus, Kentucky, but this proved impossible. Once Grant’s forces had made it as far as 35 miles south of Grand Junction, the large supply depot he had established at Holly Springs in his rear was swiftly and unexpectedly attacked by Earl Van Dorn’s Cavalry, destroying $1.5 million of supplies, capturing the Federal garrison quartered there, and destroying track and bridges. The damage inflicted by Van Dorn’s troopers caused sufficient harm for Grant to withdraw his forces to Memphis and rethink his strategy.

In this letter, Capt. Lilley describes their return to Holy Springs and what they found when they got there.

For an interesting article by my friend Dan Masters, see “Crank” Worthington’s Boys at Shiloh, published on 28 June 2020.

Transcription

Yocknapatufa, Mississippi
December 18th 1862

Dear Wife,

As Mr. Howell is to make another start for Cairo tomorrow, I will give you another line. My last was not ready in time and Howell had been gone half an hour before I knew it, but did not go far until the train turned back and he with it. I then sent it by him to Oxford sixteen miles from here on the railroad. We are ten days behind in newspapers and have had no letters since we left Memphis (26th November). We are in hopes that there will be a mail by Christmas and will be somewhat disappointed should we receive none by the first of January 1863.

We are in the woods and fields here and short of news. All quiet here at present. I understand that five officers of this regiment have sent in their resignations this morning—Captains [A. Grant] Sharp and [Philip A.] Crow, Lieutenants [Charles E.] Taylor, [Harrison] McMichael, and [Amos L.] Parks. Should their resignations be accepted (the two captains being my superior officers), I shall advance in rank two notches. Jehoshaphat! What do you think of that? Just keep you temper and there is no telling what may turn up. The resignations are all on account of disability (none able to march).

Our boys are all well enough to keep about. George Aston has the chills and William Taylor is lame yet with his toe but will be well in a week. John and Bub are well as usual. Our table is made of clapboards outdoors and it is a little cool on the fingers today and gives me the rheumatism in my hands, and I am troubled with it some all over in damp weather. Our cook is improving and we shall have to train him to it as that is our only chance. I have packed Henry’s clothes in a box to send by Howell to his mother. Louis can send it up by the omnibus to Worthington His mother’s name is Dolly Turk. Everybody knows her about Worthington. ¹

Lt. Beckett is out superintending the building of a railroad across the creek by order of General Denver. The flat is about one mile wide and they are making a corduroy road through it. Adjutant found some relatives two miles from camp by the name of Morgan. Col. [Charles C.] Walcutt is well and all the other officers.

If you get into any trouble about horses or cows, Mr. Mosberry will tell you what is best to do with them. Send letters to Cairo and they will find us some time. There is some talk of our marching tomorrow from this camp, I suppose we will go towards Grenada. Write and give us all the news. I did not put Tom’s handkerchief in the trunk but will try and take care of it for him. Yours, — M. C. Lilly

¹ I infer from the preceding paragraph that Henry Turk was the black cook brought with the regiment to cook for the officers. Henry (or Hendrick) was the 27 year-old son of Henry and Dolly Turk of Worthington, Franklin county, Ohio. Dolly and her husband had been born in Virginia—most likely former slaves. In the same paragraph that “Henry’s clothes” are mentioned, it is stated that they are training a new cook.