This letter was written by Jacob Stiles Cockerill (1839-1936) who served in Co. C, 90th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI). A biographical sketch composed for his 64th wedding anniversary claimed that Jacob entered the service as a private in April 1861; that he was forced to leave the army on account of sickness; returning to the ranks in July 1862; winning promotion to the rank of corporal in October 1862; sergeant in March 1864; and being mustered out in June 1865. He fought at Stone River, Kenesaw Mountain, and elsewhere. He married his wife, Hannah Roberta Limes (1849-1935) when he returned from the war; he was 27 and she was 17.
Jacob wrote the letter to Elma (“Ellie”) Doster, the 16 year-old orphaned daughter of John Doster (1803-1857) and Catherine Mooney (1807-1846). She was the younger sister of Lydia (“Lydy”) Doster (1839-1886) and Jacob Todhunter Doster (1837-1863)—both mentioned in this letter—of New Martinsburg, Fayette county, Ohio.
Transcription
Bridgeport, Alabama
January 17, 1864
Friend Ellie,
Your kind letter written January 7th is at hand [and] is contents perused. I will take this Sabbath evening to respond. This is a beautiful day overhead. It is warm and nice. It gives me the blues to have to stay in camp today. I would like to go to Cochran’s to church. Going to church has played out with me.
Ellie, you spoke of going to school. I wish I was at home to go to school too. I see the need of a good education. I wish I had the opportunity to go to school 2 years. I think that I shall go if I ever get home again.
Ellie, I have no news of any importance to write. Everything is quiet. You get all the news that we do in the paper. We are still in camp at Bridgeport, This is quite a business place. There has been five trains passed through here today coming from Chattanooga. Boats are landing here every few hours. It makes the time pass a heap better than it would if there was no business going on. I think we will be likely to stay here some time yet—until the roads get good anyhow and that will be some time yet.
Ellie, did Lidy get that soldier’s record that I sent her? I sent her one some time ago. I have never heard whether she received it or not. Tell me in your next. I thought you would like to have one as your brother belonged to this company. 1 It will be very nice to put in a frame. Ask Lida if she thinks enough of it to write to me. I have written one or two letters to her and she never answered them. Perhaps she didn’t think them worthy of an answer.
Ellie, how are you and Alford Rease getting along? I expect to hear of a wedding one of these days. Ellie, I wish you would put it off until I get home if you can anyway conveniently. I would like to go to your wedding. I heard that Till Binegar [Matilda Jane Binegar] was married to a [James W.] Tracy. 2 If it is the case, I say Bully for them. Go in children. I believe in children marrying. I think maybe I shall come home on furlough between now and next fall to see all of the folks if nothing happens. I will close hoping to hear from you soon. Give my respects to all enquiring friends. Remember your school mate, — Jacob
1 Ellie’s brother who served in Co. C, 90th OVI was Jacob Todhunter Doster (1837-1863) who died on 10 February 1863 at Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
2 The couple were married on 3 January 1864 in Fayette county, Ohio.
Spared & Shared 23 