This letter came to me for transcription unsigned but we learn from the content that he served in the 74th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI) which was organized at Xenia beginning in October 1861. Seven of the ten regiment’s ten companies were recruited from the vicinity of Xenia. Beyond that, however, I am unable to identify the name of the soldier.

The regiment was ordered to Camp Chase, four miles west of Columbus, Ohio, on 24 February 1862, and were on duty there until 20 April when they were ordered to Nashville, Tennessee, to join Dumont’s Independent Brigade in the Army of the Ohio. While at Camp Chase, their primary duty was to guard the civilian and Confederate prisoners who had begun to arrive there in large numbers following the surrender of Fort Donelson. Granville Moody (see image in banner), the colonel of the 74th OVI and who would later earn the sobriquet “the Fighting Preacher” for his gallantry at Stone River, was placed in charge of Camp Chase at the time of this letter and Major Ballard, also if the 74th, was appointed to supervise the police of the camp.

The letter was written to Mary Anot Halley (1836-1888), the daughter of John and Jessie (Spital) Halley of Markinch, Fifeshire, Scotland. John brought his family to America in 1847. Mary’s mother, however, died in Montreal, Canada, while enroute to Vermont where John Halley settled in Orange county. Mary is believed to have either been a teacher or student at the Xenia Female Seminary in 1862 and a member of the literary society there.

Transcription

Camp Chase [Columbus, Ohio]
March 20th 1862

Members of Aesthetic Society,

Through your kind Secretary, Miss Halley, I received the information that I had been chosen as your anything but local correspondent. While I feel highly grateful for the honor, I cannot help feeling myself in a great degree unworthy of the compliment, both because I do not feel myself capable of affording you much entertainment, and because I have heretofore proved myself to be such an unprofitable member to the Society.

Ever since my acceptance of a membership with you, I felt that I was a drawback rather than an advantage to you as you never knew when to depend upon my being present with you, and some time ago believing on account of our military restriction that I could serve you better with my pen than with my voice, I proposed to someone, half in fun, that I would become your camp correspondent, not knowing that the subject would ever be considered. But as you have thus kindly shown your remembrance of me, I accept with great pleasure the appointment and shall endeavor to prove myself worthy to the best of my humble resources.

Of course, not much will be expected of me while I remain in such a monotonous place as this, where although excitements frequently occurs, they are not generally of a kind that would interest a literary society.

The state of the Potomac (the name of a creek which runs through our camp) employs often our most particular attention. At present it is low and clear, presenting to view many old boots, hats and sundry other articles to the soldier, awakening our minds to sorrowful reflections of the terrible scenes of carnage and dissolution that at one day must have been enacted there. During the present stage of water, I think we need apprehend no attack.

Our next source of interest is the guarding of rebel prisoners, most of whom have settled down to a state of sullen resignation to their imprisonment. A little boy came with his father the other day to see them expecting a rebel to be some huge monster and upon going away, he greeted father with the uncomplimentary conclusion that “they weren’t hard at all and looked prettier than he or Uncle John.”

And if a rebel is to be recognized by a horrid and unattractive appearance, I think we of the 74th would suffer were we to meet an army of ladies in the field for we hardly received a glance from the fair (few, thank fortune) who visit camp—the great attraction appearing to be inside the prison. I have had conversations with a good many of the rebels who appear to be most able and intelligent men, causing one to wonder why they were ever so intellectually blinded as to take the part they did.

I am glad to hear from recent reports that the Shaker doctrine is not promulgated from the Aesthetic Society. I trust that the occurrence will not take any members from your society. I would advise that hereafter no officers of your society be one that contemplates matrimony for it is the death of any institution to be constantly changing officers. I wish the pair much happiness and hope that they wil not carry their love for your society so far as to introduce lectures *certain ones) and critiques into domestic life.

Wishing your meetings to continue in interest and profit, I close expecting to receive reports of your proceedings, and hoping to entertain you better when opportunities are better. I anticipate the pleasure of being once more with you when the present rebellion is crushed and Columbia once more sings her sweet song of Freedom over the Land.

[unsigned]