The following letter was written by James B. Sifleet (1841-1863) who came to the United States with his parents from from Kent, England, prior to the Civil War. The family settled in Verona, Grundy county, Illinois. His parents names were Robert Thomas Sifleet (1817-1893) and Sarah Betts (1819-1871). The Sifleet’s had two son’s that served in the Civil War—James, and his younger brother George Thomas Fleet (1842-1863. Neither son came home.

James enlisted in September 1861 as a private in Co. F, 36th Illinois Infantry—the “Fox River Regiment.” He died on 10 January 1863 in a Nashville Hospital from an infected wound received during the Battle of Stone River. His brother George served in Co. D, 127th Illinois Infantry and died of disease on 25 April 1863 at Youngs Point, Louisiana.

To read other letters by members of the 36th Illinois Infantry that I have transcribed and posted on Spared & Shared, see:

Freeman Stanton Dunklee, Co. A, 36th Illinois
Henry C. Baxter, Co. E, 36th Illinois
John F. Weeks, Co. K, 36th Illinois

[Note: The image in the header is from the Alton Jaeger Guards, portraying the 36th Illinois Infantry. They began forming in early August 1861 at Camp Hammond near Aurora, Illinois. They would take part in action at Pea Ridge, Perryville, Stone’s River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, the Atlanta Campaign, Franklin, and Nashville.]

Transcription

[Camp Hammond, Aurora, Illinois]
September 18, 1861

Dear Friends,

I now take the pleasure of writing these few lines to you hoping to find you in good health as, thank God, it leaves us at present. This letter is to let you know that I arrived here safe yesterday morning. I cannot tell you how long we shall be here. It is hard to tell for some say we are a going Friday [and some] say we are a going to be here two or three weeks yet. The fact is, I don’t believe anyone on the ground knows. I should not be surprised if we went this week nor if we stayed two or three weeks. I shall not write but a few lines so as to let you know that I am well.

I think often of what you said when I was coming away. I think that you could not mean exactly what you said. I suppose you think that I am under great temptations. It is true that we are surrounded by evil but still there are good people here as there are anywhere.

I went to a prayer meeting last night in one of the tents. It was one pleasant meeting to me. We can have as good prayer meetings here as anywhere. We have our God here as well as there, so dear Mother, I hope you think different from what you did when I come away. And remember that it is a good cause for which I am fighting. I believe that God called me to fight and will put my trust in Him. And if I should fall in the battlefield, I hope to meet you in heaven where there is no more parting and where there will be no war, but peace and harmony and serving God. So let us live here in this world as true Christians. Pray for me that I may hold out as a true Christian until the end.

I am writing just as I feel. I feel happy in my tent. We have not got our uniforms yet. I shall write often if I do not write much. It is likely I shall not get letters that come from [you] as well as you can from me. I must now conclude with my love to you and all inquiring [friends].

Please give William Huggett ¹ love to you all, to his grandmother, and tell her he was very glad to have a letter from [her] and was thankful for advice and he intends to take it [and] do the best he can. So no more from your affectionate son, — James Sifleet

Care of Capt. Olson, Fox River Regiment, Aurora, Illinois

You will have to write your directions pretty clear because they are large.

---

¹ William Huggett enlisted in the same company at the same time as James. He was mortally wounded (like James) at the Battle of Stone River.