The following letter was written by William H. Morrison (b. 1836), a native of Prince Edward Island, residing in Oconto, Wisconsin, in May 1861 when he enlisted as a private in Co. H, 4th Wisconsin Infantry.

Originally the Fourth Wisconsin was organized as an infantry unit at Camp Utley, Racine, WI. On July 2nd, 1861 it was mustered into service. Service areas for 1861 included Baltimore, MD, and Relay House, MD. In 1862 the regiment went to Newport News, VA where it left to join the “Army of the Gulf” in New Orleans LA. Disease took a terrible toll on the members during the trip, with several dying enroute. Traveling up the Mississippi River, the regiment saw action at Vicksburg and Baton Rouge, LA. The last service of the Fourth as an infantry unit was a “sanguinary” siege at Port Hudson, LA from May 21 to July 8, 1863. The regiment was then converted to the 4th Wisconsin Cavalry.

In early September 1863, William was discharged from the regiment as a corporal to accept a commission as Captain of Co. B, 99th U. S. Colored Troops. He was absent from his regiment late in 1864 and early 1865 suffering from chronic diarrhea and was able to obtain a certificate of disability and was discharged on 22 February 1865.

William wrote the letter to his friend, Thomas Millidge (1827-1895), a dry goods merchant in Oconto, Wisconsin.

William’s letter makes a reference to the recent Battle of Fort Henry on the Tennessee river wherein Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and Flag Officer Andrew H. Foote simultaneously attacked the Confederate fort and forced its surrender on 6 February 1862.

Transcription

Headquarters 4th Wisconsin Regt. Camp
Baltimore, Maryland
February 8, 1862

Dear friend Millidge,

Our day of judgement has come at last. Tonight about nine o’clock we received our marching orders to someplace to us unknown. There is no one knows as to where our place of destination is. All that I know about it is that we are going to leave here by water tomorrow morning precisely at nine o’clock so I am not able to write you but a few lines this time.

I suppose you have heard of the great victory gained lately and I learn that they are bound to keep the thing agoing and that is the way to do it. They have been fooling with those durn rebels long enough. But now they are doing the thing up brown. That is the way to put down this rebellion.

Thomas, I wish that I was able to write you a long letter but the want of time prevents me from doing it so I shall have to bring this to a close and allow me to sign myself your sincere friend and well wisher, — William H. Morrison

to Thomas Millidge

P. S. Remember me to all the inquiring friends and write as soon as you get this. I guess the letter will follow the regiment. Yours, — Bill