The following letter was written by Levi (“Lee”) Edmund Chenoweth (1840-1923), the son of Thomas Foster Chenoweth (1808-1886) and Christena Thomas (1810-1886). At the time of the 1860 US Census, 19 year-old Lee was enumerated in his parents household where he was employed farming with his father in Washington township, Darke county, Ohio.

On the 13th of May, 1861, Lee enlisted as a private in Co. K, 11th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI) for three months’ service, and was honorably discharged 17 August 1861. He re-enlisted on 25 October 1861 in Co. E, 69th OVI and was appointed Commissary Sergeant of the regiment on 1 February 1863, at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and soon after appointed Quartermaster Sergeant for the entire regiment. He re-enlisted as veteran on 26 February 1864 at Chattanooga, Tennessee and was discharged from service as Quartermaster 1st Lieutenant of Co. H, 69th OVI and, on same day, was appointed Quartermaster of the regiment. He was then appointed Brigade Quartermaster on the staff of Gen. Buell commanding 2d Brigade, 1st Division, 14th Army Corp, Goldsboro, N.C., March 27, 1865. He mustered out as the Captain of Co. I, 69th OVI. He was present at the following battles: Stone River Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge – Ringgold, Snake Creek Gap, Buzzard’s Roost, Resaca, New Hope Church, Kennesaw Mountain, Marietta, Chattahoochie River, Peach Tree Creek, siege of Atlanta, Jonesboro and Savannah and Goldsboro N.C. 

Since the war, has been engaged in the grocery business, miller, engineer, merchant tailoring boot and shoe store, foundry and machine shop and a traveling salesman, handling school furniture and supplies, in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Canada. On the 5th day of December 1875, in the Supreme Court of Ohio, he was duly admitted to practice the law since which time he has been engaged in the business of his profession. He married, on the 3d of July, 1867, Effie A. Arnold, daughter of Noah Arnold, Esq., of Jasville, Darke Co.

Lee wrote the letter to his friend, Joshua Jefferis (1837-1918), the son of Darlington Jefferis (1796-1880) and Mary Potter (1801-1865) of Darke county, Ohio.

Transcription

Murfreesboro, Tennessee
March 3rd 1863

Friend Joshua, dear sir,

Having a few idle moments this afternoon, I will improve them by writing you a brief letter and to begin I will just state that we are all well & able for our rations. The weather is fine & roads are drying up fast. Vegetation begins to make its appearance, meadows are getting green, and the forest is brightening & everything gives evidence of an early spring. The boys have just been paid off & are very light-hearted & cheerful. We are not half so sick of the war as we were one year ago from this date. We have stood up to the toils, privations and sufferings of the war this long & we are bound to stick to the willows till the last horn is blowed—till the last enemy is killed or subjugated—till the Stars & Stripes wave triumphantly over the last state, county, or district in the Southern Confederacy. It can be done & I would wager my interest in the future world that it will be done.

Rosecrans can soon do his portion of the work if Grant & Hooker will do theirs & it is my candid conviction that ere 12 months more shall have rolled round, peace and tranquility will reign in the United States. We can stand it another year & if needs be, the fall term. I would like to come home & see all my friends as much as any man living, but I have not the remotest idea of so doing until the close of the war. You might as well try to get brains out of a cannon ball or farts out of a dead man as to try to get a furlough for 10 or 15 days.

I presume our stay at this place will be but brief as I am told by a reliable man that General Rosecrans is only waiting for the roads to get in condition.

I have not seen or heard from William Jefferis for some time but think he is yet in hospital at Nashville. Abner Haines died here yesterday morning from erysipelas & was buried today.

Our forage train was attacked about eight miles out yesterday. Our boys went into them vigorously & killed and captured nearly the entire rebel force amounting to near 300 men. The Rebels are deserting and coming to our forces daily. There is seldom a day passes without a squad of from 15 to 30 comes over. 28 came in yesterday morning and some in the evening. I have seen none today.

As there is nothing of any particular importance transpiring just now, I will close hoping that you will respect my missive & reply soon. Give my respects to Milton & Louisa. Also to Mr. Jefferis & family. Yours &c., — Levi E. Chenoweth, Com. Sergeant, 69th Ohio

Address 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 14th Army Corps, Murfreesboro, Tenn.