The following letter was written by James Ferdinand Mallinckrodt (1842-1925), the son of William Hermann Mallinckrodt (1810-1895) and his wife Louise (1817-1897) of St. Louis, Missouri. Ferdinand enlisted in the 17th Missouri Infantry as a corporal in 1861. The 17th Missouri Volunteer Infantry Regiment was formed at St. Louis in August 1861 by the St. Louis Turner Society, a German-American athletic and social organization. Under the leadership of Charles Stiefel and Frederick Leser, the St. Louis Turnverien placed its meeting hall in the hands of General Lyon, the Union military commander in St. Louis, and Col. Sigel, a former German officer. A new regiment known as the Western Turner Rifles was quickly recruited to serve for three years composed primarily of German-American officers and enlisted men from St. Louis who had previously served 90-day enlistments from May to August 1861 with the First, Second, Third and Fourth Missouri Regiments. These units fought under Brigadier General Lyon and Sigel at the capture of Ft. Jackson in St. Louis, the relief of St. Genevieve, Missouri and later in the summer at the battle of Wilson’s Creek.

Ferdinand would be promoted to Sgt. in Co. H, and then following the Battle of Ringgold, Georgia, and in winter camp, promoted to Lt. in Co. C by the commander Col. Cramer (pretty tragic end to that guy). He also eventually did a tour on recruiting duty in St. Louis.

After the war, Ferdinand embarked on an eclectic career as a machinist, draughtsman, and scientific model-maker. He also styled himself a literary figure, publishing several pamphlets and frequent letters to the editor, and corresponding with famous authors. In 1915 he removed to Salt Lake City to live with his brother and nephew; he is not thought to have been a Mormon. 

Ferdinand sent this letter to his sister, Cecilia D. Mallinckrodt (1845-1873).

Transcription

Corinth, Mississippi
October 2, 1863

Dear Cecilia,

What do you think of the heading of this letter?! Corinth, Miss! Now that Wilhelm has just left here, his regiment is ow in camp at Pocahontas only 16 miles back on the railroad. Day before yesterday evening, we stopped about 15 minutes there coming through and if it had not been for your letter of the 10th ult. announcing his arrival at St. Louis, and which I received at Vicksburg as we were embarking, I would have been left by accident and hunted up the 9th Illinois. On the 28th at 8 p.m. we arrived at Memphis. Lt. Neun, going on furlough, I gave him a letter for you which you will have by this time I think. On the 30th, we arrived out here at Corinth at 10 o’clock at night, having had a dreary, rainy day—a continual. drizzling rain during our whole trip from Memphis. We are today in the Seminary Barracks and tomorrow at light we move out to Camp Davis where we expect to lie in camp for some time. I understand, though, we have nothing positive yet that the 16th Army Corps, which has been mostly idle here for 18 months, is to reinforce Rosecrans while we (the 1st Corps) takes their place in guarding the railroad from Memphis to this place, and from here to Tuscumbia which part of the road is to be repaired and put in running order.

There were some soldiers from the 1st Missouri Artillery here this morning who knew some of our officers, being “Turners” by whom I heard the 9th Illinois & Col. [Augustus] Mersy mentioned very favorably in their descriptions of the 2nd Battle of Corinth, &c., which of course interested me very much.

The barracks in which we lie, called the Seminary Barracks, because they include a building once a seminary but now used as a hospital, are nearly surrounded by a long line of breastworks, including within their area perhaps some 15 or 20 acres. The different points in the line are forts in which there are mounted about 10 or 12 heavy guns in all. From my little experience during the Siege of Vicksburg, it seems to me that these works could not withstand very much battering and especially are they rendered defective on the west side by a height 300 yards rising, however, no higher than the fort’s own location, but in such a manner that an enemy might approach under cover of it to its top and there establish himself with a few heavy guns and batter down our works. Forts are visible in all directions.

Corinth is a little town about like Pilot Knob. Now that you have Wilhelm at home, you certainly have a good source of information about Corinth—better than I could possibly be. Capt. Wilhelm came back from furlough yesterday and reports that nothing is done yet about drafting and we will most probably be consolidated. In that case, I would most probably come home, which I would be glad to do. Well, more about that when the time comes. I am quite well as ever. Give my love to all and William. To King’s and Ewald’s. Your brother– Ferdinand