The following letter was written by Jonathan F. Harrington (1835-1916), the son of Ralph Harrington (1802-1863) and Anna Paxton (1809-1884) of Groton township, Erie county, Ohio.

His on-line obituary claims that “he grew up in a time when Erie county, Ohio, was still in a pioneer condition. He was reared on the home farm and secured his educational training in some of the early schoolhouses familiarly known only to the oldest residents now living. After getting the advantages offered by the schools of Groton township he also spent one year attending school at Detroit, Michigan.

His vocation since early manhood has been that of farming and soon after getting started in that vocation, he went away to help fight in the battles of the Union. Capt. Harrington enlisted in May 1861 in Co. A, 72nd regiment OVI ad his first duty was in recruiting the company for that regiment, and after getting its quota mustered in he took his place in the ranks as a private soldier. A year later he was made 2nd Lieutenant, and later promoted to 1st Lieutenant and during the last two years of is service to his country was captain of the company. He continued in the war four years until his honorable discharge in September 1865. Capt. Harrington fought in the great battle of Shiloh, participated in the siege of Corinth and also in the campaign ending in the fall of Vicksburg.

On January 1st 1868, he was married to Miss Sarah E. McKesson (1845-1935) who also represents some of the pioneers of Erie county.”

In this letter datelined from the regiment’s encampment 8 miles in the rear of Vicksburg, Mississippi, Capt. Harrington informs his younger brother Lionel E. Harrington (1841-1895) of their location, the health of the regiment, and reacts to the recent gubernatorial election results in the regiment and at home in Ohio in which the “Peace Democrat” Clement Vallandigham lost in a landslide to the pro-Union War Democrat John Brough.

[Note: To read Harrington’s account of the Battle of Shiloh, go to: Civil War Talk.]

Transcription

Camp in rear of Vicksburg
October 28, 1863

Brother,

In answer to yours of the 14th which arrived at its destination this evening finding me in fine health and enjoying camp life as well as can be expected under the present circumstances which now exist, we have been having some rather cool damp weather for some time until within the last two or three days. The weather has moderated a great deal. Today has been a very warm day, nice day. We have no stoves and the cool snap made our teeth rattle considerably but as the sun has shown himself again, I think we will have some more nice weather yet this fall.

We are encamped about eight miles a little northeast of Vicksburg and about six miles from any house. And furthermore, we are right in the woods. Have been trying to lay out a new camp today so that we could move this afternoon but we failed to make the riff [?] but got the camp staked out and intend to move in the morning. We are only a going to move about eighty rods [quarter mile].

I was glad to hear that Old Groton still hangs to the Union, or at least a portion of her. There was only 16 votes cast in the regiment for [Clement] Vallandigham and that is 16 too many. I suppose Aunt Sylvia & Uncle M. are as stern in the political line as ever. I have a man in my company that voted for Vallandigham but—well, you know him. It was M. Pilgrim. He done it mostly for spite—nothing more nor less.

Our furloughed men have got back to Dixie again after their visit down North and say they don’t want another furlough until their time is expired. Then they want a long furlough.

I see by the papers that the draft was to go off in Ohio today. Bully for the draft if they would only draft enough to amount to something, but fifty thousand won’t be a taste. Now if they would draft about 300,000, it would be something of an object. How is Capt. Fernald getting along? Is he getting any men or not? According to your tell, Kit has been having a rough time since he got home. I am glad to hear that he came out victorious every time.

The men here are all feeling gay over the election news and the health of the men in the 72nd Regiment OVI is very good now and it is getting late. Will bid you good night.

Give my respects to all and write soon and give all the news. Oh my sakes alive, it is chilly tonight. Jacob Beecher got here yesterday from home. He said he saw you but didn’t get a chance to speak to you.

From your brother, — J. F. Harrington

I cannot think of anything to write. Therefore, you will have to excuse me for not writing something.